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I woke up on Tuesday morning feeling worse than ever. It was nearly impossible for me to get any sleep last night because what Riku had told me burnt into my mind and kept me up. I was just confused with myself, why didn't I stop him? What possessed me to just stand there and allow him to walk home sad?

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain pouring outside my window. Luckily I shut my window before I went to bed, or else the rain would have soaked me.

The sky was dark, well, darker than usual and I figured it probably wouldn't light up. When I went downstairs to grab something to eat my mom suggested I take the bus. Great, I hate the bus. But at least it's better than walking a mile to school in the rain. So I went outside around seven thirty and the bus, thank god, was on time. I sighed as I trudged myself on.

-Good morning, smiled the bus driver cheerfully. I smiled blankly and continued walking. Thankfully Sora had had the same idea I did because I saw him sitting near the back in the seat behind Selphie. I sat down next to him and he smiled too. I tried to suppress another one, but it came out more like a demented frown like I was about to throw up or something.

-You okay? He questioned intently.

-Yeah, I'm just. tired. I lied trying to fake a yawn, but that didn't work too well either because the expression on Sora's face didn't change.

-I suppose Riku didn't take the bus. Gee, I hope he isn't walking to school in this weather; he'll look like a wreck! Selphie exclaimed as she turned her head around to look at me.

-Oh, I think he's driving actually. It's around that time of the year I suppose; he'll be sixteen in a few months. Said Sora. Yeah, I guess that was true. He never drove before and it's almost creepy why he would choose a rainy day like this one. Oh well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

I looked over to the other side of the bus and stared out the window as the beach drew further and further away.

-Kairi really, is something wrong? Sora questioned. I turned to him, I guess his concern was sweet, but I wish he would just leave me alone.

-No, I swear, I'm fine. I nodded quietly.

-You're quieter than usual. Selphie pointed out. What was wrong with being quiet? Maybe nothing exciting ever happens in my life and I have absolutely nothing to talk about? What am I saying?

I didn't answer, I just turned my head further away. Maybe they'd catch the hint and stop talking to me. I wasn't really that interesting anyway.

-So, um. How's the project with you and Riku working out? Sora questioned.

-Fine, I replied blankly still refusing to look at them. I guess I still kind of thought that if you couldn't see someone then they couldn't see you either. Oh well.

-That's good. Mine isn't going that great, Loki and I went bankrupt and she has a bad gambling problem and sold our only kid on the black market down in Vegas. I nodded slowly, not that I didn't care, I just didn't much care.

The rest of the bus ride, thank god, was pretty silent. We reached the school and I guess I must have gotten up too fast because I felt pretty light headed and had to sit back down. I suppose this didn't look too good because Sora's assumptions became final.

-Kairi, what's wrong? He questioned as I held my hand to my head.

-Nothing, I'm just a little light headed, nothing to worry about, it happens all the time, I just got up too fast that's all. I said trying to ignore the constant throbbing at my skull.

-Are you sure? Sora asked.

-Yeah, see I'm okay now. I said as I stood back up and tried giving him a reassuring smile, but the smile didn't work because I almost fell over. What was wrong with me? -Um, but a trip to the nurse never hurt anyone. I responded as Sora stood up and helped me get off the bus without falling down and killing myself. When we got inside Selphie insisted that she take me to the nurse.

-No, I can, it's fine. Said Sora as his hands tightly grasped around my arm.

-No, no, no, really, I insist! Selphie exclaimed.

-Okay, you know what, why don't I just bring myself to the nurse and you two can go to gym. I suggested. If their arguing went on any longer my minor headache would turn into a migraine.

-But you. Selphie questioned.

-Look, I think I can handle it, I'm not dying. I said looking at them. Sora let go of my arm and I gave them one final reassuring look and walked down the hall to my right.

-Uh, Kairi, the nurse's office is that way! Sora called as he pointed in the opposite direction in which I was heading. Of course, I turned around and carried on.

I spent the whole of first period in the nurse's room. Not that I really needed to or anything, I just didn't think that I was up for physical activity. She let me go to science, but said that I should take it slow for the rest of the day. She said that I was having something like stress attacks. I don't know, but she said that if I didn't take it easy then they could get a whole lot worse. I simply agreed and left.

I guess a certain two people were a little worried about me because I hadn't been in PE. I told them I was fine and didn't feel like going to gym. I guess I purposely left out the part about being stressed because I believe they both knew that it wasn't school that was stressing me, but them.

The school day wore on slowly, and all I could think about was going home. I wanted my couch and coffee, I mean, 'hot chocolate'. The usually warm school seemed pretty cold. They obviously hadn't turned off the air conditioners. The air outside was still muggy, but it had a sharp breeze to it. Thankfully Sora lent me his sweatshirt and I was good to go.

I couldn't help but notice that Riku had never shown up in Science. I was a bit concerned, I must say. Especially after the conversation we had had on the bus.

-Where's Riku? I questioned as I stared at the empty seat to my left.

-I don't know, he wasn't in PE, Sora replied looking at me. Of course I wasn't looking at him, but I could feel his gaze fall upon me.

-I hope he's okay. I said looking over at Sora. He read the horrifically concerned look on my face because he sat back a little.

-I'm sure he's fine, don't worry about it. He assured.

-He was fine last night. The only thing I could think of was some kind of car wreck, but I knew that I had to get my mind off of it because that wouldn't happen.

-He probably just woke up and had a cold or something; maybe he wanted to take a personal day. Whatever it is, I'm sure he's at home safe in his bed.

-Or a hospital bed, I accentually said out loud.

Sora sighed deeply and I closed my eyes. -Riku is fine, he assured just as Mrs. Costello told us to take out our homework. I tried to believe him, I wanted to, but something in the back of my mind told me that he was wrong, dead wrong.

After science I wielded through a lonely, boring, hour of French. Then I headed out to the lunchroom here I caught Sora sitting at a table in the corner all by himself. Where was Selphie? My eyes drifted over to the table where she was sitting with Chad and Loki. I walked over and sat next to Sora.

-Hi, I smiled as I scooted in. Sora sat up with a somewhat surprised, but not really, look on his face.

-Oh, hey, he said softly. He was eating a muffin and then pulled it in half. -Here, he said handing it to me as I gratefully took it.

-Thanks. I replied as I played with it, pulling it into tiny pieces and kind of nibbling on them. Sora smiled, he always liked watching me eat, I really have no idea why, but I suppose he found it entertaining.

-Do you think it could be my fault? I questioned looking at Sora. The smile on his face slipped a little.

-What? He questioned, obviously unaware of what I meant.

-Why Riku isn't here. Maybe I just traumatized him so much that he couldn't bear to come to school because he might see me.

-No, Sora laughed. -That's definitely not possible.

I stared at him, I wasn't trying to be funny. -I'm serious Sora, what if it really is my fault. What if I've just cut him so deep that he couldn't handle it anymore? I almost shouted getting a little annoyed.

-Kairi, look. If anything he would have been dead a long time ago if he was really that effected by you. In fact, so would I for that matter. Now see, you can't always be blaming things on yourself. Why do you always do that? Sora questioned.

I sighed. -Last night he told me that He was just a meaningless heartache to me.

-Well how does he know that? Sora questioned intimidated.

-I don't know, he just goes, 'you and Sora are like connected blah blah, so what am I to you, but a meaningless heartache. I tried to explain.

-And you told him he wasn't, right? Sora questioned.

-Well. not exactly. But I didn't say he was either! More like, I just didn't say anything at all. I said quietly looking down onto the table.

-Oh Kairi, don't let that kill you, Riku can handle it. He's tough, tougher than me and if I'm not committing suicide then neither is he. Besides, if anything bad had happened to him his mother would have called me. Trust me Kairi, everything is fine just stop worrying about it. Sora was right, I was getting stressed out about this whole thing and that's exactly what I shouldn't do.

Suddenly I noticed a teacher approaching our table. Mrs. Worth I think he name was, she works in the office.

-Hi, is one of you Sora.? She questioned. I looked over at him, what kind of trouble was he in this time?

-I am, he responded looking equally as perplexed as I.

-Would you come to the office with me for a moment, you have a phone call. She said as Sora got up and looked to me for help. I just shook my head and raised my shoulders telling him that I was clueless. I watched as he walked away.

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