Chapter 3: A Budding Friendship

The blaring ring of an alarm clock awoke the sleepy blond. Roxas swung up his arm and slapped his fist on the snooze button. The force knocked the clock over on the messing desk. Roxas slowly pulled the sheets from him as re-positioned the alarm clock up to check the time. 8:58 A.M. Roxas sat up and stretched his back. "I gotta reset my alarm," he muttered to himself.

Roxas pushed himself out of his bed. He kicked around the mess pile on the floor as he searched for fresh clothes. Roxas reached down and picked up a black T-shirt. He walked to his bathroom and flipped the light switch. The dim light bulb flickered on. Roxas squinted his eyes to adjust to the artificial light. He pulled off his tank top and turned on the tap and watched the warm water fill the sink. He quickly turned the knob to stop the flow of water once it almost filled to the top. Roxas leaned over the sink and stared at the water before cupped his hand to collect the water. With a quick motion, he slashed the refreshing water on his face.

He looked back up to the mirror and watch the water run down his face and drip on his collar bone and chest. Roxas was in pretty good shape but he wasn't like Riku was had rippling muscles that shown under the tight shirt he wore. Roxas frowned and quietly cursed himself for envying Riku's good looks. Of course Roxas knew he was good-looking, but he also knew that he couldn't be compared to Riku.

"Heh. Maybe I should grow out my hair and have long flowing lock like Riku," said Roxas halfheartedly as he held a lock of his platinum blond hair. Roxas sighed and grabbed a towel to wipe off his face. He then spent the next few minutes putting on his shirt, applying black eyeliner, and changing his piercings. After he finished, he put on his black and white checkered bracelet and his black and white rings.

"Hey, bro! I'm heading off to school now!" Roxas called out in the living room. He heard a mumbled good-bye as he grabbed his white hoodie and left his place.

Roxas lived in a small, comfy apartment with his older brother Ven. It's been five years since the incident that left Ven and Roxas on their own to care for themselves. Roxas didn't like thinking about it and would become silent when anyone would mention it. It still hurt him to this day, but he doesn't let it show.

Roxas walked into a small café on the corner. "Hey, Kairi," he greeted as he walked in.

A slender, big breasted woman with her long red hair in a bun walked over to eagerly greet Roxas. "Morning Roxas!" Kairi bubbled. "What can I get you?"

"Just a biscuit," Roxas said cooly. "How's Sora?"

"Oh, he's busy with all his jobs to pay off the wedding," she answered his as she wrote down the amount Roxas owed on his tab.

Roxas noticed the nice engagement ring on Kairi's ring finger. He estimated it to be over $300. Sora, Roxas's close cousin, was a young college student like his fiancée Kairi. He was always a dreamer and was the one to always make a person smile even when they hit rock bottom. Sora was a good guy, a better guy than what Roxas could be.

"Here you go." Kairi placed the warm biscuit in front of Roxas.

Roxas thanked her and bit into the flaky goodness of the biscuit. "So, I need your help, Kairi," Roxas said with a mouthful. "There's this girl at school that I want to be friends with, but she won't open up to me or talk to me."

Kairi pulled up a metal chair beside him and sat down. "First of all, don't talk with your mouth full and second, try to find a topic she's interested in. That'll get her talking."

Roxas swallowed his food. "I tried. I walked home with her last week and tried a lot of things to get her to talk. She either gave he short choppy answers or completely avoided the question."

"Well, who's this girl?"

Roxas quickly stuffed the rest of the biscuit in his mouth and swallowed. "Well, her name's Xion. She has one class with me."

Kairi leaned forward. "Can you describe her?"

"Oh, well, she a short girl," he began. "She was short black hair that parts to one side, like your hair, and these big blue eyes. She always wears these cutesy girl outfits."

Kairi leaned back with a big grin on her face. "Oh, I know her. She's a really cute girl who comes in here sometimes and orders chocolate milk." Kairi reached into her pocket and pulled out some change. "Here," she said, handing the change to Roxas. "Buy her some later."

Roxas pocketed the changed and thanked Kairi before leaving.

Roxas looked down at the quad from the second floor. The clouds had began to gather again. He grabbed the loose change in his pocket. He scanned the area until he saw a raven haired girl sitting alone under a tree. Roxas turned away from the window and walked down the empty corridor.

Xion sat quietly with her snack. It was a strawberry tart with raspberry sprinkles. It was one of the snacks that helped her sweet tooth. She took a small bite and slowly chewed. The tart made her a little parched.

"Here."

Xion saw a small juice box filled with chocolate milk being held in front of her. She looked up to see Roxas. "O-oh," she said shyly. "Thank you." She gratefully took the juice box. "How did you know I liked chocolate milk?"

"Who doesn't?" Roxas softly chuckled. "I mean, I just figured since I saw you get it a couple of times."

"You... saw me?"

"Yeah." Roxas looked up at the second floor he was previously on. "Sometimes when I walk through their, I see you sitting out here all alone and I wonder why. Sometimes I'm tempted to come down and say hi, but..."

"But?" she wanted him to continue.

Roxas shook his head. "That doesn't matter, but what really matters is this. If I get you chocolate milk everyday, will you think about being my friend... or at least talk to me?"

Xion took a sip from the box. The savory taste of the chocolate and the thought of not having to brace the lunch line made her slowly nod. "I'll try."

"That's good enough for me," he said. He smiled warmly at Xion, which in turn made her smile nervously at him. "I can tell that we'll be the best of friends."

Xion looked at the ground. "Do you really think I can be a friend?"

"It may be tough at first, but I'll be there for you, Xion. That's what friends are for."

Xion looked up at Roxas and giggled. It was a warm giggle, with true emotion behind it. Roxas felt his effort starting finally pay off as Xion slowly opened up like a budding flower opens up to the sun.

Up in the second floor corridor, Namine and Riku looked down at the two in the quad. Namine looked at them in disgust. "It isn't fair!" she cried. "Why does he look at her like that and not me?"

Riku placed a hand on Namine's small shoulder. "It's alright, Namine."

Namine pulled away from his touch. "NO! It'll never be okay. She can't have him. That bitch will pay." Namine watched on as her heart filled with jealousy.