I do not own Kingdom Hearts, nor any of its characters.

Just my Perspective


"She Draws"

Have you ever totally screwed up a conversation, but thought it might have turned out somewhat well anyway? I'm trying to convince myself I'm not the only one who's done that.

So yesterday began like a typical Friday. It's the one school day that I wake up actually happy. The teachers are more lenient, and everyone just has a better attitude going through the day. It's probably simply because everyone that has plans is ready to make them happen, and everyone who doesn't is ready to let things happen. Axel and I usually fall into the second category. However, yesterday Axel seemed somewhat out of it.

I saw him at school as soon as I got into the building from the parking lot. He was sitting in the lunchroom, which is open for people who arrive early to just chill and the grill is on for those who want a cheap and decent breakfast. He had a table to himself. He looked very thoughtful. Normally this really wouldn't be a big thing, but he looked thoughtful and quiet. THAT was the weird thing; he's usually ready to explain what's on his mind when he's feeling pensive. I was able to come to the conclusion that he was genuinely distraught over something. It worried me a bit.

"Hey Axel, how's it going?" I tried to open casually as I sat next to him.

He looked at me, but his expression really didn't change. It barely softened. "Roxas, how long have we known each other?"

I was taken aback. "Well… for about ten years I guess. It's been on and off though, considering how you moved, what, three years ago?"

"Yeah, but before you moved here in July, we still stayed close didn't we?"

"I like to think so, yeah. Why?"

"I'm just thinking about something somebody said to me."

"Something somebody said?" I tried prying out more information, but Axel wouldn't budge. He was pretty tight-lipped when he wanted to be, and he definitely wanted to be now. I tried asking who and what he was talking about and he was just silent. The older we got, the more he seemed to keep secrets. It was a little scary; especially because I knew every now and then he'd get into trouble, driving his mom mad.

Axel ended up changing the subject. A smile spread across his face and to my dismay I felt that something embarrassing would soon happen. Turned out I was right.

"Hey, isn't that the girl that you're in love with? Naminé?"

Just because of the sound of her name I had to look. Sure enough, there she was: Naminé from my English class. She was walking into the lunchroom with a slightly preoccupied face, like she was having an internal conversation. She was walking towards the breakfast line, which was long enough to reach the restrooms. She almost bumped into the person in front of her and gave an apologetic smile even though the person didn't even notice her. It was cute. It was apparent that she didn't realize that she was so cute, and that her quirkiness made her even cuter. She was very beautiful in that way, though I wish I never had said that aloud to Axel. He's since taken intense interest in her.

"Yeah, that's her." I couldn't help but look at my clothes. I was wearing black jeans and a navy blue tee. I decided I was dressed well enough.

"Well then lets go talk to her!"

Axel got up and started walking towards her quickly. I thought I was about to crap my pants as I followed. For all the thinking about her I've done, I've never said more than three sentences to her at a time. Kairi actually asked me to hang out with her and Naminé this past weekend and I passed on it I was so nervous. Then I just told myself it was because I was feeling lazy, but I can admit it now. I couldn't help but notice that Kairi tried extra hard to get me to hang out.

Or maybe I've just been overthinking. I really hope anyone reading this doesn't think I'm a creep.

Anyway, we reached the line and stood behind her. She was looking at the menu posted above the cashier. I swear I saw her eyes swiftly look at me to take notice and then look back at the menu. Axel very audibly made a noise as if he was deciding what to get. It was one of those "hmmm" sounds. I couldn't help but wonder if Axel wanted to actually buy anything.

"I can't decide what to get." Axel definitely sounded honest, but I knew him well enough to know that he was acting. I realized what his plan was to start a conversation. If there's one thing I can give Axel credit for, it's talking to people.

He tapped Naminé on the shoulder. She turned around, and I swear her eyes were fixated on me first despite me not giving any indication that I was the one that tapped her shoulder. I think I actually pretended to check the menu in a poor attempt to look blasé.

"Sorry to bother you, but my friend and I," Axel then nodded his head towards me, "are pretty indecisive about what to get. What were you going to get?"

Naminé definitely looked surprised, but not annoyed or freaked out thankfully. "Oh, just French Toast I think. I've only had the breakfast here a couple times."

"Really? Are you new here? You don't look like a freshman." Axel knew the answer but still looked genuine. He was moving along perfectly too. He's just good at that kind of thing. He'd be a good wingman for anybody.

"Well I'm not really new. I've lived here on the islands before when I was younger. My family moves every now and then because of my dad's work." She gave a small friendly smile.

She glanced at me, and my heart fluttered. I wanted to say something, but actually being in a situation that we could talk made me nervous enough to be at a loss for words. Cliché and cheesy, I know. Still, she was just something else. I was afraid that if I said something stupid, she'd always remember me for saying something stupid.

"Well my buddy here just moved here this past summer from Twilight Town." At the mention of Twilight Town, Naminé seemed to have a reaction as she looked at me with a serious face. I'm still not sure why. "Maybe the two of you could hang out. Go exploring with each other."

Naminé was clearly taken aback by the sudden suggestion. "Oh, maybe." Did she sound interested or uninterested? I couldn't tell.

I finally said something. "If you don't want to that's fine too. I mean I doubt it would even be that fun if you and I hung out."

What was my attempt at being casual clearly ended up being me saying something stupid she'd probably always remember. Axel looked pissed and Naminé looked surprised. I was about ready to die and not even come back as an angel, just so I wouldn't have to see their faces again. I can only imagine my face at that moment.

BAM! I hadn't even realized that I had stepped close enough to the door to the girl's bathroom to get hit. Someone had opened the door very suddenly and basically gave me a good hit. I stumbled trying to orientate myself again and I quickly looked around to see that Xion had come out of the bathroom. She was wide-eyed and had a very apologetic look on her face.

"Roxas, I'm so sorry!"

I tried to scoff. "I'm good, you?" I couldn't believe myself. 'I'm good, you?' I clearly didn't look capable of basic interactions in front of Naminé yesterday morning.

Xion gave me a weird smile; then she looked at Axel. Her smile went away and she left without saying anything else. Axel just looked at her solemnly and watched her as she left.

"Next." The woman at the register was trying to grab the attention of Naminé.

"Hi. Just the French Toast please." She received her order, and as she turned to leave she just smiled at the two of us and walked off quickly.

I asked Axel, "How awkward was I?"

Axel responded without looking at me, "Pretty bad, but salvageable." He was just staring off into the distance.

"Next."

After the morning fiasco, things went on like normal. I went to my first two classes, Computer Science (with Pence) and Chemistry without a hitch. Axel's mood, Xion's rush, and my entire interaction with Naminé all remained coursing through my mind. Yes, nothing but high school problems, but that doesn't make them less meaningful to me. Writing about these things really does help. It's a surprise, I must admit.

Which reminds me, I've got to see Dr. Ansem again on Monday. I'm actually looking forward to it.

I digress. So I went to my first two classes, and then I went to my third, which is World History. Xion is in that class with me. We're on opposite sides of the room, so we never get a chance to talk. Still, we always make sure to say hi. We have lunch after this class too, but instead of walking to the lunchroom together she always goes to the restroom, so I usually just head straight to eat without her.

Yesterday I caught her looking in my direction again. She's pretty good about not being caught, but I still see her looking my way. What's weird is I'm not sure what to think. I'd be lying if I said romantic interest didn't cross my mind. I wouldn't mind exploring that route; she's pretty and doesn't seem to realize it. But I'm not so sure that's it. Sometimes I feel like she looks at me as if she expects something. What makes it weirder is I have no clue as to what she expects, if anything. I found it hard to tell if there was still any awkwardness left from this morning.

Lunch was lunch, until Kairi made a request. Right before my usual time to go outside and chill, Kairi asked me to do her a favor. I didn't mind. I was actually going to stay in for the entire lunch hour yesterday.

"Can you bring something to my friend Naminé? She left one of her sketchbooks at my house yesterday." Kairi pulled a notebook-sized and very plain olive colored sketchbook out of her backpack. I agreed to do it, though now I realize I probably should've asked why she didn't go herself. The more I think about, the more it seems she was especially chipper at lunch and that she had a certain "look" when she asked me to do the favor. I may just be overthinking though.

I was probably the only person in the entire lunchroom that was leaving early. The hallways were almost completely empty. When lunch started, everyone either went straight to eat, or they went straight to a room to work on something through their lunch. Apparently Naminé fell into the latter group. I didn't even know she had the same lunch hour as us.

Kairi sent me to what I've learned is called Hipster Hallway. It's a hall in the school that has doors to various art rooms and ends up leading into the school's band rooms. I have nothing against artistic people; apparently there are a lot of weird posers that hang out there who like to be artsy for the credibility. I feel it's a given that Naminé isn't an annoying hipster.

Without much trouble, I found the room that Naminé apparently spends her lunches in: Room 270, which is also known as the white room. I now know why. It's one of the only classrooms in the school that has its walls all painted white and is hardly decorated. Even the tables are white.

It's a little funny that Naminé didn't actually stick out that much among all the white. She's pale, blonde, and she was wearing a white shirt with a light floral pattern, so none of those helped much. Still, I of course focused on her right away. She was seated in front of an easel, entranced by her own work and alone. I could tell that she was going for a beach.

"So I was thinking more about the best subjects to use for the shadowing unit." She sounded confident, like she was talking to a friend and with authority.

I didn't know what to say. I just kind of paused.

"Miss. Gainsborough?" Naminé turned. Her inquisitive look changed to shock as soon as she saw me. "Oh, hi." Her voice was no longer confident, it was now subdued.

This was my second chance. "Naminé, right?" Of course I knew her name, just playing it cool.

"Yes. And you're Roxas right?" Her expression didn't change.

"Yep." I tried to give her a friendly smile to seem more approachable. She smiled back! "Kairi asked me to give this to you."

I walked over to her and handed her the sketchbook. She took it and just sort of looked at it, like she was waiting for me to keep talking (or something to that effect).

"So you draw?" I mentally slapped myself.

"Yeah. I've been doing sketches since I was seven. I've been dabbling with painting watercolors and other things for the past couple of years."

"Oh, that's cool. I don't know anything about painting, I just play guitar." I tried to scoff at myself. I probably looked like an idiot.

Naminé smiled. "Well I wish I could play the guitar."

"If we ever do hang out like Axel, my friend, suggested, I could definitely show you a few pointers." Not bad.

Naminé nodded and smiled, though I doubt she took my suggestion seriously. "That sounds fun."

I suddenly heard footsteps encroaching. In walked in Miss. Gainsborough, holding a thermos. I've only spoken to her once, when asking for directions my first day, and she was incredibly nice. Plus she's really pretty. I wish I had a class with her as the teacher. She looked surprised to see me. I wondered how many people besides Naminé actively came to spend their lunches drawing. "Oh hello. Are you also an art student?"

"No I was just dropping something off. Bye Naminé." I gave a small wave as I started to leave. Naminé looked a little disappointed, or at least I like to think so. I walked by Mrs. Gainsborough and mouthed "bye" to her.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Besides my schoolwork, I spent most of my time thinking about my interactions and what music I wanted to download.

This morning Sora told me as we were eating that Kairi is coming over. She should be here soon actually. I'm going to ask her about Naminé if I get the chance.

Last modification: 12:34 P.M. 9/9/2006


AN: I hope you enjoyed! This took an incredibly long time, I know. I'm very sorry. I was doing a writing internship away from home and online summer school, and now that both have finally ended my time has freed up. Like with the first chapter, all comments will be responded to.