i sit two stories above the street
it's awful quiet here since love fell asleep
there's life down below me though
the kids are walking home from school….

I had spent only two weeks in Orner family's house hold but it felt like an eternity had passed me by. Sharing a room with Roxas was the most terrible torture I had ever experienced. It's not like he wasn't a great guy…really, he was. It's just that…well… he's not very shy…at all. He could walk around naked for the rest of his life and seem perfectly content.

So putting a boy who was struggling with his sexuality in the same room with one of the hottest guys in the universe…and make that guy half naked…It was like giving a heroin addict a needle and saying shoot up. Not only was he gorgeous, but he was so…bad.

It wasn't surprising to see him climbing through his window at 3 in the morning with a Cheshire cat grin and wink before climbing under his covers. He constantly got in trouble in our English class, getting sent out into the hall and last week he even got in a fight with that bully that had sent me cascading into his lap on my first day.

But really, I didn't mind. I found his tough guy style to be an endearing quality that attracted me to Roxas in the first place. But then I had to just about slap myself for thinking about him that way in the first place. I wasn't staying at his house to fall for him, I was staying here to help him…

But I didn't really get what was wrong…

He was a sweet guy…if you look passed the few misdemeanors that he had on his record. He was kind, and thoughtful, he will stick up for anyone that can't help themselves, he's patient and caring…I mean…I thought he was great just the way he was. So what was there to change?

some long ago when we were taught
that for whatever kind of puzzle you got
you just stick the right formula in
a solution for every fool…

I guess it was the way he would wake up screaming almost every night…Sometimes he would speak and I would sit on the edge of the bed and hold his hand. "Where is he?" He would say, "I need him…"I really just wanted to know who 'he' was. Maybe I could help Roxas find him? Just looking at the boy as he tossed and turned, his face twisted in pain… I just…felt so helpless…

Tonight was no exception.

I had stayed up later than usual to finish the 7th Harry Potter for the third time. I was really lacking in books, but I enjoyed reading my favorites again from time to time. I was just at the part where Harry was walking through the woods to his death when Roxas groaned.

"You're lying…" He told someone that was hidden in his thoughts, "I don't believe you…" He rolled over, causing his blanket to fall to the ground as his face twisted in agony. I wanted so desperately to know what was going on in his head…But I didn't want to ask him. He could tell me when he was ready and I would be willing and happy to listen. I memorized my page and closed the book as I got up, walking over to the beautiful new brother of mine.

I picked the blanket up off the floor and draped it back over him gently as I wiped his hair away from his restless face. But before I could move my hand away, his came up and caught mine, holding my palm to his cheek. I flushed but then realized that he was still sleeping and smiled slightly at how innocent he looked just laying there. "Where is Momma?" He asked in a cute, small voice that I never thought him capable of. It was almost heart breaking to hear that fragile voice escape his quivering lips. I didn't know that to tell him…

"Um…she'll be right back," I told him gently, "She went to the store for a minute." That seemed like a nice thing to say…right?

"Is he with her?" He asked confusing me, his words quivering slightly as he asked.

"H…he?"

"My brother!" His voice cracked as he said brother, "I…I need him…I w-want my brother b-back…" He sucked in a quivering breath and a tear fell down his pale cheek making my heart just about break.

"There, there," I cooed sweetly, "He… he's right here…" I lied just wanting him to stop crying…

"Really?" He brightened up with a sniffle. Gosh dang it he was so cute… I bit my lip and worked my voice to be as child-like as possible, surprised to find that I ended up sounding almost exactly like Roxas.

"I'm right here Roxy…" I mumbled the best I could, earning his beautiful smile in turn. He reached up and grabbed me, pulling me down on the bed beside him and wrapping me in his arms. I flushed bright red, but he couldn't see it as he held me to his chest.

"I missed you…"He whispered making me feel as thought I had won a noble prize. I couldn't help but say it… "I missed you too."

And then he was back in his own dream, his arms still holding me tightly to him. But…I had missed him. I didn't know why, but I felt like I had been here before…in his arms more than one time…But why? We had just met. So why did I feel like I'd found someone that I hadn't known I was looking for?

i remember the time when i came so close to you
sent me skipping my class and running from school
and i bought you that ring cause i never was cool
what makes me think i could start clean slated
the hardest to learn was the least complicated…

I had meant to get up and go back to my own bed, but I was just too comfortable to move…I felt like I was home. I wasn't even aware that I had fallen asleep until I found myself running down the street in a frenzy. What? I was insanely confused… standing out in the middle of a road that seemed all too familiar to be comfortable. No one outside seemed to notice me. It was like I didn't exist…and maybe I didn't. Not here anyway. I didn't really know what I was looking for, but then I saw them. I woman with long, brown hair and green eyes, looking around nervously as she pulled a little blond boy into the shadows.

Roxas…?

I followed them watching the scene play out before me. It was so sad…Little Roxas was sobbing but the name escaped him…I wanted to know who he needed. Who was this brother that I had pretended to be? But then it all went dark. There were gunshots, and screaming and then a soft sniffle from behind me. I turned to see the child Roxas standing in front of a mirror. He was crying as he glared at his reflection…. "You're wrong…" He told himself. "I don't believe you!" He sank to the floor practically trembling and covering his ears with his tiny hands.

"Get out of my head!" he cried making my heart squeeze in a painful way. I didn't want him to cry. I walked over to him, leaning down to place my hand on his shoulder even though I didn't really expect him to feel anything. But to my surprise, the boy turned his head to look at me with his deep, watery eyes. "Can you make him go away?" he whimpered as his lip trembled. I looked up into the mirror. His reflection wasn't sitting like he was. It was looking straight at me, as if it was daring me to make him leave…

"I can't…" I told the boy pulling him on to my lap so I could hug him. "He is you Roxas…he's your pain…your anger…your fear… and he wants to hurt you… because he himself is afraid." I looked down at the crying boy and kissed the top of his head, "But it's okay to be scared…" I told him softly, "Everyone gets scared sometimes Roxas…" I looked at the mirror at the little boy there. He just looked sad to me. Lonely…

"You aren't alone…" I whispered to the boy, "I'm here with you…" I held him tighter, but then I felt weird like I was shrinking. And he wasn't in my lap anymore I was kneeling in front of him. He looked up at me with wide eyes and I smiled sweetly at him tilting my head to the side, "I'm right here Roxy," trilled a voice of a child and he smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen…

And then I woke up.

so i just sit up in the house and resist
and not be seen until i cease to exist
a kind of conscientious objection
a kind of dodging the draft…

Roxas was looking down at me with a slight blush and I was completely red as I met his gaze. Oh crap…I knew I should have gotten up and went back to my own bed…dang my stupid boy brain! "Um…Good morning…" he smiled slightly and that just had me even more flustered.

"M-morning." I stuttered and wiggled out of his arms, running a hand through my hair. I was so embarrassed…I knew he would want to ask me what I was doing n his bed, but I really didn't know how to answer that question. So I spoke before he could, "Sleep well?" I asked him breathily, not able to look at him.

"Yeah," he said sounding a little surprised. "I had…a good dream…" he smiled, trapping me in his gaze for a moment, a small smile creeping up on my lips without me noticing. Why did he always make me feel like I was floating? Like I could just reach out, take his hand and everything could be okay…forever…

the boy and girl are holding hands on the street
and i don't want to but i think you just wait
it's more than just eye to eye
learn the things i could never apply…

I flushed again and stood up, stepping away from his head with a guilty smile. "Um…I'll go get ready for school." I mumbled and walked out the door to the restroom. I got ready pretty fast, putting on my school uniform faster than I intended. I walked down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of OJ drinking it uneasily. It was times like this that I really missed Yuffie…But I hadn't heard from her or Vincent for the time I had been here.

I missed them…so much…I looked down at black polished shoes and sighed. I guess…I always know that it wasn't permanent.

i remember the time when i came so close with you

i let everything go it seemed the only truth
and i bought you that ring, it seemed the thing to do

The doorbell rang and snapped me out of my thoughts. I put down my glass and walked out into the entry hall to see Roxas opening the door with a grimace. "What are you doing here?" He asked as I walked over to see who he was talking to. Riku was standing in the door glaring at Roxas like he was a piece of gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe.

He rolled his eyes, "I'm here to pick up Sora," He told Roxas harshly and looked at me over his shoulder with a smirk. "Hey Blue, are you ready to go?" He asked earning a confused look from me.

"I told you that I'm walking with Roxas today…" I told him in a way that I was hoping wouldn't be offensive. Was it me…or did Roxas seem slightly smug?

"You were serious?"Riku asked very rudely. I mean, he said that as if Roxas weren't standing right there.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"Roxas growled.

"It means that Sora has a chance to be somebody, unlike you freak." He stepped into the house till they were chest to chest, their eyes locked.

"You wanna say that again?" Roxas asked, his voice icy, sending chills down my spine. Riku glared back.

"Yeah I'll say it again." He hissed, shoving Roxas hard in the chest, sending him straight back into me. His head knocking hard against my nose. My head flew back and I fell to the floor. Owe…Roxas kneeled next to me, taking my chin in his hand as he looked at me with big, worried eyes. He touched the bottom of my nose and pulled back, blood dripping down his finger.

Now he was pissed…

He got up, turning back to Riku with his fist clenched. "You're going to pay for that asshole," He growled and sent his fist straight into Riku's gut. The elder fell out the door onto the sidewalk and Roxas jumped on him punching him over and over again until the silver teen kicked him off giving him a hard punch in the eye. I jumped up, pulling Riku off of him and pushing him as far away as I could.

"Stop it!" I yelled as the two of them panted, Roxas held his already swelling eye and Riku spit out some blood. "Riku I think you should go." I told him, looking him straight in the eye as he stared back bewildered.

"You're choosing that freak?" He demanded grabbing my shoulders, "You're choosing that weirdo?"

I glared at him stepping out of his reach and backing toward Roxas. There was no question about it. "He's not a freak," I said softly wanting him to have to lean in and listen, "He's my brother…"

what makes me think i could start clean slated?
the hardest to learn was the least complicated….
so what makes me think i could start clean slated?
the hardest to learn was the least complicated…

I watched Riku stomp away not really knowing what to think about it. As soon as he drove away, I turned back to Roxas and grabbed his arm, pulling him back into the house. I pushed him gently into one of the kitchen chairs. I scooped up some ice in a dish towel and placed it on his eye as I sank down next to him. I felt like crap…There was a big knot in my stomach now that I had Riku as an…and enemy? But Roxas tore me out of my trance.

"Sora…?" I turned and looked at his one revealed eye so that seemed to be trying to read me. I waited as he found the words, "…Th…Thank you…for that…" He looked down, lost in thoughts I didn't know and I smiled at him softly.

"You're welcome…" I muttered back, placing my hand on top of his, sending a jolt through my body…And then it was like I was in his head. I could hear him…and feel him…The strangest emotions pouring into me as I gasped and we met each other's eyes. Identical eyes…

Maybe there was more to this connection than I thought…

i'm remember the time when i came so close with you
sent me skipping my class and running from school
and i bought you that ring cause i never was cool

what makes me think i could start clean slated
the hardest to learn was the least complicated
so what makes me think i could start clean slated
the hardest to learn was the least complicated
the least complicated
the least complicated