A Sad And Lonely Girl.

"You sure you're not gonna get wasted this time?" Demyx asked slyly.

There was the distinct thudding noise of knuckles colliding with a skull, followed by Demyx yowling in pain. "Shut up." Axel grumbled.

"Ugh," I stared dismally at the box of hair dye sitting on my kitchen table, "I hate this hair dye…" I glared at the jeans hanging over one of the chairs, "And I hate those jeans. You clearly saw not all artists dress like that, so why do I have to continue wearing those things?"

Axel shrugged as he reached for his beret. "I dunno. I guess I just like torturing you - and besides, drastically changing your wardrobe might make Naminé and Riku suspicious." He adjusted his belt, though his jeans were so tight there really was no point of wearing one. "Did Sora call yet?"

"Yeah," I grabbed the box of hair dye and trudged to the nearest bathroom, "He said he's probably gonna head there a little earlier."

"Good - Riku will be distracted. Now hurry up and dye your hair."

I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind me. I was beginning to regret not going to the party as myself...and with Naminé feeling sad because I wasn't going to be there I only felt worse.

I mean, what happened if she was right and Riku's announcement did make her feel bad? I wouldn't be able to comfort her as Ventus. As Ventus I'm a complete stranger to her. It would be too awkward.

I guess I'd have to wing it, just like what Axel said.

Once I was sure my hair was that weird rusty colour I changed into my outfit: black skinny jeans, black fedora, black glasses, black and white sneakers, a grey v-neck t-shirt and a black blazer. I sighed when Demyx and Axel snickered at my appearance. "You guys don't look any better, you know."

My redheaded best friend sighed and slung one arm around my shoulders. He threw the other arm around Demyx and lightly pushed us towards the front door. "Oh, the things we do for you, Roxas…"

"I'm kind of excited, actually," Demyx commented giddily as we made our way out of my apartment and towards the elevator, "I really wanna know what Riku's hiding from everyone."

"I'm pretty sure everyone does," Axel smirked, "And I'm pretty sure it's something big-" He shot me a wary look, "-and it doesn't have anything to do with his love life."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, we'll never know until he tells us."

We decided to take Demyx's car to the party. I sat quietly in the backseat, absently looking out the window while pretending to pay attention to my friends' conversation. I let my mind wander off for a bit: I thought about Kairi and how she decided not to go. She probably had a bad feeling about this too. I thought about the kids, and then I suddenly thought about Larxene and how Axel must be coping with the crazy mood swings and whatnot. He didn't seem to be too bothered by it…

"Why did I have a feeling Riku's place was a loft?" Axel scoffed as Demyx pulled into the parking lot.

"Ugh, it's packed," The dirty-blond complained as he searched for a vacant spot, "I guess Riku really did invite everyone he knew."

I spotted my twin brother's car. Coincidentally there was an empty spot right next to it. Demyx parked there, and I hesitantly clambered out once the engine stopped running. I briefly reached underneath my fedora to tousle my hair.

"Alright," I felt Axel's large hand on my shoulder, "Let's party." He lightly pushed me towards the door that led us to the lobby, and we took the elevator to the fifteenth floor. "Huh, this place seems tidy enough." My male best friend commented, looking around the hallway once we stepped out of the elevator.

"I think I know where Riku's door is…" Demyx's head was tilted in a certain direction; I paused for a minute and realized there was loud music muffled behind one of the doors. It seemed to be coming from the end of the hallway.

"Doesn't sound like your typical music, to be honest with you," Axel smirked as he meandered past the numerous grey doors, "Hardcore artists sure are strange." When we approached the door where the music was coming from he turned to me and sniggered. "Ready, loverboy?"

I rolled my eyes and knocked on the door. I wondered if anybody could hear me with that loud music going on.

Surprisingly enough the door swung open, and when I saw Naminé's silvery blue eyes and pearly-white grin I almost fainted. "Hey!" She leapt forward and captured Axel - er, Jacques - in a bear hug, "I'm so glad to see you guys!" She hugged Demyx - I mean Mateo - and he chuckled softly before gently patting her head.

I stood there awkwardly with my hands behind my pockets. Of course I didn't get a hug - I was a complete stranger to her.

Naminé turned towards me and grabbed me by the wrist. My eyes widened slightly as she pulled me inside. "Hey Ventus," Even though the music was a little loud she wasn't speaking much louder than a regular indoor voice and I could hear her perfectly, "How are you? It's been awhile."

I felt Axel and Demyx's eyes on me for a split second before they disappeared somewhere. I guess they went to mingle with the other artists...or whoever else Riku decided to invite. "Um," I awkwardly rubbed the back of my head, "G-good. What about you?"

She giggled behind her hand. I took the time to notice what she was wearing: a simple beige strapless dress and light brown sandals. She was wearing a silver chain bracelet - something I've never seen her wear before. It looked new. "Same old, same old. I heard you've been busy lately - at least that's what Jacques and Mateo told me. What have you been up to?"

She began to walk deeper into the apartment, and I noticed how crowded it was. There were people huddled in groups, sitting on couches, leaning against the walls, sitting on the stair steps, crowded around the kitchen island…

Whatever Riku was hiding from everyone, it must've been really big.

The small blonde smoothed out her knee-length skirt and found rest on a leather loveseat, and she patted the spot next to her. I cleared my throat and plopped down, hoping she didn't notice how shaky my legs were. I didn't know why I felt so nervous; I mean, I've talked to her as Ventus before. It shouldn't have been so hard.

"Uh," I remembered she was waiting for me to answer her question, and my collar enclosed around my neck, "Y-you've seen Jacques and Mateo...earlier?"

"Yes," She smiled sweetly, "I've had lunch with them a week or so ago."

I wondered why she wanted to talk to me - to Ventus, a complete stranger out of all the other people she could've chosen to talk to. She could've easily struck up easier conversation with Axel and Demyx, or better yet: she could've just clung onto Riku's arm the entire night and followed him around while he made his rounds with the bajillion people he managed to stuff in his loft. She could've even talked to my brother.

Even under disguise she managed to single me out.

"Erm," I anxiously wrung my hands, "Y-yeah, uh...I've been working. A lot. On new stuff."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, really? You must've been really inspired if you've been working so much!"

I gulped. "Y-yeah, pretty...pretty much."

"Is that Ventus?" Riku popped out from behind Naminé, and when the blonde noticed him she sprung up from her seat and reached for his hand. "Hey man, so glad you could make it! Long time no see!"

I stood up and shook his hand briefly. "Yeah...uh, I was just catching up with Naminé. I've been working...on new stuff...so I haven't had the time to hang out lately. S-sorry." At least my nervousness was adding to Ventus' awkward personality.

Riku waved my excuse/lie off dismissively. "Nah, don't worry about it. Totally know how you feel - once you get an idea you can't stop until you're done, right?" When I nodded he chuckled. "Say, are you hungry? There's snacks and drinks and whatnot over by the kitchen. Better grab what you can before it's gone."

I was a little hungry, so I nodded again. "Y-yeah, I'll be sure to do that." An idea popped into my head at that moment, and I looked up at him. "Uh, hey...Riku?"

Both him and Naminé looked at me. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Er, not meaning to sound rude or anything but...is there a reason why you invited so many people over?" I laughed a little and reached underneath my hat to muss up my hair. "I figured there would have to be some sort of special occasion for you to be willing to have so many people here."

He laughed that perfect laugh, his long hair swishing around his face. Naminé was staring at him intently, as if she was also anticipating his answer. "Well...I guess you'll have to wait until later to find out."

My chest caved in from disappointment. Naminé puffed her cheeks and glared at him. "You aren't making this any easier on anyone, you know." She muttered.

Riku chuckled and threw an arm around her shoulders, holding her close and leaning down to peck her lips. I suddenly felt my airways close. "Who said I wanted to make things easy for anybody?" I heard him reply to her in a low voice - I was pretty sure he wanted only Naminé to hear that.

They seemed too absorbed in their little moment to notice anything else, so I decided to make my way to the kitchen. For some reason the image of them kissing in front of me didn't shock me as much as I thought it would. The moment I was far enough from them I felt like I could breathe again. Maybe I was just so used to getting disappointed. I don't know.

"Psst!" Someone hissed in my direction amidst the hundreds of conversations buzzing around, and I looked around frantically. When I spotted Sora hiding behind the fridge with a drink in his hands I slunk over to his side. "When did you guys get here?" He whispered.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you whispering? We don't know anybody here - there's nothing to hide!"

The brunet flushed and straightened up. "Sorry - I thought we were supposed to act like we were strangers."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, you were the one who called me over here…and plus, I think Riku and Naminé are a little preoccupied to notice we're conversing anyway."

My brother scratched his head. "Oh. Right." His eyes widened a little bit. "Wait, what? Preoccupied?"

I gave my twin a grim smile. "Yeah...I was just talking to them. They got all lovey-dovey again. I don't think they even noticed when I left."

Sora frowned. "Aw, that's too bad." His eyes widened again, though I noticed he was staring at something that was approaching me from behind. "Er, Roxas-"

"What?" I was about to turn around and see, but then I felt something cold hit my chest. Sora just deliberately spilled his fruit punch on me. "Hey! What the hell-"

"Oh," Sora quickly approached me, "I'm so sorry-"

"Something the matter?" Riku's voice popped up from behind, and we both swiveled around to face him. Oh...so that explained my brother's behaviour. "Sora, you klutz."

"It was an accident," The brunet fibbed, "I didn't mean-"

"Er, no worries," I had to keep telling myself that my brother was a stranger and that I didn't know him, "It...it's not his fault."

"Here," I felt a small hand on my arm and my heart leapt to my throat when I found Naminé standing by my side, "I'll help you get that cleaned off. Come." She gently tugged me by the arm, and I dumbly followed her.

All of a sudden I loved my brother.

She took me upstairs and down the hallway. Since nobody was up here it was much quieter, and the noise almost faded away completely when we entered the bathroom at the end of the hall. She turned on the sink and ran a cloth through the water. "The guy who spilled his drink on you - his name's Sora. He's Riku's best friend."

I sat on the toilet lid and rubbed my shoulder. I was about to take off my hat but I remembered how she would instantly recognize my messy hair if I did, so I caught myself at the last minute. "Oh...w-what a coincidence."

She laughed softly. "Yeah. They've known each other since college." She approached me and crouched in front of me - obviously a very awkward position. She didn't seem to mind (or notice), however, and began to dab my shirt with the cloth. "I'm actually best friends with his twin brother, so I find the whole thing a really funny coincidence."

My temperature must've tripled at that moment. "O-oh...wow."

She giggled again. "His name's Roxas." Her expression softened a bit. "He's...he's probably the most important person in my life, aside from Riku of course."

I forced myself to keep cool. "You guys must b-be really close, then."

She looked up at me from beneath her dark eyelashes and gave me a sad smile. "That's what I honestly thought at first, but lately...I'm not so sure." She laughed and shook her head. "I'm sorry...I'm totally bombarding you with my personal problems and we hardly know each other. You must think I'm such a weirdo."

It was my turn to shake my head. "N-no, no! I don't think you're weird. It's...i-it's kind of flattering, actually. I...I don't m-mind listening."

She smiled again, though this time she looked much happier - maybe even a little relieved. "Thanks." She continued dabbing my shirt. "Roxas...well, he's a little hard to read sometimes. I mean...I feel like I can tell him anything but...I don't think he feels the same towards me."

Lies. She was hiding things from me - that kiss she shared with Riku not too long ago just proved it. "What makes you think that?"

She shrugged her miniscule shoulders. "He's just been so distant lately, and he's even been refusing upfront to tell me what's bothering him. It's so...ugh…" She clamped her eyes shut and for a second I thought she was going to cry but she reopened her eyes and continued cleaning my shirt, "At first I thought it was frustrating, but after awhile I realized...well," She sighed in defeat, "I realized that I was just being a hypocrite for feeling that way towards him because I've been hiding things from him too."

Good. Admit you were lying.

Wait a minute...she's been hiding things from me? What were these things? Was it about her and Riku's relationship? Was it about something else? Was it about me?

"Does he know you feel this way?" I finally found my voice, though my head was still running over the numerous possibilities.

"Oh, no. I couldn't tell him - well, I mean I just don't know how to tell him," She replied dismally, "But at the same time why should I bother worrying over this when I know he won't open up in return?" She paused for a moment to tug on her hair. "I...I'm afraid of losing him. He's been so good to me...he's treated me so well, and I'm just so scared of messing everything up." She sniffled, and my heart stuttered for a moment, "I can't lose him. I can't afford to lose him. He means too much to me."

What did all of this mean?

"Well…" I started slowly, hoping the words in my head would come out properly, "I-I'm pretty sure he does appreciate everything you've done for him. Maybe he...he just has trouble expressing it."

She laughed quietly. "That sounds like him alright."

"Maybe he just...I dunno, needs time to adjust to things," I shrugged; she finished cleaning off the worst of the spill on my shirt and moved to sit on the edge of the bathtub, "Maybe he's not used to you and Riku being in a relationship yet."

"But why should Riku and I be a bother to him?" She asked quietly, "I mean...I know he's been a little irritated over it. He doesn't seem to like it when I bring Riku up, but I guess that's understandable. I talked about him way too much in the beginning, so I guess he got annoyed." She pulled on her hair and frowned. "He blew up on me one time and that's when I decided to refrain from talking about Riku, but now I feel bad because I feel like I've been hiding so many things from him." She sighed. "I guess it makes us even because he hasn't been telling me anything." Her eyes dropped to her sandals. "I think he secretly hates me."

Was that the only reason why she hasn't been updating me on the progress of her relationship with Riku - because she was afraid I'd blow up on her again? I guess that was understandable. I probably would react extremely if she ever told me about their first real kiss or something, but I think I took seeing it first hand without a warning pretty well.

Wait, did she just say she thought I hated her?

"No, no!" I exclaimed, and her head shot up. Oops. "I-I mean, no, I don't think he hates you. He wouldn't - no one in their right mind would hate you."

She smiled. "Aw, you're sweet." She stood up and brushed off her skirt. "We should get back to the party." Before making her way out she turned around to give me a shy smile. "Thanks, by the way. Talking about stuff really helps, even if it's with someone I hardly know."

I rubbed the back of my head. "Anytime, Naminé - it's the least I could do for, uh...owing you back for cleaning my shirt."

I felt like I knew her more as a stranger than I did as a best friend. It was kind of depressing.

The buzzing conversation and lack of personal space returned once we stepped back on the first floor. Naminé made some excuse to go somewhere (probably to find Riku) so I decided to find either my brother or my friends - whoever I saw first.

"Ventus!" I whirled around and found Axel with what looked like a plate of pot-stickers balancing on his palm; he leaned in towards me and playfully elbowed my ribs. "I saw you coming downstairs with Naminé. Did you-"

"No," I cut in shortly, throwing him a glare, "Don't even think about it." I grabbed one of the pot-stickers and popped it into my mouth. Hm, not bad.

"Okay, well...if you weren't doing what I thought you were doing what did you do?"

"Talk," I shrugged, "It's...it's kinda complicated. I'll have to explain later." I looked around and noticed someone was missing. "Where's Dem-I mean, Mateo?"

"Who cares?" Axel shrugged, "It's a party. Let him have a good time. I know I am." He stuffed two pot-stickers in his mouth. "I talked to Riku just before I saw you. He's really keeping this secret of his on the down-low, hm?"

I rumpled the back of my hair. "Yeah, I know...I tried asking him about it too and he told me to wait." I paused for a minute. "Did you see Sora?"

"Yeah but we couldn't say much because Riku was nearby. He managed to tell me that he bought time for you and Naminé, though. I thought you were gonna make use of it…"

I rolled my eyes. "I did make use of it - just not in the way you're thinking." I noticed how the volume of the crowd died somewhat, and I raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

Axel jerked his head over to the living room, where people were flocking towards. "Hm, maybe Riku finally decided to let us in on his big secret. Let's check it out, shall we?"

As we moved with the throng of people I managed to bump into my brother. He gave Axel and I a shy smile. "Excited?" When Axel nodded and I shrugged he laughed. "This is gonna be good."

I managed to push past the crowd so that I was one or two rows away from Riku, who was standing by the coffee table. Naminé was by his side like I expected with her arm around his waist and her cheek pressed against his shoulder. Everyone was talking in hushed, excited tones.

"Hey everyone," The second Riku addressed everybody they all fell silent, "I'm really glad I'm able to see all of you today, and I'm happy you were all able to make it." He paused to pull Naminé closer to him. "As most of you already know the reason why I invited all of you here was because I wanted to tell you something."

"Here it comes…" I heard Axel mutter beside me.

"I know it's a little crowded in here and I apologize, but the reason why I wanted so many of you to come tonight is because I didn't want to go through the trouble of repeating myself." Everybody broke out into fits of giggles and chuckles, and I rolled my eyes. Of course.

"Anyways, before I spill I just want to thank all of you guys for coming today and supporting me throughout the years. I really wouldn't be here if it weren't for you guys - and I don't mean to single anybody out but I have to give special recognition to my best friend. Sora, where the hell are you?" The crowd began to cheer, and Riku searched for a head of spiky brown hair.

Sora finally stepped forward, grinning sheepishly with one hand behind his head. "Aw, Riku, why'd you have to go and do that for?" His cheeks were tinged slightly pink. A few girls in the crowd were giggling.

Riku laughed and patted my brother on the back, further embarrassing him. "You've been there for me since we first met, man. You and Kairi-" Once he mentioned my brother's wife's name the girls sighed in disappointment, "-have been my strongest pillars of support. I can't thank you guys enough for all you've done for me. You and your wife-" The girls sighed louder, "-are the greatest friends a guy can have, seriously. Thanks." He briefly let go of Naminé to hug Sora, and the crowd 'aw-ed'. Naminé giggled behind her hand.

"And of course," Once Riku let go of my brother he immediately returned his arm to Naminé's waist; he turned towards her and she smiled up at him, "How can I forget about this lovely lady here?" The crowded hooted, and the small blonde blushed, "Naminé, I haven't known you for very long but you mean so much to me. It's easy to say that my entire universe revolves around you." The crowd hooted louder and Naminé's blush grew darker, and Riku laughed. "Sorry if I'm embarrassing you, but I just need to get this out. You are my everything, and I don't know how I managed to live before I met you."

I felt like he was taking the words I've been saving for Naminé right out of my head. He was stealing my lines.

He was stealing my girl.

"So yeah," Riku looked a little flustered now; Naminé's eyes were pointed at the floor and her entire face was beet-red, "To make a long story short...I love you." When Naminé gaped at him he laughed. "Come here, you." He grabbed her and kissed her fully on the lips. The crowd was cheering so loudly my ears were hurting.

I found it weird how I was unable to feel anything. I mean, this seemingly perfect guy was kissing the girl was I hopelessly in love with right in front of me and I wasn't jealous, angry or sad. I felt nothing.

I think feeling nothing is worse than feeling anything at all.

"Get a room!" Some guy from the back jokingly hollered, and the couple finally broke apart with abashed looks on their faces as the crowd laughed. Naminé chortled quietly behind her hand and Riku rubbed the back of his head.

"Uh, okay...back to what I was saying…" The crowd laughed again and Riku threw his arms around Sora and Naminé's shoulders, "These two, along with everybody in this room are unique and amazing in their very own way - which is why I'm sad to say that I'll be missing every single one of you terribly."

Everyone gasped, and Sora and Naminé's heads immediately snapped up to Riku. Both looked completely confused.

"Hm..." Axel murmured beside me, and my eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm moving to Radiant Garden next year." Riku finally announced, and the room grew even quieter.

A/N: Chapter Inspiration: Baby Come On by (+44).

For some reason the music I pictured playing in Riku's apartment was all Vampire Weekend stuff. Must be the hipster-like vibe, hahaha.