We all got back from the restaurant we had gone to. It was starting to drizzle. I looked back before going back in. it was foggy and hard to see.
"Brrr! It's getting really cold. Good thing we have heaters throughout this ship." I was shivering all over and so was everyone else.
"Uh oh. Rikku! Come over here now! The heater's broken!" Buddy called me over. Guess he wanted me to fix it.
I took a quick look at it, "Sorry, Bud, but I don't know what's wrong with it. Everything looks fine but it just won't start."
Buddy looked disappointed. I was usually the one to fix these kind of problems. Although, I really did not want to fix this even if I knew what was the problem. I had something else on my mind. Rather, someone. I looked at him. He was shaking. It was funny. It wasn't that cold, but he started to sneeze. I chuckled and he immediately glanced in my direction.
"What's so funny?" Paine asked, she didn't seem like she cared, but she asked me.
"What? Nothing! It' nothing." I answered. But she knew I was hiding something and kept staring at me.
"I really don't see anything funny, the heater's out. Oh, I know the cold's probably got to your brain, it's probably dead...wait, it's been dead even before this. Never mind." She told me, with a little laughing. I looked at her sternly and then looked away.
"Hehe. Paine's laughing." Yuna giggled. Paine suddenly stopped.
Soon, the rain started to poor harder and harder. Then, we all heard thunder. Then, lightning. Of course, I'm not afraid of that anymore. But, it was annoying. I then remembered when we went to the Thunder Plains as guardians. I fell to the floor shaking. Then I grabbed Tidus' leg and begged to stay at Rin's Travel Agency. His skin was so firm and soft. Hehehe. I'll never forget that.
"I guess we'll have to call the repairman since our repair 'girl' can't do it." Shrinra said smartly.
"Is that all I'm good for? Repairing your broken gadgets! Hmmph!" I was ticked off. I felt like grinding his face into dust.
Buddy went to the phone hanging beside Shrinra's computer thingy, "Uh oh. I have more bad news, the phone's out. I guess this storm is stronger than we would have expected. Some of us will have to go out and get a repairman. Or maybe we should stay at an inn somewhere. What do you guy's think?"
"I think we should stay at an-an-an...HACHOOO!! An inn." Tidus continually sneezed and we all knew if we didn't get him some warmth soon, his cold would get worse. Obviously!
"Okay, we'll all go to an inn. Which one should we go to?" asked Buddy.
"The most expensive and luxurious one!" exclaimed Rikku.
"And the most expensive and luxurious inn would be?" Buddy was smiling and looking straight at me.
"I don't know, why are you asking me?"
"Because you're the one who said to." He was right, but I had no idea which inn was the most expensive and luxurious. So we all decided to just stay at one of the local Besaid hotels. They were all nice looking, five star.
When we had arrived at the hotel, we were all drenched in water. While Buddy was talking to the clerk, Paine and Yuna decided to go into the bathroom. I saw Tidus grabbing a whole bunch of tissues. He was looking out the window while blowing his nose. So I went over to him. I knelt next to him on one of the blue armchairs looking at the window.
"The droplets look really pretty on the window." I started the conversation.
"Yeah. It looks really pretty, as pretty as your face." He commented.
"What?" I pretended like I didn't hear, "I'm sorry, can you say that again?"
"I said, yeah, it looks really pretty."
"Oh, I know, after that. You said something. What was it?"
"I didn't say anything after that. You must be hearing things."
"Right." I started to frown and walk away when he tugged on my arm. I turned around to see a smiling Tidus.
"Hey, where are you going? We never get to talk anymore. Stay, with me."
"What? We talked last night, while we were out. Of course we talk."
"No, I mean just you and me. Like we used to."
I was starting to get uncomfortable as he held my arm smiling at me and just then Buddy called us. He let go of my arm and we went to Buddy. The rooms were good enough for two people. I had to share with Paine, since Yuna would obviously share with Tidus. While Buddy, Brother, and Shrinra shared a suite. He gave all of us our keys and we all left for our room.
When Paine and I reached our room, she pushed me aside and walked gently inside and straight into the bathroom. She locked it and said,
"I'm taking a therapeutic bath. Say a word to anyone about this and I'll kill you!"
I just sat on one of the two beds close to the bathroom, "Paine, can I ask you something? It's really personal."
"..."
"Well, o-okay. You see I have this friend-"she cut me off before I could finish.
"Can't you take silence as a 'no'?"
"No. But you haven't even started your bath, it's still filling up, so I thought we could talk first." Just then I heard the bathtub faucet turn off and the door unlocked.
"You have five minutes...begin." She told me.
"Okay, you see I have this friend who has a crush on this guy."
"Sooo, what's the problem, is she scared. Or is it a he?"
"No, the problem is that the guy she likes has a girlfriend already. And she doesn't know what to do? So she keeps bugging me for the answer. What do you think?"
"I think you should follow your heart. Whatever you think is the right thing to do."
"You do mean her, right. I mean we are talking about my friend. Not me." Paine started to chuckle and left for the bathroom once again. Did she know whom I was talking about?
After one hour and forty-two minutes, Paine came out. I decided to take a bath too. And also think of my problem. I let the tub fill up while I put my blonde hair in a bun. I dipped my foot in the warm water and stopped the faucet. The bathrooms were all nice, glossy, white, and spotlessly clean. I sighed as I took off my clothes and fell into the tub slowly. I started to think of the man I knew would never be with me. And I just kept thinking about him for a while and before I knew it I fell asleep in the tub.
A while passed and I was still soaking in the tub. I guess Paine got worried and knocked on the bathroom door. I suddenly awoke and looked at the clock. It was past three a.m.
"Rikku. Are you there? I just woke up and you weren't in bed. Hello?" Paine sounded as if she was my mother worried that I snuck out.
"I'm fine Paine. Just dozed off for about-uh...six hours. I'll be out in a sec."
I rinsed the soap off my wet, silky skin and took one of the robes off the rack. I brushed my teeth with one of the complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste. I walked out of the room and turned off the in the light in the bathroom.
"Paine, do you think I-"
I tried to finish but I realized Paine was sound asleep. I turned off the lamp in between the two beds. I smiled and went to the window. I pulled the curtain to the left and saw that the rain had stopped. But it was still foggy. I decided to go out in the lobby. I put on a pink tank top and my yellow scarf; two lime green armwarmers, olive green short shorts, and my blue and white boots. I quietly closed the door on my way out.
I sighed, "What should I do?"
I walked up the front desk. No one was there anymore. So I went to sit on the armchair. I sighed again and looked out the window. It was all fogged up. I put my finger against the glass and wrote 'Tidus and Rikku forever'. I sighed once more and started to think about Yunie and Tidus. The thought almost made me tear up. I put my legs up on the chair and wrapped my arms around them. I started to bite my right knee and closed my eyes. I pictured Tidus wrapping his muscular arms around me. I then felt a warm big arm placed on my left shoulder. I opened my eyes to see him.
"Hey, you should be asleep." He said with a smirk.
"So should you." I said merrily. He sat on the couch left from me. He signaled me to come over. So I did.
"Why are you still up? It's kinda late. Actually, it is late." He giggled and I sat next to him, "It's cold. How come your wearing shorts? And why does it look like you're going to go out?"
"I should ask you the same. You're awake and in your jean shorts. Wearing a red polo shirt, with your weird metal glove and your little pack thingy. So what are you doing up?"
"I asked you first." He laughed and I laughed. Weird moment.
We stopped and he looked straight at me. He then wrapped his arms around me. Was I dreaming again? I pinched myself and it hurt. I wasn't dreaming. He smiled at me and looked over to the window I sat in front of.
"Tidus and Rikku forever? Now what does that mean?"
"Uh-uh-uh...NOTHING! It means absolutely nothing! It just means best friends forever. Nothing more, okay!"
"Okay! Okay."
"Tidus..."
"Huh? What?"
"I-I didn't say anything!"
He laughed once more and hugged me. I decided to return the favor and hugged him back. I leaned against his chest and sighed. I've been doing that a lot lately. I finally had him to myself and he was hugging me. He then rested his head on my shoulder. So I felt like telling him. Finally.
"Tidus...I have to tell you something. I-I-I love you, okay. Ever since I first met you in that temple ruin, I knew you were the one. And I was afraid my comrades would mistake you for an Al Bhed hater, so I defended you. I didn't want you dead. And I didn't want to knock you unconscious. But I had to. I'm-I'm sorry. I really love you. But Yunie got to you first."
"..."
"Tidus?"
I turned my head to see his face. His eyes were closed. His eyes were closed! Why that-he fell asleep during my confession! HOW DARE HE!
"JERK!!!"
He awoke and saw me standing, my eyes were getting puffy, "R-Rikku, what's wrong?"
"You jerk!" I stormed off as he wiped the drool of his chin and looked very confused.
I started to cry, but I kept walking, not looking back at him. The only reason he rested his head on my shoulder was because he was asleep. I bet he didn't even hear what I said. I can't believe it. I cuddled up to him and poured my heart out. But he didn't even notice. I went into my room and cuddled up on my bed.
"Tidus..." I closed my eyes as tears began to fall off my cheek and stain my bed sheets. "He hadn't heard a word."