Part Of The Problem.

Ven agreed to help in a heartbeat, just like how Axel said. He was going to drop by after work, and Axel and Sora were going to be there too.

I had to come up with some dumb excuse as to why Naminé couldn't come over, however.

"You're going out with your brother?" My shorter companion was following me around the office Monday afternoon with her usual manilla folder clutched to her chest.

"Yeah," I said hastily as I pretended to look busy, "We're going out for dinner."

"Cute," She giggled, "Well, I hope you have fun then. Say hi to Sora for me."

It sounded so bogus - especially the way I delivered it - but it worked, and that's what mattered the most. At least I wasn't totally lying.

When Ven arrived at my door later that evening I felt like I was staring into a wonky mirror: my oldest brother was a few inches taller than me, his blue eyes had flecks of green in them, his skin was a little lighter and his hair was a tad shorter, but it was barely noticeable.

The first thing he did when I pulled that door open was grab me and squeeze me until my ribcage dug into my lungs. "Hey little brother," Ven grounded his fist into my head, and I chuckled and tried to duck out of his grasp, "Haven't seen you in awhile."

I swiped my fingers through my hair and smirked. "I know. Sorry I haven't called lately; things have been...weird."

"Hey Ven!" Axel hollered from the kitchen; he rose from his seat and gave my brother a one-armed hug, "Long time no see!"

My older brother and male best friend were the same age, so they were pretty close growing up. Ven grinned toothily, reminiscent of Sora, and rubbed the underside of his nose with an index finger. "How's everything?" He briefly spun around to look at me, "And where's Sora?"

Someone knocked and the door. "Here, I guess." When I opened the door my twin brother was grinning in the exact way Ven was. "Hey, Sora."

"Hey bro!" Ven waved behind me, and Axel saluted.

Miyo was cooing cutely in my twin's arms. "No Koji today?" I asked as my brunet brother stepped inside.

"Nope, he's with Kairi." When Miyo spotted Ven she began to squirm uncontrollably. "Alright, alright…"

"Is that Miyo?" My oldest brother approached us and scooped our niece into his arms. He held her high above his head before leaning in to blow a raspberry on her belly. "Hey kiddo! I haven't seen you in forever! Wow, you're growing big aren't you?"

"I see you aren't the family favourite." Axel jokingly rested his arm on my head, and I ducked away from him.

"It's not my fault Ven's better with kids." I muttered stubbornly.

"Alright, now that Sora's here I think it's time we get down to business." Axel ushered everyone into my kitchen and gestured for them to take a seat. "As we all know our dear Roxas is hopelessly in love with a fellow coworker, Naminé Nakasato." When my brothers nodded I groaned and leaned into my palm. "Thing is, Naminé is smitten with another dude - some artist named Riku."

"Judging by the way you talked about him he sounds like a god, Rox." Ven shrugged his shoulders while balancing Miyo on his lap, and I groaned a second time.

"He kinda is," Sora scratched the side of his head, "He's smart, funny, artistic, athletic, philosophical-"

"I get it, I get it." I held up my hands.

"Anyway, in an effort to get to know him more we donned disguises and befriended him," Axel continued, "He wants to get together on Friday, but there's a problem: Naminé wants to hang out with Roxas on the same day."

"Yeah, Roxas told me." My older brother ruffled his hair. "You can't reschedule, or anything?"

"Riku's busy the entire weekend with artsy stuff," Axel shrugged, "And I think Naminé's got another date with him on Saturday. On Sundays she hangs out with Roxas." How he knew about Naminé's schedule more than me, I had no idea. I guess he had his ways, even if they did seem a little creepy.

"So why do they need to go out on Friday when they spend every Sunday together?"

"I dunno," It was my turn to shrug, "She just randomly asked me to go out with her, and I obviously couldn't say no. Plus every Sunday we're with the kids so we don't really, er," My cheeks grew hot for some reason, "We're not really alone." Axel, Ven and Sora broke out into fits of giggling and I rolled my eyes. "Grow up, idiots."

"I guess I see your predicament," Ven frowned, "So basically you guys want me to stand in for Roxas?"

"Yeah," Sora nodded, "But we just don't know what you should stand in for."

"Wouldn't it make more sense for Ven to go to Riku's thing? I mean, obviously it's gonna be awkward if he pretended to be me while going on a date with Naminé!" I exclaimed.

Axel rubbed his pointy chin. "Hm, I guess you're right...but seeing Riku drunk is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…"

Ven laughed. "If you guys are 'friends' with him I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get him drunk plenty of times. I don't think Rox should miss out on the Naminé thing; you'll never know what'll happen."

"Plus the alias Roxas used for the Riku thing is your name, so it'll be easier." My twin brother added.

Axel placed his hands on the table. "I guess that settles it: Ven, you'll be coming with Demyx and I on Friday. Roxas, you get to luck out and run off with your girl."

The idea of spending an entire Friday evening with Naminé made my insides feel like they were being inflated with helium. I felt like I could float right through the ceiling. "Sounds good to me." I didn't realize I was smiling until the corners of my mouth began to hurt.

"So, what do I have to do on Friday?" Ven asked.

"Your job's easy: all you gotta do is dress up like an artsy fartsy dude and pretend you're good friends with him," Axel smirked, "Oh, and we definitely have to get him drunk. It's our first priority."

My oldest brother chuckled. "And why is that?"

"Because Axel thinks we'll get more info out of him if he's inebriated." I rolled my eyes as my redheaded friend cackled evilly.

"What kind of info are you trying to force out of him anyway?" Sora asked, "There isn't much to hide, I don't think…I mean, we already know him and Naminé are on the verge of going out. What else is there to know?"

"I'm pretty sure there're one or two things they're not telling us," Axel pointed out, "Things that we'd really like to know."

I ruffled my hair. "I feel like we're invading their privacy."

"We are." My male best friend stared at me, as if he expected me to know that.

I raised an eyebrow. "And that doesn't bother you at all?" I turned to my brothers. "It doesn't bother any of you?"

"Not really." All three of them answered casually, and I suppressed the urge to smack my forehead against the edge of the table. Why do I associate myself with people who lack common sense?

"Oh c'mon, Rox - don't be such a hypocrite," Ven clapped my back, "We all know you'd like to know too. I'm pretty sure you've thought about it once or twice."

"Thought about what?" I asked wearily. When Axel, Sora and Ven gave me sly looks my stomach began to churn.

"Y'know…" Sora gestured his hands with an uncomfortable look on his face, "Stuff like...er, like if they've...done anything more than just hugging and holding hands."

"Well, Riku kissed her on the cheek before." I muttered through gritted teeth.

"But we don't know if they've legit kissed yet," Axel added, "Or...y'know."

"Why the hell would I want to know if they've done that?" I exclaimed, my face beet-red, "That's gross!"

My male best friend rolled his eyes. "Cut the virgin act, Roxas." When he eyed the shocked look on my face he burst into laughter. "Don't think I've forgotten!" When my brothers joined in my face grew hotter, if that was even possible.

For most people their first time is usually something worth remembering. Me, on the other hand...well, let's just say that I'd rather not think about it.

I was never really attracted to any of the girls who tried to catch my attention in high school and college, but that doesn't mean I, er, completely ignored them. Don't judge me - I was, keyword was, a typical teenage boy, hormones and all.

Don't worry, Naminé already knows (she forced it out of me, as usual) - though of course it took a good couple of days of convincing her that I wasn't a chauvinistic asshole.

"Isn't she still a virgin - that is, if Riku didn't secretly deflower her without us knowing?" Axel asked curiously, his sharp green eyes locked on my wide blue ones.

I forced the lump down my throat. "What makes you think I'm going to answer that question?"

"Oh, so you do know something about her sex life," Ven chuckled; he was covering Miyo's ears so her innocent little mind wouldn't be tainted by our conversation, "You guys must be really good friends." When I looked away he laughed again. "I'm assuming that she is, judging from your stubbornness."

My oldest brother had a knack for reading people's minds, especially mine and Sora's. I guess it's because he was forced to grow up with us so he knew us best. "Don't go around telling people that!" I hissed.

"We'll keep your little secret, don't worry," Axel smirked, "But wow...I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Naminé doesn't seem like the type to sleep around anyway. Too innocent."

I rolled my eyes, though I had to agree with him. "So is everything settled, then? We have a plan?"

"Yep," The redhead replied happily, "So Ven will swing by your place after work-"

"But what if Naminé decides to come with me after work?" I interrupted apprehensively.

Sora frowned and thoughtfully tapped his chin with an index finger. "Hm, that's a good question. Maybe you should just take her out immediately after work so you don't have to go home. Give Ven your spare key or something."

"Demyx and I will head to your place after work to help Ven prep up," Axel piped up, "Plus if we all arrive as a group it'll be less conspicuous."

"Besides that there's nothing else to say," My twin brother shrugged, "I guess all you'll have to worry about from there is what you're going to be doing with Naminé."

"And we can always call or text or whatever to update you." Axel added.

It seemed straightforward enough. I nodded, though at the same time I still felt hesitant for some reason. "Alright, then I guess it's settled."

"Don't worry, Roxas," Axel placed a hand on my shoulder as I led them to the front door, "You'll get your girl sooner than you think."

For some reason I didn't find his words encouraging, but I smiled anyway. "Thanks. I'll see you guys later." I closed the door, and the apartment was eerily silent.

The next morning at work Naminé trotted into my office. I half-expected her to, anyway.

"Was dinner with Sora fun?" She asked as she sat on the corner of my desk.

"Y-yeah," I mumbled distractedly as I pretended to rifle through my emails, "It was alright. How was your Monday evening?"

The distant smile on her face was a little unnerving. "Great." She said in a daze, and a lump grew in my throat.

"Erm, do you mind if I ask why?" I peered over the top of my computer and noticed how she was staring into space. For some reason I didn't want to know the answer.

"Nothing, really," She shrugged, "Riku and I just spent the night on the phone."

My eyes widened slightly. "You spent the entire night on the phone?"

She laughed lightly. "No, no...not the entire night. Just six hours or so."

"Six hours or so?" I gaped, "You're ripping a very wide hole in your phone bill!"

She shook her blonde head; her hair wavered slightly around her shoulders. "I'm free in the evening."

I suppressed the urge to smack my face with my palm. This was the kind of stuff I'd expect from fifteen-year-olds in their first relationship, or something. All this fluffy crap was getting on my nerves. "C'mon, Naminé," I chuckled bitterly, "Six hours is a bit too much, don't you think? It's not like not talking every day isn't going to mar your relationship or anything."

"I know that," She turned to face me, her expression slightly offended, "But...I dunno. It's just so easy to talk to him, y'know?" She laughed that distant laugh and shook her head again, "He says he's not a people person but I beg to differ. He's easier to get along with than he says."

I could feel my eyebrow twitching. "Oh."

She hopped off my desk. "Anyways, I better get back to work. I'll come by in the afternoon, 'kay?" She left my glass office, and once she was out of sight I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

Maybe I was farther from her than I thought.

Lunch break eventually came, but Naminé had to deal with some stuff the boss gave her so I couldn't spent time with her like I usually did. I wasn't in the mood to see her, anyway.

When I trudged into the lounge room I waved at the usual people - except for Axel, who was oddly absent.

"Hey," I pulled up a chair in between Demyx and Larxene, "Where's Ax-"

"Shh!" Demyx placed an index finger over his mouth; his eyes frantically darted to Larxene, who was talking to Luxord and Zexion, "Don't let her hear you!"

I raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

My dirty blond-haired friend gestured for me to get up, so I did and followed him out of the room. He led me down the hall a little bit before leaning against the wall and sticking his hands in his pockets. "Larxene and Axel aren't talking."

"Wha...?" I ruffled the back of my hair, "They seemed just fine over the weekend…"

Demyx scratched his head in confusion. "That's what I thought too, but this morning Axel seemed like something was bothering him and Larxene's prissier than usual so I figured something was up."

I crossed my arms and stared at the floor. "Huh...that's weird." I caught a glimpse of Larxene peering at us from the lounge room and I gulped. "W-what if I talked to Axel? Do you think I'd be able to figure out what happened?"

He shrugged. "You can try, but I doubt you'll get anything."

I caught a flash of red; Axel was just heading into his office. "Oh, there he is. I might as well try now." I dashed after my best friend, who was just about to close his door. "Hey, Axel!"

He turned around very slowly. "Oh, hey Roxas." There was an unmistakable weight in his tone, and his eyes were trying to avoid mine. "Look, I'm kinda busy with work right now. I'll talk to you later."

I raised an eyebrow. "You don't look very busy."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I am." He closed the door on my face, and I stood there for a good two minutes watching him work without even acknowledging that I was there.

Well then...I guess Demyx was right.

A/N: Chapter Inspiration: So Jealous by Tegan and Sara.

Did anyone catch my pathetic attempts at forming a subplot? Yeah...I need to work on that…

I know I'm really stretching things out here, but that's because I want each chapter to be relatively even in terms of length =P sorry for the wait; don't worry, the plot will pick up soon!

And to the anonymous reviewer who referred to themselves as mhmm: a slut is regarded as a person who sleeps with more than one person without any emotional attachment. I think you should give Naminé a chance to explain herself before you point fingers =) Just saying.

Hard to Get has reached 300+ reviews! Thank you to all who are supporting me =) I'm eternally grateful for you guys - really, I am! Thank you thank you thank youuuu!