Author's Note: Thanks you guys for reading and reviewing. It's good to have a little feedback once in a while and I really appreciate it. This chapter may be a little slow but that's how the first few chapters are. After this the story should pick up pretty quick so expect some excitement in the chapters to come. Enjoy and please review.

Thank you!

-Skye"Mom, I can't believe I let you dress me," Silver moaned as her mother pulled into a parking spot in front of the restaurant. She ran her fingers through her neatly curled side ponytail and dropped her head, trying to hide her eyes under her full bangs.

Valencia put her sweater on and pulled down the visor to check her make-up. After being satisfied with her appearance, she turned to her daughter and put a hand on her shoulder. "Silver, what the heck are you talking about? You look great. Besides, I was going to make you wear a dress so no complaining."

Silver moaned and opened the car door, stepping out into the night air. She was wearing a teal tunic that could almost have been worn as a dress. It had wide, loose sleeves that stopped at her elbow with a low-cut, v-neck with delicate lace work under the bust. Silver wore a white camisole top under it and sported a pair of black leggings. In her double pierced ears were silver hoops and she wore countless silver bangles on her wrists with her trademark necklace present as well. As she adjusted the strap of her teal gladiator sandals, she used her free hand to pull her camisole up and groaned.

"Most mothers wouldn't want their daughters showing cleavage," she thought out loud.

Valencia now stood beside Silver and pulled her along towards the restaurant. "Sweetie, it's not my fault. Besides, you should be glad that you've got something there." Silver's face turned a light shade of pink and she grumbled something incoherently under her breath. "And would you please try to have a pleasant attitude." Valencia's voice now took on a tone of seriousness and Silver held back the sarcastic remark she was preparing to release. "We haven't been on the island for years and I haven't seen my friends in so long. I think it would do you some good too. So please," she held Silver's shoulders and her eyes silently pleaded with the latter's, "try to enjoy yourself."

Feeling guilt deep within the pit of her stomach, Silver swallowed hard and put on her best smile. 'One night with a bunch of Mom's old friends won't kill me,' she reasoned mentally. 'Instead of being a brat, I'll act decent. Besides, she probably went through a lot of trouble to make this happen.'

"Okay Mom, no more sarcasm. I promise I'll be on my best behavior," Silver told her sincerely.

Valencia squeezed Silver's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "Thank you Silver." And then she playfully but seriously added, "Because if you acted out I'd make you regret it, you know that right?"

"Yup," Silver rolled her eyes and knew that her mother could really make her suffer if she should do something stupid. The thought of it made her shiver and then she turned her attention to the restaurant before her. Valencia opened the door and the pair stepped inside, the sweet scent of exotic flowers filling the air.

It was rather large and in Silver's opinion, very chic and trendy. It was dimly lit with red and blue lights beating against the black walls. There was a bar in the center of the room with several tables surrounding it with booths along the walls. Soft, exotic music filled the room and everyone inside seemed to be in high spirits. At the back of the restaurant, Silver could see through the windows that there was a back patio area overlooking the ocean.

"This place is nice," Silver's mouth was hanging open and then she turned to her mother who was scanning the area for their party. "It's like one of those ultra chic restaurants that only exist on TV. My mood is already lifted."

"Well I'm glad you like it."

Silver's eyes fell on the outside patio area and she tapped her mother's elbow. "Do you mind if I go outside while we wait for company?"

"Go ahead sweetheart," her mother replied. "Besides we're early. I'll probably meet you out there in a little while."

"Thanks Mom." She quickly crossed the room, weaved her way through the throngs of people waiting for their table and came to the patio door. There were several tables out there with a couple of benches on the side with the area being lit up softly by gold lantern hanging from up above. She made her way over to a bench on the far left and sat on the edge so she could look down below at the ocean. Silver rested her chin in her hand and stared longingly out into the sea, inhaling the familiar ocean scent whilst daydreaming about the friends she had left behind long ago, wondering whether or not they would remember her.

"Valencia!" Riku's mother called as she spotted her friend near a fish tank close to the entrance. Valencia's head snapped in her direction just in time to find herself in a tight hug. "Oh my God! I can't believe it's been so long."

"It's good to see you too, Carmen," Valencia said with joyous laughter while squeezing her best friend tighter. "It's been 6 years. We have so much to catch up on."

Carmen and Valencia pulled away from each other but still held hands. "I know. By the way, I hope you remember my son."

Riku, who had been leaning against the wall, smiled and walked over to Valencia, who's jaw had totally dropped. "That's not the nine year-old boy who used to hang around my house all the time," she said, sounding completely awestruck. Valencia held her arms out to Riku who found himself pulled into a tight embrace.

"It's good to see you Ms. Valencia," he said politely. She then held him out before her and turned to Carmen. "This isn't a boy anymore. Look at him; he's practically grown!"

"Don't tell him that," Carmen advised her. "He'll get a big head and start running off whenever he wants. I already have a hard time keeping him in the house. Don't you make it worse."

"And he's so handsome. Not that I didn't expect it, though."

Carmen looked over Valencia's shoulder and then scanned the immediate area. "Where's Silver?"

"Oh, she went outside on the patio a few minutes ago." Valencia then turned back to Riku. "Do you want to get her, Riku? I didn't tell her who we were meeting."

"Sure," he replied while putting his hands in his jean pockets. "I'll be right back." And then he disappeared into the crowd, leaving his mother and her friend to talk amongst themselves.

'I wonder if Silver even remembers me,' he thought to himself. 'It's been a while. Well,' Riku brushed off his navy-blue dress shirt and pushed open the patio doors, 'if she forgets then I'll make her remember.' The cool ocean wind hit him and he stared out to see a bright full moon hanging in the sky. He looked to his right instinctively and saw no one and then slowly turned to the left where he saw a girl, possibly the same age as him, with her back to him staring out into the ocean.

Riku paused for a second before he called out to her. She was taller than most of the girls he knew and she had long black hair pulled into a ponytail over one shoulder. He stepped forward when he saw her tan, brown-ish skin that was identical to Valencia's and walked over to her, feeling his chest tighten.

"Silver, is that you?" Riku asked softly.

The girl broke out of her trance-like state and looked over her shoulder, freezing when her unmistakable green eyes connected with Riku's aquamarine eyes.

Silver and Riku stood there for, what felt like to her, the longest moment in history. A light blush rose to her cheeks and she was thankful that they were in a dimly lit area. "Oh. My. God," was all she could get out before she found Riku standing before her. This was the absolute last person Silver was expecting to see tonight and seeing him now just made her heart race. Of course he had always been a cute kid, but now in Silver's eyes, he wasn't just some little kid who came over to play with swords: he was the hottest guy on the island who she happened to hang out with as a child.

Her voice was caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat when he pulled her close for a hug. Silver, totally off guard, blushed furiously and went completely stiff. Through his shirt, Silver could feel his muscular chest and his scent, which was almost identical to that of the ocean, invaded her senses. Riku was taller than her by at the very least two inches but still she found herself cheek to cheek with him. After she broke out of her trance, she weakly wrapped her arms around him.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," Silver managed. Riku pulled away slightly, still holding Silver and smiled. "Same here," he agreed.

"I also didn't know I'd be having dinner with you," she said while looking around for anyone else she might know. Silver released Riku while he had his hands on her shoulders. "Are your parents here too?"

"Yeah but it's just my Mom. I guess your Mom wanted it to be a surprise."

'Well she got surprise down pat,' she thought with slight irritation.

"Anyway," Riku cleared his throat and led Silver back through the restaurant, "I think our Moms are gonna start asking where we are so let's hurry up."

All Silver could manage was a simple nod before letting Riku lead her back into the restaurant. And as he pulled her along, linking hands as he did so, Silver felt a strange series of emotions run through her body that she had never experienced before. And with that, a secret buried deep within her heart resurfaced, sending her into bittersweet euphoria.