Hello there! This story is really moving quickly, in my eyes. And I think it's running away without me...

Ah, whatever. Enjoy! ^^


"Rain! It's time to wake up!" The call comes from downstairs, like always. I stretch and yawn, then roll into a sitting position. I stumble down the stairs, wrapped in my thin blanket.

"Thanks," I mumble to Zexion, still half-asleep.

He just rolls his eyes. "Well, since you seem to have given up on the idea of waking yourself up..."

I do my best to glare. It's probably not the best, since I'm so tired. "Don't-" I yawn, totally ruining the intimidating effect I had hoped for. "finish that sentence."

Zexion smiles slightly and nods towards a plate. "That's for you." I glance over and find a few pieces of bread.

"Okay, thanks! Again." I happily munch on my breakfast as my twin continues.

"Any tests coming up?" He pulls on a jacket and grabs something from my plate.

I rack my brain. The history test wasn't for a while, we had just finished the math unit... Oh! "Science," I answer. "Next Wednesday."

"I'll be sure to get that day off then." He can actually do that, because he has the coolest boss of all time. Seriously. She lets him work out a schedule around his frequent test days, and he's paid for the amount of days he works each month. I love Aerith. She's the epitome of a great boss. I wish my boss was as nice...

I brush the crumbs into the trash can and give Zexion a quick goodbye hug. "I'll get the textbook for you. Have a good day!" The door slams, and I'm alone. I clean up the kitchen and note that our pantry was almost empty. Time for a grocery run. I get dressed for school and grab my book bag, double-checking that Zexion put his math homework in my folder. He did. He's always good about that.

I get to school pretty early, so I have time to wander the halls. It's always fun to do that, because I can gather information about everyone in the school. By now I have every group, clique, and couple ingrained in my head.

There's the popular group, Kairi, Sora, and Riku. They're best friends, and everyone loves them. Except for me. I stay away from them, only because I've had some bad experiences with the popular kids from my other schools. Kairi and Sora are hopelessly in love with each other, and everyone in the school knows it. Yet none of them have the guts to ask each other out. I mentally shake my head at their cowardice. Riku's the one that every girl fawns over. Again, I'm an exception. I don't have time for fawning. The whole school is abuzz with gossip, because the winter dance is approaching - and Riku hasn't asked anyone to go with him yet.

I pass by Xion in the halls and give her a smile. She is, as always, hanging out with her two best friends Roxas and Axel. I know for a fact that she has a crush on Roxas, but she hasn't told him yet. Not because she's a coward, but because Roxas is dating Namine, a quiet girl who is technically in the popular group. She's Kairi's best friend... but I digress. Axel is this crazy junior kid who has an obsession with fire and getting into trouble. He's really nice to Xion, though, so I don't mind.

There are a bunch more people that I don't get time to see, because Xion pulls me into her conversation with Axel about how bonfires are bad for the environment. Roxas leaves halfway through to go talk to Namine. I smile and even laugh a little when Axel cracks bad jokes and Xion punches him in the arm. Then the bell rings and Xion waves to me and leaves. I mindlessly complete my classes and make it to lunch with no problem. Unfortunately, that's when the problems begin.

"Hello Xion!" I cheerfully greet as I walk into the library. I don't get a response. "Xion?"

She's sitting in a chair, staring off into space. "Rain," she says finally. "I have a crisis."

I frown, drop my books, and sit down next to her. "A crisis?"

She nods and elaborates, "Riku asked me to the dance."

I do a double take. That was definitely not what I had expected. I didn't think Xion even knew Riku! "What's the problem with that? Is he a jerk or something?"

"No, no, no! He's really nice. He's in my art class, and he knew Namine, and I knew Namine, and... Well... We got along well. So today at lunch he asked me."

I am very confused at this point. "The problem?"

She sighs and twists in her seat. "I don't really want to be in a romantic relationship with him. I haven't gotten over Roxas yet. And if we go to the dance together, he's going to expect me to be his girlfriend and... Rain, I just can't do it!"

"Whoa, calm down. Did you say yes yet?"

More uncomfortable twisting. "I kinda said... that... I... was going with someone else." The last part is mumbled softly, so I can tell she's embarrassed.

"Let me guess. You haven't actually been asked by anyone else."

Xion nods. "That's my crisis. I have to find someone else to go with before he finds out I was lying!"

I sigh. High school had so much drama. But, as Xion's friend, I was obligated to help her with her problem. I suddenly gasp. A crazy, horrible, fantastic idea had just occurred to me. "I know exactly who you're going with! It won't put you in a romantic relationship, either!"

She cocks her head to the side. "But... going with any guy will be a sign of romance... unless the person is my friend..." Her eyes widen as she realized what I'm suggesting. "You don't mean-"

I smile and nod. "Yes, I mean Axel. Now come on, you've got a crisis to solve!" I don't really know where my energy is coming from, but I am able to drag her outside to where Axel is always sitting. This was going to be good.

"Hey Axel!" I call, ignoring Xion's protests. "Xion has something to say to you!" I then push my friend forward, ignoring her glare.

Axel walks over. "Yeah?"

Xion looks down. "Well, I was kind of wondering... Could you... would you maybe..." She pauses and takes a deep breath, then blurts, "Will you go to the dance with me... as a friend?"

Axel smirks. "Of course. Thought you'd never ask." Well, that was a lot easier than I imagined it would be.

I sneak away, leaving the pair talking. I had just made the world a better place. This day was great already.


3:15. Time for my last class of the day. As I walk into the room, I notice that it looks more like a normal classroom and that nearly all of the seats were taken. I inwardly sigh. Looks like I'll have to be in the front. However, before I can sit down, someone calls my name.

"Rain! Over here!" I glance around and find Demyx waving me over. He moves his backpack off of the chair next to him and points to it. I smile gratefully and slip into the seat.

"Thanks."

"No problem." His neon guitar is still in its case. "We're doing music theory today," he explains.

That explains the desks. The teacher walks into the room and starts a lecture that is honestly the most boring thing I had ever heard. And I had a very high boredom tolerance. After maybe ten minutes of listening to stuff I learned years ago, a scrap of paper is slipped onto my desk. There was a small, messy note on it.

Hey, it's Demyx :)

I give the blond next to me a weird look and then hand the paper back after scribbling a message of my own.

Hi?

He slides it back.

hi! im bored

I roll my eyes.

I can tell.

He pouts.

not nice!

Now I'm grinning.

Why not?

it just isnt.

Whatever you say...

r u mocking me? on paper?

Maybe.

meanie! hey, off topic, who are you going with to the dance?

I shoot a surprised look towards him.

...Random much?

well, i just wanna kno!

Your grammar is lacking.

stop avoiding the question!

I stop with my pencil poised above the paper. Who was I going with? Well, I doubt I I'm going at all, since it wasn't really worth it. You had to pay an entry fee and Zexion and I both viewed it as a waste of money.

No one's asked. I don't know if I'm even going.

oh

Yeah.

The note spent an extremely long amount of time on Demyx's desk, and I began to wonder if I had done something wrong. It was the equivalent of an awkward silence in a conversation. The paper finally comes back into my sight.

Can I talk to you after class?

Huh, he was using proper grammar now. I write a quick response and send it back with a smile.

Sure.

At that exact moment, the bell decided to ring. I make sure to hang around just outside of the doorway. Demyx walks out after all the other students and waits until the hallway is empty to speak. "So..."

I blink and wait for him to continue. This was really awkward...

"Will you go to the dance with me?"

...WHAT? Could my day get any weirder? First Xion with the most popular boy in school, then me with a guy I just met?

"Uh..." How does one respond to that? I met him yesterday, and today he asks me to the dance? Are all guys this crazy?

"I'm so sorry! I just act on impulse a lot and, uh, I just thought-" He trails off and just stands there. Awkwardly.

Act on impulse, huh? That explains his craziness... He really looks upset now. I think he thinks that he upset me. Which he honestly kind of did.

We stare at each other for a little while, then I blurt, "Okay."

He looks stunned. "Okay what?"

"Okay, I'll go to the dance with you." What was I saying? I don't go to dances, I don't dance period.

"That's awesome! Okay, cool. Can we talk about it more later? I have to go soon, my mom is picking me up." After a moment's hesitation, he hands me a ripped piece of paper with 10 digits on it. A phone number. "Text me, okay? I really have to go!" He grins at me and runs off, leaving me utterly stunned. What the heck had just happened?

I am officially insane. And you wanna know the worst part?

I don't have a phone to text him with.


I pour the ice into the machine and press the button. While the drink is being made, I return my thoughts to the question that had been plaguing me all day.

What the heck?

Today had been, without a doubt, the strangest, most unexpected day of my life. And that was including the day my parents died. The one thing that was predictable was Larxene. She was being her typical self. Today she had ditched work and hopped over the counter to flirt with her boyfriend, leaving me manning all the stations. Her and her stupid Marluxia were being all lovey-dovey, and I was getting really annoyed. It was lucky that the store was nearly empty. I keep staring off into space, trying to decipher my day.

"Hello?" Oh shoot, a customer. And to make matters worse, it's none other than the stupid boyfriend himself.

Don't get me wrong. I love the guy, he just makes Larxene skip work so much!

"Let me guess. Two caramel lattes, one with extra sugar and one with extra caramel."

He nods, slightly surprised. "Yes, actually."

I get to work, knowing exactly how much caramel to out in Larxene's drink so she doesn't bother me to put more in. I finish and then notice that it was only me, Larxene, and Marluxia in the store. I had some time... why not try my random act of kindess for the day? I add some whipped cream to the drink, even though it didn't need it. Then I sprinkle some of those awesome chocolate shavings on top. I grap two plastic spoons and hand to Marluxia after the drinks. "Larxene eats the whipped cream off of the top first," I explain, amazing myself at how much I knew about said annoying coworker.

He smiles at me. "Thank you." Then he puts a twenty-dollar bill in the previously empty tip jar, adding, "I would suggest you get that before Larxene does."

I can only stare at him in shock. Okay, how much weirder could this day get? I keep working for about two hours more, occasionally wondering if this was all one big crazy dream. I see the sun inch towards the horizon outside, and I hope that I won't have to walk home in the dark. Sadly, I don't think my shift is over quite yet.

"Rain!" It's Larxene. What could she want? "Get out, your shift is done." She's coming back behind the counter and putting her apron back on. I stand there for a moment. Had time really gone by that quickly? "Well, go!"

"Fine," I mutter. She didn't have to be so rude about it. For some reason, however, as I'm leaving the shop, I see her smiling to herself. Larxene doesn't smile unless she's around Marluxia or someone she hates trips. I decide to ignore it and instead decide to be glad I get to leave in the light.

When I get home, Zexion looks up from my notes in surprise. "Rain, you're home early."

"I am?" I look at the clock. It reads 7:21, a good 9 minutes before my shift even ends. Larxene let me out early. But why?

Zexion continues, not seeing the confusion on my face. "I was getting worried. The sun set early today. I'm glad you didn't have to walk home in the dark."

Wait. All the pieces fall together. Larxene let me out early... because she didn't want me to walk home in the dark? She was being nice?

"Zexion," I say in a serious tone. "pinch me."

He gives me a weird look. "What?"

"Pinch me, I'm dreaming."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am!" To explain, I recap everything that had happened that day. "Xion got asked to the dance by Riku, I played matchmaker with her and Axel, Demyx asked me to the dance, I accepted, Marluxia gave me a twenty-dollar tip, and Larxene did something nice." I took a huge gasp and finished, "Oh yeah, and I passed notes in class today."

That definitely wasn't what he had expected. "Wait... you're going to the dance with who now?"

"Demyx. He's a guy from music class."

"Rain, music class started yesterday."

"That's why it's crazy!"

My twin is speechless for a long moment. A very long moment. Finally, he gets up and pinches me.

"Ow!"

"Nope, not dreaming." He pinches himself and winces. "Not me, either."

I suddenly remember the last thing that was strange that day. "Oh, and one more thing."

"You caught a unicorn?" he asks sarcastically.

"I need to use the phone for a little while. Just a little bit!"

"Why, pray tell, do you need to use the phone?" I think his patience is almost gone.

"Demyx gave me his number." I pull the paper out of my pocket and display it to him.

A long pause, and then, "I think I would take it better if you actually did catch a unicorn."

We stare at each other for a long time, sister versus brother. He cracks a smile. "Well, then. You better get dress shopping."

He hands me the phone and leaves, saying, "You call your boyfriend, I'll do the homework."

I stare at the closing door for a while, too shocked to find a comeback.

Zexion had just told me to buy a dress.

It's official, the world's gone insane.

After I dial the numbers, a voice answers me almost instantly.

"Oh hey Rain!"

I smile. "Hey Demyx."

"Call me Dem."

I stop. I don't do nicknames. But, if everyone else is going crazy...

"Fine... Dem."

Maybe insanity wasn't so bad.


Wow. A 3,000 word chapter. I must love this story!

Uh... I have nothing else to say... review?