Make Or Break.

After two and a half months of eating Nutella, prodding each other with personal questions, playing horsey with my nephew and dancing in my TV room I came to a very frightening realization:

I loved Naminé Nakasato.

I knew this wasn't just a crush or some kind of infatuation; I was pretty sure it was stronger than that. I couldn't stop thinking about her, and whenever I saw her I felt so...so happy. Carefree. I wanted to make her smile and I wanted to hear her laugh. I made it a personal goal to make her happy at least once every day.

I loved everything about her. It got to the point where I began to notice every single tiny detail about her - and I loved every single one of those tiny details.

I loved the way she tugged on that little curl of hair near the back of her head whenever she was nervous. I loved the way she bit her bottom lip whenever she was listening to someone talking. I loved her soft voice and how her the scent of her hair reminded me of rain. I loved the colour of her eyes and how she tilted her head to the side when she was confused or curious. I loved the way her hair felt when it brushed my cheeks whenever we hugged. I loved the way her head fit perfectly against my neck. I loved how she always looks up beneath her eyelashes when she addresses someone taller than her - which was almost all the time, since she was a tiny little thing.

A wonderful, beautiful, sweet tiny little thing.

I loved her. There was no other way to describe it. I loved Naminé and there was nothing I could do about it.

"So lunch...Axel and I will head by your room and we'll go?" I suggested, ruffling the back of my hair with one hand and holding my briefcase with the other.

Naminé nodded distractedly as she reached for the door to her office. "Yeah, sure. You keep saying that café is good, so I might as well shut you up and try it." She looked up to smile at me, and my heart skipped at least seventeen beats.

"Alright, then I'll swing by around noon." I laughed nervously; I could feel Axel's eyes on me from somewhere down the hall. "I'll...I'll see you in a few hours."

"Okay." She reached out to briefly brush her fingers against my arm before heading inside her office.

When I walked to my own office I noticed that someone was sitting inside. "Axel," I cried the moment I walked in, "What the hell-"

"Are you gonna admit it now?" My best friend whirled around in his chair and grinned at me, "Are you gonna admit that you're in love with her? 'Cause really, Roxas, in the past couple of months it's easy to see y-"

"I'm in love with her," I blurted, and I noticed how Axel's bright green eyes widened considerably, "I'm in love with Naminé. I love everything about her and I want nothing more than to spend every second of every day with her. I love her." I briskly walked to my chair and forced myself into it.

"Wow, that was surprisingly easy." Axel swerved to face me; I was just opening my laptop, "But...you're...you're really in love with her, right? You're not saying that just to shut me up, right?"

I nodded; I could feel my face turning red. "Yes, Axel, I'm telling you the truth. I'm really in love with her." I raked my hands through my hair as my computer booted up. "I don't know how it came to this, honestly. One day I was trying to avoid her, then the next day comes and I can't stop thinking about her."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "You're sure this isn't some kind of puppy-love infatuation sorta thing, right?"

My eyes dulled. "I thought you wanted me to like her."

"I know, but I'm just making sure. I mean...this is the first time you've ever openly admitted to feeling this way towards somebody, so I dunno if you know the difference between like and love."

"Of course I know the difference," I snapped, "I'm not a kid anymore."

"You don't have to be a kid to not know the difference," The redhead shrugged, "Love is something anyone can understand at any age, once you actually experience it of course. It's just that when it happens so early - like when you're ten, for instance - you don't know what it is 'cause you're too young to know about that sort of stuff yet. That's why people always say kids don't know anything about love - they probably do, it's just that they don't know enough."

I opened up my email. "That's the most profound thing I've ever heard you say in all the years we've been friends."

Axel smirked and leaned back against the leather chair with his hands behind his head. "I'll take that as a compliment." He yawned. "So when did you figure out you were bonkers for this girl?"

"Er," I looked upwards as I wracked my brain, "I guess a week after we first met her?"

"Any moment in particular?"

"There were a few, I guess," I shrugged, "The first time I sorta felt it, we were just hanging out and she was talking about her first relationship with some football-playing idiot in high school-" Axel snorted and I chuckled, "-and she got all sad and whatnot, and out of the blue she turns to me and asks for a hug."

My best friend let out a low whistle. "Ooh."

"Yeah," I shrugged again, "So I gave her a hug and it was during that moment I...I felt something." My eyes lowered to my keyboard. "I didn't know what it was, and I never felt that way before. It was so...warm, I guess? Comforting."

"Hugs usually make you feel that way, my friend." Axel added cheekily, and I glared at him.

"Oh, you know what I mean. It felt good to hold her like that, y'know? Like I was the only person in the world who could make her feel better, and I wanted to make her feel better. It suddenly became a mission, like something I just felt I had to do. Ever since then I've been trying to make her smile, make her laugh. I like it when she's happy," I paused for a moment; my face was probably redder than Axel's hair, "Because it makes me happy too."

My best friend chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah," He smirked, "You're definitely in love, Roxas."

I flicked the bangs out of my eyes. "Have...have you ever felt this way towards someone before?" Now I felt like a kid - a kid who was asking his older brother for girl advice.

"I don't really know, to be honest with you," The redhead frowned, "I mean, for me everything was all fun and games in high school and college-"

I remembered sleeping out in the halls because my dorm room would be, er, occupied for the night. "Yes, I remember…" I muttered, and Axel laughed.

"Yeah, I never really took relationships seriously back then. Now that I'm outta school and into...I guess what you'd like to call the 'real world', I see serious people in serious relationships and it's gotten me thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Just what the hell I'm doing with my life - my love life, to be specific. I poke and run, if you know what I mean." I made a disgusted face and Axel laughed again. "I know, I know - TMI. I'll tone it down for you."

"Thanks."

"But seriously speaking - I'm twenty-four, Roxas. Twenty-four. My older brother got married when he was twenty-five. My little brother is getting married, and he just turned twenty-two. My parents are probably wondering when it's gonna be my turn."

"Lea's getting married?" I scratched my head. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah - I forgot to give you your invitation. Remind me to do that later," Axel cleared his throat. "But going back on topic - I'm getting pressured. What am I supposed to do?" He buried his face in his hands. "The idea of marriage scares the hell outta me, and Larxene-"

"Wait," I raised a hand, "Larxene? You were thinking of-"

"It's been two years, Roxas. That's my longest relationship to date - and mind you, we don't always have sex. There's other stuff too. I've never had other stuff in a relationship before!"

That was true. "But...do you, er, love...her?"

"I don't know." Axel threw his hands up. "I don't know what I feel about her, now that I think about it. It's on and off." He ran his hands through his thick red spikes. "We can't stand each other most of the time - we're always at each others' necks...but…" A small smile crept onto his face, "Even though we're always fighting it just seems so fitting that way, y'know? Like, I can't imagine us being all cuddly and mushy and whatnot together - it's just not like us to do that, but at the same time I thought compatibility was key to a relationship."

"But that's what you guys have," I said, and I smiled when Axel raised an eyebrow in my direction, "You work together. It may not be like any conventional relationship where you get along all of the time; maybe that's just the way yours works out, by constantly bickering. As long as you guys are still together in the end that's all that matters, isn't it?"

"Heh, guess I'm not the only one full of profound things to say today." I blushed and lowered my eyes to my computer screen. Axel rose from his chair and stuck his hands in his pockets. "I guess you're right; I'll have to think about it some more."

"Don't feel pressured just 'cause your brothers are hitched or are getting hitched - these things take time."

My best friend smirked. "You're talking as if you know everything there is to know about love and relationships." When I blushed again he laughed. "Later, Roxas."

When he left I leaned back in my chair and glanced up at the ceiling, folding my hands on top of my lap and breathing deeply. I thought about the things Axel and I discussed just a few moments ago and my brow furrowed; how could all of this happen in just two and a half months?

Was it really possible? Was there such thing as chemistry between two human beings?

I wanted to tell Naminé all of these things, but at the same time I wasn't so sure if it was a good idea. I already told her I wasn't looking for a relationship, and we've been treating each other like good friends in the weeks we've spent together - maybe even a sibling-like relationship.

I thought about Naminé and I referring to each other as brother and sister, and I felt sick inside.

I didn't want to see her as my sister. I wanted to see her as…

I shook my head and leaned forward, trying to revert my attention to my computer. I was being stupid. I was being juvenile; why should I be worried about telling Naminé how I felt about her? That's high school stuff.

If she returned my feelings, then that would be great. If she didn't, then at least we'll still be friends.

I thought of us being friends on the long run, and I felt sick again.

What now? I didn't want to be friends with Naminé? But I already was! If things didn't turn out the way I intended them to I should suck it in and live with what I have. I treasure our friendship, I really do. I never had as much fun with someone before. I never felt so compelled to tell anyone anything about my life before. Basically, Naminé was the closest friend I ever had. She knew things even Axel and Sora didn't know.

And I've only known her for two and a half months.

Maybe I could talk to her during lunch - no, wait...Axel and Demyx were coming along. I needed it to just be us two.

Maybe I could invite her over tonight? But she was just over yesterday...she might not want to.

What am I talking about? She comes over nearly every single day!

Here I go again with arguing with myself…

I exhaled sharply and ran my fingers through my hair. I needed to talk to her about this. Tonight. I made up my mind.

I was going to tell her how I felt about her.

--

Lunch was fun; Naminé and Axel got along pretty well, much to my surprise. I took it as a good sign.

We had just finished work for the day, and I was stuffing my documents into my briefcase. I really didn't need to bring anything home besides my computer, but I was mostly looking for a way to distract myself. My hands were shaking so bad, and I could hear my blood pumping in my ears.

I asked Naminé if she wanted to head over tonight during lunch, and she said yes. Ever since then, I couldn't stop thinking about what might happen tonight. What if I get rejected, or turned down? What if she says she's been feeling the same way?

I was so busy mulling over my thoughts that when Naminé knocked on my door I jumped nearly three feet in the air.

She giggled when she stepped inside. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"

I tugged on my tie as I locked my briefcase. "Y-yeah, sort of."

Her white-blonde head tilted to the side. "What were you thinking about?"

I chuckled nervously as I ushered her out of my office. "How did you know I was thinking about something?"

"Why else would you be so scared when I knocked on that door? You were just putting things into your briefcase - that doesn't take a lot of thought, unless you were thinking of something while you were doing it." She blinked up at me as we made our way towards the elevator.

"Well, what if I was thinking about how to arrange my things when I put them into my briefcase? Not everything can fit unless you strategize properly." I pressed the floor for the parking lot, and the doors slid closed.

Naminé pouted. Ugh, why did she have to be so cute? "Fine, if you don't wanna tell me I won't bother you."

I grinned victoriously. "Glad you see it that way."

After a few minutes of silence she sighed and brushed her hair over her shoulder; I could smell her rain-esque scent and I cringed. "Y'know, I'm happy you invited me over."

I smirked. "Even if I didn't I bet you'd be coming over anyways."

She glared at me momentarily, but then her face relaxed into a soft smile. "Well, today is different."

I raised an eyebrow. "Er, why?"

She flashed another smile. "Because."

I rolled my eyes. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Nope." She popped the 'p'. "At least not until later."

I didn't know whether to feel frightened or excited. I huffed in exasperation, and I rolled my eyes when she laughed at me. Once we were in the parking lot we separated into our respective cars and drove to my place.

"So," I asked once we stepped inside my apartment, "What's for dinner?"

"Hm," Naminé skipped over to my kitchen and opened my fridge, "Let's see what we have here…" She rifled through my food, and I chuckled as I made my way over to her. Her head barely reached the top shelf - she had to be at least five-foot-two, or something. She was so tiny.

She spun around minutes later with a bunch of stuff in her arms - I caught a quick glimpse of broccoli before she traipsed over to the counter. She began chopping vegetables, and I stood there awkwardly with my arms swinging by my sides. I decided to approach her, hoping she'd give me something to do, but she seemed too engrossed on chopping those vegetables. I noticed the way her brow was furrowed in concentration, and how a tiny part of her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth when she was dicing the red peppers.

God, she looked perfect even when she was chopping vegetables.

"Er," I cleared my throat and she paused momentarily to acknowledge me, "What're you making?"

"Heat up the oven," She ordered, "And start seasoning the chicken."

Chicken? "I have chicken?" When she jutted her chin over to the packaged chicken breasts beside the diced vegetables I raised an eyebrow. "Huh, really now…" I preheated the oven and grabbed what spices I could find from my pantry. I chuckled as I dumped the chicken onto a foil-covered tray. "This is different." I commented.

"I thought you might like something that's not Nutella for once," I could hear the grin in her voice, "And whenever we do have something without Nutella it's always either takeout or we actually go out to eat." She grabbed a pan and began stir-frying the vegetables. "I thought it would be nice to have a good homemade meal...without Nutella."

"It smells good so far." I took a whiff of the stir-fry Naminé was making and I licked my lips.

"So," She stirred the vegetables with a wooden spoon, "Why did you invite me over?"

I gulped. "Do I have to have a reason? I mean, you come over all the time."

"But you never invited me during those times." She cheekily pointed out. She added some sauce into the stir-fry, and the entire kitchen began to smell invigorating.

"Er," I rubbed the back of my head as I tried to think of a good enough excuse; right on time the oven beeped, indicating that it was finished heating up, and I covered the chicken in foil before pushing the tray inside. "I-"

"It has to do with whatever you were thinking about before I came to your office, wasn't it?" Naminé lowered the heat and turned around to face me with her arms crossed over her chest. "It must be something really important if you keep stalling on me like this."

My heart threatened to pound right through my ribcage, and I gripped the edge of the counter. "It isn't that important, really-"

She stepped closer towards me, and I backed up against the counter. "Are you sure?" She tilted her head like she always did, and I held in my breath so I didn't have to smell her hair. I would've lost it if I did.

"N-Naminé," I nodded over to the stove, "The stir-fry."

She sighed. "I'm gonna get it out of you eventually." She returned to her frying pan, and I sighed in relief.

"It's not like I'm the only one who isn't hiding something." I retaliated with a smirk.

"Well, I'm actually planning to tell you my secret later," She smirked right back, "So therein lies the difference." She poured the vegetables into a plate. "Once we finish eating we tell each other what we've been hiding, okay?"

My shoulders sagged. "Okay."

Dinner was sort of awkward, now that we both knew we had something we were hiding from each other. I chewed my chicken slowly as I tried to organize my jumbling thoughts: how was I supposed to tell her?

So, Naminé, remember when I told you how I wasn't looking for a relationship? Well...I think I changed my mind.

Ugh, that sounds so stupid.

After spending so much time with you I've come to the conclusion that I really, really like you and things would be great if we could start a relationship.

No, too awkward.

Be my girlfriend? Please?

Too desperate.

You make everything beautiful. You are the sunshine in my life. You're the reason why I get up every morning. You are everything I've ever wanted. I cannot go through every day without seeing you. Please, be mine.

Ew.

"Roxas?" Naminé's soft voice interrupted my argument with myself, and I turned to face her. "You're getting your shirt wet."

"Huh?" I looked down, and I realized I was washing the dishes. I heard my shorter companion giggling behind me and I flushed. "Oops." I shut off the water and placed the clean dishes on the rack before drying my hands with a towel.

"That thing you've been thinking about must really be bothering you, hm?" She lightly pushed my shoulder before tugging me to the couch, "Okay, it's time to spill."

"Naminé," I groaned as she forced me to sit down, "I dunno about this-"

"Fine," She huffed, "If you're so squeamish about it I'll go first. Does that make you feel better?"

For some reason my nervousness increased tenfold. "Uh...I don't know."

She laughed and shook her head. "You're hopeless."

I hung my head. "I know."

"Hey," I suddenly felt a pair of warm hands on either side of my face, and when I looked up I realized Naminé was very, very close to me. One hand gently massaged my temple and she smiled for me, "I didn't mean it literally."

I forced myself to speak. "I know you didn't." I straightened up and she let go of me - I felt disappointed, for some reason. "So, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

She began to bounce excitedly in her seat. "Do you really wanna know?"

"Well, you said you've been meaning to tell me…"

"So?"

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I want to know. What is it?"

She clapped her hands together, and her eyes lit up. "I met this guy a few days ago."

My heart dropped to my stomach, and my mouth went dry.

What did she just say?

--

A/N: Chapter Inspiration: The Saltwater Room by Owl City.

Aaaaaand we have reached the +100 reviews mark! Thank you so much to those who have read, reviewed, favourited and alerted this story! I appreciate each and every single one of you =)