Chapter 3

Thankful

"Sora, we're here," his mom said, shaking him from his daydream. He was picturing every bad thing that could happen when he arrived at Riku's.

"Sorry," Sora said as he opened his door to step out.

"Something on your mind?" she asked. Sora rolled his eyes. The questions begin. If you could kill someone with questions, Sora was sure he would be dead.

"No, just tired," he lied. He hoped she would buy it.

"I don't see how. You sure nothing is happening at school?"

"Yes, mother," he replied, trying desperately to keep his attitude from bursting out.

"Because if something is happening, I think I have the right to know," she said as they walked through the doors to the store.

"Mom, please stop. I am fine, if something happens, I will tell you, but stop asking me if something is wrong because nothing is wrong- AHHH! Riku!" Sora yelled accidentally as he noticed Riku walking slowly towards them with his head down. He had not noticed them yet. Sora dived behind a shelf and stayed their until he passed. He smiled at his mom and walked out.

"So diving for cover from your friend is your way of ensuring me that nothing is wrong. What happened?" she asked, smiling now that she knew she was right.

"Fine. Me and Riku got into an argument-"

"About what?"

"Nothing," Sora blurted out defending the real answer.

"Well if you both argued about nothing then it should not be to hard to make up," she told him.

"That is not funny. It was not a big deal. I just don't want to go to his party. Well, actually, I imagine he does not want me their," Sora said.

"I'm sure he does. Besides, you are going. He needs all the support he can get," she told him. He moaned angrily.

They walked into an aisle with snacks and grabbed chips and dip. She forced Sora to get two cards which he tried to refuse several times. One was a congratulations for if Riku's father was promoted, the other was a sympathy for if he was not. Lastly, they picked out a gift.

"How about flowers?" she asked.

"Mom, you don't give guys flowers," he explained.

"What's wrong with that. They pretty."

"No."

"Okay, how about a nice coffee mug?"

"Yeah. That will do," Sora said. She shook her head, sensing his uncaring attitude.

"You could get some flowers for Riku. That is a good apology present," she suggested.

"No! Are you crazy?"

"Just a suggestion," she said strangely. Sora eyed her carefully. She found the gift and they checked out. When they got to the car the put the bags in and stepped in. Sora tried to calmly breath. He was becoming nervous. He had no idea what Riku was going to do if he showed up. He wished he did not have to go, but his mom was not going to change her mind. She did not know the biggest problem Sora had. She did suspect a larger problem, but she probably would not even dream of what it was.

"There it is," his mother said in an annoyingly cheering voice. His heart was beating quickly. He wanted to disappear. Not be seen. "Don't forget the stuff in the back." Sora walked out after grabbing the bags and slowly walked to the door, trying to wait for the sound of his mom's car to drive away. She was not going to leave. She suspected his plan of escape.

Riku's house was a simple two-story building with white siding. The yard had a lot of small bumps and hill, so they did not have much plants. Sora stepped onto the porch of their home, fearing he may die of a heart attack as he felt his heart race faster and harder. He put a hesitant finger on the doorbell he would not have even used had this been a normal circumstance. He heard the chime faintly through his heartbeats and heavy breath. Don't let Riku open it. Don't let Riku open it, Sora thought to himself. Footsteps could be heard coming to the door. No, don't answer it, he thought. He heard the hand turn the handle. Click. The door unlocked to allow entry as it swung open, releasing a current of cool air from the air conditioner. It was Riku. Sora should have received a medal for not running away.

"Umm...Hi?" Sora said questioning the response of Riku, who was not showing any emotion yet. Chills ran down Sora's spine as he half-wished he would simply shut the door in his face and let him go home.

"Hey," he said back as he stepped sideways to allow him through. "Come on in."

"Okay," Sora said quietly. Riku shut the door behind him after he waved to his mother who now drove off. Sora saw a window that was lifted open a bit. He considered using it to escape before Riku tapped him on the shoulder.

"Sora?" he asked softly.

"Yes?" Sora tried to say normally as he bit his lip. As though expecting him to swing.

"I'm sorry. Today, I should not have yelled at you. I mean, you did not mean it like that. I know you just wanted me to stay. I did not mean to scream," Riku apologized as he stared into Sora's eyes without blinking. Sora felt his skin flood with a nice warm feeling like the sun just came out on a rainy day.

"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to sound like that either. I just don't want you to leave," Sora said. Okay, this is it. Tell him how you feel. It is perfect. And if all else fails, I can easily dive through that window and haul ass. "Riku?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to tell you something. The real reason I acted that way," Sora said, feeling his heart rate pick up again.

"What is that?"

"I-umm-I really...Riku...I...well...listen-"

"Calm down," Riku said grabbing his shoulders to stare him closer in the eyes. Sora smiled into his eyes. Their faces were close and it distracted Sora from his task. He snapped out of it and took a breath.

"It's nothing, really. I just want to say you are my best friend, Riku," Sora lied to him.

"Oh. Okay. Your mine too," he smiled.

"Riku? Oh...my...sorry. Did I interrupt something"? Tidus asked, eyeing them strangely. Riku released Sora quickly and Sora swore he seen him blush a little. Not that he had room to talk, he felt his face light up too.

"Nothing, Tidus. Just apologizing to Sora," Riku said. Tidus laughed.

"Awwww. How sweet," Tidus mocked. Riku pushed him playfully.

"Funny. Come on let's go eat," Riku said. Tidus smiled at him and followed Riku. Sora sighed. Riku was not going to like him like he liked him. He could tell. He avoided everything that did not make him look straight. Sora tried to push the thoughts from his mind and he entered the kitchen.

"Grab a plate. Oh and sit your stuff wherever. My dad won't be home for another 20 minutes. Then we figure out whether he is promoted or not," Riku stated, surprisingly calm considering what it meant. Sora grabbed a thin paper plate and put very little on his plate. He was not hungry. He could not think about anything but Riku's father's promotion. He would figure out tonight.

They watched a movie while they ate. No one talked much. Everyone was thinking about the promotion. Riku's mom finally came in to greet them with a shaky voice. She was nervous. Sora did not know which she was worried about. She might actually want him to get the promotion.

As they sat and watched the movie silently, they suddenly heard the sound of a car door slamming. Everyone's eyes opened widely. Riku's mother's gasp could be heard from the other room as she raced to greet him at the door. Sora held his breath as they all watched the front door. It was opened by Riku's father, wearing a black business suit. He looked his wife in the eyes and smiled.

"I got the promotion!" he yelled. She cheered and hugged him. Riku smiled awkwardly and stood up to congratulate his father. Sora's face was straight, not moving. He did not know what to do. Tidus' mouth twisted into a angry frown as he stood up and walked into the bathroom.

"Don't know why the hell he is so happy," Tidus mumbled as he shut the door. Sora stood up and forced his face into the best grin he could achieve without looking insane and shook Riku's father's hand.

"That is excellent, sir," Sora said with a small hint of enthusiasm. Riku was running his hand through his hair. He was upset. Sora could tell. As they all moved back into the kitchen, Sora gave Riku a consoling smile. Riku gave a small smile back.

"Thank you for coming Sora...and Tidus, where ever he is. I appreciate you came. Since this will be considered a going away party I guess," he said bluntly. His wife gave him a small smack at his comment. Sora felt sick. That window was looking good right now.

Tidus walked in with a spiteful stare that caused Riku to eye him as much as his father. Riku's father was now opening Sora's gifts and thanking him along the way.

"Well, I appreciate your support, Sora, and your mother's for that matter. You don't know how much this promotion means to me-" he said honestly before Tidus cut him off.

"What the fuck is your problem!" Tidus cut through what cheer was in the room like knife. "Do realize what the hell you are doing. If you're not smart enough to see you son does not want to leave than you are a fucking idiot. You know what, if I was Riku, I would hate you. I would hate you for ruining the lives around you for you sake." Tidus looked him directly in the eye. "Fuck you." Riku's face swelled into an angry rage. His eyes looked like they might have been coated in poison as he stared at Tidus.

"Shut up. Who the hell are you to act like this in front of my family. If you my friend, you would not have done what you just did. Do think this is easy for him. I can't believe you. How about you turn your ass around and get the fuck out my house because you sure as hell aren't my friend anymore!" Riku pushed Tidus hard into the wall, knocking off a receiver from the phone on it.

"Riku!" Riku's parents both yelled. Sora did not know what to do.

"What the fuck is your problem. It isn't my fault. It's your dad's-"Tidus argued, earning him a punch in the face. Tidus recovered quickly and fought back with right hook that caught Riku's jaw.

"ENOUGH!" Riku's dad screamed. "OUT! Riku was right about you. Get out you disrespectful son of a bitch!" Sora didn't expect to hear Riku's father speak like that. Tidus turned around and hurried to the door.

"Your whole family is a bunch of assholes Riku!" Tidus shouted before he walked out the door. Riku clenched his fist. Suddenly, he charged out of the room after Tidus. Sora closed his eyes, hearing the harsh tackle, followed by the sound of punches. Riku's father walked out of the room to ensure Riku's safety. His mother was in tears. Sora stayed seated, not sure of what to do.

"Thank you, Sora. You and your mother both are a good people," she said softly through sobbing. He smiled. Glad he came. He could not believe how Tidus reacted.

"He's gone," Riku's father returned.

"What?" she asked.

"Riku ran off. He must of not wanted to talk about it. I'm not yelling at that boy. He had every right-"

"I know dear, but that should not have happened, at least not like that," she said.

"Yeah. Sora? You want me take you home?" he asked.

"No, that's fine," Sora replied, finding his voice. "I feel like walking."

"Okay. See you later. We will let you know when he turns up," he told him. Sora nodded. He had a feeling he knew where he was.

When he walked out the door, he saw a trail of blood leading onto the sidewalk. He followed the sidewalk to the school and walked onto the track and field. He walked down the hill as the sun was setting over the forest. Sora entered and quickly tried to find the path Riku showed him before his light was completely gone. He found the clearing and saw Riku laying beside the lake, watching the sunset.

Sora smiled. He walked up to him and sat down beside him. Riku did not seem surprised to see him, as though he expected him to come.

"You are a good friend Sora," Riku said, sitting up. He wrapped his arms around him in a friendly hug that made Sora feel amazing. He wished it would last forever.

"I will remember you when you are gone," Sora said as Riku released him. Riku smiled at him.

"I will remember you too, Sora," he said back. Despite the fact Riku was going to be leaving, Sora could not tell him. He could not say he loved him. He did not think it mattered now. Either way, Riku would be gone from his life.

Riku did something unexpected. He laid his head in Sora's lap. Sora stared at the back of his head, unsure of what to do. Even though the night did not turn out that great. This moment, made Sora made up for it all and Sora was thankful it was ending like this. Maybe it was best that he did not say anything.

As the sun finally set, Sora leaned his head on Riku's shoulders, and they fell asleep together, as Sora tried not to think about how he would never see his friend again.