Two
"Morning Mikoko," I greeted as one of the locals approached the counter. Also, just the person I wanted to see.
"Sara, I'll have the usual." She shivered a little, looking around. Mikoko is the island's conspiracy theorist, perfect for milking for information.
"One hazel latte with cinnamon and no whipped cream," I put her down for a toffee coffee with nutmeg and extra whipped cream, "What size?"
"Small." She winked.
"Small," I pressed large.
"That'll be sixteen munny."
She handed me a twenty, and I pulled out four of the smallest coins and her receipt. "I'm on it."
I looked around as I began squirting various ingredients into the cup. Thankfully, the only person in the house was Miss Lee, who was practically deaf.
"Hey Mikoko," I hissed, "I need your help."
"What's up?" She leaned over the table in a seemingly casual way.
"Ok, don't laugh at me. I had a voice in my head tell me that I have seven days. I don't know what it could mean; it just said 'seven days, that's all I'm giving you'."
She nodded, and I knew my faith was well placed. "How many days do you have left?"
"Six."
"Ok," she picked up one of the popsicle-stick stirrers and bent it idly. "Six days, and that's all you get. Maybe it's a warning. You might die in six days."
I froze, "I didn't think of that."
"Sara, I'd live my life to the fullest if I were you. Who knows what that voice really meant?" She accepted her drink. "It was wonderful knowing you."
"And you," I whispered. She nodded and left the house, looking at me one more time before disappearing into the summer crowd.
I stood there, staring at the elderly Miss Kim. I always figured I'd grow up and be like her. I'd live to my nineties and go to the coffee house every Sunday after church and order a muffin and cold tea.
My therapist assured me that I was going to live past the age of twenty (for the longest time I was convinced I'd burn to death on my 20th birthday), but maybe she was wrong. Maybe I'd die before I even got three-fourths of the way there!
"Hey," A familiar voice called from behind the cash register. "Arrogant rich kid in need of service here."
"Hi Riku," A mental list of things I needed to do before I died began to form. Number one; apologize to Riku. "I'm glad you're here."
"Y—you are?" His face contorted in this cute 'question mark' face.
"Yeah, I wanted to apologize for what I said. I was having a bad day, but that's no excuse. I'm sorry."
"Oh," he looked at his feet. "Uh, thanks."
"So, what can I get you?"
"You know, I've never heard you talk so much before."
"I have to talk, it's my job." I waved to Miss Kim as she left the house. I wasn't ever going to see her again. A small flicker of depression began to form in the back of my head.
"Well, I've never been here before." He leaned on the counter. "What would you recommend?"
"Uh…depends on if you like coffee or not."
"It's a coffee house, so you have to serve coffee, right?"
"We have smoothies, ice cream, tea, water, baked goodies," I pointed to the menu. "A lot of people who don't like coffee come in."
"Huh," he squinted (he's supposed to wear glasses, but he absolutely hates them). "What's Sea Salt Ice Cream? Am I reading that wrong?"
"Nope," I shrugged, "It's a new thing, but nobody's tried it yet."
"Then I'll have two."
"Two?" I punched it in. "You're daring."
He handed me thirty munny, "And arrogant. And rich."
I sighed and handed him his change (seven munny), which he dropped into the tip jar. "Thank you," I hurried into the back and opened the ice chest. I picked up two of the pristine wrapped packages and returned as quickly as I could (they were really cold).
"Thanks," he took one.
"Uh," I held out the other one.
"There's no way I'm going to eat two. That one's yours."
I frowned, "You really are daring."
"You should talk more, you really are funny."
"I try," I unwrapped the treat and ran my tongue over it. I think it's the thick slab of marble that separates me from everyone else. Having some sort of physical barrier makes me feel…ok.
"Hey, this is pretty good." I took a small bite. It tasted like salt, but then that melted away into the rich, sweet creaminess of the ice cream.
"I could really make a sex joke about its taste," Riku mumbled.
I covered my eyes, "Oh my G—Cthulhu, you are ridiculous!"
He grinned charmingly, "When Sora hits my age, he'll be just like me."
I smiled, picking up on the hidden joke in there.
Sora, Kairi, Riku, and I all have the same birthday. Well, Kairi doesn't know when her real birthday is, but she likes to think it's on the same day as her two best friends. And Riku's convinced he was born three hours before Sora. Kairi thinks she was born at the same time as Sora. And I (born seven minutes after Sora) was the youngest one out of all of them. Whee.
I'm telling you, every year Riku calls at four in the morning to rub it in Sora's face that he's officially two years older than him. I've never gotten a good night's sleep on my birthday.
Although, it drives the guys crazy knowing their birth stone is pink tourmaline and that they were one day away from having topaz (we were born October 31st). And that entertains me.
"And what'll happen to you on that magical day?"
"I'll get my growth spurt and become ruggedly attractive, what else?" He grinned.
"Modesty? Is there any hope for that?"
"Modesty's for pretty girls who work at coffee houses on Sundays."
I rolled my eyes, "You're quite the charmer."
"Is it working?"
"Nope," I took another bite.
We stayed like that for the rest of my shift. He hung out and talked while I served locals. And by the end of the day, we were on good terms. And I was kinda attracted to him.
I was just leaving (after turning down Riku's offer to walk me home) when I remembered six days.
"Riku!" I spun around, doing the stupidest thing I've ever done ever.
I ran over to him, hugged him around the middle, and kissed his cheek. "Thanks," I whispered, disappearing into the late dusk…
000
"I couldn't find Riku all day!" Sora whined at dinner.
"Oh," I scratched my nose, "He was with me."
"What?" Both Mom and Sora did a double take at that.
"I thought he hated you!"
"He came to the coffee house. I apologized. We hung out and ate ice cream." I shrugged, "It's not like we're suddenly best friends or something."
"Did he hit on you? I'll kill him if he did."
"Nope," I shook my head, "It was very much casual. What did you do today?"
"Looked for Riku." He shrugged, "I was with Kairi though, and he wasn't there to tease me, so it was pretty fun."
"Ah," I took another bite.
"So, how are you?" He asked.
"Fine," I dodged the matter. I knew what he was referring to, and there was no way I wanted to get into it.
"So, you wanted to get that hoodie, right?"
I shrugged, "My paycheck still needs cashing. I'll do that tomorrow."
"Look how responsible your sister is! Why can't you be more like that?"
"Because I have social skills?"
I snorted into my orange juice, which saved him from a big lecture from Mom.
"Hey, let's do that shopping thing tomorrow."
"I just want to get my hoodie and leave," I replied. "I'm not in the mood to make a day out of it all."
"Come on!" He turned to Mom, "She'll end up socializing…"
000
"You know, this whole 'twin telepathy' thing would work out a lot better if you actually used it to help said twin."
Sora grinned at me, "You're just upset that I won."
"I am upset that you won!"
"Oh," he looked at his feet. "Ok."
"Look at how shiny the arcade is!" Selphie tugged on Riku's arm.
For some reason, I felt a little bit of anger coil up inside of me. I wanted to take my wonderful new hoodie and shove it down her throat. The only thing stopping me from doing that is the fact it was a beautiful periwinkle color (the best color in the world, and it doesn't belong down that dog's throat).
"Really? The arcade is shiny? Really?" I snapped, making everyone in the group bust up (except for the two of us).
Riku puffed out his chest, "Ah…I love it when woman fight over me…"
My brow furrowed, "What the heck are you on, and where can I get some?"
Everyone laughed at that (except for the two of us).
"I vaguely remember a conversation you had with Mom…" Sora mumbled, "About how people would find you funny if you spoke up more…"
"Two out of five—not including us—hate me right now. I think I'm doing fantastic."
"What are you two discussing so privately?" Riku cut in loudly.
"We're trying to figure out who would benefit most from a do-it-yourself hypodermic kit. Why? Are you interested?"
That shut him up real fast. And got everyone laughing again.
000
"Four days," I mused, rubbing lotion into my knuckles. My knuckles are always dry, it's a little annoying. "Four days."
What to do? I've already lived my life to the fullest. I think.
How will I die? Spontaneous combustion?
I suddenly flashed to the excuse I had planned to give Riku.
How ironic.
"Sara?" Sora pounded on my door. "Riku wants you to come with us to the islet today."
I sighed and grabbed my boots. "Fine."
He opened the door and waited patiently as I buckled the straps on the sides of my lucky brown boots. That, and they were the only pair of shoes I owned. That should make them lucky, right? With a jittery sigh, I forced myself to remain positive.
"I can't stay long," I declared. "I have to do things."
"What?" He gave me a skeptical look as we bounded down the porch.
"I'm serious this time. I need to figure some stuff out!"
If I only have four days to live, I really shouldn't be wasting all this time with Riku. Seriously, you give him one hug and he starts getting clingy.
Most kids our age would be scared out of our minds at the idea of running through the streets early in the morning. To us, it just felt like a summer Tuesday.
I hopped into the boat first, taking my usual seat at the bow. Sora jumped in after me, fumbling with the oars while I undid the knot. That's what tiny hands are good for, piano fingers just get in the way.
"So, what's up with you and Riku?" He asked innocently.
"Uh…we both officially like the same ice cream?"
"Sara."
"What?"
"Tell me the truth."
I hate twin telepathy.
"There's nothing going on." I assured him truthfully. I mean, we weren't official or anything. Just shameless flirting in private.
Suddenly it occurred to me. Riku never did anything when Sora was looking. Helping me out of the boat, Sora's back was turned. Putting his arm around me (I Googled it, turns out that's a flirtation trick), that was in a dark room. Verbally flirting with me, at my work with my brother far out of sight.
Sora was the reason we'd never actually get anywhere.
"What's up?"
Twin telepathy must've cued him in on my sudden bitterness toward him. Thanks to him, I'm always going to be lonely. I'm never going to get a boyfriend. Riku will never love me, thanks to my brother.
"Nothing," I smiled, then stared out in the water. "Absolutely nothing."
If Sora wasn't going to let me have Riku, I'm not going to let him have Kairi…
000
Riku's brilliant plan was to build a raft off of the planet. Kairi and I were in charge of looking pretty while the sexist jerks drew blueprints.
We sat on the dock idly.
"I wanted to thank you," I swallowed my fear. "So…thank you."
Kairi looked up, her brow furrowed, "What for?"
"Well, life's been hard for Sora ever since he," I bit my lip, "You know."
"No, I don't know."
My eyes widened and I gasped, "You don't? I knew that Riku didn't, but he didn't tell you?"
She shook her head, taking the bait. Oh, I was too good.
"You can't tell him you know, ok?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Well," I cleared my throat. "Sora recently realized he's gay…"
000
Life's been a little awkward since I convinced Kairi that my brother had a crush on Riku. I had 'confided' in her, thanking her whole-heartedly for being such a supportive friend to Sora.
As luck would have it, Sora was never more kind to me. I think he suspected that I screwed him over, so he was being manipulative.
Well, if I can't be happy, neither can he. That thought squelched the guilt. I only have four days (now three) to live, and it's his fault I only made out with Riku once.
"So Sara, you excited?" Said crush plopped down beside me. I stared out at the sunset from my seat at the base of the paopu tree.
"I'm not going."
"What?" He leapt to his feet. "No!"
"Yes Riku, I'm not going."
"That's not…you said…I thought…"
"I never said I would go," I pulled my knees to my chin. "And I'm not. You guys have fun."
"What's wrong Sara?" He murmured, his sugary-sweet voice washing over me. I almost broke down. I almost told him about four days left. I felt my eyes begin to prickle. I felt the words crowd my mouth
"You never appreciate a good sunset until it's gone," I whispered.
He sighed and sat down next to me. "What's up?"
"The sky."
"Seriously Sara, what's bringing this on?"
"I just want to watch," I muttered, nodding towards the sky.
Riku groaned, "Great. Just great. I think we're actually getting somewhere and you close up on me again."
"What?" I stared at him through my hair. He was on his feet again, pacing. His bare feet kicking up sand, his tense figure blocking the view.
"Oh stop it. Just cut it out!" He ran his hands through his hair. "You're driving me insane. Every time I think you're on the same page as me, every time I think you like me, you close up again. One minute you're flirty, the next you won't say more than two words to me. Sara, I don't know what's going on anymore."
"I assure you, neither do I."
"Shut up!" His fists clenched. "Stop lying. You'd have to be an idiot not to see it!"
"I can't see the sunset, if that's what you mean," I nodded toward him.
"You really are an idiot," he growled.
Ok. I don't need to take this.
"You're right," I snapped, getting to my feet. "I am an idiot. But at least I'm not the rich, Takahashi poster boy brat! Do me a favor Riku, leave me alone!" I spun around and stormed across the bridge.
"You don't mean that," he called.
"I don't need you!" I shouted. "I never needed you! I was perfectly fine without you getting in my head and messing everything up!"
"Oh, so I'm the one messing with heads?" He stalked over to me. "Little Miss Bipolar Freak!"
"I'm not bipolar, jerk face."
"That's offensive," he rolled his eyes. "I'd rather be a [he held up finger quotes] 'jerk face' than a manipulative little…" And then he said it. That five letter word that rhymes with 'witch'.
At that, I turned and left. If he had apologized, I'd have ignored it. If he had followed me, I'd have hit him. If he did anything besides gape at me, I'd have rejected it. But that's all he did. He just watched me stomp down to the dock.
And then I realized why that smarmy brat wouldn't admit he was wrong.
There was only one boat.
Riku was supposed to take me home. I don't know how to row.
He expected me to just waltz on back to him, beg for forgiveness, admit that I was wrong, and even kiss up to that jerk face. Maybe even agree to go along on his stupid raft.
Forget that.
I jumped into the ocean.
