Chapter 2:

AN: So the promised chapter two… Disclaimers are all-encompassing: do not own but for the plot. Got it memorised?

Warnings: Shounen ai, conniving friends and a surprise.

Hayner sped away from the Usual Spot, his face burning. He'd been planning for a while to tell his friends, but always shied away at the last moment; he was too afraid of losing them. Not that he thought they weren't good friends or anything, but Hayner had always had this huge fear of rejection. Under the brash, loud exterior he was just an ordinary kid who didn't want to be alone.

But they'd just taken it so calmly when Roxas came out… so why was he running away now? Probably because then they'd all start asking who he liked and he was terrible at lying. He followed the contours of Twilight Town's streets, not really bothering to think about where he was going. Always a bad mistake when Seifer was around. As luck would have it, he turned a corner and tripped over air before slamming straight into the blonde bully's back. He clutched at the person in front of him in an attempt to stop himself from tumbling towards the ground, but ended up on his almost permanently grazed knees anyway.

"Eager to see me, Chicken Wuss?" Seifer smirked down at him and Hayner leapt backwards, a scowl already forming on his face.

"Hell, no!" he yelled, flushing pink.

"So running around the Sandlot half-naked before running smack bang into my back before seemingly attempting pull my pants down is normal for you, is it? Spaz." Seifer snorted and Hayner balled his hands into fists.

"You moron! Ever heard of a dare game before?" Axel appeared at the mouth of the alleyway, closely followed by Roxas, Olette and Pence. "You win, Hay – here's your shirt back." A small ball of black material was tossed Hayner's way. The small blonde gritted his teeth and just pulled it back on in silence. Seifer rolled his eyes derisively and let out a short bark of laughter.

"Only you would think of something as stupid as that, Red. Now get, all of you. We don't go in the Usual Spot and you don't come down our alley." He gave Hayner a push, and the shorter male promptly stumbled and shoved back.

"Get off me." He growled softly before stalking out of the alley.

"Aw, I'm so hurt." Seifer drawled as the younger blonde disappeared around the corner, his friends trailing behind him.

"So why exactly did you run away?" Olette asked Hayner, tilting her head to one side as they walked. Hayner didn't reply, only reddening slightly. She sighed and reached out to stop him from walking any further. "Look, you know it doesn't matter if you're gay, right? I mean, sure, there'll be all those rabid yaoi fangirls at school to worry about, but hey, Roxas finally confessed and none of us minded then. Why should we now?" she laughed softly. "Even if you do have a crush on Seifer."

"What the Hell, Olette?! Of course I don't! He's a bastard!"

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Axel murmured. Without missing a beat, Hayner whacked him upside the head.

"Roxas, if your boyfriend doesn't stop making sarky comments soon, you're gonna be dating a woman." Axel burst out laughing and poked him.

"Nice, blondie. Really cute."

"Don't. Call. Me. Blondie!" Hayner yelled before turning and stomping away. Olette rolled her eyes and smacked the back of Axel's head.

"Silly boy." She chided, and Pence just burst out laughing.

"And you claim not to mother us?" Olette rolled her eyes good naturedly and poked him in the shoulder.

"You wouldn't need mothering if you weren't all so immature, Pence."

"Well you're the same."

Roxas chuckled and asked,

"So, any ideas?"

"On what?" a cold voice asked. They all whipped around so fast that Olette's long hair caught Pence in the eye and Axel's coat tripped Roxas over. After recovering from their humiliating scene, they all looked up to see a laughing Rai and a vaguely amused Fuu.

"Hey, Fuu…" Axel's eyes sparkled with mischief. "How would you feel about some good, old-fashioned matchmaking?"

"Who?" Fuu didn't blink, her expression still blank but with the corners of her mouth twitching upwards slightly.

"Hmm, I don't know… How about our beloved leaders?" The redhead grinned, pulling Roxas closer.

"Seifer, Hayner?" The silver-haired girl blinked and for a moment, surprise flashed across her eyes.

"But… they hate each other, y'know?" Rai objected, rubbing the back of his head.

"I beg to differ!" Pence chimed in, a smile slowly spreading across his face too. "You were there, man; there's so much tension between them, something has to break!" Roxas nodded in agreement.

"Besides, then maybe we could have a few days of peace rather than fighting every single day. More time for ice cream."

After appearing to think over it for a while, ina stunning display of emotion, a smile spread across the usually blank expression of Fuu and she nodded.

"Do it."

"Hang on, though… Seifer ain't gay, y'know? Is he?" Rai scratched his head thoughtfully.

"Rai, he wears the sluttiest outfit I've ever seen on a male. He wears a bellytop, for Chrissakes. He is definitely a closet case." Olette explained patiently. "So, how we gonna do this?"

Hayner couldn't believe his ears when Axel came sweeping into his room to inform him that he was going on a blind date that evening and had no choice in the matter before leaving with a 'wear something nice' tossed over his shoulder. Lanky git… Why would he set me up with some punk just because I came outta the closet? God, did they even think I might like someone already? Guess not… we aren't exactly on the best of terms. Hayner sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Oh well. If he was lucky, the guy would either not turn up or actually be a nice kid. Damn you, Axel… He breathed out through his nose and turned to find some clothes that weren't already covered with the red dust of Twilight Town.

An hour later, he stood in the middle of Tram Common, waiting for someone he'd never met before. Why did I show up again? A quick glance around told him why: Olette and Pence were staking out the northwards exit, Axel and Roxas the south and east. But then he caught sight of the hole in the wall leading to Twilight Mansion and the woods. But just as he was debating running for it, he noticed Fuu and Rai leaning on either side of it and looking irritated. He'd rather not get into a fight with them; he didn't hit girls and Fuu always took full advantage of that fact. For a skinny chick, she sure was stong.

"What're you doing here, lamer?" An all-too familiar voice asked arrogantly. He turned, his hackles raised as a momentary whisper of disbelief crossed his mind.

"I'm waiting for someone, apparently." He replied through gritted teeth, clenching his fists. The sound of that smooth voice always made him react the same; he either wanted to punch the guy or run and kiss him. So far, he'd always chosen the former option.

"Same here." Seifer leaned back against the building in the middle of the Common, his eyes taking in the streetlit square, with its buzzing holiday atmosphere and full-to-bursting restaurants. They stood in silence for a while before Hayner finally asked,

"Who're you waiting for?"

"No idea." Seifer rolled his eyes. "Fuu and Rai insisted I go on this lame blind date. I had nothing better to do, so here I am." Horrified thoughts flashed through Hayner's mind, mostly involving the many evil things he would do to Axel when he got his hands on him.

"Dammit, Axel!" he hissed, his eyes glinting with irritation.

"What? Oh gods, don't say you're the one…" Seifer trailed off. They stared, dumbstruck. And dammit, why'd they choose the one guy I happen to have a crush on but who also happens to hate my guts as much as I sometimes hate his?

AN: XD thar ya go. Heheheh that one took a while; sorry, I think the next update should be quicker as I'm getting my IT done steadily. Yes! My Implementation is soon finished I hope! *punches air* XD Butter Brynn.