Hey guess what? I'M NOT DEAD! :D Apparently some of you people don't realize that I am human, I have a life outside of this. Look, I'm not going to rant on and on about why I've been gone because I've already done that. I just want to give you what you've been asking for. I present you: Chapter 8!...still reading this? *Sigh* Okay well I always write something in the intro before the chapter as filler because it looks professional. Yes it does, don't argue with me. So long story short, hehe irony, I had about three or four chapters already written but due to my mother's death they were lost. But hey, it just means I get to re-write this with brand new ideas. It seemed like as I was originally writing this about my current love that the things in the story played out similarly in real life. So keeping that in mind, my mood and style have changed. I'm not really sure if you guys will like this but I honestly don't care, no offense. I'm sure that I've you've read this story so far that you can notice a change in my writing and tone. Feedback is always nice people. Hate messages and mail is NOT APPRIECATED. You know who you are. Anyways...I guess this is enough rambling. Also I just want to add that this chapter has language, a good bit of it. Sorry but its just one of those days ya know?

DISCLAIMER TIME :D

I, Relentless, Do NOT own Kingdom Hearts and the characters associated with it. Nor do I own Final Fantasy. Please don't sue me Nomura, they are your creations not mine. I'm just...tweaking them :)

Without further ado...

Here ya go ^-^

Chapter 7: Aftermath

So about two months have passed since the whole Kairi and Olette thing happened...Olette and I decided it would be best if we just stayed friends and Kairi and I have been developing a very strong relationship. Olette is now dating Hayner, hell, even Pence has a new "love" interest. Things have finally seemed to mellow down, and for once in a long time I'm not stressed out. I've been much happier as well. My dad got a big promotion with his job which means more income, but it also means that he will be gone a lot more often. It was hard to adapt to it at first but myself, along with Xion and our mom have slowly been getting used to his schedule. Speaking of the devil, Xion's boyfriend Riku has been spending a lot more time at our house as well now. I don't mind much because I get along with the kid pretty well...most of the time that is.

Ring, Ring, Ring -pause- Ring, Ring, Ring.

I awoke to the sound of my phone going off. Ugh! Who the hell is calling me at FIVE IN THE MORNING on a school day? I reached my hand out in the darkness, frantically trying to find my phone.

"Hello?"

"Oi Roxas!" It was Pence, "This better be good Pence, I'm trying to sleep dude."

"Not sure why...the bus just picked me up so you've got like five or so minutes until the bus comes to your stop."

My clock says 5:03, is this a joke? "Dude, it's five you moron. What are you talking ab-"

It hit me like a really bad idea, the timestamp on the caller ID said 6:04 AM. "Xion..." I cursed under my breath.

"Yeah, I'll be outside Pence." -Click- I am going to KILL HER!

I bolted to the bathroom and took the quickest shower of my life. I'm not kidding. I think that I should be in the record books after that shower time. None the less, I took a shower and got dressed in around six-ish minutes. Still putting on a sock as I hopped into the kitchen, I saw Xion leaning against the counter with the biggest smile on her face.

"I see you're up and awake this morning Roxy. Although it seems like you slept in, didn't think you were ever going to wake up." Still glowing as she opened the fridge door "it's almost as if someone snuck into your room and set your clock and hour behind on purpose...but who? Who could do such a thing. Oh that's right...ME!"

She laughed at her victory and the sound of a large motor roared outside. I spoke with a cold tone.

"This isn't over Xion."

She threw my school bag at me, "just shut up and lock the door behind would ya."

We walked outside towards the bus and I could hear her snickering to herself, so as she made her way up the steps I 'accidently' 'bumped' into her. Xion's books flew out of her hands and she simply turned around with fire in her eyes.

"Oh sorry Xion, must have been the wind right?"

She scoffed and continued her way on the bus; I too walked up the stairs and immediately noticed that Hayner was staring at me with a big grin on his goofy face.

"Dude that was a dick move. Funny. But still a dick move." Sitting behind him I spoke "man I don't wanna hear it, you don't know what she did to me this morning. It was payback that was well deserved." Olette chipped in as well "I thought it was still very mean Roxas" she said with a smirk. "That, of course was sarcasm if anyone of you didn't pick up on that."

After a fifteen minute bus ride we were back at school.

"Alright students listen up! As you all know, Christmas break is coming up soon. Ten days to be exact. Now don't take this as an invitation to not pay attention in class. As Juniors and seniors you all should know by now that you will be working until the last day."

A chorus of moans echoed throughout the classroom. "Oh quit your complaining. You people already know what is to be expected from you by now I would hope at least. I don't have a lesson plan figured out per say but I can promise we won't do anything ridiculous..at least not in my class. I can't speak for the other teachers however so it's basically Russian roulette when you think about it. So, any questions? No? Alrighty then, turn to page 342: 'The American Literary Hero'."

I felt someone poking me in the back, "Oi Roxas...pst...Roxas."

I turned to see my friend Zack.

Whispering I responded "yeah? Whatchu need Zack?"

Mr. Rhodes continued on his lecture, "Hey man what are your plans for break?" Hmm, that's a good question.

"Not sure, I don't think I'm going anywhere or doing anything special, why?" Zack started pretending to take notes on a piece of scratch paper. That's why we got along so well.

"Just seeing if you wanted to hang or something, Reno's coming over the day before Christmas Eve so I figured we could all chill." Reno's kinda a punkass. I don't know much about him but by the way he presents himself I'm not sure if I really want to be around him on MY break.

"I'll see what's going on and get back to you aight?"

"Sounds good man."

The bell rang and interrupted the teacher, "Okay class that's the bell" no shit "Homework for tonight is to finish reading pages 342-358 and do questions 1-10. Have a good day class!"

"Dude can you believe him? Assigning homework when he knows no one is going to do it. The nerve of some people."

Zack said turning his head behind him.

"Yeah teachers." I said sarcastically. I went to all my morning classes and before I knew it, it was already lunch. Same shit different day. They say high school has its cliques and crap but it's not as bad as we are depicted in shows and movies. Sure, you have the jocks, the really popular kids, the rednecks, the drama kids, the nerdy group, the goth/emo scene, the hipsters and the rest of the 'normal ' people. It seemed like I really didn't want to fixate on one specific group because I was a medley of things. I played basketball in the winter and was somewhat popular but I still had a nerdy side to me, I just made sure only my true friends ever saw that side.

I decided not to eat because I really wasn't hungry today. So I just sat down and put my earbuds in. The silent motion of mouths moving and hands seemed like a blur because I was only focusing on one thing or person. Kairi. She was wearing a pink skirt with a white flower print on it along with a nice white dress thing. She looked beautiful, I mean she always looked amazing but today she looked especially pretty. She was mouthing something, apparently to me and I was in a trance until I lip read my name. I took out an earbud.

"Hm? Did you say something Kairi?"

"Yeah, I was asking how come you weren't eating but you weren't paying attention." Smooth.

"Oh sorry, yeah I was listening to my music. And I'm just not really hungry today." She looked very nervous as she pushed her brown bag in front of me.

"He-here...you can have my lunch. I don't like tuna." I mean yeah, I'm not hungry but I also have no cash on me to buy a lunch and I couldn't make one cause of Xion's morning antics.

"No no its okay Kairi, really I'm fine. But thank you."

"You sure? I really don't mind Roxas..."

"Really, I'm fine."

Pence snatched the bag from in front of me "hey if you're not going to eat it I will! I love tuna! Thanks Kai!"

"No problem Pence. Hey Roxas, can I talk to you in private for a minute? Maybe outside?"

Shitshitshitshitshit. My stomach was turning and the butterflies were back.

"Uhm sure I guess" I turned to our table as I stood up." I'll talk to you guys later"

She lead me out the door and by the center grounds were the gardens are and trees that the garden club plants every year to spruce up the school.

"Is something wrong Kairi?"

"Oh no, nothing's wrong, quite the opposite actually."

"Okay? Can I have some context please?"

"Look Roxas, I know you like me as more than just a friend..."

"Wait Kairi let me say something first if you don't mind."

She nodded

"You're 100% right, I do like you. I've been getting this feelings towards you for and it seems like they just grow more and more each day. It eats away at me but I love the feeling I get when I'm around you. Like how we text until midnight all the time, or the fact that we get each others' jokes and cynical sense of humor. It's an amazing feeling and I don't want to lose that feeling anytime soon. I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a while but when I try to say something I get nervous and just make an excuse as to why I chicken out everytime."

She looked up at me with those big brown beautiful eyes that look like the rings of a tree that has just been cut.

"And I was hoping that we could be more than friends...I know you told me you don't really want a relationship but Kairi...I really think we would be even happier together as a couple."

Tears started to form on her face.

I knew I shouldn't have said anything! Why don't I listen to myself! F- Just then she grabbed my hand and placed it in hers.

"Roxas, I've been thinking about this too...a lot actually and I think I'm finally ready to move to that next step in our relationship and there's no one I would rather do this with then you." I couldn't speak, my lips were dry, my heart was racing and I was loving every minute of it.

"Re-really? You mean that Kairi?"

"Yes. I do. With every piece of my mind and heart."

I embraced her in my arms and I didn't care who was watching. I was falling for this girl and fast. Yet, it felt right. As we sat there talking about nonsense for the remaining lunch period it felt like we were alone in the world for hours.

The bell rang, "I guess we should get to class before teachers come out here and yell at us for being alone together. I'll text you after school okay?"

"Okay, I'll talk to you later Kai."

"Bye Rox."

God I hate saying goodbye...