A/N: Sorry it took a while to update. School has been killing me, and since school was cancelled because of a storm a few days back, we're having school on Saturdays even. Well, enough excuses, here's chapter number 12!

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The Right Gift

The first day of school back from the holidays was already over. Students were flooding out the gates, grateful to be away from the place that had held them prisoner for most of the day. But two people had decided to stay behind, and were currently discussing something behind the school library.

"Roxas, why are you making me stay here? I kind of had plans for today," Kairi said irritably.

"Because you said you would help," Roxas answered with equal irritation. "Something I really need right now."

Roxas really felt he needed help, now more than ever. He was falling more and more for the blonde haired girl each moment he was with her. Just seeing her beautiful face for the first the first time since the holidays, he was overcome by a dizzying sensation, his heart beating faster and faster. He was glad that he was able to put a lid on those feelings, so that it wouldn't affect how he acted around her.

"Okay, okay. Well, when do you want to tell her?" she asked.

"I thought you were going to be the one to tell me that?"

Kairi rolled her eyes. "You said you've thought about this. Didn't you come up with anything?"

"No," he answered flatly. "C'mon Kairi," he whined. "I really need your help."

"Alright already! You want to ease yourself into a more comfortable position to tell her, right?" Roxas nodded.

"And you know her birthday is in a few weeks, right?" Roxas nodded once more. Of course he knew. He had already started thinking about what to get her.

"Then get her a gift that gives a hint about what you feel about her, but not enough to make her ask you about it," she said.

"You mean like a semi-romantic gift?"

"Yep. Actually, your Christmas present to her was like that. So just do something like that again." Roxas nodded to show his agreement to Kairi's idea.

"Which reminds me, how come you only bought a Christmas gift for Naminé?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

"Shh, quiet," Roxas said, raising his hand to silence her.

"You're not getting out that easy Roxas. I know you like Naminé but - "

"Shush, Kairi! Don't you hear that?"

Roxas could hear foosteps in the distance. It was still a ways off, and it seemed to be getting more distant. The person must just be passing by. His cellphone suddenly rang out loud and he heard the footsteps stop abruptly. He quickly pulled out the annoying device and silenced it. The foosteps were getting closer. He didn't know why he was so tense. They weren't doing anything wrong. He and Kairi were just having a casual conversation...in the dark shadows behind the library. Right.

A figure finally emerged from the corner.

"Roxas? Kairi? What are you two doing there?" It was Naminé.

"O-oh, hi Naminé," Roxas greeted. They had gotten way too close to Naminé overhearing their conversation. "We were, erm, just wondering what was back here, that's all. Right, Kairi?" She nodded her head.

Naminé raised an eyebrw at them. "Erm, okay. By the way Kairi, Sora was looking for you. He should still be at the courtyard." With a quick word of thanks to Naminé, Kairi left them.

"Really, what were you two doing here?" Naminé asked, arms folded.

Roxas scratched the back of his head. "Erm, c'mon Naminé! We better get going!" And with that, he ran off, Naminé chasing him.

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"C'mon, Roxas! I'm your best friend! Why won't you tell me what you two were talking about?" Naminé asked, a pout forming on her face.

They were walking through the park, their regular detour on the way home from school and Naminé was continually pestering him about what had happened earlier. She had managed to figure out that they were talking about something to do with Roxas, and not Kairi, by the way he avoided the questions she was throwing at him. She knew that if it was about Kairi, he would simply say that it wasn't his place to tell her. She just knew him too well.

"Because," Roxas explained, determined not to be swayed by Naminé's pout, "there are some things you can't tell to even your best friend."

"But you're talking to Kairi about something I don't even know about..." She seemed sad when she said this, and Roxas, being the sap romance fics have made him, tried to comfort her.

"Kairi only knows because she knew something about it before I even told her. It's not like I trust her more than you." At these words, Naminé's face brightened a bit.

"Does that mean you'll tell me?" she asked.

"Sorry Naminé, not right now." He couldn't. He wasn't ready yet. "But I promise that I'll tell you soon." Upon hearing him being bound by his word, she smiled. She knew Roxas wouldn't break his promise.

"Okay then, when is soon?"

"You want an actual date?" Roxas asked. She nodded in response. Roxas searched his thoughts. When would be the perfect time to tell her? A moment wih the perfect mood and atmosphere. Something that would make a person go 'aww'. "Damn, those romance fics are really rubbing off on me..."

"Alright, I'll tell you prom night," Roxas said.

"But Roxas, that's still a month away!" she whined, another pout forming on her face.

"Actually, I think it's pretty close. So consider yourself lucky by my standards," he smirked.

Naminé laughed. "Alright, then. Prom night, and you better tell me then."

They parted ways, waving goodbye to each other. Roxas watched her disappear from his view. He had just set a deadline for himself, and he couldn't move it now that he had made a promise to her. But maybe this was a good thing. Being bound by his word to tell her how he truly feels about her, making sure that he would actually do it.

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Roxas entered the front door of his house. He was about to go upstairs to his room when he saw something on the counter. He walked over and picked the item up. It was a charm bracelet. A butterfly pattern was placed between intervals of charms, glass gems and pearls. It looked quite pretty to Roxas.

"Do you like it?" a voice asked. He turned and saw Aerith standing behind him, smiling.

"Yeah," he answered truthfully. "Where did you get it?"

"I made it. You remember that shop we went to for Christmas? They were also selling materials for making charm bracelets. You can buy the stuff and make it any way you want."

"That same shop at the mall?" he asked. She nodded. "Thanks, mom! I'll be back later." He rushed out the front door and headed toward the mall, ignoring that knowing smile Aerith was giving him.

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Roxas could honestly say he was feeling very uncomfortable at the moment. He felt out of place being there. Everywhere he looked, all he could see were girls. He knew that making bracelets wasn't very popular among boys, but did he have to be the only boy in the entire shop? He shrugged off the feeling.

"I'm getting a gift for Naminé," he reminded himself. "What's there to be ashamed of, being the only boy in the shop? I should just be thinking that I'm going to make Naminé an awesome and personal gift."

He glanced through the shop's window, seeing the mass of teenagers walking through the mall. "If anyone catches me here, I'm never gonna live it down."

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On the eve of Naminé's birthday, Roxas was sitting at the windowsill, not feeling very sleepy. He glanced at the bracelet in his hand, illuminated by the full moon. He had slaved over that bracelet, and he was very pleased with his work. He had actually started working on it the night he had bought the materials, practicing looping the bracelet wire around the clasps, attaching the charms and working on a pattern. He had finished only a couple of nights ago, when he had deemed himself worthy of starting on a present for Naminé.

He looked over the details of the bracelet. The same butterfly figure used by Aerith was also used in this bracelet, patterned with four green glass gems, four pearls, and four charms: a pencil, a dog, a star and a clock. He was glad that there was such a wide selection of charms at the shop. A pencil for her artistic side, a dog because it was her favorite animal, and a star because she had a certain facination with them. He had been quite selfish with his reasons for picking the clock, because he was part of it. It represented the clocktower, where he and Naminé had shared some special moments.

Roxas decided he should try and get some sleep. He carefully laid the bracelet in a box Aerith had provided for him. He slipped into bed, instinctively reaching for the Tigger plushie and pulled it into his arms, waiting for sleep to come.

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Roxas and Naminé were walking home from school, taking their regular detour through the park. He had greeted Naminé with a cheery 'Happy Birthday' earlier that morning but had told her that her present would have to wait until later. And despite her whining and pouting, she had agreed to wait. Right now, they were dicussing a certain detail he had heard from Kairi.

"You really couldn't wait, could you?" Roxas teased.

"I'm really sorry," she apologized. "I just couldn't resist asking Kairi what you guys were talking about. I know you promised to tell me, but it felt o far off I couldn't stop myself." Actually, Roxas had heard more than that from Kairi. Apparently, Naminé had also asked her if he liked anyone, but he decided not to bring that up, not wanting to embarrass Naminé further. But still, he had to admit he was curious about Naminé's reasons for asking.

Roxas laughed. "Lighten up Naminé. I was just teasing. And I know how you can't help yourself when there's something you don't know."

She smiled sheepishly. "Okay, I promise I won't ask about it anymore until you tell me." Roxas smiled. She didn't have to promise, he trusted her, but he was glad that she was taking not knowing quite well.

"If you answer my question that is," she smirked. He had to laugh. He should have known she wouldn't back down so easily.

"What is it about?" she asked. "Just the general idea."

Roxas blushed a slight shade of red. How could he put it in words that wouldn't give too much away?

"Erm, it's about a person..."

She rolled her eyes. "Care to be more specific?"

He sighed. He supposed it would be alright to tell her quite a bit more. "A girl...who I like."

"Oh..." She eyed his flushed face for a moment and smiled. "Okay, I guess that'll do for me." She held out her hand, which Roxas raised an eyebrow at.

"My present," she stated simply. Roxas laughed, knowing that Naminé couldn't resist asking for it now. After all, she had waited the whole day. He pulled the small box out of his bag and placed into her outstretched hand. "Happy Birthday, Naminé," he greeted once more.

The top of the box was made of clear plastic, so she immediately saw the charm bracelet he had made for her. He saw her features soften as she gazed at it.

"You...made this?" she asked. Roxas smiled and nodded.

His mind suddenly went blank. Naminé had suddenly rushed forward and hugged Roxas, completely wiping out his conscious thought. She wrapped her arms around him, and he unconsciously did the same, embracing her slim frame. If simply holding her hand felt like electricity surging through him, imagine what her hug was doing to him.

They broke their embrace, both quite red in the face, but both smiling.

"Thank you, Roxas. I love it," she said, the sweet smile which always melted Roxas' insides on her face.

"You're welcome," he smiled.

They reluctantly parted ways. He watched her run off, clutching tightly to her chest her present. He went his own way, smiling brightly. At least until he remembered something. He mentally kicked himself at his stupidity. He knew that he wouldn't be able to do anything about it, at least not until he saw Naminé again. He just hoped the bracelet would fit Naminé's wrist.

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A/N: Again, sorry it took a while to update. So, now you know where this fic is gonna end. It's only a few chapters away, so keep an eye out for it. Plz review!