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Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT LAE = AXEL IN THIS STORY. Lae = Axel's somebody self.

Wake Me Up When September Ends Chpt. 3
-He sure likes playing with fire-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Roxas’s eyes of blue opened wide to a world of sunlight, as the continuous annoying noise rang out through his ears.

“Ahr! What in the…”
Roxas turned to face his clock. 8.15am it read.

“OH NO! I slept in! School starts in 15 minutes!”

Stumbling out of bed, Roxas made his morning routine twice as fast. With school uniform half on, the gravity defying hair un-brushed, Roxas made his way for the stairs.

“Mum! Mum! Mum! Where’s Sora?” he managed jumping every 2nd step.
“Oh my, Roxas dear I thought you’d already left with him?! He’s gone to school ages ago with Kairi and that silver haired boy. Oh be sure to tell him, that he’s grounded for a month for letting the garage sale’s items get soaked yesterday.”

“Oh don’t worry mum I will…right after I kill him that is” mumbled Roxas as he swiped a piece of toast of the kitchen table. As he managed to grab his school bag, Roxas caught sight of the front page of the newspaper his dad was reading.

“STRANGE FALLING STAR SIGHTED LAST NIGHT!”

“Strange” thought Roxas “There hasn’t been a falling star for ages around here”
Stumbling out the door way, Roxas managed to get on his skateboard and make the journey to Destiny Islands High.

The bell was tolling just as he made his way through the school gates. Well not so, made his way through, more, stacked his way through the school gates.

“HEY! Watch where you’re skating idiot!”
“Tch. Typical of him.”
“Nice one blonde. Next time get some glasses”
“Isn’t that Sora’s twin?”

Roxas groaned into the dirt. It was too embarrassing to look up at the other kids having a go at him.

“HEY! Leave my twin alone!”
“Don’t you guys have classes to get to?”
“Stop being such pains”

Sora. Riku. Kairi. Their voices were all too familiar to Roxas. He finally managed to look up. There stood the trio.
“You alright there Roxas?” asked Sora as he collected his twin off the ground.
“Yea, I’m fine, just stacked, that’s all”
“Roxas, mum told you she doesn’t like you on that thing.”
“Yea well mum says your grounded Sora”

Sora let go of Roxas causing gravity to send Roxas back down on his bottom.

“HEY. What the hell was that for Sora?”
Roxas rubbed sorely. It wasn’t like Sora to get all moody like this.
Sora stood there glaring down at his twin. Identical blue eyes locked in a deadly stare with one another.
Riku and Kairi exchanged awkward glances at one another.
“Aaahh. Come on Kairi, I gotta get to a Year 11 and 12 mixed class”
“Yea I best be going to art class Riku. See you in drama Sora!”

Once Kairi and Riku had finally gone, Sora was the first to break the stare. He kicked the dirt up at his blonde twin.

“That was for…being the biggest jerk I know”
“What on earth is wrong with you?” questioned Roxas as he stood to his full height once more.
Sora shook his head.
“I stick up for you, give you a good name at this school and what do you give me? Oh mum says you’re grounded. Stop acting like a mother’s boy.”

With that, Sora headed for the front doors. Roxas looked down at the ground, that’s when he noticed the graze and the torn school pants.

“Ah! Mum is going to…” he paused, remembering what his twin had said. “Is it that obvious?” he wondered.

Class 1 for Roxas was English. Slowly he made his way up the stone stairs, to the classroom door. Sighing, he opened it to a sea of staring eyes.

“Erm. I’m sorry miss for being late”
“ROXAS?! HOW DARE YOU! You’re 10 minutes late, no note and half dressed. You look worse than my dog’s chew toy. Take your seat now and open your book to chapter 23! Come late again mister and it’ll be a phone call to your parents.”

Muffled giggles and whispers stirred around the class room.
“Silence! Heads down and reading thank you very much” barked the teacher.

In the class next door, Sora sat leaning his chair against the wall, smirking contently with the punishment he heard his twin get.

“Sometimes I can’t always be there to stand up for you” he thought.
“SORA?! DO NOT SWING YOUR CHAIR IN MY CLASS!”
Sora’s sudden jump of fright had sent the chair forward, which only sent Sora’s face into the wooden desk.
“…………ow” was all he could manage.

The day went by as usual and soon it was time for first lunch. A river of children in blue and white uniforms came pouring out of classrooms. It was a mad rush for lockers, favourite sitting spot or the canteen line. Roxas was racing down the stairs for the canteen line before it grew too long. He really hated missing out on the sea salt ice creams. Until out of no where, in a flurry of red hair, he had collided with someone, sending him back onto something hard.

“I hate Mondays” was all that Roxas could think of as his world went blurry.

xXx

“Hey…little dude…are you alright? Wake up.”

The voice wasn’t familiar at first. But in his conscience, Roxas swore he’d heard it some place before. At first, things were fuzzy to his eyes, the forms could be seen, light and then the distance of sounds. Finally Roxas could make out where he was. It appeared to be the school’s sick bay. In the distance he could hear that semi-familiar voice again.

“Nurse! Nurse! It’s alright, no need to call an ambulance, he’s woken up and he seems to be coming around”
“Are you sure lad? He did get a nasty bump”
“It’s alright, luckily that bag of his stopped his head hitting too hard”
“Are you alright yourself, dear? You did get that nasty bump. Oh has your nose stopped bleeding too?”
“Yes, I’m fine”
“Well if you’d like to keep him company before the bell, I’ll call someone to collect him”
“Uh, alright. What year is he again?”
“Year 10, not quite a senior like yourself, but still keep an eye on him that he comes around fine still”
“Uh, ok, will do”

Roxas shut his eyes and pulled the blanket tighter around him.

“It’s no use acting like you’re asleep little dude. Come on, what’s your name? I’d like you to say sorry at least”

Reluctantly, Roxas opened his eyes to face the one he’d bumped into. Blue eyes met green emerald eyes. Like a moth to a flame, Roxas’s eyes were drawn to that mess of red vibrant hair.

“Well?”
“Well…what?” replied Roxas slowly.
“Geez, you sure are distracted. I’d like to know your name and maybe an apology would be good. I don’t think my nose will ever be the same again you know” the older teen smiled as he rubbed his nose sorely.

“What is it with this guy?” pondered Roxas “He sure seemed familiar, familiarly cute. NO WAIT WHAT THE HECK ROXAS? That bump must have done weird things to my brain”

“Well what is it kid? You got no name?”
“Oh, sorry, it’s Roxas and sorry for running you down like that”

The stranger seemed to look like he’d remembered something, almost like he’d been suspended in time.

“Hey? You never told me your name?” began Roxas as he propped himself up. No answer came from the red haired teen. Roxas sat up in bed. Staring at the older teen oddly, Roxas couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It was almost like the older teen had become frozen on the spot.

“Uh, hello? Look I was sorry about my late response but really no need for pay back here”

Finally, the red hair seemed to snap back into reality again “Calm down, no need to get so snappy. My name’s Lae.”

The way he spoke, the way he acted, it was almost like nothing he’d realise what had just happen. Never even noticed, never even remembered the “frozen” state that just happened. Roxas wanted to mention it, but he just didn’t want to ruin the moment.

“I’m sorry Roxas” Roxas and Lae turned to see the nurse standing in the door way. “I’m sorry, but it appears no one can come collect you at this time. I really don’t think I should send you back into class with a bump like that on your head, but I’m afraid I might if I find no one else to take you home. You must have an adult guidance with you in order to leave these school grounds.”

“Oh” was all Roxas could say. His head and chest seem to feel heavy. Lae furrowed his brow. It didn’t seem right to him that an injured kid like this should be denied to go home, just because no older person could guide him home. Lae couldn’t help feel sorry for this Roxas. He seemed too much of a nice kid to him, to just let him suffer for the last hours of the school day. Heck, with a bump like that no one would want to do anything.

“Nurse isn’t there any of his family to take him home?”
“I’m sorry Lae, but his twin is too young, his parents are not answering their phones and well…”
“Nurse, how about I take him home?”
“What?!” exclaimed both nurse and Roxas.
“I mean, I’m 18 miss, I’m classed as an adult right?”
“Er. I guess so?”
“And, I am allowed to leave the school after first lunch for my home studying for senior exams”
“Are you now? Well I guess it is totally up to whether or not Roxas wants to go with you. Usually I wouldn’t allow of this, but, seeing holidays are so close and no real exams for juniors are upon us, I’ll let it slide.”
Lae turned to Roxas.
“Well? Tell me the way to your home and I’ll take you. My car’s parked outside.”

A part of Roxas was telling him no way. While his other half was screaming go for it. It was a struggle to decide but finally Roxas made up his mind. Most other kids would have said no to a complete strange student. But Roxas felt as if he’d known this teen for years. He felt safe around him.

“Yea, thanks, I’d be happy to let Lae take me home nurse”
“Good. It’s settled. But Lae I will need you to sign Roxas out at the office and write down your driver’s license details down, for legal reasons”
“Geez. This school is sure worked up all the time” Lae sighed.
Suddenly, the nurse grabbed Lae’s ear jokingly and sent him bending down awkwardly. “I’ll have none of that out of you mister or I’ll send you packing back to Mr. Mc’gradie’s office. He’ll wipe that big smirk off your mischief face”

The tone in the old nurses’s voice seemed to be mocking enough to send Lae into a goofy 8th grader state. Roxas got the feeling that Lae had been at this school for a while now. Funny thing was Roxas had never seen Lae around ever. Never heard his named mentioned, never seen him at assembly, never even seen him in the school grounds until today.

“Oh no, nurse, not Mr. Mc’gradie, he’ll have the soap waiting for me and you know how much I hate lemon soap”

As the nurse pulled Lae away down the hallway, Roxas clambered out of bed sorely for his bag. As he made his way to the sick bay’s exit, Lae came rushing around the corner. Luckily, this time he stopped. Lae’s chest inches away from slamming into Roxas’s nose.

“Whoa! Sorry there little dude. Almost got you”
“I have a name. It’s Roxas. R-O-X-A-S”
“Oh, yea sorry about that…Roxas” Lae cocked his head to a side. “Hey what’s the matter? Come on, smile. You’re the kid who’s getting a day off school here, remember?”

Roxas looked up into those emerald orbs. That smile on Lae’s face made him feel safe. Something about it was familiar too. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m sure my twin will have a go at me for this one. What am I saying? You don’t even know him”
“Hm. Sora? Your twin, a little taller, same gravity defying hair but brown, has he still got a crush on Kairi?”
“HEY! My hair is not gravity defying, it’s just…rebellious but more importantly how the hell did you know all that stuff about him?”
“Heh. Let’s just say I hung with this guy called Riku in senior group class today”
“You? Know Riku? And to think Riku is such a big gossiper” That was true. Riku was in a grade above, Sora, Kairi and Roxas and Riku mention something about Year 11 and 12 classes grouped earlier today. So this guy was at least honest.
“Ahem, yea anyway, I think it’s about time we get you home hey?” questioned Lae politely.
Roxas looked up again, a little more cheerful “Oh, yea, sorry, ok let’s go”

It felt so odd stepping out into the sunshine at this time. No kids were in the school yard, they were all probably crammed into their classrooms by now. Making their way to a parking lot, Lae guided Roxas to a black new looking car. It looked very modern.

“Wow. Nice ride you have, all I got is this” Roxas pulled out his skateboard from his bag.

Lae smiled awkwardly. “Don’t worry; you’ll be driving in no time. But if you don’t mind waiting for me in the car for few minutes, I kind of need a smoke. I can’t really do it in school hours, and well techniquely, it isn’t really our school hours is it”

“Oh, sure, ok then” Roxas opened the car door and settled down in the passenger’s seat. In the distance he could see the fire of Lae’s lighter flicker on and off, even though he’d already lit his cigarette.

Roxas smirked. “He sure likes playing with fire”

Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT LAE = AXEL IN THIS STORY. Lae = Axel's somebody self.

Wake Me Up When September Ends Chpt. 3
-He sure likes playing with fire-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Roxas’s eyes of blue opened wide to a world of sunlight, as the continuous annoying noise rang out through his ears.

“Ahr! What in the…”
Roxas turned to face his clock. 8.15am it read.

“OH NO! I slept in! School starts in 15 minutes!”

Stumbling out of bed, Roxas made his morning routine twice as fast. With school uniform half on, the gravity defying hair un-brushed, Roxas made his way for the stairs.

“Mum! Mum! Mum! Where’s Sora?” he managed jumping every 2nd step.
“Oh my, Roxas dear I thought you’d already left with him?! He’s gone to school ages ago with Kairi and that silver haired boy. Oh be sure to tell him, that he’s grounded for a month for letting the garage sale’s items get soaked yesterday.”

“Oh don’t worry mum I will…right after I kill him that is” mumbled Roxas as he swiped a piece of toast of the kitchen table. As he managed to grab his school bag, Roxas caught sight of the front page of the newspaper his dad was reading.

“STRANGE FALLING STAR SIGHTED LAST NIGHT!”

“Strange” thought Roxas “There hasn’t been a falling star for ages around here”
Stumbling out the door way, Roxas managed to get on his skateboard and make the journey to Destiny Islands High.

The bell was tolling just as he made his way through the school gates. Well not so, made his way through, more, stacked his way through the school gates.

“HEY! Watch where you’re skating idiot!”
“Tch. Typical of him.”
“Nice one blonde. Next time get some glasses”
“Isn’t that Sora’s twin?”

Roxas groaned into the dirt. It was too embarrassing to look up at the other kids having a go at him.

“HEY! Leave my twin alone!”
“Don’t you guys have classes to get to?”
“Stop being such pains”

Sora. Riku. Kairi. Their voices were all too familiar to Roxas. He finally managed to look up. There stood the trio.
“You alright there Roxas?” asked Sora as he collected his twin off the ground.
“Yea, I’m fine, just stacked, that’s all”
“Roxas, mum told you she doesn’t like you on that thing.”
“Yea well mum says your grounded Sora”

Sora let go of Roxas causing gravity to send Roxas back down on his bottom.

“HEY. What the hell was that for Sora?”
Roxas rubbed sorely. It wasn’t like Sora to get all moody like this.
Sora stood there glaring down at his twin. Identical blue eyes locked in a deadly stare with one another.
Riku and Kairi exchanged awkward glances at one another.
“Aaahh. Come on Kairi, I gotta get to a Year 11 and 12 mixed class”
“Yea I best be going to art class Riku. See you in drama Sora!”

Once Kairi and Riku had finally gone, Sora was the first to break the stare. He kicked the dirt up at his blonde twin.

“That was for…being the biggest jerk I know”
“What on earth is wrong with you?” questioned Roxas as he stood to his full height once more.
Sora shook his head.
“I stick up for you, give you a good name at this school and what do you give me? Oh mum says you’re grounded. Stop acting like a mother’s boy.”

With that, Sora headed for the front doors. Roxas looked down at the ground, that’s when he noticed the graze and the torn school pants.

“Ah! Mum is going to…” he paused, remembering what his twin had said. “Is it that obvious?” he wondered.

Class 1 for Roxas was English. Slowly he made his way up the stone stairs, to the classroom door. Sighing, he opened it to a sea of staring eyes.

“Erm. I’m sorry miss for being late”
“ROXAS?! HOW DARE YOU! You’re 10 minutes late, no note and half dressed. You look worse than my dog’s chew toy. Take your seat now and open your book to chapter 23! Come late again mister and it’ll be a phone call to your parents.”

Muffled giggles and whispers stirred around the class room.
“Silence! Heads down and reading thank you very much” barked the teacher.

In the class next door, Sora sat leaning his chair against the wall, smirking contently with the punishment he heard his twin get.

“Sometimes I can’t always be there to stand up for you” he thought.
“SORA?! DO NOT SWING YOUR CHAIR IN MY CLASS!”
Sora’s sudden jump of fright had sent the chair forward, which only sent Sora’s face into the wooden desk.
“…………ow” was all he could manage.

The day went by as usual and soon it was time for first lunch. A river of children in blue and white uniforms came pouring out of classrooms. It was a mad rush for lockers, favourite sitting spot or the canteen line. Roxas was racing down the stairs for the canteen line before it grew too long. He really hated missing out on the sea salt ice creams. Until out of no where, in a flurry of red hair, he had collided with someone, sending him back onto something hard.

“I hate Mondays” was all that Roxas could think of as his world went blurry.

xXx

“Hey…little dude…are you alright? Wake up.”

The voice wasn’t familiar at first. But in his conscience, Roxas swore he’d heard it some place before. At first, things were fuzzy to his eyes, the forms could be seen, light and then the distance of sounds. Finally Roxas could make out where he was. It appeared to be the school’s sick bay. In the distance he could hear that semi-familiar voice again.

“Nurse! Nurse! It’s alright, no need to call an ambulance, he’s woken up and he seems to be coming around”
“Are you sure lad? He did get a nasty bump”
“It’s alright, luckily that bag of his stopped his head hitting too hard”
“Are you alright yourself, dear? You did get that nasty bump. Oh has your nose stopped bleeding too?”
“Yes, I’m fine”
“Well if you’d like to keep him company before the bell, I’ll call someone to collect him”
“Uh, alright. What year is he again?”
“Year 10, not quite a senior like yourself, but still keep an eye on him that he comes around fine still”
“Uh, ok, will do”

Roxas shut his eyes and pulled the blanket tighter around him.

“It’s no use acting like you’re asleep little dude. Come on, what’s your name? I’d like you to say sorry at least”

Reluctantly, Roxas opened his eyes to face the one he’d bumped into. Blue eyes met green emerald eyes. Like a moth to a flame, Roxas’s eyes were drawn to that mess of red vibrant hair.

“Well?”
“Well…what?” replied Roxas slowly.
“Geez, you sure are distracted. I’d like to know your name and maybe an apology would be good. I don’t think my nose will ever be the same again you know” the older teen smiled as he rubbed his nose sorely.

“What is it with this guy?” pondered Roxas “He sure seemed familiar, familiarly cute. NO WAIT WHAT THE HECK ROXAS? That bump must have done weird things to my brain”

“Well what is it kid? You got no name?”
“Oh, sorry, it’s Roxas and sorry for running you down like that”

The stranger seemed to look like he’d remembered something, almost like he’d been suspended in time.

“Hey? You never told me your name?” began Roxas as he propped himself up. No answer came from the red haired teen. Roxas sat up in bed. Staring at the older teen oddly, Roxas couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It was almost like the older teen had become frozen on the spot.

“Uh, hello? Look I was sorry about my late response but really no need for pay back here”

Finally, the red hair seemed to snap back into reality again “Calm down, no need to get so snappy. My name’s Lae.”

The way he spoke, the way he acted, it was almost like nothing he’d realise what had just happen. Never even noticed, never even remembered the “frozen” state that just happened. Roxas wanted to mention it, but he just didn’t want to ruin the moment.

“I’m sorry Roxas” Roxas and Lae turned to see the nurse standing in the door way. “I’m sorry, but it appears no one can come collect you at this time. I really don’t think I should send you back into class with a bump like that on your head, but I’m afraid I might if I find no one else to take you home. You must have an adult guidance with you in order to leave these school grounds.”

“Oh” was all Roxas could say. His head and chest seem to feel heavy. Lae furrowed his brow. It didn’t seem right to him that an injured kid like this should be denied to go home, just because no older person could guide him home. Lae couldn’t help feel sorry for this Roxas. He seemed too much of a nice kid to him, to just let him suffer for the last hours of the school day. Heck, with a bump like that no one would want to do anything.

“Nurse isn’t there any of his family to take him home?”
“I’m sorry Lae, but his twin is too young, his parents are not answering their phones and well…”
“Nurse, how about I take him home?”
“What?!” exclaimed both nurse and Roxas.
“I mean, I’m 18 miss, I’m classed as an adult right?”
“Er. I guess so?”
“And, I am allowed to leave the school after first lunch for my home studying for senior exams”
“Are you now? Well I guess it is totally up to whether or not Roxas wants to go with you. Usually I wouldn’t allow of this, but, seeing holidays are so close and no real exams for juniors are upon us, I’ll let it slide.”
Lae turned to Roxas.
“Well? Tell me the way to your home and I’ll take you. My car’s parked outside.”

A part of Roxas was telling him no way. While his other half was screaming go for it. It was a struggle to decide but finally Roxas made up his mind. Most other kids would have said no to a complete strange student. But Roxas felt as if he’d known this teen for years. He felt safe around him.

“Yea, thanks, I’d be happy to let Lae take me home nurse”
“Good. It’s settled. But Lae I will need you to sign Roxas out at the office and write down your driver’s license details down, for legal reasons”
“Geez. This school is sure worked up all the time” Lae sighed.
Suddenly, the nurse grabbed Lae’s ear jokingly and sent him bending down awkwardly. “I’ll have none of that out of you mister or I’ll send you packing back to Mr. Mc’gradie’s office. He’ll wipe that big smirk off your mischief face”

The tone in the old nurses’s voice seemed to be mocking enough to send Lae into a goofy 8th grader state. Roxas got the feeling that Lae had been at this school for a while now. Funny thing was Roxas had never seen Lae around ever. Never heard his named mentioned, never seen him at assembly, never even seen him in the school grounds until today.

“Oh no, nurse, not Mr. Mc’gradie, he’ll have the soap waiting for me and you know how much I hate lemon soap”

As the nurse pulled Lae away down the hallway, Roxas clambered out of bed sorely for his bag. As he made his way to the sick bay’s exit, Lae came rushing around the corner. Luckily, this time he stopped. Lae’s chest inches away from slamming into Roxas’s nose.

“Whoa! Sorry there little dude. Almost got you”
“I have a name. It’s Roxas. R-O-X-A-S”
“Oh, yea sorry about that…Roxas” Lae cocked his head to a side. “Hey what’s the matter? Come on, smile. You’re the kid who’s getting a day off school here, remember?”

Roxas looked up into those emerald orbs. That smile on Lae’s face made him feel safe. Something about it was familiar too. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m sure my twin will have a go at me for this one. What am I saying? You don’t even know him”
“Hm. Sora? Your twin, a little taller, same gravity defying hair but brown, has he still got a crush on Kairi?”
“HEY! My hair is not gravity defying, it’s just…rebellious but more importantly how the hell did you know all that stuff about him?”
“Heh. Let’s just say I hung with this guy called Riku in senior group class today”
“You? Know Riku? And to think Riku is such a big gossiper” That was true. Riku was in a grade above, Sora, Kairi and Roxas and Riku mention something about Year 11 and 12 classes grouped earlier today. So this guy was at least honest.
“Ahem, yea anyway, I think it’s about time we get you home hey?” questioned Lae politely.
Roxas looked up again, a little more cheerful “Oh, yea, sorry, ok let’s go”

It felt so odd stepping out into the sunshine at this time. No kids were in the school yard, they were all probably crammed into their classrooms by now. Making their way to a parking lot, Lae guided Roxas to a black new looking car. It looked very modern.

“Wow. Nice ride you have, all I got is this” Roxas pulled out his skateboard from his bag.

Lae smiled awkwardly. “Don’t worry; you’ll be driving in no time. But if you don’t mind waiting for me in the car for few minutes, I kind of need a smoke. I can’t really do it in school hours, and well techniquely, it isn’t really our school hours is it”

“Oh, sure, ok then” Roxas opened the car door and settled down in the passenger’s seat. In the distance he could see the fire of Lae’s lighter flicker on and off, even though he’d already lit his cigarette.

Roxas smirked. “He sure likes playing with fire”