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two
vodka

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Nobody had ever really understood what the fascination was between teenagers and dark alleyways. There was never anything good or worthwhile down any of these alleyways, so it seemed logical to steer clear of them, and yet youths seemed to happily flood down them in large mobs. If any adults ever actually bothered to venture through the gloomy passages, they might have developed more of an understanding, but as it was, none of them ever did. Nor did they have much of a reason to- they was just full of dust and dirt and cobwebs anyway. Down one alleyway in particular, however, there was a small building with a lot of light leaking through its cardboard-covered windows, unlike the dark, lightless cardboard-covered windows of the small buildings around it.

The teenagers who often, to coin a common phrase, 'hung out' within this stronghold were of the moody, indie-listening, prank-playing dork kind. This meant nothing, of course, except for the fact that should any stronger, cooler, tougher and fitter teenagers decide they wanted the small electricity-savvy building as their own 'hangout', to coin a common phrase, these five weaker, geekier, cowardlier teenagers could probably do absolutely nothing about it. Except shut the door and add an extra layer of paper to the cardboarded windows.

It wasn't a very interesting small building, when you thought about it, but they had declared it their hang-out grounds, to coin a common phrase, and were both very proud and incredibly protective of it. They had decorated it with dorky posters and geeky rugs and other suchlike loser-esque ornaments, and after approximately a week and half of sitting and discussing literature there after chess club, they were practically moved in, and had dubbed it, 'The Usual Spot.'

The five teenagers who spent most of their time in 'The Usual Spot' were all pretty much social rejects. There was the fat one, who wasn't actually that fat, but in a town where everybody had stick-thin limbs and gigantic hands and feet, he was never going to fit in. Then there was the one who was obsessed with fighting and camoflage-print clothes, and liked to pretend that he was in the army. Then there was the moody emo one with spiky blond hair that was shaped like a pineapple, and in a town where all anybody ate were pretzels, melons and sea-salt ice cream, fruit was just Not Cool. Then there was the only girl, who was actually rather pretty and sensible, but had the dorkiest fringe in the history of dorky fringes, as well as insanely curly hair, despite her fringe being as straight as a ruler.

The last member of their interesting little club was slightly different to the rest of them in more than one way. He was a lot taller, several years older, and had bright red hair that stuck out of his head like a porcupine. He also wore too much 'guy-liner', which was just 'eyeliner' but with 'guy' replacing 'eye', just in case anybody accidentally mistook the 'guys' who used 'guy-liner' for 'girls' using 'eyeliner'.

He also liked to make dramatic entrances, such as coming in late to any exciting group meetings the gang decided to arrange. Just that morning, Olette had specifically mentioned that everybody had to go to 'The Usual Spot' at exactly half past eight. And so everybody did. Except for Axel, who walked in at exactly half past nine clutching a bottle of vodka and dragging his on-again, off-again, part-time, sometimes-maybe, when-I-feel-like-it, if-I'm-horny, when-it-suits-me girlfriend/fuckbuddy behind him.

"Oh, how nice of you to join us," Hayner rolled his eyes.

Pence sighed. "Only an hour later than we agreed."

"Honestly, Axel. Don't you have any timekeeping skills whatsoever?" Olette sighed crossly.

Axel shrugged. "I was busy."

"Busy?" Olette repeated, frowning.

"Well, it obviously wasn't looking in the mirror, because you look like crap!" Hayner exclaimed cheerfully.

"So what were you doing, then?" Roxas enquired.

Axel smirked. "Kairi," he grinned. Kairi, hanging off the redhead's bony waist, started to giggle.

"Oh, Axel!" Olette cried, spotting the girl and jumping up to unhook her from him. "You promised you were going to let her down gently, not let her at your stash of alcohol and trick her into bed!"

Kairi giggled again, far too drunk to comprehend that they were talking about her. Olette helped her onto a nearby chair and told her to stay sat down.

"Dude, that is like, Not Cool," Hayner announced, as if that were some kind of majorly offensive insult that would hit Axel hard. Needless to say, it didn't.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Axel smirked, rolling his eyes. "I forgot that just because none of you can find dates, I'm supposed to pretend like I'm not a hot babe magnet."

Roxas raised his eyebrows. "But you're not," he pointed out. "The only... babe... you've ever attracted is Kairi, and... well, you obviously had to buy her several vodka shots first."

"Whatever," Axel shrugged.

"So are you planning on taking her to the dance with you?" Olette wanted to know, frowning at Axel's careless attitude towards his supposed girlfriend.

The redhead shrugged again. "Maybe, maybe not," he replied. "I wouldn't mind going to the dance, after all... from what I've heard, it sounds like it will be... a lot of fun..."

Pence beamed happily, forgetting about Kairi's sorry state. "I'm sure it will!" he exclaimed with merriment.

Hayner groaned. "Oh, for Christ's sake, Axel, you've set him off again," he complained.

Axel grinned slyly. "Well, I'm sorry for looking forward to something," he said. "I thought you'd be pleased I was feeling optimistic for once."

Olette smiled weakly. "Yeah, yeah, we are," she nodded politely.

Roxas frowned, wondering what his best friend was up to. He knew Axel better than any of the rest of them, and he could tell that something was just Not Cool, to coin a common phrase, although by now I have coined so many common phrases that the budget for this story will not allow me to continue this chapter any longer.

"Yep yep yep!" Pence squealed merrily. "The dance is gonna be great!"

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a/n: woahhh. it's been like... nearly eight months since my last update. woahhh. more in progress, i guarentee you this ficlet WILL be finished... eventually. because skitts and the weasels said so.