WARNING:

This story contains references to drug, sex, and violence as well as depictions of such. Please read at your own discretion.

Please Read, Review, Follow! All forms of criticism are welcome.

Somehow, mainly by following the signs in the wide empty halls, I managed to make my way to the library. Was it strange to be excited? This place would be my real home away from home and I just had to inspect it.

I approached the large, engraved dark brown doors and pushed one open. Although heavy I managed and crept inside. Before me were books galore on shelves that seemed to reach the ceiling. It was a dark space with it's deep red and brown decor but lamps with lights to brighten the space. I could spot mahogany tables and chairs each with their own lamp, a clear glass bowl protecting the bulbs.

I walked past a large, tall desk where a man sat with dark rimmed glasses. He nodded politely towards me but it was clear he was focused on the computer in front of him. I peeked over the desk and spotted his wooden table covered in files and pens. He must have been busy, possibly ordering new novels. It was fine, I came to explore, I didn't need an introduction.

I made my way down the main hall, spotting more wooden desks with chairs and burgundy couches tucked away in dimly lit corners. I would see someone every now and then but nothing exciting. From the corner of my eye I saw a spiralling staircase, headed upstairs where countless books remained. In no time I was grasping the railing and headed up.

This floor was much like the lower one, dull but beautiful. Seemingly, it was pretty empty up here so I decided I would stay out of sight upstairs. I was between shelves, running my fingers over the spines of stories, making a mental checklist of what I'd have to read. My eyes would scan through the shelves and glimpse at the ladders perked against them. I'd gotten in trouble at the local library in Twilight Town for never waiting on someone to get a book for me off the top shelf. It seemed here we were allowed to be more self-sufficient. Still, I wandered before setting my sights on a large black spine with a shimmering gold print. I hadn't seen this before and pulled it from the shelf.

"Apocalypse…" I muttered the title and shrugged. I'd never heard of it but the plain cover and decorative font was enough to convince me to give it a read.

"It's just not going to work?"

I froze, someone was here? Of course someone was here, it was a public library! I could hear my heartbeat's low thump in my ears as I looked for the source of the voice.

"Yeah, I mean ever since we became whole, it's just not been the same."

I raised a brow, whole? I took a step back, only realizing that I'd been leaning in to hear the conversation. I shook my head, what was I doing? This was clearly a private conversation and here I was being nosey.

"So it's over then?"

The voice, I realized, was deeper as I foolishly stepped forward; it was guy. Whatever was over had him quite relieved by the sounds of it.

"No, I want you to be happy, I want to be happy."

I clenched the book I held closer to my chest, as if it could somehow silence me as I tried to innocently take another step forward. This sounded like a breakup to me and I wanted to see who the mysterious caller was.

"No, you guys have fun tonight," he chuckled. "I'm gonna hang out here… Okay, bye."

I could hear him sigh but his voice faded and I heard him walking. The steps grew louder as I realized he was walking towards me. Quickly I turned to a shelf pretending to read the spines, reminding myself to keep it casual, not make it obvious I'd been listening in. The steps got louder and suddenly I felt a force against my side.

"Oh, sor—!"

"Sorr—!"

He stood before me, the voice from before. He was average height, tall to me but shorter than Riku, and lean in his grey sweatshirt and ripped black jeans. He had peachy skin with cherry red cheeks from his embarrassment, wide ocean blue eyes, a straight, pointed nose, full lips, and blond spiked hair swept to the side. He stood so close to me and smelt wonderful, like earthy, rosewood.

"Sorry," he smiled, resting a hand on the back of his neck. I spotted his straight, white teeth, even those were perfect!

"No," I bowed my head. "It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention."

He cocked a brow, as if he was surprised about something. Was it my voice? I knew my voice was high but it didn't sound weird did it?

"I mean I bumped into you," the boy smirked and glanced down at my arms. "Apocalypse?"

I was confused and suddenly remembered the book I'd picked up. "Oh, yes. I just found it."

"It's a good read," he responded. "Pretty dark though."

"My favourite," I declared. Just because he was attractive like seemingly everyone here didn't mean I'd play dumb.

"Really?" He asked. "Huh, I wouldn't have expected that."

"Well," I smiled. "It's always the one's you least expect, right?"

"Guess so," the boy mumbled, an intrigued smile on his lips as he walked by me. I turned back to the shelf, smiling to myself. Mari would be so proud of me, back home I never spoke to boys. They made me anxious and today I'd managed to speak to two, one even by myself. I was excited to tell her when I finally got the opportunity to call her.

"Hey."

I looked in the direction of the blond boy who stood a few feet away. "Yeah?"

"Wanna see something cool?"

Immediately, I couldn't resist. I found myself nodding and walking towards him and he led the way. As we walked I couldn't help but look around, still empty halls just filled with books.

"It's just ahead."

I looked forward and saw we were reaching a locked door at the end of a wall. I turned to him with a confused look.

"How exciting," I muttered.

The blond chuckled, dug a key out from a nearby plant and unlocked the door. I heard the click as he pulled it open and felt a gust of wind. He urged me to step out with smirk and although cautious, I walked through the door to see the outside.

The view was incredible. I could see the courtyard of the building before it led to a line of trees and then those same buildings I saw on the train. I was amazed by the new perspective. The sky was so blue from here, no clouds really to block your view. From the roof I could get a full scope of campus and just how massive it was. I saw the dorm building I was supposed to be staying in towards the east and behind it a large brick fence that was meant to keep the danger out. From here it looked weak, completely defenceless but down below it must have been grand. I noticed the seemingly endless forest to the left with it's dark evergreens it looked like a massive bush from here. Everything was so small, even the buildings which made the people almost invisible.

"I think this place used to be open to the public," I heard him say from behind me before an odd clunking of a machine. I glanced behind my shoulder and saw him walking towards me from two vending machines, snacks in hand.

"But they closed it and no one ever really comes here," he said standing by my side, looking ahead. "Just me, my friends sometimes and now… You."

My lips parted as I looked to him. He smiled and I bit my bottom lip, trying to hold back a forming grin but it was useless. He bent down, taking a seat on the edge of the building, feet dangling freely and gestured for me to do the same. I tucked in the skirt of my dress and sat next to him. He'd opened a bag of what smelt like ketchup chips only confirmed when he pulled one out and ate it.

"What do you think?" He asked after swallowing.

I nodded with approval, "you're right, it is cool."

"Told you," he said and passed me a can of sparkling soda and a vanilla cream pastry wrapped in a decorative paper.

"Hope you like vanilla," he muttered and opened the chocolate version of the desert.

"Oh, no," I said. "You didn't have to get me this…"

He opened his can of pop and insisted, "take it as an apology for almost running you over."

"An apology, huh?" Shrugging I opened my can and took a sip. The cool, refreshing bubbles hit my tongue and I smiled. "I guess I have to forgive you then."

"Looks like it," he nodded slowly. "So what brought you to the library? I wasn't expecting to see anyone there today with the new recruits."

I chuckled, "yeah, I'm that girl. The one who rather spend all her time with books. Cliche, I know."

"Super cliche," he replied taking another drink as I reached for a chip.

"What about you? You're the one who was brooding all by yourself."

His eyes glimpsed at me for a moment before he sneered, "guess I'm cliche too."

"Super cliche," I mocked and munched away on the pastry he'd brought me, surprised to find a sugary centre. It was delicious, flaky and soft with a smooth cream filling.

"Just wanted to be alone I guess. My friends all went out and I just don't feel like being there, y'know?"

I nodded and took a swig of my drink. "Absolutely, my roommates tried to get me to go out but I barely know them. It'd be too awkward."

He raised a brow and gestured between the two of us, "so what is this?"

"Shh, the irony doesn't escape me." We laughed together, the situation was odd. One minute I was going to check out a book but now I was eating the snacks of a perfect stranger.

"You said roommates," he pondered. "Are you new?"

"Yeah, a brand new totally lost recruit."

"How do you find it so far?"

"Honestly," my eyes scanned the blur beneath our feet. "It's overwhelming. I really don't feel like I belong here."

"Yeah," he sighed. "I know the feeling."

"Been here long?"

"Too long," he muttered. "I don't hate it, I know it's my duty or whatever but it's exhausting. Not just physically either. It's school but then you're also preparing for a war that'll probably never come."

"I hope you're right," reaching for another chip, I placed it in the centre of my pastry. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for it if you're wrong."

"At least you won't be alone," he shrugged. "And the way they train you here? You'll be kicking ass before you know it."

I couldn't hide the disbelief on my face causing him to burst into laughter. "Laugh it up and the only ass I'm kicking is yours."

Grinning, he raised his hands in defeat, "Okay, okay. Hey, if all else fails just throw books at them."

"That isn't such a bad idea," a smirk came to my lips before biting into my savoury-sweet creation.

"Really?" I could hear the sarcasm in his voice but only shook my head.

"Try it before you judge me."

He sat silent for a moment but from the corner of my eye I saw him reach into the chip bag before stuffing a chip into his desert.

"If I hate this," he taunted. "You owe me."

"I make no promises."

Snickering, the boy bit into it and I watched his face go from confusion to satisfaction.

"See?" I gleamed. "Sweet and savoury!"

"Mmhmm," he agreed, going for another chip. I laughed and did the same. When it came to food, nothing was better than combining things that shouldn't go together.

"It's like dipping fries into ice cream," he licked his lips, causing me to blush slightly. I'd almost forgotten that I was sitting here with a guy, especially a good looking one, this was so unlike me. With everything that had happened before I'd come to Valorsea I would have never expected to be near a guy again. Was there something in the water here?

"Is that too weird a combo?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Not at all," I answered. "More salty and sweet, kind of like this ice cream I know."

"Sea salt ice-cream?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. He turned to me, surprised by my excitement and I blushed again. "Haha. Sorry. I used to have to have it all the time with my friend."

"Same," I heard him chuckle. "They've got it here too."

"Really? The same blue colour and everything?"

The blond bobbed his head up and down, looking to the sky slowing turning pink. "Exact same and they've even got it in other colours, like different fruit flavours. Those are more sour than salty though."

"I really have to check it out," I uttered taking another drink. "I've gotta get stuff for my room so maybe I'll do it tomorrow."

"Definitely," I heard him agree. "This whole town is more like a city. There's everything here. Every time I think I've seen everything it's like something new pops up."

"That's exciting. At least there's always something to do."

"Yeah,' he agreed, his eyes far off in the distance. "But it's just like campus, just too much sometimes."

"Like a sensory overload," I ate the last bit of my pastry and reached for my drink once more. "It makes it hard to focus."

"Exactly," he sounded exasperated, I found myself pouting as I heard the tiredness in his voice. "You ever just feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?"

"Since the Reawakening."

"Hm," I heard him slurp against his can and looked at his profile. His features were almost perfect, nothing out of place. As if seeing Kairi and Xion everyday wasn't going to be bad enough I was already feeling insecure yet again. "Reawakening… Why would they even call it that? We've been awake, you can't just take our lives away and make us start over."

"Right?" I agreed. "It's like not only did you take away our dreams, now you're saying whatever they were never mattered."

"It's just bullshit," I watched the agitation on his face as his arched brows furrowed. "All of it, the reawakening, this place, the war, it's just bullshit."

"I couldn't agree more," I lifted my legs, placing my heels on the edge of the building and wrapped my arms around my calves. "I already hate it here. This place took everything from me."

"That's all it does, huh?" He leaned back on the palms of his hands. "We should take it all back."

I turned to him and rested my cheek on my knees. "How?"

He sniggered, his eyes meeting mine, "I haven't thought that far ahead yet."

Chuckling, I responded, "well it's clear you won't be leading any teams."

He shrugged carefree, with a spirited smile. "So, what was it?"

"What was what?"

"Your dream," he answered. "The one we're so desperately fighting to get back."

I inhaled, brows raised and then creased. What was my dream? Had I ever had one? I always pictured my life just revolving around Mari. Maybe we'd open a business for the clothes she always wanted to sell but never found the courage. She'd be a seamstress and I'd manage the counter; it wasn't an exciting career but I didn't need excitement. As long as I had my best friend I was happy. Pulling my legs back down and placing a hand before my lips I answered, "honestly, I don't know yet."

"Same," he admitted. "I just know it wasn't this."

I agreed, "I just want to be home, with my best friend. She's all I've been able to think about since I got here."

"That has to be hard," his eyes met mine with sympathy. "I was lucky enough to have all my friends here."

A sad smile came to my lips, "it's alright. Everything happens for a reason right? Maybe I'm meant to find a new dream, one of my very own."

"You will," he agreed. "I think we both will."

I watched the clouds disperse as the sun began to sink, "it not, we'll just open a business putting weird foods together."

He laughed, causing me to giggle, "what's our first product? Pickles and nacho cheese?"

"Hm," I thought it over. "Not weird enough. What about fish and cake?"

"Oh no," he sniggered. "Absolutely not. That's disgusting."

We laughed once again and the skies pinks melted into a purple and stars began to fill it. I watched him, the joy in his eyes staring back me, still disgusted but definitely amused. A grin formed on my lips and I turned away, was this what it was like making friends? I was always a tag along, I never did any work. Mari had always come to me, dragged me about to her friends and with enough whining I'd agreed.

I felt the boy nudge against me, getting my attention once more.

"Look," he said, pointing forward.

The sun setting before us and we'd caught it just as it was dipping out of site. It was beautiful the colours that faded into the night sky that now swirled with blacks and deep blues.

"We should get going," he rose quickly and held out his hand to me. I blushed but took his hand, my palm was hot against his smooth skin. I adjusted my thigh cream socks as he picked up our trash and we made our way inside the library once again, stopping to throw out our garbage.

"What dorm are you in?" He asked as we climbed down the spiral steps.

"I'm not sure of the number," I chuckled awkwardly. "But I know it's in Ellingsor Hall."

"Oh, I'm just across from there in Rayfell," he said. "Weird, I didn't know they were putting recruits there."

"They aren't," I admitted as we approached the front desk. "Just a weird mishap for me unfortunately."

He waited aside as I checked out my book and together we walked down the hall, headed to our own rooms.

"Well at least you're in an apartment." I nodded, he was right. "You've got privacy at least."

"Yeah, pretty different from home to be honest."

"How so?"

"Oh, my best friend," a smile came to my lips remembering Mari's bursts of energy in the mornings with her need to fill me in on any gossip. I swear she was the one who made me nosey. "We had our own rooms but that never stopped her from entering mine."

The boy groaned, "I know what that's like."

"You got some nosey roommates?" I smirked.

"Ha, no," the boy rolled his eyes playfully. "When you're nosey, you hide it. They'll just enter my room and demand to know all of my business."

"Oof," I caught myself sniggering. "That's the thing about rooming with friends. They feel less like your friends and more like annoying siblings."

He agreed, "wasn't always like that."

"You had a single apartment?" I questioned. "Is that a thing?"

"No," he clarified. "Well yes. I mean, yes you can have a single room but I never did. Back home I lived on my own."

"Ah, makes sense," I replied, an itching question in my throat. "So, don't want to get all in your business but where is home?"

"Tsktsk," that familiar half smile returned to his lips. "You're nosey too, huh? Should have known."

"Curious!" I insisted, clutching my book closer to my chest. "Nosey? Me? Never."

He let out a low chuckle before answering, "this small town, like a legitimate town literally called Twilight Town."

"Twilight Town?" A large grin spread across my face. "Oh my god, that's my hometown."

"For real?" He questioned. "I used to go there all the time to visit some friends after I left."

"Yeah," I replied sincerely. "I've lived there my whole life. Have you ever been to the Clocktower?"

"I practically lived there," he began to reminisce, his eyes getting that far away look again, this time far more elated. "Small world, huh?"

I nodded in agreement, "yeah, it is. I've never seen you there, when did you last visit?"

"A couple weeks ago actually," he admitted. "And to be fair, it's a pretty big small town."

I caught myself laughing uncomfortably, placing my hand before my smile. "Right, it is. Sorry, one of my roommates asked me about if I knew some people and all I could think was 'I never went around collecting names'."

He snorted, clearly taking enjoyment from my sarcasm. "I mean you could have, she doesn't know."

"You're right, that's what Twilight Town needs, an official name record keeper," we chuckled together. "I know she didn't mean any harm. She was just trying to make conversation with the new weird girl that lives down her hall."

"Weird girl?" He responded. "Is that what you recorded your name as in the record book?"

"Oh yes," I nodded, puffing out my chest and imitating some kind of authority. "And I've got you down as sadboy."

"Haha," he nudged my shoulder with a playful smile and I grinned towards him. This had been so nice, just talking, meeting someone who was so easy going. There'd been no pressure whatsoever.

"So weirdgirl," I caught him smirking, his ocean blue eyes studying me. "Is that your birth name?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"Actually," I caught myself staring back at those eyes, almost entranced by him as he spoke. "I would."

I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure but I couldn't help by stare at him, "my name is—"

"Roxas! Hikari?'"

We turned forward, down the hall to see Kairi, Xion, Riku and three others I didn't recognize. I peered closer and realized the tallest amongst them was the red-head from before. I focused my eyes on the boy beside Kairi, he had to be as tall as the blond beside me and looked eerily familiar to him, the only difference being his spiky brown hair and lightly tanned skin. He wore sneakers, navy jeans and a grey hoodie, his expression as confused as the rest. Who really knocked me off guard was the boy that stood next to him, a spitting image of the guy I'd spent my evening with but in a light denim pair of jeans, white shirt, and a deep green bomber jacket with a white pair of high top converse. He smiled casually but was also lost.

"H-hey," the blond with me muttered and began to approach them, I followed.

"What are you doing here?" Xion asked.

"You missed out on dinner," the redhead smirked and leaned against the wall beside him. "But it looks like you made other plans."

His face went red and mine burnt equally as bright, I couldn't take so many people staring at us like we'd done something suspicious.

"We just met actually," he replied, quickly regaining his composure.

"At the library," I added in a poor attempt to be helpful.

"Oh," Kairi glanced between the two of us. It felt as if she almost didn't believe us. "Well you guys should have come to dinner, even if it was on my dime."

"Don't make bets with Axel," the brunette boy grinned. "He's a cheat."

"I never cheat," the redhead exclaimed. "I just win."

"Did you guys at least get something to eat?" Xion asked. "If not, we've got leftovers."

I nodded, about to answer when the blonde beside me spoke.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I took her to the roof."

Instantly the faces of the group turned back into surprise and I turned to the boy but he wouldn't meet my eyes.

"The roof?" The other blond chimed in. "Oh."

"Yeah," his voice was almost a whisper but he cleared his throat. "So how's Namine?"

"She's good," Kairi answered, clearly uncomfortable. "All things considered."

He nodded absently and I was tempted to ask if he was alright due to the agitation I could see in his eyes but it didn't feel as if it was my place.

"Anyway," Kairi smiled once more, quick to bring up the mood. "Looks like you've met most our friends, Hikari."

"Oh," I shrugged with an unsure smile. "I guess."

"She's gotten ahead of herself." Xion giggled and gestured to each person as she named them. "Hikari, this is Sora, Axel, and Ventus."

My eyes searched between them, trying to memorize their faces, "hi."

"Just call me Ven," Ventus grinned, even his smile was just like the boy but far more joyful than the grouch I'd met. "We've heard a lot about you,"

"Yeah," Sora added. "Kairi said you're from Twilight Town, same as Roxas?"

I nodded and turned to the blond with a devilish smile, "same as Roxas."

"Don't look at me like that," he smirked. "Hikari, right? That's your name."

"Sure is sadboy," I muttered.

"Good to know weirdgirl," he responded with ease.

I rolled my eyes playfully as Riku spoke. "We should head to our rooms," he said. "Before the night guard catches us out here and we end up getting lectured."

"Right," Sora agreed.

Roxas and I awkwardly stood aside as the said their goodbyes. I looked at him once more and from the corner of his eye I could see him watching me. I blushed and quickly went to stand with Kairi and Xion.

"Have a goodnight guys," Ven waved.

"Goodnight," Kairi replied, Xion and I both waved as the others said their goodnights as they headed down the hall, all but Roxas. He walked backwards alongside them, his eyes on me with a challenging smile.

"Goodnight, Hikari."

I met him back with a grin of my own, "goodnight, Roxas."

We watched them until they left the hall, I couldn't keep my eyes of Roxas as he turned back to his friends. It was crazy to think we'd spent an evening together and I'd never even asked his name. We just had gotten so lost in conversation it had never occurred to me to ask. Still, he would always be sadboy in my eyes, the grump.

I heard our door unlock and followed Kairi and Xion in.

"When did you meet Roxas, Hikari?" I heard Xion ask as I was slipping off my boots.

"Just after you guys left actually," I answered. "I got tired of packing and went for a walk."

"That explains why he wasn't answering our texts," Kairi explained to Xion but she didn't look convinced, had I done something wrong?

Quickly I responded, "yeah, we kind of lost track of time. Anyway, I'm exhausted." I faked a yawn and slid my feet across the hardwood floor, almost running to my room. "Goodnight guys!"

I whipped the door open and shut it behind me. I even turned the lock on the knob and hopped into my bed. I really was tired but I was more afraid of anymore questions. I hadn't done anything wrong, just mad another a friend. I set Apocalypse down on my nightstand, I was way too tired to read tonight. Today had been eventful, I really was in a brand new world.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hello reader(s)!

Just wanted to pop-in and say I'm actually way ahead in terms of chapters for this story and was wondering if you'd like to see two weekly updates a week rather than one. Please leave a review or feel free to send me a private message with what you think.

Please Read, Review, Follow! All forms of criticism are welcome.