By Your Side
Note: Some characters will have new features while some will still maintain their original traits. The storyline is very different from the game, so please don't expect consistencies within my story. Thanks!
Summer was coming to an end. In two weeks, to be precise. A time when new school supplies should be bought or a time to reconnect with friends that have left town for the summer. Not a time to move to an entirely different world, but who's to decide? A 17 year old girl or her money-making parents?
Kairi didn't care anymore, though. She moved so much during her high school career that it wasn't considered memorable. It was just another chore on her list; it felt like an everyday thing. She looked out the train window and sighed sadly. Another town, another life, again. Her parents looked at her sympathetically.
"We're sorry, dear. But we promise this is the last time we move! The corporation is going to let you finish your whole senior year here! No more moving during the school year!"
Great… I still have to start over though…
"Thanks, Mom and Dad. I appreciate it." Kairi put on her much practiced fake smile. It was best not to start problems when it could be avoided.
"We have such a great daughter, don't we? So understanding, so perfect, so beautiful." Her mother smiled.
Her father nodded in agreement, "We couldn't have asked for anyone better."
Kairi just looked down at her dirty, worn-in black high-tops then out the window again. She heard that every time the family moved. It was just a way for her parents to suck up every ounce of her love towards them, and Kairi has pretty much given it her all. The town was coming near. It was said that this town was known for its endless sunset, since the sun is always in the same position.
Welcome to Twilight Town, reads the sign. It has a pretty name, at least. The train entered the station and slowed to a stop. The doors open smoothly, and Kairi's parents were the first to get up. They grabbed the bags that were sitting in the compartments above them and went out to instruct a boy to get the bigger things from the train's side trunk. All the big furniture were already sent to the house and set up a week prior.
Kairi lets out one last sigh and gets up.
"Kairi, honey. Just explore around town and meet the kids here. We got the boxes." Her mother calls as Kairi steps out of the train.
"I want to see our house first."
"Oh, okay then! Here's the address." She hands her a paper. "It's somewhere in… Sunset Terrace?" She struggles to say as she carries some boxes.
Kairi automatically reaches out to help her mother.
"Honey, I said I got this." She puts up one hand to stop Kairi from helping.
"Oh, and hun, to get to Sunset Terrace, you're going to have to take that train across the platform," she points, "but your father and I are going to set up the shop on Market Street here. Now, go on. See you in a couple of hours! Technically, it's brunch time, but it doesn't look like it because of this sun, huh?" She laughs and waves.
Kairi backs up slowly; making sure her mother has got a hand on everything. She then wanders towards the train on the platform next to hers. She hops on the train and looks around for a seat. There were some people already in the train. Kairi looks on her left. A boy notices her and nudges at his friend and shakes his head towards Kairi. They both look at her and back at each other and whisper something.
On her right, she notices a more built boy, with bright, red hair and piercing green eyes with triangle tattoos under his eyes, sitting near the back. He stared at her with intense curiosity. It was rare for a new person to move to a small town as Twilight Town. Kairi instantly breaks the eye contact by looking down at her shoes, letting her dark, red hair fall between them.
The train jolts to a start, making Kairi stumble to keep balance and trip into the seat in front of her. She wasn't always the most graceful girl in the world. The boy with the red hair snickers loudly in the back. Kairi feels her face burning up, as she glares at her sneakers.
Whatever. I'm never going to see him again after today. Plus, a bunch of people trip over their feet. No one else saw it, but him and he's being rude. Kairi kept listing things to herself, to keep her sanity in check. She was looking down and thinking to herself for long enough that she didn't notice the two boys in front of her move into the seats directly in front of her.
"Hi, I'm Pence!" A boy with a red jersey and baggy jeans with his dark brown hair up with a sweatband was smiling widely at Kairi. Kairi made a quiet gasp in surprise, but relaxed when she noticed his amicable smile.
"That's Hayner." He points to a boy wearing a black beater with a forest green vest along with camo pants with jelled-back blonde hair. Hayner nods.
"What's your name?" Pence asks.
"Kairi. I just moved here because of my parents business. They got relocated again." She lets out a sigh and looks out the window.
"Oh, you move a lot, don't you?"
Kairi nods.
"Well then, welcome to Twilight Town! Where the sun is always shining, not too bright, not too dull! It's juuuuuust right." Pence exclaims with much enthusiasm.
"Save it for the drama club, Pence." Hayner shoves him. They all laugh.
"So, what school are you going to?" Pence asks Kairi.
"Uh, isn't there only one school here?" She asks.
"Oh, I mean, uh. Don't you have any special pow-"
The red haired boy swiftly comes up and shoves Pence and he falls out of the train seat.
"Shut up." He plainly states.
He shoves Hayner off the seat as well, and sits down in front of Kairi.
"Hey!" Hayner yells defensively.
The red haired boy just gives them a glare and they instantly back off and scamper to a seat in the front of the train. He then rests his head against the train's wall and looks back at Kairi.
"I'm Axel, got it memorized? And you should just ignore what that idiot said. Act like it never happened."
"What did he say?"
"Exactly."
"No, I mean, what did he mean? He didn't finish his question."
"You're good at this."
"I'm serious!"
"You're cute when you're mad." He laughs.
Kairi's face steams red as she looks down at her shoes once more. Just breathe. Let it go. He thinks he's being funny. She looks up again and brushes her bangs out of her face. Axel's eyes were locked onto hers and she just couldn't break off eye contact this time. It was so intense. Axel gives a smirk.
"Too hot for you, huh?"
"Ugh, leave me alone."
"Ow, feisty. By the way, nice trip you had there. Who trips on their own feet? What a klutz."
Kairi looks down at her god forsaken shoes again. Embarrassed, angry, and hurt at the same time. I don't even know him and he's making my day miserable! The train stops and the doors open. Pence and Hayner were the first to leave. Axel gets up and looks down on Kairi, who was still sitting and staring at her feet.
"This is our stop, you know." He says with an attitude.
Kairi looks up and stands quickly. She got up too fast, felt a little dizzy and lightheaded and began to stumble backwards. She reached towards the pole, but misses slightly and stumble backwards more. Axel reaches out and grabs her arm and pulls her towards his chest. Her hands and head slightly rests on his chest. She feels the warm heat radiating from his body. She comes to her senses and looks up into his eyes.
"You just can't get enough of me, can ya, new girl?" He grinned.