A/N: I really want to thank you all for your reviews! CyanideSmiles: I'm sorry! I was responding to reviews from Ch.2! Thank you for your comment! RollerCoaster217: I was quick because I'm really enjoyingwriting this story! Princess Kairi: Thanks for reviewing!And thank you to everyone else! Standard Disclaimer
Yuna and Paine arrived in the sports section of the ship; a large outdoor area with basketball courts, a roller-skating trail, a mini-golf course, and the ever-popular rock-climbing wall. They stared up at the wall, noticing an inward curve.
"That looks pretty challenging," Paine commented, folding her arms. They noticed Rikku talking to the guys, and they ran up to her.
"We're going to be timed, and you three can try and beat our record," Tidus playfully challenged them, "the time stops when the last person in the group presses the button." Yuna smiled at him, nodding. The participating rock-climbing staff blew their whistles, and the guys started up the wall. They noticed Baralai struggle a little, but he caught up. Tidus slammed his fist on the button first, laughing victoriously. Gippal came next, a little grumpy for coming in second. Baralai finally reached the buzzer and the staff person called time. Messily, they swung down to the ground, landing on their feet in a showoff-y manner. Yuna smirked at them. Rikku had been admiring Gippal, winking at him as he walked back towards them. Paine simply watched, raising an eyebrow at the overconfident guys.
The staff swung the gate open, allowing the girls to enter as the guys exited through the other side. The girls were harnessed and hooked up. "The guys got four minutes and thirty seconds," The staff woman told them, wishing them well. Yuna stood in the center, with Paine on her right and Rikku on her left. They exchanged glances and smirks.
"Y.R.P, let's do this!" Rikku exclaimed with excitement. They were all quite confident. Paine acted as if she cared less, but the competitiveness inside her would soon show. The whistle blew, and the girls jumped up onto the wall. Yuna grabbed desperately at each grip, pulling herself up. She wanted to win!
"Rikku, the one on your left!" Paine called over to Rikku when she noticed her struggling. Paine was in the lead, followed very closely by Yuna. Rikku took Paine's advice and made her way up. From the girls' point of view, they could not tell how quickly they were going. They had no idea, as a matter of fact. They simply wished for the best. The outward slope of the rock-climbing wall was brutal on Yuna. She did the best she could, struggling to keep up and hold on. The buzzer rang loudly as Paine struck it. Yuna smiled and giggled at Paine as she struck her own button. Rikku caught up a few seconds later, sighing with a grin. With unison, the three kicked off the wall and descended towards the ground. They landed firmly, then turning to face the staff member with the timer.
"Two minutes and fourteen seconds! That's a record!" She told them, grinning widely. Yuna and Rikku cheered, throwing each other a high-five. Yuna then turned and did the gesture with Paine. She could tell Paine was happy, as well. They noticed the guys' faces, and they laughed. Gippal had an expression of 'so what?', while Baralai raised an eyebrow at them. Tidus forced a smile at Yuna. He did a pretty lousy job at concealing his embarrassment. I like that, haha.
"Great job, ladies," Tidus congratulated them as they exited through the gate.
"Yeah, yeah, it wasn't all that great…" Gippal said, turning away with his arms folded.
"I must say, you three did very well," Baralai complemented them. He and Paine exchanged glances, and Yuna certainly caught them doing it.
"Thanks! Don't be mad, Gippal, I was doing it for you," Rikku then said, walking over to a smiling Gippal. He wrapped his arm around her. I figured Rikku would be the first to get someone, if any of us did. There was an awkward moment, and Tidus made a save.
"Man, I'm hungry, how about you girls?" Tidus asked them. Yuna nodded, smiling at him. "Let's go get some food," He said, leading the group back inside.
Down in the Royal Promenade Café, they had found themselves a lengthy table. The restaurant played catchy 80's jingles, and it was filled with the alluring fragrance of pizza. Tidus ran over to the counter and grabbed a few slices of pepperoni, then walking back to place one in front of Yuna. She was startled.
"D-don't you have to pay for that?" Yuna asked him nervously.
"It's your first cruise, isn't it?" He asked her, expecting the nod that came, "Most of the food you find is included." It was a pleasant surprise.
"How'd you know I liked pepperoni?" She asked him, smirking.
"I had a hunch," He told her, smirking back at her. Gippal and Baralai then got up, but Paine stopped Baralai.
"I'm not hungry," Paine told him.
"I was getting one for Rikku…" He informed her, then receiving a glare from Gippal.
"No, I was getting one for Rikku," He snarled. Yuna's eyes widened. There was clearly nothing but trouble expected from that. They both ran for the counter, one grabbing cheese and the other grabbing pepperoni. They raced back, slamming it down in front of Rikku. "Go ahead, Rikku," Gippal began, "I got you pepperoni."
"Rikku doesn't like pepperoni, she's a cheese only type of girl," Baralai then snarled.
"Actually-" Rikku tried to begin, then getting cut off.
"Y'know what, man? You need to back up off of her!" Gippal then said, forcing Baralai away from her.
"No! It is you who is standing to close to this precious gem!" Baralai shouted, pushing Gippal back. They were about to start fighting, when Rikku grabbed them both by the collar and pulled them close.
"I don't-like-pizza!" Rikku told them, letting them go.
"Oh," they both said, brushing themselves off. Gippal and Baralai both sat in the metallic chairs. Gippal budged over to Rikku. Baralai did the same. Gippal moved the seat even closer. Baralai followed. They kept budging inwards until Rikku had no room.
"I'm leaving," Paine said, getting up and walking away nonchalantly.
"Me too!" Rikku shouted, pushing the guys away and storming out after Paine.
"What's her deal?" Gippal asked rhetorically.
"You probably scared her away," Baralai muttered.
"What was that, girly man?" Gippal then shouted.
"Don't call me that, Cyclops!" Baralai then yelled, referring to Gippal's eye patch of dramatic effect. Both of them got up again.
"Guys, c'mon!" Tidus shouted at them to stop. "You're making a scene," He told them, referring to the people around them staring.
"Let's take this up to the pool deck, then!" Gippal said, then storming out with Baralai.
"I should go after my friends," Yuna said regretfully, standing.
"I should, too, but I really don't want to," Tidus replied, grabbing her hand. Yuna sat back down, staring into his eyes…