A week had passed since Kairi had arrived at the island and things were going great. She had developed a close relationship with Audrey who was starting to serve as the mother figure she had always lacked in her life. They were even on a first-name basis since Audrey insisted that Kairi stop calling her 'Miss Audrey'. The two frequently prepared food together, watched old movies, and sat outside on the porch telling each other stories about their lives.
That day they were both sitting on the living room couch watching Romeo and Juliet, one of Audrey's favorite romance films. She was actually quite a romantic person. Once she had told Kairi that she was destined for Sora and that it was fate that brought her to the island. She told her that she had her approval and would be pained if she ever had to give her boy up to any other girl. Kairi was a practical person and didn't believe in destiny or any of that stuff but giggled at Audrey anyway, giving her a bright smile. Even though she highly doubted Audrey's attempt at fortune telling she didn't tell her otherwise. She adored Audrey and hated to disappoint her. Besides Sora had been as aloof and distant as ever. Though Kairi had tried to strike up a conversation with him numerous times she would never get much more than a few words or a couple of glances. But still, that was enough. Just one word or one look was all it took for him to bring a tingling sensation flowing through her. He made her feel things that simultaneously frightened and excited her. She was brought out of her thoughts when the sound of the front door opening caught her attention. Both girls turned their heads in time to see Sora arrive home.
"Hey sweetheart," Audrey greeted him. She would always baby him and Kairi found it extremely adorable. He was the type of guy who still hugged his mother and would still hold her hand despite what others would say about it. Sure, he probably was too old for it but he loved his mother way too much to feel any sort of embarassment.
"Hi mom," he said along with giving her his winning smile. Kairi melted at the sight of it and felt slightly envious of the people who could make him smile so easily. She had to work hard for it, and even then she would usually just get his trademark condescending smirk. Nothing was ever easy for her when it came to Sora, and that fact extremely bothered her. She was used to getting everything done effortlessly.
"Hi-ya!" Kairi greeted him, still hoping that they could somehow form some kind of friendship.
"Hey," he replied indifferently before heading into the kitchen in search of something to eat.
"Oh honey, I had no idea you would be coming home this early. You must be starving. Let me fix you something to eat. How does chicken and asparagus sound?"
"Sounds great mom," Sora answered.
As Audrey was about to rise up from her seat Kairi placed her hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
"I can make the chicken and asparagus. Wouldn't want you to miss your favorite movie," Kairi said while pointing to the television.
Audrey smiled and accepted her offer, "Thanks Kairi, you're such a dear."
"You don't have to. I can make something myself," Sora spoke up.
Kairi was glad that for once she actually got a sentence out of him. She giggled and decided to tease him, "Your mother told me that your culinary skills are limited to preparing instant noodles and pouring milk and cereal into a bowl. We ran out of cereal and noodles so you are just gonna have to let me cook," she said while grinning at him, which caused him to blush in embarassment.
Audrey laughed, "She's right Sora. So just sit down and wait patiently like a good boy."
He did as he was told and took a seat at the table, watching Kairi as she went work. Whenever she was completing some task she would always be so attuned to what she was doing. He didn't think that she would notice her surroundings, even if the sky was falling. It was as if she were somewhere else. He admired that about her. She put 100% of her concentration into whatever it was she was doing, whether it was cooking, swimming, or running. She would run laps around the block every morning and he would get up everyday and watch her through his window. Even though some voice in the back of his head was telling him that he was being some kind of creeper he couldn't help but watch her. She just fascinated him.
When she finished cooking she set the food in front of him and sat at the opposite side of the table. He raised an eyebrow at the expectant look she was giving him.
"Are you going to try it and tell me how it is, or do you want me to feed you too?" she playfully asked him.
Sora reddened at the thought. He actually wouldn't mind her feeding him and... 'Damn!'. He mentally kicked himself, 'Don't think of her like that'. He stuffed the food into his mouth and just continued eating, feeling uncomfortable in her presence.
"Well?"
"Well...?", he repeated. Kairi sighed. It looked like he was back to giving her one word answers.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah," he replied with his mouth full, causing Kairi to laugh at the sight of it. His heart raced. He loved the sound of her laugher.
"I'm glad you think so,"she smiled. There it was again. That feeling he got in his chest whenever he was around her.
"Well, I guess I should go join your mother. Enjoy your meal," she said as she left him alone.
He didn't want to believe it but he was warming up to the girl. She made it difficult not to like her, especially with how happy she was making his mother. She wasn't like any other girl he had ever met. She was different, she was special, and he was beginning to see that more and more everyday. A girl like her could make him igonore his vow to stay away from city girls. That's probably what his mother would want from him. For him and Kairi to get closer. She had been nagging him all week to take her somewhere out to have fun. Well, that didn't sound so hard did it? One look at the living room where his mother and Kairi were laughing while watching some sitcom was all that he needed to make his decision. Tomorrow he would invite her to go somewhere with him.
...
She had gone running again that morning. Sora watched her as she left the house half an hour ago and was now making her way back. He walked to the porch and waited for her to arrive, and when she did she stopped in front if him, surprised that he was even up that early.
"Hey Kairi, are you busy today?"
Kairi saw him talking but didn't hear a word he was saying. She removed her earphones and acknowledged him.
"Sora?", she questioned while looking behind her to see if he was talking to anyone else.
Sora thought that her one worded answer could have been translated as 'Are you seriously taking to me?'
"Uh, yeah. Uhm, h-hey," he said, suddenly nervous and unsure of what to say. Her clothing certainly wasn't helping him form any coherent words. She was wearing black running shorts and was in a hot pink sports bra. Her face was flushed from running and her hair was up in a high ponytail. He could see beads of sweat on her forehead and body, glistening temptingly.
"What's up?" She asked him. He had to force himself to return his focus onto her face, blushing at the sight of her great assets. What could he do? He was your typical guy with a one track mind. Straight for the milk jugs.
"Hello? Sora? You okay?" She questioned while touching his shoulder lightly. That definitely brought him back from fantasy land.
"Yeah. Actually, it's my day off and I was just wondering if you wanted to spend the day with me."
"Excuse me?" she asked. Did she hear him right? He couldn't really be inviting her to go out with him could he? It wasn't likely. Not the same boy who had been ignoring her all week.
"I never got to show you around. Maybe we can go to the mall, eat out at a restaurant, watch a movie. Wherever you feel like going," his words brought a smile to her face.
"I'd love that. Sounds really fun. Wait until I'm finished taking a shower?" she asked him hopefully.
"Sure, I'll wait in the living room."
"Great, see you in a bit!", she exclaimed while making her way into the house with a hop to her step, leaving Sora outside smiling happily to himself.
After about half an hour of waiting in the living room Sora saw Kairi approach him wearing an orange dress with clear jeweled buttons running straight down the center. The dress had a dark blue ribbon that was wrapped around her waist and tied onto the back. She finished the look off with matching blue heels. She wanted to dress casually but was embarrassed when she saw that her closet consisted of nothing but silk dresses and cashmere cardigans. They made her look and feel out of place, and also revealed the fact that she was an outsider there. Back home Mel would never allow her to wear anything that wasn't fit for a princess. He was always concerned about her public appearance and wanted everyone to see her as the beautiful, proper, and perfect girl that she was. Sometimes she envied all of the freedom that Namine had. She never had to put up with any of the ridiculous concerns he about had about her life. She sighed and regretted not asking Namine if she could borrow some of her clothes. Oh well, she guessed she would just have to make do with what she had.
Sora on the other hand didn't mind her overdressing. He thought she looked god damn sexy and had to fight hard not to picture her as the sex symbol that he had fantasized about, and boy was she making it difficult for him.
"I'm ready," She told him and then asked "Sooo. What do you want to do?"
Sora was still spellbound by her charm and without thinking huskily replied, "You."
"Huh?" she asked, not catching on to his words.
When Sora realized what he said his face visibly reddened and he replied, "You choose. It's all up to you."
'Nice going there idiot. Just hope she buys your save' , he thought to himself.
"Well I'm kind of hungry. How about I pack us a picnic and we go eat out at the beach?" she asked. She didn't want to eat out at a busy restaurant or at a crowded mall food court. She finally had Sora all to herself for a day and wanted to spend it with him peacefully without any distractions.
"Sounds good. We should probably change into swimsuits before leaving,"he said.
"Need any help?" he asked as he followed her into the kitchen.
"Sure, I hope you can at least make simple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without destroying the kitchen", Kairi giggled.
"Hey that's not funny. Watch. When you get a taste of my sandwiches you'll be thinking they are the best you've ever had."
"Right, Sora. That's assuming it doesn't poison me," she looked up at him and the two burst out laughing.
'I could definitely get used to this,' Sora thought.
...
Sora had spent the whole day at the ocean with Kairi after they finished eating their sandwiches. Surprisingly they did turn out good. But then again, what kind of airhead would mess up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Oh, yeah. He would.
They stayed in the ocean for hours and would run back to shore laughing whenever a big wave would come up. Kairi's hair was filled with sand and was all tangled, she looked as if she had just been through a hurricane. Sora's eyes burned from the salt water and he looked just as disheveled as his companion. It was pretty awesome. The two both got out of the water when it got chilly and lazily walked back to their towels. After drying off Sora lounged back on the sand and suported himself on his elbows while Kairi sat beside him, resting her chin on her knees. They just sat there admiring the view until Kairi broke the silence.
"I really love it here. It's so beautiful. It's nothing like my home."
Sora stiffened a bit at the mention of her home. The city. He was instantly reminded of why he didn't want to get involved with her in the first place. 'She's different though', he told himself and allowed his body to relax once again.
"It makes me sad, whenever I think about leaving,"she continued.
He felt his gut twist and became extremely bothered at the thought of her leaving, but she was right. Things couldn't stay like this forever. In a few weeks, or maybe even days she would be returning to her world, leaving him behind. It dawned on him that he would have to make the most of the time he spent with her and really make it mean something since he probably would never get another chance to be with her again.
Sora wanted to say something to her. Something to lift up her mood and turn her into the joyful girl he was with just moments before. The doll who was all sunshine and smiles, but what would he say? He wasn't sure if there was anything he could say, especially since he was feeling just as melancholic she was, perhaps even more. So he didn't try and just kept quiet. He watched her staring up at the sunset and admired all of her features. Her beautiful violet blue eyes were glowing with an emotion he couldn't decipher. She was just so mysterious to him. She was a puzzle he was sure he wouldn't ever solve but wanted to spend a lifetime trying anyway.
"Look at the sky, it's turning golden orange. It's so beautiful. I'm sure nothing in the entire world compares to it. I want to remember all of this. Want to memorize every single detail about this island. Want to forever keep all the memories I have here, just in case I never have the chance to return. You never know the last time you'll ever see a place... or a person," she turned to Sora as she spoke that last word and saw sorrow on his face that she knew mirrored her own.
"Don't say things like that. You know you can always come back," Sora finally spoke. He didn't want to talk about her leaving so tried to lighten up the mood.
"Maybe next time you visit you can bring Namine with you."
Kairi looked up at him with surprise written all over her face. How had he known about Namine? As if reading her mind he answered her unspoken question.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you, but I hear you talk to her on the phone some mornings. You talk about her with my mother too."
Kairi smiled at him, "You're right. I will take her here someday. She shouldn't miss out on a place like this."
"Right," Sora agreed and stood. He held out his hand to her and helped her up.
"Let's go. It's getting late. My mom is probably worried about us."
"You're such a mama's boy!"she teased while ruffling his hair.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Don't ruin the do."
"You can't be serious, you look like a mess!"
"Yeah, well I can say the same about you," he lied. Even with her beach hair he thought she still looked stunning.
"Touche," she smiled and then got an idea. "Hey, will you let me drive?"
"What are you crazy? No one gets to drive my baby but me. Besides, I doubt a pretty little rich girl like you even knows how to drive. Much less drive stick," he smirked.
Kairi blushed at what he had just called her, even if he had meant for it to be an insult. She also felt her knees weaken with that look he was giving her. 'Goddamn it. Stupid, cocky, egotistical, jerk!' she thought. Did he even have any idea what he was doing to her? That smug look on his face was really irritating her and she found herself wanting to get rid of that arrogant smile. Wanting to straighten it out with her lips. She wanted so bad to just kiss it away.
She answered his question haughtily to get her mind off of her previous thoughts, "For your information I do know how!"
'Shit man was this girl serious? Could she get any more perfect?'
"You know, it's pretty hot watching a chick drive stick," he told her. He couldn't resist, she was getting to him.
"Is it now?" She flirtatiously asked him. "Then I'm guessing you wouldn't mind letting me drive your car," she told him while wrapping her arms around his neck and batting her long eyelashes at him.
'Hell, I want you to drive more than just my car. How about giving me a 'ride' while I just sit back and relax.' he thought.
"Pleaaase? Soraaa?" She pleaded and began tracing circles on his bare chest. 'I've got you now' she smiled to herself.
He handed her his keys and stepped back to create distance between them. He could feel his arousal quickly coming on to him and didn't want to embarrass himself.
"Yes! Thanks!" she exclaimed while jumping up and down. "I'll race you to your car."
"Do you really want to lose?" he questioned.
"Don't underestimate me. I'm a pretty fast runner." Boy did he know it. He watched her every morning but he wasn't about to tell her that.
"Okay, we'll see. Do you need a head st-"
Before he could finish his sentence she took off ahead of him, laughing as her hair blew through the wind. He grinned and ran after her, having a hard time recalling a moment where he ever felt happier.