This chapter is the last one before the bon-fire. I'm sorry if I sort of somehow let on that the next one was going to be the bon-fire, heh. Didn't mean to do that! We still have to touch base a bit more in this chapter before we get to that. But, yes, there is a but in this, I did put some things in here to keep you at bay. You'll see what I mean. Please enjoy and leave a review, you know I love it! And excuse typos, as always. Next chapter Tuesday or Wednesday!


Caller Number Nine

Chapter Seven: Dance With Thy Enemy


October 14th, Wednesday

"All right, is everyone here?"

Sora sat eagerly at one of the two tables. Brown locks of hair fell in front of his blue eyes, to which he would usually mind, but now he didn't. Legs swished back and forth beneath the table as his gaze passed from the four other people at his own table to the second table across the room. A frown came upon Sora's cheerful face at the notice of Riku. Why did he even come to these classes if he was just going to space out? Quickly turning his head away from his proclaimed enemy, Sora turned his gaze back to Luxord.

"Now, what I'm handing out is the criterion and agenda of what you'll be doing this semester." Explained Luxord, beginning to pass out packets to each person at the table. As he did such, Sora's gaze wandered from each of the four people at his table. One seemed to be quite reserved, another one seemed kind but a bit anxious at the idea of acting, another seemed all around cheerful, maybe a bit too much, and the final person, who was sitting beside Sora, had a quite disturbing look upon his face and the most untidy blonde hair Sora had ever seen. What an unusual bunch...

Sora's mind flickered away from his fellow classmates when a packet was placed before him. Carefully, he hoisted the packet of paper into his hands and read the front page.

Welcome to Drama 101. We're very pleased to have you with us this semester. Below is the agenda, for now, for this semester. If you have any concerns, please let your administrator know right away.

October 31, 2006 -- Performance Of A Mid Summer Night's Dream

November 20th, 2006 -- Spanish Dance Performance at Rancteur's.

December 23, 2006 --- Winter Dance Performance at The Holiday Ball.

Listed below the three events were try-outs and the criteria they needed to be accepted and to pass. At once the brunette became excited as his eyes flickered downward to the last bit of information upon the page. New Year's Bash? It seemed that the bash was a congratulations formal ball that the college put on every year to congratulate those who had passed their classes for that semester and count down the new year. Now this seemed like an exciting concept!

"As you can see, all must participate in the dance performances to receive their credit. The play is also essential, and if someone is not drafted for a part, they'll be a sub play to give the needed weight." Luxord shifted his eyes over to the other table for a moment.

Sora also did such, noticing Riku's hand in the air. Quickly averting his gaze downward, Sora bit his bottom lip, trying not to listen to what the other was going to say.

"Yes?" Luxord called, pacing over to the table, foot steps growing farther away from Sora.

"Are they single or paired dances?" Riku had asked disdainfully, emerald eyes falling upon the instructor. The moment Sora gazed up from his packet, his eyes were met with Riku's across the room, causing that familiar shiver to run down his back. What was this guy's problem?!

"Paired." Luxord folded his arms to his chest and tapped his toe to the ground. "Now I want you all to know that squandering your time will not be beneficial. It is highly advised that when you get your material for the performances that you get to studying at once. Especially the dance maneuvers."

"Are we allowed to.. pick our partners?" Sora eagerly inquired, blue eyes glimmering with the hope of any young actor and hopeful. Too bad that that hope was then sliced, and quite literally diced in half.

"I'll be picking." His eyes darted across the classroom for a brief moment, considering something in his mind. "Odd..." He mumbled and shook his head. "It appears that we have an uneven amount of ladies as we do gentleman." Sora's eyes fell to the girls in the class. One had black hair, another was that girl from the movies that Riku had been hanging out with, a third one had shorter black hair, and a fourth had long brown hair. That meant four girls ... and six guys including himself.

"I suppose all is fair if I put the computer on random selection?" Luxord asked as he paced over to his computer, shuffling a deck of cards underneath a messy stack of papers.

As he did such, Sora glanced nervously about the classroom. He had no idea how to dance, let alone with someone else! All the girls here seemed older than him, and that always proved intimidating for the young brunette. Why, oh why did they have to have paired dances?

"Olette, you shall be with Demyx." Sora's eyes darted to the rather cheerful boy at his table. He arose from his feet and walked over to the other table where Olette sat. He took the seat beside her, smirking ear to ear. Sora only guessed that they knew each other.

"Tifa, you shall be with Pence." The rather nervous teen at the table arose to his feet and walked over to the end of Riku's table, sitting beside the girl with the slightly long hair. Sora's eyes glanced about. That left two girls, didn't it?

"Vexen shall be with Aerith." Sora's eyes darted to the unpleased brunette who had been paired with the messy-haired blonde at Sora's table. Her eyes darted to the final blonde at his table. It seemed that she wanted to be paired with him more than the blonde she ended up with.

"And that leaves Yuffie, Cloud, Sora," Sora winced a bit at his name, but even more so with the mention of the next one, "and Riku."

Oh god, do not let me be paired with him! Sora lowered his gaze. No, he wouldn't end up being paired with the other. That stuff only happened in movies. Or really lame stories. His luck would never be that bad to be forced to learn to dance with that inconsiderate, good for nothing, all around loser who would be better off in a cardboard box in-

"And Yuffie and Cloud."

-a sewer.

Sora felt like glaring, or offensively snarling 'what?!' but figured speaking out to the professor, no matter what level of education he was in, would be a bad idea. Blue eyes filled with sudden anger, more so at the odds. Why did the world hate him enough to pair him with that.. that creature?! Riku hated him, and he hated Riku. Plain as day.

"Sora."

Sora once more cringed at the sound of his name. Oh dear, was the grim reaper here to collect his new vessel? Sora sighed a bit to himself, not daring to glance over his shoulder, already knowing that what he'd see would be the smirking and all around dark face of the one he despised. Talk about fun...

"Why do I have to be paired with you? With you?!" Sora pouted loudly, still not daring to turn around to glance at Riku. It was bad enough he was paired with the guy, but to be the only dance pair that was composed of two guys?! It just seemed like things couldn't get any worse.

Regardless of Sora's testimonies, Riku had taken the seat beside him, finally locking emerald eyes within Sora's. Oh great, here we go again with the look of death, Sora lamely thought, trying to avert his gaze. Finding it impossible, he did the only logical thing he could think of. Close his eyes.

"What are you doing?" He heard Riku question in a snappy voice.

He could escape Riku, but not his voice.

"Trying to get away from you in my mind." Sora retorted sheepishly, keeping his eyes tightly shut. However, that endeavor failed when he felt a hand slip onto his shoulder. Instantly tensing, his eyes shot open and watched as the smirk on Riku's face grew.

"Do you think I wanted to be paired with you?" Riku questioned.

Was that a trick question?...

"I don't know, did you?" Sora asked meekly, still trying to avoid Riku's gaze. Just the thought of touching him was enough to make Sora shiver from head to toe. Riku took note of the other's dis-comfort. If he hadn't been for Eli's comforting words the night before, Riku would have been an entirely cold and shallow today. But now? He was cold, shallow, and rather enjoyably sarcastic. Just Sora's luck.

"Look, I don't want to be your partner more than you want to be mine, so I suggest you shut up, stand up, and wrap your arms around me." Riku demanded, emerald eyes narrowing.

Wait... what?!

"Wrap my- what?!" Sora snarled offensively, shaking off the offending hand on his shoulder at once. He felt his usually calm and blue eyes turn frigid at the thought of having to touch the other more than what was needed. It took a lot for Sora to become angry, and it was quite evident that Riku was pushing that line a bit too far.

"To dance you ass." Riku glared back, just as offensive as Sora. "Now do it before we get marked down." Riku demanded, jabbing his head to the side to the other pairs who had taken the formal ball-room dancing position.

"I hate you.." Was all Sora mumbled as he arose to his feet regrettably. Riku smirked a bit too himself, more so at the fact that he had gotten the other to comply. He wasn't, however, too keen on the fact of having to dance with someone like Sora.

"Right back at you." Riku mumbled just as loudly as he rested his left arm onto Sora's side. The brunette tensed from the offending hand, wanting to swat it away with a hiss, but noticed the eyes of Luxord. Why couldn't he had exempted Sora and Riku from such torture?

Sighing, Sora painfully and disdainfully placed his right hand onto Riku's side as the silver-haired male took both their free hands and laced them together.

Yes, he was going to need a years supply of soap for such contact.

"Now move your right leg forward." Riku commanded. Sora did such right when he was told, earning a sharp hiss of pain from Riku as he tightened his grasp on the other's hand. "I meant when I moved mine back, damnit!" He breathed harshly from the pain of having the other step forcefully down onto his foot.

"You didn't tell me that." Sora answered brightly, a bit amused at the fact that he had caused Riku some time of pain.

"Watch where your clumsy feet are going before I rid you of the problem," Riku warned, causing Sora to blink in surprise. He was going to remove his legs if he did not keep his feet off of Riku's? Sora could only imagine the sight of Riku was a revving chainsaw. Thought of that alone made the other shut up instantly and glare away from him as they moved in unison across the floor.

By the end of the class, Sora had been quite fed up with Riku's antics that the moment they were dismissed, he scurried out of the room, shooting the other a deafly glare. Well, that didn't go well.

xxxxxx

It was the next day, Thursday to be exact, and Sora had remained in his dorm for the good part of the morning. Mostly because he didn't have any classes, and partly because he just wanted some time to think. Think about the things that were quite relevant to your life, but you didn't often ponder about. Where your life was going, where would you be in five years, and who would your friends be? Of course, then there came the often sought after question. When would you find the one?

The brunette sighed, nuzzling his face into the pillow. Being up-tight, angry, and sarcastic last night drained him entirely. He wasn't like that by nature, and having to act that way to keep Riku at bay was quite tiresome after awhile. However, he didn't really need to force himself to hate the other, that just came natural.

Sora rolled over in his bed, clenching the sheets tightly in his hands. It was around ten he guessed. When he was back home he'd sleep in all day, and then stay up all night with Tidus watching movies, playing games, or chatting with Kairi on the phone. True, he could still do that now, but things were different. They weren't the same before college as they were now, and Sora had to face that.

But he hadn't lost his best friend ... right?

Kairi was going to the bon-fire on Saturday, right? Right!

He had to stay positive, even if the idea of seeing the red-head after the rumour about her having a new boyfriend, Hayner was it, the brunette wasn't even sure if he wanted to see her. Then again, that'd be the coward way out. He had never professed his feelings to Kairi, so just dropping all contact with her would seem rather harsh and confusing.

"Stupid Sora..." Sora mumbled to himself, rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling.

Where did Naminé fit into all this? He wasn't sure. Maybe he was just searching for someone to fill Kairi's gap in his heart. Not just as his true love, but as his beft friend who was always there for him. Maybe he needed that gap filled more than he knew. Well, didn't that sound familiar? Maybe RJ and himself were more closely alike than he knew.

"I get to see RJ on Saturday also.." Sora spoke to himself, in a gentle whisper.

That was right. He'd get to see the man who he desired to become friend's with. They both seemed to have been broken and beaten by love. Two of a kind. That's what they probably were.

A knocking noise shot Sora out of his thoughts. Blue eyes instantly turned towards the door. The knock continued, this time a bit louder. Mumbling something about wanting to go back to sleep, Sora pushed himself off the bed. Bare feet stepped across the shaggy floor as he made his way over to the door. With a yawn, he undid the latch, daringly opening it.

Weird.. no one was there. How rude!

Frowning a bit, Sora glanced down the empty hallway, left then right. Crossing his arms in a pout, he shook his head in dis-belief. As he was doing such, he noticed a small envelope on the ground at his feet. Curious eyes danced across it, trying to figure out its meaning.

Carefully, the brunette bent down and picked the envelope up. Slipping his index finger within the flap, Sora pried it open. Once done so, he gave a gentle tug on the inners, revealing a small letter.

"Sora,

Meet me at my dorm at twelve. Don't ask why. I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart, so don't get any ideas. We need to go over the material so I can pass and be down with it.

Riku"

"Blunt.. as always." Sora sighed, rolling his eyes. He didn't even have the decency to come and tell him that himself? He had to write a letter? Now that, my friend, was true hate. Sora sighed heavily, grumbling up the letter in his hands as he shut the door behind him with a gentle thump.

Dropping the crushed paper in the garbage as he walked towards his bed, Sora came to a halt near the window. Was it... snowing? Wait, snow in October?!

"Snow?!" Sora exclaimed with a rather cheerful smile. Even though the snow wouldn't stick, it was nice to see it coming down. It was like small flecks of hope falling down, trying to brighten up Sora's day. And it was working. Maybe he'd be able to stand hanging out with Riku for the day. Maybe.

xxxxx

"Riku... open up."

Sora sighed heavily as he tapped his knuckle against the door. At the bottom of the letter he had tossed aside was a dorm number, which he had commited to memory so he wouldn't have to be seen carrying it around. Twisted tightyl around his neck was a blue scarf, equipped with a grey jacket. Small specks of white glistened in his hair, making look as if he had just been in a blizzard, when in fact it was a small flurry.

"Riku." Sora sighed again, knocking a bit louder. "Come on." He pouted loudly, getting a bit annoyed.

He opened his mouth to speak the name once more but was silenced when the door was opened. Emerald eyes fell directly into his own blue gaze. Mouth fell shut instantly as Sora froze to the spot, and not just form the cold he had been in moments before.

Draped over Riku's sinewy was a black bath robe -they made those in black?- and his hair seemed to be quite the mess. The brunette bit his lip at once. Trying not to shiver in spot, Sora planted his feet firmly against the ground, resisting the urge to have them shake. Blue eyes darted back up once more to stare at Riku. He had told him to meet him here, so what was with the attire?

"You woke me up," Riku grumbled darkly, raising a clenched fist to his eyes as a yawn passed his lips. Arching an eyebrow curiously, Sora darted shook his head in confusion.

"You told me to meet you here at twelve." Sora answered with a snap, still trying to figure out why in the world the other would wear such a thing. Even if it was just night clothes.

"I wasn't expecting you to come," Riku answered truthfully, but added a dull sarcasm to his voice. He scanned his enemy for a long moment before turning back to his room, leaving the door open for the other. Sora blinked and followed inside.

Instantly, Riku took a seat upon his bed, or more so sprawled out on it. His face was filled with subtle anger, dis-content, and a need for sleep.

"How could I have waken you up if you sent me this letter?..." Sora questioned, remaining leaning against the farthest wall from Riku. At least the other was dulled by sleep. That was a plus for Sora's side.

"I went back to sleep-" A pause before he sneezed a bit. Emerald eyes narrowed before he continued in a grumble, "-because I didn't feel good, okay?" Riku finished with a scowl before rolling onto his side, back to Sora.

"I'm going to leave if you're just going to lay around." Sora retorted, folding his arms to his chest as the snow eventually melted off his brown spikes. Perhaps that was the best thing, to let Riku just lay there and do nothing. Blue eyes watched Riku's body, as if eager to see a reaction to his idea.

"Do what you want." Riku grumbled back, snatching his pillow from the head of the bed and holding it tightly to his body. "And my foot still hurts." He added on with a snarl of dis-content, rolling upon his back and then sitting up to stare over at the other.

"I'm glad," Sora sighed, making his way over to the door. Score! He didn't have to go through a dancing lesson with the other! However, he was stopped in his endeavor to leave the dorm by an arm latching onto his own. Blue eyes turned over to be met with Riku's green ones. How did he get up and grab him so fast?

"You still think your better than me at kissing?" Riku inquired, eyes filled with sarcasm, and a demeaning flicker.

"I don't think, I know." Sora replied, stating one of Tidus' favorite quotes. He had spoken it with such pride, that he almost believed it himself. Of course, that belief came crashing down. Down like one of those ancient temples would.

Tainted and cruel lips met his smirking ones. The initial contact made him shudder from shock, and then freeze in spot. His body felt like one of those ice-sculptures, unable to move.. and almost melting. His mind wasn't working right away as he felt the oddly gentle lips press against his, deepening the kiss. Still too shocked to reply, he just stood there, dumbfounded. Of course...

Wait!!

"WHAT!" Sora broke off the kiss at once, falling backwards against the wall, blue eyes opened as wide as they could go. This was wrong on so many levels! He had no right! He... he was the evilest creature on the face of the planet.

"You lose." Riku answered darkly before extending his hand, pointing to the door.

"See you later. And good luck with Naminé, you'll be needing it." He spoke as if what he had just done wasn't anything at all. Still, the frown on Sora's face grew. That was unfair! He could not win a kissing content to prove he was better if it involved Riku! That was just disgusting!

Everything about that was.. disgusting.

"Jerk.." Sora hissed as he left, feet stomping against the ground in a bit of a hissy-fit.

Riku shrugged his shoulders as Sora slammed the door shut. Falling back down onto his bed, he let out a long sigh. At least he had put the other in his place, even if he did have to do something that was so terribly disturbing that it caused him to shudder. But still, he had won that little battle, and was one step closer to achieving victory. Of course, his hate for Sora was growing along with that competitive energy.

As for Sora, he was completely shaken up, disturbed, and angered by the kiss. He kept telling himself that Riku had no right, this, that, and all sorts of things. Now, more than ever, did Sora hate Riku. To Sora, Riku didn't think before doing something stupid, and didn't even think about his actions.

Unknown to them was the bon-fire approaching. Both so eager to meet the friend they desperately needed. Too bad for Riku that he had not realized at the time that he enjoyed the chaste kiss far too much. Of course, false hate was standing in the way of realizing that. But what would Saturday bring?.. Would everything be clear? Or would it just make everything even more complicated?