Here is chapter two. Thank you if for continuing to the next chapter. This is the last one with the different POV switches.

Closer Than You Think

Sora POV

Sora hadn't seen Riku at all that day at school. It worried him a bit. What Roxas said yesterday confused him, and he vaguely wondered if that was the reason Riku hadn't been around. "Or maybe," Sora thought, "he decided to break up with me and this was his way of telling me. In which case, he didn't mind." Though, it was easier to date one person regardless if he ever saw them or not. This way he could say no to other people without feeling guilty.

"Sora!" Kairi called, "Wait up."

He turned to wait for her. "What's up?" He said as they began walking.

"Nothing, but Cloud told me to tell you, don't forget to meet up with him this afternoon.'

"Oh yeah." Cloud was meeting some of Demyx's friends later on and Sora was going along with Roxas.

"What's with the curious look, Sora?"

"I'm just wondering where Riku was."

"Riku? Why would Riku matter?"

Sora turned a faint shade of red. "Well……I am going out with him, you know that."

"Yea, I know. But usually you don't want to have anything to do with the person, you're going out with."

Sora looked offended as this, but replied, "He took off so suddenly yesterday I wondered if he was alright. He's not a bad guy, Kairi."

"Says you. His reputation states differently." Kairi muttered.

"Kairi, you know rumors aren't always true."

"Anyway what's happening with Cloud after school today?" Kairi asked brightly changing the subject.

"Well, Roxas is meeting up with us. Then we, Cloud, Leon, and their group of friends are meeting a group of Demyx's friends and we're all going to hang out."

"Oooh sounds fun."

"Hey, look there's Riku!" Sora stopped and stared in shock as he realized what Riku was doing. He was surprise to see that Riku could actually act like that.

"And you said he wasn't bad." Kairi smirked.

"I was with Sora…well at the beginning. Then after that, I went home and bitched to myself. Sora has this stupid cousin who feels it's his goal in life to protect him. The kid was provoking me. He didn't seem to care at all, if I beat the crap out of him. I swear if we had met in a dark alley and he tried that shit, I would have not gone easy on him. He called me a man-whore!" Hayner and Seifer roared with laughter.

"You," Hayner choked out, "but you're a virgin."

"Exactly."

"I hope you smashed his face in." Seifer said.

"Well, I couldn't exactly do that with Sora standing there now could I?"

"Sure, you could have, at least then he would have known you weren't a wimp and that you're able to protect him if he needed it."

"Well, if he's a bad as you say, then you're going to have your work cut out for you." Hayner said.

"Move it, you're in my way!" Some midget freshman said before Riku could retort.

"Excuse me?" Seifer said.

"I said move it."

"You know I'm sick of all these freshman kids, thinking they're so big and bad. So they have to come mess with the older kids."

"Seifer……" Hayner said.

At that moment the freshman decided to shove past Seifer. Bad move. Seifer grabbed him by the hair and shoved him into a wall.

A minute later four other kids ran up on them.

"Well, looks like you took out their gang leader," Riku said laughing.

Two kids jumped Riku right then.

Riku muttered, "Karma," then an "I don't think so, kid" as the freshman attempted to hit him.

He punched one kid in the stomach and shoved him in a locker. Then proceeded to punch the other kid and shove him in the locker too. He swung the door shut and leaning back against it laughing while the kids beat on the door from the inside. His laughter died in his throat when he caught sight of Sora staring at him. He hastily turned away feeling his chances with Sora sinking lower yet.

Hayner had just finished doing away with the other two brats.

"Stupid midgets." Hayner muttered.

"Hey, look, I think that Cloud guy wants you to go over to him." Seifer stated.

"Cloud? What would he want with me?" Riku said. Oh yeah, he remembered, Roxas had asked him if he'd spoken with Cloud yet.

"Go on Riku. Go see what he wants. Maybe he wants to ask you on a date."

"Are you kidding? If he did that, Leon would probably smash my face in."

"Yea, that's true," Hayner said, "They're practically inseparable. But you better go he looks like he's getting inpatient."

Riku turned and walked over towards where Cloud was standing. As soon as he got there, he felt insubstantial compared to them. Leon was staring at him vacantly while Cloud was full out glaring. No words were spoken; Riku couldn't even meet Cloud's eyes for more than a few seconds.

"Cloud." Leon prodded him.

"Oh yeah, right." He said studying Riku over like a predator to prey.

"So, I hear you're dating Sora."

"What's it to you?" Riku retorted. Leon directed a glare in his direction and he quickly rethought his attitude, no need for an unnecessary two on one fight.

Cloud sighed oblivious to Leon's glaring. "Just answer the question."

"Yea, I am."

"Why are you dating him?"

"Because I like him."

"You don't even know him."

"Hence the reason I'm dating him. I like him and this is the easiest way to get to know him." Leon chuckled.

"You better not do anything that will hurt Sora or get you hurt."

"What is with you blondes? First the short blonde gives me all kinds of threats and now you. Don't you people have lives? What does it matter to you who Sora dates?"

Cloud gave a small smile."I see you've met Roxas then. I'm sure he already warned you well enough then. But then, considering he is my cousin. I think it does matter to me who he dates." Riku's eyes narrowed.

"Your cousin?"

"Yes, and I haven't heard nice things about you. So watch it."

Riku felt his anger rise and scowled. "You people should stop jumping to conclusions and acting like you know me. When you don't. I'll do what I want, regardless of what you think or not," Riku spat. He then turned and stormed off thinking that "storming off" was somewhat of a girly habit that he needed to break quick.

"Well, he found a nice one this time, Cloud."

Cloud gave Leon a sideways glance. "I doubt they'll be together more than two weeks."

"So, what was up with that?" Seifer asked.

"Cloud is Sora's cousin. Didn't see that one coming."

"Hah," Hayner laughed, "The first person you actually like and he comes along with two bodyguards. Nice."

Walking down the hall, Sora noticed a flash of silver to his left. He turned in that direction to spot Riku laughing with his two friends. He hesitated for brief minute seeing Riku with his friends before heading over.

"Hey Riku." Sora said. Riku looked down at him then away.

"Hey Sora. How was your day?" Hayner and Seifer smirked from behind Riku.

"It was okay. I didn't see you around--"

"Where's my closest cousin!" A singsong voice sounded from down the hall. Sora's eyes brightened and he smiled.

Then Roxas came down the hall knocking Sora onto the floor with a hug. Hayner and Seifer exchanged looks. Riku narrowed his eyes towards Roxas before looking back at Sora and asking, "What were you saying, Sora?"

"Oh," Sora looked up, "I was asking did you get your priorities straightened out?" Riku's lips tightened into a firm line while Roxas grinned up at him.

"Yes, I did get them straightened out."

"I told you, Sora. He just needed a little time."

"Sora! Roxas!" Cloud called. "Let's go!

Roxas jumped off of Sora grabbing his hand in the process. He then began dragging Sora off down the hall.

"Bye Riku." Sora called quietly.

"Yea, bye Riku." Roxas mocked as they descended down the hall towards Cloud.

"Maybe you did something wrong, Riku." Hayner stated.

"Who cares? Just beat the shit out of him and get it over with," Seifer replied, "The kid probably needs to be brought down."

"……" was Riku's only reply.

Thank you for reading. Please review.