Author's note: Yay! I'm updating! ^_^ Thanks for the reviews! They made my day. Still having fun with this story! It's cool getting the chance to look at life through Rikku's eyes. This is actually my first time writing in first person. Great experience for me though!

  Honestly! I'm always happy while I'm typing up this story's chapters! But at first, I was kind of frustrated of what the title was going to be… -_-; I haven't managed to beat the game yet (still on Chapter 5, mind you…) but I already know what happens in all of the endings, so that's where I had a small idea of what would happen after the game.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Square's (once again- brilliant) creations. ^_^

Love Struck

Chapter 2

Stuck with You…

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Whatever kind of sick joke this was…

It made me shudder.

Was Gippal the one I was supposed to help?

I hated the idea.

Or did I like it?

No! I didn't like it!

Well, I really had no clue what to do. I was already frustrated with the fact that he couldn't say my name. That is- if he's even aware that I have one. Was I cursed or something? Did I anger a Tonberry or something? Who cares? If I were LeBlanc, I would've given my dad 'the heel.'

I grinned a fake smile at him. "Will you excuse us for a minute?" I asked as innocently as I could while I hauled Pops to the side. After we were a few meters away from him, I nearly exploded… well, maybe I already did.

"What in Spira's name is he doing here?!"

Pops was a bit confused. "You two know each other?"

"Sadly, yes." I grumbled, crossing my arms. "Now answer my question: what is he doing here?"

Pops looked back at him. "The lad volunteered to help us out. Ever since that Machine Factorization- eh, whatever it's called- he said he wanted to leave it behind and help out his fellow people."

"Don't you mean… your fellow people?" I corrected him. Hello? Wasn't my dad the leader of the Al Bhed?

"Yeah… but this guy's a real sport. I wouldn't mind giving him high authority around this place-…"

"But what do I have to do with it?!"

Pops winced. "Gippal needs someone to guide him around, you know?"

"You want me to play his tour guide?" This was getting on my last nerve… Now I could tell that he was getting kind of scared. Good.

"Actually… yeah."

Bad answer.

I turned on my heel and started walking away, but Pops grabbed my arm and fell to his knees.

"Come on, Rikku! I'm beggin' ya! This guy can really help us out!"

"How?" I asked in a monotone voice, not being amazed at all.

"He's willing to do anything! Pay for supplies, gather a few extra machina… and whatever you can think of!" Dad looked desperate. Still, I had to admit… Gippal's offers were impressive.

And… we kind of needed it.

"Please! Two weeks! That's all I ask!" Pops looked like he was gonna cry like a baby. Two weeks? To be honest, it could've been worse. I wasn't going to get out of this anyway, so…

I sighed in defeat. "Alright." I know I'm gonna regret this…

Dad stood up tall and jumped around like an idiot. He ran behind me, and started pushing me in Gippal's direction. "Gippal- my daughter has graciously volunteered to be your guide!" he claimed gladly.

VOLUNTEERED?!

 I was about to strangle Pops, but managed to stop myself before I got carried away. Gippal looked satisfied. "That's great to hear. For a minute there, I thought I'd be stuck with Brother."

Brother yelled a 'shut up!' and walked towards the Celsius. I thought it was about time to get out of here, so I waved bye to Pops and signaled for Gippal to follow me.

*

As soon as we were on the airship, Gippal started looking around. He looked at the controls and anywhere else being run mechanically.

"Quite the impressive ship you've got here- uh, Rikki right?"

"It's Rikku." I corrected, rolling my eyes. It was a lame try. Usually, he'd just say "Cid's girl." Or even worse – "Cid's little girl."

"Oh yeah… Rikku. Sorry 'bout that."

"No prob."

We didn't talk for a while, and just sat around waiting to depart in Luca. I didn't expect him to speak up.

"I really don't know much about you, don't I?" His question caught my attention. This was certainly a surprise…

"I guess not." I looked at him strangely. "Why do you ask?"

Gippal sighed. "Came to mind randomly." He crossed his arms behind his head and lay back in his seat. "All that I've always known was that Cid had a daughter."

I couldn't help but nod. If he didn't have time to say my name correctly, then that must've been all he knew…

"You live in Luca, eh?"

Grinning slightly, I responded. "Sure do. It's a really nice place. I never really got the chance to notice it."

"I haven't been to Luca for ages. Never had time. You know- with the Machine Faction business? I always had my hands tied."

"You missed out on a lot." I wonder if he was there for the blitzball tournament that Tidus and Wakka participated in. That was quite a show. Not to mention LeBlanc's concert and Sphere Break.

Gippal sighed. "True, true. But-…"

"But what?"

"Now I have my chance. Along with my guide with me." He grinned slyly and looked at me. I merely looked away, hiding the blush that was stating to rise in my cheeks.

"Don't get any ideas buster."

*

When Brother landed, we were by the port. It wasn't that far from where I lived. We all jumped off and started to stroll down the path to my house. Buddy, Gippal, and Brother were chatting away about anything that came to a guy's mind. I just looked at the ground, slowly pacing as my hands were folded behind my back.

What am I gonna do? How did I get myself into this?

Oh yeah, I remember…

I said, "Alright."

Nice going, Rikku.

Soon we reached my "humble abode." I noticed that Paine was outside watering her flowers. (Oops! I forgot to mention: gardening's her brand new hobby, isn't that cool?) She looked at me puzzlingly switching her gaze from me to Gippal. She was wondering what was going on. It's a new little code made and used by the Gullwings. I dug hastily into my pockets and threw Brother my keys to the house.

"You guys go in and make yourself feel right at home! I'll be there in a few minutes!" He shrugged and went in with Buddy and Gippal.

I ran over to her and sighed.

"New roommate?" she asked me handing me the watering can. I walked around sprinkling some of the plants and whined. "It's my dad… he wanted me to guide Gippal around for a couple of days."

"And how many are we talking?"

I turned around and pouted. "Single and a baker's dozen."

"Ouch."

"Exactly."

She took of her gloves and set them on the bench. "Why didn't you just say no?"

I grunted. "I don't know, I just… couldn't. Pops was begging me to."

"Since when did you ever listen to him?" Paine asked in disbelief.

"Since this afternoon, apparently."

"Are you sure you didn't turn the offer down because you simply didn't want to?" she implied.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Oh, please! Spill it." Paine ordered, somewhat angered by my confusion.

So, I dropped the watering can on command. She rolled her eyes.

"Not literally, Rikku… I meant for you to admit the fact that you like him."

I gasped. "I do not!"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Really!"

She started walking to her front door, but turned around to face me. "Like him or not- he's stuck with you for two weeks."

I whined again. "Oh… poopie!"

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A/N: ^_^ Next chapter will be out soon! Til then…

Review please!