Without a Sound

Disclaimer: I own the plot, nothing else!

I knew some of you were getting tired of waiting so here's the next chapter of WAS (yay for acronyms!)

Chapter 21

My heart was beating wildly as I got closer to the school. I didn't like feeling nervous and afraid.

But… I couldn't help it.

When Roxas and I exited the car, I didn't leave his side. In fact, if it didn't look weird, I would have latched onto his arm out of fear that someone would pop out of nowhere and grab me.

When Roxas nudged me, I looked over to him. 'You can hold onto me if you're really scared… I already feel horrible about not being there to help you…' Roxas' mouth formed.

I paused. 'It's not your fault… I… made myself an easy target-'

Roxas grabbed my hands and gave me a serious look. 'You shouldn't blame yourself for that. Xigbar isn't a good person and he was the one in the wrong okay?' Roxas said.

I nodded and sighed. 'I… don't want to be afraid of walking the school hallways alone… I just want it to go away. I thought that maybe if I wore normal clothes today… it would boost my confidence… but I'm still scared.' I signed with a loser look on my face.

'It's understandable Sora. I don't blame you for being scared and neither will your friends.' Roxas signed.

I nodded and latched onto is arm. We made it to our lockers and I got everything I needed.

'You were going to morning basketball practice right? I'll walk you there." Roxas signed and I nodded.

When we got to the gym, I was comforted a little by the smell of the rubber basketballs and circular orbs of orange bouncing around the room. I took in a big whiff.

I jumped when a hand fell on my shoulder.

'You okay? We heard you had an accident…what happened?' Zell signed.

I shook my head. 'It's nothing, I'll be okay.' I signed.

'He's says he's alright and that we shouldn't worry.' Zell said and I turned to see the rest of the team behind me.

'We're glad you're okay Chicken Wuss!' Seifer said with a smirk.

I smiled and nodded.

'And look at you with your normal clothes on! I'm so proud of you!" Zell said and Rude nodded.

I nodded and moved to the locker room… I felt a chill up my spine and I flinched.

'Are you okay? You jumped for no reason.' Zell signed.

I nodded. I'm fine, I'm fine.

Zell gave me a funny look before I turned and entered the locker room.

I crept into the room slowly, checking every corner to see if anyone was there. When I made it to my locker I took and audible deep breath and held a hand to my racing heart.

I opened my duffel and pulled out my shirt and shorts. I moved to take off my shirt but stopped abruptly.

I pulled my shirt back down and ran to the stalls and locked one with me inside. I was more comfortable where no one could see me.

I changed my clothes quickly and opened the stall. I stumbled back into the stall and locked it.

I could have sworn I saw Xigbar in the bathroom mirrors.

I tried to calm myself down. Tears were sprining up but I sucked them back down.

I swear I wanted to scream when the stall door started to shake. Someone was pounding on it.

I shook some of the irrational fear from my head and looked under the stall door to see Seifer's shoes.

I jumped onto the toilet when Seifer suddenly squeezed himself under the stall door. He then stood and opened the stall from the inside.

'What's that matter with you, Chicken Wuss? You're like, hyperventilating and you locked yourself in a stall. Something is definitely not right, are you sure you're okay?' I watched him say.

I nodded and slowed my breathing… I didn't realize it was so irregular.

'Look… I won't force you to tell me what happened to you… but I'm here, and so is the rest of the team. Why don't you come out of the stall and I'll walk you to your homeroom?' Seifer asked.

I frowned and put my hands in the air to pretend like I was shooting a basketball. What about morning practice?

'Dude… you must not realize how long you've been in the bathroom stall. You missed all of morning practice. Zell and Raijin were wondering where you were the whole time. They asked me to check on you and I spent the last ten minutes looking for you.' Seifer said.

I nodded and moved to walk out of the stall.

'You want to change back into your regular clothes?' Seifer's mouth asked.

I frowned.

'You can stay and the stall and I won't leave until you come out.' Seifer seemed to read my uneasiness.

I sighed in relief and closed the stall. I changed my clothes at lightning speed and walked out of the stall.

Seifer offered me his arm. 'Shall we go princess chicken wuss?' Seifer asked.

I let out a small huff and took his arm.

When we left the locker room, Zell was waiting at the gym doors.

'You found him, thank goodness! Where were you? You really worried me you know!' Zell said.

'I'm sorry.' I signed.

'It's okay… are you really okay? You're holding onto Seifer's arm as if you're afraid…' Zell pointed.

I let go of Seifer's arm and smiled. I'm okay.

'I'm not convinced.' Zell signed.

I frowned.

Seifer and Zell walked me to homeroom and I sat in the desk. When the bell rang for the first class of the day, I panicked a little. I walked to the doorway but stopped when I saw Seifer.

'Zell asked me to keep an eye on you. He's really worried you know.' Seifer said and gave me a serious look.

I nodded in a melancholy manner. I felt bad about not telling them… but if I told them it would only bring back all the memories.

We made it to the gym and Coach Yuffie decided we would play basketball. I smiled.

Coach divided the class into four teams of five and I sat and watched the first two teams play.

I smiled when Seifer's team won the game.

Yuffie pointed to our team and we moved to the gym floor.

I stood in front of Seifer and checked the ball. Seifer cautiously moved forward before letting out a burst of speed but I managed to catch up to him. I moved to block him from shooting but he moved without hesitation.

I was pushed out of the way and he made a goal.

Seifer moved over to me and frowned. 'Sorry, I really didn't think I pushed you that hard. Are you okay?' he asked.

I nodded and Yuffie tossed me a ball. I caught it and passed it to Seifer to check. He passed it back and I immediately moved forwards, moving the ball between my legs to avoid being stolen. I bent my knees and jumped at the free throw line and shot the ball only to be pushed to the ground in mid air.

The ball managed to go in anyway. I sighed and moved to stand. I rubbed my side that fit the hard gym floor.

'Are you okay? That dude came out of nowhere. I don't know what got into him. Yuffie says you have a foul shot.' I saw Seifer say.

I nodded and he handed me the ball. I stood at the free throw line again and took a shot.

It went in again.

The next few points were made by other students on the team. So far, the score was tied 8 to 8. The next tem to get a two pointer would win.

I watched as the ball was check and my teammate started to dribble. I managed to lose Seifer for a spilt second and I waved my arms.

The ball was passed and I caught it. I turned towards the goal only to see someone coming at me at a very high speed.

My eyes widened when I saw Xigbar running towards me. Out of fear, I threw the ball at him and ran only to crash into a bunch of tables and chairs in the corner of the gym.

I found myself buried under a pile of metal chairs. I felt suffocated. The cold metal against my skin felt like Xigbar's sharp blade. I could feel him on top of me. I thrashed and thrashed under those chairs, breaths coming out in wheezes. I couldn't breath.

I continued to thrash even after I felt the chairs move because they were replaced by hands. I wanted to scream. "GET OFF! GET OFF!" is what I wanted to yell until my throat bled.

When the hands let go I slowed my violent flails and I realized I wasn't in the hallway, I was in the gym. My breathing began to slow and when my episode was done… everyone was starting at me.

Seifer took a step towards me. 'Sora…' He moved next to me. 'I know I said you didn't have to tell us what happened… but I'm taking those words back. Chicken Wuss, that was down right terrifying! I thought you were possessed or something.' I watched him say.

My watch vibrated for the next class.

'The team wants an explanation of what happened so that we can support you. I don't know what else to say.' Seifer's mouth formed.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

'Sora… the principal doesn't think you're ready to be back in school. I just got off the phone with him and he says that after today you should take a few days off. In fact he said that he dismissed you from your classes and that you should probably text your parents to pick you up.' Coach Yuffie said slowly for me to read after all of the other students left.

I nodded and looked away… I felt terrible for causing a scene during class. I didn't want people to notice how affected I was by the incident.

'Don't worry Sora. I think it's amazing that you even managed to hold out this long. I would have locked myself away where no one could find me. You're a tough kid.' She said with a small smile.

I nodded in thanks and grabbed my stuff before walking out of the gym. I examined the area before running up the stairs to the second floor.

I knew Leon was teaching a class… but just sitting outside his door was enough. I placed my stuff down and sat next to the door. I pulled out my phone and texted my mom. I told her that I wasn't ready to be in school and that I wanted to go home.

When she texted me back it said:

I can't leave work yet. Is there a place where you feel comfortable? Could you stay there until I get there?

I replied with an okay and simply tried to relax against the wall. I put my hand to the whistle under my shirt. I was safe here. If someone came to hurt me, I could blow my whistle and Leon would come.

It was with these thoughts that I drifted to sleep. My body was exhausted from the episode and lack of sleep last night.

When my wristwatch vibrated again… I slept though it.

I woke when a warm hand on my shoulder shook me gently. My eyes fluttered open to see Leon in front of me.

'What happened? I heard on the intercom that you were dismissed from your classes.' I watched him say.

I stood and pulled a notebook and pen from my bag:

I… freaked out in P.E. The principal said that I wasn't ready to come back to school and that I should take some days off.

'Are you okay?' his mouth asked.

I nodded and wrote:

Could I… stay in here with you until my mom comes to pick me up?

Leon nodded and opened the door for me. I walked inside and sat at a desk.

'You can sit at my desk if you want. I need to put grades in the computer.' His mouth formed and he moved to the computer station in the corner of the room.

I thought for a second before moving to the chair at the large desk. The chair looked comfy.

I sat in the chair only to sink a little. It was still warm from Leon's body heat. I couldn't help but realize how Leon was a much larger male than I was. I could just about curl up in his chair like a cat.

So that's what I did. I pulled my legs up onto the chair and curled towards the back of it.

I could smell Leon in the fibers of the chair and I found myself relaxing.

I was half asleep when I felt the tap of Leon placing something on the desk. I remained still when I felt a small kiss to my forehead and a hand brushing my hair.

I fell asleep with a warm feeling.

A/N: Review!