Chapter 10 – Sunday

A part of me wanted to tell Marluxia. Another part thought screw Marluxia, go to the police station. But then they would confiscate my phone, which was an important part of my life.

I didn't know what to do. And then I thought for a second. I picked up the phone book and searched for a last name.

"Ah-hah!" I smiled in triumph and pointed to Lexaeus's name. I quickly dialed the number.

"Hello?" his voice scared me to death.

"Um, Lexaeus? Hi, this is Vexen Auburn...I just got a text from the man who murdered Zexion."

Silence greeted me on the other line.

Either A, I went too far or B. he thought I was nuts.

"Er...a text from Zexion's phone came. And it wasn't with him..." I began explaining.

"I encourage you to take your phone to the police."

I bit my lip, "Yes...I am fully sorry about your loss."

"You didn't kill him, did you?" he said tiredly.

"No..sorry..I just know how it feels...I..."

I said too much. He was silent.

"Just..goodbye." I murmured about to hang up.
"Wait, Vexen. Weren't you best friends with Zexion in first to eighth grade?"

"Err...yeah..." I murmured. Come to think of it.

I almost forgot.

"Why stop?"

"He was really bossy." I answered.

He thought for a moment. "Good day, Auburn."

And so he hung up.

Today was Sunday, right? I might as well start my usual routine.

A short run to Starbucks – coffee calmed me down instead of getting me hyped up. I needed my mind clear of any murders and good kissers with blue eyes. I wanted to be with myself.

I always had that dream when something was going to happen. I realized that after half of the cup of my coffee. Two things happened and personally, I didn't want to remember. I felt sick whenever I thought about blue eyes and pink hair.

My walk to the gas station was really slow. I wanted to hear the birds of the middle-going-on-late-March. Which again reminded me of how many things happened in march.

I didn't want to think about it.

I inhaled the gasoline and smiled, feeling it in my lungs. It felt so good to forget...

"Vexen?"

I froze, opening one eye. The car that stood in front of me was a Range Rover, the same one from yesterday. Behind the wheel sat Lexaeus looking at me with extremely sad eyes. I cleared my throat. "Lexaeus? What are you doing here?"

The muscular, 6 foot 5 football player looked down," I really need someone to talk to. Would you mind taking a ride with me?"

I had no objections to get away from my thoughts and nodded, climbing into his car.

I sipped my coffee as he drove on the boulevard, fidgeting nervously.

"Zexion...I can't explain it," he began, "He was always by my side, always there to tell me what to do..." he glared at me. "I'm sorry about being an ass to you."

I shook my head. "It's in the past now."

He smiled warmly – I never knew someone as large as him could do that – and looked back on the road.

"It didn't matter how bossy he was or that the things he told me to do weren't right. I...have you ever had someone important in your life?"

I thought for a moment. A person like me? Not likely. Then the image of a laughing Xigbar, sulking Xaldin and blue eyes with dark rims around the irises.

I quickly nodded my head. "Yeah a few."

He nodded. "See, if one of them died you'd understand."

"I already understand." I mumbled so he wouldn't hear me. "Er..if you don't mind my asking..you...were in love with Zexion?"

He went frigid and looked down. "I guess you could say that?"

A very stupid question arose on my tongue. 'How did it feel like?"

He raised his eyebrows, "Constant strange feeling in the stomach, heart burning every time he's close...you're not judging me are you?"

"I blinked. "Why would I?"

"You know..both of us being boys and all. Zexion and I.."

Oh. I didn't think about it. What is YOUR sexual preference, Vexen? I remembered. I gulped. "No , not at all. I don't think gender really matters when it comes to..love. Or anything else for that matter."

I recieved a warm smile. "I'm glad you think that way."

I gave him a crooked smile back.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I jumped.

He looked down at me, "Something wrong?"

"Oh um.." I murmured. "One moment."

The text message could have been from the killer.

When I opened my phone I groaned.

"What do you want, Marluxia?" I mumbled.

The text message was one word: * molests *

My face flushed bright red and I growled, closing the phone quickly. Lexaeus looked at me.

"What's wrong? You're bright red."

"It's nothing." I put the phone away quickly.

He looked at the clock. "Oh boy, I must show up at the funeral plans. Where would you like me to drop you off?"

I thought for a moment, "If you could drop me off at the Park Alley, house 11."

He nodded and pushed the pedal.

He stopped at the vine-covered house and I got out. "Thanks." He nodded. "Thank you too."

"It's no problem." He smiled at me and I closed the door.

One, two, three. I looked at the cherry tree and bit my lip. I was never good with tree climbing, but this tree seemed pretty easy to climb.

Slowly, branch after branch, I seemed to get up pretty quickly. When I was close enough, I grabbed onto the balcony and pulled myself up, stepping over various flowers carefully. I reached the doors and narrowed my eyes to see better.

Surprise crossed over Marluxia's face as he stared right back at me. I opened my mouth to speak as he slid the door open and pulled me into a hug. I yelped. "What's gotten into you? Let me go!"

He sighed as he pulled his away his arms and looked at me. I bit my lip.

"I have to talk to you."

He lead me to his bed, never once taking his eyes off of me.

"I.." I began as I sat down. "Marluxia, I'm not ready for this..relationship thing.."

He looked at me with confused eyes.

"We..can't be together." I said slowly.

Fear crossed over his face.

"Basically, I don't believe you," I sighed, looking at myself.

"Why?" he raised his eyebrows.

"I just don't." I shook my head. He scooted over closer to me.

"How can I prove you wrong?"

"I dunno. How can you prove it anyways?" I smiled sadly and looked up at him. "I wish to be friends, until you can prove me wrong."

He looked down. "Whatever you want."

I smiled, "Thanks."

With Marluxia out of the way, I could definitely clear my head.

I took out my cell phone and quickly found the message from Zexion's murderer.

"I got this today," I handed it to him and he studied the screen before he went wide-eyed.

"You've got to take it to the police," he said and glared at the name on the screen.

"What do you have to do with anything?" Anger was heard.

I bit my lip, "I was friends with Zexion." I said softly. Marluxia's eyes traveled to me. I didn't look at him as I continued. "He told me to do – everything. I had enough of him at one point and talked back. He got angry with me and told me that my reputation was at stake. Straight to his face, I told him I didn't care – and he threatened me since he could do nothing but that." I turned to Marluxia, smiling slightly, "He purposely made me piss him off after he became friends with Lexaeus and he hung me by my shirt on a hook in the gym locker room."

"Because he had a grudge?" the other's fists tightened but his voice was calm. I nodded and looked out to the balcony.

"Maybe the murderer considered that I would be an easy target to blame the murder on."

Marluxia pressed his lips together, seeming to be thinking.

"We will figure it out," he assured me and I nodded.

"I know. But..I'm not good with the police."

"Why not?" he raised his eyebrows. My eyes narrowed as I answered.

"They lie."

We sat in pure silence for a few minutes. I began tugging on a strand of my hair and we watched me.

"Marluxia."

"Hm?" he inquired. I turned to him hastily. "If you could make an educated guess...who would you say killed Zexion?"