Chapter One: Valentine's Day

"Kai, I can't do this!" Namine exclaimed as she huddled outside the classroom door.

"Of course you can, Nami! I mean, this is what you've always dreamed of, right?" Kairi, Namine's best friend, answered.

"Well, yeah…" Namine mumbled.

It was Valentine's Day, and for years Namine had dreamed of having enough courage to make homemade chocolates and give them to Riku, the aloof, but popular, silver haired boy who was just a short distance from where she presently stood. At present, Riku was surrounded by girls offering him chocolates. He dispersed them, and took his usual seat on the window ledge in the far corner of the room. The girls had officially named the corner, "The Riku Space".

Only in the "Riku Space" could Riku be secluded from the frantic girls. There seemed to be a barrier blocking the "Riku Space" from the rest of the classroom. It was through this barrier that Namine now had to attempt to penetrate.

"Kai, I'm too scared!"

Namine buried her face into Kairi's awaiting shoulder. She was used to this sort of situation.

"Nami, it's ok. Take a deep breath."

Kairi felt the oxygen leave Namine's lungs.

"Ok. Now you're gonna go in there, and accomplish something no girl has ever dared. Entering the Riku Space!"

Pep talk finished, Kairi swiftly turned Namine around and pushed her into the classroom. All heads instantly turned to Namine. All but one. The one she wanted to see her the most, above all else. Tentatively, Namine approached the Riku Space. Then the whispering started.

"Is she crazy?"

"Does she know anything?"

Hearing these was almost enough to turn Namine around, but knew Kairi was waiting to just push her back inside. She had reached the place where the barrier of the Riku Space separated itself from the rest of the room. Riku was looking out the window absentmindedly. He seemed not to notice Namine, or just chose to ignore her.

Gathering what little courage she had left, Namine stepped into the barrier. Riku's head spun so fast and his eyes locked onto Namine, a frown spreading across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but a voice spoke from behind Namine.

"What do you think you're doing, entering Riku's Space?" Seifer, Riku's "bodyguard", questioned Namine.

Namine started to shake in fear. "I-I'm sorry!" she cried, dropping the chocolates she had worked for days on and bolted from the room. Not even Kairi was able to stop her, and Namine ran, ran until she reached her favorite tree on the school grounds. It was here that, whenever Namine was scared or upset, came to draw.

She realized her vital mistake once she had leaned back against the tree. She had left her sketch pad in her bag, which was currently inside the school building. There was no way she was going back there so soon. Since class didn't start for another fifteen minutes, Namine took the time to doodle on the ground next to her.

Even when it came to doodles, Namine's drawings were always the best. She had won contests and had earned many plaques and a good deal of money. Not that any of that mattered to Namine anyway, she just loved to draw. At this moment, she was sketching Kairi, the carefree, best friend she always admired for her courage. Her daydream broke when she heard footsteps, fast ones.

"Hey Nami!" a brown haired boy called to her.

It was Sora, late again.

Instead of heading into the school, he stopped to look at his friend. His dearest friend. "Something the matter?" he asked, truly concerned.

Namine sighed. "Well, you see, this morning…"

Namine was cut off by Kairi. "You two better hurry if you want to make it to class on time!"

Sora helped Namine up off the ground, and led her back inside; holding her hand in support for whatever had upset his close friend.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Seifer why did you do that you IDIOT?!" Riku yelled.

"You know damn right why I did it! No one, I mean NO ONE enters your space. I know that for a fact."

"Well it doesn't matter anymore," Riku grumbled.

It was during free period when Riku finally got a chance to question Seifer about his actions. He was about to yell at him some more when Riku's best friend, Axel, walked into the classroom flanked by one of his "women". As you can tell, Axel is pretty much a womanizer. But we all know he's a pimp at heart. (AN: I mean, even Axel's NAME makes him sound like a pimp/womanizer. Does it not?) Today was Yuffie's turn to be Axel's little puppy dog.

"Yo, RiRi! How's it hangin'?" Axel shouted across the room.

"Long, low and to the left Axel," Riku growled. (AN: My friend, who is a girl, made me put this. I don't understand, she answers this all the time. She doesn't even have anything long, low and to the left…)

"Hey don't be like that RiRi!" Axel clapped his hand on Riku's shoulder.

"Axel I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me that in public," Riku tried to whisper.

Out of nowhere, Yuffie practically screamed, "RiRi, you're gay?"

The room instantly fell silent. Riku took charge immediately.

"Where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor like that Yuffie? It's obviously not true."

Riku shoved off Axel's hand and stormed out the door in mock rage that everyone believed to be real. Oh Riku, how we praise your acting abilities.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Sora sat on the steps watching Roxas skateboard. He sighed. Roxas, who had overheard, asked what was wrong.

"Well, firstly," Sora began, "we shouldn't be outside during free period, we're not allowed. And secondly, something was upsetting Nami this morning but I don't know what."

Roxas replied, "Oh you're no fun! What's the point of school if you don't break some rules? And about Nami, just ask Kairi. She can tell you, in detail too."

Sora sighed again. He had a feeling that Riku had something to do with Nami getting upset. He remembered when Kairi was always upset. Whose fault was it? Yes, Riku's. Kairi got over it, pretty fast too. If only Nami could be like Kai…

"Sora! Sora!"

"Huh? What?"

"We're going to be late!" Roxas called from the doorway.

Sora hurried inside after Roxas. Sora was thinking about Nami a lot lately… but that didn't mean anything. They were only friends… right?