My eyes shot open the next morning as the sun poured into my room. Birds sung happily outside my window as if they didn't have a care in the world. I reached over and grabbed my cell phone to check the time as I flipped over on my stomach.

7:56

I let out a heavy sigh. Rinoa or whatever her name is wanted me to be over her – their - house by 9 sharp. I sat up all the way and noticed that my phone also had a text message from an unknown number.

Hey! This is Rinoa, I was wondering if you could come around 8:30? I want to get to know you more! Bye!

I instantly closed my phone and placed it beside me. Curling up my knees to my chest, I stared out my window in a daze.

These last 2 days… it wasn't a dream. Sora was really engaged. God, how long was it going to take me to realize this? I wasn't with him anymore… he moved on in life. I'm single. He's not.

Why is it so hard to accept that simple fact?

Running my hand through my messy blue hair, I finally decided to get up and get dress. Rinoa wanted me there 30 minutes earlier anyway and I still had to find their house.

I took a quick shower and put on a yellow tank top and some gray short shorts. I slipped on my black vans and decided to let my still wet hair stay in its curly manor. Who was I dressing to impress anyway?

Going outside my apartment building, the sun instantly blinded me. It was kind of hot out today which was unusual for May weather in Twilight Town. If it's hot here, I know it's scorching in Destiny Islands.

"Guess I better get going," I said to myself as I checked the time on my phone.

~!~

"…Hello?"

"I'm lost…" I said as I drove around the same neighborhood twice.

"It's the small white house that looks like a shack!" Naminé said to me on the other line.

"Can't you come and find me? I'm on the right street… I think…" I said as I passed the same Coconut St. for the second time.

"Um… I'm with Rinoa and Kairi…"

"I know! At their house right?"

"Uh… no. Rinoa said you were taking too long and her appointment with the dressmaker was at 9…"

"Nami! Who are you on the phone with? It better not be Rock Ass!" I could hear Rinoa sing all cheerfully in Nami's background.

"It's Roxas and no I'm not. I'm trying to help Talia find your house," Naminé sounded irritated.

"Talia? Tell her to just come here! Don't find the house! Just come here!" I could hear the panic in Rinoa's voice and the struggle as Naminé tried to pull her phone away.

Then I heard a click noise and my phone was back to its home screen. Letting out a heavy sigh, I looked up from my phone to the group of houses in front of me. Most of them look like small versions of beach houses, but that's when I saw the small shack-like house Naminé was talking about. How could I miss that… twice? It was smack dead in the middle of the row of houses and stood out like a sore thumb considering it was the only one white. I couldn't help but laugh at myself a little.

I pulled up in the driveway and turned my car off. If Rinoa wasn't home… then doesn't that mean… Sora is? Could I bear to see him again so soon? What was I even doing here? I'm helping a complete stranger with her wedding… with the one I love.

Sighing, I got out of my car and treaded my way to the front door. I stared at it for a good minute before actually getting the confidence to ring the doorbell. On the inside I could hear footsteps slowly making its way to the door. As soon as it opened I wished I could have run back to my car and hide.

There in front of me stood Sora himself. I could tell he was still somewhat asleep. He had on a tank top that complimented his muscles very well. In fact, I think I could see his 6 pack a little under his shirt. He had on basketball shorts and his spiky hair was a tad bit spikier than usual. I couldn't help but stare at him.

"Talia…?" He raised a brow at me as I continued to stare at him.

I quickly snapped out of my daze and straightened my posture. I still couldn't let him know his engagement still had an effect on me.

"Uh… Rinoa… is um-" I couldn't find the words to say. He chuckled as I searched around in my brain for what to say.

"Rinoa left already. You can come in and wait for her though," He grinned at me.

I frowned slightly. What would it look like if I, his ex-girlfriend, came into his house that he shares with his fiancée? I don't think so.

"Uh… It's okay… I can wait in my car…" I shifted my eyes away from him.

He frowned slightly at me. I just smiled a little at him with my eyes still away from him.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Fine…"

"Oka-"

"I'll just wait in the car with you!" He smiled at me before walking fully out the house and closing the door behind him.

"Eh! No!" I quickly went after him as he started his way to my car.

"Talia," he stopped walking for a minute, causing me to almost bump into him.

"Look, Sora, you really don't have to!" I tried to change his mind. What would Rinoa think if she saw him sitting in my car?

"She doesn't know… Talia," He said as leaned against my car, waiting for me to unlock the door.

"Doesn't know…?" I was playing dumb. I couldn't let him know it still bothers me.

"…Never mind. Forget it," He looked down at the ground and shook his head slightly. "The past is the past, right?"

No!

"Yeah…" I said, finally looking up at him. Was it just me, or did he look kind of sad?

He got off my car and walked passed me, back to the house.

"If you want to come in, you can. You're welcomed here anytime." He said as he entered the house. I saw he left the door slightly cracked just in case I decided to stop being stubborn and go inside.

It felt so awkward talking to him. I stood there staring at the door when I heard a car pull up behind me. The sound of several car doors slamming filled my ears and people walking up the driveway.

"Talia!" I was attacked in a hug from Naminé. I grinned and hugged her back.

"Hey!"

"How long have you been here? Rinoa made us rush back to come get you," she rolled her eyes.

"Um… not long…" I said. Naminé must have noticed something about my change in mood because suddenly she looked over at the slightly cracked open front door.

"Sora...?" She asked. I replied with a simple nod.

"Hmph… if it isn't the nerd."

That voice. I could never forget her voice even after 4 years. I clenched my teeth and turned around to give her a fake smile. It quickly faded though as I saw in her arms she was holding a toddler. The little girl resembled Kairi strongly. She had the same facial features and shoulder-length red hair as Kairi. Kairi looked just about the same as she did in high school, except she looked more mature and she had gained a bit of weight.

"What are you looking at?" She frowned as she walked up to me.

"I thought we were friends," I said nonchalantly, still staring at the baby in her arms. She had sea green colored eyes, the only thing that really distinguished the difference between her and Kairi.

"Oh yeah… forgot." She simply shrugged. The little girl smiled widely at me, showing me her incoming baby teeth.

"And who's this cutie?" I asked, smiling slightly back at the baby.

"Oh, this is Kaiya. She just turned one last month," Kairi hugged the little girl closer to her like she was the dearest thing in the world. I could see Kairi loved Kaiya strongly.

I smiled slightly at the baby as she grinned back at me and clapped her hands. My smile quickly faded though as I saw Rinoa walking up towards me.

"Hey…um… Talia, right?" She asked me.

"Yeah…" I nodded.

"I'm so glad you agreed to help me with this wedding – wait, Sora didn't let you into the house? He's such a goofball, y'know?" She shook her head.

I smiled gently. "Yeah… I know…"

Rinoa raised her brow at me before clearing her throat. "Ah, well let's all go inside! I'll fix us all a nice glass of lemonade!"

~!~

So here I was, sitting in the living room with Naminé and Kairi beside me and Rinoa and Sora on the opposite side. Rinoa was constantly talking about her wedding, Sora occasionally agreeing with things. Naminé was writing down everything that Rinoa was saying while Kairi was bouncing her baby on her lap. I stared at the glass in my hand. Everyone else's was empty except mine. Every now and then I'd look up and see Sora slightly staring at me. My heart ached every time Rinoa would capture his attention back to her.

"So Talia," Rinoa smiled at me.

"H-huh?" I said, escaping from my thoughts.

"How did you meet Sora," She grabbed his hand and brought it closer to her. He turned to her with a shocked expression and I just blinked at her question.

"…"

What was I supposed to say? Did he want me to tell her we dated in high school? Or the fact we never officially broke up? Or…

We were just friends.

Kairi instantly stopped bouncing Kaiya and Naminé started to focus on her empty glass of lemonade. They both knew the situation.

"Well," Sora spoke up. "I met her when I tripped… over her…"

"You tripped over her? Honey, are you sure you're not getting mixed up of how we met?" Rinoa arched her brow at him.

As for me, my heart stopped. I remembered how we met. He was running down the hallway, afraid of being late to class, and I was tying my shoe in the middle of the hall when he tripped.

He met… Rinoa the same way?

"Ah, no, I'm pretty sure that happened, right…Talia?" He finally looked at me in my eyes. I quickly averted them to my glass. I couldn't let him see the pain my eyes were showing.

"Yeah… he tripped…" I whispered slightly.

Kairi instantly stood up, causing all of us to look at her. "Talia, come help me with Kaiya for a minute."

I blinked at her as she signaled for me to get up and follow her.

"Uh… okay," I smiled and excused myself from them. I followed Kairi into the kitchen which was closed off from the living room.

It was a small but bright kitchen. The walls were yellow and the sun shined through the many windows it had. The floor was a simple white tiled and the countertops were white as well.

"Um… what do you need help wit-"

"Look, I'm only telling you this because apparently we're friends now; don't tell Rinoa anything about Sora and you." Kairi shifted Kaiya on her side and gave me a serious look.

I gave her a distance look. "She's going to want to know what we are to each other…"

"Just say you're high school friends! Don't tell her anything! I'm telling you, Talia!" Kairi glared slightly at the kitchen door where Rinoa and the others sat on the other side.

"What's wrong with her…?" I arched a brow. If Kairi is trying to help me, then something had to be wrong with Rinoa. I mean, 4 years ago Kairi and I were ready to leap at each other's throats. Why would she warn me about something now?

I could tell Kairi was focusing on her choice of words, trying not to curse around her baby.

"Let's just say… she can get a bit crazy…" She said and walked out the kitchen.

I stood there confused. Crazy? Even though I barely knew Rinoa, she seemed okay to me.

Shaking my head, I walked back into the living room and sat back down. Rinoa looked over at me and gave me a slight smile.

"So Talia, tell me about Atlantica!" Rinoa smiled.

She couldn't be crazy… could she?

~!~

"How you think she's doing?" Pence looked over at Hayner and Roxas who both were busy on their cell phones.

...

"Hello?" Pence walked over to the two who were on the couch beside each other.

"I know you're not texting each other…" Pence tried to peek over their shoulders.

"Gu-"

"NO!" Hayner suddenly yelled out, right in Roxas's ear, causing him to drop his phone.

"What the hell man?" Roxas glared at Hayner.

"I lost on Temple Run!" Hayner glared at his phone.

Pence and Roxas just gave him an irritated look while Hayner resumed to playing his game.

"Anyways," Roxas rolled his eyes away from the boy, "What did you say earlier, Pence?"

"I was asking how you think Talia is doing…" Pence said.

"Oh, I was texting Naminé. Apparently, Rinoa and Talia seem to be getting along…" Roxas said.

Hayner instantly dropped his phone and gave Roxas a dumbfounded look while Pence just arched his brow.

"So… what you're saying is that Talia, the ex-girlfriend of Sora, is getting along with Rinoa, the fiancée of Sora?" Hayner asked.

"Uh… isn't that what I just said?" Roxas shrugged and went back to his texting. "As long as Talia is fine…"

"Yeah, but how long will she be fine? You know Rinoa…" Hayner frowned.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens…"

~!~

It was almost 8 at night and I was just now heading to my car from Sora's house. Rinoa had talked a hole in my head and every time I was ready to leave, she'd just drag me back to the couch. I even had dinner with them. Kairi and Naminé had left hours ago. She had to notice the pain I was in just from being there.

Or at least Sora… he should've recognized more than anything.

"Thanks for coming, Talia! You're welcome here anytime!" Rinoa grinned as she pulled me in a tight hug.

I could barely breathe from her hug but still managed to smile. When she let go, she turned to face Sora who was leaning against the house door.

"Sora! Come give your friend a hug!" She waved him over.

My heart froze. "Eh? No it's okay! He's fine! Men usually don't hu-" I stopped talking when he walked slowly over to us near my car.

"Talia, don't be silly!" Rinoa grinned at me.

Was it just me or did she really want him to hug me?

My heart started to beat intensely as Sora got closer to me, but he stopped once he reached Rinoa's side.

"…I'll be going no-"

"Sora! God, you haven't seen your friend in 4 years and you're not going to hug her bye?" Rinoa turned to frown at him.

"Really, it's cool…" I said while slowly backing towards my car.

I stopped instantly though when Sora came closer to me. It might have been my eyes playing a trick on me in the darkness of the sky, but was he blushing?

He casually wrapped his arms around me in a friendship type hug. I took a deep breath and inhaled his scent and. He smelled of some type of good smelling men's cologne. It instantly made me feel slightly dizzy and I desperately wanted to cling on to him in a tight hug. Instead I just let my arms hang.

I peeked over his shoulder and saw Rinoa staring at us…

No…

It wasn't at us. She was staring at me. She had some type of glare going on with her eyes and she was directing them at me. I gently pushed Sora away and backed up from him. The heat from his body instantly left mine as a cool breeze blew past us.

Sora stared at me while I had my face towards the ground, my hair covering my eyes that was trying to desperately to spill over in tears. I quickly blinked them away and looked up at Rinoa who was now going back to smiling at me.

Was her glare my imagination or was it real? She didn't have a right to glare at me, right? She was the one who forced the hug upon us in the first place.

"Bye…" I whispered and quickly got in my car.

"She seems nice…" Rinoa smiled as she wrapped her hands around Sora's neck and pecked him on his lips.

"Yeah…" Sora mumbled under his breath.

~!~

"Okay, when you say glaring, do you mean the 'I hate you' type glare or the 'There's something in my eye type glare'?" Hayner asked me.

All of my friends and I gave him a "Are you stupid?" look.

"I'm not even sure if she was glaring or if it was my imagination…"

"Bitch was probably glaring," Naminé mumbled under her breath only to be suddenly grabbed around the waist by Roxas which caused her to stop talking immediately.

"Ha, Naminé, of course she wasn't glaring!" Olette smiled at me.

It was about 12 in the morning and my friends and I were all gathered in the house of Roxas in his living room. Roxas and Naminé were cuddled on the couch next to each other while Olette sat on Hayner's lap in the recliner. Pence and I were sprawled out on his carpeted floor in front of his wide screen television.

"Nah, it was probably definitely a glare," Hayner shrugged only to be elbowed by Olette.

"The most violent girlfriend I've ever had, I swear," Hayner frowned slightly at the brunette.

"Why did she want Sora to hug you though?" Pence asked.

"I don't know, Pence. Something about not seeing me in 4 years," I shrugged.

"Probably to see if Sora had any feelings for you since you two are just "friends," Roxas rolled his eyes.

I looked over at Roxas. Was it that noticeable that something was between Sora and I? I thought I did my best not to show it.

"…Nah. She's not that smart," Naminé said.

"Well whatever! Let's get this movie night started!" Pence grinned. "That'll make everyone feel better!"

"Yeah!" Hayner shouted in Olette's ear only to be hit upside the head by her.

I instantly zoned them out and went into my own thoughts.

Why would Rinoa glare at me? What's her reason?

Does she secretly… know about the history between Sora and I?