Authors Note: Yes. ANOTHER chapter. You know you love it. ; Thanks for all your reviews: I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the other two! This one's from Paine's POV. Thanks for reading!
Collide
by xDante
Chapter Three: You're Barely Waking
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I'm not sure why I ran.
The sun was far above the peak of Mount Gagazet when I felt the ship beneath me shudder. I heard the engines spring to life. I spent one last, short moment on the deck. I knew where I wanted to go that day, and thought I'd tell Brother. But Brother wasn't in the captain's seat. It was her.
I guess I was startled. I had just spent nearly half an hour thinking about her. I had decided to get her off my mind. But there she was. I think I may have overreacted. I turned on the spot and walked back down the hall. I heard her call after me, but I couldn't stop myself. I was a little grateful when the door closed. I needed a moment to regroup my thoughts.
When the lift stopped, I walked hurriedly back into the cabin. I could hear the others waking in the loft, and knew I could possibly use it to my own advantage. I moved swiftly to a bar stool to sit. I could hear the lift gliding back down now.
There was something about the way she looked at me when the door opened that made me fall a little more in love with her. Her eyes showed worry, fear, anxiety. Her bottom lip was fuller then usual, almost pouting, and her mouth open a miniscule amount. One thin arm was pulled tightly across her middle, the hand grasping her side tightly. The other was bent up at the elbow, her finger and thumb gently holding the edge of her bottom lip while her other fingers rested tensely at her chin. I remember thinking; does she think she's done something wrong? Does she think I am angry with her? I was sure that's what the tension in her muscles showed.
"Wh-what's wrong?" She asked shakily, moving a few steps into the cabin. She threw a quick glance at the sleeping crew as though to check if they were watching, and moved closer. "Did I do something?"
I was almost painfully aware of the distance at which she stood from me. She was very close. So close that if I stood up, we could have ended up touching. Not that I had any problems with that what so ever. But it seemed wrong somehow; like one of us wasn't ready. I didn't know then how surprised I would be to find which of us wasn't ready.
"No." I turned away from her then. I didn't think I could look at her beautiful face for one more second without my heart imploding. I hadn't yet thought I had a chance with her, and I didn't plan on getting my hopes up anytime soon.
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Authors Note: Originally, this chapter didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I gave it a day to soak, and rewrote it from about halfway. It originally involved Yuna and Brother waking up, as well as something called 'scrambled Flan'. Gross. Next chapter will be the best one yet; I'm sure. I plan on making one chapter for every line in the song (without repeating chapter titles), Collide, the namesake of this fic… That is…. –counts- about 20-25 chapters. Being me, this might not happen. However, if I keep making the chapters real short like they have been, I might be able to pull it off. But I need you guys to cheer me on! Next Chapter: "Chapter Four: I'm Tangled Up in You" Rikku's POV. Best one yet! Kiss: yes! I won't say if it's double sided or not, though… Bwahaha. Love, Dante; Mar. 23 and 25, 2006