Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

"I don't want to be hurting you," Namine said softly, looking at Roxas for a brief moment before she looked down at her lap. She bit down on her tongue to stop herself from saying her next thought, but the words came out clearly anyway. "...I love you."

 

Roxas froze, his eyelids lifting in a flash, revealing wide blue eyes. The boy's heart skipped a beat at those three words as he swallowed again, his head lifting so he could look at the girl next to him. His fist tightened, but not in a bad way. Roxas stared at Namine, wide-eyed and speechless.

 

Namine's eyes were wide, but she quickly composed herself and met Roxas' equally-surprised gaze. She felt herself blush, her cheeks turning bright pink. I can't believe I just said that! "Maybe I shouldn't have said that...but..." But what? She didn't know...she was at a total loss of words at that moment.

 

Roxas didn't know what to do. Say it back? Yes, say it back, you idiot! But he was at a loss for words, the three Namine had spoken having made him speechless. He blinked as he stared at her, swallowing. She...she loved him?

 

Namine turned away. "Sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have said that. Maybe I should just go home." If Roxas didn't feel that way about her, then it wasn't right for her to impose her irrational feelings on him. She stood up, careful not to lose her balance.

 

Roxas opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. He needed to stop her; she couldn't leave. He would never let her go. Then do something, Roxas! Don't just sit there!

 

Namine turned her eyes and looked down at Roxas one last time before looking away, tears flooding her eyes. I feel like such an idiot...She took one step off the barrier, the girl fighting hard not to cry.

 

Roxas had caught the look in Namine's eyes, and the moisture. His heart beat once in agony, hating to be the cause of that. Do it! Do it now! his conscience encouraged, and Roxas began to push himself up, the boy struggling to catch his balance because he'd done it so fast. He whirled around, wide eyes on the blonde girl walking away from him. "No, wait!" he cried, reaching out and grabbing hold of Namine's wrist.

 

Namine stopped walking, Roxas' grip soft but firm. She turned to face him, her eyes not only moist, but also expressing confusion. What was going on here? Hadn't Roxas rejected her? But deep down inside, she knew he wouldn't do that. There was more going on here than she could understand.

 

Roxas's bright eyes landed on Namine's sky-blue and then everything suddenly came to a stop--the emotions stirring within him, the thoughts in his head, the action around him. None of it mattered anymore. Nothing mattered more than her. It'd always been like that, and would always be. "Namine..." Roxas started, but he wasn't sure what to say. Could he just come right out and say that he loved her? Like she had done?

 

Namine looked into Roxas' eyes and blinked a few times, clearing up any tears that may have surfaced. She was so confused at all this...she couldn't tell what Roxas was feeling based on his expression. So she'd have to wait and see what he said before she could understand what he was feeling.

 

Roxas kept his hold on Namine's wrist, looking down at the space between them. "I...I should know better than this," he started. "I've been so stupid lately. I kept telling myself that things were never going to be the same, when I really knew that deep down things weren't going to be different for us..." He shook his head, ashamed. "I can't believe I actually tried to convince myself that was true. It was a dumb move."

 

Namine stayed silent, still confused. Okay, so Roxas was saying he hadn't thought things could happen between them ever again. But did that mean that something could happen now? She was afraid to hope that was what he meant, but she couldn't help the feelings rising in her heart. She had meant what she had said, but what did Roxas really feel? Were they on the same page or not?

 

"I'm sorry for that," Roxas apologized softly, lowering his head. The guilt within him was rising. "And I'm sorry for how I acted just a few minutes ago. That wasn't right of me--you're the one who needs the most comfort right now, and I want to give it to you. But being like that...that was doing the opposite." Roxas glanced up at the girl underneath his thick eyelashes. "Thing is, when you said that you loved me... Those three words really convinced me that things were going to be okay, and that we would recover from this--all of it."

 

Namine looked up from the ground. "I'm glad I could help," she said softly, meaning it. She hadn't known Roxas was dealing with so much in his head, and now it was understandable why he had been silent a few minutes ago. She didn't know how she would have reacted if she were in his position, but she was sure it would have been something like that. There was a lot more she could have said in response to what Roxas had just said, but now she was a little...shocked. And she couldn't think of many things to say.

 

Roxas smiled slightly. "You see? You're so understanding...and polite, and you care so much for others. It's things like that that keep me having faith in you, Namine," he confessed. He then shook his head, smile fading as he looked at the ground. "I can't believe I lost it for a second, because I love you too, Nam. And when you love someone, you never lose faith in them. No matter what."

 

Namine felt heat rushing to her face, her cheeks turning pink in shyness. "You really like laying things on thick, don't you?" she said, laughing softly. Really, it wasn't a problem...that was just the only response she could come up with. Roxas didn't even know that the reason she had fled the cafe was because she was overwhelmed about how strongly he felt for her. But now...she could somehow take it better and handle it this time. She didn't know what had changed, but she was glad things were easier now.

 

Roxas looked up with surprised eyes at the comment, but didn't take offense to it. Instead, he laughed nervouly, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand. "Yeah, I guess so," he admitted sheepishly. "At least it got the point across, right?" He offered a smile, though it was small.

 

Namine smiled, a few laughs leaving her. "That you did," she said with a smile. "I'm glad." She was still blushing over some of the things he had said, and she couldn't wipe that stupid smile off her face, but she was alright with that.

 

Roxas's smile grew into one that was soft, warm. He kept his eyes on Namine for a moment, cobalt blue orbs on sky-blue. "Maybe I am laying it on a bit thick," he started, "but I'm telling you the truth...just like you wanted, remember?" He tilted his head a little, eyes still on her.