Disclaimer: I don't own KH or any of its characters.

Warnings: Some language

Author's Note: I couldn't wait to start writing this chapter. More Akuroku is coming your way in a chapter or two.

Pretending

Chapter 5: Growth

Friends are, for Roxas, the best thing in the world. They are always willing to listen to one's problems and offer advice and solace. They buy lunch for two if you forget your lunch money, and sometimes, they allow you to copy their homework. They are always thinking about you, even when you think they aren't. Friends are amazing.

Roxas asked all of his teachers for a seat change in every one of his classes. The teachers were more than happy to comply, believing that Roxas would do well if he sat in the front of the room. Roxas was more than happy to be back in the front row, a place that was he was comfortable with. In the front row, the smart kids filled all the seats, paying attention and taking notes, getting slightly annoyed at the people behind them. Roxas used to be one of those kids. He had fallen into a bad habit, laziness. However, he was trying his best to break that horrible, horrible habit.

Roxas returned the notebook to the student sitting next to him, whispering, "Thank you," as he did so. The student smiled and nodded, letting Roxas know that it was no hassle. Roxas had finished copying all of the notes he had missed when he fell into a depressed state. It was a lot of information to learn at once, but Roxas figured that he would be able to learn by the time that his finals came, June of next year.

Axel glared from the back row. He didn't know why Roxas had changed so suddenly. He was suspicious when Roxas had asked for a seat change in every class, but now he was starting to get annoyed. Axel knew that he hadn't done anything to Roxas other than offer solace when Roxas fought with Hayner. Axel frowned as he remembered seeing Roxas hanging out with Zexion. Whereas Roxas continued to hang out with Zexion, Roxas had abandoned Axel and Demyx.

Axel hated the thought.

A crush is a blessing and curse, and Roxas was proof. Since the very moment Axel laid his emerald green eyes upon Roxas, he knew that he wanted Roxas. He had observed Roxas' behavior; Roxas didn't hang out with any girls at all, other than one brown haired girl. But he didn't even seem to be in love with her. Axel just couldn't figure out what Roxas' preference was; male, or female?

Roxas, until Axel figured out what Roxas' preference was, wasn't fair game. Axel constantly observed Roxas' behavior, but he couldn't find tell-tale signs that told him what Roxas preferred. It tormented Axel. Axel wanted Roxas so bad, but Roxas was unobtainable.

In this society, being anything else other than straight is a taboo. Axel doesn't care about taboos. He listens to heavy metal and dresses in all black, and doesn't really care what others think about it. Axel had recently gotten his tongue pierced. It seems that having anything else other than your ears pierced is a taboo in society. But Axel didn't care. He loved men; he couldn't care less about having a girlfriend. He was only interested in what males have to offer.

In Axel's opinion, being straight would be a hassle more than anything. You would always be worrying about getting your partner pregnant, and Axel knew that condoms won't always prevent a pregnancy. If you wore them wrong, or if they had a microscopic hole in them, your chances of getting pregnant were increased drastically. Axel knew that he or his future partners wouldn't have to deal with things such as birth control. After all, a guy can't get another guy pregnant.

Axel glared at the back of Roxas' head. Roxas was sitting next to Hayner. Axel found it peculiar that the two were passing notes, but they weren't passed in an angry fashion. When Roxas wasn't replying to a note, Roxas was taking notes and asking questions. Roxas was reverting back to how he was before.

The whole situation was peculiar. Why would Roxas' depression suddenly lift? Even if he had been prescribed antidepressants, it takes a while for the effects to kick in. It was almost as if one day, Roxas was horribly depressed, but was cured the next. It seemed almost unnatural.

Axel lightly hit the desk's leg with his boot in frustration.

"Hey, what do you think happened to Roxas? He's acting funny," Demyx whispered.

"I think...his buddy up there's doing something to Roxas. Mind control or something," Axel whispered back.

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School had ended some thirty minutes ago. The students had scurried home in a hurry, whether to get started on homework or to tell their parents that they have no homework (an obvious lie), and that they were going to the arcade or mall or wherever. Roxas had hurried home to complete the day's homework and to study the notes he had taken in class, like a good student. Axel frowned as he saw Roxas leave the building without even whispering as much as a good-bye to him or Demyx. However, Roxas had bid Hayner and Zexion farewell. Axel found it odd.

Axel had memorized Hayner's outfit during class. Hayner was the only person in the school that was wearing camouflage shorts and a black sleeveless shirt. Hayner was also a little bit on the shorter side, so Axel would have an easy time finding the boy in the large crowd. Axel knew that Hayner wasn't the kind of person that would immediately head home to study, instead choosing to stay after school a few minutes longer than everyone else to chat with friends.

The school had cleared, and only two students remained, one with blond-ish hair, the other with fiery crimson hair. Axel stood by the corner, arms crossed and a foot on the wall. Hayner walked by casually with a smile on his face, obviously happy by how the day turned out.

"Hey," Axel said, causing Hayner to stop. Hayner looked at Axel curiously.

"Hey..." Hayner replied, letting his voice trail off at the end. Axel could tell that Hayner was uncomfortable.

"Listen, I'm going to make this quick," Axel said, but was interrupted by Hayner.

"Do I even know you?" Hayner asked.

"No," Axel replied, "But I do know Roxas. I'm one of his friends...well, was, anyway."

"So, what do you want? I need to go home before my parents bitch at me for being late again."

"Like I said, this is going to be quick. Roxas...has changed lately. Used to be depressed, but was suddenly lifted a few days ago. I know he had a fight with you."

"Where exactly are you going with this?" Hayner asked.

"But, you and him are suddenly talking again, being all buddy-buddy with each other. Kind of odd, if you ask me."

"Yeah? The other day we made up -"

Hayner was interrupted as he felt Axel's fist connect with his face. Surely, Hayner would have a black eye come morning.

Axel was blinded by fury. Why did Hayner and Roxas make out? He was about to kick the living shit out of Hayner, only to find that the other teenager was suddenly missing. Axel stomped his boot on the ground, inhaling deeply to calm his nerves. He left the building, leaving a scuff mark on the clean floors.

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Roxas sighed happily as he sat in the living room on the couch. He had a full stomach, and his homework was nearly done. There were a few math problems (well, the whole assignment), that he was having problems solving.

Kayla smiled as she saw her son relaxing. He had brought home an A+ grade a few days ago, on his English test. English was an easy subject, but it was a welcomed improvement from her son's previous failing grades. Michael had finished washing the dishes for his lovely wife. He turned around and saw her smiling. Curiously, he asked, "What is it, sweetie?"
"Look at Roxas. He seems so much better now. His grades are improving..." Kayla replied.

"Hey, Cloud?" Roxas asked, interrupting his brother from watching television. Cloud looked at Roxas and nodded, letting Roxas know that he was to continue his sentence. "Can you help me with my homework?"

Cloud smiled - it was tiny and only the corners of his lips were turned up slightly, but it was still a smile. When Roxas was younger, Cloud had always enjoyed helping Roxas with his homework. Cloud had helped a lot in teaching Roxas how to read. Roxas was simply not interested in the material provided to him by the school, so Cloud had given him some of his own books. Roxas had quickly learned to read after that because he had wanted to know what was happening in the books.

As time went by and Roxas grew up, Roxas asked less and less for help on homework. Eventually, Roxas quit asking for help at all. Cloud had helped Sora here and there, but Sora had always turned to Kayla and Michael for assistance. Cloud always taught through logic, something that Roxas had easy time learning. Sora, however, was always finding a new way to learn a fact, and rarely resorted to logic.

Cloud moved closer to Roxas, looking at the homework problems intently, his brain instantly working to find a solution. The solutions came quickly and easily for Cloud, but Roxas was struggling. He hadn't even been able to solve one problem. Algebra was hard, Cloud acknowledged, but Cloud had been able to master both years of the course.

Cloud taught Roxas all of the tricks to solving problems he knew. In case Roxas forgot one, Cloud jotted them down on a piece of notebook paper. Roxas seemed amazed when he had solved a problem all by himself and had gotten the right answer. Cloud smiled at his younger brother, feeling proud. Cloud would be leaving the house in less than a year, but he was certain that Roxas would be able to take on his responsibilities rather easily. He felt bad for Kayla; in a few years, both Sora and Roxas would be leaving the house at once. She would be left alone.

Cloud was looking at apartments close to his home. He knew that Kayla would need help around the house, and he would be glad to offer his services. Leon, also close to graduating, was also looking for apartments, so he and Cloud put their efforts together. They decided to share an apartment. There was a college in town that both Cloud and Leon were going to in the fall, and since Leon owned a car, they'd be able to get there rather easily while being able to visit Kayla and Michael. Leon had no intentions of visiting his parents after his graduating.

His parents were rather strict individuals, having being raised strict themselves. Cloud could tell that they were proud of Leon. They had told Leon that they want him to become successful in life, and Leon vowed to not return to them after graduation until after he had fulfilled their wish. Cloud knew that Leon would turn to his parents for guidance. Cloud also knew that he would find himself heading to Kayla and Michael's house whenever he needed guidance.

Cloud messed up Roxas' hair, telling his family, "Good night," as he walked up the stairs. Roxas had finished his homework under the guidance of Cloud. Thrilled with himself, he closed the notebook and followed Cloud's example, while Kayla and Michael watched him with their hearts swelling with pride.

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Homeroom was torture to some students. For some, it was a waste of time. There were fifteen minutes in which you were required to stay in your homeroom. Most students would chat to others about anything and everything, spreading all sorts of rumors and gossip. There were some that finished up homework from the night before or studied their notes. Some even read a book to pass the time.

Roxas sat in his seat, tapping his fingers on the desk in a odd rhythm. His eyes widened as he saw Hayner walk in with a painful looking black eye.

"Hayner! What happened!"

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Author's Note: Axel heard Hayner wrong. He thought Hayner said "make out". I guess Axel really is the jealous type! Like I said before, Akuroku is coming up very shortly. Hope you enjoyed this chapter; it was fun to write!

I want everyone to know that all of my fics are on a temporary hiatus for the next week or two, and it's not because of school. My grandfather has passed away, and I need some time to cope with it and move on. My muse has also left me, so writing has become more of a chore than anything - and writing fanfiction should never, ever be a chore. In the meantime, I'll be trying to write, but my chapters probably won't be up to their usual quality. Thank you for reading this author's notice, and I hope you enjoy the rest of Pretending when I write some more chapters.