Prompt: Time
Given by: Anne3448
Setting: Destiny Islands, Post KHII
Pairing: Sora/Penelo
Mrs. Hiruma had always let Sora's friends in and sent them to whichever room he was currently occupying when they stopped by, so it was not surprising for the boy to be caught unaware when Penelo entered his room.
What was surprising was the pensive and slightly morose expression on his face, as well as the scrapbook lying open before him on his bed when she entered.
"Hey Sora," greeted the blonde in a concerned tone, "Are you okay?"
The brunette looked up suddenly when his friend entered and instantly his expression brightened slightly. "Hi Penelo; Yeah, I'm okay…just feeling a little behind."
"Behind?" asked Penelo as she moved to sit on the other end of the boy's bed. She glanced down at the scrapbook, which she, Kairi, and Selphie had made for Sora after his return. It consisted of photos, cards, notes, and clippings from the year he missed. "Well as you can see, we didn't do anything nearly as exciting as what you and Riku were up to."
"Yeah…but that's not what I mean," replied the blue-eyed boy.
"What do you mean then?" questioned the blonde.
"Well, you know how no one remembered me for like a years worth of time? …Except Riku, obviously…" Sora paused for a moment.
The girl nodded and watched him with a supportive and interested expression.
He turned his blue eyes to meet hers. "I was sleeping throughout that whole year."
Her blue eyes blinked in confusion, "You…what?"
"It was sort of an enchanted sleep…I guess," explained Sora. "I didn't even know how much time had passed until after I got back here. Anyway, you guys lost a little time when the world disappeared, but that was everybody and it wasn't for very long. Riku couldn't really tell how much time was passing when he was trapped in the dark realm for a while-"
"Riku was trapped in the dark realm?" Penelo chimed in, "That explains a lot."
"Yeah…he really should explain more…" Sora adopted a concerned expression, clearly thinking of his best friend's refusal to speak of his experiences during that time.
"He won't, but that's okay," said Penelo kindly before turning the conversation back onto Sora, "So what about the time in the dark realm? I assume you were going somewhere with that."
"Oh right…" The boy's expression cleared as he started speaking again. "You see, he still grew over that time, even if he couldn't tell if it had been weeks or months, but I didn't grow for a whole year. I mean, obviously I got taller and bigger, but…" The spiky-haired boy seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Emotionally and mentally, you stayed the same since you didn't learn or experience anything for that year," Penelo offered. "You didn't get to mature the way Riku did. Although I think he matured a little more than an adolescent normally does…but I get your point."
"Exactly," responded Sora, looking relieved that she seemed to understand him. "Riku went through a lot, so he sort of had to grow up fast, but I didn't. Everyone here didn't mature quite as much as he did, but they still matured some over that year."
A look of comprehension dawned on the blonde's face, quickly followed by one of sympathy. "Oh, I get it. That's what you mean when you say you feel behind. That is a lot of lost time."
Sora nodded and turned his gaze back to the scrapbook that lay in-between them on the bed. "Everyone has moved onto different things."
"Well, you guys are different too, you know," said Penelo with a soft smile.
"I know, but we're like, the only ones out of all our friends who haven't even been out on a date yet." The spiky-haired teen blushed slightly as he continued. "Swearing, driving a car, making out, part-time jobs, going to real parties, kissing, dating, seriously considering careers and colleges…we have no experience with any of that. At least Riku doesn't seem to care or feel awkward about it all, but I do. You, me, Kairi, Selphie, Wakka, Tidus…we always experienced these sorts of things at about the same time, but now…" The brunette trailed off with a wave toward the scrapbook.
"You're behind…" finished Penelo with a single nod of understanding.
"Exactly," muttered Sora, "And I don't know how I'm supposed to catch up."
"Well, Riku's passing Driver's Ed no problem, and he said something about learning to drive a thing called a motorcycle and that he was able to apply that knowledge for it," Penelo began thoughtfully. "You mentioned something called a light-cycle as well as a Gummi ship, so you'll probably do fine as well. My brother is teaching me how to drive, why don't you come along this weekend and see?"
"Riku did handle that hovercraft well too…" Sora said before smiling at the girl. "Alright, thanks. At least that's one less thing."
Penelo returned the smile, "It's not like any of us have cars anyway…and most of us aren't even old enough to drive yet."
"That's true…," the boy agreed.
The girl tilted her head as she recalled some of the other things the boy named, "And swearing is overrated, besides, your mom will kill you if she catches you swearing, just like most of the rest of ours will."
Sora chuckled, "Yeah, that one is definitely true."
"Some of us have even more people to be concerned about," Penelo added with a chuckle. "Be glad you don't have any big brothers or sisters. Quistis overheard Tidus say the F word at the mall…I've never heard the girl speak that confidently or loudly before."
"I can imagine," said Sora with a grin.
"Once you've been to one party, you've basically been to them all," Penelo stated with a roll of her eyes. "You didn't hear it from me, but Kairi's planning a 'welcome home' party for you, so you'll have that experience soon enough."
"We told her not to make a big deal out of this," whined Sora. "Things are weird enough as it is."
"Yes, but you know Kairi," said the blonde with a shrug.
"Yeah," agreed Sora with a nod.
"Let's see…what else?" asked the girl, who continued almost right away. "Seriously considering your career and college; Sora, we're fifteen, most of the rest of us haven't decided on all of that either. Trust me; you're not behind there. As far as part time jobs go, I think you've proven you can handle responsibility and know how to save and spend Munny wisely, so don't worry. …And the teashop is looking for another busboy, if you're interested."
"You do have a point there," conceded the brunette. "Thanks, I'll stop by after school tomorrow. Mrs. Nesbit has always liked me; I think she'd hire me."
"She definitely would," agreed Penelo, "And of course she likes you, everyone does. Some things don't change you know."
"I guess so," stated the spiky-haired teen with a smile.
"As for dating, kissing, and making out…those seem to come in a pretty quick succession," this statement earned Penelo a blush from the blue-eyed boy. "The order isn't the same for everybody though."
"I think I'd like to start with simple dating," said Sora. "You know, sort of ease into the whole thing."
"That sounds like a good idea," replied Penelo. "Hey, you can start with Kairi's party. Ask someone to go with you. It's not too intimate for a first date, so whoever you go with shouldn't expect too much from you…and there are plenty of girls who'd love to go with you."
"Really?" asked Sora with a grin, "And does that include you?"
The girl blushed slightly, "I guess I would…I mean, you're really nice and you're fun to hang out with…so why wouldn't I?"
Sora's grin turned slightly nervous. "So does that mean you'll come to the party with me? I'd really like you to…"
Penelo continued to blush slightly, but she also grinned back at the boy. "Really…? Sure, I'd like that too."
The brunette's smile broadened. "Great! Er…when is it?"
Penelo giggled, "It's this weekend." She stood and clasped her hands behind her back. "I have to go; I'm supposed to meet Selphie to start on that biology project."
Sora stood as well, "Okay, I'll see you at the bus stop tomorrow morning then…?"
The blonde nodded, "Mm-Hm, I'll be there."
The girl took a step toward Sora and gently brushed her lips against his. When she backed away, he raised his fingers to feel his lips with an odd grin on his face.
"I told you those come in a pretty quick succession," she said.
"Then I think I'll catch up in no time," he replied as he stepped forward to initiate another, deeper kiss.