Author's Note: Definately didn't think I'd get another chapter out this quickly, but the horrible weather brought on some inspiration. Thank you guys who reviewed and read the story. It makes me all *searches deep inside for a feeling* fuzzy inside (excuse me but it actually warms my heart up to see that you guys like this story). Anyway, this chapter is short too, but it's gonna set the stage for the next few chapters where I can seriously cause drama for many of the characters (yes I'm evil like that) and start seriously kicking off this story. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and feel free to review when you want. Take care!

-skye


On that Friday afternoon, it rained long and hard, forcing the inhabitants of the Destiny Islands back into their businesses or homes. The streets were empty save for a few cars; no doubt many of the drivers behind the wheel were on their way home. Silver just so happened to be one of the few people out in this dreadful weather, walking home from school under the protection of her umbrella.

It's not that she didn't like the rain; on the contrary, she enjoyed it more than the sun. But the sky was dark and ominous and even she had to admit that it would be better to enjoy the rain from inside the comfort of her bedroom.

'It looks like the world is gonna freeze over,' Silver commented as she walked down a deserted street. 'Maybe I shouldn't have stayed afterschool today to work on some homework.' She groaned and stared at the puddles around her on the sidewalk. 'Maybe I should have come home when Riku offered. At least I wouldn't be stuck in this mess.'

It was times like this that Silver wished that she wasn't so dead set on what she wanted to do at a certain time. Sure, she wanted to avoid doing homework on the weekend (and she accomplished this) but even for her, this rain was annoying. She cursed the school for making her wear a skirt even in this weather and shivered slightly as her knee-high socks were almost completely soaked. 'Man if I wasn't wearing these I'd probably have walking pneumonia by now.'

Silver came up to a stoplight and waited patiently for the light to turn green. It was even difficult to see the white paint on the streets directing the pedestrians. 'This is ridiculous.' She stepped back as several cars came speeding up to make sure that she wasn't splashed with water from along the streets, thus making her wet beyond all reason and no doubt dirty as well. She stared off to the side and continued to wait for her to cross until a blue Nissan Altima pulled up next to her. She looked on curiously to see who it could be and contemplated the idea of it being some stranger willing to pick up "the poor schoolgirl caught in the rain" but calmed down when she realized that it was Tidus' older brother Shuyin staring at her from the driver's side.

"Didn't think I'd see you out here," he said as he flashed a smile. "Shouldn't you be at home?"

"I had to stay after to do some homework," She explained. "I'm guessing they canceled practice today because of the crappy weather, huh?"

"Yeah," Shuyin replied. "Coach wanted to get out of this mess. I'm just picking up something for my mom." Silver nodded her head in understanding and Shuyin reached over to the passenger side and opened the door. "Don't just stand there. Let me take you home."

Silver contemplated this for a moment. On the one hand, she really didn't want to be a burden on the attractive blitz-ball captain. But on the other hand, this rain was too much. "Are you sure it's not too much trouble? I don't live too far from here."

Shuyin chuckled and shook his head. "I am NOT leaving you out in this rain. Just get in."

Silver hurried over to Shuyin's car and pulled down her umbrella before sliding into his warm, dry car. She shut the door behind her and put on her seatbelt before he sped off down the street.

"Thanks," Silver said as she shrugged out of her wet blazer, now irritated that her school blouse was wet as well.

"Don't mention it." He turned up the heater in his car as she placed her wet blazer in her lap. "Why didn't you call your parents or something to pick you up? I don't think they'd want you walking home in all this rain."

"I don't live too far from here," she began, "I didn't want to bother them."

Shuyin came to a stoplight and stared at the younger teen. Even though she had been nearly drenched in the rain, she still looked very pretty. It was something about how the raindrops looked like crystals hanging in her hair and how her wet clothes hung closely to her frame. It looked very natural instead of like the drowned-rat look most of the other girls sported throughout the day. His eyes traveled down her body and he caught himself as she turned to him. The light turned green and he drove off, silently cursing at himself for staring so hard and intently at her body. "That was considerate of you," he said after clearing his throat in an attempt to compose himself.

"I'm used to being in water though," She told him while wiping away a bead of rain from her forehead. "It really doesn't bother me."

"Same here," he said while turning the corner. "Riku told me you live on Arcadia right?"

"Uh, yeah," she replied. "I live at 358 Arcadia Avenue."

"So you are close," he thought out loud. "Do you just like hanging out in the rain whenever it kicks up?"

She pulled her blazer closer to her. "Sometimes, but I used to swim a lot so it doesn't bother me."

"Were you on the swin team?" he asked while watching the road.

Silver hesitated for a moment before staring out her window. "No. I used to play blitzball."

Shuyin's initial reaction was shock but he held it together. "For who?"

"Hollow Bastion Prep," Silver replied slowly, as if it pained her to admit it.

"Are you serious?" He asked in total awe. "They're like, one of the best high school blitzball teams period!"

"Yeah, they're good alright," she answered in a monotone voice.

Shuyin was obviously impressed with Silver. Not only was she attractive, she was a blitz-ball player for one of the top high schools on the Islands. They were the premier team on all of Hollow Bastion and their team had just won the championships in the tri-island area. For someone he knew to have been a part of that, he was beyond words…

"You must have been something special," he said as he turned onto her street. "Not that you aren't special," he added quickly, watching for her house carefully through the rain. "I'm talking to a celebrity here."

"It's seriously nothing," Silver said dismissively as Shuyin pulled into her driveway.

"It's not "nothing" Silver," he said as he opened his car door, walking through the rain, soaking his team hoodie on his way to her door. "It's pretty awesome. Why didn't you try out for the school's team? I'm sure you would have made it, no problem."

Silver grabbed her belongings and umbrella as she got out of the car. "Thanks again, Shuyin," she said politely as he walked her to her porch.

"Don't mention it, babygirl," he said with another alluring smile as he pulled her along. When they reached the safety of her porch, Silver set her belongings down on the step and reached for the house key in her blazer pocket.

"I'll see you at school," She said as she put the key to the lock. Shuyin walked back into the rain but hesitated. He placed his hand on the back of his head and called Silver's name. She already had the door open but as he called her, she stopped and turned her attention towards him. The blond then walked back up the steps and still grinned while standing in the rain.

"Hey Silver, can I ask you something?" His brilliant blue eyes connected with her pale green eyes, sparked in a way that worried and intrigued the soaked schoolgirl.