Avoidance
""Ring""
A soft sigh escaped Riku's mouth as he neared his first period class. He walked hastily but smoothly past all the teenagers that lingered in the halls.
"Riiikuuu!"
At his said name he looked searchingly for the voice he knew so well. Finding a blonde bouncing kid running through the hall of scattered teenagers. A smile came to his lips as the blonde stopped abruptly in front of him.
"RIku! Hey how's it go'n?" He asked between quick breaths.
"Hey Tidus," Riku patted his shorter friend on the shoulder, then began leading them into the classroom.
"wooo", Tidus let out a long sigh, his breath becoming steady once more.
Riku fingered a strand of silver from his face, placing it behind a pale ear, "Late again?" He asked jokingly, sitting down at his desk.
Tidus sat at the desk in front of Riku, turning his body sideways so he could properly look at
Riku, "Yeah, Bro. dropped me off late."
"Oh," Riku sighed, letting his eye's travel across the classroom, noting who's here, finding his eye's settled on Mrs. Treppe.
She sat definably behind her desk of brown wood, covered with paper, and odds and inns that you would find on a desk. Her blonde hair traveled neatly around her head into a bun, a few ends and strands of hair decorated the top of the ball of hair. Her glasses held a glint of light making it hard to fully see her eyes, which he knew to be blue with dashes of grey in them. She held the tone of a pale pink skin, which she covered with long sleeve shirts that hugged her figure tightly. Complete, was always a long skirt, her feet bundled in tight black boots that rose to just below her knee, and ended with a thick long heel, giving her the appearance of being taller then what she actually was.
Riku shook his head as if in helpless defeat, which was the case anyway. He hadn't finished his homework, and knew that Mrs. Treppe would have a few words with him.
He looked to his grey eyed friend who, in return, looked to be in a bundle of thoughts. His eyebrows were drawn together, he looked as if he was discouraged about something.
Rolling his eye's he smirked when Yuna walked in the room, and he had seen Tidus take immediate concentration on her.
"Ok ok, settle down" Treppe, was standing now, walking to the front of her desk, holding the roster. She took a quick glance around the room then waited for the anxious students to calm down. When all the students turned in their seats and focused on her she began once more.
"Now, I know, with the long weekend and all, that some of you did not do your homework." She crossed her arms across her chest the roster in one hand and a pencil in the other.
Riku smirked, thinking maybe he wouldn't have to hear her blab on to him in private, about how important it is to keep up with his studies.
"But!" Treppe stated quickly, agitatedly, "That is no excuse for you to completely loose yourselves in the break, forgetting your studies."
Maybe not, instead of private she'd do it right here and now, she's eyeing me. Now she's glaring at me. Terrific.
"Having Friday off, gives you only more time to finish your work," Treppe stated thickly in her accusations of laziness.
Riku's smirk left his face, now he felt irritation, under her scolding glare. He heard a snicker from Tidus, then turned his eyes to the back of his head, in the mass of blonde strands he began to glare.
Tidus quickly turned to Riku giving him a sheepish smile, and knowing look.
Lifting his brow Riku gave him a demanding stare. Tidus shrank a little in his chair giving Riku an apologetic look then averted his eyes back to Treppe.
"Anyway, on to roll-call"
RIku concluded that was his sign to go and hide himself in his thoughts.
Well that was fun, being scolded in front of everyone. Stupid school, why can't it be Friday already? ....mhhh wonder if Yuna's noticed Tidus drool'n on her yet?
RIku shifted his gaze towards her, she sat in the front corner, close to the teacher, and to the door. She's such a girl, a nice wholesome type of girl, probably has really good grades, mmhh Tidus has straight average, not failing not exceeding above and beyond. That doesn't matter anyway. Yeah, yea... .we're all here! Shut up Treppe! ... So ... bored.... fuck!
Riku frowned, wonder how Sora's do'n? Haha sucker has mechanics first period.
Ugh, Kairi's smiling at me. So I'll smile back.
""Smile""
Kay all done, stop look'n at me.
"Riku!" Treppe's voice stung through his unawareness.
"What?!" Riku startled out the response.
Treppe, sighed looking annoyed, "Could you at least, pay attention so I'm not calling out your name five times?".
I'd rather you not call my name out at all, "yes mam." Riku gave her an apologetic smile.
"There's enough time for you and Kairi to make googly eyes outside my class"
Tidus chuckled, I stiffened, ugh.....bitch! ...."hn" I couldn't even muster out anything. Gross.
Riku shot a glance at Kairi, who was giggling covering her blushed face.
Grosser.
Riku took the end of his pencil, and jabbed at the snickering Tidus's head.
"yow!" Tidus started rubbing at his head, then laughed.
RIku sighed, going back to his thoughts.
Should've just went to bed earlier.
""Yawn""
Yeah? What the hell is he look'n at me for? Turn around, vampire.
Vincent, poor sucker. Haha... Wonder if he did his homework.
"OK so pass your papers up to the front, and those of you" Treppe stopped to glance towards Riku, who shifted annoyingly under her glare, "Who haven't finished, make sure you give it to me after school."
Riku rolled his eyes, then adverted his eyes to Vincent once more. Mhh looks like you did do your homework. Good for you.
"pssst!" Tidus turned to look at me, "I have practice after school."
I raised my eyebrow in question, I gestured a look of absolute attention and care for what Tidus was saying. I'm so sarcastic.
Tidus narrowed his eyes briefly at me, before a satisfied grin crossed his face, "anyway, smart ass, why don't you stay and hang out?"
I rolled my eyes, "Tidus..." I started, "I told you I'm not joining your volleyball team."
He sighed then shrugged in defeat, "Well whatever, so.." He started, and I sensed it a mile away.
Here it comes.
"When did you and Kairi start go'n out?" He teased.
I sighed and rubbed at my forehead in an effort to calm the tension that was growing there.
Tidus snickered at my annoyance then began again, "I thought Sora had a thing for her, leave it
to you to beat him in absolutely everything you could possibly imagine."
My hand dropped from my face, I felt the look of disgust spread hastily across my face.
He snickered again. Then turned his attention back to the front of the class.
I sat there for a while staring at the back of his golden locks, then my eyes found myself on the
redhead. Kairi, why Sora? What could you possibly like about that child. She's so.... God, and Tidus, what do you find so intriguing about Yuna? Guess that's why you like her and not me. Some things aren't meant to be seen I guess. Kairi fidgeted, as she felt my eyes on her, she looked at me, then she softly smiled at me. I looked down to my empty paper on my desk. Sorry Kairi, don't want to give you the wrong idea....don't smile at me like your wheeling me in. Besides, don't you like Sora? Oh wait I know, he's not popular enough for you. huh... somehow that was an insult to Sora. Not like he cares bout all that, not like I do either. Tidus, you'd prolly do better try'n to wheel in captain perfecto over there. If it's image your so worried bout. Damn it, why am I thinking bout this shit? ...it's stupid... I'm so glad I'm not involved with all that crap. Huh? Who's....
Riku lifted his eyes once more, in search of the intruder, and met soft concerned brown eyes.
Vincent tilted his head, a confused, yet accepting expression on his face. The chocolate eyes screamed through the softness for an answer, for connection. RIku blinked, breaking the stare between them. Vincent turned his attention back to the front, as Treppe was writing on the chalk board. Riku continued to stare at the intruder, taking in his dark maroon shirt, against his silk chocolate hair that ran past his shoulders, stopping a bit past the middle of his back. He looked completely haunting, with his black cargo pants to his black army boots. His blood shirt, pale skin, and long taunting hair, he was a vampire. Riku shrugged off his stare.
""Ring""
O thank God, Riku gathered his books, and stood from his seat, falling in step behind Tidus.
"Hey, Riku?" came such a tiny, unsure, yet chirpy voice.
O great! .... Kairi, RIku turned, looking at her, but continued to walk out of class, "yea?"
"What are you do'n after school?" Kairi sweetly enquired.
"He's hang'n out with me" Tidus cut in, giving Kairi a charming smile.
Kairi looked at Tidus then back at me.
""Smile""
"Yeah, hang'n out with Tidus" I repeated, quickly and surely.
She nodded, then shyly walked off.
"Hn," a noise of disgust escaped me.
Tidus snickered then walked off to his next class, I walked towards my locker.
"Riku!" I smiled, stopping waiting for Sora to catch up.
"Good morning Sora" I greeted him whole heartily. Then continued to my locker. He followed me
already jabbing on about how Cid ringed his neck about one of his failed assignments.
"Then he's all Sora!" He started to giggle a bit, "What the Hell! You bout damn near blew up the eff'n room!" Sora laughed.
I laughed with him, his impression of Cid was terrible, but manageable. After closing my locker, I started off towards our next class, History. O. joy!
"Anyway, you know how Cid is, he ended up finishing my project for me. I got a A plus." Sora smiled smugly.
I laughed, "That's only cause your his favorite."
Sora pondered that for a moment, "Yeah guess your right, he didn't kick me out of the room like he would anyone else." An accepting smile crept on his lips.
I poked at his shoulder, "Who could really help it, your just so likable."
Sora shrugged, not really interested anymore on the subject. He's so modest.
"Well anyway, I'm staying after school, against my will I promise." I added that for touch, "Tidus has me watch'n him play volleyball, in hopes I'd be interested in joining."
"Might be fun once you join?" Sora offered.
"Nope" a playful smile on me, "besides why would I spend my precious time consumed in dirt and ball, I like my time spent how it is." I let a sigh escape my lips, in fact I wish I had more time.
Sora gave me the questioning eyebrow raise, "what's wrong?" he asked, his brows drawn together. He knew me so well.
"I'm feel'n bad cause I don't do my homework that's all." a shrug rose my shoulders, a look of displacement settled on my face.
"That's all?" Sora nudged me gently, deep blue eye's pour into mine. No..it's not all. Where's all this anxiety coming from? Why am I so restless? ...so bored.
"I guess. Not feeling to peachy today that's all" I said, sure to sound as if that was enough.
Sora nodded, then, much to my oblige dropped it. The both of us walked into the classroom, taking our seats. Shuffling around our folders, and papers. Preparing. Sora pulled out a packet of answered questions, then looked through it quickly. Then looked questioningly to me.
I slid him my unanswered packet, grinning wickedly.
Sora sighed, then gave me his packet, "Here, you better hurry up, before Leon catches you."
I shrugged, "Where would I be without you?" taking his packet and copying the answers down to my copy.
"Hi Sora!"
I looked up from my....homework. Can't stand the way she says hi to him, like she cares.
"Hi Kairi" Sora's greeting was so pleasant. So pleased to see his friend.... Kairi.
Riku returned to his copying, not bothering to address Kairi.
"Hi Riku" she slowly sat at her desk next to Sora.
I nodded to her in reply, hastily finishing off the last of the homework.
Tidus was efficient with every strike against the white ball. A few grunts occasionally came from his mouth, sweat dripped caressingly down his bare back. His eyes held intense concentration, any movement he made was clear and effective towards the game. It wasn't less then apparent
why he was chosen captain. He was clearly the best player this school had to offer. Doubtfully anyone could come close to match him.
"You might have just as much fun if you join." Came the soft voice, low enough to be almost imagined. Vincent sat closely to Riku, close enough for him to continue his whispers.
"Why does everybody want me to join the stupid volleyball team?" Riku annoyingly questioned.
Vincent crossed his legs, setting his elbows on his thighs, and rested his chin over his clasped hands.
Riku shifted on the soft sand, supporting his weight with his hands behind his back. Sure the thought passed his mind, then quickly vanished as soon as it came.
"Dad, prolly wouldn't want you to." Vincent stated, knowingly.
True, it was true, on." Riku stood, brushing sand off his tan cargo pants, "lets go home."
Vincent nodded, then stood beside him.
"HEY! WHEEEERE you go'n?" Tidus called, suddenly disrupted in his deep concentration in the game. He jogged up to Riku and Vincent.
"What's this? Where you go'n? Thought you would at least stay long enough to be bored with it all, and join the fun!" Tidus questioned, crossing his arms in front of his sandy damp chest.
Riku smirked, "Sorry Tidus, I don't do volleyball."
Tidus frowned, disappointment flashed in his eyes, "you don't do much else either." Tidus replied quickly, quietly.
Riku raised an eyebrow, waiting for further explanation.
Tidus shrugged off his own comment, then a bright smile returned to his face, "Sup Vincent?"
"Not much," Vincent's cool reply came expectantly.
"Yeah, well whatever" Tidus gave a light shrug in defeat, "you two, are so ...involved" Tidus laughed, then turned to walk back to the held up game, "I'll catch you later!"
"Later" Riku called to him. Following step to Vincent, they walked from the sanded
volleyball court.
"Where's Sora?" Vincent's voice was heard softly through the shuffle of their feet.
"He, actually we had plans to go to the movies, but I said I'd watch Tidus play." Riku sighed.
"That doesn't make any sense" Vincent accused.
Riku avoided some broken glass as they continued their walk, "What?" he looked to the other, who shifted his books from one arm to the next.
"That," Vincent continued, "You would rather watch Tidus play, then go to the movies with Sora."
Yeah....well it's cause I just needed a break. I don't know.. "Well actually Kairi wanted to do something with me after school, so Tidus saved me from having to do anything with her. Hence he cut in say'n I already made plans with him." Riku nodded, as if confirming a story.
Vincent sighed, from that Riku knew that his explanation was not accepted. Wait... what the hell? "Hey! What was with that stare you gave me during class?" Riku asked, changing the subject.
Vincent's eye's met his green aquarium eyes, confusion spread his soft features, "stare?"
"Yeah!" Riku almost childishly protested.
Vincent grinned, "I wasn't staring at you, just looking at you."
"Well you looked like you were waiting me to turn into a demon or something."
"I wouldn't have mind what you did, or even if you turned into a demon." Vincent softly replied,
turning his head to look at the ocean shore. They were almost home.
"I know you wouldn't have mind....vampire." Riku lightly laughed.
Vincent returned his eye's to meet Riku's again, "your stuck in your fantasy's. Always ready to
admit to anything but reality."
Riku frowned, "I was just mess'n with you." sighing, "You didn't have to get all psycho analysis with me." Now I feel kinda bad for thinking such things.. Dammit! Vincent....your always kill'n the fun!
"Come here," Vincent broke through the came silence. His voice trailed with lust.
Riku shivered, "come... ..again?"
"I want to suck your blood" Vincent teased, his voice filled with amusement.
Riku felt blood rush to his face, blushing, he punched Vincent on the shoulder, "Don't talk to me like that! ....luring, creepy, haunting, taunting, freak!"
"Wow, all that" Vincent began to laugh again.
Riku began to chuckle himself.
"But still, why didn't you just tell Kairi you were gonna go to the movies with Sora?" Vincent's voice returned to the low soft hum that it usually was.
"Ugh god... Kairi would invite herself and ...Sora would let her." Riku, punched in a few numbers to the security gate, in front of their house. The gate opened obediently letting the two teenagers in.
"Why do you care anyway?" Riku asked, genially concerned for the others interest.
Vincent's dark eyes shifted at the asked question, then he let a soft sigh escape his smooth pink lips.
"What?" Riku continued to questioned once more.
"You've been..." Vincent started, opening the door to the house. Taking off his shoes on the mat provided for them. Riku followed suite, they set their books on the table in the hall, then walked in pair towards the kitchen.
"I've been what?" Riku continued.
"Avoiding him" Vincent opened the fridge pulling out two bottles of water, handing one to Riku.
"Wha...?" Riku began, but was cut off.
"Hi! Welcome home! ...O come here!" Came the high pitched overly excited voice of none other then...
"Hi Yuffie" Riku muffled through being glomped.
Yuffie let go of Riku, walking over to Vincent, she simply patted him on the head, "How's my wittle bro gett'n along then?" She smiled at the growing annoyance on Vincent's face.
"Fine, I didn't think to find you here on a Monday. Don't you have school?" Vincent asked quickly.
"It's so good to see you too, I've been great! And as if you'd catch me here on the weekend! My semester ended. So I've decided to come home till my next one starts. Isn't it great? just like ole times." Yuffie sighed, "yeah, ole times before college. God I miss those days." Yuffie took the water bottle from Vincent's hand and began to swallow the contents inside. Vincent put up no protest, but simply opened the fridge and retrieved another bottle for himself.
"So where the hell's dad then?" Yuffie, searched the kitchen, as if she were to find him hiding in one of the corners.
"He'll be home shortly, does he even know your here?" Vincent glared at her from underneath dark brown bangs.
Yuffie chuckled, drinking a bit more water then, "Not yet. Mhh, so your gonn'a be bunk'n with Riku then?"
"No, you'll be on the couch....cause you don't live here anymore, which makes you a bum."
Vincent's tolerance was being outweighed.
Riku silently watched the exchange, smirking between their sibling brawls. Sure in a way Yuffie was his sister too. But they weren't related.
"I'm not a bum!" Yuffie protested, crossing her arms across her green tank top.
"Hn." Vincent gave Yuffie a glare then walked off.
Riku smirked.
"hm... so Riku well you please share your room with Vince? pwwweeeaase!" Yuffie almost groveled.
Riku rolled his eyes, "Of course I will, how long you gonna be here anyway?"
"Why? You don't want me here either?" Yuffie crossed rested her hands on her hips.
O god... so dramatic, "No, just curious."
"Oh, well I dunno, My semester doesn't start till next month, so I got a while to play before it's
back to school."
Riku almost fell off the stool he was sitting on, "A MONTH!" He sighed, collecting himself.
"Yeah? ...why!" She questioned concernly, "You don't think Dad would mind would he?"
"No, of course not, you know that. Don't be stupid." Riku sighed, then took a drink from his bottle.
"Yeah, I know it's just.."
"What?" Riku fidgeted on his stool.
"Since Aeris died.." Yuffie started.
Riku began to feel tension creep to his head. He never liked this subject.
"Well Dad, your father he's... I just feel bad." Yuffie gave up trying to make sense of her own unsurety. Riku gladly let the conversation drop.
Dad never changed.... He just, felt guilty. Making a promise like that. Taking all these lives in under your control. Then for Aeris to ....die.
"Well don't worry bout anything, Dad will be happy to see you when he gets home." Riku, having said that excused himself from the kitchen.
Walking towards Vincents room he walked in, seeing the other teenager, rummage through this and that, opening drawers, pulling out clothes throwing them on the bed. Taking a few shirts and pants from the closet throwing them on the bed as well, without looking up he began to speak, "You know, we probably should've kept the other place, with her room, just incase she ever decided to frequently visit from time to time."
Riku leaned against the door frame, folding his arms to his chest a smirk in place.
"Yeah, I know, this place still out does our other home. All the rooms being huge. Christ at first I didn't know what the hell I was suppose to do with all this room. It was bigger then the front room of our old house." Vincent continued to reason only to gripe again, "but still, maybe we should've invested in a side shack, just for her, that way she could have her own girly privacy."
Vincent stopped to rub at his head, "I'm never gonn'a get the smell of girly perfume and cheap fragrant spray out of my bed. Dammit!" He looked longingly to his bed.
"You know, it always amazed me how you managed to be so different at school. You don't ever show this side of you anywhere else but here."
Vincent looked at Riku with knowing yet confused eyes, "Why would I? This is my home, I could do as I please here. Out there, is another territory. I don't.."
"feel comfortable," Riku finished.
Vincent only nodded, "Yeah. I'd rather be home. There's nothing that interest me at school."
Riku nodded, "Well in any case, just wash your sheets, you'll be fine."
Vincent laughed, picking up the large amount of clothes then headed for Riku's room.
Riku followed, picking up the few items of clothing that dropped from Vincent's arms.
A sock here.
A red shirt there.
Black knee shorts.
And of course, crimson silky boxers.
Riku adjusted his dresser giving Vincent some drawers, then helped Vincent hang up the rest of his clothes in his closet. Riku's room was in the same version as Vincent's, except he had blue in contrast to Vincents red. Both had similar dressers, beds, night stands, televisions, all the same. Except where there would be reds, there was blues. Riku had a few posters of favorite video games, or characters, where Vincent had art on his. The bed Vincent made a fuss about had the comforter of red and black velvet, the other side was of the red silk. His crimson silk sheets matched perfectly to the color of his comforter, to his room, even to himself. Riku's bed was of the same expect a cool sea blue fought with and laced with the black on his comforter.
""Ring Ring""
Riku crawled across the queen size bed to reach for the phone.
"Ellow?" Riku climbed from the bed to continue to help Vincent in putting his clothes away.
"Hey Riku" came the voice from the receiver.
"Sora, hey" Riku glanced at the time. Mhh prolly just got out of the movie.
"Ugh the movie was terrible." Sora's displeasment was well heard through the statement.
Riku chuckled, "huh, well it's a good thing I didn't end up go'n then."
...Silence...
"Ellow?" Riku questioned
"Yeah, about that, are you going to join the volleyball team?"
Riku, frustrated now, "No, why?"
"Just cause, you've been hang'n out with Tidus...and today."
"What about today?" Riku could hear the disappointment in Sora's voice.
"I thought we were go'n to the movies" more hurt within his voice.
Guilt.. "I'm sorry, listen, I gotta go, Yuffie's back in town. I'll catch up with you tomorrow."
"Oh, ok" Sora tried but failed to sound pleased the way the call ended.
Guilt..."ok, later Sora" .... then with that the phone cut off.... Riku stared momentarily at the
phone in his hand. The conversation didn't seem like it was real, the feeling was awkward, like he couldn't wait to get free of Sora. Couldn't wait for the phone call to end.
Guilt.... He didn't want to feel this, knowing that he'd been.... Avoiding..... Hiding? Hurtful, towards.... Sora.
Shit. I was such an asshole. I already made plans with him, so why did I have to... hide behind Tidus? .... Why did I run away from the phone call, behind Yuffie.
Shit.
There it was again... that intruding feeling, sure enough he met Vincent's curious eyes. Riku sighed, then walked around the bed, putting the wireless phone away. Then he sat on his bed, bringing his hands to his forehead. Rubbing, massaging, clawing into his mind. Nothing made sense to him. He couldn't think about the whole day and really grasp what went wrong. Has it been going like this for a while? Anxious, he anticipated something, anything, nothing, everything. Yet nothing came, didn't seem like anything would. Part of him felt something was going to happen. Then most part of him knew nothing would happen. Was it just boredom... this routine life, nothing changing nothing going anywhere, just the same continuos cycle.
He took note of his door being closed, then he heard it being locked.
Where did Sora fit into all this, why had he been...avoiding....Sora. He covered his face with his hands feeling the warm moist palms on his cheeks. He ran them through his silver hair, then they retreated back to his lap. He looked down to the floor finding his head bowed to the world.
Oblivious to Vincent kneeling before him.
He hadn't even known he was avoiding Sora until he thought about it. He knew that he was avoiding his homework. That thought gave him a mental smirk. Not that it was good of him to avoid his studies. Tidus, he'd been hanging out more with Tidus then he'd been with Sora.
"Just cause, you've been hang'n out with Tidus...and today."
Sora sounded so hurt when he said that.
He saw Chocolate eyes, filled with questions, and acceptance. Then he began to swim in the comfort that came from them. He let a soft sigh escape his lips, then that's when he realized, Vincent's sweat fragrance as the other leaned closer to him. He watched as one pale finger lifted closer to his face. He felt it slide caressingly down his ...moist cheek. A tear. The finger erased a tear.
Riku shuddered inwardly, he'd been crying? No...must've been a tired yawn, he didn't feel sad, but he did feel tired. He must've yawned without realizing it. Sleep does sound good. Riku moved fully on his bed then laid his head down on the soft welcoming pillow. Dark eyes followed him, every move he'd made. Riku had never left the gaze of the other, such a warm feeling illuminated the other, he was so comforting. With warm concerned eyes always watching him.
Then he felt soft lips come in contact with his.
TBC
-Clowyamma