Chapter 1

It all started a few years ago. It was the very beginning of my last year of middle school. I had just started getting used to my new class schedule, and then… My family moved again. My parents picked up their things and moved from their roomy home in big, beautiful Radiant Garden, to a small apartment in trashy, miniscule Twilight Town. Oh sure, it was pretty and all… for a little while. Twilight seems nice in theory, but when the sun never rises above direct eye-level, it can get irritating.

But like it or not, here we were. It was alright, I guess. A few kids around the town accepted me into their group right away, despite my hostility. Pence and Olette were great to me. We put together the usual spot a few days after I moved there, dragging old junk out of our basements to furnish it. It wasn't too much longer before Roxas made his way into our group as well. But despite all that, the other kids in the back alley weren't quite as friendly… Especially not Seifer.

I never understood what their beef was with us, but Seifer and his group considered us enemies. We'd pummel each other in numerous struggle battles a week, Seifer's gang leaving more bruises than receiving them. And as much as I wanted to believe that I hated the older boy's guts… something kept me coming back.

I was quite literally shaken from my thoughts as Roxas gripped my shoulders, jostling me a bit. "Wake up, dude," he muttered, one brow raised with curiosity. I shook my head and looked around, realizing that my friends had just witnessed my glassy-eyed daydream. Olette giggled at me. "Good morning starshine," she said in a singsong voice. I gave a sheepish grin, standing up from the tattered sofa in our so-called hang out. Wandering towards the curtained doorway, I picked up my struggle bat, resting it over my shoulder. "I'm bored," I muttered, "Lets go smack the meatheads around a bit."

Pence frowned at me. "Or get smacked around," he mumbled. I frowned right back at him, smacking him on the head with my blue foam bat. "Come on, I'm feeling good today! We can take them!" I exclaimed. It took me a minute to notice that Roxas was looking at me funny. I hadn't realized it at the time, but he understood. He knew why I kept going back for more. Even as my best friend, I hadn't told him about the fact that girls weren't really my shindig – in fact, I hadn't told anyone – but I really do think he understood why I was always so willing to be pummeled by Seifer on a daily basis.

But secret or not, I had to go see him. I had to be near him just for a moment, just to get the slightest whiff of him. No matter how sweaty he got in a struggle match, he always smelled so clean. I just had to watch that body move again; that perfectly toned and tanned body. And that perfect, golden blonde hair… it was a shame for him to hide it under that hat. I'd only seen it uncovered once or twice, and only for a moment. And yet, with all of these things I had to be near and see just one more time, I was too stubborn to really grasp what those feelings were until they smacked me in the face.

After some brief arguing, I finally convinced my gang to head down to the square, struggle bats in hand. Of course, there they were, almost as if the four of them had been waiting for us to arrive. Seifer smirked at me like he always did, his arms folded over his toned chest. "Back for more abuse, lamers?" he muttered smugly, grinning. Crouching in battle position, I opened my mouth to protest, but found that no words could escape. So instead, I simply charged at him, wielding my harmless foam bat.

After my attack, the entire arena exploded in movement. Olette and Fuu began their usual girlish dance of battle, Pence took on Rai like always, and Roxas went for Vivi. That little shit was tougher than he looked. However, I wasn't the least bit concerned with any of the other battles around me – my focus was purely locked on the tall blonde in front of me. As he charged forward, I locked up, unable to move away from his strong blow. Before I knew what was coming, I was on the ground, knocked to my back with a single, swift jab to the chest. Groaning, I tried to sit up, but was greeted once again by Seifer's strong body – this time on top of me. He pinned me down by my shoulders, straddling my thigh almost seductively. I could feel his groin brushing against me, causing me to bite down hard on my lower lip.

"Gotcha now, chicken wuss," he muttered, grinning triumphantly. It was then, to my horror, that I realized what was happening to my body – something that would be difficult to hide. I hadn't exactly realized how much Seifer's body against mine really affected me, but now I was a bit stuck. If he either moved or got off of me, he'd instantly notice – and then I'd never live it down.

However, as he shifted over me, he obviously felt my growing 'problem', and simply looked at me with a sly glare. I watched him in terror, waiting for the loud declaration of my state – but it never came. Instead, he watched me with a curious gaze, and finally smirked before standing up.

Instead of getting up from my downed position, I simply laid there in disbelief, absently covering my crotch with my struggle bat. As Seifer walked away, he turned back to glance at me, wearing his trademark smirk. But in that split second, I noticed that his smirk was a bit different than normal – not quite as demeaning, and almost… seductive. But at the time, I forced myself to brush it off and stood up slowly. My erection had gone, but it wouldn't be the last one induced by Seifer's tight body.

"Lamers."

I had to wonder if my gang would ever get sick of that word. I said it every time we kicked our rivals' asses, but none of my friends ever really protested. Then again, Rai wasn't the smartest guy I knew, Fuu hardly ever spoke, and Vivi would do just about anything to please me. Still, I began to brainstorm as I walked away from the Sandlot, trying to think of a new insult to throw at Hayner.

But as I thought, I couldn't help but feel a little pang of guilt – and at the time, I didn't know why, considering how badly I wanted to hate him. But I couldn't. I could never bring myself to really hate Hayner, despite his shitty attitude. Something always kept me coming back. Maybe it was the superiority complex I got from watching him squirm underneath me, but that didn't seem right.

Still, as I gave a brief goodbye to my gang and headed back to my family's apartment, I found myself unable to keep him out of my head. My thoughts were only shaken by the deafening silence of the main room as I walked into the apartment – but I instantly knew what the culprit was.

My parents were rarely ever home, constantly out on vacations or business trips. They had plenty of money – which often left me asking why in the hell we lived in this shithole – and they loved to spend it. Elsewhere. Sometimes I forgot what my mother looked like, or the sound of my father's voice – but it didn't matter, considering they treated me like dirt anyways.

Sighing, I flopped down onto the sofa, turning the television on and flipping through the shows. I went through every channel at least three times before giving up, and it wasn't because nothing was on… it was simply because I couldn't concentrate on the TV. All I could think about was that short, skinny blonde, squirming underneath me with his little grunts and groans. And had I really felt him get hard from my actions? Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part, but I couldn't help but wonder.

I shook my head violently, trying to get these thoughts out of my mind. I had accepted long ago that I didn't really like girls that much, as had my friends. But I refused to believe that I was into Hayner, boy or girl. No. Not that punk.

And yet… I couldn't even convince myself of that. Groaning, I picked up my coat and threw it on hastily, heading out of my apartment and down the street towards the tunnelway. The tunnel was the only real place in Twilight Town to find privacy besides your own home, and it often gave me a good place to go and think – or just skateboard, if I felt like it. But to my horror (or maybe relief) as I walked through the dim halls… there he was. The very boy I had come here to escape from. He was on his own skateboard, rolling lazily around the wide tunnel floor, pretending not to notice me. That stung a little.

"Hey," I called angrily, though hadn't meant to sound so harsh. Hayner came to can abrupt stop on his skateboard, but wouldn't meet my eyes. Instead, he glared at the wall in front of him, fists clenched at his sides. "What," he muttered, making more of a statement than a question. His aggression surprised me, but I didn't let it show. But I was left a little speechless. "…What are you doing here?" I blurted out. It was a dumb question, and he acknowledged it. "What the hell does it look like, dumbnuts?" he snarled, finally looking me in the eye. That glare was almost painful. "I mean by yourself, asshole," I muttered, recovering from my own stupidity. Looking away, Hayner shrugged, looking almost ashamed. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"I come here by myself all the time. I've never run into your punk ass," I barked. There was that guilt again. Hayner sighed heavily and bowed his head, picking up his skateboard absently. Slowly, looking rather defeated, he simply just… walked away. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn't find the words to stop him. I'd never felt so guilty for picking on him before. And I really didn't know why it was hitting me now... or maybe I did.