This is the first chapter that skips time, but it's also a lot longer so yay!
a-nobodyXII: I don't think I'm going to be able to post it like that. Too much homework… Ah, the joys of being a teenager…
mousehole: Yeah, I thought that. I don't even know why I asked it. I am a weirdo sometimes though… I can't merge them because of the way I'm writing this though.
Typewrite: They are starting to grow up, a little bit. I suppose there will be more of when they're older because you remember that better
Chapter 3: Fourth Grade
I've always wondered what made little kids think love is icky.
Is it that they don't understand it? Humans are known to reject what they don't understand.
I wonder…
I walked into class the first morning of fourth grade to Roxas's face brighter than it had been when he smeared the cupcake across it 3 years ago. I approached him worriedly.
"Roxas?" I called gently because somewhere along the way we had stopped with the nicknames. "Is something wrong?" He mumbled something unintelligible.
A girl sitting near him grinned. "Roxas and Naminé sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Roxas with a baby carriage!"
I blushed a shade brighter than Roxas.
"N-no! I-it's not like that! We're just friends!"
The teacher entered.
"Okay, class, take a seat."
X
I heard a faint tune as I sat down on a mat in the gym.
"K-I-S-S—" Kairi sang just slightly off key.
"Shut up," I snarled back.
"Calm down, I was just joking. Besides, you knew this would happen eventually. Sora won't talk to me anymore!" Kairi waved her hand vaguely. "It'll get better!"
"Yeah, right," I retorted.
"No, it really will, Naminé! Trust me!"
"It's just weird," I muttered. "I've never thought of him like that."
"Yeah. I know."
X
"…now choose your partners." The class snapped to attention and began bustling around. I approached Roxas's desk.
"Roxas, do you—" I began quietly. He walked away from me.
"Naminé! Will you be my partner?" Selphie asked.
I glance back over at Roxas. He had happily paired up with Sora since Riku had chosen Kairi.
"Sure."
X
"It's not that bad," Kairi consoled as she slid down. Before I could even take my seat, she climbed back up the ladder. "I mean, he's doing the right thing. Ignoring you, and they'll all forget about it."
"Well, yeah, but…" I shrugged and tried to come up with an argument as I laid down headfirst. Kairi rolled her eyes and pushed me down. I tumbled to the bottom.
"Woah!" I rolled onto the rocks where I scraped my knee.
"Naminé! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—" Kairi babbled as she climbed down. I nodded my tear-streaked face and continued to rock. I heard the rocks behind me crunching.
"Are you okay?" Roxas asked with a pointed glare at Kairi. He grabbed my hoodie's sleeve and tossed my arm over his shoulder. "I'm going to take you to the nurse."
The teacher, a homophobic, granted us permission immediately.
"Roxas, Naminé! What a surprise to see you!" Nurse Greenly exclaimed. I gave myself a small laugh as Roxas placed me on one of the "patient" chairs and rolled up my pants leg.
"We know who that's for," he mumbled to me.
"I'm not that much of a klutz, am I?" I whispered back. He gave me a pointed look.
"So what happened?" the nurse continued.
"Naminé fell down the slide," Roxas explained, grinning slightly. I nodded in embarrassment.
"Naminé," she breathed back, shaking her head as she cleaned my cut. "Okay, well, I have to go to lunch, so can you put a band-aid on her, Roxas? And after that, just go to class. Recess is almost over?"
"Sure," he replied. Nurse Greenly left.
"Which one?" he asked as he held up two boxes.
"Hm… I dunno… Hello Kitty is so cute, but Tweety is cool! What do you think, Roxas?" I debated playfully, mocking a fashion designer we had heard on TV.
He removed a pink band-aid and plastered it on my knee. "Hello Kitty, definitely," Roxas decided as he glanced up at me. We stared breathlessly for a moment before he removed his hand and stood up.
"Um… we should probably…"
"Go to class, yeah…"
"Alright."
X
"Oh my gosh, I just heard Yuna likes Tidus."
That was the end of the Roxas-and-Naminé era.
"Naminé!" Kairi yelled as she slung a swing—with a kid on it—out of her way. "Why did you ignore me when I asked to be your partner?" I dropped my sketchbook on the ground.
"U-um… well…" I stuttered.
"Answer me!"
"You're a bad partner! Whenever we pair up, I have to do all the work!" I snapped.
"Fine!" Kairi clenched her hand. "Then I guess we aren't friends anymore!"
X
"Roxas!" I cried as I bounced over to him. "Do you want to come over Saturday?" Roxas's head shot up in surprise.
"Huh? Don't you normally spend this Saturday with Kairi?"
I frowned. "Kairi and I aren't friends anymore."
"Since when? You walked to school together this morning…" Roxas questioned gently. I opened my mouth to retort, but a pointedly loud voice shouted across the room.
"Naminé's just a brat."
My face burned and I dug my nails into Roxas's book. With a forced smile, I asked, "So you're coming over Saturday, right?" Roxas nervously agreed and hastily left.
Hm.
X
"Hi, Roxas!" I grinned and pulled him inside.
"Um, hi, Naminé…"
"So, I got a new magazine and—"
"No," Roxas decided. "Can't we… play a game or something?" I pouted, slightly deflated, and nodding, grabbed a one of the games that Kai— I always loved.
"Okay, well, I get to be—" I started as I set up the pieces.
"No. Naminé, I can't—"
I looked down and tried a few sniffles before looking up at him with teary eyes. "B-but… Roxy…" I threw in his old nickname for good measure. "It's my favorite…"
"Um…" Roxas stuttered as he's never been good with tears. "Don't worry! I'll play!" I wiped my eyes, hopped up, and hugged him.
"Yay! Thanks!"
X
"Hey, Roxas?" I asked softly through the phone.
"Y-yeah? Ven? What are you doing? Ven, stop that! Sorry. What?"
"Can you come to the mall with me? I want some new books and maybe a sketchbook and few colored pencils… Anyway, could you come and help me pick them out? My mom will come and pick you up in a few hours."
"Ven— Mom, Ven's annoying me while I'm talking to Naminé! Um, okay, I guess. Just let me ask my mom."
"'Kay," I agreed and twirled the phone cord to pass the time.
"She said its fine, so I'll see you soon?"
"Yeah. Bye, Roxas!"
X
"Alright, I have my books and a package of colored pencils so I guess—" I listed as Roxas and Mom followed me. I looked up to see a pretty bright white dress hanging on a rack.
"Naminé—"
I grabbed it and twirled. "Isn't it cute, Roxas?"
"Um… well…"
I sighed. "But it's way too big for me… Okay, let's go."
X
"C'mon, Naminé."
"What?" I groaned. "I want to go outside!"
"This'll be fun, don't worry!" Roxas promised.
I frowned, mumbling, "Since when is helping organize Ms. Landers' library fun?"
He glared. We had reached our classroom when Roxas suddenly stopped. I turned to him in confusion to find him sprinting off in the other direction very hurriedly.
"I'll be right back. I need a drink! Go on in!"
I shrugged and walked in.
"Oh, Naminé! Good! Okay, now, girls, I'm going to go eat lunch, but you can stay in here all you want. Recess is over in about ten minutes, so I think you can get done."
Girls?
I turned my head to see Kairi. I scowled. Looking back for Ms. Landers to ask to leave, I noticed she had disappeared.
"What're you doing here?" I growled.
Kairi rolled her eyes. "Sora and Riku wanted to help out, but they disappeared."
I stared for a moment.
"Really? So did Roxas…"
Kairi shook her head. "Whatever. Okay, since I'm taller, I'll put up the higher books and you can do the lower ones."
"Fine…"
We worked in silence for 5 minutes until I came across my favorite book.
"Sideways Stories from Wayside School! I love this book! Did you know—"
"They're making a cartoon? Yeah. I'm so excited!"
We squealed.
"Oh my gosh, well, that sounded funny," Kairi noted.
"Yeah…"
I shifted awkwardly.
Kairi looked up. "Um, hey, so, my birthday's in a couple weeks. Would you come to a Princess Pony party?" I smiled and nodded.
"Sure! Wouldn't miss it!"
"Hi, girls!" Ms. Landers greeted. "Okay, class, sit down, recess's over…"
Kairi giggled.
"Well, okay! See you later, Naminé!"
I sat down. Roxas gave a childish smirk.
"So are you and Kobayashi friends again?"
I stuck out my tongue.
"Shut up…"
It's been a little bit, but school's back, along with drama… which is ironically centered around our musical… I know this isn't too long, but it's longer so I hope you're happy. I'm going to make this my main focus because I just really love the idea.
And about Wayside... It's really the only book I can remember reading as a kid...
Question of the Day:
Do you think Naminé should be a good singer? Or is she just an artist?