Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts does not belong to me. It's Square Enix and Disney's creation. Misery Business is a song by Paramore. They own it.

Bragging Rights

Chapter 1: Misery Business

I'm in the business of misery

Let's take it from the top

She's got a body like an hourglass

It's ticking like a clock

It's a matter of time before we all run out

How exactly was she supposed to eat with them sitting at the table across from her? She fed him food off her fork while he whispered sweet nothings into her ear and stroked her red locks like she was some sort of pet.

Riku and Kairi. Riku and Kairi. Riku and Kairi. Their names tore through her chest whenever they were put together in that way. Her eyes flashed green and anger boiled beneath her quiet exterior.

Riku had been her best friend, ever since they had met one rainy afternoon on Sunset Terrace. She had been soaked to the skin and waiting for her sister to come and take her home and he had been standing, watching her. When it was pretty obvious that Larxene had got distracted and had (purposely) forgotten to meet her little sister to take her home, Naminè had started to cry. She was only nine years old and was not used to being alone. But her mother had started a new job and Larxene had started… doing whatever it was that the then eleven-year-old blonde sadist did back then. They had little time for Naminè, in all honesty, but Riku did. Riku took out an umbrella and offered to walk Naminè to her house because he was in Larxene's class at school and knew where she lived because when Larxene was sick one week he had had to take her homework to her. Naminè wiped her eyes on her damp dress and smiled, thanking him and asking him his name.

And the rest was history. Although Naminè hated clichés. She and Riku and grown up with just each other for company, although occasionally Sora would spend time with them too. They knew where to find the spare keys to each others houses and what signs to look out for if one of them was keeping a secret. They had lived and laughed and cried together in the town where it was never quite day, and never quite night. Riku and Naminè. Sometimes even Riku, Naminè and Sora, depending on how tolerant Riku was feeling.

Naminè tore her gaze away from the sickening couple to look at Sora. He appeared as wilted as she felt by being in the presence of Riku and Kairi. It was as if they sucked all the happiness and cheerful thinking away and used it in their own lovey-dovey bubble. Sora loved Kairi, no matter how much he protested. He had been the first one to meet her when the rector came into his registration class and announced there would be a new girl in fourth year and they needed someone to show her around. Sora, obviously, volunteered, even before laying eyes on Kairi. He was just like that, always willing to help and always happy to meet new people.

Naminè bet he regretted it now.

Everything had been fine before princess Kairi McPhail had shown up. As far as Naminè could tell, Riku had never really been into girls before. All he needed was Naminè, his best friend and his rock. Naminè knew fine well that Riku was a good-looking guy- Olette and Yuffie had told her this time and time again, usually followed by a chirpy 'do you really not want to go out with him?' – but she'd never seen him flirt or charm any of the girls who swooned over him. He had told her he found it embarrassing.

Then Kairi came and turned both Sora and Riku into drooling piles of hormones. Kairi was simply amazing because she had legs and breasts and shiny hair. Naminè didn't even bother telling the pair of them that a lot of girls had these qualities. She had thought it would pass and so she had simply ignored their comments and observations like 'she has the cutest ass in fourth year!' (Riku).

Sora wanted Kairi to notice him. Naminè wanted Riku back again. Their goals were simple… yet so unachievable.

"Naminè? Sora? You guys are seriously spaced out!" Pence's voice ripped through Naminè's skull, forcing her thoughts back to the present.

It was lunchtime on a Wednesday in Twilight Academy. She, Sora, Hayner, Pence and Olette were sitting at their usual table. Everyone except Naminè had finished eating and were now talking to Yuffie and Leon who had decided to join them.

"I was just thinking," Naminè said, "about Riku."

Hayner snorted. "Don't bother thinking about that jackass. He left you and Sora as soon as Kairi came along- you guys are much better off with us as your friends."

There was a murmur of agreement around the table.

"I can't stand Kairi," Olette said, quietly. This got everyone's attention- Olette never really voiced her opinion on others.

"Why?" Naminè was interested.

"She was totally hitting on Seifer in English the other day. I have to sit between them and, well," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "you all know I wanted to ask Seifer out."

"B-but she's going out with Riku!" Sora exclaimed. "Why would she flirt with Seifer?"

"Was she actually hitting on him?" Pence asked.

"Totally. She laughed at everything he said and was touching him and ugh! I wanted to slap her!" Olette hissed.

Naminè leaned back in her seat and shot a glance over at Riku and Kairi. They were both staring at her, as if they knew she was talking about them.

Like she'd give Kairi that satisfaction.

Naminè gave Riku a little wave, as if they were still the best of best friends and he hadn't lost his mind and ran off with the red-headed slut. Riku just frowned and turned away. It was the last straw.

"I am sick of this!" Naminè spat, causing everyone at her table to turn their attention to her. "Riku and Kairi can't act so coupley and lovey and retarded forever! I say we intervene, show Kairi for what she really is and get Riku back!"

Her companions gawped at her. Yuffie was the first to speak: "Hell yeah! Let's bring down princess Kairi and steal away her prince!"

And so it was agreed, just as the bell rang signalling the start of fifth period, that Riku and Kairi's perfect little world was about to come crashing down.

So why did Naminè feel like everything was going to backfire?

CatrionaHearts: Hmm I think I quite like evil and scheming Naminè.

This is a little story I came up with after my friend played 'Misery Business' non-stop all week and I wanted to see a different side of Naminè (hence the fact there may be OOCness in this story).

That and I really wanted to write an AU High school KH fan-fic! 'Cause I love to read them :)

Read & Review lovelies. Feedback is necessary!

Also, check out Maylixx on my deviantART. Link on my profile.

Oh! And Upstairs will be updated very soon!

xx