Here's the first chapter of Forever Is A Long Time. I did write this on my previous account, but I decided that I didn't like it anymore and rewrote it. Then I changed accounts, and now here it is! The better version of this story! I hope you like it! Please please please please review! I need to know how I'm doing or I can't go on! I love my readers :D

The warm ocean breeze slid across Natalie's face, like a soft body of water afloat in the air. The sunset painted the sky with a brush of purple, a stroke of orange, a splotch or two of grayish clouds, and a great scheme of yellows and reds. The sun's orb was split into thirds, one third already below the horizon. The sea glittered happily like jewels. This was where she loved to be, the salty tang gracing every part of her being. She flipped her sandy blonde hair out of her face, the hair that looked like it would sink into the ground as she lay in the sand. She was so captivated by the sunset, yet somehow she felt her heart pulling her away from it. It was the same old thing, no matter how beautiful it was.

"Natalie? Are you there?"
"Oh, Riku. Sorry about that. I was thinking."
"It's alright. I understand. It's a lot of stuff to take in...we're leaving in a few of days. It's hard to take things like that in sometimes, especially since we've never been away from home before."
"Yeah. I'm not concerned about that so much...I hate my home life. I'd rather sleep out here on the beach than be back home."
"I know that, which is funny, coming from you."
"How is it funny?"
"I don't really know. It's just funny." The blonde jumped down from the tree that she was sitting on, and she put her hands on her hips.
"So I'm just funny in general, huh?"
"Of course! I love picking on you. It's so easy!"
"That doesn't mean you have to do it, Riku!"
"Oh, calm down a little. You won't die!"
"I'm not getting bent out of shape."
"Sure sounds like it." She huffed, crossing her arms and getting a familiar look of pouting on her face. It looked so much like her brother, Sora.

Looking at her, Riku noticed her regular choice of attire. She wore a pale pink sweater that was made of light, breathable material. It cut straight across her shoulders and had long, flowing sleeves. In the right bottom corner of her sweater was a cute little purple butterfly, embroidered expertly into the fabric. Her capris were the same color, and had slits in the sides to the knee. The purple butterfly was embroidered on the opposite side in the bottom of the capris. Her shoes were flats that were the purple of the butterflies with pale pink bows on them. She was wearing her locket, it's golden sheen glittering off of the fading sunlight. Her sandy blonde hair was parted on the right side, her bangs swishing over her forehead attractively. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with her pout, showing that she was clearly playing it up.

They were both about the same height and were only three months apart in age. He was older than her and only a slight bit taller than she was. She was in between maturity age, and had certain aspects of her body that were adult. Her chest and her long legs were those dominant features. However, the rest of her body was still in the transition phase and thus, she was petite in almost all other areas. Her face was beautiful and proportioned very nicely, though slightly small for her body. If not for a large volume of long hair she would look off-balance in head to body proportions. She had a nice round face that was rounded off very smoothly and gorgeously. She was absolutely beautiful but refused to admit it. Klutzy and overcomplicated as she was, she had a great personality and only one weakness: her best friend, Riku.

She loved him to death. She was with him almost every minute of the day, along with her brother, Sora, and Kairi, her best girlfriend. They spent every day together and loved being together.

Natalie looked over at Riku and scanned him over. Her eyes narrowed when she didn't find what she was looking for.
"Riku...where's your locket?"
"My...oh! I have it."
"Why aren't you wearing it? You promised me you would!"
"I know but...it kinda broke. I carry it with me now." He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her. She rolled her eyes when she noticed how out of shape it was. It needed so many things done to it.
"Alright...I guess I'll fix it up. But you need to wear it! You said you would and I would really like it if you did!"
"I know, I know. It's our sign of friendship. I understand. I'm sorry." He said, getting an awkward grin as her eyes glared at him. To him, the stare meant certain death, but they really held a different meaning.
"I forgive you this time. I'll fix it up so that you'll have it before we go on the journey."
"Don't stay up late, thought! No all-nighters allowed. You know how I feel about you doing that."
"I know. That's why I don't do it anymore. Like I promised, unlike you."
"Hey! I can't help it if it broke!"
"Yeah, you can. If you actually wore it instead of keeping it in your pocket, then there wouldn't be any damage to it."
"Yeah but—"
"If it's too embarrassing for you, then I'm sorry that I want you to have something to remember me by. You know I'm afraid of you forgetting me."
"I couldn't ever forget you, Natalie! You know how I feel about you..."
"I...Riku...I know. Sorry, I was just a little upset about it. I shouldn't have said that."
"It's alright. I messed up. My bad, haha." He said. Her face brightened into a wide smile and he grinned back.

~*Next Day*~

Natalie laid on the shore of the island, her eyes closed and relaxed. She loved the feeling on the sea salt on her face, the wind through her hair, the sound of the waves as the tide rolled in...

Something hit her in the stomach, something hard, and she sat up. She looked at the silver-haired boy she called her best friend, the perpetrator of the coconut that had hit her stomach, which was now lying beside her. Her face scowled as she put a hand to her bruised stomach.

"Ow, jerk! That hurt! What'd you do that for?"
"You were sleeping on the beach. I had to wake you up."
"You could have just shaken me."
"Yeah, but that's not as much fun." He said. She glared at him.
"Whatever...jerk." She said. He only laughed. And suddenly, another pang hit her stomach, and the world swirled to darkness around her.

Natalie opened her eyes and sat up, a log on her stomach. She rubbed her eyes and moaned in pain.

"Riku..." She whined, knowing exactly who it was that had hurt her.
"Hey there, sleepyhead. It's about time you decided to wake up."
"Hey! I wasn't sleeping...well, sort of. I was resting my eyes and calming myself down!"
"You seemed pretty calm when we arrived here this morning. Now look. Both you and Sora were asleep. The likeness is almost exact."
"Whatever, jerk!" She stood, pushing the log off of her. An 'oof'' sounded and she realized that she'd moved the log onto her brother's stomach. She looked at him and grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry bro." Then, she started laughing.
"Ow...sis, what was that for?" By now, everyone, including Kairi, was laughing at Sora.
"Guys...this isn't funny...oww..." He said, rubbing his stomach.

When everyone was sober again, it was Riku who spoke.

"You guys were the lazy ones here on beach, sleeping. Kairi and I have been working on the raft all morning while you guys snoozed here. So you guys are gonna help us finish. We leave in two days!"
"Yeah, yeah, we know...ouch, that hurt!" Natalie hit Sora over the head.
"Oh, stop being a baby and get up! We have to go help!"
"Oh sis...not you too..." Everyone, including Natalie, laughed at Sora and his antics.
"Well, how about a race then? Let's see who can get to the raft first!" Kairi said. Sora jumped up and so did Riku. Natalie stood slowly and lined up, and Riku looked at her.
"Nuh uh, no way, that's not even fair!"
"Haha, you're just afraid to get beat!"
"Ready...set...GO!" And Natalie and Kairi bolted. Sora and Riku tried to keep up, but both girls beat them out by a lot. Natalie, the track star, and Kairi...well, just Kairi.

All four of them sat on the little island with the bent tree, hours later. Kairi and Sora were on the tree, Riku was leaning against it, and Natalie was sitting on the edge of the isle, her feet dangling off.

"So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" Sora asked, sitting on the tree higher than anyone else.
"Could be." Riku said.
"We can't say for sure, Sora. We don't know where she's from. So it could be anywhere." Natalie said, her face looking behind to look at Sora. He nodded thoughtfully.
"We'll never know by staying here." Riku said, his gaze on Natalie. She nodded in agreement.
"But...how far could a raft take us?" Sora asked. Natalie felt a little worried now, because her one fear was out in the open. Taking a raft was risky, dangerous, and downright unsafe. What if there were storms? What if one of them drowned? What if a storm washed them all away and they would never see each other again? What if they starved?
"Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else. Right, Natalie?"
"Um...sure. Yeah, we'll think of something else." She said. Riku felt a little worried about his friend. She'd gone rigid all of a sudden. He wasn't sure why, but he made a mental note to ask her about it later.
"So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?" Kairi asked, breaking the tense silence.
"Hmm...well, I haven't really thought about it." Riku said.
"Natalie?" Kairi asked. Natalie had thought about it, but wasn't sure how to say it.
"Well...I...it depends. If you guys were with me, I would just stick with you guys and we'd figure something out. If I was alone...I'd try to find you guys. I haven't thought past that, though." She said.

There was another silence, and this time, Riku broke it.

"It's just...I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?" Natalie bit her lip, understanding Riku's feeling, but not agreeing with it. She liked where they were. She liked whom she was around. Why did they have to change everything and leave? She didn't dare say it out loud, though. It would hurt his feelings. And going with them was better than staying behind. She couldn't lose her friend.
"And, suppose there are other worlds...then ours is just a piece of something much greater. So, we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"
"I don't know." Sora said, finally. Natalie smiled at her brother. She knew he wasn't all up there yet, but he had good sense. He'd said what she was feeling inside. She didn't know. She just didn't know anything yet.
"Exactly. That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing." He said, walking over towards Natalie and sitting down next to her. He never did like it when her back was to him.
"It's the same old stuff. So let's go." Riku said, staring out at the ocean, his eyes then turning to meet Natalie's. She smiled, but her eyes didn't. She had a feeling this wasn't all it was supposed to be. But she couldn't crush his dreams. She couldn't do that to Riku.
"You've been thinking about it a lot lately, haven't you?" Kairi asked him. He nodded.
"Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably never would have though of any of this. Kairi...thanks." Natalie smiled. She could tell that all of them were close. All four of them. They could never be separated.
"You're welcome." Kairi said with a laugh.

So there's the first chapter! I hope you liked it, so let me know by reviewing please! I love my readers! Good day to you all! :D