Original Written Date:

4.6.09

Sora ran back to a pair of drums, banging senselessly, hair flying all over the place.

Truth be told… he sucked.

The three packed rows of students stopped talking and watched in amusement as Sora completely made himself look like an idiot. It was obvious he couldn't play the Jimbae to save his life.

A small petite girl ran up on stage, smiling and grabbing the shining red electric guitar that had been on stage when they arrived at detention.

"Go to the sound board!" She cried happily, eagerly, to her friend in the 2nd row, "Turn it up loud!" She pulled the strap over her shoulders and placed her fingers on the neck and body. She played an amazing riff out of the blue. Unlike Sora, she had musical ability!

"Alright, kid," A big, buff senior yelled at Sora, who was lost in his own world of drum beats, "Get off. You suck." And he lumbered on stage, playing the drums with the Guitar Girl.

Sora plopped back down beside Kairi, pleased, "Oh yeah. I'm good."

"Just not on the drums," Laughed Kairi.

"Yeah. I think you're right."

Kairi peered at Ameek, who was tapping her foot in time to the drum and the guitar.

"You should get up there!" Kairi said with a smile and a gesture to the stage.

Ameek didn't move a muscle as she said blandly, "No."

"Well I'm not taking 'no' for an answer." Kairi jumped and began persistently pulling Ameek's arm.

"Kairi, no!" Ameek cried. She tried to pull back, "I already told you-"

"Everyone!" Yelled Kairi.

The students looked at her as she yelled. Ameek looked like she wanted to curl up and die.

"Ameek can sing! You wanna hear?"

A general agreement was heard all around. Much to Ameek's horror.

Riku stood with a smirk and started chanting, "Ameek! Ameek! Ameek!" and soon the class joined in with him.

Ameek glared her hardest and her green eyes showed her defiant fire. She hissed, "You're gonna have to drag me up there!"

Something in Riku's eyes snapped. He chuckled, "Oh, you shouldn't have said that."

Riku grabbed her arm suddenly as the students cheered, dragging her up the side stairs of the school stage, while Ameek protested profusely all the way.

Riku didn't let go of Ameek's arm until she was up on stage, close to the piano.

"Sing." He demanded.

Ameek stared him straight in the eyes. "I hate you." She looked around at the students below the stage. A tear slipped off her cheek, horror in her face. "I hate you."

"Hate me later," said Riku, jumping off the stage, "But you're up there now."

Ameek rubbed her arm as she started to feel panic.

Music was almost a curse. It was almost painful to her.

… But she was a girl of her word, and she'd never stand down to a challenge. She was strong! She could do this!

She slowly walked to the keyboard, rigged to the sound system, and she looked at the kid in the sound booth in the back of the theater. "Can I have some sound in the piano and the mic, please?"

"I'm gonna go up there," Kairi said as she, Sora, and Riku stood in front of the stage, watching Ameek. "I told her I'd be there-"

"Let me go," Riku said quickly.

"Uh, why?" Sora asked.

"I feel guilty about the Mom thing…" He said, the tips of his ears turning pink. He jumped back on the stage.

He did feel guilty and felt like he at least owed Ameek, seeing as how he drug her up there in the first place.

Riku pulled a stool from the stage closer to the piano.

Ameek saw him as he pulled up beside her, "What do you think you're doing? I don't want you up here."

Understandable. "Are you nervous?"

She nodded like he was stupid, "Uh yeah. Thanks."

"No problem. Now I want you to sing to me."
"What?"
"Sing to me like there's no one else here." He said plainly.

"That never works!" She exclaimed.

"Do it anyway. Your fans await."
Ameek took a deep breath. "If you say so… God help me…"

Ameek began to play a slower song, adjusting the microphone with one hand,

Riku watched Ameek's face, the remaining silvery track of tear shining dimly. It looked almost painful for her to pull the notes out of her fingers, or to utter the simple words from her lips.

'I pray you'll be our eyes,

And watch us as we go,

And help us to be wise,

In times when we don't know,

Let this be our prayer,

As we go our way…'

Ameek's eyes began to look peaceful, comfortable, the green like deep emeralds.

Riku turned away. He couldn't look at her. He didn't know why. She was little, gawky, wide-eyed, loud mouthed (yet somehow painfully shy), Ameek. Nothing special.

Riku risked a glance. He tensed. She was looking straight at him.

'A world where pain and sorrow will be ended,

And every heart that's broken will be mended…'

It felt like she could sense his uncomfort and looked away, lifting her chin slightly.

Riku breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Good.

He twisted his hands. She was still the little kid that came to the island a year ago! Why was he feeling this way? Nothing had changed, nothing at all.

So then why did he feel so incorrect?

Riku glance back at her. Well… she certainly didn't look the way she used to. Of course, her black hair was longer, down to the small of her back and shiny. Anyone could see she'd grown taller and – he coughed – matured.

…

He could've hit himself…

Ameek was Ameek. The same, depressed Princess of Myrand.

The small student body became silent as they watched her finish. Riku noticed she was crying. She stood from the piano after she finished, in the quiet. For a second she looked at the teens who blankly stared back at her.

Riku stood with her, trying not to smile.

Then something happened.

The school discovered that they had the most amazing singer they'd ever heard.

They clapped slowly as Kairi and Sora cheered proudly,

Ameek whirled around, her back facing them while they cheered. She looked like she didn't understand what was going on, but a smile crept up on her face.

Riku smiled down at her, "They're clapping for you, you know."

She nodded. He guessed she didn't feel like saying anything.

"You're actually good." He told her as they stopped clapping. "Never would've expected it from you."

Ameek relaxed, chuckling, "Not even a bit?"

"Nope. You cover things up very well." He smirked, "You can't keep things covered up. They have their own little way of appearing."

"I know. That's what my mom used to say." Ameek walked off stage back to Kairi and Sora, "She taught me a lot."

And then there was that annoying pang of guilt. Riku stepped by her, "Look, I'm sorry about the thing with your Mom earlier."

Ameek smile, "Don't worry about it, Riku. I'm a tough girl."

"Apparently."

"Just like you." Ameek sat back down in the front row. "I've always admired and envied that about you."

Riku's eyebrows rose. Ameek? Envious? And even admired him? Well. She certainly didn't show it. "Oh really?" He laughed.

"Oops. I'm giving you a big head. I'm going to be quiet now."

"What? Me? Never."

"Ha! Riiiight." She tossed him a skeptical look, "You always were a jock." She thought for a moment. "And a hot shot. And such a bragger-"

"Okay! Sheesh." Riku looked at her. "I get it." He twiddled his thumbs carelessly. "That's why you like me thought."

Ameek blinked, then touched her early gingerly. "Sorry, I think I'm losing my hearing, 'cause I know for a fact you didn't just tell me I liked you."

Riku folded his hands behind his head, "Oh no, I can tell-"

"—Because if anything, it's you that likes me." Ameek said, matter-of-factly.

"What? Now wait-"

Oh-ho, no! You asked for that one!" she pointed her finger at him, "Listen here, bud. We're not having this conversation anymore, got it? Because you and I together," She laughed out right! "You've made that impossible-"

"How?" Riku asked, shocked! "What did I do?"

"By the way you act around me, like you don't even know me!"

"That's not true!" he bit back. "We've always been friends!"

"Only on the islands! But here, it's like I'm a ghost to you."

Riku looked at her thoughtfully. "Does it bother you that much?"

Ameek opened her mouth, thought against it, and then shut it. Then said, "No."

"HA! Point proven."

"What? That you're a conceited jerk?"

"That you like me and you're not admitting it!" Riku stood and nearly shouted with a huge smile. The students hushed and stared.

"We're not having this conversation!" Ameek fiercely whispered, giving people the evil eye. "In fact, it never happened."

"Ameek-"

All motion ceased as everyone stared at them curiously. Ameek cringed, crossing her arms across her chest, slouching in her chair.

Riku burst into laugher, "One thing's for sure-"

"Oh, would you shut up?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Riku was enjoying this far too much.

"Why yes, yes I would."

…

"Too bad!"

"RIKU!"

The end…