I LOVE REVIEWERS!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!
AMBER MYST: Thankies and I agree with that comment! I love Rain and Domon - they're a great couple. Keep reading please!
GOLDEN-GIRL2002: Thank you SOOO much! Keep on reading and reviewing. Gosh, comments like your completely make my day. ^_^
GODGUNDAM89: Thank you for the encouraging words and I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Please review again!
JEN23: I apologize that this is one of those dreaded high school stories (I'm not a huge fan of them either) but I thought a G Gundam one might actually be quite interesting. And thank you for the compliment as well, I appreciate it!
SPORKGODDESS: I didn't realize so many people disliked high school stories!! ^_^;;; That's okay, though. I'm glad you're reading it anyway. Thank you for the praise I don't deserve! (I doubt this is the best you've read...)
Gotta love these things ---- (Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own G Gundam)
§~The Best Years of Your Life~§
by: Rayne Rhiana
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Chapter Four: Federation vs. Association
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The school band finished playing and then horns blared, signalling the start of the game. Rain turned her attention to the field, looking for Domon. Shirley and her little crew squealed like crazy for Chibodee when he came running out with all his cockiness. Nastasha smiled when she saw Argo, but didn't display any emotion beyond that.
"And finally, the quarterback for the the Federation, with the best passing record of all the high school quarterbacks in the league, number 4... DOMON KASSHU!!!"
Rain couldn't help it - she cheered like crazy with the rest of the girls for everyone, but hardest for Domon. Just seeing him run out there with the rest of his teammates made her stomach flutter. Was this true love?
After a huddle, the teams were ready to go. The Federation won the coin toss and received the ball. The receiver made it to the 40 yard line. Domon went out, radiating confidence. He looked to his two most trusted receivers, Chibodee and another guy named Aaron. When he called it, both shot forward, their speed astonishing to Rain's untrained eyes. Domon backed up, ready to throw. Argo dived on a defender going for Domon. The Federation's quarterback fired the ball out of his hand. It rocketed across the field to Chibodee. The able-handed receiver snatched the ball out of the air and took off, managing to get to the Association's 30 yard line before being brought down.
The next play went nowhere when Domon handed it off to a new guy that panicked and charged right into the Association's biggest defender, number 42, Erickson. He literally bounced off of the guy and nearly dropped the ball. The next two plays were passes and the Federation was soon at the 10 yard line.
The first two attempts didn't do anything. The third down was Domon's last chance and he knew it. After the huddle, as he headed toward his position, he looked up to see how much time was left in the quarter and noticed... Rain?! He couldn't believe she'd come. Maybe just to see him.
"Domon! DOMON! Hello, we're in the middle of a game here!" Chibodee yelled, snapping the quarterback to reality. He nodded and hurried to his spot. He knew Chibodee was going into a totally defended zone. Aaron would be virtually uncovered.
"Hike!" Backing up, he scanned the field. Chibodee had two defenders. Berrick had one. Aaron was wide open, waving his arms in the end zone. Domon winded up and threw it. It sailed right to Aaron, over the heads of confused defenders blocking Chibodee, whom they thought was Domon's favored target.
"TOUCHDOWN!!!!"
"Yeah, Domon!!" Rain screamed, leaping to her feet and waving her arms. On either side, Cecile and Shirley did the same. Rain watched Domon look down the field to Aaron, who was doing a victory dance, and give him a thumbs up. Then he unmistakably looked up at Rain and did the same. Her breath caught but then she smiled and continued to cheer.
Domon had to laugh. She looked like another crazy football fan, but there was something different about her. Enough work, and she'd be his.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The fourth quarter came almost quickly. By then it was almost ten at night. The score was Federation: 21, Association: 24. One field goal scored on the previous run had put the opposing team in the lead. Federation's only chance of winning was a touchdown unless they wanted to risk overtime.
They made it up to the 15 yard line and Domon went back to throw. Suddenly, he was stunned to see Erickson, the enormous number 42, coming straight at him. Argo dove and missed. Before long, there was nothing between Erickson and the quarterback. Domon knew that this guy outweighed him by close to 70 pounds. He was in trouble.
Rain stood up, horrifed. "Domon, look out!!"
Within seconds, Domon was down, flat on his back, the wind totally knocked out of him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, had no idea where the ball was. No! He had to hold on to the ball! They still had a chance if he did!
Erickson got up and Domon realized that his legs were indeed still attached to his body. Good thing. He still had the ball, grasped in one hand. Great thing.
"Man, Domon, you all right?" Chibodee and Aaron were on one side; Argo, Berrick, and Mannig on the other. "Wow, that was a whallop. You think he's all right? Domon, answer me, buddy."
"I'm all right. Really. We've gotta keep going."
Argo and Chibodee dragged Domon to his feet while Berrick ran off to inform the refs that Domon was alive and willing to continue. Aaron grinned. "Man, Domon, that was one helluva hit though. Erickson's huge. You sure you wanna continue?"
"Positive. Chibodee, Aaron, you guys be ready for a bullet. Argo, forget your man and cover Erickson. He'll try that again. Everybody ready?"
Rain sat back down and clenched her fists. Cecile saw how stressed her friend was and grabbed her hand, squeezing. Shirley did the same thing on Rain's right. They all waited and watched.
"Hike!" Domon sprang backwards and gazed around. Chibodee and Aaron were both fighting off defenders. Berrick wasn't in a great position. And try as he might, Argo couldn't subdue Erickson for long.
Domon started sprinting.
This tactic surprised teammate and opponent alike. He ran down the right sideline, running for the goal. The enemy defenders noticed this and took off after him, but Chibodee and Aaron took two down, leaving the way clear for Domon.
Except for Erickson.
The 220-pound defender stood there, menacingly. Domon saw him...
...and grinned.
"Next time, Erickson, be ready for ANYTHING!!!" Domon vaulted himself up and over Erickson when the guy lunged, landing gracefully and running the rest of the way to a touchdown and victory. He collapsed once he made it, exhausted. But they'd won. He'd won. They were going to the finals. Fans poured onto the fields, cheering like crazy.
Yay. Domon was ready to pass out. He'd never played a harder game.
"Domon! Domon!"
He heard Rain's voice and her footsteps approaching, but couldn't lift his weary head to see her. She saved him the trouble, however, by collapsing at his side and lifting him up a little. "Are you all right? You got mowed over by number 42, whatshisname and kept on going! How did you do it?"
"Rain... no questions right now, okay?" Domon grinned. "I feel like just sitting here."
Fat chance. Domon's team rushed him and Rain, cheering like mad. Shirley was hanging off of Chibodee and Nastasha was congratulating Argo. Berrick and Aaron were babbling at Domon about how great he'd done but the quarterback wasn't listening. As Chibodee hauled him to his feet, he watched Rain. She and Marie Louise were laughing happily over the Federation win. He was astonished - he'd thought she'd let him hold her last night because she didn't know how to tell him no. But was it possible that she truly liked him? And did he like her?
"Hey, Domon? You goin' to the victory party at Chibodee's?" Aaron asked suddenly.
Domon shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."
Rain watched him answer in the affirmative and sighed. She wasn't invited to any parties, which meant she'd be going straight home. Turning to Marie Louise, she was about to ask for a ride home before the other girl went off to the party, but she was stopped when someone clamped a hand on her shoulder. Turning in the opposite direction from where she'd planned, she saw Domon standing there. He looked a little beat up, but still handsome all the while. He'd taken his helmet off and his hair was even more unruly than before.
"Are you going?" he asked her.
"What?"
"Are-you-going-to-Chibodee's?" he elaborated, smiling as he did so. She felt kind of stupid and almost blushed.
"Well, I don't know. I mean, I'm not invited and... well, I don't know..."
Suddenly, she felt another hand on her shoulder, replacing the one Domon had removed, and she felt herself being spun around. Soon, she was staring at Chibodee. "I'll take care of that. Rain, do you want to come to my victory party that I'm hosting in celebration of the Federation win?"
She giggled and then it became true laughter at the immense hilarity of it all. When she'd finally calmed down, she nodded. "All right. Let me see if Marie Louise can give me a ride."
"Nonsense," Domon said, putting his arm around her shoulders laughingly. "I'll give you a ride there. No need to intrude on Marie Louise's private time with her boyfriend." He grinned in George's general direction.
"Um, okay..."
They walked to Domon's car and Rain got inside, surprised that she was actually riding in it once more. He got inside and turned it on. The radio blasted on and Rain jumped. Domon laughed and went to turn it down but she shook her head.
"Leave it. I like loud music."
She rolled down the window and leaned against it as Domon started driving, swerving around parked cars and people. When they finally reached the road, Domon got on the highway. "It's faster this way," he explained. Suddenly, without warning, he gassed the accelerator and the car responded, shooting forward. Rain gasped, but then laughed. She felt so... so different when she was with him. Crazier. More adventurous.
They went 75 down the highway and then veered off an exit that took them right to Chibodee's street.
The Crocketts had a pretty big house, its size only outmatched by George's impressive French mansion. Domon smiled as he saw Rain's face light up. "Is this Chibodee's house? It's so huge! I never knew Chibodee was rich!"
"Yeah, he doesn't like to exploit his wealth like George. He's happy being who he is, without all the material wealth. His parents don't think the same way, however. Wait 'til you see the inside."
Domon parked the car next to the growing line and got out. Before Rain had even unhooked her seatbelt, he was opening her door for her and offering his hand. She took it, surprised, and let him pull her up out of the car. Marie Louise and George pulled in soon afterwards, followed by Argo and Nastasha. Chibodee had already gotten there, making sure to arrive before his guests. Domon offered his arm to Rain who, feeling like she was going into a fancy ball, accepted it. Behind her, George and Argo did the same and the three couples proceeded inside.
Sai Saici and Cecile were already there, standing in the enormous main foyer acting like it was old news. Rain, however, couldn't stop looking all over. If she wasn't attached to Domon by her elbow, she would have continued spinning around to take in everything.
"Welcome, everybody!" Chibodee called, coming in from the doorway to their right. "Refreshments in here. Pool to the left. Only use the bathrooms on the -first- floor, otherwise you'll meet an untimely demise thanks to the butler, who is guarding the master bathroom. Other than that, have fun and try not to break anything."
Kids went left. Kids went right. Kids went crazy. Rain was overwhelmed by it all and didn't notice Domon tugging at her arm until he pulled harder to get her attention and nearly yanked it from its socket.
"What do you want to do?" he asked. She shrugged, barely managing to keep her head together. "Want to go swimming? They have an olympic-sized pool out back."
"I don't have a swimming suit," she replied. "I didn't think I'd be swimming tonight."
"You could go skinny dipping." Sai Saici had come up behind her and poked her playfully in the side. She smacked his shoulder and felt a blush coming on, because she was fully aware that Domon and Cecile were cracking up. When Sai's girlfriend calmed down, she smiled and took Rain's arm.
"Come on. Chibodee keeps a whole bunch of suits for when guests come. They're upstairs."
Domon watched the two girls disappear upstairs and sighed. Sai Saici noticed and tapped his friend on the arm. "What's up, Bro?" he asked, concerned.
"This night is going to be incredibly complicated, I know it already."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~Why does Domon think that? What is going on with his and Rain's relationship? (Gosh, this sounds like a soap opera!) How is the party going to go?
Review and tell me how you like it so far! I mean it! It only takes a second!
Rayne~
AMBER MYST: Thankies and I agree with that comment! I love Rain and Domon - they're a great couple. Keep reading please!
GOLDEN-GIRL2002: Thank you SOOO much! Keep on reading and reviewing. Gosh, comments like your completely make my day. ^_^
GODGUNDAM89: Thank you for the encouraging words and I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Please review again!
JEN23: I apologize that this is one of those dreaded high school stories (I'm not a huge fan of them either) but I thought a G Gundam one might actually be quite interesting. And thank you for the compliment as well, I appreciate it!
SPORKGODDESS: I didn't realize so many people disliked high school stories!! ^_^;;; That's okay, though. I'm glad you're reading it anyway. Thank you for the praise I don't deserve! (I doubt this is the best you've read...)
Gotta love these things ---- (Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own G Gundam)
§~The Best Years of Your Life~§
by: Rayne Rhiana
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chapter Four: Federation vs. Association
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The school band finished playing and then horns blared, signalling the start of the game. Rain turned her attention to the field, looking for Domon. Shirley and her little crew squealed like crazy for Chibodee when he came running out with all his cockiness. Nastasha smiled when she saw Argo, but didn't display any emotion beyond that.
"And finally, the quarterback for the the Federation, with the best passing record of all the high school quarterbacks in the league, number 4... DOMON KASSHU!!!"
Rain couldn't help it - she cheered like crazy with the rest of the girls for everyone, but hardest for Domon. Just seeing him run out there with the rest of his teammates made her stomach flutter. Was this true love?
After a huddle, the teams were ready to go. The Federation won the coin toss and received the ball. The receiver made it to the 40 yard line. Domon went out, radiating confidence. He looked to his two most trusted receivers, Chibodee and another guy named Aaron. When he called it, both shot forward, their speed astonishing to Rain's untrained eyes. Domon backed up, ready to throw. Argo dived on a defender going for Domon. The Federation's quarterback fired the ball out of his hand. It rocketed across the field to Chibodee. The able-handed receiver snatched the ball out of the air and took off, managing to get to the Association's 30 yard line before being brought down.
The next play went nowhere when Domon handed it off to a new guy that panicked and charged right into the Association's biggest defender, number 42, Erickson. He literally bounced off of the guy and nearly dropped the ball. The next two plays were passes and the Federation was soon at the 10 yard line.
The first two attempts didn't do anything. The third down was Domon's last chance and he knew it. After the huddle, as he headed toward his position, he looked up to see how much time was left in the quarter and noticed... Rain?! He couldn't believe she'd come. Maybe just to see him.
"Domon! DOMON! Hello, we're in the middle of a game here!" Chibodee yelled, snapping the quarterback to reality. He nodded and hurried to his spot. He knew Chibodee was going into a totally defended zone. Aaron would be virtually uncovered.
"Hike!" Backing up, he scanned the field. Chibodee had two defenders. Berrick had one. Aaron was wide open, waving his arms in the end zone. Domon winded up and threw it. It sailed right to Aaron, over the heads of confused defenders blocking Chibodee, whom they thought was Domon's favored target.
"TOUCHDOWN!!!!"
"Yeah, Domon!!" Rain screamed, leaping to her feet and waving her arms. On either side, Cecile and Shirley did the same. Rain watched Domon look down the field to Aaron, who was doing a victory dance, and give him a thumbs up. Then he unmistakably looked up at Rain and did the same. Her breath caught but then she smiled and continued to cheer.
Domon had to laugh. She looked like another crazy football fan, but there was something different about her. Enough work, and she'd be his.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The fourth quarter came almost quickly. By then it was almost ten at night. The score was Federation: 21, Association: 24. One field goal scored on the previous run had put the opposing team in the lead. Federation's only chance of winning was a touchdown unless they wanted to risk overtime.
They made it up to the 15 yard line and Domon went back to throw. Suddenly, he was stunned to see Erickson, the enormous number 42, coming straight at him. Argo dove and missed. Before long, there was nothing between Erickson and the quarterback. Domon knew that this guy outweighed him by close to 70 pounds. He was in trouble.
Rain stood up, horrifed. "Domon, look out!!"
Within seconds, Domon was down, flat on his back, the wind totally knocked out of him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, had no idea where the ball was. No! He had to hold on to the ball! They still had a chance if he did!
Erickson got up and Domon realized that his legs were indeed still attached to his body. Good thing. He still had the ball, grasped in one hand. Great thing.
"Man, Domon, you all right?" Chibodee and Aaron were on one side; Argo, Berrick, and Mannig on the other. "Wow, that was a whallop. You think he's all right? Domon, answer me, buddy."
"I'm all right. Really. We've gotta keep going."
Argo and Chibodee dragged Domon to his feet while Berrick ran off to inform the refs that Domon was alive and willing to continue. Aaron grinned. "Man, Domon, that was one helluva hit though. Erickson's huge. You sure you wanna continue?"
"Positive. Chibodee, Aaron, you guys be ready for a bullet. Argo, forget your man and cover Erickson. He'll try that again. Everybody ready?"
Rain sat back down and clenched her fists. Cecile saw how stressed her friend was and grabbed her hand, squeezing. Shirley did the same thing on Rain's right. They all waited and watched.
"Hike!" Domon sprang backwards and gazed around. Chibodee and Aaron were both fighting off defenders. Berrick wasn't in a great position. And try as he might, Argo couldn't subdue Erickson for long.
Domon started sprinting.
This tactic surprised teammate and opponent alike. He ran down the right sideline, running for the goal. The enemy defenders noticed this and took off after him, but Chibodee and Aaron took two down, leaving the way clear for Domon.
Except for Erickson.
The 220-pound defender stood there, menacingly. Domon saw him...
...and grinned.
"Next time, Erickson, be ready for ANYTHING!!!" Domon vaulted himself up and over Erickson when the guy lunged, landing gracefully and running the rest of the way to a touchdown and victory. He collapsed once he made it, exhausted. But they'd won. He'd won. They were going to the finals. Fans poured onto the fields, cheering like crazy.
Yay. Domon was ready to pass out. He'd never played a harder game.
"Domon! Domon!"
He heard Rain's voice and her footsteps approaching, but couldn't lift his weary head to see her. She saved him the trouble, however, by collapsing at his side and lifting him up a little. "Are you all right? You got mowed over by number 42, whatshisname and kept on going! How did you do it?"
"Rain... no questions right now, okay?" Domon grinned. "I feel like just sitting here."
Fat chance. Domon's team rushed him and Rain, cheering like mad. Shirley was hanging off of Chibodee and Nastasha was congratulating Argo. Berrick and Aaron were babbling at Domon about how great he'd done but the quarterback wasn't listening. As Chibodee hauled him to his feet, he watched Rain. She and Marie Louise were laughing happily over the Federation win. He was astonished - he'd thought she'd let him hold her last night because she didn't know how to tell him no. But was it possible that she truly liked him? And did he like her?
"Hey, Domon? You goin' to the victory party at Chibodee's?" Aaron asked suddenly.
Domon shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."
Rain watched him answer in the affirmative and sighed. She wasn't invited to any parties, which meant she'd be going straight home. Turning to Marie Louise, she was about to ask for a ride home before the other girl went off to the party, but she was stopped when someone clamped a hand on her shoulder. Turning in the opposite direction from where she'd planned, she saw Domon standing there. He looked a little beat up, but still handsome all the while. He'd taken his helmet off and his hair was even more unruly than before.
"Are you going?" he asked her.
"What?"
"Are-you-going-to-Chibodee's?" he elaborated, smiling as he did so. She felt kind of stupid and almost blushed.
"Well, I don't know. I mean, I'm not invited and... well, I don't know..."
Suddenly, she felt another hand on her shoulder, replacing the one Domon had removed, and she felt herself being spun around. Soon, she was staring at Chibodee. "I'll take care of that. Rain, do you want to come to my victory party that I'm hosting in celebration of the Federation win?"
She giggled and then it became true laughter at the immense hilarity of it all. When she'd finally calmed down, she nodded. "All right. Let me see if Marie Louise can give me a ride."
"Nonsense," Domon said, putting his arm around her shoulders laughingly. "I'll give you a ride there. No need to intrude on Marie Louise's private time with her boyfriend." He grinned in George's general direction.
"Um, okay..."
They walked to Domon's car and Rain got inside, surprised that she was actually riding in it once more. He got inside and turned it on. The radio blasted on and Rain jumped. Domon laughed and went to turn it down but she shook her head.
"Leave it. I like loud music."
She rolled down the window and leaned against it as Domon started driving, swerving around parked cars and people. When they finally reached the road, Domon got on the highway. "It's faster this way," he explained. Suddenly, without warning, he gassed the accelerator and the car responded, shooting forward. Rain gasped, but then laughed. She felt so... so different when she was with him. Crazier. More adventurous.
They went 75 down the highway and then veered off an exit that took them right to Chibodee's street.
The Crocketts had a pretty big house, its size only outmatched by George's impressive French mansion. Domon smiled as he saw Rain's face light up. "Is this Chibodee's house? It's so huge! I never knew Chibodee was rich!"
"Yeah, he doesn't like to exploit his wealth like George. He's happy being who he is, without all the material wealth. His parents don't think the same way, however. Wait 'til you see the inside."
Domon parked the car next to the growing line and got out. Before Rain had even unhooked her seatbelt, he was opening her door for her and offering his hand. She took it, surprised, and let him pull her up out of the car. Marie Louise and George pulled in soon afterwards, followed by Argo and Nastasha. Chibodee had already gotten there, making sure to arrive before his guests. Domon offered his arm to Rain who, feeling like she was going into a fancy ball, accepted it. Behind her, George and Argo did the same and the three couples proceeded inside.
Sai Saici and Cecile were already there, standing in the enormous main foyer acting like it was old news. Rain, however, couldn't stop looking all over. If she wasn't attached to Domon by her elbow, she would have continued spinning around to take in everything.
"Welcome, everybody!" Chibodee called, coming in from the doorway to their right. "Refreshments in here. Pool to the left. Only use the bathrooms on the -first- floor, otherwise you'll meet an untimely demise thanks to the butler, who is guarding the master bathroom. Other than that, have fun and try not to break anything."
Kids went left. Kids went right. Kids went crazy. Rain was overwhelmed by it all and didn't notice Domon tugging at her arm until he pulled harder to get her attention and nearly yanked it from its socket.
"What do you want to do?" he asked. She shrugged, barely managing to keep her head together. "Want to go swimming? They have an olympic-sized pool out back."
"I don't have a swimming suit," she replied. "I didn't think I'd be swimming tonight."
"You could go skinny dipping." Sai Saici had come up behind her and poked her playfully in the side. She smacked his shoulder and felt a blush coming on, because she was fully aware that Domon and Cecile were cracking up. When Sai's girlfriend calmed down, she smiled and took Rain's arm.
"Come on. Chibodee keeps a whole bunch of suits for when guests come. They're upstairs."
Domon watched the two girls disappear upstairs and sighed. Sai Saici noticed and tapped his friend on the arm. "What's up, Bro?" he asked, concerned.
"This night is going to be incredibly complicated, I know it already."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~Why does Domon think that? What is going on with his and Rain's relationship? (Gosh, this sounds like a soap opera!) How is the party going to go?
Review and tell me how you like it so far! I mean it! It only takes a second!
Rayne~