Oh yay, another update! ~

I didn't much reviews on the last one :c made me kind of sad. But I pushed through the sadness and created this.

Make sure you pay attention to the dates. Each time there is a line break, it's a different date.

Disclaimer: All characters owned by Square Enix

Chapter 17 - Practice

September Second

"You guys have to join the Blitzball team with me!" Sora yelled, whining on the phone, pacing around his bed. It was Sunday night, just yesterday being the night of the shower.

"What," Roxas replied. "You're kidding right?"

"Last night you told us that you were joining," Hayner said. "Not us!"

"I know, I know," Sora laid down on his bed. "But you have to! Please! I can't do this by myself!" After hearing no response for about a minute he began to plead even more. "Please! Please! Please! Please! Please!"

"FINE!" The blondes simultaneously agreed.

"What about Axel, can he join too?" Hayner asked.

"Axel has violin." Roxas responded.

"Of course, you would know that," Hayner began to tease. "I bet he probably told you after you guys left us to make out!"

"We did not make out!" Roxas barked.

"Stop it you guys!" Sora pouted. He could hear Roxas huff on the other line and Hayner trying not to laugh.

"When are tryouts?" The angered blonde asked.

"Next Wednesday."

"That gives us a week to warm up," Hayner said. "But hey, what if one of us makes it on the team and you don't Sora?"

"I will make the team!"

"If we're going to practice before tryouts, I can only practice after six," Roxas explained. "Since I have some things I need to do, plus singing in town."

"Then meet every day at my house at six thirty," Sora made the plan. "Starting tomorrow."

"Alright," Hayner yawned. "I'm calling it a night. See you guys tomorrow." The line ceased.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Sora?" Roxas asked, feeling a bit concerned.

"Yes, Roxas. I'm very sure!"

"Guess I can't argue with you," he heard the blonde sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."

"Night."

June Twenty-Second

Sora hopped along the short brick fences that lined some of the houses on his and Riku's way to town. He jumped down when he reached the end, Riku holding his hand. The brunette looked up at the snow haired boy.

"Every day I see you," He began. "You look taller and taller, Riku."

Riku laughed. "Maybe because my birthday is soon, Sora."

"Your birthday," Sora said excitingly. He saw Riku nod. "When is it?! How old are you turning?!"

"Tomorrow," Riku answered. "And I'm turning six."

"Wait," Sora pouted. "But I'm turning five soon and I'm not growing!"

"Everyone grows at different times, Sora," Riku explained. "Or maybe you're just a midget!"

Sora began to flail. "I'm not a midget!" Riku laughed at the boy's impulsiveness*. "Are you going to celebrate your birthday, Riku?" The brunette asked after all his miserable pouting.

"My dad wants to take me, my mom and my brothers somewhere."

"Where?!"

"I don't know where. But don't go to the park tomorrow," Riku told the brunette. "I won't be able to go."

"Okay," Sora frowned and the smiled, thinking of something. "I'll make you something, Riku! For the day after tomorrow!"

"I can't wait." Riku smiled.

September third, Monday 6:30pm

"Are you sure you guys want to do this?" Olette asked. She was sitting on the floor of Sora's room, facing the wall as the boys got changed. It was exactly six-thirty PM after school.

"Yes!" Sora chimed, pulling his t-shirt on.

"Have you thought about-"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" Sora cut her off.

"…Okay then." Olette sighed.

"You can turn around now." Roxas informed.

Olette stood up, turning to see the boys dressed in active wear. "So," She began. "How are you guys planning to train?"

The three looked at each other, waiting to see the other answer. "Uhm…" Sora began to think.

"You guys decide to train and don't even know what you're going to do," Olette gave them a looked that screamed 'idiots' and shook her head. "How about we go to the park that's down the street? You've ever been there, Sora?"

"Yeah," Sora nodded. "A lot of times actually."

"It has a big field that you guys can practice on," Olette told them. "Sora, since you want to match Riku's physical ability you guys should practice speed, maneuvers, and strength."

"We all know he's lacking in the strength department!" Hayner snickered.

"Cut it out," Olette hit the blondes shoulder. "You guys seriously have to focus. No teasing, no jokes, no silly time!"

"Wow, since when did we elect your our coach?" Roxas asked, crossing his arms against his chest.

"Since I was invited to come over." Olette retorted.

"We didn't invite you," Roxas stated. "You asked to come."

"She's right though," Sora cut through the conversation. "We have to take this seriously. We only have a week while most of the 'star' players on the team have been playing since they were kids."

"Exactly," Olette smiled. "Eventually everything you guys practice will build up your endurance. Which is also a good attribute as well."

"Okay Miss 'I-know-everything'," Hayner walked over to the door. "Let's get going!"

They followed him out.

September fifth, Tuesday 5pm

Axel slumped himself down on the concrete stairs that lead to the schools main doors outside. He sighed, hunching over to his knees, his black backpack curving with his spine. "What a day." He said in low voice to himself. He ceased his thoughts when he smelled cigarette smoke sneak it way into his nostrils, and straightened up to see where it was coming from.

"Hey, flame head," He heard Larxene behind him. She sat down next to him, a cigarette in between her fingers. He looked over at her, waiting for her to say something more, frowning when she blew smoke in his face. "What are you doing here this late?"

"I had to stay after for orchestra practice," Axel explained. "Which ended at four. But since I live in faraway land, I have to wait another hour for the city bus to come."

"Ha, me too," Larxene grinned. "Well, minus the orchestra thing."

"Yeah." Axel sighed, bringing the conversation to an awkward end.

"You want some?" Larxene asked, trying to revitalize it. She was referring to her cigarette.

"No thanks, Roxas would kill me," Axel shook his head. "I haven't smoked since the beginning of sophomore year. Since he told me he didn't like it."

"F him," Larxene took another puff, Axel looking at her as if she were crazy. "If you want to do it, do it! Don't change your life style just for him. Besides, he isn't even around if you didn't notice. And I'm sure you're not getting any pleasure from him either."

"Pleasure?"

"Yeah, you know," Larxene answered. "Sex. And all he's been doing is hanging out with Sora this week, right? I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to have a crush on Sora."

Axel held his palm out in front of Larxene. "Give me one." He said. She grinned, taking a pack out of her pocket and handing Axel one. He put it between his lips, Larxene lighting it for him.

"So, since we went to the sex topic," The vixen smirked. "Are you a virgin?"

Axel shook his head, letting out some smoke.

"Must be hard wanting a prude like him then," Larxene placed her pack back in her pocket. "He seems too uptight to even let anyone go near his belt buckle. It doesn't even seem like he ever kisses you."

"We're not together."

"And never will be if you don't push him!"

Axel slightly laughed. "I get the feeling that you're trying to tell me to-"

"Rape him." Larxene said.

"You're crazy," Axel put out his cigarette. "And even though I used to do a ton of stupid things, I'm not that crazy."

"It wouldn't be that hard," Larxene told him. "There's plenty of ways you could do it."

"I love him too much to hurt him," Axel stated. "He's too precious for that. And I would never let anything like that happen to him. He doesn't kiss me or sexually please me, but maybe that's because he's not able to handle that kind of stuff."

"Or maybe he's just not into you."

"And I'm sure pushing him wouldn't help," Axel stood, making his way down the steps. "I'm going for a walk. See you on the bus."

September Seventh, Friday 7:12pm

Olette stopped her timer as the boys ran past her, finishing their laps. "You guys have gotten faster since we started!"

"That's," Hayner panted. "Good!" He fell to his back, sprawled out in the grass. Sora sat beside him, leaning back with his hands as support, he looked up to the darkening sky.

"Is that Axel?" Roxas asked, standing up right from having his hands on his knees. The others looked in Roxas' direction.

"It is!" Olette smiled.

"Axel!" Roxas began to flail his arms, excited to see the redhead. Axel began to jog over, seeing the blonde ecstatic. Roxas embraced him as he came within a good distance. "Axel I…," He let go, moving back a bit. "You smell like you poured a whole bottle of cologne over yourself." *

"True that!" Hayner said, covering his nose with his hand. Sora sneezed, emphasizing the moment.

"I guess I went a little spray crazy," Axel rubbed the back of his head, a nervous looking grin on his face. "You okay?"

"No," Roxas said. "Olette is too rough on us!"

The brunette pursed her lips. "You won't be saying that when you make it on the team!"

"If we make it on the team." Hayner correct.

"We will!" Sora pouted.

Roxas looked back up at Axel. "Are you staying?"

"Don't see why not," Axel dropped his backpack down. "The latest bus comes at nine thirty."

"Well -"

"Ahem," Olette made a noise. "Back to practice, now!"

Hayner and Sora moaned, moving their sore limbs back up to stand.

"Gotta go!" Roxas sarcastically smiled, going over to listen to Olette's instructions.

September Eighth, Saturday 4pm

"So," Selphie sat in her usual spot: on Riku's bed. "Now will you tell me what happened with you and Sora inside that shed?!"

"I already told you, Selphie," Riku sighed, sitting on the other side of his bed. "You just want to believe there's more."

"Because I just can't believe that you were locked inside a shed with a cutie pie like Sora and didn't even kiss him," Selphie fumed. "Not even a small hug! Do you even have hormones?! Or did you lie to me when you told me you liked guys?!"

"I didn't lie," Riku said. "And I told you, I wouldn't crush on a klutz like him."

"Then who would you crush on?" Selphie had her hands on her hips.

"I'll tell you when I remember him." Riku lay down in his bed, hands behind his head.

"Riku, Riku, Riku," Selphie put her hand to her forehead. "I have a huge bet that Sora is him! I mean, do you see the way he acts around you? He -"

"He's just a boy with a hopeless crush." The snow head sighed.

"You have to give him a chance or I'll just die," Selphie flopped herself face forward into one of Riku's pillows. "I'm sure you see what I see too," Her voice came out muffled. "He's beautiful, charming, nice and sweet. He can make you happy. Maybe even help you go through puberty!"

"Fine Selphie," Riku gave in. Selphie jumped up from the pillow, looking over at Riku with a surprised looking face. "I'll take him out for a date."

"You will?!" Selphie asked, her excitement basically pouring out of her mouth.

"Yes," Riku smirked. "But only if he becomes better than me at Blitzball."

The brunette hunched over, her excitement leaving her just as soon as it came. "I doubt that'll ever happen."

"Oh and by the way," Riku sat up, looking over at Selphie. "I've already gone through puberty, if you haven't noticed."

Riku laughed at the boy's impulsiveness* - Asterisked because I'm not sure if I used the right word there ; o ;

"You smell like you poured a whole bottle of cologne over yourself." * - If you guys didn't get the hint, Axel was smoking again with Larxene that day and was trying to cover up the scent.

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