Author's note: I'm back in North Carolina now and though I'm not quite settled yet, I'm pretty close so hopefully I'll get back to frequent updates for both this story as well as Sea & Sky. Thanks for your patience and support!

I CAN BARELY SAY

Chapter Eight: Facing the Challenge

Studying had its good and bad days. He worked the hardest with Riku; mostly because Riku was always checking up on him. Kairi usually did a fairly good job, but sometimes she would get too wrapped up in her own work or she and Sora would distract each other. He did the worst by himself, even though he had done a lot better than he ever had in the past. But thankfully his friends didn't let him do a whole lot of that; they only made him study flashcards for vocabulary words as well as being responsible for reviewing the material they'd already covered before their review sessions where they tested him.

Even though he was fairly comfortable with everything, he still felt extremely nervous as he sat in the empty classroom and waited for the proctor for the exam to come in. He felt a little awkward being back at school, as well, after realizing that he didn't even know anyone going to the high school anymore. Thankfully they had asked him to come in a Saturday since they didn't have a place to test him on a normal school day. If there had been students around or a lesson going on the background, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to focus. Especially if any were to start whispering like some people in town did.

He stared out the window, tapping his pencil against the desk until he finally heard the door open.

"Sora," He looked over to see his teacher from sophomore year, a man of medium height with very lightly spiked black hair, "How're you doing?"

Sora grinned widely and greeted, "Mr. Hanekoma! I'm great. It's nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too." He put down a cup of coffee on the desk before holding out a manila folder in Sora's direction, "You ready for this?"

Sora let out a small laugh, laying down his pencil on the desk, "Heh, I hope so." He felt a little more relaxed now. Out of all the teachers at the high school he could have gotten to proctor his test, Mr. Hanekoma was probably the best person he could have gotten to calm his nerves. Mr. Hanekoma was one of the very few teachers that had often gone out of their way to make sure Sora understood the material completely whenever he asked for help. Some of the questions he asked would often leave teachers frazzled and they would give him answers that left him even more confused, but that was never the case with Mr. Hanekoma; he always had a way to simplify things.

"Now's the time for any last minute questions." He held the folder in place, waving it slightly side to side.

Though he deeply considered it, he smiled and answered truthfully, "I think I'm okay. Riku and Kairi have been helping me."

Mr. Hanekoma put the folder on the corner of his desk and sat down on top of it, "You're still pretty close with them?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"That's nice. It's pretty rare to have such good friends like that; you're lucky."

Sora grinned widely, "Definitely. The luckiest person in all the worlds." He faltered a bit, "Well, at least I hope so. Luck would definitely help for this test."

Mr. Hanekoma let out a loud laugh before asking, "So I guess that means you want to get started before you let your nerves get the better of you, right?"

He nodded, "Yes, please."

"Alright." He slid back onto the floor and took the test out of the manila folder before turning to Sora, "I'm gonna catch up on some grading while you're taking this but feel free to ask any questions if you need to." Putting the packet down on Sora's desk, he added with a smile, "Of course, I can't answer them for you, but other than that, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks." Sora smiled back. Without further ado, he picked his pencil back up and opened up the test as Mr. Hanekoma headed back to his desk. Seeing that the three questions on the first page were all fairly easy math questions, he let out a little sigh of relief. Flipping through the packet some more, he found a few pages where he knew he might have issues, but overall felt pretty confident. 'See, this isn't so bad.' He told himself, starting to work on the first question.

And it wasn't, for the most part. The material he had studied carried him through a good majority of the test, though he came across a few questions here and there that completely blind-sided him. He also asked Mr. Hanekoma for clarification for a few things, but even that didn't help for a few. Thankfully, they were pretty well mixed in with other questions that he was comfortable with so he never got too shaken or discouraged.

But regardless of how well he thought he had done, he still felt that little bit of doubt growing bigger and bigger with each step that he took away from the school. By the time he made it to Kairi's work to meet up with her and Riku, he was feeling like a nervous wreck again.

Of course Kairi's first question was how it went, to which Sora sighed as he sat down, "I dunno. Okay, I guess."

Riku crossed his arms, seated across from him, "What do you mean just okay?"

"Well, most of it was easy. But there were some parts where I didn't know what I was doing." Sora folded his arms across the table and leaned forward to rest his chin on top of them, "I more than likely passed but… it's just scary because it's so important. Like, what if I didn't pass?"

"You just study some more and take it again." He felt Kairi's hand on his back and tilted his head to look at her as she continued, "We'd just keep working with you until you did pass. But I'm sure you did."

"I hope so." Sora mumbled before perking up a little bit, "Oh yeah. Mr. Hanekoma was the proctor. I don't know if he'll be the one grading it, though."

Riku shook his head, "Probably not. It'll most likely be the principal or someone on the school board since it's for your diploma."

"Ugh." Sora groaned and leaned forward again, hiding his face.

Kairi rubbed his back lightly while questioning, "How hungry are you?"

"Starving." He answered without looking up, his voice muffled.

"Riku, let's take him out for lunch." She slid her hands across Sora's back and grasped his shoulders lightly, "To celebrate all of his hard work and to help him relax now that the test is over."

The older boy nodded, "So where do you wanna go, Sora?"

He tilted his head upward, a grin on his face, "Where do you think?"

Riku shook his head and let out a small laugh as he got up, "Alright, let's go."

Kairi took a step back and waited for Sora to get up before joining hands with him and pulling him forward, a smile still on his face.

Sora would eat practically anything, but he always preferred quick and easy food in a relaxed atmosphere. So naturally, his favorite place on the island was a simple burger shop and he would suggest it anytime Riku or Kairi asked where they should eat.

After ordering and waiting at the counter for a few minutes for their food, Sora was practically bouncing to the table once the tray had been passed over to Riku. "See. I knew this would cheer him up." Kairi elbowed Riku in the side, careful to avoid the food he was holding.

"Hurry up!" Sora called out, now seated.

"Maybe a little bit too much." Riku mumbled to Kairi and she laughed, trailing along behind him as they made their way to the table as well. After he sat the tray down and Sora began to eagerly stuff his face with his burger, Riku asked again, "So, now that you're feeling better, how do you think you did?"

"Okay." The younger boy repeated, eating a few fries.

"Really?" Riku's shoulders dropped.

"Even if I feel better now, it's still like I said." He took a few more bites of food, continuing with his mouth full, "It's important, so I'm nervous." Swallowing, he looked between his two friends and finished, "If you and Kairi think I passed, then I probably did. But I don't want to guess for myself."

Riku gave a small smile and ate a few fries as well, accepting his answer, "I'll quit bugging you, then." Kairi nodded as well.

Sora smiled sheepishly, feeling a little guilty, "It's okay. I know why you're doing it. But I'm just telling you that you're always going to get the same answer."

"And that's fine." Kairi bumped her shoulder against his before taking fries from both Sora and Riku, "Now both of you relax and enjoy your food or I'll enjoy it for you."

"Not cool." Riku pulled his food closer to him.

Sora immediately retaliated by taking some of Kairi's fries, a disbelieving look on her face as he said, "Now we're even."

Kairi let out a gasp before grabbing more fries from Sora who tried to push her arms away but struggled, to which Riku commented from across the table, "C'mon, guys. We're in public."

Sora faltered and Kairi ate the fries successfully, beaming at the brunette while his face was now in a pout. Copying Riku, he moved his things away from Kairi and closer to himself. "As long as you don't take anything from me, I won't take anything else from you." She commented, taking a bite of her own burger.

"But you started it." Sora mumbled back, eating his food as well.

"Jeez." Riku sighed.

Kairi continued to eat contentedly, while the brunette would steal glances over to her to make sure she wasn't getting any more ideas about stealing his food. Once she and Riku had finished eating, Sora made a comment, "I this was supposed to be a stress free lunch?"

"I think you'll survive." She stood up and threw away her trash, Riku and Sora both following after her.

"Guess you'll have to find out." He replied, moving around her and heading out the door.

Rolling her eyes, she ignored him and asked instead, "So what did you want to do now?"

"Honestly, I think I'm gonna go home and sleep. I'm exhausted." Sora stretched his arms out and yawned, "I'll hang out with you guys tomorrow, if you're free. Then it's back to working for Jecht on Monday."

"I just need to do some work at night." Riku answered from behind him.

"Same thing for me." Kairi echoed.

Sora swung his hands behind his head, "That's fine. I'm sure I'll want to go to sleep early tomorrow, too. My body needs to recover from all this studying."

"Tsch." He heard Riku let out from behind him.

Sora lowered his arms back down to his side, turning back slightly to respond, "Hey, I haven't done any sort of school work in years. Give me a break."

"You're just letting your laziness get to you." He answered back, "You were fine once you got into the rhythm of things."

"Just because I did it doesn't mean that it wasn't exhausting." The brunette whined, moving his hands to his pockets.

Kairi moved closer to him, "It is exhausting. But hopefully it'll be less so when you get used to doing it again."

"Hm." Sora hummed in response and the trio continued down the path in a comfortable silence until they reached the path that led off towards Riku's house. The younger two stopped and started to turn before Riku walked through the gap between them.

"See you tomorrow. Call me when you're up." He glanced to them both.

Kairi nodded, "Kay."

"Okay." Sora answered as well before the older boy began to head down the path. Turning back and catching eyes with Kairi, he smiled and started to walk again. After another minute of walking, he stopped again and looked at her, "Well, guess I gotta go too."

She put her hands on his shoulder and stood on her toes, kissing him briefly before dropping back down, "See you tomorrow." He smiled widely and she turned around with an accomplished smile, starting to head down the main path again.

He watched her walk away for a moment before heading into his house, his mom jumping up from the living room the moment she heard him swing the door open.

"So?" She questioned loudly.

"So?" He teased with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes, she clarified, "How did the test go?"

"Okay." He repeated his answer again, "Most of it was fine but there were some parts that tripped me up."

"If you were fine with most of it I'm sure you did well." She rubbed his shoulder.

"We'll just have to wait and see." Sora answered before walking into the living room and sprawling across the loveseat, "For now, I just wanna relax."

She smiled, walking into the living room as well, "I'm sure."

After a lazy and uneventful night, Sora went to sleep early just as he said and fell asleep effortlessly. When he heard Kairi's voice the next morning, he was sure he still had to be deep in a dream despite the fact he saw the sunlight shining through his room.

"Sora." He heard again. Blinking, he turned over slowly and stared at the red haired girl sitting on the floor next to his bed, her head resting on the edge of his mattress.

"Am I dreaming or did I sleep in late?" He asked quietly, still feeling groggy.

"Neither." She stood up and gave him a light push, "Scoot over."

Though he was still confused, he obliged and she slipped under the covers beside him. "Isn't my mom home?" He didn't have enough energy to fight with her but he was beginning to wonder if she lost her mind.

"Nope." She turned over towards him, snuggling against his chest and closing her eyes, "She got called into work."

Vaguely remembering hearing the phone ring early that morning, he let out, "Oh." Draping an arm over her middle, he commented, "But that still doesn't explain why you're over here so early. And how you know that." He let out a small laugh, "Are you spying on me?"

Her eyes opened and she gave him a small glare, "No." She turned over onto her back and Sora began to pull his arm back until she held it in place, answering, "I came over because I wanted to and I caught your mom right as she was leaving."

"A likely story." Sora teased, giving her a doubting look.

She began to sit up, "I mean, I can go home and come back later if you want me to."

He used his arm to gently push her back down, "You can stay."

"Good." She smiled mischievously, reaching up and pulling him down to her by the collar of his shirt. Though he was a bit surprised at first, his lips curled upward into a smile as he swooped down to catch hers.

Now Kairi was the one who was surprised. Blinking, she tried her best to match his eagerness; her hands reaching up to lightly grasp the sides of his face. From there, she took control again and Sora had no problem with that, his hands now gripping her hip and shoulder. She slowed the tempo down before picking it back up again and then repeating the process.

Sora eventually broke away for a moment to ask, "What are you doing?"

"Distracting you." She answered before kissing him again.

He pushed her shoulders to pull away again, "What?"

"You'll see." She struggled against him to lean back in for another kiss. Sora eventually gave in with a sigh, letting her kiss him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved them down his back soothingly in an effort to reassure him that everything was alright.

Just as Sora was considering questioning her again, he heard on a knock on his bedroom door as well as someone clearing their throat. Kairi moved out of his grasp swiftly, getting up from his bed before turning around and urging, "C'mon." Sora's lips were parted and he was staring at her like she had two heads. Groaning, she reached down and tugged on his arm, repeating, "Come on! It's just Riku."

Still thoroughly confused, he let her pull him out of bed and lead him over to the door. Just as soon as she got the door open, Riku shoved something into his arms and said, "Put this on."

"What the—" He started as he looked down before realizing what it was; a graduation gown and cap. Gaping, he looked back up at Riku, "So does this mean what I think it means?"

Riku smiled, "Hurry up."

He took a step back and froze, "Wait, do I need to put dress clothes on and stuff?"

"You can literally put it over your pajamas if you want." The older boy shrugged.

"Okay." He shrugged as well, putting the cap on a shelf next to his door while he slipped on the gown. Zipping it up and still feeling like he was drowning in a sea of fabric, he commented, "It's kind of big."

"It was mine." Riku scratched the back of his neck.

Sora laughed, "Thank you." After struggling to put the cap over the spiky hair and leaving it sort of lopsided, he asked, "Good enough?"

Kairi and Riku both laughed and nodded before gently guiding him down the stairs and then to the back patio, where his mom was waiting with what he assumed was a case with his diploma. "So you're the one that put them up to this." He grinned. She nodded and laughed, reaching up to where tears where beginning to gather at the corner of her eyes. "Aw, c'mon. Don't cry." He hurried over, wrapping one of his arms around her.

"I'm just proud of you." She hugged him tightly.

"Thanks." He squeezed her tighter as well.

Reaching into her purse, Kairi pulled out a camera and announced, "Picture time!"

Sora's mom handed him his diploma and he flipped it open to peek inside, smiling in admiration at his printed name. Seeing a bright flash, he quickly closed it and looked up, complaining, "Hey, I wasn't ready yet!" Kairi waved him off so he put his arm back over his mom's shoulder, grinning widely as they posed for the picture.

After the flash, his mom took a step forward and said, "Let me get a picture of you three together."

Kairi used her free hand to push Riku forward while handing the camera to Sora's mom. Both standing on either side of Sora, Sora put one arm over Riku's shoulder and the other around Kairi's waist while they held his diploma in front of him.