Peanut

When Ven spoke of another game, Roxas sat up and shook his head. "I'm takin' a breather," he said, setting his hands on the edge of the pool as he brought himself out of it. The game was great, but he wanted to lay in the sun for a while. Maybe if he was lucky, Namine would join him.

"Nice game, guys," Ven called over to the other team, setting a hand on Namine's shoulder as he did so. It's okay, he silently told her. She didn't cost them the game. In fact, she was really good for their team, even after she took the ball to the head. He was just glad they could all have fun together after all that happened.

Roxas cheered as his team scored their final point. The game was fairly close: 17 to 21 in the end. But his team was just more athletic than Riku's team was. He collapsed onto his back in the water, hearing Sora high-five Aqua in victory. That was a ton of fun, and he even got Namine to hit it a few times. He wondered if she realized he hit it towards her on purpose...

"Mine!" Roxas called, wading forward a step before he returned it. However, his hit was purposeful and well directed. It was a soft hit that was aimed for Namine. He...wanted to play with her, specifically. So she had to hit the ball at least once before the match was over.

Eventually, even Kairi and Namine got coaxed into the pool. Then Sora and Riku, being as competitive as they were, wanted to face off in volleyball. The teams were made, though it was an interesting mix. Sora had Lightning, Serah, Roxas and Aqua, while Riku had Kairi, Namine, and Ven. Sora was sad that Kairi wasn't on his team, but that didn't mean he would show her mercy.

Roxas resurfaced and turned towards where he had been standing before, immediately noticing that Namine went right for the bag he left her. That was a good sign that she liked him, right? But those weren't his only thoughts: he was mesmerized by Namine's beauty. If he could see her eyes, he'd know that the suit color would match her eyes perfectly. However, if he was caught staring, he would have been humiliated, so he laid on his back and stared up at the blue sky.

Roxas smiled weakly, giving Namine a weak nod before he spun around and ran for the pool. He jumped in and submerged himself under the water, the coolness taking away the heat of his cheeks. Why couldn't he be more natural like Riku and Sora?

"I'll, uh, try to smile so you can get it on film and..." Roxas trailed off, blushing. He was trying to flirt with Namine, but it wasn't working. Riku got it to work on Lightning just now, but Roxas's results weren't nearly as successful. He didn't really flirt with girls on the Islands; they flirted with him. He didn't know how to initiate a flirty conversation.

"Uh...Try and get some good shots, okay?" Roxas tried, rubbing the back of his head. Crap, did he really just say that? It sounded like he wanted her to focus solely on him. Not that it would be that big of a problem because he would like knowing that she was looking at him and thinking about him... Ugh, this is ridiculous.

Roxas walked over with Kairi and Namine, a backpack slung over his shoulder. He didn't tell Namine, but... "I, uh, brought some of your art stuff down, if you wanted it," he murmured to Namine as he set the bag down near her. This was slightly awkward, mostly because he sort of confessed his feelings but not really. And Namine accepted them but not really. They were in a really interesting position right now and he didn't know what to do in it except keep treating Namine the way he did before.

Lightning sighed in slight frustration. She had to admit that she was annoyed...She felt like he played her. He had no intention of making this worth her while, did he? All he cared about was the video... But she wasn't going to let this soil the mood of everyone else. As Ven also jumped into the water, Lightning ducked underneath and started swimming, finding relief in the coolness of the pool.

Lightning rose, just in time to hear Sora announce a cannonball before he leaped in. Obviously he wanted to get in before Riku threw him in. She lifted a hand and shielded herself from the splash, lifting her gaze to Riku. "Nice job paying me back," she said with an arched brow. This was her thanks?

Sora and Ven walked right past Riku, who was so busy deleting the video that he failed to notice the threat towards Lightning. The two of them knelt down and picked her up, Sora grabbing her feet and Ven grabbing underneath her arms. She struggled and called Riku's name once, but she too knew that he wasn't going to be able to do anything. As they stood by the side of the pool, Sora and Ven swung Lightning side to side to build up momentum and then they threw her into the pool.

"Lightning, you betrayed us!" Sora cried in despair. Ven groaned along with him, though Roxas was quiet now that Riku was on top of the scenario. "And if you're not on our side..." He stepped forward, motioning for Ven to come along with him as he started towards Lightning. She was going to the pool.

That's it. I can't take it anymore... "You can decide how to pay me back later," Lightning muttered, loosening her grip and revealing the phone. She couldn't think, and she was severely embarrassed. She didn't handle embarrassment well, so while this was good and fun, it needed to stop before it completely overwhelmed her.

Lightning lowered her gaze, hearing Sora call for her not to give in, but she knew that wasn't an option. Riku had her wrapped around his finger. "...What will you give me in return?" she muttered. She'd give him the phone, but she wanted something in return. Of course this whole scenario was prohibiting her from thinking about what she wanted, so hopefully Riku had some ideas.

Lightning blushed deeply, Riku's close proximity and actions getting to her. He supported her physically several days this week, but this was another kind of intimacy, and it was in front of his friends. "I told you not to embarrass me," she murmured. This was hugely embarrassing, not because she disliked it, but because she did.

Lightning looked at Riku as he knelt down in front of her, her arms behind her back with the phone as he gripped her waist. "Don't even think about it," she warned lowly. He absolutely wasn't going to throw her into the pool. It wasn't going to get him the phone anyway; she quick toss it off to someone else if he tried anything.

Sora knew what was coming next: Riku would throw Kairi in the pool (phone with her) just to destroy that footage. He snatched the phone out of Kairi's grip and called to another friend. "Light, catch!" he cried, throwing her the phone. Thank goodness she had quickly reflexes; she raised her hand just in time to catch the phone. "He won't throw her in the pool so easily," he told Kairi with a smirk. Riku treated Lightning with a special kind of care, and Sora was betting that he wouldn't throw her in like he would Kairi.

Serah fell into the water along with Riku, going under and then rising without him in her grip. By the time she resurfaced, he already took out most of the braiding. "Awww," she whined in disappointment. That didn't last for long at all.

"Riku no!" Serah cried, running and jumping onto his back. He wasn't going to take out the braids that quickly! She put so much work into it too. It was hard with the length of his hair, but she did a good job with it, whether Riku wanted to appreciate it or not.

"And...done!" Serah said, taking her hands away from Riku's head as she did the last hair-tie. "Lightning, where's the camera?" She wanted a picture with Riku, to remember and cherish the day where he let her braid his hair.

Lightning looked past Serah and Riku, seeing quite the group. Sora was doubled over with laughter, and once Roxas was in the pool area, he pointed and laughed too. Ven found it absolutely hilarious too, as did Lightning. Riku vehemently protested this, but once Serah stuck out her lip, he feared she would cry if he didn't. He fell for Serah's most classic and deadly deception.

Five minutes later, Sora led everyone else down to the pool. He expected Riku, Lightning and Serah to already be in, but instead, it was empty. He turned his head and looked to the side, blinking at the sight that he saw. Serah...finishing up one of two braided pigtails on Riku's head. He burst out laughing, witnessing Serah's pleased expression and Riku's ticked one.

As Lightning walked over to the towel that she brought down, Serah just climbed out. Riku didn't look like he was going. "Come out with us," she encouraged. "There's one more thing that has to be done..." It involved fulfilling rule two of being family, not that she was going to tell that to Riku so quickly. He wouldn't get out if he knew that.