Chapter 5: Revenge of the Backstabbers
Part I: I've got your back
"Come on Kairi! Get up!" I struggled to open my eyes, but it was such work that I simply ignored my sister's pleas and went back to sleep.
"Get up!" Her cries were so incessant and annoying…
"I am up…"
"Then get up!"
"Shut up!"
"Kairi!" Namine pinched my nose and it wasn't long before I ran out of breath and bolted upright in my bed looking around dumbfounded.
"Good. Now that you're awake…"
"Wha…?"
"There's a surprise for you!"
"Wha…?" Namine thumped my head with her fore finger, causing me to cringe.
"A surprise Kairi! Are you dumb?"
"Yay… whose birthday is it?"
"… Oh hurry and wake-up already Kairi!" Namine got up and left the room and I laid back down to sleep. Not too soon afterward, I felt someone shake me awake and I moaned tiredly.
"Kairi. Sweetie. It's noontime."
"Mom?... Noontime! Oh my gosh!" I got up and rushed into the bathroom. I stripped down to my birthday suit and hopped into the shower. I was no longer drowsy but wide awake and alert. How could that much time have passed in that split second instant? I couldn't afford to be late to school! It was report card time! I was barely passing and not only that but I couldn't get anymore tardies without facing ISS. Noontime… I missed four classes by now and then I would be late to Science with Mr. Ansem! He would deduct points, send me to the office, call my mom, and get me suspended with a smile on his face.
When I jumped out of the shower, I hurriedly blow dried my hair and brushed my teeth. As I rushed to get both things done, I heard faint laughter coming from my room. I slowed down and once I finished, I reluctantly looked at the digital clock sitting peacefully on the sink. It read: 6:15 am. I was pissed when I realized that I had been the victim of pranking. I opened the bathroom door and cautiously walked out while dreading the fact that I was going to face utter humiliation in the form of childish delight at my own expense.
"Ha! Did you see her go mom? Oh my gosh, it was like seeing the dead rise!" Namine exclaimed. My mother laughed softly as she watched me in the doorway. At least I wasn't wrong about my mother being there, though it was strange seeing her in my room and hearing her laugh. Not that her laugh was as hideous and loud as Namine's; on the contrary, it was soft and angelic. It was weird seeing her have time enough to laugh.
"Hey Kairi," she said, "What's with that look? It was only a joke. You know how you like to sleep. It was the only way I knew how to get you up. Sorry sweetie."
"What are you doing here?" The words basically fell from my mouth before I had time to catch them. My mother smiled anyway and answered, "Is it so unusual?" Yes.
"Well… it's just…"
"You're usually asleep when she gets home that's all," Namine explained. She laid her head on my mother's shoulder and my mother in turn laid her head on hers affectionately. If anyone saw them on the streets, they might mistake them for sisters. My mother was gorgeous. She had an eternal beauty about her despite being in her early forties. Namine was a mirror image. She looked like she could pass as our mother when she was that age. I looked like… I didn't belong.
"Anyway, mom has your surprise Kairi. I'll let her tell you about it and I'll go get breakfast ready!" Namine gave mom a quick peck on the cheek and left the room. I felt awkward being alone with her. Given, she was the woman who gave me life, but she seemed more like a stranger to me.
"Come here Kairi. Don't just stand there," she commanded. I did as I was told and sat beside her. She observed me for a few minutes before tucking some of my hair behind my ear and saying, "Your hair grew back so fast."
"Well, it was cut last year."
"Yeah. Still, I wish my hair grew that fast." I didn't see why it mattered. She was pretty long, short, red, brunette, or black. I started to feel irritated and I asked her, "What's the surprise?" She stopped playing with my hair and clasped her hands together in her excitement.
"Well. You've always wanted a little sister right?" Yea, back when I was five and Namine was seven beating the tar outta me any chance she got just because she was older. I didn't think I wanted a punching bag anymore.
"Uh…" Then I thought about what she was suggesting… But… She couldn't… I mean… Dad was never home with her unless it was a holiday and the last holiday we had was Turkey Day. That was a week ago. It was basically December tomorrow… I didn't see a bulge in her gut. But did you even see a bulge when you were a week and three days pregnant?
"Kairi? Are you okay?"
"You're… pregnant?" She laughed.
"Heavens no! I've got two beautiful girls and that's enough!"
"So… why ask if I still wanted a little sister?"
"Well… one of my patients is… well… not doing so hot and his daughter has no other known living relative and since we've known each other so long, I kinda said that she could stay here."
"… So what are you telling me?"
"I invited my friend's daughter to come live with us until further notice." She smiled warmly and I felt like slapping that cozy grin right off her face. I didn't understand. She was barely home to take care of me and Namine, yet she felt obliged to invite a complete stranger into our home for that very reason! I hoped she didn't think that I'd be cleaning up after this girl or feeding her or anything like that because the point was that I didn't know her, frankly didn't care to know her, and didn't want needy strangers in my house!
"Mom!" I cried. She looked at me with a perplexed expression and suddenly I heard someone very noisily run up the stairs. No sooner were they finished with the stairs were they at my bedroom door. Without knocking, this mystery person pried open my door and let it bang up against my wall. A girl stood in the doorway. A very pretty girl. She was young. She could be no older than fourteen or fifteen. (Heh. Like I was so ancient). I was fifteen last year after all. My mom smiled brightly and waved her hand in a beckoning fashion.
"Come on in Rikku!" The girl dropped a heavy duffel bag onto the floor, which created a loud thudding noise, and then she ran open armed towards my mother.
"Mrs. Trepe!" She cried. My mother caught her in an embrace and squeezed her tightly while she laughed good heartedly. Who was this little person? It couldn't be the girl could it? Already? I still didn't grasped the concept of another person living with us! Especially someone as noisy as her.
"Oh Rikku! How are you darling?" My mom asked as she released her. Rikku smiled brightly and replied, "I'm just fine! The flight here was a little tiresome though. And then the cab ride over was a little boring…"
"Did you have enough cab fair?"
"Yes!" Could she be any louder? I huffed a little louder then I intended and got both of their unwanted attentions.
"Oh I'm sorry Kairi! This is the girl I was just telling you about. Her name is Rikku." I hated her name alone. I had too many problems with people named Riku.
"Rikku, this is my youngest daughter Kairi. Forgive her if she seems a little antisocial. I kind of forced her awake." Or maybe I really was antisocial and just didn't like you Rikku.
"Hi!" She exclaimed. She hugged me and pulled away just as fast.
"You're really pretty! Just like Mrs. Trepe!" Was she trying to flatter me?
"Are you serious?"
"Yea," she said and added low enough for only me to hear, "A lot better then your sister downstairs. She kinda freaks me out because she looks like plastic." I nearly erupted into a whole fit of laughter, but I caught myself because that was a cruel thing to say about someone that she didn't even know. Then I thought about my reaction to her. Wasn't I being just as cruel by not wanting to give her a chance? My mom looked at both of us fondly and said, "Alright. Now that the introductions are over, I need to ask if she can settle in here with you Kairi. I haven't quite gotten her room ready yet." I looked at Rikku and she smiled brightly while bringing her hands together in prayer fashion.
"Sure. Why not?" I couldn't believe how this girl made me like her in a split second without doing anything dramatic.
"Oh thank-you!" Without asking, she abruptly used her small form to separate me and my mother to lay on my bed lazily.
"Oh… I'm so tired…" Not long after she said the words did she begin snoring softly. I watched her for a moment before looking at my mother who looked back at me.
"Wow," I commented, "Is that how she really is?"
"Yes. Don't worry. You'll get used to it," she replied. Quickly glancing at her wrist watch, she sighed and patted my leg in a rushed display of affection, "Listen. She's going through a lot right now. So be helpful Kairi. Please?"
"Uh… okay."
"Good. Now. I don't want her to be home alone so take her with you to school. She'll be registered by tomorrow so just introduce her to some people. Let her get comfortable." For some reason, I felt that Rikku wouldn't need any help with that. My mom smiled.
"Thank you Kairi," she said. She kissed my forehead and then left the room. I looked at Rikku and felt envious. I wished I could go back to sleep.
I went downstairs after I got dressed and saw mom rush out the front door, slamming it behind her. Namine was at the dining room table eating a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. I sat across from her.
"Where's mine?"
"I ran out of materials. We gotta go shopping after school today. So anyway, how'd you like the surprise?"
"Aw, Rikku's pretty nice. I like her."
"I knew you would. She reminds me of you. I think she's a little annoying."
"Oh. Thanks a lot. Now I know what you think about me. Give me a piece! I'm soo hungry!" Namine tore off half of her last bite and let me have it. It was gone in a chew and a swallow.
"Oh no. What's Rikku gonna eat?" I asked.
"The milk is still good. She can have cereal I guess…"
"That's lame."
"We're not a luxury hotel! And anyway, I'm done talking about her. Look. We're getting a ride with Larxene, who'll be here in fifteen minutes and we're gonna go talk to Yuffie because she has cheerleading practice in the morning. I need you to keep the original copies of the pictures for me 'k? In case she tries to steal our back ups or something."
"But why do I have to be with you while you do it?"
"Because… I need moral support." That was the crappiest excuse I've ever heard, if it was even an excuse.
"Right…"
"Stop being an ass and just do it Kairi."
"Okay. I'll come with you! But let me go wake Rikku up. Mom said she has to come with us."
"Oh pooh. Well, don't worry. I'll find some unsuspecting freshman to dump her onto. She won't be a problem." If anything, I found that the problem wasn't with Rikku. The biggest problem would be Namine's revenge. I mean, why'd she always drag me along for all her schemes? Hadn't she asked me not to involve myself with her problems anymore? Or did she figure Yuffie was just as much a problem for me as herself? I wouldn't argue with that logic especially since she was being a butt hole about me and Demyx, who I find less appealing with each meeting.
When I went to wake Rikku up, I found her already awake and sitting on my bed with a solemn face.
"Hey," I greeted, "Something wrong?" She kinda took a large, wavering breath before she looked at me with a smile and answered, "It's actually really hard sleeping in a foreign bed… but I'm fine."
"Sorry… we'll get you your own mattress after a while. But listen, my mom wants me to take you to the school today. I'll show you around and everything okay? But you need to get ready now because our ride will be here any minute."
"Okay. Thanks Kairi!" She hurried and unpacked some things from her bag and then disappeared into the bathroom to get ready.
It must have been at least fifteen minutes before she exited the bathroom, fully refreshed and smiling.
"Lets go." And we did.
Larxene and Tifa arrived a little bit after we gathered our school things and we all proceeded to leave for school. On our way there, Rikku was all smiles as she soaked in the sights of suburbia. I watched her, finding that excitement to be rather refreshing. My sister had given a hurried introduction for her to her friends who appeared to have cared less. They all sat around talking about things I found pointless at this point, boys.
"Yea. Cloud's acting like a real jackass. He keeps talking about how stressful running a company is. He always uses the company as an excuse to not spend time with me but he's not the one running the company anyway." Tifa said. She pulled at her ebony locks while staring out the wind shield as if she was remembering in that very instant Cloud's exact words. Larxene stopped at a red light and huffed agitatedly as she turned around to look at her friend.
"I told you that he was a dick Tiff. Know what I'd do to him? I'd tie him up and rape him."
"The hell? Larxene stop being a freak for one moment."
"I'm not. Look, you're complaining that he won't spend time with you right? Okay so tie him up and force him to. Then you can't complain about not being satisfied because you can have him any time that you want." Tifa and Namine exchanged looks with one another before they started laughing their heads off. The light turned green and Larxene once again focused on the road.
"What a twisted logic. You crazy whore!" Tifa said after she finished laughing. Larxene just shrugged and concentrated on her driving.
"Well. It works."
"I guess. But if you ask me, I just think it's time you and Cloud broke up. He'll be a freshman in college next semester! Not only that but he will be a very busy man because then he will actually be running the company and not helping Sephiroth run it," Namine explained, "He'll want to start seeing older women. He'll want to see less of you. Wanna know how I know? Well, the evidence is in the now! Come on Tiff. You can do so much better."
"Well… I guess… Does sleeping with Sephiroth count as better?"
"You little skeez! You didn't!" Larxene exclaimed.
"Actually I did it. But just once. You know for twin brothers they are two totally different people in the bed room." They all laughed and I sat back mortified at their conversation. To them, guys were just play things. Easy to get and easy to throw away. But were someone else's feelings really disposable? Now I see why they were always talked about at school. They really did get around faster than a pack of cigarettes.
"Welcome to the I- can-pull- two- guys- at- once- Namine's- area- of- expertise club. What's your preference? Two guys who are twin brothers or two guys who are best friends? Make your choice," Larxene said sarcastically. The other two were quiet as if they actually felt guilty about her accusations.
"Hey. You don't get to judge us! You cheated on Marluxia with your own cousin and got knocked up," Namine said angrily. No reply.
"…Good thing the baby was still born. And at the time Seifer didn't count as my cousin because Paine's mom hadn't married his father yet. Stupid bitch."
"Right… So sorry. My mistake. And let me just make it perfectly clear that what happened between me and Riku was nothing more than a mistake. He came on to me. But now that he's over with, Sora and I are doing a lot better. We even had sex last night so ha!" Larxene looked pissed but didn't say anything. Tifa bit her bottom lip as she grew uneasy around her two friends. An uncomfortable silence soon ensued.
"…We're the skankiest bitches in all the land," Larxene said after a while and she added, "I wouldn't be surprised if we started scheming on each other's boyfriends soon."
"Here, here!" Namine added, but she said it more as joke. Larxene sounded half joking and half serious. She did have a crush on Sora… I'm surprised Namine hadn't caught it.
"At any rate, after we punish Yuffie, lets punish the whore who told Yuffie about me and Riku," Namine suggested.
"Sure. I got your back," Larxene told.
"Yea. Me too," Tifa added. They started laughing again and I couldn't believe them. Maybe they all got a long so well because the three 'perfect' girls knew very well that they were actually very far from perfection, and seeming perfect was a battle. These girls could joke around about one another's imperfections just so each could silently say to herself, "At least I'm not that bad." Was this really a friendship, or a covered up self worth competition? As in, who was the worst girl? Or who could sleep peacefully at night? Was that what this relationship was all about? And then they banded together to destroy whatever unlucky person found out about their imperfections.
I thought about the way Namine talked about Riku. Her words were so cold and yet didn't she love him? Maybe loosing him, the guy she loved, was a punishment to herself for being the way she was? I felt guilty for judging her. She did a good job of that herself. Maybe that was why she valued Sora so much. He rarely judged her and stood by her despite the things people have said about her. Suddenly, I felt worse for kissing him… loving him…
She told me that her problems weren't my problems, and yet she deliberately dragged me along on her guilt trip. I decided I'd ride with her for a moment, just to have her back, but I wouldn't let her get me tangled within her affairs.
Part II: Back Pain
When we got to the school, it was deserted save a few people that had early morning practices. I saw Olette running her daily mile with some others who were on track as well. She waved at me without getting a hitch in her pace and I waved back. I felt a little subconscious though… I did have copies of the pictures that she and Fujin tried so hard to keep out of the hands of the public after all.
"Who's that?" Rikku asked innocently.
"My friend Olette. I'll introduce you to her later," I explained. We both watched as she faded with the rest of her team as they circled around to the other side of the school building.
"She's fast," Rikku stated.
"Hey! Kairi! We're over here," I heard Namine yell. I turned around and saw her, Larxene, and Tifa as they made their ways over to the huddle of cheerleaders. I pulled Rikku along with me as I went over to join them. Why was I walking into another one of Namine's stupid ideas? I was all for making Yuffie miserable but didn't that kind of stuff always find a way back to you? Karma. That's what it's called. I was no fan of negative karma. I didn't want to be punished for my actions later on… maybe I could be there with my sister without actually involving myself. When Yuffie saw us coming, she gathered her posse', Aerith and Yuna, and met us half way. The talking didn't start right away. It was pure silence as we stood gawking at each other angrily.
"Hi! My name is Rikku! I'll be starting school here tomorrow!" The ice had been cracked by Rikku's outburst and everyone looked at her with confusion, except Aerith who smiled sweetly.
"Hi Rikku. I'm Aerith. I'm a junior. What grade will you be in?"
"Well… guess. What grade do I look like I'll be in?"
"… Eighth?" Yuna guessed.
"Ha! But I'm not! I'm a junior too! Maybe we'll have the same classes together! Nice meeting you Aerith! What about you, what's your names?" I looked at Rikku quizzically. I would never have guessed she was a junior! There had to be some kind of catch. She was younger than me right? I felt that I didn't know her well enough to question her so I didn't pry. Yuna and Yuffie exchanged looks as though debating whether or not to follow Aerith's example and welcome the new comer or not.
"I'm Yuna," the brunette said finally.
"Yuffie. Isn't this so cliché? Namine's added yet another peon to her clique of skank bitches."
"Excuse me?" Rikku asked angrily. Yuffie crossed her arms coolly and said, "Well. Maybe not. You are new after all. Word of advice, you don't want to be seen anywhere near Namine. She's bad news."
"Or so she says. Which reminds me. I heard you've been talking to Sora. Last I checked, I told you to stay away from him. Your mouth's your own enemy Yuffie and I tried to help you but I guess some people just won't be helped!" Namine snapped. I pulled Rikku to the side with me, shaking my head as a silent indication that told her didn't want to be involved. Yuffie flipped some hair back and ginned.
"Now, you're not being fair to Sora. I was just trying to help him too by letting him know what a whore you are," she explained, "My bad for being a good friend. By the way, seen Riku around lately?" I saw Namine's face contort itself into a disgusting display of her anger before she calmed down and pulled the photos from her pockets.
"That all depends. Are you still seeing Paine on the side?" Namine questioned. She smiled spitefully when she saw that she got the desired effect from Yuffie that she wanted when the girl's jaw dropped and her eyes bugged out at seeing the photo of her and Paine kissing.
"Where… where…?"
"Nice picture huh? But look at the rest of these!" Namine told Tifa and Larxene to pull out their hidden photos and all the color drained away from Yuffie's face when she saw them.
"But… how…?"
"If you don't want those to miraculously find their ways out into the open then you'll stay away from Sora! Hm. And while I'm at it, tell me who told you about me and Riku in the first place," Namine demanded. Yuffie sighed a little in an example of her anguish and her friends gave her sympathetic looks, but she only grinned.
"You think you got me by the throat or something huh Namine? I don't care who sees those pictures because I'm not ashamed of the dirt I've dug into. But you… you are ashamed of your dirty little secrets, which are more than you're actually letting on. Don't worry, I'm sure Sora will end up finding out what kind of girl you really are by the end of this year. Whether or not it'll me or anyone else telling him I can't say for sure. But he will find out," Yuffie told. I saw Namine actually flinch a little but then she regained her composure and shook her head.
"I've broken up with Riku. Nothing's going on anymore. And even if there was, it can't be any worse than this," she held up the picture, "Hm. I'm gonna take your threat seriously Yuffie, and I'm going to take the proper precautions to make sure you don't open up your mouth ever again," she pocketed the picture and walked away with her two followers tagging along. Rikku and I walked away too. When I looked back, I saw Yuffie had started crying and Aerith and Yuna proceeded to comfort her.
"We gotta find out who's leaking my business to the public. And then we can catch them at their worse as well," I heard Namine say. I hoped she wasn't including me in any of her scams. I didn't want to be apart of any of them. The photos in my pockets were starting to feel like they weighed a ton. If I was apart of anymore of her schemes… adding on the extra weight of such burdens… well… it'd be an awful lot of weight to put on.
We followed my sister and co. to the gymnasium where the Blitzball team was holding practice. The big water dome was up and I saw the boy's figures as they expertly treaded the water. Sora was in possession of the ball and everyone was coming after him but he couldn't be caught. He tossed the ball to Riku who kicked it forcefully into the opposing team's net. He and Sora exchanged fives and I felt myself smile subconsciously. They were the unstoppable duo on the team. Hopefully they'd take us all the way to districts this year and then maybe the tournaments even!
"Wow! Your Blitzball team must be good! Look at this. This is crazy!" I turned from the game to see that Rikku had stopped to look at the trophy display near the entrance. Namine and her friends rolled their eyes, as though the information wasn't something new.
"Yea. Right. But look at the last date on the most recent trophy. It says 2004. We haven't won anymore for four years," I explained, "We suck." Suddenly I heard water splash and turned away from Rikku to see the team jumping from the dome and falling onto the floor none to gracefully. Tifa and Larxene backed away as though the boys were carrying some fatal disease. It was just water. Last I checked it wasn't fatal… most the time.
"Wow!! This is the Blitzball team!?" Rikku exclaimed excitedly. I nodded my head to clarify her rather good assumptions and saw her gawk at them with a slight blush on her cheeks. Sora shook the water from his hair to stop it from dripping into his eyes and some landed on me.
"Hey!"
"Hey Namine, Larxene, Tifa," He greeted and then he looked at me and I felt my heart bubble with excitement, "Kairi…"
"Hey babe," Namine said. She cupped the crook of his neck and pulled him down so that she caught his lips in a passionate kiss. I wasn't the only one that felt offended by their open display of affection. Larxene and Riku sorta trembled with anger. When the couple finally broke away for air, Sora asked, "Geez, what'd I do right? I get a surprise visit and a kiss without having to beg."
"You're so goofy!" Namine claimed. She hit him playfully on the shoulder and he caught her hand with his own to pull her into a tight embrace. I turned away, not wanting to see anymore… If only he knew what kind of person she really was… The hairs on my neck began to stand, and my sixth sense kicked in. I felt someone staring at me. I looked back up and saw that it was Demyx. I felt my cheeks heat up and I knew I was blushing. We looked at each other for a few minutes and I didn't know why we did. I was still angry about the kiss that happened Saturday. I broke our intense gaze to look at my feet.
"So, anyway, what's your name?" Sora asked, directing the comment towards Rikku. He ignored my sister's halfhearted protests about not wanting to catch his wetness as he looked at Rikku, who played dumb by looking around like he was talking to someone else, but then she said, shyly, "I…I…I'm Rikku… I'm new here… starting tomorrow." Ah. Someone had a weakness for cute guys. I never heard her stutter until now that she was in the presence of a team full of gorgeous boys.
"Nice name. I'm Sora, Namine's boyfriend. And this is the Blitzball Team."
"I'm Demyx."
"And I'm Wakka!"
"Hi I'm Tidus!"
"Sup, the name's Zell."
"Axel."
"Nice to meet you all!" Rikku exclaimed merrily before she turned to look at Riku no doubt noticing that he didn't introduced himself. He didn't seem interested in doing so either as he proceeded to towel dry his long platinum hair.
"So are you interested in sports Rikku? Cuz if you are then let me know. I've been trying to get a girl to play on the team for the longest! We can get double the funding with a girl on the team," Sora said.
"Neat. I'll definitely think about it," Rikku said politely, returning her attention to the conversation at hand. Suddenly she added, "Oh! But you know, maybe more girls would sign up if you guys won more often!" I bit my bottom lip in an attempt to subdue the growing urge to crack up at her comment. Larxene and Tifa gave Rikku shocked looks as did Namine and the whole team seemed embarrassed.
"Wha…what?" Sora asked.
"I'm just sayin'. Well, because Kairi brought it to my attention that you haven't gone to districts for the last four years. I just think more people would take you seriously if you applied yourselves more." Everyone's attention was now focused on me. I giggled nervously and kinda hid behind Rikku. I heard a snicker and looked at the other Riku. He was laughing at the situation. I didn't find it funny. Not at all. Or was he laughing at Rikku? I saw them exchange looks, each with a shy smile playing on their lips.
"Dang we're not all that bad Kairi," Demyx stated angrily.
"Yea. And that's all gonna change this year so chill out Kairi," Sora snapped. I shrugged and rolled my eyes.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"Come on! We gotta hit the showers before school starts!" Wakka cried. The team rushed off in the direction of the locker rooms, but Demyx lingered. Sora guided Rikku and Namine away, all the while talking Rikku's ear off about the benefits of being on the team as a means to coax her to join. Larxene and Tifa followed after them and then it was just me and Demyx together. He stepped up to me and I fought the urge to step back.
"Kairi," he said.
"Demyx," I snapped. He flinched a little and winced at my tone of voice.
"Still pissed about that kiss huh?"
"Not so much as other things." I said looking down "there" to make my point.
"Sorry… Really I am. I just can't control myself… I like you Kairi… A lot," he said. My stomach got butterflies and I felt nervous. That's not at all what I was expecting. He was so blunt and so earnest. I blushed again, embarrassed that he confessed his feelings for me out of the blue like that. And as pathetic as it sounded, I didn't know what to think or feel. It was the first time anyone had told me that they liked me so upfront. He stood watching my reaction and he sighed a little.
"Anyway. Here's a make-up present…" I thought he was going to kiss me again but he pulled out a present and placed it in my hand. As I studied the cute pink box it was wrapped in, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "I hope you like it… And I'm really sorry." He pulled away and smiled before running away to the locker rooms. I didn't know what to think, I didn't know if I wanted the present or not. I didn't know what he meant by giving me something for nothing. I put the present in my backpack and followed his path out of the gym.
"Whoa. You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend… and that he was on the Blitzball team!" Rikku exclaimed. I jumped back up against the wall in my surprise and held my heart.
"You were supposed to be gone!"
"I didn't feel like being a third wheel. Seems like I've been one all morning long!" I blushed knowing that the implication was about my sister and her friends.
"Uh… sorry about that…"
"I'll forgive you… only if you pretend to be my tourist guide and show me around more effectively." I whined and said, "Yes your majesty…" Rikku grinned with her content and I began down the hallway to show her around. I couldn't help but wonder where the Queen Bitches ran off to though… I knew wherever they went trouble was close at their heels.
I never thought our school was really that big, but either it was and I'd just gotten used to it, or Rikku's old school was small because she kept making comments about how huge everything was. Her old school must not have had up-to-date material either because everything she saw intrigued her. The science lab especially. Too bad when I got in there Mr. Ansem was in there talking with some guy I never saw before. He was a young, tan skinned, platinum blonde haired, dark eyed man. I guessed he was a freshman in college. Or he could very well have been one of those student teacher type fellows. I didn't care. I wanted to get out before Mr. Ansem saw me.
"Excuse me Miss Trepe. What are you doing here? Have you come for a much needed and well overdue tutoring session?" he asked. He had a cocky look on his face and I felt the heat once again rise to my cheeks.
"No… I'm just showing a new student around…," I added under my breath, "but it's none of your business." Rikku went over to the desk and shook hands with him.
"I'm Rikku sir. I'll be a junior."
"Really? How old are you?"
"Fifteen. But I was home schooled so I'm ahead of everyone else," she explained. So that was what it was. I didn't feel right asking about it because I thought she'd get offended. Mr. Ansem looked at me then looked at her and then looked back to me.
"Hm. Maybe you can help Miss Trepe here with her studies. She's barely passing with them all."
"Hey a 'D' is a passing grade," I muttered. Rikku smiled brightly.
"Of course! Nice meeting you Mr. Ansem." Rikku dragged me out of the room with ease and I silently thanked her. When we were a good distance from the room she said, "You don't like Mr. Ansem huh?"
"Is it that obvious?" I questioned sarcastically, "No. I hate him."
"He doesn't seem to like you either. Why's that?"
"Because he knows I'm failing his class on purpose."
"What? Why?"
"Because… I know I can pass it. Why do I have to let the teachers know it? I hate how they stress the importance of college and getting scholarships with high GPA's. That's too much stress and I refuse to let them run me," I explained. Rikku smiled sweetly.
"It's your way of getting back at the big guy huh?"
"Right." We were silent as we turned down another hallway, lined with lockers. Rikku studied them and then asked, "Did you know that other guy in the room?"
"What? No. Never seen him before in my life," I said, "Out of curiosity, why'd you ask?"
"Because… he was looking at you funny. That's why I cut it short with Mr. Ansem. That guy gave me the willies!" What a strange development. I didn't notice him looking at me weird. Why was he looking at me? I did't get it. Rikku started laughing and I thought she was gonna say, "I'm only joking!" but she said, "I'm really frickin' hungry!"
"Huh? Oh. Well, the cafeteria's this way."
I took Rikku to the cafeteria where I saw Olette and Fujin. They were sitting at one of the tables in the far back so after Rikku got her breakfast, we maneuvered easily through the large throng of tables to get over to them.
"Hey Kai. What's up? Why were you here so early?" Olette asked.
"Uh… I was just… showing Rikku around. She's new."
"Hi! I start school here tomorrow!" Rikku said.
"Hi. I'm Olette and this zombie is Fujin. I call her Fuu. Don't mind her if she seems a little pissy. She's not exactly a morning person."
"Mwha!" Fujin grumbled, incoherently, with her face kissing the table. She really could be compared to a zombie. I pulled up a seat and so did Rikku. Olette watched me for a moment and I felt my face burn slightly. I lied okay, but I didn't want my sister to get found out… well… actually I didn't want to be found out about working with my sister. I held my cargo pocket subconsciously. The pictures sat there unscathed.
"You okay Kairi?" Olette asked. I guess my guilt was visible. I numbly nodded.
"Yea…"
"Good. But listen, I uh… After I got off the phone with you yesterday, I talked to Roxas…," she said with a small voice. I strained my ears to hear her. She nodded her head towards Rikku, indicating to me that the decrease in volume was because she didn't want her to hear our conversation. I doubt the girl was paying attention to anything but the crappy school breakfast that she was stuffing in her mouth.
"Really? That's good huh?" I said, also in a whisper.
"In a way… I told him about Hayner…," she said, "And I think I got him into some trouble…"
"What are you talking' about?"
"Well… he got into a gang fight… I dunno. Some group Hayner was in, decided to give Roxas some trouble when he tried to confront him about it… I… I mean… I know Sora brought him back home yesterday but… I…" Her voice trailed off and she completely broke down right there. I awkwardly reached across the table to pat her on the back.
"It's okay Olette… So long as he isn't dead…," I offered. Olette looked at me with big, brown, watery eyes and I gave her a small smile.
"See? Everything's okay…"
"…I don't… feel so good…" Before anyone could say or do anything, Olette was up and sprinting to the bathroom. She was out of sight in a few seconds thereafter.
"That's a new record." I looked at Fujin who had miraculously come to life.
"What?" I asked.
"She's been going to the bathroom a lot lately…"
"To throw up!?"
"That's not good for her teeth," Rikku stated. We all looked in the direction of the bathroom.
"…Is Olette doing drugs?" I inquired.
"No! I only let her have some reefer once or twice. She's got no other suppliers besides me so I doubt that," Fujin said, "…I dunno. Maybe it's the after affects of the rape. She's probably not over it at all yet."
"Rape??" Rikku cried.
"The boy's been expelled," I said, as though that would appease the girl's worries or my own fears. Besides, he wasn't expelled on the account of the rape so much as beating the tar outta me (which he didn't). Now he was in a gang and getting into fights for real…After Olette got out of the rest room, the first bell rang and all the students flooded into the cafeteria, either for socializing or eating. We left and went to our lockers following the giant wave of the majority.
First hour, my mind wasn't on the class work. I was still worried about Olette… still confused about Demyx… still wondering about Namine's next actions against Yuffie who didn't sit too far from me now and who was also casting hateful eyes my direction… and I was slightly curious about the looks Rikku and Riku were exchanging between one another during the entire class. I also couldn't help but notice how Sora didn't pay any attention to me. He didn't even look my direction to throw a kind smile, or friendly wave. Had the kiss really created such a giant gulf between us that was so impossible to cross that Sora didn't even want to try to cross it? Was our friendship really that easy to throw away? I felt tears fill my eyes to the brim. Did he know he was hurting me? Was he doing it on purpose? I looked at him longingly, begging him to turn my way but had no such luck.
I knew I said I let him go… but it wasn't as easy doing as it was saying. I still loved him. I couldn't stop loving him. I wished I hadn't told him to forget about the kiss. I wished I hadn't dissed him yesterday. And I wish it was possible to take it all back and let him know how I really felt. That was when he looked at me with those big blue eyes. We stared at one another and I felt so separated from everything else that it seemed like we were the only ones in the room. The teacher's voice even became silent.
A look of concern flickered across his face and I felt a tear drop down my cheek.
"Sora… I…," my voice was so small and was shaking so bad that I doubt he heard me. He seemed interested, imploring me to continue my statement with his eyes. I closed my mouth, unsure if I really wanted to continue, and when I opened my mouth to speak, he abruptly turned away. I was back in the class room, vaguely hearing the teacher's lecture. Sora faced forward like he was really listening to what the teacher had to say, like our moment was nothing to him. He hated me. I looked forward too, ignoring the inevitable feeling of rejection that had begun filling my heart.
"Anyway, since this is mid terms, I need to assign something that will average out your grades. So! I've decided on a group project. The details are in this rubric. You have a week exactly to complete the assignment. Now here are the partners I've decided on… Rikku, I'll get you out of the way now since you'll be starting here tomorrow anyway, and you'll be with Riku! He's a really nice guy that's sure to get you an 'A' on the assignment. Sora and Yuffie, Aerith and Cloud, Garnet and Kairi…" He continued to name the rest of the teams but I wasn't listening. I looked at Garnet and sighed in exasperation. I did not want to work with her! She was such a momma's girl and a stick in the mud! I looked at Sora to see how he liked (or disliked) the arrangement but I saw that he had begun to whisper stuff in Yuffie's ear. She seemed a little uneasy and I thought that that was a big change from the way she was flirting with him all those weeks ago. I also decided that he was thrilled about working with her. When the bell rang, I was more than happy to be out of the class, well at least away from Sora. Too bad I couldn't see the future, otherwise I wouldn't have woken up that morning, I wouldn't have decided to help Namine and I would have easily avoided the painful future ahead of me by doing so. Damn karma…