Moday morning, I was late for work. But give me a break! It was Monday! I managed to catch the eight o clock hover that goes from Mi'ihen to the mushroom rock road. I like the chocobo's personaly but then you get to work smelling all of chocobo and yellow feathers, yech! I had to make a run for it though the Mushroom Rock road!! Those monsters can medusa you, meaning that they could literaly turn you to stone. Of course, I have mastered all my dress spheres, so the only problem there was trying to get to work on time. Which, like I said, I failed. However, I was there before the boss, in which I am going to reward myself with some ice cream on my break.

I sat there with my elbow on the table reading a couple of e mails Yuna and Brother had sent me. Looks like we were going to meet at the Balamb Garden Cafe. Stange name huh? Its in Luca, in between the stadium and the ship yard. Its bustling with people during the blizball season. Whenever we can we gather there for a drink, or two...eheh or three. The owner once told us that years ago a tidal wave, likely sin, swept him away from his home. Aparently he lived in a sea side place called Balamb, and went to a military school which was called a garden. Pfft! Aren't gardens for GROWING things? Anyway, he's blonde and kind of wierd, Yuna likes to flirt with him, but then I just think she has the hots for blonde men. We girls can't be picky...urk, especially me!!! Who can't even grab the intrest of a boring maaaa...

My train of thought was derailed as my boss entered the office. Blonde (but I'm not picky like Yuna, he just happens to be a blonde!) spikyish hair (which is oh so in style). He wore a blue tailored suit today, with a tie and lighter blue shirt. No moogles here! Ever since I started here hes had an eye patch, but I'm not picky, in fact it made him look very very sexy in a pirate sort of way, ie Johnny Depp.

So I sat there stareing, thinking lovely thoughts in my head with this stupid grin on my face. I saw Donna's lips moving but couldn't hear a word she was saying, I was in my own little world.

"Dreamy, just dreamy..." I mumbled, leaning forward very slowly, like that was going to get me closer to him. I was about to to back to my work, er, e mail reading and sighed happily when I sliped out of my chair and onto the floor. The whole room went silent, and I knew they were looking at my desk. I wanted to hide there, but if I didnt get up then they would come and see if something was wrong. Oh, that was so embarassing! Slowly, I stood up, smiled cheesily and smoothed my skirt down.

"Silly chairs..." I tried to laugh. "you know, those wheels...dont know which way your gonna go...er"

I sat down very quickly and attemted to look as if I were doing some work, when infact I opened an e mail from brother. Subject: Emergency meeting at Balamb Cafe.

Emergency what? I thought, leaning in to the computer, covering my face with one hand, like this would make me un noticeable. Keeping firmly in my seat this time I began to read the short message Brother sent.

Rikku,

E mail is so fun, I am so happy Buddy showed me how to use computer. Anyways, Paine, Yuna and me heard that you had a bad time at Nhadala's party. Come to Balamb Garden tonight, drinks are on us.

Poor Brother and his computer skills, er, and his comunication skills. Obviously he didn't realise that Yuna had already e mailed me a message, though she didn't mention at all that they knew what happened the other night with mr stuck up lawyer. I felt so tiny for a moment, and then realised that these were my friends. They were asking me to come out because they cared for me and wanted me to be happy, so my spirits were lightened slightly. Besides, a couple of drinks were in order if this Monday was going to continue going as it was.

Towards the end of the day, after Donna gave me the speech about receiving e mail during work hours I was asked by another, nicer, staff member to take a couple of blown up photos to the boss. They were photos of excavation sites on Bikanel that had not been discovered yet. I was also handed a folder with notes and was briefly told that they were the list of fiends that lived in the area. It was up to the boss to decide if it was safe to send a group into the area, or leave it alone.

"Um, why?" I raised a brow, confused as to why this person could not do it themselves.

"I'm running late for an appointent..I dont have time to explain the presentation to him, so you will have to do it?" He was shifting from foot to foot eager to get going.

"but, I dont know how to do a presentation...I mean, I can barely do my own job..." I paused, smiled. "what I mean is, I can do my job, but not yours...er.."

"I trust you Rikku, all you have to do is read from the notes I've in the folder here..."

"er, well, okay, I guess..." I said, not too confident.

"Thanks..." was all he said,and took off.

I sat there wondering what kind of an apointment he had, and if it involved the back seat of a volkswagon. Shaking my head of these thoughts I stood up, smoothed my skirt down again, It was kind of short. I took everything that I was handed and nervously began to walk up the old temple steps. His office was at the very top of what used to be the old Djose temple, Ixion used to dwell there, but the aeons no longer exsist. I suppose that time of magic is gone, right? Now unused temples are becoming office buildings, and everyone is now getting married and....

"Oh!" I giggled walking around a stand that held a sphere. I had bumped into it while lost in my thoughts, though luckily I didnt knock anything down. I didnt know what was on this sphere, the boss just insisted that it be there.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand and rapped lightly on the door. I could have melted when I heard his voice call out "come in" Sucking in my bottom lip I sliped inside, nodded and set the photos on a stand that was near the wall by the door.

"I'm here to give you a presentation on..." I hesitated, fliped though the notes then looked up smiling. "on..new excavation sites on Bikanel Island.."

Gippal was soooo hot, he looked up from his desk and swept a strand of spiky hair from his face. He gestured for me to begin, and didn't seem the least interested in the fact that I was not the original presenter.

"I was asked to do this from another staff member..." I informed him, but it didnt seem all that importent. "well, you see some of your diggers have found a new area that has not been...um.."

I fliped though the pages and began to read what was written..." There aren't a lot of people around during the noon hour, most go out to lunch, so it would be best if we go just before then. Wait for me at your usual corner and I will pick you up in my volkswagon a little bit before 12 so we can get it...ahhhhhhhhh!"

I droped the paper which was obviously a love letter, or something like that from the man who had gotten me to present this. I felt my face flush, normally I would have just laughed but I read this rubbish in front of my...extremly hot boss. "wait, this..this isn't mine!"

Gippal looked at me with those cold eyes of his, and slowly bought a hand up to his lips, like was thinking. Freaking out, I handed him all the papers that was given to me, took the photos down and proped them up on one of the chairs in front of his desk, smooth my skirt down once more and prepared to leave. Just as I was walking to the door, I heard a light snicker, and then a full out laugh. Spinning around I saw Gippal leaning back in his chair laughing his ass off at me. Can you belive it!?!?!

Oh man, seriously needed to go out with the girls then.

"wait..." he was chuckling then. "Sorry, whats your name again?"

"Rikku..." I snapped crossing my arms.

"oh, yeah Cid's girl..."

"Rikku..." I repeated very annoyed at this point.

"Right, well, I'll have to thank you for that..very...nice presentation.." he snorted.

"it wasn't my fault" I complained. "I'm never doing this again!" I stomped my foot and flung the door open when I heard him get up from his chair.I stood there for a moment in case he had something else to say. He was still my boss, and I really couldn't afford to be fired.

"That was un professional of me..." He said. I could seem him from the corner of my eye crossing the room to me.

"It was..." I lifted my chin, but I waited around anyway, Was I about to get an apology?

"Sorry, listen, let me take you out to dinner tonight. Sounds kind of forward, but..." he glanced down the hall, then quietly shut the door. "I've been meaning to ask you before, just to get to know you...you know..."

He gave me a sexy smile, I almost metled into a puddle right there in front of him. I lost my ability to communicate in speech, so I simply nodded and began to leave the office once more. My mind was racing, I heard Paine's voice in my head telling me to play it cool, and then Yuna's telling me never be too eager in front of a man. Of course, there was brother in my head too, I didnt really want him there, but he was telling me over and over to be unavailable.

I turned to face him once more"er, well, I can't tonight, busy, you know.." I didnt realise I was backing away and a moment later Ihad backed myself upagainst the wall.

"well, tomorrow then?" He asked, looking me up and down.

"um, no..I'm afraid I can't then too..." I scanned my mind for a reason, then realised that mom had asked me to go shopping with her. A reason yes, but it wasn't something I was looking forward to. "darn.shopping..." I cursed.

Gippal raised his brows and watched me like I was some freak from planet 9. I should really learn how not to talk to myself .He placed his hand on his hip and waited patienly for me to set a date.

"How about, we just go for lunch one of these days...?" I heard myself say this, but I couldnt belive it. I didnt want him to think I was trying to blow supper off. Oh man, how do I get myself into these situations? "well, then we can...decide on dinner?" I stuttered.

That seemed good enough for him, he nodded thiking about it. "sounds good Rikku, catch you later..."

I nodded and left the office. Trying to contain my smile was almost impossible, Donna gave me a dirty look, but I ignored her as I grabed my sweater and bag and left the building. Just wait until the girls hear this! No more lets feed Rikku liquor and ice cream, this party i'm gonna celebrate!

Hehe, thanks for the reviews guys!

I see a lot of people are wanting this to be a Rikku and Gippal pairing. I have to admit, I am a Rikku and Gippal fan. But, we are all just going to have to wait and see. I said based on bridget jones...snix

So far so good, I plan to add my own little twists and turns once this plot gets going, hope you like what you are reading so far. Working Class Rikku, hehe. She's so cute.

Arpazia