Okay, I just thought this chapter was kind of cute. Haha. Oh, and thank you all for the kind reviews! They really make my day! Anyway, enjoy!
OH, and sorry about the italicsize weird stuff that was going on. It's fixed now.
Chapter 7: Humane Society
"I know about the party," Yuna said, with a smile across her lips, "Care to explain?"
"Okay Yunie," Rikku's voice was heard, "I know I said I wouldn't go, but I was careful! I didn't do anything illegal, Yunie, I swear!"
Yuna laughed and said, "I believe you."
"You do?"
"Yup. Although I do want to know what you did with Gippal…"
At that, there was silence, before Rikku said, "Yunie, he's my boyfriend now."
"…Oh," Yuna said, her mouth dropping slightly, "Um, okay."
"How did you know about Gippal and I?" Rikku asked, her voice slightly shaky.
"Tidus told me," Yuna answered.
"Oh, you've seen him?"
"Yeah, I have," Yuna said, taking a seat. Usually her cousin showed up at her house, but it had been two days since Tidus' last party, and there had been no sign of Rikku. So Yuna had finally called her, deciding that something had to be up.
"Yeah, Gippal's nothing like Tidus, Yunie."
"I believe you," Yuna said, "I mean, I trust you to make good decisions. What have you been up to?"
"Not much," Rikku responded, "Um…Gippal and I are going to hang out tonight and stuff, you know, go to the pool, see a movie…"
"I see," Yuna said, looking out the window, "It's been pretty quiet over here."
"No parties?"
"No, Tidus has been surprisingly quiet. He hasn't even been over here."
"He's been coming over?"
"Well, I thought he might," Yuna said, "The night of his last party, he came over here…"
"Oh?" Rikku said.
"Yeah, and then we had breakfast and stuff and you know…He's kind of a nice guy."
Rikku laughed, which surprised Yuna, and she said, "He's just pulling you into his trap."
"No, it's not like that," Yuna said, perhaps too soon, "We're friends. It's nothing outside of that."
"Trust me, Yunie," Rikku said, her voice sounding almost worried, "Tidus doesn't actually want to be your friend. He obviously wants something. Trust me, Yunie. I know, I'm dating his best friend!"
"I really don't think it's like that," Yuna said, shaking her head, despite the fact that her friend couldn't see her.
"Yunie, it's the same thing you told me!"
"Not exactly!" Yuna said, "He's not like…"
Rikku just laughed and said, "Yunie, Gippal's here. I gotta go."
"Okay," Yuna said softly.
"Talk to you later!" Rikku said.
"Yeah, bye."
Yuna hung up and made a scowling face. For the last two days she had pondered over Tidus' behavior. She walked out onto her balcony and looked across the yard and into Tidus'. She hadn't seen him in over a day, but she had managed to enjoy the peace and quiet. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what he was planning next.
"Alright," she said softly to herself, "He claims to want to be friends…" She stopped talking though, for Tidus himself emerged from his house then, talking on his phone. He looked over and saw her and waved, but then went back in, still talking.
Yuna sighed and turned back inside as well.
-
Tidus hung up, rolling his eyes. He didn't know why Dona thought she had to call him daily. He just couldn't be happier that she had finally left, and that eventually they'd just go their own ways. He flipped his phone back open and quickly dialed Gippal's number. It had been way too long since he'd heard from him.
The phone rang quite a few times before Gippal's voice mail finally came up.
"Hey, it's Gippal! Chances are, I'm with Rikku right now, so leave a message and I'll get back to you soon! BEEP!"
It took a while before Tidus could say anything, but he finally said, "Gippal, what the hell? It's supposed to be 'chances are I'm at one of Tidus' parties!' Where the hell have you been? Are you—" Another beep cut him off.
Mad, Tidus slammed his phone down on the table and he strutted back outside, and toward the yard that neighbored his.
"Yuna!" he cried, seeing that she was no longer on the balcony but inside, "Yuna!"
Her head finally poked out of the door on the balcony, and she came out and said, "Yes?"
"I'm partying tonight," he said, "I need it. Okay with you?"
"I have to get up early tomorrow!" Yuna said.
"Fine, I'll just go swimming all night," Tidus said, looking bummed, "Have you heard from Gippal?"
"Why would I hear from Gippal?"
"Well, I can't get a hold of him."
"I just finally got a hold of Rikku. They're dating."
"I figured that," Tidus said, "And to think…It was I that set them up."
"Oh, how sweet of you!" Yuna said, although she had promised herself to drop the sarcasm.
"It was sweet, wasn't it?" Tidus said, smiling, "You coming swimming with me tonight?"
"Will you stop partying then?"
"Yuna, we're friends now! Just party with me!"
"Nope."
"Fine. The deal's off. Although I'm still holding out for that double-party deal. You do that, and I swear I could never throw a party again."
"Nope," Yuna said again, smiling at him.
"I don't get it Yuna! It'd be the coolest party ever!"
"I don't party," Yuna said, shrugging and giving him a little shrug.
"One party ain't gonna kill you!"
"It goes against my morals," Yuna said, "Remember Tidus, morals is that thing that you just kind of have."
"Oh, right," Tidus said, smiling, "Can I come up there? Or you come down here? It's hurting my neck to keep looking up like this!"
"Sorry, but I actually have to leave soon," Yuna said.
"It's a Thursday. What goes on on Thursday?"
"I walk dogs for the humane society on Thursday," Yuna said, "Wanna come along?"
"Um…Volunteer work isn't really my thing…" Tidus said, shaking his head.
"You don't like dogs?" Yuna said, smiling down at him.
"Well, I don't know," Tidus said, shrugging, "I've never been around them."
"Well, the dogs there are sweeties," Yuna said, "They're super nice."
"No thanks," Tidus said, "How's that gonna look? Tidus, the city blitz champ walking dogs?"
"You'd probably make the news," Yuna said, rolling her eyes although she hadn't meant to, "Tidus—Who still hasn't chosen a school!—walks dogs!"
"Yeah, you're right, it'd make the front page of the sports page!"
"News is slow these days," Yuna said, "It could be a plus!"
Tidus shook his head and said, "I don't really need a plus."
Yuna nodded and said, "You're right, you don't. And that's where we differ. I have to do this stuff, you know, in order to get scholarships. But you don't."
"it's not a big deal, is it?" Tidus asked, shrugging.
"No, I enjoy it," Yuna said, "Anyway, I guess I'll see you later."
"Yeah, I guess so," Tidus said, nodding slowly, "Although…I guess there's really not much to do around here, especially now that Gippal is too busy…"
"Does that mean you're going to come?" Yuna asked, and she raised her eyebrows as if to challenge him.
"That means I'm seriously considering it," Tidus just said, giving her a little smirk, "But what's the point of me doing it, if it's not even going to help me get scholarships?"
"You can see what it's like for a normal person," Yuna said, "One who isn't extremely talented in blitzball."
"Wow Yuna, was that a compliment?"
"Feel free to take it that way!" Yuna just said, "I'm going to be late. I have to go! Remember, no parties tonight!"
"Wait Yuna!" Tidus yelled up to her, "I guess I'll…Come."
"Cool," Yuna said, "It'll take less time then!"
"Alright, but let's take my convertible!"
"How many cars do you have?"
"Just three."
"Three?"
"Yeah. I'll have like five once these college offers get done."
"I'll meet you down there," Yuna just said, shaking her head, and she went inside her house. Shaking her head, she grabbed her keys even though Tidus had said he'd drive, and quickly left her house, only to stop.
"What are you doing in my garage?" she said, seeing Tidus looking at her car.
"Sweet ride," he just said, "How come I never see you drive it?"
"Usually I leave and get back before you're awake," Yuna said, rolling her eyes, "Did you just walk in here?"
"Door was unlocked," Tidus said, shrugging.
"So unlocked doors equals access for you, right?" Yuna said, "I guess I forget that you have no morals."
"I have a few morals!" Tidus said, "Remember, I do have some!"
"Whatever," Yuna said, "Are you saying you want to take my car?"
"No, it's convertible day!" Tidus said, "Come on!"
Yuna followed him to his driveway, and into his garage, where he did indeed have three cars, and into his convertible.
"What kind of music do you like?" Tidus asked, as soon as he began to pull out of his driveway.
"None," Yuna responded.
"You don't like any kind of music?" Tidus asked, seeming shocked.
"Trust me, Tidus, I've heard your music enough in the past two weeks to last me forever."
"Fine, no music," Tidus said, smiling broadly, "Where's this dog pound?"
"It's the humane society," Yuna said, "Oh, which reminds me! The humane society is trying to raise money for a new place. So this weekend, there's going to be a bake sale! Do you want to help out?"
"Yuna, I'm just walking dogs because I'm bored," Tidus said, shaking his head, "Besides, I don't know how to bake."
"Well, we can bake together," Yuna said, smiling.
"A bake…Date?" Tidus said, smiling back at her.
"Yes, the kind of dates friends go on," Yuna said, slowly.
"Dude, friends don't date."
"So that's a no for the bake date?"
"Definitely," Tidus said, "So where's this pound?"
"Humane society," Yuna corrected him, "And it's actually just down that road up there."
"Oh that place? My girlfriend Dona thought it was a tanning salon!"
"Great," Yuna said, as Tidus smiled at the thought, "So how are things going between you and Dona."
"Oh, Dona? She's not really my girlfriend. She's just the head cheerleader."
"Okay, so…" Yuna simply trailed, for she didn't know what else to say.
"So I'm the head blitzer, she's the head cheerleader. That's just how it is. You know, prom king and queen sort of thing."
"Sorry, that kind of stuff didn't really go on at my school," Yuna said, shrugging.
"That's 'cause your blitz team sucks," Tidus said, as if that completely made senese, "This the place? It does look like a tanning salon, doesn't it?"
"I've never been to a tanning salon," Yuna said, stepping out of the car, "It's bad for your health, you know. It increases chances of skin cancer, and…"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Tidus said, "I only tan before spring break. You know, gotta be tan in Kilika!"
"Your skin is going to get all wrinkly," Yuna said, walking toward the building.
"Wrinkly? Just from tanning? That can't happen!"
Yuna didn't answer him, but instead walked into the small building.
"Wow, this is small," Tidus said, walking in behind her.
Yuna ignored him and went to the counter.
"Hey Shelinda!" Yuna greeted the humane society's usual desk clerk.
"Who's your friend?" Shelinda simply said, looking past Yuna and at Tidus who was poking his fingers into a cat kennel.
"Oh, that's just Tidus."
Shelinda gasped.
"Oh Yevon, that's who I thought he was!"
"You know who he is?" Yuna said, shocked.
"Of course I do!" Shelinda said, pointing to a section in the newspaper that she was looking at, "He's a future blitz star! He has colleges all over fighting over him!"
"Yeah…So…?" Yuna just said.
"Yuna, he's even going to get scouted by professional teams! And look at him! He's cute! So, how do you know him?"
"Well, he's my neighbor," Yuna said, shrugging.
"No way! You live next to him!"
"Hey Yuna! This cat's licking me!" Tidus' voice was suddenly heard.
"Cats do that…" Yuna said, and she turned her attention back to Shelinda, "Anyway, which dogs do you want us to take?"
"You can take Brutus and Tiny," Shelinda said, "They haven't been walked in a while."
"Okay, thanks," Yuna said, "Tidus, do you want to walk Brutus, or Tiny?"
"Yuna, do you think I'm a wimp? Did I ever tell you the time I broke my arm and kept blitzing? My arm just hung there, but I still managed to score three goals!"
"So you want Tiny then?"
"Funny, Yuna. No, I want Brutus!"
"Alright," Yuna said, "Come on, let's go get the dogs."
Yuna led Tidus through a hall and then to an array of kennels.
"Here's Brutus!" Yuna said, and let out a small little tan dog. The dog ran right over to Yuna, and wagged its tail, and licked her.
"Brutus is the sweetest dog here!" Yuna said, hooking the leash up to the dog's collar.
"Uh, that's Brutus?" Tidus asked.
"Yeah! Isn't he cute?"
"I guess…" Tidus said, as Yuna handed the leash over to him, "This one over here is Tiny!"
Yuna opened the kennel, only to have the largest dog ever emerge from the kennel.
"I should have seen that coming," Tidus said, "You sure you can handle Tiny?"
"Of course I can," Yuna said, "She's such a good girl!"
"She's a girl?"
"Yes."
Yuna rolled her eyes and she started off, and Tidus followed her.
"So you walk these dogs a lot?" Tidus asked as the two walked out of the building.
"Yes," Yuna answered, "They don't get out a lot, so I walk them."
"That's cool," Tidus said, looking down at the little dog that was walking beside him, "Do you like dogs?"
"Yes," Yuna said, "Do you?"
"No," Tidus answered, "They smell."
Yuna laughed and said, "Have you ever had a pet, Tidus?"
"No. My mom was allergic to all kinds of animals."
"Oh," Yuna said, "I guess that's a good reason to not have a pet."
"And my old man said that I would be too busy with blitzball to ever even consider having a pet," Tidus simply continued, "Do you have pets, Yuna?"
"Yes, I have a cat," Yuna answered, "I had a dog, too, but we just had to put her to sleep."
"That sucks," Tidus said, "Have you thought of adopting another one?"
"No," Yuna answered, "Well, actually, I have, but I can't. Going to college and all…I won't even have time to take care of my cat! Rikku's going to take him."
"Unless she's too busy with Gippal," Tidus said, giving a nasty look, "I just don't get him."
"Why not? What's wrong with my cousin, Tidus?"
"Trust me, nothing. But she's not going to sleep with him, so what's the point?"
Yuna stopped, which shocked Tiny, and said, "Is that all you care about Tidus? Is getting to bed?"
"What else matters?" Tidus asked, shrugging.
"A lot of things!" Yuna answered him, and she shook her head in disgust, "You really are just like I thought you were!"
"Yuna, I'm just kidding!" Tidus said, although Yuna knew he wasn't.
"What exactly were your plans with Rikku?" Yuna asked, still giving him a dirty look.
Tidus gave her a little smirk, and he said, "I can't tell you."
"Why not? Is it that bad?" Yuna asked, "I can't believe you! She's one of the most naïve and innocent girls I know!"
"You mean, next to yourself?"
"…No," Yuna said, although it was true. She herself was probably more innocent and naïve than Rikku. Well, maybe not.
"Wanna know what I wanted with Rikku?" Tidus said as the two turned around to go back to the building.
"Well, yes, I guess…" Yuna said, wondering if she did want to know. If it was what she was thinking, she would probably punch him.
"I wanted…" Tidus started, but he laughed and said, "I can't tell you."
"You can't tell me that you're going to tell me and then not tell me!" Yuna cried, "What were your plans?"
Tidus just continued to shake his head until they neared the building some more.
"Fine, you really wanna know?" Tidus asked, "I'll tell you."
"Fine, what?" Yuna said, attempting not to sound too interested, although she had just spent the last ten minutes literally begging him to tell her.
"I wanted to get to you," Tidus said, "What I mean by that, is that I wanted to make you mad."
"What?" Yuna cried, "Why would you want to make me mad?"
"I was mad that you wouldn't have a double-yard party!" Tidus cried, "You don't understand how badly I need to have that!"
"So you thought that by taking Rikku you'd…"
"I thought that if I could pretend to be dating Rikku or something, I could convince you to have a double yard party."
"And how would that have convinced me?"
Tidus smirked again, and he said, "It would make you jealous."
"Jealous of what?" Yuna cried as they walked the dogs back into the humane society.
Tidus shrugged while still wearing his smirk, and said, "Deny it as much as you want, but you know I'm hot. You wouldn't be able to handle the fact that Rikku was going out with me."
Yuna laughed and said, "You don't know me at all Tidus! I'm not jealous at her for having Gippal!"
"Gippal's not me though," Tidus said, raising his eyebrows as if to challenge her, "And besides, it already worked. You're jealous that I wanted Rikku and not you."
Yuna laughed again and said, "Trust me Tidus, I'm not jealous of her at all. Especially not because of you."
"It doesn't bother you that I only think of you as a friend?"
"No, it makes me happy, actually."
"Oh, it bothers you," Tidus said as they finally put Brutus back in his kennel and started toward Tidus' car.
"It does not!" Yuna said, crawling into his passenger seat, "I've never even thought about it!"
"You have too," Tidus said, and he started driving out of the parking lot, "It makes you wonder why I would choose her and not you. That's why you wanted to know my intentions with her. Not because you wanted to protect her, but because you were jealous."
Yuna shook her head again, but said nothing. She knew she was getting nowhere in the argument. Tidus' head was far too large to allow her to get her word in.
Still, as the two rode along in silence, she couldn't help but steal a glance at him. He was right: she couldn't deny that he was good-looking. She would almost use the word 'hot' to describe him, despite the fact that she thought it was a very inadequate way of describing someone. Almost.
Tidus pulled into her driveway then and said, "So, going swimming with me later?"
"No," Yuna answered, and she threw him a sweet smile, "See you later, Tidus."
"Yeah, maybe," came Tidus' answer, "Goodbye."