Xion looked around and frowned. Roxas was staring at her again. She waved a hand in front of Roxas's dazed face. "Roxas," she said as he snapped out of it. "Is something wrong? Is there something on my face?" Xion asked curiously. "What…I don't…I mean there is nothing on your face Xion," he said looking away. Xion frowned unamused. "Then why have you been staring at me? Don't think I haven't noticed," Xion said frowning, then looked to the floor and took his hand startling him. "I wish you would tell me…," Xion said quietly. "Xion…," Roxas said pulling a strand of hair away from her face as she looked to the floor. She looked up and Roxas looked at her face a bit more. Her eyes widened in realization as she took a step back, releasing her grip from his hand. Roxas look hurt. "Xion…"

Xion stood a feet away from Roxas and gave him a sad smile. "It's because I look like Kairi, right?" She then shook her head. "Or because I remind you of Namine…," she chuckled humorlessly, as she ran away. "Xion! Wait! That's not it!" Roxas shouted.

Ugh…stupid stupid! Why couldn't I just say I thought she looked pretty!

Roxas found himself unconsciously staring at Xion more often. He thought it was because of her outfit at first and maybe that was part of it. He found himself staring at her face though. Maybe it was her hair then? Since her hair was slightly longer and styled different (Kairi's old hairstyle in Kingdom Hearts II) …maybe that was it. Or maybe…

…it was just Xion in general…

Whatever it was, it was driving Roxas crazy. He talked to Lea and Kairi about it to which they laughed. "It could be he likes the way you look Kairi," Lea laughed. "Really~? You think I'm pretty Roxas?" Kairi asked with a giggle. "U-Um uh…," a lightbulb lit in Roxas's head. "That's it!" Kairi giggled. "I think it's more than that, I mean. You don't stare at me or Namine huh?" "Um…," Roxas started. What could he say? Kairi and Namine where pretty but he kept staring at Xion specifically…

Kairi smiled. "I know…you're thinking me and Namine are pretty but are wondering why you stare at specifically Xion," Kairi said folding her arms. Roxas blinked.

Are Namine and Kairi both mind readers?

Kairi giggled. "No we are not. Mind readers, I mean." Roxas wore a deadpanned expression. "You are just easy to read. Now, I'm going to spell it out for you…," Kairi poked Roxas's chest and smiled. "…It's because you like her. You like Xion." Kairi let go and pointed to her temple. "Got it memorized?"

"I…like Xion?" Roxas repeated. Lea sighed. "The way Sora likes Kairi."

Kairi smiled.

Now how am I going to fix things with Xion? Roxas sighed new to the feelings of having a heart.

Xion had run off to the beach and begun to collect sea-shells. "Why the long face?"

"Axel," Xion said not turning around, knowing his voice by heart. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood and saw my best friend looking sad," Lea said ruffling her hair. Xion sighed. "What's wrong?" Lea asked. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at Roxas…or made assumptions…I just…he seemed so different lately. Distant. It's like before when he would look at me, he would have a strange look in his face. Now it's even stranger…I just wanted to know what was bothering him. But whenever I would ask, he would look away and say nothing was wrong. I'm beginning to think it's because of my face…because I remind him of Kairi or Namine….or maybe he just hates me," Xion said drawing on the sand. Axel laughed. Xion looked up at him curiously. "Xion he doesn't hate you," he said seriously. "Seriously, he doesn't. You haven't done anything to make him angry." "Then why-." "It's because he thinks you're pretty," Lea said interrupting her. Xion blinked. "You already caught him off guard when he saw you in that new outfit, and hairstyle. You are older and look different than when he first met you Xion. Not that that's a bad thing. At first, he probably needed to get used to that new look of yours. It looks nice, which is why he was staring, believe me."

"Xion!"

"Oh hey lover boy! Don't worry, problem already solved," Lea stood up and ruffled Roxas's hair. "See you later kids. Have fun. But not too much fun okay?" Lea said. "Bye Axel," Xion smiled. "Thank you." He simply waved and walked away. "Kids…," Axel chuckled.

"What was that about?" Roxas said looking in Axel's direction then shaking his head. "Wait what I to say was-." Xion shook her head and stopped him and gave a smile, silencing him. "I'm sorry about earlier Roxas. I don't want us to fight. You see, I was worried because I thought you might still hate me for what happened back then," she said sitting on a log nearby, getting her stick again to draw in the sand. "You would stare at me with a strange look on your face and would look away when I asked you what was wrong…and I guess that frustrated me…and I thought that…it was because I reminded you of someone else or…that you still hated me…I'm sorry," Xion said. "Xion…," Roxas said quietly as Xion laughed. "Ax-Lea said the most ridiculous thing ever. It was sweet, it made me realize I was being ridiculous," Xion smiled. "Xion I never hated you," Roxas said sternly, holding Xion's hand. "Roxas-."

He turned to look away but then shook his head and faced her, his cheeks turning slightly red. "I…You look nice…which is why I kept looking away…I was…nervous…I guess," he finally said scratching his cheek, and looking away.

Xion's eyes went wide with surprise, then she gave a smile, and squeezed Roxas's hand. "…I guess Lea wasn't being that ridiculous after all…"

"Huh?" Roxas said looking at Xion as she leaned on his shoulder and stared at the beach. He felt his heart accelerate. "Let's stay like this for awhile."

He wrapped his arm around her and smiled, then stared at the ocean.