~So sorry for not posting for this story in more than 3 months! It wouldn't surprise me if you've all forgotten about this, but I'm going to continue it anyways in hopes someone will find and remember it!

Selphie giggles and hugs Kairi. "It's okay. I won't tell mom."

"SELPHIE! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Kairi's heart is still thudding inside her chest as Selphie laughs like a maniac.

"Hey Selphie," says Sora, his face still noticeably red.

"Y-you really won't say anything to mom, right?" Kairi grimaces at the thought of being humiliated by her mom, and is relieved to hear Selphie say, "Oh, I won't!" Kairi breathes a sigh of relief.

"Okay Selph, time to get you home!" The smile fades from Selphie's innocent face as she shakes her head vigorously. "Uh uh. I wanna hang out with you and Sora."

Urgh… just when things were starting to get going between me and Sora!

"But, Selphie, Kairi and I aren't going to hang out to do anything fun, are we Kairi?" She reads in Sora's icy blue eyes that he was bailing her out of babysitting Selphie.

"Yep! Just, uh, studying together." Kairi glances at Sora, who nods his head. "Could you tell mom for me, Selph? Just that I'll be studying in the library with a friend?" Selphie darts her eyes back and forth between the two students, as if she knew something else were taking place but she couldn't quite place her finger on it.

"O-kay. See you later then Kairi!" Selphie skips down the street, humming loudly.

Sora and Kairi lock eyes, then both immediately blush as they remember what exactly happened before Selphie showed up.

"So, the library, huh? I suppose that's where we ought to go?" Her hair is so beautiful down out of its regular ponytail. I wish she'd wear it like that all the time.

Kairi catches Sora gazing at her, and blushes harder.

"Y-yeah. I suppose so."

*Sora and Kairi have walked to the library, side by side. Not going to deny that there was some "accidental" hand bumping 3"

"What do you like to do in your spare time, Kairi?"

She blinks her big, ocean colored eyes. "Me?" Oh gosh I did not just say that… I am such an idiot.

Sora laughs quietly. "Yes, you."

"Well… I really like to play the piano." She smiles. "But don't tell anyone, okay?"

He grins adorably at her. "I think that it's nice. And don't tell anyone, but I secretly like to draw. Nerdy, huh?" Smiling sheepishly, Sora pulls out a paper that Kairi thought was simply a sheet of notes, but she felt her mouth hit the floor when she saw what's on it.

"Sora… you drew this? It's beautiful!" And it was. It was a drawing of Kairi, sitting with her legs crossed and smiling toward the viewer. Even more amazing? The drawing was so realistic, Kairi has to constantly remind herself that she wasn't looking into a black-and-white mirror, that it was a drawing of her.

From Sora. She looks up at him, eyes wide while Sora starts to genuinely smile at her. Not embarrassed for drawing, but because Kairi actually liked it. He starts to understand that Kairi is more than just a pretty face; she's beautiful inside and out.

Suddenly, a clock chimes from somewhere inside the quiet library, and they jump to their feet, wondering how it got so late so fast.

"I've gotta go!" They both blurt out at the same time. Then they laugh.

"So… I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" Sora can't seem to look away from Kairi. I still can't get over her… how have I not talked to her before?

"Yes, definitely!" He turned out to be extremely nice and sweet, too! Just wait until I tell Namine! "Here, I believe that this is yours." Kairi holds out the beautiful portrait to Sora, who shakes his head.

"If you like it, you can keep it." He smiles, blue eyes searching hers. "Just think of it as a gift from me to you."

And then he walks away, smiling over his shoulder at the girl who just realized that Sora… likes her back.