Slowly walking home, I noticed different kids playing in their yards, happy and filled with love, family, and a good education. Unlike me, they had friends and people that they knew here; I had no one. It gave me an odd feeling in life, knowing that no one knew me in this alien place. I couldn't help but question to myself 'will I really be able to make any friends?' So many things went racing through my brain, but my thoughts felt so numb. Then again, I could probably blame my current state of spacey-ness on the bloody test they just forced into my eye sockets.

The news alone that I have the chance to pick the grade I'm going into was hard enough to swallow, but the dawning of the fact that I would have no friends in either grade was even harder to think about. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this dilemma sooner. No friends; who was I going to talk to? You know I love to talk, see I'm even talking to myself in my own thoughts! Damn, wonder if that makes me crazy… Shit, I'm crazy!

3rd person P.O.V.:

Without looking, Sora had pulled a genius move and walked into a tree at that exact moment in time, falling onto the ground with a nice loud thump that the neighbors surely heard from their houses. His mother, who was just down the road a bit, heard her son yelp out as he took his backwards dive. She trotted over in a faster pace than usual to get to her son, who was at that point lying on the ground rubbing his spiky head. The rather large bump beginning to surface on his skull could almost be seen a mile away. Sora could only hope that the bump would go away before the dinner party that was going to happen in a mere 2 hours.

Sora's P.O.V.:

As I laid there trying to nurse my injured head, I could heard my mother's familiar footsteps coming towards me. I opened my eyes slowly, looking past the stars and up into my mom's slightly concerned face.

"Sora! Are you ok, hunny? You really took a pretty big fall…" I loved my mom, but sometimes she worried about me for no reason. I could have a splinter and she would make it out to be like someone had just shanked me in the gut. I sat up and just continued to rub at my lumpy head, hoping to nurse it back to normal again.

"Yeah, yeah, mom… I guess I just wasn't looking. My mind's a bit preoccupied at the moment…" I didn't want to get into too much detail because I didn't want her to wig out while we were in public. At this point, I was kind of surprised she hadn't anally raped me with questions about my test scores.

"What are you preoccupied with?" It was an innocent question, but it was obvious she saw the nervousness flash through my eyes. She took that moment to shine her own sincere and warm orbs at me. "You know, Sora, you can tell your mom anything. Whatever it is that's troubling you, I'd like to know and help…" I couldn't stop the loving smile that spread across my face at my mom's caring words.

"I know I can mom…" I looked down, staring at my feet for a moment before looking back into her eyes. "It's just that the principle gave me a decision to make and I'm not sure what's best for me right now…" At my confession, my mother's face turned from one of concern to one of curiosity.

"What do you mean a decision? What could he possibly give you to decide on?" At this point, I felt it was necessary to get my butt up. I didn't want the neighbors to stare at me any longer than I know they already had been. They probably already think I'm on crack or some sort of drug to walk point blank into a tree that was twice my size. My head was still hurting as well, which made me almost lose my train of though.

"They said that I could pick what grade I wanted to go into, either 9th or 10th grade-"

"That's wonderful news Sora! That means that I did good by you!" I couldn't help but stare at her, completely confused. Ok, sooo when did my schooling and my dilemma ever become about her? I guess I'll probably never know, will I. Sheesh, I know that parenting me alone for my whole life was hard, but this current situation is harder on me, not her. Couldn't she see that? My mother was still talking to me as I started walking "home," though I admit I only heard bits and pieces of what she was saying. Something about a Riku and about something involving the grade I should go into. Like I said, I only got bits and pieces. I needed to switch the subject on her.

"Mom, when is this dinner party thing? And what should I wear? It's still just a barbeque, right? No fancy stuff?" At my questions, my mother gained an amused twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah, it is. Just wear your swim trunks and a t-shirt. Nothing fancy." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"So I'm not dressing to impress then…" That set my mind a little more at ease. I always hated when my mother would insist that I dress up when we would go out to movies and stuff. It had only happened once in a blue moon, when I would travel with her out here to the main land. Guess I should be happy that it was warm out and the water would be nice to go in. I hope they have a low end, because of me not being able to swim and all.

A few minutes had gone by and my mother had stopped talking, probably noticing that I had stopped taking part in the conversation. I looked up, realizing that we were standing at the front door of our new place. Once we had gone inside I told Demyx what my day was like. I didn't want him to think I was not trying or that I didn't like him. I wanted my mother to be happy and if that meant spilling my whole heart and soul out to a person that I hardly knew then so be it. After the long, lengthy conversation we had, he also mentioned something about a kid named Riku. I didn't really pay any mind as I made my way upstairs.

There was no point in relieving my empty stomach from its grumbling because when I looked at the clock I saw that dinner was only 30 minutes away. I was not nervous in the least bit while thinking about meeting them. I had kind of mastered the skill of talking to complete strangers on the beach, so this was going to be a piece of cake.

Wanna know what what's not a piece of cake? Finding my damn swim trunks in any of my boxes. I know what people would be thinking right now. "How can you not find your swim trunks in the four boxes that are yours?" Well, to that I have no comment, because I can't find them. By the time that my mother had yelled up to me saying that I had 5 minutes I was freaking out and all my things were strewn everywhere on the floor. I yelled back that I couldn't find my trunks and I would be down as soon as I could!

"Oh dear, I forgot to tell you I have them down here! I already got them out for you before you came home!" My head shot up from a mound of clothes at hearing my mother's remark.

"Mom! So you mean I destroyed my room and wasted time looking for something you already had?" At hearing her giggles, I got up and made my way downstairs with a pretty pissed off look on my face. When I landed on the first floor, she handed me my swimming trunks and gave me a big smile, pushing me towards the bathroom for a quick change. It almost felt like she got pleasure from my pain. Why mother? Why cruel, cruel world? I soft chuckle escaped my lips; I thought it was a little comical.

Taking not more than a few seconds to switch my clothing, I was out and about meeting my mother and Demyx by the front door. Mother was just wearing a cream-white flowing skirt and a baby blue tank-top, and Demyx was in jeans and his normal business-like button-down shirt. I took a guess that he was not planning on going into the pool.

The walk over was quick, what with us being neighbors and all. Demyx had rung the doorbell to the house. We had waited not that long when a man with mid-back blue hair answered the door with a small but welcoming smile. All I would think of was 'what is up with this family and having odd colored hair?' I wasn't paying too much attention to him after he introduced himself as Saix. After his introduction, all I could look at was the house itself. It was amazing! The moment that we stepped through the door we saw this high ceiling, a wired spiral staircase, and a beautiful silver kitchen. It was gorgeous; totally topped Demyx's house 10 fold. 'Sorry Demyx,' I thought, letting out a small giggle. Everyone that was near me gave me and odd look and all I could say to them was "This place is AMAZING, sorry Demyx!"

My mother cracked out laughing and Demyx took it like a man, I guess you would say. Saix was the only serious one in the conversation, saying that it took a lot to get it that way. He took us through the kitchen and into the backyard where I saw the beach house which I could see through my bedroom window.

Right by the pool was this really nice grill, where yet another oddly hair colored man stood. Wait… two men, one house. They're GAY! Not going to say that I mind, but are they cool with being out like they are? I mean I know I'm gay, I knew I had feelings for guys since about the time I was born, but personally I'm scared to come out.

Breaking me from my surprise at my discovery, the aroma of hamburgers and what seemed to be sausages made my nose tingle with pleasure. I knew I was going to be eating really well for this meal. I don't know if I ever had anything like this cooked on a grill. Dinner for me had always been simple food that hardly needed to be cooked, which meant we ate a lot of vegetables and sandwiches. We did have a portable grill, but it was so old and cheap. It never got hot enough for things like hamburgers, but good for eggs and other things like that.

From the corner of my eye I happened to zone my focus onto the world's cutest Siberian husky. He/she was so pretty; everything you would ever think a husky should look like. I walked over to the dog, ignoring what someone was trying to telling me. I just had to pet the doggie!

Riku's P.O.V.:

I made it back from school a few hours ago and was cleaning up my room, and it felt like it was taking forever! I put the radio on 92.3, nothing too big and wild like I would normally listen to. I just needed something for the background silence. I could hear my father's talking outside about what we're going to serve our guest. I think I overheard stuffed hamburgers and braughtworst seared in beer with a garden salad. Hey, what can I say, I have great hearing.

I stood back and looked at my room, plotting out what was next to be cleaned. I was never one who liked to do things all at once, but rather one part or piece at a time. I finally got all my clothing into the closet, taking note that I really needed other colors besides black, white, dark blue and gray. I took a deep sigh, mentally grimacing at how much more I knew I needed to do. For some odd reason my father's wanted the place to be spotless, but looking at the time now I saw that I only had 30 minutes to do so. It felt like any other teenager's worst nightmare; having to clean their room.

Now, I'm not saying that I'm not clean, I'm just really picky. A spot of dust and I go insane. I think I have been through at least 3 boxes of Swiffer dusters. It's just the dust that really irritates me, but my father's think I have a problem. But hey, at least it's not as bad as how I eat my food. I have to put honey mustard dressing on nearly EVERYTHING! What can I say? I love it!

Slowly, I got my room squared away with, my king-size bed made, and all the contents in my room dusted. Believing to be finished, I turned off the music just in time to hear my father Xemnas say "I wouldn't go near our dog; she doesn't do well with new people."

Oh shit! That was never a good phrase to hear. My dog did not like anyone right off the bat. She was always picky, just like me, with the people she would let pat her. I guess I didn't watch my time very well since the guests were here. I didn't even know what they looked like, besides Demyx because he's always been my neighbor. The next thing I heard was a loud bark – damn, I guess they didn't heed my father's warning – and then a loud shrieking sound of a woman. A splash of someone falling into the water came not long after that. I turned around and left my room as fast as I could. I yell from a woman was never a good thing!

The moment I was outside standing on the side of the pool, I knew something was wrong. This brown haired boy was in the water just going further and further towards the bottom. Before I knew what I was doing my lifeguard training kicked into high gear and I was surrounded by water, darting down as fast as I could. I grabbed a hold of the boy's arm and pulled him into an embrace as I swam to the top. Having my lifeguard training as second nature to me and not having to pay much attention because of that, I took notice of how small this little brunette was and how he fit perfectly in my arms. His face wasn't that bad looking either, well, minus the fact that he was getting paler.

I took a gasp of fresh air when I reached the top of the pool. Swimming over to the edge, I assume that it was this boy's mother who was right there helping him out as my parents ran into the house to get some towels. I just hoped that this boy was going to be ok. I was shocked when I couldn't feel his chest moving under my hand. As soon as I got him to the side of the pool I did the one thing I feared the most, but the one thing I was trained to do: mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Sora's P.O.V.:

I walked over to the cute-as-a-button dog and leaned over to pet him/her, but as soon as I got close to the dog, it jumped at me, like it was mad at me for no reason! It let out this bark that was so loud I swear the aliens on Mars could hear it. The sound was so loud it made me jump back to try to get away. The next thing I know I'm underwater.

HOLY MOTHER OF DEEP SEWAGE! I'm going to drown, I just know it! But hey, at least the color of the pool is cool. It's nice and pretty. I know, it's horrible to think about my life not being as important as the setting of my grave. I just felt like it was never ending, going down and down. So this was how things were going to end. I already felt my head going blank, and breathing was not even happening. I kept choking on the damn water as I splashed around trying to swim, though it seemed like I kept swimming down not up. Things got fuzzy, but before my mind took its last snapshot of life, all I saw silver coming towards me. I blacked out, my breathing slowing down to nothing.

The next thing I know I'm having this sharp pressure on my chest, like someone was pushing down on me, and my mouth was filling with air that I didn't breathe in. 'Umm, what's going on?' was my first thought as my body fought back in retaliation and I coughed back out the air that had somehow magically found its way into my lungs. Taking in a fresh breath of much needed oxygen was nice, but the pressure that was on my chest was more than a little frustrating. As my mind quickly took in focus again, I heard a soft sigh from someone, and then a warm breath from that sigh. I felt this odd tingling feeling, like something missing that was once on my lips. It didn't hit me until then; someone was on top of me and was just kissing me… That bastard! Enraged, I sat up quickly, surprising everyone including the rogue that just saved my life. I glared daggers at his face, not being able to stop as I hollered "You took my first kiss!"