A/N: Okay. The long wait is over!

Disclaimer:

Oh, and about all the random scenes with Sora and Kairi in the last chapter, they were supposed to get together (but I couldn't make it happen right). I might as well focus on just one couple throughout the last couple chapters.

Chapter 7

Namine pushed the blonde hair out of her face and relaxed. She should be relieved at last – she could make an honest decision without Riku following her around like a golden retriever. Now, if only that decision wasn't so fatal. A life full of regret or a life full of guilt? You decide.

Thankfully, Namine was a little too distracted to focus on decisions right now. Usually, it was impossible for Namine to focus on more than one thing – and usually, what held her attention the most was whatever was most interesting… or loud and annoying. Take the constant ringing of her cell phone for example.

Since that night in the parking lot outside of the restaurant she worked at, Sora and Kairi, especially Kairi, had been calling her non-stop. So much so that it was impossible to relax or focus on getting that summer tan. But whatever. At a time like this, distraction was good. Good things didn't come when Namine had a chance to think.

Namine was tired with the tears anyways. All that time, almost the entire summer, she spent blaming herself, watching her back, and avoiding any fun whatsoever. Sure, all of this was her fault, or so she thought, but it was time (while she could) to do all the things you were supposed to do during summer; partying, blasting your favorite music, taking it easy, hanging out with friends, maybe even learning to surf. Catching up started now.

Namine took herself to the beach and set her phone on vibrate. She took her favorite pair of sunglasses, her new iPod, and the softest towel she could find in the clean laundry sitting on her couch (that had yet to be folded). She laid the towel out on the ground neatly and laid down, feeling the sand through the fabric. She let the sun beat down on her bare stomach, legs, and arms. She took a short detour on the way here to buy herself a new, light blue bathing suit.

She was just about to put turn her iPod on when she noticed the slight vibrating in her bag next to her. Great. Another phone call. She picked it up, knowing that she'd go crazy if she didn't pick it up anyways.

"Stop calling me," she groaned, not even having to look at the caller ID to know who it was.

"Hey," it was Sora this time, and he sounded defensive, "I'm just reminding you that if you want to see Riku –"

"No, go away. I don't want to see Riku right now." Namine hissed. For God's sake, it's only been a week. Did he think she was all better now, or something?



"Ouch. Cool it," Sora insisted.

"Maybe if you'll stop calling me," Namine said, and then pressed the bright red end button, and shoved the phone back in her bag, under the sunscreen and extra clothes.

Namine reminded herself that it was good to take nice, long, deep breathes. Particularly when she was pissed and confused and ignoring important decisions all at the same time.

000

Sora groaned, staring at the phone in his hand. Namine had hung up on him. Again.

"I told you that constantly calling her wouldn't work," Kairi smirked. She was lounging on the soft carpet of the second floor of Sora's house, next to a wall length window. She had half of her body pressed against it to keep her sitting up while she carelessly flipped through her magazine. She didn't bother looking at Sora when she spoke.

"You've been helping," Sora reminded her, setting the phone down on an end table next to the couch he was on. He peered over his shoulder at her. When she finally looked up at him he raised his eyebrows.

"This whole Project Woo-ha crap was your idea," She said, staring blankly at him until he looked away, frustrated. But not so much at Kairi as he was at Namine. He'd been spending so much time trying to get his best friend together with him and she wasn't responding at all. The way she avoided him was unusual… Most girls worshiped the ground that Riku walked on.

"If I remember right, it was your idea too, queen on the bitches," Sora leaned into the cushion of the couch, and began to stare at the clock. He decided that he'd call Namine again in another ten minutes.

"Queen of the bitches…" Kairi mimicked his voice and made it sound girly. Just for the pleasure of annoying him.

000

After a few more calls, Namine just turned her phone off. As painful as that was. She lingered under the sunlight until her skin burnt like fire.

She put on a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch sweats that cut off at her knees and a light sweater other her bathing suit. She applied another layer of sunscreen, just to soothe her skin, before she packed up and headed for home. It was only about one o'clock in the afternoon, and Namine had yet to eat lunch. She made plans to make herself a sandwich once she got back.

She found the walk peaceful. She grabbed some coffee from a small café on her way and admired the light blue summer sky. After one last week of torture and dried tears in the morning, she thought she was finally ready to enjoy the rest of summer.

Even though she knew that it was a bad idea, Namine ignored the decision making. She still waited for the answer to just smack her in the face. The bad dreams of the one-way road subsided a little.



When Namine walked in through the front door of her home, she was greeted with cool air. She locked the door behind herself, since she was home alone, and sauntered into the kitchen. She froze at a note that lay on the counter, folded up neatly and on the top in bright, red letters read 'From Riku'. She swallowed hard. After a minute of just staring, she picked it up.

Sorry about last week. It's just hard. If it's okay, I'm still here for you.

Namine read the sweet words too fast and didn't remember them when she crumpled it up and chucked it across the room. She was furious. Immediately, she was at the phone and dialing his number. He picked up after about two rings.

"He-"

"You- You!" Namine could hardly keep herself together. As soon as she thought the drama was somewhat over, he invaded again. It was official. He was never going to leave her alone. "What were you doing in my house!?"

"You left the door unlocked!"

"What were you doing in my house, Riku?" Namine asked again, clenching her free fist and grinding her teeth.

"I stopped by to apologize!" Riku defended himself, and then tried to calm her. "Look, it's no big deal. Chill out."

"So you put that note in my kitchen?" Namine asked, still fuming.

"No," Riku said sarcastically, "the lepercons put it there for me."

"What is wrong with you!? You said you'd leave me alone and you—just leave me alone!" Namine knew that she must've been overreacting. That she must've sounded ridiculous to him. She was through with the tears – only anger consumed her.

"You didn't miss me at all?" Riku asked.

There came no reply. Riku didn't give her much time to anyways.

"Huh. Well. When your heart grows back, give me a call." And then he hung up. Namine held onto the phone with a shaking hand, half tempted to throw it into the wall.

And then the front door opened right before Namine was about to scream. She held her breathe and dropped the phone.

"Hey there," her father greeted her as he walked into the dining room, headed for the kitchen. He cocked an eyebrow at her red face but decided not to ask.

"What're you doing home so early?" Namine asked, following him, trying to cool herself off.



"Oh, I'll be leaving again in another hour. I thought I'd stop by and grab something to eat." He stopped to stare at the lunch meat sitting on the counter and the piece of bread that had fallen to the floor. Now was a safe time to question. "What is this?"

"Sorry," Namine picked up the dirty piece of bread and threw it away, grabbing another clean one. She continued making her sandwich.

"Mmm." Her father hummed, and then decided that he actually wasn't that hungry. He grabbed a simple apple and was in the living room watching TV another minute later.

Namine sat next to him with her sandwich, trying to distract herself. "So when do you think you'll get that promotion?" she asked, making small talk. She realized how much she actually missed being around her father.

"I don't know," he shrugged, digging his teeth into the apple, "another year or so?"

Namine could hear the sarcasm in his voice, and immediately thought of the sarcasm in Riku's. She mentally slapped herself and smiled at her father.

"Anyways, it doesn't matter," he continued, "whatever pays the bills and keeps you happy." He smiled back at her, and then shifted his attention to the TV.

Namine joined him, trying to find some kind of escape from the anger still building inside of her through the commercials. Nothing happened.

After another half hour, her father left for work again and she was alone. Namine knew that she shouldn't have been caught off guard when her phone began to ring. She retrieved it and sent the caller straight to voice mail. It was Sora again.

"Namine! Answer the phone!" he groaned, and she almost laughed. Rather than tuning him out, she sat down and listened to him whine while his voice was being recorded. "Ungh. Look, there's this party on the beach tonight. That rich kid's house, you know? Riku and I and Kairi will be there, and I think you should come. Time to make up now, yes?"

Namine sighed at the word 'party.' Every party she'd been to, the pathetic three, Riku was there and she'd had no fun like she was supposed to. She missed the way it was the summer before and the summer before that even. When she didn't have to worry about all this crap.

There was no way she was going. Not if Riku was coming. As much as she missed beach parties.

When Sora hung up, Kairi went to her voice mail and deleted the message. She could find better things to do… Like fold all of that unfolded laundry, for example. In fact, cleaning the whole house would keep her busy and distracted. She could turn up the music and open the windows.



Namine got started by changing. She kept the knee-length sweats on but changed her top into a cheap white T-shirt her father wrought home from wall-mart one day. If it got stained, she wouldn't mind as much.

She folded all the laundry quickly and put it all away before she began to ready the floor for vacuuming by picking things up. A couple couch pillows, her father's coat, Riku's note… She took out the trash before she got the vacuum out of the closet. She played her favorite CD (Boy's Like Girls) loud enough to hear throughout the house while she cleaned. Loud enough to hear over the roar of the vacuum.

She thought about how happy her father would be when he got home sometime early in the morning, tired and exhausted, if he was awake enough to notice. She knew that she, at least, would appreciate and cleaner home. Without her mom living here to take care of things, she felt like she was living in a pigpen. She was surprised that the carpet was still white.

She saved her room for last. A couple of hours later of scrubbing floors, organizing cabinets, and washing dishes, she was carrying her cleaning tools down to the basement. Her room was usually very clean – but not in the last week. Too depressed and lazy to even lift a finger. Now it looked like a tornado blew through there. She shuttered at the thought of Riku seeing it- or anyone, for that matter.

She started by picking up her clothes off the floor in her closet. She threw them into a laundry bin and began re-arranging her shoes. She organized the rest of her clothes and positioned the mirror to stand the way it should. She moved on to her bathroom and scrubbed the floor and her shower. The cleaning and the loud music was working so far – the music alone would work. She could hardly hear herself think. She was calm already.

She took a break to eat an early dinner (it was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon now). She made herself a bowl of hot soup and chopped up an apple to munch on while she continued cleaning. She switched CDs (after the Boys Like Girls CD had already played about a million times over). She deliberated between We the Kings and The Fray, and ended up choosing We the Kings (which actually sounded similar to Boys Like Girls).

She finished the bathroom by organizing her makeup into her large makeup bag and stuck it in the cabinet under the sink. She picked up the floor in the main part of her room and vacuumed rather quickly. She made her bed and re-positioned the TV to face it while trying to locate the remote. Finally finished about twenty minutes later, she collapsed onto the bed and gave herself a pat on the shoulder for her hard work.

She snuck a peak at the clock and realized that her "stupid soap opera" show would be on in just a couple of minutes. Deciding to use the TV upstairs, she turned the music off and made herself a bowl of popcorn (since she was still hungry anyways) and made herself comfortable in the middle of the couch. She grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. The TV channel was on the News, and the weather man was currently gushing about what amazing weather they were going to have all week and how warm it would be tonight.



Tonight. Namine thought about the party Sora had so rudely invited her to. She shook her head and mentally slapped herself. There was no way she was going to that party. Surely, after his little invasion, he'd be wherever she was.

She changed the channel to her soap opera right when the opening theme song started. She sang along quietly to herself, knowing the words by heart. What was odd was that she found herself falling asleep as soon as her favorite characters were on the screen. Within a half hour of the hour long episode, she was laying on the couch with the popcorn pushed to the side on the coffee table. She awoke well after her show was over to the ringing of her phone. She groaned in frustration.

This is it. She thought to herself. I draw the line at 50 calls in one day.

Not like she was counting…

She answered the phone and furiously screamed into it. "Leave me alone!" she thundered.

"Whoa, whoa, hey," came a different voice than she expected. "Chill out."

Namine swallowed hard. "Roxas? Uhm. Hey?" She turned her head to look at the clock. It was earlier than she thought it felt like. It was only about seven. "Sorry about that. I thought you were…" she trailed off, remembering that Roxas had no idea who the heak Sora, Kairi, or Riku was. "Never mind. What's up?"

"Eh. Just walking around. I've been knocking on this persons door for 15 minutes now but they won't answer." He explained, not sounding annoyed at all. "Just kinda standing here."

"Oh. Are you okay? Namine asked, wondering what time it was in Destiny islands. She assumed that he was just trying to wake Wakka up of something like that.

"Just hot. It's always too hot in California." He snickered then, and Namine froze – utterly stuck with terror. He was here?! This couldn't be happing.

"Uhhhhhh, what?" was all she managed. Roxas laughed louder.

"Open your damn door already. I would've just walked in but it's locked."

Namine jumped to her feet, dropping her phone, and flew to the door. Sure enough, there Roxas was, standing right in front of her with a phone to his ear. He had his free hand stuffed in the pocket of his jeans and he wore an old American Eagle shirt (that Namine remembered because she bought it for him some time ago) and that same old smirk on his face. His hair was messy and not gelled up today, so it hunt over his eyes lazily and gave him that sort of trashy skater look that always used to love… When she wasn't in love with Riku.

"Hey," he greeted her casually and shoved his phone into his other pocket. He wrapped one arm around her, pressing her to his chest in a sort of half-hug. She whimpered to herself, grimacing in her own awkwardness and she barely managed to hug him back. All of her limbs were numb. She should be 

thrilled – not horrified. He acted like he didn't notice her uneasiness (which she tried to hide with her best effort) and released her, and moseyed on into her house like it was his own. It had sort-of been the last couple of summers that they were together.

Namine followed him silently and slowly, being lead back into the living room. He spotted the popcorn and the remote, threw his ass down on the couch, and changed the channel. He set the popcorn on his lap and shoved handfuls into his mouth at a time as Namine sat next to him, still silent. Namine made sure to lean back into the couch so it would look like she was relaxed, but hid her face from him so he wouldn't see that she was actually panicked.

Riku had started talking to her again. Being in her home. In her life. What if he decided to just drop by sometime soon before august was over and say hello – and then she'd have to hide. There were no excuses – Roxas and Riku were related so they obviously knew each other. And it sounded to her like they never got along. So wouldn't Roxas automatically think that Riku was helping Namine cheat on him while he was away? Namine almost shivered.

"Hey," Roxas said with a mouthful, and then swallowed. He put a hand on her shoulder casually and shook her a little. "You alright over there?" he finally noticed something was wrong. Just what Namine didn't want.

"O-oh," she stuttered, laughing awkwardly, "I'm fine."

Roxas shrugged and removed his hand, shifting his full attention back to the TV in front of him. He shoved another handful of popcorn down his throat.

"So what's up?" he finally asked an hour later – during commercials, of course.

"Not much," Namine answered typically, boring as ever. But what was she supposed to say? Oh, just trying not to cheat on you.

He made a meekly interested face in response and then commercials were over. His eyes followed the football being passed around on TV, getting tense every now and then but never getting excited enough to jump up and shout like her father, or any other male she knew, would do. Another thing about Roxas – he was never too excited about anything. Sure, he enjoyed the whole skateboarding thing, but he wasn't very convincing. He'd be the best (in a competition or whatever) and then win, but would shrug and be like, "awesome" and then go about with his normal business.

During the next break, Namine tried small talk. This was all too uncomfortable for her – just sitting there. "So, what've you been up to?"

"Mmm," Roxas hummed, thinking, while he put his arms back on the ledge of the couch, one of them behind Namine's head. He lifted his feet onto the coffee table and pushed the empty popcorn bowl away from him. "I've been doing nothing all summer. Literally. I thought I might as well come over and do nothing – but with you."



"I still don't see why you didn't just come here after you found out the skateboarding thing was cancelled," Namine tried not to sound irritated, but she was. If he had decided to be a good boyfriend just for once, she wouldn't be in this mess. But no matter how big of a jerk he was or how she decided to prove it, it was still wrong to blame her problems on him. She got herself into this.

Roxas turned his head slightly to her. "I told you. I didn't feel like it."

Why? Because you couldn't get your lazy ass up and buy a plane ticket? You're here now, aren't you? It wasn't so hard, was it? – Namine wished she could say that. She reminded herself to be the better person. She was driven to be the better person. She will be the better person. Instead of freaking out at him, she just shrugged.

"But it doesn't matter anymore," Roxas said matter-of-faculty, "I'm here now, aren't I? That should be good enough." He smiled like he was an all-knowing, wise and superior person. So much better than her. She wanted to gag. "Stop nagging me. You're always nagging me." He tapped her on the nose simply and then, once again, was glued to the TV. Like it was so much better than she was. But with the way she'd been lately – and that means the entire summer so far – some misleading TV show was probably a lot better than she was anyways.

And then Namine couldn't stay still anymore. She had to get up and do something. Anything to get blood flowing through her limbs again.

She stood, and Roxas made not even the slightest movement to follow or even look at her. And this was the first time he'd seen her in how long? She knew then, as she peered at him over her shoulder in some slight hope that he might look at her once, that even if she decided to stay with him instead of Riku, they would eventually break up. Nothing lasts forever – but all that time she'd wasted with him made her sick and disgusted with herself. Did she value the way she was treated at all. Did she have any self esteem or care for herself at all? Why hadn't she seen how wrong for her he was in the first place? Riku had been right. She'd known it, too. She knew that she wasn't trying to convince him that what he said was wrong – this whole time she was just trying to convince herself.

And all for what?

But it couldn't end now. Not for Riku. She had to save that last little bit of her dignity and (say it with me) be the better person. Two more weeks was all that she had to love through.

But then she thought about it more as she walked out the door, not needed her coat for the long walk she was about to take. It was warm enough anyways.

Say she did do what's supposedly "right" and wait to break-up with Roxas till she was home again. Sure, she wouldn't feel guilty (at least she thought she wouldn't) but what about that regret? She'd never know what could've happened. She'd think about it her entire life! Wasn't that just as bad as feeling guilty?!



Namine shook her head at herself. She was being ridiculous. The answer was finally here, so she was going to stick with it. As painful as that might be.

000

Riku knew that Namine wasn't coming. For that, his whole evening was ruined. He dragged himself around the couch and did nothing the remainder of his day, counting down the last few hours before the party (which would start at ten pm). Maybe, then, he would be able to be himself and have some kind of fun.

He'd never felt this way about one person before. He used to be king of the careless – mister laid back. Now he couldn't sleep at night. He'd stay up staring at the ceiling, thinking that maybe sometime he'd win Namine over. He knew that part of the reason he liked her was that she was the one girl on earth that had ever run from him. The one girl on earth that drove him crazy.

He thought about her constantly. Only went down to The Palm Tree when he knew it was Namine's shift. He couldn't leave her alone for more than a week, for Christ's sake! Long story short, love sucks. It's cruel, confusing, and almost completely unbearable – but oddly wonderful and perfect all at the same time. He hated it.

At least right now, he did. Because he wasn't getting what he wanted. And probably never would.

Sora nagged him constantly. "Dude, you should go see what Namine's doing," he constantly said whenever he wasn't already pursuing her. He'd gotten severely annoying the last week when he'd tried to ignore her. It's hard to forget about someone when you're constantly being reminded via cell phone.

He was sitting on the porch, watching the sky as it slowly darkened. He checked his watch constantly and fidgeted, getting up every now and then to just walk around the length of his house. To feel the grass brush against his feet in some kind of attempt to relax him.

Finally he couldn't take it anymore. He hopped in his car, ready to drive around Namine's house just for the heak of it. Maybe he'd get lucky and she'd be hanging around outside. But then again, maybe that wouldn't be so lucky. She'd already freaked out at him once today. He wouldn't take another argument with her.

He reached her street and saw nothing in her lawn but overwatered flowers – what he expected. No Namine. Frustrated, he drove down the length of her block and made to turn towards the coffee shop that Sora and Kairi always hung out at. He knew Sora was there – he might as well talk to someone to pass time. Why not his best friend?

But suddenly he froze and slowed the car. No doubt, there Namine was some ways off into the distance, walking this way towards her home. She didn't seem to notice that Riku's car was sitting there, waiting for him.



He rolled down his window when she was close enough to hear him. Oddly, she didn't see him yet. His car had to be familiar by now.

"Namine!" He called. Her head shot up and turned towards him, her face instantly twisting into a fierce expression of pain. Like he'd just stabbed her with a sharp pencil, or something. She sped up her pace and walked past his car – way over on the other side of the street. "Hey, stop!" He backed up his car as she kept walking. "Just listen."

Namine didn't want to listen. She just wanted to clear her head. She wanted some kind of peace and relaxation, an escape from this mess she was in. She wouldn't be doing that with Riku around.

Riku sight, backing the car up more as she got past him again. "C'mon. This is ridiculous," he pleaded her, and she slowed. He took this chance to invite her along. Even though he knew she probably wouldn't go anywhere at all with him. Not right now. "Just get in the car." She looked up at him slightly, interested in a kind of depressed way. He felt bad about whatever was running through her head. "Please?"

She completely came to a stop and paused for only a moment before starting her way slowly across the street to him, and he smiled a small smile to himself while her eyes were still glued to the ground. She got in the car, taking quite some time, and sat in the backseat as far away from him as possible. But he was still satisfied. As long as she was in his car, he was in control and could say as much as he wanted in some last effort to convince her that he was what was best for her. For now, she was trapped.

000

Oddly, Namine decided to take up Riku's offer and go with him to wherever he was going. She convinced herself that it was better than walking around aimlessly, trapped inside her head, or sitting around watching Roxas. And there was a part of her that really missed Riku's near constant presence. Before, despite all the drama, she hadn't really minded him hanging around. She liked the attention, especially from him.

No matter how much she wanted to just be laid-back and carefree with him, she stayed silent and the car was flooded with an awkward silence until the car pulled into the parking lot of a café. The one that served the napoleons.

Riku sat there for a moment, unmoving, trying very hard to think of something to say to her. Namine groaned, and couldn't take it anymore. She took out her phone, quickly sent Roxas a text message warning him that she'd be gone for a few hours, and then leaned over the backseat with half of her body in the front so she could look at Riku up close. "Okay, look," She didn't sound pleased, but the way he smelt up so close was secretly making her crazy, "I'm tired of this."

Riku's eyes looked hopeful, like she might be giving in. But she wasn't.



"I need-"Namine paused, sighed, and then groaned again, "I need a break from all of this. The drama, the gut wrenching guilt, feeling horrible about myself… I know it's not your fault, but for tonight, we're going to pretend like it is. You have just a couple of hours to make it up to me, starting now."

Riku looked even more hopeful now, and was about to speak, but Namine continued.

"No awkward silences. No bashing on Roxas – in fact, we're not even could to bring that whole situation up." Namine was completely serious, but Riku wanted to laugh. "Now, you start making my day by buy bringing your sense of humor into the café with you and buying me a napoleon. Sound like a plan?"

Now, finally, after what seemed like forever, Riku laughed, and in return Namine smiled at him. "You've got yourself a deal, your highness."

000

It hadn't taken long for Riku to make it feel like the beginning of summer again. When she could be around him and not feel so much guilt. (sure, she was guilty about sleeping with him, but that wore itself out after a while–mostly, at least). There was still that little voice in the back of her mind that begged and pleaded for her to get out of there and continue being a "good girlfriend", but she didn't listen. Not once since that first beach party had she been able to just relax when Riku was within a one mile radius of her. None-the-less talking to her.

He was telling her a whole bunch of stories about his life back home on the other side of destiny islands with Sora and Kairi. He told her about the stupid little agreements Sora and Kairi would get into at his house; like over the microwave.

Namine could honestly say that she was enjoying herself after a while, about an hour and a half after they arrived, when all the awkwardness had completely settled.

They switched back in forth, telling random stories about their pointless lives. Namine told him about the one time that spiders invaded her house in the spring and she ended up having to stay in a hotel with her mom one night while someone poison bombed their house to kill all the bugs. Riku told her about last summer when he's stayed home and threw parties in his backyard almost every night. Namine was jealous when he told her that he lived right on the beach, and that the beach was his backyard.

The hours flew by, until it was almost pitch black outside, and Roxas had yet to call asking where Namine was. Namine had long ago forgotten about his existence.

They both finished about their tenth cup of coffee and ordered more, ready to launch into another conversation about something stupid but somehow amusing. Currently they were discussing junk mail.

"You know, some of the stuff people send me on my e-mail address is ridiculous. I was going through it this morning wondering what the hell all these people are thinking. According to just what I was sent last week, I've won ten new laptops, a new BMW, and apparently, somebody on the myyearbook 

website is looking for me." He shook his head, laughing like he was almost annoyed just thinking about it. "Oh, and just in case you needed a map to Nevada…"

"Oh, I know. Once I got an e-mail trying to sell me a laser. Who would try and sell a laser to someone?" Namine took a sip of her re-filled glass, feeling the coffee's warmth run down her throat.

"Isn't it stupid? I honestly wished I didn't even have a computer sometimes, so I wouldn't have to deal with some of that stuff. Do you have any idea how many viruses my computer has from just looking at the stuff?"

Namine laughed. "My dad's always getting pissed at me for stuff like that. You're killing my computer! He says over and over."

Riku's phone rang then, and he rolled his eyes and answered it. "Not now, Sora," he said, like somehow he knew who was calling.

"You were supposed to be at the party an hour ago." Sora reminded him, frustrated. Namine stared at Riku quizzically and he groaned, hanging up the phone and checking the time. He looked out the window, and seemed depressed. Time was up. He knew that as soon as he drove Namine home, things would return to normal.

Namine checked the time right after he did, and cursed under her breath. "Shit," she muttered pulling out her phone and checking for missed calls. Oddly, there were none. She was about to call Roxas and ask if he was okay, but remembered that Riku had no idea that Roxas was in town. She shuttered again as unpleasant thoughts ran through her head. She really shouldn't have gone out with Riku tonight, but she could resist. Not with the way Riku's eyes begged her as he sat in his car, or how much sexier he looked with his hair messy. She couldn't help but stare at him whenever he wasn't looking right at her – his faded Abercrombie shirt (the same one she almost stole), his perfectly ripped dark blue jeans, his God like features…

Namine shook her head. It really did feel like the beginning of summer again, when she constantly checked him out and was more worried that he'd catch her rather than if she gave into him again.

Riku turned back to her and cocked an eyebrow at the distant expression on her face. "You okay?" he asked, and she snapped back.

She blinked at him, eyes wide for a moment. "Uh, I'm fine."

"Hey, it's kinda late and I promised Sora I'd be somewhere," Riku looked pained, "I should probably drive you back now."

"Yeah." Namine sighed, and followed Riku out of the café after he left a check for all the coffee and napoleons they'd bought. Riku held the door open for her and walked to close behind her that Namine felt like he might bump into her. She had up next to him this time, on on the way home she checked her phone again. Ironically, it started to ring when she grabbed it.



She answered, uneasy. "Hello?"

Roxas answered, but didn't sound like he wanted to know where she was at all. "I'm going out with some friends from last summer I ran into at the airport today. I'll see you when you wake up tomorrow."

"Uh, okay?" Namine didn't care where he went. This only gave her a chance to spend more last minute time with Riku while Roxas wasn't looking. She heard Roxas hang up and she put her phone away, turned her head to Riku (he was already watching her from the corner of his eye) and acted like she didn't know where Riku was going.

"Where did you say you had to go, again?" Namine asked, and just then they pulled into her driveway.

"Oh, some party. Do you remember the kid who threw the party that I met you at?" Riku asked, and Namine nodded. "Yeah, it's at his house. Did you want to… come?" Riku asked hopefully, and his eyes shinned dully in the light illuminating from the moon that came through the window. They sort of sparkled and Namine died to reach out and grab him, but resisted like she always had to. Blast his sexyness!

"Yes," Namine forced herself to say before she could change her mind. She'd already been a bad girlfriend once tonight, so it didn't matter anymore, Namine thought to herself. Not until tomorrow did she have to start ignoring him again…

Riku smiled her favorite smile and she had to look away from him. Yes – she was going to go to this party with Riku. But she wasn't going to cheat on Roxas. That would be stepping over the line.

000

Namine had remembered vividly how loud that first party of the summer was, but as they got there, it seemed louder. She knew that it would be this way until around two, when the cops started patrolling around, and everyone would move out to the beach if they weren't already outside. Namine walked through the front door by Riku's side where a couple of guys were sitting on the porch, throwing back their heads and laughing like the drunken jocks that they were.

Namine felt a headache coming on as they moved into the main area of the party – the gigantic living room connected to the kitchen and the deck outside. Namine watched the speaker all around that were connected to the ceiling vibrate violently, blasting music from a band she wasn't sure she'd heard of before. There were plastic cups left everywhere – the couches, counters, even the floor. Everyone was packed together so closely that instantly Namine could feel the heat of the room.

But despite all this, Namine loved parties like this. It was like a club without the club (if that makes sense)! And a beach! The alcohol being served by a couple of people that were friends with the owner of the home was free, as always, and as much as it made Namine's stomach churn, she loved the smell of it.



"You want anything?" Riku asked, making a move for the kitchen where the good stuff was. Namine shook her head.

"Nah," she said. Riku stopped and shrugged.

"Okay."

They stopped at the back of the room right under another speaker and Namine leaned against the wall, Riku standing closely in front of her (he couldn't help it – it was so crowded). There they waited for Sora and Kairi to just… find them like they said they would. Namine wished them good luck. She wouldn't be able to find anything on her own here. But that's another thing Namine liked – how close you'd have to dance and be to everyone. You'd always have people being pressed up against you and even if you were dancing by yourself, it wouldn't look that way at all. Then Namine snickered. It was also a way to meet new people. Namine remembered how everyone tried talking to her the first night she was here.

Riku shoved his hands in his pockets and let out a long, exasperated sigh and looked another direction, watching to see if Sora would just magically appear. Namine admired him again while he was distracted, taking in the way his shirt fit against his toned chest. Just the way he held himself when he stood up straight gave him that sexy, laid-back feel that was completely irresistible and attractive. His jeans were perfectly ripped in all the right places and a dark color that highlighted how in-shape he was. He was very nice to look at…

He looked at her again, and she snapped her head up and smiled like she wasn't totally just checking him out. He let out another long breath and shrugged, returning her smile. "I give," he put his hands up in surrender. "He's never going to find us. You want to dance or something.

Yes, Namine almost said too fast, but kept her mouth shut. Oh, she craved to be so close to that body of his and those gleaming minty eyes and that long, gorgeous hair of his but… That might be considered cheating. She also held her hands up in a surrendering position.

Riku lowered his hands and cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a yes or a no?"

Namine thought about it for a moment, her craving to reach out and touch him increasing tenfold because of just the way he'd looked at her. And because he was even looking at her at all. A boy as God like as him should not be chasing around girls like her. It just wasn't right, but she loved it. If only she wasn't so determined to keep her word. "No, sorry," Namine bit her lower lip and looked down at her shoelaces, "Boyfriend, remember?"

Riku almost laughed, because she'd said that a million times before – practically shoving the fact down his throat. It was too bad that he knew just who her boyfriend was, because now he wasn't going to back down. He said he wouldn't.

"Not giving up, remember?" Riku stepped closer, but he had already been close, so by now he was almost chest-to-chest with her.



"You already did, remember?" Namine actually smiled at what he had said, but it was a sly smile. She was confident in herself after all she'd been through. All of that resisting him before was not for nothing. "And besides, this was supposed to be a one night thing."

And now Riku was so close that he was whispering in her ear. His sweet breath on her neck almost made her giggle. "What if I don't want it to be just a one night thing?"

"That isn't up to you," Namine tilted her head towards him, and now they were cheek-to-cheek.

"Oh?"

"You heard me."

Riku moved his head back just barely so he could see her face. He shook his head slowly. "No. I think you might have to repeat yourself.

Namine almost died right there. They were breathing the same air and Namine felt her temperature rise dramatically as she watched his eyes and he watched hers back, looking sexy in a sort of devious way. Crafty, he was… Looks like he had her trapped.

"Fine," Namine gave in, withstanding the urge to kiss him, "I'll dance with you."

000

Two hours later and they were still squished together into the crowd of people, switching back and forth between the living room and the kitchen to get something to drink. Namine knew that she shouldn't, but everything had started to get to her head. Hopefully she wouldn't look too bad in the morning, and Roxas wouldn't notice. She laughed more than she'd laughed earlier in the café as Riku talked to her in her ear since the music was so loud and they were so close.

Eventually, everyone was kicked outside and the music was put on a lower level so they wouldn't get in trouble with the local police. Now Namine was familiar with the music being played (mostly bands that sounded like Blink-182). Riku was sitting next to her on the deck that extended a few meters over the ocean's surface. They sat on the edge and Namine had her legs crossed but Riku let his hang over the edge. He'd taken off his shoes so he could feet the water with the tips of his feet. He didn't bother rolling up his jeans.

Namine joined him eventually but lay on her back with one hang being her head. She watched the stars shine and glitter and made wishes on satellites that she mistakes for shooting stars. She was thankful that she had just decided to enjoy herself tonight and not worry about how she'd feel about herself in the morning. It was refreshing.

Sora and Kairi had yet to find them, even though it should've been easy because they were the only ones on the dock.



Riku sighed and laid down next to her with his hands rested on his stomach. In a couple of hours they'd officially be back to normal. Riku had yet to try and convince her to dump Roxas like the dick he was and be with someone who really gave a shit about her. Someone like himself.

"So this is it?" he asked, and Namine knew what he was talking about. There was only another week and a half of summer left, so it was near impossible for him to win her over now. Not with so little time left. For all he knew, this really could be it. Of everything. He didn't just mean tonight.

Namine sighed like she didn't want him to say that, and tilted her head to look at the side of his face as he continued to stare up. "I guess."

Now Riku was looking at her, they looked at each other, and Riku tried hard not to yell. "Why not me?" he asked, confused. "What's so great about Roxas? I thought I was doing everything right."

Namine didn't say anything, and looked back up. He was right. He'd always said all the right things at all the right times and made all the right moves and was always kind and loving and everything perfect that Namine could ever ask for. Ever. She was blessed to have even discovered that such a person, and she was resisting him. So much for doing the right thing. She was running from the one thing she wanted most.

"Weren't you having a great time tonight? Do you have any idea how much more I care about you than he ever will?"

Namine didn't want to have this conversation. This was starting to get painful. She took this as a hurtful sign that she should be getting home now. Fast. Before she did anything else stupid. She could feel the guilt coming to her now – the one simple reason that had kept her from him. The world would be a much easier place to live in if you could switch emotions off. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

"Take me home now," Namine said quietly, sitting up now. Riku sighed because he knew that was coming.

"Alright," Riku wished that he hadn't ruined the mood by asking. But he had to sometime. Instead of living in this fantasy world acting like he actually had her.

They walked back through the house and Riku grabbed another drink before they left to get him to sleep when he got home. He wanted to pass out and not wake up for days. If he was lucky enough – he'd sleep till the end of summer.

He tried to accept that he pretty much lost as they made their way towards the street where he parked his car. They had to walk a little ways, past all the other cars that were lined up. He searched his pocket for the keys before they made it to his car.

But then Namine stopped, and he looked up towards whatever she was looking at. They were standing by his car now, but Namine refused to listen to him and get in the car. What she was looking at wasn't anything unusual to see pretty much anywhere in California – some random couple groping each other 

in the darkness of the houses shadow and the bushes that surrounded it. For some reason, only God knows what, Namine felt like watching. But why were her eyes slightly widened like something was about to shock her? She looked as though she was trying to figure something out by the way she leaned to the side and raised her eyebrow a little.

"What?" Riku asked her, leaning on the side of his car. Namine didn't look back at him when he spoke, but kept her eyes glued on the couple.

"Do you know who that is?" Namine asked, sounding hopeful. Was that what she wanted to know?

But before Riku could answer, she inhaled sharply with a sort-of half gasp. Something was up.

"What?" Riku asked again.

And then Namine looked hurt, crushed, betrayed, and all around pissed. Her face was growing to such an extreme level of red that she looked like she might explode right there on the spot. And then, as Riku looked back at the couple, he realized what was so wrong, and why Namine was storming in their direction right now.

The dirty blonde, messy hair and the dull eyes. The skateboarding shoes, low cut jeans, an almost too baggy shirt – and an un-matching puppy face to go with it all. There Roxas was, caught in the act, cheating on Namine behind a strangers home with a girl he probably just met. For Riku, this was nothing new about Roxas. Namine, on the other hand, was infuriated. Her eyes were watery now, but no tears spilled from them because her face was too hot. Roxas spotted them from a distance as Namine came at him, and the girl he was with gasped and then was gone.

"You dirty little cheating bastard!" Namine screamed loud enough for half the neighborhood to hear, the hurt coming out in her voice as it cracked and the tears really started to pour. She was mad, mad, mad.

Roxas put his hands up in defense, but didn't look quite as scared as he should be. Namine raised her hand to slap him, but froze. She couldn't bring herself to even touch him. She'd spent all summer resisting the one person she wanted the most all for him, and now, finally, she realized completely what Riku had been trying to tell her. She was angrier with herself, but she'd deal with that later.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Roxas took a step back as Namine started to scream at him again, clenching her fists and bearing her teeth.

"I can't believe you! I was really wasting those four years with you, wasn't I? How could you even – after all I've done for you!?" Namine's words were said too fast and loud, and Roxas was slightly frightened. He knew he was in deep shit now.

Namine was so mad that she couldn't even speak to him now. So she waited, face red and eyes wet, for him to speak up and say something intelligent about what he thought we was doing. Nothing came.



And then he was ready to say something, backed up far enough so that if Namine attacked him, he could escape. Nobody would want to be within a one-mile-radius of her right now. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"Look," he stuttered, trying to straighten his poster and act like he knew what he was talking about, like his opinion really mattered anymore, "what we had was… Fun."

"Fun?" Namine asked, even more hurt. Is that all he thought it was? Well, fine then. She reached back for Riku's drink, stealing it from him, and she threw it at Riku. "No, Roxas. That was fun."

And with that, she was out of there. Roxas stood, drenched, watching her leave. He noticed Riku then, and was even more shocked. Riku, not really knowing what to do and a little shocked himself, ran to catch up with Namine.

She was really crying right now. Her face was almost as wet as Roxas's and she sniffed constantly, trying to wipe away the tears that just kept coming. Everything she'd been doing all summer… all of that effort… wasted. On a self centered jerk like Roxas. She couldn't believe herself.

She got in the car and slammed the door, and Riku was already turning the keys in the ignition. "Are you okay?" he asked as the car flared to life, and he had to turn the radio down to mute. He waited for a long moment for Namine to speak through her hysteria, and all she managed to get out was:

"Just take me home. Please."

He did as she said, and they were at her house in a matter of minutes, and she didn't seem to even notice as he got out of the car to follow her inside.

He wanted to do something to make her stop crying. But he knew that it was best to just leave her be till morning. She was sick and tired and hurt and needed to sleep desperately, and didn't need him saying "I told you so" right now.

She let him inside, too upset to even think rationally. Riku followed her down to her room and shut the door for her, and just watched as she crawled into her bed with the lights on, acting as though Riku wasn't even there, and curled up into a ball on top of the blankets. She shivered, burying her head in the pillow and screaming into it with the full force of her sobs. Riku felt horrible.

Watching a person break down wasn't a pleasant experience.

He decided that he wasn't going to leave her, so he sat down and waited for her to cry herself to sleep. Riku guessed that she really didn't know that he was here, in her room, watching. But Namine spoke then, catching Riku off guard. "Thanks for driving me home, Riku. You can go now." She said in-between sobs.

Riku got to his feet and walked up to her bedside, and leaned over the edge so that he was hovering over her. He forced the blanket over her body and up to her shoulders, and he gave her a serious look. "I'm not going anywhere, Namine."



Namine tried to glare at him but her face wouldn't allow that. She just continued to cry. She nodded slowly like she decided to just give up. Riku leaned over to switch the light off.

"Get some sleep, Namine." He ordered, but softly and sweetly, as if his voice might soothe her.

She was out, exhausted from the crying, in a matter of minutes. In another effort to comfort her, as if it would make anything any better, he rubbed her shoulder as she drifted off into a deeper sleep. He sat on the edge of her bed, unable to see in the darkness. Namine shifted restlessly next to him. Not even sleep was calming her.

But Riku knew that the twist of events had yet to really, fully sink in.

To Be Continued.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Review if you like.

Oh, and by the way: In case you haven't noticed throughout the story, I really like Abercrombie. Lol.

Sorry about the length of the chapter, if it's too long for some of you. I had to get to a certain point in the story by this chapter and it took a little longer than I thought it would. But, hey, it's like two chapters in one! I hope you enjoyed it!