Chapter 4

Baralai's P.O.V.

We ended up watching Titanic. Yeah, you read that right. The movie Paine made such a fuss about picking was Titanic. Who'd have figured her for a romantic? When I asked her though, she laughed cruelly.

"I just wanna see if you'll cry," she said.

I doubted it- after all, why else would she have the movie in the first place? But I didn't say anything- I wanted to keep my head screwed in place, thank you very much.

We set the sphere into the pedestal and watched as the picture grew, along with the theme, My Heart Will Go On. Grinning at her, I sat back on the couch and moved over a little as she joined me, albeit reluctantly.

"Doesn't this sound familiar," I asked, making fun, "a suicidal girl in love with a-"

"No similarities whatsoever," said Paine dryly and she went back to watching the movie.

So much for my fun.

Paine watched the movie throughout with rapt attention and I wondered whether or not she had completely forgotten about me, personally, I hoped not, but you can never tell, can you?

Girls are like that… Shit! When have I ever thought of Paine as a… well… girl?

-

Paine's P.O.V.

Okay, so I like Titanic- big whoop, double yay and all that trash. Baralai did almost cry- a fact in which I took great comfort when I routinely burst into tears near the end.

-

Baralai's P.O.V.

"This," I told her, watching as her small frame was tossed about by terrible sobs, "cannot be healthy," and then I turned off the movie and she stopped crying… and started glaring.

"What the fuck did you do that for?" she snapped, trying to get at the sphere remote, hiccoughing.

"Because you're falling to pieces," I said, laughing as I held it over her head.

"Duh, it's the Titanic, I'm surprised you got this far- now hand over the fucking remote!"

Nope. See, I'm not gonna give it over now. I'm gonna play with her first.

"Baralai, what the Hell- I said give it back!"

She stared at me as I stood and raised it above both of our heads.

"Fuck you, 'Lai," she said and she stormed into her bedroom.

But I knew she wasn't angry- not really- so I followed her.

I walked into her room and set the remote on her dresser but she didn't move to take it, just kept sitting there and staring at me.

"So why're you here?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"Why did you come?"

"I had some free time," I said, shrugging, but she saw right through it.

"Yeah, right," she said, "the Praetor of New Yevon doesn't get free time."

I shrugged, "well I think it's okay to grant yourself a holiday once and a while."

"You didn't think so last year when I begged you to come with me to Rikku's scaring Christmas Party," she said, grinning, "My friend, you just don't know the fun of getting well and truly stoned."

"That party went on 'till late," I protested, "and I remembered having to go to a big meeting early the next day."

"And I remember you giving in an coming some time past midnight because you felt guilty for leaving me in that chaos," said Paine grinning, "you missed your meeting anyway."

"Yeah," I said, "but it was fun."

Paine smiled, "yeah… but you should get to going soon- it's getting late now."

"What time?" I asked and she nodded towards a clock on the wall behind me. I turned. 12:10. "Oh… well, alright then."

"Here," said Paine, standing up, "I'll walk you out."

-

Paine's P.O.V.

I grinned as we passed those poor hapless idiots frozen on the sphere. How come that movie always made me cry like that? I really am turning into a sop.

Baralai paused at the door and looked at me for a moment, thoughtfully, as though wondered what to say. I nodded a little to urge him on and he cleared his thoat.

"Uhh… well, you know we're friends, right, Paine? We can do this again some time."

"Sure," I said, smiling, "sounds good."

"I'll be seeing you then," said 'Lai, grinning and he kissed my cheek lightly before leaving.

I listened at the door for his soft footfalls in the distance and closed it when I could no longer hear him, Sighing deeply as I stared helplessly at the lovers on the screen in my loungeroom. I went back into my room and fetched the remote, then came out and saw Baralai's blue bandana on the couch.

A little confused, I shrugged it off and put the spare key back outside and the bandana on the other side of the couch before lying down to watch the rest of the movie.

-

Baralai's P.O.V.

Shit, my bandana. I turned back along the frosty street and silently damned the cold and myself. Now I had to go back and get it.

I knocked on the door but there was no reply except for the sad song that was the theme of Titanic and I guessed she'd played the movie back to the Main Menu.

I fished out the key from under the mat again and went it, immediately catching sight of my blue bandana against the dark grey of the couch and picked it up. Then my eyes fell on Paine's sleeping face.

Damn, she was beautiful.

I blinked the image away and turned around, resisting the sudden and unexplainable urge to touch her face.

I shook my head to clear it and walked out the door, so caught up in my thoughts that I let it slam unthinkingly. I heard her move about within but I didn't think to go back and say goodnight again.

Instead, I just kept walking… my tired mind possessed by thoughts of her.

-

Dear Faithful Readers,

Heya! Thanks for all your support! To anyone who reviewed/is thinking of reviewing, you just rock. I love you all, 'kay?

I warned you about the chapter size but it's 6:20 on a Sunday morning and I can't sleep so this is all you're getting. I'm going back to bed.

Night!

Xx-Bex-xX