Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts (II), Olette, Roxas, Seifer, etc. But yes, I do own Cocoa's Coffee Shop.
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. Actually, everything's taking so long. My writing has slowed to one word per day basically. I've been writing a one-shot for this new collection I'm starting and it's taking forever because it's SO LONG! I need to work on my one-shots.
Warning: I can't say anything or it'll give it away...
Quick Author Babble: This will not help you either.
Chapter 14: Problems
Olette spent another day alone in her apartment. What a great life she had. Had she mentioned how wonderful her friends were? Had she mentioned that she'd been thinking sarcastically for a week?
Olette was determined. She was determined to hate Roxas forever. She wasn't going to let anyone convince her that Roxas wasn't a bad person, that perhaps she should look at all sides of the situation, that maybe she was overreacting. So she stayed holed up in her apartment. It was easy, really. All you had to do was sneak into class without anyone noticing and go right back to your apartment when it was over. She didn't talk to anyone—not Sora, not Kairi, not even Selphie. She didn't want to listen to reason. She wanted to be illogical, because that was simpler than listening and thinking and all that stuff you have to do to forgive a person that you don't want to forgive.
Did they bother her? Of course they did. Kairi and Sora would stop by and knock. She wouldn't answer. She'd hide and pretend she wasn't home. Selphie phoned all the time. Did she pick up? Nope. Olette had caller ID—quite handy in times like these. She got letters from Selphie too, letters that said sincere things that best friends would say to each other like "Ollie, I'm really worried about you" and "Ollie, why aren't you picking up your phone?" and "Ollie, is the post office slow or are you just avoiding me?"
The latter, of course.
Olette poured herself a glass of orange juice and chugged it down in seconds and felt sick moments later. Could you get sick of yourself? That's what it felt like for sure.
Ding dong.
Oh no. How long was this going to continue? Didn't they realize Olette wasn't in a mood to talk?
Ding dong.
"Shut up!" Olette mouthed at the door, feeling irritable.
Dingdongdingdongdingdong! Knock, knock!
"Aaargh..." Olette muttered under her breath.
How desperate could they be? How dense could a person be to not realize people were avoiding them?
Hammer, hammer, hammer! Dingdongdingdongdingdong! Hammer, hammer, hammer!
Olette was about to lose it. She stormed over to the door, not caring who it was, and threw it open, seeing red.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT??" she shrieked at whoever.
"You're in a great mood today."
The red faded to reveal a blond boy with a hat pulled down to his ears. He was wearing a long, white trench coat and boring old clothes underneath.
"What is it, Seifer?" Olette snapped, a little quieter.
Curse the beings that forced her and Seifer into the same apartment building.
"I came by to congratulate you," Seifer replied coolly.
On what? On having "most miserable life"? On having "shortest magical moment"? What? What the heck did Seifer want to congratulate her for?
Olette just glared at him instead of putting her thoughts into words.
"You did a real good thing, pushing Roxas away," Seifer said. "Annoying, isn't he? Kind of reminds me of a leech."
Olette could see red again. Seifer was about the worst apartment-building-sharer ever to exist on the planet. One day, she would murder him.
"Listen, Seifer, if all you came over for is to insult Roxas, you can just turn your scrawny body back around and go back into your own apartment," Olette hissed. She wasn't going to bother with manners. Seifer didn't deserve them.
"Touchy," Seifer scoffed. "If you care about Roxas that much, you should've just said so."
"I don't." Who knew she was going to be talking to Seifer about the whole thing?
"Then why are you defending him and sulking in your apartment?"
"Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because I'm listening."
What was that supposed to mean? Olette didn't understand. Didn't everyone listen to her? Hadn't Selphie always listened? Hadn't Kairi always cared? Maybe they didn't. Maybe they didn't listen or care and that's why they always managed to change her mind instead of see it her way and help her through it. As she looked up into Seifer's smirking face, she knew he wouldn't judge her. People who could not succeed could not judge.
"Come in," Olette sighed.
Seifer was not the best guest either, let alone worst apartment-building-sharer. He sat right down on the couch, making a whole new meaning of "making yourself at home".
"Beverages?" he asked so snottily that Olette wondered if she had made the right decision after all.
"All I've got is orange juice," she said through gritted teeth.
"That'll do."
Humph. Olette blew a strand of dark brown hair out of her eyes and poured him a glass of orange juice. She felt sick just looking at it.
"Here," she muttered. "Take it."
She held it out with the very tips of her fingers.
"You're treating it like someone threw up on it," Seifer sighed, taking the glass from her with a steady grip.
Olette sighed and ran a hand through her hair, before realizing that Roxas always did that and she was probably copying him by habit. For no particular reason, she rubbed her hand on her shirt.
"Seifer," she said, collapsing on the sofa beside him.
Seifer looked up at her with curious, blue eyes.
"Can you be sick of yourself?"
Seifer actually considered the question. He didn't even look at her like she was insane, or tell her to take a nap, or ask her if she was feeling okay. Boy, would he feel stupid if it turned out she was going crazy.
"Yeah, probably," he said after a moment. "I mean, why not? When there's no one else to blame, you're the only one left, and attitude does its work."
His answer made sense! Hallelujah!
"Er...yeah...I guess you're right." Olette looked at her entwined fingers and fell silent.
"So...what exactly happened between you and Roxas? Was it just a feud, or...? Well, I don't know what else, but is it a feud?"
"I don't know what it is, to be honest." Olette closed her eyes and tried to envision where it all started. All she could see was a petite, blonde girl with delicate features. "You see, Roxas had this girlfriend..."
"Ah." Seifer scratched his chin and nodded wisely. "I see."
"What do you mean, you see? I've barely started!"
"When you're as experienced as me, you don't need to talk any further."
Olette raised and eyebrow. It was hard to believe Seifer was experienced in anything.
"Let me take a wild guess at this...Okay, so, you were jealous of Roxas's girlfriend because she 'had' Roxas, but you didn't want to think you liked Roxas, so you went all wooohhhh and then, in a life-changing moment, Roxas suddenly realized he liked you and broke up with his girlfriend and just when things were going well, you both realized the world had turned upside down and you didn't want this to happen, so you got into this big fight over absolutely nothing and both of you ended up crying alone in your apartments."
"How in the world...?" Olette stuttered, then she put up her hands. "Never mind. I guess you're right, stalker or not."
"Thank you." Seifer smiled and took a bow, then gulped at his orange juice.
"So, what is this, if you're so experienced?"
"Well, Olette, I'd have to say..." He scratched his chin and appeared to be thinking. "This is a big load of unwanted love."
"What?" Olette sounded more venomous than puzzled.
"You love each other for sure. You just don't want to admit it as the proud, swell-headed people you are."
"Look who's talking," Olette remarked, rolling her eyes.
"Very funny."
Seifer got up, putting down his empty glass on the coffee table.
"I guess I should get going," he stated, making his way to the door. Right as he was opening the door to leave, he turned around with a smile. "I'm still right, though."
"Goodbye, Seifer," Olette sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Ciao."
And he was gone, leaving Olette knowing too much than she wanted.
xXx
So, who to pick to talk to? Selphie? Nah. She was a bit of a blabbermouth, and long distance charges weren't exactly Olette's best friends. Kairi? No, she tended to get mad when people ignored her for long periods of time. Seifer? No, no, no. That had been embarrassing enough. Sora? Well...
Olette thought of the pros and cons. Pro: Sora would not mock her. Con: Sora was a guy. Pro: Sora wouldn't tell anyone if she told him to. Con: Sora was a guy. Pro: Sora listened relatively well. Con: Sora was a guy.
Okay, so she only had one con but it was rather huge and should've counted for ten. Talking to a guy was much, much harder than talking to a girl. It's not like Sora was a jerk or anything. He wouldn't laugh or tell anyone or barely pay attention. But managing to get the words out to him? That was a different story.
She had told Seifer bits and pieces. She would tell Sora the whole story. She was almost tempted to talk to Selphie now no matter how much it costed.
Pull yourself together, Olette. How hard can this be?
Olette nodded and breathed in. She was going to have to tell someone sometime, and Sora was her only option.
xXx
"Pardon! Excuse me! Sorry!"
Olette pushed her way through the crowd of students filing through the hallway. She hadn't been in throngs like this for a week. How in the world had she managed that? She couldn't remember...
She breathed out when she saw someone familiar.
"Yuna!" she cried, running up to the silvery brown-haired girl.
Yuna Phillips, a bright girl that came all the way from Radiant Garden, sat beside her in science class. She was very pretty with shoulder length silvery brown hair, one blue eye, and one green eye. She was a nice and calm person, but when she wanted to be, very outspoken.
"Oh, hi, Olette!" Yuna chirped in greeting as she halted in the middle of the hallway. "I never see you walking in the halls anymore."
"Yeah, I've been feeling sort of under the weather," Olette lied, feeling very guilty as Yuna looked at her worriedly.
"Why? Are you alright?" she questioned sincerely.
"Yeah, it's just a cold. Ah...ah...AHCHOO!" Olette fake sneezed. Many people in the hallway took a few steps back in disgust. Yuna stood quite still and looked like she was about to run off to make chicken soup for Olette right at that moment.
"You should hurry home then," she said.
"First, do you know where Sora is?" Olette asked bluntly.
"Yeah, I saw him at Cocoa's."
Cocoa's? Thank goodness. Olette was glad he was only across the street.
"Thanks, Yuna!" she cried, getting ready to run off.
"Wait!" Yuna exclaimed. "Don't you think it's a bad idea to go outside when you have a cold? It's freezing outside!"
"Thanks for caring, Yuna, but I really need to talk to Sora."
"Well, okay..."
Olette raced through the crowed, elbowing whoever out of the way without even being polite this time.
"Be sure to ask if they have tea! And make sure there's lemon..." Yuna's voice disappeared as Olette broke out of the university and made her way out of the campus.
Yuna was right. It was freezing outside. Olette felt like a popsicle. Good thing she was going to Cocoa's, probably the warmest building on the block. Olette made her way across the street, her eyes on the green sign with gold letters saying "Cocoa's Coffee" with a picture of a steaming coffee cup underneath.
She entered and felt the cold air evaporate. She smiled and smelled the coffee scent, relinquishing herself to the warmth. She hadn't been in Cocoa's for too long.
She looked around and found Sora. Sitting by himself. At a two table. Could this work out any better? Maybe this would be easier than she thought.
Olette approached him. Sora was staring at an envelope with such intensity she almost didn't want to interrupt.
"Pardon? Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked.
"Hm?" Sora looked up with lazy eyes and looked up at Olette. "Oh. Olette. Of course you can sit."
He moved the envelope and coffee cup from her side of the table. Olette had to admit, she was kind of disappointed about his reaction. She hoped his eyes would widen, or he'd break into his big, Sora-like smile. He wasn't even smiling at all. He was just...sitting there, as if he saw her all the time. Maybe she should've talked to Kairi after all...
"So, what's up?" he asked in a monotone voice. "What's so special that it made you leave your apartment?"
Hm. Snippy too. Did Sora drink his daily amount of caffeine today? Oh, wait. They were sitting in a coffee shop while he was drinking coffee. Well. Now Olette had no idea.
"Maybe I could ask you the same question," she replied. "The first one, that is."
There was silence for a bit, Sora and Olette daring each other to speak.
"I got a letter." Sora finally gave in, holding up the envelope.
"Good for you!" Olette chirped sarcastically. "What an adventure!"
Sora shook his head.
"You don't get it."
"What's to get? You got mail. Big whoop."
Sora sighed and let his head fall onto the table between the crevice in his arm.
"It's from Riku," he stated, voice muffled.
"What?!" Olette leaped up so fast that her chair nearly fell over. "You've got to be kidding!"
Sora shook his head. Olette didn't know if she should feel happy or mad at him.
"What does it say?!" Olette exclaimed in a melodramatic tone, grabbing onto Sora's collar and pulling him up. "Something important?!"
"I don't know," Sora sighed.
"What?" Olette's face was suddenly made of stone.
"I don't know. I haven't read it."
Olette was too excited to get into details.
"Well, you've got to tell Kairi at least!" Olette cried. "She's been waiting for a letter from him since...since...well, a long time, I'll tell you that much!"
"No!" Sora suddenly became very loud as he stood up as well.
"What? Why not?" Olette asked, bewildered.
Sora sighed and slowly sat back down into his chair.
"You don't get it."
"I will if you tell me."
Olette felt Roxas totally disappear from mind as she divulged herself in Sora's problems, which suddenly seemed to be miracles.
"Listen, you can't ever tell Kairi this, okay?" Sora stated with a tone of finality.
"Of course not," Olette promised.
Sora sighed yet again and closed his eyes. He bent his head and brushed his hair with his hand, considering the right words to use.
"Kairi, Riku, and I have been friends for a really long time," he explained slowly.
"Yes, I know." Olette knew she was bouncing in her seat but she didn't care, even though she felt like Selphie. "Best friends."
"Right. Best friends." When Sora didn't say anything for a long while, Olette decided to hurry things up a bit.
"Then what's the problem?" she asked.
Sora watched her jump up and down wearily.
"C'mon, Olette," he muttered. "You're giving me a headache."
"Sorry." Olette anchored herself to her chair. "Continue."
"...When we were fourteen..." Another pause, "I...had a little..."
"Crush on her?" Olette predicted his words, leaning on the table so she could grin in his face.
Sora nodded and pushed her back down again.
"So? So? So? So?" Olette kept repeating. She felt like she was reading a suspenseful romance novel.
"So...?" Sora looked confused.
"SO DID YOU TELL HER??" Olette shrieked.
Hm. Could you get caffeine in your body by just smelling coffee?
"Olette!" Sora looked alarmed. He clamped a hand over her mouth. "Listen. Here's how it goes. I tell the story, and you be quiet till the very end."
Olette nodded grudgingly.
"And in answer to your question, does it look like I told her?" Sora asked.
Olette shook her head sadly.
"Exactly," Sora stated. "So that's how it was for awhile. I didn't like it, but it was nothing compared to what happened next."
Olette threw him a curious look. She felt adrenaline pumping through her blood stream again, but she tried to ignore it.
"Since I didn't drop and clues that I liked her, Riku asked her out," Sora explained. "They became an...item, I guess?"
Olette's eyes widened. Good thing she was being silent otherwise she might go through the roof, screaming the whole time.
"So, yeah. They're not anymore. But I'm still worried...about...Will you please stop giving me that look?"
Olette had been giving him a sympathetic stare. She threw her arms into the air in agitation before leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. There was no winning with this guy.
"I'm still worried that they'll get back together, is all," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought maybe university would be a safe place to go since he wouldn't be coming, but letters will be their way out, I'm sure. I don't want him talking to her. She just forgot about him and..."
He sighed and rammed his head into the table.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter."
Olette hoped the story was over because she leaned over to touch his arm comfortingly.
"It does matter," she stated truthfully.
There was a moment of silence until Olette eyed the letter sitting on the table beside Sora.
"Hand me the letter," she demanded. "If you're not going to read it, I will."
Sora shrugged and slid it over to her. She ripped open the envelope and took out the paper inside.
"Read out loud," Sora requested.
"Okay." Olette coughed and read the words on the page.
Hey, Sora:
How are you doing at that ritzy university of yours? You must be having a great time since you haven't sent me a single letter. You really are as lazy as you seem.
I got one from Kairi. At least I know she's doing okay with you. Did she get the letter I sent her? Well, maybe you don't know since you're too lazy to talk to her.
That was just a joke. Calm down.
Anyway, I'm leaving from Destiny Islands tomorrow and heading to Radiant Garden. Boring, I know, but maybe there's more to it than just the city.
Anyway, guess where my next stop is? Radiant Garden, I know, don't be a smart Alec, Sora. I mean after that.
Twilight Town! Seriously!
All I have to do is rent an apartment near the university and I can see you and Kairi again! I've missed you guys a lot, especially Kairi. I didn't miss you at all.
Joking. Again. You have quite the temper, Sora.
But I did miss Kairi a little more than you if you can understand. I mean, we're...like...you know.
Anyway, I'm coming to Twilight Town in two weeks and I'll be staying there until the end of the summer! Isn't that great?
Actually, it's awful. I'll have to see your ugly mug again.
Sorry. I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to explode.
See ya,
Riku
"WHEN DID HE SEND THAT?" Sora grabbed the envelope and looked at it with craziness in his eyes.
He groaned and let his head collapse on the table again.
"What? When's he coming?" Olette asked, nervously clenching the letter in her hands.
"Tomorrow..." Sora mumbled.
"Oh, no." Olette rubbed her temples from the splitting headache she was getting.
"You know what?" Sora snapped, standing up so quickly that his chair made a horrible scraping sound on the tile floor. "It doesn't matter! I don't care if he's coming! He can have as much fun with Kairi as he wants, since she obviously prefers him over me!"
He snatched the letter from Olette, rolled it up into a ball, and chucked both the letter and his coffee cup into the garbage can with such force that it shook before storming out of the coffee shop.
What if someone's problems were worse than ours?
Whoa. This Sora's even worse than decaffeinated Sora, maybe even drunk Sora. But I haven't created him yet.
Yes, that's right, folks! Riku's coming into the picture!
Last night I was thinking I don't have a lot of Riku in my stories. Only mentions. Sometimes not even that. And no, HMTMKMKM does not count, because Riku was needed to be the guide or whatever. We all need a wise person in a story.
For example:
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me - Riku, obviously
What If - Selphie and I guess sort of Seifer
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Kairi or maybe Namine's mom
Born To Be Wild - I don't know yet. I think it turns out to be Yuffie in the end.
So yeah. Getting really off topic.
I decided Riku must have a bigger part in this story, and Kairi's letter was an unfinished part of the story.
Okay, so bye.
Read and review!