We left the apartments in silence. It seemed to be awkward between us a lot. I didn't like it. I turned to look at him, and he looked at me. I blushed and looked away, I didn't see what he did. "Hey Namine," He said.
"Yeah?" I asked. I still didn't look at him.
"Maybe I should... call first..." I looked up at him confused. "I um... don't know if I can have friends over right now..."
"Oh..." I started. I didn't really know what to say. "Okay then. Um... go ahead." I smiled at him, but didn't mean it. He frowned.
"You know, you really suck at–" He cut himself off. I looked at him puzzled. He sighed. "You know..." He started slower. "You never really seem all that happy. Why?"
"I'm happy. I'm... almost always happy."
"When?"
"Always..." I looked away. Something in me just couldn't lie right when I was with him.
"Always like never? Or always like... never ever?"
I sighed. "Never mind it. It's really not important. Just make your stupid call." I turned away, holding my elbows insecurely. I was almost comforting myself. I felt bad. The phone call wasn't stupid, it was something he was doing for me, and I had to be a jerk about it. I seriously don't understand how someone like him could ever... like someone like me... My eyes widened. He had reached around me, and put his hands on mine. He held them gently, but slowly removed them from my elbows. He turned me around, facing him, and hugged me. I had no idea what it was for, he was just hugging me. For the longest time, too. Until finally, I hugged him back. I buried my face into his shirt and mumbled, "Why?"
"Because sometimes, hugging someone else can be a lot nicer than hugging yourself."
"Thank you." I whispered, but I knew he didn't hear.
After a while he pulled away and smiled at me. "Better?" I nodded.
"But you know," I added stubbornly. "Nothing was wrong."
"Oh, okay. Well then if that's the case, maybe I just wanted to hug you." He turned away. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna make my stupid phone call now." I sighed.
"Roxas, come on."
"What?"
"It's not stupid."
"I know."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?"
"I didn't."
"You just... didn't?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Whatever." He dialed his phone and soon enough, someone answered. He hung up without saying anything, sighed, and handed me the phone.
"W-What?" He pushed it into my hands. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Okay, when a guy answers the phone, I want you to ask if Natasha is there. Okay?"
"Why me?"
"Because my dad knows my voice."
"Bwa– Roxas, I–" he pressed a button and the phone started to ring. I started to freak out, but I didn't have time to say anything because a man answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"KF! HELLO! Is Natasha there?" I asked, in a very... troubled... voice. Roxas laughed a little and took the phone from me.
"Pathetic." He said, smiling.
"Well at least I did it for you. You owe me... sort of..."
"Tell you what. Since you made me laugh, I owe you two." He held up to fingers, but his smile vanished. "Hey mom," He said into the phone. "Can a friend come over?"
The phone was particularly loud so I heard the lady on the other end. "Sure honey. You know Hayner is always welcome here."
"Well... that's great, but it's not Hayner."
"Who's coming over, then?"
"Did you get a call from Sora's mom."
"Actually, I did. And who is this girl? She sounds adorable the way your aunt described her. Come on. Tell me all about her."
Roxas looked disturbed. "Why?"
"Because it's obvious you like her!" She said, even louder than before. His face flushed red and he looked over at me. I smiled, pretending I couldn't hear the conversation.
"Yeah!" He yelled into the phone. "I'd love some guacamole with the chips! THANKS!"
"Oh! She's there?"
He coughed. "Yeah. You're right. Guacamole is good." He laughed nervously. "So um... that's the one mom."
"Then of course she can come over! I'll go tell your dad, but turn off your cell phone just in case he tries to call you to say otherwise. I love you honey. I'll see you soon. Bye."
"Bye..." He sighed and hung up.
I smiled, looking over at him. "I like guacamole."
He flinched. "Oh yeah... it's great..." He turned off his phone and we kept walking. I couldn't help but keep a smile plastered on my face the whole time, I had my hands held together in front of me and I looked down at them, my cheeks slightly pink. Roxas had his hands jammed in his pockets, and his cheeks were... some awkward color between red and... green? Oh well. I kept catching him glancing over at me, and the last time, he didn't look away. He smiled, and moved a little closer to me as we walked. I blushed and looked down again. It was really sweet.
"So... Roxas, what's your mom like?"
"She's nice. I mean, you'll meet her soon so–"
"What... what do you think your... other mom is like now?" I clenched my hands tighter and looked up at him. He was looking up as he walked, now, smiling to himself.
"I think she's probably still really pretty. And... she might have another family." His smile faded a bit. "But I wouldn't mind." He turned to me and smiled. "More to love, right?" I hesitated, then smiled and nodded.
"More to love." I said, quietly. Soon enough, we reached his house... no no... his FREAKIN' MANSION!!!!! Oh my gosh. I knew he was on the good side of town... but this? This must have made my home look like a real dump. A real... tiny... dump. I tried to comment, but I didn't want to sound rude. "You... Your... The... You have a beautiful home, Roxas."
Without looking at me, he said, "I have a beautiful house, Namine." He walked up to the porch and put his hand on the doorknob. He didn't move, until finally he looked back. "Woah."
"What?"
"It's almost weird for them to not–"
"Roxas!" Two little girls yelled at once, running across the street and throwing themselves into his arms. He smiled and laughed.
"Hey." He said, happily. "This is Namine." He said, looking at me and smiling, I was looking more at the children than at him, but his smile looked softer than usual.
They noticed the way he was looking at me and they both huffed. They jumped down from his arms and stomped over to me. "I don't like her." Said one of the girls.
"She is not pretty." The other one said. I opened my mouth but, closed it again. I put my hands behind my back and looked down.
Before I realized it, Roxas was at my side. "Well," He said, putting his arm around me. I blushed, and the little girls stuck out their tongues at me. "I like her." They looked surprised. "And I think she's very pretty." I shut my eyes tight, hoping that my cheeks would somehow return to their normal color, but as luck would have it, they didn't. The little girls stood aghast before us. "Come on, Namine. See you two later." He waved the air with one hand, and they frowned. He kept his arm around me, most likely to spite the little girls, and closed his eyes, in a little huff of his own. He opened the door and when we both opened our eyes, we found that there was an angry man standing not far away from us.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat and Roxas removed his arm from my shoulders, moving away a little. "Son," He looked at Roxas sternly. "Your phone was off."
Roxas looked confused. He took it out of his pocket and flipped it open. He smiled and looked up at the man. "Sorry, dad. Looks like my battery died. Why? Did you need me?"
He looked at me and I looked down, afraid of his glare. "No."
"Okay. Well then, me and my friend are gonna go up to my room now and–"
"Door open, with the lovely lady." He said, then turned and left the room. Roxas had tightened up at 'door open' and finally eased up, just in time to sigh and roll his eyes.
A beautiful woman came running into the room, smiling big. "Roxas!" She said, hugging him. He hugged her back, but it didn't last long. "Who is this paragon?" She asked, putting her hand to her chest. "She's so cute!" She squealed. I blushed and looked at Roxas.
He looked at me and mouthed 'Sorry'. I smiled a little, still blushing and the lady stopped squeaking.
"Okay, kids. Now, do you need some snacks, or refreshments, or something? Because if you do–"
"We're not staying long."
"Okay." She turned to walk away, but looked back for a minute. "Oh! And remember, Roxas! Door open." Then she left. He sighed and slapped his forehead. He started to walk up the staircase, which was of the cleanest white carpet I'd ever seen, with a sparkling railing to match, and I began to follow him, except I felt a pull on my arm. I looked down, only to see a plump woman. She looked stern, but happy.
"Dear, would you mind for just a moment, standing next to Master Roxas?" There was a glint in her eye. Puzzled Roxas and I stood next to each other. "OOH!" She cooed. "Adorable! Uh- Thank you, darling. What may I call you in the event you should stop by again?"
"Namine... is fine."
"And with what title?"
"Oh no. I... I don't need a title. Thank you, though."
"No, please. I insist."
"I... Really couldn't. I don't believe in those sorts of things." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Roxas's expression change, It looked almost embarrassed, or surprised.
The woman smiled at me. "Thank you then, Namine." She curtsied and left.
"Your house is really weird, Roxas."
"Nah. Only the people in it." I smiled and followed him, running up the stairs. As soon as he got into the room, he went into the closet and pulled out three never-been-used-perfect-condition-binders filled with those little plastic things you put papers in to keep them safe. He smiled and pushed them into my arms.
"What's–"
"For your dad's drawings. To... keep them safe and whatever..." I looked down at the binders, mouth open, and set them on the desk next to me. Smiling softly, I put my arms around Roxas's neck and rested my head on his shoulder. It was about the sweetest thing for him to even think about doing something like that for me. The door, unfortunately, was only cracked and we saw someone walk by.
They didn't stop, but as they passed, they said calmly, "Door open." and continued to walk. I laughed a bit, then let go of Roxas. Maybe... I was starting to like him, too.
---
We didn't say anything when we walked to my house. At least not for a while. It felt almost tense. I could feel her look at me, so I turned and looked at her. She blushed and turned away, I just smiled to myself. "Hey Namine," He said.
"Yeah?" She still wasn't looking at me.
"Maybe I should... call first... I um... don't know if I can have friends over right now..."
"Oh..." She started slowly. "Okay then. Um... go ahead." She smiled at me, but it was fake. She seemed to do that a lot, and I frowned.
"You know, you really suck at–" I stopped. Dang. She looked up at me and I sighed. "You know..." I slowed down a little to prevent any unnecessary outbursts. "You never really seem all that happy. Why?"
"I'm happy. I'm... almost always happy."
"When?"
"Always..." She was avoiding eye contact, it was too obvious.
"Always like never? Or always like... never ever?"
She sighed. "Never mind it. It's really not important. Just make your stupid call." She turned away from me completely, almost hugging herself. I felt bad. I hadn't meant to come off as rude, I just didn't want my dad to yell in front of her, like he would if I didn't call first... I kind of knew I'd never have a chance with a girl... like her. I reached around her and placed my hands over hers. As gently as I could, I removed them from her elbows and turned her around. I hugged her, and eventually, she hugged me back. She buried her face in my chest and mumbled softly, "Why?"
"Because sometimes, hugging someone else can be a lot nicer than hugging yourself."
I almost didn't want to let go of her, but I figured that... daylight was wasting, and my house wasn't exactly two feet away. I finally pulled away and looked at her. "Better?" She nodded.
"But you know," She added with a tone. "Nothing was wrong."
"Oh, okay. Well then if that's the case, maybe I just wanted to hug you." I looked away. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna make my stupid phone call now." I don't know why I said it, maybe it was her stubbornness that brought out mine, but who knows.
"Roxas, come on."
"What?"
"It's not stupid."
"I know." I said, because I did. But then I felt bad, like I had been trying to make her admit it or something.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?" I just couldn't shut up.
"I didn't."
"You just... didn't?" Stop talking, idiot.
"Yeah."
"Okay. Whatever." And that was the end. I couldn't have possibly been any more of a jerk to her. I dialed and hung up almost instantly. My dad. I couldn't ask my dad. I held the phone out to Namine.
"W-What?" I gave it to her against her not-so-strong will. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Okay, when a guy answers the phone, I want you to ask if Natasha is there. Okay?"
"Why me?"
"Because my dad knows my voice."
"Bwa– Roxas, I–" I pressed a button and the other line rang. It was a loud phone, so I could hear that it worked. Namine started to flip out, but then my dad answered.
"Hello?"
"KF! HELLO! Is Natasha there?" She sounded so stupid. It was cute in a way. I laughed and took the phone, knowing my dad wouldn't ask who it was.
"Pathetic." I joked.
"Well at least I did it for you. You owe me... sort of..."
"Tell you what. Since you made me laugh, I owe you two." I held up my fingers but then got serious. "Hey mom," I greeted. "Can a friend come over?"
"Sure honey. You know Hayner is always welcome here."
"Well... that's great, but it's not Hayner." I said. Pf, assumptions. Maybe it was Pence, or Sora or someone. Why did it have to be Hayner? I mean, I have other friends. Thanks mom.
"Who's coming over, then?"
"Did you get a call from Sora's mom."
"Actually, I did. And who is this girl? She sounds adorable the way your aunt described her. Come on. Tell me all about her."
Um... why did she want to know? "Why?"
"Because it's obvious you like her!" She practically yelled. I knew I was blushing so I looked over at Namine, knowing how loud my phone could be. She smiled, it didn't look like she heard.
"Yeah!" I yelled. "I'd love some guacamole with the chips! THANKS!" Oh my gosh, I'm an idiot.
"Oh! She's there?"
I fake-coughed. "Yeah. You're right. Guacamole is good. So um... that's the one mom." I knew she understood.
"Then of course she can come over! I'll go tell your dad, but turn off your cell phone just in case he tries to call you to say otherwise. I love you honey. I'll see you soon. Bye."
"Bye..." I sighed and flipped the phone closed.
Namine smiled at me. "I like guacamole."
I about died. "Oh yeah... it's great..." I shut off the phone and started to walk again. Namine looked really cute the way she was walking, no. That's not the word. She looked innocent, and really pretty. I of course, was still embarrassed, even if she hadn't heard. I kept looking at her, and she kept noticing. Finally, the last time, I didn't turn away. I smiled and moved a little closer, falling into step. She looked down again, and I kept staring at her.
"So... Roxas, what's your mom like?"
"She's nice. I mean, you'll meet her soon so–"
"What... what do you think your... other mom is like now?" I looked up at the sky, I used to watch clouds with her, so I thought, maybe they would help me to explain. I smiled at the thought of her. My mom. But there were hardly any clouds out today.
"I think she's probably still really pretty. And... she might have another family." I shifted uneasily. "But I wouldn't mind." I smiled at Namine. "More to love, right?" She waited, then smiled and nodded.
"More to love." She whispered. We finally got to my house. Namine was thinking hard about it, obviously. She tried for a while to say something, without insulting me, and I could tell. "You... Your... The... You have a beautiful home, Roxas."
I responded without looking, "I have a beautiful house, Namine." I walked up to the door and put my hand on the knob. I waited and waited- nothing. This was weird... I looked back. "Woah."
"What?"
"It's almost weird for them to not–"
"Roxas!" And up ran the two I had waited for. Haylie and Bailey. I smiled, hugging them like always.
"Hey." I said. "This is Namine." I said cheerfully, smiling at her. My gaze was softer, and I must have looked pretty stupid, sitting there and smiling all dazed by her beauty and all.
Maybe now's the time to mention that Haylie and Bailey had two crushes each. Me, and Riku. It was almost embarrassing, you know, two... little girls... who also liked Riku? How good was their taste in boys? It really makes a guy wonder about himself... They jumped down and examined her. Trouble in the making... "I don't like her." Haylie said.
"She is not pretty." Bailey added. Namine opened her mouth, but didn't say anything, and looked down, depressed. It was obvious that their words had gotten to her.
I was a little mad, so I went to go stand next to her, and make it clear to the twins I liked her, and they didn't have to, but they should still be polite. Rich kids, you know? "Well," I said, putting my arm around her shoulders. They stuck their tongues put at her and I looked at them harshly. "I like her." They wouldn't accept it. My friends that were girls, that I could never have any remote feeling for, because their my best friends... that are girls... were disliked by the twins too. Any girl really, that was ever with me. "And I think she's very pretty." She was embarrassed... and cute. They wouldn't have it. They looked shocked. "Come on, Namine. See you two later." I left in the way they hated most, purposely. Carried away, I kept my arm around Namine and shut my eyes, walking into the house. I opened my eyes, once in, and found my enraged father... again.
"Ahem." I moved away from Namine, and pulled my arm back to it's side. "Son," The look... "Your phone was off." He hated that.
I played him easily. "Sorry, dad. Looks like my battery died. Why? Did you need me?"
He glanced over at Namine, and she looked down. "No."
"Okay. Well then, me and my friend are gonna go up to my room now and–"
"Door open, with the lovely lady." He said, then turned and left the room. I was so disturbed. Door open? Come on! I looked up and rolled my eyes.
My step-mom, smiling ear-to-ear was running into the room. "Roxas!" She hugged me, like always. "Who is this paragon?" She asked, putting her hand to her chest. "She's so cute!" She squealed. Namine blushed and looked over at me.
I mouthed 'Sorry'. She smiled, and the tint on her cheeks went down to a hue.
"Okay, kids. Now, do you need some snacks, or refreshments, or something? Because if you do–"
"We're not staying long."
"Okay." She started to leave, but then turned back. "Oh! And remember, Roxas! Door open." Good to know I'm so dang trusted. I started to walk up the stairs, because I saw Percilla coming. She was the head maid for my family. Unfortunately, she caught Namine's arm.
"Dear, would you mind for just a moment, standing next to Master Roxas?" Namine didn't get it, I would have rather not, but I did. "OOH!" She yelled. "Adorable! Uh- Thank you, darling. What may I call you in the event you should stop by again?"
"Namine... is fine."
"And with what title?"
"Oh no. I... I don't need a title. Thank you, though."
"No, please. I insist."
"I... Really couldn't. I don't believe in those sorts of things." I felt horrible when she said that. All I ever wanted when I was little was to finally be old enough to get a title from the attendants, but Namine seemed to think they were a sign of inferiority, and that made me feel bad, because I knew they weren't.
Cil smiled. Oh yeah, I call her Cil because she's my attendant... personally, and she's really cool. "Thank you then, Namine." She curtsied and left.
"Your house is really weird, Roxas."
"Nah. Only the people in it." She smiled and we ran up the stairs. I went to my second bedroom, because I knew that what I wanted was in my closet there. I ran into the room and went into the closet. There they were, the binders. They were full of those annoying little plastic things, but that's why I was giving them to her. I mean, I wasn't using them, I never had, and obviously, I was never gonna. I smiled and handed them to her.
"What's–"
"For your dad's drawings. To... keep them safe and whatever..." I didn't want to sound too mushy. She set them down and smiled sweetly at me. She moved her arms up around my neck, and laid her head on my shoulder. I couldn't have asked for a better response. Unfortunately, the door wasn't open that much, and my other personal attendant -chill, I only have two- walked by and knew, without looking, that we were hugging. The dude's a freaking psychic or something... No really, I swear.
He didn't stop walking, or look in, but he said, "Door open." She laughed a little, then released me. I could only wish that she was starting to like me, too.
— Bonus!
Haylie and Bailey–
(In case you don't get it, regular writing is Haylie, bold is both of them, and italics is Bailey)
We were just playing teddies like usual and–
Actually, we were playing puppies but–
It doesn't even matter! We were playing, and we saw Roxas!!
Roxas! With some really pretty girl. Hopefully, she was a cousin.
Hopefully.
Or we would have to take some cautionary measures.
Which we did. "Roxas!" We yelled, running up.
He smiled and hugged us like any other time. "Hey." he explained. "This is Namine."
This stunk. He was giving her...
The look.
We couldn't have the look unleashed. But then again, if worse came worst--
If push came to shove–
There was always... Riku...
I looked at her funny. She was really pretty, but I didn't want Roxas to think so. He was mine.
MINE!
Ours...
"I don't like her." Haylie said.
"She is not pretty." Bailey said. She was REALLY sensitive.
Unfortunately... Roxas must have really liked her...
Guess so...
He was mad and he came over to stand next to her. "Well," he said, dreamily...
Putting his arm around... her...
THE ABSOLUTE ENEMY...
We stuck our tongues out like this– MN! But Roxas got mad...er...
"I like her." I almost did it again just to hear his voice... He's just dreamy...
"And I think she's very pretty." He lied... I think... hopefully. "Come on, Namine. See you two later."
When Roxas got into the house with Nakitome or Mifihoot or whatever her name was, we found a dolly that looked like her. And threw it away. Then we found our picture of Riku, and kissed it a whole bunch. Riku...