Freak One: I typed this up on my own, pretty much no help from three...

This chapter does not contain Riku's P.O.V.'s. Don't worry, you'll get who after a few lines. Sorry if you get confused, but you can always ask me if my writing is so horrible you can't tell left from right at all.

Tear Saved By Hope

-Four years later-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BE-

I slammed my hand over my alarm clock, wanting to throw it to the closest wall but knowing better. I crawled out of bed, slipping at the edge and falling on the ground. Not even an 'Eek' escaped my sleep fogged mind.

As I got up a few minutes later, careful not to trip with my shoes or books that line the floor. I flip the switch in my room, grab the clothes I prepared yesterday, and go to the end of the hall, where my bathroom was located.

I take a quick shower, dry myself off, and get dressed. Really, just like any other normal day. Nothing special about today. I brush my hair and get ready for school, yelling a quick 'bye' to my aunt as I run towards the bus stop.

"Hurry up! Run! Run! Go! Go! Go!" the extremely cheerful Rikku shouted from her window on the bus, not caring that she was squishing Paine because of the way they were seated. "Get off me, or I'll make you sit alone with Vincent." At hearing this, the happy Rikku froze and calmed down, not wanting to sit with the silent Vincent, who people said ate babies and all around everyone.

Really, Rikku is nice and all, but, she really didn't need to shout so enthusiastically at six in the morning. Sometimes I'm glad that I only share two classes with her.

As I board the bus and walk towards the back to take a seat, I can't help but look at Riku sitting alone in the front. Since I've never really talked to him face to face, I'm not all too sure if he's friendly or not. But since this was the first day of seventh grade, I hope I do have at least one class with this Riku.

"Come on slowpoke! We saved you your very own seat here!" Rikku smiled, pointing to the very last seat of the bus. "Sit down Kairi, before the driver gets pissed off with us on the very first day." Paine sighed.

Oh joy.

- - - - - -

"Congratulations to all of you for getting here. Now I know you guys hate it when I talk about what we expect of you and all that, and I really don't feel like spitting out shit you won't even listen to. So just go to whichever teacher calls your name, since they'll be your first hour teacher for this school year." The English teacher Mr. Squall, who hated it when you called him that and preferred 'Mr. Leon', told this years new seventh graders in his 'I don't care, get the fuck away before I go all Leon on your ass' tone. Also known as the 'It's too early in the morning' voice for short.

"Really, why does he want to scare the kids that are new to this school so much?" Yuna whispered to Rikku. Yuna lived on the other side of town from where the three other girls did, so she rode a different bus. Only reason she was able to spot the girls was because of Rikku's love for being loud at abnormal times. "I don't know Yu-Yu, but it's fun seeing all these new faces! So many friends we could make, right Painey-Laney-poo?" Rikku giggled at Paine's blushing face at being called something so embarrassing in school, on the first day no less.

"Riku Espoir" Mr. Strife, the man in charge of the newspaper club said. Resulting in Riku, who was sitting in the table behind me alone all this time, to stand up and go towards the teacher.

Espoir? That's a funny last name... Since it means Ho-

"Kairi Lacrima" I looked up at hearing my name, seeing the teacher who had called me.

YES! I have a class with Riku! First hour no less!!

Not to offend Riku or anything, but I actually don't have a crush on him. You see, not many can even stand to look at him. He seems sweet and nice, but he's so distant from people, not a lot even want to get anywhere near him. But that's not why I don't follow him like a bitch in heat, please do excuse my language. I really don't like anyone in a sexual or romantic way, I'd rather wait till I'm older for that.

The only reason why I want to get close to Riku is because, well, he helped me once. When we were in fifth grade, one day I was being bullied around for being a red head, which was uncommon in this city. The people that bullied me were these two boys that I've never even seen before. They pushed me from the sidewalk into the street, saying that 'stupid little freaks' should not be allowed to even breathe.

As I lied on the ground, head held down, knowing if I raised it, it would cause more trouble than it was worth. Because of this, I did not see that the shorter of the two had gotten angry that the 'freak' didn't seem to be listening to them, the boy pulled me up by my hair, the back of my eyes stung for release. As I was about to reach eye level with him, the creep kicked me in the stomach, knocking the air from my lungs, the sheer need and want to vomit almost overtook my whole body, my will being the only thing keeping it down.

The older boy, found it fun watching the freak twitch on the ground, so he didn't join in what the younger one repeated over and over again. After a few minutes, before I reached the point of almost unconsciousness, the kicking stopped. One second, all I felt was kick after kick, now all I felt was the after effect pain that shot throughout my body, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I dared not scream once through the whole ordeal.

I looked up, somewhat scared that I would get hit again if I did. At first all I saw were blurs created from my crying. Then, after a few seconds, I was able to make out the boy who had man handled me lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious. The other, taller boy looked at the person who had helped me with fear and annoyance in his eyes. He grabbed the kid, and ran away without a word.

Afterwards, the girl, boy?, turned around, their hair in their eyes, making it harder to tell this person's gender. They reached their hand out to me, the one of a kind freak. No malice evident in their kind yet sad smile.

"Tha-thank you." stuttering in a low whisper, I gave this person my hand, tear trails still staining my face. They helped me up, showing that they were not only strong enough to lift me, but that they were also taller than me by a good four or more inches.

"M'names Riku, we're in the same grade, just different teachers." the now confirmed boy said. I looked at him, noticing his eyes were a nice cross between aqua and turquoise. I really am no good at telling how a person feels by looking in their eyes, as well as being something I've never really understood

"You know, crying doesn't make it better for you, just the sadist that hurt you."

Those words, they sounded so sad, they almost made me want to start crying again, but deciding not to. This boy, Riku... Why had I never noticed someone as nice as him? Surely, he must have been popular with the way he seemed to act, so why haven't I heard people talk of this wonderfully nice boy?

At least, those were my thoughts a few years ago. After fifth was over and we entered middle school, going to the same school since we lived in a semi-small city, Riku was... cold to anyone and everyone. Even if I didn't have any classes with him that year, I could still see that he had changed from the person that saved me all that time ago.

This person, this person was sadder, madder, this person just seemed...

This person was nothing but broken.

Freak One: Tried making it longer than last chapter, hope you guys liked it. The reason why this has a Kairi point of view is because... Well, she's hot! Hahah, but the real reason is because three was going to write in Riku's point of view, but since they got lazy for a whole week, I decided to introduce Kairi, we were going to introduce her anyway in this chapter, so no harm done to making this all about her. Well, at least I hope not. Please review and tell us what you think. We'd greatly appreciate that.