Ah, and here we are at chapter four! Its odd but for some reason I am having a hard time keeping these upcoming chapters on the short side. This one is fairly long. I guess it will be like that for a while because Roxas' first few days in LA are critical. Its where he experiences new things and has a complete awakening into the real world from his sheltered little life so it is important to show all that. He is very impressionable at this point and I LOVE IT!

This chapter is long. Like whoa. But I like it even though it is pretty uneventful. There IS a slight scene that you could possibly consider smut but it is so minute that I'm not going to bother giving a warning, especially because it only involves one character and its so short.

Anyway, this chapter is long. I said this already. But yes, it's long and awkward and cute! Enjoy!

Roxas awoke early the next morning with a splitting headache. He had been under the assumption that when he and Demyx were going to sleep over at Axel's they would actually be doing some sleeping. This idea was quickly shot down however when they spent a good portion of the night drinking and watching old horror movies. Demyx had been the first to fall asleep and he had soon slipped from his spot on the couch to the floor and curled up into the fetal position. Axel had been quick to follow in slumber and Roxas was unsure what time he himself had fallen into a drunken sleep. He knew however that it was late because the last time he remembered seeing on the clock either read 3:36 or 6:33 but everything was spinning so much he couldn't tell which. He made an effort to sit up but he was soon hindered by two things. The first was his throbbing headache urging him to lay back down and cover his eyes. The second however was a much more alarming issue that he was uncertain how to deal with. Something, no, someone was pinning him to the couch. He managed to open one eye without it terribly irritating his migraine and peer down at his chest. Axel lay sprawled across him and the couch, spiky red head laying snuggly against his chest. It was then that Roxas noticed the incredibly uncomfortable sensation below Axel's face. It was cold. Horribly cold and wet. It was a drool spot and it was causing his shirt to cling to his skin. His lip curled in immediate disgust but he was in too much pain to do anything about it. Instead he nudged Axel lightly. "Axel, wake up."

Axel groaned at hearing his name being spoken. He opened an eye and winced as instant pain filled his skull. "It's too damn early."

Roxas chuckled and shifted a bit beneath the heavy man. "You're drooling on me."

"Huh?" Axel pushed himself up and blinked a few times to clear his vision. Finally Roxas came into focus and he looked down at the boy dumfounded. "W-wait… What?"

"Drool." Roxas let out a noise of relief when Axel pushed off of him and instantly went for his buttons. He tugged at the fabric and tore the shirt loose from his body. "You drooled on me. It's cold and wet and sticky!"

"Oh. I'm uh… I'm sorry." Axel rubbed his face trying to clear his head of all the fog. "What time is it?"

Roxas covered his eyes with his arm and sighed. "I don't know but I feel terrible."

"That means it's too early." Axel laid back down and rested his head against Roxas' chest again. "I'm going back to sleep."

Roxas opened his mouth to protest but stopped and let his arm fall across Axel's neck and into his hair. "Just don't drool on me again."

Axel nodded and mumbled a response that he was certain fell on deaf ears but as his mind began to clear of the fog inducing hangover everything that had just occurred began to register in his mind. He shot up and stared down at the boy before him who lay shirtless and sprawled on the couch.

Roxas' eyes fluttered open at the swift movements of the man above him. The petrified look on his face caused Roxas to panic. "What happened? A spider!?" He bolted up and his head regretfully collided with Axel's. They both seethed quietly, Roxas still trying to make his way off the couch for fear of what might be crawling around on it. He tripped over Demyx who lay snoring on the floor and fell face first into Axel's bulging groin. His eyes met with the redhead's and a large blush flooded his cheeks.

Axel stared down at Roxas wide eyed. Neither two moved for a long time before Axel finally had to get away. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the bathroom. He couldn't unzip his pants fast enough, pressure building up dangerously behind the denim as he flicked on the light. Nothing complimented a morning hard on quite like sexual desire. He stood there at the bathroom sink pumping himself as fast as he could. Finally he felt the release he needed and he let out a heavy sigh. "God damn…" He tucked himself back into his pants and stared into the mirror. "Come on Axel, chill out. It was an accident. He isn't into guys, let it go. Let it go." He turned on the water to clean out the sink and wash his face when he heard a knock on the door. "Y-yeah?"

Roxas stood timidly on the other side of the door staring at the carpet below his feet. "Uhm, Axel?" Roxas was startled when the door opened suddenly. He looked up at Axel nervously and wrung his hands together. "I'm sorry, that was really awkward. I'm a real klutz sometimes."

Axel forced a chuckle and shrugged. "Nah, no big deal."

Roxas shook his head. "No, it was a big deal because you rushed in here so fast and your face is so pale. I'm sure it was embarrassing for you too and I'm sorry."

"No. I just needed to throw up. That's all. Too much alcohol, you know." Axel smiled and ran a hand through his hair, attempting to play off the importance of it. "Now I just need to wash my face."

"Oh. Ok. Hey, do you mind if I take a shower?" Roxas looked longingly at the tiled section of the bathroom. "I'm sweaty and sticky and I really just want a nice long shower."

Axel groaned inwardly and turned away from Roxas to wash his face vigorously. "Sure thing kid, just give me a second and I'll be out of your way." Axel cupped the cool water in his hands and brought it to his face in an effort to snap himself out of this lust driven daze. He reached for a cloth on the counter and began patting his face dry. "Towels are in the cupboard above the toilet and…" He froze as he turned to see Roxas stripping out of his boxers. His eyes fell along the boy's supple body and he was thankful it was too soon for another erection to grow. "Well, not exactly the modest type, eh?"

Roxas looked down at himself and blushed lightly. "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't realize that was wrong here. Back in high school in Oregon we all just changed out in front of each other for Phys. Ed. and football and stuff. I guess I just assumed it was normal everywhere."

Axel chuckled. "No, you're right. It is. I'm sorry, I'm just a bit… Well, I'm all fucked up still so I guess I'm just not thinking clearly. Don't be embarrassed. You certainly have nothing to be embarrassed about with a body like that."

The blush on Roxas' face grew deeper though he was uncertain why. It was just innocent words but it sparked something inside him that made his heart pound. "Uhm, thanks." His eyes met with Axel's for a moment before the older man half rushed, half tripped out of the bathroom. He then climbed into the shower and turned on the water letting the cool beedlets drop over his body.

He couldn't shake Axel's words from his mind.

After the shower he entered the living room to find Demyx awake and ready to leave. The thought of leaving so soon left him a bit discouraged but he shrugged and decided it was probably best. The redhead led the two to the door and Roxas smiled as he reached for Axel's hand to shake it. "Thank you for letting me stay here last night. And thanks for helping me off the ground at the concert. Oh, and thanks for introducing me to The Misfits."

Axel chuckled as he shook Roxas' hand and nodded. "Sure thing kid, no problem. Now don't go getting yourself and your cousin into anymore trouble."

Roxas smiled sheepishly and put a finger to his still swollen lip. "Yeah, no kidding. I'll have to be more careful next time."

"Whoa, next time huh?" Axel snickered and turned his gaze from Roxas to Demyx who stood a few feet away, arms crossed and clearly ready to leave. "Hear that Dem? Your cousin thinks he's gonna have another go around in the pit!"

Demyx glanced to Roxas and rolled his eyes. "Not if I have a say. I still need to kick Lex's ass for letting the little shit go in the first place. You just better pray that heals before mom sees it or she'll flip on both of us. Now come on, let's get going."

"Alright." Roxas looked to Axel and grinned. "So, I guess I'll see you around. It was a pleasure meeting you."

"Yeah…" Axel's smile faded slowly as Roxas gave a wave and started off. "Yeah it was. I'll talk to you later Dem!"

"Yeah yeah!" Demyx waved Axel off as they walked toward his parked Vespa. He waited until they were out of earshot of his friend before he spoke to Roxas. "So, Rox… Anything interesting happen last night? Or anything strange maybe? You can tell me anything, even if Axel told you not to. I won't be mad."

Roxas paused in thought. "No, nothing really out of the ordinary I don't think. Though, Axel did mention his mom kicking him out of Arcadia for some reason but he wouldn't say what. Do you know why?"

"Yeah but it's a long story. And not a very entertaining one. You wouldn't be interested." Demyx climbed onto his Vespa and started the engine before Roxas could board.

Roxas looked to Demyx curiously. "You seem like you're in a bad mood. Why?"

Demyx huffed and looked sternly at Roxas. "It's no big deal. Just get on so I can take you home."

Roxas sighed and climbed onto the back of the Vespa. Something was definitely going on between Axel and Demyx that neither one of them wanted to talk about. On the surface they appeared to be friends but even then, Roxas could pick up on a bit of hostility coming from Demyx. Axel however seemed completely passive toward Demyx which led Roxas to believe that perhaps Axel was the one who felt in the wrong and had done something to anger Demyx. He tried to think back to the previous night and how Demyx interacted with everyone else. It was true, all of Demyx's friends were a bit abrasive and Demyx returned their attitude but it was nothing like he gave Axel. When they came to a stop at a light Roxas leaned forward and looked at his cousin's face. "You and Axel are friends, right?"

Demyx shot a glance at Roxas. "You're awfully curious this morning."

Roxas shrugged. "I'm just wondering, that's all. You seem like friends, but then you don't."

"We are friends. We've been friends since we were in High School. I met him when I was a Freshman and he was a Junior at Arcadia High." Demyx sighed and nudged Roxas to sit back as the light turned green. He raised his voice to speak over the sound of the engine and the wind going by. "Zexion introduced him to me when my parents were getting a divorce! I was taking it hard and Axel had already gone through it so Zexion figured he could help talk me through it! Something clicked and we became best friends! Have been ever since!"

"Oh!" Roxas nodded slowly but something still didn't register in his brain. "Well then why do I sense a lot of hostility!?"

Demyx grumbled as they came to another red light. His cousin was asking far too many questions for his comfort. There were certain details about things that Demyx would rather keep hidden for the time being. Axel had a knack for attracting trouble and he always felt like he was trying to deflect it for his friend. And for Axel, Roxas was trouble with a capital T-R-O-U-B-L-E thanks to the current circumstances. Demyx had watched how just about everyone important in Axel's life had hurt him and the last thing he wanted was to see something else bad happen to him. "Look, Axel and I just have little arguments every once in a while."

Roxas leaned forward to look at Demyx again. "Well, when people have arguments don't they normally try to avoid each other? That way they don't hurt each other's feelings."

"Kid, listen." Demyx forced Roxas' head back and growled. "When I want you're psychological advice I'll ask for it, ok? Mine and Axel's relationship is what it is. That's how things have always been and it works for us. Quit asking so many damn questions."

Roxas sighed and nodded. He knew there was more that Demyx was withholding and if he wasn't going to share it, Roxas would just have to find out for himself just what it was. He rode in silence the rest of the way to his new home and then parted ways with Demyx. As soon as he reached the stairs he rushed up to his new room and grabbed for the phone, but calling home was the last thing on his mind.

Roxas knew somewhere near the phone had to be a list of his friends phone numbers. Demyx likely didn't bother to memorize them which meant there had to be a place he kept them. As Roxas palmed the receiver he spotted just what he was looking for. Most phones had a little square piece of plastic under the receiver that could hold a tiny piece of paper. Roxas' parents had used it on their own phone for emergency numbers, the priest of their church being at the top of that "emergency" list. It was here on Demyx's phone that Roxas found a list of letters; A, Z, L, M, S and Mom. All had a phone number beside them. He had to assume that the letters signified the person's first name. For some strange reason, his heart skipped a beat when he gazed upon the letter A. Slowly he punched in the first number, Axel's, and placed the receiver to his ear. But there was no ring on the other side. Only the busy signal. Disheartened, he hung up and let out a hefty sigh. "Maybe I shouldn't be so nosey." Nodding to himself, Roxas had resolved to just lay down and try to get some more sleep. He scuffled over to the mattress and flopped down letting his eyes flutter shut.

Then the phone rang…

He shot for it as fast as he could, tripping over the luggage he'd left there the previous day. He struggled to stand before finally capturing the receiver in his hand on the third ring. He slammed it against his ear and answered breathlessly. "Hello?"

"Ha, hey. This is Roxas, right?"

Axel's voice on the other side of the line. Why did it make his pulse quicken? "Uhm, yeah! Hi."

"Hope I wasn't interrupting anything important. I tried calling just a minute ago but the line was busy. Oh, this is Axel. Probably should have mentioned that earlier."

Roxas chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I know. I recognize your voice." There was a long pause.

"Really?"

Roxas nodded, which was foolish because Axel couldn't see him. "Yeah. You've got a pretty distinct voice."

"Yeah. I guess I do. Ha ha. So, what are you up to?"

Roxas shrugged, another silly habit. "Well not that much. I was just going to go back to sleep. I'm still a little tired from last night. I usually don't ever stay up past ten, let alone how late we stayed up."

"Oh. Well I can let you go then…"

"No! It's fine." Roxas smiled to himself. "I was just going to do that because I was bored. I should actually probably be unpacking but that's something I can do while I'm on the phone with you."

"Cool. So, did Demyx say anything to you?"

Bingo. Roxas new something was up. He wasn't able to get it out of his cousin but perhaps he could entice it out of Axel. He picked up his first bag from the floor and sat it on top of the dresser beside the phone. "Well, he didn't say much. I asked him why he seemed so hostile toward you. He pretty much told me to mind my own business. But he did say that you were best friends."

"Yeah, we've got a lot of history. We went and got our first ink together and everything. We've always been really close. But sometimes we have disagreements. All friends do."

Roxas scowled as he picked up a shirt and refolded it before putting it in an open drawer. That was not what he wanted to hear. He wanted Axel to gush about whatever their problem was. Not give him the same auto-response that Demyx did. "Well, what were you guys disagreeing about?" Another long pause.

"It's kind of a long story."

A long story. Why was that becoming a theme with those two? "Well, I have the time."

"If I could tell you I would. But I don't think Demyx wants you to know. It's nothing personal. I don't see it as such big deal but apparently Dem does and I guess he's just worried about you in his own little way. It's kinda sweet if you think of it that way Roxy."

"Worried about me? What does it have to do with…" Roxas paused. "Wait, did you call me Roxy?"

"Ha ha! Yeah. Everybody has a nickname around here. If you're going to be a friend of ours you'll have to put up with a lot more than just that. I figure Roxy is the kindest nickname I could give ya."

"A friend?" Roxas couldn't help but smile at the word. "You think I can be friends with you all?"

"Well you're going to be here all Summer. And I don't imagine hanging out with your aunt is at the top of your list of fun ideas."

"Well, I guess not." Roxas picked up another shirt and refolded it. "Of course I didn't exactly expect this trip to be full of fun and games from the start."

"Oh! Speaking of fun and games, you should come with us tonight!"

"Come with you?" Roxas sat the shirt down feeling intrigued. "Where are you going?"

"We're going to Santa Monica. You ever heard of it?"

Roxas thought quietly a moment and then nodded to nobody in particular. "Isn't that the place with the pier?"

"Yeah and it's going to be lots of fun. It's unlike anything you've ever seen! There's an amusement park right there on the pier and the beach kicks ass at night, especially with the light from the Ferris wheel."

"Demyx didn't mention anything about it." He sighed a bit discouraged and regained the shirt in his grasp. "I think that means I'm not invited."

"Bull shit! I invited you. Besides, the beach is public property. He can't stop you from going. I'll pick you up around eight tonight, got it?"

"Uh, sure thing." Roxas smiled excitedly but before he could say another word he heard a click on the other side and then silence. "Axel? Hello?" Nothing. He hung up. Looking at the clock on the wall caused Roxas to sigh. "Aww, only three o'clock? That's five hours from now. Guess I could sleep…" Without another thought to the still full luggage on the dresser, Roxas flopped back on the bed and shut his eyes. Sleep took him swiftly.