Chapter 25

Spill It

Updated: 7/14/2017

Anika and Vanitas chose a back table facing the water after ordering their food. Vanitas remained silent, waiting for Anika to be the one to initiate conversation.

She spoke after the waiter had given them their food, and gotten their drinks from the soda fountain. "My Dad and Mom separated when I was very young. Elementary school perhaps, with shared custody. However, I loved it here, on this island, so I would always misbehave when I went to my dad's." She sighed and smiled with unfocused eyes abundant with nostalgia. "So, Dad often brought me back because he was more interested in caring for his girlfriend. And then Dad's business began to crumble because he is shit at management."

He wants me to try and resurrect what he couldn't do. He's never once asked what I was interested in or liked doing. And now my mom is pushing me away because she doesn't have the money to support me here. I-" her voice broke, "I can't rely on anybody. Only myself. And I know that but-"

Vanitas nodded, but remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

She took a shaky breath, "Why is living so hard?"

He shrugged, "Y'know, I may act like I know everything at work, but I am just as scared as you are. And I know it's not about me right now, but I want yu to know that you can rely on me. And despite Kairi seemingly being wrapped up only in Sora, she's there for you too."

Anika narrowed her eyes slightly, "You should take your own advice." She chucked, and poked at her fish burrito, "I'll talk to her. And thank you."

"For what?"

She made a noise of exasperation in the back f her throat, "For being here for me! You dumbass. Growing up isn't easy and nobody prepares you for that."

He nodded in agreement, and gave her a toothy grin. "I couldn't have said it better myself."

After eating in comfortable silence Vanitas took Anika home so she could finally complete her application, making sure she promised to do so.

Anika filled out the online application, and was confident about her major, and actually looked forward to going to the mainland. Maybe change wasn't so bad, Vanitas was a change, and he was great.

Meanwhile, Vanitas worked on contacting the University to declare his major. Everyone has their problems, and it was time he fixed one of his. Stability was hard to come by, and knowing what you wanted to do or at least study was a step in the right direction.

Another problem to tackle was his brother.

Sora went to his twins bedroom, finding a very bored Vanitas sprawled on his bed, playing a mindless game on his phone. "Hey."

The black haired twin kept his eyes on the screen, "hey yourself. Whatssup?"

"Was gonna order pizza, any preferences?"

"OO, cheese."Vanitas immediately dropped the phone and sat up with a smile, "Mind if we talk? You can order the pizza first though."

Sora scoffed, "You wanna talk?" He completed the pizza order on his phone, "Okay shoot."

"Yeah yeah, I wanna talk."

Sora moved to Vanitas desk chair and decided it might be awhile.

"Can you and Kairi not be separated or what?"

"Dude, Kairi and I just missed out on years to be together. We like spending time together."

Vanitas rolled his eyes, "I get that, really, but you live together now, and you're gonna stay here, meanwhile Anika is going to the mainland, and me too, and just, fuck, hang out with me. It's always about Kairi. Dad is always busy, or makes himself busy, and I'm just here."

Sora dropped his smile and released a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry won't fix what we've lost. You don't even hang out with Riku much anymore. And it's you who didn't approach Kairi until like a few months ago. Both of you have had the most annoying sexual tension since you two were in elementary I swear."

Sora pursed his lips and stood up, "Y'know Vanitas, you think I don't know that I was the one who stalled? I was scared, just like how you are to make a move with Anik-"

"Tch," Vanitas crossed his arms, "We've barely gotten to know each other, you have known Kairi forever."

"Don't interrupt me! Gd, you're the one that stopped talking to me! When mom died, you were a mess, and I know it was hard for you, but it was hard on all of us! Vanitas I think you should seriously see a therapist."

"I don't need a shrink, Sora." He narrowed his golden eyes.

"I'm just saying because I care about you. I can't lose you too. I know Dad barely talks to us anymore. I have Kairi, and she helps me get through everything. But if you want, I will make time for you before you go to university."

Vanitas looked away, ashamed. "I can't lose you either. Losing Mom was hard enough."

Sora went over and pat his brother's shoulder, "I know. I know." After a pregnant pause, he nudged Vanitas, "we can play Halo until the dead of night, eating pizza?"

"What about Kairi?"

"She's working late, so tonight can just be us, yeah?"

Vanitas met Sora's sparkly blue eyes, "Yeah. I'm ready to kick alien ass."

Apologies galore! I know I have not uploaded since February. I did not have any ideas, and was busy getting ready for transfer. Anyways, thank you for your patience!

Love Nano1012