Disclaimer: forgot to put one in the last chapter…but I don't own it…
An: I was home sick today so I decided to write this chapter. Then I didn't finish it. So I wrote it on a Saturday afternoon when the skies were gray and it was freezing outside. Besides I'm err…coughgroundedcough…
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"That was some party" Tidus said as he collapsed onto his soft mattress. Rikku nodded and pulled off her shoes, tossing them aside absentmindedly.
"Yeah it was the most unique party I've ever been to." Rikku said. Tidus nodded and picked one of the shoes Rikku had tossed aside off of his bed.
"Nice aim Riku, you hit my bed." he said jokingly. Rikku shrugged and gathered her pajamas to get ready to go into the bathroom, take a shower, and get dressed for bed. Even though it was five in the morning. "Wow what size shoe do you wear?" Tidus asked as he held up one of Rikku's size six, in women's', sneakers.
"Umm six." Rikku said casually.
Tidus' eyes bulged, "seriously? How tall are you anyways?"
"Five foot five inches." Rikku said proudly. Again the eye bulge occurred. "What?" Rikku said defensively.
"Nothing it's just really small." Tidus said, brushing the subject off. Rikku shrugged and walked slowly into the bathroom. Tidus' gaze followed her and, he had to admit, he noticed something a little weird. Guys weren't supposed to have butts, not like a girl's anyways. Tidus decided to focus on something else, anything else. That's when Rikku's "Blitzball" magazine from Lenne caught his eye. He wouldn't mind if I skimmed through this, Tidus thought while picking the magazine up.
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Two hours later Rikku emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam and Listerine. Tidus was sitting on his bed, unusually quiet, reading his own Blitzball magazine.
"Hey Riku have you seen this article?" Tidus questioned pointing at an article about tennis players converting to Blitzball because of the higher pay.
"Negative." Rikku said shortly before switching out her end table's lamp and snuggling under the thick covers.
"Weird because I saw that you subscribe to Blitz World too." Tidus said, his voice coated in some weird form of fear and accusation.
"Oh I picked that issue up off a newsstand on my over here…why? You didn't read it did you?" Rikku said, a worried pang creeping into her voice. Tidus shrugged and held up the magazine.
"There weren't any interesting articles in it considering someone pasted Vogue articles throughout the entire magazine." he said confusion taking over his pervious voice tone.
Rikku sat up strait in bed, "please don't tell anyone." She pleaded helplessly. Tidus' eyes widened.
"Tell them what? What are you hiding Riku?" he said as he jumped off his bed and flicked all the lights on in the dorm room. "What would I tell them?"
Rikku shivered and a few tears escaped from her eyes. Tidus' face softened. This was the first time in his entire life that he had said something and made someone cry because of it. He felt so guilty. He still was confused about Riku though. What was he hiding that was so big a secret? Whatever it was Tidus knew he couldn't carry his burden alone.
"Riku," Tidus began, "whatever it is you can tell me. I'll help you deal with it. No one should have to go through something that hurts them as much as this…this thing…is hurting you alone. Please just tell me. I promise I won't laugh or make any judgments about you based on it." Rikku shook her head in a sorrowful motion.
"No Tidus you might not laugh but you couldn't help but make a judgment." she said sadly. Slowly Rikku stood up, got her hooded Silver Crest sweatshirt and a pair of sneakers and slipped out the door.
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Once the chilly early September air hit her face the tears started to flow freely. She slipped the sweatshirt on and limply tied her sneakers. Then, very methodically, she began jogging in circles around the campus. The only noise was the pavement beneath her feet and the hot tears flowing down her cheeks.
Pretty soon Rikku came to a small grass courtyard with some oak trees and a few park benches. Rikku sat down on one and lowered her head into her lap. She stayed that way for about thirty minutes without disturbance.
"Riku." Tidus' voice said interrupting the serene quietness of the courtyard, "Riku I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Rikku looked up and saw Tidus' blazing blue eyes staring down on her. It seemed as if he could hear her thoughts and he knew all of her secrets and mistakes.
"I'm sorry I had to put you through this Tidus. But I just can't do this any more. I just can't pretend to be someone I'm not." she said between sobs. Tidus nodded slowly and sat down next to her.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me?" he asked quietly. Rikku began to nod but stopped. Why couldn't she confide in at least one guy here? And wasn't the most logical guy for her to confide in her roommate?
"It's a long story." Rikku warned, her voice lighting slightly.
"Then maybe you can tell it to me while we walk back to our dorm." Tidus suggested hopefully. Rikku nodded and wiped her nose on a Kleenex she had in her pocket.
"Okay," she began, "you see it all started with a day camp my mother sent me to when I was little…"
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Rikku and Tidus were almost back at the dorm and Tidus had remained silent throughout Rikku's entire story. His eyes had widened a significant amount when Rikku confessed that she was a girl, but still he said nothing. His silence made Rikku slightly apprehensive of his reaction to her story.
"That…that was not what I was expecting." Tidus finally said. Rikku nodded and bit her bottom lip.
"I know. I probably have the most messed up life." Rikku said with a sigh. They were back in their dorm room and Rikku collapsed onto the sofa. Tidus sat down in a nearby arm chair.
"In case you're wondering I'm not going to tell anyone." he said finally. "You came here for your family and I'm not going to ruin that for you. The only reason I go here is because my dad used to be a star All-State Blitzball player here when he was in high school. That's the only reason I go into this place. And yeah I partially go here because they send my dad a nice paycheck each month for my athletic services." Tidus paused momentarily, "you see, Riku, your family isn't the only messed up one. My dad was offered a huge contract to play blitzball for the L.A. Tidal Waves but he was fired when he started showing up extremely drunk on game days and he skipped every practice. The money the school gives me goes to my dad's alcohol fund."
Tidus lowered his blonde head, clearly embarrassed about his family. "Tidus its okay." Rikku said as she wrapped her arms around him, "I'm here for you." Tidus looked up at her gratefully.
"You know," he said finally, "having a chick as a roommate might not be so bad. Guys aren't allowed to comfort each other." Rikku giggled and sat back down on the sofa.
"There are a lot of things guys aren't supposed to do." she sighed. Then for the first time since she arrived at Silver Crest her green eyes lit up, "hey Tidus," Rikku said cunningly, "would you mind doing me an itsy-bitsy favor?" Rikku said using her famous puppy-dog pout face.
"What kind of favor?" Tidus said cautiously. Rikku smiled and stood up to her full five foot five inches.
"Well, you see you know how you're a guy…" Rikku started Tidus raised his eyebrows, "well I was thinking. Maybe you could give me, like, lessons. "Guy lessons". No matter how stupid it might seem I think it would help. Because I have to make it through at least one school year. Just one year." Rikku said, determination taking form in her voice.
And by six o'clock that morning Rikku had begun to look at Silver Crest with a new perspective. Instead of a burden it presented itself as a challenge and everyone who ever knew Rikku knew that she never backed down from a challenge.
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Later that night Rikku was even more confused when she sat down to have pizza with "the guys". Tidus had spent the entire day teaching her different things. Apparently Shuyin and Gippal were best friends and Baralai and Tidus were best friends. Tidus had explained the four of them were all pretty tight but that was just where the lines fell.
"Hey Riku!" Baralai exclaimed when Rikku and Tidus entered the restaurant. "and Tidus." He added quickly. Tidus slapped hands with Baralai before sitting down in the red vinyl booth that Shuyin and Gippal were already occupying.
"So is everyone ready for school to start next week?" Tidus asked as he snagged a slice of pizza from the tray.
"That is," Gippal shrugged, "if I actually decide to go to class." Rikku rolled her eyes at this and smiled a little.
"When do our schedules arrive?" Baralai asked sensibly. Rikku shrugged, how was she supposed to know? Tidus had just stuffed an entire slice of extra cheese pizza in his mouth, yet he attempted to say the date anyways.
"He said tomorrow." Shuyin translated Tidus' pizza slur. Rikku almost giggled before catching herself and turning it into a hideous sounding, yet guy-like, snort instead.
"Hey guys I have to be somewhere." Gippal said, standing up suddenly. Rikku looked up at his shimmering green eye and for an instant wondered what it would be like if he were her boyfriend. The next instant she scolded herself for those thoughts and reminded herself that she was pretending to be a guy.
Shuyin chuckled, "are you meeting up with that Kairi chick?" he teased. Gippal didn't flush and wasn't embarrassed.
"Yeah she's pretty hot." he said with a slight shrug. "See youse all at the Drive-In tonight." He saluted before dropping a five on the table to pay for his share of the pizza and then leaving.
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"These shoes are so much more comfortable then those imitation-five-dollar Jimmy Choos I used to always where." Rikku said when her and Tidus were back in their dorm.
"Jimmy who?" Tidus said, ignorant to the name of the famous shoe designer. Rikku rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist in a gesture that meant never mind.
"Anyways what was Gippal talking about when he said he'd see us at the drive in tonight?" Rikku said, curiosity sparkling in her glittery emerald eyes.
"Nothing really, Silver Crest and Dunsberry Prep host a drive-in movie once a year. Dunsberry Prep is the nearby all-girls boarding school. You know Kairi, Laurie, Yuffie, Selphie, and all those girls from the party? Well they all go to Dunsberry Prep." Tidus said in explanation. Rikku sighed; it was slightly déjà vu from yesterday. Yesterday she had been dreading going to the party, and today she was dreading the Drive-In. At least she had Lenne, Paine, and Tidus.
If Paine and Lenne could come, Tidus had said it was hosted by Silver Crest and Dunsberry Prep. What if outsiders weren't allowed? Then she'd be left with Tidus and he wouldn't be much help. He'd probably want to hang out with Baralai all night and Baralai, nice as he was, wasn't one of her "allies".
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That night Rikku decided to arrive at the drive-in late. And she decided to drive there alone; she knew where it was being hosted. After Baralai and Shuyin had stopped by Tidus and Rikku's dorm to pick them up so they could all drive together in Shuyin's Jag to the drive-in, Rikku had asked them where it was being held.
Exactly forty-seven minutes later Rikku stumbled into her car with anoversized flask of Ketel One and a few Chasers. She wasn't a big drinker, but she figured the easiest way to tolerate this drive-in was going to be getting drunk. Very very drunk. Rikku never did the drink-and-drive thing though so she sensibly hid the alcohol in her large cargo pants pockets.
The drive-in was being held at Dunsberry's large front lawn area of their campus. When Rikku arrived she smelled roasting peanuts and fresh squeezed lemonade. Dunsberry students were wearing sun dresses and wedge sandals. Silver Crest boys wore cute cargo pants and not-too-tight-not-too-loose polo shirts. Everyone had their cars parked in the parking lot, making it odd that they referred to the function as a drive-in.
A large screen was situated in front of tons of white folding lawn chairs. A sign annouced the double feautre this year was: Forest Gump and Remember the Titans.The movie hadn't started yet and everyone was buying peanuts, lemonade, or cotton candy from the concession stands. Rikku got out of her Jeep and walked over slowly to the event area.
"Riku!" a somewhat familiar high-pitched voice shrieked. Laurie ran over and gave Rikku a huge welcoming hug. "I was getting worried. What took you so long?" Laurie asked. Genuine worry lit up her gray eyes and her brown eyebrows knitted together.
"I was tired and wanted to relax a little before I came over here." Rikku said coolly. She had come up with that story on the drive over. Truth was Rikku had spent the extra time alone crying into a pillow and popping anti-depressants. Now she was beginning to feel their affect and she felt strangely happy.
"Oh well I'm so glad you're here now." Laurie said as she took Rikku's hand in hers and guided her over to the row of chairs were their friends were sitting. "I saved a seat for you next to me." Laurie said as she patted the seat next to her. Rikku shrugged and sat down.
A few minutes later Tidus and Baralai sat down in the row and later they were joined by Kairi and Gippal. "Has anyone seen Shuyin?" Baralai asked a look of worry crossing his face.
"Not since I got here." Laurie answered, and then she smiled up at Rikku and put her head on Rikku's shoulder.
"Err…there he his." Rikku said. She felt very uncomfortable at the moment. She turned to Tidus with a look that said HELP! Tidus seemed to understand and stood up.
"Hey Riku you wanna go get some cotton candy with me?" Tidus asked. Rikku couldn't say yes fast enough before darting away leaving a confused Laurie behind.
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Instead of getting cotton candy Tidus and Rikku went behind a nearby building to sit down for a bit. Finally out of sight Rikku took her flask of Ketel One out of her pants pocket and began drinking it like water.
"Whoa easy there Riku." Tidus said grabbing the flask away from her after she had downed half of it in practically one swig. "Maybe I want to try some." He said after a minute. Rikku had already popped a Chaser in her mouth to avoid a hangover and was ready for some more alcohol. She was ready for anything which would make her life seem better then it was at the moment.
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Tidus had never tried alcohol before. All those parties in seventh grade when everyone stole their parents' beer and wine and thought they were cool by drinking tiny sips of it…that wasn't him. However that night here he was.
He was sitting behind an ancient brick dormitory at Dunsberry Prep for Girls with Rikku. Rikku, his roommate at Silver Crest for Boys, only Rikku had turned out to be a girl. Here she was sitting behind the building, a few stray tears escaping her eyes, her back to the sunset, drinking strong liquor, and looking seriously hot. Ever since Tidus had found out that Rikku was a girl he had realized it more and more. How had he ever even seen her as a guy in the first place? She looked so feminine and so…hot.
"Tidus are going to hold onto that all day or are going to let me drink some more?" Rikku said as the liquor began to set in. She playfully grabbed for the flask but Tidus was fast. In one motion he opened the cap and drank a long steady drink. Afterwards he licked his lips and gratefully accepted the Chaser pill Rikku held out to him. They continued sharing sips from the flask and gazing at the sunset for a long while, peace, contentment, and liquor in both of their hearts.
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Meanwhile Laurie sat in her folding chair and nervously played with the hem of her dangerously high mid-thigh length Prada sun dress. Two seats over Baralai sat, the chairs on both sides of him empty, drumming his fingers on his knees. How long does it take them to get cotton candy anyways? Laurie thought impatiently. Suddenly out of nowhere a bleary looking Shuyin and a rumpled Lenne stumbled into the row.
"Hey babe." Shuyin said quickly as he pecked Laurie on the cheek before sitting down next to her. Laurie's eyes narrowed when she noticed Lenne sat on the other side of him. Could they make the fact that they had spent the last half-hour making out in Shuyin's car any less obvious?
Laurie sat up strait and refused to be embarrassed by her boyfriend's behavior. "Where have you been sweetie?" she said with faux-sweetness. Shuyin shrugged and dropped his arm around her shoulders heavily. Laurie sent a death ray to her cousin Lenne. It said you might be his ho but I'm still his girlfriend. Lenne received the subliminal message and sent an equally venomous one back, if you were a good girlfriend he wouldn't need a ho.
"Hey Kairi." Lenne said, nudging the redhead beside her, "are admissions still open for this semester at Dunsberry?" she said hopefully. Kairi, the sophomore class president, nodded and her violet colored eyes shinned.
"Yes, as a matter-of-fact we just accepted a new student today. Admissions close tomorrow however." Kairi said in a business-like voice despite the fact that she was sitting on Gippal's lap and she felt extremely cool for the first time in her life.
"Perfect." Lenne muttered to herself, a plan already beginning to formulate in her head. She stole a quick glance at Shuyin and noticed he looked miserable with his arm hanging heavily around Laurie. He caught he gaze and mustered a weak smile. She smiled back and gave his knee a quick squeeze that Laurie didn't catch. It said don't worry everything will work out. Just you wait.
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Tidus and Rikku had finished the entire flask of Ketel One and were thoroughly drunk. Pretty soon Rikku crawled over to wear Tidus was leaning against the brick wall and climbed into his lap.
"Hey Rikku." He whispered, finally treating her like the girl he saw her as. "Rikku can I ask you something?" he slurred. Rikku giggled and put her finger to his lips.
"Shhh." she whispered. Tidus nodded and Rikku put her head on his shoulder. Tidus stroked her golden hair gently feeling an overwhelming happiness. Little did he know she wasn't thinking about him when she began kissing him.
Inside she was thinking of his friend and pretending that Gippal knew about her secret and Gippal had gotten drunk with her in an alleyway. And even though she didn't know why she wanted Gippal to be with her and know her secrets so much she couldn't avoid the feeling she had whenever she was near to him. As if some invisible string was pulling her towards him. For goodness sake she hadn't even spoken with him much. But when she did speak with him some invisible flame had sparked and she could feel it growing everytime she was around him.
However she was there, in an alleyway, drunken past comprehension, kissing Tidus fervently. And he, although equally drunk, he was feeling as if something was happening that was meant to be. As if somehow the invisible string was compelling him toward Rikku. And he thought to himself that no one would ever be able to make him happier. So he put his arms around Rikku firmly and continued kissing her.
Then Laurie's voice interrupted everything.
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A/N: Did Laurie see them? Ye-ha. Well that was an interesting chapter. I guess a lot happened there. I hope you enjoy. Can anyone smell some love-triangles approaching? Like um a lot of love triangles? Even if some seem weird, like the whole Laurie-Rikku thing because Laurie thinks Rikku is a guy…but if she sees her with Tidus…
Anyways stay tuned and please review. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Luv ya,
Lucy