Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in."

I hesitantly entered Dr. Ven's office. Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to say to him. He might've been too busy to listen to me but I just had to talk to someone. Someone who didn't know my current situation and would've given me advice based on what they know of my past. All of this heartbreak from Sora was literally making me sick. I had awoken with a chest ache this morning as if my heart was going to give out at any moment.

"Hey, Talia! What's up?" He didn't look up at me as he was typing something in his computer. Ven looked more stressed out and tired than he did yesterday on the elevator. From what I've heard, the hospital was preparing for a load of soldiers arriving to the hospital starting next week. Apparently, the war had gotten worse in Agrabah and they're calling the soldiers who are currently on vacation here to return immediately. Since Dr. Ven was the best doctor here, he was trying to make sure all the supplies he needed were at the hospital so he could be prepared to attempt to save lives.

"Um… I just… I wanted to talk but it seems as if you're busy…" I said as I tried to sneak back out the door.

He instantly looked up at me and gave me a tired looking smile. "No, come in! I need to take a break from all this anyway."

"Ah… okay…" I said nervously as I went into his office and took a seat in front of him.

"So what's up? Is Vanitas giving you hell again?"

I chuckled slightly. "Actually he's like you. He hasn't had time to torture me and is actually giving me tasks that are beneficial to me."

"Great! So what's up?"

I shifted uncomfortable in my chair. Should I even be talking to Ven about this? I mean, he was a surgeon doctor… not a psychiatrist. Not that I needed a psychiatrist or anything. My heart was broken but it hasn't driven me crazy… yet.

"Um… well… I woke up with chest pains this morning…" I started off.

Suddenly I wish I didn't start off that way as Ven instantly perked up and leaned forward on his desk towards me. His ocean blue eyes instantly filled with worry. My heart began to ache even more at looking at him. Sora used to give me that same look when something was wrong with me.

"Did you do the heart attack test? Does your left arm hurt?"

"I don't think I'm gonna have a heart attack…" I chuckled slightly. "At least, not a physical one anyway…"

He seemed to relax after hearing this and sat back in his chair.

"Have you ever been in love?" I suddenly asked. This took Ven by shock as he began a coughing fit. I quickly hopped up out the chair and went over to gently pat him on his back.

"I-in love?" He stuttered as he began to catch his breath.

"Yeah… in love. I recently myself found out what it was like to be in love with someone. It's funny; I didn't even know I was in love with this person until my friends made me rethink of our relationship with one another. I realized how he was always there for me and always came to my rescue. He'd cheer me up when I was upset and he gave me good advice when I needed it. Though we had our ups and downs, I knew he would never hurt me. At least, I thought I knew he'd never hurt me. As of late… it seems I can't avoid getting hurt by him," I said as I continued to pat Ven on his back, unaware that he had stopped coughing.

"Maybe you should end things with him? It's not good to be in a relationship with someone that's hurting you constantly." Ven said.

"That's the thing. We're not together anymore," I said.

"Then why are you still hurting over him…?"

"It's complicated…" I let out a heavy sigh. "He basically got engaged to someone else without telling me. He led me to think that when I returned here, our relationship would continue. Instead, I came back to one of the worse surprises in my life."

"Well… feelings change. Maybe he met someone who makes him… not happier but…" Ven paused. "Maybe since you were gone… he met someone who was actually going to be there…"

I stopped patting his back and looked at him. "You're really not helping me out here."

He smiled slightly at me and shrugged. "The truth hurts."

"Yeah…"

"Don't beat yourself up over this guy though. He missed out on a wonderful young woman such as you. If he didn't realize what he had, then maybe he never deserved you."

"I guess…"

"KISARAGI! WHERE ARE YOU!?" I flinched as I heard Vanitas yell my name from the hall.

"I guess that's my cue to leave you alone now…" I laughed slightly.

"Yeah…" Ven smiled at me.

"Thanks for letting me talk to you…"

"Anytime!" Ven said as he turned back to his computer.

I just nodded and made my way to the door.

"Oh yeah, Talia?"

"Yes?"

Ven's face turned a light shade of red as he looked at me. His eyes instantly avoided mine as I made eye contact with him.

"Um… I don't like seeing you sad myself… so I was wondering… if we could like… hang out sometime after work? Maybe you need to hang out with new people to cheer you up?"

"Are you going to invite Dr. Vanitas too?" I teased slightly.

"No, I think you need a break from him too," Ven laughed.

"Okay, it's a date," I smiled slightly at him as I walked out the door.

~!~

"Did you tell her yet?" Kairi asked as she leaned on Sora's kitchen counter.

"No! Damn! Why does everyone keep asking me the same question!?" Sora snapped.

"Dude, chill. I was just asking. Whether you tell her or not, she's gonna find out."

"No she won't! I'm going to come back and she won't know a thing…"

"Sora… think. She's going to wonder why the wedding is being pushed back and why she hasn't seen you around lately. Not like she wants to see you or anything, I'm pretty sure you've scarred her heart permanently," Kairi shrugged.

"Thanks for telling me something I already know, Kai." Sora sarcastically said.

"What's with the attitude?" Kairi arched a brow. This whole situation was upsetting everyone and Kairi was on edge herself. She didn't want an attitude from one of the main persons causing this drama in the first place.

"Ugh, I tried calling to tell Talia what was going on-"

"Wait!" Kairi broke him off. "You were going to tell her about that!?"

"No! Not that. I was just going to tell her I was going to Agrabah…"

"Honestly, there's no point in telling her if you're not going to tell her the other reason as well!"

"I'm not ready yet!"

"When the hell are you going to be ready? When you're fucking married to that bitch and she's pregnant with your second child and Talia is living her life miserably because of you?!"

"I'm not trying to hurt her anymore!" Sora shouted at Kairi.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing now then? You're fucking engaged to a crazy ass woman who's tried to kill me and your Goddaughter and is currently hurting Talia for her own entertainment."

"Kairi… you need to leave," Sora ran a hand through his hair. He was trying not to really blow up on her at the moment.

"No! When are you going to gain fucking common sense?! When are you going to stop fucking around and realize that Talia is the one and the only one you love?!"

"Kairi, stop talking. Please,"

Beep

Beep

Beep

Kairi took out her phone as she received a text. Her violet eyes lowered as she read the message. She quickly hopped off the counter and went towards the kitchen door.

"All I'm saying, you're going to lose Talia. She's smart. She's going to eventually realize she doesn't have to wait around for you to come to your fucking mind."

"KAIRI! JUST FUCKING LEAVE! PLEASE!"

"What's with all the yelling?" Rinoa said as she entered the kitchen. Kairi looked at her in disgust while Rinoa gave her a fake shocked look in return.

"Nothing. Kairi was just leaving," Sora said.

"You're right. I am leaving. I just got a text from Nami. Talia has a date with a doctor tonight and they're not discussing work. I guess she's already moved on. No point in telling her then, now is it? I'm gone," Kairi said as she fully exited the kitchen and towards the front door.

"Are we seriously still discussing that woman?! When are you going to realize that you're marrying ME and not HER!?" Rinoa yelled at Sora.

"Not now, Rinoa!"

"If not now then when?! Why are you behaving like this?! Why are you treating me like this?! I thought you loved me but you seem to only love that girl. Remember who you fucking proposed to. Remember how she left you behind to pursue her dreams and forgot all about you. Remember these things. There's a fucking reason why you fell in love with me and forgot about her. There's a reason we're fated to be married and not you two. There's a reason for everything, Sora."

Sora stared intensely at Rinoa as she glared with him. Out of the 2 years they've been together, they've never fought as much as they were fighting now. He never fought with his best friends as much as he was fighting with them now. He was causing so much tension between everyone. While everyone was blaming Talia, Sora was really the blame for all of this. That's why he couldn't wait to go to Agrabah. He wanted to escape for a while and see his other friends in the army. All of this was stressing him out.

"You're right, Rinoa. There is a reason why I chose you over Talia. I can tell you though; Talia is one of the reasons why I chose you and what you just said… none of those reasons apply. There's a reason that only Kairi, Riku, Roxas, and Naminé only know and I plan on only having them know. The ways things turned out… it's for the best for everyone. Stop worrying. I'm marrying you. I'm not marrying Talia." Sora said as he walked past her.

"Sor-"

"With that being said… I think I'll ask to leave tomorrow instead of Thursday. I need to get away," Sora walked out the door leaving Rinoa standing confused.

What did he mean by Talia was the reason he chose her? What do Sora's friends know that Rinoa doesn't? Rinoa had no clue what he meant but she was definitely going to find out. If she hated Talia before, she surely hated her now. She was going to ruin that woman's life. And with Sora leaving for God only knows how long, she wouldn't have anyone around to stop her.

~!~

"B-but why are you going on a date?!" Pence asked as him and the gang watched me fix my hair in my mirror compact.

"It's not a date. I'm just hanging out with Dr. Ven from work. I need to be around new people."

"Are you calling us old?" Hayner gave her an offended look. "That's like me saying, 'Oh. I'm tired of Olette. Let me go on a date with that hot waitress girl from Tropical Delights.'"

"Excuse me?" Olette glared over at Hayner.

"N-nothing, babe! It was just an example! You know I love you!" Hayner chuckled nervously.

"Uh huh…"

"You guys are overreacting. I'm single. I can go out with whoever I want to…"

"Haven't you ever heard of not dating your coworkers or bosses?" Roxas asked. "It could end up disastrous for you if things don't work out…"

"It's not like I'm going to become his girlfriend after this one date, Roxas. I just need a stress reliever… and he makes me smile."

"A stress reliever being a guy can lead to a lot of things…" Hayner shifted his eyes.

"Hayner!" Olette punched his arm.

"I'm just saying…" Hayner mumbled as he rubbed his arm.

"I'm going to be late. I'll text you guys later," I said as I got up to leave the Usual Spot.

"Just… be careful, Tally Mark…" Pence said.

"Don't worry. I will be," I smiled slightly at him and left the spot.

"Hello, Nami? Don't you, Kairi, and Riku fail us. We're counting on you…" Olette said in the phone. She immediately called Naminé after Talia left.

"Don't worry. You can count on us."

~!~

"Sorry it's not too fancy…" Ven chuckled nervously as we sat in an ice cream parlor in Destiny Islands. I had been here many times before during high school with my friends. They had the best ice cream on the entire island and being here always brought back memories of my friends and me together.

"It's perfect actually," I smiled at him.

"I used to come here a lot during my days training as a doctor…" Ven said.

"Same. I used to come here after school with my friends on hot days… which is almost every day here in Destiny Islands. Sometimes we would get ice cream here and carry it back to Twilight Town to only realize it was freezing cold there," I laughed as I remembered the memory.

"It's great to hear you laugh…" Ven smiled shyly at me.

A blush appeared on my face as I focused my attention the strawberry shortcake in front of me.

"Did you want to talk more about what we talked about earlier…?" Ven asked nervously. He didn't want to say anything to cause me to have a breakdown.

"No… let's just… get to know each other more. You're kind of cool…" I say.

"Kind of cool? I'm the coolest doctor you'll ever meet! Just don't tell my brother I said that," Ven said as he scooped up some of his hot fudge sundae.

"Don't worry. I try to stay as far away from Vanitas as I can."

"Ha, me too!"

We both laughed as we continued to eat our ice cream. It felt nice to laugh again and forgetting about my current problems outside from this ice cream shop. I'm glad I agreed to this date with Dr. Ven.

~!~

Kairi, Riku, and Naminé watched from a booth not too far away from Talia and Ventus. They tried to hide their faces behind menus so Talia wouldn't notice them. She wouldn't care if she saw Riku or Kairi, but if she saw Naminé, she'd instantly know what was going on.

"I never saw myself doing this again…" Riku said as he peeked over at Talia.

"I never saw myself actually trying to help that nerd…" Kairi said.

"Shh, you guys! They might say something important!" Naminé said as she desperately tried to hear what they were talking about. "Ugh, why does she keep laughing at him? Sora is much funnier."

"I'm pretty sure Sora is the last name she wants to hear at the moment…" Riku said.

"Sora is the last name I want to hear too," Kairi mumbled under her breath.

"Did something happen, Kai?" Riku arched his brow at his girlfriend.

"It's more of what didn't happen-"

"Ugh, why is Talia even attracted to him? He looks like a Roxas wannabe," Naminé cut Kairi off as she watched at the couple through binoculars.

"Uh… Naminé… why do you have binoculars?" Riku asked as he watched the blonde.

"No, the question is why do you have binoculars? Do you know how suspicious you look?!" Kairi said.

"I literally just asked her the same thing, Kairi," Riku rolled his eyes.

"I wanted to see what this Dr. Ven looked like. He's obviously the uglier version of Roxas…" Naminé said as she handed her binoculars over to Kairi. "Here, take a look for yourself."

"I don't need binoculars. I can see what he looks like without them," Kairi said as she swatted Naminé's hand away and turned around in the booth to get a look at Ven. "Nah, that doctor is definitely sexier than Roxas."

"No he isn't!" Naminé shouted causing some people to turn their attention to their booth.

"Guys, can we not fight over who is hotter than one another because we're gaining attention and I feel awkward…" Riku complained.

"Okay okay, so how are we gonna ruin this date?" Kairi turned back around in her seat.

"I should've put laxatives in his ice cream…" Naminé frowned.

"Uh guys…"

"That's such evil thinking, Nami! I've trained you so well!" Kairi pretended to wipe a fake tear away.

"Guys-"

"Thanks! After ruining Sora and Rinoa's date, I felt a rush that I never felt before and I'm dying to feel it again!"

"Ugh, that's exactly how I felt when trying to ruin Sora and Talia in high school!" Kairi smiled widely at her best friend. She never felt so close to her before.

"GUYS!" Riku yelled, immediately getting the girls' attention.

"What?" Kairi looked at him.

"Rinoa is here."

"What?!" Kairi and Naminé said in unison.

"She's over there with Talia and her date…" Riku said as his eyes watched Rinoa. Kairi turned around in booth to look to see what was happening while Naminé took out her binoculars again.

"What are they saying?" Kairi asked.

"I don't know. I can't read their lips because Rinoa is facing away but she is smiling… I can tell."

"That's not a good sign."

"When is Rinoa ever smiling about something ever a good sign?" Riku asked as he watched intently with Naminé and Kairi.

~!~

"Well if it isn't my favorite bridesmaid, Talia!"

The smile I was giving Ven instantly melted away as I turned my head to face Rinoa who was standing in front of our booth. She had a grin on her face and it made me really uncomfortable.

"H-hey Rinoa. W-what are you doing here?" I tried not to stutter but I knew I failed. My eyes went to her left ring finger where her engagement ring glistened brightly in the ice cream parlor's lights. The feeling of a heart attack quickly returned to me.

"Hi, I'm Ventus!" Ven greeted the woman.

"Yes, the big time doctor at the hospital. Everyone knows who you are," Rinoa smiled at him.

"Heh, yeah," Ven said nervously.

"Anywho, to answer your question Talia, I'm here to get some ice cream for me and Sora," She smirked at me. I frowned at her as she put emphasis on Sora's name. She knew what she was doing.

"Oh cool, Sora is your fiancé?" Ven asked as he pointed at the ring on Rinoa's finger. This caused her to instantly bring up the hand and place it on her heart.

"Yes. Our wedding was supposed to be next month but it got pushed back…"

I blinked up at her. When did the wedding get pushed back? More importantly, when was she planning on telling me?

"Why was the wedding pushed back?" I asked.

"Oh, Sora didn't tell you? You must not be important to him enough for him to tell. He has to go back to Ag-"

"Rinoa! My best friend! What are you doing here!?" Naminé said through gritted teeth as she approached us. Ven looked confusedly at the blonde girl to the black haired girl to me. I just stared off in a daze.

Sora was keeping something from me?

"Oh, Nami! I was here picking up some ice cream when I noticed our beloved Talia here on a date! Doesn't she look so happy!? They're so cute-"

"We're just friends…" Ven said.

"For now," Rinoa winked at him. "I'll help you win her over."

"Um…" Ven blushed a deep red.

"Rinoa! Let's go somewhere and talk!" Naminé grabbed onto Rinoa's arm and tried to drag her away.

"Wait! I have to tell Talia about Sora!"

"No!"

"Yes I do! I can't have her in the dark! It's not fair to anyone!" Rinoa pretended to pout.

"Rinoa please…"

"Naminé, aren't you hiding something from Talia too? We should all tell her the news together!"

Naminé's eyes widened in horror as Rinoa said that. Rinoa just smirked at her.

"Naminé…?" I looked up confusedly.

"Don't listen to her!"

"Why wouldn't she listen to me? We're friends, aren't we Talia? Friends don't hide things from one another!"

"Okay bitch, leave them alone!" I turned my attention as Kairi and Riku walked over to us and Riku picked up Rinoa and dragged her away. Rinoa tried to escape but Riku's grip was too tight.

"Hey sis-in-law, let's return you to Sora, okay?" Riku said as he walked out the parlor.

I looked from Naminé and Kairi. "What did she mean Sora is hiding something from me…?"

"Nothing! It's not important! Let's go, Nami!" Kairi took Naminé's hand and dragged her out the parlor with her.

I watched as Naminé mouthed out a 'sorry' to me as she and Kairi left. My attention went back to Ven who looked extremely confused. His confused looked faded away as he looked at me.

"You're crying…" He said as he leaned over and brushed a tear away.

"I-I'm sorry…" I said as I lowered my head.

"… Were they some of the people who are involved with what you were telling me earlier…?"

I nodded my head at him. He didn't say anything for a while as he just looked away from me. I mean, what could he possibly say? I couldn't even explain to him what had just happened because I didn't even know what had happened. I was confused with everything that was happening but one thing I was beginning to understand:

If what Rinoa said was true about Sora hiding something from me and not wanting me to find out then maybe we aren't even 'friends' as he claimed. Maybe… maybe we're just… nothing.

~!~

A/N: Did you guys think I forgot about this story? I haven't! I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I last updated this like a year ago? I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Life got in the way and I lost inspiration but as you can see, it's back now! Thank you for sticking this out with me! I'm actually excited to start this back after a yearlong hiatus! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!