Forever Love

Lightning released Riku's arm and took a step back. She then waved to the remaining couples and started off, cheeks reddening almost immediately. Did she really just kiss him?! Was it too soon?! No...Lightning couldn't start doubting herself; it wasn't who she was. Regardless, she replied to Serah's text as she walked, letting her sister know she would be there soon.

Lightning looked up at Riku with shocked eyes. Did he really mean that? Her lips formed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you," she said, placing a hand on his arm and giving it a light squeeze. "I'm sorry." She leaned up in her haste and gave him a peck on the cheek, that wink bringing the bold act out of her. She would definitely text him later, once things with Serah calmed down.

Lightning closed her eyes with a quiet sigh. I hate to do this but... "Serah and Snow broke up," she explained lowly, looking up at her date. His concern flattered her, but she felt bad for having to ditch. "She needs me..."

"I go back with you," Lightning confirmed with a smirk. She knew the drill. That was how dates worked, after all. Apparently Kairi and Noel were a different story, though. She had to tear her eyes from his hypnotizing gaze, however, when her phone chimed. She pulled up a text from her sister. 'Snow and I are over. Need you asap.' Lightning frowned instantly. Oh no... Roxas looked down at the blonde under his arm at Riku's words, not objecting in the slightest. He was completely okay with some alone time with Namine.

Kairi fought the urge to yawn when Sora did; yawns were contagious. Even so, she was pretty tired. It had been an exhausting day between the excitement of the festival and the emotional encounter with Sora. "Hey...you care if I walk back with you? I'm pretty tired," she said, voice softer now that the noise had lessened. Noel blinked in surprise. "Wait, you're leaving?" he asked. And with Sora too... Kairi grimaced. "Um...yeah," she nodded. "You said you wanted to catch up with a few friends of yours anyway, right? It's no big deal. Besides, if I go with Sora, there won't be any creeps that sneak up on me." She chuckled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear. Noel lifted an eyebrow but nodded anyway. "Right. Text me when you get back to the dorm, alright?" When Kairi agreed, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Talk to you later." He took a step back and waved to her friends. "See you guys around." Roxas lifted his hand hanging lazily over Namine's shoulder in a faint wave as Noel started off. He arched an eyebrow at his sudden departure, though. That was a bit weird.

"Hidden talent," Roxas replied with a small shrug. He didn't really know he could either, not until he sang for the first time. And then music just called to him. It wasn't something he could really help. "But hey, it is a boost to my ego. Can't go wrong with that, right?" At Roxas's smug smile, Kairi rolled her eyes. "Okay, bigshot, tone it down," she scolded lightly. She then lifted her hands to clap for the performance that just wrapped. That was the last one for the night. The festival would continue as normal.

Roxas smirked. "Thanks. I think I got an A," he boasted with pride. He stood next to Namine and looped his arm loosely around her shoulders, his hand hanging lightly over her shoulder. One of his classmates still performed, and Roxas mentally recognized how he sang a little off-key, but that was just his inner critic. Kairi giggled softly. "A plus!" she corrected. Roxas passed with flying colors, if she had any say in it. Of course, she also noticed how Roxas touched Namine. It was casual and yet it was...flirtatious. She wondered if Namine noticed.

Roxas's smile softened. "Good idea," he agreed with a nod. He then motioned behind her. "After you." He would follow her back. He hoped things with Sora and Noel cooled off, but he got a feeling that they hadn't.

Roxas blinked. “Oh, well you found me,” he chuckled. “Do you want to go back or...?” Did she want to just be with him? It didn’t matter either way; they had a lot of time together lately. Roxas couldn’t be greedy with Namine’s company.

Roxas smiled at the words. “Thank you!” he replied over the loud music. He looked over her head to where she should have been, where their friends were. “Where are you going?” Did he stop her? If so, he would let her go. But he had to admit that seeing her face after his performance made him lighter inside.

Roxas squeezed through the mess backstage to get out into the open, though it was hard to consider it that due to the cluster of people still watching the current performance. He tried to avoid fangirls to the best of his ability, threading through the crowd to reach his friends. He remembered where they stood from his view on the stage, so he made his way there. Just as he squeezed through a few people he bumped into someone, whose frame was smaller than his. He reached out instinctively and grabbed their shoulders to steady them. That was when Roxas recognized who it was. “Namine?”

Kairi felt her happiness for Roxas grow at Namine’s smile. Noel had released her and she wrapped her arm around the blonde’s shoulders. “I think the only person whose opinion matters to him is yours,” she teased lightly, also being honest. She wondered if Roxas would join them now or be stuck backstage until the final performance ended.

Roxas wrapped up his song, eyes flitting to Namine as the last note rang out. The crowd went into an uproar of praise and approval. High pitched screams were deafening. Roxas smiled at the applause and lifted a hand to wave, then disappearing backstage. He figured that earned him an excellent grade.

Noel lifted an eyebrow and leaned down a little to speak in Kairi’s ear. “Your friend must be popular with the ladies,” he joked. She turned her head to reply, and both were caught off guard with how close their faces were. Noel definitely wanted to kiss her... “Um, yeah. He’s got a pretty big following for a freshman,” Kairi agreed, trying to will her blush away. Noel nodded and gave her a soft smile. He then wrapped his arm around Kairi, pulling her close to his side. She didn’t mind, but suddenly she thought of Sora. Being with Noel would be difficult, simply because in her heart she wished he were Sora.

Lightning glanced over at the brunet at the question. He listened to Roxas quietly, but his face was otherwise blank. "Hard to tell," she told Riku, leaning closer to him so he could hear her over Roxas's voice. "He seems a little out of it." Roxas's eyes darted over the crowd until he found his friends. Of course, his gaze lingered on Namine longest. His smile grew a little at the sight of her. He sang into the microphone while looking at her, his tune a bit romantic. He may or may not have been thinking of her when he wrote it.

Kairi laughed. "That's putting it lightly," she joked back. These girls were crazy. Roxas acknowledged the fan that screamed his name with a faint smile. He then focused on the guitar in his hands. With the instrument, he felt more comfortable. Don't think, just play. He began to strum, and that was when a few girls cried out. He tried not to let it go to his head. Roxas put his mouth to the microphone and began to sing, adrenaline carrying him through for now. But much like karaoke night, not too long after he started, he relaxed.

Lightning's smile softened at the words. She didn't reply due to the applause from the first performance. She clapped politely, even though she didn't really pay attention to the song. Of course, her attention was elsewhere--on Riku. Kairi danced to the upbeat music of the next couple performances, and after the last round of applause, she heard Roxas's name called. She cheered loudly for her friend as he came onstage, illuminated by the bright lights. He pulled up a stool and strapped on his guitar. It was going to be an acoustic performance from him.

Lightning chuckled, though she doubted it could be heard over the music. "I don't sing, remember?" she replied. She lightly nudged him with her shoulder, since they were standing so close. The crowd was pretty big, but then again, so was the college.

Lightning smirked. "Maybe you could make it a duet," she suggested over the music. Her eyes found Riku at the remark about his karaoke session with Sora a week ago. She still laughed about that sometimes.

Kairi wracked her brain for the name. "I feel like Tidus may have mentioned her at some point..." she mused aloud. She wasn't for sure, though. There wasn't time left to ponder it, though, since the lights dropped. Fangirls cried out in excitement, and then a few seconds later, a cute guy stood at the microphone. The first perfomance began.

Lightning looked around, seeing that there was quite a crowd. "How many people are performing?" she wondered. "Five?" Kairi answered, lifting an eyebrow. "Roxas mentioned it, but I don't remember." She had other things on her mind. Or, well, other people. Kairi briefly glanced at said person, recognizing his lack of attention in her and Noel's direction. She understood. It was hard... Roxas bounced on the balls of his feet as he prepared to go out onstage. He was second-to-last, but he knew the other performances would go quickly. Don't freak out, he told himself. Don't freak out.

Roxas smirked and rolled his eyes at Sora's words, but he then focused on Namine. "I'll see you soon," he said, briefly touching her back as he stepped away. He...didn't want to leave her, but backstage access was tight. He wouldn't be able to get her through. It was performers only. Kairi watched Roxas go, a knowing smile on her lips. That goodbye was personal, only for Namine, she noticed. He so likes her.

Noel turned his hand over when Sora released it, instead grasping Kairi's. His hold was much softer with her. She stepped beside him, and while Noel wasn't the insecure type, he did feel a little better with her closer. "Not as big as Radiant Garden," he answered, looking down at Kairi. She smiled up at him weakly. Roxas heard his phone chime. It was a reminder on his phone to get ready for his performance. "Uh, I gotta get going," he announced, rubbing the back of his neck. "A big part of my grade this semester is riding on this performance, so..." "Go ahead. We'll be there in a little bit," Kairi said on behalf of the group. Roxas was bound to do well. If karaoke was anything to go on, this would be great.

"Nope." Noel's answer was short...too short. Kairi also noticed that they didn't release each other. She cleared her throat quietly and stepped forward, placing her hand atop both of theirs. "Noel's from Pulse, a city nearby," she tried, looking between them. Let go.

Noel glanced down at Sora's hand at the grip, so he tightened his as well. Noel was probably only an inch taller than Sora, and the spiky-haired boy looked more toned up close. Noel was just a little bigger in the muscle department. Kairi looked between the guys and gnawed on her lip. This was...good, right? Roxas stood next to Namine, arms crossed. It may have just been him, but he thought he saw some competitive glares being shared between Sora and Noel. Uh-oh.