A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. -Charles Dickens.
Bloop.
Sora looked from the draft he was working on for an essay and up to his laptop as Skype informed him of a conversation.
KingOfTheKeys: Long time no speak.
This caught the brunettes' full attention. Grabbing the laptop he pushed the draft out of the way and placed it in front of himself.
PapouBoy: So you ARE alive! Where have you been these past couple of weeks?
KingOfTheKeys: Why, miss me? ;D
PapouBoy: You wish! But honestly it's been a little boring without you, I've been stuck doing this endless flow of homework!
KingOfTheKeys: Lol, I'm a busy man, couldn't let myself be distracted by a cutie like you now could I? ;D
A blush spread itself across his cheeks as he frowned a little at his screen in embarrassment.
PapouBoy: |
PapouBoy: I'm not cute dammit! Besides how would you know, we've never met!
It took a while before the other actually answered him, his reply rather short and straightforward.
KingOfTheKeys: Do you want to meet?
"EEEH?" Sora yelled out loud as he stared at the screen in disbelief. The two had been chatting for around six months now and coincidently lived in the same town. They'd agreed not to exchange pictures or real names for the "fun factor." Sora still had no idea; it annoyed him to think that he might know this person and yet not know it's them.
PapouBoy: …Really? You're not joking with me?
KingOfTheKeys: Nope. I don't see why we shouldn't, though we might have to wait a few weeks. You're on holidays then right?
PapouBoy: Yeah….Wow I'm nervous now!
KingOfTheKeys: Heh. I would be if I hadn't of already guessed who you are.
No yell this time, instead the teenager jolted upright and stared in shock at the words on his screen. 'K-knows who I am…?'
Frowning again he tapped out his reply, his fingers moving a little too fast across the keyboard.
PapouBoy: How do you knowe whi am?
"Shit."
PapouBoy: *Know who I …
KingOfTheKeys: Lol. It wasn't hard to guess, you're the same on here as you are in person.
PapouBoy: So we know each other?
KingOfTheKeys: Yep!
"The hell…" Sora mumbled to himself as he read over what had just been said a few more times. So he and this mysterious guy, who he happened to like very much, knew each other?
Who the hell was it?
PapouBoy: Well that's not fair!
KingOfTheKeys: Sure it is, but if you don't think so then how about this.
I'll give you a month from tomorrow to guess who I am, but if you don't manage to guess then our meeting won't happen. Think of it as a game of guess who.
If anyone had looked at him now, they'd think the dead had risen as Sora made his way to school. Normally the small brunette would be bustling with energy; it was hard to shut him up once he'd got going. Though this morning he was dead tired, he hadn't been able to sleep much, the night's conversation and challenge rotating around his mind.
"FLYING TACKLEHUG TECHNIQUE!" He wasn't expecting the blow he received from the back as someone ran straight into him full pelt, a strangled yelp coming from him as he fell and landed on his face. He was awake now.
"…ROXAS! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!"
Hurriedly the blonde jumped up, scratching his head awkwardly, he hadn't meant to knock the other over.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to do that!" He held out his hands, helping Sora to his feet. "It's just you looked so out of it I wanted to wake you up a bit!"
"Yeah…you did that alright!" Sora huffed as he half-heartedly brushed down the school blazer he was wearing. He was used to it, this happened quite often, the over the top greetings with their weird names.
"You know, you should really stop hanging around with Yuffie, you're both as bad as each other when it comes to these 'Greetings.'" He shook his head and side glanced at the other, watching as he straightened his square framed glasses and grinned like an idiot.
"You always say that! Besides, at least you're awake now! You looked like something from a horror movie...you still look like something from a horror movie…" He frowned a little and tilted his head, studying the others face. "Man…you look tired; you're beginning to resemble a panda!"
"You'll look like a panda if you say anything else." He growled out, playfully punching Roxas's arm.
Roxas was and had been always been Sora's best friend, they'd grown up together what with their father's being good friends, they were even similar in a lot of ways, height, eye colour, food tastes, etc. They were often mistaken as brothers, but as far as Sora was concerned Roxas was his brother, just not in blood.
More himself now he smiled a little and continued on with his journey, now accompanied by his trusty companion.
Come lunchtime he was exhausted again, he'd been carefully watching his class the whole day, examining to see if any of them seemed out of the ordinary.
'I'm being an idiot, he wouldn't make it this easy for me to find him…Maybe I should start talking about things I know he likes, that could lure him out…' He thought to himself as he sat staring off into space for about the hundredth time today, anyone would of thought he'd of learnt his lesson after Cid their Math teacher hit him over the head with a wooden ruler third period.
"-RA! SORA!"
"Uh?" He grunted out, turning his head toward the voice with a gormless expression on his face.
"Don't 'uh' me you idiotic caveman! I've been calling you for the past five minutes!" Blinking Sora sat up a little straighter, looking around himself and realising that he was sat at their usual lunch table outside.
"Oh…uh s-sorry Kairi." He stuttered out, blushing a little from the embarrassment of being caught daydreaming, he was bound to get questioned.
"I suppose it's ok…though you've been like this all morning, Roxas mentioned this morning as well. Are you ok? "
Typical Kairi, she was pretty but easy to anger, stubborn and impatient. Though when it came to her friends and family she was always concerned and there for you.
"Yeah, I just have a few things on my mind lately but I'm fine Kai, really I am." He smiled at her reassuringly; he didn't want to worry everyone else.
Looking around himself he finally realised they were the only two sitting at the lunch table. "Where's everyone else?"
"Hmm. Tidus and Wakka have football practise this lunch, Selphie's still on holiday with her family, and Roxas should be here soon…said something about going to the art room." She listed each person off on her fingers, smiling a little at the last one.
It wasn't news to anyone that Roxas had a crush on their art teacher Namine, in fact by now most of the school probably knew about his various antics in trying to charm her, failed attempts that is.
'Speaking of the devil' Sora thought as he rolled his eyes.
Roxas was walking toward the table, a black cloud above his head and wearing some kind of knights' costume.
"What did you do this time?" Sora and Kairi asked in sync as they watched him plonk down next to Sora.
"I-I thought I'd wear my knight costume for the drama clubs next play….And said my lines meant for the princess…" He mumbled out, his head hidden in his arms. "And now my clothes have been stolen…again."
"Roxas! You've really got to start using the lockers; you know what some of the idiots around here are like." Sighing Sora packed his stuff and got to his feet. "Come on, let's go look, it's bound to be in the same places. Kairi tell our idiot English teacher some excuse if we're late!"
In fact they both ended up being 10 minutes late, and falling through the classroom door in exhaustion.
"Hm…you're both aware how late you are I presume? My class started dead on 2:15, I expect you to be here and waiting for me not gallivanting off around the school. This has happened to many times, both of you stay after class." With that he turned away from them, taking the hint the two boys rushed to their seats.
This was Sora's least favourite class, it wasn't that he hated the subject because he didn't; it was the teacher, Riku. The silver haired beauty may of looked good on the outside, but he was a complete and utter demon, Sora was pretty sure this guy was out to make his life a living hell!
'Arsehole, he didn't even ask for an explanation! For all he knew we could have been at the school office running an important errand.' He didn't dare utter this out loud; he knew to keep his thoughts to himself when the demon was around. Sighing he pulled out his things, for the next month they were reading and writing an essay on Romeo and Juliet, one of his favourites.
"Right, last lesson we got to act one, scene five. I think we'll skip to the part where the two star crossed lovers first meet, now…" His eyes scanned the class, lingering on a few hopefuls before stopping on Sora, his lips tilting into a slight smile. "Mr Léonhart if you'll play my Juliet please and Mr Strife you'll play the other characters up to where Juliet and the Nurse leave."
A number of glares from various class members burnt holes into him as he stood, gulping slightly from the pressure. 'He's doing this on purpose; I knew it, he's out to make my life a living hell!'
Though the glares got stronger, and the pressure heavier he read his lines almost perfectly, only stumbling on a word or two from the awkwardness of it all. When they'd finished he breathed a sigh of relief, quickly seating himself back in his seat, and trying his best to avoid eye contact with anyone else.
"Ok, before the bell I want all of you to get your homework planners out." He looked around as the sound of people searching through their bags rumbled through the room. "Homework's due Friday, I want you all to read the whole of act two ready for the start of your essays."
As soon as he'd finished speaking the bell rang, signalling the end of class and the end of school. Hurriedly students threw their stuff into their bags around him, the brunette taking his time, it's not like he'd be able to escape.
Once the class had emptied Sora hesitantly got to his feet, looking over to where Roxas should have been.
'Sneaky little bas-'
"Oh dear, seems like one of you has escaped without my notice." Sora looked to the front of the class, frowning a little, he'd get that four eyed shit later.
"Well, it doesn't matter, one is good enough." He grabbed a board eraser and started to clear the board as he spoke. "Why you were late I'm fully aware it wasn't entirely your fault, though I do believe getting into such things is why you're often late and that is your fault."
Sora raised an eyebrow; he didn't know what the hell this guy was saying.
"I'm sorry sir but I couldn't just not help a friend out when he's being victimized, I'm sure you understand."
The older male turned to look at him, a slight smile on his face. "I'm aware you two grew up together but if helping him is going to affect your grades and studies then wouldn't reporting these incidents to the school be better?" He loosened his tie a little as he placed the eraser back onto his desk.
"No, I don't believe the school could help with this. It's more of Roxas's stupidity then the fact he's being targeted, I know him a lot better than the school." Sora was slowly getting agitated but he tried his best not show this.
"Hmm…" Riku looked him up and down with his turquoise like eyes a little before speaking again. "Fine. But if you're late to one more class, then face the consequences."