Chapter 9: I Spy
Previously: "See you tomorrow morning Nam!"
"Yeah see you tomorrow," Namine muttered, watching as the duo's figures finally disappeared around the corner. Namine's eyes narrowed. She really would have to do something about that Xion girl.
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"Can you like believe her?" Namine commented once her and her BFFs were once again roaming the hallway to their next class.
The blonde girl was still immensely annoyed about the mishap during music class. In fact, Namine was rather angry. Sure, Roxas had called her Nam, but then he just let Xion steal him away from her.
And she did it so irritatingly well too and as much as Namine hated to admit it, Xion could actually pose as a threat. Of course, even despite such a lingering doubt eating at her, she refused to let her composure slip—not in front of everyone. Queens never showed fear and Namine was Queen of Twilight High.
"Like Oh My Gawd, I know! She is such a freak," Selphie was the first to back Namine up, her tone falsely full of annoyance and rage—After all she couldn't lose the favoritism of her queen. At least not while she still needed to steal the crown.
Namine flipped her platinum blonde hair to the side, "She is and she needs to be like gone…fast."
Selhie nodded in agreement, the other two girls still faithfully trailing behind. "Well then, what do you suggest we do?"
Namine placed a finger to her well glossed lips, "I'm not quite sure, what do you think seems a suitable punishment for trying to steal The Queen's future King?"
Again, Kairi and Olette remained silent but exchanged anxious looks. They knew what it meant when someone was to be punished. They knew it all too well and neither girl wanted to participate in another one of Namine's revenge plots. Yet, at the same time they couldn't not say yes—Their social lives were at stake.
But of course, Selphie was eager to lend a hand in the crime to be committed. In fact, Selphie rather enjoyed the look on the sorry face of whoever was receiving the punishment. It was almost like an addiction.
"I've got a few ideas that I think you'll like," Selphie gave a wicked grin, twirling one of her silver hooped earrings around her finger.
Namine's own lips curved into wicked smile of her own, satisfied. Selphie always had the best ideas.
"Spill."
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"I think I have an open hour next," Roxas said quietly to his raven haired companion. He had read the brail version of his schedule nearly a million times and felt quite positive he was right.
Xion nodded, still thoroughly enjoying her little victory over Namine. Yes, she hadn't managed a total annihilation of the she-witch's claim to Roxas, but she definitely made a dent. That's for sure.
"Here, do you have your schedule with you" Xion extended a hand towards the blond boy, whose clouded blue eyes widened at the question.
Roxas swallowed the small lump in his throat, "Uhh…actually I think I lost it somewhere…at uh…home." The blond boy gave a nervous laugh to finish his poor excuse.
'Well it's not like I can show her a brail class schedule—Tch, yeah that would be inconspicuous….but still…'
Xion only gave a small shrug, her face nor voice showing any visible disappointment. In fact, Xion seemed almost happy about her new, very attractive friend's dilemma.
"That's okay, we'll just walk around till we find the right room." Yes, Xion was very happy about the blond's predicament.
"Oh," Roxas began, but then hesitated, "But won't that make you late for class? I…I don't want to make you late too."
Roxas would feel extremely guilty if he let his new friend get in trouble for his sake. It was his fault that he couldn't just out right ask for help—like a normal person with his condition should do.
Though, Xion again made no sign of being upset at the prospect of being late—It would only be math she would miss and to be perfectly honest, who ever wanted to go to math class?—especially when you could help the incredibly hot transfer boy instead.
It was an easy choice to say in the least.
"Naw! Don't worry about it. I'd rather miss math anyway. We're doing proofs." Xion gave a shudder of disgust.
Roxas couldn't help but crack a small, amused smile, "Not going to be a mathematician, I see?"
Xion snorted, "Are you kidding! I suck at math! I swear it's the source of all evil." 'Besides Namine of course,' Xion couldn't help but add snidely in her mind.
Roxas chuckled at the raven haired girl's statement, "Cool then, I guess that means no rush, eh?"
Xion shook her head with a small smirk, "No rush at all."
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"Is..is that them, up ahead?" Ven asked pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.
"Looks like it," Terra noted from his position against the wall. The pair they were watching had been wandering the hall for only about ten minutes, but the duo, for whatever reason, had decided to stop and sit down for a moment on the end of one of the staircases.
Aqua though, remained silent, fixing her dead eyes on the wall opposite her beside her. Aqua wasn't normally the type of person to go around stalking people, but…Roxas was an exception. Despite his desire to remain 'normal', he was still stuck in the same boat as her and to be quite frank the blue haired girl couldn't help but find herself rather eager-Here was her chance to be good friends with somebody that could really understand her.
It's not to say that Ven and Terra weren't good enough-that wasn't it at all. It was just nice to actually have someone who really knew what you were going through...that's all.
The blond beside her, sighed and bit down on his lower lip. He couldn't quite remember why he was doing this again. It seemed ridiculous. Staking out in the hallway for Roxas, but Aqua had insisted and well…he couldn't refuse Aqua. The blond let out another sigh, resuming his gaze on Roxas and…Xion was it?
Ven, for a fact knew it wasn't Namine he was staring at. Namine was blonde for one thing and her demeanor was much…icier.
Ven shook his head. It didn't matter who he was with. They really just needed to speak to him…alone. Aqua wanted to say something to the blond earlier today and never got around to it—which in turn brought her two best friends to where they were now. Huddled together against the corner of one of the many obnoxiously sunset orange walls, looking like a couple of idiots.
"Oh well, it's not like I have much of a social life anyway..."
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"Is it just me or...is someone watching us?"
Xion blinked, and turned her face away from her companion and out to the surrounding hallway, "You think someone's watching us?"
Roxas scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Um...well...maybe?" Roxas knew he probably sounded stupid right now, but he couldn't help but feel like someone was watching him.
It was a silly thought, considering he was blind, but he knew he wasn't just imagining things. There was something, someone in the hallway watching him, them. He could feel their eyes on him even if he couldn't physically see them-that same burning sensation he felt when the entire student body had been watching him cross the cafeteria with Namine.
Xion's eyebrows knitted together, not entirely sure whether to be worried or frightened at the prospect of someone watching them. "Who do you think would be watching us?"
Roxas shrugged, "I'm not sure-" Then there was a noise. It was a sound that would be imperceptible to anyone else, but Roxas heard it. He might not be able to see but he could definitely hear.
Roxas' eyes narrowed, "Is someone there?"
A bit of shuffling could be heard around one of the corners and then footsteps. Xion was the first to speak, "Terra, Aqua and Ven? What are you guys doing here?"
The trio, now in front of the pair exchanged looks or rather Terra and Ven did. Aqua only cleared her throat and stepped forward.
"We were just hoping to have a word with Roxas, or rather," Aqua paused to point to herself, "I was."
Roxas blinked, "Oh, why didn't come over earlier? I mean, no offense but the whole watching thing is a little uh...creepy."
Aqua shrugged, the two boys on either side of her silent, "I was trying to find a time when you were alone."
The hands at Xion's sides clenched, her voice suddenly icy, "And why would you need to do that?"
Aqua rolled her eyes, seeing the rather obvious reason for the raven haired girl's sudden contempt. "I don't see why you need to know."
Xion glared, but made no further comments. What could she say? She needed to know because she was afraid this blind blue haired girl was another competitor for Roxas' affections? It wasn't something she would exactly like to broadcast, especially in front of the object of her secret affections.
And Xion couldn't help but bitterly acknowledge that Aqua knew that too and was easily using it against her.
"Well…um," Roxas began, eyes down cast, "I guess I could spare a few minutes."
"Alone," Aqua reminded and Roxas agreed leaving his raven haired companion behind shooting bone chilling death glares at the backs of the trio who had abducted her handsome crush.
Of course, this hateful expression was easily washed off when Roxas gave a final smile and wave before he and his captors veered around the corner. Then, then it was all smiles—that is until he was gone.
After a moment or two of silence in the halls, Xion let out a small sigh and got up from the staircase. Something just didn't seem right to the young, aspiring actress.
Xion's eyes narrowed, the more she contemplated, "Why would Aqua of all people want to talk to Roxas?"
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"So…what did you want to talk to me about, anyway?"
The trio, now quartette had finally settled in a room at the opposite end of the school. The room was small and austere, with blank walls furnished with only one window to let in a little light and a small ticking clock hanging above the doorway.
It was the type of room easily overlooked and that was the exact reason the group had decided to sojourn there.
"I wanted to talk to you about Namine," Was the blue haired girl's simple explanation.
Roxas' shifted in his seat a little more at ease, even bothering to crack a small smile, "Namine? You went to all this trouble to talk to me about Namine?"
Aqua's cheeks became slightly red with Roxas' accusation, "Well…I at least thought it was important. I just wanted to know how your 'quest' was going?"
Roxas couldn't help but chuckle at the word. Quest. Was that really the appropriate term? It made what he was doing sound far more heroic than he thought it was, but he supposed in some ways what he was doing could in some form be a quest. A mission.
"It's going quite well…er…I at least I think it is anyway."
Aqua started to smile but then faltered, "But…what about Xion?" Aqua knew even without her sight that Xion liked Roxas, and knew that Namine also having feelings for the blond could cause problems.
Yet, Roxas remained oblivious to what she was getting at. Typical, clueless boy he was. "What about Xion?"
Aqua blinked, finding herself almost flabbergasted, "You're kidding me right?"
Roxas swallowed, becoming uneasy in his chair, "N-No?"
Aqua slapped the top of her forehead, and rolled her eyes. Was this boy really that clueless? Aqua could hear the faint snickers or her two male companions behind her as they too seemed quite amused that their new blond friend had absolutely no idea that he was being fought over by a couple of girls.
Roxas noticed the laughter too, "What? Did I do something wrong?"
Both boys shook their heads but proceeded to say nothing. Aqua on other hand knew she needed to continue on despite the blond's rather comical ignorance.
"Don't worry, it's nothing too important. I really just wanted to know how things with Namine were going. You know bumps in the road, breakthroughs, all that jazz."
"Well…uh, like I said things are going fine. Namine and I have been talking and stuff so hopefully I'll make a real…erm…breakthrough soon." Roxas scratched the back of his head, not quite entirely sure what he should say. Honestly, he didn't think this whole ordeal would require a weekly verbal report.
Aqua nodded her head, "That's good, but I think—"
The door suddenly blew open.
"There you two are! I've been looking all over for you! Now, it's time for class so you can say goodbye to your little friends."
Perky demeanor, creepy shrill voice—Both Roxas and Aqua's faces paled.
"Miss Reinhart," Aqua and Roxas responded with the same forced smile and enthusiasm.
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"Could this class get any more boring?"
Namine and her friends were in history now. The last class of the day and despite there only being an hour left in class Namine was antsy to leave. Not only was the blonde girl antsy to leave merely for the sake of leaving, Namine was antsy to leave because tonight was the night she and her parents were going out to eat, together, at her favorite restaurant.
It was an event that didn't take place often due to Namine's parents extensive jobs, but tonight was one of the very few nights that she had her parents all to herself—and that to Namine was something to be antsy about.
Selphie looked up from the fashion magazine she was reading, "Probably, if you give it enough time."
Namine rolled her eyes, "Uh-huh."
Kairi cleared her throat cautiously, "H-Hey Namine?" Kairi knew she was treading in dangerous waters now. The question she waned to ask was risky and the red head was well aware of that fact—but she couldn't wait forever.
Namine turned away from Selphie and fixed her icy gaze onto Kairi, "Yeah Kai?"
Kairi swallowed the growing lump in her throat, "Um…well I was just wondering…um…what you're going to do about…erm Sora now? I mean you have Roxas now…"
Namine shrugged, "I dunno, I'll probably just stay friends with him or something like that. Why?"
Kairi's eyes widened, "Uh…no reason. I-I was just wondering that's all." Chicken, Kairi's mind hissed.
Namine arched an eyebrow at her friend's odd behavior—after all why was Sora so important…Namine's eyes widened. Why hadn't she seen it earlier—Sora was the key!
"Actually, you know what girls? I just had another brilliant idea. I need to know more about Roxas, right?"
The other girls nodded, especially Kairi whose heart now was thudding fiercely against her rib cage. Her muscles coiled readying to spring. Kairi knew she would have to beat out Selphie—something nearly impossible, but she had to do it. She had to win.
"Well, who would know him better than his cousin, Sora?"
Kairi inhaled deeply. She knew this was her one shot to be with Sora. Their one shot at happiness…together.
"So," Namine continued, "I need one of you girls to be my spy and pump Sora for information. Whatever method you have to use is fine, just make sure you get the goods—Oh!" Namine had to stop herself for a moment and recollect her thoughts. She couldn't mess this up.
"But make sure he's still like our friend. I mean he is still Roxas' cousin," Namine gave a small plastic white smile to her friends before getting up from her seat, "And I would do this myself, but you know how busy I am so~ like I said, it's up to one of you to get the goods for me, comprendo?"
The three girls nodded, but Kairi quickly piped up, her voice almost strained, "Um…which one of us do you want to do this…erm…not that it matters." Kairi at the last part of her sentence lowered her head and anxiously pulled at the ends of her auburn hair.
Namine placed her index finger on her chin for a moment, mulling the idea over. "I think…you should do it Kairi. You like sort of already know him, right?"
Kairi's heartbeat slowed, "Yeah, sort of." She was in. She was so in.
"B –But she wouldn't even like know what to do!" Selphie interrupted, her face contorted into an angry scowl.
Kairi shot Selphie an incredulous look that soon morphed into an almost contemptuous snarl, "She said I could do it Selphie, so back off!"
"Ohh, so little Miss Perfect actually does have a temper, how cute!" Selphie retorted with a mocking twist of her lips.
Kairi's hands clenched as she prepared to assemble another comeback. It was a sight that Namine, the grand spectator of this event, had never seen. Sure, Selphie had lost her temper on the occasion, but Kairi?
Kairi was normally so level headed. Namine shook her head as though that would relieve her of the sudden confusion that had infected her.
'Why would Kairi care this much about…' Namine's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. 'Sora.'
Sora was the cause of all of this. Kairi liked Sora and wanted the excuse of talking to him without angering Namine. Even Namine had to admit, it was a good plan. Kairi knew Sora better—and because of that basic fact, Kairi knew Namine would pick her.
It was deceit that a part of the blonde wanted to admire, but the other part—the other part of her wanted to be angry. Angry that her best friend would try and trick her like that…but Namine knew she had to look at the bigger picture.
If Kairi could become close to Sora then Namine could become close to Roxas. It was simple. So simple that the blonde couldn't keep herself from smiling.
"Selphie," Selphie turned towards Namine eagerly. 'Another win.'
"I want Kairi to be my spy, not you."
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Phew! 7 pages! That's a lotta writing—but I thought it would be a good present to my faithful readers who have literally been waiting months for this chapter.
I'm sorry about the wait though, honestly. School and my own life got really…difficult and it was hard to get anything good down. Besides that my computer's broken so I have to use my mom's laptop.
But again, I'm hoping this extra, super-duper long chapter sort makes up for the lateness-which just FYI shouldn't be too bad since I'm done with school now! Yeah!
Oh and I'd also like to thank EVERYONE for getting me 90 REVIEWS! I mean honestly that's amazing! 8(well now 9) chapters and 90 reviews! That's so awesome! Maybe we can reach 100 soon!:)
Well anyways, I hope I've still got some people willing to READ and REVIEW!:)
Artism-Thanks for the review! I know update after like a year but thanks for understanding. School and life and general really have been hard, but I'm hoping things will be updated soon:) And that's great! FF is a great place to be and I'll have to come on by your profile sometime:)
nobody-Thanks for the review! I'm happy to hear you're enjoying the story so much!:D
Yellow Gummy Bear-'-_- yeah I am the worst at updating haha, but I'm happy to hear you like my story:) Yeah she is rather difficult to get used to, but again happy to make you happy:)