Walking Cold

Rated: T
Summary: "You know that girl in high school who wears a lot of leather and hangs out with the guys? Well she's not as bad as she seems. She's actually really sweet and kind and… she forgot her wallet in the jacket she lent me. Hope she likes to walk." - Yuna, AU
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Rights go to their respective owners.

Chapter 1 - Walking In the Cold - Redone

"Hey, Yuna, wait up! I have to tell you something," Rikku yelled to her cousin as they were leaving school. Rikku always had something to tell her as they were living. It just became habit to wait for Rikku as they walked home.

"What is it this time, Rikku. Did Lulu give you another detention for talking in class," Yuna joked. Rikku never really learned how to keep her mouth shut.

"No," Rikku shouted in defense, successfully making Yuna giggle.

"What is it," Yuna asked as she walked to the bus stop and bought their tickets.

"You know that girl Paine," Rikku asked as they got on the bus and found their seats, "Silver-hair, hangs out with boys a lot, lots of leather and metal and things?" Yuna nodded slowly. Her heart beat unusually fast for some reason and palms perspiring like two broken facets. "Well I think she's a lesbian, or at least bisexual."

"And, uh.. How.. How do you know that, Rikku," Yuna stuttered as she flexed her fingers a bit. Rikku always liked to talk about things that made Yuna uncomfortable. Last week it was how she found out Lulu and Wakka, the blitzball/gym couch, were "doing something they shouldn't be" during school hours.

Rikku leaned in closer to Yuna as she spoke, "I saw her kissing this girl in a corner of a bedroom, Friday night." Rikku pulled away beaming as she dropped this nugget of information in Yuna's lap.

Yuna cleared her throat in an attempt to calm down before addressing her cousin, "Where?"

Immediately Rikku's body language changed from "confident and proud" to "oh, shit; hell no". Shifting in her seat she looked around as she stuttered, "Ummmmmmm….. No where specific. It's not really important, I mean, does location really matter when you find two girls kissing." Rikku chuckled and rubbed the back of her head, smiling.

"Where. Did. You. See. Her," Yuna asked, voice lowered slightly, eyes glaring at Rikku. Rikku had never heard her talk like "that" before. She could only assume that Yuna was not going to let her leave this bus unless she told her where she saw Paine. Rikku sighed and turned to Yuna.

"You have to promise you won't tell dad or Brother. If dad finds out, I'm dead and Yevon knows Brother can't keep a secret," Rikku said to Yuna.

"Where did you see her," Yuna snapped, eye wide open, and her hands gripping her books tightly.

"A party at 24th and Oak," Rikku said startled by Yuna's raging outburst. She settled in her seat before pulling the string to get off the bus. Rikku looked back at Yuna, slightly worried about her cousin and best friend's current condition. Yuna was still clenching her books but was now staring down at them; a look of worry clearly written on her face. Rikku waved good-bye as the bus drove off. Yuna did not.

Yuna felt sick. She felt like she was going to throw up. Rikku had seen Her, kissing Paine at that party. A party at which they both clearly should not have been at. A party with alcohol and drugs. Rikku should have not been at that party. SHE should not have been at that party. Why did she go to that party?

To see Paine.

Yes, that was the reason. Ever since Yuna had moved to Luca with her dad and seen Paine, she's been fascinated with her. Paine is just so.. so.. different from her. She's all dark and mysterious. She speaks her mind and knows what she want and how to get it. She strong and warm and bright and… and… everything Yuna ever wanted in a man, not a woman. She wasn't like that.

But that party was definitely a big mistake. She should not have gone. She should not have snuck out in the first place. And she most definitely should not have that cup of alcohol because that's when everything went downhill.

That's when she got the bright idea to go looking for Paine. That's when she found Paine drinking, alone, in a bedroom, all by herself. That's when she sat down beside Paine and they started talking. That's when she realized she might just be able to steal a kiss off those perky, pink lips. And that's when the shit hit the fan and she kissed her.

And it was such a good kiss.

Yuna sighed. She needed to calm down. It was just Rikku who saw and she didn't know it was Yuna. If she calms down, she can forget those seven to twenty minutes, backed in that corner, kissing Paine. Yuna shifted in her seat. She felt warm, really, really, warm. And she had this gut clenching feeling just below her waist, but it felt good.

Yuna placed her forehead on the seat in front of her and sighed as she closed her eyes and tried to remembered Paine that night. How she looked as she blushed and smiled after Yuna had kissed her. And the feel of Paine's hand on top of her's as Paine rubbed it gently before guiding her to the corner. Yuna opened her eyes and let out a shaky breath before leaned back in her seat and closing her eyes again.

Yuna reasoned with herself that if she just forgets, everything will go back to normal and her life won't be ruined. Rikku will eventually forget she saw ANYTHING and the stars and universe will be back in balance again.

Suddenly the seat sank down beside Yuna. She looked over at her intrude. Maybe the stars and universe are not balanced, yet, or maybe Yevon just hates her.

Yuna sat up straight and glared out the window. Maybe if she ignored her, Paine will leave.

... ... ... ...

Yuna glanced back. Paine was still there. Yuna waited a few more seconds and glanced back again. Paine was still there, and now they were looking at each other.

Paine was speaking but all Yuna was hearing was birds and the soft playing of a flute. Yuna looked past Paine at the man playing a flute on the bus. Who does that?

"... So anyways, I was wondering if I could walk you home," Yuna finally heard Paine say as she watched her awkwardly rub the back of her neck.

"Ummm, I… uhhh," was the only thing coming out of Yuna's mouth right now. She wanted to say something intelligent but she always lost all thought processes when she was around Paine. Maybe that's why she could only speak to her when she was drunk.

"I mean, you don't have to accept. I just thought it would be nice and… umm. I.. uhh…. yeah," Paine said as she took a sudden interest in Yuna's boots.

Yuna had to answer and she had to answer no. That was the only solution to this problem because if she answer yes, all Farplane will burst and Spira as we know it will cease to exist. "Sure."

Damn it, that was not what she meant to say.

"Cool," Paine said, smiled, took her hand and pulled the string to stop the bus. She guided Yuna off the bus and pulled out and umbrella from her leather jacket as it began to sprinkle.

It was silent between them as they walked. Paine looked off to the street and Yuna down each ally and at each house number, but they were still holding hands. Their shoulders brushing as they walked underneath the small umbrella. Yuna really wished she had worn a sweater as the cold, fall winds blew. She let go of Paine's hand to rub her shoulders.

Immediately, Paine looked to her, and watched Yuna as she tried to warm her arms up. Suddenly, Yuna felt warmth envelop her. She looked at her right arm, currently covered in a thick leather jacket and then looked to Paine, blowing on her hands and rubbing her arms one at a time. Yuna took off the jacket and tried to give it back to Paine but she insisted that Yuna needed more than she did. Paine even stopped and helped Yuna into it. A smile plastered on Paine's face the entire time.

Finally reaching Yuna's doorstep, Yuna began to strip herself of Paine's jacket but Paine stopped her.

"Keep it," Paine said as she rubbed her arms.

"But it's your jacket and it's cold and raining," Yuna reasoned with her.

"Oh, I'll be alright. It's not that cold," Paine said putting on a brave face and lowering an arm. Yuna couldn't help but smile. Paine was trying so hard to impress her. Not that she needed to impress her.

"How far away do you live? You might need your jacket." Paine shrugged.

"Not far. 17th and Washington, Apartment 19J."

"Paine, that's ten blocks away."

"Guess I better find the nearest bus stop," a harsh wind blew, "And fast."

Yuna giggled at Paine. She was trying way too hard. "Bye Yuna."

"Bye Paine." Yuna watched as Paine hurried down the stairs. Suddenly this feeling came over her as she watched Paine leave. Her lips began to move on their own and she blurted out a phrase and stepped forward a bit.

"I love you, Paine."

Both of them stopped in their tracks. Had she really just said that?

"Umm... I... uh," Paine said as she turned around, "I love you, too. I guess." She hadn't really done anything like this before.

They stared at each other awkwardly before Paine broke eye contact and looked around. She then put her hands in her pockets and walked down the street, her cheeks turning red, as the whispered, "Alright then," before leaving.

Yuna began to blush as she watched Paine leave. Why had she have to say that?

Yuna opened to door to her apartment building and took the elevator up. Sticking her hands in Paine's pockets as she relaxed, Yuna felt something inside one of Paine's pockets. Pulling the rectangular item out of the pocket, Yuna couldn't help but smile. She really hoped Paine liked walking.

A/N: Might add more, who knows. Review, Favorite, and Follow.

P.S: Changed up the end a little from the last update.