I'll Be There (KH/FF fanfic)

Chapter 8: Girls' night

Chapter 8:

A loud knock on the door caused you to wake up abruptly. You rubbed your eyes and Reno burst through the door.

"RENO!!" you yelled. "You can't just knock once and open the door without me saying it's okay!"

Reno raised a red eyebrow and glanced down at your pajamas. You realized with horror that you had only put on cheer shorts and a sports bra when you slipped off your dress the night before. Narrowing your eyes at Reno, you screamed: "TIFA!"

In less than a second, Tifa had Reno by the ear and was dragging him down the hall. "Jeez, Tifa! How was I supposed to know she would be in her pajamas! Hey! I'm gonna look like Dumbo the elephant if you keep doing this to me, yo!" Reno protested.

You sat down on the edge of your bed and reminded yourself to thank Tifa later. She was like the older sister you never had. Suddenly, Leon had stepped into your room. Why hadn't you shut the door? His face turned bright red and he began to stutter. "Uh...I, uh...sorry!" he said as you looked back at him in utter embarrassment. "I'll just, uh, go now..." he finished, closing the door behind him. Well, this was an awkward start to the day.

You quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a dolman tee with a panda on the front and slipped into Chuck Taylors before running downstairs for breakfast. The smell of bacon and French toast wafted through the air. Leon was in the kitchen, cooking. You had no idea he could cook! It just didn't seem like his thing.

"Hey," you greeted him.

"Hey..." he responded, his cheeks still a bit pink. "Sorry about this morning."

"It's fine," you said genuinely. "Just don't act all awkward around me because of it, mkay?"

Leon grinned. "Alright, I won't."

"Want some help with breakfast?" you offered.

He shrugged. "Why not?"

Ten minutes later you had completely burned a skillet full of eggs and it was currently on fire. You screamed and finally, with Leon's help, put it out. "Maybe you should work on the French toast instead," Leon said, wiping his brow. You nodded, you could do that. Eggs just weren't very friendly with you.

"Great French toast," Cloud praised you as he stuffed another bite in his mouth.

"Thanks, Cloud," you beamed. He didn't have to know that you had destroyed his skillet while cooking eggs.

When everyone had finished eating breakfast, you got a call from Kairi, who had become a close friend of yours (although Yuffie, Rikku, Yuna, and Paine were still your best friends).

"Hey, _____! So I'm having a girls' night at my house and I really want you to come. Yuna, Rikku, Namine, Yuffie, Xion, and Olette are coming too. You dig?" she asked.

"Sure," you said. "Like a sleepover?"

"Kinda," Kairi said. "Be there by 5 PM, okay?"

"Can do! See ya then, Kairi," you responded.

"Bye, _____!" said Kairi.

At 4:30 You packed your jean bag with DVDs, nail polish, a pair of pajamas, some summer clothes, and your swimsuit (Kairi had a pool at her house), left a note for Cloud telling him where you were (he always woried about you), and rushed out the door. Since Kairi lived so close to RANGER headquarters, walking there would be a breeze. The weather was perfect. A few clouds decorated the azure sky and the wind gently tousled your hair. You could smell the sweet scent of jasmine flowers. When you arrived, Kairi greeted you outside of her home with a hug.

"Your house is so BIG!" you exclaimed.

"I know, right?" she reponded. You threw her a look.

"Kidding!" she laughed, putting her hands up. "We're watching Mean Girls and that line got stuck in my head. But you gotta admit, that was the perfect time to use it." You laughed and nodded.

"The other girls are inside. Come on!" she said.

You followed her inside and passed by Axel's room. It sounded like he was practicing a song on his guitar, but you couldn't figure out what song it was. You had forgotten that he lived with Kairi's family, since his parents were always on some business trip. You finally sat down on the floor of the theater room and leaned back on a modern-looking bean bag chair. Rikku was cracking up about something Regina George had said and Namine was staring at the TV, eating popcorn out of a glass bowl.

"Hey, _____," Yuna said, giving you a smile. Xion and Olette gave you small waves and Yuffie wrapped you in a bear hug.

"Can't. Breathe," you gasped.

When the movie was over, all of the girls decided to play truth or dare.

"Okay, Nam. Truth or dare?" Kairi challenged, wiggling her eyebrows.

Namine placed a finger on her chin and looked up at the ceiling in mock cogitation. "Hm...truth!" She finished.

"You always pick truth!" Olette giggled.

Namine shrugged. "The last time Rikku picked dare, Yuffie dared her to drink toilet water."

"Ewww!" Olette said.

"Did she do it?" you inquired.

"She sure did!" Kairi laughed.

"I bleached it, like, ten times. And I used disinfectant!" Rikku whined. "It was still gross!"

"Okay, Namine! Have you ever snuck out of the house?"

"Yeah," Namine said casually. "Once to come here for one of your crazy sleepovers and once to see the fireworks with Roxas."

"Nam!" Xion gasped. "You of all people!" Everyone chuckled and you and Yuna added an 'Aww!'.

"Yuffie!" Yuna announced. "Truth or dare!"

"Psh! Dare! What else would I pick?" Yuffie responded.

"I dare you to eat dog food." Yuna grinned.

Yuffie made a face but reluctantly ate a spoonful of dry dog food. "That," Yuffie said. "Was disgusting! Kairi, do you have any ice cream?"

"Cookie dough. In the freezer," Kairi said.

"Score!" Yuffie shouted, pumping her fist in the air and grabbing the carton before sitting back down.

"Your turn, _______!" Rikku sang. "Truth or dare?"

"I'm gonna avoid whatever crazy dare you have planned for me," you said. "No toilets, no dog food. Truth."

"Is it true that you and Leon are dating?"

"Wha?! NO!" you shouted as your face turned pink.

"Told you she liked him!" Yuffie laughed.

"Sorry, _____. But everyone thinks you two would make a great couple!" Olette agreed.

"You guys!" you laughed.

"Hush, girl! Don't deny it!" Kairi said, turning on her stereo. "Let's dance!"

After all of you had gotten 'candy wasted', eaten copious amounts af popcorn and cookie dough ice cream, sang and danced your hearts out, and leaped on Kairi's trampoline, you decided to crash.

"______?" Namine whispered as everyone else slept.

"What's up, Nam?" you said quietly.

"He likes you too," she said.

"How did you..." you began

"He told me. Everyone assumes that because I'm kind of quiet, I can keep a secret," she giggled.

You smiled back at her.

"By the way, the guys are coming over tomorrow. Kairi's having a pool party," she added.

"Cool!" you commented.

Namine yawned. "Well, goodnight, ______. See ya in the morning."

"Night," you said. You looked up at the ceiling, pondering over Namine's words. He liked you too? Leon liked you too? You hoped Namine was right.