Chapter Four
On my way, Rox. Give me five minutes and meet me at the front gate.
-Sor
Roxas smiled at his cellphone and placed it back in his pocket.
Rrrriiiiing!
"That's all the time we have left." Zexion said, setting down his trigonometry book and facing the class. "See you all tomorrow."
Roxas grabed his bagpack on the floor and began to fix his things.
"Oh don't forget…" Zexion said which made Roxas look at him. "We'll have a quiz tomorrow on Inverse Trigonometry."
"Awwwwwww…" The class said in chorus.
"Don't aww me." Zexion crossed his arms in front of his chest whilst giving his class the dagger look. "Instead of complaining, I suggest you all study so that neither one of you in this class will fail." Zexion sighed. "Class dismissed."
Roxas zipped his bag and slung it on his right shoulder.
"Roxas…" Zexion said as the said blonde passed his desk.
"Yes sir?" Roxas asked politely.
"I was wondering if I could borrow a little of your, Roxas. Would that be okay?" Zexion asked.
"Well…" Roxas hesitated.
Zexion sighed. He stood up f and went around his desk to face Roxas. "Listen. I am entering you to the national essay writing contest."
"Seriuosly?" Roxas face was beaming with joy. "But wait—why me?"
"Well the English committee has read your essay on 'How to Conserve Energy in Order to Save Earth', and they decided that your work was the best thing they've ever seen. " Zexion said. "They told me that it would be best if you enter the contest because not only will you give title to the school, but you'll also give title to yourself."
"Tis is an once in a lifetime chance, Roxas. And with that talent of yours, I say you take it." Zexion encouraged.
"But sir…" Roxas sighed. "I don't think… I don't think I can do it. What if I—"
"Forget the 'what ifs', Roxas." Zexion said. "Just remember, the reason you were chosen is because the teachers believed in your skills and they believed in you."
"Wow, I never heard you talk like this, Mr. Zexion." Roxas half-laughed.
"Well, I have my moments." Zexion smiled. "So what do you say? Are you in?"
"Hmmmm…" Roxas brought his index finger to his temple. "Okay."
"Thanks. I knew I could count on you." Zexion said. "Alright, off you go now."
Roxas nodded. "Bye Mr. Zexion. And thanks!" He said as he reached the door.
"What did Mr. Zexion talk to you about?" Xion asked, once Roxas was already out of the classroom.
Roxas walked towards his friend who is sitting by the lockers. "Nothing."
"Oh c'mon, Roxas." Xion stood up. "Don't be such douche."
"Hey!" Roxas glared.
Xion laughed thus making Roxas roll his eyes. "Hang-on, where's Axel and Larxene?"
"They already went ahead." Xion stated. "Axel said he wants to buy Larxene the limited heart-shaped candy in front of the school."
"Oh." Roxas said. "We better go now. Sora's gonna be here any minute."
"Alright. Anything for Senior Sora." Xion giggled. Roxas shook his head and began to walk.
"So…" Xion began. "One month, aye?"
"Yup." Roxas smiled. "Can't believe that my first relationship would be this long."
"Well believe it, buddy." Xion ruffled Roxas's hair. "Not all relationships last, you know. Especially when it's your first."
"Whatcha' mean by that?" Roxas raised a brow.
"I dunno." Xion shrugged her shoulder. "Hey… Remember when you introduced Sora to us?"
"Yeah… What about it?" Roxas asked.
"Nothing. I just thought of it." Xion said.
"Weird girl." Roxas muttered.
"I heard that!" Xion slapped Roxas's forehead.
"Hey! That hurt!" Roxas scolded. Xion laughed and ran away.
"Xion!" Roxas chased after the said girl.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Roxas said once he'd caught up with Xion. "Slow down, champ." He placed his hand above Xion's head.
"I'm not that small, Roxas." Xion said as the two continue to make their way outside. Roxas laughed.
Flashback…
"Are you sure you want to introduce me your friends?" Sora asked frantically. "I mean, I already have you." Roxas blushed at this point. "Isn't that enough?"
"Well of course it is, Sor." Roxas pinched Sora's cheek. "But still my friends have to know about you. About us." Roxas smiled.
"What if they don't like me?" Sora asked, sadness shown in his voice.
"Are you kidding me?" Roxas asked in disbelief. "My friends will like you, Sor. Trust me." HE cupped Sora's cheek and caressed it with his thumb.
Sora sighed. He placed his hand above Roxas's hand, the one on his cheek, and smiled at the blonde boy. "Fine. But you're meeting mine next."
Roxas eyes widened. "What? Why?"
Sora took Roxas's hand on his face and gave it a squeeze. "Just cause…"
"What?" Roxas's brow furrowed. "What kind of reason is that?"
"My reason." Sora laughed. Roxas pouted but decided to push the topic away.
The two stepped out of the car and walked hand-in-hand inside the Usual Spot. "This is." Roxas squeezed Sora's hand. Roxas push the curtain up and smiled when he spotted.
"Hey guys!" Roxas said.
"Look who decided to show up." Axel said. He stood up and produced a Sea-Salt ice-cream from his jacket. "You're twenty minutes late, man."
"I know. Thanks." Roxas took the ice-cream. "Sorry, I'm kinda with someone."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…" Axel laughed. "Is it the HOOT college guy, you adore so much?" He cooed. Larxene and Xion made soft giggles. Roxas blushed.
"Yep." Roxas nodded. "Actually his here, right now." Roxas pulled Sora inside, making Roxas's gasps.
"Guys, I want you to meet Sora." Roxas smiled at his friends. "Sora, the guys."
"N-nice to meet you." Sora waved at them.
"Hey man." Axel held out a hand for Sora. "The name's Axel."
Sora took the hand and shook it. "HI." Sora nodded with a smile.
"Hi Sora…" Xion said, gullibly. "I'm Xion. Nice to meet you."
"You as well, Xion." Sora smiled.
"So Roxas…" Larxene stood up from the couch. "You finally got guy." She smiled. She stood besides her boy and linked their arms together. She held out one hand in front of Sora and said, "I'm Larxene."
Sora shook Larxene's hand and smiled at her. "Nice meeting you."
"I'm so glad you and Roxas are finally together, man." Larxene playfully punched Sora's arm. "Sorry, I'm used to doing that to my friends. Even if they are new." Larxene explained.
"It's cool." Sora said, sincerely. "I like this kinda setting."
"Uhmm… not that I want to interrupted but uhmmm… would you mind if we all have a seat?" Xion suggested.
The gang looked at one another and laughed once they realized their current situation. Once settled in, Sora asked. "So Larxene, you told me you're happy about me and Roxas, right?" Larxene nodded. "Why's that?" Sora asked with a lot of happiness.
"Well for one, Roxas is our friend." Larxene explained. "And two—"
"Two it saves us from the non-stop hours of story telling about Sora." Axel interrupted. "Not that I mind hearing things about you. But c'mon, imagine hearing things about another dude in a fluffy way?"
Sora laughed. "I know what you feel man. Roxas does get a little carried away when he talks about me." He winked at Roxas.
Roxas blushed. "S-shut up." He playfully hit Sora's head. "But it's true, Rox. When you to talk to about my—" Sora's voice was muffled by Roxas's hand.
"Ohh burn!" Xion commented. Axel and Larxene laughed.
"Air! Air!" Sora said in Roxas's hand.
Roxas's released Sora's mouth. Sora glared at his lover, but then subsided immediately once Roxas mouthed his favorite words. 'I Love You.'
"I love you too, Roxas." Sora said, joyously.
"Wow Sora! You sure know how to express your love in a 'quiet way' huh." Larxene quoted. Everyone laughed.
"So Sora…" Xion began again. "You're a college student, right?"
"Yup." Sora said. "First year to be exact." He stated. He looked at his right and saw that Roxas's expression went dull. He took Roxas's hand and gave it a light squeeze. Roxas looked at him and gave a smile.
" Rox…" Sora began but Roxas shook his head.
"What major are you in Sora?" Axel asked.
"Bachelor of Fine Arts, major in Interior Design." Sora said.
"Whoa… isn't that what you want for college, Roxas?" He asked the said blonde.
"Well yeah. But I'm still not quite sure though." Roxas stated. "It's alright, Rox. You still have a year to decide on this." Sora whispered on Roxas's ear. "Don't worry, I'll help you out." Roxas smiled at this.
"Well time flies." Sora stood up and motioned for Roxas to do the same thing. "It was nice meeting you guys." Sora smiled at the gang. "We promise… or rather I promise to be back soon and hang-out with you guys."
"Nice meeting you, Sora." Xion waved.
"You take care of Roxas, okay?" Axel reminded. "He's a total klutz you know." He whispered in Sora's ear.
"I heard that." Roxas glared at his red-headed friend. Axel laughed.
"Bye!" Sora and Roxas said simultaneously as they left the Usual Spot.
"Well that went well." Sora commented.
"See I told you they will like you." Roxas pinched Sora's cheeks.
Sora took Roxas's arms and wrapped it around his neck. He wrapped his own arms around Roxas waist and planted a kiss on Roxas's sweet lips.
"Okay… that's was unexpected." Roxas said once they parted.
"Was it?" Sora raised a brow.
"Okay tell me, why in the world would you kiss me in the middle of a dark alleyway?" Roxas tried to reason out.
"Because you look so adorable, Roxas." Sora rubbed his nose with Roxas.
Roxas blushed. "No, the real reason, Sora." Sora sighed. He pulled Roxas closer to his body and rested his forehead on Roxas's. "Awhile ago when Xion asked me about college, you're aura suddenly changed.
"One minute you and I were having fun with the gang and next you were dull." Sora caressed Roxas's cheek. "What's wrong, Rox?"
"I don't know, Sor." Roxas said. "I just…" He sighed. "I just thought that if you're in college, and I'm in highschool, people might think that our relationship is wrong."
"No, no, Rox. How could you say that?" Sora asked with a lot of concern.
"Think about it Sor, when people ask us what year are we in, we say 4th year and 1st year." Roxas stated. "If you're already in college, as a first year student, and I'm still in highschool, don't you think people will say that I'm using you or playing with you or something like that?"
"Now where did that idea come from?" Sora asked. "You know, if there's anyone in this relationship who'll be playing, it's me and not you, Rox. I'm the mature one. I should know—"
"There. You said it, Sor." Roxas parted from Sora's embrace. He rested his back on a nearby wall and crossed his arms in front of him. "I'm not mature enough, Sor. That's the problem."
"Hey, hey, Rox, Rox." Sora cupped Roxas cheek but Roxas looked the other way. Sora sighed. "Roxas." He said in stern voice but Roxas didn't look at him. Sora sighed again. "So what if you're not yet mature as everyone expected you to be, I don't care. I'd still love you anyway."
Roxas looked at Sora. "You mean that?"
Sora nodded. "Now stop crying or I'll kiss you 'til you can't breathe no more." Sora smiled deviously.
"I sure want that." Roxas wrapped his arms around Sora and pulled the boy closer to him. "Just so you know, I wasn't crying." He said before he placed a kiss on Sora's lips.
"Sure you weren't." Sora said, not buying Roxas's protest. "But I wasn't…" Roxas's protest was silence when Sora placed his lips over Roxas's once more.
End of Flashback…
"Oh… didn'y know you were that emotional, buddy." Xion playfully punched Roxas's arm.
"Hey!" Roxas said as he rubbed his injured arm. "I'm serious, Xi. It's not everyday you get to meet a guy like Sora you know." Roxas reasoned out.
"Yeah… yeah… Whateve." Xion said in an caring tone. "But still… I'm glad Sora's a part of your life. We all are."
"Really?" Roxas said with full of enthusiasm.
Xion nodded.
"That's good." Roxas smiled. Suddenly, out of the blue, Roxas's enthusiasm subsided.
"What's wrong Roxas?" Xiona asked as the two rounded off a corner and headed for the stairs. "Have I told the story about how I met Sora's friend?" Roxas asked. "It wasn't exactly the greatest moment of life, actually."
"They didn't like you?" Xion suggested.
"Not exactly." Roxas said in a sad tone.
Flashback…
Sora opened Roxas's door and helped the boy climbed out of the car. He wrapped his arm around Roxas's waist and closed the door with his free hand.
"Don't be nervous, okay?" Sora said.
"Psssshh… Why would I?" Roxas asked, trying to be strong. Sora shook his head. He cupped the blonde's cheek and said, "Because you're with me."
"What?" Roxas brow furrowed.
"Nothing. I said I love you." Sora smiled. Roxas blushed. Sora blushed inwardly and took Roxas's hand. "C'mon I'm sure Riku and Kairi are at our favorite spot."
Roxas just nodded.
"There they are!" Sora exclaimed as he spotted his friends sitting under a Cherry Blossom Tree.
"Sora!" Kairi, being the girl she is, exclaimed. She drop her pen and notebook on the grass and went to Sora. Riku followed.
"C'mon guys, you missed me already. I was just here 40 minutes okay." Sora laughed.
"Shut up." Kairi stuck out her tongue "So, this must be your new boy." She said, changing the subject. "Roxas, right?" She asked turning to the said boy.
"Y-yeah." Roxas held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"No need to be formal, silly." Kairi made a hand gesture to emphasize what she said.
"Okay." Roxas smiled.
"I'm Riku…" Riku said in a buff tone. "Riku Sumiko. I'm…"
"Riku's my bestfriend in the whole wide worlds, Roxas." Sora butted-in. "He and I…"
"Ehem!" Kairi glared at Sora with one hand on his hip.
"I'm not even finish." Sora explained. "He and I and KAIRI…" Sora emphasized her name. "go way back ever since diapers."
"Whoa… that's cool." Roxas said. "I just met my friends recently."
"You mean you just moved here in Twi Town?" Riku asked.
"No, no, I moved here three years ago." Roxas said.
"Wait—you go to Radiant High, right?" Riku asked again.
Roxas nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
"So if you moved here three years ago…" Riku said as he tried to make a conclusion. "and you studied at Radiant high, how come we never saw you?" Riku brow furrowed. "I mean we're only a year apart, right?"
"I guess fate didn't want our paths to cross during that time." Roxas said, like the grown up he is.
"But is fate is also what brought Sora to you." Kairi cooed. "Can you tell me again how you and Sora met? I just love hearing your stories. It's so…" Kair paused as she tried to find the right words to say. "ADORABLE!" Roxas blushed.
"Oh…" Roxas said, unable to say anything other than that.
Sora wrapped a comforting arm around Roxas and pulled him closer to his warmth. He smiled at Roxas, his eyes glistening with Joy, which in return made the blonde smile as well.
"So do you guys wanna…" Kairi trailed off when a huge monster truck, playing a heavy metal song, arrived.
"What are they doing here?" Riku asked pointing at the truck.
"Sup guys!" Seifer said. He and his buddies, Fuu and Rai, hopped out of the truck and assembled in front of Sora and his friends.
Sora pulled Roxas to his arm and placed a protective arm in front of him.
"What's going on, Sor? Who are they?" Roxas asked in Sora's ear.
"You'll see." Sora said with a lot of anger in his voice.
"What do you want?" Riku asked, now completely annoyed.
"Hey… hey… take it easy there man." Seifer raised his hands in midair. "We just wanted to chill. Right guys?"
"Right!" Fuu and Rai said simultaneously.
"Well go chill somewhere else." Riku commanded.
"O c'mon Ri." Seifer walked to Riku. "We're all buddies here." He wrapped an arm around Riku. Riku took Seifer's arm and twist it. "We're… not… buddies, Seifer. And don't call me Ri, it's disgusting." Riku pushed Seifer but unfortunately Seifer regained his balanced, leaving him no harm.
"C'mon man, we're just trying to befriend you guys." Seifer tried again. "Right guys?" He looked back at his friends.
"Right!" Fuu and Rai said silultaneously.
"Okay, not to be rude or anything but those two are like his freaking robots" Roxas muttered to Sora.
Sora laughed. Seifer heard this which brought his attention to the brunette.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't SORA!" He said with a lot of venom. Sora oushed Roxas further back and held onto his hand, tight. "Sora what's going on?" Roxas asked worriedly.
"Just stay behind me." Sora said to Roxas. He looked at Roxas and gave him an assuring smile.
Sora looked back and sent daggers towards Seifer. "What do you want?" Sora hissed.
"Like I said…" Seifer moved closer to Sora. Sora and Roxas backed away. "…I wanted to be friends with you, Sora." Seifer finished.
"Why?" Sora glared, not letting his guard.
"'Cause…" Seifer shrugged.
"Because what?" Sora shouted, now really irritated.
Seifer grabbed Sora's shirt and held him in midair. "Because I want to. Got a problem with that?" Seifer stared into Sora's eyes. Sora stared back and the glaring contest began.
"Sora…" Roxas muttered under his breath.
"Whoahoho…" Seifer looked at Roxas. He dropped Sora to the grass and brought his full attention to Roxas. "Is this the famous Roxas?"
"F-famous how?" Roxas stuttered as he stared at Seifer's eyes.
"You leave him, Seifer." Sora stood up and grabbed Seifer's shoulder but Seifer shoved Sora's hand and pushed him to the ground.
"I see. Not much of a speaker, aye." Seifer said. "Fuu! Rai!"
"Riku…" Kairi grabbed Riku's sleeve. "Do something."
"I-I will. Just hang on a bit, okay."
"Seifer." Fuu said as she and Rai made their way behind Seifer. "We gotta a non-speaker here, you know what that means don't you?" Seifer gave Rai a side glance.
Rai grinned.
Seifer pinned Roxas's to the nearest and brought his face dangerously close to Roxas.
"Beat Seifer. He's mine." Immediately, after Sora said that, he regretted it.
"Ooooohhhh, he's yours." Seifer smiled deviously. "That makes it even better." Seifer brought his face closer and smiled at the reaction he got. Roxas closed his eyes and pursed his lips together.
"Arrgghhhh! Seifer!" Sora grabbed Seifer's shirt and made the boy face him. He held to the blonde's chin and hit him square on the face. Seifer lost his balance but Fuu and Rai caught him.
"Are you okay?" Fuu asked.
"Do I look okay?" He disregarded Fuu and Rai's help and stood on his own. He wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his lip and charged Sora who was aiding Roxas.
"You'll pay for that you little…" Seifer grabbed Sora by the shirt and threw him to the nearest tree.
"SORA!" Roxas and Kairi cried.
Riku cracked his finger and prepared himself for battle but Kairi stopped. "Riku…"
"I have to help him, Kai." Riku said. "You said I have to stop this, right? Well that's what I'm gonna do."
"I don't want to be hurt again, Ri." Kairi said.
"It'll be alright." Riku rushed to Sora's side and made the boy face. "Sora… Sora…" The boy cringed in pain but manage to stand up. "I-I'm okay, Riku." Sora said as he leaned against the tree for support.
"You'll pay for this." Riku said. Seifer turned around and was met by an angry fist. "Why you little…" Seifer trailed off, seeing there's no point in arguing with Riku.
"Fine…" Seifer straightened himself. " I'll let you off this time. But mark my words, I will get you all." Seifer threatened. Seifer turned on his heel and began to walk away. Fuu and Rai followed suit.
"Seifer…" Fuu began.
"Shut up! You too were no help." Seifer scolded.
"No cool, yo!" Reno commented.
"Oh by the way…" Seifer said as he passed Sora. "You might want to keep an close eye on the twerp. You don't the baby to cry just because he lost his mommy." Seifer and his gang laughed.
"Why you little…" Sora about to beat Seifer again but he was being held back by Roxas. "Aww… isn't that cute, the baby is holding onto his mother for support. How adorable." Seifer mocked.
"Seifer!" Sora rage was increasing.
"Get out of here would ya!" Riku growled. Seifer and gang shared a good laughed before they deciced to leave for good.
"I'm sorry, Sora." Roxas cried as he ran towards Sora's car.
"Roxas, wait!" Sora called out. "Talk to you later, guys." He waved to Kairi and Riku and head to his car.
"Roxas what's wrong?" Sora shut his door and faced Roxas. "Roxas…" Sora cupped Roxas cheek and made the boy face him. "Rox…" He said calmly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Sor." Roxas cried.
"For what?" Sora wiped Roxas's tears with his thumb.
"I get do it, Sor. I don't belong in your world." Roxas sobbed.
"What are you talking about?" Sora looked at Roxas like he was talking non-sense.
"Don't you get it?" Roxas said in frustration. "I don't belong in your world, Sora. I don't belong with you."
Sora placed his hand over Roxas's mouth and said, "Don't say that, Rox. Why would you think you don't belong me? Don't you want me anymore?"
Roxas removed Roxas's hand, "Of course I do! More than anything!" Roxas cried, more tears rolled down his cheeks. "But Seifer said, I'm like your baby and your like my…" Roxas sighed. "It doesn't matter. The point is, Seifer sees our relationship as something more of as a family, not as lovers."
"So?" Roxas was completely shocked by Sora's voice. "It doesn't matter whether or not people like us. It doesn't matter whether people thinks our relationship is right or not. What matters is that we love each other and we're happy together." Sora panted. "Don't you want that? Don't you want us?"
"Of course I do, Sor." Roxas smiled weakly. "I just…" He sighed. "I'm so insecure Sora. That's the problem. I don't believe in myself much that's why I also ended up being defeated."
"Well you don't have to woory about it anymore Roxas, I'll protect you from those guys who bully you." Sora smiled. "And promise that you won't be insecure anymore, okay? You're the most handsome I've seen on earth. Next to me of course."
"Shut up." Roxas playfully hit Sora's cheek.
"No more crying, okay?" Sora said. Roxas nodded.
"Here let me clean you up." Roxas opened the glove compartment and fished for the first aid kit.
"Thanks." Sora smiled and squeezed Roxas's hand.
End of Flashbook…
"That jerk!" Xion cracked her fingers.
"Whoa,whoa. Easy their lil' fella." Roxas ruffled Xion's hair. "Seifer's history."
"Fine. But if he tries to mess up with you and Sora again, I'm gonna beat him." Xion declared.
"Oooookay." Roxas said, trying to hold back a laugh.
Xion looked at her watch and read, 3:45. 'Sora should be here by now.'
"Hey I have an idea!" Xion said.
"What?" Roxas asked.
"You'll find out later. Just promise me you'll go with it, okay?" Xion asked.
"Okay? But what is it?" Roxas asked, not quite sure whether to trust Xion or not.
"Just promise!" Xion fumed.
Roxas shrugged his shoulders but eventually nodded.
"Sweet!" Xion grabbed Roxas's hand and drageed him outside.
A/N: Sweet! Hahaha didn't think this chapter would ne this long. Hahaha. Please leave a review guys. Really helps. :))