The snowball rematch didn't happen after lunch the next day. A snowstorm began during the night and continued through morning into the afternoon, and even though Sora and Riku had been fully prepared to battle it out despite the weather, their plans were interrupted. Forcefully, Roxas and Kairi had moved the other two students into the twins' dorm and worked together with Namine to keep them there. Which meant the snowball fight had to wait even though the two hadn't quite given up yet.

"It's not even that bad," Riku commented from his spot sprawled on top of Sora's bunk. "Hats and scarves and gloves and we'd be fine."

"Look, it's lightening up," Sora joined in, not taking his gaze off the windows; he was seated backwards in his desk chair to watch the snow fall. "It's just flurries now."

Roxas didn't look up from the card game he was playing with Namine. "No, it's not. You're not going outside in that."

Dramatically, Sora sighed and slumped against the chair back, his expression melancholy. "You're no fun, Rox."

"I'll take being boring over getting pneumonia."

Sora and Riku exchanged hopeless looks then simultaneously sighed and went back to their bored lounging; Roxas rolled his eyes.

"At least they're back to their old selves," Kairi commented. She was sitting on the floor near Namine, leaning against Sora's bed as she painted her toenails an icy shade of blue.

A small smile appeared on the blond's face. "I'm not sure that's a good thing."

Behind his brother's back, Sora made a face at the other boy then smirked when he noticed Riku grinning at him. The next moment, he pushed himself up off the chair and crossed the room to his bed. "Scoot over."

Quietly, Riku shifted over so he only took up half the bed and watched as Sora lie beside him. Side-by-side, the two sophomores stared at the underside of Roxas' bunk.

Minutes passed. Namine and Roxas continued their card game. Kairi finished painting her toenails and put the polish away.

"I'm bored."

"Me, too."

No one bothered to look at the athletes—they'd been saying the same thing all morning.

It was nearly fifteen more minutes before anyone broke the silence again, and this time it was Kairi.

"Are you guys excited for the New Year's party tomorrow night?"

Sora cast a glance at the silver-haired boy beside him before he shrugged. "Dunno. I guess."

"Yes, he is," Roxas answered Kairi's question as if his brunet twin hadn't said anything. "He's just pretending he isn't because we're making him stay inside. It's some sort of useless payback."

"Ha!" Riku poked Sora in the side. "They've got you completely figured out, Brat."

"Shut up!" Smacking the older boy's hand away, Sora glared at the brown underside of his twin's bed. "Roxas is just saying that 'cause he doesn't want to be more excited for it than I am."

Indignant now, the blond boy sitting on the floor straightened and frowned at his brother. "Don't lie to him about me."

"I'm not!"

"Sora."

The brunet crossed his arms over his chest and scrunched up his face, lower lip sticking out slightly. "I'm not that excited about the party. We'd have just as much fun here as we would at any dance. What's the big deal?"

"You could dance with someone," Namine suggested in her usual soft tones. "It's a good way to catch up with friends who left for the holiday."

"Dance with who?" Sora huffed, expression now bored. "There's no one I want to dance with. Why would I?"

"Yeah," the other athlete agreed. Unbeknownst to the two lying on the bed, the other three teens looked at each other in exasperation.

"For fun, idiot." Stretching her legs out and wiggling her toes to admire the shiny color she'd so carefully applied to the nails, Kairi kept her tone light. "We danced at Homecoming, remember? You had plenty of fun then."

"Yeah but that was when having friends was new. Now I think I'd spend the whole time wishing I was playing videogames or something."

"You can play videogames whenever you want," Roxas pointed out as he laid down a card. "School dances are only a few times a year."

"A few times a semester, you mean," Riku corrected him. "Homecoming, Halloween, New Year's Eve. Then it'll be Valentine's Day, the Spring Fling, and Prom."

Blue eyes turned to Kairi for confirmation. "There's a dance on Valentine's Day?"

The redhead nodded and started examining her fingernails to decide if they needed to be painted as well. "Yep. Some of the students here celebrate Valentine's Day on New Year's Eve instead of in February, but there'll be flowers everywhere, and we can send Candy-grams and Valentine's cards and chocolates just like anyone else would do."

"That's kind of cool." Roxas glanced at his twin and friend before turning his attention back to Kairi. "Is there anyone you'd send chocolates to?"

The redhead paused at his question and Namine looked up quickly then tried to cover it up by busying herself with rearranging the cards in her hand.

"I don't know." Kairi did her best to sound casual. "I'd have to think about it."

Not appearing to notice the way the two cousins had reacted to his question, Roxas examined the cards in his hand and carefully laid one down. "Yeah. I mean, we don't really know very many people outside the group. Who would I even send a card to, other than you guys."

"I know who'll send you one." The sound of Sora's voice drew Roxas' attention to the beds.

"What?"

"Chocolates and flowers and a Valentine's Card. We all know who you're gonna get those from, Rox." He didn't sit up as he said it, and his eyes were closed, but Sora was smirking pretty widely despite the fact that no one could actually see his face at the moment. "You know who I mean."

So what if he did? That didn't mean he had to answer. He didn't want to give in to Sora's teasing, even if the brunet was right. Roxas knew exactly who his twin was talking about and he'd have to be an idiot to think he was the only one who knew who it was. Of course Axel was going to do something like send him chocolates. The senior still liked him, after all, and Roxas had accepted that. He was perfectly fine with it. Why did Sora have to try to push it at him all the time?

"Just picture it."

Clearly, his twin wasn't picking up on his thoughts.

"He'll have roses, and one of those heart-shaped boxes of the chocolates with different fillings, and a cutesy card asking you to be his Valentine."

Roxas closed his eyes and held in a sigh. Imagining the scene his brother had just described was easy, even the way Axel would smile as he offered the gifts. It would be cliché and embarrassing and…sweet. Very sweet.

I couldn't say no, could I? It'd be mean to turn him down. Why would I, anyway? He's been really nice lately and I like him just fine now. Of course I'd say yes.

He'd have to give Axel something, too. But what? Did the senior like chocolates? Would it be stupid of him to find out what the senior's favorite flower was? A card was practically required. The only difficult thing about that was finding one that was actually suitable, one that wasn't overdone or too basic. It wouldn't be easy to find one that matched the situation he was in with the older student, or all the things that had been happening between them. Cards like that probably wouldn't work too well for Valentine's day.

"Roxas?"

A hand waved in front of his eyes and the blond blinked a few times before he realized that Namine was looking at him in concern.

"What?" He smiled embarrassedly.

The blonde girl lowered her hand and gestured at their game. "It's your turn."

"Right. Thanks." Still embarrassed that he'd gotten so distracted by something over two months away, Roxas glanced over the cards in his hand and laid one down. He wasn't entirely sure what game they were playing, just something slow-paced and simple. They were passing the time, was all.

"Namine, are you going to paint your nails for the dance?" Kairi had decided hers needed a quick touch-up and retrieved her nail file from her bag. With a practiced ease, she drew it against her nails until they were even and perfectly rounded.

"I don't know." The blonde sophomore shrugged one shoulder. "It depends on what I wear."

Kairi nodded her agreement. "I think I'm going to do mine in that seashell pink."

"The iridescent one?"

"Yeah."

"That'll be really pretty. What are you wearing with it?"

Deliberate in her movements, the redhead set the file aside and brushed her nails off, examining each one closely to make sure they were perfect. There couldn't be a single ridge or flake, or the polish wouldn't set quite right, and it would potentially snag on her clothes or catch on something and break. "I haven't decided yet," she said in response to her cousin's question. "A skirt, I think. Something fun. It's a party, so." The end of her sentence trailed off in its own silent explanation and the other students didn't question her further. There was no reason for her to sit there and list her reasons for wanting to wear a skirt—what she'd already said was enough.

"Well, I'm gonna go in jeans and a t-shirt." His tone stubborn and slightly petulant, Sora had gone back to his bored mood since teasing Roxas hadn't lasted very long.

Namine laid down a card for her turn. "They won't let you in. It's a formal party and you have to be at least a little dressed up to get in."

"Then I guess I won't go in."

"You're gonna end up spending the evening alone, then," Riku responded, his hands tucked under his head and his eyes closed so he could fall asleep if he waited long enough. "I'm going to the party, so you won't have anyone to hang out with."

"Sounds pretty boring to me," Roxas joined in, his tone hinting that it would make Sora boring to sit in their room by himself while the rest of the group went to the dance.

"I'd have plenty of fun!" the brunet twin protested, lifting his hands even though he had nothing to do with them.

Riku cracked one eye open and tilted his head so he could see the other athlete, the beginnings of a smirk ghosting around his mouth. "Yeah? Who're you gonna hang out with if I'm not there? Who're you gonna play videogames with?"

"Myself."

"Yeah?" Clearly, the silver-haired boy was egging him towards something, but Sora was too determined to prove he didn't need to go to the dance to notice.

"Yeah! I'll play with myself!"

Silence fell over the dorm following his statement as it dawned on Sora what he'd just said.

"Wait, no!" Sitting up, the brunet nearly hit his head on Roxas' bunk and waved his hands in front of himself as if to clear away his mistake. "That's not what I meant!"

"No, we get it." Riku had returned to his previous position and spoke in a light tone. "You don't wanna come to the party with us because you need some special alone time. It's cool."

His face turning red, Sora smacked the older boy's chest. "Shut up, Riku! I do not!"

Immediately, Riku sat up and looked at where Sora had hit him, then at the blushing athlete's hands. "Please tell me you wash those frequently." His comment only served to make Sora's face turn a dark shade of burgundy, and the blue-eyed sophomore glared at his friend.

"I said shut up!"

"Hey, no need to get all mad." Riku was plucking at his shirt to see if there was anything on it from Sora's hand. "I just don't want Essence of Sora on my shirt. I like this shirt."

Fuming now, the brunet shoved the older boy then turned angry blue eyes on his three laughing friends. "It's not funny!" His shout did nothing to stifle their laughter, so he huffed and got off the bed, climbing onto the ladder to sit on Roxas' instead.

Roxas held back his laughter long enough to shake his head and wave at Sora to come back down. "Hey, whoa, not in my bed! I have to sleep there!"

Angry tears were starting to prick at the brunet's eyes though he refused to let any of the other students see. Silent, he jumped off the ladder and headed straight for the door.

"Sora, we were kidding!"

The door slammed behind him as he stormed out of the room. A shocked silence remained, and Riku sighed as he rubbed his face.

"Great. I'll go get him." Pushing himself off the bed, Riku padded across the room in sock-covered feet and left, following the same path Sora had taken moments before. The brunet was several steps ahead of him, shoulders hunched and back tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He was muttering what sounded like curses to himself. Even though he wanted to run and catch the younger boy in a hug, Riku hung back to give Sora a few more moments to calm down a little.

"Not funny…jerks…"

Yeah, he was pretty pissed. And even though he felt bad for upsetting the brunet student, Riku couldn't help but grin a little. Sora had walked right into that one.

Quietly, he caught up to the blue-eyed athlete and slung an arm around his shoulders. Sora glared and tried to shrug him off, but Riku was quick to turn the younger boy and pull him into a bear hug.

"Get off me!"

"Nope."

"Riku! I'll knee you in the balls!" Sora threatened, grabbing at the older athlete's clothes and trying to shove him away to no avail.

Not worried at all about the potential injuries he might sustain, Riku squeezed the boy in his arms, holding onto his own wrist to ensure Sora wouldn't be able to break free."Then I'll fall down and I'll take you with me."

"You're such a jerk!" The insult was muffled because Sora's face had gotten pressed into Riku's shoulder. He was still struggling, though his movements were less violent and slowly stopped. Within minutes, his arms hung limp and he was leaning against the older athlete's chest as he tried to catch his breath.

Smiling now, Riku simply waited for the boy in his grasp to say something. Really, he knew it was only a matter of time. This wasn't exactly like the time Sora had stormed out of the pool room, but it was close enough, and he felt bad for it, but there was no denying that Sora had overreacted.

When a few minutes had passed and the brunet still hadn't said anything, Riku shifted his arms and rested his cheek on Sora's shoulder. "You okay?" he asked quietly, and felt the younger student shrug just slightly.

Yeah.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you so mad. It was just a joke. I know you don't do things like that."

Sora still didn't say anything and Riku hugged him tighter, waiting until the brunet's arms loosely wound around his waist. That was better.

"You don't have to come to the party. If you really don't wanna go, then I'll hang out with you here."

"…I do want to." He did. He really did. The problem was that he wanted Riku to ask him to go and he knew the older boy wouldn't.

Riku smiled a little. "Then we'll go stag together."

Exactly. "Go stag" wasn't what he wanted. It was close, he supposed, because it meant Riku wasn't going to take anyone else as his date, and Sora wouldn't have a date, so they'd spend the whole time hanging anyway, but it wasn't the same thing. He wanted to dance with the silver-haired athlete he'd taken notice of so early on in the school year. The chances of that happening, when they'd only just gotten back to normal after Riku had bit him and he'd run, were slim to none. No way was he going to risk their friendship by pushing it, so going stag together was the best he was going to get. "…kay."

They were still holding onto each other, and were both glad that there was no one else in the hallway. All the other students would be back by morning, but for now they had the hall to themselves.

"We'll have that snowball rematch next week before classes start again, all right? And we can watch some more of those dance movies."

Nodding a little, Sora let his cheek rest against the older boy's shoulder. "Winner gets a back rub."

That made the silver-haired student chuckle. "Then you'd better hope you win, 'cause I'm better at giving back rubs than you are."

Humming noncommittally and now almost completely relaxed, Sora didn't bother responding. It seemed silly now that he'd stormed out the way he had, but he wasn't going to admit it. He'd told them to stop, hadn't he? And they hadn't listened, so he'd left. There was nothing wrong with leaving to get away from their teasing. But Riku had followed him again and refused to let him go off and be mad somewhere else. It was kind of sweet of him to make sure Sora was okay. If only he'd done the same thing when Sora ran after the bite.

Why did I have to run away? There's nothing scary about a little bite. We were naked in a shower together—we'd probably be dating right now if I hadn't panicked.

His train of thought only made him hold tighter to Riku without him really deciding to do it. He'd spent a lot of time thinking about that night and come to the conclusion that there must be at least some mutual attraction between them. They were always flirting, after all, and Riku sort of knew that Sora wanted to kiss him. They'd actually talked a little about having sex. Not dating, but it still meant Riku found him attractive. And he'd called the brunet sexy more than once—no wonder showering together had been a temptation for him.

And I'm just a coward who ran away, like I did after he smacked my ass in the locker room and like I did now.

He didn't want to run anymore.