-Riku-

"Hey Ri-ri, wanna race?" No… I couldn't handle him right now. I still had so much I had to figure out.

"Not now, Sora. Go play with Kairi." Silence, and then the sound of footsteps in the sand. Of course he wouldn't listen. I closed my eyes, willing myself to ignore the handsome young brunet who was my best friend here on Destiny Islands. I knew that one look into his clear, innocent blue eyes would be too much for me. I couldn't do it.

"Aw come on, Riku, at least look at me. You're not mad 'cause I beat you earlier, are you?" I couldn't. It was too dangerous. Coward. Look at him, or he'll know something's wrong. Reluctantly I opened my eyes, and jumped back from surprise. His face…so close to mine… I could feel his breath on my lips. Much too dangerous. I closed my eyes again, letting the salt-water breeze carry his sent away from me. His perfect lips spread into a teasing grin. "Didn't mean to scare you. Now come on, Riku, race me. I wanna see the look on your face when I beat you again. Pleeeaaase?" Sometimes I wonder if he knew the power he held over me. He had this way of looking me in the eyes, and making me forget everything.

"Uh…. Riku. Whatcha doin' ?" I hadn't noticed I had been leaning closer, but he certainly had. His cheeks turned a delicious pink. Why was he blushing? Seeing something on my face, he quickly looked down, though didn't lessen the distance between us. Carefully, I placed my hand in his soft locks, admiring the way they shone in the sun for just a moment.

"Getting a head start on you, kid!" Using his head as leverage, I sprang up, and reluctantly darted away through the sparkling white sand, leaving my angel behind.

-Sora-

"Getting a head start on you, kid!" Uhg! He knew I hated that. So what if he was older than me, I could still run just as fast as he could. I took off across the sand, quickly making up for lost time. The ocean breeze felt good across my hot cheeks. Stupid Riku. Why'd he have to get so close, anyway? I could almost touch his lips…

I came up to the starting line, and leapt nimbly on top of the small hill. Beat that, ya big show off.

"Ready Sora?" The maroon haired girl broke away from her cheerful chat with my Silver haired friend. There was something off in his green eyes. He looked…scared. That couldn't be right. Riku wasn't afraid of anything. But what then? He sauntered over and took position next to me, and I crouched down as well.

"Hey Sora. How 'bout a deal? Winner shares a Poapu fruit with Kari." What? Did he really like Kairi that much? I snuck a glance at the pretty redhead who just smiled, oblivious to our conversation. I sunk lower into my crouch, and nodded. I was gonna win this one for sure.

"Ready? GO!"

-Riku-

"Hey Sora, How 'bout a deal? Winner shares a Poupu fruit with Kairi."

His blue eyes flashed with the strangest expression. Disappointment? It couldn't be. He seemed to be head over heels for the pretty young redhead, and the only girl his age on the island. I couldn't allow my heart to skip this way.

"Ready? Go."

We both tore off through the well-trodden course, and gradually he pulled away. Every inch he pulled past me pulled at my heart. No. I couldn't let him win. He was mine. Every feeling I had been holding back for the young boy flooded out of my chest. I was in love with a boy. With Sora. I pushed myself faster, overtaking him in a few bounds, determined to win. I had to win. Each thought of Sora pushed me faster. The way his hair fell in his face as he slept in the sunshine. The color of his eyes, as blue as the space between the ocean and the sky. His voice, his skin, his smile. Paopu and coconut trees flew by me as I grew closer and more sure of the win. In what felt like years, but had to have only been mere minutes, I was at the top of another hill, on the other side of the island. I smiled, euphoric. He could still be mine. Slowly he dragged closer, crest fallen. Did he really like Kairi that much? Was I being selfish? His eyes changed colors, from the blue of the sky that framed his soft, mouse brown hair, to the color of the deep ocean. His bottom lip pulled down slightly into a pout I had come to recognize over the short two years that I had known him, and I had to fight pulling him into a hug. I just stood up straighter and crossed my arms, trying to brush off his irresistible cuteness.

" Come on Sora, It was just a joke. It was only a race." Please Sora, smile. I'm sorry….