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"Look, I just... I think you'll have more fun than you think you will if you go, okay? And I'll have more fun if you go. Last year sucked. I mean, yeah, Demyx was there, but he went with that jerk he was dating. Then they broke up just because we danced. And...and, I know I said I really liked dancing with him, but I...I kind of want to see what kind of dancer you are," he told him, face flushing slightly. "I know you're not into being all lovey-dovey, especially with a guy, but I'd like to force you into a dance with me at some point. Congratulations. Now you know my secret plan," he told him, throwing his hands up dramatically with a huff.

Demyx heard every word Zexion said, but he was having none of it. Everyone needed a friend. "Okay, look. I'm not the person to try to convince you should be alone. I don't care if you move or not. You need a friend. You can have friends that are in different countries. That's what Skype and cellphones are for. We can make at least a friendship work. And I want you to at least think about going to prom with me whether it's friends or more. I want you to have fun. With friends. Please think about it? I want you to enjoy the time you do have here, no matter how much time that is," he told him, regaining his confidence.

Demyx's mind wandered back to the fact that Roxas just yelled at the small teen. "Oh, and I'm sorry about Roxas blowing up at you. He's really torn up about it. Usually he can keep control of himself and his anger, but I think something's been bothering him. He's been trying to work up courage to ask Axel to prom, so he's letting that courage go to other things and is blowing them out of proportion. He's really sorry about it," he told him.

"Fine. Fine, I just won't go either, then," Roxas huffed stubbornly. "You're stupid and stubborn and you need to just try something before you shoot it down. You're so infuriating," he told him, face in a deep frown. Why couldn't Axel just listen to him sometimes? It was Senior year. He knew Axel wanted to move away as soon as he could. He was too big for this place. He needs to move to a city where he could meet...new people. And forget about his friends here. Forget about Roxas.

Roxas felt himself begin to tear up as he thought about it. Quickly, he grabbed his bag and stood. "I've. ..gotta pee before class," he mumbled out and turned away just as tears began to roll down his cheeks. He rushed off inside to avoid any questions from the redhead.

Demyx gave him a small smile. "Zexion... There's a reason I only have three friends. I've pissed off or annoyed anyone else I've come across, including my family. Trust me when I say I remember anyone who wants to be my friend. And I want to be there for you. We know basically nothing about each other except how awkward we both are, but I really do. You dont have to take the offer, just consider it, okay? And I want you to enjoy yourself. Everyone deserves to be happy. If you honestly think you'd have a better time sitting at home reading than you will at prom possibly dancing and/or acting crazy with me and my friends by time prom comes, then by all means sit at home and read. But...You're right. I'll give you some space. I'm a little crazy, I know. When you wanna talk again, just text me or something. Or come sit with us at lunch or break or whatever, alright?" He told him with a smile.

The blond hopped up and walked over to his now-alone redheaded friend. "Hey, Ax... What's wrong? Where's Roxas?" He asked, a frown spreading on his face. He didn't like this.

Demyx grinned as he glanced at his phone after sitting down in his desk beside Axel's. He squealed slightly and leaned over to him, whispering excitedly, "He's gonna come sit with us at lunch! He said he doesn't like getting close to people, but he's gonna sit with us! I'm so excited! I changed his mind about it! Me!" The blond was practically vibrating in his seat as he leaned back in his chair and put his phone away.

Lunch came quickly, Roxas being the first in the cafeteria as his class was closest to it. He got his food and refused to make eye contact with Axel as he passed him by and slammed his tray down on their table. Demyx blinked as he walked by him, feeling the anger pouring from him. He paused in the process of walking to the food line then decided to go ahead and get it first.

Roxas ignored Axel's presence as the redhead as down and instead shoved a formula of mashed potatoes in his mouth. "Hey, guys!" Deny said chirping as he finally sat down and glanced around, searching for Zexion. "Foxy, have you seen Zexion? He doesnt like making friends, but I got him to change his mind and come sit with us at lunch!" He said happily, keeping his eyes on Roxas to gauge his reaction.

The smaller blond looked up at D emyx and gave him a small smile. "Oh, cool. At least someone can decide to do something for the sake of someone else even if they think they won't have a good time," he said calmly.

Oh. Now Demyx got it. This was about Axel going to prom. The blonds spoke frequentlyabout the crush Roxas had on Axel and how stubborn and stupid he could be over the phone. That's what happened this morning and at break.

"Yeah! He should be in here soon. I wonder if he'll see us..," he trailed off, the table growing smile again. He hated when those two fought. Everything always got so tense and awkward.

As soon as Axel raised his voice, Roxas looked up at him with pained eyes. When the redhead stormed away, he shoved his tray away and dropped his head into his folded arms, letting out a soft sob.

Demyx frowned when Axel stormed away, then reached over and rubbed Roxas's back comfortingly. He looked up at Zexion with a smile. "Hey! No, it's fine! Just a little bit of drama. Sit and be merry!" He told him, patting the seat beside him.

"You see, Roxas here has had a crush on Axel for god knows how long, and wants to go to prom with him, but Axel's stubborn and doesn't want to go--" "He's gonna move away after graduation, and I'm never gonna see him again!" Roxas suddenly sobbed, looking up at Zexion, face clearly full of pain and frustration and sorrow. His chin quivered and he buried his face in his arms again as he cried.

Demyx smiled a little weakly at Zexion, giving him an apologetic shrug as he continued to rub Roxas's back.

Roxas slowly looked up at Zexion with tear tracks running down his cheeks. "It's obvious I like him if I asked him to prom, right? I told him I want to dance with him and...and have fun with him. He should know how I feel! And he doesn't care!" He argued, looking somewhat lost. He didn't know what to do. Axel knew Roxas was bad at sharing deep emotions like he had for the redhead, so he obviously didn't return the feelings.

"Roxas, silly! Axel's dense! You know he is!" Demyx laughed lightly. Roxas frowned up at him, thinking about Demyx's words. "Just go talk to him, you big idiot. You don't want him pissed at you for the rest of forever, now do you?" Demyx grinned encouragingly at the smaller blond. Roxas startled at those words. He couldn't have Axel mad at him. Then he would definitely forget about him. Hurriedly, the blond shot off of his stool and away from the table.

Demyx grinned over at Zexion. "Welcome to lunch at the outcast table! Where every day is an adventure!" He shouted happily, throwing his hands up in the air dramatically. He then dropped them back down and began shoveling food in his mouth. "They'll work it all out. They always do," he told Zexion with a little wink and a nudge. "Roxas is just going to have to be patient. Just like me and you! Except less anger!" He said with a hearty laugh.

Roxas booked it out of the cafeteria and into the courtyard, where he found Axel trudging his way to their usual tree. He watched his sit down and run his hands down his face before quietly approaching him. He sat down beside him, about a foot away and fidgetted around for a moment. He took a deep breath and gulped down his uncertainty then said quietly, "I'm sorry for bugging you about prom. It's immature and stupid of me, and I won't say anything about it anymore." He t widdled his fingers for a moment, then added, "Just...promise me you won't forget about me when you're gone." He said it in a quiet, wavering voice as his eyes began to well up with tears again. "Because...I know this place isn't big enough for you, and you want to go someplace like New York or...or Chicago or something...maybe even a different country... I just..." he began to choke on his words. "I know...You're gonna meet new people and forget all about this place...me included, and...and you're really special to me, and...and I just want to make as many memories as I can with you before you're gone so I have something to think back on and be happy about years down the road when you don't even think abiut me anymore," he finished with a soft sob, hitching his shaking shoulders as he began to cry once more.

Demyx laughed at Zexion's words. "Oh, man. I swear, when they both come over to hang out, it's like World War III breaks out in my house. It's gotten to a point where my mom won't let them come over at the same time anymore, and if they do we have to go somewhere else," he told Zexion, beginning to fill his bottomless pit up with the food off of Roxas's tray now. He always ate way more than it looked like his body could handle.

"Why don't I believe you?" Roxas whispered after the short kiss. "Why don't I believe that I'll be remembered?" He was genuinely defeated, needing to know the answer to that question. He didn't understand why he didn't believe Axel's words. As far as he knew, Axel had never lied to him before. So why the doubt? Why the questions flying around his head? "And why can't we be like I want? Because of all the 'sweetheart' s**t I talk about all the time?" He asked, getting a little frustrated. "Because you won't be 'good' at it? For one, I don't need that, I'd just like to have it. And two, you haven't even tried, so you don't even know. That kiss? That kiss is all I need," he ended softly, looking up into his eyes.

"But...I'm done arguing. I'm ******** sick of arguing with you, whether it's my fault or yours... I just want to spend as much time with you as possible before you leave us all behind," he told him then leaned forward and threw his arms around him in a tight hug. He held onto him tightly for a few seconds then pulled back and wiped his face off with his hands. "No more fighting. I don't want to end the year on a bad note. Agreed?" He , holding his hand out with a small smile.

Demyx's lit up in curiosity as Zexion revealed that he could cook. Did this mean that he was offering to cook for Demyx some time in the future? That meant he wanted to hang out and stuff, right? Just before the blond blurted out that Zexion should cook for him sometime soon, the blue-haired male made the offer. Demyx quickly swallowed his mouthful of food and grinned at the teen. "That'd be awesome! I'd love a homemade meal!" the blond said happily, eyes dancing with glee as he looked into the other's eyes. "I love food, and making friends, so this is perfect!" he added excitedly, bouncing a little in his seat, trying to restrain himself from smothering the male with a hug.

Roxas tried to ignore the words Axel was saying, because he knew it was just going to make him upset again. They were both so deadset in their ways, unfortunately they thought the complete opposite of each other. He just relished the hug that happened between them and let go, listening to Axel talk happily about them hanging out. "Yeah, I hated it, too," he admitted and took Axel's hand and the offer to help him stand. He soon after dropped it and shoved his hands in his pockets as they talked. "That'd be cool. I don't have to work today, but I need to go home and water the plants and feed the cat and stuff first, but I'll be over after I finish my list of chores and stuff," he told the redhead, not thinking about his words at all.

The blond had never really done much around the house before, hiding out in his room and talking to Axel all the time or hanging out with him, but when Roxas realized how he felt about his friend and also that the redhead could never feel the same way, he spoke to his friend less and obviously didn't hang out with him outside of school unless Demyx was there, too, becuase he knew he would fight with the redhead. Instead, he filled his alonetime after school with starting up a garden that he could take care of and slowly picked up more and more to do around the house to occupy himself until he was dead-tired, not allowing himself to think before falling asleep.

The weekends were the worst for him, because he could never occupy himself enough. He would mow the grass and take the cat on a walk for hours or practice on the keyboard his dad bought him months before he moved to another state and married some woman the blond teen had never met. That was at the beginning of the school year that it happened, his dad left his mother and moved away. Just picked up and left Roxas and his mother in the house. But Roxas had stayed quiet about it, not wanting to upset his friends. So he had picked up some errands that his mom usually did on the weekends, like grocery shopping for the week. The the blond still couldn't occupy himself enough and picked up a part-time job at a sports bar waiting tables. He hadn't even realized how busy he had gotten himself. He hadn't broken down yet, but he probably would soon. He didn't know it, but his stress had began to break his body down. However, he forced himself on, not knowing the damage he was causing to himself. Not to mention the slight drinking habit he had picked up when his mom wasn't home and he couldn't occupy himself any longer.

A bell rang shrill in his ears right after he finished talking, and he looked around at the people rushing back to their classes. "Ah, class time again. I'll see you after school, alright?" he told him with a brief smile then heaved his bag up on his shoulder and headed off to his AP Chemistry class, his last class of the day. He had fourth block free, which he deeply regretted since all of the drama started. That was an extra two hours he didn't know what to do with, other than homework.