Sadly, Winter break had to end sometime. Roxas was sad to go back to school, but the sight of the Kents perked him up.
"Hey!" He yelled as he ran up to the girls. "How was the rest of your break?" It made him smile when he saw Namine was wearing his scarf and Xion his necklace.
"Ugh, I hate waking up early." Namine yawned. "How am I supposed to operate without 12 hours of sleep?" The others laughed at Namine's so-called plight.
"I'm not too happy about going to school, but it's nice seeing you again. By the way, where's Axel?" Xion searched for the redhead.
"He's off trying to find Saix."
"Ah," She looked like she was going to add something, but Roxas' jacket caught her eye. "Oh, I see you like my gift, then."
Roxas started to blush, but then noticed the hat she was wearing. "You also seem to like Axel's hat, and my necklace." That caught her off guard and Namine giggled.
"I also like my scarf, Roxas." She turned to laugh at the blush creeping up Xion's face. "Well, I know when I'm not wanted, tootles!" She spotted Riku and then ran to join them.
"Your sister is weird."
"Tell me about it." Xion brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "She sees me talking to a boy, and suddenly she thinks he's crushing on me."
"That's crazy!" Roxas lied. To be honest, Namine wasn't wrong. The more he thought about if he actually had a crush, the more it made sense.
"Well are you prepared for that English test?"
"Oh no. You took the notes, right?"
After being in the Bahamas all Winter break, it was a drag for Saix to go back to the cold Twilight Town.
"Barely a week in and we're swamped with work." He muttered to himself as he entered his home. He turned the lights on and almost had a heart attack when he saw a certain redhead.
"Happy Birthday!" Axel shouted as he jumped out of his hiding place.
"Dear lord, how the heck did you get there?"
"Oh your mom gave me a key and I have 7th period Study Hall." He leaned In to plant a quick peck on Saix's cheek. "I do have Drama but I couldn't miss my boyfriend's birthday!" He gestured to a cake and gift lying on the table. "My dad made red velvet cake, your favorite!"
Saix sighed. "This is sweet, but I got a paper and-" Axel grabbed his backpack out of his hand and threw it to the side. "Forget homework, you said you'd try relaxing more." Saix wanted to argue, but Axel was right, and honestly he was too tired to argue.
Tentatively, he dipped his finger in the frosting and licked it. "It's good."
"Told you so!" Axel grinned as he prepared two slices for themselves. They both sat down and Axel pushed the gift over to him. "Open it!"
Saix complied and found it was his favorite book, the one he had read countless times at the library but could never find otherwise. A rare smile escaped his lips.
"Thank you,"
"You don't know how long it took me to find it." Axel replied. "But anyways I want to know more about that trip you left me out of."
Saix rolled his eyes. "I've told you before, we could only pay for two."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Moron."
"It's Moran!" For the next few hours, the couple just talked. Saix didn't know how much he had missed these little moments, before life got complicated.
"Did you also forget your gym clothes?"
"Yeah, it sucks," Namine sighed. Coach Terra had decided to take his Wellness class to the gym that day, but unfortunately both Namine and Riku had forgotten to bring their gym clothes that day. As a result they had to walk around the gym while the others played ultimate frisbee.
"I know," Riku wistfully stared at the other kids. "Of course the day I forgot my clothes was ultimate day."
Namine wrinkled her nose at that. "Ultimate is fun, but the jocks only pass to each other. I've been open billions of times but I never get passed to."
"That's because you're so quiet." They replied. "People don't know you're open, you need to yell at them so they know."
"You would side with them." She teased. "You guys take gym way too seriously."
"Well you take drama too seriously!" Riku playfully countered. Namine let out a fake gasp.
"How dare you insult the the-ate-tar!"
"You mean the theater?"
"No it's the the-ate-tar!" That sent the two into a fit of laughter. Since the Fall Festival, Namine had done as Axel suggested and got to know Riku. They were different than she had expected, but she still enjoyed their company.
"You know it's almost February," Despite their friendship, Namine hadn't given up her pursuit of them. "Does Twilight Town High have any traditions for Valentine's Day?"
"Nah," Riku though started to smile for some reason. "But I have one with my mom. Since my dad was a douche and left her, I take her on a date instead. She's a saint but always overworking herself." Namine couldn't help but smile as well. She knew they were a sweetheart, but it was always amazing how far he went for others.
"But this year, Mom's going out with the her secretary. So I don't know what I'll do." Namine had to hold back a squeal, here was her chance!
"You know I'm doing nothing then, do you want to hang out then?"
"Sure" They flashed their trademark grin, and Namine felt herself melt a little. "That sounds great!"
Tears blinded Xion's eyes as she arrived at her house. Today had been a nightmare, everything had gone wrong. She failed her AP Bio test, forgot her Geometry homework, and made a fool of herself when presenting in German II.
"Stop crying!" She yelled at herself. God, why was she being such a crybaby?! Come on Xion, you should cry in front of Namine. Even though she was the younger twin, she knew Namine looked up to her. She was her protector, she depended on her.
Xion wiped her tears and put on a shaky smile. "Hey Namine!" She greeted as she entered their room. However, nobody was there.
"Oh," Xion had ran out of school in such a hurry, she had figured Namine had just headed home on her own. But only now did she remember Namine had a rehearsal.
"I'm so stupid!" Xion couldn't hold back the next wave of sobs. Who had she been to think Namine depended on her. No, she didn't need her. Nobody needed her like she need them. The Osburns had outside friends, they probably only hanged out with her because of Namine.
For the thousandth time she wondered if anyone would miss her if she disappeared. It was crazy, Axel had said so himself, they loved her. Still, the invasive thoughts wouldn't leave her head. God she needed to know they needed.
Xion rushed downstairs, and grabbed a phone. Immediately her fingers dialed Roxas' cell. After a few beats, he picked up.
"Hello?" Concern filled his voice. He was always so kind, so caring. Who was she to pour her problems on him? She couldn't make him carry her burdens.
"Oh hi Roxas!" Xion tried to sound as cheery as possible. "I'm just checking if there's a rehearsal, Namine didn't come home.
"Yeah there is. I'm sure that gave you a start when she wasn't home!" He laughed, that warm laugh that made her feel safe.
"I'm fine, sorry for annoying you."
"You could never annoy me, Xi," That was it.
"Anyway, bye!" Xion ended the conversation before she broke again. Choking back the tears, she curled into a ball on the kitchen floor. She was useless. Nobody needed her, she wasn't a good student, she wasn't even a good friend! Xion was alone, all alone with her personal demons.
