Chapter 2: Lace and Curvature

BEEP, BEEP.

She turned off her alarm, rising to the crisp morning breeze. She stretched her arms up high above her head, yawning like a kitten.

Blinking light from her nearby cell phone had caught her attention, and she turned it on in response. She glanced down at the screen.

One New Text Message: Kairi.

"Huh?" she yawned again, pausing to rub her eyes. She picked up her phone and accessed the message.

"Can't wait for today!" It read.

She sighed in amusement. Oh, Kairi. Excited for some alone-time with Brother, you mean. She grinned affectionately as she thought about just how head-over-heels in love her best friend was with her dashing, yet totally clueless sibling.

She turned off her phone and slid her legs off the side of her bed. It was time to get ready for the day.

She sat across her crimson-haired best friend, who was spooning a chunk of strawberry-swirled vanilla ice cream between her peach-colored lips, dressed in her usual attire.

~ Namine POV ~

I bit into my own sea-salt ice cream cone, motioning her to continue.

"Well, it's not that simple, Namine," she paused, licking the rest from her spoon. "You know how your brother is. I mean, even though we've known each other since childhood," her eyes dropped in despair. "I'm not sure if he's ever.. looked at me that way," she pushed her empty cup away. "I wonder if he's ever seen me any differently than other girls." She folded her arms across her front.

I finished nibbling at my cone, swallowing abruptly. "Kairi! That- that's it!" I rustled my arms inside my window-shaped satchel and pulled out a couple pencils and mini-spiral sketchpad. Flipping hastily to an empty page, I darted at the sheet, and began sketching a girl in a more.. mature attire.

Kairi tilted her head in confusion, resting her arms along on the table.

"Kairi, look!" I flipped the notebook to face her. A roughly-sketched mini-Kairi with smooth hair just like hers had appeared before her, only- wearing completely different clothes: instead of her usual zippered dress, she donned a pink tank-top corset, with silk ribbons lacing up across the front.

She gasped in surprise. "Namine!" She grabbed my hand. "It's- it's perfect!" She shook me with excitement, smiling as she grabbed the notebook from my other hand to take a closer look.

"Let's go!" She stood up, pouring my notebook and pencils back into my satchel. She dragged me hurriedly towards the shopping mall ahead.

"Well? What d'you think of this one?" She sported a corset very similar to my drawing, except with a few quite noticeable changes: it shaped around her curves much finer than I expected, and made her assets look a lot more.. perked.

"It has a little push-up built-in," she grinned, quite pleased with her bold new look. I could tell she had gained some confidence, as she demonstrated it to me by cupping her breasts and pushing them gently upwards. I can't say I wasn't just a tad bit jealous.. I wish mine could grow as nice and full.

"It looks great on you," I answered, glancing downward to pencil-in flowers on my current garden sketch.

"Thanks, Nam," she hugged me from the side. "I couldn't have done it without you."

I paused my artwork to fix the hem of her white linen skirt, and glanced admiringly at her reflection in the mirror. "Not at all, Kai. And look how perfect you look," I smiled, resting my hands on her waist. "I'll bet he'll be happy to see you."

"W-wait, Namine!" She pulled at my outstretched arm, succeeding in stopping my tracks. "What about getting something special for.. oh, I don't know.. that boy that begins with 'R'.." She smirked, tugging me backwards towards the entrance of a lingerie shop.

I fidgeted with the fine tips of my hair, curling them neatly around my fingers. "Th- that won't be necessary, you see," my heart was beating rapidly. "I don't have assets like yours, and I don't think he really notices me- he's only coming to see my brother, and so- I just don't think it would-"

"I can see it in your face!" She giggled, covering her lips with a curled-up fist. "Nam, I just know you like him! Don't even try to cover it up!" she squealed, pulling me into a hug. She danced with more excitement than I possibly could, and I stood, letting her play along my shoulders.

After all, Roxas was my very first crush. And I don't know the first thing about love, or relationships. I sighed. "Oh, Kai.. You're being a bit- excessive, don't you think.."

But she continued to chant excitedly about my crush.