apply your standard disclaimers yo.
((contest entry)) preKH1

Selphie hated Kairi—behind all the FAKE smiles and the FAKE laughter Selphie hated her, because BEFORE Kairi; a time nobody seemed to r e m e m b e r. Selphie had the boys at her feet; they were all her best FRIENDS. Wakka and Tidus—they used to be willing to do ANYTHING for her, but then Kairi came along and took it all away. Kairi was PRETTY and Kairi was NEW, they knew Selphie inside and out, so where was the fun in that? They left her to check out the new girl, leaving Selphie all alone, curiosity had conquered friendship; and Selphie hated her for it. Sure, they came back and Selphie forgave them, but she didn't FORGET about it; she held it against Kairi forever—she hated her. She just never got around to expressing this hatred, because Wakka, Tidus, Sora and Riku; they all loved Kairi and expressing her hatred would leave her all a l o n e again.

So Selphie grinned and she bore it.

As good as company Kairi was, because she couldn't talk to Wakka and Tidus about Wakka and Tidus, she kept her hatred boiling. It fueled everything until one day, when she much older, felt she had a strong enough friendship with Tidus and Wakka. They were having a sleep party at Selphie's and Kairi had asked something about the island. All the hatred Selphie had exploded on Kairi, Selphie had picture it so many times all ended with the auburn girl crying; never had she had expected her reaction. Kairi had laughed and laughed, grabbing her sides, rolling with laughter. Selphie had thought maybe all her hatred had caused the girl to go insane, it would explain her behavior.

"You're jealous of me?" Kairi asked, skeptical, at twelve her voice was a sweet as honey—even in skepticism. She replied with a cold yes, because it hurt to have her words LAUGHED at, especially by her. Besides it wasn't jealousy it was hatred, totally two different things, who was she to laugh? She felt it coming, the 'what a loser speech' she gritted her teeth; cursing her intake of coke.

"I'm sorry I laughed," she admitted, clasping her hands behind her head; a habit she had picked up from Sora. "It's just I've always admired you, and it's funny."

Admired? What was the girl on?

"Why!" Selphie demanded, looking at her accusingly; waiting for the pun. "Why would a girl like you, admire a girl like me?" Kairi princess of the world, Selphie the girl wishing she was her. WHY indeed. Kairi smiled, grabbing Selphie's hands pulling her into a warm embrace. She hadn't realized she was crying, now aware of the tears flowing down her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, surprising Selphie with her kind words. She didn't answer Selphie's question, and Selphie didn't care—she just closed her eyes.

It was the start of a REAL beautiful friendship and the end of jealous Selphie.

--fin