Now, for those of you who wish to shoot me, please hear me out first. Yes, I promised a relatively quick update on the sequel to 'Popularity Doesn't Matter'. And yes, I'm only just doing it now. But honestly, I haven't had the time. I've started university, moved away to a new place where I don't know anyone, and I've had so much work to do/catch up on as I've been ill. So I am sorry, but it couldn't be helped. And u may not like me for the length of this chapter. The first few will be a bit like this one as I'm getting you caught up with what has happened in the five years since PDM, and the situation that the characters are in. So forgive me, but there is something interesting in this chapter, just to keep you interested.

Disclaimer: If you haven't grasped this by now…I'm worried.

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Chapter 1: He isn't over her

Five years. Five long years. And not a word. No phone calls, no letters, no visits…nothing. She could have at least called so that he knew she was alive. After all, they had loved each other.

He still does.

Sora shook his head and placed his head in his hands. Sighing, he mentally cursed himself. It had been five years and he still couldn't forget her. The countless dates Riku had placed him on hadn't worked. He only compared them to her. Even in university, everything reminded him of her…and how he'd lost her. He cured again, insulting his stupidity.

Nothing compared to her. Nothing and no one. People said he was being daft for thinking he had found his soul mate in High School. But he didn't. He knew she was the one. And he had let her go.

Taking his head out of his hands, he reached into desk drawer, pulling out an old, worn photo album. Opening it, he smiled as he saw her face. It was him and her, smiling, his arm around her. He still remembered this night. His first at YRP's and he had accidentally kissed her. He flipped through the album, glancing at photos of his friends.

The whole gang wound up staying on Destiny Islands, apart from Kairi and Cleo and…sadly, Namine. He had ended up going into construction, earning himself a huge pay check at the end of every month. Riku, who was still his best friend, entered Law after a degree in History. Him and Rikku were still together, with her as a teacher in Art. They had moved in together half way through university.

Shuyin and Lenne had been suffering due to a long distance relationship as they ended up on opposite ends of the Island. But Lenne was planning on moving back home, determined to save her relationship. Yuna and Tidua were living together in an amazing house along the coast. Tidus' father had passed away last summer, leaving Tidus a huge inheritance and a large house.

Lulu and Wakka eventually got together, after much matchmaking from Rikku. Paine met a guy named Baralai. He treated her well. She was happy. Everything was perfect.

Everything…except Sora.

Although Rikku maintained that she hadn't contacted, or received contact from, Namine, Sora was disinclined to believe her. After all, they had been best friends for so long.

Sora shook his head again. He needed to stop thinking about her. It was driving him insane.

Picking up his phone, he dialled Riku's number. His friend had been in a state of panic recently.

He was planning on proposing to Rikku.

Although only 22, Riku was adamant that Rikku was the only one for him. Sora had somehow ended up aiding Riku in organising everything from helping him find a ring (where he had to repeatedly tell the cashier that he and Riku were NOT gay and were NOT having a civil partnership) to booking the perfect table at the perfect restaurant.

The only thing he couldn't help with was Riku's courage problem.

No matter how determined he was that he would 'pop the question', he couldn't seem to manage to gather the courage to do it. Sora had ended p threatening him at one point, saying Riku WILL propose, or he would deal with him…and not in the nice way.

After all, Sora had spent nearly a week following Riku around every jeweller on the east coast until he had found the perfect ring.

Riku didn't answer until the fourth ring.

"Hello?"

"You ready yet?"

"Don't rush me. Proposing is hard."

"Well, not wanting to rush you or anything, but your table is booked and you have to be there in an hour."

"I know. I'm meeting her there." There was a silence. "Are you at your office again?" Sora didn't reply. "You are, aren't you? You need to stop doing this Sora. It isn't healthy. You need to enjoy life."

"I can't. You know that."

"Five years. Its been five years. You seriously need to get over this."

"I will. When she tells me that she forgives me."

"Sora, we haven't spoken to her in five years either. So are you going to wait another five years? What about after that? Another five…ten years?"

"Surely Rikku-"

"Rikku hasn't spoken to her either Sora because Namine asked her not to. Now, seriously man. Get over it."

"I just…I cant. I want to know if she ever forgave me."

"Then you'll be waiting for quite sometime Sora."

"Whatever. Listen, good luck tonight. She's going to say yes so I cant understand why you're worrying. So hurry up and ask already."

"Don't rush me."

"I wont. But the waiter might."

"Shut up. Sora, if you've jinxed this…"

"I haven't. Trust me," Sora said, laughing as he put the phone down. "He gets stressed way too easily," he said to himself. He looked back down at the photo of him and Namine. "Please have forgiven me," he whispered. "Why wont you come back?"

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