Phew. So I think considering how long this chapter is, I wrote it pretty fast. Key word I think, so that's not really saying much. I don't really have much to say this time. Oh, I got high speed internet finally, after years of dial up! & I was partners with Jake in civics and we pretty much failed at writing a poem for majority party. But we still got a 100 so it's all good.

Anyways,

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, "High School Never Ends" by Bowling for Soup for which this chapter is named after, or any other random things I may mention in this fanfic that are copyrighted.

FRACTURED LOVE: Chapter Two

High School Never Ends

And you still don't have the right look,
And you don't have the right friends.
Nothing changes but the faces, the names, and the trends;
High school never ends.

XOXO

It was kind of pathetic, the way I was feeling at the moment; like a kindergartner being dropped off by their mom for the first day of school, out into the real world for the first time alone. Sora did have a class with me, but not today. He didn't even have to get up until twelve today. I, on the other hand, had a class at nine and had to suffer the anxiety of going to my first college class, alone. At least he managed to stay awake long enough to attempt to give me some comforting; his words jumbled by his tiredness. It made me laugh and feel a little more optimistic.

Though the reminisce of this morning brought a smile, it could not warm me in this seemingly forbidding and frost-bitten hallway. Hugging myself in an attempt of self-comforting and warmth, I mentally assured myself, 'Almost there.'

"Kairi?" A gentle and quiet voice called out from behind me.

Turning around to face a smiling blonde, I exclaimed as I pulled her into a hug, "Naminè! Thank God, I was about to die from an anxiety attack from being alone."

Giving a light laugh, she answered, "I know what you mean. So, which class are you heading to?"

"Um, sketching and design. You?" I replied, shifting the weight of my tote bag on my shoulder.

Her face quickly lighting up, she exclaimed, "That's what I have, too!"

Giving a sigh of relief and beginning to walk forward again, I brushed a stray crimson hair out of my face and behind my ear as I stated, "Phew. That was one thing I was really worried about; not knowing anyone."

Nodding, Naminè added, "It is really awkward when you don't know anyone. Especially for me; it's not easy for me to meet new people."

"I'm alright, but I really prefer a sense of familiarity; especially on the first day." I turned back to give a grateful smile. The blonde nodded in understanding, not making a sound as we entered the room.

"Hey, Naminè!" Both of us turned our heads to see a brunette girl in the back of the room, waving eagerly with a broad smile upon her face.

"Oh!" Naminè made an exclamation of surprise, then dragged me towards the back of the room, "Hi, Olette. This is Kairi."

"Hey, nice to meet you! I've heard a lot about you from Roxas and Nam, here." I shook her hand as she spoke, her emerald eyes lighting up in excitement. She almost reminded me of an older and somewhat calmer Selphie.

Giving a glance back to Naminè, I gave an embarrassed smile, "I haven't really heard much about you, but yeah, nice to meet you too." Naminè and I taking our seats across from the brunette, Olette immediately began chatting animatedly.

"Isn't it so cool to be in college now? It's so like, wow, where have the years gone?" She practically bounced up and down as she spoke. Olette definitely contrasted the entire room with her bright orange outfit and her contagious smile. The rest of us were all strangely wearing dull colors such as blue, black, gray, and white and were all more nervous about surviving the first day rather than what had yet to come.

"It's definitely different." I replied with a nervous laugh, ignoring the few stares in our direction.

Nodding in an understanding, the brunette girl replied, "Yeah, change can be a little scary. But it also can be really exciting."

A hint of red grazing her cheeks, Naminè stated quietly, "That's true…My life was really different before I met Roxas."

"That's right!" Olette leaned over the table to give the blonde a slight hug, "Without Roxas, you wouldn't have been introduced to our little gang." Retreating back to her side of the table, she turned to me and began, "Speaking of, you should totally come and meet everyone tonight. Well, you already know us and Roxas, but I'm sure Pence and Hayner would love to meet you!"

"Sure, why not?" I gave a wide smile in response, before adding, "It'd be okay if I brought my boyfriend, Sora, right?"

"Of course!" Olette nodded, obviously eager about her new found college social life.

Chuckling, I joked, "I should probably get out now before hockey starts. Then I'll be confined to the arena almost every night."

"Sora plays hockey?" Naminè gave a look of surprise and I almost let out a laugh. True, she had not been around him much, but I found it simply amazing that some one could manage to not hear of his obsession.

Nodding with a light smile, I explained, "Yeah. He and his friend Jake are here on scholarships for hockey, actually."

"They must be really good." Olette acknowledged with interest.

"Neither will admit it, but yeah; they are." I commented as I tucked a strand of crimson hair behind my ear. Olette and Naminè both opened their mouths to continue the conversation but both of their jaws quickly clenched shut as the instructor entered the room. Taking an hour to explain campus as well as classroom expectations and the like, class dragged on for what felt like an eternity.

Walking out into the parking lot to our cars, Naminè asked, "Do you two want to go get lunch or something? There's nothing to do at our dorm, really."

"Not at all." Olette emphasized with a grimace.

Nodding eagerly as I felt my stomach gurgling, I answered, "Sure. I may be a few dollars short, so I may have to borrow some."

"That's fine." The brunette waved her hand dismissively.

"Let me call Sora first, just in case he might have a heart attack of me not being there before his first class." I joked as I dug through my purse for my cell phone. Really, I did not have the right to joke about it; I knew the way I missed and wanted him this morning was a little too over dramatic. 'He wouldn't feel like that, though," I concluded, 'So it's alright to joke about it, I guess.'

Both of the girls laughing, they answered, "Okay." Dialing his number without even having to think about it, I held the phone up to my ear to hear the dial tone.

A tired voice answered, "Hey, class over?"

"Mhm," I answered cheerfully, then asked, "Guess who's in my class?"

Taking a moment to ponder, Sora guessed, "Uh, Riku?"

"Nope," I gave an amused giggle at his random guess, "Naminè!"

"Hi, Sora!" She chirped in the background.

"I'm going to lunch with her and her friend, Olette. Sorry if you wanted to see me or something before you left. I really appreciate you getting up for me this morning." I added quietly, feeling a blush and the fluttering butterflies of embarrassment rising in my stomach. To give myself comical relief, I added with a laugh, "Even though you were half asleep."

"You're welcome, then." He paused and I could just picture his goofy grin, "But, yeah. It's okay. I'll admit I kinda did wanna see you before I left, but I'll survive; I promise."

Biting my lip in guilt, I asked, "You sure?"

"Yes, Kai." He answered before giving a loud yawn.

"Okay," I answered, fidgeting with my foot before recalling our plans for later, "Oh! Naminè and Olette asked us to go and meet some of their friends later. Roxas will be there too." I added to make the plans seem more appeasing.

"Alright, I'm down." Sora answered with genuine interest.

"You're down?" I repeated in a laugh. Noticing the impatient stares and foot tapping of Olette and Naminè, I added, "I'd better go; I think they're getting tired of me talking. Besides, I don't want to make you late to your class."

He immediately retorted, "No, please do."

Rolling my eyes and giving a slight giggle, I answered, "Bye, Sora. Good luck with your class; I love you,"

"Love you too. See you later," Click.

Flipping my cell phone shut, I turned to the girls with an apologetic smile, "Sorry!"

Olette merely shook her head and laughed while Naminè answered, "It's okay."

"Shall we go, then?" I inquired with a wide grin.

"Sure," Olette chirped, pulling the car door open and unlocking the rest.

Though the time out with the girls was fun and somewhat of a missed luxury for me, I still missed Sora so much that it seemed unnatural. Lying on the couch back at the apartment, I gave a sigh. 'Maybe it was a bad idea moving in with him.' I bit my lip in thought, 'I'm probably going to turn all clingy…But am I already clingy? It does seem like I've spent the majority, if not all of my time around Sora ever since Ryou…'

I shuddered and clamped my eyes shut as I tried to shove away the memories and recent nightmares. Ryou was dead and couldn't hurt me anymore, but I was still so afraid. Sora made me feel safe and realistically was the only one that could really get my mind off of the subject once I had thought of it.

Curling up into a ball in attempt to warm myself and make the goosebumps on my arms and legs vanish, I quickly found the attempt to be futile as well as trying to watch TV. Merely staring at the flashing and blurred images upon the screen instead of comprehending the shapes and objects, I allowed my consciousness to slip away; the exact opposite of what I wanted.

Now I was no longer in my new living room, but instead in a familiar and nausea inducing bedroom. The room itself was not bad, it was actually very plain; white, bare walls, a dark blue comforter covering the bed and a wooden dresser off to the side. However the grip of fear upon me and the smell of overly strong cologne emanating from every inch of the room was overpowering me.

No sooner then I had turned around to ensue my plan of escape had he appeared in the doorway. My eyes passed over him, clenching shut after catching sight of the smirk upon his face. I then felt his body pressing against mine, tilting me backwards and onto the bed. 'Selphie. Sora. Riku. Jake. Tidus. Their parents.' I repeated in my head to answer the question of why I wasn't resisting as he began kissing me.

Roughly breaking away, he questioned in an angered tone, "Why aren't you kissing me back, Kairi?"

Fighting back the tears that threatened to choke me, I squeaked, "I'm sorry. I will." Feeling his weight began to shirt again, I clenched my eyes shut as I thought, 'I'm so sorry, Sora. I have to, to keep you and everyone else safe.' My lips tremble red in an effort not to cry out as I felt his breath on my face. Sharply running his lips against my own, I felt a lone tear escape as it slid down my cheek as I gave the least amount of a kiss as I could.

I felt my muscles tighten as one of his hands left my face and quickly felt it at my waist. The hand slipping past the brim of my jeans, I let out a loud gasp of "NO!"

"Kairi?" I looked into the quizzical expression of the boy I loved.

"Sora!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down towards me, burying my face into his chest as I cried, "I-it was the d-dream again…"

Placing himself beside me on the couch, he collected me into his arms and whispered, "It's okay, Kairi. He's gone. He can't hurt you anymore."

Sniffling, I replied, "I know. But it's always so real…" Looking up into his warm and comforting sapphire eyes, I stated as the tears began to build up again, "I hate it, Sora."

"I know," He brushed the hair that hung in my face behind my ears before kissing my forehead and adding, "I would take it all away if I could."

"Thanks," I answered still in sniffles, nudging my head against his shoulder and adding, "I love you."

"I love you, too." He repeated before giving me a small peck on the lips, asking, "Anything I can do to make you feel better?"

Lifting myself out of his grasp and scooting back to the edge of the couch, I was amused as he gave a confused stare. Nodding, I gave my reply, "Let's try that again," I reached out and tugged the collar of his shirt, indicating for him to come to me.

Grinning, Sora gave a quiet chuckle and shake of his head as he leaned downwards. Giving a giggle myself, I fluttered my eyes shut as he inched towards me. His lips softly caressing my own, this time it took everything in me to not release a squeal of delight as the warmth flooded over me; I felt like I was literally melting.

Deciding to keep as much composure as I possibly could, I gently broke away and asked, "So, how was your first class?"

Blinking for a moment as if he were confused, He replied, "Oh. It was okay, I guess."

"Better or worse than you expected?" I further questioned.

Biting down on his lip and racking through his memory, Sora answered, "Better-ish. Why?" I shrugged in reply, causing him to retreat and sit up straight again. Crossing his arms and giving me an examining stare, he asked, "Trying to distract me, huh?"

Grinning, I admitted, "You caught me. But Naminè and Olette are gonna call soon and I don't wanna be totally out of it when I answer the phone…" I whined, adding a pout for effect.

Throwing his hands up in defeat, he answered, "That's okay, I guess." Taking a moment to pause and comprehend what I had just said, he then gave a sly smirk and inquired, "So I really have that effect on you?"

Sometimes I missed the shy, younger version of Sora.

Feeling a warmth begin to rise in my cheeks, I replied, "Yes? I evidently must have the same effect on you if you can actually understand my brainless muttering and giggle fits." I retorted in a poor attempt to switch the embarrassment to him.

Eyebrows raising, he merely replied, "Maybe."

"A lot of help you are." I stated, slumping backward and tilting my head back onto the arm rest.

"Can't you let Olette and Naminè hear you babble for just this once?" He gave a pleading tone.

Sitting up, I started, "I just--" before I was cut off by his lips. Raising my hands up and my eyes still open from the surprise, Sora grabbed both of my hands and pinned them at my sides. "You're too good at this." I stated in a whisper as I closed my eyes and gave in, returning the favor. His hands slipping away from my wrists, my arms shoot upward around his neck and pulled him closer. The then ran a hand through my hair as he ensued a trail of kisses down my neck; putting me into a giggle fit.

"I'm too ticklish!" I complained through my laughs, quickly regretting saying anything after I felt his lips leave my skin. Raising an eyebrow and his hands inching towards my waist, I quickly exclaimed in protest, "No!" Ignoring my request, he proceeded to tickle my sides while I attempted to bat away his hands in futile effort. Luckily, my ring tone began to blast out of my phone and saved me.

Sora realizing his grasp, I retrieved my phone and giggled into the speaker, "Ha-hello?"

"Um. Did I call at a bad time?" Naminè questioned, sounding a bit flustered.

"No, not at all." I replied seriously before letting out another laugh and adding, "Just ignore me."

Pausing, she trailed out, "Okay…Well we were thinking about meeting at that restaurant near the school at six. You know the one I'm talking about, right? I can't recall the name at the moment."

"I think so," I answered, tapping my fingers against the wall in thought, "I'll be able to find it easily if I don't, though?"

"Yeah. So you two are going?" She asked.

"Mhm," I nodded, giving a glance back to the brunette as I stated, "I'm sure Sora will appreciate the real food."

Giving a light laugh, Naminè replied, "Okay, that's good. So, see you there,"

Nodding again, I answered, "Definitely. Bye," I hung up my phone and turned back to Sora who was holding a curious expression.

"Real food?" He repeated in obvious interest.

"Yep. They wanna meet at that restaurant that's near the school. The one that's always known for having tons of students in it? Yeah, we're adding to the population today." I explained.

"Sounds great." He stated, looking as if he were in a daydream about the food.

Rolling my eyes and making my way back towards the couch, I commented, "If your stomach growled right now it would probably sound more like an airplane engine."

"Probably," He admitted in a grin. Gently grabbing my wrist and pulling me down onto him, he added huskily, "I'll take you instead of food, though." I'd never had direct eye contact with him while he held such a lust filled expression as he had at this moment; it was almost over powering.

"N-not tonight." I squeaked in embarrassment and turned my head away.

"I figured that," He answered in somewhat of a sigh and immediately made me feel a pang of guilt.

"Hey, you're already pushing your luck, mister. You should be grateful that I stay here in the first place." I joked, raising my hand and placing it against his cheek.

Reaching up and placing his own hand over mine, he answered, "I know, I know. I am pretty amazed Mom didn't really say anything or question it at all."

"We're both eighteen, so she couldn't have really done anything about it even if had something against it." I pointed out, loving the feeling of warmth radiating off from both his cheek and the hand that covered mine.

"That's true," Sora agreed, his eyes closed and his expression relaxed.

"It's a good thing we did this," I started, his eyes opening against in interest as I continued the rest of my confession, "My first class…Wow, this sounds stupid now. I just--I dunno. I missed you a lot even though it was only about two hours at most." I stopped, feeling my face begin to burn.

Coming to a loss for words, Sora grasped for a complete sentence, "Kairi, that's--wow." Slightly lifting me and pulling me into a hug, he continued, "You have no idea how that makes me feel. I really wonder sometimes how I manage to deserve you."

"I could ask the same thing." I answered, tilting my head back against his shoulder. Giving a sheepish smile, I added, "So, yeah. I'd probably would have ended up staying here a lot and paying separate rent for nothing it if it gone the other way."

Laughing, he answered, "Glad to know you enjoy my company and income."

"Mhm." I closed my eyes and smiled before remembering the time Naminè had said earlier. Glancing to a clock, I exclaimed, "Oh! We need to start getting ready; they wanted to meet at six."

"Okay." Giving me an expectant stare, he questioned, "Aren't you gonna get up?"

"I don't want to." I admitted in a giggle.

Tightening his grip on me and standing up, he headed towards our room with me in his arms, "Fine."

Sora dropping me onto the bed and continuing to the bathroom, I whined, "Ow…That hurt."

"Oh well," He shrugged with a grin before closing the door. Continuing to taunt and tease each other as we got ready, we managed to waste enough time to be there exactly on time.

"Kairi!" Olette exclaimed, running up to me and enveloping me into a hug. Sora giving a raised eyebrow towards her obvious bubbly personality, I merely shrugged. Pointing a finger towards her friends, she pointed out, "This is Pence, and that's Hayner." Pence was what some people might call a little pudgy, but you could tell he was confident in his personality with his strangely spiked brunette hair and basketball jersey. Hayner on the other hand was tall, lean with slicked back dirty blonde hair and had an air of excitement around him.

"Hi," Pence gave a small wave.

Hayner's eyes lit up in interest of something before greeting, "Hey,"

"Kairi, but you probably already know that now." I gave grin to Olette who gave a sheepish smile in return.

"Sora," He added, slightly surprising me because I did not have to nudge him for once.

"You're the new guy on the hockey team people keep mentioning?" Hayner questioned with a tilt of his blonde head. Though Sora's oceanic eyes would always win me over, there was something about Hayner's warm brown eyes that also had a charm about them.

Scratching the back of his head, Sora stated, "Maybe. I don't really know why they would be talking about me."

Sighing and whirling around, I stated, "Sora, don't get me started."

Forming a grin, he finally admitted, "Okay, I guess I'm pretty good." Tilting his head, he turned his attention back to Hayner and questioned, "Why? Are you on the team?"

"Hayner? Nah, me and him are more of skateboarding people." Roxas appeared beside him, Naminè connected at his left hand looking somewhat distressed. I frowned at her expression, the rest of the conversation fading out. She didn't look horribly miserable, but it was enough to catch my attention. I was questioning whether it was her shyness, but that made no sense to me because she was with people that were all her close friends.

"Let's go, Kairi." I felt the warmth of Sora's hand on my shoulder.

"What?" I glanced to him and back to where I was staring only to find that the rest of our friends had already retreated into the restaurant. Feeling a blush begin to rise in my face, I stated, "Oops. Yeah, let's go."

Catching up to the others, I noticed Naminè seemed to be acting more naturally. 'She probably caught me watching her.' I stated mentally with a bit of my lip, 'At least se seems better now.' My thoughts were then interrupted by the waiter taking orders. Continuing along the rest of the table, he paused at Pence who sounded like he was ordering the whole menu.

The waiter leaving and looking exasperated, the whole table looked to Pence. Giving a grin, he questioned, "What?" We all burst into laughter, he joining us.

"Next time say you want two of everything, too," Hayner suggested as he poked his elbow into the brunette's side, "I can't wait to see his face then."

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Pence stated, "No thanks."

"Yeah. Let's please try not to harass the waiter, guys. We do still have three, almost four years left here." Olette pointed out with the crossing of her arms.

Rolling his eyes and putting his hands up in defeat, Hayner answered, "It was just an idea."

"You have to admit most of your 'ideas' usually get put into action, eventually." Roxas pointed out from the opposite side of the table with a laugh.

Grinning and scratching the back of his head, he admitted, "Yeah," quickly turning back to Olette, he raised his hands and pressed, "but I swear this won't be one of those."

Placing a hand against her forehead, she gave a sigh, "I hope so, for your sake."

Leaning Olette slightly closer to me, I whispered with a snicker, "So you have to act as their second mother?"

"Basically," Olette gave another sigh with an amused smile, both of us turning back to watch as Hayner and Roxas began arm wrestling out of boredom, she stating, "Gotta love 'em, though."

"Cheat!" Hayner exclaimed, almost looking as if he were pouting after losing to Roxas.

The other blonde boy shook his head, questioning, "What are you talking about? Is it even possible to cheat in arm wrestling?"

"You can, and did." Hayner accused, crossing his arms.

"Food's coming." Pence pointed out, ending Hayner's bickering and commencing the food frenzy.

Everyone starting various conversations, I gave a look to my supposedly sad friend and said, "You seem quieter than usual, Naminè."

Her head snapping up in surprise of her name being called, she then gave a sheepish smile, apologizing, "Oh. Sorry."

"You're okay, right?" I tilted my head and gave a worried expression.

Giving a wider smile, she stated, "Of course. Why?"

"You just seemed a little down earlier." I answered, feeling my embarrassment beginning to rise yet again, "Just ignore me. I think too much."

"It's okay," She gave a light laugh, "Thanks for your concern."

Giving a small smile of my own back, I was dragged into the other conversation as Sora whirled around to ask, "Hey, Kai. Do you remember that time…" By the end of the night I felt like I knew everything about everyone from all of their stories. Sora even talked about his Dad a little, which was really different of him.

After giving our goodbyes to everyone, as he put the key in the ignition he stated, "We should do this again sometime."

I nodded, "Yeah." I definitely wanted to meet again, considering I was dazed out the first half of our outing. In fact, I was still trying to digest all of the information I had received in the last half after I changed into my pajamas before Sora practically pounced on me and made me lose my train of thought.

Despite the fact that I fell asleep happy and tired from the make-out session, my night still was filled with nightmares of Ryou.