Summer Blues

Chapter Nine: All the Right Words

"So," I asked, curious, "where are we headed?"

"Hm." Roxas stuffed his free hand—the one without his board tucked under—in his pocket, looking thoughtful. "I don't know about that. I thought we should go to the Side, but we've already been there before and I want to show you something new this time. I doubt you've been getting around that much with Kairi as your only guide, after all. I'm surprised she hasn't forced you to go shopping nonstop or something," he told me with a cheeky grin.

"Hey!" I answered indignantly. "Kairi's been really nice. You're harsh." I paused, reddening when I realized how childish that sounded.

He, however, just laughed. "Maybe, but it's the truth," he pointed out. I figured he must be partly right, considering it was the redhead who had planned exactly what I was wearing right at that moment. "Anyway, where do you want to eat?"

"I-I don't know," I replied truthfully, stuttering just a bit. "The local places, I guess?"

Roxas huffed, running a hand through his spikes in what I assumed was a gesture of thought. "I'll take you to Cid's place, then, since I don't know where else you could enjoy. He's a nice guy, anyway, Sora's really good friends with him."

"Really?" I asked, my interest piqued. "It seems like everyone knows everyone here," I observed thoughtfully. "Why is that? Have you all known each other from birth or something?" Maybe that was the case, too, with everyone else, because it really seemed as if everyone knew each other.

"I didn't grow up here, much," Roxas said, looking in another direction. "I was... away."

I realized we had touched up on a sensitive subject, so I decided to just shut up. We walked in silence to wherever he'd been planning to take me to, both in contemplation. However, when we got there, there was no time for silence, because a middle-aged man chewing (I think) on a toothpick, greeted us with a coarse, but warm voice. "Hey, kid," he said to Roxas. "Where's your brother?"

"Hey, Cid," Roxas replied, raising an arm in greeting. "Sora's at home, planning how to ask Kairi to the Star Festival, if I know him. It's just me this time. Oh, and Naminé." He gestured to me, and Cid's attention flitted over to my direction. "Naminé, this is Cid Highwind, a really good family friend. Cid, this is Naminé Hayase, a friend of Kairi's who's visiting for the summer."

Cid looked at me with an observant eye, looking gruffly curious. "A girl this time, eh? Hope you know what you're getting into, kid," he told me, a grin on his face. "Roxas is quite the handful." I wondered what he meant by that as soon as he said, but of course I had no time to dwell on it, because he led me and Roxas inside the small café that he was standing at the entrance of (I only noticed it then) and to a table near the window.

"Lemme guess—double espresso for you, kid, and something sweet for the girl?"

Roxas looked at me apologetically. "He does this all the time with our drinks—it's like he can read our moods or something," he told me.

"Wow," I replied, surprised. "I really was about to order something vanilla..." Was it obvious I loved that flavor?

Cid winked at me, and continued, "So, a vanilla frapuccino, how 'bout that? And for your meals?"

"The daily special?" Roxas gave me a questioning glance. When I nodded, he turned back to Cid and repeated the order. The man nodded with arms crossed, and walked off to a small window bahind the counter. A face popped out, a girl with short black hair and some kind of headband on her head, grinning. She took Cid's orders quickly and popped back in. I sighed, fiddling with the bracelet the girls had given me.

"What's that?"

I looked up, and saw Roxas motioning to the bracelet, looking curious. I jingled my wrist, amused at the small tinkling sound the accesory made, before answering him. "Olette, Kairi and Xion gave it to me the other day. 'Lette said she made it on her own." I smiled fondly at the sweet gesture, enjoying the memory. Definitely not something I'd be able to forget, ever. Especially since they'd welcomed me with open arms and zero questions since then.

"Hm," he smirked, placing his chin in one hand. "Nicknames already?"

I blushed at my casual reference to Olette and tried to play defensive. "She was fine with it. Besides they call me Nam or Nami now."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? It sounds reasonable..." He paused. "So... Can I call you Nam or Nami? We're friends, aren't we?" I was surprised at this, and at first instinct wanted to tell him that I wasn't sure if we were. In fact, I'd had my mouth opened to say so when Cid suddenly reappeared beside us bearing a tray of something that looked good. Some kind of meat with rice and a strange-looking sauce that smelled amazing.

"Enjoy it," was all the man said before trailing off to the kitchen again. I leaned forward, enjoying the heavenyl scent as I picked up my fork to spear a piece of meat.

"So?" I almost gagged on my meal when Roxas spoke again. Looking up, I realized he was mulling over his food with a small smile. I'd be lying if I said that his smile didn't do funny things to my stomach. Again.

I swallowed before replying. "So, what?"

He laughed. "Can I call you Nam? Or Nami?"

Again, I almost choked, this time on the vanilla frap. God, why did he have to surprise my like that? "I-I suppose," I stuttered, oddly formal. "I'm fine with it." I wondered how he would reply, because honestly, I could never predict what he would say, and it was fun seeing his reactions.

His smirk back in place, Roxas waved his for before looking down in amusement and finally starting on his dinner. "That's great," he told me, looking up again. "Nam."

I blush. Of course.

LINE BREAK

"That was a great dinner, Roxas," I told him, smiling as we exited the small café, him waving to Cid as we did. "I had fun."

"I should thank you for the luck you brought me today. I don't think I would've won otherwise. You're an awesome cheerleader." He grinned happily, setting his skateboard down and stepping onto it, doing a slow glide. I admired the fact that he kept his balance. I could never do that, given the chance.

I shook my head, ready to retort. "Nah, I think you would've won without me anyway," I scoffed. "You're really good, but you don't seem to believe it yourself."

He laughed, flipping his skateboard underneath him without looking. I eyed the instrument speculatively. "Do you want me to teach you?" his amused voice startled me from my thoughts.

My eyes widened as his suggestions sunk in. I held my hands up, horrified. "No, no! I was just wondering how you keep your balance without looking, that's all. I don't want you to teach me; I'm physically challenged as it is, I don't want you to be bothered."

Again, he chuckled. "I wouldn't be bothered, Nami," he said, stepping nimbly off the board and taking hold of my still-raised hands. "Come on, I'll show you the basics."

Panic rising, I couldn't speak, just let him guide me to his board, which looked more and more menacing by the minute. He helped me onto it, and I prayed he couldn't tell that my knees were knocking together from shaking so much. Yes, it's sad that I'm so afraid of physical activity that this happens. Roxas began to lead me by the hand along on his board, telling me to keep my feet firmly in place and not to let go of him. As if I would. He told me to keep my arms out in order to maintain my balance and as I did so, he just let go, pushing me ever so slightly. To my surprise, I didn't fall, and the wheels just kept turning until he was, again, at my side, balancing me. I jumped off, grateful.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" he said, grinning.

I managed to give him a shaky smile, before replying, "No... But I don't think skateboarding is really my thing." We both laughed, and he led me round the corner, where I was surprised that we had arrived at Kairi's house.

"We're here," he announced unnecesarily, turning to me.

I smiled. "Thanks again for the night." I paused, debating. "For taking me to your competition and dinner, and the lesson, and everything."

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I enjoyed it, too," he confessed, a light blush dusting his cheeks. Adorable.

We stood awkwardly as I glanced at the open porch light, and thought of Kairi waiting for me. She'd definitely be doing that. "Well... I better get inside now."

"You do that," he said, chuckling.

"Good night, Roxas..." I turned, turning the doorknob. "Maybe you can show me around more next time?"

I'd glanced back at him, and saw his eyes light up at the prospect of us going out again. "Sure," he answered, grinning. "See you around, Nam." I smiled at him one last time before stepping into the foyer and closing the door, happy.

A/N: Yep. A totally cheesy and completely cliché ending. Mm-hm. Of course. :P

Anyway, I'm so, so, so sorry for the long wait! For everyone who put this in their story alerts, I apologize. I have no excuse for my behavior. My inspiration has been shot. But now I'm back at full-force, buuut you can expect that I won't be updating as quickly as I had before, because I must finish my school year, which is ending in a few weeks. Then, it's summer vacation, and I'll probably finish this by the time that ends! Thanks for reading!

Remember, no flames, please, or anyting of the sort. I'm sorry if this is so short. If there are any errors, please tell me immediately! Reviews are love. :D Thanks so much!

-Hikari