Hello everybody! Oh wow...What is this, my SECOND story since I officially declared that I was done with fanfiction? Well, I've been gone for a long time, but now I am back! This story is going to be a fairly short one. Basically, we're nearing the end of the hockey season, and I've found that I've grown quite obsessed with hockey (college hockey, that is. ;) and I just had to do something to keep myself sane, so here is this story! I can't promise that I'll finish it, but I'll try. And if I do finish it, maybe I'll tell you the importance of the number 37! But until then, you'll just have to read! I hope you enjoy this story!
Chapter 1: The Unwanted Date
"I told Baralai that he could take you to the blitzball game."
Yuna swallowed, and then looked up at her father. He hadn't moved from his spot, and he wasn't even looking at her. He was instead looking at the newspaper that was in his hands.
"What?" Yuna questioned, "You hate blitzball. Besides…What blitzball game?"
"The one over at the college," Braska said, "The University of Bevelle Basilisks, or whatever they're called."
Yuna leaned back in her chair, and sighed, and said, "…But Baralai and I have nothing in common."
It was true. Baralai was her father's co-worker's son, and already said to be a definite future Maester of Spira. Not that Yuna had any care in future Maesters, but being that her father was a current Maester, it seemed like a natural hook-up.
"Baralai asked for my permission to take you to the game," Braska continued, "Apparently the team is very good."
"But you hate blitzball," Yuna said again.
"True," Braska said, "But it would be good for you to get out."
"But Baralai and I—," she was going to say that Baralai and her had nothing in common once more, but her father cut her off.
"Baralai's father has a special box. The two of them usually go together, but his father will be out of town. So Baralai asked if you would be interested in going, and I told him that I thought you would love that."
Yuna sighed. It was true. She would love to go to the blitzball game, especially since her father had told her that she was never to go to a 'filthy blitzball game'.
"It's tomorrow night," her father continued, "At seven. I hope you had no other plans."
She didn't. Yuna was a student at St. Maechan's School, a little all-girls private school located on the very southern edge of Bevelle, which was just south of Bevelle's political hub, and only seconds away from the temple of Yevon. St. Maechan's was by far the most prestigious school in all of Spira, where everybody was guaranteed to be someone when they came out of it.
To Yuna though, it was horridly boring. She was a sophomore, and found she had no friends at her school. She had started out by living in the dorms, but simply couldn't take the girls that went to that school. So, she had returned home her sophomore year to live there, and drove to school every day for classes. It was more peaceful that way, and allowed her to visit friends from high school.
However, it also allowed her father to keep a better eye on her. Even so, St. Maechan's was far more strict than her father could ever be.
Yuna excused herself from the table and went to her room, where she immediately shut the door, threw herself on her bed, and picked up her phone.
"Well Rikku, he did it again," Yuna said as soon as she heard her cousin's "Hello?"
"Another date?" Rikku said, laughing, "Where is it at this time?"
"A blitzball game," Yuna said, "Which is actually kind of exciting."
"A blitzball game?" Rikku questioned, "You mean a Basilisks game? Tomorrow? Yunie, I'll be there too!"
Rikku went to the University of Bevelle. Mostly all college-aged students except for the select few that went to St. Maechans' and St. Zaon—which was the boy version of St. Maechan's, and where Baralai went—attended school at the University of Bevelle. It was one of the largest public schools in all of Spira.
"These games are so amazing," Rikku chirped, "Like, there's never a dull moment! Last week, the cheerleaders did this ten minute long half-time dance, and these drunk guys broke into the sphere and security had to pull them back. I was laughing so hard! And, I totally know someone on the team!"
"You know someone on the team?" Yuna asked, "Are they just college guys?"
"Yeah, just college guys," Rikku said, "But they're really good. This one guy is so good that he's going to be drafted onto a professional team next year. They would take him now, but you have to be at least twenty, and he's only nineteen. Anyway though, I know this guy named Gippal. He's the only Al Bhed on the team. I met him in one of my classes."
"Will there be a lot of students?" Yuna asked.
"Yeah, it's always sold out," Rikku explained, "But there are a lot of other people that go there."
"I guess Baralai has really good seats."
"He does!" Rikku said loudly, "I've seen him before. He has a private box and everything! The best seats in the house by far!"
"Well, I guess at least the game will be exciting," Yuna said, rolling her eyes, "Far more exciting than the time my father sent us off to the zoo."
"Seriously, what's his deal?" Rikku questioned, although she knew the answer, "Baralai and you are as different as night and day."
Yuna let out a sigh and said, "Yeah, but since when do I have any control over my life?"
"Ooh, feeling rebellious Yunie?" Rikku asked and giggled, "Ditch Baralai and come sit with the students! We're more fun!"
"Yeah, but chances are the game will be televised," Yuna said with a yawn, "So I'd better just stay with Baralai. I'll just have to try to pay more attention to the game than to him."
"Yeah!" Rikku said, "Maybe you can say you have to pee and come visit me!"
"Yeah, I'll have to," Yuna said, "Anyway, I better let you go before my dad comes and tells me to get off of the phone."
"Right," Rikku said, "I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Yup!" Rikku said, "See ya Yunie!"
With a click, Rikku hung up, and Yuna swiftly followed suit.
Then, she laid back against the pillows of her bed and closed her eyes. The next night was going to be a long one.
-
Yuna stepped into the cold air, just as Baralai pulled up. She had been waiting for him forever, it seemed, as her father had told her to prepare for his arrival far in advance. Yuna rolled her eyes, wondering if Baralai felt as she did. Really, she wanted to ask him. She wanted to say, "So, what do you think of our parents always trying to force us to be together?" Of course, she couldn't.
He jumped out of his car—the gentleman that he was—and went to open to door for her. This simply annoyed her though. Why did he try so hard? Was he willing to give into his parents' wishes and marry her?
"Thanks," Yuna just said, attempting to be polite, and she took her seat in his car. It was nice, actually, being in his car, for it was quite chilly outside. It had snowed just the day before, and Yuna was happy to find any warmth she could.
It was awkward, however, for neither of the two knew what to say to the other. This was their fourth—no, fifth—'date'. And besides their dates, there were plenty of family dinners together and whatnot. This had been going on since Yuna was seventeen, and she was now nineteen. Baralai was twenty, and junior at St. Zaon, majoring in some sort of Yevon Studies with a minor in some sort of political science.
"So, do you like blitzball?" Baralai asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes," Yuna replied, "But I don't watch it very often."
"Ah, you're missing out," Baralai said, "The college team here is really quite good. A talented bunch, really. They've been unbeaten now for the last eight games."
"Sounds cool," Yuna said, looking out the window.
"We're playing our rivals tonight, so it should be a good game," Baralai said, "You know, my father has the best seats in the house."
"That's nice," Yuna said, tired of the small chat, but unable to stop it, "Who are we playing?"
"Luca University," Baralai said, "It's going to be a really good game. They've been unbeaten now for some time too, so no one wants to win. But our record's better, so we should be able to take them down."
Silence followed once more, and the two rode in silence, not saying anything to the other.
They finally arrived at the University of Bevelle Arena, a place Yuna realized she had never been to before.
"Wow, it's huge!" Yuna said, as they stepped out of Baralai's car. Unlike the college students, Baralai had a special parking place, right next to the arena.
Baralai nodded, and said, "When my grandfather died, he donated a lot of money to it. There's even marble floors in the bathroom!"
"That's pretty impressive, for a blitzball arena," Yuna said, as she stepped back into the cold winter air.
Baralai blushed then, and said, "You look very nice, Yuna."
Yuna wanted to scoff at him. She hadn't done anything special. She just had on her long red coat and jeans. Her hair was just down, and her makeup simple. Why did he try so hard?
"Thanks," she just said, and attempted to walk ahead of him, even though she had no idea where she was going.
"This way, Yuna," Baralai said. They walked into the arena then. Yuna's eyes lit up as they entered. The place was indeed huge, and they weren't even to the actual part of the stadium.
University students were all around, clad head-to-toe in Basilisk gear, screaming at the top of their lungs.
"It's going to be a sold-out game," Baralai said, "The stands will be packed."
Baralai then led Yuna into an elevator, where they rode to the second floor. From there security stopped them, but then of course let them through, and to Baralai's box they went.
"Wow, this is incredible!" Yuna said, and she went straight to the window, "I can't believe how huge it is!"
"It can seat twenty thousand people," Baralai explained, "And it has seated that many people many times. These games are very popular, as I'm sure you know. I can't believe you've never been here before."
Yuna sighed, and said, "My father hates blitzball. He never said why, but he does. So he never lets me watch it."
"That's terrible," Baralai said, "It's a great sport. Plus, all of his colleagues love it. I wonder why he hates it so?"
Yuna took a seat as close the window as she could, and Baralai too, right next to her, much to her dismay.
Yuna simply focused her attention outside the window toward the sphere pool.
It wasn't that she didn't like Baralai. He was a nice enough guy and all, and he wasn't ugly or anything. It was more that she was tired of being forced into dates with him. Her first date with him, the day after her seventeenth birthday, had been a trip to the zoo that had ended in disaster.
Basically, Baralai thought it would be fun to go into the monkey house, only to have the monkeys attack them. Yuna arrived home covered in monkey pooh and very upset. Even after a long soak in the bathtub she had been unable to get the smell out of her nose. Somehow, Baralai thought it had been a good date.
Suddenly, the crowd began to scream and cheer and jump up and down. The lights went out then, and a platform above the pool became apparent. Out came cheerleaders, who began a dance. Laser lights went every which way, shining into the faces of the screaming fans.
"And now," an announcer's voice boomed, "Welcome your U of B Basilisks!"
The crowd went even wilder, and out swam the team, seemingly glowing in the dark water beneath them.
Yuna leaned out the winder, staring at the players as they swam quickly by. Rikku and Baralai were both right—she did have the best seats in the house by far.
The crowd continued to go wild for a good five minutes, as the blitzers continued to swim around. Yuna figured the players would be tired out before they even got the chance to start playing.
All of them were wearing uniforms with numbers and names on the back, and the team had a good thirty-some members.
The other team came out then, which caused the crowd to begin booing. Yuna found herself looking not at the pool, but instead in the stands, wondering where Rikku was. Of course, it was impossible to sort through twenty thousand people.
The game then began, with the Basilisks getting a hold of the ball first.
"Isn't this incredible?" Baralai asked, leaning forward along with Yuna, "And when the Basilisks score, fireworks go off. I've traveled to a lot of the away games, and none of the arenas are as nice as this one."
"It is rather nice," Yuna admitted, and then she bit her lip nervously, and said, "Do you mind if I go and try to find my cousin, Rikku?"
"Your cousin?" Baralai asked, "But you'll miss the game!"
"I know," Yuna said, "But it's been a long time since I saw her."
"The Al Bhed?" Baralai asked, "You know, our team only has one Al Bhed on it…"
"I know, Rikku knows him," Yuna said, "What was his name…Gippal or something like that?"
"Yeah," Baralai said, nodding toward the sphere, "He's a defender, number twenty-four, right there."
Yuna looked out the window, just in time to see number twenty-four slam a guy hard and take control of the ball.
"He's crazily aggressive," Baralai explained, "He's a fun guy to watch."
Yuna looked at Baralai, who was intensely watching the game. Was he trying to keep her from leaving him?
"That's really nice," Yuna said, "Um, I'm going to go look for Rikku now…"
She stood up, and started toward the door, when Baralai said, "Wait, Yuna!"
She turned around and noticed he was standing, watching her perhaps more intently than he had just been watching the game.
"Yes?" Yuna asked him.
"Yuna, I know you don't want to be here with me," Baralai said, "I understand that. But I…I really want to be here with you. Even against what my father or what your father say. I…I really like you, Yuna."
Yuna didn't know how to react to the words that had just come out of his mouth. He was acting incredibly sheepish, blushing a deep crimson color, but she had to give him credit: the guy had guts.
Yuna let out yet another sigh, and said, "Baralai, I…I just…" The truth was, she had no idea what to say.
"Just give me a chance," Baralai said, and then, as if remembering their previous dates, added, "Just give me another chance. I really want to prove myself to you, Yuna."
Yuna bit her lip in thought, and said, "I'm just so tired of my father setting up dates with you. Or your father setting up dates, or whatever."
"They didn't set it up this time," Baralai said, "It was my idea to take you to the game. Believe me, if your father hates blitzball as much as you say he does, he probably wouldn't have allowed me to take you, even if it was a set up."
"Well, I…" Yuna trailed. This was far more awkward than any other time.
Suddenly, the crowd below them began to scream wildly, and the noise of fireworks began to go off and music began to play loudly.
"They must have scored!" Baralai said, and he rushed the window, "Yup, looks like we got a goal. I wonder who scored?"
Yuna couldn't help but go back to the window, where she saw the crowd dancing along with the cheerleaders, and the blitzers swam wildly in circles, while the other team scowled.
"And tonight," the announcer's voice then boomed, after he shouted about the goal, "is the night we give away the jersey you've all been waiting for…NUMBER THIRTY-SEVEN!"
With that, the crowd began to make even more noise than they had when the team scored. Yuna noticed that it was mostly the sound of girls shrieking.
"Number thirty-seven?" Yuna asked, "What's so special about that? The crowd wants that more than the goal!"
"Oh, that's the jersey of the star player," Baralai said, "You see, every night, they randomly draw a seat number and that person gets the jersey. Tonight is the last night, and they're giving away number thirty-seven. Most of the girls think that guy's really good looking, so they want the jersey."
"How good is he?" Yuna asked, trying to spot that number.
"He's definitely the best in the league," Baralai said, "He's already signed with the best team in Spira, and next year, he'll be gone. He'd be gone now, but he's too young. He'll be the first twenty-year-old to go straight to the pros."
"So I suppose there probably is a lot of hype about that jersey then, huh?"
"Yeah, and he himself will present it to the winner, and autograph it. It's a big deal. Everybody here wants to get their hands on it."
"Even you?"
"Nah, I don't need that thing," Baralai said, "If I won it, I would just sell my ticket to some crazy fan who wants a one-night stand with that player or something. Because that's the kind of thing that guy does. He's bad news."
Yuna didn't say anything. She just laid her head in her hands and watched the game, wondering what she was going to do.
Soon, the first half was over, with the score still being one to nothing, in favor of the Basilisks.
"Things are going to start getting ugly," Baralai explained, "Luca is known for its cheating. They'll start punching and whatnot."
"I see," Yuna said, "It's halftime—why aren't people going to get a snack or something?"
No one had left their seats, and they were all murmuring about something or other.
"Oh, this is when they announce the winner of the jersey," Baralai explained, "They should be announcing it at any time now."
At that, the announcer's voice once again boomed over the arena, as he yelled, "Who's ready?"
The crowd went wild, jumping up and down.
"And the winner is…" the announcer boomed, "Seat 42B!"
The crowd went wild once more, looking every which way, as if trying to spot the winner.
"That can't be," Baralai said, softly.
"What do you mean?" Yuna asked, "Who is it?"
"Look at your ticket," Baralai said, "It's you."
Yuna looked at him as if he were crazy, and then went to her coat, where she had stuck her ticket stub. Sure enough, in large bold print, was "42B".