Like no other
A fic by midnight-show

Chapter 2

Paine felt a hand on her back, and it pushed her forward.

"Come on, Paine." The man's voice said reassuringly. "You'll be alright here. Don't let them get you down, just cos…"

She turned on her heel sharply. "Just because what?" She snapped. "Is it because of how I look? How I act?"

She took several steps away from the man, who leaned on his walking stick and chuckled.

"Have a nice day, Paine."

"So… your name is Paine?" Said the lady at the school's reception, smiling a little.

"Yes," She replied slowly, her leather-gloved hands tightening around a pole as she stood there, waiting for registration.

"Were you parents drunk?"

Paine looked down at the lady, who was smiling rather broadly. "Excuse me?"

"Were your parents intoxicated when they named you?" The receptionist asked, stiffening her back a little. "Since Paine is not a widespread name, you must be aware of."

Paine glared at the lady through her ruby-red eyes. "Can I please just have my schedule…?"

"Certainly!"

Paine watched the lady as she printed off a piece if paper, and handed it to her. "Looks like you've got physical education first dearie. Benefit from your day."

Paine snatched it from the woman's hands. She hardly flinched. The grey-haired girl turned on her heel once again and walked off, muttering under her breath, "I'll benefit from my day once I smack your head open…"

The field.

Paine didn't really appreciate the sun. And out there, on the field, in the sun, was where they were doing Physical Education today. She walked slowly over to the person who appeared to be the teacher, and got his attention.

"Aah! Paine, you are?" He asked, inspecting the roster she had handed him.

Paine nodded slowly; waiting with a grim face for what rude, hasty comment he had to say about her name. None came.

"Well… have you ever seen this school before?" He asked.

Paine shook her head. "No, I just got here from Luca."

The man nodded, and blew on a whistle that hung on a chain around his neck. "YUNA!" He yelled.

Paine watched as a girl, just shorter than her, ran across the field from where the rest of the class had gathered, panting and red-faced. Her hair was short, milky-brown, and had a long, decorated red braid that slung right down her back. She was wearing a pallid tank top, a pair of worn sneakers, and a pair of black shorts. She took in a few deep breaths.

"Yes…! Coach?"

Paine watched Yuna drop down to her knees in what appeared – to be a pathetic attempt – to get her breath back.

"Do you want an extra task? You can guide our new student around. Come on, on your feet!"

Paine watched, pokerfaced, as Yuna got on her hands and knees first, then up on to her feet. She was amazed at how this teacher ran their students into the ground.

Yuna faced Paine, and Paine noticed how her eyes were two different colours. One, blue, as bright as the sky on a summer's day, and the other, green, as luscious as the grass that lay below her. Despite her lack of air, and noticeable fatigue, she smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Yuna."

Paine nodded, and a hint of a smile appeared on her face. She held out her hand and shook Yuna's. "Paine."

Like the teacher, Yuna made no comment about her name. "Where are you from?" Yuna asked. "How did you come to be at a school in the Calm Lands?"

Paine shrugged her shoulders. "Well… it's a long story. My parents didn't get along… with anyone. Not with each other, not with me, or anyone else in the family. After my mother went insane one night and shot my father, she sent me to live with a man named Nooj – he… was in an accident and sent me here. He couldn't look after me."

Yuna bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

"No need to be." Paine said smirking. "But you ARE right… a boarding school in the middle of the Calm Lands…"

Yuna laughed, and rubbed her forehead. "Sin killed my mother… my father gave his life to defeat it with two very brave men… and… there has been nothing of Sin since then."

It was Paine's turn to bow her head. "Now I'm sorry."

Yuna looked up at the gravely serious girl standing before her, and burst out laughing. Paine stared at her. "What's… so funny?" She asked.

Yuna finally calmed herself down and looked at Paine. "Well… you see… it all happened at least ten years ago, so even though I will always miss them dearly, I won't let their deaths bring me down. At least, that's what I've always told myself."

It was exhausting. Yuna led Paine to a small group of people who were sitting at a table. They all looked up when she arrived.

"Hey Yuna!"

"What took you so long, Yunie?"

"You're here."

"Who's your friend, ya?"

Yuna turned to Paine and pulled on her arm a little. As if it was a cue, she took a small step forward.

"Everyone," Yuna said. "This is Paine."

Paine looked at the people around the table… they all seemed nice enough.

Yuna started the introductions of the people at the table for her.

Yuna pointed to a boy there, with wild orange-red hair, a bandana and a yellow blitz ball suit on. "That's Wakka." She said. Sitting next to him, with his arm around her, was a young woman with long black hair, braided, dark make-up and a long dark dress. "Lulu." Sitting by her was a girl with messy blonde hair, who was wearing what appeared to be a bikini and a skimpy skirt over it, a pair of loose-fitting boots, and an orange-red scarf. "My cousin, Rikku." The girl smiled and waved. Another couple sat entwined in each other next to her. A girl with long, dark brown hair, and a blue-black dress on. "That's Lenne." Yuna said. "And… let's not forget, Shuyin. Her boyfriend who never leaves her side."

"I know Shuyin." Paine said simply.

Shuyin nodded and winked. "Good to see you again, Paine. What's old Noojie doing these days?"

Paine smirked sarcastically, and took a seat by Yuna. "Well, he was in an accident and hasn't been overly well."

"Is that why you're here?" Lenne asked, her soft tone breaking the silence around the table.

"Yeah." Paine said, nodding her head. "I didn't ask to come here…" Silence. "But it seems that Nooj made a good choice this time."

To Paine's left, Yuna was beaming. She hadn't known this Paine girl for a couple of hours, but she already considered her a really close friend.

"Why are you all smiles?" Rikku said across the table to Yuna. "Didja meet a boy in P.E?"

Wakka laughed. "No, actually, I didn't." Yuna said calmly.

'Was this how they always acted?' Paine thought to herself. 'No, it couldn't be…'

"It's the…"

"… Dormitory party nights!"

Yuna and Rikku were jumping up and down on their mattresses, giggling and having a really fun time.

"Let's get this started!" Yuna cried, hopping off her mattress and dancing around the room.

Lulu and Paine watched the two, amused.

"Can I ask how many times…" Paine started.

"They were dropped on their heads as babies?" Lulu finished, laughing. "Oh, we get that all the time."

Paine blushed. "Were they?"

Lulu turned and looked at Paine, smiling. She shook her head. "No, actually. Every Thursday… the first Thursday of each month, the school committee allows us to have a party."

"Like this?" Paine asked, ducking a pillow that Rikku had thrown in Yuna's general direction.

"Sometimes is gets worse." Lulu chuckled. Paine frowned. "What about classes in the morning?"

Lulu laughed, and knelt down and picked up a pillow off the floor. She threw it at Paine, and it got her in the face. "Tomorrow is a holiday, and thank god, because later on the guys are coming on over with some… alcohol."

There ya go! Please let me know what you think, and if there's any way I can improve it! Thanks!