Chapter 2

Will I…ever wake up?

Wait…Where am I?

Why is everything black?

I tried to move but…I couldn't…

Why?

….

I just moved my hand.

I felt it, but I can't feel the rest of my body.

My eyes?

Yes.

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but white…

Now I saw a ceiling, it was white.

I moved my head to the side and there was a white bed.

The shape of a body…covered with a white blanket.

?: "You're awake."

Roxas: "Wh-Who's there?"

I looked over me and saw someone, it was a doctor.

Roxas: "I'm in…the hospital, am I?"

Doctor: "Yes you are, Roxas."

Roxas: "You know me?"

Doctor: "There was an ID card in your backpack."

Roxas: "Oh…"

I felt light headed…

Doctor: "Where were you going in such a hurry?"

I remembered what had happened now…

Roxas: "To…Hollywood…W-Where's Tifa?"

Doctor: "Tifa? You mean that girl that was with you on the motorcycle?"

Roxas: "Y-Yeah."

Doctor: "Roxas…What is she to you? Is she a family member?"

Roxas: "She's…my first friend."

Doctor: "She was? How sad."

Roxas: "Was?"

He looked me in the eyes, he was tense and sad…

I knew what was coming next…

Doctor: "Roxas, Tifa is gone."

I froze, My eyes felt like they were on fire.

I remembered all that had happened…

The tears ran crazy down my face…

Doctor: "I'm sorry."

Roxas: "I'll wake from this dream…"

Doctor: "Roxas, This isn't a dream. It's going to be alright.

She's in a better place now."

Roxas: "She's not dead!"

I shot up and threw myself off the bed. I ripped the wires off me and fell over the bed with the blanket.

I pulled it off her and I saw her.

She was asleep.

Roxas: "Tifa! Wake up!"

Doctor: "Roxas, She's gone. You must understand. She's not here anymore."

Roxas: "She's not dead!"

Another doctor walked in and tried to pull me away from Tifa.

Roxas: "Let go! Tifa! Wake up! You can't leave me!"

Doctor: "Roxas! You're hurting yourself!"

The first doctor took Tifa out of the room.

I struggled out of the doctors grasp and ran out the door.

I ducked my head in my arms and cried.

Two doctors picked me up and took me to a white room without anything.

Doctor 1: "You have to behave."

Doctor 2: "You have no injuries. So you're good to go."

Doctor 1: "When you crashed, the hit blew you out of the road and landed safely onto the grass."

Roxas: "I-I didn't want her to die…I didn't want it…"

Doctor 1: "I know, But you have to be strong now Roxas. Your father's on his way here."

Roxas: "Don't call my dad…please…anything but that."

Doctor 2: "He's already been called, He'll be here soon."

Roxas: "You don't understand! My father hates me! He doesn't care about me,

I don't want to see him ever again!"

Doctor 2: "I'm sure that's not true, every father loves his children."

Roxas: "No…"

Someone knocked on the door and the doctors walked out.

?: "Roxas?"

He gasped and wrapped his arms around me…

I was shocked…

Squall: "Y-You're alive…I-I'm sorry I left you."

Roxas: "D-Dad?"

Squall: "It's alright Rox."

Roxas: "I-I killed her…It's all my fault…"

Squall: "Who…did you kill?"

Roxas: "T-Tifa! She was…she was my first friend…my best friend…

We wanted to leave Van Nuys because…we hated our lives…

we weren't happy there…But I crashed and…I killed her."

Squall: "Roxas…"

Roxas: "I can't go on without her!"

I yelled and threw my hands up to my face.

Roxas: "I have nothing left…What is my reason to live?"

Squall: "Roxas…I know how you feel…When your mother died, I felt the same way.

I had nothing to fight for, nothing to live for. But…I remembered…That…

I had three boys to take care of, They wanted me to go on and be happy.

I did that…You three are now my reason to keep going.

She will forgive you, Or maybe she already did. And you don't know it.

You have to find your reason to breathe again…It's something very close to you,

It's your heart. So fight for it, and don't give up."

I nodded and wiped the tears off my face.

Roxas: "Th-Thanks Dad…"

I cried again, and harder.

I took a deep breath and got up from the white floor.

He put his arm around my shoulders and walked me out the door.

Terra and Tidus were there…They looked worried and sad when they saw me.

Then they turned, I turned too and saw a family. A mother, a father, and a girl of maybe seventeen.

They were all sad and miserable, eyes tear-filled.

Roxas: "Tifa…Forgive me."

Squall: "Boys! Breakfast is ready!"

Terra: "Coming Dad!"

I was still in bed, I hadn't stopped crying all night. I hadn't slept at all.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned around.

Tidus: "Roxas, Dad's calling."

Roxas: "Kay."

He walked out of my room and I slowly got up.

I looked around my room.

I walked out the door and down the stairs.

I still felt light headed.

Squall: "Good morning Roxas."

Terra: "Mornin'."

I yawned.

Roxas: "Good morning…"

I leaned against the wall next the stairs.

Dad looked at me from the kitchen.

Squall: "C'mon Rox, You feeling alright?"

Roxas: "I'm okay."

I forced myself to walk over to the table and sat down next to Tidus.

Dad placed a nice plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon in front of me.

Then Terra brought a box of cinnamon rolls.

Dad set ice-coffee next to our plates.

Squall: "Did you sleep at all Roxas?"

I shook my head slowly and took a bite out of the pancakes.

Squall: "After you eat you should sit down and rest."

Roxas: "Kay."

Squall: "Um, Roxas…I say you'd best stay away from her family.

I mean…They're so mad that, you weren't even invited to her funeral."

Roxas: "Okay."

Hours passed and my brothers hadn't bothered me at all.

I rested and walked around the house.

It was almost 2PM now, the funeral had been over hours ago.

I pulled on my gray hoodie and walked out the door.

Dad called from behind me.

Squall: "Where you goin'?"

Roxas: "I-I'm going to pay her a visit…"

Squall: "Don't be home late."

I closed the door behind me and walked across the street.

It started raining and I was all wet.

I got to the entrance of the graveyard and looked for her.

I roamed for ten minutes,

Till I finally got to her.

The gravestone was already there.

I set the black flowers on her grave stone.

I remembered she had told me that her favorite kind of flower was the rose,

and she would love to see a black one someday.

So I remembered there was a rare flower shop across the street from my house and I bought them.

I set my hand over the dirt of her grave.

Roxas: "Hey…I'm sorry for not listening to you. I was just…

So excited to get away from my family…that I…I caused this…

Forgive me. You were…my first friend. I guess, I'm just not fit for friends after all.

I never thought it would end this way, In my mind…

I imagined…You and me, Together, in a place where we were happy…and safe…

Guess in the end it was just a dream that would never come true.

You were the only person that made me feel happy…

I guess I'll never smile again."

I got up and took one last look at her.

I walked away….

TWO YEARS LATER

Squall: "Wow Roxas, Your grades are rising incredibly."

Roxas: "Yeah."

Squall: "You're actually trying hard."

Roxas: "Yup."

Squall: "And for that, I'm adding another 50$ to your allowance."

Roxas: "Thanks Dad."

I walked up the stairs and took out my laptop.

I plugged in my headphones and popped out my Itunes.

I listened to music for an hour and then I went into my closet and put on some proper clothes. Today was Sunday. I changed and went downstairs.

Roxas: "I'm taking a round at the park."

Tidus: "Uh, Hey Roxas. Mind if I tag along?"

Roxas: "Not at all, come on."

He followed me out the door.

It was Monday and I was in class, next to an empty seat like in eight grade.

Ford: "Good morning students. Now, let's start class.

Today we're switching things up and going straight to art.

I know art is your second favorite class so I decided that we start

off with drawing your favorite video game character."

There was a soft knock on the class door and Hayner went over to open it.

He froze when he opened the door and forced himself to move out of the way so the person could pass.

Ford: "It seems like we have a new student, your name miss?"

?: "Namine Grey."

Ford: "Alright Namine, Have that seat next to Mr. Roxas Cage."

She nodded and sat next to me.

I didn't want to stare, I didn't even want to look at her anymore.

She attracted my attention too much.

Hayner and Denzel kept looking over at her every minute,

Even the girls did.

This new girl was amazingly beautiful.

She had medium-length blonde hair and gorgeous, crystal-blue eyes

Hm, Mine were nothing compared to hers.

She never spoke to me, She just minded her own business and did her work.

Nutrition came and Hayner Garcia asked her if he could show her around the school, To my disbelief she rejected him!

She had the locker next to mine, and she never looked at me once.

She walked away out the building and I ran into Tidus.

Tidus: "Dude…I can not believe my eyes, that girl is gorgeous!"

Roxas: "I know, but don't dare to make a move on her. She rejected Hayner Garcia."

Tidus: "No freakin' way."

Roxas: "It's true."

Tidus: "Oh well, I'm goin' for it anyways."

Roxas: "Don't come crying to me if she breaks your nose."

Tidus: "Ha-ha very funny."

He walked away after her.

I don't know but…Even though she's very different from Tifa,

Somehow…she reminded me so much of her….

Tidus:

She was there, sitting alone on a bench at the basketball court, using her laptop.

I pulled out my cellphone and pretended to talk to someone.

I sat down next to her.

She didn't look at me once…

Hm, So she was the hard type.

I saw Terra standing near.

He must know what I was planning to do.

I kept talking on the phone and suddenly….

The phone rang!

Namine looked up in disbelief and Terra let out a roll of laughter and nearly dropped his cellphone.

Tidus: "Terra!"

Namine smiled,

She got up and walked away.

Terra: "Haha! You should've seen the look on your face!

You were redder than a tomato!"

Tidus: "Terra! That wasn't funny!"

Terra: "C'mon, At least you made her smile."

Tidus: "Hey…That's true."

Terra and I walked over to the grass field were Roxas was laying

down staring at the sky.

Roxas: "Break your nose yet?"

Terra: "Better!"

Tidus: "Ugh, I pretended to call someone and so I sat next to her, talking on my cellphone…When suddenly…an idiot called me on purpose!"

Roxas: "Terra?"

Terra: "Defo man, It was hilarious! She even smiled, but she walked away."

Roxas: "Good one."

ROXAS:

Ford: "Okay, Students. Today for English we're going to do a special activity.

You're going to turn around and speak to your partner, you will ask questions and talk about yourselves. Get to know each other better, there has been a lack of communication here in class for the past five months. ow go ahead and start."

I sighed and turned to Namine, she faced me too.

Roxas: "Hey."

She smiled.

Roxas: "Alright, Where are you from?"

Namine: "I don't know."

Roxas: "Hm?"

Namine: "I…I have a weird past."

Roxas: "Can you tell me about it?"

She looked me in the eyes and sighed.

She nodded.

Namine: "I'm…Well, You won't believe it."

Roxas: "C'mon, Tell me anything."

Namine: "Well, All I have to say is that I was born five months ago."

Roxas: "Huh? But you're like…fifteen."

Namine: "Yeah, It's because of my appearance. But I woke up this age in a foster family's home. They say I'm like a reincarnation."

Roxas: "That is wicked."

Namine: "Don't say a thing."

I nodded.

Roxas: "So…What are you in to?"

Namine: "Rock."

Roxas: "Same here, Evanescence?"

Namine: "My favorite."

Roxas: "Linkin Park?"

Namine: "The best."

Roxas: "Eminem?"

Namine: "Truly an inspiration…Let me guess, Skillet?"

Roxas: "Amazing, yes."

Namine: "Wow, So we already have stuff in common."

Roxas: "Hey so…How did you get signed up into the school without parents?"

Namine: "Easy, I live with temporary parents."

Roxas: "Oh."

Namine: "I hate them, they treat me like garbage."

Roxas: "Well, before Tifa's death…my family used to treat me like that too.

Don't know why but…after that I've been treated like a prince."

Namine: "Lucky. You must be really grateful that you met her."

Roxas: "I only knew her for a month..."

Namine: "What happened to her?"

Roxas: "Well…We both hated our lives so we decided to escape.

We left on my motorcycle and…we crashed with two trucks on the

freeway to Hollywood."

Namine: "Ow…So, you survived?"

Roxas: "Yeah…And…I killed her."

She shook her head and took a deep breath.

Namine: "Wow."

Roxas: "I know this is a weird question but…now a days sixty percent of girls like videogames, so you play them?"

Namine: "Yeah, and don't tell me…You do Square Enix?"

Roxas: "God! How did you know?"

Namine: "Cuz I do too."

She was the first person in five months that had made me smile.

Roxas: "Hey…I-I wanna get to know you better, You're…interesting."

Namine: "Guess you are too."

Roxas: "Oh, really? How about we go to the park tonight?"

Namine: "Great."

Ford: "Okay students, Let's get started with our next activity."

We all turned to face Mr. Ford.

Ford: "Take out your notebooks, and a pen. We're going to start taking notes for the exams next…"

Blah, blah, blah…I stopped listening to him and focused on Namine.

She has an amazing resemblance to Tifa but…at the same time she's a completely different person…

We went through lunch together. The whole time I was with her, Terra and Tidus stared at us in disbelief. I actually felt great, I'd won. Unintentially…

Namine: "No thanks, I'm already going with Roxas."

Hayner: "Er, Alright…"

Hayner turned around and walked away when he saw me walking up to Namine.

Roxas: "So persistent…You ready?"

Namine: "Let's go."

We walked across the street to the same hang out place I took Tifa to…

A year and five months ago.

Namine: "What was Tifa to you?"

Roxas: "She was just my friend."

Namine: "M-hm."

Waiter: "Hello, Welcome to Late Night Café how may I help you?"

Roxas: "Wasn't the name 'angel die something'?"

Waiter: "They changed the name, it was too…well, creepy."

Roxas: "Nam, what do you want?"

Namine: "Small size ice frappe."

Waiter: "Anything else?"

Roxas: "The usual."

Waiter: "Right."

He walked away.

Roxas: "Hey, So…I've been thinking…You wanna come live with me?"

Namine: "Huh? Er…Why so soon, I mean…What?"

Roxas: "Hehe, I mean…You should come live with me, Dad wouldn't mind…

At least, I don't think he would…So you can get away from that family you're with."

Namine: "You think that's a good idea?"

Roxas: "I hope it is."

Namine: "Well…I guess I should try."

Roxas: "Yeah, I'll talk to Dad and I'm sure he'd like to help someone out.

Especially someone so young like you and without a family."

Namine: "Yeah, Thanks Rox."

Roxas: "Don'tmention it."

She smiled as the waiter came with our drinks.

We spent the rest of the night together….

Squall: "You sure about this?"

Roxas: "Of course Dad, I mean…She's an orphan…But, She's well educated and her manners are great. She lives with a temporary family but I bet she already left them, I thought that…Maybe we can help her. She'll be my responsibility."

He took a long look into my eyes and sighed.

Squall: "Alright Roxas. She can stay here."

Roxas: "Yes!"

Squall: "On few conditions."

Roxas: "Huh?"

Squall: "No funny games on her, respect her. And…You three must act better around here with our new family member."

Tidus: "Alright Dad."

Terra: "Fine with me."

Roxas: "Of course Dad."

Squall: "Roxas, I'm surprised. I haven't seen you this happy since…"

Terra: "Oh Dad."

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Squall: "Sorry, sorry."

Roxas: "N-No, It's fine. It's alright, I'm getting over it."

Squall: "Good, Now…How old did you say this Namine was?"

Roxas: "Er…Fifteen

Squall: "Alright. I'll fix the papers thing and check if her 'parents' are back. That it all. Dismissed."

Roxas: "Thanks again Chief!"

Squall: "I said dismissed."

Tidus: "A-Alright!"

We scrambled away from the dinner table.

Namine: "What? Seriously?"

Roxas: "Yeah, He's totally down for it."

Namine: "Oh God...Thank you so much Roxas."

She hugged me and I wrapped my arms around her.

Roxas: "You're welcome."

She let go and smiled up at me. Blue eyes sparkling.

Namine: "Let's go now."

Roxas: "Alright."

Roxas: "Uh, Dad…She's here."

He came from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a dry cloth.

Namine came through the door and stepped in. I closed the door behind her.

Tidus and Terra stared at the scene from the living room, they were sitting on the navy blue couches in front of the flat-screen.

Dad shook her hand.

Squall: "Chief Cage, Call me Squall."

Namine: "Nice to finally meet you Squall. I'm Namine Grey."

Squall: "Pleasure to meet you Namine, Welcome to the family."

Namine: "Thank you Sir, You don't know how much I appreciate what

you're doing for me."

Terra and Tidus came up to Dad's side.

Squall: "Um, Namine. These are my two other sons."

Tidus: "I'm Tidus."

Namine: "Hehe, I remember you,"

Terra: "Yeah, And I'm Terra."

Roxas: "Nami, let me show you your room."

Namine: "Wow, Roxas. This is huge, Really."

Roxas: "Yep. So you'll be staying here, and…make yourself at home cuz…

this is your home."

Namine: "Hehe,Thanks again Rox."

She hugged me once more and it lasted long.

Namine: "When I met you, the first seconds I thought you were a completely different person but…Then as the seconds ticked by, I got to know you better and I found out that you truly are a great person."

Roxas: "Thanks."

She smiled up at me.

Namine: "No, thanks to you."

She threw her suitcase over her bed and I left her to change and so I went to my room to play a bit of video games.