Like no other
A fic by midnight-show

Chapter 3

"A-alcohol?" Paine repeated, and Lulu looked into her eyes.

"Don't you drink, Paine?" She teased, and Paine smiled.

"Oh, I do sometimes, but…"

"Nonsense." Lulu said, picking up the hem of her skirt and walking over to the window. "Everyone at the Calm Lands boarding school drinks… eventually. It's in the water."

Paine laughed. That was nonsense. She walked over to her set of drawers, where all of her stuff had been put away… by Yuna, she presumed, all neatly and folded. "Why would they put alcohol in the water?"

Lulu looked away from the window and at Paine, who was looking up at her. "Thanks to Tidus, Wakka, Seymour, Shuyin and Gippal."

"Who are Tidus, Seymour and Gippal?" Paine asked, lying down on her bed.

Lulu frowned and shook her head sadly. Paine took that as a she-didn't-want-to-go-there thing. "You don't have to…"

"Tidus is Yuna's ex-boyfriend." Lulu said coldly. "She dumped him because she didn't love him anymore, and he went ballistic and attacked her."

"Oh…" Paine said, rolling over and looking at the ground. "I had no idea."

"He's sworn that no boy will ever love her while she remains at this school… and so far he's been right. Most of the boys won't look sideways at her now."

"That's awful!" Paine muttered. "That cheap guy. Why if I were to get my hands on him…"

"Save it."

The two girls looked up to the dorm doorway to see Yuna standing in it, smiling broadly. She walked with a little skip in her step to her bed, which was by Paine's, and sat on it. Paine sat up, and looked at her with a quizzical look. Yuna grabbed Paine's hands and took them into her own.

"Thank you, Paine… for trying to defend me against him, or wanting to beat me up, but he hasn't tried anything. I really appreciate what you are trying to do, though."

Paine nodded, and smiled briefly. "I know."

"Come on." Lulu said, smiling. "The guys will be waiting for us out on the field."

Lulu, Yuna and Paine walked along the gravel path to the field. Yuna and Paine were walking along arm in arm, whispering to each other.

"I can see Rikku and Gippal." Lulu smirked, rubbing her arms absent-mindedly to warm herself. "When they're together it's like it's broad daylight."

"Why is that?" Paine asked.

"Well… you see…" Yuna said for Lulu, "What she means, is, that they make such a good couple that… well, how could you not notice them, even in pitch-black?"

Paine agreed, and thought a moment. "Have either of you two had any serious… relationships?"

Lulu smirked evilly in Yuna's direction. "Yuna set me up with Wakka…"

Yuna smiled sheepishly, and a faint blush could be seen on her face.

"… And I couldn't be more happy!"

Paine laughed and Yuna smiled slyly. "I was right." She smiled and looked at Paine. "They both were crushing on each other for a couple of months before I told Wakka to gather up his courage and ask her out on a date."

"And so he did?" Paine asked, and Lulu nodded. "It's wonderful."

Yuna smiled, and winked at Paine.

They followed the gravel pathway until it ended, and they came to the field. There were many stars in the sky, and it cast a hazy, white light across the field.

"Wow… check that out!" Yuna gasped, nudging Paine and getting her to look at it.

Paine smiled, and nodded. "It's quite a thing to look at, isn't it?"

Yuna giggled, and nodded. "There are the others – look! – they're waving at us!"

Sure enough, when Lulu and Paine looked closer, they could see the outlined forms of Lenne and Rikku, jumping up and down, waving. Yuna waved, and grabbed Paine's hand. "Come on," Yuna said, smiling softly. "Let's go and meet them."

Paine looked down at the two hands, Yuna's one gripped firmly onto hers. Although she had no time to think about it because Yuna was already running – dragging Paine along with her. She shot Lulu a 'Why me?' look, causing Lulu to laugh as the two ran across the field.

"God, it took you three long enough," Seymour complained as Lulu arrived shortly after Paine and Yuna. "Wasn't your makeup on well enough?"

Yuna stared at Seymour. "Are you jealous?" She pondered.

He laughed, and turned away. "Me, a guy? Jealous of… makeup? How rude of you to even imply that Yuna. I thought more of you."

Yuna frowned, hoping that she hadn't upset her friend. Wakka, Lulu, Rikku, Gippal and Paine watched as Yuna crept up behind Seymour, and seems he was much taller than her, she jumped up onto his back.

"You know I'd never really do anything to make you upset, you know?" She asked as he struggled for a moment.

"Aah! – yes! Now get off me!"

"I'm not finished yet," Yuna said with a smile. "You have to accept my apology before I get off you."

"I accept your apology…" Seymour said. "Now…"

Yuna let out a squeal as Seymour toppled over; her still perched on his back. The others gasped as the pair hit the ground.

Paine was amazed as the two got up, no harm done, and started laughing. Yuna playfully punched Seymour's arm, and Seymour ruffled up Yuna's hair a little.

"Who… is that Seymour guy?" Paine asked Lulu.

"Yuna's first boyfriend." Lulu whispered, as the two started to play fight. "No-one knows the reason they broke up, but they've been really strong friends throughout everything."

"That's nice to hear…" Paine said. "Compared to that Tidus guy…"

Lulu nodded. "Yes… well… we don't really want to ruin tonight by mentioning him, do we?"

Paine smiled and shook her head. "No, not at all."

"HEY PAINE!"

Paine's head shot up. Standing by Lenne, grinning like he had been a naughty boy… was Shuyin. "Come here!"

Paine walked over to Shuyin and crossed her arms. "What did you do this time?"

Lenne giggled and buried her head on Shuyin's shoulder. "I didn't do anything!" He protested with a laugh. "Do you remember that group we were in… years back?"

Paine thought a moment. "Yeah… why…?"

Shuyin laughed and pulled Gippal over towards them. "Remember Gippal. The all-his-life ladies man?"

Paine shook her head slowly… but then though. "Wait a second…"

Shuyin and Gippal watched her, as she walked around in a small circle, trying to remember. "Oh, I remember now!"

Lenne walked over towards the bushes and disappeared down a small pathway. Paine watched her go, but didn't really think about it.

"Were you the one… that… started the… food fight?" Paine asked feebly, and Gippal smirked. "She does remember me!"

Paine folded her arms again and scowled. "How could I forget you?" She said, a smile appearing on her face. "We were best friends way back then."

Gippal nodded, and walked over to Rikku, who was talking with Yuna. "So, Yunie, who do you like?"

Yuna blushed deep red. "Well…"

Gippal snaked his arms around Rikku and kissed the top of her head. "Hey, baby."

"Hey Gippal." Rikku replied. "I'm bombarding Yuna with questions about her love life."

"Oooh, this'll be interesting." Gippal said. "I'll get the popcorn."

Yuna stared at Gippal, and Rikku hit him on the head. "I, I, I, was asking Yuna!" She huffed. "We don't need everyone around."

Gippal smiled and backed away. "Sorry, Yuna."

Yuna smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about it, Gippal."

Yuna sat back down on the grass, and lay back in it. "Aaahhh, this feels good… doesn't it Rikku? To just lie out here, under the stars."

Rikku nodded, and lay down beside her cousin. "It sure does… so, tell me who you like and I could set up a date with him for ya…"

Yuna glanced at her cousin, and rolled over onto her side, facing away from Rikku. 'If only you knew that it wasn't a "he", Rikku…' Yuna thought to herself.

There we go! Another chapter! Just cos we're off school now! Please let me know what you think of that!