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"Thunderstorms"
By Redhead Rikku

Rikku's P.O.V.

I awake with a jump and sit up on my cot, startled. Duh. Another thunderstorm was starting and the thunder was much louder in Besaid than it was in Djose temple. I look around in the dark, Paine lies still on her cot. She hardly even looks like she's breathing. 'Well, since I'm awake now anyways' I slide off my cot and crawl over to Paine's cot. When I reach it, I poke my head up so it's level with her face on the pillow. I listen. 'Yup, still breathing,' I giggle when I start to crawl away and hear Paine mutter Baralai's name in her sleep. We were in Besaid for Yuna's wedding. With Tidus back she was happier than ever and he had become more like a brother to me than my own brother.

The Wedding was supposed to be today but Baralai, Nooj, and Gippal, along with the priest were stuck in Kilika Island because of the first thunderstorm of the day. They were supposed to have arrived already but I was just hoping that when they arrived they would tell us Gippal and his date had been struck by lightning. Well…maybe just his date.

I had been working in Djose for a couple of months now, mostly because Brother was getting on my nerves moping about Yunie and Tidus and if I wasn't being a Gullwing, I needed something else to do. Gippal had welcomed me happily. I was excited because I was HOPING we'd be able to get back to the place we were before I left for Yunie's pilgrimage and he left for the Crimson Squad. I spent my first day at work trying to think of what I could say to him. It was hard to think because he kept flirting with me while I was trying to think…I mean…work. He'd keep his hand on mine a little longer than he should have when we reached for the same tool. I caught him staring at my butt more than once. I figured I had him until SHE walked in.

Mara was perfect. And rare for an Al Bhed, she has dark brown hair instead of our characteristic blonde. And her eyes were wrong. She CLAIMS she's half Al Bhed but every time I ask about who her Al Bhed mother was she just says 'You wouldn't know her.' Wouldn't know her?! I'm only like the freaking Al Bhed PRINCESS. If we had such a thing, that is. She was lying, I knew it, everyone who worked at the temple knew it, hell even Tidus knew it, and THAT's saying something. The only person who didn't know it, or refused to believe it, was Gippal.

I sat back down on my caught at the same time that I heard a noise outside. "They're back." Paine said, lifting her head from her pillow.

"I know." I say. What to do, what to do? Paine would definitely be awake for a while with Baralai. I giggled at the thought, they were so different, but perfect for each other. Maybe that was why Gippal and I would never be together. Speak of the devil. Gippal and Mara chose that exact moment to walk into the tent, Baralai a few steps behind. We were all sharing a tent to save space. Yuna offered for me to stay with her, but I wanted her and Tidus to have some time together.

"Hey guys!" Gippal smiled, remembering to be quiet with his arm around Mara's waist. Here we go.

"Hey Rikku, guess you're the only single one in our tent." Mara smiled. That bitch was taunting me.

"Yup. Just means I get to scope out all the hot single guys at the wedding." I put on my happy Rikku face.

"Well, If you don't find one (meaning she doubted I would), I'll let you steal a dance with Gippal (Cause she had him, and I didn't)," Her stupid, no swirl, fake Al Bhed green eyes, stared right into my real Al Bhed green ones, the whole time. That was it, I was out of there. At least until everyone else was asleep.

"I'm going out. I'll see you guys in the morning." And I walked right out of the tent without another word. I heard Gippal call me, but I ignored him. I shouldn't have to put up with this crap.

I may have thought that leaving the nice, perfect temperature was a good idea until I realized how cold it was; And that there was a thunderstorm coming. Well shit. There was no turning back now so I figured I'd just have to deal. I made my way towards the closest beach, running through ways I could dispose of Mara and get the smallest punishment. I missed the old Gippal. I missed the old, old Gippal even more. But I'd talk the old, womanizing Gippal over this current Gippal if it would get rid of she-who-must-not-be-named.

Upon reaching the beach I sit on the sand. It's still warm from the little bit of sun we got today, so I decide to lay down. Maybe I'd just sleep out here, better than being in the tent. I close my eyes, thinking about the beautiful wedding that's happening tomorrow. I didn't get to help with the planning as much as I wanted to but I did get the help pick out Yunie's dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Mine was yellow, but we didn't think we'd be able to convince Paine to wear yellow so hers was black.

I was about to drift off when I felt a blanket being placed on me and someone's hand push a stray piece of my hair away from my face, as they sat down next to me. I definitely wasn't alone anymore.

R&R Please! I should have the next chapter up soon! I'm already writing it! :)