Disclaimer: Going through the paces once again… The only characters that are mine are Connie, her family, her friends, and her family's friends. All the other characters are from FFX, FFX-2, FFVII, and Yu Yu Hackusho. Unless you count the dog and cat's names which are from Kingdom Hearts, the animals are mine, but the names are from Kingdom Hearts. Okay, now chapter 13.
Close Encounters of the FFX Kind!: Chapter 13.
Eventually the game of checkers ended, and the sun was just about setting. Sometime during the game I saw Silly tap Max on the shoulder and take him upstairs. It was kinda hard to tear him away from Aeris, but I had a feeling about what they were talking about.
Grandma Jill called me upstairs to talk to me and Max. "So," she said looking at the two of us.
"So…" I trailed off.
"So what?" asked Max. "Oh, I get it. Sorry."
"Oh, come on! Connie, you promised you would have an answer to Silly by the end of the day!"
"I know… I know, I just can't decide."
"What about you Max?"
"I think I'm gonna do it."
"You're going?" I asked. "Silly asked you, then I'm guessing."
"You got it, cuz. Besides, I'm really starting to like Aeris. I think she and I would have a good time together."
Grandma Jill and I both gave him a sideways look. "What about you, Connie," she finally said. "What are you gonna do?"
"Well… I'm actually thinking of staying here. No offence to those guys, but I think this is where I belong. I think traveling on an Airship, and learning all those things would be cool, but I'd miss Mallory, mom, dad, and you way too much. I don't think I could do it."
"What about me?" asked Max. "I won't be around much."
"Yeah, I'd miss you too, but if you really want to go off into the wild blue yonder with a girl dressed in pink and a bunch of other people you be my guest. I just don't think it's for me. I'd be much happier here."
"You sure? Are you sure you are staying for yourself, and not for me, your parents, or anyone else? You are staying because you want to, not because I don't want you to go."
"Hello! What about me!" said Max
"Oh, I hardly see you anyway. I see my Connie almost every other day!"
Max's mouth dropped open. "Thanks Jill."
Grandma Jill smiled. "I'm kidding. Of course I'd miss you." She turned her attention back to me. "So, you're really staying?"
"I think so."
"When are you two going to tell them all this?"
"Tonight."
"You mean like in 20 minutes?" asked Max. "By then the sun will be gone."
"Maybe a half hour."
"Sounds fair," said Grandma Jill. "Until then you kids go back down stairs."
Max and I started down the stairs, and everyone was standing there looking up at us. They were all silent, which was a first. Even Rikku was quiet. Max and I looked at each other, and then he shoved me forward. "HEY!" I loudly whispered to him.
"You do the public speaking. I hate it."
"Okay," I cleared my throat. "Look, we'll tell you all our final decisions in a half hour."
"Why so long?" asked Paine.
"Yeah! We wanna know now!" yelled Rikku.
Everyone else yelled out in agreement.
"Because, then it will be perfect timing." I said.
"Now would be better!" said Shuyin.
"Now, now, now," said Grandma Jill descending the stairs behind me and Max. We moved out of the way, and let her get to the front. "I will get some food on the table, set up some chair, get a nice comfortable environment, and get it all set up so Connie and Max and announce their decisions in a no pressure, nice, and safe environment. Mostly it's for me. Give me time to set up for heaven's sake!"
They all nodded in agreement, and went back to their respective areas. Shuyin and Tidus both jumped on the controller. They had moved on to Kingdom Hearts. "Hey, Yuffie! You look really weird!" yelled Shuyin, and she made her way over to the TV to take a look at herself. "So do you Aeris!" Aeris grabbed Max's hand and they both went to investigate.
"At least you're the right age. You should have seen me!" exclaimed Tidus.
Rikku, Yuna, and Paine headed for the couch, and sat themselves down. Everyone else scattered around the room talking, and reengaging in conversation. Sora, Riku, and Kairi, Grandma Jill's pets, came bounding down the stairs when ever Kingdom Hearts is put on, because their names are always said. It drives them up the wall, so they just stay downstairs, or outside. I go back up stairs to talk to Grandma Jill quick.
"Grandma Jill?" I asked.
"Yes, hun?"
"Am I doing the right thing?"
"I don't know. Do you think you are?"
"I'm not sure… maybe. I can't decide. It would be so much fun. I'm thinking that I want to stay, but I want to go and… I don't know!"
"Connie! Breath, honey, it helps!" She smiled. "You need to make your own decisions. I can't always help you."
I sighed. "Okay, I've got it."
"Good. Half hour?"
"Half hour," I said and went back down stairs to help Tidus and Shuyin play Kingdom Hearts.