Chapter 12: Moving Forward
Millions of pink and white tiny petals fluttered through the air. They sailed along the cool early spring air, littering the sidewalks, streets, and rivers. Xion gazed up at the hundreds of cherry blossom trees that lined the sideways and edged of the channels. She reached her hand out to catch some. The petals wafted around her, sticking to her hair and her purple loosely fitting, short sleeve turtle neck, A few landed softly in her open hand. Xion closed her hand on the few petals, trapping them.
"Xion?" Roxas came up from behind her.
She turned on her heel to face him. She swept some loose strands out of her face and tucked it behind her hand. She opened her hand, The petals caught a slight breeze and sailed away through the air. "It's been awhile since we've been to school."
Roxas nodded. "I can't wait to walk around campus with my beautiful girlfriend." He took her hand in his, slipping his fingers between hers.
Xion's cheeks flushed as she lovingly smiled at him. She grabbed Roxas's shirt and got on her tippy toes, pressing her lips against his. Her heart swelled up and burst with love and affection.
So soft.
Xion laughed so innocently. "I wanted to do that for a while," she admitted.
Roxas picked out the tiny petals from Xion's hair. He held on in between his fingers in front of Xion's face. The petal fluttered back and forth between his fingers when the breeze picked up. "Let's go together."
He then released the petal into the air. It soared higher and higher than the others. Xion watched as the petal disappeared into the soft morning sun.
Roxas and Xion walked down the crowded hallway together. The sound of people murmuring filled the hallway. Xion felt the eyes of strangers burn into her back as they stared. They pointed and stared. Murmuring secretly to each other, whispering rumors as they stared at the couple. Xion felt like a freak. She gave Roxas's hand a tiny squeeze.
Roxas glanced down at her and noticed the uncomfortable look etched into her face. "Don't let them bother you, Xion."
Xion felt tiny under their gaze. She continued to walk along Roxas. "Why are we walking this way?"
Roxas ignored her. They continued down the hallway. Toward the end of the corridor, the large bulletin board that usually held announcements appeared in the distance. Roxas stopped suddenly in front of it.
A large banner that read "Welcome Back, Xion" hung across the large bulletin board. Multicolored papers hung scattered against the board, covered in signatures from fellow students. A few even wrote "Get well soon" and "We miss you".
"After you were hospitalized, I worked with the entire 3rd year class to make this," Roxas explained. He had a big goofy grin on his face. "The only signatures that aren't up there is Naminé and her followers."
Tears collected in the corners of Xion's eyes. "This is wonderful, Roxas."
The first bell of the day rang. The hallways grew loud with the excited murmurs, shuffling of feet, and the slamming of lockers. Xion stood there in front of the bulletin board as the wave of people passed her by. She clutched her chest as she silently cried. "Thank you, Roxas."
The quad, empty and quiet, was filled with stray cherry blossom petals that found their way there. Roxas handed a carton of chocolate milk and a large chocolate chip cookie to Xion. He plopped right down next to her. "How's your day so far?"
"Everyone's being so nice to me." Xion took a tiny bite into her cookie and looked up at Roxas. "I never had school cookies before."
Roxas rested his head on the palm of his hand. "Do you like it?"
Xion thought for a moment. She shrugged her shoulders. "Meh, but the chocolate milk is delicious." She pulled the tab forward and took a long gulp. "I could live off his stuff forever," she said with a chocolate milk moustache over her top lip.
"But then you'll get diabetes," Roxas joked.
Xion giggled. "I won't drink it ALL the time."
"But you'll still get fat," Roxas pointed out.
Xion turned her head away from and pouted. "You have a problem will that?"
Roxas flicked the back off Xion's head. "I'll always love you, Xion."
She leaned forward and covered the back of her head. "I'll always love you, you big dumb butt."
Roxas mockingly gasped and leaned forward, sticking out his butt. "You really think it's big?"
Xion playfully shoved him. "You're an idiot."
"Roxas," a high pitch voiced called out.
Roxas sat up and looked around to see who called him. Naminé walked toward him, carrying a tiny pink envelope and presented it to him. "I'm having a birthday party this weekend. I would like it if you went." She loudly chewed her bubble gum.
Roxas looked the envelope over. "Only if you invite Xion."
Naminé looked over at the invisible girl. They locked eyes and glared at each other. There was a small fire weakly burning in Xion's eyes. Naminé broke the glare and rolled her eyes. She put her hands on her hips. "Fine, bring whoever you want." Naminé tossed Xion a dirty look before flipping her hair and walking away with her nose pointed up.
"I don't want to go," Xion voiced her opinion.
Roxas smirked. "Come on, it'll be fun." He winked at her.
"A high school party?" Kairi carefully looked at the invitation, turning it over, examining every last inches.
"I miss being in high school." Sora latched on Kairi's arm, pulling it down. "Come on, Kairi," he begged, batting his eyes at her.
"Fine," she agreed.
Sora bounced up and down like a hyper child. "Yay! Yay! Yay!" He ran around the café, skipping and cheering.
Kairi handed the invite back to Roxas. "I thought you wanted nothing to do with Naminé?"
Roxas folded his hands underneath his chin and leaned forward in his chair. With a sly smile, he said, "It's not her that I want to see."