Sixteen: A New Friend
I chuckled as I watched Marlene fight with our mother, and everyone knew that fighting with my mother was absolutely hopeless. Literally, my mother could punch through a wall if you got her angry enough. I'm surprised Namine didn't question any of the dent marks in the living room, maybe she didn't see them.
"Roxas, tell mom that I'm old enough to ride without a car seat!" Marlene cried out, peering at me over mom's shoulder.
I laughed, ten seconds haven't gone by yet and Marlene has already gave up. Usually she was a lot more stubborn than this.
"Sorry, Marls. Still to young, and still to short."
Marlene pouted at me before Mom moved inside of our large stupid ass family van that we use when our entire family uses it.
"Gosh, this vehicle is a MESS!" I heard mom cry out from the front of the van as I hoped in to take a seat next to Marlene, and she was right. I tripped on a couple of CD's (Vanitas's no doubt) a few beer bottles, (Dad's for sure, he's such a lightweight but when he starts hanging out with Zack, it's pretty frightening)
"When your father and brothers come home, I'm going to give them a lecture that they'll never forget!" Mom growled tossing her side bangs out from her crimson-brown eyes as she started the van...or as I like to call it "The piece of shit"
I skipped school today because I wanted to help Mom with Marlene when she got released from the hospital, even though Mom could handle Marlene on her own I just wanted to be there for her when she got home. Denzel tried convincing mom he was "Sick" by dumping out a can of vegetable soup on the stair entrance to the Seventh Heaven, but Mom was never fooled and she could tell right away that it was vegetable soup from all the chunks of broccoli, carrots, and meat splattered on the stairs.
I turn to Marlene who was looking back at me with half lidded eyes.
I smirked. "Welcome home, kiddo."
Marlene yawned loudly but gave me a slight nod.
"You tired?"
"Nope" Marlene replied as she closed her eyes. I laughed at that.
"You sure?"
There was no answer. Mom laughed with me this time.
"I guess that's a yes!"
(Namine)
I didn't know how long it would take for my father to find us and drag us back home, I didn't want him to find Nora and I. But I also didn't want to keep staying at Kairi's house either. Don't get me wrong, Kairi' parent's, Elena and Reno are great and they told Nora and I to stay as long as we needed but I couldn't take advantage of their offer then I'd be staying till I graduated.
Besides, I couldn't keep allowing Aqua to sleep on the couch while Nora and I got her bedroom. It just wasn't fair. So here I was, in their cozy living room researching rental apartments in Twilight Town.
My plan was to get a job and have Nora and I out and on our own as soon as possible, I couldn't be a burden for Kairi or her family any longer.
A course of giggling and the pitter pattering of footsteps caused me to look up from the bright computer screen of Kairi's lap top.
Nora, Kairi, and Aqua run into the room laughing and all covered in pancake mix. It was all caked in their hair, their clothes, hands, even their legs.
"What happened, dare I ask?" I say setting the lap top down on the coffee table in front of me. Kairi and Nora were laughing to hard to answer me, Aqua shook her head, sending lumps of pancake mix flying in each direction.
"We ran out of pancake mix!"
I laughed. "I wonder why?"
"No! No!" Aqua cried pausing for a second to laugh some more. "We were already low on pancake mix, and Nora told us how much you love the really big ones so Axel decided we add a bit of baking soda in the pancakes to make them bigger."
As if on que, Axel steps in the room, and he was covered in more pancake mix than all three of them. Kairi was on her knees crying from laughing so hard, and Nora's face was cherry red.
"And once we got them on the stove…BAM! SPLAT! EVERYWERE!"
"And you know what?" Kairi asked rising to her feet and wiping tears from her eyes. "Looks like Namine's pretty clean…."
Uh oh…..
"Wait…wait….Kairi…."
"…And we're all not so clean."
The four of them were grinning now, and they were walking towards me.
"Wait! You guys!" I held out my hands once I saw Aqua take a huge chunk of mix out from her hair.
"Nora, stop them!" I cried out between laughter. I couldn't control it, and I wasn't always made of stone.
"ATTACK!" Nora shouted as she charged onto my lap and before I knew it I was attacked by my four friends and little sister until I was covered in pancake mix.
"Great! Look at me!" I shouted at them, not sure if I should be happy or angry but then I started to laugh and so did they. I wasn't sure how long we were laughing for but it felt really good. Being around close friends and the one dearest to you, even when you're covered in pancake goo.
The doorbell rang startling us all.
"If it's mom at the door saying she forgot her purse than we're all screwed!" Axel said before leaving the room to answer the door.
Nora looked at me. "Namine, what is 'Screwed?'"
Kairi snorted into Aqua's shoulder to hide her laugh. I shook my head.
"Never you mind kitty cat!"
"ROXY MY BOY!"
My heart froze. Roxas was here!? Oh great, now he get's to see me covered in raw pancake batter.
"What the hell happened in here!?" I heard Roxas shout as he followed Axel into the living room, I could feel myself turning all different shades of red but a little girl behind him caught my attention.
She wore her long brown hair in a braid with a pink bow, like Aerith's. Her eyes were like Tifa's, and so was her facial futures….then it hit me. It was Marlene….she woke up!
Marlene pointed up at Roxas, wagging a little finger at him. "You watch your language! potty words are NOT nice!"
We all laughed as she turned to Axel, giving him the same gesture as she did to her brother. "And YOU shouldn't be making messes! Do you WANT to get in trouble!?"
Axel shrugged. "I think I already am!"
Nora tugged my hand. "Who's that?"
I smiled down at my little sister before looking back up at Roxas, his eyes locked on mine, Marlene's too.
"Nora, this is Roxas's little sister, Marlene. She's your age."
Nora smiled and ran up to Marlene who was, to my surprise smaller than Nora by a few inches.
"Hi, Marlene! Want to be friends!?"
Marlene smiled. "Sure! But first let's get you cleaned up!"
We teens all watched in awe as Marlene took Nora's hand and led her around the corner to Kairi's bathroom.
"I can't believe she woke up." Kairi said in a bit of a dreamy voice.
"I know…" Roxas replied looking back at me with a grin. " I guess miracles do happen."
Maybe for some people, but could one possibly happen for Nora and I?
Will we find a place of our own?
Would our father quit his alcohol addiction?
Right now, to me...our chances seem low.
REALLY low.
But...I can't keep living off my friends like this. What am I going to do?
How can I keep my promise to mum by looking out for Nora when I'm failing to look after myself?