Drop the Act: 2 by Alex Crow (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📕

Chapter 1: Bloodshed and Bullets
Roxas was close, in the dressing room right next to me and Riku. As soon as he was in front of the door of the stall, I screamed "RUN ROXAS, HE HAS A GUN! RUN!" But he didn't run. And it all happened so slowly. Roxas busted the door open, and Riku pointed the gun at his head. I quickly grabbed the arm that was holding the gun, and yanked it down, but it shot. It shot Roxas in the leg. He fell to the ground, his bullet wound bled the shag, orange carpet red. Riku pointed to shoot again, but I hit him in the head with a metal hanger that was lying on the ground from my clothes. It was enough to stun him, and I took that chance to knock the gun out of his hands and punch him in the nose. He fell to the ground, unconscious. I knelt down beside Roxas, who held his leg to his chest. "Roxas..." I said "I'm so sorry..." "What are you sorry for?" he whispered "You got shot!" I exclaimed loudly. Police and paramedics were swarming the store, and a couple of the paramedics were moving to put Roxas on a gurdie. "But it could of been worse." he said, grimacing in pain. "Hey, kid," one of the paramedics asked me "I take it you two are friends." "Yeah..." I said "Well are you coming with him or not?!" another one asked. I had to think on that one, because I couldn't stand to see Roxas in pain, and covered in blood, but, with a sigh I told them "Yeah, I'll come..." and with that they halled him into the ambulance, helped me in, and we all drove to the hospital.

Chapter 2: The Truth
It has been 1 week since the shooting, and Roxas is doing well. They got the bullet out of his leg, and his wounds are healing up. Every night I stay at the hospital to sleep so I can stay near him. Only a couple of people have come to visit. The red head and apparently Roxas' best friend, Axel, Roxas' little brother, Sora, Sora's girlfriend, Kairi, and Roxas' older brother Ventus. Namine hasn't shown up, and I hope she doesn't, because she'll just ruin everything. I thought all about this as I walked down the spotless white hall with Roxas' meal in hand. He hated this hospital food, and constantly complained, but I told him to be quiet, and the better he behaved the quicker he could leave this place. I suddenly stopped right outside his room, and I listened in. "Look, Roxy, I'm really sorry for leaving...its just I'm not used to having another girl hanging around you..." a terrifyingly familiar female voice said. "Its okay Nami, I know. You shouldn't be jealous, me and Xion aren't like that. I'm just giving her a place to stay and stuff." I dropped the tray to the ground, and the pudding spilled out of the plastic cup. To think I thought he actually liked me! "Xi Xi, is that you?" he asked from inside the room. "Yes, Come in Xion, I want to apologize to you." Namine said. I turned around and stomped down the hall, listening to see if I could here if anyone was chasing after me, telling me to wait, and that they were sorry. But I heard none, and just like that, I was running down the street, away from the hospital.

Chapter 3: Nowhere to Run
I'm lost. I have no idea where I am, but at least its better than staying with Roxas and Namine. I don't know what neighborhood this is, or even what street because there's no sign. I've become a stranger to this life, even though its only been a week since I've walked these streets, but with Roxas, it feels like an eternity away. There are groups of guys and some girls on the sides of sidewalks and in alleyways, and I wish I was away from here, because my experience with Riku is all to familiar and to fresh a memory to forget. I'm starting to see posters with my name and picture on it, and they say 'HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?'. No, I haven't seen her, because this isn't her anymore. This is a homeless, nameless, nobody named Xion, and that's all she'll ever be. I walk around with my hood up now, because if they find me they'll take me back to Roxas, or rather, Roxas and Namine. If I go back, I'll be treated as an awkward house guest, like they can't do anything with me there. And when they kiss and hug will the awkwardest of all. I shuddered, thinking about it, when a hand grabbed my shouldered, stopping me in my tracks. "Xion...is it?.." a voice said from behind me. I spun around, and almost thought this blond headed, blue eyed boy was Roxas. It was Roxas' older brother Ventus! I felt a sudden urge that came on so strongly it could not be resisted. I embraced him, and sobbed into his chest, almost knocking him over. I was acting as if I was a lost child, just reunited with her mother. "Whoa!" he gasped as the air was almost knocked out of him. "Roxas has been looking all over for you." he said, patting my head. "H-he's out of the h-hospital?..." I sniffled. "Yea, he was released yesterday. Hey, my car is right down the street, I'll take you back to his house. He'll be thrilled to see-" "No, no, I can't go back! He and Namine don't care about me, there just to nice to turn me away!" "Oh no, Xion! They care very much for you, especially Roxas." I turned away from him, unbelieving. "I heard him say...that...we weren't like that...that he was just giving me a place to stay...to Namine..." "Xion, Namine gets jealous easily. He's probably just saying that to ease her." I turned back around to face him. "Fine. Take me there. We'll ask him."

Chapter 4: True Feelings
I sat in the car, next to Ventus, as we pulled into Roxas' driveway. I saw the white curtains get pulled back slightly, then drop to there usual position, and a few seconds later, a whirl of blond hair and checkers whirled out the door at a lightening speed. "XION, YOUR BACK!!!!" Roxas crowed, and swept me up into his arms. Ventus had an awkward look on his face, and Namine, who I had just noticed standing in the doorway, looked even more awkward than Ventus. "Uh, hey Roxas." I said, gasping for air. "Watch it Roxas, your strangling her." Ventus cautioned, and Roxas set me gently down. "Why'd you run away?" he asked with wide, blue eyes. "I heard you talking with Namine..." I said quietly. "Oh..." he whispered, so quietly I wasn't even sure he had said anything. And at that moment, with everyone standing around us, I felt compelled to tell him my feelings for him. "R-roxas..." I whispered. "Yes, Xion?" he said looking up. "I love you..."

Publication Date: 03-15-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Credit to whoever the cover belongs to, I didn't draw it. 030