Chapter 9: Haylie, Bailey, Cooks, and Snooks

As I walked home, I stared up at the sky. Not really out of depression, or boredom. I was thinking, just thinking. I'm not even really sure what I was thinking about, I just... was. You know, it's like when you're completely spaced, but then someone distracts you, and you say 'I was just daydreaming'. Even if you weren't consciously, you musthave been on some level, right? I guess that's just me. Oh well. Back to it. So, I was walking home, and I decided to take the long way. Who knows why, like I said, I wasn't really paying attention, I kind of just strayed down the path. Soon enough, the sky bored me, and I brought my eyes back to the scene. A butterfly played across the peaceful silence, bringing no disruption to the set. I smiled in thoughts, once again, and reached my home.

I lived in a large, sort of beat-up apartment. I was on the fourth floor, of five, and in the third room on the left. My smile faded away into nothingness, a calm expression of loneliness, my usual look. Today, when I pressed the button for the elevator, a boy, about my age, walked up next to me. "Hey." He greeted with a smile.

I forced one and nodded in his direction. "Hi."

"What's your name?"

"Namine. And you?"

"Kazuki."

I bit my lip looking forward, and nodded. "Shining one."

"What?"

"Shining one, isn't it?"

He smiled. "Yeah. Or pleasant peace. I'm surprised you knew that."

I shrugged.

"Hey, do you live around here?"

I smiled and stepped into the elevator, and he did too. "Why else would I be in here?"

"Oh, yeah, huh? I forgot it was a private apartment. So um... which floor are you?"

"Four." I said, and he pressed the button.

"Me, too. I just moved in."

"Cool. What room?"

"Third on the right."

"Right across from me. Maybe we could hang out sometime." I said, trying to be polite. After all, I was once the new kid, and it took me several years to make friends... i.e., I only just made them today. I didn't want anyone else to have that problem.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks." I nodded.

"So," The elevator had just let out, and we stepped out in unison. "What're you doing tomorrow?"

"Nothing."

"Do you want to come meet my friends?"

"Sure."

"Alright." Kazuki was a boy taller than me, about the same height as Roxas, with sparkling emerald eyes. They were really pretty to look at, and I stared right into them because of the color. His cheeks looked to be a little pink naturally, but you could hardly tell without looking. He seemed to smile a lot, and that's good, because I liked his smile. It reminded me of Roxas, and then, I liked... Roxas... His hair was dark brown, and it hung just a little bit below his eyes, it was a little messy, but it looked good in general. "So um... I'm gonna go now, I need to be home. So, I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah. See ya." Because we had already reached our doors, I unlocked mine and waved a little, stepping in, he smiled at least until the door was closed, then I heard the one across the hall open and shut.

"Mom!" I called through the apartment. It wasn't the nicest place to live, but I loved it. The curtains were tattered and the couch was a little torn, but my grandma had sewn up a lot of places in it for us, she lived with us, too. But she was sickly, and probably in bed. "Mom, are you here?" I yelled, and began to look through the rooms. I sighed, noting a piece of paper on the kitchen table. "Not again." I said under my breath. I picked up the note and began to read. Yep. Again.

Namine,

I'm sorry I didn't get to stay home as long as I would have liked to, maybe we can spend some time together tomorrow. Something came up at work, and I almost turned it down, but Karen told me that I might get a promotion if I took it, so I did. I promise, honey. Tomorrow. I'll even take you shopping to make up for it.

Forever X's and O's,

Your loving mother.

I looked at the note before setting back on the table for disregard. I would have liked to think that my mom would talk to me some time, or take me shopping like she always said. But no, never. At least now I had someone to hang out with when the disappointment came back. You'd think I'd get it by now. But I couldn't lose faith in my mom. She tries so hard to make things good for us, and sometimes, it doesn't work. But somehow, I always seem a little surprised when she doesn't come through. I understand that she needs to work, but shouldn't she work a little more on family?

I took out my cell phone and stared blankly at the name. Roxas your new friend. Do I call him? Sure, I'd like to. But he just gave me his number and I didn't want to come off as weird. Of course, why would he have given me the number if he didn't want me to call him? Oh my gosh. Did he want me to call him? I mean, he did say he liked me. But if I called him, would I be admitting I liked him? And if I wasn't, would it slip out? What if I accidentally hung up on him or something stupid and he got mad at me? What if he said something like 'why would you– My thoughts were interrupted by a small noise in the back of the apartment. Throwing my worries out the window, I stood up and smiled.

"Snooks, Cooks, come here." My two little kittens. I found them stray in the street one day, and I couldn't let them go unloved. So I brought them home, and my mom instantly accepted them as part of the family. A boy and a girl. Cookie and Snookie. Cookie was the boy, and he was named so because he had light brown fur, and little black spots, all over him, really cute on his head, too. He looked like a cheetah at first, but he was so cuddly and sweet that he started to look like a little chocolate chip cookie. Snookie, the girl, is the spunkier of the two. She walks with her tail sticking straight up and her chest puffed out. I guess she likes to think she's in charge of the world, but whenever she sees me, she goes straight for the lap.

As the two little kittens came bounding from my room and gently scratching my legs, wanting to be picked up, I decided that, maybe in ten minutes, I'd call Roxas.

---

I started to walk home, and I kind of regretted it. Maybe I should have walked Namine home. That would have been nice. Plus, I wouldn't have to face my dad for a few more minutes. I kept thinking about that until I reached the homes. I quickly punched in the code and walked through the slowly opening gate. I lived with my dad and my step-mom in a gated community on the sort of... upperclass side of town. Nobody really thought anything of it, it was just kind of... Roxas's house, y'know? I came to my house, all in due time, and stopped at the porch. I considered very strongly just waiting out there for a while, but then I decided to walk in. However, as I reached for the doorknob, I heard my name called several times.

Smiling, I let my hand fall to the ground and I turned, instantly bombarded by two little girls. They lived across the street, the only other kids on the block, and they loved to play with me. To be completely honest, I love kids, so I liked to play with them, too. Of course, they knew my limits, I would sit by and watch them play teddies, or I help them catch a ball or something, but when the Barbies © came out, the gloves came off. I wasn't gonna let no seven year old girl -twins- no matter how cute make me play with no stinking Barbies ©.

"Hey, Haylie. Hi Bailey." I said, making them giggle uncontrollably. One of them was clinging to either of my legs, making me stumble from time to time. "Can I have my legs back?"

"For a hug!" They yelled together. And I swear, these girls would do just about anything for a hug.

"Okay, okay." They squealed and let go of my legs, throwing their arms up at me. "Let's see, Bailey went first last time," She frowned. "So come on Haylie!" I picked the little girl up and spun her around. Then I threw her up in the air, during which she screamed with excitement, and caught her, hugging her and setting her back down. Bailey was still frowning, and looking off to the side, her bottom lip sticking WAY out. "Baylie," I said, smiling and extending my arms to her. She smiled and jumped up. I repeated the routine with her and set her down.

"Play with us!" Bailey yelled.

"Yeah! Play with us!"

"Sorry, shorties. I have to get home." They frowned and puffed out their cheeks. "Aw," I said. "How could I say no to those faces? I'll play with you tomorrow, okay?"

"Promise?" They both asked, sticking out their pinkies.

"Promise. I'll even bring a friend." Their faces lit up as I took their pinkies.

"Is it Riku?" Haylie asked.

"He's a stud-muffin!" Bailey yelled, and they giggled.

For some reason, and I couldn't know why, they had some weird little crush on Riku. I guess... someone's gotta like the guy... "Bye." I said again, slipping through the door.

I turned around, only to find that my dad, arms crossed, had been standing RIGHT there, and I had to back up so I didn't hit him.

"Roxas, where have you been?"

"I went to the park." I shrugged.

"Without asking?"

"I left a note."

"I got it." He said, holding it up in his hand. "Look, I don't want to get into an argument right now," I raised a brow. "Because I have some good news for you."

There went the other brow. My dad... good news? The two just didn't seem to fit together. "And that is..."

"You're switching schools." He said, no expression.

"What?" I asked. I couldn't see how this was in the least bit... good news...

"You didn't let me finish. You're switching to a boarding school."

"Dad, come on. There are no boarding school around here."

"Exactly. That's why your mother and I–"

"Tasha. She's not my mom." I said. It wasn't that I didn't think of her as a mother. I kind of just wanted him mad, for what he was doing.

"Your mother and I," He repeated sternly. "Have decided to send you to England. The place is chalk full of boarding school and it's the perfect place for you to get a good education. And of course, you will be without the distraction of your..." He made quotes with his fingers. "Posse."

"You mean my friends?" I asked angrily.

"Is that a tone?" He asked.

"Yeah, dad. It's a tone. It's the kind of tone you use when you're mad at someone who's being stupid!"

"Roxas! I know what's best for you!"

"How?!" I yelled. "How could you ever know what's best for me?! You know nothing ABOUT me!" He just stared at me, in shock, disbelief. I knew I shouldn't have yelled at him, but he kind of deserved it. I was mad and my face showed it. It was like some retarded version of the if you're happy and you know it, except... Okay, you get the stupid out of tone analogy right? Well, never mind it.

"I'm home!" Came a cheery voice. It erupted through the silence and broke my lingering glare at my father. He smiled at his wife and I sighed, now it was over. He would get her to tell me I had to go, and there would be no fretting about it. "Natasha, would you please tell Roxas he has to go to the boarding school? I know what we're doing."

Her smile wiped away and she looked at me, then back at my dad. "Honey... I thought we talked about this..." My eyes widened. She just rejected my dad. I had never in my life, seen anyone except for my mom reject my dad. Now both of them had.

"Well, I decided." She leaned a little to one side and widened her eyes, giving him one of those oh-no-you-didn't-just types of looks.

"No." She said harshly. "I've legally adopted Roxas. He's my child, too. You can't send him away without my consent. Roxas, sweety," Her tone changed as she looked at me. Let's go out to ice cream. We should probably talk some."

She took her coat off the rack and turned to me, nodding out the door. "Honey, we'll be back in a few minutes."

I watched her leave then glanced back at my dad and ran out the door after my mom.