I'd give you the typical 'more reviews = more updates' spiel, but I can't be bothered.
And my documents manager decided to delete this chapter, which was just great.
I actually know where this story is going now, like 99%, which helps. I've already written the first four chapters of a sequel! Now, if I ever get round to posting that on the other hand, is a different matter entirely
Teenage Kicks: Contains mild references to sex, drugs, and Rock and Roll! Seriously though. Mild sexual references and mild to strong language, as well as references to alcohol and drugs. Nothing that wouldn't be out of place in a 15 rated movie in England. ;)
The song in this chapter is Can't Stop, Gotta Date With Hate by Lostprophets.
You know how people use the phrase, "getting thrown in at the deep end"?
Well, that just about sums up my Sophomore year. Right from the get-go. Quite literally, too.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it, well, at least the first fifteen minutes of it anyway!
Then my best friends, who are a right pair of twats, thought it'd be funny to chuck me into a fountain. That was just lovely. And then Roxas pranged the Ford a few miles out of Summerview, and that really fucked me up. I can't even write my name properly, for Christ sake! And my Mom got taken into hospital too, but she's feeling better now.
Then my bud, Tidus, came out the closet. Major shocker. Good for him, though. I'd just wish his best friend would be more tolerant. In a perfect world, maybe.
On the subject of perfect, there's only one thing, to me anyways, which sums up the word.
Kairi.
Her radiant red hair, her glowing cyan eyes, her perfect face, her lovely smile, here nice boo- you get the idea. But she had to choose Riku. My best friend. What does he have that I don't? Except maybe the looks, the bulging abs, the quick wit, the charm, the money... I could go on.
And then there's Nam. She's awesome, really. And I have feelings for her. I just don't know what those feelings are right now.
This year's been a total fuck up' I fucked up with Kai'. I fucked up my schoolwork. I fucked up playing football.
Fuck my life.
So here I am now, eyes barely opening upon my command, light beginning to flow slightly through the thin red curtains that adorned the rails above the window. I looked at my watch, 6:49. Great. I lifted the duvet cover slightly to get up, only for it to be pulled back down away from me. Puzzled, I rubbed my eyes before looking beneath the covers in front of me. A mess of red hair greeted me, covering a face buried into my chest.
Oh, fuck!
Teenage Kicks
My eyes darted across the room towards Riku's bed. There he lay, strewn across the frame of the bed, appendages dangling over the edges of the bed. His head was covered by a pillow placed over it. I decided that there was only one course of action I could take; evasive action.
I pulled the duvet cover up over me at the side that met the wall, before rising quickly and taking what could only be described as an over-exaggerated leap of faith, clearing Kairi and the bed frame in the process. Unfortunately, I heard Riku begin to stir. Panicking, I decided to dart out of the room as quickly as possible. Quietly shutting the door, I began to scan the doors along the corridor. Which one was Rox' in? I took a guess, knocking mutely upon one of the doors before slowly pushing it open. My eyes scanned the room for Roxas. Instead, they found a small teddy bear holding a love heart, a pink hairdryer and various types of makeup on the bedside cabinet. This wasn't Roxas' room, at least I hoped it wasn't. I retreated slowly, beginning to pull the door shut.
"Hey there, big boy." A tired voice slowly broke the silence. I froze on the spot. Do I go back in, or do I run away... again? I decided to take the first option, and opened the door once more. I was confronted by Selphie sitting up in her bed. She was dressed in all yellow pajamas. Figures. "Watcha doin' sneaking around at this time of the morning?" She asked me. I stood there, not saying anything. "Are you looking for some loving from Selphie?" I swear she purred when she said that.
"No." I stammered slightly.
"Oh really?" She pressed. "Then why are you coming in here dressed like that?" I looked down at what I was wearing. I'd been too tired to notice that I was only wearing boxers! And not the biggest pair at that.
"Do you know what room Roxas is in?" I asked her.
"Oh, so you swing that-a-way?" She frowned. "Three along to the right."
"Thanks." I smiled, waving slightly as I turned to leave the room.
"Hey, don't you leave before giving me a hug!" I turned to see her sitting up, now with the duvet completely off of her, her arms stretched out wide.
God this is gonna be awkward.
Teenage Kicks Teenage Kicks
"Is that cool?" Sora lent against the Stanchion of the bunk bed, looking across at Roxas who was lying in his bed, looking slightly angry as a result of being woken from his slumber.
"Yeah, yeah. You slept in here last night, gotcha." Roxas murmured.
"Thanks buddy, where's Zell?" Sora questioned the absence of Roxas roomate.
"he is, and I quote with the utmost sincerity, 'away to get some fuckin' Russian poontang'. And hotdogs.'"
"I see." Sora nodded.
"Yeah... Actually Sora, can I ask you something?" Roxas asked.
"You just did." Sora smirked.
"Don't start that Kairi Shaw bullshit. Why am I looking at you at," he checked his phone, "7.14 in the morning in your boxers, so blatantly trying to disguise the fact that you have a stalk on?"
"Huh?"
"A b-o-n-e-r Sora. A boner. Why?"
"Is this really necessary?"
"Yes! You woke me up! Now sing, canary!" Roxas commanded.
"Um, well I actually went into Seph's room by accident while looking for you. I was still half asleep, and I didn't realize that I was in my boxers. Anyway, she told me where your dorm is, but wouldn't let me go till I gave her a hug. On her bed. In my underwear." The brunette explained.
"Wouldn't let you leave? Did she forcefully stop you?"
"No, well, you know what I mean!"
"Hmm. Since Tidus came out the closet man, I think she likes you! And seeing as you and Kairi are well, dead on the water-sorry man. You should totally go for it." Roxas smirked. "That Tilmitt's a horny lil' bitch, I'll tell you that." He laughed at Sora.
"So..." Sora tried to change the subject, "You ready for Skiing?"
"Can't wait!" Roxas beamed.
Teenage Kicks Teenage Kicks
"Remind me again. What exactly does this have to do with history?" Selphie clung on to Sora's shoulders as they trudged through the snow. Sora slowly pulled the zip up and down on his blood red Parka, trying to stop his mind from wandering.
"Just think of it as more of a break for the people studying History, and whatever else people who are here are sitting."
"And the people who are on your soccer team!" She reminded him.
"That to." Sora nodded.
"D'ya know who I haven't saw around?" Selphie asked.
"Hmm?" Sora turned and looked at her, trying not to laugh at her puffy, banana colored jacket.
"Seifer." Sora though for a second. He hadn't seen Seifer really either. He looked around, surveying the different people in the group.
Roxas, who was walking up beside Namine, with Riku lagging slightly behind them. Kairi, who was seemingly glaring daggers at him every time he turned to face her. Zell, Irvine and all those guys from the football team. Except Seifer.
"Odd, isn't it?" They continued to walk up towards the ski center, where they would get their equipment before taking the ski lift to the top. When Selphie wasn't looking, Sora slipped his earphones in and began listening to his iPod. She had insisted he hadn't on the walk up, so that they could have 'a little chat'. That never happened.
About eight or nine minutes later, they reached the ski center. It was pretty quiet, with the majority of the people who were there staff who worked at the center. They stood in line, one by one going to collect skis and stocks from the storage room, before putting on the salopettes provided.
"Why the fuck do I get stuck with pink ones?" Sora groaned as he emerged from the changing room wearing a pear of bright pink snow pants. Roxas and Namine howled in laughter, only for Sora to respond by flipping the two of them off.
"That's enough, Sora." Mr Katzroy scolded Sora. "Now, due to weight restrictions, it's two to a carriage. Now, I want you to be on your be- What is it Riku?" he asked the silver haired boy.
"Are these single sex only too?" A few people sniggered, but not to the level that a visibly irked Riku would have liked.
"Very funny Riku. Now, as I was saying. I want you all on your best behaviour. Remember you are a representative of the school. And make sure you have fun!" He smiled and stepped aside from the entrance to the ski lift, allowing access to the students. In pairs they began to enter the carriages; Tidus and Wakka, Zell and Irvine, Namine and Roxas. Selphie walked towards where Riku and Kairi were standing.
"Is it okay if I talk to you, in private? It's about 'you-know-what.'" She asked him. Riku quickly explained the situation to Kairi, who nodded in approval. Together, Selphie and Riku entered the next carriage.
Kairi sighed, before walking alone towards the waiting point for the ski lift.
She waited for a few minutes, before boarding the next available pod. She sat down on the bench, facing forwards ready to depart. She looked out the door to see the man who was working the machine signalling for someone to come. Moments later Sora stepped into the pod, slouching down on the opposite side of the pod, facing towards Kairi, although he looked down at his feet.
The mechanism running the ski lift ground loudly above them, causing the carriage to begin to ascend up the mountain.
Silence filled the carriage as neither of the teenagers spoke. Sora lent his head against the side window, looking down at the snow beneath them as they moved slowly up the hill. He laughed slightly as he saw someone beneath him badly mistime a turn which caused them to go bundling down the hill.
Kairi looked up, stealing quick glances at the brunette as she slowly stroked her crimson hair. Sora noticed this, but decided not to press the matter, as he didn't know why she was so upset with him, and he didn't want to start a fight.
He closed his eyes, almost drifting to sleep as he listened to his iPod.
Her eyes are open like a book
Her fingers stroke her hair to look
A moment feels so out of place
This will left standing in disgrace
Paint your fingernails at night
Style you hair in the bathroom light
Hatred never looked this good
Whoever thought it could
I don't wanna wait or leave it up to fate
'cause I just wanna watch you all night
Screaming
End it, you're gone and
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
End it, you're gone and
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
End
One kiss those lips could never lie
But I know something isn't right
Don't be fooled my friends aside
'cause I see nothing in those eyes
All said and done
This won't be fun
Make no mistake
Those smiles are fake
Don't wanna wait or leave it up to fate
'cause I just wanna watch you all night
Screaming
End it, you're gone and
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
End it, you're gone and,
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
End
But believe me, I know it will always be moving
I know we could find a key
End it, you're gone and
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
End it, you're gone and
Don't you wake me up, I don't want this dream to...
All the times that we suffered this before
Never once did you ever close that door
All the make up cannot hide the fact
That you're gone and you're never coming back.
Sora's musically induced slumber was interrupted however by a large groan that was emitted from the machinery above them that operated the ski lift as the carriage ground to a halt. Sora's eyes shot open, and he looked up at Kairi, who mirrored his action.
But the silence within the cabin remained.
Sora groaned, punching his fist against the window.
"What were the odds of this, huh?" Sora stood up, looking out of the window at the snow below them.
"Odds of what? This rusty piece of shit breaking down?" Kairi watched him as he looked outside.
"No, of me and you getting stuck up here together."
"Well, there's what, 20 students here, so that's about, say, 380 different possible combinations of pupils in the ski-lift together."
"That's not what I mean." Sora sighed. "What's with the hostility towards me, Kai'?" Sora banged his fist against the glass before Kairi could respond. "Looks like we could be up here a while."
"I'm not being hos- I - Where were you this morning?" she questioned him.
Sora laughed slightly. "I was in the lodge, Kai."
"That's not what I mean. Where were you when I woke up? Because Nam' told me that she saw you coming out of Selphie's room in your boxers."
Sora grinned. "This is what this is all about? Really Kairi? Really?" He repeated. "I woke up, with you, if you need reminding. I looked across the room to see your boyfriend lying asleep. Imagine his reaction if he found the pair of us in my bed."
"But that doesn't explain why you were in Selphie's room." her interrogation continued.
"I was looking for Roxas." Sora admitted. "I was looking for Roxas so we would have an alibi, albeit a false one, in case Riku found you in my bed. I never went into details, just that I crashed in his room. Is that okay?"
"I'm sorry." Kairi looked down at her feet.
"It's alright." Sora forgave her. She looked up at him and smiled.
Minutes passed, 44 to be exact, before Sora decided he'd had enough. He pulled on the carriage doors, causing them to separate slightly. He then placed his foot between the two doors, pushing them away from each other. Kairi looked on in horror as he lent over the edge of the now open carriage, surveying the drop below them.
"It's about twenty five feet, I'd say. But we're right next to one of the stanchions holding the wires up, and it has a ladder down." He motioned for her to come towards him. She stood up, somewhat unwillingly as her knees wobbled fiercely as she covered the short distance between the two of them. "Take my hand." He held his hand out as he continued to look downwards.
"Sora. This could be up and running in five minutes."
"It could also take five hours." Sora pointed out. She entwined her fingers in his as he stepped back and guided her across to the ladder, which she gripped with her free hand before swinging her leg round onto the ladder. "Well done." Sora smiled. "Now just do the same with your other leg."
Kairi tried to bring her other leg round, but it wouldn't budge. "I- I can't." She sighed. Sora giggled.
"Do you want me to lift you or something?" He asked her, slightly sarcastically. He was taken aback when she nodded timidly, but made good of his offer. He picked up their ski gear and dropped it onto the snowy incline below them. He then lifted her slowly over to the ladder, which she clung onto with both hands.
"Th-thanks." She breathed out heavily.
"No prob." Sora waited for her to begin to descend the ladder, before breathing in slowly. The cold Russian air bit sharply at his lungs as he stretched out to grab onto the ladder. At that moment, however, the ski lift carriage began to move, jolting slightly with a large bang. Sora grimaced slightly as he lost his balance, closing his eyes as he realized he was falling through the air.
Teenage Kicks Teenage Kicks
"Sora?" Kairi squealed as she hurried down the ladder, before running through the snow to where Sora was lying. "Are you alright?" She panicked.
"Ouch." Sora laughed slightly as he tried to sit up, slumping back onto the ground as he failed to do so.
"Do you want me to go get somebody?" Kairi asked.
"Everyone's on the ski lift which... still isn't moving." Sora looked up at the ski lift directly above him. It was in the same stationary state it was when he was still on it.
"Yeah, it budged a little, and I guess that knocked you off." Kairi told him, crouched down beside his face, her hand against his cheek.
"I just winded myself, I think. Here, help me up." Sora put his hand up, prompting Kairi to take it. She hoisted him up to his feet. He lent against her, catching his breath. "Let's go back to the lodge, eh? Maybe they haven't even realized were down here." Kairi nodded, lifting up the skis that Sora had tossed down. "I'll take those." Sora quickly grabbed them off her, beginning to walk slowly down the hill beside her.
They talked with each other on the trek back to the lodge, which would have taken considerably less time than the walk in the previous direction, had Sora not been wincing and wheezing the whole way, refusing to let Kairi carry their equipment.
Kairi smiled as they finally approached the wooden lodgings, motioning for Sora to 'dump the ski's and shit' around the corner of the cabin, before the two of them walked in the front door.
They emerged in a large hall. It was quite dark, with red furnishings complimenting the timber decor. Sora looked around quickly, before smiling. They were the only ones here.
20/4/10 Updated 21/10/10