Chapter Text
“Welp, I’m calling it a day.”
Roxas whipped his head in Sora’s direction, watching as he slipped out of his apron and walked around the counter of various ice cream flavors.
It hadn’t been long since the two friends made it through the school year, with only one more year until graduation. But that was currently the last thing on Roxas’s mind. He just wanted to enjoy the summer as much as he could. To make the most of it before being stuck with the burden of deciding what to do for the rest of his life. At least that’s how dramatic his mother made it sound.
Which is partially how he ended up working a temporary job at an ice cream shop. Some bullshit about “character building” and “responsibility”. Thankfully his best friend was able to keep him sane throughout the day— sometimes, anyway. He would’ve rather been hanging at the beach or playing music to pass the time. But beggars can’t be choosers. And sure, Roxas liked ice cream. But with how much the work hours dragged on at times, he was sure he'd get sick of seeing his favorite dessert after a while.
At least it was just across the beach. Roxas could never get enough of the scenic view.
“Dude, it’s not even closing time yet,” Roxas pointed out, staring at the clock on the wall.
The spiky haired brunette spun on his heel with a big grin on his face.
“Heh, come on Roxas. A few minutes won’t hurt! Do you mind closing up?”
Roxas sighed and gave his friend a small crooked smile. Curse his contagious cheerfulness.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Awesome. See ya tomorrow!” Sora waved and rushed out the door.
The antique bell above the door echoed throughout the shop, leaving the room in complete silence, with only the clock ticking on the wall. Roxas sighed once more before grabbing a mop to clean the floors a bit before closing up.
It wasn’t long before he heard the bell above the door ringing again.
“We’re closed,” he informed.
“That’s not what the sign says.”
Roxas glanced up to see an unfamiliar face. A tall man with fiery red hair, tank top and all. Almost like he was ready to hit the beach. He caught a glimpse of a light blue Jeep parked outside on the curb before realizing the sign on the window was never flipped to read ‘closed’.
“Whatever,” he mumbled, walking over to the window. He noticed someone sitting in the passenger seat of the car as he flipped the sign.
“Well, I’m already here,” the man smirked, reaching up to take his shades off. “Mind if I bother you for a sec and order something?”
Yeah, I do mind, actually, Roxas mentally protested, nearly refusing to take an order but he didn’t want to drive any customers away, especially the new ones.
He placed the mop aside and made his way back around the counter, attempting to mask his frustration.
“Which flavor do you want?”
The tall man tapped his chin as he bent down slightly to view the different flavors displayed behind the glass. He tuts moments after.
“Out of strawberry, huh?”
Roxas nodded, impatiently tapping the counter as the man continued to browse. It should not be taking this long to settle on an ice cream flavor.
“What’s that sea salt flavor about?” asked the man, pointing to the tray filled with light blue ice cream.
Roxas wanted to make a snarky remark but he held himself back. Kind of.
“It’s obviously salty, as the name says," Roxas explained, “And sweet. It’s the town’s favorite.”
“Is that your favorite?”
Roxas was getting slightly annoyed with the small talk. He just wanted to close up and head home.
“Can you just pick a flavor already?” He urged.
The man looked up at Roxas and chuckled, whipping his wallet out. “Sheesh relax, kid. I’ll get out of your hair in a second. I’ll take two servings of the sea salt flavor.”
Roxas wasted no time and tossed a few scoops of the ice cream into two separate cups in exchange for munny. The man smiled and put his shades back on before taking the cups to leave the shop.
“See you around, buddy.”
“Yeah, right,” Roxas mumbled.
He stood around and watched as the man drove off. And from there, he decided to call it a day before anyone else showed up, despite already closing up. He wasn’t taking any chances.
There was nothing better than being met with the ocean breeze once Roxas stepped outside. If time allowed it, he would stay and watch the sunset, but it would still be a while before the sun made its way down. Maybe another day. Luckily he didn’t live too far from the shop. It was at least a ten minute walk to his house from there, and riding on his skateboard saved him a few minutes (not that it made much of a difference, but hey..).
Roxas eventually reached his block in the small neighborhood and he couldn’t help but notice the commotion up ahead the closer he approached his home. Boxes and bins. A storage truck. Some surfboards..? Yep, these must’ve been the new neighbors moving in.
But he had to do a double take. Was he seeing things? Or was that light blue Jeep parked in the driveway next door the same Jeep that was at the ice cream shop?
Roxas came to a stop and kicked his skateboard up, observing with curiosity as he made his way to the front door of his house. He caught a glimpse of what seemed to be the same red haired man that passed by the shop. The guy wasn’t kidding when he said “see you around”. Great.
However, he noticed someone else with red hair sitting on some bins, snacking on something. Ice cream, he assumed. This must’ve been the person sitting in the passenger seat. Some red headed girl. Roxas didn’t get a good look, only the back of her head and her crossed legs. Either way, he didn’t stare for long due to nearly tripping over a step while making his way to the door. Thankfully he saved himself from embarrassment.
Alright, that’s enough nosiness for now, Roxas thought as he made his way inside the house.
The evening hours were always the best times to relax and unwind. Roxas normally spent it playing some video games or listening to music, as well as playing some tunes on his guitar when he was feeling inspired. Which, according to his mother, were interests that were wasting his life away. Again, she was just being dramatic for no reason.
Either way, he wasn’t really up for those things tonight. A nap sounded like a nicer option.
At least, it would have been a nicer option had it not been for the ruckus next door.
Roxas stared up at the ceiling and sighed, standing up from his bed to peek outside the window.
It seemed like the tall man from the ice cream shop earlier that day was helping with moving some furniture around in one of the rooms. It wasn’t long before he finished up the job. At least Roxas hoped so. The sounds of the furniture being dragged around the floor wasn’t pleasant to hear.
Roxas was just about to step away from the window when he noticed the red headed girl appear in sight. He remained in place, finally getting a better look at her features and…
His heart did a weird flip.
He watched as she bopped her head and swayed her hips to whatever music she was listening to on her phone, all while unpacking stuff, he assumed. She eventually made her way to the window to hang some curtains, paying no mind to her tank top riding up slightly. Roxas couldn't resist letting his gaze trail down to her bare skin.
At that point, he was too distracted to realize she was now looking in his direction. He felt like a deer in the headlights, nearly stumbling back as he quickly tried to hide from her sight.
Great, now the new neighbors are gonna think I’m a creep, he thought while crouching on the floor.
He purposely let a few seconds pass to get back up when he suddenly heard a tap on the window. Followed by another tap. And another.
Roxas cautiously got up, preparing for the worst, only to flinch at the sight of something flying at his window. Were those… beaded bracelets? Was she throwing beaded bracelets at his window? Who does that?
He raised a brow and looked in her direction. The girl was now leaning out the window, getting ready to slingshot another bracelet towards him as he quickly lifted his window open.
“What are you—”
Twang!
Roxas dodged the bracelet flying towards him and looked at the girl with wide eyes. All he heard were giggles on her end as if she didn’t just try to hit him with a plastic accessory. It could have been worse, he supposed.
“What’s up with… whatever that was?” asked Roxas, swinging his arm around for emphasis.
The redhead stared at him intently, almost as if she was checking him out. The thought made Roxas’s cheeks burn.
“Just trying to get your attention,” she smiled smugly.
“By attempting to break my window?”
The snarky question slipped out of his mouth, but she shrugged it off.
“Please, these could barely leave a scratch.”
Roxas studied her for a moment in the dim lighting as he slightly leaned over the windowsill, feeling the cool summer breeze hit his face.
“Weird way to greet your new neighbor,” he chuckled.
“Well, it’s a start,” the girl smiled, bringing her hands under her chin while leaning on her windowsill. She peered at him for a while again before speaking up. “I’m Kairi, by the way.”
Roxas felt that weird feeling in his chest once more before returning her smile, “I’m Roxas. Welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Thanks,” the redhead gave him a friendly smile as she stepped back inside the room.
Roxas didn’t want to say goodbye just yet.
“I-I can show you around sometime, if you’re interested.”
Kairi stood around in thought, seeming as if she was considering his offer.
“Sure, sounds like fun… Anyway, I want those bracelets back if you don’t mind.”
Kairi abruptly ended the conversation by closing her window, not even giving Roxas a chance to respond. She shot a glance at him one more time with a playful smirk before waving goodbye and pulling the curtains shut.
Roxas stood there dumbstruck. He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or throw a fit at whatever game this new girl was playing with him.
“Alright..? Cool. I see how it is,” he chuckled to himself, finally closing his window. Roxas turned on his heel, bending down to pick up one of the bracelets she tossed over. He held the bright neon colored accessory in his hand, looking at it longer than he should have.
She was pretty. That much he knew.
And she lived right next door.
This summer should be interesting, he thought.