My Christmas gift to you all...TWO updates in one day! One in this story and once in This Is My Story! Only one more chapter left in this story, and two and an epilogue in the other one. Okay, about this chapter though, it's pretty lengthy so stick with me...but I didn't want to chop it up. There is the time span of like a week and a half from the last chapter to this chapter, because now it's the night of Homecoming. ) Paine and Yuna have a rather entertaining conversation near the end of this chapter, and that was a lot of fun to write. Okay, I hope you enjoy this chapter...(and return the xmas gift by leaving me reviews! ) Thank you all for reviewing on my other chapters so far, it means so much to me!

36. Trying Not To Look Back

Yuna stood in front of her full length mirror in her Homecoming dress, twisting and turning to see the back of it. As much as she wanted her dress to be pink and fluffy with lots of tulle, her mother said that pink and other pastels were considered 'spring' dresses and she needed to pick out a 'fall' colored dress, meaning dark colors. After countless hours of shopping at the Zanarkand mall, she finally found the perfect dress. It was black, strapless, ornamented with black sparkles, formfitting, and even had a train to it.

Her hair was pulled back into a French twist (Yuna was still dumbfounded how the beautician was able to work her short hair into that specific style), adorned with jewels, and had so much hairspray on it that she was pretty sure a chocobo herd could trample through it and it would stay in place. Her make up and nails was also professionally done. She never had worn so much makeup in her life, but it's wasn't overkill at all. I look…beautiful…She thought to herself.

She walked over to her vanity table to put on her jewelry. She had planned to wear the necklace that Tidus bought her—she even had bought earrings that matched perfectly—but since they broke up, she had to invest in some new jewelry. As a matter of fact, her necklace was still on the floor where she ripped it off and threw it against the wall after she left his house the previous week. She broke the chain in the process and she wasn't sure if she was going to get it fixed. She sighed as she looked at it and observed at how pitiful it looked lying on the carpet like that. It was a shame due to the fact that it was the most gorgeous present she had ever received from anyone, but the memories attached to it were just too much of a burden for her. She couldn't find it in her heart to wear it.

As she clasped on her earrings and necklace, she tried to stay chipper, but every smile that appeared on her face was a lie. I don't want to go to homecoming alone…She thought. She was still too heartbroken to find another date, although several guys from the school asked her. Even Botta from the blitz team asked her, but she turned him down. Going to the dance with any guy—yet alone a blitz player—besides Tidus wasn't even a thought in her consciousness.

Not like I would even want to go to the dance with Tidus…She reminded herself as she grabbed her high heels and strapped them on. She wasn't going to the dance completely alone; she was going with a couple of the girls from the cheerleading squad who didn't have dates. Although Rikku and Yuna had a fall out, the majority of the cheerleaders (with an exception of Naida, of course) were still friendly and close to Yuna. Calli even urged Yuna to cheer at the Homecoming blitz game because she still couldn't, but Yuna simply told her 'no.' Cheer on my ex boyfriend while the girl he cheated on me with is bossing me around? Oh, Calli thinks she's so funny!

She stood up as carefully as she could, but since the stiletto heels were about four inches tall she almost lost her balance. She cursed at herself for buying shoes with such a small base on the bottom of the heel, but they were just so adorable that she couldn't resist them. After finding her center of gravity, she put on her Homecoming Court sash, then walked over to her mirror again to look at the final product of herself.

Yep, all I'm missing is a date…She thought again as half smiled. I guess I better make the most of it…

She walked down the stairs, gripping onto the railing with all of her might so she wouldn't fall and break any bones, and carefully walked into the kitchen. She saw her parents reading The Spirian Times and just had to let out a smile. I want to find a guy where we can just read the newspaper like that! She cleared her throat to get her parents attention and they both gasped when they saw her.

"Princess, you look amazing!" Braska exclaimed as he and Yuna's mother both stood up to give Yuna a hug. "Ari, I believe that our little girl is all grown up!"

"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Yuna's mother said as she gently kissed Yuna on the side of her head. "Your father and I have something for you."

"You do?" Yuna asked as her father walked over to the counter to grab a corsage. "Aww, you guys are too sweet."

"You can't go to homecoming without a corsage!" Braska took Yuna's hand and placed it around her wrist. "There you go. So, what are your plans for after homecoming?"

"I'm not exactly sure yet," Yuna admitted as she looked the corsage. It contained three roses surrounded in baby's breath. It was absolutely gorgeous and must have cost her parents a pretty gil. "I'll call you guys and let you know when I figure it out."

"Are you coming home tonight?" Yuna's mother asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"That all depends on how much fun I'm having," Yuna replied with a shrug as her mother kept her eyebrow up. "Don't worry. I won't do drugs or drink."

"That's my girl," Braska said as he gently squeezed Yuna. "Now, where are you meeting your friends?"

"We're all meeting at Calli's house in like twenty minutes," Yuna said as she reached for her purse and bag that she prepacked earlier in the day. Her purse contained hairspray, several bobby pins (Yeah, like my hair is gonna fall out of this!), her lipstick and lip gloss, camera, cell phone, and a small bottle of the perfume that she used. Her bag contained toiletries and extra clothing in case she spent the night somewhere. Although she wasn't expecting to have fun at homecoming, she decided she better be prepared in case the girls did want to go somewhere.

"Well, you better get a move on, then," Braska stated when he looked at the clock. "Now, you have fun. I don't think I need to tell you to be a good girl and drive safely, but I will anyway because it's in the Father Handbook."

"Okay," Yuna said with a giggle as she hugged both of her parents and grabbed her coat. She had difficulty putting on her coat while wearing the corsage, so she had to take it off, then put it back on when she had the coat on. She grabbed her keys and headed over to Calli's to meet up with the other girls and take pictures.

Oh man, I can't see anything but spots and my face hurts from smiling in so many pictures! Yuna thought as they left Calli's house in a white stretch limousine. It was a good thing for Yuna to be around her friends for they shared many laughs while taking pictures. They especially had to laugh at Calli because she still was using crutches to get around and since she now had a cast on her foot, she could only wear one heel. It had been a while since she had laughed like that, and she needed it. Yuna's excitement actually started to build when she saw Auron's, the hall that Homecoming was taking place at.

Limos were parked out front and she watched as people emerged in their formal wear and started to walk inside. Her heart sank slightly as she saw couples hand in hand, arm in arm, and lovingly gazing into each other's eyes. Calli gently nudged her and she faked a smile. Although she now was happy that she actually chose to go to Homecoming, she wished that she were with a guy. I wish I were here with Tidus…

Their limo parked right by the doorway so the girls could get out and not have to walk a far distance. They broke out into giggles as they tried to climb out and not fall due to the heels and bulky dresses that they were all wearing. It took three of them to help Calli get out of the limousine and onto her feet carefully, without breaking her good foot in the process.

They all started to walk into the hall and stopped in awe when they saw the decorations. The tables had flower centerpieces with white satin cloth secured around each chair with a big pastel colored bow, there was a picture station to the left where professional photographers were taking 'memory' photos, random bouquets of flowers were placed everywhere, and a small stage was set up by the DJ booth by the dance floor; just to name a few of the exquisite sights that they saw. They found their table and placed their things down before going to mingle with other students who were arriving.

Yuna knew that going with cheerleaders meant hanging out with the blitz guys, but she was okay with that. At least Tidus isn't here yet…She thought as she gave Keepa a huge hug.

"Damn, Yuna, you look amazing!" He said as he lifted her off the ground.

"Thanks." She slightly blushed with the compliment. "You clean up well yourself, mister!"

"I think he should dress like that more often, don't you think?" Miyu, Keepa's girlfriend, said as she pinched his cheek. Keepa made a face at Yuna that emphatically told her 'not a chance in hell.' Yuna giggled at the two of them then froze in her tracks as she saw someone with a very familiar (familiar and arrogant…) stride walk into the hall.

Tidus was walking in with Nooj, Leblanc, Gippal, and of course, Rikku. Although Tidus and Rikku didn't come together as dates, it still made Yuna's heart fall to see him by her. He looked absolutely gorgeous in his black tuxedo, his spiked hair gently bouncing as he descended the stairs. He talked to people on his way over to the crowd of cheerleaders and blitz players, Yuna still staring.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he spotted Yuna in the crowd. He looked away when he noticed that their eyes locked and swallowed as her beauty overcame him. Thank Yevon I'm not here with any other girl…he thought as he tried to act nonchalant as he walked over to everyone. I would be a horrible, horrible date…

Tidus walked right over to Botta, ignoring Yuna, and her heart once again fell. Well, we did break up, so I guess it's natural that it's awkward…She thought as she tried to look away from him. She tapped her fingers together as a chill ran up her spine, making her arms break out into goosebumps. She ran her hands up her arms in attempt to warm herself up and felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned to see Tidus standing there, a grin on his face as he innocently waved. She smiled and returned the wave with one of her own. She wanted to fall into his arms and never let go, but she knew that it wasn't good for her well being.

"Hi," he said, his voice hoarse out of nervousness. He cleared his throat as Yuna attempted a small smile.

"Hi," she replied back. And the awkward silence begins now…She thought as they just stood there uncomfortably in each other's presence. "So…"

"So…" Great, this conversation is going NOWHERE…Tidus thought as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Yeah."

"Okay." Yuna nervously moved an invisible strand of hair to behind her ear as she looked down at their feet. She pointed to the direction of Paine and Baralai, who were not by Rikku and were about twenty feet away (A safe spot!), and said, "I'm gonna…go…talk to…"

"Sure," he nodded as she started to walk in that direction. "Hey, Yuna." She looked over her shoulder when he spoke her name.

"Yes?"

"G-Good luck tonight, ya know, w-with Homecoming Queen and-and stuff," he stammered as she smiled at him.

"You too." With that, she walked over to Baralai and Paine.

"Would you look at that!" Datto said as he nudged Tidus with his elbow, proving that he was eavesdropping. "I see what's going on!"

"Explain it to me, Datto, cuz I'm drawing a blank," Tidus said with a sigh as he put his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo jacket.

"The silence, the way you were looking at each other, the longing feeling in the air," he batted his eyes and placed his hand over his heart, letting his theatrical side come out. He broke out of his pose and grew serious as he added, "not to mention your idiotic stuttering."

"Still confused over here," Tidus said, pointing to himself as Linna sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You've got a lot to learn about women, little man."

"Thanks, Linna." Tidus gave a half smile, still confused about what they were saying. "Well, she talked to me and didn't try to maim me, so that's at least a start."

"Yeah, praise Yevon that your balls are still in tact, ya?" Jassu said, causing laughter from everyone.

"I happen to like those where they are," Tidus admitted with a smile. He looked over at Yuna, who was again looking at him, and quickly looked away. "I can't live like this forever though."

"With your balls?" Letty piped up as Tidus sent him a friendly, yet annoyed, glare.

"No, the whole bullshit situation with Yuna," he explained as they all rolled their eyes. "What?"

"Great, the pussy side of Tidus is once again coming out!" Botta teased as he hit Tidus on the back. "Come on, just tell the girl that you want her again, ya?"

"Easier said than done!" He cried as he shook his hair out of his face. "She wants me dead."

"Like I said, 'you have a lot to learn about women,'" Linna restated. "The girl wants you back. You just have to know how to get her back."

"In other words, don't try to fuck your best friend when your girlfriend is around, ya?" Keepa joked as Tidus scoffed.

"Not funny, Keepa." He warned, losing every sign of joking around and became serious. "Come on, you all know how I really feel about her."

"Then tell her!" Letty, Jassu, Keepa, and Linna shouted at the same time. Tidus blinked a few times in surprise from the intensity of their response and chuckled.

"Brudda, if you don't tell her, it's going to eat you up and you're gonna mope again!" Jassu said as everyone nodded. "None of us like a mopey Tidus, ya?"

"You will regret every minute of this night if you don't say anything to her." Linna shrugged with her statement, causing Tidus to sigh. Leave it up to a girl to say something logical… Tidus thought as he evaluated everything that she said to him. He watched as Datto wrapped his arms around her. Just as if they're showing me what a real relationship is actually like…

"Okay, fine. You guys are convincing, so I'll do my best, all right? As for now, I'm going to enjoy dinner in the company of you crazy fuckers." He sighed and saw them all smile at his decision.

"Crazy fuckers, ya?" Keepa repeated as he thought about Tidus' statement. "I guess I'll accept that." They all laughed at him and walked to their seats.

"Hey, Yuna!" Baralai exclaimed as he noticed the beautiful brunette walking over to them. "You look fantastic!"

"So do you." She hugged Baralai and considered hugging Paine, but with the way her arms were crossed against her chest, she decided against it. It was strange to Yuna to see Paine dressed up. She was wearing a black (Then again I wouldn't expect her to wear any other color…Yuna giggled at herself) gown with a slit that went up to her mid-thigh. Her silver colored hair was pulled away from her face in a beautiful up-do, with stray tendrils of hair curled around her face. She was even wearing make up. Yuna could also tell that Paine hated every minute of it. "So, how are you guys?"

"We're good," Baralai answered for himself and Paine as Paine sat down at the table and started to take off her heels.

"Whoever invented these bastards deserves to be lynched," she said as she rubbed her feet.

"Are you here with a date?" Baralai asked as he looked around Yuna. She shyly shook her head, slightly embarrassed. "Oh, I figured that you would've been here with—" Before he was able to finish his sentence, Paine smacked him on the back with much force. "Ow."

"Tidus and I broke up, Baralai," Yuna reminded him. "We're, um, not actually getting along too well at the moment."

"Oh, well, I-I knew you broke up, but I figured that since, you know…"

"What Mr. Suave and Smooth is trying to say," Paine interrupted as she stood up next to Baralai, "is that you look great. Isn't that right, Lai?"

"Of course." His cheeks flushed slightly as Paine smiled and rolled her eyes at him. "Anyway, I have some homecoming stuff I need to tend to, so I'll be back. Bye, ladies!"

"Bye," Yuna said as he kissed Paine good bye. She looked down at her hands and swallowed.

"What?" Paine asked as she motioned Yuna to sit next to her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I guess so," she said as she drummed her fingers against the white tablecloth. "Okay, I need to ask you a question."

"Go for it," Paine replied as she crossed her legs and got comfortable.

"What would you do if you found Baralai making out with another girl?" Yuna asked as she studied Paine for an answer. No amusement was shown on the young woman's face as she answered.

"I'd rip off his dick and make him eat it." Yuna blinked at her bluntness and nervously laughed. "No, I'm serious. Baralai knows I wouldn't put up with that shit. I don't think I would have anything to worry about though."

"O-Oh…" Yuna said as Paine kept her face expressionless.

"Of course," Paine added as the corners of her lips turned up. "Baralai isn't Tidus. I know this is what you're getting to. However, this can go any way you want it to. If you want him, go after him and shove it in Rikku's face."

"All's fair in love and war," Yuna replied quietly.

Paine nodded in agreement, then after a second thought about it. "Not to mention that the bitch kinda deserves it."

Yuna let out a chuckle as she shook her head. "I guess it's what I was asking for when I started to date someone like him in the first place. Kind of a karma thing or something."

"Okay, listen to me," Paine began as she put her hands on her own knees and leaned closer to Yuna. "I believe I told you that Rikku was a very jealous person, did I not?"

"Yeah, you did."

"That's all that happened. Rikku was jealous that she wasn't the main girl in Tidus' life anymore, so she used her sex appeal to turn on his. Tidus and Rikku both thrive on sex. It's what they do," Paine shrugged as she spoke. Yuna appreciated the fact that Paine was being so frank with her, but she was almost being too honest.

"But she has her own boyfriend, why did she have to go after mine?" Yuna asked as she dug the toe of her shoe into the threads of the carpeting.

"That's the thing, she wasn't technically going after your boyfriend in a 'I want to date you' way, it was more of a 'you're my best friend so don't love anyone more than me' way."

"It doesn't make any sense." Yuna scrunched her nose as she tried to understand the logic.

"It doesn't have to make sense," Paine said as she shrugged her shoulders. "Then again, it's Rikku we're talking about. I don't even think she knows how to make sense."

"Yeah, she's not exactly the smartest chocobo in the herd, is she?" Yuna added with a slight giggle.

"No, she's the stupid one that runs into the parked cars." Yuna burst into giggles at Paine's comment, remembering how a chocobo did that to her father's car several years ago. They were walking back to their car after a huge convention that her father gave a speech at in Luca, and they watched a chocobo ram itself right into the side of the car, letting out a loud "KWEH!" with the impact. She could've sworn all the blood in her father's body rushed to his head as he started to swear over the major indentation in their car. Yuna giggled again at the memory of how the chocobo started to walk away with wobbly legs, and she was pretty sure the chocobo saw flying moogles over his head from the impact. "The trick is to not let her get to you."

"Can I ignore her and maybe she'll go away?" Yuna asked as she quieted her giggles.

"Unfortunately, we're not that lucky," Paine said as she let a smile escape her lips. "In all seriousness, though, he does care for you. It's obvious."

"I know he does," Yuna replied quietly as she averted her gaze back to her toe and the carpeting.

"Boys just make stupid decisions sometimes. As for Rikku, she loves Tidus, but her heart belongs to Gippal. That's the best way that I can describe it." Paine shifted her legs as she let Yuna think for a minute. "I really don't understand it, but to each his own."

"Yeah, I guess." She looked down at her corsage for a second then stood up. "I, um, think they're going to serve dinner soon. I'm gonna go head over to my seat."

"Okay," Paine said as Yuna smoothed her dress to free it of any potential wrinkles that might have been caused by sitting. "Yuna, don't worry about it."

"I'm not."

"Yeah, sure." Paine rolled her eyes, not believing Yuna. "Just remember, the hardest person to know is yourself."

"Maybe I do think about it a little," she admitted as Paine gave her a friendly glare. "Okay okay, enough with the third degree; I think about it all the time."

"Everything happens for a reason. It's just the waiting part that's a bitch."

"Well, patience is a virtue I wasn't blessed with," Yuna admitted as she smiled. "I know you're right though. Thanks for the pep talk, Paine."

"Sure." Paine said as Yuna started to walk to her seat.

Why is it that Paine can keep a level head about everything, whereas I have a head where things roll off of! Yuna asked herself as she reflected on the conversation she had with Paine. She doesn't deal with anyone's problems, so why can't I be like that? Why do I constantly deal with drama, day in and day out? I'm sick of it!

"Um, Yuna?" Yuna whipped around at the sound of a voice and she saw one of her classmates standing there. He was looking down at his feet and had a shy smile on his face.

"Hi?" She couldn't help the fact that her reply sounded like a question as she studied the boy. I don't think I know his name…but I think he's in one of my classes…

"I was wondering if you'd dance with me sometime tonight." He pointed over to part of the dance floor. "I'll be waiting there…all night."

"Uh, sure." The boy looked up at her and flashed her a pleased smile, which Yuna returned. Hey, he's pretty cute…She thought as she looked into his dark, chocolate colored eyes.

"Oh, that's great!" He said Yuna giggled. "I'll, uh, see ya then!"

"Okay," Yuna said as he waved good bye. She waved back and continued to walk to her seat. See, Yuna! You can attract many cute guys! You don't need Tidus to swoon over! He already has his fan club…She looked over at where Tidus was standing; around the blitz guys and a large group of giggling girls. He was in his glory as he flirted with each of them, gently touching them on the arm or brushing their cheek with his fingers. Yuna couldn't help but scoff and roll her eyes. I was only an ego booster for him anyway. I don't need him!

As if on cue, Tidus looked over at Yuna and softly smiled at her. It wasn't the usual cocky and flirtatious grin that he always gave everyone else. It was a different kind of smile; sweet, warm, and made Yuna go weak at the knees. It was a smile that Tidus only let Yuna see, and he planned to keep it that way. His attention completely adverted from the girls that were around him to Yuna, allowing himself to get lost in her eyes, even though they were quite a distance apart.

Then again…maybe I do…

I really hope you liked the chocobo story...because I laugh every time I read it. KWEH! Lol! Yeah, I'm pathetic, I giggle at myself. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter...the final chapter will be up in a few days! I also hope you like that one...Anyway...Happy Holidays to all of you! ) I hope you get many many presents! (Oh, by the way, I bought FFIX the other day-i knew my rents didn't buy it for me, so i got permission from them lol-and it is AWESOME! Zidane is so adorable...I love the thief/treasure hunter type guys! Just like my Locke...Swoon...I love Locke!)