a/n: okay, but for real this time.

x.x.x

"Did he kiss you?"

"What? No!"

"So then what's the problem?"

"He..." I paused, squirming in my seat beneath the heavy scrutiny of my mother and Xion. I was just sitting at the dining table and yet it felt like I was in an interrogation room.

This was all so stupid.

"Well, he hugged me."

I swallowed down the nervous lump that formed in my throat. I could feel the weight of their eager eyes on me as I let the words soak through the tense atmosphere.

I was panicking - again. It suddenly became my permanent state ever since I'd received that note. The very same note that had found a new home, jammed between the pages of my journal. A tiny, insignificant piece of information I was not willing to share with the two staring at me.

"He hugged you?" Xion questioned, wrinkling her nose. "That's it?"

"What do you mean that's it? A hug is a very big deal. A very blatant breach of my personal space. I don't let just anybody do that."

"She does have a point," my mother defended from the kitchen counter.

Xion pursed her lips, seeming to mull over our words.

"So you liked it?"

Immediately, I was brought back to the moment just a mere hour ago. The intensity of it was almost overwhelming. His arms around me. The snug fit, and the press of his sweater against my nose. The words that brushed against the shell of my ear softly.

I felt my face burn at the memory. I cleared my throat, hoping to also clear the mushy thoughts clouding up my head.

"NO!"

"You're turning red."

"I am not."

"You are, dear," my mother chirped. She had set three steaming, coffee mugs on the table and sat to join in on the embarrassment.

I covered my face, sensing the incriminating flush beneath my hands.

"It just caught me off guard," I mumbled through my fingers. "That's all. It hasn't really happened since…"

I couldn't finish the statement. The words were stuck in my throat, refusing to come out. My rising anxiety had fizzled out quite pathetically, and soon I was forced to reconcile with the mopey feelings I had been desperate to avoid.

I lowered my hands, wondering when I'd ever reach the point I could say a name without my whole world melodramatically falling apart.

My mood was noticeably sinking.

I reached for my cup, avoiding their sympathetic gazes. But it didn't help much. I could still feel the shame welling up inside me for being so obvious about it.

"You should give it a chance, sweetie."

"She's right," Xion agreed. I could vaguely hear her slurping her tea before yelping for burning her tongue. "Who knows, maybe he'll be your version of The Notebook come true?"

"Minus the infidelity," I countered sullenly.

"Okay."

"And the manipulation."

"Sure."

"And the unhealthy, unrealistic view of love."

"Jesus."

"How about we throw in the guy's inability to accept no for an answer?"

I was being a bitch. I knew that. But the more they prodded the more I dug my heels in. And the more I wanted this conversation to be over.

Xion frowned. "You know, sometimes I kind of miss your gushing and all of your Nicholas Sparks philosophy."

I heard my mom hum in agreement. I peered over at her. There was a distracted, wan smile as she brought the mug to her lips.

I knew she felt the same way as Xion. But I also knew it was probably deeper than that for her. She would be hitting her 13 year anniversary of being divorced. Not that that was really anything to celebrate.

But I'd spent that time in my formative years watching my mom pull herself up and out of her loveless marriage to my father. And right herself in the world as a single mother.

It was admirable.

What was more admirable was how much she could still retain all of the hopeless romantic notions and spread that positivity around. Like just being around her made me want to believe.

Except I couldn't help but get visibly upset and sick every time I caught sight of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams professing their love for one another on screen. When that was another reminder of a failed relationship.

The implication was very clear. They missed the old Kairi. The Kairi that knew The Notebook verbatim. The Kairi who fantasized about a relationship. The Kairi who was a hopeless romantic.

I blinked away the sting building up behind my eyes and huffed. "Well that was before I realized how bland and super hetero his books were."

Xion rolled her eyes.

"I'm just saying, The Notebook would be so much more compelling if Noah had been a girl," I continued.

"Is that why you won't go out with Roxas?"

"What do you mean?"

"Because he's a boy."

I shot her a very flat look.

"I don't know. I figured you'd want to swear off them entirely or explore your other options. You know, considering. The whole Sora and Naminé thing..." Xion trailed off weakly, as if realizing suddenly she was saying too much. She winced apologetically.

The mention of their names made something in my chest twist painfully. And twist until I couldn't look them in the eye with an even composure. I swallowed the short gasp that threatened to come out, hoping that they hadn't noticed.

But it was difficult to remain unaffected and detached. Especially when the names were spoken, loud and alarming, dragging the ache out deeper. An ache that hadn't really left since the day I was dumped.

"Well it's not like I really had anyone lining up at my door." I forced out a short, unconvincing laugh.

Xion scoffed. "Please, I'm sure half the guys at work have tried to take a peek down that polo shirt."

A disgruntled noise fell from my lips at the remark. It was an observation I hated to even consider. Not that i entertained the idea of false modesty (it was really flattering and the validity did wonders for my ego). But because it wasn't enough. It didn't temper the creeping dread at the mere thought of attention. Attention just led to more hurt feelings and I couldn't afford to get tangled into another attachment.

Also, ew.

"Remind me to wear a turtleneck to work then," I responded dryly.

"Look, I know that men are literal garbage-,"

"Xion that's not true. Not all men," my mother corrected. I pursed my lips, looking away.

The downside to my mom's romantic outlook on life was that she firmly held out hope for the day that I would bring back a husband and pop out a few grandkids. An appropriate number to her liking.

The backwards heteronormative logic of it all -

"Some men," Xion conceded. She shot me a conspiratorial wink. "But it's not like you've brought any girls home either."

My mom's face lit up. "That'll give me an excuse to bring out the rainbow t-shirts I made us."

And of course she'd flip the hyper conservative script by being the overly enthusiastic ally in the next second.

I rubbed my forehead, irritated. "We don't need rainbow t-shirts, Mom."

"Speak for yourself. I want a rainbow t-shirt," Xion exclaimed.

A round of laughter filtered into the dining room. I scoffed, and brought my hands to my face again.

It was going to be a long night.

x.x.x

A long night that hadn't helped much when I arrived for work the next day.

I'd slept through my third alarm. My coffee order was completely wrong. And it was fucking raining. Again.

Granted, it was just a light sprinkle. But I was still dragging my feet to the hut. Along with the rest of the emotional baggage I wasn't ready to acknowledge.

It was fine.

Everything was fine.

Completely fine.

As soon as I walked in and saw the back of the familiar blond head, the blood drained from my face. The weight of my stomach dropped. The soul left my body. Whatever. All of the above.

I nearly backed straight out of the door. That is until I felt someone bump into me.

"Oh - oh Kairi!" I recognized the voice before I had to turn around. Pence, our shift lead member, stood behind me, slowly turning a deep red. I wasn't sure if he was sweaty most of the time or just had a natural ability to turn different color shades at the drop of a hat.

He stammered out a nervous apology. But it was enough; the damage had been done. Roxas' attention had been caught. Thus my escape plan was pointless. His eyes moved over me immediately.

This was what I was dreading. This part. This precise moment where I was required to look him in the face and resume our daily work operations as if I didn't just go on a date with him. As if I didn't know what his arms felt like around me. Or the way his chin had nestled so closely against my shoulder. Or how large his hands felt at the small of my back.

His hair was swept up in its usual fashion. Like he woke up from being pressed up on one side of his pillow all night.

I was struck with something I thought would fade once the magic vibe of the date was over. An urge to reach out. Touch. Run my fingertips along the edges of the blonde hair.

I was startled by the direction my thoughts were going. Rather, how quickly they had escalated to something physical and intimate.

Had I been that starved for affection? That I was willing to get it from Destiny Island's CornDog hut deviant?

It was a complete bodily betrayal.

The evidence was clear, the more I took in his ruffled appearance and the more I felt that swell of fond curiosity bubbling in my chest.

To make matters worse, he actually greeted me. It was just a simple, nonchalant head nod, and a low: "Sup."

But it was enough.

A blush bloomed across my face, revealing the very conflicted feelings I tried so desperately to hide. I curled my hands into fists at my side. I cleared my throat, hoping he wouldn't notice my discomfort. I was sure it was as clear as day. As clear as the nametag I noticed hanging quite literally by a thread on his uniform shirt.

What the hell was going on?

"Um…"

I was struggling to come up with a response.

Upon closer inspection, I realized that he had covered his tag with white out and in sloppy writing, was the name Mclovin' spelled across the freshly blank slate.

Okay, okay maybe I was freaking out for no reason. All was normal in the world.

"Hey. Mclovin." I waved stupidly. And I knew it was stupid the moment the greeting fell from my lips because he had turned away with a smirk. It reminded me of the way he had smiled that night, fighting down the chuckle, only for it to end in a tiny snicker.

Suddenly I was pulled with this very strong urge to make him laugh because there was nothing more I wanted to hear.

"Shut up," I snapped flatly, before coming up to my station. Roxas raised his hands in mock surrender, but the playful smile was still spread across his face. Another swell of pride. Another bout of stupidity.

I huffed, but could only try to bite down the growing smile on my own face.

Okay, I definitely was overreacting. This was fine. This was okay. This was just a normal day of work.

In fact, Roxas was barely doing any of the said work. His station hadn't been set up. His uniform was not tidy. He still held on to that air of permanent boredom and insolence.

And when Hayner would inevitably clock in for his shift later, things would continue to move on smoothly. As if nothing was amiss.

This was nothing. I could handle this. I was having a meltdown over absolutely nothing.

Except ….

Except I kept finding myself stealing glances. As if the moment I turned away he would disappear. The behavior was incredibly frustrating because no matter how much I forced myself to focus on the cash register in front of me I kept trailing after the messy blonde head. Hoping for …

For what?

"You good?" Roxas' voice pulled my attention instantly. He was hunched over the counter by his station, doodling on the back of a receipt. But there was a prominent smirk across his face. Like he knew exactly what it was that was making me so flustered.

"What are you doing?" I snapped. "Your station isn't even set up."

"Hm?"

His attention was back upon the doodle before him. I watched how his face slowly became fixated on it. The way his lip curled in concentration. The focused look in his blue eyes as he bent over the scrap of paper.

It was a good look. An inspiring one. I hadn't seen that kind of expression in such a long time.

I felt my chest twist as I realized what it reminded me of - or rather, who. Why this situation felt so sweet. Because it was such a familiar sight.

Of days I spent watching her with the sketch pad propped up on her lap.

There was a lump beginning to form in my throat before I could stop it.

He pushed the drawing to me across the counter. And when I glanced down at it a gasp fell out.

It was a side profile of me. A very rough sketch but the distinctive features were enough for me to tell.

"Oh wow. You're actually, like, good."

He let out a snicker. The sound was nearer than I anticipated. I barely needed to glance up to realize how close Roxas stood.

He was leaning a forearm against the counter beside me. The half smile still intact.

"Did you think I lied to you yesterday?"

It finally happened. The acknowledgement that there was even a shared yesterday to speak of.

Roxas' eyes were soft. Impossibly softer than last night, which I didn't even think was possible. I was struggling with a timely response, my brain still stuck on the color of his eyes.

Maybe it's the lighting in here.

He does look a little more blonde than he did yesterday.

How does one become blonder overnight, you dumb ass?

"No," I said feebly.

My cheeks were hot. I knew I must've started to turn the same shade as my hair.

I felt Pence's eyes on me. I looked up and was only met with the curious confirmation. He glanced towards Roxas, and then slowly met my eyes again. Foolishly, I had realized how self incriminating this whole interaction had been. Too familiar.

I took a hesitant step away, and continued to prepare my station.

"So, uh, guys," Pence's voice pulled me back. "Winter vacation hasn't hit, so the park projections are a bit low today."

"Can I go home early then?" Roxas asked.

"No," Pence snapped. "I'm gonna need help in the back. So I'll be pulling each of you in turns to help me with the stock."

"Ah, yes, the hourly audits of Pence's frozen wieners - I mean corn dogs," Roxas chuckled.

I snorted. Pence flushed and shot him a warning look.

"I'm kidding. It's my favorite part of the day," he continued.

"Anyway, I'm starting with you Kairi."

Roxas and I shared a look. And it felt good. Like I was part of some kind of inside joke. And then he did something he never used to before. Then again, it's not like we used to go on dates before. He nudged me, and leaned down until I could feel his breath against my ear.

"Have fun."

I shivered involuntarily, feeling that same chill creep down to the spot his arm brushed against mine. And yet, despite the chill, it was hot. So very hot beneath the thick fabric of the atrocious polo shirt.

I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat as I stumbled past him, nearly crashing into the counter.

The freezer gave me very little reprieve. But it was a welcome chill after feeling like my body was overheating.

I truly was touch starved. Horrifying.

Or perhaps Xion actually was right. Maybe this year of abstinence had been too long.

I cringed. Xion was right about a lot of things. This? Definitely not.

I was thankful Pence took a while flicking the light on so he wouldn't immediately read the annoyance on my face.

Pence cleared his throat awkwardly, before coming to look at me. Which was surprising, considering half of the painfully awkward times I'd been around Pence, he wouldn't meet my eyes. And the other half I spent trying to ignore the sweat on his forehead and the blotchy color of his face whenever I'd directly addressed him.

Xion's words from before rang in my head. I quickly did up the first button of my polo shirt.

"You know," he began. I could hear the nervous tremor in his voice. "Dating within departments is against park policy."

"Okay," I responded slowly.

"It can lead to suspension."

"I'm aware?"

He had stopped fiddling with the tablet in his hand, finger paused before the spreadsheet. "Well, I just meant… I noticed Roxas has taken a liking to you."

Okay this freezer thing was a bad idea. My mouth went dry.

"What makes you think that?" I played dumb. But Pence quickly caught on because he lowered the tablet and let out something akin to a scoff. Or close to one. However close Pence was capable of.

"I've worked with Roxas for years and I've never seen him that way."

The stupid part of me almost asked him to specify. Wanted him to go into excruciating detail, outlining the different ways my presence had made whatever noticeable change in him. I felt a familiar lightweight feeling in the pit of my stomach the more the burning desire blazed. It pulsed and pleaded until the question was on the tip of my tongue, but when I looked up and was met with Pence's skeptical brown eyes, I faltered.

This was bad. Very bad.

Had it been that obvious we'd spent an evening off on a romantic escapade?

Romantic escapade?

I almost winced at the thought. One date. It had been one date. Nothing more. And yet I had never felt more like I was keeping some dirty little secret. I swallowed thickly, training my gaze away.

"We just work together," I mumbled.

Pence studied me for a moment. I squirmed beneath his stare, hoping he'd turn away.

"Roxas has issues. You're better off not getting involved."

There was a sense of finality to his tone that gave me the impression he didn't care if I responded or not.

He went back to his spreadsheet, and continued counting as if this conversation hadn't happened. But it did. And it was already sinking it's doubtful claws around my senses.

When I returned to the front counter I didn't meet Roxas' eyes. I kept my head bowed and hoped he wouldn't notice the flipped emotions. But my luck had been rendered useless the more the day went on.

I was getting distracted. More specifically Roxas was becoming a distraction. It wasn't so much that he started talking to me more, it was just that I became hyper aware of his presence. Like I could sense his energy from the mere few feet between us behind that corn dog counter.

I knew Pence was still watching us. A mindful eye that made me feel nervous and contrite. My smiles were forced as I spent the next few hours ringing up park guests.

It felt like ages by the time I had been sent off on my lunchbreak. I could finally breathe, in fact I did let out a large, overdue breath as I pushed through the back entrance and tore my way towards the employee cafeteria.

I considered texting Xion - even go so far as calling her. But I knew Xion didn't like to be called. And work drama was specifically reserved for in person gossip.

The weight in my chest was heavy and sinking, threatening to rise back up and explode.

I was not in the habit of entertaining emotional volcanoes.

I reached the cafeteria and hesitated near the doorway. The cynic in me hated putting my money back into the theme park, as if the taxes hadn't taken away most of my weekly check. But my pride was urging me forward. I didn't bring my usual packed lunch because I had been too busy stressing out over the asshole back at the CornDog Hut.

I let my head loll back, groaning out, directing my frustration towards the sky like I was in some kind of dramatic music video.

I shifted my feet, still deliberating. The decision had been irrevocably made, however, the moment my stomach rumbled and the very next when, I felt a gentle nudge against my arm.

"Can I join you?"

I whipped around, startled, and immediately was flooded with anxiety as I looked up at Roxas' smirk, hoping he didn't just see that.

"I'm in the mood for an internalized meltdown."

So he did see that.

"And probably some nachos," he continued, not noticing my awkward fidgeting. He knocked his elbow against mine again playfully. "Come on."

I followed robotically, knowing my fate was doomed the moment he held the door open for me.

It was - different.

I didn't have much to compare it with, considering Roxas and I never really interacted until the date, but I could feel it - the difference. The small changes in the body language. How he spoke, gentle and curious. How his eyes would stay on me even when I had to look away. How he would hover. And he was so much taller than me, he practically towered over me. And I...didn't hate it.

I coughed uncomfortably, sidestepping away so I could breathe for a moment. I made the excuse of needing to look at the menu. Even though we both knew that the menu stayed the same 365 days a year (except on Christmas when they'd add cheap cocoa powder hot chocolate mix).

We found a table after he'd received his order of large nachos and three cheeseburgers. I placed my order of small fries on the table and gingerly took a seat across from him. Almost instantly he began to inhale his food.

I picked at my fries pathetically, watching as he started on his second burger.

The sound of chewing and the background noise of the cafeteria television was slowly driving me crazy. My need to fill up the silence was practically begging me to say something. But I couldn't. This was on principle now.

Conversation was dangerous. Conversation led me to running my mouth and stupidly agreeing to things without realizing the dire consequences.

And these particular consequences I didn't need in my life right now. Clearly Roxas didn't need it either, considering Pence had made a rather obvious implication of his problems.

I really had enough to worry about than a potentially damaged boy who can eat three cheeseburgers in one sitting.

I watched as Roxas lifted his head to flip his already ruffled hair out of his eyes. I was amazed at how it fell in the same disorderly fashion. As if he precariously styled it to look messy.

He finished the last burger in three whole bites. I should feel disgusted. I should want to look away, but the more he sat there in my presence the more I couldn't tear my eyes away. I was fascinated by him. This stranger stuffing his face, anticipating the moment he'd finally look up and say something. I was hanging onto it like a child trying to say their first words.

It was silly and stupid. He was just a boy. An annoying asshole that somehow wormed his way into my intimate space. I was letting it all get to me.

I leaned back into my seat, fully intending to drop the prospect of a conversation, when finally he said something.

"You gonna finish that?" He gestured to my fries. I pushed them in his direction, unfazed at how quickly he inhaled those too.

"I don't know how you can eat this food. It's gross and it's all going right back into the Mouse's pocket."

He shrugged, still chewing.

"Food shouldn't be wasted."

I hummed in response.

"Maybe you should spend money on food you do like."

"Yeah, well, if we could somehow force Destiny Islands into opening a Korean barbecue pit, I'd blow every paycheck," I muttered, only half aware of what I had just said.

"I know a good KBBQ spot," he responded furtively. My gaze flickered back to him. I noticed the way he was looking at me. It was the same way he had looked at me before he hugged me.

Soft, shy almost, but yet there was a fiery determination that had captivated me. Rooted me to the spot, until I could feel the hints of a blush burning across my face. He was waiting for a response. But I was tongue tied and confused.

I glanced away, wildly looking for some kind of out, something to prevent him from asking what I knew he wanted. My eyes landed on the television as a commercial for a theatrical rerelease of an animated film played.

"They're really gonna put Hercules back in the movie theater," I said, nodding towards the TV. Roxas finally moved his attention to the screen.

"Took them long enough," he responded, distracted for a moment.

"Is Disney planning a rerelease of every movie? The Hunchback?"

"A criminally underrated movie."

I scoffed. "A criminally underrated box office failure."

He glowered.

"Literally the only good song in that movie is Hellfire," I continued defensively.

He opened his mouth to argue, but then promptly closed it, in defeat.

"Ha! I'm right," I exclaimed, standing up in excitement. I had slammed my hands into the table, drawing the attention of a few diners near us.

Roxas' eyes widened at my sudden enthusiasm, before he fell into his familiar hushed snicker. The one that had me desperate for another one.

I cleared my throat, embarrassed, settling back down. I ran a nervous hand through my hair.

It was a good distraction. I had just needed a moment.

Unfortunately, a moment was enough time for me to also self sabotage.

"But, yeah, I guess Hercules in the theaters isn't so bad," I said before I could stop myself. I knew I walked right into that one. I caught his blue eyes light up.

"Let's go!"

I could have melted right there in the cafeteria, seeped through the crevices of the hard plastic dining chair.

There was almost a pleading tone to his voice, a playful sort of lilt. Like having candy dangled in front of a baby.

His eyes scoured my face, still filled with mirth. I was the bumbling toddler drooling after a future dentist appointment.

This was so stupid.

He was trying to ask me out again. I knew it. I could hear the hopeful lift in his voice. But I didn't know how to say no. The thought of having to see the disappointment on his face left a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I think my break is over," I burst out, rising from my seat. I glanced down at my phone for good measure and was actually shocked at how quickly the time had flown.

I composed myself hastily, even going so far as to clear my throat in finality. But the ruse only went so far. I could see the disappointment creeping into his expression.

And it crushed me. I hated it. Despised the pull of his eyebrows and the sad downturn of his lips.

Jesus this was beginning to get out of hand.

"I have to go," I muttered, chagrined. He wasn't looking at me anymore. A silly desperation seized me. An urge for him to look at me. And it was ridiculous. The more I stood there trying to catch his eye, the more stupid I felt.

I didn't say anything more as I moved to leave.

The walk back to the hut was lonely. And with each step I took, the more I felt like I had done something terribly wrong.

The feeling swelled when Roxas finally returned to the hut. He didn't say anything to me as he set up his station by the register beside me.

I could feel Pence's perceptive eyes on us, and I knew he could feel the tension. I kept peeking over at Roxas between helping guests. The casual indifference that was a permanent fixture in his face was still present but it was laced with something else. Something that made me feel even worse.

This was what you wanted, right?

I was suffocating beneath it all. It wasn't until Hayner finally clocked in for the mid shift that I was able to breathe.

"Hey guys," he greeted cheerfully. I wasn't sure if his attitude was because of his schedule allowing him to come in at the reasonable noon hour or that venti sized Frappuccino he was currently slurping.

"Umm, where's mine?" I pointed at his cup. He pulled the straw out of his mouth and held it out to me. "Ugh, gross."

"I don't have cooties, chill."

"Yeah she doesn't know where your mouth has been," Pence remarked smugly. At this, Hayner turned to me.

"Wanna find out?" He wriggled his eyebrows.

I felt my face heat up immediately. "Uh, well, I don't-,"

"Hayner shut up," Pence barked.

"I was just kidding!"

"I could write you up for that," he continued.

It led to an argument that was mostly pleading on Hayner's part. But I was only absently listening to their raised voices. I locked eyes with Roxas.

I couldn't shake the feeling. Like I was being studied. Like I was being pulled out from the inside.

"Right, Kairi?"

"Hm?" I blinked away from Roxas' stare.

"We're only just messing around."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure."

x.x.x

The rain from last night returned in a downpour by the time my shift ended. I pulled the hood up on my jacket and had made an attempt for my car. But Roxas intercepted me.

He held his umbrella out for me. And I mumbled a quiet thank you.

We walked in silence. The only noise coming from the raindrops and sound of our wet sneakers, stepping over puddles.

I was planning out my hasty escape when Roxas spoke.

"You know you can just say no."

I almost dropped my keys.

"What?"

"To Hayner," he said, waving a dismissive hand. "To going out with me. It's not a big deal."

I blanched, completely off guard. I realized he was making an annoying habit of catching me off guard lately.

However it was the last part of his statement that really sank in.

It's not a big deal.

I was thankful for being given an out. I was relieved and felt the incredibly heavy weight of pressure lift from my chest. But it didn't completely go away, just floated precariously within the same distance. Lingering in preparation for the next feeling bubbling up.

And suddenly the weight fell back into my chest, pushing further down until it sank deeply in the pit of my stomach.

Disappointment.

The intensity of it nearly left me speechless. Left me confused. Left me terrified.

I glanced away from his impassive eyes.

Breathe, moron.

"I know you think you're being nice. But the nicest thing you can do is be honest," Roxas cut in gently. And I was struck with the fragility of his tone, despite the accusation. Like the softer he spoke, the less it could potentially hurt me. As if the mere thought of causing anymore upset would kill him.

But this consideration would kill me.

"Don't feel obligated or anything," Roxas continued. He ran a hand through his hair, which had become slightly damp already.

"It's not that…" I protested weakly.

But it was exactly that. Wasn't it?

This strange attraction had just become a manifestation of my own guilt. The guilt to always want to please. The guilt to bear the burden of discomfort among people.

The guilt of trying to move on.

I visibly shuddered. Immediately, he pushed the umbrella, until it completely shielded me from the rain.

"You don't like me," Roxas stated plainly.

The nerves racing in my body said otherwise. I didn't know him enough to respond honestly.

But I didn't have to answer, thankfully. Because we both heard a loud curse coming from the car parked beside mine.

I tried to hide my relieved sigh, as I moved from under his umbrella and peered over the car.

There was a girl squatted beside the side of a beat up Honda Civic, muttering under her breath. Unintelligible muttering that suspiciously sounded like profanity.

She was bent over her tire, I could only get a glimpse of the top of her brown hair. But it was completely drenched. I lowered my gaze, only to confirm my suspicion. She must've been out here in the rain for a while. She looked like she just got washed up on the beach.

Tools clattered to the floor and the girl suddenly rose, giving the back tire a hard kick.

"Stupid, motherfu- oh - uh hey." The girl noticed us finally.

What struck me first was how green her eyes were, beneath the glasses and the deep crimson shade her face began to turn into. And despite how pathetically close she resembled a drowned cat at the moment, she was pretty.

She was incredibly disheveled, with messy hair half stuck to her red cheeks and her thick black frames slightly askew.

She was a few inches taller than me. Springy. Noticeable enough that the wet cloth hung onto her thin frame. Her shirt was half tucked in, and there were dirt stains on the knees of her khakis. The nikes she was wearing were completely soaked through as well, though, that could've been because she was standing in the middle of a puddle. It was at this moment that I noticed the flat tire behind her.

"Do you need help?" I asked.

Her green eyes widened. I was still surprised I could see them through the water stained lenses.

"Oh my god, yesss." The eager exclamation made both Roxas and I exchange a look. He made a face. I cleared my throat, returning my attention to her.

"Let me get my wallet." I scrambled with my keys, feeling their eyes on me. It made searching for the right one that much more difficult. Which was stupid, since there was really only one huge bulky key amongst the many keychains clanking together.

I popped open my trunk in search for my purse. I tried to block the messiness from Roxas' curious eyes, hastily shoving the stray unused tampons from sight.

"I think I still have roadside assistance coverage," I said, mostly to myself, as I wracked my brain trying to remember if I made the renewal payment. I flipped through my wallet trying to find the insurance card.

The girl chuckled nervously. "That would be so great. I've been here for like, an hour trying to change this stupid tire. I have no idea what I'm doing," she admitted in defeat.

"I wouldn't either," I reassured.

I heard Roxas sigh. And then suddenly he pushed his umbrella into my hand.

"I'll do it." His voice was short. But I couldn't detect any other form of annoyance, as he crouched down beside the tire.

The rain was picking up again. I held the umbrella over Roxas as he worked, and gestured for the girl to huddle closer. The longer we stood there, the longer I had to my thoughts. The longer I had to stare.

At the back of his hooded head. At his shoulders arched beneath the black sweater. At the large, pale hands gripping the wrench tightly. Proper adult hands doing proper adult stuff.

I wondered how he learned how to change a tire. Perhaps it was just a thing all boys inherently knew how to do. Some sort of rite of passage they earned like the patches the boy scouts received.

The more I stared, the more I realized I really didn't know anything about Roxas. Nothing of substance. Nothing of what I could immediately observe.

And the more I entertained these ideas, the more I realized I wanted to - know him.

It was a dangerous thought. Wildly dangerous and stupid and so unlike anything I'd ever considered.

Here he was, annoyed, in the rain, helping this stranger change her tire. All the while most likely harboring resentment for my inevitable rejection. And yet…

And yet I was endeared by the simple act of consideration he displayed. Charmed with his stubborn resoluteness. Fascinated with the rest of his personality I had yet to know.

But one thing I was sure of. One thing that had been absolutely confirmed while we all huddled over this flat tire.

Roxas was kind.

"Thank you so much." The girl's voice pulled me away from my thoughts. "I don't know how much longer I would've been out here if you guys didn't show up. I seriously debated just heading in and dealing with this after my shift."

She brushed the hair from her face, and smiled sheepishly. She had freckles. Faint. But present across her cheeks.

"You're a new hire." I looked her up and down, realizing belatedly she was in an almost identical uniform.

"That obvious?"

"I would've milked the shit out of this and just called out," Roxas huffed as the tire finally popped off. He grabbed the spare and began aligning it.

"That wouldn't leave a good first impression. Not that the uniform will either," she sighed, looking down at her clothes.

"Sea Salt Shack?" I nodded towards the bright neon blue polo in question. I caught the engraved frozen yogurt shop name across her chest.

"Hm, yeah," she muttered, playing with the hem of her untucked shirt. "It's kind of ugly. I guess the oil stains give it flavor, right?"

"At least you don't blend in with your uniform," I deadpanned, tugging at the collar of my shirt poking out of the jacket. "I'd say anything's better than these candy cane stripes."

A flash of green, and the girl was observing me, amusedly. I fidgeted on the spot from the attention.

"I think stripes suit you just fine."

A strangely tense moment passed. One that had me vaguely registering the clanking of tools beside us. A cough broke the stare and I tore my gaze away.

"Tire's done," Roxas mumbled.

The girl chuckled nervously. "Well that's solved. This is gonna be a whole other issue." She looked down at her stained pants.

"I think i have an extra pair of pants, hold on." I returned to my trunk, carefully tossing things out of the way without making it look like so much effort.

I found the pair and pulled them out with a flourish. "We're probably not the same size…"

"Perfect!" She took the proffered khakis and hurried back to her car, popping open the driver's door. "Hey do you mind being my wall?"

"Your what?"

"So I can change."

Roxas raised a brow, glancing from me to the girl behind me. "Well, I'm gonna go."

His expression was weary. A deep part of me felt - knew - it had nothing to do with the flat tire he toiled over for the past half hour.

"Wait!"

"What?"

Without thinking, I reached out and clutched his wrist. I could feel the heat of his skin beneath the checkered bracelet he wore. My fingers twitched against the fabric, seeking something. Something hotter than the worn bracelet.

Roxas stared down at my hand, firmly wrapped around his wrist, before slowly trailing back up to my face. His eyes narrowed curiously. Blue. They were so blue. It could've been exacerbated by the cloudy weather and the black hoodie he had thrown on. But they were bright and held my own in a hypnotizing fixture.

Ocean eyes. Deeper than anything I'd felt since -

The beginnings of a blush were forming across my cheeks. I could feel the familiar warmth and it prompted me to release the tight grip of his wrist. He stared down at it as if he had been burned.

I flexed my fingers into a fist, trying to ignore the heat flashing in my palm.

"Sorry, um," I bowed my head, glaring down at my wet shoes. "I'll text you." I managed to blurt out, before hurriedly rushing to my car. Ignoring his feeble okay, and the girl's loud confusion.

My heart was hammering in my chest as I sped off home, as fast as I could comfortably speed in the rain.

I tried to organize the thoughts that were running a mile a minute but my head was an utter mess.

A mess of fear.

And anxiety.

But worst of all: hope.

x.x.x

a/n: we'll see where this goes. thanks for reading. you have no idea how much of a relief it is to see that there are still roxiri shippers out there. they can pry this ship out of our cold, dead fingertips.