I apologize for this crappy chapter. Oh god . . . crawls into a dark
corner
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TIDUS
The gang's latest issue is the deal with Paine and Baralai. It's an old subject, really, but yesterday brought back all the buzz about it. Paine of course refuses to talk about it, but that doesn't seem to stop the rest of us.
"Come on, Painey," Rikku whines, tugging on Paine's arm childishly. "Just call him, please? You obviously like him, and I bet he misses you like crazy!"
"Rikku, let go of my arm," Paine snaps, jerking out of Rikku's grip. "And just drop it, will you?"
"Girls, it's too early for this," Gippal moans, rubbing his temples tiredly. He drank more than his fair share of booze last night, and is suffering for it with a killer hangover. It took a lot of convincing to get him out of bed and ready for school, but in the end (with the help of Rikku promising to flash him later) he gave in and joined us.
"Tidus, you seem awfully quiet," Lulu tells me quietly. She and I are walking together at the front. I appreciate her silence in the mornings. I shrug and half-smile at her.
"Just thinking, is all," I reply calmly. She raises an eyebrow and smirks slightly.
"About a certain brunette millionaire, perhaps?" she asks, amused.
Damn her mind reading abilities.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I mutter, frowning at her. But it's too late; I already feel my cheeks burning. She laughs quietly.
"She made quite an impression on you, didn't she? I'm not surprised. I saw the way you two were looking at each other," she says teasingly.
"Bullshit, Lu," I snort. And then I start to wonder. "Really?"
"Really. I'm rarely wrong about these things."
"Uh oh, does Boss have a little crush on the Lady Yuna herself?" asks Wakka, coming up on my other side and slinging his arm around my shoulders. He is smiling that big stupid grin we all love.
"It's not a crush, dammit," I snap, suddenly in a bad mood. By now the others are listening with smirks on their faces. "I just think she's hot. Besides, she stood up to Seymour for us, didn't she?"
And then, I suddenly wonder why I think she's hot. I mean, I usually go for the slutty chicks with a huge rack. Even though Yuna's face is pretty, she really doesn't strike me as the type of girl I normally like.
"Hey man, we're not judgin' you, ya?" Wakka laughs. "We knew it was comin' the minute you turned around and saw her in the parkin' lot."
Sure, they are all just teasing me, but I can already sense the guys backing off. They know that I have Yuna in mind, and she is basically my territory. If either of them has even considered asking her out, they know their chances are gone now. Yuna is mine.
Believe me when I say I don't mean to sound like a possessive jerk. I hadn't meant to think of her that way, but what can I say? She's hot, she's nice, she's smart, and we get along. What's not to like? Besides, part of me is starting to think she could like me back . . . if she finds a way to look past the thug on the outside and see the Me on the inside. I had the power to see the regular girl within the millionaire summoner's daughter, so maybe she can do the same for me. It could happen.
We arrive at school early for the first time since the beginning of the year, which counts as our record. I notice with a grin that Yuna's silver Porsche is parked near the front door, gleaming like a pearl on wheels.
When we walk in through the door, as usual everyone moves out of our way. I can't help but walk tall when the whole gang and I make an entrance. I can imagine how we look to other people standing nearby. Six tough and good- looking street punks cruising down the hall in perfect order, fearless in the world of idiot teenaged high school drama shit that people complain about but do nothing to escape.
I wanted to draw Yuna last night, but I was a bit drunk and I didn't really have the concentration skills I need. I have a sketchbook that I keep under my mattress, but since I'm always with the gang, I don't always have a chance to draw in it as much as I'd like to. Sometimes I'll come home at about eleven thirty and stay up drawing until two just to get out all my ideas. I can picture her face perfectly. I'll do it tonight before I go to sleep.
Damn, I sound like a movie script. A cheesy romance script. Maybe I just need to get laid real bad. I haven't been with a chick since Dona.
"Speak of the devil," Gippal says tauntingly, nudging my elbow and nodding ahead of us. I look up and Yuna, with her back turned to us, talking to someone. I see the blue tentacle freak show hair and I know immediately who it is.
"Seymour," I growl, beginning to walk faster. The others follow right behind me.
But it's too late. By the time we get there, Yuna's already taken care of it. I watch from behind her as Seymour and his crew walk away, and I wait until they're gone before I make my presence known. I tap her shoulder and smile at her as she turns around, knowing full well how close I'm standing to her.
"G'morning, Yuna," I say casually, secretly pleased to see that she does not back away from me. She smiles back, a perfect celebrity smile that doesn't seem fake.
"You're the first person to simply refer to me as 'Yuna' in school," she tells me with a slight laugh. She greets the others with a wave. "It feels strange to be treated like a superior among people my own age."
"I wouldn't complain, Princess," Rikku snorts, lighting up a cigarette. "The best I ever get is 'Slut' or 'Bitch'."
"But you are a slut and a bitch," Gippal points out, ducking as Rikku swipes at his head.
"They're afraid of you, you know," I say to Yuna, ignoring Gippal and Rikku. "You can tell by the way they look at you. They're scared you're going to be either as good as you seem publicly, or the complete opposite."
She stares at me in surprise, and I behind me I sense the gang doing the same.
"How do you know that?" she asks, amazed. I shrug and look down.
"Well . . . 'cause that's sort of what I was thinking when I first saw you," I admit, trying to find any excuse not to look her in the eye. Shit, why did I have to say that? When she answers, I can hear the smile in her voice.
"And . . . what conclusion have you come to?" she asks me. This time I have the courage to look back up at her. I give her my most likable grin.
"What do you think?" I say with a wink. Behind me I hear Wakka slapping his forehead, in disbelief at my open flirting. Usually I'm much more subtle, and I have to admit that I'm surprised at myself.
Damn I need to get laid bad. I find myself wondering if Yuna's a virgin . . .
Of course she is. She's too . . . well . . . she's too Yuna to not be a virgin.
"What did that Guado want?" I ask her suddenly, trying to get rid of these thoughts. She blinks at me for a second as if she doesn't understand, and then it sinks in.
"Oh! That . . . he was just being himself," she says, waving her hand like it doesn't matter. I sigh and curse under my breath.
"Get used to it," I say grimly. "He thinks he owns the whole damn school just because his dad is the Meister of Guadosalaam."
Her two-toned eyes go wide.
"Of course! I remember now. I was wondering why Seymour seemed so familiar," she says, shaking her head. "His father has been over to my house for dinner many times. I knew he had a son, but I didn't know he attended this school . . ."
"Hello there, mind if I join you?" a new voice says behind me. I groan inside. I can recognize it anywhere. I turn and see Dona walking towards us, all smiles and slutty makeup. Her eyes are fixed on Yuna, purposefully avoiding me. She's wearing a dark blue halter top and a matching blue skirt that is about as short as Rikku's. I do not trust the way she is smiling at Yuna.
Yuna smiles at her, almost shyly, and bows her head for a second.
"Hello," she says politely. "I'm-"
"Lady Yuna Ressan, daughter of High Summoner Braska Ressan, defeater of Sin," Dona says with a knowing laugh. "I would have to be blind, deaf, and mute not to recognize you, my lady."
"Please, just call me Yuna. What's your name?" Yuna asks, tilting her head to the side slightly. I look at her for a minute. It's awfully cute the way her hair comes down just a little bit over her face.
"I'm Dona Calisto, and I'm so very pleased to meet you," Dona gushes, holding out her hand for Yuna to shake. I step in front of her and glare down at her, keeping myself between her and Yuna.
"Beat it, Dona. Whatever little game you're playing, don't bring Yuna into it," I snarl. Dona stares up at me with an injured look.
"Tidus, baby, how can you say that to me? I was just being polite! Poor Yuna could certainly stand to make friends other than you, you know," she says in a hurt voice. I feel Yuna's hand on my arm and I turn around to see a startled look on her face.
"Why, there's no need to be so defensive," she tells me, gently pushing me out of Dona's way. "I'd be delighted to get to know Dona."
"No, you don't," I say firmly. "Dona's a scheming little bitch, and she's only using you to get to me. I know the way her mind works, Yuna. She's just going to end up abandoning you when she thinks the time is right to make a move on me."
"How do you know she doesn't want to just be my friend?" she demands, surprised at my words.
"Because I've slept with her, and I know she wants to get back with me, all right? Trust me when I say she doesn't give a shit about you."
Okay, I admit it. I wish I hadn't said it quite like that. I regretted it the second I saw a spark of anger in her eyes.
"Oh, so nobody could possibly want to be friends with me, is that it?" she asks, shaking slightly.
"That's not what I meant. I just meant-"
"You know, Yuna," Dona says, cutting me off. "He's got an awful temper. I don't know why you put up with him yesterday." She moves over to Yuna's side and links their arms together. Yuna stares at me for a moment, and even underneath her anger I can see a flicker of pain.
"Neither do I," she says in a cold voice. She allows Dona to steer her away from me, chatting easily about whatever crap she thinks is interesting. Yuna doesn't look back at me.
"Nice going, Boss," Wakka sighs, rolling his eyes. "I was really startin' to like her too, ya?"
"She shouldn't have been so sensitive," Paine says in a careless tone. "You didn't mean to sound like a complete ass."
"Still, Boss was pretty rough with her," Rikku adds, taking a drag from her cigarette.
I mutter at them to shut up and watch with strange guilt as Yuna and Dona disappear into the crowds. Why do I feel guilt? I shouldn't care about her stupid feelings . . . she's just another celebrity's daughter, another person who's too good for me.
I shouldn't care . . . but I do.
The bell rings suddenly, cutting into my thoughts.
"Art first," I tell the gang, as they stare at me with worry. "I'll see you guys later."
All the way to the art room, I remember the look on Yuna's face as I said those things to her. True, I don't think she should have taken it so seriously, but I can admit that I said some pretty harsh things to her. I swear with frustration.
"Stop caring," I say out loud to myself, quietly so that others can't hear. "If she can't handle you, then she's not worth it. Just forget about her."
Oh, but of course karma has to get in my way. As I walk into the art room, the first thing I see is Yuna sitting at a table across from the door, looking lonely next to a group of people she doesn't know. They look even more nervous having her with them. It's just my luck that I didn't know she was also going to be in my art class. I stand there and stare at her for a moment, until she looks up and sees me all of a sudden.
Her eyes lock into mine, and I can still see a trace of hurt. I hadn't meant to upset her . . . I was trying to protect her from Dona. Dona wouldn't hesitate to stomp all over Yuna's feelings if she knew she would get to me for it. That's just the way her mean brains works, and somehow I have to get Yuna to see that.
Slowly, keeping my eyes on her, I walk around to the back of the class, where a lone table sits. It's the only table I sit at, and nobody else likes to join me. I like it that way . . . I like having all that free space to work in peace, without having to worry about touching someone else's elbow or getting eraser chips on someone else's paper.
She looks right back, refusing to be stared down. Quite different from anyone else . . . so much willpower not to be small under my eyes. I can't help but smile at it. She sees the smile and becomes slightly confused. I can see the expression on her face. Only when the teacher walks in does she look away to be the dutiful student and pay attention. I roll my eyes slightly and lean back against the wall behind me.
I doubt I could ever steer her away from her good student habits. Maybe I don't want to anyway.
"Today," Professor Faradi says as she steps to the front of the class. "We are going to be starting a new project, and I'm going to ask you to get into groups of two."
The blonde woman waits patiently as everyone stands up and begins searching for a partner, her eyes landing on me as I remain motionless. I smirk at her, knowing full well that she's used to my attitude. She's pretty, for a teacher at least, and I guess I got nothing much against her. She puts up with me more than the other teachers do. She knows that I will let some poor loser come to me first, or I'll just do the whole damn thing on my own. Or I won't do it at all . . .
I notice that Yuna still sits alone, with a sad look on her face. Not sad as in miserable, but . . . sad in a lonely sort of way. Won't someone reach out to her? Won't someone realize that she won't bite just because she's a freakin' millionaire?
"Miss Ressan," Professor Faradi says suddenly. "Perhaps you would like to work with Mr. Lorac for the project? I dare say it would be a miracle of your work habits could rub off on him."
Damn woman. The last thing I want to do is to face the girl who somehow managed to get me to care about her feelings, especially after I hurt them.
Yuna nods and gets up slowly and ignores the sympathetic looks people give her as she makes her way to my table in the back of the room. I'm still leaning against the wall, my head back and eyes half closed as I watch her come nearer.
She sits down next to me and stares at the front of the class. I should be paying attention to the instructions, but I am far too busy staring at Yuna. What a picture we must be . . . Yuna, the daughter of the High Summoner Braska, defeater of Sin, sitting next to Tidus, the gang leader from the wrong side of Bevelle. I can't help but snicker at the idea.
Yuna glances at me out of the corner of her eye as I laugh quietly. She looks curious, but suspicious.
"What is so funny?" she asks quietly.
"Nothing," I reply. "I was just thinking about how we must look to the rest of the class."
She frowns slightly and turns her attention back to Mrs. Faradi.
I sit upright and lean close to her for a moment. I see her eyes flicker towards me, but her head doesn't turn.
"I'm sorry," I tell her. She seems startled. "I don't know why I am, but . . . I just figured I should let you know."
Yuna turns to look me full in the eye. Yevon, those eyes . . . I've never seen others like them before. I see so much thought and feeling inside of them, and I wait for her response. Even though I can already tell she's cool with me, somehow I need to hear the words from her mouth.
"You don't know why you're sorry?" she asks, raising her eyebrow.
"Well, I do, it's just that . . . I'm not supposed to. I mean, I usually don't."
"So, you're not used to apologizing. Is that it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Can you handle it?"
"I forgive you," she tells me quietly. "I don't think I was really mad in the first place . . ."
"I was a jerk. I should have explained myself more."
STOP APOLOGIZING! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE!
She smiles at me, and I relax. It's all good again. But I am still confused . . . I've never had to apologize to any girl before. It was always the chicks who came crawling back to me, begging me to take them back. And now I have this weird feeling for a girl I've only known for a day? Where the hell are my nerves going? Don't tell me I'm getting soft already . . .
Goddamn, I need to get laid.
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TIDUS
The gang's latest issue is the deal with Paine and Baralai. It's an old subject, really, but yesterday brought back all the buzz about it. Paine of course refuses to talk about it, but that doesn't seem to stop the rest of us.
"Come on, Painey," Rikku whines, tugging on Paine's arm childishly. "Just call him, please? You obviously like him, and I bet he misses you like crazy!"
"Rikku, let go of my arm," Paine snaps, jerking out of Rikku's grip. "And just drop it, will you?"
"Girls, it's too early for this," Gippal moans, rubbing his temples tiredly. He drank more than his fair share of booze last night, and is suffering for it with a killer hangover. It took a lot of convincing to get him out of bed and ready for school, but in the end (with the help of Rikku promising to flash him later) he gave in and joined us.
"Tidus, you seem awfully quiet," Lulu tells me quietly. She and I are walking together at the front. I appreciate her silence in the mornings. I shrug and half-smile at her.
"Just thinking, is all," I reply calmly. She raises an eyebrow and smirks slightly.
"About a certain brunette millionaire, perhaps?" she asks, amused.
Damn her mind reading abilities.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I mutter, frowning at her. But it's too late; I already feel my cheeks burning. She laughs quietly.
"She made quite an impression on you, didn't she? I'm not surprised. I saw the way you two were looking at each other," she says teasingly.
"Bullshit, Lu," I snort. And then I start to wonder. "Really?"
"Really. I'm rarely wrong about these things."
"Uh oh, does Boss have a little crush on the Lady Yuna herself?" asks Wakka, coming up on my other side and slinging his arm around my shoulders. He is smiling that big stupid grin we all love.
"It's not a crush, dammit," I snap, suddenly in a bad mood. By now the others are listening with smirks on their faces. "I just think she's hot. Besides, she stood up to Seymour for us, didn't she?"
And then, I suddenly wonder why I think she's hot. I mean, I usually go for the slutty chicks with a huge rack. Even though Yuna's face is pretty, she really doesn't strike me as the type of girl I normally like.
"Hey man, we're not judgin' you, ya?" Wakka laughs. "We knew it was comin' the minute you turned around and saw her in the parkin' lot."
Sure, they are all just teasing me, but I can already sense the guys backing off. They know that I have Yuna in mind, and she is basically my territory. If either of them has even considered asking her out, they know their chances are gone now. Yuna is mine.
Believe me when I say I don't mean to sound like a possessive jerk. I hadn't meant to think of her that way, but what can I say? She's hot, she's nice, she's smart, and we get along. What's not to like? Besides, part of me is starting to think she could like me back . . . if she finds a way to look past the thug on the outside and see the Me on the inside. I had the power to see the regular girl within the millionaire summoner's daughter, so maybe she can do the same for me. It could happen.
We arrive at school early for the first time since the beginning of the year, which counts as our record. I notice with a grin that Yuna's silver Porsche is parked near the front door, gleaming like a pearl on wheels.
When we walk in through the door, as usual everyone moves out of our way. I can't help but walk tall when the whole gang and I make an entrance. I can imagine how we look to other people standing nearby. Six tough and good- looking street punks cruising down the hall in perfect order, fearless in the world of idiot teenaged high school drama shit that people complain about but do nothing to escape.
I wanted to draw Yuna last night, but I was a bit drunk and I didn't really have the concentration skills I need. I have a sketchbook that I keep under my mattress, but since I'm always with the gang, I don't always have a chance to draw in it as much as I'd like to. Sometimes I'll come home at about eleven thirty and stay up drawing until two just to get out all my ideas. I can picture her face perfectly. I'll do it tonight before I go to sleep.
Damn, I sound like a movie script. A cheesy romance script. Maybe I just need to get laid real bad. I haven't been with a chick since Dona.
"Speak of the devil," Gippal says tauntingly, nudging my elbow and nodding ahead of us. I look up and Yuna, with her back turned to us, talking to someone. I see the blue tentacle freak show hair and I know immediately who it is.
"Seymour," I growl, beginning to walk faster. The others follow right behind me.
But it's too late. By the time we get there, Yuna's already taken care of it. I watch from behind her as Seymour and his crew walk away, and I wait until they're gone before I make my presence known. I tap her shoulder and smile at her as she turns around, knowing full well how close I'm standing to her.
"G'morning, Yuna," I say casually, secretly pleased to see that she does not back away from me. She smiles back, a perfect celebrity smile that doesn't seem fake.
"You're the first person to simply refer to me as 'Yuna' in school," she tells me with a slight laugh. She greets the others with a wave. "It feels strange to be treated like a superior among people my own age."
"I wouldn't complain, Princess," Rikku snorts, lighting up a cigarette. "The best I ever get is 'Slut' or 'Bitch'."
"But you are a slut and a bitch," Gippal points out, ducking as Rikku swipes at his head.
"They're afraid of you, you know," I say to Yuna, ignoring Gippal and Rikku. "You can tell by the way they look at you. They're scared you're going to be either as good as you seem publicly, or the complete opposite."
She stares at me in surprise, and I behind me I sense the gang doing the same.
"How do you know that?" she asks, amazed. I shrug and look down.
"Well . . . 'cause that's sort of what I was thinking when I first saw you," I admit, trying to find any excuse not to look her in the eye. Shit, why did I have to say that? When she answers, I can hear the smile in her voice.
"And . . . what conclusion have you come to?" she asks me. This time I have the courage to look back up at her. I give her my most likable grin.
"What do you think?" I say with a wink. Behind me I hear Wakka slapping his forehead, in disbelief at my open flirting. Usually I'm much more subtle, and I have to admit that I'm surprised at myself.
Damn I need to get laid bad. I find myself wondering if Yuna's a virgin . . .
Of course she is. She's too . . . well . . . she's too Yuna to not be a virgin.
"What did that Guado want?" I ask her suddenly, trying to get rid of these thoughts. She blinks at me for a second as if she doesn't understand, and then it sinks in.
"Oh! That . . . he was just being himself," she says, waving her hand like it doesn't matter. I sigh and curse under my breath.
"Get used to it," I say grimly. "He thinks he owns the whole damn school just because his dad is the Meister of Guadosalaam."
Her two-toned eyes go wide.
"Of course! I remember now. I was wondering why Seymour seemed so familiar," she says, shaking her head. "His father has been over to my house for dinner many times. I knew he had a son, but I didn't know he attended this school . . ."
"Hello there, mind if I join you?" a new voice says behind me. I groan inside. I can recognize it anywhere. I turn and see Dona walking towards us, all smiles and slutty makeup. Her eyes are fixed on Yuna, purposefully avoiding me. She's wearing a dark blue halter top and a matching blue skirt that is about as short as Rikku's. I do not trust the way she is smiling at Yuna.
Yuna smiles at her, almost shyly, and bows her head for a second.
"Hello," she says politely. "I'm-"
"Lady Yuna Ressan, daughter of High Summoner Braska Ressan, defeater of Sin," Dona says with a knowing laugh. "I would have to be blind, deaf, and mute not to recognize you, my lady."
"Please, just call me Yuna. What's your name?" Yuna asks, tilting her head to the side slightly. I look at her for a minute. It's awfully cute the way her hair comes down just a little bit over her face.
"I'm Dona Calisto, and I'm so very pleased to meet you," Dona gushes, holding out her hand for Yuna to shake. I step in front of her and glare down at her, keeping myself between her and Yuna.
"Beat it, Dona. Whatever little game you're playing, don't bring Yuna into it," I snarl. Dona stares up at me with an injured look.
"Tidus, baby, how can you say that to me? I was just being polite! Poor Yuna could certainly stand to make friends other than you, you know," she says in a hurt voice. I feel Yuna's hand on my arm and I turn around to see a startled look on her face.
"Why, there's no need to be so defensive," she tells me, gently pushing me out of Dona's way. "I'd be delighted to get to know Dona."
"No, you don't," I say firmly. "Dona's a scheming little bitch, and she's only using you to get to me. I know the way her mind works, Yuna. She's just going to end up abandoning you when she thinks the time is right to make a move on me."
"How do you know she doesn't want to just be my friend?" she demands, surprised at my words.
"Because I've slept with her, and I know she wants to get back with me, all right? Trust me when I say she doesn't give a shit about you."
Okay, I admit it. I wish I hadn't said it quite like that. I regretted it the second I saw a spark of anger in her eyes.
"Oh, so nobody could possibly want to be friends with me, is that it?" she asks, shaking slightly.
"That's not what I meant. I just meant-"
"You know, Yuna," Dona says, cutting me off. "He's got an awful temper. I don't know why you put up with him yesterday." She moves over to Yuna's side and links their arms together. Yuna stares at me for a moment, and even underneath her anger I can see a flicker of pain.
"Neither do I," she says in a cold voice. She allows Dona to steer her away from me, chatting easily about whatever crap she thinks is interesting. Yuna doesn't look back at me.
"Nice going, Boss," Wakka sighs, rolling his eyes. "I was really startin' to like her too, ya?"
"She shouldn't have been so sensitive," Paine says in a careless tone. "You didn't mean to sound like a complete ass."
"Still, Boss was pretty rough with her," Rikku adds, taking a drag from her cigarette.
I mutter at them to shut up and watch with strange guilt as Yuna and Dona disappear into the crowds. Why do I feel guilt? I shouldn't care about her stupid feelings . . . she's just another celebrity's daughter, another person who's too good for me.
I shouldn't care . . . but I do.
The bell rings suddenly, cutting into my thoughts.
"Art first," I tell the gang, as they stare at me with worry. "I'll see you guys later."
All the way to the art room, I remember the look on Yuna's face as I said those things to her. True, I don't think she should have taken it so seriously, but I can admit that I said some pretty harsh things to her. I swear with frustration.
"Stop caring," I say out loud to myself, quietly so that others can't hear. "If she can't handle you, then she's not worth it. Just forget about her."
Oh, but of course karma has to get in my way. As I walk into the art room, the first thing I see is Yuna sitting at a table across from the door, looking lonely next to a group of people she doesn't know. They look even more nervous having her with them. It's just my luck that I didn't know she was also going to be in my art class. I stand there and stare at her for a moment, until she looks up and sees me all of a sudden.
Her eyes lock into mine, and I can still see a trace of hurt. I hadn't meant to upset her . . . I was trying to protect her from Dona. Dona wouldn't hesitate to stomp all over Yuna's feelings if she knew she would get to me for it. That's just the way her mean brains works, and somehow I have to get Yuna to see that.
Slowly, keeping my eyes on her, I walk around to the back of the class, where a lone table sits. It's the only table I sit at, and nobody else likes to join me. I like it that way . . . I like having all that free space to work in peace, without having to worry about touching someone else's elbow or getting eraser chips on someone else's paper.
She looks right back, refusing to be stared down. Quite different from anyone else . . . so much willpower not to be small under my eyes. I can't help but smile at it. She sees the smile and becomes slightly confused. I can see the expression on her face. Only when the teacher walks in does she look away to be the dutiful student and pay attention. I roll my eyes slightly and lean back against the wall behind me.
I doubt I could ever steer her away from her good student habits. Maybe I don't want to anyway.
"Today," Professor Faradi says as she steps to the front of the class. "We are going to be starting a new project, and I'm going to ask you to get into groups of two."
The blonde woman waits patiently as everyone stands up and begins searching for a partner, her eyes landing on me as I remain motionless. I smirk at her, knowing full well that she's used to my attitude. She's pretty, for a teacher at least, and I guess I got nothing much against her. She puts up with me more than the other teachers do. She knows that I will let some poor loser come to me first, or I'll just do the whole damn thing on my own. Or I won't do it at all . . .
I notice that Yuna still sits alone, with a sad look on her face. Not sad as in miserable, but . . . sad in a lonely sort of way. Won't someone reach out to her? Won't someone realize that she won't bite just because she's a freakin' millionaire?
"Miss Ressan," Professor Faradi says suddenly. "Perhaps you would like to work with Mr. Lorac for the project? I dare say it would be a miracle of your work habits could rub off on him."
Damn woman. The last thing I want to do is to face the girl who somehow managed to get me to care about her feelings, especially after I hurt them.
Yuna nods and gets up slowly and ignores the sympathetic looks people give her as she makes her way to my table in the back of the room. I'm still leaning against the wall, my head back and eyes half closed as I watch her come nearer.
She sits down next to me and stares at the front of the class. I should be paying attention to the instructions, but I am far too busy staring at Yuna. What a picture we must be . . . Yuna, the daughter of the High Summoner Braska, defeater of Sin, sitting next to Tidus, the gang leader from the wrong side of Bevelle. I can't help but snicker at the idea.
Yuna glances at me out of the corner of her eye as I laugh quietly. She looks curious, but suspicious.
"What is so funny?" she asks quietly.
"Nothing," I reply. "I was just thinking about how we must look to the rest of the class."
She frowns slightly and turns her attention back to Mrs. Faradi.
I sit upright and lean close to her for a moment. I see her eyes flicker towards me, but her head doesn't turn.
"I'm sorry," I tell her. She seems startled. "I don't know why I am, but . . . I just figured I should let you know."
Yuna turns to look me full in the eye. Yevon, those eyes . . . I've never seen others like them before. I see so much thought and feeling inside of them, and I wait for her response. Even though I can already tell she's cool with me, somehow I need to hear the words from her mouth.
"You don't know why you're sorry?" she asks, raising her eyebrow.
"Well, I do, it's just that . . . I'm not supposed to. I mean, I usually don't."
"So, you're not used to apologizing. Is that it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Can you handle it?"
"I forgive you," she tells me quietly. "I don't think I was really mad in the first place . . ."
"I was a jerk. I should have explained myself more."
STOP APOLOGIZING! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE!
She smiles at me, and I relax. It's all good again. But I am still confused . . . I've never had to apologize to any girl before. It was always the chicks who came crawling back to me, begging me to take them back. And now I have this weird feeling for a girl I've only known for a day? Where the hell are my nerves going? Don't tell me I'm getting soft already . . .
Goddamn, I need to get laid.