Crimsonwings92: Okay, despite the fact that I haven't gotten any reviews yet, I'm going to put chapter two up. I figured it's because the first chapter is pretty slow moving or doesn't have anything going on, really, but aren't most first chapters like that? Hmmm….curious. Anyway, here's chapter two and I hope you all find this worth reading and will review.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything Kingdom Hearts related.
Food and Basketball
Chapter 2: Apologies
A place to crash
I got you
No need to ask
I got you
Just get on the phone
I got you
Come and pick you up if I have to
What's weird about it
Is we're right at the end
And mad about it
Just figured it out in my head
I'm proud to say
I got you
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place to run to
For better for worse
I got you
I got you
Leona Lewis blared from my iHome speakers and I sang along to the song as I bustled about my room that Monday morning, getting ready for school. I had settled on a pair of blue jean denim shorts, a black and white long-sleeved 'Sports 8' shirt, black tights and black and white high-top Converse shoes. I was just in the middle of tying up my shoes when I heard a honk outside my window followed by Granda's voice.
"Tiana! Lauren's here to get you! Are you ready yet?"
I took a second to blink before fishing my phone out from underneath my pillow to check the time. It was 7:30 and I hadn't even eaten breakfast yet.
"Damn," I muttered before going to my door and opening it a little, "I'll be right down Granda!"
Then, I went over to the window that overlooked the driveway and opened it up; "Yo, Lauren! 5 minutes!"
"Hurry your ass up, girlie!" she yelled back playfully, hanging out the driver's side window.
I waved her off before retreating back into my room and closing my window. I took one last look in the mirror and, satisfied with my appearance, sprayed some body spray, grabbed my backpack, and exited my room. I trotted down the stairs and stopped in the kitchen long enough to bid good-bye to Granda.
"Later, Granda! I'm off to school."
"Did you eat something?"
"I'll eat something when I get there."
"Tiana…"
"I'll eat something when I get there, Granda!" I insisted, skipping over to her to kiss her on the cheek, "Have a good day, okay, and be safe. Love you!"
"Bye, baby. I love you too," she called back as I ran out the door and over to Lauren's car.
"Hey! Morning, Lauren!" I greeted, hopping into the car and closing the door.
"What up, chickie? You look cute!" she greeted back, hitting my thigh before backing out of the driveway and turning onto the main road.
"Thanks," I blushed, laughing a little.
"Oh…here," she reached down between the two front seats and pulled out a paper bag, handing it over to me.
I took the bag and peered inside, smiling a moment later when the smell of the cinnamon roll hit my nose. "Awww! How did you know I would miss breakfast today?"
"Cuz we've been best friends for 7 years and I know you," Lauren responded, grinning as we made our way to school, trying to maneuver as quickly as possible through the morning traffic of Twilight Town.
"True," I muttered around a mouthful of cinnamon roll, savoring the sweet taste of the bun.
"No orgasming in my car because of food," she ordered, making me choke on the bit I had in my mouth.
"You're so freaking gross! I can't believe you just said that to me!" I exclaimed, blushing hard, probably, as I smacked her in her arm, only making her laugh loudly.
We eventually made it to Twilight Town High with just enough time to get to our lockers and then get to class. No socializing because then we would be late. Lauren was lucky enough to find a parking space relatively close to the school building and we both ran inside so we wouldn't waste too much time just walking there; besides, it was still a little chilly and the school building was always warm with the body heat of other students.
"We didn't have any homework for LeBraxton, right?" Lauren asked me as we stopped by my locker.
"Hmmm, nope, not this time," I replied, spinning my combination and opening the metal door, "Which is a miracle in and of itself since LeBraxton seems to get off on giving his students a bunch of homework for no reason at all."
"I know, right? Why are Biology teachers like that?" Lauren questioned, putting on a 'I'm actually thinking really hard about this!' face and effectively making me laugh humorously.
"Tiana! Lauren!"
"Hmm? Oof!" I turned around at the sound of my name being called only to see a flash of magenta hair before a small, lithe body literally jumped on me and small, thin arms wrapped themselves around my neck.
"Morning girls!" Kairi exclaimed, hugging me tightly before letting me go and bouncing on her toes.
Is she excited about something? No, not really. She's actually like that all the time. Kind of hard to believe that she and Namine are sisters let alone twin sisters. I would believe 'cousins' more than I would believe 'sisters'.
I digress.
I sighed deeply and gave Kairi a weary look, "You have GOT to stop doing that, Kai. You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days with the way you sneak up on me!"
The redhead just giggled into her hand and waved it off, "Sorry, Tiana. I was just excited to see you, that's all."
"Oh, by the way, Tiana," Namine spoke up as she moved to stand next to Kairi.
"We're sorry."
"Woah!" I muttered when they both said the same thing at the same time, "For…For what?"
"For what happened Friday night," Namine answered.
"Yeah! As your friends, we shouldn't have allowed for that to happen!" Kairi added adamantly, looking peeved.
I stared at them quizzically, wondering how they knew what actually happened when I averted my eyes to Lauren, who shrugged her shoulders and grinned.
"I told them what happened. They were worried about you after we left and wanted to know if you were okay. I thought they should know what happened," she explained.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes with a grin of my own, "You guys, it's no big deal, okay? And it's not your fault! It was all on Axel, he was being an asshole."
"Well…still…" Namine mumbled, but I stopped her.
"Still nothing! It's not your fault so you don't have to apologize!"
The twins stared at me before they both moved at the same time and gave me a big hug, confusing me a little.
"You're such a strong person, Tiana. I'm glad that we're friends," Kairi said kindly.
"Ummm…okay?" I didn't exactly know how to respond to her sincere words.
She just giggled as both she and Namine released me and stepped back, turning to walk away from us; "Well, we have to get going now. The bell is going to ring soon and we really shouldn't be late again," Kairi said, smiling at Namine, who nodded.
"Okay, see you guys later!" Lauren bid to our friends as the Woolson twins started walking away.
"Bye you two!"
"See you at lunch."
"Later," I waved as they walked away before turning sharply to Lauren who cursed aloud, "What's wrong?"
"I totally forgot that I told Samson I would give him back his book before his first period class! Dammit! Look, I gotta get going to see if I can catch him! Talk to you later, girlie!" she explained, already running down the hallway.
"Run, Forest, Run!" I called to her back, laughing as she screamed out 'shut up!' before turning the corner.
I shook my head at my friend, grabbed the books I would need for my American Sign Language class and closed my locker while turning to head to my class as well. Before I could even take two steps, someone's shoulder collided with mine and we both dropped our books.
"Sorry!" the person apologized as they bent down to pick up the books.
"No, it's okay. I didn't see you coming," I replied politely as I, too, bent down to help.
That's when the person looked up and our eyes locked, "Tiana?"
I blinked as I stared into blue-green eyes, "Uh…Riku?"
The point-guard of the basketball team smiled at me as he reached for one of my books to pick it up, "Yeah. Hi."
"Hey," I replied quickly, moving fast to pick up my books and get out of there as Friday's events replayed in my head.
I know Riku wasn't the one making fun of me and I know he even tried to stop it, but just knowing that he was the one that Axel was talking to about me made me a little irritated with him. I didn't want to actually take it out on him, though.
"Uh, here. I think this is your book, too," he said, handing over my ASL dictionary.
Yes, those exist!
"Thanks," I mumbled, taking it in my arms as the both of us stood up at the same time.
Something caught my eye, a flashing light and I squinted my eyes and searched for the place where it was coming from. His ear. Apparently, Riku wears earrings! That's actually…kind of hot. I stared up at him, because he was about a head taller than me, and he stared at me while fiddling mindlessly with one of his diamond studs, both of us standing there awkwardly, as if waiting for the other to say something. So I did.
"Well, later," I bid, moving to walk around him briskly so I could get away from him and not be late for class simultaneously.
"Ah-Wait, Tiana!" he called, whirling around and reaching out to touch my elbow gently.
That single touch was enough to make me stop as I turned back to him, my elbow burning where he touched me. He stopped and looked down at me, warm smile still in place as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Look, I just wanted to apologize for what Axel said on Friday. It was totally stupid and a complete asshole move," he started, running his hand through his silver hair before moving it back down to his ear where he messed with his earring again, "But he's actually not a bad guy. Just a little dense."
Awwww. He's sticking up for his friend. How sweet?
"Right, I'm sure he's the world's most wonderful sweetheart," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"He can be!" he blurted before catching himself, "I mean…I think if he just got to know you, he would find you pretty cool."
"Uh huh and you know I'm pretty cool because you yourself know sooooo much about me, right?" I countered, staring at his face.
Riku blinked and his brows furrowed together in thought as he tilted his head to the side, "Um…wow, I guess you're right about that. I really don't know that much about you."
We were immersed in this awkward silence again with the two of us just staring at each other, then at everything else around us when eye-contact became a little too uncomfortable. Riku stared at the lockers next to us and I stared down at his chest…And what a nice chest he has. I mean, although they were hidden, his muscles were so cleanly defined underneath his light blue, button down shirt. And his arms weren't looking too bad either. Before I could think another single thought about Riku's hidden muscles, bell rang and everyone began to stampede to their classes, cueing my time to leave.
"Well…later," I repeated, turning to go to class myself.
"Yeah, later."
And that was pretty much it. I left Riku there to go to his own class while I made my way to mine, ignoring the little tingling I still felt on my elbow from when he touched me.
&%&%&%&%&%&
"So Mr. Star Athlete himself actually apologized to you on Axel's behalf?"
"Yup, pretty much."
"See! All athletes aren't total asses like you think they are! There you go, girlie!" Lauren exclaimed as she pounded me on my back a little too enthusiastically.
I coughed after the assault, narrowing my eyes at my giggling best friend before muttering a 'whatever' and taking a swig of my Powerade. It's the end of the school day and we were lagging it as we made our way out of the building and towards the parking lot where everyone else with a car was going while others that either needed to take the bus or walked home went to the bus stop or hit the streets walking.
"At least you know he cared enough and had enough moral principle to feel bad about it. That says something about him, right?" Lauren continued, popping the last mini Oreo from her bag into her mouth before crumpling up the plastic and tossing it into the trash can.
I shrugged my shoulders and finished my drink, "I guess. I don't really care; I'm pretty much over it."
I threw my bottle into the recycling bin and ran after my best friend as she strutted over to her car. "Well, I think it makes him a pretty sweet guy," she commented, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
"Oh my, god. If Hugh Hefner picked up a book you dropped, you would think he was a sweet guy! Doesn't mean anything!" I shot back, throwing my hands in the air.
"It means he's nice!" Lauren countered, opening her door and climbing on the step to lean over the hood to stare at me, "Now get in the car. I'm dying for some gelato!"
I stared at her and spluttered a little before sighing deeply and moving to do as she said. I was stopped, though, by a gentle tap on my shoulder which made me turn around curiously.
"Hey Tiana."
…Uh…
I blinked in surprise, "Hey…Riku."
The silver-haired teen smirked at me as he nodded his head to the redhead behind him, stepping back a couple steps, "Axel has something he wants to say to you."
Said male grumbled something under his breath, but quickly straightened up when Riku shoved him in the back and gave him a hard stare. Axel glared at him but stepped forward anyway and looked me in the eye.
"Look, I'm…I'm sorry about what I said last Friday, okay? I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he apologized, breaking eye-contact to stare at the sidewalk.
I was confused to say the least and I looked back at Lauren to see her trying to hide a smile as her eyes grew wide and she lowered my window to hear what was going on. I turned back to the boys and looked at Riku, seeing a secret grin on his face before I faced Axel again.
"Um…I accept your apology?" I replied, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Yeah, okay," the redhead grumbled, turning to walk away from us, but not before stopping next to Riku and hissing out, "Happy now?"
Riku just waved him off and turned his eyes to me, smile becoming gentler as he stepped closer, "See? Told you he wasn't a bad guy."
I just blinked at him, my eye twitching, then I opened the car door and got in as my best friend started the car. I was just putting on my seatbelt when Riku's shadow filled the window.
"Tiana-"
"You made your point," I cut him off, snapping my eyes to him, "Okay? You made your freaking point. Axel's not a total asshole, I get it."
I then crossed my arms and sat back in the seat, probably resembling a pouting, sulking child. Riku just stared at me, then chuckled and shook his head while his hand went up to fiddle with that stud again, "I was just going to say that you look fine the way you are. Don't pay any mind to what Axel or what anyone else says."
Well, to say I was shocked would be an understatement and my confusion just increased when he reached into the car and lightly flicked one of my curls away from my face. He simply smiled at me for a minute before backing away from the car and waving.
"Later, Tiana," he bid before turning and walking away.
I watched him walk away, stumped as to what I should do or think next. Both Lauren and I were silent, she just as confused and surprised as I was by the whole ordeal; then, Lauren turned her big brown eyes to me, a big cheeky grin on her face.
"So, still think he's a jackass athlete?"
"Shut up and get us to Ive's Gelato."
The car was filled with my best friend's laughter as she put the car in reverse and pulled out of the school parking lot.
End Chapter
Crimsonwings92: Alright, well, there you have it! Please review or I'll think no one cares enough about this story and probably take it down. Ciao!
