A/N: Ok I dont own the song by bodyjar. I think everyone should d/l that song and listen. made me laugh!! Or if you dont wanna d/l at least read the words. :) Neways Thanks to everyone thats reviewing I love you guys heaps and heaps. Neways read on and enjoy (hopfully!)
.:How Can I Not Love You:.
The girls drove around to the back entrance to the Celsius and got out. As they started to unload their gear, a tall, broad man walked out from the back door.
"Ah, you girls have finally arrived. Lu's been having a panic attack thinking you'd forgotten to come, ya?" he spoke as he helped them carry some stuff inside.
"Don't be silly Wakka, as if we would miss this." Rikku tried to sound happy but was struggling with her arms full of equipment.
"Rikku's right. It's so wonderful that you and Lulu have let us play tonight. I feel like we should be paying you or something." Yuna added as she get the last of the gear from the car.
"Well have you seen the crowd out there? You guys must be pretty good, ya? And beside, how long have I know you Yuna? If I didn't give you a chance, I'd never forgive myself." Wakka put his arm around Yuna's shoulder.
"Neither would Lulu." Pain added truthfully. Wakka gave a hearty but nervous laugh.
"Paine's got a point, ya? Well anyway, I have to go, business ya know. You girls know the drill. You got half an hour." Wakka walked off and left the girls to set up.
They set up the gear and did a few sound checks. The Celsius was like a night club with a band stage. Covering the stage were thick curtains
"Ok girls, you ready?' Wakka poked his head around the side.
"All set!" Rikku gave Wakka an enthusiastic thumbs up.
"Ok then, I'll let the DJ know to announce you." The girls all nodded.
"Ok guys this rock this joint!" RIkku jumped up and down, psyching herself out. Paine nodded and twirled her drumsticks. Yuna nodded and pulled out her lucky pick. It had been given to her by her mother before she died and she used it to play the first song of every gig.
"Y!" She yelled, strumming a chord on her guitar.
"R!" Rikku followed with a few notes on the base.
"P!" Paine concluded with crash.
They heard the DJ announce them and the crown cheared. They weren't a famous band, but they certainly had a following in their home town.
Yuna grinned from ear to ear when the wolf whistles started. She wasn't the only one underdressed though. Rikku had on her standard amount of clothing (or lack there-of) She was wearing her favorite yellow bikini and green mini skirt. The bandana that Gippal had given her kept her yellow braids in some sort of order.
And Paine in her usual black tight-fitting leather. The three were really quite a site to see. Yuna blinked a few times. When she was on stage she was a different person. She wasn't shy or reserved. She grabbed the mic and spoke.
"Hey guys, how are we all tonight?" Which was followed by yells and whistles. "Ok well that was pathetic. We might as well go home guys." Yuna looked to Rikku and Pain. Rikku put on a sad face. Then grabbed her own back up mic.
"She saaiiidd... HOW ARE YOU ALL TONIGHT!!!" Rikku yelled. This was followed by louder screams and more whistles. Yuna listened to the crowd and looked them over. She could hear someone whistling louder than everyone. She had never been able to whistle like that. That's when she saw who it was who was whistling.
He was standing at the bar with a beer in his hand and his fingers in his mouth. When he realized that she had seen him, he stopped whistling and gave her a thumbs up. For some reason this made her smile and she could think of nothing better to do than return the gesture.
Rikku and Paine noticed what was happening and followed Yuna's gaze. Rikku smiled as she saw that somehow Baralai had managed to end up standing next to Tidus. The girls all watched as Baralai nudged Tidus and said something. Both guys smiled as Tidus said something back and then they both looked back to the stage. Yuna and Paine both rolled their eyes.
Rikku grabbed her mic again and spoke to the crowd. "There are a couple of special guys here tonight... You know who you are ..." She pointed towards Tidus and Baralai. "And we would like to dedicate this first song to you." Yuna and Paine rolled their eyes again Paine started to count in.
What followed was a kick arse cover of Rikku's favorite song. She had wanted the group to learn it for a moment just like this. The song was BodyJar's - One in a Million. As they started to play and Yuna began to sing, both the guys standing by the bar burst into laughter.
The first set went like a dream and everyone seemed really happy. After taking a quick brake out the back the girls returned and played another set. Although the girls had a few of their own songs, they mainly played covers at gigs like this, otherwise people got bored. By 11pm they had played four sets and were absolutely buggered. As the curtain closed on them and the cheers were slowly drowned out by the return of the dance music, they all breathed a tired sigh.
"Time for a drink, I think." Rikku said as she put her guitar on its stand.
"But we have to pack up." Yuna protested.
"That's ok guys, you can always come back tomorrow morning and do that." Wkka had poked his head around the side again. "You guys were so good. Lu's even talking about giving you guys a permanent gig here. That's if you want it, ya?" Wakka smiled when he saw all the girls faces.
"Oh my god Wakka that would absolutely rock!, I mean, wow, we'd finally have a place that YRP could call home!!" Rikku hugged Wakka.
"Rikku's right, where's Lulu, we have to thank her!" Yuna said as she smiled at Wakka.
"She went home hours ago with Vedina. She said to say hello, ya"
"Well this definitely calls for a few drinks." Paine said as she put her sticks on the kit and walked over to the curtain "Coming Rikku?"
"You betcha! ... Yuna?" Rikku looked over at her cousin who was looking a bit doubtful/
"I just don't know what to say... I mean... Ugghh..." She made a frustrated noise and walked over to her friends. "Maybe a few drinks will help. But whatever you guys do, do NOT – and I stress do not – leave me alone with him." Rikku and Paine nodded.
The girls walked out and made their way to the bar. Getting a few cheers and pats from people in the club, they finally reached it.
"Can we please have a rum and coke, a vodka and orange and a scotch on the rocks." Paine asked the bartender, who nodded.
"And 3 tequila shots please!" Rikku added and the bartender smiled. Both Yuna and Paine looked at her. "What? I thought we were celebrating?"
"Yes but remember last time you and Yuna had tequila? I ended up carrying you both home!" Paine said with a stern look as she remembered the fateful night.
"Well ok, we'll just have the one shot and then no more." Rikku said with a mischievous glint in her eye. She knew they wouldn't stop at one but if it would get Paine off her case then that would be enough.
'Sounds like a plan." Yuna nodded as the drinks arrived. "But who's paying?"
"Oh that's ok," the bartended interrupted. "Wakka says its on the house for you girls tonight. Congrats on getting the gig, you guys were great."
"Ooo, drinks taste so much better when they're free!" Rikku said as she sipped her vodka. She put it down and picked up her tequila in her right hand. Picking up a slice of lemon the bartender had given then and opening the small packet of salt, she poured it on the skin between her thumb and forefinger.
"Ready girls?" Rikku as the other did the same with the lemon and salt. Using Y,R,P as a count down the girls shot the tequila easily. Rikku followed hers with a big gulp from her vodka and orange but Yuna just pulled a slightly sour face.
Paine took a deep breath and looked at the others. "Now no more." Just as she said it she saw both Tidus and Baralai walk up to them. Yuna nervously sipped on her rum and coke when she saw them and Rikku ran and hugged them both.
"Oh, Rikku, before I forget, Gippal rang me this afternoon. He told me not to tell you but I know you'd kill me if I didn't. He's coming back early, He'll be here in like..." Baralai looked at his wactch, "In about 10 minutes!"
"Holy crap! 10 minutes? Oh god, I look like shit! Oh um... Yuna hold this I gotta go fix myself up!" Rikku passed her drink to Yuna and ran off towards the ladies room. Yuna sighed.
"That wasn't nice Baralai. I hope it's the truth" Paine looked accusingly at Baralai. Baralai made a grunting noise and grabbed Paine's arm.
"Right I've had enough of this. You, come with me, we need to talk." This took Paine completely by surprise and before she could protest, Baralai had dragged her through the crowd and nearly out the door.
"Seems like an ok guy." Tidus said, pulling Yuna from her thoughts.
Oh god, I thought I told them not to leave me alone with him...
Yuna turned around to face the bar and skulled her drink. She then looked at Rikku's and drank have of that as well.
"Woah, slow down there. You can't drink like that or you'll out drink me in a minute!" Tidus laughed and held up his only half drunk beer.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do. You don't even know me." Yuna snapped suprising both Tidus and herself at the viciousness in her voice.
"Hey, what's with the hostilities? You're one strange girl." Tidus took a swig of his beer.
"Well then why do you keep hanging around?" Yuna said and finished Rikku's drink.
"Because I like it when you're not a nasty bitch." Tidus replied finishing his beer. Yuna wasn't the only one who was getting annoyed.
"Nasty bitch? Nasty bitch? Where do you get off, buddy?" Yuna poked Tidus in the shoulder. "You're the prat that nearly ran me over and then never apologized!!"
There! I finally said it. Yuna thought.
She looked at Tidus who suddenly looked different. He put his empty bottle on the bar and gently put his hands on Yuna's bare shoulders.
So soft... Yuna thought.
"Is that why you've been this way? Oh Jesus, I'm sorry. I just didn't think. I mean... Yuna I'm sorry. I just didn't think. You're right. I am a prat." Tidus turned around to face the bar.
Great way to make me feel bad... Yuna thought. She sighed and put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, that's ok, I don't really think you're a prat... I was just angry that's all."
"And I don't think you're a nasty bitch." He smiled at her and she smiled back.
They looked at one another for a moment and then both burst into laughter. For some reason beyond their control, Paine and Baralai and Rikku all came back at that precise moment.
A/N Please review again guys!! wh00t!