Chapter TWO
Naminé usually spent her Saturdays doing homework. Although it sounded very nerdy, the blonde found the act to be very beneficial. She liked the feeling of having a whole entire Sunday all to herself. With all her homework done, the blonde could fully relax the day before the school week started.
However, Saturday was also the day her mother liked to send her on a bunch of errands in town.
"Naminé, today's supposed to be baking but we're out of some ingredients! Would you please go fetch these for me?" Naminé's mother was a kindhearted soul, the type of woman that was meant to become a mother. Her ashen blond hair fell inches past her shoulders and framed her dim grey eyes—eyes that had once been lively as a storm, but now carried much sadness and grief. Nonetheless, her smile was dazzling and could bright up an entire room.
"Naminé? Here's the list. Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver," the older woman gushed before continuing her list of chores. Naminé's mother worked as a psychologist, mainly serving as a counselor for preteens. Her most recent project involved a large group session for a multitude of clients around the same age. Though most of the times they simply had group discussions, Naminé's mother liked to mix things up a little every once in awhile by throwing in some activities.
"I'll be back in half an hour or so," Naminé said, pulling on a thin cardigan before going out. Destiny Islands was still relatively warm even in early winter—there was never a need to pull out the trench coats and snow hats stored away in the Blanc household's basement. Strolling down the roads, Naminé drew a deep breath. It was a little past midday, and the cloudless sky promised sunny rays for the rest of the day.
Naminé entered the supermarket with list in hand. Only then did she read through the ingredients her mother gave her. What? Three packs of sugar, two of brown sugar, ten sticks of butter, thirty bananas, and a sack of flour? How the heck does she expect me to carry all of this by myself?
Figuring she'd somehow manage as she always did, Naminé set about locating the items around the supermarket. The things started accumulating in her cart, and just by pushing it around, Naminé started to worry how she would get all these things back home.
After collecting all the listed ingredients, Naminé figured she deserved some sort of reward as well. Approaching the frozen foods section of the store, she glimpsed at the variety of cool desserts in the shelves, picking up two preferred products. She'd heard the new cherry-flavored sorbet tasted good, but she also have a craving for classical vanilla ice cream right now…
"Oh, hey, Naminé!" Turning towards the source of the voice, the blonde located a smiling Sora Hikaru waving enthusiastically in her direction. Despite their previous encounter, he seemed rather friendly and approachable. Figuring it'd be rude to just ignore him and dash down the aisles (plus, she wouldn't get her ice cream), she waved and waited for him to approach her.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" He eyed the ingredients piled in her cart. "Grocery shopping?"
"Sort of," the blonde replied. "My mother's baking today."
Sora nodded and then turned towards her. "And now? You're deciding between ice cream flavors?" he asked, his voice slightly increasing in volume towards the end of his words.
She wanted to laugh. The boy got so excited talking about such a juvenile topic as ice cream flavors. To entertain him a little, she feigned a pensive pose and a philosophical tone. "You don't know how hard it is. While everyone's telling me to try this new cherry flavor, nothing can really beat classical vanilla, right?"
Sora seemed to realize she was just playing along with his initial enthusiasm. Continuing the act, he also struck a pose. "Why, golly gee, Naminé, I see the predicament you've landed yourself in. But I have the perfect solution!" After a dramatic pause, he spoke. "I say you buy both flavors!"
Naminé raised a brow. "I doubt I'll be able to finish two cartons of ice cream."
"Well, that's why I'm here." Sora attempted to keep a straight face but couldn't suppress his wide grin. His antics threw Naminé into a fit, and she threw her head back and laughed. She laughed, like her life depended on it. She could feel her stomach muscles working hard, her diaphragm squeezing the remains of air out of her lungs. She was so caught up in laughing that she didn't have time to breathe. It felt good laughing so hard. It wasn't even that funny. Perhaps it was the image of Sora attempting to keep a poker face while failing pretty badly. Or maybe just because she hasn't had such a good laugh in a long time.
Wheezing deep breaths, she finally cooled down. "You are hilarious," she said, finally breaking out of the self-appointed character. "I think I'll get the cherry sorbet. Nothing beats a little tartness in your ice cream."
Sora made a dramatic gasp. "No. Don't tell me you're one of those people who thinks sorbet is a type of ice cream?"
Naminé made an innocent shrug. "Yeah?"
Sora almost had a stroke. It was hard to tell if he was exaggerating or really had such strong opinions about ice cream. "No! Sorbet is not ice cream! Have you never studied how to make sorbet? You don't use milk or cream or any dairy products! It's a sham! You're being cheated of your money!"
"Whatever," Naminé said, shrugging off the matter. "Sorbet's cold, and it's sweet. So is ice cream."
"No, you're being brainwashed by mainstream American media! This is the reason you need to concentrate in media studies!" Sora exclaimed. Naminé laughed along good-naturedly. The two began pacing down the aisle as Sora explained how exactly you make sorbet and ice cream, emphasizing the large difference between the two. Though Naminé wasn't that interested in how to make ice cream, she did find Sora's gestures and obvious enthusiasm for the topic amusing.
Soon, they reached the checkout counter. "That was quite interesting. I never asked, but why are you here?" Naminé asked.
Sora fidgeted. "Actually, there was—err, I mean, I was getting ice cream. For my sister." Though he didn't seem to be lying, his obvious discomfort pointed towards some of the truth being hidden. However, Naminé didn't feel like it was her place to prod. She simply nodded and then looked at his empty hands.
"Then maybe you should go back and choose one, cause you don't have anything in your hands right now."
"Nah. I'm going to the ice cream parlor just next to this supermarket. My sister loves the mint chocolate chip flavor!"
Naminé blinked. "So why are you in the supermarket?"
The question sort of tumbled out of Naminé's mouth and left Sora speechless. She hadn't meant to call him out on his poorly veiled lie, but there was such an obvious gaping hole in his logic. Sora turned towards his side and ran a hand through his untamed hair.
After what seemed like a long moment of awkwardness, Naminé finally spoke up. "Hey. I really have no right to be interrogating you as to why you're in the supermarket. It's public property—you have every right to be here. So, I'll see you?" Turning, she began to push her cart towards the counter with the shortest line (which was inconveniently at the other end of the store) when a hand grasped her arm. She turned around, facing Sora.
The boy seemed slightly flustered. Taking a moment to recompose himself, he drew a deep breath and faced Naminé with a sincerity in his eyes she'd never seen. "Actually, I came to tell you I'm sorry. I realized I, err, seem to have pissed you off at school the other day, so yeah." He looked like he was about to receive an injection, a wave of apprehensive fear washing across his face, and prepared himself for the pain.
Naminé blinked. She didn't think he'd still remember their encounter. In fact, she'd expected him to completely shrug the matter off and never mention it again. If he never talked about it, she'd never either. That was the way the social hierarchy worked. His conscience was apparently very strong. Startled by his sincerity, Naminé took a moment to recollect herself.
"Oh! Yeah. It's just, umm…thank you. No, wait, I meant to say that it was partially my fault too. I was…completely overreacting that day because…umm…I overreacted. Yeah." The last word seemed to be said for self-confirmation. She looked up at Sora, who was trying to suppress…a giggle…?
"Hey, what's so funny?" the blonde cried out indignantly. It was embarrassing being laughed at by one of the most popular guys at school. Sora continued his half-stifled laughing, all the while making Naminé feel more and more self-conscious. She could feel a blush creeping up her neck but she tried to ignore Sora's pointed stares to keep the color down.
Finally, the brown-haired teen calmed down. "Sorry. I mean, I'm usually the one who's awkward and stumbling over words and all, but I didn't think you were the type as well." Though Naminé was irked by his half insult, she was completely put at ease by his easygoing grin. Not knowing how exactly she should respond, she finally settled with a smile.
"Alright. I'd better get going. My mom's expecting me at home soon," she said.
Sora looked at her and then her cart dubiously. "You're carrying all that stuff home? By yourself?" Naminé nodded. "How are you going to do that? Do you have a car?"
Naminé chuckled dryly. "My mom doesn't quite trust me. I have my permit, but she's convinced I'll bruise the family's car."
"What? Then how are you getting all that home? Do you live nearby?"
"It's not that far. I live on Leclair Street."
"Wow, everything about you screams French." Sensing the disapproving glare coming from Naminé, Sora quickly changed the topic. "Well, how about I drop you off? I have my car, and I'm heading towards Leclair Street anyways."
"Oh. I wouldn't want to trouble you," Naminé began, but one look at the spirited boy told her he wouldn't be taking no without a legitimate reason. Figuring this was the best decision and realizing she told her mom she'd be back in half an hour, she accepted Sora's invitation. The two quickly checked out all her items and exited the supermarket, Naminé pushing the cart.
"Oh!" Sora exclaimed. "Lemme go buy ice cream real fast. You can…actually, you probably don't know what my car looks like. Do you want to come get ice cream with me?"
Figuring she had no other choice, she accompanied the brown-haired teen to the ice cream parlor just around the corner. Naminé had actually never been to that particular store before. It was a small, cozy shop with an unrecognized name. She stayed outside watching her cart of groceries while Sora entered to buy his ice cream. He soon exited with a scoop of mint chocolate ice cream in a cup and another cookie dough on a cone. Holding the cone in one hand and a cup in the other, Naminé thought he looked quite childish.
"Ready to go? Unless you also want one…" Sora said.
"No, it's okay. Let's go." The two exited the store and walked to the parking lot, approaching a black vehicle in the parking lot.
"Is this your car?" Naminé asked, examining the sleek black automobile. The model looked unfamiliar, though the car was obviously of high quality. It was well kept with a polished surface and clean windows. Besides the choice of color, it seemed like the type of car Naminé would want to buy. If she had enough money.
"Yeah. Sweet sixteen gift. A bit clichéd, but very practical," Sora said. He unlocked his car and opened the passenger seat's door. "Hey, Xion," he said, greeting the girl seated in the car.
Through the windshield, Naminé could see Sora's sister, a petite raven-haired girl around twelve or thirteen, perched atop the front seat. Her eyes were like two bright, shining blue jewels, resembling Sora's irises. The girl's skin, unlike the typical islander (and like Naminé), was a smooth, creamy color, nearing an unhealthy pale alabaster. What was most startling about Xion was how skinny she was. Naminé knew she herself was considered slim, but Xion was abnormally thin. The blonde could see the faint outline of the girl's cheekbones and jawline on her face. Her shoulders were small, and her arms seemed to be nothing more than bones and connective tissue.
"Hey, I was waiting. Who's that?" Xion asked, peering at Naminé through the windshield of the car.
Sora turned towards Naminé. "She's, err, my classmate, Naminé. We're giving her a ride."
Xion's eyes shined dangerously. "Oh yeah?" she said questioningly, turning towards Sora with an impish grin on her face. "A ride to where? Home? Your bedroom?"
"Xion!" Sora exclaimed, startled by the girl's brazenness. He snuck a peek towards Naminé's direction, realizing the blonde was just as affected by Xion's words. "Just…eat your ice cream," he said, pushing the cup of green mint chocolate chip in front of her face.
Something ran through Xion's eyes. Naminé couldn't quite decipher it, but she could tell it had incited conflicting feelings in the girl. Xion eyed the ice cream cautiously, as if trying to decide whether or not it was poisoned. Naminé couldn't understand the girl's behavior. Xion seemed to be reaching out for the cup until she suddenly knocked it out of Sora's hands.
"You know I don't want ice cream!" she hollered, turning to face the front of the car. Her eyes were watery and her voice had been trembling; she was clearly upset. Thankfully, the spilt ice cream had landed on the pavement and not in the car. Sora sighed tiredly. Words were forming on his lips but he decided against saying anything and turned towards Naminé.
"C'mon, put your stuff in the back." Shutting the passenger seat's door, he seemed to completely disregard Naminé as he took the cart from her hands and pushed it towards the trunk. He then began loading everything by himself. Naminé tried to help but Sora immediately took whatever was in her hands. After finishing, he pushed the cart towards the side and approached the driver's seat, opening the door. Realizing Naminé was still standing at the back, he shouted out towards her. "Hey. Get in the car."
Blinking, Naminé barely processed Sora's orders before following them. She opened the car door and slipped in, resting on the soft leather seat. The tension in the air was thick. No one in the car spoke as Sora turned on the engine and drove off.
The tires crunched over pebbles and fallen leaves as the automobile moved silently down the road. Naminé was tempted to speak but she felt like an outsider to the silent feud between the Hikaru siblings. Whatever they were quarreling about was obviously nothing for Naminé to join in.
"Which house do you live in?" Sora asked.
His voice startled Naminé, since it had broken the silence that had settled in the car since the engine was turned on. After taking a moment to process his question, the blonde quickly answered, "4533."
Sora blinked. While keeping one hand on the steering wheel, the other flipped through a pile of papers stashed in a small compartment in the front of the car. Finally, he pulled out a small business card.
"Wait…do you know Dr. Florence Blanc?" Sora asked.
Naminé's ears perked up at the mention of the familiar name. "Yeah. She's my mom. Why…?"
Through the rearview mirror attached outside the car, Naminé noticed Xion's expression, previously serene and undisturbed after the lengthy silence, turn twisted and distressed. Suddenly, all the pieces began falling together. The tension in the car. The Hikaru siblings' aberrant behavior. Why Sora was coming to Leclair Street.
The Hikaru siblings were attending her mother's session.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate the feedback!
As a side note, the goal of this story is to depict a realistic high school love story. I don't want sudden confessions of love or the archetypal ex-girlfriend plotting the heroine's downfall. Hopefully this story will be as realistic as possible. If there is anything awkward or you think unrealistic, please tell me! Thank you!