Once he was freshly showered and dressed Riku headed for his room.

"Riku?" His mother called.

Riku tossed his dirty clothes into his room and sprinted downstairs. Mileena laughed.

"You don't have to act like I'm going into labor every time I call." She teased.

"Sorry mom." The teen smiled sheepishly. "What can I do for you?"

She laughed, "I can't get up."

Riku laughed too. He walked over to the couch and took a hold of his mother's hands, gently pulling her onto her feet.

"My, my. You get stronger everyday I think."

"It's from helping you stand up so much." Riku teased.

Mileena chuckled and tapped Riku on the nose with her finger. "I'm going to bed, Mr. Smartypants. Your father is still in the basement."

"All right. Good night, mom."

"Good night Riku."

With a grumbled complaint about the humidity Mileena waddled off to bed. The silver-haired boy smiled and ran upstairs. He picked his laundry up and stuffed it into the hamper. He looked at his calendar and sighed. He hoped his dad would go to bed soon. Riku's hopes came true. Not even fifteen minutes later he heard the basement door open and close. Lee's cough echoed in the kitchen and he headed off to bed. Riku grabbed a flashlight, opened his window, and stepped out onto his balcony. He hefted himself over the side and lowered himself down the vertical rails before letting go. He landed safely on the soft grass in the backyard and headed for Sora's place. The teen peered in the window. April was asleep on the couch. Sora had covered her with a blanket and left a lamp on in case she woke up. Riku smiled and climbed up to Sora's room. The brunette was waiting for him on his bed.

"Hey." Riku poked his head in through the open window. "I see you wrote it on your calendar too."

"Of course. I don't want to miss this meteor shower. It only happens once every four thousand years. Let's go get the others."

The silver-haired teen could barely stop himself from sighing. [Yes. Let's ruin a potentially romantic moment by getting all our friends.]

"All right. Let's go."

Sora tied his shoes and made sure the pillows in his bed looked like a Sora outline before he followed Riku. They went to Tidus' house first since he lived the closest. The boy was sitting at the end of his driveway, waiting. Next they skipped a house and went to Wakka's. The redhead was relaxing in his hammock in the backyard. Finally they went across the street and got Kairi and Selphie. The girls had their roller skates on. Sora sat on the seat of Riku's bike while the older teen stood and pedaled. Wakka had Tidus perched on the handlebars of his bike.

"I feel like such a delinquent." Selphie said. "Sneaking out of the house at ten thirty to see a meteor shower."

"Yes Selphie. You're a criminal for wanting to see a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon." Riku teased.

The brunette stuck her tongue out at him and Kairi giggled. Sora blushed and tried not to stare at his friend's backside. I mean...it was right there in his face and Riku was wearing the shorts with the rip on his bum cheek.

[Hmn...Riku has boxers with chocobos on them...]

Sora shook his head rapidly and blushed.

"Stop wiggling or we'll fall over!" Riku ordered.

"Yes mom." The younger teen grinned.

"Don't give me lip, boy." Riku chuckled. "It's your own fault your big ass doesn't fit on my handlebars."

"You're just jealous because I have a boo-tay!" Sora retorted.

The group laughed. Even Wakka, the most "mature" of them all, laughed. They reached the docks in no time. Riku and Wakka locked up their bikes.

"Why don't we just pair up and take three boats?" Kairi suggested. "Easier than readying six boats."

"Good idea Kairi. You can come in my boat." Sora smiled.

Riku grit his teeth but didn't say anything. He already knew who he was going to be stuck with. He looked over to see Tidus attached to Wakka's arm. Yup. He was stuck with Selphie...

"Let's take my boat! I wanna row!" Selphie demanded.

"Your boat is pink." Riku protested.

"Then let's take yours!"

"I'm not letting you drive my boat."

"It's a row boat Riku." Wakka said, pushing his own boat into the water.

"Come on Riku!" Sora called, already out in the water.

"Fine. We'll take your bloody pink boat..." Riku muttered.

Selphie untied her boat and pushed it into the water. "Hurry up, Riku!!"

The boy waded out into the knee-deep water and got into Selphie's boat. The girl pushed the boat into deeper water before getting in. She grabbed her beloved pink oars and started to row like a mad woman, splashing Tidus as she passed Wakka's boat.

"Watch what you're doin', Selph!" Wakka scolded.

"Sorry!" Selphie grinned. "I'm sooooo excited!"

"I'm in a pink rowboat with the hyperactive Queen of Sugar. Shoot me now..." Riku sighed.

"I'm not that bad, Riku." Selphie teased.

The silver-haired boy rolled his eyes but smiled. You couldn't help it. You loved Selphie even if she annoyed the hell out of you. Sora cried out as Selphie splashed him and Kairi as he rowed past.

"Selphie Tilmitt! I'm going to dunk you!!" Kairi threatened with a laugh.

"I'd love to see you try!" Selphie laughed maniacally.

"You're on!" Her friend grinned.

Selphie, of course, reached Destiny Island first. Riku tied the boat up while the girl did cartwheels on the beach.

"Man, are you ever hyper." Riku commented.

Selphie grinned and nodded rapidly. Wakka and Tidus rowed up next. Sora and Kairi were last.

"Slowpokes!" Selphie grinned.

"How much sugar did you consume today?" Wakka asked.

"I had some ribbon candy before you guys came!"

"So that's why you're so loopy. It's a recent sugar rush..."

Sora chuckled then looked at his watch. "It's almost eleven. We'd better get to Paopu Island."

The group made their way through the beach shack, up the stairs, and across the bridge to Paopu Island. Riku sat on the paopu tree as usual.

"Riku, is that tree glued to your bum or something? You always sit there." Selphie said.

"I like sitting here. It's comfy..."

"Look!" Kairi pointed.

A streak of light flashed across the sky. Riku got comfy and looked down at his friends. Sora was sitting at the base of the paopu tree with Kairi, eyes wide in awe. Selphie was sitting a ways ahead of them, bouncing slightly as she looked up. Tidus had made himself comfy in Wakka's lap and the redhead didn't seem to mind. Both teens were staring up at the sky.

"Look! Another one!!" Selphie shrieked. "And another!!"

Riku looked up. Showers of multicolored light streaked across the sky. He lay back against the paopu's trunk, rested one hand on his stomach, and watched the meteors streak through the sky. The shower lasted for nearly forty minutes. The meteor sightings were just starting to dwindle down when Riku noticed clouds gathering.

"We won't make it home before that storm hits." Wakka said. "We'll have to wait here and ride it out."

"Did you see that??" Kairi asked.

"What?" Selphie blinked.

"That star...it just went out."

"Stars don't go out, Kairi." Riku said.

"Well I know what I saw. There was a star there and then it just blinked out."

"Maybe it was a meteor." suggested Sora. "Come on. We have to secure the row boats or we'll be stranded here and really get in trouble..."

By the time the group moved their boats into the storm shed the clouds had moved in and it started to pour. There was no thunder or lightning but it was extremely windy and it was hailing a bit. Wakka and Riku led their friends to the safety of one of the many beach shacks. Kairi lit a few lanterns and Wakka distributed towels.

"Brrrr." Sora wrapped the towel around himself tightly. That sure isn't tropical rain."

"It's the meteor shower. It messes with the weather." Riku replied.

"And my mom says kids have no common sense. We're the ones that put all this stuff here in case a storm trapped us on the island." Selphie said proudly.

"What should we do while we're waiting?" Tidus asked.

The group of friends lapsed into thoughtful silence.

"How about truth or dare?" Kairi suggested.

"Better than staring at the wall." Sora replied.

"Sure." Riku said.

The rest of the group nodded and they sat in a circle around the two lanterns Kairi had lit.

"I'll go first." The redheaded girl said. "Riku, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Okay...do you have a crush on someone?"

"Yes."

"Ohh! Who!?" Kairi asked excitedly.

"Can't ask double questions." Riku grinned.

"Crap!"

The silver-haired boy laughed and looked around at his friends. "Hmn...Queen of Sugar, truth or dare?"

Selphie eyed him. "Uhm...dare?"

Riku grinned evilly. "I dare you to...put a giant piece of hail down the back of your shirt."

The girl glared at him. Everyone knew Selphie HATED that feeling.

"You're so mean, Riku..."

"I know."

Using her towel as a hail-deflector the girl went outside and grabbed the nearest piece of hail she could find. She returned to the shack and sat down. The girl glared at Riku once more before dropping the round piece of ice down her shirt.

"HA! COOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLDDDDDDD!!" She wailed.

Everyone laughed. Poor Selphie wrapped her towel around herself tighter and pouted.

"Sora, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Who do you think is cuter: Me or Kairi?"

"Uhhh..." The boy turned red. "I think you're equally pretty."

"Eh! Wrong answer! You have to pick!" Selphie said.

"Kairi."

Selphie playfully pushed Kairi over. "Now who??"

Everyone laughed and Kairi sat up, gently pushing her friend back.

"Kairi, truth or dare?" Sora asked.

"Dare."

"Okay. I dare you to...smell Wakka's sandals."

"Eww! Sora!" Kairi wrinkled her nose.

"Hey, if I have to live with a wad of ice down my shirt you can sniff Wakka's smelly sandals." Selphie said.

"They're not smelly!" Wakka blushed.

"Hand them over." The girl sighed.

Still blushing Wakka took his sandals off and handed them to Kairi. The girl took a small whiff and handed them back.

"They smell like sandalwood..." She grinned.

The group laughed and Wakka put his sandals back on.

"Wakka, truth or dare?" She asked.

"Truth."

"Do you ever get jealous of Chappu?"

"...Ya. Sometimes. Tidus, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Okay. I dare you to kiss Selphie toes."

Tidus glared at his older friend but crawled over to Selphie. "Right or left?"

"Doesn't matter."

Selphie giggled as the blonde's lips pressed a ticklish kiss to her toes. Tidus scrubbed his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Riku, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Who do you have crush on?" Tidus grinned.

Crap. Riku forgot that he'd said he had a crush on someone. "Her name is April..."

"Riku! Eww!" Sora covered his face with his hands. Their friends laughed.

"I'm joking. Like I'd tell you guys who I have a crush on."

"You have to answer Tidus' question." Kairi reminded him.

The teen sighed. "They're in this room and that's all I'm saying. Blondie, truth or dare?"

"You can't ask who asked you!" Tidus protested.

"Can so." Selphie replied. "We killed that rule the last time, remember?"

"Crap. Okay...uhm...dare."

"I dare you to kiss..." The teen smiled. "Wakka...on the lips."

Tidus flamed bright red and Kairi gave Riku a funny look.

"C'mon Riku. That's gross!!" Wakka frowned.

Riku inwardly winced. Both Tidus' blush and shy smile vanished.

[Hello awkward silence...] Sora thought.

"Fine, fine. Kiss Kairi on the lips then."

Tidus moved over to Kairi, planted a peck on her lips, and moved back to his spot.

"Sora, truth or dare?" He asked quietly.

----------------------

The game ended long before the storm did. Tidus pretended to fall asleep. Selphie and Kairi chattered away. Sora sat at the window and watched the rain hit the ocean waves. Wakka played solitaire with a pack of cards he'd found and Riku watched Sora.

By the time the storm died down it was nearly one in the morning.

"I hope the storm didn't wake up anyone..." Selphie said. "My mom would be SO pissed if she found out I snuck out."

Wakka grinned. "I'm lucky. My dad and brother sleep like logs."

Sora "woke" Tidus up and the friends were on their way. Selphie grinned and did a few cartwheels on the wet sand. From past experience Wakka knew Tidus was going to jump on his back and demand a piggyback ride. So instead of innocently walking along until the blonde jumped on him (and nearly knocked him over) Wakka waited for his friend to catch up. He got a big surprise when Tidus walked right by him. Didn't even slow down. He was even more surprised when the blonde got Sora's boat from the storm shed.

"Sorry Kairi. Looks like Tidus has claimed me." Sora chuckled.

Riku quickly grabbed Selphie's rowboat. He didn't want to be stuck with Wakka and having the redhead asking him a bunch of questions about Tidus.

"What a gentleman." Selphie grinned as Riku pushed her boat into the water.

"Just get in." He sighed.

The girl got in. Wakka put his boat on the water and helped Kairi into it. The small group rowed back to the main island and put their boats away. Riku and Wakka unlocked their bikes while the girls tied their roller-skates. Riku almost expected Tidus to claim him but he didn't. But he didn't want to go with Wakka either.

"I'm feeling a little sick. I think I'll walk." Tidus said.

"I'll walk with you." Wakka offered.

"No thanks."

"I'll walk with him." Sora said.

"Okay. See you boys tomorrow." Kairi grinned, skating off with Selphie.

"Tidus...what's wrong?" Wakka asked.

"Just feeling kinda sick is all."

"C'mon Wakka." Riku said. "We can't let the girls beat us home."

Riku and Wakka pedaled off. Sora and Tidus started walking. The brunette frowned a bit when he saw a lone tear run down Tidus' cheek. He reached out and gently erased the tear with his thumb.

[I know how you feel Tidus...]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awww! Poor little Tiddles! Poor little Sora! T_T *hugs them* ^^;;;

R&R Please ^^.