When I went on vacation to Chicago a month ago, I saw a place called 'Beefee.' Sound familiar? That kind of annoyed me for some reason. But I got over it.

Today is Saturday, right? Right.

So why am I so incredibly bored right now?! Uggh.

I groan for the third time.

This sucks. What kind of loser doesn't have anything to do at ten-thirty a.m. on a Saturday morning? Well I don't. Me. Kairi.

I would call Cloud, but I think he's hanging out with some friends at the mall. I thought about asking to tag along, but I would feel awkward. I'll only know Cloud, and somewhat Sora, Riku and Demyx. This time there will be a few more guys and their girlfriends.

I thought about calling Yuffie, but she's doing something with her family. A cousin's birthday, or something.

I even thought about calling Hayner, just to see what he was doing. But he's one of those people that you just have in your contacts. Everyone's got his number, but that's mainly because he usually sends party invites via text message.

Olette? We're not that close.

This makes me frown. I really don't have a lot of friends, now that I think about it. I guess I don't really think about it because I have the lovely Cloud and Yuffie with me most of the time. But now I'm starting to think about it. And it's making me frown.

I get up from my comfortable position on my bed and head downstairs, since I don't really know what else to do.

My mom's here today, which is cool since she normally isn't. She's a lawyer, so she's quite busy. And when she isn't, she's out doing something or another. You'd think she'd want to just come home and settle down for awhile. But that's just not her at all.

"Hey," I say to her when I pass her.

"Hi, sweetie," she responds from her position on the couch. I head into the kitchen to grab some juice.

"Kairi?" I hear my mom call.

"Yeah?" I reply, grabbing a clean glass from the dish rack.

"Can you come here, hon?"

I walk over to the refrigerator and pull out the carton of Hawaiian Punch. I pour some of the bright red liquid into the glass before carefully setting it back on the top shelf of the refrigerator.

"Coming," I say, closing the door and grabbing my glass.

I walk back to the front room and join her on the couch.

"You wanted something," I state rather than question.

"Yeah, I just wanted to catch up," she tells me, shifting her body towards me, pulling her feet slightly under her. I roll my eyes playfully.

That's my mom's other thing. She likes to sit down and talk about school or my social life whenever she possibly can.

"Okay," I say, "where to start?"

She taps her finger on her chin in a thinking manner.

"I know," she lights up, "Let's talk about that boy you like, Sara."

"Sora," I correct, "Sara even sounds like a girl's name."

"Well whatever," she waves it off and stares at me expectantly.

"What's there to say?" I ask.

"Do you even talk to the boy now?" she asks.

"A little," I shrug, "I went out with Cloud, Yuffie, Sora and two other guys the past two weekends."

"Ahh, that's right," she says, "And how was that?"

"Okay."

Now it's her turn to roll her eyes.

"Well that's no fun," she replies.

I suddenly grow tired of her and want to go do something else.

"We went to Twilight Tower the first weekend and watched a movie a t Yuffie's the second," I explain in a nutshell. She nods.

"Doing anything this weekend?" she questions.

"Not really," I tell her, taking a sip from my glass. I pick up the remote to change the channel.

"No Cloud or Yuffie?" she asks in mock surprise. I shake my head, keeping my eyes on the television set that's mounted of the wall.

"Cloud's going to the mall with some friends and Yuffie's got a cousin's birthday party," I clarify.

"You didn't want to go with Cloud?"

"Not really."

"Well if you want, we can go to the mall or something." She suggests. But I don't really want to do that.

"Nah," I say.

"Well go have some fun." She commands.

"Nah, it's okay."

She looks at me for a while.

"Well you could go run these errands for me." She proposes, leaning over to grab a piece of paper from the coffee table.

"Oh, come on," I whine.

"Please?" she urges, "I'd really appreciated it."

I give her a pleading look. Which she ignores.

"Come on Kairi," she says, "it isn't much."

I sigh heavily and rise from the couch. I take the list from her hand and head to the kitchen to dispose of this glass. Then I trudge up the stairs to my room.

I throw on some jean shorts that Yuffie and I cut up and wrote on with a plain white t-shirt. I'm serious, you should see those jeans. We were bored and they were old. So we cut them to shorts that stop about seven inches above the knee, and we wrote stupid little things all over them with different colored sharpies. See how bored and retarded we are?

I'd already brushed my teeth and stuff when I woke up, so I just threw my hair in a ponytail and walked back down the stairs.

"The munny's on the table, dear," she calls to me.

After getting the munny and mumbling a goodbye to her, I grab my keychain and clip it to my belt loop and leave out the door.

While walking down the driveway, I glance at the list she gave me. Only three items. That's a surprise. There's got to be a catch.

I bring the list closer to my face to read it.

Ahh, there it is. There is only three items.

But from three different places.

I have to go to the grocery store to get some bread, the shoe store to pick up some shoes she had reserved, and reservations. Wait, for Twilight Tower? You normally don't have to reserve anything. Just go in and eat…oh, yeah, unless you're planning on eating on the top floor, which is located somewhere near the top of the tower. It's all nice and fancy up there with a giant window that stretches all around the big square shaped room. I wonder why she's setting up reservations for there.

Well since twilight Tower is farther a way than the other two places, and I have to walk all the way down there, I decide to go set up the reservations first. It's better than having to carry her shoes and the bread all the way there and all the way back home.

-------------XIII-------------

I thought I saw Riku on the way, but turns out it was just some other guy with shiny silver hair.

-------------XIII-------------

I finally approach the grand restaurant.

There's people all outside waiting to be seated.

I jog up the brick path and enter through the double doors, feeling the rush of the air conditioner cool my face.

"I'd like to make reservations for" - I look down at the paper- "next Sunday," I say when I reach the front desk.

"Okay," the lady takes out a paper and pen, "for how many?"

"Five." I have to look back down at the paper.

"And the name you'll be using for the party?"

"Kaila." Which is my mother's name.

"All set." The lady looks up at me with a smile when she finishes.

I nod and turn around to head back outside.

-------------XIII-------------

I found a five dollar bill on the ground.

-------------XIII-------------

So now I'm in the shoes store, which is the next farthest place on the small list. All I have to do is ask for the shoes, pay, and leave.

I make my way to the counter at the side of the little shoe store, looking at all the designs on the wall. This is a nice place. The wall paper is pretty, very colorful.

"I'd like to pick up an order," I say as I approach the man behind the counter.

He holds up his hand, signaling for me to wait as he continues his phone conversation.

"No Anna, I will not pick up Sarah on my way there," he says into the phone. I stare at him impatiently. Couldn't he finish this conversation with Anna later?

"Because that woman makes me crazy!" he cries, throwing his free hand in the air dramatically for emphasis, even though it's unseen to Anna.

"You don't care? You. Don't. Care?!" he yells after a short pause. "Well fine! That makes two of us, because I don't even care about this stupid party!"

"Sir?" I try again, after glancing at the clock on the wall. I'm about ready to leave now.

He gives me this annoyed look before tuning slightly to the side. And that kind of pisses me off. Whoever this Anna is can wait until I get these shoes. It'll only take about forty-five seconds of his time. Forty-five seconds. That's all.

I try tapping on the small bell on he desk. This time I get a look of anger.

"Excuse me?" I say a little louder.

The man sighs heavily and covers the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand.

"What?" he asks, rather rudely, might I add.

"I need to pick up some shoes." I tell him my mother's name and he heads t the back, disappearing in behind the door of the room.

He returns seconds later with the shoebox. He shoves it in a discourteous manner, muttering something I'm unable to understand under his breath. Then he picks up his phone and continues on with his yelling at poor Anna.

I walk away from the desk and towards the door, shaking my head.

What terrible customer service.

-------------XIII-------------

I tripped over a rock on the way there and fell on the shoebox. It's bent, but hey, at least the shoes are okay.

-------------XIII-------------

I feel relieved now that I'm at my final destination. I mean seriously, who wants to spend their Saturday afternoon running errands? Nobody, that's who.

I ponder on this for a moment as I saunter on into the local grocery store. I only have to get some bread. So that'll be a breeze.

As I stroll down the aisles, I feel a strange sensation wash over me. I stop for a minute. I'm confusing myself. I don't feel sick or anything. Just weird. And I don't know why. I peek around the aisle I'm in. Then I shake my head and start walking again, the feeling getting a little weaker. I must finally be going crazy. Cloud said it would happen.

I bend down slightly to grab the bread, then decide I want some cookies too.

So that's where I'm going next.

That feeling seems to keep fluctuating in my mind…or stomach, wherever it is. I wonder if this is a problem that I should ask my doctor about. Hmm.

When I reach the cookie aisle, I reach up and grab some chocolate chip cookies. I take my cell phone out of my pocket, looking down at it as I back up and turn around.

Then "Ummph," I grunt as I walk straight into something midturn.. Or someone. I step back and look up.

The guy stares down at me green eyes.

"Sorry," We both say in unison, as he reaches up and passed me to get something from the shelf.

"Alright, I'm ready now. Let's go," he states. At first I think he's talking to me but as he steps aside and away from me, I notice another blonde young man standing off to the side, staring at the guy who just ran into be me blankly.

I quickly look back up at the blonde to the side and instantly recognize him.

Blonde hair, intense frozen oceans for eyes and full, pretty lips (HA!).

This is our janitor.

His eyes flicker over to me, his face staying neutral.

"Um, hello." I give him a small wave before I realize what I'm doing. He just stands there, though, as if I hadn't said anything.

The man he's with turns back around to look back and forth between the two of us.

"You two know each other?" he questions, pointing at him, then me.

I start to nod but change my mind when I see his expression. Or, more like when I see his lack of expression. So like an idiot, I shrug my shoulders instead.

But the man just ignores my gestures and inches towards us.

"I'm Luxord," he tells me.

"Kairi," I reply hesitantly, mustering a smile, though I feel a little uncomfortable.

"Kairi, is it?" he repeats my name in an accent I can't seem to recognize, "Nice name for a pretty girl."

Though it is meant to be a compliment, I feel weird and overall…uncomfortable, like I said before. So I just nod and smile a small smile that I hope hides my insecurity.

I start to walk away, only to have this Luxord fellow follow close behind me. I hear the other blonde sigh as he slowly begins to follow from a few steps back.

I quicken my pace, trying to do so ever so slightly so I won't be noticed. At least not right away.

By the time I reach the front with the lines at the cashier, I feel as if I'm practically running. But Luxord is still on my tail with the other not far behind.

I step into line only to have him step in after me. I could feel his figure towering over me from behind. Ever had a complete stranger follow you to a line and tower over you? Not fun. In fact it's pretty intimidating.

After I pay for my two items, I quickly hurry towards the door. But not a minute after, I hear a "Kairi!" from behind. I inwardly groan. What does he want with me? I almost decide to call Cloud to come pick me up. But then I remember that he's unavailable today. Plus even if I did call, it would take awhile for him to come. Then I'd just have to stand here with this guy.

He catches up to me and falls into step with me. I hear the other one's soft footsteps behind us. He sighs again, a tired sigh, but follows quietly nonetheless.

"So, Kairi," the Luxord guy starts, "tell me about yourself."

I look at him in slight confusion. Does he really expect me to just tell him things about myself? I don't know him! I don't even really know the janitor! This is absolutely ridiculous.

"Um," is all I manage to say in response.

He grins at me. A somewhat knowing grin.

"Don't worry," he assures me, "I'm not gonna stalk ya or anything."

I hear he who is behind us grunt.

"I just wanna make conversation," he tells me, "we may even become friends."

I stay silent as we cross the street.

He grins that grin again and before turning around to look at the boy in back of us.

"Flare," he calls. I turn around too.

The janitor, who had been looking down quickly stuffs something in his pocket and looks up at Luxord.

"Where do you know this girl from?" he asks him.

The janitor sighs as if answering is going to be a hassle. He scratches the back of his head.

"She goes to Twilight High School," he speaks for the first time. Luxord looks back at me and nods.

"Ahh," He scratches the thin layer of hair on his chin.

"Flare?" I ask quietly, not wanting the janitor to hear me for some reason.

Luxord gives me a questioning glance for a moment.

"What about him?" he questions.

"Oh, he's Flare," I come to realize. Luxord nods slowly, still looking at me weird."You sure you know each other?"

"Kinda," I reply.

We're nearing my house now, but I kind of don't want this guy to know where I live. I mean seriously, he followed me from the store as if we were good friends that have known each other for a while.

So instead of making that left, I head right. If push comes to shove, I could just walk to Cloud's house -which is on the way- and pretend as if I live there. But that's just if push comes to shove. And right now he's just pushing.

"You sure are a pretty girl," Luxord comments, "you must have a boyfriend."

I clear my throat, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I feel.

"No," I say, shaking my head quickly.

"Ahh," he nods, "well we should show her to Axel." He says that last part to 'Flare.' I turn around to look at him too. I'm not sure who this Axel is.

Flare stares back at him. His impassive mask breaks into a small -but noticeable- smirk as he shakes his head. I wonder who Axel is. Whoever it is just brought something other than an unreadable expression to his gorgeous face.

"You'll love Axel," Luxord continues with slight laughter lacing his words, "red-head, green eyes. Quite a catch." I hear Flare grunt again.

I glance back at him with confused amusement. Is Luxord being sarcastic? Is Axel a catch? Is he ugly? Is he even real? Who knows? This seems to be an inside joke. So no need to intrude.

Luxord looks around for a moment, then turns back to me.

"You live around here?" he asks, "Feels like we've been just walking round aimlessly, doesn't it?"

"It appears we've passed it." I glimpse around too, pretending to be surprised. Luxord laughs and shakes his head.

"Not too sharp are ya?" he jokes. I laugh too, a bit surprised that my laugh turned out to be a real one instead of some fake, uncomfortable one. I'm glad he believed my little act. I didn't think I was very good at lying. But it is what it is.

"Well let's turn back around," he says when he stops laughing, "We'll walk ya home." My face sort of falls. I was hoping to avoid that little situation.

"Leave her alone, Luxord," I hear Flare from behind, "she can find her own way home." I almost turn around to give him a grateful smile. But decide against it.

"C'mon," Luxord syas, "I'm just being a gentleman. Maybe you should try it."

Flare grunts a third time, but says nothing in reply.

"It's alright," I speak up, "I'll be fine."

Luxord stops walking, so I do too. He flashes me a smile and says, "Cool. See ya later Kairi."

"Yeah, bye," I say, then I turn to Flare to wave. He just nods, his expression unreadable once more. Flare is the first to turn and start walking away. Then Luxord follows when he realizes that he's getting left behind.

When they're a ways away, I turn the opposite way and begin my journey back to my house, switching the grocery bags to my other hand. I hope this trip didn't take too long.

-------------XIII-------------

Nothing worth mentioning happened on this trip.

-------------XIII-------------

"I'm home," I yell to my mother as I walk through the door.

But there's no answer.

I walk down the short hall that leads from the door to the rest of the house. I peak to the left. The couch that was once occupied by my comfortable-looking mother is now bare. The television and lights are turned off.

"Hmm," I hum to myself as I head to the kitchen.

"Mom?" I try again as I enter the quiet kitchen. The kitchen is also empty.I wonder if she's upstairs. She wouldn't have turned off the lights and TV just to take a bathroom break. So maybe she's upstairs. Asleep, or something.

Just as these thoughts finish crossing my mind, my cell phone vibrates against my side. I place the groceries on the counter and reach into my pocket to retrieve it. I look at the small screen. New Txt Message.

It read: Kai, Rita needed me. Be back in an hour.

I roll my eyes.

Rita is my mom's annoying, whiney, bossy, pushy, drama queen of a friend. I don't know how my mother puts up with her. I can hardy stand to be around her most of the time and she's not even my friend.

She's one of those people who thinks she's always got to be right. So she'll force her opinion on you until you almost have to agree. She's got so much drama in her life that it's ridiculous. Most of it I believe is self-inflicted. I know mom thinks so too, though she hasn't said so directly.

And then she's got this weird, annoying son. Tidus, I think his name is. Ugh, Tidus. He's more annoying than Demyx. Not more of a jerk than him. No, definitely not. But yes, more annoying.

I text back my reply, telling her I just got home and will see her later, then I head out of the kitchen, passed the front room, and up the stairs to my room.

"Well, back to my boring Saturday," I mumble to myself as I collapse onto my spinney computer chair.

I wonder if I should've gone with Cloud and his friends after all. Sure it would've been a little weird, but it beats boredom.

My thoughts then drift to Luxord. That guy was strange. Friendly, but strange.

And Flare.

Flare?

That can't be his real name.

What an odd nickname that is.

Yo.

It's me again. Long time, no type. I'm terribly sorry for the late update. I have no excuse. Just laziness.

But I really want to get to the interesting parts, but in order to do that, I have to type, type, type.

So yeah. Please review, even though I've been horribly lazy.