A.N.)) I haven't written a FF in so long. Like, eons. Anyways, my VanShion muses have been a'churnin so I pumped this chapter out and it turned into a full blown project... hopefully one that I'll finish. /deadpan

I own nothing. Square Enix and Disney are Gods.

"What's wrong, Xion?" I hadn't noticed I had been daydreaming, again, and it took Riku's voice to snap me back to reality. Between trying to choose a college, working part time, and studying for finals... well, I was a bit distracted. As if I wasn't scatterbrained enough as it was.

I looked up just in time to see Roxas's character head shot me off the screen, his demented laughter ringing in my headset. "Asleep at the wheel? I'm not going easy on you, even if you are acting like a zombie." Within seconds, he was vaporized as well, only the scorch marks on the ground proving he was ever really there in the first place. Sora giggled and I was almost positive he was grinning ear to ear.

"Be nice to Xion, she can kick all of our asses blindfolded." A smirk creeps up on me; Sora always knows what to say. That was part of what made him lovable, his ability to playfully defend anyone without anybody being antagonized. Roxas, on the other hand, was a short fused and naturally irritable fellow. Many a friend has endured a thrashing from speaking to my ill-tempered friend at the wrong time.

"You know I kid. I do challenge te latter of Sora's theory... I could totally take her down with my hands ripped off my wrists." He teased, a chuckle following soon after. "Ex or not, she isn't too scary." I smiled to myself, eyes narrowing as I mashed buttons furiously. Thirty two combo hits later, Roxas's life gauge was null and void. "You were saying, darling? I do believe you're dead." I coo into my microphone, earning a tormented groan in response. "Not fair. I have a life, I don't play video games all day."

Riku scoffed and Sora laughed. "That's a damn lie, Roxas. We both know you're an inside kind of kid. Big kids like me play real sports; you might scrape your knee." Riku, being in college already, enjoyed having this sense of seniority over us 'babies', flaunting it often. The other two quickly rebuted, arguing frantically.

I didn't hear much of it, however, as my train of thought was once again interupted. "Xion? I'm going grocery shopping... mind coming with me?" Kairi leaned against my doorframe, arms crossed as she glanced over my 'man cave', as she called it. Empty ice cream containers, video game cases everywhere, dirty clothes scattered... a twinge of embarasment gnawed at me.

"I was going to clean later." I defended weakly. She raised a brow and I rubbed the back of my head nervously. "I have to go guys. My sister's about to give me hell. It was nice knowing you." Noises of dissapointment filled my ears. "Tell Sora's lady friend we said hello, will you?" Riku baited mischeviously, only begetting more argument.

I flip off my system and turn to Kairi, now inspecting an empty bag of cookies on my bed. "You're going to get ants, you know." I gave her a tired glare as I pulled on my shoes and jacket. "I'm more worried that we're out of sea salt ice cream. We should hurry up before I suffer from withdrawls." She rolled her eyes at me, smile spred across her lips per usual. "You're ridiculous sometimes, Xion."

"How about these?" I shook a box of Fruity Pebbles. She took them from me and placed them back on the shelf, instead tossing a box of Special K in our cart. I swear, I don't know how I could possibly be related to her. "Ick." I grumble to myself, to her amusement.

"It's good for you, Xion. You eat too much junk as it is, fatty." She teased. I put my hands on my hips and stuck my tongue out defiantly. "Maybe I want to get fat. Carbs are delicious." She choked back a laugh, turning her attention to a box of instant rice. "Pepper steak and rice for dinner?" I grinned and nodded.

"So.." She mused, pushing the bangs from her eyes. "Are you coming with me to the islands over break?" I bit my lip. Summer break was long. Months. Going to Destiny Islands would mean not seeing any of my friends here until school started up again and I was buried in work.

It also meant seeing Roxas and Axel for the first time since Christmas.

I missed them and I couldn't deny it. They were the best friends I had ever had. Riku and Sora would also want to see me while I wasn't too swamped with essays and algebra to be any fun. Truth be told, I craved fun. I'd be free for the first time in too long and I needed something to do.

"Yeah. I will." I finally answered, giving a nod as I pick up a box of donuts. Almost as soon as I put them in the cart, my sister had placed them back on the shelf. I tried to glare harder but she seemed indifferent. "I'm glad... it wouldn't be as much fun if you didn't. Roxas would be livid."

She wheeled into the checkout lane, grabbing us a pair of sodas from the fridge next to it. At least I could have something caffeinated without her riding my ass about it. Kairi, being a tad bit of a health freak, went with diet-zero-reduced something or another. She had enough sense to get me regular."

The cashier rang up our items dutifully as we continued to chat. Once we located our car and loaded the bags, she gave me her infamous grin. The one that reminded me of Sora right before he did something completely insane. "One week. One week until we're hitting the beach and seeing our friends. Get's your heart racing, doesn't it?"

I nodded. Memories of the soft sand, the warm sand, and the salty waves brought a great feeling of nostalgia. I missed the islands, not just my friends. Twilight Town was nice, beautiful even, but it couldn't hold a candle to the place of our summer escapes, our greatest adventures.

I learned to swim on those shores. Kairi met her prince charming. Summer on the islands was the highlight of the year, when we did get to go. The years we didn't... it was as if there was no vacation at all. I had friends here who missed me, who deplored that I vanished for so long without much notice.

It wasn't like I could help it. If they ever went, they wouldn't be able to stay away either.

"I'm excited. You know I am... I just wish I didn't have to choose between friends. Olette's already asked me to stay." I frowned slightly. "Things aren't ever simple enough, are they Kairi?" She smiled ruefully, eyes focused on her hands as she clicked her seatbelt into place.

"No, they never are. But maybe that's what makes life great... living through the challenges." She glanced at me. "You'll get through it all. I know it seems like everything is piling up. You'll do fine Xion..." She ruffles my hair, as if she is my wise elder of ten years rather than two, much to my dismay. "Just drive."