A/N: Still in suspense? Hey, I am too...J/K.

Chapter 11: Pretending

Baralai sat tired at the Luca Café, a cup of fresh coffee thawing his frozen hands as the morning sun scaled the buildings of the Plaza like squirrels would trees. The storeowners were just starting to surface from the shadows, setting up their carts anticipating another successful day of sales and satisfied customers. He didn't sleep well the night before; his sleeping tablet did no good fighting against his racing thoughts, keeping him awake without fail

Fitted in a pair of black dress pants and a green long sleeved shirt, Baralai waited patiently for Rikku to arrive. He called her earlier, keeping the promise he made to himself to clear his name about the kiss. She was still sleeping when he called, but hearing the urgency in his voice, she wasn't about to deny him an audience and agreed to come. Baralai felt bad about asking her to meet him so early, but then again, it seemed he was always feeling bad about something having to do with her. Making a mental note to leave her alone from now on, he took a sip of his coffee and glanced at the clock in the middle of the Plaza. It was seven fifty five and she was to show up at eight. "Just five minutes before she's late." He thought to himself, looking to the entrance of the café.

With seconds to spare, Rikku pulled open the glass doors that secured the entryway. She wore a navy sweatshirt; tiny letters 'A.B.U.' for Al Bhed University stitched in yellow atop her left breast, and a pair of form fitting blue jeans. A matching navy blitz ball cap crowned her head, her blonde hair flowing out of the hole in the back of it. From the door she spotted Baralai and waved to him spastically, a smile conquering her face. Baralai stood up and pulled out a chair for her to sit on; she thanked him as she sat, placing her hands to the underbelly of it scooting herself closer to the table. The hypello waiter handed her a cup of coffee and she pulled it close to her lips, the heat warming her hands and the steam tickling her nose as she gulped it down. Rikku looked at Baralai satisfied, heaving a contented sigh.

"Have I told you how much I love coffee?" She ejected, rolling her eyes in a fit of pleasure. Baralai nodded his head and smiled, picking up his own mug and taking a sip of the contents contained inside.

"Yeah, I do believe you did, the morning you told me about Paine and Gippal." He remarked, putting the coffee mug down and leaning back in his chair. He exhaled a frustrated sigh of his own and stared at the contours of the table, it was grainy with scratches scattered here and there. Rikku surveyed him for a few moments before placing her left hand to his right, gripping it tightly. Baralai felt her eyes on him and looked up, concern was plastered like 'lost puppy' signs all over her face.

"Baralai, why are we here this morning?" Rikku queried, continuing to squeeze his hand gently. His eyes drooped, obviously from the lack of sleep the night before as he gazed at her. "It's not about that kiss, is it?" The tremble she felt from his hand was answer enough for her and she tilted her head, curling her lower lip into a pout, not taking her eyes off him. She then smiled sympathetically.

"Why are you so worried about it? It really was no big deal; it pains me to think it's what you're losing sleep over." She whined, now running her hand up and down his arm to his elbow. Even though she told him that, she was a little flattered he was reacting this way. Gippal was never nervous around her daring as he was. This was new to her, that someone had actually considered her feelings first. Subconsciously, Baralai reached for Rikku's left hand with his and held it down on his arm keeping it still. As if made mute by a silence spell and given an 'Echo Screen' he finally spoke, his voice was soft but audible.

"I was afraid I had jeopardized our friendship." He said, his tone suggesting a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt. "It would be horrible if I'd lost you as a friend." Baralai fixated his eyes back to the table feeling slightly embarrassed admitting that. With her right hand, Rikku lifted his chin up to meet her gaze and the two locked eyes for a moment. He was lost in the swirls, feeling a sense of calm taking over his body and he smiled. She did too, convinced she finally got through to him.

"Nah. Something like that won't get rid of me so easily!" she joked, downing the rest of her coffee. Baralai discovered he was still holding her hand and he quickly let it go as if it were diseased. He blushed profusely, laughing uncomfortably.

"Guess you want your hand back...Heh heh." Baralai chuckled, waving to the waiter to pour them another cup of caffeinated bliss. She rolled her eyes and grinned, folding her arms to her chest.

"You're too much Baralai. If I said it before I'll say it again. You really need to learn how to breathe! Lighten up!" She rested her elbows to the table leaning into Baralai with a devilish smirk painted on her lips. "So, do you think they got jealous?" Her eyebrow undulated suggestively, waiting for a response. Baralai returned to his normal self, comfortable with Rikku once more and he drew back his lips in amusement.

"If we made them leave I'd say we gave them quite a show." He admitted, unable to control his smile. "But the question is: what do we do about it now?" He looked back at her for her to reciprocate but instead she seemed puzzled. Rikku wrinkled her nose, her brow furrowing in deep contemplation.

"You mean, should we pretend we really are dating?" she wondered, "You know, to see if they come crawling back to us? Do you think they would?" her questions fascinated Baralai and his interest was piqued.

"I don't know." He responded as he thanked the waiter for the coffee. "Now, my other question is, if they do want us back, do we welcome them or give them the heave ho?" His answer triggered a healthy laugh from Rikku and he joined her, the two engaging in a mindless giggle fest. She inhaled; trying to return to her leveled degree of breathing and drank more of her coffee.

"I say we do it!" Rikku announced, a hand to the air in triumph. "And I think we should tell them 'no' if they ask us to come back, you know- make them grovel. What do you say to that?" Baralai tossed the idea around in his head, really taking the time to think about all the possibilities before looking at Rikku with an ever-increasing smile on his lips.

"What do we have to lose?" he asked, shrugging his shoulders. Quickly his face sunk and he tensed up, reminding her of one minute detail. "The thing is we'll be...kissing again. What do we do about that?" Baralai found himself growing uncomfortable once more, nervous heat emanated up his neck causing him to sweat. Rikku laughed again, punching him in the arm playfully.

"Why? You don't like kissing me, is that it?" she joked as his face flushed red. He turned away, fearful he hurt her feelings but she smacked him again proving otherwise and he held his arm, rubbing it lightly.

"No, it's not that...Just don't get used to it, I don't want to get you hooked on me or anything." He said teasing. It surprised her, he almost sounded like Gippal just then. Truth was, he was beginning to understand Rikku now, with her upbeat and slightly hyper demeanor. This behavior was alien to him as Paine was never one to give free reign to such silliness. Secretly, although he did want Paine back, the thought of kissing Rikku again seemed to intrigue him as well. He cursed himself for thinking such thoughts and extending his hand to her, she took it and they shook in agreement.

"It's settled then!" Rikku squealed, excitement popping from her mouth. "Now, what to do to get this going...I know! We need to find out where the two will be hanging out and we can make sure we show up!" They stood up and Baralai tossed some Gil on the table, putting his jacket on soon after. "This will have to wait though, I want to go home and go back to bed." She yawned, but not before pointing a demanding finger at him. "I suggest you try to take a nap too, you need to be in top form for our curtain call which could be at any time!" Rikku said, smoothing out the wrinkles on her sweatshirt as the two stood up to leave.

---Meanwhile, somewhere in the plaza---

Her boots glided along the concrete as she walked toward the Café with anticipation for her first cup of coffee. She felt chilly from the morning air, but the thought of that hot java warming her insides was incentive enough to bite through the cold. Just a few more steps and heaven would be hers, at least for the moment. Well, if he would hurry up, it would be.

"Come on Gippal...'shakey shake' it already!" Paine growled under her breath as she turned to his direction. She scoffed at herself for mocking Rikku; indeed she'd been around her for too long. Gippal was just feet behind her, hunched over and dragging his boots, all the while rubbing his hands together like sticks of wood. She glared at him impatiently and he pouted, trying to appease her anger somehow.

"I'm coming Paine, gimmie a break!" He whined, a puff of cold smoke escaping his mouth. He caught up to her and took her hand. She resisted at first, but seeing as he was keeping his pace with her this time, she gripped it tighter and quickened hers, practically dragging him behind her.

"Why do we have to come here so early on a Sunday morning anyway? I'm tired, I want to go back to sleep." He yawned resting his head on her shoulder, looking at her with a sad eye. Paine huffed, but smiled like she always did and put her hand to his cheek, patting it mildly making him grimace.

"You promised me we'd come here every Sunday." She noted, a little bit of a whine slipped in her tone. "I used to come here early to watch the town wake up. It's a tradition that can't be missed." Gippal walked ahead of her and pulled the glass doors open to allow her entrance. She walked through, glancing at Gippal with a grateful smile. The door closed quietly behind him and he strolled up beside her, slipping his left arm around her waist. Suddenly, Paine stopped in her tracks and leaned on Gippal's left shoulder with both of her arms. He looked at her as if to say 'what?' and she made a face for him to stare ahead. When he did, the sight before him glued his boots to the floor, making him unable to move.

"We've got company." Paine exclaimed, taking a deep breath of worry. Gippal brought her in closer to him to help her calm down. This was going to prove interesting.

Rikku and Baralai headed for the exit. She was too involved in her cup of 'Coffee to go' to notice who was in front of her. Fortunately, Baralai did and he leaned in, whispering in her ear.

"Um, I think its Showtime." He said to her nervously, pointing to the entrance. Rikku looked up, spotting Gippal and Paine coming toward them. The four froze in their positions like chocobos mesmerized by a hover's headlights in the middle of the Highroad.

"Wow! What a coincidence, huh?" Rikku chuckled uneasily. Baralai nodded.

"No, I forgot to mention that Paine loves coming here early Sunday mornings for coffee. We never missed a day. It was tradition. How could I forget such a detail?" He remarked, a hand to his head, shaking it wearily. "It's too late to turn back now. Let's make this count."

Baralai grabbed Rikku's hand and approached the two eagerly. "So much for leaving her alone from now on... just what have I gotten myself into?" he thought as they faced their former loves, ready to give the performance of their lives.