Yay, here's chapter 13! AND, I actually edited this one! Haha, usually I don't proof-read, so if there are ever errors, that's why. Anyway, I hope you're all having great summers, and enjoy!

Chapter 13: Baralai

Yuna looked down at her skin and smiled. It was definitely tanner than it had been earlier that afternoon. Her smile slowly faded, however, as she reminded herself that she had sunglasses on. Sighing, she slowly lifted her sunglasses up, and her smile faded even more, showing her disappointment. She was still white.

She had never cared about being tan before, but she couldn't help but care as she sat there, in her chair, reading. Usually Rikku and her both went to Besaid as white as ever, with two very white friends. This year, however, Rikku seemed surprisingly tan, and of course Gippal and Tidus were both marvelously and perfectly tan. The day before, Rikku had insisted on taking pictures, which only brought to Yuna's attention that she was incredibly white. She stuck out horridly.

She was sitting in her front yard, staring down at the sprawling ocean beneath her. She could see Rikku, Gippal, and Tidus far beneath her, tossing a blitzball back and forth. They had asked her if she wanted to play, but she had turned them down, deciding to enjoy instead a quiet reading time, and a secret tanning time, that was not at all successful.

Yuna pouted unknowingly. How was it fair that they were all running around down at the beach, their bronzed skin glowing in the sun, while she sat there reading a book and trying with no success to be as tan as they were?

Sighing loudly, Yuna slid her sunglasses back down to rest on her nose, happy to

see herself tan again, although if she looked down at the beach she'd see that the three down there were even darker. Yuna slammed her book shut, and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Bringing Gippal and Tidus along had indeed been a bad idea.

"Yuna, is that you?" Yuna heard a voice, causing her to quickly turn around. She

took in a deep breath, and was completely unable to let it back out.

She stood up quickly, and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Baralai?" she cried, "Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in years! I thought you guys didn't come here anymore!"

"We're actually selling the place," he answered, "This will be my last summer here. It hasn't changed much, has it?"

"No, not at all!" Yuna said, "How many years has it been since you've been here?"

"A good seven," Baralai admitted, "So how've you been?"

"Great!" Yuna said, although she immediately realized that was a lie.

"Your dad come with you?" Baralai asked, nodding toward Yuna's house.

"No," Yuna said, shaking her head.

"Did you come alone?" Baralai asked, looking confused.

"I came with my cousin and some friends," Yuna said, smiling.

Baralai laughed and said, "I guess you're not twelve anymore, huh? What are you, eighteen now?"

"Yeah," Yuna answered.

"So you graduated from high school alright? Lemme guess, Valedictorian?"

"Yeah," Yuna said, blushing, "What school did you end up going to."

"St. Zaon."

"Really? I'm going to its sister school, St. Yunalesca!"

"Cool," Baralai said. Yuna smiled and couldn't help but look at him. He looked

almost the same as he had seven years ago, which was the last time she had seen him, only older of course. Her smile faded as she realized that like everybody else around her, he too was nicely tanned.

Yuna opened her mouth to say something, but stopped as she heard commotion

from behind her.

"Yuuuunnnaaa! You should have come! We ended up--Whoa, who's this guy?" It

was of course, Tidus.

"I'm Baralai," Baralai said, handing his hand out to Tidus.

"Tidus," Tidus said, shaking his hand, "Uh, you two friends?"

"We were," Baralai said, nodding, and he smiled at Yuna, "See you around, okay?"

"Yeah, bye!" Yuna said. Baralai waved and then started back toward his house.

"Okay, so who's that guy?" Tidus asked.

"He lives in that house there," Yuna said, "When we were kids, we were best

friends. But then he started going to summer camp, so he didn't come to the house anymore. I didn't think I'd ever see him again!" Yuna wore an almost shocked smile, but her eyes were glowing, and she watched as Baralai walked up onto his deck and then into his house.

"Neat," Tidus said, shrugging, "Anyway, we were—."

Yuna cut him off without even meaning to. "I still remember the last time I saw him. It was raining, and he biked over here, and told me that he wouldn't be coming anymore. I played it cool, and told him that I'd miss him and stuff. Then, I cried myself to sleep that night."

"Y-You cried yourself to sleep 'cause he wasn't coming?" Tidus asked, following Yuna's gaze to the door that Baralai had disappeared into.

"Yeah," Yuna said, and she finally seemed to be able to let her breath out, which came out in a low sigh, "It took me a long time to get over it. I used to come here, and wait and wait for him to come. But he never did."

"You sound like you were love-sick," Tidus said, and he instantly stopped as he said that, with a look of shock spreading across his face, "Do you like him, Yuna?"

Red instantly found its way to Yuna's cheeks, and she said, "Well, no, but…"

"That guy?" Tidus just said, pointing toward his house.

"Tidus, sh!" Yuna shushed him, "He can probably hear you!"

"I don't care!" Tidus said, his voice rising, which surprised Yuna, "You love that guy?"

"Tidus, shut up!" Yuna cried, and she started toward the house, her cheeks growing redder and redder.

"Yuna, that guy…You like him?" Tidus just kept asking over and over.

"Tidus, I can't answer that!" Yuna cried, rushing into her house.

"What was his name?" Tidus demanded, following her closely, "I don't even think he recognized me! So far everyone I've met here knows who I am!"

"It's Baralai," Yuna said, ignoring Tidus' other comments, and she looked dreamily out the window toward his house.

"You like him," Tidus said, and this time it was a statement, not a question.

Yuna didn't deny it.

"You love that guy," Tidus said, as if repeating it would make it clear in his head, walking up to her and also looking toward his house, "I didn't think a girl like you liked guys."

"Oh please, Tidus," Yuna said, "You're making a huge deal out of this."

"It is a big deal," Tidus said, "That guy is the guy you like?"

"Why does it shock you so much?" Yuna cried, and she took a deep breath and let it out, causing a long, deep sigh, "He's amazing."

"N-No," Tidus said, shaking his head, "Yuna, I am amazing! Look, look at me!"

Yuna just smiled at him, but her eyes didn't leave Baralai's house.

Tidus looked thoughtful, and his eyebrows were furrowed forward. If Yuna were to turn around and look at him, she would have found him to be in the deepest thought that she would have ever seen him in.

"So have you told him?" Tidus finally asked, his voice soft. He was standing at Yuna's side, looking out the large bay window with her, although he was uncertain what it was exactly that she was looking at.

"Of course not," Yuna said, blushing, "I have never told anybody."

"Whoa, I'm the only one that knows?" Tidus cried.

Yuna's cheeks deepened even more and she turned to him with glowing eyes and said, "Promise not to tell anybody?"

"I p-promise," Tidus stammered.

"Thanks," Yuna said, giving him a wry little smile.

"What's so great about him?" Tidus asked then, craning his neck as if he was missing something.

Yuna just shook her head and said, "When I was twelve and he thirteen, we literally did everything together. When he left, things were never the same here. I almost began to dread coming here, except for the fact that I could hope I would see him again. I think it was only last summer that I finally gave up hope."

"So you waited how long for that guy?" Tidus asked, looking shocked.

Yuna's smile widened slightly, and she said, "A good seven years."

"Yevon that's a long time to wait for a guy," Tidus said.

"Oh no, I had given up on him," Yuna said, "Every year I came here, I found myself really nostalgic. All I could think of was our summers together. I wanted to see him so badly."

"Wow…" Tidus said, and he walked away from the window and took a seat at the table, "You must really like that guy."

"I always felt guilty," Yuna said, perhaps ignoring Tidus' comment, "Because I hadn't told him how I felt. I always played it cool around him. We were really competitive, you see…So I wouldn't let on that I liked him. We almost acted as if we hated each other…"

"You…acted like you hated each other?" Tidus cried, "Why didn't you just have sex and get it over with?"

Yuna rolled her eyes at him and said, "Remember, Tidus, we were twelve!"

"He was thirteen!" Tidus reminded her.

Yuna smiled at him and said, "So you are listening?"

"Of course," Tidus said, and he jumped slightly.

He came back out then, and walked around to the side of his house away from Yuna and Tidus' view.

Yuna took a deep breath and she said, "I'm going to go talk to him, okay?"

"Yeah, sure. I think I can think of some things to ask him…"

Yuna smiled a knowing smile at Tidus and said, "Is it alright if I talk to him alone?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," Tidus said, nodding, "See you around then."

"Do I look alright?" Yuna asked, ignoring the dismay in Tidus' voice.

"No," Tidus said, and it was his turn to roll his eyes.

"Tidus, please!" Yuna cried.

"You look great," Tidus said, smiling a little smile.

"Alright, thanks. Bye Tidus!" She ran out the door before he could even utter a little 'bye'.

Yuna shut the door behind her and made her way across her yard and into Baralai's, something she hadn't done since she was twelve. She ran around to the side, where Baralai was checking the sprinkler system.

"Hey!" she greeted him, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt.

"Oh, hey," he said, standing up, "What are you up to?" Yuna's heart began to speed. It was just like it had been when she was twelve.

"Not much," she answered, an answer that she had given him many times. The only difference was that she wasn't challenging him to a race, or to a swim competition, but instead stood there with a little cheeky smile on her face. She figured she looked like a dork.

"So that blonde your boyfriend?" Baralai asked, and he turned back to the sprinkler.

"Oh, Tidus?"

"Yeah, him."

"N-No," Yuna said, shaking her head with a dumb smile plastered across her face, "He's my neighbor, back in Bevelle."

"Ah," Baralai said, "I didn't think he looked like your type." Baralai knew her type? Yuna's heart began to race again. Still, she felt like she couldn't move. She had no idea what to do or say.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she asked then, the question scaring herself.

"No," Baralai said, "I just broke up with mine."

"Oh, sorry to hear that," Yuna said, although her stomach twisted itself excitedly.

"It's not a big deal," Baralai said, shrugging, "So what are you up to this summer?"

"Not much," Yuna said, and she looked into Baralai's window, "Are your parents here?"

"Nope, just me," Baralai said, smiling, "Dad's got work to do, and Mom's at a school board meeting."

"Sounds like them," Yuna said, smiling, "Tell them I say hi."

"Will do," Baralai said. Awkward silence passed between them then.

Finally, Yuna swallowed and said, "It wasn't much fun here after you left."

Baralai chuckled softly, and he said, "Really?"

"No. It got a little better two summers ago when my father finally let me bring a friend, but…Before that it was torture."

"And now you're bringing your neighbor?" Baralai asked, raising his eyebrows with the question. So he really did suspect there was more going on than a neighbor-neighbor relationship.

"Tidus is incredibly complicated," Yuna said, wondering what else to say, "You see, I actually came here with my cousin Rikku. But then Rikku wanted to bring her boyfriend, who just so happens to be Tidus' best friend."

"Ah," Baralai said, "Where's Tidus now?"

"Inside," Yuna answered quickly, "He's eating."

"He looks familiar," Baralai mused.

Yuna rolled her eyes. Who didn't recognize Tidus? He might as well just become a professional blitzball player and skip the whole college stage.

"He's in a lot of magazines and stuff," Yuna said, looking at the ground, "He's a really good blitzball player."

Baralai snorted and said, "That's where I've seen him. My summer camp was at the same campus in Luca as a big blitzball camp. I think I remember seeing him." Baralai shook his head, and continued, "He led an attack on my camp, which was of course engineer camp. You're right, he is complicated."

Yuna laughed and said, "Really? Well, it's too bad you're not at camp this summer, since Tidus isn't going to blitz camp."

"Yeah, that guy is a jerk," Baralai said, "I bet it's horrible having to hang out with him."

Yuna started to nod, but she stopped. She wanted to agree that it was indeed horrible, but she couldn't quite bring herself to say it.

Instead, she just smiled and said, "It's interesting." Her stomach dropped, and she found herself looking back toward her house, only to of course see Baralai's. She had left poor Tidus to himself.

Yuna swallowed and said, "I'm sorry Baralai, but I should probably get going. I kind of feel bad for just leaving Tidus by himself."

Baralai looked disappointed, but she shrugged and said, "Alright, see you later then?"

"Definitely," Yuna said, smiling largely, "Bye!"

She walked quickly away from him then, heading back toward her place. Part of her felt angry for having Tidus there. If he wasn't there, she'd be free to spend all of her time with Baralai. She sighed though, for Tidus was there, and there was nothing she could do about that. A part of her felt angry about Tidus too, not because he was there, but simply because of his existence. He was only confusing things.

He was waiting right by the door as she entered.

"So, you tell him?" he asked, his face impossible to read, but Yuna noticed his voice wasn't as bright as it normally was.

"No," Yuna said, "I had to explain to him that we weren't dating."

A small smile found its way to Tidus' lips, and he said, "He thought we were dating?"

"Well Tidus, what would you think if you know that some guy and I were at our vacation place by ourselves?"

"Rikku and Gippal are here too."

"But he didn't know that."

"Well then, I would think we were dating."

"Exactly," Yuna said, sighing, "To be honest, I acted like an idiot. I don't have the slightest idea what to say to him."

"If I was around him more, I could probably help you," Tidus said, sounding thoughtful.

Yuna laughed. Was he joking? "What do you mean?" she questioned, noticing his serious face.

"Face it Yuna, I know how to make people fall in love with me." Yuna's mouth slowly grew agape. So he did do it on purpose.

Yuna swallowed to compose herself, and she said, "I guess you do…"

"So maybe I can help," Tidus said, smiling, "Go tell him to have dinner with us, and I'll observe him."

Yuna laughed and said, "That is the craziest thing you have ever said!"

"I know, I know," Tidus said, looking disbelieved himself, "But I really think I can help you."

"You'd be willing to do that?" Yuna asked softly.

Tidus nodded slowly. His eyes met Yuna's, and he looked as if he was about to say something, but nothing exited his lips, not a single sound.

Finally, Tidus pulled his gaze away from Yuna's, and he said, "I probably owe it to you. I've been such a jerk."

Yuna too opened her mouth to say something, but was also unable to do so. Something told her that there was more to Tidus' statement than he was saying. She knew it meant that he had been a jerk in some way that she did not know of, and that she probably did not want to know of.

"So go ask him," Tidus said.

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Yuna said, shaking her head.

Tidus laughed. "You're afraid I'm going to embarrass you, is that it?"

Yuna shrugged and said, "Well, you are Tidus. It wouldn't surprise me."

"Well, you're going to have to take your chances if you want my help," Tidus said, "How long is Baralai here for?"

"Not sure," Yuna said.

"Well, you like the guy, and I can help you get him to like you too."

"Okay," Yuna said, but she didn't look completely sold.

"Go get him and bring him here!" Tidus said, not wanting to waste any more time. He gave Yuna a little shove toward the door, and she rolled her eyes, but headed outside.

She walked back across her yard and into Baralai's, finding that her heart was beginning to speed. The thought of seeing him again excited her, but she was rather nervous to introduce him to Tidus again. Especially since she was unsure of what Tidus had up his sleeve. He either really did want to help her, or he just wanted to be a jerk.

Yuna walked around Baralai's house and to the side, only to notice that Baralai wasn't there. She quickly went up to his front porch, something she hadn't done in years, and rang his doorbell. It wasn't long before he entered.

"Oh, hey!" he said, just as he would have long ago, "What's up?"

"Tidus and I think you should come hang out with us," Yuna said then, "We're kind of bored…" She didn't know what else to say, and she hoped she sounded believable. She should have sent Tidus over. If anybody could manipulate, it would be Tidus.

"Sure," Baralai said, shrugging, which caused Yuna to smile.

"Come on then!" Yuna said, leading the way back to her place. Baralai smiled and followed. Yuna's heart began to beat faster. She was growing anxious to see exactly what Tidus planned on doing.

She opened the door, and the two walked in. Tidus was sitting at the table, and he turned and faced them, and threw on a huge, loveable smile.

"Hey!" he greeted them, "Rikku just called. Gippal and her are going to go to some fireworks display tonight."

"Did you tell them they have those every night?" Yuna asked, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah," Tidus said, "But Rikku insisted that they have to see them tonight."

"We could go see them tonight too," Yuna said, smiling, although Tidus noticed her smile was directed toward Baralai.

"Uh, no," Tidus said, making the cut sign by his throat, as if to attempt to secretly tell her to drop it.

"Why not?" Yuna asked through clenched teeth.

Tidus looked thoughtful, and he finally said, "I thought it'd be nice if your first romantic moment was there."

Yuna glared at Tidus hard, and Baralai looked from Tidus to Yuna, and then back at Tidus, obviously confused.

Yuna gave an embarrassed little laugh, and she said, "Anyway, have you eaten anything, Baralai?"

"Yeah, I just did," Baralai said, still looking confused.

"Hey Baralai," Tidus said then, although Yuna gave him a warning look, attempting to tell him to shut his mouth, "How many rooms you got at your place?"

"Two," Baralai answered.

"Just you there?"

"Yeah."

"Great," Tidus said, stretching, "Mind if I stay in the extra room?"

Baralai gave Yuna a confused look, but Yuna was too busy glaring at Tidus.

"Tidus, that's not necessary," Yuna said, shaking her head, her eyes wide.

"I've been sleeping on the couch," Tidus said, pointing to the couch, "And it's not very comfortable."

"Doesn't Yuna have a guest room?" Baralai asked, sounding confused.

"Tidus refuses to sleep with Gippal," Yuna said, still glaring at him.

"You understand, right?" Tidus asked, smiling to Baralai, "A guy can't sleep with a guy."

Baralai looked at Yuna, confusion spread out across his face.

"Tidus is very spoiled," Yuna said, trying to clear up her neighbor's odd behavior, "No Tidus, you're fine here."

"Well," Baralai said, shrugging, "The room is open. I guess you could stay there if you really wanted to."

"Great!" Tidus said, "I'll go get my stuff right now!" He jumped up before either of them could say anything, and went to collect his belongings.

"Baralai," Yuna said quickly, "You don't have to let him stay with you."

"It's alright," Baralai said, giving Yuna a dazzling smile, one that was much more dazzling than even the ones Tidus gave her when he was attempting to be dazzling.

"I just don't think it's a—," Yuna started, only to get interrupted.

"Okay, Bare—mind if I call you that?—let's go. You have a sphere?"

"Uh, yeah," Baralai said, giving another confused look to Yuna, "I do have a sphere."

"Great, let's go watch the blitz game. Sorry Yuna, no girls allowed."

"What?" Yuna just said, "Tidus, we can watch it here!"

"No, you want to read," Tidus said, nodding to her book, "Remember?"

"B-But!" Yuna cried.

"Come on Bare," Tidus said.

"Uh, don't call me that," Baralai said, and he gave yet another confused look to Yuna.

Yuna could only shake her head, also confused. Fear gripped her stomach tightly. What was Tidus doing? What was he going to say to Baralai as soon as they were alone together? Was he going to say something horrible and make Baralai never interested in her? Perhaps even worse, was the thought of Tidus telling Baralai how she felt.

"Tidus…" Yuna started, but Tidus just gave her a smile. It was a simple, almost innocent smile, and it seemed to instantly reassure her. She wasn't sure how he did it, but something seemed to pass between them, giving her the idea that it was all going to be fine.

Even so, as the guys left her house, she couldn't help but feel almost nauseous. It was going to be a very long night.