*AXEL*
"Axel!" the teacher yelled at me from across the room.
"What?" I asked, snapping out of my daydreams.
"Geez, Axel, if you keep this up, you won't graduate. Ever. Anyways, tell me how to solve this problem, please."
"Well, I can't tell you that."
"Well, then, why not?"
"The answer's 5. X=5."
The teacher looked me straight in the eye before saying, "Yes, that's correct."
I can work. I just prefer not to. Therefore, everyone assumes I'm lazy. I don't really mind.
Some kid beside me gave me a dirty look that I could see out of the corner of my eyes. When I turned to him, I saw Riku sitting a few seats down, paying attention, taking notes.
Riku's serious about graduating, huh? With all passing grades, at that.
The bell rang. I gathered my stuff together and walked out, backpack slung over one shoulder.
Riku came up to me and began walking alongside me. It was silent for a long time until he asked, "How did you figure out that problem? It was hard."
"Not really. Just go through the basic steps," I said. "There's just a lot of steps to keep up with."
"If you tried, you could get into advanced classes and get into a good college in another place, another world," Riku said.
"Not happening."
"Why not?"
"I'm perfectly happy here."
"Really? I don't believe that. There's a girl, isn't there?"
"Axel!" A girl called. Riku and I stopped walking.
"What did I tell you?" Riku said as I saw Xion calling me and waving.
"Okay, maybe there is. She's not gonna be able to make it on her own, okay? Maybe after she graduates, we can both go to college," I admitted.
Xion ran up to me. Riku stared, watching us.
"Axel! We're having ice cream again today, right?" she asked sweetly. "I have great news!"
"Sure thing, kiddo," I said. I couldn't help it –I put my hand on her head and tousled her hair as she smiled brightly.
She ran off, to her next class.
"Do you like her?" Riku asked, and we began walking again.
"She's my friend –nothing more. I can't help but feel bad for her. She's so smart, but too shy and afraid of being rejected to try and make friends. Why do you care, anyways?"
"I dunno. I'm just curious."
"Well, gotta go. Seeya," I said, smirking. I walked off in the opposite direction.
Xion bought the ice cream today. She happily climbed into "our" tree.
"Geez, what are you so excited about?" I asked.
"You know that new kid, Roxas?" she asked.
"Don't answer a question with a question, but yeah."
"I'm going to tutor him for two classes!" she beamed with pride.
"Congrats!" I said, smiling. I was happy for her, but would that mean she'd be too busy for after school ice cream?
"Maybe he can start eating ice cream with us!" she said, still beaming.
"Yeah, maybe," I said. Maybe I should go to college. Xion can just tutor for a year after I'm gone, right?
"Axel?"
"Hm?" I snapped out of my thoughts to see Xion leaning over, looking at me worriedly.
"Your ice cream's dripping," she pointed out. "What were you thinking about?"
"College."
"Oh."
"Do you think I should go?" I asked.
"Well, yeah. That would help you. And I'd be forced to make friends."
"Nuh-uh!" A girl yelled.
"It's true!" A boy yelled back.
"Oh, man, hide!" I commanded.
"Why?" Xion asked.
"Just do it!" I hissed. Since we were already in the leaves, we brought up our legs so the kids below couldn't see us.
I watched as Kairi and Sora raced, Riku slowly walking behind them. In the distance, there was a black-haired boy watching them.
I held my breath, hoping desperately that Riku wouldn't see us.
Riku walked over to the tree, looked up, and yelled, "Hey!"
Xion froze.
` "Axel, you can come down. I know you're up there. That girl is too, isn't she?" Is he bluffing?
Xion started to move, but I glared at her, silently telling her to stop. She stopped.
"Don't make me climb up there," Riku said. When we didn't move, he dropped his bag, and began the climb.
Xion's eyes went wide.
"Why didn't you come down?" he asked after he had climbed into the leaves with us.
He's a fast climber.
"I thought you were bluffing," I answered honestly.
"Why would I do that?" Riku asked, smirking.
"Why wouldn't you?" I smirked right back at him.
Xion pulled her knees up to chest and stared and the ground below us. She gazed anywhere but at Riku. When he tried to catch her eyes, she looked in the opposite direction.
There was a long, awkward silence.
"Riku!" I heard Kairi call.
"Ri-ku!" Sora yelled. "Where are you?"
"Gotta go," Riku said. He jumped out of the tree. "Here I am!"
"Where were you?"
"Why were you in a tree?" I heard Kairi and Sora question him as their voices grew quieter, farther away.
"Xion, why wouldn't you talk to him or even look at him?" I asked.
She stared at the ocean.
Finally, she said, "I don't like him. He just seems…dark."