Chapter 3: Friday

Updated 9/9/2014

Anika turned her head to see the third ranked student in the senior class. She raised an eyebrow at him and looked at his charcoal grey board, then returned to his eyes, being sure not to linger on his bare, well toned torso as he sat up.

He softened his electric amber eyes, "You're Kairi's friend right?"

The recipient nodded and gave a forced smile, "Yeah. And you're her boyfriend's twin."

He caught her smile, "Name's Vanitas. Vanitas Hamasaki. And you really don't need to be so polite, especially if your gonna give me that fake ass smile."

She frowned and narrowed her eyes, "Well then, what is it you want?"

He shrugged, " Well, I just thought it'd be good to get to know each other since you'll probably visit Kairi at our house sometime."

Anika scoffed, "You sound like she's moving in with you!"

He chuckled deeply, "You never know."

"Whatever," she shook her head to clear the thought, "I didn't know you surfed."

"Same goes for you," Vanitas countered.

"As you can see, I do," attitude coated her words.

He rolled his eyes, "Duh. Anyway, too bad there aren't any good waves."

She looked out over the water, "Yup, bummer."

He looked into the turquoise water and smiled down at the fish, "At least you guys appreciate my company."

Anika turned and splashed water toward him, "Oi! "

He almost lost his balance as he tilted and shook off the water. "Oi, to you! Taku," he laughed.

Anika smiled and laughed herself, looking into the water, "I never said your company wasn't appreciated."

"Oh really? 'Cause your actions speak volumes."

She pursed her lips, "It's not that." She paused, pondering her next words. "I just haven't been with anybody in awhile because they're all so busy."

"Ah. I feel your pain. You feel avoided, huh?"

Her eyes lifted quickly to meet his: "You're not my therapist! So shut up!" She kicked his board, causing him to descend into the water.

He gracefully surfaced and hung onto his board, "Maybe you need a new friend then."

She looked down at him, "And where would I get another friend?"

He deadpanned, "Really?" He used his thumb to indicate himself, "Me."

She brought her eyebrows together in annoyance, "You?"

"Yes! Who else is here besides the fish?!" He got back up onto his board.

The sky darkened as dark storm clouds rolled in, billowing in humongous heaps of light gray and ominous black.

She breathed in the humid air, "Time to go."

He nodded in agreement and they headed to shore.

Once on the sand, she looked back to Vanitas,"Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, I guess. I mean it made my life slightly more exciting."

He leaned closer to her and breathed lightly, "Good." He picked up his board and left.

She had to blink a few times to wake from her stupor. Then picked up her own board and headed home for another night of ramen.

*Maybe I should go to work.* She bit her bottom lip. *Running low on food, money...And I'm sure as Hell not relying on my bastard of a father...*

At home, she pulled off her top and settled for a white Hollister tank top and grey hoodie and dark wash shorts. She looked out the window at the gathering clouds. *I haven't heard anything 'bout a typhoon."

She grabbed the T.V. remote and flipped to the weather channel. A pleasant blonde meteorologist spoke, "And over here, in the islands, the winds are not agreeing. It's about eighty two degrees and seems to me like rain. Expect delays. Now to Joe for more on the drought on the mainland."

She clicked 'off' and plopped herself onto the leather 'L' shaped sofa, smushing her ponytail in the process. She reached for her phone on the black square coffee table and swiped it. *Gah. Nothing... From anyone.* She sighed. Her phone dropped silently onto the bamboo flooring, lettig the cork beneath the floor to absorb the sound.

The lock jiggled and Anika sat up, "Kairi?"

A tired red head walked through the door and kicked off her shoes, "Yup. It's me. Kami sama, I'm so exhausted!"

"You want anything?"

"Could you cut me pineapple? I'm craving some right now."

Anika smiled, "Sure." * I wonder why you're craving pineapple... Baby? Just kidding!* she thought to herself, smirking at her own joke.

Kairi went to change and returned in a black camisole and plaid pajama shorts. "How was the water?" she sat down on a white bar stool at the black granite island.

Anika had pulled out a cutting board and knife and had removed the skin from the pineapple, "Very calm. Baby waves, not worth riding."

"So did you come home early?" she asked with a ponyband in her teeth as her hands fiddled with her hair to form a bun.

"No. I stayed out there watching the fish," She slammed down the knife into the fruit, "Until a damned acquaintance of yours decided to make himself known!"

Kairi's eyes widened in both fear and interest, "Who?"

"Sora's fucking brother!"

"Oh! Vanitas!" The friend rested her chin in her palms, visibly relaxed, "Why was he there?"

"To fuckin' bother me?" She waved the knife around and continued, "He said that we should get to know one another better because you're dating Sora. What did he even mean by that?!"

Kairi giggled, "I dunno, he's a guy, never trust 'em."

"But didn't you hang out with them as kids?"

"Not Vanitas. He was always in his room, moping or whatever."

"Oh, I thought..."

"Well I didn't. Many people think that, but Vanitas is one sly character."

"Oh, okay." Anika left the conversation at that and handed Kairi a bowl of cut pineapple while she nibbled on a piece herself. She threw out the carcass as she gulped down the last bites of her piece, "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Hmm. I'll probably go out with Sora. Hey! Maybe you and Vanitas can tag along!" She pulled out her phone and texted away.

Anika stammered, "A-ah Kairi! That's uncalled for- I mean it's your date with Sora. I barely even know his brother!"

Kairi locked her phone and looked up, "Sora's brother has a name. And that's exactly why you should go, get to know him more!"

"But Kairi!"

"Don't give me any of your lame excuses. It's not like you do anything when Nam, Shi, and I are busy."

Anika had nothing to counter, so she bit her tongue. She cleaned up the juice and washed the remaining dishes. She left Kairi in the kitchen and headed to her room but decided to go back, "Fine, I'll go tomorrow, only if I won't be the third wheel."

"Deal!" she clapped.

"And goodnight."

"Goodnight, 'Nika!"

Sorry again for not updating my other stories- complete writers block and lack of motivation and I started school again! To be more exact- college, so the adjustment is really taking a hit. Hope everyone reading this is doing well, and I encourage you to complete your goals and aims, and if you don't have any goals, quite yet-like me- try to formulate some. Please, please let me know your comments, and I'd love to know your answers from my question last chapter: Do you live by the beach/inland/city?

New Question Time: Have you started school yet-or not?

P.S. If a window pops up in your browser claiming to be the FBI and asking for money because you were doing illegal things, it's a virus and so don't pay the fee of $300 or whatever else it gives you, shut off your computer and hope it didn't infect to much of your things. My computer was recently infiltrated and freaked the HELL out of me, so I realized it was a scam and I have worked on removing it from my laptop. Anyhow, just warning you guys.

Love Nano1012