His Geometry teacher stopped him in his tracks.

"Sora... you're not doing so well in my class. I'm requesting a parent/teacher conference." Cid handed him a slip of paper. "I need this signed and returned by tomorrow. It's only to confirm a date for the meeting. I'm sorry," Cid pat his back, "I'm just worried about you is all."

Sora tried to keep his face expressionless, letting a simple fleck of desperation leak into his words, if only to weaken the older man's justification. "Actually, sir, I was just heading to a session of math tutoring." Sora sent out a winning smile. "I think you can hold on to that slip. I'll be back on track before you know it."

Cid eyed him carefully before folding the paper and slipping it into his pocket. "I will be holding on to this." he left, then spoke over his shoulder. "I'm here if you need me, Sora. For anything." Cid continued walking away, and Sora headed for the library.

Sora held back a sigh of relief. The last time Sora had a parent/teacher conference, Sora had had "the flu" for a week afterward. At the very least, it had certainly improved his academics.

...

Sora rushed to the library. He had hoped the other boy hadn't left yet- now he had a greater urgency to improve his grades. He nearly tripped at the doorway as he entered, causing a scene so that multiple pairs of eyes looked back at him.

Selphie giggled- he recognized his easygoing classmate from his art class. She always seemed so open and happy. He always enjoyed her presence- her vibes would send him spiraling into a wonderful art haze, where his fingers would seem to move on their own.

Sora mumbled an apology before noticing Riku at the back of the library, a couple girls persistently at his side despite the gloomy look shadowing over his bright eyes. He noticed bags under those crystal blue eyes that he hadn't seen since Riku's mother had died a few years back. Sora briefly wondered if he would be better off if his own parents were dead- and immediately decided against it. A nagging sense at the back of Sora's head told him that not only would his problems be solved if his parents weren't there at all, but also that Riku needed help.

Sora shoved both thoughts away. He needed stability more than anything right now, anyway. He doubted he could handle someone else in his life right then.

As Sora began to draw nearer, the girl's high pitched voices began to worm their way into Sora's head. "Awww, but Riku, you promised! Last year you said we could come over your house and hang out!" The girl poked Riku and Sora noticed him grimace slightly.

"That was last year." Riku's voice slid out smoothly in annoyance with a grumbling undertone.

"But Riku!" The other girl whined, before a flirtatious smile over came her lips. "I promise it'll be fun."

"No thanks." Riku began to stand before Sora leaped to the table and grinned at the girls.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but Riku promised me a tutoring lesson. With girls as beautiful as you, I'm sure he'll get back to you later." Sora smiled softly and the girls blushed, and began to walk away slowly.

"Bye Riku!" A girl with huge green eyes, a Junior named Aerith that Sora had seen occasionally seen at lunch, smiled at Riku and nodded at Sora. She had always seemed kind of nice, and pretty.

"See ya around, Sora." The other girl winked at him and waved goodbye to Riku. Sora finally realized her name was Yuffie. He hadn't realized that there was so much to their personalities that he had missed- a single meeting lead to a whole different side to them.

Riku flashed Sora a grateful smile- it was so sincere and pure that Sora felt warm inside. When was the last time someone other than Kairi had looked at Sora with genuine appreciation?

Sora couldn't help but smile back.

"I have some grim news for you- I'm going to need more than one tutoring session."

Riku snorted and rolled his eyes. "With the way you space out in class, it's a miracle you don't need twenty."

"Hey! Tutors are supposed to give encouragement!" Sora pouted and Riku hinted at a smile.

"Let's get started. I don't want to spend the rest of my life working on Geometry problems." Riku pulled out his Geometry textbook.

"At least you don't have to worry about your hair getting grey." Sora muttered.

"What was that?" There was a tiny speck of a glint in Riku's eyes. Sora smirked.

"I said... you don't have to worry about your hair getting grey." Sora stuck out his tounge.

Riku thwaked Sora lightly against the head lightheartedly, but Sora froze, his eyes wide. The old wound was beginning to throb greatly. A headache was spreading behind his skull and his eyes began to darken the world around him.

"Sora?" Riku stared in Sora's eyes. Sora pulled himself back into reality. This wasn't his house, there would be people watching. If he had suddenly passed out, or had a panic attack, people would notice- maybe even call his house. They would try to send him to the nurses' office and she would check his body- and see all the bruises and scars that were still healing. Sora faked a smile.

"I'm fine. Let's work on our homework first, and then you can tell me what the hell I'm supposed to be learning in Geometry."

Riku smiled unsteadily, his eyes searching Sora's. Sora didn't let anything be found. Riku turned his eyes back to the textbook, and began to instruct. "Our latest chapter was about finding the scale factor, but we'll start from the beginning of the course..."

...

The more you review, the more likely it is that Riku will kiss Sora. And yes, I'm serious.

I write things. But if you're across the screen, across cities and possibly across worlds, I can't tell what you're thinking. Please review- let me know what I'm doing right- or even what I'm doing wrong!