(I own nothing)

~Chapter Three~

*drugs in this chapter ;)

"Zexion? Hey, come sit with me!" Demyx called from the couch. I wrinkled my nose, the smell of weed strong in the air.

"No. You've been smoking again, haven't you?" He nodded, smiling serenely at me.

"Yes, I have. You should try it some time, just once, to see if you really hate it as much as you think you do." Larxene nodded in agreement from the other couch.

"Yeah, really. Just come smoke a bowl with us. It would do you some good," she said, smiling. Well, if it could make Larxene less of a raving bitch, then it couldn't be all bad...

"No!" I said loudly, to silence the little doubt in my head. Granted, I was curious, but... not with all these people around. Okay, so no one looked like they cared at all, but that wasn't the point. With my luck, I'd be the guy who's really obnoxious, and everyone makes fun of him, and then he pukes in the flowers outside of Vexen's house. Okay, so maybe I was thinking of alcohol, but it was only that one time that I did that! Usually I don't drink that much, really! "Demyx, you know I don't like that..." Okay, it was a lie. I loved to be around Demyx when he was smoking. The things he said, and the way he acted... it was as if all pretenses had been dropped, and he was just... very natural, and relaxed. I still didn't want to admit it, though, especially after all the shit I'd given him about it.

"Zex, no one cares," Axel said quietly, as if reading my mind. "No one will think any less of you either way, and we all love you. Just don't do anything you're not comfortable with."

"Pussy," Larxene muttered. Okay, I take back what I said about her being less of a bitch when she's stoned. She's just less intense about it.

"Don't worry, Zexxy." Axel always says that I'm as easy to read as one of the books I always have around me, and maybe it's true, to him and Demyx, and maybe Roxas. But to everyone else, I just... I come across all wrong. Maybe I could take a page out of Demyx's book, and just... relax, and be myself. It couldn't hurt to try, just this once, right?

"...Fine."

"Yay!" Demyx giggled as he fished around in his bag for his supplies.

"Here, Dem. I'll pack it. Larxene, you throwing down any?" She shrugged.

"Might as well." She passed what looked like a pill container towards him.

"Wait, what's that?" I didn't want to try any pills or anything like that!

"Chill. Just what I keep my weed in."

"Oh." I felt a little foolish, but then again, it was a perfectly legitimate concern, in my opinion. I watched as Axel skillfully tore the clumps of plant matter into tiny pieces, putting it into the end of the the dark blue glass pipe.

"Here you go, Zexion. You want greens?" What the hell did that mean?

"W-what?"

"First hit," Demyx whispered to me. I shook my head.

"Um, I don't- um," I didn't want to tell them that I didn't know how to do it, but Demyx seemed to get what I was trying to say.

"Just watch me and do what I do." I nodded, watching carefully as he held it in his left hand. "Okay, see the little hole here? The choke? You want to cover that up at first." He covered it with his thumb, breathing in as he held the lighter to the weed in the pipe. Then, he let up on the choke, inhaling more deeply. "Then you want to do that, just to get the rest of the smoke in the bowl. Just don't take too big of a hit for your first time." He took one more quick hit, which he held in, before passing it to me. I swallowed, having second thoughts, but there was no way I could back out now, after I said that I would try it. I did exactly as I had seen Demyx do, although I took a much smaller breath. I passed it to Axel, who was applauding me. As I exhaled, I felt a bit of a rush, almost like when you stand up too quickly. "Well?" Demyx asked, peering at me expectantly. "What do you think?" I shrugged.

"I don't know... I don't feel too much different."

"Well, you'll need a few more hits, first." I nodded silently, actually kind of excited. I'd never done anything this explicitly illegal before, and it was kind of exciting. By the time it reached me for the third time, I was beginning to feel pretty unusual. My body felt light and free, and I felt so... happy. And peaceful. I was having a conversation with Larxene about school, and I found myself agreeing with her far more than was usual. She was being pretty nice, and I was just feeling so good about everything, that it was one of the most fun conversations I've had with anyone in a while. And then... then Axel brought out the snacks. I have nothing against eating, normally, although I don't really do it unless it is absolutely necessary. My physician has hinted a few times at the possibility of an eating disorder, perhaps brought on by my OCD and extreme perfectionism, but I really think that he is overreacting on the subject. But as I was saying, I had never been overly fond of eating... until that night. I've never had better food in my life, and it was just Doritos and other hideously unhealthy snack foods.

"So, Zexxy, how're you liking blazing with us?" I nodded, smiling widely.

"I think I like it... I feel really happy right now. I like you all a lot, you know that?" Demyx put his arm around me as Axel laughed loudly and Roxas giggled.

"I told you you'd like it..." I sighed.

"Yes, you were right. I'm sorry." For some reason, when I was stoned, I didn't mind apologizing, or admitting that I was wrong. Usually, my pride is my biggest downfall. I have a very hard time admitting defeat, and it often caused problems for me.

"I like you better like this," Larxene told me. "You're less of a jerk." I giggled.

"Um... thanks?"

"Don't worry, Zexxy. I don't think you're a jerk at all," Demyx sighed, smiling at me dreamily. I blushed, moving the tiniest bit closer. He made a contented noise, squeezing me closer to his body, while Larxene pretended to gag.

"You guys are all disgusting," she told us.

"Aww, c'mon, Larx. Lighten up a little," Roxas said, giving her his most innocent look. Even she had to grin at that.

"It's true and you know it. Although I'm glad you decided to stop being such a tight-ass," she said, gesturing to me. Again, I wasn't sure whether to be offended or to take it as a compliment.

"Um... thank you..."

"See, Zexion?" Axel piped up. "I told you it would do you some good to loosen up." Fine, fine. So he had been right, for once. It didn't happen often.

We smoked a little more, and then Larxene announced that she had to be getting back, as she had to work early the next morning.

"But I don't want to leave!" Demyx whined, hanging on to my arm. He and Roxas had been her ride.

"Demyx, don't worry," I told him. "I'll see you tomorrow, maybe. Or some other time really soon..." I frowned. "I hope." Shut up, don't laugh. I was blazed, okay?

"I know, but it's so sad!" Demyx countered, clutching my sweatshirt sleeve.

"You know what we could do..." Axel said, a smirk on his face. "We could trade roommates for the night... only if you wang to, though, Demyx." Before I could open my mouth to protest, Demyx shrieked in joy, jumping in the air and landing more or less on top of me.

"Jesus, Dem. At least wait until we leave," Larxene admonished. It took me a moment to understand what she was getting at.

"Hey!" I protested, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. "Don't say that kind of thing!" She laughed.

"Zexion, you are a funny stoner, you know that?" She smiled at me, and for once, it wasn't a bitter, sarcastic smile. "You guys have fun tonight, okay?"

"Yeah," Axel added. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, okay?" Roxas rolled his eyes.

"I don't think that will be a problem for them." Okay, I didn't want to think about what that could mean. "Anyway, see you tomorrow, Demyx. Have fun!" Demyx waved to his roommate, while I deliberately ignored mine, keeping my attention focused (for the most part- I was rather easily distracted at the time) on Demyx. As soon as the door was closed, Demyx was looking at me anxiously.

"So? What do you want to do?" He asked, looking at me expectantly. I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. What was I supposed to say?

"U-um..." I stammered. "I dunno... what do you want to do?" I knew I was blushing; I could feel the sudden heat on my cheeks. He shrugged.

"I dunno... I guess we don't really have to do much of anything, if that's okay with you... I mean, I'm perfectly happy to just sit her and cuddle with you..." and cuddling was sounding really good. I smiled hugely, throwing my arms around his neck.

"That sounds great..." I planted a light kiss on his cheek, and this time, he blushed bright red, smiling happily.

"Zexion..." he murmured, stroking the side of my face softly and smoothing my hair. Slowly, so slowly that it seemed to last an eternity, he leaned forward, gently kissing my lips and leaving me speechless. I stared back at him for a few moments, trying to read the jumble of emotions evident on his face as he gauged my reaction. After opening and closing my mouth dumbly for a few moments, I broke into a shy grin, stealing a kiss of my own. He sighed contentedly, pulling me down next to him as he sat on the sofa. He held me tightly, almost sitting on his lap, as he stroked my hair softly, occasionally murmuring into my ear or kissing me gently. Before long, we were reclined on the sofa, my arms wrapped around his neck as he held me protectively.

"Demyx?" I muttered, stifling a yawn.

"Hmm?"

"I-I-I'm tired," I stammered, unable to hold back the second yawn.

"Did you want to go to bed?" I paused, unsure of what exactly he meant by that. My expression must have given me away, because he kissed my forehead. "We don't have to do anything, but I think we should be getting to sleep sometime soon." I yawned again, nodding in consent. "You have any pajamas I can wear?" I nodded. I rifled around in my drawer until I found a pair of plain blue sleep pants, throwing them across the room to Demyx. "Hey, thanks," he said, stripping down to his underwear with no warning. I blushed, turning away quickly. "What's wrong, Demyx?" He teased. "You okay over there?"

"I'm fine," I snapped, embarrassed. "Do you want to go to bed, or not?"

"Hell yes!" He grabbed my hand enthusiastically, pulling me into the next room. I tentatively crawled under the covers next to him, relaxing as he held me against his chest. I fell asleep, lulled by the steady sound of his breathing.

When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point.
~Barack Obama

A/N: okay, please please don't hate me! I could have sworn I posted this! I'd even had it uploaded on the site at one point... ugh. so so so sorry. it won't happen again, though, I can tell you that, because now I'm getting out of my creative funk, and getting back into writing. I finished my Mighty Boosh story, and I know exactly what I'm going to do with my Yu-Gi-Oh ones. So once again, life is good.

I like the quote- I knew there was a reason I liked him! just in case you didn't pick up on it, it's in response to Bill Clinton claiming that, although he experimented with marijuana, he "never inhaled." uh-huh, just keep telling people that, Bill.

*many thanks to soundofmadness223.*

let me know what you think! remember, no flames because of drug usage; I give adequate warning in the description that there will be drugs. I hope you're enjoying it so far!

~alex~