Destiny Islands High - Chap. 4

Destiny Islands High
Chapter 4



We walked over to Kairi's house so that I could drop her off.
"I'm so happy," she said, as we arrived at her front door.
"Me too," I said with a big smile on my face.
As soon as Kairi opens the door, Namine grabs her, rushed her up the stairs into their bedroom and closes the door.
"I'll call you later," I yelled.
"Alright," she yelled back.

I walked out her front door and I started doing cartwheels.  I haven't done those in years.  That's how happy I am.  On the way home, I got a text from Roxas, which is rare since he only texts his family, Axel and...Kairi.  He texts:
"You know, I usually don't do this, but now that you're with Kairi, I don't want another Sora debacle on our hands."
"Oh I know, that was brutal," I text back.
The conversation that we had lasted for about an hour and a half.  We usually don't talk as long, but being that they're bff's, I can understand.  

The weeks leading up to the Christmas Dance were interesting.  There was a meeting for everyone attending.  They explained the rules and for the first time gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people can attend the dance which made Roxas very happy.  Sora and Kairi are talking again, which makes me worried a bit, but I trust her.  They announced the Christmas Court nominations, which consisted of four girls, four guys, and they are:

Me and Kairi
Sora and Xion
Terra and Aqua
Ven and Namine

Once the lineup was announced, Sora and I just looked at each other and an unsaid rivalry was born.  I think an unsaid rivalry was born between Kairi and Xion as well.  At least, it was that way on Kairi's side. But I don't think anything's being done about it, like Sora and I will eventually come to a head.  The day after that, the Court had to go get their pictures taken, which made Kairi all panicky because she didn't have her dress.  The photographer was very nice and waited until Kairi picked out her dress.  You ever seen the show, My Super Sweet 16??  They have these girls (and sometimes guys) who have a really expensive birthday party and when they see a dress they like, but the parents dont approve of, so they whine and whine until they get it or make some sort of compromise??  Kairi was like that from what Namine told me.  That was actually kinda funny.  I never expected Kairi to be like that, but I still love her anyway.  She managed to get the dress she wanted and please her parents at the same time.  That's very rare in her case.  The dress was this rose red strapless number and it had this lace down the side of the dress and it came down to just about her knees.  It fit very nicely on her.  In all of this Court madness, we still haven't had out first date.  I started working for the holidays, so I didn't see her that much other than school, but we still talk online.  I'm taking a break from my homework and I'm on Facebook.  Kinda wondering if Kairi's on.

"Ring."

Speaking of, here she is now.

Kairi: hey, baby
Riku: hey
Kairi: I just realized something.
Riku: yeah?
Kairi: We haven't had our 1st date yet.
Riku: I know and I'm working on that.  I want it to be special.
Kairi: Aww…….you're so sweet.
Riku: I know.

Just then Terra IM'd me.

Terra: You owe me.
Riku: What are you talking about?
Terra: I told you that if you and Kairi ever got together, that you, me, her, and Aqua would go on a double date together.
Riku: I know, T, but we haven't had OUR 1st date yet.  Once we do, you'll get double date.  
*the
Terra: Alright.  What's taking so long anyway?
Riku: School, work, and Court rehearsal.  I'm planning to surprise her with gifts leading up to the dance, and that Fri. before the dance, we're going to have dinner.

I was going back and forth between talking to Terra, Kairi, Roxas and working on my Senior Project.  Roxas's helping me out with getting some of the gifts that I was placing in her locker.  He agreed to get the little things if I got the bigger gifts.  
The week leading up to the dance were drama filled and that's putting it nicely.  It started Monday with a accidental bump in the hallway after first period.
"Watch where you're going!" Sora yelled.
"I'm sorry, Sora," I said apologetically, "There's no need to take a tone with me."
Sora walked away in a huff.  Clearly, he had a bad morning.  He usually does closer to Christmas.  He later apologized.  So later that day, when I was finishing up writing my paper for English, Sora called and asked if I wanted to play Street Fighter.  I agreed, so he came over and I fired up my PS3.  He picked Ryu and I picked Ken.  These were the usual characters we'd play when we play this game.  Now, let it be known that I COMPLETELY suck at this game.  I just mainly button mash.  Sora always hands my ass to me every.  Single.  Effin.  Time.  But today, he's off his game and we played twenty matches.  I beat him every.  Single.  Effin.  Time.  That never happens.  He has a...really bad temper when it comes to video games.  It's sad really.
So anyway, I said:
"Let's do one more round."
"Alright," he said, "one more."
We played again.  I somehow manage to get his character back against the edge of the screen and my character just kept kicking him and kicking him.  Sora kept yelling about 'how much this game cheats'.  I just have to laugh.  I mean, what can I do?  He's just gonna tear my head off.  The next thing I knew, he threw down my controller, shattering the left side into pieces.
"Hey!" I yelled, "Do you know how much that cost?!"
"I don't care!  I'm sick of you always winning all the time!  I'm outta here!" he yelled back and stormed out of my bedroom.  I followed him.
"I'm winning all the time?!" I yelled, "No matter what game we play, you always win!"
We continued to argue for ten minutes.  Then he screamed at me and left.  Real mature, Sora.  I went back upstairs and picked up the pieces from my broken controller.  Then I heard a ding come from my computer  It was from Ven.  That's odd.  I NEVER hear from him online.  He usually calls.  It must be important.

Ven: wth is going on w/sora?
Riku: ur his brother u should kno
Ven: i kno but he's even more crankier than usual
Riku: he broke my controller
Ven: why he do that?
Riku: he got really angry all because i beat him at street fighter
Ven: u never beat him in ANY game, let alone street fighter.  how much do we owe u?
Riku: i kno.  i want sora to pay 4 it
Ven: i kno, but w/the way he is...
Riku: i kno. $20.  it's worth more than that, but i'll settle 4 $20
Ven: alright
Riku: so how r u?
Ven: i'm good.  btw, do u think u can help me w/my math homework??
Riku: sure, c'mon over.
Ven: okay
So he came over and I helped him with his homework and we played Street Fighter.  (He brought an extra PS3 controller and told me to keep it.  That was nice of him.)  We were pretty even on how many matches we each won.  The next day, rumors were flying that I beat Sora up.  He came to school with a black eye.  Now, everybody knows that I'm not the fighting type.  I kept telling people that I was playing Street Fighter with him and that I had no idea how he got the black eye.  Nobody seemed to believe me.  I didn't care.

I saw Vanitas, the Strife family's second oldest brother, also a senior, by his locker.  I went over to his locker and asked:
"Do you know what happened to Sora?"
He laughed.  So much so, that he almost passed out.  He put his finger in front of my face, signaling me to wait until he calmed down.  He started to calm down and once he caught his breath, he finally replied:
"The three of us, me, Sora and Roxas, were at the skate park last night.  Sora was on his bike, doing some tricks and Xion came by to watch him."
"Alright, and?" I asked, urging him to continue.
"He was trying to do a backflip on one of the ramps, but he "miscalculated" and missed landing on the ground with the handle in his eye.  It was the most funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.  I needed oxygen, I swear," he replied and he starts laughing again, while he was getting his stuff for class.
The rest of my day was uneventful.

The rest of the week, everybody was convinced that I hit Sora, and that I'm going to hit them if they look at me funny and every time Sora would tell the "story", he'd change it and even Xion would add her mix to it.  It was a complete mess.  The week of the dance had finally arrived.  On Monday, Roxas brought a box of chocolates, all milk chocolate with nuts in them and a vase.  She was confused about the vase, but I told her it was for something very special.  On Tuesday, he brought a white teddy bear, sprayed with my cologne all over it and a red rose.  Roses are her favorite.  On Wednesday, I brought her tickets to her favorite band, Nickelback, who was playing on her birthday in June and a red rose.  On Thursday, I brought her a red rose and a ruby tennis bracelet to match her dress and on Friday I brought her the menu from her favorite restaurant, Olive Garden, and told her to pick her favorite meal and a red rose.  She took the roses from each day, filled the vase up with water and placed them inside.

"Riku, this is too much," she said after receiving the final rose, "I don't deserve this."
"Every girl deserves gifts from their boyfriends," I said, "Did Sora ever give you gifts?"
"Not for a dance anyway," she replied, "All I got from him was flowers out of my front yard."
"Oh yeah, I remember that," I said, "Your mom wasn't too happy with him for awhile."
"Yeah," she said.
"So see," I said, "My gifts were better than what he gave you."
She just smiled and said:
"I would've been satisfied with the roses and dinner before the dance.  No more gifts til my birthday, other than the Nickleback concert.  Okay?"
"After the dance, I promise," I replied, crossing my fingers behind my back.
"There are gifts still coming?" she asked.
"There's one more and I'm giving you that at dinner," I replied.
"It's too much," she said.
"Nothing's too much for my girl," I said.
"Aww…you're sweet," she said as she leaned in for a kiss.
I kissed her just as the bell was ringing.
"I'll see you tonight," I said as I pulled away, her face still close to mine.
"Until tonight," she said, dreamily.

We both walked to our classes and I wasn't paying any attention to what the teachers was saying all day.  This was a first for me, I never do this.  All I kept thinking was about dancing with her and how magical it was going to be.  School was over and I went home, did my homework.  I took a hour nap right before I took Kairi to dinner.  I had this dream that I was in Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  Kairi made me watch it at least five or six times a day when we were younger.  It's one of her favorite movies.  She watched that for a week straight when her and Sora broke up.  Anyway, in my dream I was at the ball and Kairi was the princess and every other girl was dancing with me.  I never got to dance with Kairi.  I hope tonight doesn't turn out like that.

I woke up from my nap, realizing I was late.  I, frantically, searched for my tux, which happened to be in my mother's bedroom.  She was fixing a button on it, she told me and forgot to tell me.  I thanked her and I ran out the door, forgetting the corsage, causing me to run back in and get it.  I ran past the garage, where my dad was.
"Hey, sport!" he yelled.
"Dad, I don't have time to talk, I'm late," I said, as I was getting into my beat up old car.
I was almost into the car when he whistled.  I looked over at him.  He was standing near the car we've been working on for two months.  He pulled over the sheet to reveal this cherry red Cadillac convertible.  I walked from the car to the garage to get a better look at it.  It looked really good.  I got so caught up in looking at it, I didn't noticed that Kairi had called until the voicemail tone went off.
"Oh man!  I'm really late!" I said looking at my cell for the time.
"Here!" he said, handing me the keys to it, "It's yours."
"For real?" I asked.
He nodded and replied:
"You can't take Kairi to the dance in that piece of crap."
"Thanks, Dad!  I love ya!" I said as I gave him a hug.
"You're welcome," he said as he pulled away from our hug, "Now go on or you'll miss your dance."

I nodded as I got in and started the car and drove off.  Once I hit the red light near Kairi's house, I texted her apologizing for being late and that I'd be there soon for dinner.  She sent one back saying "okay see ya soon <3 Riku's girl".  I got to Kairi's house and Namine answered the door.
"Nice suit," she said, smiling.
"Thanks," I replied, "You're not dressed yet?"
"Too early," she replied, "I'll be getting ready soon, don't worry.  I hope Ven likes my dress."
"He will."
"I'll be down in a minute!" Kairi yelled down from upstairs.
"I'll be waiting," I yelled back.
"Do you want anything to drink?" Namine asked.
"Ice water?" I replied.
"Sure," she said and she went into the kitchen to get me a glass of water, as I sat down on the couch with Kairi's corsage in hand.
I don't know why I'm so nervous.  It's not like I have to impress her in order for her to go out with me  She IS going out with me.  So why am I so nervous?!
"This is your first date isn't it?" Namine said as she was coming back from the kitchen.  
I swear she can read my mind sometimes.
"Yeah," I said, taking a drink of my water.
"Now I'm sure your parents have explained the birds and the bees to you, right?"
"Namine!" I exclaimed, almost choking on the water,  "I'm just taking her to dinner and the dance.  Nothing else is going to happen!"
"I know, I know," she said, "I'm just looking after my sister, is all."
"You have nothing to worry about," I said.
She just smiled.  I see Kairi coming down the stairs out of the corner of my eye, so I turn to look at her and so does Namine.  She's wearing the red dress I told you about weeks ago and she's wearing her hair down, parted on her right side and she's wearing the tennis bracelet I bought her on her left wrist.
"You look beautiful.  Doesn't she, Riku?"
"Yeah, she does," I replied.
"Shall we go?" Kairi asked.
"Yeah," I replied and I get up from the couch and open the package that her corsage is in and put it on her right wrist.
"Okay, you love birds.  Just one picture!" Namine said as she went towards the kitchen to grab their mom's camera.
"Nami, we don't have time," Kairi whined.
"Just one, I promise!" Namine yelled from the kitchen.
She emerged from the kitchen with their mom's digital camera in hand.
"Okay, now pose for me."
I put my arm around Kairi and she put her arm around me and we smiled as Namine took the picture.
"Awww…" she cooed, "What a cute couple."
"Show us later, we gotta go," Kairi said as I'm dragging her out the door and into the car.

Upon the sight of my car, she squealed.
"Did your dad finally give this to you?"
I nodded in reply. She squealed again.  We drove from her house to the Olive Garden singing Christmas Carols on the radio.  Once at the restaurant, surprisingly empty for a Friday night, we sat down, ordered two chicken parmesan's and Caesar salads and two Cherry Cokes and I gave her a diamond necklace and I put it around her neck.  We talked and laughed and ate.   We finished eating our dinner and once I paid the bill, we headed over to the Radiant Garden Astoria Hotel where the dance was held.  We walked into the hotel's ballroom and it looked like the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast all decorated for Christmas.  It was simply breathtaking.  We found our table and we were seated next to Namine, Ven, Terra, Aqua and Pence.  Pence came by himself.  He was taking Olette but she got sick the night before.  Poor girl.  Anyway.  We spotted Sora and Xion and we waved, but Xion returned our waves.  Sora's still pretty pissed at me from the other day.  It looked like his shiner got blacker, but it could be because of the lighting in the room.  Anyway…

Sora and Xion went over to their table, which was conveniently placed next to ours.  There was no one dancing on the dance floor and the latest Usher song was playing.  Sora kept giving me for dirty looks for ten minutes straight, and I was becoming pissed.  Once Kairi excused herself to go to the bathroom, I went over to his table and I said:
"What the hell man?!"
"I have no idea what your talking about!" he yelled back in reply, over the music.
"You've been giving me dirty looks ever since you got here!"
"No, I haven't! You're crazy, man!"
"Yes, you have!"
Sora then got up and got in my face.
"What does Kairi even see in you?!"
"That's funny! I can say the same about you!"
"She's only going with you to get revenge on me!"
"Like I believe that for a minute!"
Xion heard that and came up behind him and said:
"It's true, I heard her telling Namine that!"
"You stay out of this, Xion! You and Sora have already caused enough trouble these last two months and frankly I've had it and I want it to stop!"
"Stop what?! Telling the truth?!"
"You know damn well that I've never hit you and you got that shiner from a bike wreck!"
"Why were we ever friends in the first place?! I hate you, Riku!  Kairi was better off with me and you know it!"
"I doubt that! She's happier with me and you were always jealous of that even before y'all got together!!"
Sora and I stared each other down for two minutes of uncomfortable silence then I said:
"We'll see who comes out on top once I get the crown!"
And I walked away without giving him a chance to respond.

The song "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO was playing.  Once Kairi heard it, she grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor where other kids started coming onto the floor once Kairi and I did.  We danced for two hours with DJ Zexion reminding us to take our Christmas pictures and information for that and that security was on hand if anybody tried to spike the punch bowl.  After "So Happy I Could Die" (how fitting) by Lady Gaga got finished playing, DJ Zexion stopped the music long enough to change his playlist and make a announcement.
"Okay you guys," he said, "It's time to announce your Christmas King and Queen.  Can I have the ladies and gentlemen of the Court come to the Stage?"
Terra, Aqua, Sora, Xion, Kairi and I came from the dance floor and Ven and Namine came from the table.  Once on stage, the girls were standing on one side of the microphone and the guys on the other side.  The lineup for the girls was Xion, Namine, Aqua and Kairi, being closest to the mic.  The guys' lineup was Sora, me, Ven, and Terra.
"Okay, now let's bring out last year's King and Queen, Larxene and Lexaeus," DJ Zexion said, as a spotlight went towards the right side of the stage revealing Larxene in long black dress with the slit on her right side going all the way up and Lexaeus wearing a black tux with a red tie and matching cummerbund.
"'Sup, bitches!" she said as she was walking towards the other side of the stage.

"You know that I'm the most popular person, and I'm gonna win!" Sora whispered in my ear.
"Fat chance!" I whispered back, "After some of the stunts you pulled lately, I have a better shot!"
"And now your 2012 Destiny Islands High Christmas King and Queen are…" DJ Zexion said as he opened the envelope that Larxene handed him.  He took out the paper and his eyes got big and his mouth dropped in shock.
"Well, this is a surprise!  Your 2012 King and Queen are Axel Turner and Roxas Strife!" DJ Zexion said and the spotlight focused on Axel and Roxas, who were in shock.
The other kids started to comment on what just happened.
"Alright! Yeah!!  Way to go Ax!" Larxene yelled and clapped from the stage.  Everyone joined with her after that.  Sora and I just looked at each other and he said: "I'm sorry for everything."
"We'll hug later," I said as I watched as both Axel and Roxas walk on stage, getting their crowns.
"Were you two even in the running at all?!" Larxene asked as she went to put her crown on Roxas' head.
"How do you know I'm not the guy in the relationship?!" he asked.
She laughed in reply as Lexaeus put his crown on Axel.
"The king and Queen will now have their first dance," Zexion said as he went back to the DJ table.  As Axel and Roxas went down towards the dance floor, Zexion started playing Katy Perry's "Fireworks".
"Oh look, our song!" Roxas said to Axel.
"Well, how bout that!" he said in reply as Roxas placed his head on Axel's chest while they were dancing.

After watching them for five minutes, Larxene grabbed Lexaeus' hand and went towards the dance floor to dance and everyone else followed suit.  As I went to grab Kairi's hand, Sora stopped me and asked if he could dance with her.  I looked over to her to see what she wanted to do and she nodded taking Sora's hand.  She touched my hand before she went down, telling me that everything was going to be alright.
"Seems like everything will go back to normal after this," Xion said.
"Yeah, seems that way," I replied, "Would you like to dance?"
"I'd love to," she replied.
I took her hand and led her down to the dance floor.  After we were dancing for awhile, Sora came back over to me with Kairi in tow, put her hand in mine and didn't say a word.  Xion, then danced with Sora.  Kairi and I were the last ones to leave the hotel that night.


~Six Months Later~
The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  Perfect weather for a graduation, wouldn't you say?  We're all gathered at the school's football field.  All the girls were on one side wearing white cap and gowns and all the boys, on the other wearing light blue ones.  Everyone was sitting down laughing, talking or not really doing anything, which is what I was doing.  Then all of sudden I hear my name coming from the stands.  It was faint.  I turned my head toward the stands and I see Sora standing on the railings, waving his hands back and forth to get my attention, I see my mom wiping her tears from her face and my dad taking pictures of the field.  All I could do was wave back.  That goofball.  

"Riku Xander Smith," Principle Ansem said.
I got up and walked towards the stage which was in the middle of the field.  I received my diploma from the Principle and shook his hand and walked back to my seat.  After the last person got their diploma, everyone threw their caps high into air.  After the ceremony was over, I walked over to where my parents were and gave them a big hug and I gave them each a kiss on the cheek.  Sora came over to me and gave me a hug and Kairi came over and kissed me. I had a small party at my house the day after graduation.  All of my friends were there, so I pulled them into my living room and said:

"I have a big announcement to make."
Everyone looked at me, waiting.
"I've been accepted to Hollow Bastion University and I start in the fall."
Everyone gasped and exclaimed and cheered for me.  Both my parents were thrilled.
"What are you going to study, bro?" Terra asked.
"Teaching Math," I replied.
"You'd make a good teacher," Namine said.
"Thanks," I said, smiling.
Kairi pulled me way from the party outside and we walked towards the beach.
Once there, she said:
"I'm gonna miss you."
"It's not like it's gonna be far away and you can come visit me on weekends and other events where you can hear me sing," I said.
"I know, but still."
"Plus you have my number, and we can Skype, like every night."
"Okay," she said, smiling and she kissed me.

I'm gonna miss her too, to be perfectly honest.  But for right now, I'm just living in the moment and I'm enjoying this kiss.

The end.