A/N: w00t! And we reach chapter two! It's about two hundred words longer than the previous chapter, so I hope you all like that! Srry for the belated-ness but I have summer school to attend (stupid BCIS...stupid, stupid, stupid...). Good news is my course I'm taking is computer class! And if I play my cards swiftly and keep up a poker face, I could get away with writing some stuff, mwahahaa.
But yea, I wrote this in class. Srry if it's choppy! -smacks face-
Enjoy.
Fact: People Go Against Their Will
Somehow, Zexion knew that Demyx Watera's name was familiar. It wasn't the mere fact that many giddy high school girls giggled their crushes to one another about him. It wasn't because he was praised in the morning announcements to have come first in some swim competition. No, it was as if he'd heard the name somewhere Zexion normally wouldn't visualize the swimmer.
But…where, exactly?
"Zexion Anderson," called out his first period Creative Writing teacher.
Barely looking up from the notebook he was staring blankly at, the teen called back, "Present."
It was their first assignment that stumped and annoyed him: a routine "get-to-know-you" task for the second day of school. For the teachers, it'd be their first time they'd get to learn about their new students (not that they cared nor remembered). But for students such as Zexion, this would be border lining the thousandth time he'd have to write down his weary autobiography.
A new senior and still doing the same first-grade work. If there was any justice in the world (which Zexion doubted), he'd at least be saved from presentation.
Finally starting to commit and write something, Zexion's ears perked up at the name the roll call had said.
"Demyx Watera."
Huh…what? No. No way. No way in-
"Ah, present!" came the chipper reply, and, right behind him, at that!
Okay, scratch that. Yes. Yes way.
Zexion found himself bending over his paper a little more, as if what he was writing was a huge secret – which it wasn't. But, back to the problem at hand…: When had this happened? No – how could it happen?! Demyx Watera – hot, popular jock Demyx Watera in his class? This could not happen – this was his, Zexion's, academic territory. No place for a thick-headed simpleton who probably didn't even know what a sonnet was.
Then it hit him – he had been aware of this. If memory had served a little better earlier, he would've remembered Miss Lockhart had informed him of this vital, life-altering information yesterday.
The teen let out a breath, agitated more on top of the assignment. Was this coincidence or sheer bad luck that the swimmer should be here when it was suggested only yesterday that he should tutor the boy? Well, either way, Zexion doubted his mood was going to improve much…
Tap. What the hell? Had someone just…touched him?
Tap, tap, more fervently this time, along with a stage-whisper, "Hey!"
Zexion froze, and then very slowly and reluctantly turned around. Bright, wide eyes twinkled in greeting, along with a killer-hot smile; a basic trademark of a flirting jock, the slate-haired teen had noted many times. Though…why was he giving Zexion that look…?
"Yes?" he replied coolly, hoping the tone would be enough to get the blonde off of his back.
Undaunted, the other teen extended a hand. "Yo! I don't think you remember me that much, since you're sorta giving me this 'what-the-fuck-do-ya-want?' look." He chuckled awkwardly, hand hovering dubiously next to Zexion. "Er…Anyway, I went to summer school and I saw you there."
A thick pause, and seeing the other wasn't going to say anything, Zexion spoke slowly and cautiously, "Yes. I was working there as an extra tutor." More words than he had wanted to speak, but whatever it took… And why the hell did he keep staring at him like that? What was it Demyx wanted him to say?
"Uh… I'm Demyx!" the blonde declared out of nowhere.
Raising an incredulous brow, the teen replied curtly, "Zexion-"
"Oh, Anderson! Yeah, I know!" Demyx interrupted, roughly grabbing a hold of Zexion's idle hand and shaking it, seemingly proud of himself that he knew this. Then, realizing how suspicious it was to know the last name of the person you just introduced yourself to, his face reddened. "I-I heard the roll call before you jump to any conclusions," he covered quickly.
A bit defensively, too, added the slate-haired teen, as he took back his hand. He nodded tersely, about to turn around when the swimmer stopped him.
"Hold on, I'm not done talking to you!" he protested, like a child who wanted attention.
Flatly, Zexion informed, "You do realize we've a task to accomplish?"
"It's the second day of school, so I'm already late in having a teacher all on me," Demyx explained humorously. Then, smiling that killer smile, he asked, "So, Zexion, did you do anything eventful for the summer besides babysit flunkeys like me?"
Zexion found himself frowning at this, but answered truthfully, "Nothing worth noting."
"A man of few words," Demyx commented with an amused chuckle. "I never pegged you for a chatter-box, anyway."
"What do you see me as?" Zexion asked through narrowed eyes, appalled that the blonde would be able to conclude anything about him – unless…it was that obvious he was a sociopath? He gazed at the other inquiringly.
Demyx smirked and put his hands together; giving the appearance he was plotting something. "What do you see me as?" he returned.
"Well, as of now, a narcissist."
Demyx frowned, seemingly not expecting this. "You think I'm full of myself because I bounced the question back at you?" he questioned with a raised brow.
"Oh, plaudits for the narcissist; it appears he knows a thing or two," Zexion retorted, hoping his crass behavior would ward the blonde off.
It didn't. Instead, he laughed – not in a, "oh, you're a loser" way, but a way that indicated he laughed with, not at, Zexion often – like they were close. Zexion blinked, wondering why he never spent as much time listening to Demyx's laugh as he did with analyzing the crude behaviors of everyone else in the school.
"Ha-ha, you have an odd way of insulting someone," Demyx said with a smile. He had a unique smile, one that…despite whatever internal conflicts the slate-haired teen might've had… It made him want to smile back.
Literally shaking himself out of these thoughts, Zexion nodded to Demyx once again, hesitated, then turned around.
He wasn't particularly sure whether or not he was disappointed when the swimmer didn't talk to him again.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
…Or maybe it was regret and not disappointment that was making him do this. No, that wouldn't be probable, either – not with Zexion's personality, anyway.
It was lunch period and somehow, the idea of having rejected the suggestion for tutoring Demyx haunted his thoughts, and he began to get antsy. At the end of fourth period, Zexion, finding no other solution, went to the Community A office. He would've dashed if it wouldn't be so out of character, so he took his time, walking with his binder hugged to his chest – maybe with the leisurely pace, he'd be able to think up another solution for this mess.
Talking to me as if we've known each other all our lives, he thought with an edge of revolt. It wasn't like Zexion to get close to anyone – he relatively ignored his younger sister and spoke only to his parents when necessary. Lexaeus was an exception, if you wanted to look at it that way; though Zexion knew he gave the auburn as much attention as he gave his parents – the teen only talked to him if Lexaeus brought up a subject or question.
If Zexion believed in ghosts, this was the part where he guessed he was being possessed by one and it was making him do all the things the real Zexion would never do. Doing all this just because he regretted acting the way he did towards the blonde…? He had wanted Demyx away from him, so his actions were fully justified.
So was it eating away at his mind? Suddenly, the image of Demyx smiling and laughing from before flashed in his memory. Zexion slowed his pace even more, gradually coming to a stop in the middle of a deserted hallway.
Am I somehow interested in learning more about him? Zexion wondered, down casting his gaze. Then registering what it was that he thought quickly shook his head. No, it couldn't be anything like that. The only thing that interested the teen was facts - facts of life and nature and the way of things. Things that were essential to life and essential to knowing. Knowing what was coming and why it was occurring. Facts didn't lie – information was vital to know how to grab life by the horns.
Gathering information… Hmm…
Without even realizing it, Zexion had started walking again and towards the Community A office – and before he knew it, his body had taken over his mind and he opened the door, entering Miss Lockhart's office.
She looked up from her computer monitor, hazel eyes widening when she saw who it was. "Oh, Zexi- um, Mr. Anderson," she corrected, pushing away from her desk to look him over. "What brings you here? I thought you had first lunch. And do you even have a pass to be in he-? …What did you say?"
Zexion, head down, closed his eyes in frustration and let out a deep, audible breath through his nose. He set his binder on the brunette woman's desk and then with his now free hands gripped the edges of it in agitation. Licking his suddenly dry lips, he muttered again, "I'll take the job."
Miss Lockhart blinked and gazed at the teen dubiously. "'The job'?" she repeated, as if this information was new to her. "The…? Oh! The tutoring, you mean?"
"Yes, I'll...I'll do it."
"Hmm?" The teacher tilted her head to the side, pink lips pursed. "What's with the change of heart? I could've sworn the assignment absolutely repelled you."
"Don't exaggerate," Zexion snapped lightly – knowing it wasn't the assignment that repelled him. It had been the person he'd been assigned to, though now… "I wonder if it's still alright that I take you up…in tutoring Demyx Watera."
"You found him in your first period, didn't you?" Miss Lockhart asked in a voice too smug and sugary-sweet. "Did you guys talk or something?"
"With all due respect, Miss Lockhart, I believe you were quite short on volunteers," Zexion pointed out brazenly. "Interrogating me about my motives makes my desire decrease, just so you know. And stop pouting; it's unbecoming of an adult woman!"
Her bottom lip was indeed protruded but stayed its place even at the student's exclaim. "But you're yelling at me…" she whined.
"Like I said, unbecoming," the slate-haired teen reinstated flatly.
"Oh, you're no fun to tease – you're like a rock that won't budge! Okay, fine," she said with a resigned sigh and stood up. "Wait here, I'll go get the paper."
"Thank you," Zexion said, relieved the immature, and irritating, conversation was over.
She came back only a short time later with the same piece of paper from yesterday in her hand. "Here it is," she declared, as if the sheet contained everyone's fate – though it was only Zexion's encased within it. Smiling happily, she set it on top of his binder. Putting a pen on top of that, she said, "Now all you have to do is sign it and we can begin the tutoring next Monday."
"So soon?" Zexion asked, suddenly worried if he was making the right decision. But once again, his body didn't care and acted of its own accord, taking hold of the pen and setting the tip of it where his signature was to be.
Miss Lockhart nodded, hands behind her back. "But you still want to do it, right?" she asked with a hopeful tone in her voice. "Once you sign there' sorta no getting out."
Zexion's hand twitched. "I think I've stated this before, but your questioning and informing are gradually getting me disinterested."
"'Kay, 'kay, Crabby, I'm shutting up," the counselor assured with a roll of her eyes.
Zexion's fingers slowly found their ability to move once more and began scrawling his signature onto the paper. Before the teen could even process his actions, it was written and done, and Miss Lockhart smiled.
"Alrighty, then, you keep that," she gestured to the paper, putting it inside his binder. "And I'll just put it in the system. Make sure to read the paper and do whatever it says, okay?"
"O…kay," Zexion said, hand still assuming the writing position. But when sense came back to him, he quickly and somewhat defeated set it down on the counselor's desk, grabbing his binder and hugging it to his chest, as if for comfort. "I'll…see you Monday, then, I suppose?"
"Yuppers, see you then!" And she escorted him out of the room, a pleased and triumphant smile on her face as she closed the door behind him. And he stood there, a bit dazed, mind not serving him as well as it should have been.
Alright, fine, he had just sold his soul to the devil now; the teen would admit that much. He sold his soul and starting Monday next week, he'd give his mind over to a lesser power. Why, oh why had his body disobeyed his mind's wishes? Well, Zexion knew the answer to that one, and he didn't like the fact one bit:
Some people just went against their will.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Xelruna: It's occured to me i never properly thanked you people before for the reviews. Well, arigato, I appreciate the kind words! -bows- Oh! And thx to Sexy-Tacos-Emo-Waffles for teaching me the new word 'plaudits'; its so fun to say now XXD
Peace out, n00bs!