CHAPTER 4

ARGUMENTS AND SQUALL

"Wheeeeee!" Yuna laughed as she sped down the banisters of the 12 story apartment building. She landed with a soft "thud" on the concrete floor below her, and smiled. Another day of school. In other words: another day of torture, hard work, homework and tiredness. But at least she had friends. She didn't have to hang around awkwardly all by herself, wishing someone remotely normal and friendly would come up to her and ask her what her name was, or if she was in their class.

She parked in the almost full parking lot, and hopped out, wincing slightly as she landed in an odd position.

"Nice car!" Yuna turned around to face Rikku.

"Thanks." She said, smiling a little painfully. Rikku didn't notice. Rikku never noticed anything. She was always too hyper. Well, at least that was Yuna's conclusion.

"Where'd you get it?"

"Um…" Yuna said. "At a garage…?"

Rikku laughed. "No! I meant, where'd you get all the money?"

Yuna tried desperately to think of something. She couldn't exactly be like "oh, um I'm a famous singer and about a third of the world knows me, only not by my real name" could she? And her excuse about buying it with her graduation money wouldn't work either, considering the fact that she's still in high school. Instead she settled for an: "Oh. Um, my parents got it for me. Well, more like my mom… she… um… left me lots of money in her will…" this was only half a lie. Her mom had left her lots of money. Just the past about her parents – plural – was a lie. "And um… yeah. I wasn't allowed to use it until I turned 16."

"Oh." Rikku said. "I'm sorry about your mom."

Yuna smiled. "It's okay. I barely remember her anyway. She died when I was four."

Rikku nodded, hating herself for asking Yuna about her mom, but not blaming herself. She couldn't have known anyway, so it wasn't her fault, technically. They walked to the school in silence, until Rikku thought it would be cool to make introductions. Yuna trailed miserably after Rikku, and wondered what kind of friends Rikku had. Probably all Rikku clones that bounced around all the time, although somehow she found it very hard to imagine someone identical to her. She was surprised however when she led her over to Wakka and Lulu.

"Well," Wakka said. "Looks like we've all managed to run into Yuna some way or another, and all in two days."

Rikku arched an eyebrow. "We?"

"Yeah." Wakka nodded. "Me, you, Lulu – well, theoretically – and Squall. Oh. And Melanie." He laughed as Yuna flushed out of embarrassment. "Its no biggie, Melanie is now terrified of you, and she's scared to spread the word to the teachers in case you come after her." Yuna smiled feebly, a little more reassured. She didn't want to make enemies in her first week at school.

"Oh." Rikku said, interrupting Yuna's worries. "I hope you don't mind. I asked Lulu to come with us to the concert on Sunday night. I hope that's all right with you?"

Of course she couldn't say no in front of Lulu, so her face broke into a smile.

"Sure, no problem. I have an extra ticket if you want" she said. Well, duh she had an extra ticket. Her ticket. "I think they're all sold out now though. I asked my neighbour to come, but she couldn't 'coz she was grounded. Unless you have a ticket…?"

When Lulu shook her head Yuna smiled. "I'll bring it to school tomorrow."

"Wait. What concert? Why don't I know about it?" Wakka asked looking affronted.

Rikku laughed. She always seemed to be laughing. "You probably won't want to come. It's an 'Invisible Soul' opening concert."

Wakka made a face. "Good point. Hey, look, it's Squall."

"Where?" Yuna and Rikku asked at the same time, and whipping their heads around.

"Why?" Wakka asked, a sly smile playing on his face.

"No reason." Rikku said turning red, while Yuna hid behind Wakka. "I just don't want to run into him again."

"You can run but you can't hide Yuna."

"Shit."

"Yes indeed."

"Fuck you."

"With pleasure."

"Ew sick!"

"Just kidding."

"shame"

"excuse me?"

"you heard me"

"No I didn't"

"Liar"

"Thief."

"Murderer."

"Wait. What makes me a thief?"

"What makes me a murderer? Oh wait no, I know what does. The fact that I nearly hired a hit man to kill you?"

"Why do you hate me Yuna?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"Yes."

"You know the fact that you're the cutest guy alive doesn't hide the fact that you're also an asshole."

"Touché"

"Whatever"

"Hey you called me cute"

"So what? I also called you an asshole."

"Yeah, but you also called me cute. Hey, you're blushing."

"I most certainly am NOT."

"Yes you are."

"DON'T touch me."

"What's wrong? Scared you'll melt into a puddle of goo?"

"You are the sickest person I know."

"And the cutest."

"SHUT UP!"

"You guys, when you've finished your lovers quarrel, I'd like you to know that the bell has gone."

"WE ARE NOT LOVERS!"

"yes we are."

"NO WE ARE NOT!"

"We used to be." The remorse on squalls face was too strong to keep Yuna mad at him.

"Squall listen I'm sorry I broke up with you-"

"HAHA! So you still DO like me."

"Urg. Shut up squall."

"No thanks."

"Fuck you."

"Oh were starting again are we? What don't have any better insults?"

"Shit face. Wanker. Ass hole."

"Already used that one."

"Bastard. Dick head."

"What? You're going to call me a pee brain next?"

CRUNCH.

"Fit! Fuck you Funa! Bust you balways break ma dose?"

"What's that for insult?"

"Bust agee it is da nost orinal bon."

"Thank you."

"No provlem."

"Squall?"

"Veah?"

"Sorry."