Chapter 1-In Trouble?

Zexion Nomura clutched his heavy textbooks to his chest with one hand and worked the combination on his locker with the other. “Right 6, Left 9, Stop at 1.” he muttered to himself. The lock clicked and came off, and Zexion opened his locker.

He shoved his Spanish books inside and grabbed his Advanced Calculus book. Next period was a study hall, so he could work on the 12 problems that had been assigned for homework that morning. He slammed the door and locked it again, before walking down the hall of Twilight Town High School.

A group of his friends stood waiting for him at the door, just like they always did. He waved. “Gosh, how long does it take you to grab one book?” One particular red-head griped teasingly. Zexion grinned at Axel Flynn, who was standing casually against the wall next to Marluxia Reubens, the only guy with brandy-colored (some geeks called it pink) hair in the whole school.   

Marluxia glanced at the thick book in Zexion’s arms. “Geez, only you would choose Advanced Calculus for a side course, Zex. You always were the smart one.”

Axel laughed, and they walked into the library. The librarian, Mrs. Aerith Strife looked up at them at the sound of their mirth.

“Quiet, boys.” she said, a smile etching its way across her face. She was pretty cool, for a librarian, Zexion thought.

“Sorry, Mrs. S.” Marluxia called out softly. She, in return, wagged her finger at them playfully.

Zexion smirked and sat down at their usual table by the east window, facing the football field. “Hee hee, maybe we’ll see the cheerleaders practicing.” Axel chortled as he sat down beside Zexion. Marluxia sat opposite Zexion.

Marluxia grinned at Axel’s words in a goofy way, and Zexion knew why. It sounded funny to hear Axel talking about cheerleaders when everybody rumored that he and his best friend, Roxas McCartney were…different in the way they hung out together….

Zexion felt his cheeks warm under his long emo-styled blue-grey bangs and he quickly shook those thoughts away. What Axel and Roxas did was no concern of his, he was sure.

They started to open their books when a small commotion at the door caused them all to turn their heads.

A brownish-blond haired boy stumbled a bit through the door, followed by the vice-principal, Mr. Saix Lunar. The blue-haired man, who had an X-shaped scar on his forehead from a childhood accident, made for an imposing figure as he scanned the quiet library.

Zexion looked back down at his book quickly, before Mr. Lunar could catch his eyes. Axel leaned over and whispered, “Hey, who’s the new kid?”

Zexion gave Axel an incredulous look. “He’s new! How the heck would I know?!” he whispered back.

“Good point.”

At that moment, Zexion felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and Marluxia gave a strangled gasp. Zexion looked up to see Mr. L. towering over him. The boy stood quietly beside him, his hands behind his back and an unnaturally innocent, bright look in his eyes as he observed the exchange of words.

“Zexion Nomura, may I see you in the main office please? The principal would like to speak to you on a matter of great importance.” Mr. L. said.

Zexion glanced back at Axel and Marluxia. Their eyes were as wide as a 5 munny piece (that’s about the size of a quarter) and their mouths gaped wide.

“Okay, I guess.” Zexion slipped his Math book into his book bag and heaved it onto his shoulder. With a backward glance at Axel and Marluxia, he followed the vice-principal and the new boy out the door.

Chapter 2-Demyx

Hundreds of thoughts raced through Zexion's mind as the trio walked down the empty hallways. What could he be in trouble for? Did it have something to do with the new kid? Or was he in trouble too?

He looked over at the taller boy, who turned his head to look back at Zexion. His big, ocean-blue eyes twinkled as his lips curved up into a smile and he wiggled his long fingers in a wave.

Zexion blinked, as he noticed something that he hadn’t before. Something in the boy’s features, the way he held himself, and the set of his facial features told him that he was probably a Special Needs kid. A kid with mental problems.

He turned away from those sparkling eyes as Mr. Lunar stopped at the door to the principal’s office.

The older man opened the door and led the two boys inside. Sitting at his desk, surrounded by folders and papers, was Principal Xemnas St. Paul.

The silver-haired man with unusual oranges eyes that could scare anyone into obeying his orders looked up as the three entered the room. He smiled at the new boy and Zexion noticed that the boy beamed brightly back at him. In all his three years at Twilight Town High, he’d never known anyone to smile at the Principal like that.

“Ah, come in. Sit down.” Principal St. Paul motioned for Zexion and the new boy to sit in the big leather chairs as the vice-principal exited. Zexion grimaced and hopped into the chair, embarrassed by the fact that his knees didn’t quite reach over the edge, and his legs just suspended in mid-air. The new boy, however, sat right down with his feet planted firmly on the floor, much to Zexion’s chagrin.

The principal folded his hands. “Did Saix happen to introduce you two?”

Zexion shook his head quietly, but the hyperactive blonde beside him immediately bounced out of his seat and grabbed Zexion’s little hand. “Hiya!” he chirped, startling Zexion. “I’m Demyx Tetsuya!”

Zexion stared at him for a moment. “I…I’m Zexion Nomura. Nice to meet you, Demyx.”

Demyx continued holding his hand and grinning. “I’m 17!” he said, his vocals dancing into the air like musical notes. Zexion blinked and mumbled, “That’s cool. So am I.” pulling his hand away gently.

Principal St. Paul smiled as Demyx sat back down in his seat. “Well, now that the formal introductions have been made, Zexion, if you are willing, I have a special job for you.”

Zexion looked back at the principal. “What do you have in mind, sir?” he asked.

“Well, I’ve been looking at your school records and I find that you’ve been an A+ student for all of your high school years so far.”

Zexion nodded, proud of that fact. But Xemnas continued, “I’d like for you to become Demyx’s personal tutor. He’s…” here he glanced over at Demyx, who had abandoned his seat and was now standing at the colorful fish tank in the corner of the room. Zexion heard him mumbling to himself as he gently touched the clear glass.

“He’s got mild autism, among other things like OCD and ADHD.”

Zexion nodded again, feeling sorry for the kid.

“He gets frustrated with learning very easily.” Mr. St. Paul continued.

“Well, why isn’t he at the Twilight Town Special Needs Center?” Zexion questioned.

“He was, but they transferred him here because for one, the government checked his records and said his grades were too high for him to continue there. For another thing, it was getting too expensive for his mother to afford it anymore.”

“Oh.” Zexion glanced back over at Demyx, who had apparently tired of the fish and was pacing back and forth, mumbling something indecipherable to himself.

Mr. St. Paul must have read Zexion’s questioning gaze. “His mother said that he’ll do that sometimes. You just have to keep up with him and try to find new ways to help him learn. Can you do that?”

Zexion looked at Demyx, then to the principal, and back to Demyx before making up his mind. “It’s a lot of responsibility, but I think I can handle it. I’ll do it.”

Mr. St. Paul smiled gratefully. “Thank you so much, Zexion. I’ll work out your new schedule this week. But I would like you to drop your extracurricular studies to have time to work with Demyx. Maybe sometimes after school too.”

Zexion felt his heart sink. “Even Advanced Calculus?”

The principal smiled kindly. “I’m afraid if they are not required junior classes, then yes. But next year, if all goes well, you may be able to pick up where your left off, if you’d like.”

Zexion sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Fine.”

The grey-haired man got up and went over to the blonde, mullet-headed boy, stopping  his pacing. “Demyx, I want you to go with Zexion. He’ll be your new friend and your new teacher now.”

Demyx flashed an exuberant grin at the older man and loped over to Zexion. “My new friend.” was his only response.

Chapter 3 is currently in the process of writing as of 11/29/07. Please be patient as this chapter is being stubborn to me. -insert weak laugh here-