Chapter Twelve: His Decision

Summary: A life of glamour and riches, Naminé has all she could ever ask for. Meeting Roxas in the most unlikely of circumstances, will Naminé see the fine line between romance and friendship before it's too late? Or has she already crossed it?

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the reviews, and I apologize again for the extremely late update! School has just been so busy, but that it's all over with maybe I can get back to my weekly updating-self :)

Disclaimer: I do not own or am affiliated to the Kingdom Hearts series.


"You what?" it was the first time in her seventeen years of her life had Naminé ever head her mother raise her voice.

Rewinding time back to the last week of summer, Naminé could remember the entire night as clear as day try as she might to push it all away. She wasn't in the master bedroom where her parents' conflict was taking place, but she could hear it as she sat quietly by the hallway, submerged in the shadows in hopes that her parents wouldn't see her. Naminé didn't dare take a peak through the small opening of the doorway—too frozen in her spot to move.

Her father had arrived from work later than usual—something he had been doing more and more often the past few months. For a man of early forties, he looked young and handsome for his age; well-built for a business man, tufts of platinum hair and a familiar shade of sapphire around his irises. He was always a well-dressed man, but seeing the necktie gone and the grave expression on his features, Naminé immediately decided it wasn't the best time to greet her father.

Before she could scurry off to her room where she would pretend to continue reading her book—where in reality she would soon be eavesdropping—her father called after her.

"Naminé, where is your mother? I'd like to speak to her."

She immediately answered, "She's in your room. Is something the matter, father?"

"It's not something you need to concern yourself with," though his smile was kind, his eyes were still filled with grief, "You'll understand when your older."

With that Naminé headed to her room. Her father's steps were slow to the ear, but he soon reached the master bedroom.

At first it was murmurs, barely audible in her room. Naminé decided they were too caught up in whatever they were conversing and snuck outside of her room to the one across where she sat silently.

Her parents had been arguing over the past few months, but Naminé figured it was all part of the marriage process, but when it began to continue more often it only brought worry to Naminé. She had tried to eavesdrop a couple of times to see what the main topic was and if there was something she could do to help, but when all they could speak of was her father's late hours and lack of time spent with the family it was hard to brush away her greatest fears.

Tonight was different from all the nights. Her parents usually had talk-fights, as she liked to call them. Her parents were highly against yelling and raising voices, saying it was only for barbarians and uncouth people but as soon as her mother's voice boomed through the room, Naminé knew it had escalated from bad to worse.

"Do you have any idea what affect this will have on Naminé? On me?" her mother sounded as if she was about to break into hysterics.

Her father's voice was too hushed for Naminé to hear.

"Don't try to calm me down! You have no right!" she continued, "How could you? And she's pregnant no less?"

"I didn't mean for this to happen, I just…" his voice was filled with regret.

"Don't touch me!" she snapped, her father was probably trying to reach out to her, "Not with the same hands that held her. Don't you dare!"

When Naminé had heard her parents' footsteps creeping closer to the doorway, Naminé decided it was high time she returned to her room. Scurrying off, she couldn't stop herself was listening to every word from her doorway.

"Just leave," her mother sounded exasperated. The once raised voice had reverted back to being calm but not quite collected.

More steps, it seemed they were head for the foyer.

"Céleste, I thought you should know…" more sadness played in his voice, "I'm going to choose her. She needs me."

There was a quiet pause; Naminé wasn't sure how her mother reacted to that statement. Would her eyes have widened in shock or was she putting on her usual mask of ice? Naminé would never know.

"I'll have your things ready by morning. Come by at noon when Naminé's with her friends and when I'm at work. No later, and definitely not earlier." Her mother's voice never quite seemed loving from as far as Naminé could remember, but now it seemed all life was sucked out of her, "I don't think I can stand to see your face anymore." While her voice was quiet and hushed, Naminé did her best to hear it all.

Her father didn't protest. Wordless, he made his leave.

Naminé wasn't sure how she did it with her limbs numb and all, but shutting the lights off she crawled to her bed where she pretended to be sleeping, but her eyes were still open; staring into nothingness. Did what transpired out her room really happened?

No more thoughts ran through her head. Naminé wasn't sure if she should have been crying or at least going up to her mother to comfort her. Everything seemed so hard to process. She didn't know how long she had been lying like that, but the shudder of her cell phone against the table's surface brought some life back into her veins. Automatically grabbing her phone, she checked caller ID: it was Olette.

She and Olette had become good friends because of Sora. Olette was known from flying from group to group at lunch and was usually seen with that blonde boy, Hayner. Upon meeting Naminé though, somehow Olette just stuck. She had always eaten lunch with her, and over the summer Olette always insisted they hung out, and Naminé always found herself agreeing. Now was not the time though. Naminé figured Olette would just give up but when the buzzing of the phone continued she flipped it open.

"Hello?" Naminé's voice was lifeless, but as soon as she heard the sobbing coming from the other end it was as if her heart stopped, "O-Olette?"

"N-Naminé, Hayner he…" she continued to sob.

Naminé's eyes widened with alarm, "What did he do, Olette?"

"I-it doesn't matter. I just…Do you think you can hang out with me? I just want to forget all about it."

She wasn't sure she up to it, "Olette, I—"

"Please, Naminé? You the closest one I have to a best friend right now…" Olette wasn't lying. Being a social butterfly, Olette hardly ever settled down with a set group of friends. It was only Hayner she managed to stay with everyday, and with him gone Olette didn't have many people to rely on. She may have had many friends, but not close friends.

The way Olette had pleaded pulled a string on Naminé's heart. She knew it wasn't the right time to do this, but her heart always got the better of her.

With a heavy sigh, Naminé spoke, "Pick me up at eleven?"

"A-alright," Olette stumbled through her words, choking back the sobs.

Closing her phone, it was now time for Naminé to look for a dress.


Naminé wasn't sure how she did it, but she had gone up to her mother and had asked her permission to spend the night at Olette's. There were too many things going through Céleste's thoughts at the time and had granted her the permission Naminé needed without question. With the fact she was spending more time with Olette and Naminé's growing friendship with the brunette teen over the summer, her mother already had Olette's home phone number so she supposedly had no reason to worry.

Quickly wearing her black sparkling strapless cocktail dress, Naminé slipped on her favorite red pumps before she snuck out her front door as fast as she could so her mother wouldn't catch on with the attire she wore. Naminé had worn a white colored light jacket, knowing the night breeze could get rather chilly despite the hot season. Whenever she and Olette just wanted to forget everything, the two would hit the night life together in style.

Naminé had arrived in the lobby in a flash. She was so consumed in her thoughts that she had almost forgotten to leave the elevator until a person who entered asked her what floor she was headed to before they would press the buttons. Blushing in embarrassment, she stepped out before they could close the elevator doors. She didn't need to wait long for Olette arrived on time.

"So are we headed to the club?" Naminé asked when she saw Olette. She thanked the chauffeur who had opened the door for her as she got in the vehicle and he closed it after her.

Olette would have looked lovely if it was not for her puffy red eyes and the color staining her cheeks. Underneath Olette's thin black trench coat, which she left the buttons undone, she wore a mermaid green tube dress that had a small amount of black lace trimmings peaking below.

"I don't know," Olette answered, her gaze dropping to her hands that lay on her lap, "I was sure that was the best idea at first, but after I got in the car I just didn't know if I have the energy anymore…"

The car engine roared into life and it soon began driving towards the direction of the club as Olette had instructed earlier. Naminé frowned and put a comforting hand on Olette's bare shoulder. Her eyes were filled with empathy for her—it seemed both of them were going through a rough time despite the striking difference in their dilemmas.

"Maybe a club isn't the right place to head to then…" Naminé concluded.

Olette seemed happier with Naminé's company, and a smile of appreciation tugged at the corners of her lips, "I think I'd still want a drink though."

"I'll probably need one as well," Naminé approved.

Contacting her chauffer, Olette told him of the change of plans and they were now headed to the classiest lounge in town. A lounge was a mix of a bar and club, something Naminé found much more appealing. With their status and money, the moment Olette and Naminé got there it didn't take them long to enter. This place had a V.I.P. list but using their family names along with the help of some fake IDs it was easy to bypass security.

Olette had been the one to get her and her friends their fake identification cards. Naminé wasn't sure how Olette had got a hold of them seeing as how her family worked within the medical field—her mother a top surgeon and her father was the owner and founder of the Twilight Town Hospital. While Olette may have stayed within the top five of the school's ranks with her academics (with high hopes of becoming a surgeon like her mother), she earned her rebellious streak from the influence of Hayner. Naminé assumed she managed to get them through her unruly boyfriend or some other connections.

"This environment feels much better," Olette sighed in relief.

"You said it," Naminé agreed as they walked through the front door.

There was already a crowd of people, either chatting away by the bar and tables or moving their feet on the dance floor. The place was very modern and chic; a glass dance floor and bar, and leather seats or stools for the ones who just wanted to relax. It was less stressful than a club that had booming music but much more lively than a bar. When the two teens entered, a group from their high school had already recognized them, beckoning the two towards their reserved table.

"Olette! Naminé! You two look fabulous," a girl with long dark hair complimented as they approached them.

"Thanks," Naminé did her best to smile. It was a little hard to feel anything with earlier events from that night still swirling in her head.

One of the girls in the red dress frowned, "You look down Olette, something the matter?"

Due to the long car ride, Olette managed to recompose herself but her nose was still tinged with red and the miserable look in her eyes was a dead give away.

"Just boy problems," she admitted.

"Were having a girls' night out, it would be great if you two joined us," another one suggested. They were a large clique, and Naminé had recognized most of them from the academy. She figured the others were just friends of friends tagging along. It was the last week of summer and the group was probably savoring every moment of it.

"Why not?" Olette shrugged, feeling better already.

Olette and Naminé decided to join the group and they scooted over to make room for the two girls. They were all wasting away the night with fruity cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, just enjoying themselves in the best way they could. Others soon joined the dance floor, but few had stayed behind.

"I'm going to get us more drinks," Naminé told as she got off her seat, stumbling slightly. She had already consumed a shot of tequila and other beverages, but she still wanted at least one more glass.

"Be careful Naminé, we don't want you to get lost," Olette giggled, her drinks getting to her head, "Want me to tag along?"

"No, no!" Naminé insisted, "You stay put and enjoy yourself."

Heading over to the bar, Naminé managed to get a hold of the bar tenders attention. Ordering a tequila sunset, the bar tender created one for her with ease as she passed her munny over. It was hard not to notice the young man beside her. He looked no older than she was, and his mop of golden hair was so striking and his build wasn't too bad. She figured he was already tipsy from the sight of color staining his cheeks and the shot glasses around him. He seemed to be just settling for a beer now, but his eyes didn't seem to look at anything in particular—lost in his own world.

"What's a pretty boy like you sitting here all by yourself?"

He was startled by her comment, turning towards her almost immediately. Naminé couldn't believe how taken back she was when his gaze met hers. She had never seen a more dazzling pair of eyes, such a perfect shade of cerulean, but there was little something about his features that reminded her of Sora—a boy she had gone on a few dates with, three to be exact.

She was kind of sad how Sora didn't make time for her at all over the summer, but he had asked her out again recently now that he was out of summer school. If he wasn't planning of asking her to be his girlfriend soon…well it didn't matter really. There were other fish in the sea.

He stayed quiet, shy almost, so Naminé decided to try again, "Did you get stood up or something?"

The color on his cheeks became more vibrant, "Not exactly." Wow, even his voice was alluring.

"A catch like you shouldn't be so down, liven up a little," she smiled as she took a seat on the stool next to his. Naminé didn't even know what she was saying anymore, but she could definitely feel the aura of grief emitting from him.

Her smile was contagious even though he was feeling gloomy, "You're just saying that. I mean you're just some drunken lady talking to me."

"Well, you're drunk too," Naminé frowned when he referred her to 'some drunken lady.'

"Hmm…" he thought for a moment, "Well, you're right about that."

The two laughed, unsure whether it was because they were enjoying one another's company or if it was just the alcohol getting to them.

"Not to worry though, I'm feeling down too," Naminé didn't seem all that serious about her statement when she made a deep playful frown.

"Then why don't we drink to happiness?" he smiled, holding up his bottle of beer.

"We shall," she smiled back and toasted to his glass.

"To happiness!" the two cheered in unison before breaking into uncontrollable laughter.

What Naminé had not realized that night was that was the teen in front of her was none other than Roxas Schaeffer.


That night was something better left forgotten, but it was a night that would never leave Naminé.

"Mother…" she approached her cautiously, "what happened?"

"I just…I never thought he would send them so soon…" Her mother wasn't staring at anything in particular as she swirled the glass in her hands.

"You mean the divorce papers?" Naminé took another step closer until she was standing right in front of her. Her mother's silence was as good as any spoken answers, "It was inevitable wasn't it? He was the one who chose to leave us."

"Of course I know that. I was his wife, and I just loved him too much to see that we were drifting apart…I just wasn't enough."

"Mother…" Naminé could feel her eyes stinging. She had never seen her mother this way. Céleste always gave the impression of a strong woman in an emotional sense. Naminé never had reason to doubt her mother's strength and even secretly admired her for it. Always taking everything in a professional level, never letting anything as silly as emotions sway her—she seemed perfect. While her mother may have never been the mother Naminé needed, she was someone she looked up to.

"I feel like a failure. He was the one who deliberately hurt us, and yet I feel like I'm the one who failed us. I'm no good as a wife, and I'm no good as a mother either," tears slip down her mother's pale eyes; it was hard to hold back anymore, "surely you would agree?"

Naminé felt as if her body had frozen over. She had seen actors crying in movies, she had seen her friends cry for lost loves, she had seen her father cry at the funeral for her grandmother—but the mother she knew had never cried. Not once in her life. Naminé knew her mother had been upset about the separation, but neither of them had ever shed a tear about it. Now that the divorce would soon be legalized…it was a totally different story.

"If I didn't look like the victim, you would have chosen his side," her mother laughed grimly.

"That's not true," Naminé interjected, "I would have-"

"I'm a terrible mother, Naminé. Don't even deny it," More tears continued to escape, cascading down her cheeks, "I'm a cold hearted woman who doesn't even know how to express her feelings. I didn't know how to love him properly, and I kept pushing away my lovely daughter because I was just scared of being a mother…I'm a terrible person."

Her mother's sobs were heartbreaking. It was the only sound that filled the quiet home. Naminé wasn't sure how to react. Here her mother was, falling apart right in front of her. She did the only thing she felt was right; Naminé walked up to her mother, brought her mother close and embraced her as a few tears of her own fell from her eyes.

"You're not a terrible person…you're a wonderful person. You're terrific…you're," Naminé just felt the words flowing out of her as she let her mother cry on her shoulder, "You're my mother and I wouldn't have it any other way."

After her mother poured out her feelings, she just continued to cry in arms of her daughter. Naminé stroked her mother's back, doing anything she could to comfort her even though she needed to be consoling as well.

It was hard to watch her family crumbling before her, but her thoughts just kept drifting back to Sora. Was their relationship going to fall apart like this one?


"Really? I'm from the Islands too!" the bell-like voice chimed.

"I've never known anyone else in this town that lived in Destiny Islands too," Sora was amazed. Destiny Islands was his hometown up until high school, and being from the islands was a rather huge shift when he moved to the city-like town.

Apparently Kairi had been born in Radiant Garden, but lived her childhood in the islands until middle school when she moved to Twilight Town. At Twilight Town, she met Olette and the two continued to contact one another despite attending different high schools. Kairi's family wasn't as fortunate as the ones from St. Aurora, but still had money having a father who was a well-established attorney.

From what Sora had been told she attended the local public high school, Twilight High, and her uniform was evidence of that. Below her coat, Kairi wore a white dress shirt—in which she rolled up the sleeves—along with a light blue plaid skirt that had a matching necktie.

It was after school, and Sora had gone to pick up Kairi for yet another outing that they agreed upon. The car ride took a while to get to her school, but after picking her up the two soon headed over to a cozy café near Kairi's school—far from anywhere St. Aurora students would visit and far too cheap by their standards. Sora found nothing wrong with establishments that weren't so up-scale, but most of the snobby rich teens thought otherwise.

After Olette's grand party, it wasn't long before Kairi contacted Sora. She insisted that they were just friends, and it should be no problem if they hung out. Sora had been uneasy at first, but his hesitance was soon washed away by the sound of her voice over the phone. Charm dripped from every word she spoke; quick phone calls soon turned into lengthy conversations, conversations turned to quick get-togethers, and get-togethers soon turned into dates.

Sora had never felt like this before; palms sweaty, heart pounding and the slight euphoria just at the sight of Kairi. It had been like this the moment they had first met—Sora had never felt this way, not even with Naminé. It was addicting, yet he felt wrong. He and Kairi had never done anything physical, whether it was kissing or just a mere hug—Sora knew better than that. If Kairi insisted they were just friends, how come Sora felt guilty after every date?

"So how is it going with you and your girlfriend?" Kairi asked, tucking her stray strands of red hair behind her ear.

"I'm not really sure how to put this…" whenever the subject of his girlfriend was brought up Sora only felt worse, "We've been drifting a little and well, she seems to be getting closer with our friend, Roxas. They used to argue so much, and while I'm glad they good friends…I didn't know I'd be so-"

"Jealous?" Kairi finished his sentence. Sora nodded, "Your girlfriend is lucky, I wish I had a great boyfriend like you who cared." She blushed at that unintentional slip of words. The way her eyes lowered at her statement, Sora could only think about how cute she looked at the moment.

Sora's cheeks heated up from her words, "H-hey, it's getting a bit late."

Kairi looked at her watch, "You're right. I should be heading back. The weekend will probably be a better time to hang out."

"Do you…want me to drive you home?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"That would be great," her smile was radiant.

Sora and Kairi headed over to Sora's car. Instructing his driver towards the direction of her home, it wasn't long before they got there. Kairi could have just walked, but it was hard not to turn him down. Sora was just so un-ignorable.

"Well, were here," Kairi stated with yet another charming smile.

From outside of his car window, Sora could see that Kairi's house was a rather humble home—so much quainter than most of the living quarters of his schoolmates. It was his first time ever seeing where she lived.

"I guess we'll just see each other another day. Bye, Sora." Unbuckling her seatbelt, she was ready to step out until a hand reached for her.

"Umm…Kairi…" he didn't even know what he was going to say; all he knew was that he wanted to savor his moments with her. His hand had reached for hers out of instinct and he didn't know why. When Kairi was around such unfamiliar feelings stirred inside him—he wanted so badly to make sense of it all.

"Sora?" his blue eyes were so intense that it caused Kairi's cheeks to heat up. The fact that he was holding her hand didn't make things any better.

He hadn't noticed that he was inching himself closer to her until her scent began to overwhelm him. She smelled of roses and spring blossoms, so full of life like her personality. Only when her eyes were about to flutter close, Sora had realized what he was just about to do.

Pulling back, he apologized quickly, "Sorry about that."

Kairi felt like a cherry now, her face must have been so red. She didn't know what to say.

"Bye, Kairi." He said quickly.

"Bye, Sora." With that she swiftly exited his car, dashing to her front steps.

When his chauffer started the engines of the car again, it hit Sora like a tone of bricks:

Sora had almost kissed Kairi.

Flipping his phone open, he clicked a number on his speed dial. After a few rings a familiar voice spoke. "This is Naminé speaking. Sorry I can't be there to take the call, just leave your message after the beep."

The monotone beep came, and Sora knew it was better to speak now or never.

"Naminé, this is Sora. Can we go out sometime soon? We need to talk."

Sora ended the message and closed his phone, eyes focused on the passing streets outside the window.


A/N: Such a big turn of events! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review!