Title: Collecting the Stars
Genre: Romance/Drama
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I no own
Note: This fic is AU, has slight OOC, and contains Yaoi. You have been warned.
Summary: [AU. Yaoi] – It was hard, moving to Twilight Town with my father so soon after mom died. Life just became a whirlwind then, of sex, drugs, wild parties, and a red head that snuck in through my window every night.
WARNING: Unbeta'd Beware Errors!!!!
"Blah" means talking
"Blah" means phone conversations
Blah means thoughts
Chapter 11: The Idea of Growing Old
We can talk all night, we can talk all day.
We can play charades when there is nothing to say.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old..
I can make you angry you can make me a smile.
We can make origami with the kids for awhile.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old.
Now it won't be long. No it won't be long.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old.
We can lay around and count the number of times
I've acted foolish and you've rolled your eyes.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old.
You in your kerchief, and me in my cap.
We can settle down for an afternoon nap.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old.
Now it won't be long.
No it won't be long.
You turn me on to the idea of growing old
The song Roxy was played almost every time I turned on the radio; it was getting me sick to my stomach. It was just after midnight, and I should've been asleep so that way I'd be able to get up at six in the morning for school, but I was awake and thinking about the last person I wanted to think about.
On my desk my phone began to vibrate, which was odd since everyone usually stopped texting around eleven. Sitting up and rolling off of the bed, I made my way towards me phone and checked the new message.
I miss you.
From: Axel.
My heart dropped to my stomach. It was from Axel. He texted me, after a year of no contact, after all that bullshit that happened between us. No words were exchanged after that wonderfully short summer.
I slumped back onto my bed; I needed to get to sleep before I did something stupid like text him back.
May came and went by with little excitement. The anniversary of my mom's death was tough, and a week afterwards was my seventeenth birthday. The only thing that was remotely cool was that Riku graduated from high school with honors and was the top of his class.
May melted into June; the summer heat clung and stuck to whatever it could. With summer came my first job, I had begun to work at Phil's with Hayner and Pence since the place had been short staffed ever since Zexion and Demyx left.
Naminé didn't come back.
Xion and I were at the mall, in Barnes & Noble's reading books and enjoying Frappuccinos.
I was reading The Little Prince, which was one of the best children's books of all time, and was enjoying it a lot. I was mentally debating whether I should buy it or not. Xion was reading an art magazine, and it was her gasp that caused me to look up from my book.
"What's up?" I asked her, peering over the small round table to get a better look at whatever shocked her.
She looked up at me with wide blue eyes, moving the magazine over so that I could see it perfectly.
There in the magazine was a painting of Axel and I passed out on white marble tiled floors. Our limbs were tangled up together and there were a few empty beer bottles near us. Around us were others passed out. Larxene was curled up next to Marluxia. Demyx, Olette, and Zexion were piled atop of each other, and at the far wall was Hayner on the chaise, Pence on the floor next to him.
Even though I had been there, the painting was breathtaking. The caption below told me that painting was called "PARTY". It was of my first night in Twilight Town.
The painting below it was of Hayner and Pence doing tricks on their skateboards near our hang out spot. It was called "THE USUAL SPOT".
There was one of Olette and Axel fighting over a cone of sea salt ice cream, laughing about it and not even realizing that it was dripping everywhere, "SIBLINGS".
Below that were Demyx and Zexion working at Phil's during a really crowded diner rush. Dem had a strained smile while Zex looked like he was ready to kill someone. "WORK".
I flipped the page to see Marluxia taking care of a sad looking rose bush, he was in his work apron and the flower shop was a bright background. Marluxia had a look of sympathetic love on his face as he tended the flower, "PASSION".
Next to it was a painting of the smoky club we had gone to in Radiant Garden, the band was in full swing, and "THE NOBODIES" was the title.
There was one of Riku and Sora arguing during one of Naminé's parties. They both looked frustrated and tired, the caption said "LOVERS".
There was a painting of Sora and I holding hands, everyone around us was laughing except me; I had a frown on my face. It was called "TWINS", this was when we went to the concert and Olette had made that twincest comment.
The next one was of me singing on stage. Eyes closed and mouth open as lyrics poured out, "STARDOM".
And finally, the last one was of me. It was the day after Sora had left, when I was avoiding Olette and had decided to visit Naminé. I was sitting on her porch, looking out at the woods. My eyebrows were furrowed but my expressed was blank and there was a frown marring my face. I was lost in thought; my caption was "SPECIAL".
After the paintings there was an interview with the artist, I had wanted to read it but could feel
Xion's eyes on me.
"These are amazing," I stated lamely, handing the magazine back to her.
She took it quietly, nodding in agreement.
I decided to buy the magazine. Xion was relatively silent for the rest of the day and even though it should've worried me it didn't. I couldn't bring myself to care all that much. I took her home earlier than we had planned. We didn't kiss each other goodbye.
The summer went by fast, I earned some money and on my free time I hung out with Hayner, Pence and Olette. It was the summer before senior year, the last summer of pure freedom. We spent most of it looking up Naminé's paintings; she was getting famous pretty fast.
It worried me a little bit, Nam was the type who could take the saying 'Live Fast, Die Young' to heart.
School started and along with it my senior year. It felt odd; to be a senior already. What was I to do after I graduated? I had applied to Hollow Bastion University and a few others, not seriously though otherwise I'd have been stressed out beyond belief. I still worked for Phil's during the weekend, still hung out with the same friends, still have the same great girlfriend, and was pretty content with my life. That was until October hit.
Xion seemed to appear from nowhere next to my locker just as I closed it.
"Hey," I greeted with a smile, she always made me smile.
"Hey!" She was excited, grin pasted on her face, "look what I got for you." She pulled out a small gift bag with white tissue paper coming out from the top.
I arched an eyebrow, "it's not my birthday and it's not our anniversary or Christmas."
Xion giggled that girly giggle that made most guys go wild; I wish it'd make me go wild, "silly, just open it."
Doing what I was told I opened the bag and carefully removed the tissue paper. There in my hand was The Nobodies debut C.D. I stared at it.
"Wow." I whispered, resisting the urge to throw the CD against the nearby wall.
"Do you like it?" Xion asked, worrying her lower lip.
I forced a bright grin, "of course I do! Thank you!" I kissed the tip of her nose, reminding myself to keep the smile on my face. The cover was a painting of their band logo, bright red against a black background.
She beamed, "okay good! I heard they were coming to town sometime next May, would you want to see them with me?"
If we're still together in May would I have a choice? A nasty voice in my head asked, but I just nodded and continued to smile that pasted on smile, "sure." I was lying through my teeth.
I should've thrown away the CD as soon as I had gotten home but I didn't. Instead I put it into my laptop, Cloud and Leon had gotten both me and Sora one for our birthday, and hooked my headphones up.
As Axel's voice poured into my ears I flipped open the booklet that was hooked onto the cover. There was a dedication page that when one first opened it.
For the fans who were there from the beginning, we love you, you know who you are. For the new fans that are just turning in, we're glad you discovered us, we're awesome. Most importantly though this CD is for the kids of Twilight Town, you'll all always be our #1's.
My heart constricted, was I one of those Twilight Town kids? There were sixteen tracks in total.
1. Radiant Concerts
2. Clock Tower
3. Pizzeria
4. Skaters
5. The Girl in the White House
6. H.B High
7. Mom's Flower shop
8. Three Blond Brothers
9. Dog Days of Summer
10. Pence-ive
11. Little Sisters
12. Hookah
13. Being a Waiter Sucks
14. Parties
15. New Kid in Town
16. Roxy
This entire CD was a tribute to Twilight Town, which made my stomach lurch. Oh God what was wrong with me? It's been over a year and I had a great girlfriend, whom I cared about very much. Maybe if I were to tell myself that enough times I'd eventually believe it.
I read the lyrics to each song as the CD went on. Axel's voice soothed me, and despite how everything was, despite how fucked up everything was, I was still in love with him.
While listening to The Nobodies I realized that I was the sickest type of masochist...but I just wanted to hear his voice. Then the song Roxy came on and I shivered at the ballad intro. Zexion playing acoustic, the guitar let out a sad, almost whining, melody.
"I'm just a heartless creature so what's it matter?
You're wasting your life waiting for me
Tread that wave; keep your head above the water
As I speak like Romeo to thee
Words dripping of love and irony"
Demyx, Luxord, and Saix added their instruments and all of a sudden it was a punk song. Axel took in a deep breath before continuing. Vocals louder, rougher, no longer a lovely ballad; his voice sounded angry and desperate.
"I know I'm no God, Hell I'm barely a man
And you're no saint with all your hate
But I just wanted to let you know
That I love you so
"Honey I'd carve my heart out to see your smile again
Devoted like a whipped dog
The thought of you leaves me in a fog
Yet I know this won't be the end, it's just begun
"We're selfish beings
Dancing away in the drug and club scene
Cursing each other out in every plain
But when I had my concerts you always came
"Roxy your blue eyes kill me
It scared me whenever I heard the word 'we'
So I got up and walked out the door
Leaving my bleeding heart on your floor"
There was an instrumental solo, quick and full of passion. I could see the guys, playing their hearts out as Axel took a breather. The song was making my own heart ache.
"You've heard rumors about me, well I've heard about you
What's it that you want us to do?
I'd slice my wrists; I'd die for that one last kiss
Suicide will be my bliss, as long as there's no near miss
"Roxy your blue eyes kill me
It scared me whenever I heard the word 'we'
So I got up and walked out the door
Leaving my bleeding heart on your floor
"Just tread that wave
Keep your head above the water
As I speak like Romeo to thee
Words dripping of love and irony
"And Roxy your blue eyes kill me
I know I'm no God, Hell I'm barely a man
And you're no saint with all your hate
But I just wanted to let you know
That I love you so"
I sat there staring down at the lyrics for the longest time, even after the CD started to repeat the first song.
He loved me? And this was his way of letting me know? Letting the world know? How exactly was I supposed to react to all of this?
Shaking my head, I took off my headphones and threw myself down on my bed. If he loved me then he'd say it. This could just be a song, just a stupid song that had no meaning behind it like most songs out there. One of the many millions of love songs aimed for the teenage generation that just happened to be around to hear it. Just a meaningless song with my name repeated in it. Unless he knew another person he called Roxy.
My cell began to vibrate in my pocket, causing me to jump a bit and take it out immediately. The number was private, and I eyed it before shrugging and picking up. I needed the distraction, "hello?"
"Hello Roxas," the voice made me lurch up in my bed, eyes wide.
"Naminé," I breathed, shock coursing through my system.
"I heard The Nobodies song on the radio earlier today. Have you heard it?" Naminé asked, and I could hear angry music being played in the background. She sounded sober, which would forever be such an odd experience for me, talking to Nam while she was sober.
"Yeah, I heard it," I answered, unsure as to what exactly I should say. I picked at my sheets, wondering what Xion would've done if she knew I was talking to my ex-girlfriend.
"How are you holding up?" She sounded concerned. I hadn't heard from her in over a year, I should've been pretty pissed off or something. Something. Any type of emotion would've been fine. Instead I was numb and a little sick to my stomach.
"I need to vomit," I managed to rasp out, putting the phone down and running to the bathroom to let out all the contents that were in my stomach.
When I got back to my room I picked my cell back up, half expecting Nam to have hung up on me, but she was still there. She was always there when you needed her, never when you wanted her.
"Feel better?" She asked, sounding as patient as ever. I hated her and loved her at the same time at that moment. But, surprisingly, I did feel a bit better.
"Yeah," I answered lamely, insecure about what exactly I should say to her. "I saw your paintings on a magazine."
Naminé gave a small sigh and I could hear the Mona Lisa smile on her voice, "did you like them?"
"Yeah, but my girlfriend didn't," the truth came out before I got a chance to stop it, "I don't know why though, they were good paintings."
"Maybe because it's something about you that she didn't know and you didn't bother sharing. You're a very mysterious person Roxas Lockhart." Nam stated with a lazy drawl.
"I'm not mysterious, people just don't ask about me." I sighed, lying back down on my bed; The Nobodies CD was repeating all of its songs in the background.
"Who knows everything about you? Aside from your brother and childhood friends from your hometown." She asked; I could hear her turning down her own music.
I went quiet, because I knew she knew whom else had every minute detail of my life memorized. Someone I told everything to no matter how mundane or embarrassing. "That's a loaded question," I said instead, hating once again how Naminé knew everything in life.
Her laughter sounded like bells, even through the phone, "I have to go now Roxas. Take care of yourself."
"Bye Nam, it was nice talking to you." We both hung up at the same time and my heart felt much lighter than it had after I heard the song and read the lyrics. Naminé allowed some light to shine through the self-inflicted misery that I had managed.
The Nobodies concert was in May; everyone would be going and expecting me to go as well, so I'd go. I had seven months to prep myself for this. For seeing Axel again.
November came, as did homecoming and my first anniversary with Xion. Things were going good with her, as good as they could get. We went out for dinner and danced at homecoming, the only problem was that she wanted to have sex. She was ready for that step in our relationship. Unfortunately, I wasn't, and I don't think I'd ever be. It wasn't fair for Xion and I think she was starting to get suspicious by the fact that I wanted to do nothing more than make out.
I walked her to her door at the end of the night, like I always did whenever we were together, always the gentlemen. Xion turned to look at me, a frown marring her pretty face.
"Why don't we do more than kiss?" She asked, as her pretty eyes narrowed at me.
"I'm not ready for anything more yet Xi," I sighed tiredly, it was just after two in the morning and I still had to take the train back home.
"But why?" she practically demanded an answer, and I knew that I owed her some sort of explanation. So I gave a half lie.
"My last relationship, way before I met you, was bad. We didn't get to know each other very well before we even shared our first kiss, and everything about it was fast paced. After that I told myself that I would never be in another relationship like that again." I shrugged, feeling like a wimp for saying such a thing. But it wasn't exactly a lie, because my last 'relationship' had been with Axel and it had ended badly. Before that was Nam and that was just a disaster.
Xion stared at me for a good few minutes in silence, "…you've never told me that much about you before."
I almost winced at the fact that Nam's words came and bit me in the ass. "I'm sorry," I offered lamely.
She nodded, "goodnight Roxas." That was a dismissal, and I didn't need to be told twice.
"'Night Xi," I said before practically sprinting from her porch. Something told me that our relationship wasn't going to last any longer. And as much as I loved Xion as a friend, I couldn't help but feeling of relief building up inside of my heart at the idea of her breaking up with me.
December, winter break, Sora and Riku staying for a while at Cloud and Leon's house.
Sora grinned from his spot on my bed, it was Christmas evening and Riku had just left for his father's place to spend time with his family. Aeris, Zack, and Olette and come over to spend the evening with us. Olette stared at me from my desk chair.
"So, the song Roxy's about you, huh?" My brother asked slyly, rocking side to side.
I frowned at him, "what makes you think that So?"
"I read the lyrics," he answered easily, we were waiting for dinner to start.
Olette snorted as she laughed, which was very unladylike but completely human. It was good to know that women weren't as perfect as they tried to be. "Axel say's the name Roxy like a billion times in the song Sora."
"He only says it three times," I answered, and felt my face heat up immediately afterwards as the two of them stared at me.
"You're so fucking hopeless and pathetic," Sora stated, but his words lacked conviction.
"Why are you still with Xion again?" Olette asked, eyes narrowed and a shuffled uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Because I like her," I answered honestly.
Sora huffed, "yeah, you like her the same way I like Kairi, so why're you staying with her dude? Break it off with her and sort your emotions out. Stop using her as a safety net."
Olette nodded in agreement, "besides, Hayner actually likes her, a lot. It'd be great if you'd stop being selfish and give him a chance at happiness. No offense Rox."
"Call her and do it now," Sora suggested absentmindedly.
"Sora, it's Christmas, I'm not going to break up with her now. I'll wait until after school starts again. And then I'll push Hayner in her direction." I answered lazily, moving so that my head rested in Sora's lap. A few seconds later Aeris called us into the dining room for dinner.
It felt good to just be me; even if it was with only two people.
The New Year started quietly. Hayner managed to sneak us all out to the coast to shoot off fireworks.
"Lexaeus and Quistis were okay with this? I mean, I know how they are when it comes to spending time with the family during the holidays," Pence said while taking candid photos of us.
Hayner shrugged, "my parents know I'm shooting off fireworks. They just don't know where." He laughed.
Olette and Xion were kicking up the sand, and running around laughing like the girls that they were, with Pence taking photos of them.
"Hey," I looked over at Hayner; we were at his car, going through which fireworks we wanted to light, "I'm going to break up with Xion soon."
He looked up at me sharply, brown eyes wide with surprise, "what? Why?"
I sighed, "Because, she wants more then I can give her. I mean I barely even kiss her and the most we do is hold hands. I don't see her as anything more than a good friend, like Olette, you know?"
"So you've been leading her one for the past year or so?" He asked with a deep frown.
"No! I thought I did like her like that, but I don't," I looked back at him, "what I'm trying to say here Hay is that once we break up it'll be more then okay for you to go after her, if you want."
Hayner's face flushed, and he lowered his gaze from mine, "I don't want to be rebound."
"Then don't be," I shrugged, staring out at the icy waters of the ocean.
A week later winter break was over and we were back into our normal routines.
Xion came up to my locker after second period, a frown on her pretty face, and I just knew it was over between us before she even opened her mouth.
"I slept with Hayner," she said, eyes dry but her expression was one that was sorry and depressed.
I knew that I shouldn't have felt angry, but I did. She cheated on me. She slept with one of my closest friends. But, I concluded in the span of five seconds, that it made up for the fact that I had practically used her over the course of a year.
"Oh," I managed to choke out.
"Oh?" She echoed, "Just 'oh'? You're not going to get upset or threaten him or dump me?"
"You seem to be taking this harder than I am Xi," I stated, making sure that I had my math book before slamming my locker shut. "Are you going to go out with him now? He really likes you."
Xion stared at me, her eyes watering, "you're such an asshole." She whispered as tears fell down upon her cheeks, she sniffled, trying to compose herself but only crying more.
With a tired sigh, I grabbed her and lead her to the PAC, which was empty during this time of day. "Now we're both going to skip second period and you're going to tell me why I'm an asshole when you're the one who cheated on me."
She sat down in the last row of the PAC and I sat down next to her, waiting for her to say something, "you never loved me throughout our entire relationship. I knew. You were so hung up on the last person you were with. And at first I thought that was fine, I mean, I thought you'd come around eventually. But you didn't Rox." Her head was her hands and her shoulders were shaking as she cried silently.
I frowned, "I know. I'm sorry Xi; I never meant to hurt you." I almost laughed bitterly, she slept with Hayner and I'm the one apologizing.
"Just tell me," Xion's voice was trembling, "are you still in love with her? Your ex-girlfriend; the artist? I heard so much about her."
"Naminé?" I asked her, eyebrows raised, "no. I love her, but not in the way she'd want me to. No, Nam's just a friend."
"Then who is it Roxas?" She looked up at me with red rimmed eyes, mascara running down her face.
I leaned back in my seat and let out a big puff of air, "I'm going to tell you something that only three other people know. My brother, Olette, and Nam, and I want you to promise me that you won't tell anyone. Anyone Xion."
She nodded, wiping her face with the back of her hands.
"I'm in love with Axel," I stuttered.
She gave me a blank look, "does he go to our school?"
I shook my head, "Axel is the lead singer of The Nobodies. A cocky redhead who thinks he's the shit and that the world should bow down to him."
"You actually know him?" Xion gave me a doubtful look.
"Of course I do, he's Olette's older brother," I shrugged, and then proceeded to tell her everything that had happened during that summer when I was sixteen. It was the most I've ever told her about me, and when we got up to go to third period there was no bad blood between us. Instead Xion gave me a tight hug.
"See you at lunch Rox," She sighed into my shirt.
I petted her hair, "yeah, just do me a favor. Please no PDA with Hayner. I hate public displays of affection."
Xion giggled that girly giggle that I had always wished I could fall in love with and went to find the nearest girls restroom to fix her makeup. I had to go back to my locker to exchange books.
February was awful close to May, The Nobodies concert loomed over my head with each passing week and I was beginning to think of ways to get out of it.
March flew by with little incident, all of us just counting the days down until Spring Break. And then April hit and with it ten days of freedom. Five of which were spent back on Destiny with Sora, Riku, Tidus, Kairi, and Selphie (Wakka went away for college).
Hayner, Pence, Olette, Xion and I drove to Destiny like we had the year before, staying once again at Riku's place.
The ten of us were on the beach the first night, sharing the batch of special brownies that Selphie had managed to create. Bonfire lit and music was pouring out of the same old radio that we had always taken to the beach as kids.
"Holy shit Selphie! These brownies are nothing but weed!" Tidus choked on his brownie, his face turned red as he swallowed it down with a Pepsi.
"Stop being such a little bitch about it. They taste fine," Selphie cackled evilly as she ate hers. I was pretty sure that she was already quite high at this point.
"Oh my gosh!" Olette suddenly gasped, "You guys should so come to The Nobodies concert in Hollow Bastion in May."
"Yeah!" Sora agreed, bouncing around in the sand, "that's after graduation, and Riku has a car so we can all go!"
"Hey, don't go volunteering me like that," Riku said lazily.
Sora traced a pattern on Riku's arm with his pointer finger, "if you take us I'll make it worth your while."
"We're all going to The Nobodies concert in May!" Riku grinned.
"Am I the only person who's fucking sober here?" I demanded, the responses I got were insane giggles and loud laughter. "God damn it."
May was there before I realized it, along with the second anniversary of mom's death, and Sora's graduation which Cloud, Leon, and I attended.
"So where are you going to school now?" Leon asked Sora as the four of us headed towards the restaurant that we were meeting Riku and company at.
"I got accepted to Traverse University, so Riku and I are both gonna move to Traverse Town and go there. It's only a forty-five minute drive from Twilight Town, and Hollow Bastion University." Sora winked at me, and I felt my face heat up. I had been accepted into HBU earlier that year, but didn't like thinking about it. College had felt so far away then, but in a few months I'd be attending there, being a college kid was a big step for me.
"You graduate next week Rox," Sora grinned, "And we turn eighteen too! When's The Nobodies concert anyhow?"
"On our birthday," I told him with a half shrug.
I knew that the band had no way of controlling what town they'd be touring on what day or night, but I had a feeling that Axel managed to bend a few strings to come back to his home town that night. He knew when my birthday was, just like I knew when his was, those were just more useless pieces of information that we shared between the sheets.
"I miss mom," I suddenly sighed, leaning into Sora.
Sora leaned into me as well, "me too Rox. Me too."
My graduation was boring, I spent most of it texting Olette, Pence, Hayner, Xion, and Sora; even though the administrators told us that we weren't allowed cell phones. Everyone was texting, discreetly of course even though everyone else knew about it.
By the time we were done we rushed out to meet up with our families and other school friends. Pictures were taken, tons of them. Hugs were exchanged as well as false promises to keep in touch and stay friends no matter what.
"I'm glad that we're free from that hell hole!" Hayner laughed, hopping onto my back. It was only by sheer willpower that I didn't topple over and be crushed underneath his weight.
"Get the fuck off of me!" I struggled to fling him off.
"Congratulations guys," a familiar, feminine, voice laughed from our left, causing us to turn. Naminé was standing there in a white sundress and a happy smile on her face. Her bright blonde hair was placed in a side braid, her eyes were still wide and blue, her skin still looking as if the sun never touched it. She had that whole pure look down pact, and it worked for her. She was still breathtakingly beautiful in her own mental way.
"Holy shit!" Hayner gapped at her, getting off of my back and staring, "dude, Nam, when did you get here?"
"A few hours ago, since the concert is tomorrow I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. Theoretically that is." She winked, and then Hayner and I tackled her in a tight hug. A few minutes later Pence, Olette, and Sora showed up and hugged her as well. Xion showed up shortly after and introductions were made.
"Tomorrow's the concert!" Olette cheered as the seven of us headed to our families, all of which were waiting together on the other side of the parking lot. We got to graduated in HBU's arena, which was huge and pretty nicely decorated.
"Not just the concert, but Sora and Roxas's birthday too," Xion reminded with a grin.
"No birthday punches!" Sora laughed, leading the way to Dad and Leon.
…I had just called Cloud Dad again.
After dinner with the parental units we all went home and changed before meeting up at the hole in the wall to head to the huge white villa on the other side. It's been almost two years since any of us went through those woods. We were going to Nam's to light off some fireworks and drink the bottle of vodka that Pence had nicked from his mother.
We passed around the old pipe that we had always used as Hayner and Olette lit the fireworks.
"Riku's coming tomorrow with Kairi, Selphie, and Tidus," Sora sighed, leaning back onto the porch.
Naminé had her sketch book out and Pence had his camera. This was a good way to end thirteen years or public school. And I said so out loud as I took a puff of the hash pipe.
The morning of my birthday started with Sora jumping up and down on my bed, until he finally threw himself down on my, screaming Happy Birthday at the top of his lungs off-key.
"Get off of me you ass!" I pushed him off of my bed and closed my eyes again, Sora had opened the blinds for my window and the sunlight was streaming in happily. Blissfully unaware of what I was about to do to my twin, "you get out if you want to live to see nineteen!" I growled at him, resisting the urge to strangle him with my blanket.
"But the gifts Roxas! The gifts!" Sora cried out from his spot on my floor, "Leon's still here and he cooked up breakfast. Get your lazy ass up and come oooon, we can eat pancakes together and be legal and shit."
Huffing, I rolled out of bed, stepping over Sora and out of my bedroom. Sure enough Leon had made up pancakes.
"I have to get to work, you two have a good birthday, there're gifts from your father and I on the kitchen island." Leon had stated as he put his tie on and walked out the door, "see you guys later!"
"Yummy blueberry," Sora gushed as he dipped his pancakes in buttery syrup.
"And you're eighteen?" I asked in a deadpanned voice.
"Yup," Sora nodded, syrup dripping down his chin, "and I'm the older twin."
Being eighteen wasn't as great as everyone made it out to be. I saw it as like this: now that I was legal I could actually get arrested for shit instead of being sent to juvie. I still couldn't legally drink. And as the day flew by, the hours getting closer and closer to the concert, I desperately wanted to drink.
"I got some Nobodies shirts for Riku, Kairi, Tidus and Selphie," Olette smiled brightly, bringing out a black, red, purple, and a white shirt with the band's logo on them.
When Riku and company showed up, we were pleasantly surprised to see Wakka with them, home for a late Spring Break and deciding to come with. This left Olette scrambling for one more band shirt.
When everything was settling down with the group from Destiny, we all met up at the train station where Xion met us at the other side.
"I'm so excited!" Xion gushed, "I've never been to a concert before," She was holding on tightly to Hayner's hand, a smile on her face and her eyes done up prettily.
"Are we going to Zell's afterwards?" Sora asked, holding onto Riku's hand, their fingers laced together.
That's when I realized that everyone was holding hands. Pence and Olette were linked, Tidus and Selphie were together, and Wakka and Kairi were holding pinkies. I frowned and took Naminé's hand in my own, not wanting to be alone. She gave me a knowing smile.
The concert was in the same club that it had always been at, but it had tight security and we weren't allowed backstage with the band like we used to.
"But I'm Axel's sister!" Olette frowned.
"And I'm Demyx's brother!" Hayner glared.
It was only by luck that Zexion was passing behind the guards and saw us, "you all came?" He asked us, and the security guards moved aside for him. He looked different, more punk and rock then emo now. He looked like a rock star.
"Are you all going to Zell's afterwards?" He asked, moving his hair behind his ears and out of his face before it fell right back in place.
"Of course," Pence answered with a nod.
"We'll see you guys there then. Larxene and Marluxia are somewhere in the club, if you find them then they should be able to sneak you drinks," Zexion gave us a small smile, "I have to go back to everyone else before they send a search party out for me, see you guys later tonight."
We went into the club, but it was so crowded that it would've been impossible to find Larxene or Marluxia. Instead we managed to find a booth and squeeze into it. Not even bothering to go to the pit below, there was no room on the dance floor.
"And this is a small concert for them now?" Sora whistled lowly, I'm not sure how we all managed to fit in that booth, but we did; all twelve of us.
The lights in the front dimmed and my heart skipped a beat as Demyx started with an electric guitar solo.
The lights suddenly flashed on and the rest of the band began to play, Axel stood on stage with the mic in his hands and his eyes searching the crowd as he waited for his cue.
"AXEL!" Olette screamed, and even though a dozen other girls were screaming his name he turned to face our direction. Olette jumped up and waved her arms, doing a silly dance and catching her brother's attention.
The lead singer looked at her and smiled; face flushed with happiness before opening his mouth and letting the lyrics pour out. As soon as his voice echoed throughout the club I was enraptured. Axel tried to keep his eyes on the crowd before him, and for that I was grateful. If he were to have looked my way I think my heart would've stopped.
"This next song is the one that put us on the radio," Axel said into the mic, his voice made me shiver with want, "Roxy is a song about a lost love, as you all know. And, believe it or not, Roxy is here tonight." The crowd began to scream wildly, "yeah, and I hope Roxy understand how much I mean it in this song."
His bright green eyes looked over at our table as he started the ballad and suddenly it was too much for me, "I can't stay here." I said to my table as I shimmied out of the booth, Sora grabbed my hand before I left and looked at me worriedly. I shook my head at him and walked outside of the club where the warm night air hit me.
The bouncer outside eyed me, "alright there kid?" he asked gruffly.
"Yeah," I said absentmindedly, running both hands through my hair and letting out a frustrated sigh. This wasn't fair. I didn't want to freak out like that and appear weak. I hadn't even wanted to come to the stupid concert, but at the same time I had, because I'm a sick fucker like that.
I waited outside until intermission, some people came outside to smoke a cigarette, and amongst them was Marluxia.
"Hey Roxas, what're you doing out here? Hiding from Axel?" He asked with a knowing smirk as he took a puff of his cigarette. It wasn't until the smell hit me that I realized he wasn't smoking a cigarette.
"Starting the party early?" I asked him, putting my hand out and waited for him to pass it to me. Luckily he did, and I took a deep drag of the too strong blunt.
"You're going to have to be a man and go back in there, it won't be fair to the others, and the band's really happy that we're all able to be here you know," Marluxia said, taking a drag.
I nodded, "yeah, I know."
The rest of the concert went by rather quickly, and our group was one of the first to leave. A lot of The Nobodies fans stayed behind to try and catch a glimpse of the band.
"Will Zell's place hold all of us just fine?" Pence asked as we walked out.
"I love how you're all so calm about all of this. Their concert was fucking awesome!" Xion threw her hands in the air and Selphie copied her every move, equally excited.
"Yeah, we should all fit, it'll be a little snug though," Hayner nodded.
My heart was beating a mile a minute and I felt sick to my stomach, "hey, you know, I think I'm gonna head back home."
"What? Why? We haven't seen them in over a year! Don't you want to see them?" Pence asked, giving me a curious look.
"I do, but I don't feel too hot. I think Marluxia's shit was laced, I'd feel better lying down in bed." I lied.
Olette, Sora, Naminé and Xion all gave me understanding looks.
"See you guys later," I gave them a weak smile and headed away from the group, towards the train station.
The ride home was quiet, and for that I was thankful.
I was reading in bed around 2AM, Sora and everyone else was still at Zell's, eating pizza and smoking good weed. And as much as I wanted to be there with everyone else, I knew I wouldn't be able to do it. Two years away from Axel and I still couldn't be in the same room as him. I was such a pussy.
Rubbing my eyes I went back to my book, it was getting pretty interesting, until my window flung open.
I stared at it, a cold fear rushing throughout my body. And then I saw it, legs coming in ass first. No one used my window as a door anymore, but the fact that this person came in ass first was a dead giveaway.
I remained frozen in bed, unable to move whatsoever. He turned to face me and jumped, holding a hand to his heart. "Jesus Roxas, warn a guy."
Anger then flooded my veins, "how dare you come in here like no time had passed. Like all that shit didn't happen between us?"
Axel sauntered over to me and I glared at him, not bothering to move, "and then you make a song about me? What the fuck's wrong with you?"
He looked down at me, bright green eyes, wild red hair, and leaned forward, pressing his lips on top of mine.
I gasped into the kiss, which only caused him to deepen the kiss, and run his hands through my hair. Oh fuck. I grabbed the front of his shirt tightly, my own tongue shyly brushing against his. We pulled apart slowly, and I had to regain my breath.
"I love you," Axel whispered, kissing my forehead.
I closed my eyes, "you have a funny way of showing it."
"I know, I'm an asshole, please forgive me," he sounded so sincere, and I had already forgiven him the moment I saw him on stage earlier.
Our lives weren't going to be perfect, I knew this. I was going to college and Axel was going back out on tour, but we loved each other, things were bound to work themselves out one way or another. If not then we'll make them work.
"I love you too," I whispered. And he kissed me again.
FIN
Evil Chibi Kitten: DONE! The lyrics for Roxy I wrote myself, they're not that great, but I'm no lyricist so please forgive me. This is the longest chapter I've ever written. 17 pages and over 8,000 words. And I wrote it all in one sitting, my wrists hurt haha.
I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who read and those who reviewed too. I'm a review whore and they helped me survive. The link to the soundtrack can be found on my profile. Again, THANK YOU EVERYONE! Please review, flames are welcome :)