Howdy! TrashTasteRomance here, to answer some of your questions. I gave Sora the last name Fair because, in this story, her Dad is Zack Fair from Final Fantasy Crisis Core. And this story is meant to be rated T but will be diving into some serious subject matter. Hence, the warning is below. Let me know if I should raise the rating or if I should keep content warnings in each chapter. Thank you so much for your questions, I'm tickled pink that you guys even read what I wrote! Seriously, it's a dream come true.
Warning- I'm not sure if this is necessary but, a panic attack is depicted in this chapter. Take care of yourself.
Chapter Three, Ghost Party
Novo Amor- Haven
A week flows by without much resistance, melting together normalcy that I didn't know how much I missed. Dad squeezes in whatever free time he has and makes it father-daughter time. We watch a movie together, cook dinner together (unless he's too tired), and run errands together. I don't feel as uncomfortable around our old stomping ground. And as sudden as a heat wave, the party rolls around on a Friday night.
The evening sun dyes my room in golden hour and despite it being so mundane, I am certain that something will change. It feels like wings are fluttering in my chest and I feel nervous and excited at the same time. My room looks like a World War disaster, my clothes are cast all around my room like glitter and my desk is littered with makeup. Checking my antique clock
Axel stands beyond the threshold, his fire-red locks tied back.
"Ready to go, Troublemaker?" he teases, taking a step back from the door.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I chirp, skipping to his side.
"You sure are in a good mood," he remarks, an annoyingly bright smile gracing his face, "something good happen?"
Making our way towards the town square at a leisurely pace, I stay a few steps ahead of him. Twirling on my heel to face him, I walk backward slowing down a bit.
"Well, I'm going to a party with a cool guy," I tease back, "what's there not to be happy about?"
"Right," he snickers, rolling his eyes playfully.
We fall into a comfortable silence, listening to the town slowing down. People are either on their way home, closing down for the day, or taking care of the little things. The town dwindles to a drawl like molasses.
"You know, Sora," Axel begins, smirking, "I was kind of surprised you remembered me," he says as he gives me the side-eye.
"It'd be hard to forget someone with bright red hair, and besides everyone knows Kairi's older brother."
I see Axel devise a scheme in his head, eyes glimmering, "Oh I'm sure," he snickers.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Kairi would always complain about how the girls in school would talk about me behind her back. She'd get so pissed whenever she found out some of her friends only wanted me," his eyes flicker to me, "you wouldn't happen to be one of my adoring fans would you, Sora?"
"You wish," I playfully roll my eyes, turning my back to him.
We stand under an iron gate that has a pearlescent sheen. The buildings that block the space turn into trees and greenery. The smell of pine infiltrates my nose. The sound of grass crunching under my feet and the buzzing of cicadas drown out everything else.
"Wasn't this place abandoned? Are you planning to kill me?" I ask, staring at him.
I remember in middle school, it was a dare to come to this place at midnight. Mostly,
Axel chortles, his whole body swaying almost like he's in pain, "No, Sora," he breathes trying to steady himself, "they fixed up the place a while ago. They haven't decided what to do with it yet, but they decided to throw a housewarming party because they recently finished building it."
Viigo-Beautiful
The bass shakes the whole house. The setting sun dyes the room in a warm orange color. A song plays from two speakers from the other end of the room.
"Hey Axel," a voice calls in the crowd
Turning his head, Axel flashes a sign, Want to come with me to say 'hi'?"
"Oh no, no," I shake my head, "I'm good, go have fun. I'll find you later."
"You sure?" he quirks a brow.
After I nod, Axel stops trying to convince me.
"I'll find you later, I promise," he squeezes my shoulder and departs.
Okay, Sora. You're at a party. By yourself.
I feel unease coil in my stomach like wires knotted together. I look for something to occupy my attention. Anything to distract me. I spot drinks being served across the room and I make a beeline for it. I grab some juice concoction and down it with the desperation of someone who hasn't had water for days.
"Hey," a petite redhead with pthalo blue eyes taps me on my shoulder, eyes alight with recognition, "is that you, Sora?"
"Yeah," I put my cup down choking on the overwhelming sweetness, my voice sounding wobbly, "Hi Kairi."
A smile that rivals the sun shines on me and arms fly around my waist.
"I'm so happy to see you again," she sings as I feel my feet dangle slightly above the floor.
"It's good to see you too," a giggle flows from my lips like champagne as Kairi puts me back down.
There's a black cross body dangling from her neck. On her left side, a camera is locked and loaded.
"I see you still do photography," I begin, itching to fiddle with it.
Humming in agreement, Kairi gingerly takes the camera in her hands. As she fiddles with it between her fingers, adoration clouds her gaze, "I'm kind of surprised you remember."
"Your brother told me the same thing earlier," I join her on the wall, keeping a comfortable amount of distance, "you were almost at all of my track events, you know?"
Golden champagne rays of light turn from sugary pink to a deep violet. A disco ball that hangs in the air now consumes the dark room in technicolor hues. A vibrant number replaces the chill vibe that flowed throughout the room; drums, guitars, and a vocalist energize the room like an electricity circuit.
Pale Waves- Television Romance
"I was, wasn't I?" Her brows pinch together, concentrating on something that appears as if it were out of her grasp.
As shaking herself out of a dream, she takes my hand, "We might as well sit and talk, 'cause we have so much to catch up on!"
Thank God for people like Axel and Kairi.
We find ourselves on a cushy couch in another corner of the room, I sink as soon as I make contact.
The smell of jasmine wafts over to me as Kairi and I continue talking. Kairi does most of the talking thankfully. Kairi bounces from topic to topic with the enthusiasm of a kid telling their parents about their day.
"Okay, I'm just gonna say it," Kairi admits, fire burning in her eyes, "I don't want to go to college," she huffs, throwing her back against the sofa head tilted towards the ceiling.
"Is there something you like doing instead?" I ask, observing her, "It's okay if you don't though."
"Wait," looking at me like a deer caught in headlights, "you're not judging me?"
"Only a little," I joke, a goofy grin painting my face.
"Shut up," Kairi teases me, punching me on my arm, "really though? It's not a bad thing, right?" She asks, worry tinging her eyes underneath the purple light.
I snort, If only she knew what I thought of college.
"No," I look her in the eye, "not at all. I mean, college really isn't for everyone," I emphasize.
Kairi breathed in and out, letting what I said wash over her like the ocean waves.
"Thanks, Sora," she says so quietly, that I have to read her lips because the song drowns her out.
"So, what do you want to do?"
As if struck by lightning Kairi jumps to her feet, "I'll be back, give me one second."
Kairi disappears in the sea of people. As I tune into my surroundings, I feel the floorboards shake. I can hear someone laughing over the loud music.
"Okay Sora, you remember Fuu, right?" she bounds back to me, nearly bouncing on her feet.
Kairi brought back three different girls. Fuu, who I remember because we graduated in the same class, stands calm and collected.
"I do. Hi Fuu," I greet the host.
Fuu nods, her long hair moving across her shoulders as she bobs her head. Somehow taller than I remember, her piercing gaze softened by her feathery lashes.
"This is Xion, she's in the same grade as me," Kairi explains, hanging her arm around her, "and this is Selphie, who also graduated with me."
Xion, the smallest out of all of them, has eyes that are the brightest in this dim room. Shyly she waves at me with a polite smile on her face. She bounces on her feet making her dark hair move around her delicate face. Selphie on the other hand is level with Kairi. With her hair tied into a high ponytail and bangs that frame her eyes. Selphie smiles, but unlike Kairi or Xion, it doesn't exactly reach her eyes.
"Hi," I wave, fiddling with my hoodie's zipper as I feel tension knot in my stomach.
"We're in a band together," Kairi squeals, "isn't it so amazing" she asks rhetorically, ushering the girls to take a seat with me.
Kairi sits beside me, Xion sits on my other side at a comfortable distance, Selphie lays her head on Kairi's shoulder and Fuu sits on the farther end.
"We haven't done any real gigs yet but, that's going to change soon!" Kairi beams, confidence oozing from her.
My face must've looked dumb because Fuu kindly and monotonely explained, "There's a battle of the bands out in Destiny Islands," she gestures with her hands as she talked.
"We just have to put in an entry and we're in," Xion adds, then looks down, "if they like us enough."
"Of course, they'll like us, Xion," Selphie rolls her eyes, "c'mon, we talked about thinking positive," she chides.
"Have you guys ever been to Destiny Islands?" I ask, a warmth filling my chest.
Blue skies, warm sand, and the best sunsets and sunrises in the world.
They all shake their head.
"I grew up there, actually," I smile, the nostalgia hitting me like bricks, " My dad and I go back every year. I grew up there actually."
"That's right," Selphie's eyes light up, "you and Riku transferred here," she looks at me as if I were a whole new person.
As everyone digests this information, Xion quietly asks, "Does that mean if we win, you'll show us around?" she looks at me, "If we go together," she nervously adds.
The idea shifts around in my head and my world tilts.
The first time I'll be to Destiny Islands without Riku.
The realization scalds me and it feels like I'm on the verge of tears. An anchor is tied to my chest and the room is smaller than it is.
"Yeah, I can show you guys around," I commit without much thought, "I have to go find someone, I'll be right back," I get up without giving anyone a word of edgewise.
I search the sea of bodies and technicolor lights for long red hair. As the song switches, the bass washes over the room. I can feel the floor vibrate through my sneakers and the sugar from what I drank still lingers on my tongue.
Something sturdy bumps into my shoulder.
"Sorry about that I-" the sentence dies on his lips, "Sora?"
Silver hair pours out of Riku's crown like a fountain, he towers above me. He isn't menacing, but I feel like I'm staring death in the face.
Riku's lips keep moving but I can hear my heart race in my ears. The world starts speeding up and I can't keep up.
"I'm sorry, I," my chest heaves, and it feels like there's not enough air, "I need to go."
"Sora," I hear someone call me as I leave the house.
My legs carry me out the door without thinking too hard about it. I bump into people muttering apologies. As I stagger out the door, I can hear my name being called but it sounds so far away. Another world away.
The humid air is now crisp and cool. A gust of wind shakes the treetops. I sit outside the iron gates, a good distance from the party. The iron feels cool pressed against my back.
"Sora," Axel runs up to me, "are you okay?"
Axel's eyes widen as he sees me clutch my chest. I see the panic in his eyes, his mind racing.
"Do you need me to call an ambulance? I-" he cuts himself off as I shake my head.
Extending my hand, Axel gets on his knees and takes my hand in his.
"What do you need me to do," Axel's voice gets quiet, helpless even.
"Just stay right here, okay," I ask, forcing the words even though my voice is small.
I can't bear to look at him so I look beyond Axel's visage.
Okay, what do I see?
I see a moonless sky, red hair, and moving treetops.
What do I smell?
I smell pine and a little of Axel's cologne. He smells like amber and rain.
What do I taste?
Sugar.
What do I hear?
I hear the sound of wind and heavy bass in the distance.
What do I feel?
I feel Axel's fingerless gloves. They're not leather but they're soft. Axel holds my hand, not tight enough to hurt but not light either.
Breathe in. 1,2 3… Hold. 3,2,1… Release.
Breathe in. 1,2,3… Hold. 3,2,1…. Release.
"I'm okay," I tell him, shame burning my face hotter than the sun, "I'm alright," I say more to myself than him.
It won't be awkward. You didn't ruin the night. Things aren't going to be weird.
Steeling myself, I peer up at Axel and his eyes are soft. Exhaustion seeps into my being and Axel's gaze pulls on my heartstrings.
"Sorry I ruined your night-" I begin, the anxiety pooling out of my mouth.
"I don't accept your apology," he cuts me off, "don't apologize for something like that," admonishing me, "Besides, it's getting late," stretching his arms above his head, arching his back, "I should walk you home."
The trek back home was thankfully, uneventful. Axel doesn't push for answers. There's a comfortable silence between us as cicadas fill all the unanswered questions, conversations, and explanations in my head.
"I'll check up on you tomorrow," Axel promises, "I'll be here by 11, alright?" he says, not giving me a word of edgewise.
With heavy footsteps, I climb up the stairs and fall into the bed and blackout.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
My head turns towards the door.
"I'm coming," I shout, taking my hands out of hot water and dirty dishes.
The breakfast I cooked earlier in the morning still lingers in the air. I move from the kitchen through the living room as fast as I can. My body groans in protest and my mind is like honey.
Axel's here already?
"Hey Axel, you're early," I start as I swing the door open.
And I stare back in horror.
"Hey Sora," Riku's hand rubs the back of his neck, "can we please talk?"