Chapter Eighteen

Hypocrite

Today was the day Roxas was going to talk to talk to Axel... maybe. If everything went well than good for him, but if it went downhill then it will lead to tears and complete anguish. Roxas took a deep breath and opened the big wooden doors of his school. All the Students were going around chattering and exchanging homework to copy. Everyone was fine and dandy; no one knew what was going down in Roxas's head.

"I can't do it. I'm going to get sick and runaway right now. This is to much for me." Roxas was about to head out the door when…

"Hey Roxas…" The sound of Zexion's Voice made Roxas jump. Zexion rubbed his arms from the chill that was outside. "You look a bit under weather today. Are you feeling alright?"

Roxas heaved a Sigh and let his hind Slide down his face. "No… I'm not ok. In fact I feel as though someone bulldozed me on the concrete."

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that… well, I'm about to go the school library, I have to check out a list of books for a project in literature. You want to help? It might get your mind off of some things."

Roxas didn't hesitate to follow. It was an excuse to not go through his plan of confronting Axel. And from what had happened the other day, Demyx was out of the question too. They both needed their space from each other for awhile. It was too heated and Roxas was afraid that he would probably say something that would cause another argument. "Uh, thanks… your trying to help me even though we don't really know each other."

Zexion smiled and then nodded in agreement. "I know I don't really talk much, but I can figure where you're coming from. And… I figured it would be nice to make friends since I don't have many…"

"Yeah, your kind of a loaner aren't you?" Roxas hesitated before he gasped in realization. "Oh I didn't mean that, I'm so sorry."

The slate haired boy only laughed and gestured Roxas to keep following. "It's the truth though, and sometimes the truth is something we have to face in order to grow up and keep going. We learn to deal with all the problems we have, and not facing them only causes more, despite our fear of it getting worse, it only gets worse if we do nothing about it."

"Wow, that's deep. Are you trying to suggest something to me?" Roxas watched Zexion tap his chin thoughtfully, but almost teasingly.

"I have no idea what on earth you are talking about."

Roxas chuckled and followed Zexion the rest of the way. The library was a bit big, plenty of books, but not as many students as one would think. "Pretty crowded huh?"

Zexion looked around, shrugged, and grabbed a list from his pocket. It wasn't a very long list, but Roxas did notice that it was enough to make one groan in pain from all the reading one would have to partake in. "I actually prefer the library like this; anymore people and it wouldn't have the nice silence anymore.

Strange, Roxas thought. He really was interesting to watch and he did have good advice to give out when he needed it the most. "So what books do you need?" Roxas leaned over Zexion's shoulder and tilted his head. "Hmm, I don't think I've heard of these."

Zexion blushed. "Well, I read a lot of things that people usually don't choose. So it doesn't surprise me."

"You and Demyx would get along then, you're similar in that aspect?"

"R-really?"

"Yeah, he knows a whole lot on music, even knows lyrics by heart by bands and groups I've never heard of." Roxas tapped his chin and sighed. "I really need to make things up with him. He's probably still mad."

Zexion nodded and looked through some shelves. "You two are best friends, you'll figure it out. Demyx is a sweet guy he'll understand whatever it is."

"You sound pretty sure about it. Are you friends with him?"

"Uh, no not really. Sometime last year I was just getting picked on and… stuff. Demyx just happened to be there and helped me out of it."

The shorter boy twiddled his thumbs, but suddenly coughed when Roxas revealed a heartwarming smirk.

"Eh…what is it?"

"You look up to him?"

Zexion thought for a moment and nodded enthusiastically. "Y-yes!" He turned afterward and continued his search for is books. Roxas used to think he was one of those closed up and quiet people, but now that they talked a little he found him kind of cute. Zexion continued to search for his books, but reached a shelf that was a bit too high for him. He struggled to get his hands on the green binding that was sticking out away from his reach. Roxas tried to help him, but Zexion immediately swatted his hand away and continued to reach for the book. He finally jumped and knocked the book off the shelf. "I can do thinks myself, but thanks anyway."

Roxas cocked his head and then walked Zexion to the checkout desk. Zexion really was interesting. "So… what do you do most of your time?"

"I read." Such a typical Zexion answer.

Roxas hmm'd and looked at the hallway clock. "Ah. The bells about to ring. I catch you later." He waved at Zexion who made a small wave back and then he ran off down the hallway.

Class dragged on for what seemed like a life time to Roxas. He sat his desk and tapped his pencil impatiently on the top of his spiral notebook. It was history. And sadly, neither Demyx nor Axel where in it. There wasn't really anyone Roxas ever talked to, so some times it felt a bit lonely and boring. Other than that, the class itself wasn't really that bad. He had a good teacher who made the topic sound interesting. Roxas wrote down some notes and looked at the board. He began to write down more notes and then he heard whispers in the back.

Did you hear?

What?

I heard he isn't normal.

Who wasn't normal? Roxas thought to himself.

I heard some weird things about him. He's supposedly a faggot.

What? Really? How do you know?

I heard he wears dresse—

Roxas stood up quickly, knocking over his chair. They couldn't have been talking about him could they?

"Roxas?" The teacher asked concerned.

Woops. I guess he heard.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to the office." Roxas didn't even wait for an answer, he grabbed all his stuff and headed out the door. Some of the students began to whisper and that only make Roxas walk out the door faster. He ran down the hallway and went into the bathroom and found himself a stall. He didn't know whether to cry, scream, or what. Was this what having a pain attack was like? He couldn't breathe. All of this was wrong. Did Larxene finally tell? Why now though? Nothing added up. Roxas collapsed over the toilet and felt everything he had this morning coming up his throat and out. "This can't be happening." He repeated between breaths. The bell rang and Roxas could hear students rush out of the classrooms and into the hallway. He couldn't go out there. Not now. Everyone knew, he couldn't face them at all. He would have to wait it out or go to the office once it died down…but what if he ran into someone he knew? He wouldn't know what to do. He thought to himself that he should just go now and run for it.

The bathroom stall Roxas was in opened and Roxas jumped. He had forgotten to lock it and the person in front of him frowned pulled him out. "Roxas, what are you doing? Are you crying?" Demyx held on the tops of Roxas's shoulders. Roxas felt his cheeks and realized that there were indeed tears rolling down them. He felt his lips quiver and he couldn't say anything. He didn't know what to say or what to do. He just wanted to go home. "Come with me."

Demyx pulled his friend out the bathroom and down the hall. Roxas could feel the stares of people around them. He could hear their whispers. They knew, all of them knew. They would all hate him now since they did. "I'm want… to go home." Demyx nodded and took a sharp turn down to the next hallway. Roxas clung to Demyx's arm tightly. He buried his face into his own fist to keep people from seeing the tears.

"Check it out it's the fag!"

Roxas looked around and saw a group of people pointing fingers and laughing. Some went as far as to throw paper balls and pencils at him. Demyx pulled Roxas further and stopped when he saw Larxene and her lackeys following behind her. Her head was held high and she swung her purse around almost hitting people with it.

"Well look who it is… David Blowie and Roxanne. I thought you might have figured itout by now, but I couldn't help myself. I thought I'd be nice enough to let you have a few weeks to yourself in this high school, but I became pretty bored and I was a bit angry that you took something from me. I. couldn't help, but blab a bit. So sorry it got out of hand."

Demyx put his arm around Roxas protectively and glared at the blonde girl in front of them. "You told… so this is what this is about…" He looked down at Roxas was now shaking furiously. The small boy clung to him and Demyx switched his gaze back at the monster that hurt Roxas.

"Please," Roxas spoke. "Just let me through so I can be out of your way."

A cackle escaped Larxene's lips. "Why of course. But first I'd like to make some ground rules. One. Quit the homecoming committee. I wouldn't want any of your homo germs rubbing on anything. And two. I want you to stay away from Axel. He's mine and I don't need any selfish little boys trying to put their grubby hands on him. So I'd keep your distance if I were you."

"You bitch. Just leave him alone he hasn't done anything to you. You're out of your mind!" Demyx held on to Roxas's shoulder. The tiny blond felt the grip tight when Larxene pressed a finger to her lip mockingly.

"You really shouldn't say things like that. Someone could get hurt. Physically."

"Is that a threat?"

"You want it to be?"

Roxas tugged on Demyx's sleeve. "Let's just go…" Roxas lowered his head when he saw Larxene narrow her taunting eyes.

"What, you don't want to hear what I really wanted to say?" Larxene's voice trailed through the hall like poison, leaving behind a mass of sizzling pain. Roxas clutched the bottom hem of his shirt. He just wanted to leave. He wanted out. He wanted to curl up into a ball in the deepest part of his closet.

"Just leave him out of it Larxene!" Demyx began to pull Roxas down the hall, but Larxene put her foot in the way, blocking the two.

"I'm not finished here. There's something important I want Roxas to know." The monstrous girl leaned a hip with her arms crossed. The devious look never left her eyes and Demyx knew that whatever she was about to do or even bring up would probably just make Roxas break down into a further heap, if she hadn't done enough damage already. It was only a matter of time before Roxas just gave up on everything he lived for, cared about, and his true self. All because of these people's closed mindedness and selfishness of making a "perfect" society, or so they called it. It was nothing, but a dictatorship, Larxene being the dictator. Roxas was nothing, but the innocent passerby that she was about to crush under her power or popularity. It was the only reason why anyone would want to listen to her. She controlled the halls, the student body, the class events, and the whole school, not including the teachers and school board, but Demyx wouldn't be surprised if she did manage to get them to listen to her at times. "Axel, choose me."

Roxas shook his head and refrained from gazing in her direction. "You're a liar." He sniffed.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Larxene looked down the hall into the crowd of students. "Axel."

A blur of red came from the crowd and Roxas choked as he saw Axel approach towards Larxene. He stood by her and didn't complain when she put her arm around his and leaned against him. In fact the expression he made was unreadable. Roxas felt him say to himself. "This isn't true." But it was, and that was the reality of it. He couldn't stand it. He couldn't look at him.

"YOU HYPACRATE!" He yelled. Before pushing Demyx aside and dashing out the school doors.