"Roxas was implying something." Tori was serious again. "What?"
Axel just looked at her. "You are oblivious aren't you?"
"I don't understand." She stared back blankly.
"What did he say exactly?" he asked.
"He asked me what I thought of you and winked."
"And what did you answer?"
"I-I didn't. I didn't know what he meant."
He approached her. "You know nothing about people do you?" Axel accused. "You know only what you read in books."
"Books can prove quite useful," Tori defended, backing up. "Whereas people can refuse to notice anything at all."
He moved closer. "You can't see past your nose it's always stuck in one."
She held her ground. "At least my head's not up my-"
She was cut off as Axel pressed his lips to hers…
He let go.
"There." Axel said fiercely. "That's what they meant. That's what Roxas was trying to say. Don't you get it?"
Tori pulled away. Her breath caught in her throat. Fighting the urge to cough, she was silent.
Axel looked down. "Now what do you think of me?"
She backed off to the farthest corner. She had to think.
He looked back up at her. It was her turn to look away. Time froze for the two of them.
She chanced a glance at him. His gaze had not left her. Help. There was a pleading in his eyes. Please. She thought desperately. There must be something. There's always something. Axel always seemed to know what to say, but now he was silent. He was waiting for her. Her mind was racing, searching for an answer to his question. But nothing came. Nothing came.
There was something. But it was drowned out by the darkness that swallowed her as she fell.
Someone was speaking to her. Softly and sweetly. Opening her eyes she saw Axel.
"I'm sorry." He was saying, over and over.
I forgive you. She wanted to say. The words were just out of her grasp. When she had the fortune of finding them, she was overcome by weakness once again.
Light forced its way in. What happened? She felt heat beside her.