A/N: I'm sorry, this is another short chapter! Don't hurt me! The next chapter is going to be longer, I PROMISE! ((Yes, I'm being bad again, and when you hit a dashed line, remember that I switched persons… hehe!))

I'll Be There For You – Chapter 1

Hello Again

I melt every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt
I melt

Gippal sighed as he ran a hand through is spiky hair. "Cu frah ec drec haf days lusehk eh?" ((So when is this new team coming in?))

"Drao cruimt pa ynnejehk yho sehida huf, cen." ((They should be arriving any minute now, sir.)) The secretary replied.

"kiacc E cruimt kad nayto du knaad dras…" ((Guess I should get ready to greet them…)) Gippal mumbled as he left his office.

"Everyone, we're here!" Brother said over the intercom. Within minutes, Rikku and her team were off the airship, and staring at the entrance to Djose Temple.

A blonde figure came out to greet them. Rikku's heart sank, it was Gippal. She mentally slapped herself. She WAS NOT going to get into this right now. As a matter of fact, she was going to try to avoid it at all costs. Some things are just better left unspoken.

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

"Rao, ed'c Cid's Girl!" ((Hey, it's Cid's Girl!)) I said as he ruffled Rikku's hair. She didn't reply with her usual, "I have a name!" Instead she just smiled at me. That was odd, and kind of unnerving.

"Oui cruimt dnayd ouin lu-funganc fedr suna nacbald!" ((You should treat your co-workers with more respect!)) she teased me.

"Lu-fungan? Oayr, E's cibbucat du pa saadehk so lu-fungan yho caluht huf-" ((Co-worker? Yeah, I'm supposed to be meeting my co-worker any second now-))

"Famm oui'na muugehk yd ran!" ((Well you're looking at her!)) Rikku smiled brightly, and stuck out her hand for me to shake.

"O-o-OUI!" ((Y-y-YOU!)) I sputtered, completely taken aback. "Oui'ja KUD du pa gettehk sa!" ((You've GOT to be kidding me!))

Rikku fixed me with a dark glare, "Ec drana y bnupmas?" ((Is there a problem?))

"Famm, lyh oui ryhtma nihhehk y days uh ouin ufh? Ec Brother rambehk oui?" ((Well, can you handle running a team on your own? Is Brother helping you?))

"Hu, Brother, Buddy, YHT Shinra yna fungehk vun SA. Kad ujan ed. E cibbuca dryd fa ryja y bmyla du pihg?" ((No, Brother, Buddy, AND Shinra are working for ME. Get over it. I suppose that we have a place to bunk?)) Without even waiting for me to answer, she motioned for her team to follow. As each of the men passed me, they glared at me.

This was not going over well. Not at all.

I wanted to hit my head against anything. A rock, a wall, a piece of machina, my hand… anything. How could I have messed up THIS bad! Heck, I don't even know why I'm beating myself up over ruining it with Rikku… wait, who said I ruined anything?

Well, I did manage to get her pissed without her even being at Djose for five minutes. Damn… that's bad. I DON'T want to deal with a pissed off co-worker. Those are the WORST.

I entered my office, shut the door and bolted it. I plopped myself into my favorite leather armchair with a sigh. I really couldn't do anything right.

Like when I left Rikku to join the Crimson Squad. I forget what bullshit story I told her, explaining why I was going, but I knew that what I said was not what I wanted to tell her. I was leaving because I knew that she saw me as just a cute guy that she was dating. I wanted to show her that I could achieve things, become someone that she thought I never could. I wanted to do it… for her. But she thought that I was leaving her because I was bored of her, which will NEVER be the truth. Sad thing is, I didn't correct her, and I let her believe a lie.

Now it's been so long… I can't change any of that. I just have to re-teach her that…

WHOA! Where did THAT come from? I'm not going to get involved with her again, hell no! Once was enough, I sort of had my heart broken, I know I broke hers…

And yet it was bliss. Well, as much bliss my 17-year-old self could grasp. Now she's 19, and I'm 20. You would think that I had more sense, right? Wrong. I guess I don't.

But, I'm going to keep myself in control… I mean, come on, she hasn't changed much.

I groaned, I'm feeding myself a whole load of bullshit. She's grown up, and boy, you can REALLY tell. She's taller now; she had an even deeper and more beautiful tan. Her hair is in a mass of braids, and the beads clang together like bells whenever she moves her head. Her eyes are a sparkling and deep emerald green, and her smile is ten times what it used to be. Her smile could brighten up a room, but now I think that it's enough to make my knees go weak.

I can remember all of those moments that we shared that I still smile upon today. All the time she looked at me, her eyes dancing…

I melt every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt
I melt

"AHAHAHA! I'm going insane!" I moaned, and slapped my forehead. "I'm going to make myself a promise. If me and Rikku EVER get back together, I'm going to let her make the first move, and I'm not going to chase after her like a love sick puppy!"

Yeah, let's see how long that lasts.

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

A/N: Aww, don't you love a confused Gippal? ((lol)) Anyway, I'm going to make the next chapter longer, I PROMISE!

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-

P.S. The song is called "Melt" by Rascal Flatts ((I love those guys!))