Chapter Fifteen: Dawning Of A New Era
Monday morning has never looked so beautiful, I've never been as excited as I am today to start a week. I usually despise Monday mornings, in fact I hate every morning but today is different. I pull my blinds up, letting sun shine into my room and everything takes on this wonderful orange glow, the sun slowly climbing up the sky and…well, is appears that happiness makes me a poet. I'll have to share this with my English teacher when I waltz into class.
"For the love of fucking God!" a voice grumbles from behind me and a tiny hand grips the strings, shutting the blinds violently and cutting off the nice, morning glory orange glow leaving my room in a soft darkness.
"Martinez, it's 6:30 in the damn morning, shut the blinds and get back to bed," I stare at Roxas, his hair sticking up everywhere and his eyes still puffy with sleep. I smile brightly at him before wrapping my arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly.
"How can I sleep though, do you know what today is?" I ask and he shoves my arms off him grumpily, grumbling while he picks up the jeans he tossed on the floor when we got home from the hospital.
"It's Monday, and I'm not ready to face the world yet," he says tugging on a blonde tuft while glaring heatedly at me. I smile innocently before reaching over and opening the blinds…again. Roxas hisses, diving onto the bed and covering himself in the blankets. I laugh lightly, jumping in bed after him.
"Oh come on Roxas! Be happy for me," I say and he sticks his head out, glaring at me.
"Happy? Why are you so damned happy?" He asks rubbing his eye viciously and I grip his fist, pulling it away from his slowly reddening eyeball and I hold it between my hands, he looks down at them for a while before looking back up at me.
"Because it's Monday morning and I'm not in a mental hospital," I say like it should have been obvious and Roxas blinks a few times before he finally understands and he smiles, a little lopsidedly but it's still a smile none the less.
"I see your point…well then, I'm happy for you…but really? It's 6:30 am Martinez," and I have to laugh, hugging him tightly before Reno barges in, managing to be just as loud even with a bandaged shoulder and an arm in a sling.
"Stop doing anything inappropriate because I'm coming in!" was his warning before slamming the door against the wall, he's taken to kicking my door open and Roxas just rolls his eyes as the walks in, heading straight for my dresser.
"I'm going to visit Kairi, I'm guessing you'll be going to school then coming by?" Reno says, going through all of my sweaters and destroying any neatness that once lived in my drawers.
"Yeah, I hope she gets…better," I say and Reno looks at me for a few moments before tugging out a green shirt and waving it around as if to show me what he's taking.
"It'll take some time man, but she's moving in with Tia Brenda after she recovers…"
"Yeah, it's for the best," I say and I feel something wet on my shoulder, I quickly look down to find Roxas drooling all over it, his eyes shut as he snores softly. I scrunch my nose in disgust before shoving him off me, causing him to tumble off the bed with a startled yelp.
If you're wondering why Roxas is in my house, why I'm at home and not locked away forever and why Kairi is suddenly moving in with a mystery Aunt, I'll fill you in.
After I was taken to the hospital, I was evaluated by the intake worker at the hospital and I was deemed mentally healthy, or maybe because I sort of made myself appear better then I actually am but that is beside the point. I know I'm better and I'm not going to ever freak out like that again because my father is going back to jail on account of violating his probation. Stupid bastard, I hope he rots in jail…Anyway, after being released and finding Reno with Roxas and his Paramedic family member who I found out is named Cloud, we all were taken to Kairi's room.
She lost the baby, and was pretty torn up about it until I told her that everything between us is cool. It was a sort of 'Not All Is Lost' moment. She smiled at me though there was this emptiness in her eyes. I think it will always be there though; a woman just isn't the same after loosing a child. At least, that's what my aunt said when I talked to her.
Tia Brenda, she appeared from God knows where but she's never had better timing in her life. She is from my mother's side which already makes her a million times better then any human being on the planet. She agreed to take Kairi in, saying how she'd need to be around another woman and have a motherly love. Reno of course complained saying his love was good, but Tia insisted it was for Kairi's well being and well, once she's released she's moving in with my aunt.
Suddenly, I feel a pillow smack right into my face and my trail of though is completely derailed. I look around, eyes wide until they land on Roxas who has in his hand a rather large pillow.
"You were day dreaming," he says, looking at me with a smirk when I shake my head.
"Nuh-uh, I was explaining to the people in my mind what had happened after I was admitted to the hospital," I say with a smirk and he drops the pillow, looking at me like I've lost my mind. He backs away slowly, until he bumps into the wall and he flattens himself against it. To tell you the truth, I have no idea what he's doing.
"Make no sudden movements," he whispers to me or himself, I'm not sure. "The psychotic mind is a dangerous thing, and sudden movements can upset the lunatic…so if we're careful-" I cut him off with a flying pillow, thrown hard enough to crack his skull open…or it would have if it was a brick or something.
"Hey Axel," Roxas says, I hear the front door shut as Reno leaves the apartment, never one to say good-bye or see you later or anything, and while my mind is occupied with that Roxas takes advantage and ends up right in my lap. My eyes widen when I see how close he's gotten and he shoves me back, making me land on the bed with a soft 'omph'. "Reno's gone, and we're all alone," He breathes, the warm air tickling my ear as his lips leave a soft trail of kisses down my jaw. He stops and stares right into my eyes, I feel my stomach twist and I smile.
"Yeah?" I whisper as his lips go back to kissing my jaw and neck, I feel his smirk as his teeth gently graze my sensitive skin and I shudder, my hands gripping his hips as he settles himself more comfortably against me.
I shut my eyes, and my mind simply goes on over drive. I remember everything that's happened to me as of late and really, my life all turned around because Roxas fucking Anderson decided to tell me to be his boyfriend. Remembering that, I pull away from Roxas just as he's about to kiss me and he looks at me, a little irked and more then a little confused.
"Roxas," I say and he raises an eyebrow, bracing himself over me and just staring down at my face. "Remember when you asked me out?" I ask and he chuckles, dropping his head onto my shoulder.
"Yes, why are you thinking of this now?" He grumbles, his lips tickling me over the fabric of my shirt.
"It just feels so weird…having you here and…everything that's happened…it feels like I'm dreaming sometimes, and none of this is real…I feel like I'm going to wake up and you won't be there, and I'll go back to school and everything will be like it was. You won't talk to me, Naminé will be single…Seifer will beat the shit out of me…and…I don't want that," I say and I feel my throat constricting with the urge to cry, Roxas pulls away fully, straddling my hips and he just stares down at me, his blue eyes filled with worry and it's so strange to actually see that there.
"Well it's not a dream, so stop thinking it is. I'm here, Naminé's a dyke and well…Seifer knows he can't hurt you or your little friends," He smiles brightly when I glare at him, I smack his shoulder.
"Seriously Roxas!" I hiss and he tosses his head back laughing loudly, when he finally calms down he looks at me, a warm look in his eyes and it makes my stomach flutter, the blood in my veins speeds up and I feel my toes curl slightly just from that look.
"I am serious Axel! We're going to go to school today and you'll see, everything is real and everything happened and now that it's all over we can finally graduate and leave that damned place."
"We aren't graduating yet," I say with a smirk and he groans, flopping down and laying on me, I wrap my arms around him simply glad to feel him here, and even if I still haven't grasped the reality of everything, even if it might be a dream I'm going to enjoy it.
"Why'd you have to remind me?" he sulks and I smile, squeezing him slightly before sitting up, bringing him with me.
"I live to make your life a wretched place," I say, putting him down and he looks at me strangely, I just ignore it and collect my clothes, deciding that we'd better get ready if we want to get to school on time.
"Anyone ever tell you you're really fucked up?" Roxas asks, slipping on a t-shirt (one of mine) before pulling on his hoodie, he cracks his back while I brush my hair, heating up the flat iron.
"Yeah they have, but I've learned to live with it," I say and send him a smile, he just looks at me before heading out into the living room.
"Roxas!" I call out and wait for him to respond, when he does I smile.
"Make me some chocolate milk!"
~*~
"Axel! Where have you been?!" has Demyx always been this loud or is today a special exception for his loudness? And where the hell is Zexion?
"Demyx, I'll explain to you later alright…where is Zexion?" I ask and everyone goes quiet, Roxas sort of stands there with his arms crossed over his chest and glaring heatedly at everything because since we arrived at school everyone is just staring at us weirdly. I'm sort of used to it, but they all seem to be staring at Roxas a lot more then usual. Demyx is avoiding looking at him at all costs, acting as if he isn't even there and Larxene keeps smirking at him like she knows something.
"He's at the library," Demyx says and I notice something is bothering him. God damn it, I miss a few days of school and already everything's changed and gone to the shits? Really?
"Come here Demyx," I grip his wrist and motion for everyone, especially Roxas, to stay where they are while I lead Demyx outside into the cool air. Winter is fading away to spring time and I find it very fitting really. You know, since spring is the time of rebirth and all that other faggoty ass nonsense.
Anyway, I remembered that I had a lot of things to clear up with Demyx. The moment our eyes meet, he sort of looks away and shuffles making the fact that I'm still holding his wrist a million times more awkward. I let him go quickly and I clear my throat.
"Listen Demyx…about what happened…" I start not really knowing where I'm going until he looks at me with a small smile.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm over it now," he says with a slowly widening smile, "Naminé talked some sense into me…it's just now…Zexion knows that I liked you and he's being all weird," Demyx says and bites his bottom lip, his eyes showing the deep worry he holds for Zexion. I look at him, my brain trying to come up with some sort of plan to help them.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," God damn it, really? Seifer?
"Go away," I growl not even turning to acknowledge the trio that is undoubtedly standing right behind me, being as obnoxious as I remember. Really, why is everything feeling so far away, like I've missed so much when really I haven't missed that much?
"Is that anyway to treat your buddy!" Seifer asks and I really do hate him, I realize it more and more especially when I turn to look at him, him with his stupid beanie and ugly face. God, how I want to punch him sometimes…or well, all the time.
"Seriously Seifer, leave me alone…I'm not in the mood to deal with you," I see Demyx sort of side step, trying to get closer to the door because even if Seifer hasn't beaten on us lately, it's very probable that he will.
"That's a shame, especially when I was so keen on coming here and roughing around, you know for old time's sake," and I notice all of them slowly closing in on us. I look around and Demyx seems to be shitting bricks, he's never been one to fight or do anything violent or confrontational and I really am not feeling up to defending both of us but I have no choice, clearly.
I get into my fighting stance, and Seifer does the same, hollering like an over heated monkey or something before lunging at me and taking me down. My back hits the ground with a harsh thump and I'm momentarily out of air, as soon as I can breathe again I throw a punch trying to hit him but only skimming his cheek. I hear Demyx shouting, and I look up to see Rai holding him, I try and shove Seifer off me but I can't and he pins me to the ground.
"It's been too long!" he says, leering at me as I squirm trying to get him to let go of me.
"Any new scars?" he says and surprisingly it doesn't bother me as much as it would have a few weeks ago, instead I buck him off me and end up sitting on his stomach. I smirk down at him and he seems confused for a few seconds before realizing that yes, I totally did just reverse our positions.
"Not on me, but you'll definitely have some when I'm through," I say laughingly, before aiming a hard punch right to his face, I only manage to stay on him for a few seconds before he tosses me off and I'm sort of glad Demyx is here to keep Rai busy or else I'd be getting my ass kicked even more by now. Although he isn't really doing anything, he's keeping that neanderthal busy at least.
The back door opens and when I manage to get a look I see Roxas' brother Sora and he does not look pleased at all.
"Seifer, just because Roxas can't get to you, doesn't mean I can't," and Seifer gets off me, quickly but not before kicking me one last time. To my surprise Sora comes over and helps me up, glaring at Seifer all the while. No one has ever picked a fight with Sora now that I think about it and it's so weird to see Seifer actually swallow his tongue, but I'm glad for it. Maybe Sora is like a ninja assassin or something.
"You are so dead," he says, eyes narrowed in a way that seems to promise death and he leads Demyx and me back into the school.
"Sora…what did you mean Roxas can't get to him?" I ask the first question that popped into my head as Sora hides in the corner with us. What I should have asked was why he was outside in the first place or why he even cares. He looks around before answering me.
"Roxas…dropped out of our group and now he doesn't have one so…you know how this school works, if you don't have a group or something you're a complete loser," Sora looks up at me a little sadly and my eyes go wide, I cannot believe a word I'm hearing. "So now it's not the same with out him and Seifer is gonna start beating on you guys again…I just can't stand it! I hate these damn groups," Sora growls, crossing his arms over his chest and I feel the wheels in my head turning, before an idea finally burrows its way into my head.
"Why don't we just break them apart then? We can break apart your group which really is the head of all this…and then, there won't really be this damn hierarchy anymore," I say with a shrug and Demyx looks like he's about to have an aneurysm.
"We can't do that! How are we supposed to get the groups apart anyway Axel? You've been fucking with the system long enough, just deal with it for a while longer. Besides, we're graduating soon and all this won't matter," Demyx says just as the warning bell goes off and Sora looks around before smiling at me.
"I'll see what I can do…lunch won't ever be the same again!" he says before running off, disappearing into the masses of students now heading to homeroom.
"Demyx, I was born to fuck with the system," I say with a bright smile and he just laughs, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and tugging me towards the gym.
"Ah, what would we do without you Axel…" He says softly, stopping just at the doors and looking at me. I smile at him, remembering the times I've spent with him and really, I wouldn't trade what we have for anything in the world.
"Demy…are you sure everything is fine between us?" I say and he just laughs, smacking my arm a little roughly but he's always been a big brute.
"Yeah dude, it's just Zexy I'm worried about now…he won't talk to me," Demyx says sadly and I smile, gripping his shoulder.
"We'll fix this, I just know it," I say and he raises an eyebrow at me.
"Whatever happened to you is freaking me out…but I like it," he says before waving himself off and rushing to class. I watch him disappear before turning and heading into the gym.
"Martinez! Get your ass in the locker room, we ain't waiting for you all day!" and I've never actually thought that hearing the coach would make me smile, but it does. I stop in front of the changing room door and glare at him, only my smile sort of contradicts the look.
"It's Axel! A-x-e-l or what, can't you read?" I shout before rushing into the room. I just know I'm in for hell this morning.
I wouldn't have it any other way though.
~*~
Lunch is fucking mayhem. There are people everywhere and the main cause of this is Sora, sitting at my table along with Silver Haired Douche and a few other of the popular kids. I slide into my place beside Roxas who seems just as confused, though Sora is happily chewing on his sandwich. Riku looks a little out of place and I smirk at him. My seat is directly across from his.
"What the hell is going on?" Roxas asks, leaning close to whisper in my ear and Sora glares at him.
"Roxas, it's rude to tell secrets," the brunette scolds and Roxas glares at him before asking the question out loud. Sora laughs maniacally and I briefly wonder what monster I have created.
"We've defeated the system Axel! There are really no more groups left, or well no more original groups! It is the dawning of a new era!" Sora cackles and I sort of blink a few times, my head craning around the cafeteria to see that he's actually right. The other popular kids, the ones who aren't sitting with us, are sitting at other tables seemingly associating with a few other people and the ones at our table are quietly talking amongst themselves. Demyx looks horrified.
"How'd you do it?" I ask finally, and Sora seems so damn proud of himself.
"I just gathered my friends and sat here, telling them the truth. I'm sick of these damn groups and if they didn't want to come with me that's fine, because I'm not taking part in this stupid thing anymore," Sora says looking at Riku happily. Just to think, they were fighting like mad a few days ago…Kairi really did patch things up marvelously.
"The smart ones joined me at this table, the others just left. Now here we are, greeting the spring with new friends and a new perspective!" Sora shouts and Riku groans, smacking his face into the table top. I try and hide my laughter, reaching into my bag and pulling out some chocolate milk.
I'm getting better but it doesn't mean I won't drink milk anymore. I love it too much.
"Sora…you really only changed the seating arrangements, everything else is the same," Riku says, tilting his head away from the table and scrunching his nose.
"Doesn't matter, people are confused and that's all that matters. If it goes back tomorrow at least I know I won't be sitting there anymore, right Ku?" Sora smiles at Riku in a way that I know he won't be able to disagree because hell, if he smiled at me like that I'd do his bidding too.
Riku doesn't answer, instead he sniffs the table and gags.
"Why the hell does this smell like milk?" he says and that's it.
I spray a few people with my nose milk and Riku looks like he wants to punch me while Sora looks like he's stuck between laughing and puking.
"Here we go again," Roxas groans and I laugh loudly, nuzzling my nose into his cheek.
Yeah, here we go again.
~*~
Finding Zexion is damn hard, especially when you're in a rush to go home and aren't really looking properly. Roxas laces his fingers through mine and tugs me away from the bathroom door.
"I really think you should mind your own," he says, leading me towards the school exit though my eyes are still scanning around for Zexion. I can't have him and Demyx not talking, that is one change I will not accept.
"I need to help him patch things up with Demy, it was my fault after all," I reply, stopping when I see a head of periwinkle hair. I feel like squealing from the sheer joy and before Roxas can say anything I'm tugging him towards a quietly reading Zexion.
"Zexy!" I shout and he looks up at me, he seems taken aback first then he smiles and gets up. He hugs me which really throws everything off and I stare at him, blinking owlishly.
"I'm glad to see you're alright," he says and I smile almost distracted from my real purpose.
"Why aren't you talking to Demyx?"
"What gives you the impression that I'm not on speaking terms with him?" He seems genuinely confused which is a first, and I feel like it to Demyx to get the wrong impression.
"Demyx said you guys aren't talking and you weren't there this morning or during lunch…" I let my sentence trail off and he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I've been very busy with a few ISU's and other projects, I explained this to Demyx. I was doing research in the library this morning and at lunch I couldn't find you. The entire cafeteria was in disarray," he scrunches his eyebrows together before putting his book away and slipping his bag onto his shoulder. We being walking towards the parking lot, and I'm still not convinced.
"Are you guys together?" I ask and he sort of hesitates before answering.
"I would like it if we were but Demyx has a few things he has to figure out. Don't worry about us Axel, I'll make sure any misunderstandings are cleared," And I'm so glad Zexion is smart and patient or else he might have never even befriended any of us in the first place.
"That's great. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow right?" I ask and he nods, explaining how he won't see us in the morning but definitely at lunch. We wave him off and head towards Roxas' SUV and that's when I remember what Sora said.
"Why did you stop sitting with your friends?" I ask and Roxas stays quiet as we climb into the car and he starts it up. "Roxas?" I press and he looks at me before taking a deep breath.
"I told you before how I don't care about rankings and what not at school. I finally expressed myself and moved away from those people, your friend Naminé asked if I wanted to sit with her during lunch and well, here we are," he merges into a different lane and I watch as he drives towards my apartment complex.
"Why though?"
It takes him a long time and when he decides to answer we're parked in front of my building. He pulls the keys out of the ignition and gets out. I'm really confused but I get out too and follow him towards the elevator. The entire trip, from the lobby to my front door is silent and even as we walk into my house he's quiet.
"Roxas, are you okay?" I finally ask as I drop my school bag onto the floor, he does the same and sits on the bed, patting the place beside him and I just sit there. This is really weird, I won't lie and I'm a bit more then confused but I guess I'll wait for him to say it.
"I don't really know why…I was just fed up with it and school's ending soon and…Axel, are we going to be together after we graduate?" He asks and turns slightly to look at me, I can't really see anything of help in his blue eyes and I'm not really sure how to answer his question. "I got a scholarship and I'm going to university and that got me thinking. You remember when I said high school isn't a big deal and it's the real world people need to worry about?"I nod my head, and for some reason I'm worried about where this conversation is going.
"Well…I'm going to the real world and I don't want to just…have you forgotten in the rubble of memories that'll be high school once it's all over. I don't…Fuck…Martinez, I don't want this to end because…well I think I'm in love with you."
A/N: Ahh, Nosemilk nears its completion.
This took me like 2 hours to post because FFnet was being difficult along with Peter (my computer)
Grrr.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this and stay tuned for the final chapter(s).
(: