Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

"Sweetie, nobody should have to be alone at Christmas. Let me come and see how you're really doing," Aunt Sue said over the phone.

"It's fine," Namine insisted, setting her key on a table in the entrance hall. "I'm used to being alone." With her parents always away on business trips, she really was used to having a home to herself. Besides, she didn't want her aunt prying into her life, because as soon as she did, she would see Namine wasn't as fine as she was saying she was. Over the phone, the lies may have sounded convincing, but if anybody heard her in person, they would probably know the truth.

 

Roxas's loose fists fell apart at the words he was hearing, the boy suddenly becoming very sad at the tone of voice Namine had. He hadn't meant for this to happen, or to be gone so long, but it did. There was nothing he could do to change that. He took one step toward the entryway, but stopped. What could Roxas possibly say to her?

 

"Are you sure? I could be there in a few hours," Aunt Sue said. She lived at the other side of the state, but she could leave right away and drive and get there by midnight.

"I'm sure," Namine assured her. "It's fine." This time, she said the words more to convince herself than her aunt. "But anyway, I have to go," she said, feeling the drenched clothes she wore become heavier. "I just got in from a heavy rain storm, I'm soaked." She a small laugh left her lips, the girl trying to get out of the serious conversation.

"Alright dear, call me if you need anything. Love you."

"Love you too, Aunt Sue," Namine said, a weak smile appearing on her lips. "Bye." She pulled the phone away from her ear and flipped it shut, a sigh leaving her lips as soon as she hung up. That was a very unpleasant conversation, but at least she got her aunt off her back. Sue probably did care, but Namine couldn't face her right now, since she was so pressuring.

 

No, it didn't matter right now. Roxas just had to see her, that was what he cared about most. He heard her, but he didn't see her. He had missed her, despite the changes that had occurred. Roxas started toward the doorway leading to the entrance hall, aware that Namine was there. His heart continued to pound in his chest, his blue eyes bright as he kept his gaze on the part of the hall he could see.

 

Namine set down her phone, the girl shivering at the coldness of the water that covered her. She wore jeans and a black coat with large buttons on the front, and though it was a thick coat, it still felt like the rain had gotten through. I gotta get changed, she realized blankly, shivering as she looked down at the floor.

 

Roxas brought a hand up to the wall as he reached it. He took a step out and then stopped, freezing at the sight of her. It had only been two months, but it felt like forever since he had laid his bright blue eyes on her. "Namine."

 

Namine spun around, her back having been toward the doorway. Her eyes widened at the person that stood there, and for a moment, she thought that her heart may have stopped. But before she could dwell on that, she found herself running forward, wrapping her arms around Roxas immediately. "Roxas," she whispered, arms already wrapped tightly around him in an embrace.

 

Roxas's arms immediately wrapped around Namine, the boy forgetting how wet and cold she was from the rain. He hugged her tightly, closing his eyes as he felt her in his arms. He was with her again, and he had to keep telling himself that because it felt so much like a dream. But it wasn't. This was real.

 

Namine leaned her head against his shoulder, then feeling the coolness of her hair pressed against her cheek. I'm getting him all wet, she realized. The knowledge of her hastiness made her withdraw a little bit, trying to keep Roxas from getting any more wet. "Sorry," she blushed as she looked up at him, embarrassed that she had just gotten him pretty wet.

 

Roxas shook his head as he looked down at the person he loved most in the world, his blue eyes bright at just the sight of her. He wasn't sure what to say, speechless by the moment. All he could do was just keep his arms wound around her, afraid that she would be gone if he didn't. It'd been too long since he'd seen her last.

 

A soft laugh left Namine's lips at the look in Roxas' eyes. He obviously didn't care that he was getting all wet. She smiled and pulled herself closer to him again, shutting her eyes in contentment.

 

Roxas brought one of his hands up to cup the back of Namine's head as he closed his eyes, feeling her wet hair against his cheek. "Gosh, I missed you," he finally managed to speak, his tone of voice showing how much he truly meant what he said. Two months was too long, the fact that he was able to see Namine being one of the good things about him coming back.

 

Namine felt tears hover behind her closed eyelids, the girl having imagined Roxas saying those words a hundred times. She had imagined him coming back many times, but this time, it was real. Despite the timing of it, she couldn't have been happier to see him. "I missed you too," she said, subconsciously tightening her embrace around him.

 

Roxas smiled to himself slightly, running his hand over Namine's long blonde hair once before stopping. He kept his other arm wound around her back, squeezing her gently as he held her.

 

Namine exhaled a breath, turning her head to the side as she allowed her cheek to rest on Roxas' shoulder. Being in his arms felt the same as it always had--the same warmth, the same gentleness, the same love. Gosh, I missed you, she thought again, keeping the words to herself since she had just spoken them less than a minute ago.

 

Roxas's smile faded slightly after a few minutes and he opened his eyes to see drops fall from the tips of Namine's hair. He rubbed her back before turning his head toward her. "Why don't you go dry off?" he said with a small smile of amusement. She seemed to have forgotten all about it after mentioning it, but he had kind of caused that.

 

Namine brought her head off Roxas' shoulder, catching the hint of amusement in his voice. She smiled sheepishly, feeling the cool drops of water go down her neck and under her shirt. "I will," she said, gently starting to puller herself away from Roxas. "Just don't go anyway, okay?" After everything, she felt the need to say that; she didn't want him going anywhere again unless he took her with him.

 

Roxas shook his head with a soft smile. "I'm not leaving," he promised. He squeezed one of her shoulders before letting his hand fall to his side. She was pretty soaked. Hopefully she doesn't get sick, he thought briefly, staring at her with bright eyes.

 

Namine smiled widely at the words, glad to hear them. She lifted one hand and lightly set it on Roxas' shoulder as she leaned up, giving him a light peck on the cheek before she returned to her previous position. "Be right back," she promised, a soft smile on her lips. She gently took her hand off his shoulder and walked past him into the living room, wrapping her arms around her waist as she became aware of just how cold she was.

 

Roxas felt his cheeks warm slightly as he trailed her with his eyes. When was the last time he actually blushed around Namine? It had to be a long time, because he couldn't even remember doing it before he left.