A/N: Whoa its been a while...and again, I apologize for the wait and I hope you're all liking the changes! :L
Disclaimer: Me owns zero!
Trust?
"Is Namine Shinra in this class?"
I look up from my artwork to see a girl with red hair that stopped a little past her collarbone, she had violet-blue eyes and ivory pale skin, like me. She was petite and wore a pink dress that stopped at her mid-thighs with purple sneakers. She was in my second period English class, she always sat in the back row and talked with a girl who had brown hair and dark green eyes.
Miss Bird gave her a nod before turning around in her wheely chair that creaked as it spun around facing me, she narrowed her green eyes at me through her stringy grey hair.
"Namine Shinra? Would you please go with Kairi Turk to the office? They'd like to see you." Miss Bird replied.
I saw Xion's head snap up from the corner of my eye, she gasped when she saw Kairi.
"Kairi! Hi!" She said in a fake voice waving a hand at her, Kairi rolled her eyes before giving me a warm smile as I packed up my stuff and following her out the room quickly. Roxas wasn't in class today, neither was that dude with the mane of red hair that he usually hung around with. I guess they ditched, and I was corrected once Kairi and I stepped out into the hall.
Roxas was sitting on the floor leaning against a row of lockers smoking a cigarette and that dude with the red hair was by his side drawing on a locker with black sharpie. It didn't take a second for Roxas' eyes to meet mine, and when they did...he just...stared...
What the hell is up with this kid? Was I like...his prey or something?
Quickly dropping my eyes to the floor, I spun around the opposite way, however I didn't get very far when I felt Kairi grab my wrist gently. I stopped and slowly lifted my face to look at her, we were the same height so I didn't have to look up much.
"Office is this way silly!" She replied followed by a giggle.
I swallowed.
By the eyeliner kid, and fireball dude. Of Course.
"Oh..." Was all I said before swallowing again, my mouth suddenly feeling very dry.
Kairi smiled and continued to hold my wrist before leading me down the hall, usually I wasn't very good with human contact unless it was from Nora, but I trusted Kairi, I wasn't sure why but I did.
I felt my heart rate starting to increase as we came across Roxas and his fireball friend, I could feel his eyes on me as we approached them, and It was even worse when Kairi stopped walking.
Was she going to talk to them?
"Ditching class again are we!?"
Yep, she was going to talk to them.
I forced my eyes up from the ground to look at Fireball, but not Roxas. I would make things more awkward If I just stared back, right?
"Hey, hey! Little sis, what goes on!? Seems like you and your friend are ditching class too!" Fireball said as he reached out to tousled Kairi's hair but she swatted him away with her free hand and smiled.
"Am not! I was asked by Mrs Gainsborough-Fair to bring Namine down to her Office!"
I nodded awkwardly when fireball looked at me, trying to ignore the awful smell off tobacco that was starting to make me nauseous
"Oh?" Fireball grinned. "You're the new girl? Mrs Gainsborough-Fair is the school's Guidance Counselor she's always asking for the new students to visit with her at least once!" He rolled his emerald-green eyes. "Shes a freak."
Kairi kicked his shin. "Shes sweet!" she protested before turning back to me, "Forgive my brother, even though he is eighteen, he still acts like he's eight!"
"Yup! Names Axel! Got it memorized!?" Her brother asked gesturing to himself with a thumb.
I couldn't fight off a smile there.
"Sure. Nice to meet you, Axel." I replied, feeling my stomach turn sharply as I saw Roxas get up from his seat on the floor, his eyes never leaving me.
Kairi frowned at him when she noticed the cigarette in his hand.
"Do you know how bad smoking is for your health!?" Kairi scolded, Roxas took his eyes off me (Finally) and turned to Kairi with cute smirk on his lips.
"I do, but that doesn't stop me, now does it?" He asked and she rolled her eyes.
"At least smoke outside!"
Roxas let out a deep and attractive chuckle that sent chills down my spine. I watched him put out his cigarette by pressing it against a locker. He turned to Kairi for approval and she gave him a nod, then he looked back at me and smirked.
"Hey Namine." He greeted.
Gosh the way he said my name...
I quickly looked away feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.
Geeze, buddy do you know how rude it is to stare!?
The three of them laughed at my reaction.
"Shy little one, is she?" I heard Roxas say, I didn't bother to look up. I felt so idiotic now, might as well stay awkward like this, it was too late anyways.
"Leave her alone you two! Shes new here! Come on Nam, let's get you to Mrs Gainsborough-fair! You can just call her Mrs Gainsborough! When she married she decided to keep her maiden name as well!"
"Cause she is a frreeaakkk..." Axel said in a sing-song voice and Roxas laughed with him.
Kairi ignored them and dragged me down the hall by the hand.
Thank God!
I stayed quiet the entire walk, I wasn't sure what to say. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth to speak, it'd just be questions about Roxas.
"Anyways, as I was saying...Mrs Gainsborough married Zack Fair who is really good friends...actually best friends with Cloud Strife, which is Roxas' father...and speaking of Roxas...I think he likes you!" Kairi said looking at me teasingly, I shook my head to try and get rid of the blush that I KNEW was on my cheeks.
"No he doesn't." I said quickly causing Kairi to laugh.
"Oh? Because before Roxas went out with Xion he couldn't take his eyes off her!"
"So he's a player?"
Damn it! Namine could you change the subject?
Kairi laughed again.
"How does that make him a player? When guys like a girl they stare right?"
We started down a flight of stairs, the sounds of our feet shuffling down the stone tile echoed off the walls.
"Or they're just creepy." I replied. "Why did he and Xion break up?"
"I don't...exactly know the full story behind it, he doesn't like to talk about it that much."
"How come?"
"I'm not sure..." Kairi shrugged. "Sorry."
"No problem." I replied following her down a narrow hallway, geeze this was a big school.
"He's best friends with my brother Axel, I see him a lot...that's why I'm so confident on why he likes you!" Kairi replied as she opened a dark wooden door before flashing me a smile. "Here it is! Don't be nervous,shes very sweet and ignore what my dumb ass brother said!See you soon?"
I forced a smile at that.
I wasn't nervous on meeting this lady...I was just...annoyed...I didn't want anyone knowing about my personal life, especially the school staff. They were noisy and always gossiping to one another, however it was nice of Kairi to walk me and to talk to me. I wasn't sure if I could trust her with my secrets quite yet, but she was a lot more better than Xion and Fuu for sure.
"Thanks, Kairi...see you soon." I replied before I stepped into Mrs Gainsborough's office.
Mrs Gainsborough's office was nothing I expected.
It was...pretty, and had kind of homey feeling to it.
The walls were a pale pink, and the carpeting was a light cream color, every window had frilly white curtains over them and a floral design as well. There was two couches that were a light green color, and a white coffee table in between them with a vase of colorful roses in them. I was impressed.
"Hello! You must be Namine Shinra!" A calm and faint voice said from behind me, if it wasn't so gentle it would have made me jump. I turned around to look at Mrs Gainsborough for the first time.
She had long chestnut-brown hair that was twisted down to her waist, she had side bangs that hung above her face and a few pieces of twisted hair over her slim shoulders. She had warm green eyes, that kind of reminded you of the petals on the flowers in spring. She was dressed in a pink sundress that went to her ankles, which were covered by brown boots, and over her sundress was a darker pink short-sleeved jacket.
I nodded in response and she gave me a warm smile.
"I'm Aeris! Well...Mrs Gainsborough-Fair...but everyone usually calls me Mrs Gainsborough for short or just Aeris, I don't really mind. Whatever you're comfortable with!" She said holding out a hand, I noticed that she wore three silver bracelets on each one.
"Um...Hello Mrs Gainsborough..." I replied as I slowly accepted her handshake, which was gentle and motherly. I know I've just met her but, Aeris doesn't seem like the rest of the school counselors.
Aeris gave me another warm smile before beckoning over to the two couches across the room.
"Shall we?"
I nodded quietly and followed her across the room, taking a seat to the couch that was facing the windows. I crossed my ankles and folded my hands in my lap awkwardly, watching Aeris plop down on the couch across from me, the way she walked was kind of like a happy bounce.
"Well Namine, I just wanted to say welcome here at Twilight Town, and thank you for taking your time to visiting with me!"
"N-no problem..." I replied. I was starting to warm up to her already...but I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
"Now, I just want to say that you are more than welcome to share anything with me on your terms! I will not force you too tell me anything you don't want me too, and I will certainly not tell anyone about it...unless its something under the subject of suicide or plans to harm and kill somebody else than I would have to let the principle know!"
"You mean...you're not telling anyone...If I tell you something that doesn't have to do with that subject? Not even my parents?"
Aeris shook her head. "Nope. Not if you don't want me too! I understand how parents can be!" She giggled. "I feel bad for my own children since I'm there school counselor ! They never come to see me, and of course I can't really blame them for that!"
I smiled at that. "You have children?"
Aeris nodded. "Four! Three of them are Juniors like you, and my oldest is a Senior! Would you like to see a picture?"
I nodded. Why not? At least she wasn't begging me to tell her about myself or how I was fitting in or if I liked it here, she was having a normal conversation with me.
Aeris smiled as she opened one of the drawers to the coffee table, pulling out a framed photo.
"This was taken before Christmas last year, but they don't look that much younger, I'm sure you'll recognize them!" Aeris said as she handed me the framed photograph, it was a lot heavier than It looked, so I took it with both hands. I didn't want to risk dropping it, according to how fragile the glassed frame looked.
Aeris was in the photo as well, she was in the arms of a man who had to be at least an entire foot taller than her. He had black hair that was long in the front with two pieces of hair hanging in front of his eyes that were a dark blue and spiky in the back , he was solid muscle, and wore a brown sleeveless sweater with black slacks and SOLDIER boots with a white stud in his left ear.
Her right arm was around his waist returning his hug, and her left hand was rested on his broad chest, right above were his heart was. Her hair was the same as it was now, twisted with a pink bow at the top, but instead of the sundress she wore a pink ball-like gown.
On the man's right, were two boys which I were assuming were their sons. They were also dressed just like him.
The first boy, was tall and muscular like the man but not as much. His hair was a dark brown and stood up in slight spikes on some parts of his head, he had the same eye color as the man, he was smiling slightly.
The second boy was smiling the biggest out of the family, he had the same bright blue eyes, but his hair was nothing but wild spikes, kind of reminding you of a porcupine and it was lighter than his brothers, he also had really large feet and wore silly finger-less gloves, I had to bite down on my lower lip to hide my laughter. I didn't want Aeris to think I was laughing at her son.
I moved over to the two girls that were on Aeris' left side.
They wore the same dresses as her, and looked identical to one another, but the only difference between them was one had blue eyes and the other had puppy-brown ones.
I noticed the first girl right away, it was Xion. And it stunned me.
How can someone SO annoying be the daughter to someone SO sweet?
Pushing that thought aside I studied the other daughter, she looked like she was forcing a smile, and she was the shortest out of all of them. Around her head was a black bandanna and she had her fathers darker skin tone unlike her other three siblings who got their lighter skin tone from Aeris.
"I know her." I finally said, pointing to were Xion was at the picture. "She's in my Art class."
"Oh! Xion? I hope shes not bothering you at all?" Aeris asked, her calm expression suddenly shifting to worry.
"Not at all!" I lied, but I didn't want to sound rude. Plus all she did was gossip and brag, it could be worse right?
Aeris looked reviled when I handed her back her family photo.
"Oh thank goodness! I don't know why, or WHO she got it from but...Xion's always been our trouble child...do you know the other three?" Aeris asked, the worried expression on her face was gone and for some reason it made me smile knowing she was happy once more.
"I'm afraid not. What are their names?"
Aeris smiled and put a finger on each kid she named, starting off with the taller boy closest to the man she was hugging in the photo.
"This is Terra, my first-born who is already eighteen! Oh, my baby boy..." Aeris said with a sigh. "He's just like his father, Zack. Dieing to become a part of SOLDIER, you'll find him in our basement downstairs with him working out until he can no longer move!"
I laughed with Aeris and watched her slide her finger lower to the second boy, who was smiling like a dork.
"That's Sora, first-born of the triplets,he's...oh...he's got his fathers goofy side for sure! Super out-going, always trying to make new friends, loves to make jokes and always talking about his childhood friend, Kairi Turk!"
My ears perked at that. What a small world.
"Since you know Xion already, I'll tell you about Yuffie, she was the last born of the three! She's got all the energy in the world and refuses to dress up! Her heart is set on ninjitsu, and I don't have the heart to tell her no, because that just wouldn't be fair to tell her she had to do and like the things I did!" Aeris said focusing her eyes on the picture and combing the frame with her fingers lightly, as if it were a little kitten.
"They all sound like great kids...would you mind telling me more about Xion? Kairi...um...Kairi told me she was going out with Roxas Strife?"
I know I was being noisy but...if Kairi wouldn't tell me, maybe Aeris would? She'd have to know the full story since she was Xion's mother after all! I was expecting Aeris to snap and tell me it was none of my business but she just smiled.
"Yes, that's my Xion...I'm afraid she's a bit flirty, may have taken from my side since I was too at her age...the funny part was I crushed on Roxas' father long ago! Sorry, this is about Xion, to be honest...Xion never told me much about them or why they broke up, but I will tell you this! Her and her sister never agreed to growing their hair out! Ever! Not even as kids!" Aeris sighed and I smiled at that.
"You seem like a wonderful mom." I blurted out.
Aeris looked up at me, her eyes seemed to sparkle from my words and she smiled more warmly than before.
"Why thank you, Namine. You're the daughter of Rufus and Cissnei, am I correct? Rufus Shinra? He owned the Electric company? Zack knows them! Do you have any siblings? Forgive me if I'm being to noisy!" Aeris said quickly, setting the photograph in her lap.
If it wasn't Aeris, I would have snapped and freaked, but I decided to take her words of not telling anyone.
"My...my mother she, passed away a few months ago...and my father sold the Electric company recently to become an engineer..." I said in a shaky voice, Aeris was the first one I was sharing this with...and it sort of felt nice to talk about it...
Aeris gasped and folded her hands over her chest as if she were praying.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! You must be so heartbroken! Loosing someone is never easy!"
I nodded in response. "And..I've got a five-year old sister, Nora...I could show you a picture of her sometime if you like..." I paused when I heard the bell blare off from the speakers above us, telling us that first period was over and second was starting.
Aeris smiled. "I would love that very much!"
We both got up from the couches and shook hands once more.
"I also enjoyed your company very much, Namine. Please come to visit me anytime!" Aeris said giving me her warm smile, I smiled back.
"Likewise, and that'd be nice." I replied before I stepped out of her cozy office and into the crazy hallways.
And I meant every word of it too. Maybe...there was someone I could trust, it wasn't someone my age obviously and it wasn't family, but it was someone.
Kairi was waiting for me at the end of the hall with a small smile on her face, I smiled back. I was flattered that she wasn't just being polite when she said she'd see me soon, she actually meant it.
"Hey! How'd it go?" Kairi asked me as I walked up to her.
"I might ruin your rep if people see you hanging with me you know." Was my reply, I watched Kairi's face drop from happy to baffled.
"I'm sorry?"
"Your reputation will be ruined if you hang with the loner-weirdo-new girl." I replied, not stopping my pace, Kairi quickly ran up so that she was walking besides me.
"You mean popularity? Why would I care about popularity!? I've never been popular in the first place, and I'll bet you that I won't be in the last!"
I laughed at that, and so did Kairi. "I'm being serious! My only friends are Olette, My older sister Aqua,Riku, who is my crushes older brothers best friend, my crushes sister Yuffie, and well...my crush himself..." Kairi said biting her lower lip, I looked over at her to see a small blush in her cheeks.
"Does your crush happen to be...Sora Fair?"
Kairi's eyes nearly popped out and she gasped, I smirked at her.
Okay, so I was starting to come out of my shell...a bit...
"H-how do you know?"
I shrugged, as if I didn't know. "A little bird told me..."
"Who!?"
"Mmmm...the mother of your crush."
"AERIS!?"
"Bingo."
"W-what...why? I mean...just out of the blue!?" Kairi nearly shouted, I couldn't hold back a laugh.
"We just started talking about families, and she showed me a picture of her kids, and Sora was one of them...and she told me a little bit about him..."
Kairi looked confused. "But...how did that give you the answer to if he likes me or not?"
I smiled. "She told me, quote "always talking about his childhood friend, Kairi Turk!"'
Kairi's face turned to the shade of an apple. "I-I...I don't know what to say!"
I shrugged. "You'll figure it out."
"Wait! WAIT!" Kairi squealed hugging onto my right arm tightly. "I...I'm to nervous! You have to help me! Do I go up to him and tell him how I feel or do I wait? I have no idea! But I'll tell you this, he does always seem a bit shy when I asked him if he liked anyone! He'd always change the subject or say he doesn't know!"
"Than what does that tell you?" I asked as we walked in our English class.
"I don't know!" Kairi wailed causing me to sigh. Was she really that naïve? I've only dated one guy in my entire life before I lost Mum.
"Well...what do you think that tells you?"
"I don't know!" She repeated.
I rolled my eyes. "Kairi, you're helpless!"
"I am not! I'm just confused! Please tell me!" Kairi whined sitting down in the seat next to me, she made a puppy face and pressed her hands together.
Before I could say anything, the girl with the brown hair and dark green eyes came over to us and sat down in the seat next to Kairi.
"Is Kairi ranting on about Sora again?" The girl asked me earning herself a smack on the shoulder from Kairi. She laughed. "I'm Olette Bevelle! You must be Namine?"
I nodded. "Hi Olette."
"Olette! Namine should come sleep over my house Friday night too! That way I have the BOTH of you to give me the advice to not make a fool of myself in front of Sora! She went to see his mom during first period today because you know how she loves to meet new students, and they got talking about families and stuff and when Aeris mentioned Sora to Namine she said quote "always talking about his childhood friend, Kairi Turk!" That's ME!" Kairi ranted to Olette who just laughed.
"Yuffie and I have told you that for HOW long now!? And you finally believe someone you just met? No hard feelings Namine!"
I shook my head to reassure her I wasn't offended, I actually agreed with her to be honest.
"Well...yeah...but now I know that Three people know the truth! Oh! Do you think I could also invite Yuffie!? She'll like Namine! She may brag about her ninja skills like she does to everyone but she'll like Namine!? What do you think Namine!? Hm? Would you be able to sleepover my house Friday night? Oh PLEASE say that you will PLEASE!" Kairi continued to rant while Olette just kept laughing at her friend. "We can give you all the advice you want to know about Roxas!"
Olette raised a brow and looked at me with a small smile. "You like Roxas?"
I knew I was blushing at the mention of his name.
"Um...not really...I...I just wanted to know why he always s-stares at me..." That wasn't all a lie. I didn't know why he stared, back when I dated Seifer, he just came right up to me and confessed his feelings for me...sure he stared, but not the way Roxas does...but I didn't want to think of the memory of being with Seifer.
"Shes lying Olette! She loves him!" Kairi said before taking my hands into hers. "PLEASE Namie! PLEASE! Will you sleepover!? You can meet my sister and we can pull pranks on Axel and...and you can see how weird my dad is and how cool my mom is! And we can eat junk and watch movies and talk about guys the entire time!"
I laughed before turning back to Olette. "Is she always like this?"
"Only when you mention Sora!" Olette replied.
"PLEASE NAMINE!" Kairi said this time in a shout, causing half the class to look at us.
I wanted to say yes, I was starting to trust these girls, If I kept things vague than I'd be fine...but if I slept over that would mean...
Leaving Nora alone with Dad...
PLEASE READ THIS AUTHORS NOTE! :D
A/N: Yikes! That wouldn't be good! Sorry for the wicked long chapter! I just thought I'd make it up to you all for my long update! I REALLY hope you're enjoying the changes as much as me and just to let you know, the stories behind the Final Fantasy (Like Clouds story, Zacks, Ect.) Won't exactly follow the games in this story! Just to warn you! This is fan fiction after all! Please review and I'll see you all next time!
Also, why I'm putting in all these characters because they have some pretty big roles in the story and fill in some gaps as well! The more the merrier, right? It'll all make since the farther we go!
Thanks for all the kind/supportive feedback! :D