Saving Axel

Chapter 3: Sporting Events

I hate school sporting events. I really do. You sit there while the people around you act like idiots and scream in your ear. I try to avoid them if possible, but since Riku was playing a baseball game for the school, and Kairi was at the doctor, Sora would have gone alone. Of course Yuffie won't let that fly, so I was dragged along so Sora can cheer like the little cheerleader he wants to be (trust me, he told me once). So here I am, working on finding a seat while every person in the damnschool congratulates my cousinfor existing (not really for that; I don't really know what they are saying to him) and I'm being pushed around. That's what I get for being a loser, I guess. I sat down on the bleachers while Sora stood up against the fence with every other nut job fan. I decided to work on my science homework. I heard the cheering as the team took positions in the field, Sora screaming loudly for Riku. Then everyone shifted down to see the field better.

In short, I was the idiot in the glasses sitting by himself at a school baseball game. What a loser, right?I hadn't realized who was on the team until I heard the announcer guy say the name I dreaded the most.

"…Axel Lea on the pitcher's mound…"

I stared wide eyed at my paper, but ignored it. I didn't need to deal with that. He's been acting as though our first tutoring session never had that particular ending, and I'm fine with that. Not like I care if he ever does it again, or even talks to me for that matter. Seeing that idiot six days a week was bad enough, but since my math grade has picked up, I'm done with tutoring if I choose.

Trust me; I'm done dealing with that asshole.

I hated science homework~

"ROXAS!" I heard Sora shout, and I looked up right as something hit my face. I flew back and hit my head off of the bleachers and blacked out.

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"…oxas….Roxas?"

I slowly opened my eyes and noticed I was surrounded by white with a continuous beeping sound. I looked to my side to see a blur of red. I noticed everything was blurry, so I knew my eyes weren't damaged anymore than they were previously.

"Roxas, are you awake? Let me know." I knew that voice, but it was laced with an unfamiliar concern. I moved slightly and gripped the nearest object to my right hand. That happened to be Axel's arm.

"Ah~" My head hurt a lot and my throat was dry. I felt plastic meeting my face, and my vision cleared as Axel removed his hands and looked at me.

"Can you see now?" he asked and I nodded, but was hit by pain. "Don't do that, you're wrapped up pretty tight; you were nailed good." He chuckled a bit, and I stared lazily since I was pretty tired. He placed a cup in my hand, and I drank it slowly with surprising coordination.

"Sora?" I croaked and he pointed outside the door and soon, said boy walked in and rushed to my side.

"Roxas! Oh, thank God you're okay. I was so worried, and so were mom and dad." He buried his face in my neck and hugged me best he could. I saw Riku talking to some tall man with blond hair and a lab coat. "Mom and dad went to get a drink and will be back soon," Sora explained and I blinked.

"May I have a few minutes to question Roxas a bit?" asked the man Riku was speaking with previously. "To make sure he remembers everything," he explained. Sora got up and walked outside with Riku who was still dressed in his ball uniform. Axel followed reluctantly and kept casting worried glances at me.

"Can you tell me your full name?" he asked.

"Roxas Cloud Strife." I answered quietly.

"Parent's names," he started and looked down to his chart, "Birth ones."

"Cloud and Tifa Strife."

"The names of the men in here previously."

"Sora Leonhart, Riku Hokani, and Axel Lea."

I sighed. Why had Axel stayed? Why was he here at all? Did I ruin the game? I'm pretty sure that was an important game!

As my thoughts ran rampant, the doctor - Mr. Vexen, he later revealed - questioned me on regular subjects, and I passed the 'does he have amnesia?' test with flying colors. I was glad I was okay, but it didn't make up for the fact I had a bitch of a headache. I was also supposed to stay the night and couldn't go to school for three days. See why school sporting events are a big no-no for me? I get injured somehow and I wasn't even playing. The door opened and my little family walked in with Yuffie attacking me with a hug, Leon smiling for once as he leaned on the wall beside me, and Sora was on my other side. After a really long apology and such, Yuffie and Leon left to talk about my expenses with the doctor, and Sora and I were alone.

"I was so worried when you fell," Sora said sadly, "Like I just got punched in the gut and couldn't breathe. I was frozen and didn't even move," he explained with his head down.

"It's okay. I guess it's my fault for not paying attention," I said, trying to get out a laugh from us both, but mine sounded weak and pathetic while he didn't even move.

"I guess it's a good thing someone did." He smiled sadly when he finally looked at me. "Riku and Axel went to get us something to eat. Better than hospital food," he assured me and we both laughed a bit when the thought occurred to me again.

"Why is Axel here and still here? I don't know if he didn't notice that I don't really like him," I asked quietly, and Sora looked down.

"Two reasons, Roxas," he said simply and moved in closer. "We both didn't know, but Axel is actually really good friends with Riku and they have been since elementary school, so it's a support thing."

"The other?" I prompted, and he looked down, embarrassed.

"When I or anyone else didn't make a move, he threw his glove off and ran high speed over. He even hopped the fence in front of the bleachers and picked you up and carried you to the ambulance that was waiting like at every game." I stared in shock. "He just left along with Riku and me in the ambulance with you, and they stopped the game."

He…threw his game away for…me? I don't even like him! I hoped he would just go fuck off and leave me alone, yet he went out of his way to get me help?

"He didn't leave your side the entire time, even though they tried to tell him to step away. He's a very compassionate person at heart, I guess. He was probably more worried than Yuffie was!"

That was saying something, but why did he care? I know for a fact that if he ever even tried to get close to me, I would scoot away and ignore him.

"We bring food!" Riku smiled and handed a box to Sora. "Your mom wants you home since you have to go to school tomorrow." Sora sighed angrily and got up to leave. Axel sat beside me.

"Ri-Ri, could you give me a ride home?" he asked sweetly, and Riku nodded and placed my food on the side table since Axel was already holding his. Riku and Sora left the room and Axel and I started to eat our food in silence. We sat like that for a really long time, until I was sick of it, and my mind wanted answers.

"Why did you ditch your game, an important game, for me?" I asked, and Axel put down the plastic fork and plastered a smirk on his face, but his eyes betrayed him.

"Sora wasn't doing anything and neither was anyone else." He laughed lightly, but my glare cut it off.

"I don't need your help," I growled, "or your pity, Axel," I finished and returned my eyes to my salad.

"Fine," he said lowly. "Next time you need help, don't ask me," he said angrily and got up and left the room and slammed my door. Why did I just do that? I'm not a mean person, but…what the hell!

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"Will you be okay by yourself?" Yuffie asked for the tenth time that morning, and I sighed, irritated as I lay on the couch. She had put the house phone, my cell phone, chips, the TV remote, three water bottles, and my school work I was missing on the coffee table in the living room. I looked up and smiled.

"Yes, I will," I reassured her. She had tried her best to get a day off, but her boss wouldn't allow it, and Leon had left for another business trip.

"I will call you often and some of my friends may stop by, but they have a key. Try not to get up and move around too much~"

"Yuffie, I get it," I smiled and she did as well, though sadly. "Sora lent me his DS, so I'm good," I assured her again. She nodded and kissed my cheek, and she rubbed my bandaged head.

"My poor baby," she said sadly and turned to leave. I just stared at the ceiling in silence while I listened to my iPod. It was stupid that I was stuck here, but I was a little woozy when I stood since I was on so many damnmedications. One for swelling, one for pain, one for redness, one for sleeping; it goes on and on. It was really stupid, and I hated it a lot. I still felt bad for being so cold to Axel yesterday, but I guess that's how I am. I'm not mean by nature, but when I'm open to people I get hurt, and I don't want to be again.

I tried watching TV, but one can only watch Dr. Oz for so long before you get really bored. It was just fun to make fun of him really. I mean come on! His ears make him look like an elf for God's sake! That, and all he did was bring female audience members up and hug them, the weirdo.

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"Wake up!"

I turned over groggily and met sky blue eyes and figured out it was Sora. I noticed Kairi at his side instead of Riku, and that picture just didn't seem right to me. "Kairi is staying over for a project, but mom wanted me to check up on you before I steal the chips and lock us in my room."

"How did it happen anyway?" she asked, and I shrugged. I sat up slowly with Sora's help.

"I wasn't paying attention and got clocked in the head."

"Axel helped you, right?" I stared, "It's the talk of the school. Coach Xaldin is bragging about his heroic player, Axel Lea," she said and motioned air quotes when she said 'heroic'. I then got off the couch.

"Where are you going?" Sora asked and went to my side, but I brushed him away.

"I wanna shower, okay?" I stated, and he opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him. "Just my lower body. Yuffie said to wait to wash my face and hair." I shut the door on his protests and sat on the bathtub's edge and held my bandaged head. I decided to look at it, so I un-wrapped it carefully and stared at my reflection. It was greenish and black and blue. Not only that, but you can also see stitch marks from the baseball. It probably would have been worse had Axel not been there~

Axel.

I really feel like shit for being an ass… for accusing him of being an ass. Maybe I should apologize to him… No. He kissed me for no reason the other day - my first kiss, mind you - and acted as though nothing happened! If anyone should apologize he should first, and then maybe I will. It'd be funny to watch him swallow his pride since he's the big, bad senior.

Sorry for Roxas being a dick to Axel. I hope to update on weekends, but it may be really slow until I get into the swing of things with school again. I only had two days of school and I'm tired out and behind. Stupid braces! I hate the orthodontist making me miss 1st period and notes. Oh well, I want two or three reviews or I don't continue till next summer. My evil threat…I'm so mean!