Year 1

Chapter 4:

Mikuru, the Bookworm and Me Selphie's Party Plan

Still dazed, I returned to my room in the girls' dorm, carrying the two ton book to my ever-so-flat chest.

As soon as I opened the door, I was swarmed in a huge hug.

"Kairi! She's back! Nami's come back!" Selphie cried dramatically as she squeezed the living daylights out of me.

"Selphie…can't…breathe…" I wheezed.

"Sorry," she apologized; quickly letting go as I inhaled some needed oxygen.

"Namine, it's good to have you back," Kairi smiled.

"Here," I said, handing her cell back to her.

"Thanks. For a change, I'm actually relieved that my cell wasn't needed," Kairi said.

I chuckled as I set down my bag by my bed and put the book on the paper filled desk.

"So what exactly happened in there?" Selphie asked, bouncing up to her bunk.

"Yeah, I'm curious too." Kairi took a graceful seat on her bottom bunk.

"I met a new friend," I smiled.

"Huh? Who?" Selphie cocked her head to the side.

I put my finger to my lips playfully. "It's a secret."

"Aw, you're no fun Nami!" Selphie whined.

I smiled.

"Hey, we're going to have a "Welcome Back" party this weekend, you wanna help us plan it?" Selphie asked.

"Sure, who's invited?"

"Sora and the guys, Cloud and the other seniors, Olette and her group, and…" Kairi started.

"Mikuru, she's a senior, can I invite her?" I asked.

"Sure."

"The more the merrier!" Selphie added, clearly sugar high.

With a fellow quiet person, I'd feel a lot better, that's for certain. Maybe Mikuru could meet Aerith or Yuffie who're in their senior year too.

I skipped throughout the next day, eagerly waiting to take Mikuru to the library.

Lunch came and I felt like I had grown wings and learned to fly, like I was high. I was so happy to be helping a friend for a change.

I half ran to the fountain and I saw Mikuru there, standing alone as usual.

"Miki!"

Her peach eyes turned to me and glittered as she lifted a hand to give a small wave.

"Nami," her voice was small.

"Ready to go?" I asked kindly.

She nodded.

Together, we traveled to the library. Through the large branches, tipped thorns, and thick brush, we traveled as though it was a jungle.

"Welcome to the library Miki."

Her eyes widened.

"It's neat, I like old buildings, they lived through more days than us, more experiences, more people…" her voice trailed off.

"Let's go in," I suggested.

"Mm."

We climbed up the uninhabited stone steps and I pushed open the two, large, brown doors.

I led Miki to a desk to put her bags down as she absent mindedly scanned the library.

"I see you came back," a familiar voice calmly said.

Mikuru and I spun around to see the ever-so-emo Zexion with his big black book coming out from the witch craft aisle.

I saw Mikuru try to hide behind me but I moved to prevent her from doing so.

"Hi Zexion this is my friend, Mikuru Asahina," I introduced the scrambling girl before me.

She quickly turned to face him and bowed quickly.

"I-It's very nice to m-meet you!" she stuttered, turning extremely red.

I chuckled as her face reddened even more.

"Well, I'm hungry, food is allowed, right?" I asked, breaking the tension.

"Yes…"

Mikuru stood up again and watched as I ambled on back to the table where we set our things. I took out a large bento box.

"I made this last night," I smiled as I set out the food on the table.

"I'm a vegetarian," Zexion said.

"Then it's a good thing that I made rice balls then," I said as I set the food out.

"H-Here, let me help," Mikuru said shyly.

I smiled and handed her the package of cooked rice balls.

Going to the other side of the table, she opened the box of rice balls and set them carefully on the small, red cloth in the center of the table.

After we set out the food, I pulled out a chair and sat down. Frantically, Mikuru followed suit, sitting opposite of me.

A black gloved hand put down his big black book and pulled out a chair, sitting down next to Mikuru.

Mikuru turned crimson red much like the rose Beast kept in his glass case.

For a moment, no one did anything. Sighing to myself, I took a plain rice ball and nibbled on it.

Mikuru took the signal and went for the plum flavored rice ball. At that same moment, Zexion stretched his hand out for the same one.

Her hand was on his.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she shrieked in her small voice, quickly swiping her hand away.

She turned away, embarrassed.

Suddenly, something warm and steaming came by her cheek. Mikuru turned and saw Zexion holding out the plum rice ball to her.

"You wanted this one, am I correct?" he asked monotonously.

"Mm hmm."

Her hands opened and he dropped the rice ball into her hands.

"You can have it."

"B-But didn't you want this one?" Mikuru argued.

"I'm not that hungry," Zexion said, taking his black book and opening it to the page he bookmarked.

"Oh okay." Nervously, Mikuru took the plum rice ball and took a small bite but stopped.

She stared at it for a few, silent seconds.

The rice ball tenderly broke in half.

"Here," Mikuru said, offering the unbitten piece of the plum rice ball.

My lips turned upward as I watched the two. Mikuru with her amusing blush and Zexion with his nervous gazes at the small girl beside him. On occasion, their eyes met and they turned away nervously.

But al good things had to come to an end.

My azure eyes traveled to the clock. It was time to get going, the bell was going to ring soon.

"The bell is going to ring soon," I said as I began to pack my things. Mikuru and Zexion stopped gazing at each other when Mikuru scrambled to her feet to help pick up.

"I'll help-ouch!" Mikuru's shoe caught onto the chair leg and she tripped forward. Her face made contact with the ground. Thank God it was carpet or that would've really hurt!

Mikuru sat, legs spread, clutching her red nose, tears swelling in her eyes.

Zexion walked over to her and offered his hand, the other hand holding his book under his arm.

The girl looked up, still crying. Wiping her tears, her lips turned into a gentle smile as their fingers intertwined.

He pulled her to her feet, letting go of her hand when she was balanced and I handed her bag to her.

"I promised Selphie that I'd sit with her tomorrow so I can't come tomorrow but Mikuru can," I smiled slyly.

"Uh!"

"That would be fine," Zexion said calmly.

Mikuru's eyes widened and then she smiled. "Then I'll come."

We walked to the entrance.

"I'll walk you to class," Zexion volunteered.

"S-Sure," Mikuru blushed.

"Well, I'll see you later," I said as I ran off to the quad.

The bell rang for PE.

I sprinted to the overcrowded locker room and shuffled my way through the mass of changing girls.

"Nami!" Kairi called as I climbed down from the bench, careful not to lose my balance as I stepped down.

"Hey Kai," I smiled, inputting my locker combo in my lock.

"Where were you today?" Kairi asked me as she slipped off her uniform shirt.

"Eating with a friend."

"Who?"

"Mikuru Asahina and Zexion," I answered.

"No. Way," was all Kairi said. But she did gawk at me.

"Way," I finally squealed.

"High-five girlfriend!"

"They're really nice and Mikuru has a cute crush," I smiled.

"Really?"

"Yep."

"That's cute, wish her luck for me, 'kay?"

"I sure will," I said as I put on my shorts.

We finished changing and walked out into the warm sun, chatting and laughing.

The field was, as it always was, a large cluster of kids on a large field of green grass that stretched vastly over and around the school. A large, dirt pathway marked the running track, stretching around the campus in a large circle. Off in the distance, was a baseball/Blitzball field, a large, closed fence containing the baseball diamond. The track curved around that fencing. On our other side was the school.

"Kairi! Namine!" Selphie bounced to us. "Where were you!?" Selphie yelled, shaking me violently.

"Um…"

"Riku really missed you," Selphie grinned slyly.

"Selphie!"

"Hey guys," a kind voice said.

Selphie, Kairi, and I turned to see a smiling Olette and a very flustered Roxas.

"What's up, Olette?" Kairi asked.

"Mm, nothing much, just teasing Roxas," Olette smiled innocently.

"That's so like you," Kairi chuckled. Roxas grunted.

A whistle blew but not from our teacher. The classes were marked by little cones with a number. My class was purple, class number two.

The whistle was from the orange number three class, Olette and Roxas' class.

"Well, we have to go, bye," Olette said as she and Roxas proceeded back to their class.

A few moments later, our teacher came out and we sat down for roll call.

"Alright, today, we're going to start our orienteering unit. That means we'll be using compasses. In the end, you will have a standards assessment," the teacher said.

The class groaned.

"Enough, or I won't let you choose your groups."

Everyone's mouths clamped shut.

"Okay, Misagi, hand out the compasses and everyone, put the lace around your wrist and the compass, flat, on your palm," Mr. Dean said.

I guess he was in a decent mood today.

The compass was small, light green, and made of plastic with the actual compass needle in the center. It certainly did fit in my palm and I had tiny hands, smaller than some fifth graders!

The red needle moved a bit as I wiggled it around and when I moved my hand.

"Using the arrow at the bottom, the Direction of Travel Arrow, keep that arrow directly away from your body."

I adjusted the compass so that the plastic arrow on the plastic base pointed away from me.

"Now line the red arrow in the dog house or the drawn arrow inside the compass."

The class turned a little and ended up facing the baseball diamond to get it lined up.

"To go in a certain direction, use the compass housing. Turn the compass housing so that you're facing ninety degrees east. The ninety degrees mark will be in the front of your compass, like this," the teacher instructed. He had a board whiteboard out, with a blue lined diagram of a labeled compass.

As the class proceeded on, and this was review of seventh grade for me and for them, people sometimes bumped into each other but it went well for me, for the most part. I did bump into Selphie a few times.

"That ends class for today, put your compasses in the box as you leave," Mr. Dean said when the bell rang.

Kairi, Selphie, and I all put our compasses back in the box…meaning Selphie threw hers at Nick, who volleyed it into the box, Kairi carefully setting hers in, and me almost dropping it on the way to the box.

.(--).

After PE ended, school ended pretty quickly. I asked Mikuru if she wanted to come to Selphie's party-in-progress during out.

She said, "Um, well…I…I promised to go to the library. I promised…Zexion and he and I aren't really the party type, sorry," Mikuru blushed.

"Oh, I get it," I smiled evilly.

"It's not like that!"

"Really?"

"It's not!!!"

Teasing her was fun, I had to admit.

But it was true, she couldn't come.

And here I was, on my white bed, listening to Selphie "think" and Kairi put out good ideas.

"Hello? Earth to Nam, you there? Namine?" Selphie waved her hand in front of my face. I blinked. Huh?

"Sorry, spacing out there," I chuckled.

Selphie bounced up to her bed again. "You realize Riku IS coming, right?"

"Y-Yeah," I blushed.

"Do you have a dress or outfit?" Kairi asked.

"Yeah, white dress," I answered.

"How revealing is it?" Selphie asked.

"Does it matter, Riku doesn't care for looks," I grunted.

"Nam, all boys are horny and Riku's a typical guy," Selphie said.

"But you have to admit, he's not the worst. Pence is an anime porn addict," Kairi added.

"Yeah, Sora, Riku, Roxas, Cloud, Leon, Tidus, Wakka, and Hayner aren't peepers. Cloud's got Aerith. From what I heard, Leon and Yuffie are crushing on each other, Roxas and Olette are practically an item, Sora's got Kairi, and I like Tidus, who's not in the least bit horny and I know Wakka isn't. And Riku's too cool for stuff like that."

"Yeah, Sora likes that short, zipped, pink dress. The one with the white and black undershirt and the three-way black belt," Kairi said dreamily.

"Tidus told me he likes my short, yellow, sundress," Selphie awed.

"My dress is pure white and reaches about five inches below my thigh," I said.

"Ooh, that works. We'll all be in dresses!" Selphie squealed.

"So, what's the theme?" Kairi asked as Selphie squealed, holding her pillow to her chest.

"The theme…?" Selphie sat upright and looked to the ceiling. And wow, how a ceiling could give ideas is beyond me.

"How about formal?" I suggested.

"That's a great idea! But I'm still setting up my "Hook Up" room. I'll be rich after that and we can all go on a never-ending shopping spree!" Selphie cried, pumping her fist into the air.

"That's gross Selphie!" Kairi shouted.

"But it works!" Selphie argued.

"Just don't use our room," Kairi said, sweat dropping.

"Ew, no way!" Selphie stuck out her tongue childishly.

We burst into a fit of laughter.

"L-Let's get to the planning part," Kairi said, trying to stop laughing.

"R-Right," I agreed.

"Okay, first topic: music," Kairi said, looking at a clipboard in her hands.

"Um…I know! Utada Hikaru!" Selphie bellowed.

"And…T.A.T.U." Kairi added.

"How about Within Temptation," I suggested. Personally, I liked Utada Hikaru the best.

"That's good, now to the topic of: food," Kairi said, making a mark on the paper on her clipboard.

"Chips, punch, cakes, the usual. We can ask the cooking club for the pastries," Selphie said.

"Okay, now onto: decorations." Kairi's pencil made a mark on the page and as soon as she was done, she put the clipboard facedown in her lap.

"How about roses all over the party table, no thorns of course, a silver disco ball, and neon lights. We can have Pence be the DJ," Selphie finished.

"Okay, that sounds good, anything else?" Kairi asked, turning to me.

"How about a voted King and Queen, like the ones in the proms?" I proposed.

"Yeah! That sounds great!" Selphie cheered.

"Yeah, the Queen can get a bouquet of roses, the King can get a silver crown, oh, and the Queen can get a bejeweled crown," Kairi said, putting it down on paper.

"That's it, now we have to prepare," Kairi said, putting the clipboard face up on her bed for all to see. All it was was a checklist.

"We'll need Olette's help, Aerith's, and Yuffie's to get this done," Kairi stated. "We'll use the lounge in this dormitory for the party itself and the entrance as a hang out spot."

"Right," Selphie and I said in unison.

Aerith, Yuffie, and Olette agreed to help and the cooking club was already started on our large pastry order. Olette got the flowers from the garden, with permission of course.

This party turned into a "Whoever Can Come Can" party. The dorms were closed off, unless Selphie snuck them in.

We decided to put the dance floor in the front entrance area along with the snack table.

The guys unfolded the long, white, plastic tables outside. There was a small, assembled stage outside in front of the tables. The microphones were wireless and Pence used some long cords connecting to the main office for power.

He had a CD spinner, Japanese stereo system, and a wireless microphone for his performance.

This party would be for the upperclassman but it was going to be big and wild.

Selphie had made it like a Sadie Hawkins dance though, girl ask guy. It was announced over the over com.

The guys didn't have to say yes, though.

Anyone could go, date or not.

Kairi had already asked Sora, who said yes, gladly, Olette asked Roxas; he blushed and accepted, Cloud and Aerith were going together obviously, Yuffie barely asked Leon, who reluctantly accepted, and Selphie almost died when she asked Tidus. Tidus grinned and said yes to her proposal.

Now I had to ask Riku.

The dance was on Saturday and it was Friday.

The front lawn by the girls' dorm was already decorated. The small stage in front of many long stretched tables, the stereo system was setup by the dorm and the dance floor was on the cement, and the snack table, as large as the other tables, was near the sitting area, planning to be littered with red, pink, blue, and black roses, some fake and others, real.

This was the party of the year.

It was a warm, lunch today, the sun's rays glistening on the fountains blue water. Riku had been asked, from my understanding, many times to go to the dance, all, he refused.

Selphie was chatting happily with Tidus and Wakka, Kairi, Sora, and Riku were in a group, as were the seniors, and so were the sophomores.

I was alone by the fountain, as usual. I knew I should've gone to the library.

Sulking, I took a bite of my rice ball.

Yuffie's head tilted to the side to see me alone.

She gulped down the last of her food and crawled to me.

"Hey Nam, wanna eat with us?" Yuffie asked.

"Sure," I smiled.

I crawled with her to her group: the seniors.

"Hello, Namine," Aerith smiled. She was seated next to Cloud. Leon was opposite of Cloud and judging by the messy bento box next to him, he was next to Yuffie.

Yuffie sat next to Leon and I sat on the end, between Aerith and Yuffie.

"So, Namine, who're you going to the dance with?" Aerith asked as she handed Cloud a rice ball.

"No one," I answered shyly.

"What about Riku? He's not going with anyone," Aerith smiled.

My face completely flushed. "Um…well…I…I…uh…" I started to panic.

"It's okay Nam, we know," Yuffie smiled, putting a finger to her lips. Aerith smiled and Cloud and Leon looked clueless.

"Leon, who're you going to the dance with?" Cloud spoke up.

"No one," Leon answered stoically.

"Yuffie's not going with anyone either, how about you two go…together?" Aerith said, noticing the two turn away and blush when she finished.

"It's her choice, not mine," Leon stated, still turned away.

Yuffie fought off the blush and turned to look at Leon's back. "If it's okay with you, Squall, I'll go with you," Yuffie said quietly.

"…Alright then, I'll go with you," Leon said, turning back to Yuffie with a small smile.

Yuffie grinned from cheek-to-cheek.

"Squall?" I turned to Yuffie.

"Leon's real name is Squall Leonhart," Aerith said with a small chuckle. "But he only let's Yuffie call him that," Aerith whispered.

I giggled.

"And the only dirt I have on Cloud is mmph!" Cloud slapped his hand to the robotically hyper girl.

"I will tell everyone your secret if you say another word," Cloud said darkly, his hand coming off her mouth.

Yuffie took a deep breath and sighed deeply.

"Aw, but Cloudy," Yuffie groaned.

"Cloud," Cloud growled.

"Never mind," Yuffie sighed.

"So, Namine, are you going to ask Riku to the dance?" Aerith leaned in with a smile plastered on her face.

"Uh…well…I…" My eyes flickered to Riku. He watched as Sora tried to get a rice ball into his mouth after pitching it into midair. He failed of course. Kairi chuckled as Sora grinned his trademark grin while wiping the bits of rice off his face with the back of his hand. Riku smirked.

They looked so happy.

My blush faded and my lips slid downward into a frown.

I always just drug people down. I never lifted anyone up. It was always the same with me. Somehow, I drove people away from me.

"Namine?" Aerith asked with worry, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I-I'm fine," I lied, trying to smile.

Aerith moved her hand away, clearly knowing I was lying. Her eyes told the whole story.

"So are you?" Yuffie questioned, moving really close to me.

"W-Well…no…" I admitted.

Everyone groaned.

"Come on, you have to have a little more confidence in yourself or he's as good as gone. All you need is a little push…" Yuffie grinned slyly.

"Yuffie…" Aerith said warningly.

"Alright, how 'bout this then. We ask what he thinks of you and tell you what he says, maybe that'll boost your self-esteem a little," Yuffie suggested.

"Now, that's not a bad idea," Aerith said.

"Hn, I agree," Cloud said quietly, earning a smile from Aerith.

"That could work…" Leon trailed off.

"Alright then! I'll go ask him!" Yuffie said enthusiastically.

She bounced to her feet and bounded to Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

I couldn't hear their words but I saw Yuffie plop down right next to Riku. He looked up, clearly confused by her sudden visit, and maybe a little annoyed.

Their lips mouthed some words I could not hear and after about thirty seconds, she came back.

Oddly, she plopped down.

"What did he say?" Aerith asked.

"Nothing, he asked my why I asked and then Kairi told me she'd give it a try so I came back," Yuffie shrugged.

"Kairi probably could get more out of him than you," Leon said. Yuffie glared.

"Leon's right," Cloud said, trying to calm Yuffie. "Let Kairi handle this."

"Alright," Yuffie sighed.

"We'll let Kairi handle this then?" I asked to make sure.

They nodded.

I picked up my chopsticks and resumed eating.

The answer if Riku liked me or not would be answered tonight. No matter what…

Dear Journal,

Selphie's party is official and it is going to be the party of the year. It's a girl ask guy party though. I don't have the guts to ask Riku! What am I going to do!? Mikuru isn't even going; she's spending the night in the library with Zexion. I can't blame her. Who would want to be alone with a bunch of drunkards?

End of Chapter 4