This Chapter is for SagaLight. Don't get sick!!!! Thanks for the review, and it made me feel so special, when really, I don't think I'm that good of a writer. So this one's all for SagaLight, hope you enjoy!
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This was gonna be great. I just knew it. My first snow day! And with wonderful new friends. I knew it would be great. I inhaled deeply, a huge smile on my face. First snow day... it didn't really seem to process. My mom always hated the snow. She said that even though it was pretty, it was just cold, wet, and frozen. Nothing special. My dad, though... he loved it. He drew a lot of snowy pictures. He said that he admired the way it could transform a whole landscape over night, making it even more beautiful. He also told me once... that snow was magical. That it made special things happen. I believed him, because I knew he wouldn't lie to me, and even then... I had a good feeling about today.
I ran back into my room, after standing at the window for a while and changed into warmer clothes. Much... warmer clothes. I started imagining what it would be like in the snow. Magical snow... We might have a snowball fight, or drink hot cocoa together. I had all these random little pictures flying through my head. Also... magic made miracles... right? I wanted a miracle right now. Really badly. Roxas. He was a miracle all by himself. But somehow I wanted more. I sighed, a smile still alive on my face. Maybe I would ask for it for Christmas...
After I was all dressed, I started to run out the door, but stopped myself, just barely catching glance of the two kittens, cuddled up miserably in the corner. I smiled, and went back to my room, returning with a pillow and a ton of blankets. They instantly took to the temporary bed, and I left them, for my first time in the snow. I knocked on the door across from ours. Kazuki answered. He was in a sweatshirt, but it didn't really look warm enough for snow. I frowned. "Kazi... you can't seriously be wearing that..."
He shrugged. "It's the warmest thing I got."
"Well... then... what are you gonna do. You're gonna be all cold."
"Nah, you can help me." He smiled, holding out his arm. I smiled too, and wrapped my arms around it, almost like a hug. We started to leave. "So, are we gonna get Hayner first? Since he lives closest?"
"Um... Sure." I was kind of hoping to seeing Roxas first...
He frowned at me, I smiled at him. "You know, I don't really wanna look at Hayner right now." My jaw fell. "I'm... not really in the mood for his face." I moved back a little. This really wasn't like Kazuki. And... please... not in the mood for his face? How lame was he? "How about..." He paused, and smiled at me. "How about we get Roxas first?" I smiled, and squeezed his arm a little tighter, snuggling my face into it.
After a lot of walking, and a lot of freezing... we got to Roxas's house. A few of the attendants were putting up Christmas decorations, but they declined any help we offered. Kazuki, being the kind of guy he is, offered to wait on the sidewalk while I got Roxas. He was almost too sweet. "Hi, Roxas." I said, after he opened the door.
"Hey Namine." He moved around me, and I looked back, smiling at him. He never did like Kazuki... and I couldn't tell why. "Kazuki." He nodded.
Kazuki waved. "Hey!"
"Roxas," I said, smiling. "This is my first snow day."
"What?" He didn't sound like he believed me.
"I always went to my grandpa's for Christmas, my dad's mom, but this year, their visiting us. So, this is my first time seeing snow!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! I'm so happy I get to spend it with you!" I said, hugging him. I couldn't really help myself. It was an impulse. Not that I minded at all when he hugged me back.
"Hey... Namine..."
"Yeah?"
"There's something I wanted to ask you." I pulled away and shrugged, trying so hard not to just glomp him. The other night, I was on the phone with Kairi, and she said that Sora said that Roxas said that he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend today. In all my excitement, I called Kazuki to tell him the news, but now, I didn't think I could hold it in any longer. Ask! Ask! Ask!
"Anything for you." I said, trying to sound sweet.
"Just me?" He smiled devilishly.
I blushed, not wanting to answer. But yes, just him. "That depends. I can only answer that if it's your question. You know," I crouched down and drew a little angel in the snow. Then smiled back up at him. "You only get one." The question I had waited so long to say yes to. I couldn't be patient any more.
"Okay. Fair enough." He took my hand and pulled me up, but due to his aforementioned 'strength', he pulled too hard and I fell into his warm arms. I laughed a little, now comfortable in his embrace.
"Hey guys!" Kazuki yelled. "Come on, I'm freezing!" I laughed a little and ran back over to him, again taking his arm to help with the cold.
"Come on Roxas!" I tried so hard to sound happy. The one chance... lost. Although I was hanging onto Kazuki, I couldn't help worrying about Roxas. He looked... warm, but he wasn't wearing gloves. "Roxas," Not that I really minded much that Kazuki was between us, but I really wanted to be next to Roxas. I mean, we were dating. Although, Kazuki was almost like a brother to me, so I couldn't just... ask him to move. "You're not wearing gloves?"
"Nah. I never do."
"Roxas! I don't want you to get sick." I pouted for a moment, then stopped, and held Kazuki still, Roxas then stopped, too. "Kazi? Can I switch you places?" At least now I had a reason, not like I needed one to want to be close to Roxas.
"Yeah sure. You don't have to ask. I mean, don't let me be the one to stand between you and Roxas."
"Roxas," I held my hand out to him, hoping deeply that he would take it, but not only to be warm. Maybe it was the fact that Kazuki was there that he didn't take it, I mean, nothing ever stopped him before. I thought he liked holding my hand.
"Wha–"
"If you won't wear gloves, I'm sharing mine. Roxas, I really don't want you to be cold."
"I'm not cold." Liar.
"Roxas, grow up. What would a real boy do?"
"Go ask Pinochio." He shrugged and let his eyes move out of my sight.
"Roxas, if you don't hold my hand right now, I'll never agree to go out with you." I couldn't really keep it in anymore. If he wasn't making the move... I was. It was cute when he blushed, because he didn't very often.
"I–"
"Sora told Kairi, Kairi told me," I shrugged. "Word gets around, you know?" I think he was a little mad that they told, but it didn't matter at the time.. "Roxas," He didn't look up. "I'd really like to answer that question you had earlier, but if that's it, I can't give you the one I want to."
He refused to speak to me. It hurt to know. "Why not?" Kazuki asked. I didn't look at him, but kept my eyes on Roxas.
"Because I said I wouldn't agree if he didn't hold my hand."
It got quiet. Kazuki's arm slipped away from mine and he walked ahead, waiting for us to finish. "So then... you wanted to–"
"Roxas, please. Did you really ever have a doubt? I was worried you didn't like me, and when Kairi told me, I couldn't even believe it." I looked out at Kazuki. I was grateful I had a friend like him. "I talked to Kazi about it, and he said that it was obvious, and I should just take my shot at you."
"You told him?"
"He asked." I said looking at him again. He sighed. "Roxas, while we're on it... Kazuki thinks you don't like him... do you?" He had asked me yesterday when I called him, and I couldn't just tell him what I thought, it would hurt his feelings.
He scratched the back of his head and he wouldn't look at me. "I... don't really..."
I sighed, my breath forming a little cloud. "Why do you hate him?"
"I don't hate him... perce..." He wasn't making a very good point.
"Oh really?" I asked. "Then what do you think of him... perce?"
"Strongly disklike with a passion?"
"Aw, Roxas, come on! He hasn't given you any reason to hate him! I don't get it. He's a perfect angel." And my best friend... but I thought I'd leave that out.
"Exactly."
"What?" Needless to say... Namine not happy.
"He's always so nice to you and junk, and he's always all around you and–"
"Roxas, he's allowed to be. He's my friend. Come on. Did you... think he liked me or something?" It was embarrassing to ask, as he was embarrassed nodding. "He has a girlfriend." But what of it?
"He does?"
"Yes. Let's go." He ran a little to catch up to me as I started to walk when he upset me. I felt bad, I had told Roxas I was happy to be with him on this day, and now he probably didn't believe me. My smile had completely vanished and I didn't really expect it to come back too soon. Now he probably wouldn't ask me out.
"Hey, Namine,"
"Roxas, if you're going to apologize, you really don't have to. I know you just–"
"My hands are pretty cold." I looked up at him, confused. Oh no he didn't. Idiot... "Mind sharing?"
I smiled for a second. Oh yes he did. So sweet, but still stupid... "Actually, I do mind. What would..." I looked back at him. "My boyfriend think?"
"He would think..." We smiled. "That he really doesn't want to get sick." I giggled and reached around his neck for a hug. My boyfriend's hug. And I loved him. And I knew.
"Roxas," I said quietly. "What are we gonna tell people?"
"What's there to tell?" I released him.
"Well... you know. It's just that they–"
"Namine, this is your first snow day. All you need to worry about is having fun with your boyfriend." It was great that things weren't awkward with it. Of course, we both knew that this was coming, we both expected it. We also knew... that -unofficially- this was happening for so much longer.
"Namine, snow is the most magical thing. It's beautiful, like your mother, it's soft, like your eyes, and it's forever. The magic of snow is in your heart, and will only become if you let it out. Remember your magic, don't ever let it melt away. Do you know why it is forever? No matter how many times it disappears, it will always come back to you." Those were the words that my father said to me as he was being pushed into the emergency room. He let go of my hand and smiled at me. "Your snow is coming, my dear. Just wait. He'll be there." He. I didn't know what he meant then. But now I did. People fell in love in snow, like my mother and father. He knew that someday, I would, too. Although my mom was right in everything she said about snow, my dad was even more so. Snow. My magical snow.
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I just thought... you know... snow... girl you like... why not plan out some incredibly romantic sleigh ride... or something cheesy like that? And so I did, and that's when I would ask her. Who would have thought that the first snow day of the year would have so much snow? It was beautiful, but freezing... Every year... every year me and my friends would all hang out and if there was one day not to miss, it was the first snow day of the year. It was great. It had brought almost every one of us a present at some point in our lives. Almost.
Sora had gotten his first kiss -from Kairi- when we were like... eight or something. Kairi... got to kiss Sora. Go figure... Hayner met Olette on the first snow day of the year a couple years ago. Olette met Hayner. Tidus had his first snow day on... well... the first snow day. Selphie got her picture in the paper for saving some little kitten from something or other... Wakka found out that he was like... a pro at some weird game with a ball...? Riku met Haylie and Bailey, the... supposed first girls to ever like him. Pence got his first camera. I had never been brought a gift on the day, but I had a good feeling about this one.
This would definitely be history, hands down the best, even if nothing happened. After all, it was my first snow day, my first Christmas, with Namine. And- Kazuki... Oh yeah... him... It might not be that great. As the thought of Kazuki crossed my mind, my face turned red with anger. The doorbell rang and I smiled a little, thinking it had to be Sora or Hayner or someone. I got up, but didn't really rush to the door. All the attendants knew that the first ring of the doorbell on the first snow day of the year was mine.
I put on one of those kind of puffy jackets, a black and white checkered scarf, and a black beanie. I got to the door and answered, only to find Namine. She was in a long white jacket, faux fur lined the edges, and a furry white hat that had those weird little puff balls on a string. Her cheeks and nose were pink and she didn't have a scarf on. She had soft blue gloves on and she smiled, warming me from the inside out. "Hi, Roxas."
"Hey Namine." I looked beyond her and she glanced back, smiling at me again. "Kazuki." I said, nodding.
He waved. "Hey!" I couldn't believe he had actually come here with Namine. Sure, I expected him to be there for a while, but to come with Namine? What is this?!
"Roxas," Namine said, still smiling. "This is my first snow day."
"What?" I asked.
"I always went to my grandpa's for Christmas, my dad's mom, but this year, their visiting us. So, this is my first time seeing snow!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! I'm so happy I get to spend it with you!" She said, throwing her arms around me. I laughed a little and hugged her back. Kazuki smiled at us, but I tried not to look at him, spoil the moment, you know?
"Hey... Namine..."
"Yeah?"
"There's something I wanted to ask you." She pulled away and shrugged.
"Anything for you."
"Just me?" I asked, smiling evilly.
She blushed, taken aback. "That depends. I can only answer that if it's your question. You know," she said, crouching down. She hugged her knees with one arm, but still only her feet touched the ground. She drew a little angel in the snow with her finger, then smiled back up at me. "You only get one."
"Okay. Fair enough." I gave her my hand, and pulled her up quickly, but she kept going, and fell into me, laughing. My cheeks changed color, and I absent-mindedly blamed the cold for their turning red.
"Hey guys!" Kazuki called. "Come on, I'm freezing!" Namine laughed and ran back over to him, hugging his arm.
"Come on Roxas!" She yelled. I sighed, my chance lost, and walked over to them, hands in pockets. We started to walk, Namine -disturbingly enough- was still clinging to Kazuki, and she looked at me inquisitively. "Roxas," She said, looking at my pockets. I looked at her, eyes meeting with Kazuki's along the way. Somehow, he had ended up in the middle -it was NOT okay. On ANY level. And it NEVER would be. EVER. He smiled, I smirked and looked over at the concerned girl. "You're not wearing gloves?"
"Nah. I never do."
"Roxas! I don't want you to get sick." She pouted for a moment then stopped, stopping Kazuki, and I paused, too. Not to leave them alone... like that... Who knows what could happen? "Kazi? Can I switch you places?" Was that... a pet name? Woah. This wasn't working for me.
"Yeah sure. You don't have to ask. I mean, don't let me be the one to stand between you and Roxas." Was he mocking me? Woah, now. The gloves were coming off! No wait... crap! The moments you wish you wore some gloves... DANG!
"Roxas," Came the angel voice, I smiled, and looked down. Her hand was held out to me, glove and all, and her other arm was still linked with Kazuki's.
"Wha–" She cut me off.
"If you won't wear gloves, I'm sharing mine. Roxas, I really don't want you to be cold."
"I'm not cold." I lied.
"Roxas, grow up. What would a real boy do?"
"Go ask Pinochio." I said, shrugging and turning my eyes down.
"Roxas, if you don't hold my hand right now, I'll never agree to go out with you." My cheeks turned red instantly and my eyes were brought back up to meet hers. Her gaze was soft upon me, like she hadn't said what she did.
"I–"
"Sora told Kairi, Kairi told me," She shrugged. "Word gets around, you know?" I exhaled sharply, my face still completely red. "Roxas," I didn't look up. "I'd really like to answer that question you had earlier, but if that's it, I can't give you the one I want to."
I wasn't going to say anything -and so, of course, Kazuki did. "Why not?" His tone suggested that he had known, too.
"Because I said I wouldn't agree if he didn't hold my hand."
It was silent. I looked up, to find that Kazuki had composed in the kindness of starting up ahead, out of ear shot, and waiting for us to finish. "So then, you wanted to–"
"Roxas, please. Did you really ever have a doubt? I was worried you didn't like me, and when Kairi told me, I couldn't even believe it." She looked out, out at Kazuki. "I talked to Kazi about it, and he said that it was obvious, and I should just take my shot at you."
"You told him?"
"He asked." She said, looking back. I sighed. "Roxas, while we're on it... Kazuki thinks you don't like him... do you?"
I scratched the back of my head and avoided eye contact. Not that I ever had, but what? Now suddenly, I was the one who couldn't lie? "I... don't really..."
She sighed, her breath easily seen in the brisk air. "Why do you hate him?"
"I don't hate him... perce..." I defended... sort of.
"Oh really?" She asked. "Then what do you think of him... perce?"
"Strongly disklike with a passion?"
"Aw, Roxas, come on! He hasn't given you any reason to hate him! I don't get it. He's a perfect angel."
"Exactly."
"What?" She sounded a little mad.
"He's always so nice to you and junk, and he's always all around you and–"
"Roxas, he's allowed to be. He's my friend. Come on. Did you... think he liked me or something?" It was obvious that she was embarrassed asking. I nodded, embarrassed to answer. "He has a girlfriend."
"He does?"
"Yes. Let's go." She said a little bitterly. I had to jog a couple of steps to keep up with her. I felt bad, I had ruined her first snow day. Our first actual chance... happy to spend it with me... and I do this? What is it with me, sometimes... Really. Her cheery smile had faded, if only for a moment.
"Hey, Namine,"
"Roxas, if you're going to apologize, you really don't have to. I know you just–"
"My hands are pretty cold." She looked up at me, with an arched brow. "Mind sharing?"
She smiled for a moment, then turned her nose up the other way. "Actually, I do mind. What would..." She looked back at me. "My boyfriend think?"
"He would think..." I smiled at her, and she smiled back. "That he really doesn't want to get sick." She giggled and reached up around my neck.
"Roxas," She said quietly. "What are we gonna tell people?"
"What's there to tell?" She let go.
"Well... you know. It's just that they–"
"Namine, this is your first snow day. All you need to worry about is having fun with your boyfriend." I extended my hand to her, which she took, and instantly, it warmed.
Sora had gotten his first kiss -from Kairi- when we were like... eight or something. Kairi... got to kiss Sora. Go figure... Hayner met Olette on the first snow day of the year a couple years ago. Olette met Hayner. Tidus had his first snow day on... well... the first snow day. Selphie got her picture in the paper for saving some little kitten from something or other... Wakka found out that he was like... a pro at some weird game with a ball...? Riku met Haylie and Bailey, the... supposed first girls to ever like him. Pence got his first camera. Namine became my girlfriend.