Forever Love

“You think it’s because of me?” Kairi wondered aloud. She looked at the girl to her side, confused. Obviously Sora and Kairi disagreed on a few things, but...it affected him that much?

Kairi's smile fell at the mention of the boy she couldn't stop thinking about. She watched a ring skip over a bottle. "...No," she answered softly. She hadn't talked to Sora at all. Not since their argument days ago. It felt like it had been weeks.

"Good," Kairi answered, nodding a bit. "Noel's...fun." And he was cute. Super cute. And nice and strong and tall... But even so, Sora's face kept popping into her head. Why? After all he said, after all he did--and didn't do--why should she think about him?

Kairi nodded a little and followed Namine as she suggested. She faced the boys and watched them each get their rings to play. The sight made her smile; she was happy to see one of her friends getting to know Noel, or at least putting in the effort. Nobody else had really done that...

"Just playing some games," Kairi answered with the same smile. She still had her unicorn in her arms, which Noel won for her at their last game. "You guys?" She noticed they were...closer than normal. Kairi sent Namine a subtle look. When did this start? Roxas smirked. "Looking for some competition, actually," he said. "Noel, you want a challenger?" Noel chuckled. "If you think you can take me on, challenge accepted." He just finished this ring toss game, but he could give it another go. He waved Roxas over before touching Kairi's back. "You don't mind, right?" Kairi shook her head. "It's okay. Do your thing." Noel grinned and leaned over, pecking her on the cheek. Kairi's face flushed immediately, and if she looked over then, she would have seen Roxas's smile falter at the affection. Instead, she giggled faintly. Roxas glanced at Namine. "Your turn," he murmured to her secretly. She could do this. They both had to, for Sora's sake. He removed himself from her with a faint smile and made his way toward Noel.

Roxas lifted a hand and squeezed Namine's on his arm. Here we go. "Kairi!" he called then, lifted his free arm in a slight wave. The redhead turned to see them and smiled instantly, not that her smile ever really disappeared with Noel around. Her date looked over too and briefly waved a hand, since he was in the middle of a game.

“I’ll challenge Noel to a friendly game of ring toss,” Roxas declared with a handsome smirk. He looked to his companion and then followed her gaze to the couple ahead. Sadly, he had to admit they were a couple. Roxas always thought he would say that about Sora and Kairi, not Kairi and another guy.

Since Namine still had her arm looped with his, Roxas started forward. He clapped Sora on the shoulder as he passed. “We’re gonna go get more ice cream. Be right back, okay?” Conveniently, Kairi and Noel ventured in that direction. It wouldn’t be too hard to find them.

“Yeah, just follow my lead,” Roxas requested. He then smiled at the blonde girl. She always had his back, and he had hers. Then again, it was just who Namine was as a person—selfless and kind. His feelings for her grew every day.

Roxas gnawed on his stick for another minute before he chucked it into the nearest trash bin. He turned to Namine, leaning down a little to whisper in her ear. “I’ll distract Noel. Can you grab Kairi?” he asked so Sora couldn’t hear. Roxas would ask Noel some tips on the new game he was playing...or something, to get him off Kairi for a few minutes.

Roxas chewed on his sea salt ice cream stick. He looked from Sora to Kairi. The redhead gleefully accepted a unicorn stuffed animal from Noel, who proceeded to wrap his arm around Kairi’s shoulders as they ventured to another attraction. He grimaced. He felt bad for Sora. Riku was on a date, Namine was on Roxas’s arm (which he thoroughly enjoyed) and Sora was just...here with them. “We can go steal Kairi for you, if you want,” he replied around his popsicle stick, then grinning as it stuck out of his mouth. Roxas and Namine could distract Noel or something.

Kairi laughed openly at Noel as he animatedly wound up his arm to throw a baseball at one of the carnival games. He has to throw as fast as he could to win a prize—a prize he said would be for her. She linked her hands behind her back as he finally threw it, the girl dressed well for the weather. She wore a light pink off the shoulder top with a black halter bralette underneath, with some jean shorts. She felt cool in the heat, and comfortable, even if she had caught multiple guys—including Noel—admiring her figure. She was a fashion major; she knew what flattered her best.

Lightning settled into the caged seat, comfortably letting her side touch her date’s. She grabbed his hand again. “Like this,” she finally answered him. He could distract her like this. Just be with her and take her mind off those jocks.

Kiss me, Lightning thought suddenly. But even for her that was moving too fast, and the thought itself was unexpected. Luckily for her, just then they were allowed on the ride. She dropped her hands from Riku’s chest and grabbed one of his. She pulled him with her to the ride, handing the worker her ticket. This was how he could distract her—he could be her date and companion for the night.

"Then distract me," Lightning requested softly, her eyes on Riku's. She appreciated that he didn't like seeing her unhappy. It meant he cared. Nobody ever defended her honor, or wanted to. Not like him.

Lightning caught that anger immediately, and she moved to stand in front of Riku, her hands finding his chest. "I know," she replied softly. "Just...don't worry about it. It's fine." It wasn't like the guys would do anything in public. Besides, Lightning could hold her own. And Riku was here... He stood up for her last time; they knew not to mess with him either.

Lightning closed her eyes at the question, grateful that they weren't about to get on the ride just yet. She couldn't have fun when this conversation happened. "...Yeah," she confirmed lowly, opening her eyes to gaze at Riku's chest again. It was those guys, those stupid jocks who saw her as nothing but a plaything. It was disgusting.

Lightning lowered her gaze to Riku's chest, lifting her hand behind him to lightly grasp his shirt. If she upset him, it wasn't on purpose; she was just a bit...distracted, sadly. It wasn't fair to him since this was their date, but...what she just saw couldn't easily be erased from her memory.

Lightning snapped out of her daze and looked up at Riku. "Uh...yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Not entirely convincing, Light. Still, she tried to focus on something else. Like the way the lights made Riku's eyes almost hypnotic, or the way his brow furrowed. Why was that? And why did he bring her closer? Not that she minded; his warmth was comforting and his hand on her waist was...thrilling, in a way.

"Mm," Lightning hummed, looking down at her ticket. She heard what Riku said, but...it didn't really register. That jock...what was his name again? She couldn't remember. But the look in his eyes just a minute ago, and the way he talked about her at the gym, and grabbed her... Light suddenly felt uncomfortable with her attire. That guy and his friends looked at her like she was a piece of meat.

Lightning approached the booth and requested their tickets. As the worker got them, she happened to look over in time to see a familiar face. It was the jock that assaulted her in the gym class she had with Riku a few weeks ago. He stood next to a food cart with a few of his friends, and he clearly noticed her. His eyes were hard...but hungry. Lightning furrowed her brows and accepted her tickets from the worker with a polite "thank you." She chanced a look back toward the jock to see him motion to her for his friends. A few of them got cocky and whistled her way. She rolled her eyes. "Pigs," she murmured. Light spotted Riku in line and joined him, trying to wipe the looks of those jocks from her memory.

Lightning took in a breath and nodded. "Sure," she agreed. That sounded like fun. As they got out, she tightened her ponytail. The line had definitely gotten longer, but that was okay. This ride was fun. "Get a place in line? I'll grab the tickets." It was her turn to pay.

Lightning only continued to laugh, but her laughter could be deciphered as agreement. She squeezed Riku's hand when they went upside down again, and then almost got stuck that way. "Best ride yet!" she confirmed. True, it was the first one they had been on, but she wasn't sure if there was one that could beat this.

Lightning grasped Riku's hand as well, and that was when they flipped backward. And once the cage righted itself, they rocked a little, before going around and up and then flipping again. Lightning started to laugh. Who knew something so simple could be so thrilling?! If Serah could see her now...she wouldn't believe it. Then again, she didn't believe it much either. She recognized that the last few times she'd truly laughed, Riku had been right there with her.

"Born ready," Lightning replied confidently. "You?" She also gripped the bar as the ride started, the ferris wheel went around one time, but it was picking up speed. They were bound to go upside-down in a second. Of course, her stomach had been doing flips since Riku took her hand moments ago. Something about him... It was different than other guys.