Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I came up with these wonderful characters but I didn't. Square did therefore; all the credit is to them.
Chapter 1
The dirty blonde male rolled over on his back and stared blankly at the celling of his dorm room. It was the first day of school after spring break and he had a mean hangover. He should have followed his mind and went home after his Blitz game, but he didn't. He tagged along with Reno and Rikku and didn't get home until 4:30 am. Now he had to pay the consequences.
The dirty blond male kicked the sheets from over his mid-section and slung his legs around the bed. School, he wasn't much of a fan of it for the simple reason, he was famous, the star player of the Zanarkand Abes. He couldn't set foot in the school without getting chased down by fan girls or opening his locker without having some love letter attached to it or falling out. He loved the attention and all but those girl's didn't want anything but to use him as a damn trophy.
He laid back on his bed as he remembered the time he took Kuja's advice and tried dating one of those girls. That turned out to be a major mistake. All she ever did was spend his money and flash him in front of her friends just to say I dated Tidus of the Zanarkand Abes! Ever since, he hasn't dated any other girl, too worried that they would just use him like she had done.
All he wanted was a girl that liked him for him. One that shared the same interests, laugh, and just have fun. But no such girl existed, at least not in Zanarkand that was.
He stood up from his bed and walked over to the window where he pulled back the curtains to the morning light seep in. Like a normal day, the streets were always busy, people in a hurry to catch the train to make it to work on time. Children the same but instead catching the bus to get to school. It was the same old routine every day and he'd grown tired of it.
His ocean blue optics glanced up to the giant planet floating majestically just above the large metropolis. When he was a little boy, his mother use to tell him of many stories about that world. Cocoon is what it was called. He remembered that in the story, it was said that the world was run by deities called Fal'cie who were very strict when it came to outsiders. At one point, no one that lived outside of Cocoon was allowed up there because of an ongoing battle with some other lands in the eastern region known as the Pulsian Lands or Gran Pulse.
Like Cocoon, the Gran Pulse region had their own Fal'cie. And during the waging battle, the deities of each world chose the ones they wanted to protect them by branding them with a mark called a l'cie brand.
When the feud died down, the Cocoon government allowed the people of Spira to enter their world again but only with proper identification. He always wanted to go up there and visit, but after another occurrence that had taken place seven years ago, the Bevelle law forbid any Spira or Cocoon citizen from visiting either area. A little girl baring an alienated mark showed up here and nearly destroyed everything.
Many were injured but luckily no one was hurt. Authorities had taken the girl into custody and after that, no one had heard anything else about her. Most think she was executed but really no one knows.
His head turned towards the green digital numbers on his clock to see it read 7:50 am
"Shit!"
He jumped up from his bed and dashed through his closet, pulling shirts and shorts from hangers and tossing them to the side. First day of school after spring break and he was going to be late and hung-over. The blitzer's relentless search through his closet came to an end when he found his uniform. A pair of black slacks, white short sleeved dress shirt, and a purple tie. Tidus took a quick shower and did his usual morning routine before he was off to school.
"7:55." He said as he flew out of his room. He didn't even have time to lock his door. The train had come and gone and the next one wouldn't be back around until at least 8:10. The school was only a block away so he decided he'd sprint the whole way there.
:
The bell had just sounded as he made his way up the stairs of Zanarkand Academy. He sprinted through the halls, cutting around corners and even knocking down other students who were just as late as he was. Finally, he made it to class. Right behind the teacher that is. He tried to dash to his desk as quickly as he could so he would not be seen by the teacher but that failed.
"It would be nice if you were on time to my class Tidus. I hope this won't be an everyday thing for you throughout the rest of this semester." There were giggles and small laughs from his class mates as the teacher gave him a glare while adjusting her glasses on her face. Now he gave her a reason to pick on him for the rest of the time he was attending her class. "No Ms. Quistis, today was the first and last day you'll see me late I promise!"
"Good!" She said then stood up and began writing her name along the board. "Don't think that just because you're a Blitzball player you'll receive special treatment." He parted his lips to speak but decided against it. Who wanted special treatment anyway? That's another thing he despised about being famous. People always singled him out. "Yes ma'am."
He slouched down in his chair and stared off outside the window. He didn't quite understand but he had a feeling him and this teacher was going to be on some not so friendly terms. On top of that he was still very tired, but he knew even trying to shut his eyes would make her call him out again so he tried the best he could to keep his eyes open. There was a light tap to his right shoulder. He leaned back a little and saw Reno snickering and grinning down at him. "You good, man?"
He shook his head. That was a dumb question for him to ask. Reno could be a real idiot at times. "No, this is your fault! If you didn't make me go to that party I would have been on time!"
"But there were hot girls there! I'm sure you didn't want to miss that right!? Besides, it's not like I forced you to go. You could have easily said no I would have under stood."
Flashback of the Night Before..
"Oh come on Tidus it'll be fun. I'm not letting you duck out on this one like you did the last!." Reno said, trying to persuade his much worn out buddy to join him for a night out.
Tidus yawned loudly over the phone on purpose, trying to get the point across to his friend that he was tired. It was a long night; the blitzball game was a very close one which made him and his team work ten times harder than usual. Then there were the screaming fans, autograph signing, and running away from the paparazzi. Too much had happened in that one night alone and a party wasn't going to make it any more fun. "Look man, as fun as that sounds, I can't. I'm tired as hell, school starts tomorrow then after that the team and I have to practice for the next game. I need rest."
"You don't know what you're missing here. Alcohol and hot chicks! And dig this, they're college girls how fucking awesome is that. Come on man just five minutes. Five minutes and then you can leave. Waddya say? Yes yes yes!
Once Reno started a conversation and it involved a question, there was no way it would end until he heard what he wanted to hear. "Grr, fine. I'll be right there where is it?"
The University of Zanarkand, now hurry!"
"Uh-huh, yea I'm sure you would have understood perfectly.." Tidus said as he recalled the events from last night. "Then Rikku showed up making the situation even more difficult!." Five minutes turned into ten, ten into fifteen until he ended up spending the whole rest of his night out. "Next time I'll follow my own mind and resist you and Rikku's pressure!" He yelled which drew the teacher's attention at the front of the class.
"Tidus! Is what you have to say so important that it interrupts my teaching?"
"S-sorry Ms. Quistis i-it won't happen again I promise!" He stuttered, earning laughs from his peers as well as Reno.
"It better not, next outburst straight to the office. Now, take out your literature book and open it to page 300." The woman said sternly while pointing a long ruler at the blond, it being only inches away from his face. Another bout of laughter filled the classroom. This morning was just getting worse and worse by the minute.
He reached down under his desk to grab his book but only felt the wind slip between his fingers. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his forehead and a nervous grin was now present across his lips. The teacher looked none too pleased with his failure to come to her class prepared. He was really screwing up. "Um, I can explain."
"Mmm-hmm I'm sure you can." She said removing her glasses from her eyes. He actually thought she looked pretty cute without them but that strictness was deeply etched in those sharp features of hers. It was scary and a little intimidating for him. "Go get your book and whatever else you need for my class Tidus." She extended her arm towards the door. "Don't return until you have everything now go!"
Like a terrified chocobo she whizzed out of the classroom and down the hall. It was official; he had made it to the top of her shit list in less than ten minutes. Great, it was bad enough she thought he expected special treatment because of his fame, now she probably thinks he's..he didn't even know. He started to think maybe he shouldn't go back. He was already late, so might as well just skip the rest of the day.
He turned down the next hall where his locker would be but came to a quick unexpected halt when he came upon an altercation at the other end. It was nothing new of course just the schools popular crew Dona, Ashe, and Stella picking on some pink haired girl. It was odd, seeing this take place since he knew that girl, well not know her know her but she lived in the dorms directly across from him. She seemed to stay to herself a lot. He didn't even know she attended this school. She barely came out her dorm and when she did it was only to stare up at that crystal structure every night. After that he would see no more of her. He'd see her now and then through his window but she always seemed sad, depressed, and lonely.
Ashe slapped the girl's books out of her hand and Stella pushed her down on the floor. The girl looked like she was near tears while the three girls stood there laughing.
"That's not very nice you know." He said approaching the three girls as he knelt down to the pink-haired girl's side. She looked shocked, but for all he knew it could have been fear. She was probably thinking he was going to bully her like those girls. "You three are awful, picking on this innocent girl. What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Oh look it's him!." All three girls huddled around the young male, hugging and hanging all over him like he was some lost teddy bear that had just been found.
The male pushed away from them and they looked a little disappointed. Being rejected by a celebrity was an insult to them. They were the most popular girls in school everyone wanted to be them or be with them. "You don't like us?" They asked in unison."
"No, but I'm sure that's not the first time you've heard that!" He shot at them.
The girl's all looked at the pink-haired girl with a mean look, silently blaming her for the famous guy not liking either of them. The three walked away glaring down at the girl on the floor like they were throwing invisible daggers at her with their eyes. Ashe was the last to walk by. She bent down and whispered something to the pink haired girl that left her with a look of terror upon her face. She smiled a girly smile at Tidus and walked away.
"Stupid bitches." He knelt down beside the girl to gather up all of her books when something swiftly flew around his body and started attacking him.
"What the!? Ah-ow!"
"It's okay Mog, he's harmless. I suppose." The girl said quietly.
"Kupo-po!" The stuffed creature listened and flew back to the girl's side.
"Geez…" Tidus stood up from the floor, rubbing the side of his head where the little creature had attacked him. Judging by the small knots left throughout the top of his head, that thing was hitting him with that pom-pom thing on its head.
"Tidus took a closer look at the thing and was amazed. He'd seen these in stores around town as little plush toys for children but this one was…alive!
"Wh-what the, a moogle?" He reached out to poke the stuffed toy in the stomach but it swatted his hand away with with a mini clock staff that it held within its hand.
"Hmm, interesting little toy you got here.." He passed her books off to her and flashed a heartwarming smile that would usually send other girls in this school fainting or spazzing out. But not this girl. She just smiled back sadly as she wiped away the tears that were brimming in her eyes. "Call him Mog, it upsets him when people call him a toy…" She stood up from the floor, dusting off the front of her plaid skirt and fixing her side ponytail.
"Mog?" He blinked. "Well, hiya Mog, names Tidus!"
"Kupo-po-po!" the moogle crossed its arms and turned its back to the blond male.
"Not so friendly I see.." He said.
"You know, you didn't have to do what you did. It just gives them more reasons to pick on me.." The girl stated.
Tidus drew his attention from the moogle and looked at the girl. She was a head shorter then he was, small and petite. Light pink hair that looked like it would glow in the sun light, beautiful blue eyes that were a shade darker than his own; almost like a midnight blue. Then her features were absolutely flawless. Everything about her was beautiful. Yet, she looked so sad. "Yes I did. Those girls are always picking at someone. No one deserves such negative attention like that. Anyway, names Tidus. What's your name?" He smiled a bright smile again, still holding out the girl's book that she finally took from his hands.
"I know who you are Mr. Famous. Not to mention we have the same Algebra III, Literature, Al Bhed, and Chemistry class as well." She said, ignoring the what's you name question and began walking down the hall. Tidus followed right at her side.
"Do we..?" He said a little bit surprised that they both had the same classes. He almost thought that today was her first day here. How come he never knew that? He knows everyone in the entire school, but over looked her? Shows how much he knew, and this girl was hard to miss with her bright pink hair. "I-I knew that." He tried to say as coolly as possible but the girl just looked at him and rolled her eyes. He laughed and tucked his arms behind his head. "Whaaat!? You don't believe me? I knew you were there honest!"
"Uh-huh." She smiled, and to his surprise it was a real smile. Not that smile she presented to him just moments ago but an actual smile she was glowing. "Alright then, where do I sit in Literature class?"
That was a much unexpected question, and he knew he couldn't answer it either. But it wouldn't hurt to try would it? "Ah-ah I know this one don't tell me hmm…" He tapped the side of his head with his index finger as he thought long and hard. "Ah-ha!" He shouted, raising his index finger in the air. "You sit in the back, right next to Baralai. Go on, tell me I'm right!" He said cheerfully!
The girl couldn't help but to laughed a little at the male his cheerfulness and hyper personality was really cute, and so was he. "Wrong!" She inched closer to him to where the dirty blond male was forced to take some steps back until he was up against the locker. He swallowed, feeling a small crimson blush creeping up his neck and spreading to his cheeks. "I sit between you and Rikku, right in the center row. P.S." She gave his forehead a light pluck. "You're blushing." She pulled away and turned her back sighing softly.
Tidus covered his cheeks and pulled away from the locker. "I-I knew that.." He said running in front of the girl. That smile was gone and was replaced with her normal melancholic expression. "Look you don't have to be nice to me alright. I'm fine with no friends. It's less pressure I have to worry about. Thanks for helping me though, I really do appreciate it, and if you ever need anything just let me know."
She went to walk off and leave him standing there but he quickly grabbed her arm, shocking her. "Well, I'll take that offer right now; we have the same class after all. Let me walk with you, I also wanna get to know you better." He threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, a friendly gesture.
The girl turned her eyes down at the floor suddenly becoming lost in her thoughts. She was nervous, It has been a long time since anyone had paid attention to her or wanted to be her friend for that matter. Last person she could actually call friend was Lebreau and at the time she was ten. That was seven years ago. Ever since she came to Zanarkand it was hard for her to make friends. If she wasn't being picked on about her strange hair it was other things. It was an on-going cycle that would never end. She thought that High school would be a fresh start but it wasn't. Even now, in 11th grade, it's still going on. How did she know she could trust this guy? Why was he even giving a girl like her the time of day? He's famous, she was sure he didn't want to be seen hanging around with the shadow girl.
"No!" She shouted and pushed him away. "This is a joke, I know it is.."
"What are you, what are you talking about?" He said giving the girl a strange look as tears started glistening in those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Why would she say such a thing? "A joke, why would you think I'd do something so cruel, that's not me."
She shook her head. "Because…" She lowered her head. "It was done to me last year, by your friends" she emphasized. "Kuja and Reno. Look thanks for your help but I don't need it anymore so just leave me alone.." She ran down the hallway sobbing and covering her eyes with her hand. Poor Tidus just stood there dumbstruck at how fast that little event unfolded. All because he said he wanted to get to know her better. He thought girls loved it when guys said that. Apparently not this girl, it sent her off in tears. Either way, he wasn't going to give up on her that easily.
:
"Oh look there he is get him, get him, get him!" A group of girls screamed as they spotted Tidus in the hallway. The male quickly sprinted down the hallway cutting around the corners until he came across the restroom and ran inside. He could hear the girl's on the outside screaming and shouting for him to come out as well as some other unpleasant things that made him shudder. He'd think after attending this damn school for three years his peers would get used to the idea that he was famous and treat him like a regular person like he wanted but that wasn't happening anytime soon. He sat down against the door and sighed, it would be a while before they go away and it was lunch time.
His mind drifted back to the pink-haired girl he spoke to earlier. He saw her in Al Bhed class earlier, and even knew where she sat, right next to the window across from Rikku and Lulu. Just in case she was to ask him another unexpected question. He tried to catch her before she left but he was stopped by Mr. Rin. It was no big deal though; he still had Chemistry and Algebra III to catch her.
Another thing that crossed his mind was what she said about Kuja and Reno. What could they have done to that poor girl to make her not trust anyone? It made him a little mad to know that two of his friends were the cause of someone's sadness that just made him look bad. No wonder she ran away. "She probably thinks I'm a jerk too!"
"Uhm, what are you doing in here?"
Tidus looked up to see a familar face, the pink-haired girl was standing in front of him, just the girl he wanted to see. He smiled and quickly stood to his feet "I-uhm…hiding, I was hiding. Wait, why are you in the men's restroom?"
"Oh, god.." The girl snickered lightly covered her mouth with her hand. "Hate to tell you, but this is the girl's restroom." She stepped back and pointed at the wall. "Hence the reason why there are no urinals. Or did you even notice?"
"Gah! I-I was only hiding I wasn't trying to do anything freaky I'm not like that I promise! Those crazy girls were just chasing me so I dipped in here!. You gotta believe me!." He shouted.
The girl was laughing so hard she was tearing up. She leaned her back up against the bathroom stall and wiped her eyes with her index finger. "Oh wow, wonder what the girls would think when they find out that the Blitzer was a peeping pervert?"
"What, no I'm not, I mean I love girls but I'm not a pervert! You're not going to tell people that are you!?" He said. His eyes were wide and worried almost the way a lost puppy would look. She found it cute.
"No, I'm not that type of girl. Don't worry your secret is safe with me.." She smiled for him a third time that day, yet it was still one of those empty smiles that Tidus didn't quite like.
He he sighed a breath of relief. "Thanks.."
She gave a small smile then turned to the sink. Tidus scratched the back of his head nervously. "Hey.."
She snatched paper towel from the dispenser and dried her hands. Her plan was to get out of here as quickly as she could before he decided to ask or conversate any further but she was too late. "Yes, Tidus."
"Sit with me at lunch, I'd really like that.."
The smile faded and she shook her head. "No, I can't Kuja and Reno sit at that table with you and-
"Don't you worry about them." He cut in before the girl could even finish her excuse. "I'll take care of those guys, and just so you know, I'm not taking no for an answer from you again." He smiled.
Well, there was no way out of this one. It couldn't be something bad, she ran into this guy twice today. Could be a sign of something good. But how would she know if she just kept throwing her emotional wall every chance she had. Maybe it was time to let it down for a change just to see how things would work out. Tidus looked sincere enough. "Okay, okay..I'll sit with you."
"YEEEEAAHHH!" He shouted then gave her big bear hug. "Thankyou."
Was he really that excited to hang out with her? She was a nobody. Who would be excited to spend time with a nobody.. "You're..really excited..I see?" She said through the short breaths she was able to push out. "Tidus, I…can't…breathe.."
"Oh oops sorry.." He put her down , still having his overjoyed smile present. "So, are you going to tell me your name now? It's been bothersome that I've been referring to you as the pink-haired girl ever since earlier."
She smiled. "It's Serah. Serah Farron."
A/N: And done! How do you all feel about where this story is going huh? Yea yea I know it's only the first chapter but I have a lot more to coming so stay tuned! :]
Tell me how you feel in a review!
Bye for now!.
