The days after Tidus' detention were rather boring. Everyone seemed to be stuck in one place in time. The only remotely exciting thing was that Auron's friend and co-worker had finally moved to their town. Everyone and everything else seemed to be stuck. Gippal continued to resist his urges but he never split things off with Rikku, Baralai didn't talk to Gippal about his feelings, Shuyin continued to moon over Lenne, Chappu did his best to annoy Lulu as usual, and Lulu did her best to ignore him. On the positive side the autumn/winter rain had seemed to have receded and it was nice and warm. Warm enough for Tidus and his friends to eat lunch outside on the small hill behind their school.

Tidus was sitting with Paine and Lulu eating his sandwich. Lulu was watching Rikku feed Gippal grapes with one eyebrow slightly raised.

"I think we should invite Rikku out with us." Paine said. "So we can get to know her better. It seems like Gippal may actually be serious about her."

"Don't you have a gig soon?" Lulu asked, opening her yogurt. "We could take her to a gig."

"And traumatize her for life." Paine chuckled.

"Nah, nah." The brunette grinned. "We could invite Tidus and Baralai along too. They can keep her company."

Tidus looked up, his mouth full of sandwich. "Wha bubo chdo?"

Paine and Lulu laughed.

"Swallow your food. Then talk." Lulu said.

Tidus blushed and swallowed his bite of his sandwich, "What about Chappu?"

"We can't invite everyone except Gippal. Then he'll feel left out. If we leave some others out they'll just assume that we could only invite a certain number of people… which is true. I can only invite four others."

"So me, Tidus, Baralai, and Rikku. That works." Lulu said.

"Thanks for asking if I have plans for this weekend." Tidus teased.

"Do you?" Lulu asked.

"No." The blonde laughed.

"Fine then. Want to come to the Sharks Club and hear my band play?" Paine smirked.

"Sure."

"You'll have to ask Baralai out as your date." Lulu grinned.

"Fine." Tidus blushed slightly and continued to eat.

Paine looked over to where Baralai and Chappu were sitting. Chappu was frantically writing an essay (due after lunch) while cramming crackers and cheese into his mouth with his free hand. Baralai was poking at the tofu and spinach sandwich his mother sent in his lunch.

"Do you like Baralai or what?" Lulu asked.

"Well…if Baralai wasn't hung up on Gippal I would maybe like to date him." Tidus replied.

"Oooo…" Paine and Lulu chorused.

The blonde blushed and took another bite of his sandwich. "What about you guys?"

Lulu tilted her head back and looked thoughtfully up at the sky, "I don't know. No one has ever really sparked my interest."

"Not even Chappu?" Paine smirked.

The brunette snorted, "Certainly not. He drives me nuts."

"What about you Paine?" Tidus asked with a small smile.

"Hmn…" Paine tapped her chin with her finger. "Letty is pretty cute. He's nice too…and really smart. Yeah. Letty."

"Interesting choice." Lulu replied, finishing off her yogurt.

The bell rang signalling the end of lunch. Chappu let out a rather girly scream and wrote at a faster place.

Lulu shook her head, "That'll teach him to ignore his homework."

"See you later guys." Tidus said. "I've got to hurry to Biology. We've got an test and I can't be late."

Tidus gathered up his backpack and the remains of his lunch before standing up. He threw his garbage in the nearby trash can and headed down the hill to school.

He made it to Biology just in time. The teacher gave him a look but said nothing. Tidus quickly took his seat and the teacher handed the test out. The blonde twitched in his seat slightly. He'd studied but this test still looked pretty tough.

"You may begin. You have the entire class to complete the test." The teacher said.

Tidus looked down at his test and started to read the first question. He chewed on the end of his pencil constantly. The first half of the test gave him a lot of trouble. The blonde had just finished the last question when class ended. He handed his paper in, not feeling that confident about it, and headed to his next class.

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When it was finally time to go home Tidus shoved his homework into his backpack and headed to the parking lot as usual. However as he approached Shuyin's truck he discovered something that was not usual, Wakka seemed to be waiting outside the truck.

Tidus approached him and smiled uncertainly,

"Hello Wakka."

"Oh, hi Tidus. I'm coming home with you guys today. Shuyin and I have a project for History we have to get started on."

"I see." Was Tidus' feeble reply.

"I haven't talked to you since our detention. Did you talk to Shuyin about blitz?"

"Yeah. He said it sounded interesting but he's pretty busy. He was going to look into his schedule."

"Great. And what about you?"

"Sports aren't really my thing but maybe I'll come try out."

"Excellent." Wakka grinned.

Shuyin walked up to them with his knapsack stuffed full and his arms full of art supplies.

"I'm really glad this is my last year of school." He said. "Tidus, you'll have to unlock the truck. The keys are in the front pouch of my backpack."

Tidus nodded and walked around behind Shuyin. He fetched the keys and unlocked the truck, pulling the back door open for his brother. With a grunt Shuyin shoved everything into the back, but left enough room for Wakka to get in and sit down.

"What kind of project did you guys get?" Tidus asked, walking around the truck to get in.

"We have to build a model of a trading post." Shuyin replied, getting into the driver's seat and closing his door.

Tidus closed his door and buckled his seatbelt. "That sounds…"

"Boring?" Wakka chuckled.

"Pretty much." The younger blonde laughed.

Shuyin drove out of the parking lot and headed towards their home.

"The guy who interviewed Rin said he'd call today." Shuyin said. "I hope they gave Rin a job."

"Yeah, me too." Tidus replied.

"So what are you two up to this fine weekend?" Wakka asked.

"We're going to be doing our History project." Shuyin grinned.

"Very funny blondie. I meant after that."

"I don't know in that case. I don't have any plans. Tidus?"

"Paine invited me to Sharks Club to hear her band play."

"Ah sweet. I'll see you there. I know the drummer. Well I know Paine too but the drummer invited me." Wakka said.

"Is Chappu going too?" Tidus asked.

"Nah. He's got a major Math test on Monday so he's staying home and studying."

Shuyin turned onto their street and headed for their house. He pulled into the driveway and Tidus helped his brother and Wakka carry their supplies into the house. When they went inside Rin was just on his way out.

"Hello there. Nice you meet you." Rin said to Wakka. "You're the one that caught my son when he fainted right?"

Tidus blushed and looked at the wall.

"Yeah. That was me." Wakka replied, scratching the back of his head and blushing slightly.

"Thank-you…Wakka is it?"

"Yup. Wakka Abasi."

"Well thank-you again." Rin patted Tidus on the head.

"Riiin…" Tidus whined softly, his cheeks turning scarlet red.

"Sorry. I'll stop embarrassing you." Rin chuckled. "I'm on my way out to do some errands. I was going to take the bus but now that you're home… can I borrow your truck?"

"Of course." Shuyin replied, handing his keys to Rin.

"Thank-you. I'll pick up supper on my way home. What do you boys want? Pizza? Chinese? Mexican? Seafood?"

"Chinese food sounds good." Tidus replied.

"Chinese food it is then. Are you staying for supper, Wakka?"

"If it's not too much trouble. This is a big project…" Wakka replied.

"No trouble at all as long as your parents know where you are."

"They know."

"All right then." Rin smooched Tidus and Shuyin on the cheek. "I'll be back. Tidus, it's your turn to do the laundry."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Bye boys."

"Goodbye Rin." Tidus and Shuyin replied in unison.

"So long Mr…uh…" Wakka laughed and blushed. "Is your surname the same as Shuyin's?"

Rin laughed, "No. It's Shikima. No matter. Just call me Rin."

"Okay. Goodbye Rin."

Rin smiled and nodded, heading out the door. As the boys took their supplies down the hall to the bedroom they heard Rin drive off.

"He seems to be in a happier mood than usual. Maybe he did get the job." Shuyin said.

"We'll have to wait until Auron gets home to see." Tidus said, setting the supplies he was carrying down on their computer desk. "I'm going to do the laundry. Have anything you want me to take with me?"

"Nope." Shuyin shook his head. "I brought it all to the laundry room this morning."

"All right. Have fun with your trading post guys."

Tidus left the bedroom and was halfway down the hall when he heard Shuyin say,

"Wakka, were you just checking my baby brother out?"

"N-no…!" Wakka stammered.

Tidus blushed, smiled, and continued on his way to the laundry room. He walked through the kitchen and across the back porch, entering the laundry room. Piles of clothes were stacked on top of the washer. Most of them were Shuyin's. With a sigh Tidus started to sort clothes. He was checking pockets for Kleenexes and change when he found a piece of wrinkly paper in one set of his jeans. Tidus frowned and opened the paper up. On it the name 'Shelinda' and a phone number were written. The blonde gasped and smacked his forehead. He'd nearly forgotten about the girl he'd met that night at the club. Feeling like an ass Tidus went and got the cordless phone. He dialled Shelinda's number and waited for an answer as he shoved a load of jeans into the washer.

"Hello?" A girl answered the phone.

"Shelinda?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"This is Tidus from…"

"Tidus! Hi!" Shelinda laughed. "I thought you sounded familiar. How are you?"

"I'm good." The teen replied, dumping some soap into the washer. "How are you?"

"I'm great. You know…it's weird… I was just thinking about phoning you."

"Weird indeed." Tidus chuckled, turning the washer on.

"We must get together. I don't know about you but I had lots of fun at the club."

"I had fun too."

"Would you like to come riding with me this Sunday?"

"Sunday? Sure. What time?"

"Nine A.M." Shelinda's tone was suddenly very sheepish. "My driver will pick you up. What's your address?"

Tidus gave Shelinda his address and she told him her driver would pick him up at eight.

"Wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt or a jacket. If it's hot put on sunscreen and bring water. Uhm… oh! Wear boots or runners." Someone shouted Shelinda's name in the background. "Oh. My mom is calling me. I have to go. I'll see you on Sunday okay?"

"Okay."

"Bye Tidus."

"Bye Shelinda."

Shelinda hung up and Tidus hung up too. The blonde sat on the washer and dialled Baralai's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi Baralai, it's Tidus."

"Hey Tidus. What's up?"

"What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow is Friday right?"

"Yup."

"Then nothing."

"Want to go to the Sharks Club with me, Lulu, and Rikku to see Paine's band play?"

"Sure."

"What is the name of Paine's band anyway?" Tidus asked sheepishly.

Baralai chuckled, "The band is called River Styx."

"Oh. Okay."

Tidus and Baralai talked for a few more minutes about homework and other random things before Baralai too was called away by his mother. Tidus hung up the phone, feeling slightly guilty. He knew he was supposed to ask Baralai out as a date but he was kind of hoping that he'd be able to dance with Wakka. Tidus fetched his homework from his backpack and sat beside the washer to do it. Once the washer was done he put his homework aside and shoved the wet clothes into the dryer. His back was starting to get a little sore so Tidus moved to the kitchen table to continue with his homework. He was nearly finished his English homework when Auron came in the front door.

"Hello Tidus." Auron said, entering the kitchen.

"Hi." Tidus replied, looking up from his homework.

"Where's your brother?"

"In his room doing a History project with a friend."

"Ah."

Auron opened the fridge and got half a blueberry muffin out. He then sat at the table beside Tidus and took a nibble of his muffin half.

"Where's Rin?"

"He's out running errands. He's picking Chinese food up on the way home. How was work?"

"It's so much better now that Luzzu's here. I can't believe the difference."

"That's great."

"What do you have for homework?"

"I just finished two poetry analyses for English and now I'm working on questions one through thirty for Math." Tidus replied.

"How did your Biology test go?"

"I don't know honestly. The first half of the test was really rough but I think I passed."

"Good, good. I'm going to see how your brother is doing." Auron said, finishing off his muffin and standing up.

"Oh, I was invited to see my friend's band play tomorrow night and I was invited to go horseback riding on Sunday. Is that okay?"

"Yes that's fine. Rin and I don't have any family plans for this weekend."

Auron left the kitchen and went to check on Wakka and Shuyin. Tidus continued on with his homework stopping occasionally to fill the washer or dryer.

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Tidus was done all his homework and his tummy was rumbling loudly when Rin returned with supper.

"I'm home!" He called.

Auron emerged from the hall and kissed Rin.

"Good. I'm starving." Tidus teased.

"Very funny Tidus." Rin smirked, giving Auron another quick kiss. "Shuyin! Wakka! Supper!"

Rin walked into the kitchen and set the containers of Chinese food on the table.

"Auron can you please get the chair from our room for our guest?"

"Sure thing."

"Thank-you."

Rin got out the plates while Tidus got the utensils and napkins. Shuyin and Wakka entered the kitchen with Auron right behind them. Shuyin moved out of Auron's way and the man set a spare chair down by the table.

"Dig in everyone. Don't be shy." Rin said.

Auron filled his plate first then Wakka (since he was the guest) followed by Rin then Tidus and Shuyin. Wakka sat in the spare chair right next to Tidus and picked up his fork.

"Before you all start eating I have an announcement to make: I got the job. I'm now a photographer for the Coastview Journal." Rin said with a big smile.

"Yay Rin!" Tidus grinned.

"Congratulations." Auron said, pecking Rin on the cheek. "Though I must say…I enjoyed you as a housewife."

Rin snorted and Auron laughed. Shuyin and Wakka congratulated Rin on his job then everyone began to eat. Tidus had a mouthful of chicken dumpling when he felt Wakka's leg brush against his. He jumped at the contact and sort-of gasped, sucking his food into his throat. The blonde coughed, gagged, and turned a wee bit reddish purple. Everyone jumped up at the same time. Wakka and Auron both whacked Tidus on the back. Fortunately, the good whack dislodged the food from Tidus' airway and he was able to swallow.

"Tidus, are you ok?" Rin asked, sliding a glass of water over to the boy.

"Yeah. I forgot how to swallow properly for a minute there." Tidus replied weakly, taking a sip of the water.

Auron chuckled feebly and ran his fingers through Tidus' hair.

Very smooth move Tidus. The blonde thought. Choke to death on your dinner when Wakka accidentally touches you. That'll really impress him…

Tidus sighed softly and took another sip of water. He placed the glass back on the table and looked around at the four pairs of eyes staring at him with worry.

"I'm fine now. Really. The food went down." He said.

"All right…" Shuyin replied, slowly starting to eat again.

Tidus could feel his cheeks starting to turn red. He quickly ducked his head and cut his dumplings into much smaller bites. Rin and Auron followed began to eat again too, but Auron kept one eye on Tidus.

That was what…? The third time Wakka has saved my ass? He's going to think I'm some kind of damsel in distress soon…

Tidus ate the rest of his meal quickly but cut everything into small bites so there was no repeat incident. After they were done eating Rin cut them slices of pineapple pie and brought out the ice-cream. Tidus didn't bother to cut his pie up in small bits. Pineapple was one of his favorites and he just wolfed it down. Wakka looked like he wanted seconds of dessert but Shuyin dragged him back to their History project. Tidus cut a piece of the pie and set it on a paper plate before putting it in the fridge. He then cut himself a second piece and dug in. Auron went to watch the evening news and Rin walked to the sink to do the dishes.

"I have a busy weekend ahead of me." Tidus said, popping a piece of pie into his mouth.

"Oh?"

"M-hm." The blonde swallowed. "I'm going to see Paine's band play at the Sharks Club tomorrow night and on Sunday I'm going horseback riding."

"Wow. A busy weekend indeed." Rin smiled and scrubbed a plate clean. "I'm so glad you made some friends Tidus."

"Yeah, me too. I'm glad you got a job."

Rin laughed, "Me too. Now maybe I can buy a car of my own."

----------------------

When Tidus decided to go to bed Wakka and Shuyin were still up working on their project. The blonde changed into sleeping pants and a T-shirt in the washroom then headed into the bedroom. Both Wakka and Shuyin were sitting on the floor with the model between them. They didn't have much done but what was done was detailed wonderfully. It was obvious that they both wanted a really good grade.

"There's a piece of pie in the fridge for you to take home with you Wakka." Tidus said, not looking at the redhead as he walked over to his bed.

"Awesome. Thanks."

"No problem."

Tidus climbed into bed. He briefly looked at Wakka. The redhead was looking at him and he smiled.

"Goodnight Tidus."

"Yeah. Night T." Shuyin mumbled, not looking up from a tiny chair he was painting.

"Goodnight…" Tidus replied, his cheeks going pink.

The blonde climbed into bed, tried not to think about Wakka being in the same room, and eventually drifted off.

To be continued…


Poor accident prone Tidus XD;;. R&R Please :)