(Roxas's POV)
Anyone who lives in any area has their own 'hangout.', a.k.a., the usual spot. If it's café or pub, the people there would come to know your name, who your friends are, and what you'd usually get there.
That's how Lucy's is. If you compare it to Starbucks or Coffee People or one of those big commercial companies, it's a tiny insignificant speck. But that's how most of the local coffee shops are here. The small, social atmosphere makes it easy to meet new people, and I like it like that. It makes it easier to make friends.
I'll admit it. I'm socially awkward.
Well, compared to Sora at least. I may be better at making friends than some people, but I still more of the quiet wallflower type. Kind of. I do something stupid every now and then.
Like the time I climbed on top of the middle school building.
Or when I wrote all over the bathroom walls. (Mind you, I was forced to wash those same walls as punishment for something else I was caught for. Oh, sweet irony.)
Or that one time when Axel and I set off the fire alarm.
Ah, good times, good times.
So anyway, it was a pretty normal day at Lucy's. The usual people came and went, along with a few new faces that had just discovered the tiny brick coffee shop on Anthony Boulevard sandwiched between a bakery and an antique store. Nothing really special had happened so far.
The little silver bell rang, announcing the opening of the door. A small group of people entered, two girls and one guy. I recognized the guy as Shiro Takeda, a kid at my school who was on the lacrosse team. The other two girls I've seen at school, but I've never actually met them, so they were a mystery to me.
"Hey Roxas."
"Heya Shiro," I responded. "What do you want today?"
"I'll take a normal cup of coffee, none of that special stuff, you know?"
"Sure." I looked at the two girls, "Anything for you two?"
The first girl, I guessed that she was part Filipino or something judging by her mocha-colored skin, answered, "I'll have an ice mocha please."
I punched in the price in the cash register. "And you?"
"Um…" she said, looking at the menu overhead, "I'll just have what Shiro got."
They paid and sat down in a little booth near the window. There weren't a lot of people here yet, so it was naturally pretty quiet.
As I was making the drinks I started up a conversation.
"So, how has your guys's summers been?"
"Neh."
"Ashe and I went camping at Mt. Hood last weekend," Shiro replied gesturing to the mocha-skinned girl, Ashe.
"How was it?"
Ashe laughed quietly as Shiro flushed slightly. "For the most part it was nice. Except for that rainstorm on the third day."
"You have to admit that it was funny though when you slipped and fell down the slope," Ashe teased, poking him in the arm. "At least you didn't get sun burnt like Ahna."
"Sorry I fell asleep in the sun on the boat up at camp," she answered with mock offence. "At least I'll be tan when it's gone."
Ashe rolled her eyes laughingly. "Of course, after you get skin cancer from practically living up there all summer."
Ahna shrugged. "Neh, of course."
"Two coffees and a ice mocha," I announced placing the drinks on the table.
"So what about you, Roxas?" asked Shiro. "What've you been up to all summer?"
Avoiding my dad at all costs.
"Nothing really. Just working."
I went back behind the counter and busied myself with this and that. You know, wiping of counters and tables, cleaning dishes, all that doo-dad stuff.
When Shiro, Ashe, and Ahna were about to leave, Shiro came up to me and handed me a piece of paper.
"Here's my cell number. We're going wakeboarding the day after tomorrow with some friends. If you want to come, just give me a call," he explained and followed out after his friends.
---
A few hours later, my shift was over. I headed outside and hopped on to my skateboard. The first place I went to was the Waterfront. Someone was always there.
Portland was built on both sides of the river. On the west side was the Waterfront, which is exactly as it says it is. A pathway runs along the river along with trees and grass. There's also the Salmon Springs fountain that's quite refreshing to run through on a hot day. There's always little kids playing around it during the summer.
Since it was around lunchtime, I bought a hot dog from a street vender. I ate it as I skated around.
Eventually I ran into Olette. She was on a shopping trip with one of her girl friends who didn't stick around for long. We hung out on Sixth Avenue for a good while then headed back over to the Waterfront.
Damn, it was hot.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Olette trying to fan herself with her hand. Then I spotted the Salmon Springs. I began to formulate a plan in my head.
As we casually walked by, I suddenly picked Olette up by the waist.
"Roxas what-"
She noticed the fountain and it dawned on her.
"Oh, no, no, no! Roxas don't you dare!" she protested.
Too late.
A very wet Olette gave me the 'I-think-I'd-like-to-kill-you-now' look. Crap, I'm so screwed now.
"Roxas…" she said threateningly.
Backing up, I raised my hands in defense. "Now see here, Olette- you looked, uh, like you needed to cool down. Yeah. Don't you feel better?"
Probably one of the scariest things I've ever seen is an angry girl, especially when they're PMS-ing. I hoped Olette wasn't though, because like I said, it was scary.
"Maybe I'll feel better if I got back at you," she replied to my lame excuse, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into the gushing jets of water of the fountain.
Holy fucking hell it was cold!
"HOLY FUCKING HELL IT'S COLD!" I yelled in surprise.
Olette laughed evilly at me. I grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the water's way. She yelped in shock at the cold rush.
I crossed my arms in satisfaction, even as the water flattened my hair to my head. Then something caught my eye.
Olette's dark brown hair, well, now black hair, was plastered to her scalp and face. Her orange and yellow clothes also clung to her body, revealing the shape and curves of her body. I found myself transfixed to them.
"Roxas?"
Why was my face suddenly so warm?
"Hellooo, Roxas?"
Olette's hand was waving in front of my face.
"Huh?"
She giggled. How sweet it sounded… Wait what!
"You completely zoned out there for a second," she said.
"Oh," I replied, still trying to sort out my thoughts, "Sorry."
We sat down on the concrete around the fountain and waited for the sun to dry us. Since it was so hot out, it shouldn't have taken long. In the meantime, while Olette talked, I closed my eyes and listened to her voice. How come I've never noticed her like I did today?
...Fuck.
She's one of my closest friends, I can't be thinking of her like that. It would be like having the hots for my sister!
…
Oh God. Stop thinking like that Roxas!
Fuck fuck fuck fuck.
I. Need. To. Get. A. Life.
---
When we were finally dry, we spilt up. Olette needed to meet her cousin Leon at the airport, and I just wanted to wander.
"See ya, Roxas," she waved and jogged off.
I wandered until late that night. When I finally came upon my house, I saw the lights on and Dad's car in the driveway.
"Fuck," I murmured.
If I was lucky, he would've passed out by now. But my luck seems to be quite anecdotal as of late. As it turns out, that night Dad tried to hit the big time with a lottery ticket, and he didn't win. Again.
He was already cursing and shouting when I walked in through the front door. When he saw me he directed his anger at me.
"Whereya've been, boy?" he yelled, his words slurred together in drunken rage.
"Out," I replied, trying to figure out a quick escape to my room before Dad will have had enough of my 'attitude' and hit me. Deciding just to wing it, I walked past him; the smell of alcohol was strong; and sprinted up the stairs, two at a time.
In my sanctuary, my room, I glanced at the clock. It was only 9:00 P.M. I took out the paper Shiro had given me earlier with his cell phone number on it. For several minutes I stared at it debating whether or not if I wanted to go. Finally making up my mind, I fished out the cordless phone I had left in my room earlier from my pile of crap, a.k.a. clothes left on the floor and other stuff.
I dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up the other end. I was greeted two rings later by a distinct "hello?".
"Hi, Shiro?" I asked.
"Yeah. Who's this?"
"Roxas."
"Oh, hey Roxas," he said. "What's up?"
"Nothing," I replied. "I just wanted to let you know I can go wakeboarding with you guys tomorrow."
"Awesome," he said. "Yeah, well, Ashe's brother is picking us up at Starkies at 10:00 tomorrow morning after breakfast. Make sure you're there."
"Okay," I responded. "See you tomorrow."
"You too."
I hung up and plopped down on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a good ten minutes. Then there was a knock on the door.
"Roxas?" I heard Sora's voice ask.
"Come in," I replied.
My brother opened the door and entered. "Can I use the phone?"
"Yeah," I said tossing it to him.
He caught it and thanked me and then he left, closing the door behind him.
Once again I contented myself with staring at the ceiling, except I think I wasn't exactly looking at the ceiling anymore. I kept seeing a pair of jewel green eyes and a warm smiling face.
"Fuck, I'm so screwed," I mumbled and squished my face into my pillow and fell asleep.
Phew! I think I broke my record for fastest chapter written. Five days of actually writing and then a bunch of other days I didn't even touch this document. Yay.
Please review. Thank you.