The Party, the Escape, & the Memories

This is my first fanfic ever. Seriously. I'm not sure how long this is going to end up, but I hope that it will be a great story. All characters belong to their respected owners. (mainly Square Enix)

Also, this is Slightly based off a song by Taylor Swift.

She shut her eyes. She knew what was going to happen this evening but she still was refusing to accept it. She just couldn't believe her father would set this up for her.

Inhale. Exhale. She was constantly repeating that to herself. Slowly she open her deep blue eyes, acting as if she was not wanting to open them. I guess its time to put this show on the road... She slipped on her baby blue heels and slowly walked to the door.

"IS SHE HERE YET?" Namine peered down the gold colored stair case railing to see the one who was making her go through with this whole ridiculous thing -- Her father.

She had a plan, one that would let her escape this fiasco of a party that he was making her attend. But of course, there was no way she would make any notice of it towards him. "Ahh... Sorry Father," she looked down making her seem like she was truly sorry. She lifted her head and gave a smile that would seem very sincere "I was just adding a few touch ups to this dress that you had picked out for me" She turned and started to walk down the large set of stair. Her pure white dress was sparkling from the light of the crystal chandelier.

"Do you have everything? Are you ready? You've already made all the guests wait 30 minutes!" Shouted her father hastily.

"Yes father, I have everything, I'm ready. I am truly sorry for making them wait." Namine replied.

"Yes Yes! You'd better be! I expect you to announce that you are when you get there! We do not want to have to beg them you know! Now, hurry up and get to the car!" He shouted.

She looked down not wanting to show her dad the sorrow in her shining eyes and simply replied, "...Yes father..."

They got into the freshly cleaned car and started to drive.

All I have to do is greet a few people then slip out for a few hours and come back near the end. Simply as that.... I hope... ugh.

And with the 'ugh' they were there. She got out of the car very gracefully. Her father stayed in the car and when she was fully out, he told the driver to go to some 'Gentleman's Club" or something like that. Namine didn't really hear it, nor did she really care. When she went through the door into the large building she was starting to have a few second doubts, worrying that her father had sent bodyguards or something here to spy on her. She was just hoping for the best while she started to walk down the hall towards the stairs that led to the main room.

"And Let Me Please Welcome-- Miss Namine"
A huge spotlight suddenly shown down on her. D-did... did I just get caught...? She thought to herself. Oh god... He's gonna kill me.... He cheeks went a light scarlet color until she looked around and realize that they were just introducing her.

The man gave her a somewhat anxious look seeming to say 'Aren't you going to wave or something? You're making my job difficult here, Miss!"

Namine took the hint and set up her fake smile and began to wave at everyone while walking down the stairs. This was easy for her-- she had been faking a smile for everyone for the past five years. She knew she was just a tool.

When she finally got down to the bottom of the stairs she knew that tons of eyes where staring at her. Of course, her father made sure that she looked absolutely perfect for this party. Her dress was pure white that went to her knees in the front and was a slight train in the back. It had a beautiful lace around the bottom too. The top of the dress was strapless but had a collar that was white with a single, small white rose on it. Her hair was fashioned in a loose bun with some hair hanging down on her right side. In her hair was a small, silver crown with a diamond in the center. She started to feel a bit uncomfortable with the stares so she walked (gracefully so if her father's men were here they would say she looked like she was trying) towards one of the men.

"Hello." She said softly.
"Ah, miss Namine! What a delight to finally meet you! Would you like to meet my son? He will be the head of my company one day very soon! Very soon indeed!" The man said, almost too chippery.
"Alright." She flashed another fake smile.

He put his arm around her as if to welcome a new addition to the family and guided her towards his son.

"Cloud! Cloud! I must say!! Cloud! Come here! I've someone you simply must meet! She is truly such a delight!" Said the mad again, waving towards a blond boy looking about 1-2 years older than Namine.

Cloud started to walk towards Namine and his father with a somewhat timid looking smile on his face.

"Cloud! This is Miss Namine! Isn't she just gorgeous? Truly!" Spouted Cloud's father again.
"Hello. My, you do look very gorgeous indeed." he said while bowing then taking her delicate hand and give it a small kiss.

She blushed faintly, because no one had ever kissed her hand before.

"So what company do you own Mr...." She still hadn't caught their last name.
"Strife" Cloud said as if he knew it were coming.
"Oh.. Mr. Strife?" Namine said looking down a little.
"We own a Delivery Service! Truly a marvelous one I must say! Top in the nation! SDS!" Mr. Strife was getting rather annoying in Namine's mind.
"Oh a delivery service you say? SDS.... Oh! Strife Delivery Service! Well, I must make sure that I will use it next time then!" Namine was getting bored of pretending to care about these rich families' positions but she knew that she need to keep this up for another 15 minutes before she would make her move.

"Ah! Mr. Cloud, Mr. Strife I'm truly sorry but you mustn't keep hogging me, I've got to check on the other guests, this is my 16th Birthday after all!" Namine was tired of Mr. Strife. Cloud seemed somewhat nice but she was tired of hearing that old man talk.
"Ah, Yes Yes! You must be going now! What would the other guests say! Well I do wish you the very best!" Mr. Strife said merrily.
"Happy Birthday." Simply said Cloud.
She looked back and said, "Thank You!" with a smile. I've talked to two people and I'm already sick of it. I hate this rich life.

For the next fifteen minutes she chatted with some other companies families like Blitz League, Fair Trading & Co., One Winged Angel Works, Tribal Bros. Inc., Midgar's Flowers, Seventh Heaven, Strahl Enterprises and Galbana Lilies Inc. Namine thought to herself Tidus was pretty nice. So was Tifa. I can definitely see something between Zack and Aerith.... Ugh but Sephiroth was terrifying so was his mother.. Zidane was cool but his brother give me the willies. Vaan was pretty nice but Balthier was way to self centered.

A bunch of other people kept trying to swarm her but she had finally used her 'I have to go to the bathroom' excuse and got away. Finally, I'm free for two hours.
She slipped out of one of the side glass doors and headed towards Destiny Gardens. She felt a little weird because of how fancy she was dressed but she really didn't care. I wish that he would stop doing this. I'm only 16. I'm not getting married anytime soon. Besides that I don't want to marry some guy whose got a huge rich family that wouldn't love me. I'm sick of it. I hate being rich. I hate my father.

XXXXXXXXX

Luckily Destiny Gardens was only a short walk away. It was far enough away that usually people from the party wouldn't go to but close enough to where she'd get back on time. She went straight for the nearest bench. She had been in this park a million times before, when She was alive. Now though, her father never lets her out of her cage. She understood why pet birds sing, because it was their only freedom-- They could not fly. They were trapped, just like how Namine felt. She felt a warm tear roll down her pale cheek. She wiped it away, trying to smile in the process. C'mon Nami... Don't act like this. This is your one chance at freedom in a long time. You've only got two hours, stop acting like this!!

She lifted her head towards the sky. Its so beautiful... Namine shut her eyes. She wanted to remember.

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"Mama!! Mama! Look how high I can swing!! Look Look!" Said the 7 year old blond girl.

"Oh Wow! Namine! Amazing! Don't swing too high, you might just swing into space!" Laughed the 29 year old blonde.

"I won't really will I mama!?" Questioned little Namine, actually quite afraid.

"No dear! Hee Hee. Anyways, Nami! come here I've got something to show you!" Said Namine's mother again.

"Allllllllrighhhhhhhty!!~~~" She slowed her swinging then hopped off. Namine ran towards her mother with such a huge grin. She was hoping it would be a new white sundress, she liked those.

"Alright Nami, close your eyes and put out your hands. Ready?" She followed her mother's instructions and felt her place something in her little hands, "3... 2... 1... OPEN!"

Little Namine gasped and her face lit up even more than before. In her hands, were a rainbow of colored pencils and a sketch book.

"You got 'em?! Really!? OH THANK YOU MAMA THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUUUUUUCH!" She jumped up into her mother's arms and gave her a huge hug.

_______________________________________________________________________________

She opened her eyes because she started to feel a stinging sensation. She had been crying. One little memory.... really.... Stop this right now Nami!
Namine closed her eyes again. Think of a happy memory. Not one with Her.

_______________________________________________________________________________

"HEEEEEEEEEEY! That's my swing!" Said a boy.
"I don't see your naaaaame on it!~" Little Namine replied.
"Whatever...." the blond kid grumbled.
"Hey! Why don't you push me ten times, then I'll push you ten times, that way you can have you swing and I can have it too!" Little Namine felt proud for this idea.
"I guess..." The blond boy was obviously still upset but began pushing.

Namine's turn was over and the boy hopped on.
"Let me tell ya, I push really good!" Namine said with a huge grin.

They spent an hour going back and forth with this. By the end, they both were laughing and having so much fun like they always knew each other.

"The jungle gym next!" Shouted Namine.
"Yeah! Yeah! let's go! I call monkey bars!" Shouted the boy back.
"You can do the monkey bars?" Namine questioned like it was the most amazing thing in the world.
"Of course! Can't you?" Replied the boy.
"....No...." Namine didn't really want to answer like that but she was worried that her new friend wouldn't like her for it.
"Want me to teach you?" Said the boy with a smile.
"YES PLEASE!" Namine was so overcome with happiness she couldn't help but shoot a huge smile at him.

"Namine, Its' time to go!" Namine turned around to see her mother standing there, waving.

"Awww! But I made this friend mama!!" Namine almost sounded like she were about to cry.
"Its okay, I'll teach you how to do the monkey bars some other day! Next time I'll bring my friends too! One is funny, One looks like you with red hair and another is a year older than us! I'm sure you'd get along great with them!" The boy smiled a really kind smile as he said that. He ran up to Namine and gave her a hug. "So don't cry okay?" Again that kind smile.

Namine sniffled her nose then said "Okay, But you gotta promise okay!" She wouldn't stop looking back at the boy, waving to him as she was leaving. Somewhere in her, she just felt like she wouldn't meet him again anytime soon.

X

Namine opened her eyes again and took them off the sky-- towards the swing set that she loved when she was younger. I wonder if.... nah.... wait! why not? no one can say anything. They won't know. She giggled to herself and stood up. Oh shoot.... what's the time.... She looked up at one of those pillars with clocks on them. Hm..... only been 30 minutes.. She took off her heels and ran towards the swing, making sure not to get her dress dirty. She hopped on the swing and began swinging. Higher, Higher! She felt the wind on her face and loved it. She closed her eyes again. This.... This must be what it feels like to be free... At least for now... Is this what birds feel? If it is... I wouldn't mind becoming o-- Suddenly Namine's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone saying "Is that a princess?"

Namine's eyes flew open as she looked at whoever said that. "W-Wha?" Was all that could leave her lips.
It was a boy, a blond haired, blue eyed boy. Something about him was very familiar to Namine, but she just couldn't place it.

"What's with that crown, Princess?" He simply questioned.
"Huh? What gives you the right to know? You're just some stranger." Namine was feeling a little uncomfortable with this dude.
"I'm Roxas. There now we aren't strangers. Seriously though, what's with that crown, Princ--" She stopped him before he could finish that last word.
"I'm not a princess!! Shut the hell up!" Namine didn't know why she was getting so defensive but something about him that she couldn't place was making her angry.
"Jeeze, sorry princess!" He chuckled and she jumped off the swing onto him.
Gritting her teeth and moving her face closer to his, she said in a very low voice, "I. Am. Not. A. Princess." And she almost socked him in the face. This dude won't stop ruining my freedom! Seriously though, why is he even bugging me.
"Heh, I like the view from here" Roxas said shifting his eyes down and laughing.
Namine's face went scarlet red in an instant and she got off of him as fast as she could. "Ugh! I hate people like you!" She was about to kick him because he was still laughing but he sat up real quick and went serious. Namine just turned around and walked towards the bench where she set her shoes with her fists clenched.
"So... what's with what you're wearing?" Roxas said, Studying the beautiful white dress that was now covered in dirt.
"Again, its none of your business now is it?" She simply replied annoyed.
"Ah... Uh... Ya know... I didn't mean anything from what I just said... Just joking... Like friends do." As Roxas said that his eyes kept turning towards the ground.
Namine sighed. "Since when were we friends"
"Hm... Well... Since..." He paused and put up his fingers to count, "I think it was... 9 years? Or maybe 8. Dang, we met so long ago. Ha Ha."

Namine did a quick double take and then just stared at the Blonde with her mouth wide open. "Wha... What?" Was this kid serious? She was trying to come up with something else to say but then she just remembered when she was 7 again. Th-That..... That boy... Is HIM?!

"You know...... A face like that doesn't suit a girl like you." He said with a smile then chuckled a bit.

Namine's cheeks went a bright red color then she turned back around and ran for the bench where her shoes were. I really need to leave.

"W-Wait! You still haven't answered my questions!" Roxas was starting to get up to stop her from leaving.

"Ugh... Do I really need to?" Namine didn't want to stay here but she also didn't want to go back even more. She was still walking towards her shoes-- her feet were hurting.

"Well will it honestly be that troublesome to catch up with an old friend?" He ran to catch up to her with a grin on his face.

"Well...." She looked to the right, the side that he wasn't on. "I guess I could answer a couple questions. I have about another hour to kill before I gotta get back to That." She frowned when she mentioned that. They were finally at the bench and they both sat down.


I hope anyone who read this enjoyed the first chapter. I might try to start chapter two tonight. Please Read & Review! :D