23. Can't Fight This Feeling
"WHOO!" Tidus yelled when he got back into the locker room after the game. He threw his hands in the air as he faced the rest of the Abes. "That's right, bitches! 6 to 5!"
"Yeah, of course you had to wait until the last possible second to score the final goal!" Letty teased as he gently smacked Tidus on the chest. "We were pretty scared there, Ti."
"Oh, come on, jumping out of the sphere pool to do a sphere shot right into the goal? What could've been more exciting than that?" Tidus exclaimed as he grabbed a towel and wiped his face clear of the chlorinated water. His other teammates laughed at him and all grabbed towels as well.
"Awesome game, you guys!" Wakka congratulated them as he walked into the locker room gave them all high fives. "I never doubted you for a second! And I must say, that was an amazing last shot, Tidus."
"Thanks, Wakka," Tidus said as he sat down on a bench and leaned forward so he rested his elbows against his knees. "So are we still all headed to your place tonight?"
"Yep, Lu and I will leave in a few minutes to set everything up." He looked at his watch to check the time. "Okay, it's about 8:30 now, so how about you all start to show up at 9:00? That way you guys can go home and shower and whatnot, and it gives Lu and I time to pick up Vidina from the babysitter."
"What's the matter? You don't like the chlorine cologne scent on us?" Keepa asked as Wakka laughed. He sniffed himself and then leaned over to sniff Jassu. Jassu pushed him away and Keepa continued with, "I personally think it attracts the ladies, ya?"
"Oh, you all know what I mean," he said as everyone continued to dry off and throw on their normal clothes. "All right, I'm off. I'll see you soon, ya?"
"Yep, see ya in a bit," Tidus answered for everyone as he ran out of the locker room so he could grab his books out of his locker. Why am I even bothering? I'm going to Wakka's so it's not like I'll be able to study or anything...Oh dear Yevon, I'm contemplating studying...what is wrong with me! He heard footsteps behind him when he reached his locker and turned to see Rikku standing behind him. She had a strange look on her face, one that Tidus had never seen before on her. I think it's remorse...He thought as he gave her a perplexed look.
"Hey," she said meekly as she looked down at her feet. "Good game tonight."
"Yeah, thanks." There was an awkward silence between the two of them for a second, so Tidus felt that he should speak. "So, you put Yuna on the squad, huh?" She looked up at him with gentle eyes and after a second she threw her arms around him tightly. Instead of hugging her back, he kept his hands by his side and rolled his eyes at her. "What do you want, Rikku?"
"I just wanted to apologize for everything." She let go of him and as he looked into her eyes, he could tell that she wasn't being sincere. The vindictive sparkle was still in her green eyes, although she tried to look like she was ready to cry.
"Yeah, whatever," he scoffed as he started to walk to his car. "I'll see ya at Wakka's."
"That's it?" She dropped her sad look and replaced it with a pissed off one. "You're not going to apologize?"
"Oh, this is rich," he said in disbelief as he turned back around to look at her. "I have to apologize to you? Don't you think that if anyone has to be apologizing, it has to be you to me?"
"Why would I have to apologize?" She asked as she as she crossed her arms in defiance. "I didn't do anything wrong. You're the one who fucked another girl, so don't go blaming anything on me."
"No?" Tidus had to ironically laugh at her as he walked closer. "Okay, yes, I did have sex with Naida on my own free will...well, with a little alcohol in me, so that made my senses fucked up a little. However, Yuna did not need to find out."
"She's a smart girl, Ti, she would've figured out eventually." She ran her finger down the side of his face and gave him a smug smile.
"I am about ready to pummel you right here and now, I hope you know that," he warned as he glared at her. She smiled at herself as she put her arms against her side. "You are being fucking ridiculous and I can't stand it."
"I think you are the one who is losing their mind!" Rikku said as she threw her hands in the air. "Uh, just in case you weren't clever enough to figure it out, I put Yuna on the squad as an apology present for you!"
"What the hell?" He asked as he squinted his eyes at her. "A present? You put Yuna on the squad as a present for me? Did I just hear you correctly? Why is that considered a present?"
"Well, I figured the only reason why you haven't fucked her yet is because she's not the stereotypical girl that you go after, so by putting her on the squad, she's now more in your league." Tidus groaned as he put his hand to his forehead. "What?"
"Rikku, a set of pom poms and a new skimpy outfit doesn't change who she is on the inside," he said with a forced smile. "Besides, you know just as well as I do that she was awesome out there."
"Fine, she's a good cheerleader, whatever, but it doesn't matter," Rikku said as she slightly pouted again.
"Wait, I just realized what you said." He ignored her pout and put a hand on his hip as she looked down at her nails. "Why do you want me to fuck her anyway?"
"Because you need to get laid. Since Naida didn't get you to relax at all, maybe nailing Yuna will satisfy you, and then maybe you'll be the Tidus that I used to know instead of...whoever the hell you are now," she said with a death glare. "I don't know who the hell you are."
"Oh great, this conversation again," Tidus stated, thinking of how Rikku went ballistic about this subject the previous week. "Look, I'm still the same guy. I just actually like a girl for once. Is that such a bad thing?"
"I guess not," Rikku said reluctantly as she stuck her lip out further. "You're not going to thank me for your present then?"
"First you want me to apologize to you, then you want me to thank you." Is she for real? He asked himself as he looked into Rikku's eyes. They still were still sparkling even though she was pouting. "I can read you, Rikku. Don't think I don't know that you are concocting some kind of scheme."
"Me?" She asked innocently as she hugged Tidus again. "I'm not, seriously. I just can't stand when you're pissed off at me."
"You having Naida tell Yuna that she and I had sex was a low thing to do, and you know it," he reiterated. Although he wasn't happy with her yet, he still hugged her back slightly.
"She didn't have to tell her, you know. I only strongly suggested the idea to her," Rikku said matter-of-factly. "She didn't have to listen to me."
"Yeah, but Rikku, you're like the cheerleading Yunalesca okay? If you asked all the cheerleaders to walk through the Thunder Plains with a metal rod in their hands because you told them that it was the new trend, they would all do it." He had to chuckle at the thought of seeing all the cheerleaders getting electrocuted and screaming. Rikku giggled at the thought of it as well as Tidus sighed. "All right, I forgive you."
"And?"
"I'm not going to thank you for picking Yuna to be Calli's replacement because she deserves to be on the squad," Tidus clarified as Rikku sighed.
"Okay, fine, I guess I can accept that," she said, slightly squeezing him. "I'm glad we got that one all settled. However, you might want to convince your snuggle moogle to go to Wakka's, because she doesn't want to go."
"Oh, I'll do just that," he said as he gave Rikku a little squeeze back. Ehh, she's not completely off the hook yet, but I guess I've gotta give her some credit for sucking up her pride and coming up to me first... "See ya at Wakka's?"
"Of course!" Rikku said as she and Tidus separated. "I just have to call up Gippal, take a shower, and then leave. So I'll be there in like forty minutes or so."
"All right, see ya," he said as she waved good bye and walked outside. He stared inside his locker for about thirty seconds before deciding not to get his books and got out his phone to call Yuna instead. Oh, she is going to be there tonight whether she wants to or not! I just had an amazing win at blitz and I want to see her to make my night even better...He smiled at the lusty feelings that swept through his body.
"Hey," Yuna said happily as she picked up the phone.
"Hey!" He replied, perhaps a little too cheerfully. "Whatcha doing?"
"I'm walking to my car." Tidus perked up, realizing that she was still at A-East. "Why?"
"Where are you parked?" He asked as he walked outside, hoping to see her.
"In a parking spot somewhere, I don't know," she said with a giggle. "Oh, however, there happens to be an extremely attractive man in my line of sight though."
Tidus looked around until he saw Yuna smiling and waving to him by her car. "Ha, very cute. Kay, hold on, I'll be right there!" He put his phone into his pocket, walked over to her, and gave her a hug.
"Amazing game tonight, Tidus," she said with a huge smile.
"So you're a cheerleader now, huh?" He asked as he looked at her in her outfit and she curtsied. "That's an interesting way to look at you. Sorry, but it is."
She slightly giggled as she observed the way Tidus was looking at her. He clearly was beaming, so that made her feel like she accomplished her goal. "No, I agree with you. I must admit I never imaged that I would be a cheerleader. Oddly enough, I did have a lot of fun today. I'm so freaking tired that I could fall asleep on the pavement, but it was definitely enjoyable."
"Well, I'm glad you're having fun. I love that outfit on you though…" he trailed off as he held her again, slightly caressing her as he moved his hands up her back. She exhaled in excitement, and instead of following up with anything, he changed the subject. "So, you going to Wakka's?"
"I think I'm going to go do my homework and go to bed," she said as she looked up at him as she was still in his arms. She saw the look of disappointment on his face and she ran her fingers tenderly through his damp hair. "Awww, don't give me that look."
"No, I'm gonna give you the look! I just had an amazing game in blitzball and I can't celebrate it with you?" Yuna had to smile at him and she shook her head. "Oh, come on!"
"I'm really tired, Tidus," she stated, trying to avoid the subject of her curfew. I know my parents would want me home at 11 and it's almost a quarter to nine now. I'm sure that Tidus would stay a lot later than that and I don't want to be a burden on him...
"But, don't you want to spend time with me?" He pouted and gave her puppy dog eyes. She giggled and rolled her eyes at him.
"That look doesn't work on me, but nice try." He broke into a smile and ran his fingers along her jaw bone, trailing onto her neck. Just as he was prepared to tease her a little to con her into going, she stood up straight and her eyes went wide.
"OH! That reminds me!"
"What?" He asked as she turned her neck toward him.
"Ya see that?"
"See what?" He investigated her neck, but he couldn't find anything unusual. "I don't see anything. Just your neck asking me to—"
"Oh, the make up still must on it. Rikku did a very good job covering it," she interrupted as she reached into her purse for a tissue. Tidus' face fell slightly that she didn't catch onto his comment, but watched as she dabbed the tissue on her tongue and then wiped away at her neck revealing the hickey. "Can you see it now?"
"Oh shit, who's that from?" He smiled innocently as she gave him a friendly push on his chest. "Sorry, I didn't mean to brand you."
"Nah, I find it rather funny actually," she confessed as she continued to wipe the make up off of it. "I've never had one before, so I think it's kinda fun. As long as my parents don't notice it, that is."
"I usually have the 'hickeys are okay as long as they're not visible' rule, but I guess I got a little carried away when you started the teasing fest today." He ran his finger over her neck and his smile became wider. "Wow, I'm really sorry. Damn, that is huge."
"Yeah, what, were you a vacuum in another life or something?" They both laughed and he put his arms around her again. Never let me go...Yuna thought as she placed her head on his chest and shut her eyes. He trailed his hand slowly up and down her back as he deeply inhaled and let the breath out slowly. Oh okay...maybe for a little while...Yuna thought as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Tidus?"
"Hm?" He asked as he looked down at her.
"I don't know how to get there," she said innocently as she gave a guilty look.
"Where? Oh, Wakka's?" His heart soared when he realized what she meant and he flashed her a million gil smile. "Here's an idea. I know that I want to change, and I'm sure you do as well. So how about we both go home, take showers and what not and I'll pick you up in like a half hour."
"Oh wow, that doesn't give me a lot of time!" Knowing how long it's been taking me to get ready for time with him...I'm really going to be screwed! "But I guess that works."
"Great," he said softly as he put one finger under her chin to tilt her head up. He started to bring her head toward his own, and she closed her eyes and slightly puckered her lips. When her lips met his, he moved his hand to the back of her neck to play with her hair. It was a sweet and gentle kiss with no tongue involved, and they both smiled as they parted. "I'll see you in a little bit?"
"Yeah," Yuna replied breathily with a rosy glow on her face. They smiled at each other for a minute and then Yuna reached into her purse for her keys. "I guess...I better get going."
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Tidus said, opening the door for her after she unlocked it. She sat down and looked up at him.
"Okay, see ya," Yuna said as she started up her car.
"I can't wait." Tidus' response and smile were sincere and he shut her door for her. He watched her drive out of sight before he walked to his own car, inhaling the crisp night air. He slowly exhaled and thought to himself, I just can't fight this feeling...and I have no idea why I would want to...
Yay I love romance. :) I also laugh at myself every time I read how Tidus tells Rikku that if she told the cheerleading squad to go in the Thunder Plains with metal rods they would do it...because I just get the vision of blonde girls screaming and like bursting into flames...LOL. Okay, I need to give a shout out to Red eyed stranger for giving me the idea to make Yuna a better dancer/cheerleader than Rikku. Also...more shout outs to everyone else who has read and reviewed. It's a lot easier on an author when they have happy things said about their story. :) Thanks everyone, and more soon!