Roxas walked toward his new school with the mob of people, his Twilight Town outfit on, and a blue backpack slung over one shoulder.He was a Freshman in Highschool, and even though this was his first day, it was almost half way into the year.He had been moved back to here, Twilight Town, by his family after living on Destiny Island for most of his life....the last time he had been here, he was 7.....he affectionatly termed those times the 'Days of Red'....because all he could remember was red.His earliest memory was his dad moving him away because of one of his friends.His cerulian eyes glazed over the place, then something red caught his eye leaning against a tree just off campus.
Axel leaned against his favorite tree, smoking a cigarette.Technically, he was on campus....but just barely....one step to the left, and he was outside the school grounds and immue to "No Smoking on School Propety" fines.He wore his usual outfit, ripped jeans, a slightly burnt jeans jacket, and a stained white wife beater.Axel was known for three things here.One.Axel was ALWAYS LATE or in trouble....usually both.Two.If Axel failed this year, it was all over....he'd be expelled.Three.Axel was one of the only kids on campus who was not only proud of being Bi, but attractive enough to net anyone, and tough enough to keep jokes about him down to nothing.He was proud of all three...each ment he had accomplised a goal.Being late or in trouble kept his grades down, keeping his grades down held him back, and being Bi left him capable to snatch his "Prize" the reason why he saw no reason to change the other two just yet.A teacher walked over."Axel!Put that cigarette out!No smoking on school premisis!"Axel snorted and crumpled the lit cigarette up in his palm, then blowing the ashes at the teacher's face with a small smirk.The teacher fumed."Do you want a detention, Axel?"Axel grinned."Did I ask for one?"He asked, before dashing away from the teacher and bumping into a blonde haired straggler.
Roxas gasped lightly as something hit him from the side, knocking him down.He had been caught daydreaming of his beautiful 'Days of Red' again.And, when he opened his eyes....he saw red....literally.Blood red hair was toppled in front of his eyes, spiked in an almost Sonic The Hedgehog manner....the thing that knocked him down got off of him, proving to be an upperclassman with red hair that was spiked back, vibrant green eyes, deshevaled clothing, and tiny purple triangles under his eyes like frozen tears."Axel?"He breathed quietly, getting up."Axel?"The stranger turned to face Roxas and grinned."So....you've heard of me, eh newbie?"Roxas started lightly."Oh...umm....Axel....shouldn't you be in college?"Axel grinned."I'm fulfilling a promise....I'm waiting for Roxas..."Roxas brushed his hair back into it's usual ruffled mess."You waited for me?"Axel blinked and took a closer look at Roxas."My god....it is you!Go figure....hey, Roxie, what ya got for classes?"He asked, leaning forward egarly.Roxas pulled out a small peice of paper."Music, English, History, Math, Science, P.E., then some afterschool Latin thing...you?"He asked, glancing up.Axel pulled a ripped peice of paper from his pocket."Music, English, History, Math, Science, P.E., Latin....."He glanced at Roxas."You're stuck with me!"He said, hugging his 'vertically challenged' friend tightly.
Roxas gasped."A....Axel!Choking!!"Axel let go, smiling."Looks like we're late, too...come on...I'll show you to your class, classmate."He said, placing an arm around Roxas's shoulders."Stick with me and you'll get in fine, Roxie."He assured, now glad that he could really start doing school work....Axel wasn't dumb, far from it, he had just been waiting, and now that his time had come....Axel needed to stick by Roxas.

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Much to the teachers' shocked surprise, Axel behaved that day, his grades suddenly skyrocketed, and he got all his classwork done....but only if he was next to Roxas.It was after Latin class when Axel finally showed some of his "old self"....he started smoking in the halls and kept fidgiting.Finally Roxas asked why.Axel sighed."I have to go home....things changed since you left....my mom and dad devorced, and my dad, who I'm stuck with because my mom's a druggie, is abusive....that's why I take Latin.....to stay out more...."He mumbled, holding his car door open."Hop in, I'll drop you off at your place, I just have to pick up something Demyx left at my place first..."He mumbled as Roxas slid into the car seat.Axel sighed and started the car up, driving off quickly.Axel got out when the got to his place and went around, letting Roxas out."Car's not so safe....my dad may shoot at it."He mumbled, just as the front door opened revealing a man with dark red hair and dark eyes and a shotgun.Axel swore as the gun fired and immeditaly put himself between Roxas and the bullet, pushing his shorter friend into the car and slamming the door shut with a quick "get down".He sprinted around to his side and got in, slamming the door and driving off.Once they were a safe distance away, Axel pulled aside."You Ok, Roxas?"He asked, not looking his friend in the eye.Roxas nodded."Yeah, you?"Axel smiled lightly."I'll be fine."He said, driving off again.
He pulled in to a nearby hospital's parking lot and leaned back against the seat."Roxie.....go get me a doctor, Ok little buddy?"He asked, his right hand clutching his left arm.Roxas's eyes widened."Axel, you're not...."Axel hissed."Go!"Roxas, terified, sprang up and dashed into the hospital as Axel blacked out in the car.Roxas watched, helpless and dumbstruck as they carted Axel out on a strecher.There was a huge gash ripped into his left arm, barely above the elbow from his father's shotgun.Within moments, Roxas had been forced into the waiting room, and Axel was in the ER.Roxas glanced about, still dazed as he waited to hear if Axel would be OK...the whole time, he could only think one thing over and over.Axel was hurt, because he had jumped in the way of the bullet that was aimed at him, Roxas."....it should be me in there...."He murmered dumbstruck.
A doctor came in in about an hour and put a hand on Roxas's shoulder, making him look up.The doctor smiled lightly and beckoned for him over towards a small ward."Your friend with the red hair'll be just fine....he's lucky, he just got grazed....since he keeps calling for you, you can stay here for the night.....he should be out in two to three days, besides....you look to young to drive and it's nearly two A.M.....your parents are probally asleep...he's in room eight."Roxas nodded lightly and, still dazed, made his way into room eight.Axel lay on the bed quietly, tucked into the white sheets and sitting up despite their cement-like hold.His left arm was heavily bandaged, and he looked sad.When Roxas wandered in, though, he brightened up."Roxie!Hey buddy!Hey....Roxas....what's wrong?"Roxas stumbled over to the bed and snuggled into Axel's soon outstreached arms, crying."Why?Why....why did he shoot at...m...me?"Axel frowned and pulled Roxas onto the bed, stroking his back lightly and rocking him back and forth."Shhhh....it's OK.....that's just my dad for you...."He murmered, then he tipped Roxas's face up and looked him in the eyes, frowning lightly."You stayin' here for the night?You look like you need to be held."Roxas nodded sadly and nuzzled up against Axel."........Does it hurt, Axel?"Axel smiled lightly."Nah....I've had wor..."He stopped, Roxas was crying again."H....He r....really does a...abuse you, doesn't he?Oh Axel, I....I shouldn't have left you....I...I should have made dad bring you....."Axel frowned and held Roxas tight."Roxie.....your dad moved you out of here because he didn't like how close we were....he wouldn't have let me come....."He murmered softly, slipping the blankets over them."....I....I forgot everything but red...."Roxas explained, Axel smiled."Red, huh?Then thank you.I'm glad you remembered me, if only for my red hair."Roxas giggled and snuggled against Axel."Yes.....spikey, wild red.....Axel red."Axel smiled a bit more and wrapped his arms around Roxas."Go to sleep, Roxie.....it's late."