"Hey Riku," Sora paused and Riku looked up at him, staring into his eyes. Sora put his hands behind his head. "You've been alot of help lately. My grades have improved alot- and not just in Geometry. I was wondering if you would want to meet up someday- outside of school? You and Kairi haven't officially met, how about we go out on a picnic or something?"
"I uh..." Riku's eyes darted around a bit before settling on the hands that were folded in his lap. "Sure."
"Great!" Sora smiled brightly. "We have to meet up soon, before the summer ends. How about at the beach? We can settle down, and oooh! Kairi has this little garden and she grows the most delicious strawberries ever! She'll bring some, I'll bring the lemonade, and you can bring the basket!"
Riku smiled back softly, still not completely looking in Sora's eyes. "Sure. I'd like that."
...
Sora grimaced uncomfortably. He thought they would be gone by now- but with fresh ones popping up every few days, he should have know better. They would never completely be gone. Even if the abuse did stop, Sora doubted it would ever truly leave his mind.
He could lie- say he tripped a couple days back, if anyone asked. He was good at that by now.
Sora reached the beach, his shoe-less toes digging into the warm sand. He loved that feeling- the waves crashing lightly, warmth coating his body and sand getting suck in his hair, only to be washed away by the ocean. The beach was one of his favorite places, despite the pain.
Kairi wore a purple bikini top, and a matching swimming skirt. Sora's fingers itched. He could draw her- she would be smiling. An eternal, beautiful smile against the sunset. Soft, deep red hair that would blend into the sun, creating a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors, her ocean-blue eyes in the center of chaotic colors- calming. Strong. Happy. Eyes staring at the viewer as though she were laughing at something they had said, laughing and bringing the world to a stop in an infinite smile, her skirt flowing around her.
Sora tore out his sketchpad and began to work, drawing a perfect world that might never exist but deserved to be recognized in dreams and happy memories.
Sora was done, but when he looked up the world had changed completely. He glanced at the clock on a nearby shack- it was already five? Riku and Kairi were laughing in the water. When had Riku arrived? He was glad that Kairi had stopped the boy from interrupting Sora's drawing, though. While their relationship had grown over the past few weeks of tutoring and joking, he still needed time to himself occasionally.
Sora carefully tucked his sketchpad away. He took it with him everywhere, but it was his most prized possession. You can never completely relive moments- the most you can do is remember them.
Discarding his sweatshirt, Sora stretched against the sun. Careful to pull down his undershirt and make sure nothing was seen, Sora ran into the waves and tackled an unsuspecting Kairi into the water, and Riku was pushed onto his back and into the water by the splash Sora made. The three tumbled together, Sora trying hard not to laugh and breathe in the salt water. The water suddenly stilled and Sora's eyes widened as he began to swim toward Riku desperately. Riku reached out his hand and Sora struggled against the tide, but their hands couldn't touch. A few more inches, just a few more...
Sora was ripped back, the last of his air leaving his lips in a whoosh of bubbles. It was a riptide. And he was caught in it.
...
