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Summer Nights

Chapter Four

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Sunlight shined through the blinds of the windows, warming the bed sheets. Cool air washed over Yuffie slowly, easing a dull throb on her back. She opened her eyes and found herself in a small room. A small table was at the side of the bed with a glass of water and two aspirins sitting on top.

She glanced uneasily from one side to the next, seeing no one to fill her in on what happened. A vent on one of the windows made a whirring noise and cold air blew out. She sighed. How come her cabin couldn't have air-conditioning?

Tenderly, she sat up and felt sharp stabs in her back. She twisted around to look at her back, which was still bare since she was wearing her bikini. A long, deep gash ran across her skin. She winced and turned around, the day's earlier events playing in her mind.

There was a soft knock on the door, and a short, stout woman walked in. Her white hair was wild and sticking up everywhere, like she had brushed it backwards. There was a warm, concerned smile on her face that made her skin into wrinkles.

"I see you're up, dear. You had quite a fall," she said in a grandmother-like voice.

"What happened?" Yuffie asked with a groan.

"You fell of the diving platform backwards and when you fell into the water a rock ripped at your back. You're very lucky it didn't stab right through you!" she said with a laugh.

Yuffie's face paled visibly.

"Oh, don't worry, I don't think that would have happened," said the woman pleasantly. "Take those aspirin. As long as you keep the wound disinfected you should be fine. It was this close from needing stitches!"

She held up two fingers with a tiny bit of space between them.

Yuffie nodded again, still looking pale, and popped the pills in her mouth with a swig of water.

"Can I still go to tonight's party?" she asked anxiously as soon as she swallowed.

The nurse frowned. "I think you should sit this one out, hon."

"But—I need to go!" she pleaded. "Everyone is going!"

"That was a very long fall, young lady—"

"I'm going. I have to," she insisted stubbornly. As if to prove her point that she was perfectly fine, she stood up and clenched her teeth before gasping at the pain in her back.

The nurse looked troubled. She pulled at her white strands of hair nervously. Now Yuffie knew why her hair looked like it had been through hell and back.

"I guess it should be all right, just remember disinfectant!"

"Yes, I'll be sure to remember!" Yuffie said quickly. She glanced out the window. The sun was low in the sky and everything was a soft, pale orange and yellow. It would be light's out soon, then the party would begin.

"I can leave, right?" she asked. She started walking towards the door and opened it.

"Oh—yes—that's fine..." she said with a shake of her head. "Kids these days, they just don't know how to take their time..."

~*~

Yuffie walked past the Gremlins' cabin and shivered. The lights were all out, signaling Kairi had already put them to bed. She scowled fiercely down at her partially naked body. The least the nurse could have done was give her a towel. It didn't look normal to walk through brush in the middle of the night wearing a skimpy bathing suit.

The spiky branches on the cluster of bushes scratched at her stomach as she walked through them, taking a quick shortcut to get to the cabin she shared with her friends.

The cabin was in sight, with all of the lights on. She sprinted to the door, ignoring her back, and pushed through the door breathlessly. Aerith jumped and Vanera and Kairi turned their heads to see who made the loud crash.

"Oh Yuffie! You're okay!" Aerith exclaimed. She ran off the bed and gave her a hug around the neck.

"What happened, Yuf?" Vanera asked with a worried expression on her face.

"Yeah, what?" Kairi echoed.

Yuffie sat on the edge of her bed and laid out on her soft blue blanket.

"All we heard was a scream and then a huge splash. And it didn't sound like the having fun kind of scream," Vanera added.

"Yeah, and then all these little kids started screaming because you were floating on the water and blood was pouring out around you," Kairi said, emotions running across her face as she remembered.

"The nurse wouldn't let us see you, and we thought it was really, really serious," Aerith said quietly.

Yuffie remained silent, then said, "What did Cloud, Riku, and...Squall do?"

"Riku and Cloud got you out of the water while the nurse came running a few seconds after that. We haven't really seen Squall since then," Vanera said with a glance at Yuffie.

She sighed and bit her lip. So...she could have died and yet Squall did nothing to help her? He just disappears without a trace without even saying a word to her friends?

"I convinced Cloud, Riku, and Squall to go swimming with me, and somehow we ended up on the diving platform. I was too scared to jump so Cloud and Riku jumped before me, leaving me alone with Squall. He was blocking the step ladder, and I was facing him. He took a step toward me and I stepped back. That's when I fell and a rock sliced my back," Yuffie recapped.

Vanera put a light arm around her. "Still up for that party?"

Yuffie's eyes brightened. "I wouldn't miss it for the world...!"

Kairi grinned. "Good. We were just deciding to choose what to wear."

Yuffie raised her eyebrows. "So we finally don't have to wear those awful counselor clothes?" she giggled and started to finger through her end of the closet.

She flipped through blouses and T-shirts while Kairi held up her own clothes.

"What about this one?" Kairi asked and stared into a full-length mirror.

She flicked her gaze in Kairi's direction and then turned back to finding her outfit. "You kidding me? That is hideous!"

"What?" Kairi whined. It was a lavender skirt and a white tank-top.

"You always wear that!" Vanera groaned.

"Kind of like how Aerith has an obsession with pink?" Kairi retorted and put the outfit away in exchange for another.

"Hey!" Aerith said, and quickly stuffed something behind her back. A light blush spread across her cheeks. Vanera grinned.

"Whatcha got there, Aerith?" she asked innocently, then darted behind Aerith and took the dress out of her clutched fist. "Ah-hah! A pink dress!"

Yuffie laughed and took out pair of denim cut-offs and a plain white T-shirt. "What about this?"

Aerith scrunched her face up. "But it's so...casual."

"Comfortable," she corrected.

"Here, let me look..." Aerith said and stood next to Yuffie. She skillfully flipped through the clothes at a whirlwind speed and in five seconds flat she was holding a sea-foam green, sleeveless blouse and a black skirt.

"Well...I guess it's okay..." Yuffie said slowly. She didn't want Aerith to know how much she liked the colors together. Aerith lifted her chin and had a smug look on her face.

"Okay, okay, I love it! You don't have to grill me..." Yuffie said, breaking down to Aerith from a simple look on her face.

She laughed her entrancing, airy laugh and danced over to Vanera, who was looking at cargo jeans and a black shirt.

Aerith shook her head. "Van, why don't you wear something less baggy? Your legs are gorgeous."

Vanera wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

"How come you don't wear make-up? Enhance your features a little!"

She leaned forward, slightly exasperated. "Just give me a makeover..." she joked.

"Can I?"

Kairi gave Aerith a look.

"Fine...but can I at least choose your outfit? Yuffie liked hers."

She nodded reluctantly. "As long as it's not pink, I guess..."

After a minute or two she handed her a jean skirt and a pale blue blouse that brought out her large blue eyes.

"Perfect!" Aerith announced.

Kairi dressed in a pale purple dress with a pink sash across the waist. "I don't care if you guys don't like this outfit or not, I'm going like this."

"I th—" Vanera said.

"I don't care!"

"I was going to see it looks good on you."

Kairi looked at her sheepishly. "Oh."

"C'mon guys, we're going to be late!" Yuffie called over her shoulder. She was already out the door.

"Since when did she ever care about being late?" Aerith said, remembering all the times Yuffie had shown up late for class or for coffee with her. She laughed and walked out the door, Kairi and Vanera in tow, trying to keep up with Yuffie.

~*~

Squall sat next to Cloud, staring into the blazing fire. It crackled and snapped out at him, as if scolding him for what he had done. It danced high in the air, laughing and crackling even more.

He shifted on the hard, rotting log and scowled. Why did the junior counselors have to sit on tree trunks while the senior counselors and instructors got to sit on chairs sculpted from the very tree wood itself?

Mentally sighing, he glanced around at the group of people sipping bubbly sodas and digging their hands into bowls of chips and getting them covered in salt. The instructors still hadn't arrived, and he could tell neither had some of the counselors.

He watched silently as everyone laughed and had a good time. Cloud turned to him and gave him a light punch on the back, the way all the guys seem to.

"Hey man, cheer up. Grab a soda," he said.

"No."

Squall could sense Cloud's annoyance at his constant use of monosyllables and emotion. He shrugged it off, not feeling the need to care.

"Are you still thinking about Yuffie? Come on, I'm sure she's fine..." Cloud said, not sure if he believed it himself. It was scary seeing an unconscious Yuffie being rushed to the nurse with blood pouring out of her back. He could see why Squall blamed himself.

Squall turned to glare at Cloud, and he knew he hit a soft spot. "The only thing I'm thinking about is how annoying your mouth is," he muttered.

A rustling from the bushes brought his eyes to attention. Four dark, feminine figures emerged from the brush, cursing and shrieking. He shook his head. The path was only ten feet away. It would have been easier to use the path.

They walked out of the shadows. The fire played on their faces and revealed them. The four girls turned out to be Kairi, Aerith, Vanera, and Yuffie.

He felt relief flood through his body. So she was okay. He could stop thinking about her now.

The other counselor's reactions were positive, at least for the guys. Their gazes lingered on the females, casting looks of pure jealousy on the other girls' faces.

He noted they were dressed up for the occasion. Skirts and dresses, even for the casual Yuffie and Vanera. Yuffie's particular outfit choice was a sleeveless top and short black skirt. He stared for longer than normal.

He pried his eyes off of her in time to notice Cloud and Aerith exchange shy glances at each other.

Cloud followed her with his eyes until she sat down next to her friends. They started to joke and laugh with each other, nudging one another in the ribs and sizing up the male company.

"Cloud..." Squall started. He had a faraway look in his eye and didn't seem to hear him.

"What?" he asked without breaking his stare. He noticed Aerith was looking at Cloud too, and had unconsciously separated herself from her friends.

"It's impolite to stare."

"Shove off."

Cloud's response startled him, but he covered his surprise. If it had been any other time, he was sure Cloud wouldn't have said that.

A distant music drifted from down the path, and was growing louder. A group of people emerged from the path, carrying a huge battery-powered stereo that was pumping out the latest music. Following behind were the instructors.

He groaned. Obviously this was going to be a noisy night.

~*~

Yuffie laughed when the other counselors brought the music. Suddenly, the quiet, refined chatter was raised to loud, happy laughs and shouts as the tunes relaxed everyone. More people came up the trail, obviously attracted to the music.

She grinned and hummed along with the songs she knew, not caring if anyone overheard her out of pitch singing.

Kairi was straining her neck as if looking for someone special, while Aerith was staring at someone from across the fire, not even blinking. Whoever the man was, Yuffie was impressed. Aerith had always politely refused dates from other guys at school, and had never once known Aerith to like anyone. She had even overheard the burned guys commenting that she was a lesbian to reclaim their pride, and then saying, "She hasn't gone on a date once in her whole life even though almost every self-respecting guy has asked her."

She followed Aerith's gaze right into large blue eyes, then up to spiky, blonde hair...

"BLONDIE?!" she screamed. Everyone's heads turned and stared at her, the only noise coming from the stereo. Yuffie blushed, and after a few moments they went back to what they were doing.

She turned to Aerith and grabbed her arm. "Blondie?!" she hissed more softly.

Aerith looked at her. "What are you talking about?" She still had that dreamy look in her eye, and seemed to be just itching to go back to staring.

"You like...like...Cloud?" she asked in a strangled voice. Aerith's face lightened up.

"Cloud..." she whispered, as if testing the name on her tongue. She almost gagged right then and there. Her arm grabbed Yuffie's and she asked excitedly, "Is that his name?"

"Uhh...I prefer Blondie, but ya know whatever floats your boat..."

"Yuffie, isn't he the most adorable creature ever?" Aerith crooned.

"Maybe we should get you to the punch bowl."

She seemed unaffected. "His hair is so silky..."

"...So spiky..." Yuffie mimicked playfully.

"His eyes are like the bluest sky..."

"...like the rottenest blueberry..."

"His skin is so smooth..."

"...he used to have boils..." Yuffie sang.

Aerith sighed. "Yuffie, when will you grow up? You just have to experience love firsthand to know."

"More like lust," she chided.

"Hey—has anyone seen...seen Sora?" Kairi cut in, looking embarrassed.

Yuffie shook her head. "No—remember what they said earlier? They were acting kind of suspicious about it, too. Leon pulled Sora back when he got excited about the party, said something, then he...seemed to remember...something," she finished lamely.

Kairi looked crestfallen. "Oh."

"Why don't we leave Miss Lovebird over here and get some punch?" Yuffie suggested. She wanted to cheer Kairi up a little.

"Sure..." she replied, less than enthusiastically.

Yuffie grabbed two Styrofoam cups and proceeded to the punch bowl. A large silver ladle was sticking out of it, and behind the bowl, was a gorgeous girl. She had the look on her face that said, "I'm sexy, and I know it." Her hair was black and silky that fell to her back, and her eyes were a greenish hazel.

"Hello," Yuffie said, and waited for the girl to fill her cups.

She narrowed her eyes and stared at her. "What?"

"Aren't you going to fill our cups?"

"Do I look like I would?"

Yuffie sighed and pushed down her temper, which the girl had already brought up to a heated degree. Instead of arguing, she would fill it herself.

She grabbed the ladle and filled the cups. The girl scowled and watched her.

"You're hogging all of the ice cream for yourself," she said coolly. Sheryl came up behind her, a huge smile on her face.

"Valerie, how has everyone liked the punch?" Sheryl asked and put a friendly hand on her shoulder.

An innocent, shy smile surfaced on Valerie's lips. "They all love it, Sher. Your recipe is a real hit!"

She smiled and nodded approvingly, and her gaze turned to Yuffie and Kairi. "I trust they aren't causing you any trouble?"

Yuffie's jaw dropped. Her? Causing trouble? More like this Valerie was!

Valerie hesitated. "Well...I think I've got everything handled," she replied, tactfully making it seem like there was something going on, but also making herself look responsible in the process.

Yuffie and Kairi exchanged glances.

"Well..." Sheryl said, and gave them a warning glance, "Let's not cause trouble, now," and walked away.

Valerie sneered and mimicked, "How has everyone liked the punch?"

"That wasn't very nice," Kairi said.

"Who said it was?" she retorted, and then laughed. "Both of you just leave my sight. I have better things to do then talk to smelly rats."

Her anger overtook her and she lunged forward, nearly knocking over the punch table. Kairi grabbed her arm and pulled her back. They both toppled over onto the ground, making Yuffie groan.

"Oww...my back..."

Valerie leaned over the side of the table and said, "That reminds me. Stay away from Squall Leonheart. I'm glad he made you fall off the diving platform."

"Oh! You LITTLE BITC—"

"Yuffie! Come on, let's go!" Kairi said before she could cause damage.

They sat down on a log as far away from Valerie as they could get. Yuffie clenched her fists and stared at her in loathing. Forty-five minutes passed, and she was still pissed.

"Oh, how I would enjoy to squeeze the airrrr out of that delicate neeck of hers. Make it all red and broosed..." she muttered, slurring her words.

Kairi sighed. "She shouldn't have acted like that..." she agreed with a hiccup.

"Oh please Kai, I think Angel Aerith has taken you under her big, heavenly wing..."

"Yuffie!"

"Sorry," she said. "I'm just...I'm just...I'm just mad." Her stuttering was evident in her words.

She gave a little giggle, sighed happily, and looked around for Aerith and Vanera. Over in a corner, Vanera was sipping what looked like her seventh glass of punch and laughing giddily with three guys. She watched in shock as she leaned forward and whispered something to one of the guys and came away looking naughty.

She glanced down at her own cup and felt sick. Had someone spiked the punch? Wearily, she looked down at the ten glasses that she had forced some guy to get her so she didn't have to talk to Valerie. If she was in her right mind, she would go and get someone to take her to her room, but her mind was clouded and suddenly everything was something to giggle about.

Sheryl stood on top of one of the logs and started calling for attention. Yuffie giggled in a slow, lazy way and pointed.

"Looooooook Kairi! She's an instructor...on a log!" Yuffie gasped through insane laughter, not caring if the punch was spiked or not. Kairi slowly raised her eyes and a grin spread across her face until they were both crying with laughter.

Yuffie stood up, a sick feeling in her stomach. She ran into the bushes and bumped into someone. She groaned and felt her way to another bush to vomit. Being drunk was so abrupt...one minute she was laughing, the next she had a wave of nausea.

She puked and started to cough, feeling worse by the second. She was aware of a presence standing next to her.

Shamefully, she lifted her head and stared into azure colored eyes and almost passed out. She didn't want to see him, not now, not ever.

"Go away..." she said weakly and grabbed her stomach.

"I think you should get back to your cabin."

"No, you think!" she said dryly.

"I think I'll alert Sheryl that something is wrong. I think the punch must have been spiked, the way everyone is acting."

"Okay..." she replied and returned to her bush.

Squall left her there and stood next to Sheryl, who was trying to get everyone's attention with the help of the other instructors. She looked down at him helplessly.

"I think the punch was spiked."

Sheryl put a hand on her head, coming to realization. "Oh dear...after every warning we told you at the camp orientation..."

With a sigh, she turned to the other instructors and talked to them. They gave nods and started down the trail.

"We're getting some older escorts to take everyone back to their rooms. We will get to the bottom of this!"

Squall left her there and decided to get Yuffie, who looked like she had passed out in the bushes. She must be really naïve to not smell something strange in the punch.

She was lying in grass, looking pale and worn. He lifted her up into his arms and adjusted her head so it wasn't hanging over the side of his arm.

The least I can do is help out, now...he told himself. But I'm NOT doing it for Yuffie...

He came out of the bushes and searched for Cloud so he could help Kairi home. He was nowhere in sight. It was just like Cloud; to be around in normal times, then disappear when it was important.

Already sober people were picking up the wasted or helping them up and leading them down the trail, following Sheryl's orders. Squall carried Yuffie down the path and found her cabin easily, as it had pink curtains strung by the windows. Only Aerith would do that.

Carefully, he climbed the creaky steps to open the door. A loud yell rang in his ears and almost made him collapse. Shots of water hit him all over, drenching him to the core.

"Take that! And that!" Sora's voice came. He appeared from the door, carrying a huge water gun. Riku was behind him, shooting over his shoulder.

When Sora saw a furious Squall, he lowered his water gun in bewilderment. "Huh?"

"You idiot, you were supposed to wait to see who it was first!" he growled.

"But—we thought that—"

"Something went wrong at the party," he explained briefly. "And everyone is wasted and drunk."

Riku sighed and shook his head. "I miss all the fun, don't I?"

Sora nudged him in the ribs.

"Oh—I mean...how horrible!" he said.

"Move it," Squall said and pushed his way into the room.

"Moody, aren't we?" Riku called.

If he wasn't carrying Yuffie, he would punch Riku's smug little face in. But since he was, he ignored him and put her on her bed. It was obvious, sporting a blanket that had 'Yuffie' embroidered on it.

He left her with all of her clothes on, and moments later two older women helped Kairi and Vanera to their beds, whispering among themselves.

"Whoever did this is getting into a lot of trouble..." he overheard.

"C'mon guys..." Squall said and dragged Sora and Riku out by their collars.

"Stop doing that to me!" Sora whined.

He ignored him and took them back to their cabin, then followed the trail back to the party site to see if he was needed. It was going to be a rough night for the other counselors.

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DUN DUN DUN! I actually put in some Squall action! Usually it's only in Yuffie's point of view. Well, you know how it works, you can review now. I have to finish this really quick and post it up tomorrow...but thanks to the great people who reviewed!

Also thanks to Annjirika who helped give me an idea for the next chapter.

Just in case you didn't notice, in the last chapter Squall yanked Sora away from the poster and told him he couldn't go, then Sora kind of went, "I can't. Oh YEAH!" because he was remembering. Well, he and Riku decided during the party to hide in their cabin and drench them in water when they got back. I just thought I should clear that up. ;)

Like I said, you can review now. Umm...and I feel like I'm forgetting something here, but if I remember I'll tell you in the next chapter, which I should be able to get up this weekend.