Hey Guys! I'm sorry for the delay in this story. I got side tracked with different stuff. But I promise that I will get back to updating like I normally do :) Sorry that this chapter is a litte slow and unproductive. But it won't turn out that way in the end! Promise . Thanks and God Bless!

Protector of the Heart

Chapter 7

*SORA*

"Hey Zexion" I said leaning up against the editors desk. The blue haired junior looked through his long bangs up at me. He always seemed serious. He was extremely smart.

"Hello Sora, Thanks for taking the time to come for an interview. Most people don't really take this seriously" Zexion rolled his eyes and closed his hardcover book.

"No problem, thanks for asking me to do it" I felt really weird with all the attention I had gotten today.

Everyone was treating me differently, some were really nice, but others…I tried not to let it bother me. Bullies were the same in every way, I'd figure out what to do later. It didn't take long for Zexion to get what he needed from me. He was really smart, he had already written down the questions and everything. He made my brain look like a two year old. I could see why Riku would like to hang around with him.

"Looks like you two are having fun" Riku said coming to my side as Zexion got his files in order. He said he'd type it tomorrow and it would be in the Tuesday article. That was fine with me.

"Marley got the night off from the florist, so he's going to come tonight" Riku said leaning up against Zexion's desk.

"When did Marley start working at a florist?" I asked stifling a laugh.

"Since he noticed that he needs a car and the boss's daughter was hot" Riku said smirking. "At least that's what he said"

"There's Marley for you" Zexion said with an eye roll.

"Well Yes, I am here for you Zexion" Marley said leaning up against the doorway earning another eye roll from Zexion.

"If you keep rolling your eyes at me, they are going to stay that way and all you are going to be able to do is look up" Marley flicked the bluenette playfully and walked to Riku.

"Everyone ready?" RIku asked looking around.

"Let guy's night begin" Marley said with a grin rubbing his hands together.

*KAIRI*

Naminè and I walked towards the front of the school. Everyone else eagerly pushed to get out of this brick prison. I looked through rooms gloss room where the school paper normally met and found Sora talking with Riku and two other guys. He must be hanging out with them tonight. For some reason I felt sad that I wouldn't hear rest laugh for the rest of the night. That he won't whine about school work or distract us from our project. Something seemed empty without him. He caught me watching him and quickly ran out to meet me and Naminè.

"Hey…I'm going to hang out with Riku tonight, but do you need me to walk you home?" He asked talking more to me than to Naminè. Naminè nudged me gently and I looked back at her, she nodded innocently.

"No…We'll be fine, it's not far to Xaldin's. We have a project to do" I said. I got another nudge from Naminè, "Thank you…though…for asking" I said almost bumping into him. He steadied me by my elbow, before Riku put a hand on his shoulder.

"You girls be safe" Sora said before turning to leave. I felt something crush inside of me. He was almost like Naminè to me. A security blanket that I had gotten so use to that I didn't want to let it go.

"Why didn't you let Sora walk with us?" Naminè asked as we finally got into the warm sunshine.

"What do you mean?" I asked peeking behind to make sure no one was around. Nope all the students seemed to have scattered in seconds. That's what a Friday can do for a person.

"I thought...well…I thought…" Naminè flustered trying to get her thoughts in order. "I thought you kind of…well...liked him" She finally admitted.

I stopped dead center of the side walk. "What made you think that?" I asked instantly blushing.

"Well…I don't know...there just seemed to be something…a spark…between you" She said blushing herself.

I wasn't exactly sure what to say. Nami thought there was a spark. Something we both dreamed having with handsome guys at all of our sleepovers. Naminè looked over at me with a look almost worried that she had offended me. She was so sweet, and cared so much for both me and Sora. I didn't understand what was going on with me really. Class with Gaston had been as wonderful as always. Even Tidus got a little jealous. It had been really nice when he payed special attention to me, but I knew that I would have to be careful. No one, especially Naminè could ever learn about my new secret lessons.

"I...I don't know…How I feel just now. I'm trying to just forget the drama of high school. Sora is wonderful. But…" I knew I couldn't really come up with an excuse.

"I…I just see the way you two look at each other" Naminè said as we waited to cross the street.

I tried to answer as we finally got across to Xaldins. It was weird that I had just been there yesterday. Twice actually. I tried to not to peek up at the apartment windows as we entered the not too busy restaurant. Namine followed me as I headed down the buffet. I mostly grabbed fruits and a few pieces of bread. I headed down to the cashier and paid for both of our meals.

"Thank you" Nami said setting her tray down in one of the many empty booths.

"No problem, I figured we could go back and get coffee later. Xaldin makes a mean brew" I said smiling at her. I wasn't trying to let on that I was still shaken from the conversation earlier.

"Sounds like a good plan. How about I start on my part and you start on yours? We'll put the hand written one together, and I'll stay after Monday and type it all out. Since I'm a fast typer" Naminè said already getting her binder out.

I had written about two pages when a certain voice pulled me from my work. I looked to see Gaston leaning out of the kitchen talking to someone. He still had his clothes from school. His colored shirt seemed a little more relaxed though. His hair was still tied behind him. I jerked back to my work and tried not to seem too excited. I gently looked up and Naminè was still intently working on her part of our project.

"Well hello ladies, fancy seeing you here" Gaston said smiling at us. I sighed inwardly just looking into his chocolate brown eyes again.

"Hello Monsieur Gaston, what brings you here?" Naminè asked politely though I knew she was annoyed that her work had been disturbed. I get that look sometimes when I interrupt her drawing time.

"I live above here in one of the apartments; I was just talking to my landlord." Gaston said easily. "Are you two really doing school work on a Friday night?"

I smiled and looked up at him, "Ansem is letting us have some extra credit."

"Oh right, he told me about that" Gaston said, "I was told that a little bit credited to each class, what did you two do that counted for all of that?" He asked still smiling easy.

"We did a trip to Agrabah to visit my aunt Jasmine" I said taking a sip of my water.

"I went there for my masters in French literature" Gaston said with his deep silky voice.

I almost asked if he wanted to sit with us. But some banging came from the kitchen and the swinging door swung open with a clank. I jumped and Gaston smiled more openly at me before he turned to meet the man walking out. I instantly noticed it was Xaldin. His long dark whiskers shadowed his face. His dreadlocks flowed behind him. His insane looking gold eyes met with Gaston's as he walked towards our table.

"Miss Heart, How is your father?" Xaldin asked grimacing at Gaston.

"He's good. He's at the fire house as usual" I said looking from an annoyed Gaston to an angered Xaldin. Something was defiantly going on, and it seemed that Naminè and I were right in the middle of it.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to bring girls to the apartment?" Xaldin asked infuriated.

Crap! I tried to look as normal as I could. Someone had seen me yesterday. How could I have been so careless? But wait, what had Xaldin meant about how many times. Was I not the only girl Gaston had brought to his apartment? I noticed Gaston just smiled lightly and turned towards our table.

"Excuse me girls. I'll see you Monday, don't forget the nouns homework" Gaston turned and lead a still angered Xaldin towards the kitchen.

"Well that was awkward" Naminè said before turning towards her work.

"Tell me about it" For the first day since I met Gaston, I wasn't lying to Namine.

*SORA*

"Dude come one, lighten up" Riku nudged my shoulder with his red plastic cup..

All the guys were high on the two plastic bottles of Mountain Dew that Marley had picked up at the Five Below. Well, not Riku, he was too sensible for that. He only had a little bit of mountain dew. He had one cup to Marley's five. I didn't want to be so energetic that I couldn't sleep. I'm normally energetic anyways. Also if Kairi needed me, I wanted to be able to walk her home and not drive her crazy.

"Have you heard from them?" Riku asked sitting up beside me at the bar of his kitchen.

"Nope, not a word" I said irked as I stuffed the phone Riku had gotten for me in my pocket.

"I'm sure you'll get something" Riku said trying to cheer me up.

"Hey guys what did you think of the new French teacher?" Zexion asked coming to sit on the other side of me. I had really come to know him better tonight. We were all getting to be friends.

"I don't like all the attention the chicks are giving him" Marley said grudgingly starting up Riku's playstation 2.

"I've noticed that, I don't see the appeal" Zexion said as if he had put it to serious thought.

"He seems to have some affect on Kairi" I said softly trying not to sounds bitter.

"Your little red haired friend?" Marley asked suddenly. "Isn't she kind of short with like shoulder length red hair?"

"Yea" I said looking up at Marley from the couch. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh…um nothing" He said quickly turning back to the gaming console.

I looked up at Riku who eyed Marluxia suspiciously. But everything went on as normal. Riku beat Marluxia in all of his video games. I finally got a text message but it was from Roxas;

I'm on call all of tonight, stay with Riku

I showed it to Riku who patted me on the shoulder. "you know that you're always welcome here".

Ventus did an extra woof as if confirmation to Riku's welcome. I scratched him behind the ears and let him lick my ice cream spoon. Vanilla was his favorite. He did a little woof in happiness and turned over so I could scratch his belly. I jumped as my phone vibrated again. I quickly opened it up and clicked the open button.

Hey, Nami and I are almost finished with our project. We're heading to my house. Do you want to do some practicing for the next swim meet tomorrow?

I fumbled with my phone as I tried to quietly hold down my excitement. Riku noticed though and looked at the message.

"Looks like you have a date my friend" he said smiling.

Author's Note: Up Next, It's Monday and that mean school! That also means that it's Kairi's first private lesson with Gaston.