Amaya's Note:

Haaay! I know I haven't gotten much reviews but I've been watching the traffic and sheesh! You guys killed that URL button! Thanks for reading and here goes chapter 2!

(OHM! One more thing, I know I said this chapter will explain what happened before the night at the bar but change of plans. If I did that, the chapter would be like…11 pages long. So just hold on for a while longer and I promise I'll try to get the chapters in faster. :D)

i love you but i kissed him

before & after


He'd never thought much of Kairi before. Yeah, she was pretty and stuff, but she never said anything in school. There was the occasional time when someone asked her a simple question like, "Am I doing the trigonometry right?"

All Kairi would say is, "X equals y times z" or, "Yeah but we weren't supposed to do that."

Kairi was quiet. Kairi was hushed. Kairi kept to herself. And for some reason, that was why so many guys like Kairi. And yes, Sora was one of those lovesick guys.

So when one of the heartless bullies in the school teased her in the hallway, Sora just jumped in and stood up for her.

~*~

"Ha! You're such a nerd! N-U-R-DEEEE!" Kairi stopped and turned to the red head making fun of her. "Wonder if wittle nerdee wost her wittle gwasses?"

Every last person in the hallway roared in laughter. Kairi's eyes welled up. Her mouth opened and the hallway stood silent. "Please stop, Axel."

The silence continued. Kairi had always been an easy target for anyone to tease. Even the actual nurdees. But after this moment…everyone has more of a reason for ranting. Well, everyone but Sora.

"Did she just talk back?" Axel lifted his hands and faced the crowd forming. "Did she just talk back to me!"

Now, Axel's girlfriend, Eclera, stepped up for her turn. His hair was deep red, Eclera's was a soft pink. Eclera stood just above Kairi's head, giving her a straight shot to flick her forehead. And that's just what she did.

"Ow, what's that for?" Kairi rubbed the red spot on her forehead but did so with both hands. She dropped her books and they were scattered all over the floor.

"Hey man, are you going to do anything?" Sora flinched. He hadn't noticed that Riku, his best friend, was standing next to him in the horde of students.

"Don't you have like a giant crush on her?" This time, he almost screamed. It was more than enough for Sora to get startled by Riku, but having Roxas just appear by his side went over the edge. And plus, if he screamed, they would've thought he was gay.

"Hey guys," he sheepishly said.

"Shut up and save Kairi already! I mean," Riku made a motion to Kairi's books. "Axel leads Eclera and the rest of his gang to spit on them!"

Wow. Sora thought making fun of someone was cold; guess he hasn't been outside his cave for a while. "It can't be that bad, can it?"

"SORA! Stop being so blind! You LOVE Kairi so if you just show her that, you might find out she might like you too!" Roxas slapped the back of his cousin's head. "Geez, I thought I was stupid."

"No Roxas, you're right." Sora's mouth slowly turned up to a grin. "You're not stupid, you're just mentally challenged."

"Hey!" Roxas yelled just quietly enough for the trio to hear. "I thought you said I was right about saving Kairi because you thought she might like you when you love her!"

"Enough with the run-ons!" Sora stepped forward. "Shut up already and I will! And make Kairi fall in love with me."

Riku and Roxas stifled a laugh. It was broken when Riku said, "Fifty bucks I bet you he can't."

Then there was a scream. Axel had ripped off the silver band Kairi wore on her left wrist and handed it to Eclera as a gift. "For you, milady," he had said. Axel, Eclera and the rest of their group had roared in laughter as they left Kairi shaking on the floor.

"Kairi!" Sora had finally pushed through the gathered crowd and kneeled on the floor next to the crying girl. "Can I hold any books for you?"

A low oooh rang through the high scholars. Yuna, Kairi's closest, if not best, friend had shrieked in joy. A guy carrying books for a girl showed that they had interest. But if the girl rejects, it's as harsh as getting detention on prom night.

And that's exactly what Kairi did. She got up, wiped off her tears, took her books from Sora and just walked away. Yuna stopped giggling with the other girls and ran off to Kairi. "Don't you think you could've at least said no thanks? That was kinda harsh."

"If I do, then he might become a—" Kairi and Yuna turned around the lockers and their voices disappeared with them. Sora strained his ears to hear them so that he didn't have to follow them but it was no use.

"Aww, gosh darn it, Sora," Roxas said sarcastically, snapping his fingers in a playful way. "You just messed up your chance."

"What chance?" Sora asked his cousin. Riku had just arrived and stood behind Roxas. "I asked and she didn't even answer."

"Y'know, she might not be interested." All three boys turned their heads to the blonde girl who barely spoke her words. Sora & Riku heard Roxas gasp under his breath in surprise.

"Naminé!" He said. He slung an arm around Naminé's shoulders, which tried to duck out of the grip. "This is Sora & Riku. Sora, Riku, this is my neighbor, Naminé. Now…why're you here?" Roxas' voice hardened at the last phrase.

"Umm, you should know, Roxas. You've been telling me how much Sora was hitting on Kairi, and well," Naminé was able to escape Roxas' arm and stepped away. "I kinda told her."

"WHAT!" Sora practically jumped at her. "You told Kairi I liked her?"

"Well, Sora." Riku stepped up. "Who wouldn't be able to see?"

"…Sora." Now, the quad of students turned to the new voice, Yuna. "Kairi's been telling me how annoying she thinks he is. Yes, Sora. I said ANNOYING."

Ouch. A lump formed in the spiky haired boy's throat. Sora barely managed to whimper, "Did she tell you to say that?"

"Yes."

"Is that all?"

"No."

"What else?"

"Sora, if you really like Kairi that much, then you might want to sit down. When you faint, your head won't hit the ground so hard." Yuna motioned the ground in front of a locker. "She said that both of your lives would be better if you just stayed away. She'll be doing the same thing."

Ouch. Literally. The next thing Sora knew was that his mom was checking his temperature. Great, he thought. I fainted in school and came home early. Can't wait till she asks what happened today.

So fun. And he knew it.

~*~

"Yes, Yuna. It was a little harsh, but the necessary had to happen. Sora's too…innocent." Kairi clutched her books tighter as she said Sora. Yuna turned and saw her fragile friend blush. "Y'know, I need you to make Sora back off. When he does, I can go see Eclera for my bracelet."

"That thing's really important to you, huh?"

"Yeah, my grandma gave it to me." As long as Yuna didn't know the truth, she'd be fine. "So, umm, I don't care how you tell Sora to go away, just as long as he does. Mkay? Thanks!" Kairi waved off her curious companion and ran off.

"Hold it right there, Ms. Sonoda!"

Kairi froze in the hallway. "Yes, Mr. Pervis?"

"I heard what happened just now." Mr. Pervis, the school counselor, stepped out of his crammed office. He tossed back the silver band Kairi was yearning for so badly. She caught it with her eyes filled with shock. "Don't worry, I'll help you patch up those problems."

"Whaa?" Kairi stared up to the grizzly-faced man.

"Sora tried to help you right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"And the biggest culprits were Axel and Eclera, right?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Perfect!" Mr. Pervis ran back into his office to fetch his planner. "Four people, two teams. Kairi, bring your tennis shoes to the court during lunch tomorrow! See you guys there!"

"Wait, what?" Tennis? Two teams? And he asked about Axel, Eclera…Sora. And herself.

Not good. Kairi plus tennis equals trouble. Times 3 squared.

~*~

(the following day)

"No way!"

"Yes, just now."

"No way!"

"Shut up, you have 15 minutes. And don't count on Kairi bringing a smile like you." Yuna scoffed as she delivered Mr. Pervis' message. As soon as she began to stride back, she turned around for the last part. "And you should be ready to watch Kairi's back."

"Why?" Sora asked her.

"Axel and Eclera will be there, too."

"No way." Sora's jaw hung low. Playing tennis with Kairi already made him nervous, but going against the two people that caused the trouble in the first place…he wouldn't even try. "Do I have a choice?"

"Mr. Pervis got you a pass to eat lunch in the following period. So, no, Sora, you have to go." Once again, Yuna strode her way back to her friend.

"So looks like you got Kairi a date," Riku poked Sora in the ribs. "I guess you shouldn't try to watch her back either. Cause if you do, you might see a little more."

"Ooh, Sora gets a little eye candy." Riku and Roxas burst in laughter. The blonde haired cousin put his hand on Sora's shoulder. "Sorry man. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that if you really are playing tennis against Axel and Eclera, then Mr. Red-Headed Butt-Head might use the tennis ball for a little more fun."

"So what do I do?" Sora large cobalt eyes pleaded to his 2 friends. "I do want to watch Kairi's back, but I don't want to aggravate her more."

"Who said I was aggravated?" All three boys turned to the voice. Sora thought that he's seen that before. Standing there with Yuna flanking her left side was Kairi clutching her books tightly. "Listen, I'm sorry if I was a little…"

"Go one." Yuna urged. "It's only Sora, Riku and Roxas."

Kairi was finally able to mutter what she really meant. "A little…harsh. I'm not going to the tennis thing."

Sora found a little chance in this. "Why not?"

"I heard what you guys said. I called my mom and she said I could come home. She said you could come too…if you want."

Everyone listening was surprised. Kairi herself was taken aback. Why was she being so open? Why did she even ask her mom if Sora could come over? Why did her throat ache every time Sora slipped through her lips? Why did her blood boil every time he was so close to her? And…did he feel the same way?

"Sure, why not?" Kairi was able to see the faintest of smiles form at the corner of Sora's mouth. Why was she paying so much attention to his mouth? "So, are we walking there or is Mrs. Sonoda going to pick us up?"

"Mr. Pervis is sure to stop us if he sees my mom driving in so we're sneaking out." And besides, Kairi thought, walking home gives me more time with you.

No! Her conscience spoke up. Remember what you told Yuna earlier: Sora is too innocent. He might become a client!

It's not like that anymore, she thought back. My heart skips a beat, my eyes pop out & I can't believe my eyes. I love Sora, and I'm sure of it.

Amaya's Note

Six pages on Microsoft Word, that's a personal record! Next chapter will be the walk home and things between Kairi and Sora will start to heat up. And once again, sorry that this chapter didn't talk about the night at the bar and the long update, sorry. Please review, I enjoy reading what you guys think!