:Running Away:

:Chapter Four:

I Want to Stab Her With a Fork

A/N: (The name is subject to change. I don't know what yet, but I don't like what it is now...Also, I believe Rikku is OOC in this chapter, but oh well. I've been struggling with this chapter for weeks. It's driving me bananas! I have to get something out..and quickly or I'll go crazy. Chapter 5 will come out soon after this, I promise. I already have ideas. -laughs evilly-

That weekend everyone left for home. I, being one of six I knew of, stayed behind. I'm sure my absence won't be noticed by Pop, who hasn't bothered himself to call his only daughter but that one time Gippal answered. And, that call was merely yelling his brains out about who answered the phone. He didn't even ask how my day was, how I liked the school, nothing. But, I wasted two hours of my life explaining to get Pops remotely calm. Gippal is now a janitor who got ahold of my phone as far as Vydran is concerned. A very sexy janitor.

Okay, so maybe Gippal had been right about my flirting. Just a little bit. I mean, sure he's gorgeous, funny, charming, sexy, and...gorgeous, but well...

Oh, crap. I can't stop thinking about him. All week, I've tried to think of anything but him. Yet somehow, I can always relate it to Gippal. Like the tennis ball in gym, I'm sure it was the same size as--well, never mind. It isn't important.

I've had help to bar my thoughts from Gippal. I met the girl who lives across the hallway from me, Marza. I have all my classes but gym with her.

And then, there is this ludicrously hot Calculus teacher, Mr. Auron. Lucky me, I have him last period everyday. And, such a wonderful way to end the day, too.

It's just a fantasy though, I mean, he is a teacher. They're like, celibate because of their profession or something, right? I'm not the only one who swoons over him either. You should hear the sighs when he turns to write something on the board. Those suit pants to his body justice in all the right ways.

Oh, crap, I did not just think that, did I?

Oh, crap! I did.

"Rikkie! It's muah, Marzie, let me in! I got us a treat!" Marza screeched from beyond the door. I snapped out of my twisted little reverie and hopped over to the door. The image of Mr. Auron had not left me...but, that's not a bad thing. Not at all.

I let her in, she sped walked past me, and dropped her 'treat' on the bed. I closed the door, checking the vacant hallway for non-existent onlookers.

"I borrowed it from the teacher's lounge. Though, what they're doing with this, I have no idea. Oh, well. Their loss is our gain." She explained as she pulled my window curtain's closed. I peeked on my bed and my jaw dropped. A full bottle of vodka rested, surrounded by my unmade bed's linens.

"Marza! You can't steal that! I think they'd notice if an entire bottle of liquor is missing from the lounge." I shrieked, not entirely sure this was a bad thing either. In fact, I quite like where this night is going.

But, getting kicked out with only a week of private school under my belt isn't a good idea, either.

I turned back to Marzie, she was perched at my window, staring down to the ground. "C'mere." She whispered and beckoned my to her side. I obeyed, carefully hiding the bottle in my sheets.

I looked out my open window, feeling the warm nightly breeze meet my face and then, I saw it. Well, I saw him. A guy snuck around the lake, hiding from the strategically placed spotlights sprawled across the landscape. He clutched something in his jacket, his spikey blond hair standing out like a beacon in the dark night.

"Who is it?" I whispered, unable to see the sneak's face.

"I dunno, but I think it's an Al Bhed. Look at his hair!" She pointed to him, squealing a bit.

I narrowed my eyes and looked back to Marza. "So, is there anything wrong with that?" I tried to keep my voice neutral, but I knew it was dripping with malice.

"Well, not to me, but come on! If anyone finds one of them here, they'd be in jail so fast their heads would spin. Al Bhed people aren't exactly welcomed here with open arms. The owner doesn't want anyone sacrilegious here."

"Sacrilegious?" I spat, crossing my arms. "Fa ynah'd cylnemakeuic du draen bnaleuic Yevon. Drana ech'd yhodrehk fnuhk fedr machina."

Marza looked at me with momentary fear, then a smile played across her face. "Ooh, can you teach me Al Bhed? We can talk in code then!"

I laughed and nodded.

"What did you just say? It sounds so cool." Marza flitted over to my bed and retrieved the vodka. She rummaged through my things, finding a few makeshift shot glasses--two candle holders.

"I said, 'We aren't sacrilegious to they're precious Yevon. There--"

"Isn't anything wrong with machina."

I jumped from my seat at the sound of a male's voice, knocking the bottle and the holders from Marza's hands. Someone laughed, then swore. "Be careful, Rikku." I looked from the bottle to the boy, settling a sneer on my face.

"No one asked you, Gippal."

Marza laughed nervously, lifting the bottle and taking it from sight. She turned to me and whispered loudly. "You know him? And you didn't bother to tell me?"

"Huh?" I said, scratching my head. "Oh, you mean that pain in the ass?"

Gippal walked into the room, looking around at my various things. "I told you that I knew my way around here. All the lucky ladies love me." He said cockily. I threw a pillow at him, which landed squarely on the back of his head.

"Hey! Watch it or--"

"Or what? Wha'cha gonna do? Go tell on me?" I stood, placing my hands on his back. "Go." I steered him from the room. The door slammed just as I had finally gotten Gippal not to struggle. "Marzie, what are you doing?"

"He's got something in his jacket, remember? I mean, one bottle is nice, but two..."

"Marza!" I said, hooking my arm in hers and leading her to the window. "He's leaving, this is a girl's weekend!"

"I never said that...the more the merrier, right?"

"No, wrong, he's going. Now."

"C'mon, why should he leave?"

"I--well, he--I...um," I sighed and glanced at Gippal, who quickly looked away. He looked adorable, even out of his uniform. His loose jeans fit in all the right places and his now removed hoody revealed a nice pressed white shirt with a black and red design down the left side that clung to his body, showing off his fit upper body. "Fine, you can stay." I said, defeated. Gippal set down his sweatshirt, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"So, where is that alcohol?" He raised his eyes provocatively and smiled charmingly.

Marza returned his smile with one of her own and walked over to Gippal, seized his hand and sat him down at the window. She launched into conversation with him. They smiled and flirted like their lives depended on it.

Player.

I scowled and opened the vodka with a fork--which, by the way, not fun to do--pouring it into a large dixie cup until it overflowed.

"Woah, easy there." Gippal said, walking up to me. Marza scowled, I think I just interrupted her. Oops...not. "Don't over do it, or we'll all be shitfaced in minutes." He forced the plastic cup from my hand and set it down.

I frowned up at him and instead, took a swig from the bottle. I'm not sure why him and Marza flirting makes me so...so...gr! I want to stab her with that fork.

"Hey!" He reached for the bottle, effortlessly taking it from me. "What's the hell is wrong with you?"

I mustered a fake smile and shrugged. Marza collected the bottle from Gippal and poured out shots in the two candle holders and another plastic cup. I watched as she carefully set up the cups so Gippal would have the cup. I glared at her for a moment and sat down beside her. I definitely don't like where this is going. She's up to something.

She smiled and called us over, gazing at Gippal lovingly as he took his shot. I lifted mine to my mouth and paused. If I don't stay sharp, whatever Marzie is planning to do...

No, I'm just being paranoid. We're just having a few drinks. Nothing more.

With my own lack-luster reassurance, I downed the shot, feeling the slight tingle of the alcohol. I shivered and smiled up at Gippal, who smiled back.

I'm just being paranoid.

Likey, no likey? Please review...

Oh, and sorry if Rikku is too OOC...I tried, but expect to fail. She'll be better next time, I hope...