A/N: EEee... I'm planning to make this like... into a series of vignettes. But I need lot more info on FFX/X2 to write it.. Um anyone willing to help? (see below afterwards)

--------------------------

Bedtime Story

1FRICKENgirl

Part 1 – We Made Quite the Couple – Chapter Two

--------------------------

I never realized how insignificant the world can seem just because of one person. How I don't think about my surroundings, how I'll ignore whatever pains I'm in, how I won't even care about the very air I breathe, and the only thing that my eyes see is that superior grin plastered across his face.

Ohh… nothing he does ever makes me mad for long. But everything he does makes me feel foolish. Stupid.

He tipped his head to one side. "You were sayin'?"

Aww mann. No fair. Grrr. Grrr for Gippal. If only, if only I didn't overreact – but I had the right to, I swear! The guy forgot my about birthday for goodness sakes!

Huh? (Blushes) Why, thank you my friend, I understand why you couldn't make it to the party. And yes, I did have a happy 15th birthday! I'm as old as him now! Muahaha! I ain't little nemore. No sirrrieee!

At least, I thought so. He didn't. Ugh. I've been thinking about kicking him out of a window instead. The throwing part is already over with.

… Oh, you don't know? Well it's kinda obvious what was happening before you arrived, right?

… Yeah it is.

… Yeah huh!

…Oh, you lie. You just want to repeat my humiliation don't you? Oh, you bad bad meanie! Fine, but just because I like you.

Wait… You like me right? Right?

Pwease?

OKAY! I knew you did!

Where was I? Oh yeah. I was sleeping – again.

Well, I actually wasn't sleeping. At least I tried, that counts right? I couldn't sleep, I mean, I was really tired from all the screaming and yelling and partying with my friends but I just couldn't get around the fact why he didn't come. We didn't fight or anything, you know? And I began to wonder if I had done something wrong to upset him – which is totally unfair since he should be the one feeling guilty for not even showing up!

Sigh.

So I just lay there with my eyes closed and listened to the clocks tick. I counted Chocobos, I turned on my stomach, and I even tried reading. Nope. My mind was restless. I couldn't calm it down.

NO, it was NOT because of Gippal. Don't even think that or else you're not hearing the rest of this story, missy/mister. I'm not obsessed with him or anything, okay? I'm not one of those empty-headed girls who'll kiss the ground he walks on and think of him day and night and brainwash themselves with images of him without his shirt. Psh…

I don't kiss the ground he walks on.

It was the cake. Brother put something in it – I'm sure, that's what kept me up. That's what made me hear the pounding on the window.

"Yo, Cid's Girl!" he shouted from on the other side of the glass.

Ah hah, (bows). Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentlemen! I know; genius aren't I? He's not climbing through my window if he can't even walk to my birthday party.

I smiled happily and pretended to be asleep.

"Open up, man!"

La la la… one Chocobo, two Chocobos…

"RIKKU!"

…and the Chocobo jumped over the moon…

"Damn it, open up Rikku! Don't be like that!"

(Dramatic gasp) Excuuuuuussssee me!

I sat up and glared various curses at him.

He gave me a puzzled look and motioned towards the lock on the window.

I faked confusion. "What? I don't understand."

His eyebrows narrowed and he pounded both his fists against the glass.

Dumb move. He fell.

I gasped and rushed towards the window. I began to wonder if I really did curse him to death. Quickly unlocking the hatch, I glanced down at his groaning figure. I winced. "Gippal?"

He rolled his head and looked up at me looking down. "Geez, Rikku…"

"I-I'm…" I paused. Hey! It was JUST sand. My sympathy turned into anger that he didn't get hurt even more. I stuck out my tongue and slammed the window.

I walked back to my bed and collapsed on it tiredly. Now, I could rest having some satisfaction from seeing his pain.

But as luck would have it, and as punishment for just cursing him secretly, I just had to forget to lock the window. Aww, knayd (great)…

He pushed it open and climbed inside, dropping a bag against the wall. He walked over to me, picked up one of my fluffy pillows, and hurled it into my face.

Owwie…

"Rikku!" he hissed. "Why'd you lock the damn window for?"

I stared at him emotionlessly. Maybe if I looked at him long enough, he'll explode into pieces. C'mon Rikku, c'mon…

Oh great, I needed to blink.

I pushed the pillow off of me and began to crawl to the head of my bed, ignoring his question.

He instantly snapped his hands around my ankles and pulled me back to him. "What's gotten into you?" he asked. He shook his head slowly. "Girls," he sighed.

I twisted my body around to face him. "Boys," I spat out.

He suddenly yanked me up by the arm and crashed my body against his. Both my hands were suddenly flat against his chest. Whooph, brain-freeze.

I tried to push off. Oh, why couldn't his parents forget to feed him vegetables?

He nuzzled his head at the root of my neck. "I'm not a boy, Cid's Little Girl." His arms gently slid down my back. "I'm a man."

I nearly died of disgust. "No," I replied. "You're a 15 year old loser."

He smirked and patted me on the head. "Aww, she's so adorkable when she's trying to give attitude."

I turned away in anger. "Go away, Gippal. You're unwanted."

"Go where?"

"Go home."

He chuckled and I knew instantly what was coming out of that mouth next. He pulled me closer. "You know you wanna come with me."

I whined. "Gipppppall! Let me go! Ouuu, I hate you."

Instantly he pushed me away, and I tripped onto my bed with a thud.

"Oh yeah, let's talk about that." He advanced close. "Why'd you lock the window for? You know I'm gonna be coming."

"MAYBE I don't want you to come." I grabbed my blanket and quickly rushed over to the head of the bed.

He didn't grab me this time. He jumped on me.

Double Owwie.

Ahahha… hey that tickled. Huh? GRR. He was tickling me! "GIPPAL!"

"Why are you so mad at me for?"

I didn't answer.

Tickle, tickle.

"FINE! You can't even remember it's my birthday eh?" I buried my head in my bed. It's not a proud thing to remind someone of your special day.

He shifted a bit. "Who said I forgot?"

"Well, you never came."

"Maybe I don't like parties."

I sneered. "Right. Sure. Okay."

He breathed on my neck. "Maybe I want Rikku all to myself."

I tried to squirm away. "Eeeww!"

He laughed. "Hmm… You know, I can get almost anything out of you in this position."

I growled inwardly. "Gippal…" I told him sternly.

He tested my limits. "Who do you dream about, Cid's Girl?"

I tried to throw him off my back. "No-UGH-ONE!"

Tickle, tickle.

"No-(laugh)-oneeee!"

He sighed. "Fine, skip that one. Umm…"

"Gip-pall!" I coughed. "I-I-canNn-T, breee-athhee."

"Hold on, one more question."

I groaned.

"Hmm…hah."

I knew that 'hah'. That was the mischievous 'hah'.

His hand slipped dangerously close to my butt. I tensed. "Rikku… Mmm… Are you wearing a thong?"

THAT WAS IT. I summed up all my strength and managed to roll him off of me with a cry of pure rage that would make even Sin pee in his pants. I dashed for the window and opened it up to restore some air into my lungs.

He sneaked up behind me, chuckling. "Was that a yes?"

I gripped so tight on to my windowsill that three nails broke.

Quickly gaining composure, I turned around with a candy- sweet smile and slowly walked towards him. I slithered up behind him and hung my arms around his shoulders comfortably. "Maybe…" I whispered. HAH! I could melt knees too, you know.

I could feel him stiff. "Oh…eh…yeah?"

I pushed against him, moving him forward. "Mmm…" I hummed lightly.

It was time for the master plan.

I traced his neckline. "I never told you Gippal… but I… I really… I think… you're pretty hot, you know?"

He gave a sigh of amusement. "I know."

I grinned. "…But not that hot."

And I pushed him out the window. It wasn't a throw, but it was good enough.

Looking down satisfyingly at my work, I turned on my heels and locked the window. I clapped my hands together and lay down contently on my bed. Job well done Rikku. You get a pat on the back and a sticker tomorrow!

Banging on the window.

Got to admire his persistence.

"Rikku! ARG! RIKKU!"

La la la… three Chocobo, four Chocobos…

His banging slowed down. "Rikku…"

He sounded sad. Good.

"Rikku – I…"

He sounded like he was going to apologize. Good.

"I-I'm…ackk…" He sighed heavily. "Sorry."

I shot up instantly.

He looked down. "Sorry, I didn't come."

Oh no! I've damaged his mind with that shove! Oh, Spira! What a horrible person I am!

"I was busy… other stuff." He turned to me and pouted. "Open it, please?"

PLEASE? So he IS capable of saying it.

I dragged myself over out of pity and unlocked the window. Pity, I mind you! That was all.

He immediately jumped in. "Good," he said. "I was gettin' too mushy there."

I rolled my eyes.

He went to the wall and picked up his bag.

"Why'd you bring that for?" I asked.

He smiled at me.

Oh, butterflies, no! Shoo butterflies, shoo! Out of my stomach you go! "You know what? I don't even care. I'm still mad at you Gippal."

It was as if he didn't even hear me.

"I told you I didn't forget," he said. He reached in and pulled out a box. He gave a lopsided grin. "Happy birthday, Cid's Girl."

Oh well look, you're all caught up now.

He tipped his head to one side. "You were sayin'?"

I paused and cautiously took the present into my hands. "This doesn't change anything, you know?"

He nodded. "Okay."

Grr. That's not what he's supposed to say!

I twitched my mouth and placed my fingers underneath the lid. Was it a trick? Was something scary going to pop out? Ouu, that is SO like him. But still, I opened it. I closed my eyes and I opened it.

Silence.

Presuming it was safe, I peeked through my half-opened eyes and a bright shade of red engulfed my vision. I relaxed my muscles well enough to take the object out of the box and examine it.

I glanced at him. "A scarf?"

He shrugged. "I might not always be around to keep you warm, Cid's Girl."

Ouu.. smooth… very smooth…

I bit my lip to hold in the smile. Nope.

My whole body itched. I wanted to hug him, no wait. I didn't. But such a thoughtful gift… even though it was somewhat a conceited thought? Go or no? Go or no?

I stood still. "Um… thanks Gippal."

By the looks of his face expression, it was almost as if he was expecting the go. But that was a one second emotion he revealed, before sheathing it rapidly and slapping on a smile. "S-okay." He was about to head for the window when he turned back again. "It's red, orange and yellow, you know. Like sunrises."

Ohhhhhhh damn. Why didn't he just leave?

I swallowed in the urge to run up to him and embrace the arrogant, considerate guy. "Yes… thanks."

He gave up.

I felt bad.

He swung his bag over his shoulders and went over to the window. "Yeah, uh, see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah… tomorrow."

This was it, THIS WAS IT! Holy, THIS WAS THE TIME. Run Rikku! Pick up your feet and moveeee! He's getting out! He's about to climb down! He's leaving - C'mon Rikku! Ready, set, GO! Run Rikku! Run with all your heart!

I didn't move.

He's…he's… gone.

Rikku! You slowpoke!

I dropped the scarf on the ground.

But… better late than never.

"GIPPAL!" I shouted and took off like an airship out my window.

The second he turned around and up, I crashed into him and landed on top.

Oh no! How would I tell him? I could I find the words to sat what I mean? Words came out like gibberish.

"Rikku?"

I sighed in embarrassment. "Yeah?"

He kissed me.

We parted.

I closed my eyes and laughed softly. "Yeah… that's what I meant to say."

-------------------

A/N: Hoped you liked it? If you want me to continue, would anyone mind explaining to me the whole crimson squad thingy and the reactions of Rikku and Gippal during any (or ALL) of their reoccurances in FFX2? It's kinda important if I'm going to continue... Thanks readers!