Well, first of all, I'd like to announce that while I was sufferring writer's block for this, I completed my second novel! It needs a lot of editing though... And, I also finally managed to write chapter 20 & 21 of this story (and I'm really quite pleased with myself as to how those chapters turned out), but now I'm stuck again. Haha, I shouldn't be stuck for long though! Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 18: One-Week

Yuna sighed and pulled her clothes out of her suitcase, throwing them carelessly into the laundry hamper that sat beside her. She hummed a song softly to herself, aware that she wasn't even considering if the clothing item needed to be washed or not. She just simply threw them into the hamper, slowly, and completely taking her time.

She was interrupted by the ringing of her phone, which she quickly answered, a slight smile on her lips.

"Yunie!" Rikku cried, her voice sounding annoyed, "I just went to get all of my pictures printed out, and may I ask what's with the hundred of Tidus and you at some really high area?"

Yuna laughed loudly, and said, "You didn't realize we stole your camera?"

"No!" Rikku cried.

"Aren't they funny?" Yuna questioned, remembering her laughter just the day before as Tidus had pulled out Rikku's camera and started to take random pictures. The two had made funny face after funny face, finally ending on a kiss, which Tidus took a picture of, assuring Yuna that he was proficient at taking self-portraits like no one else he knew.

"Where were you two?" Rikku just asked, "Wait, is that the spot you two disappeared to every day?"

"Yeah," Yuna said, sitting down on her bed, "I guess it was mean of Tidus and I not to show you, but you guys went to Kilika without us!"

"Fair enough," Rikku said, sighing as she said it, "I'm coming over to drop these pictures off. You two are goofs. You especially look funny in the kissing picture."

Yuna stuck her lip out in a pout and she said, "Tidus says I'm a really bad kisser."

"He told you that?" Rikku cried.

Yuna laughed, and said, "Yeah, but he said we'd just have to practice."

"Gross," Rikku said, "You know, I don't tell you about Gippal and my kisses."

"You kiss him?" Yuna cried, pretending to be far more disgusted than she even was.

"Of course I kiss him," Rikku said, "Anyway, I'll be over give you these pictures."

"Okay," Yuna said, "I'm getting another call anyway." She hung up with Rikku then, and answered her phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, look out your window."

Yuna glanced over her shoulder and out her window, to see Tidus standing there, waving at her.

"What are you doing?" Yuna asked, looking away from him.

"Waiting for you to get done unpacking. You take way too long."

"Sorry," Yuna said, "Are you done unpacking already?"

"Of course," Tidus said, "My suitcase is lying in the middle of the floor where I put it the second I got home."

Yuna laughed and said, "Then what have you been doing?"

"Standing here," Tidus said, "Forever."

Yuna glanced behind her at her clock, "Tidus, we've only been home for ten minutes."

"Okay then, standing here for ten minutes."

Yuna laughed and said, "Okay, I'm almost done."

"Good."

He hung up then, and Yuna did as well. She looked at the numerous items that she still had to put away, but she quickly realized that she wasn't really putting anything away as it was. Smiling, she grabbed handfuls of clothing and threw them into the laundry hamper. Then, she quickly rushed down the stairs, and out the door.

He was standing on the imaginary line that merged his yard into hers, with his arms crossed, smiling at her, almost as if he had just done something behind her back that she should be worried about.

She smiled, but her smile instantly faded. There was something tugging her stomach, and it had been for some time. It was something Baralai had said when she had last talked to him.

The conversation with Baralai had gone mostly as Yuna had described it to Tidus. Baralai was shocked that she had feelings for Tidus, but he was helpful enough, telling her that he had sworn that they were dating, and that he was sure Tidus liked her as well. Yuna smiled at the thought, realizing that at that moment, more than ever, Yuna had felt even more like Baralai's friend than she had when they were younger.

There was something though, that Baralai had said, just as she hugged him goodbye. His smile had faded, and he had said that he wished Yuna and Tidus luck, but to beware.

"Did you know he just used you for some party?" Baralai had asked, just as Yuna was about to leave.

Yuna smiled and answered that she had, but it had never clicked like that. She knew her feelings for Tidus had definitely expanded, and she was nearly positive that his had for her as well, but there was still a twinge of doubt inside of her head.

As he stood there, that mischievous look spread across his face, Yuna couldn't help but simply stand there and stare back at him. He was perfect. His hair was messy but flawless, his teeth were perfectly straight and white, his body perfect, his… Yuna stopped. Why was he interested in her?

"You look confused," Tidus said, "What?"

Yuna wiped whatever look she had on her face off, and said, "No, I'm not. What are you doing?"

Tidus shrugged and said, "Wanna go get ice cream?"

"Aren't you ice creamed out?" Yuna asked, shaking her head, "Why are you standing here anyway?"

"Oh, because!" Tidus said, and he grabbed her arm and pulled him on his side, "I was standing here when I first saw you."

"You were?" Yuna asked, giving him a confused look.

"You were right over there," Tidus said, pointing toward the bushes that led the way to her front door, "And I saw you from the back."

"Do you mind if I ask you why you were standing right here?" Yuna just asked.

"Well, I wasn't standing," Tidus said, a cheeky smile spreading across his lips, "Remember, there were trees here. So I was on my stomach, under the trees, with binoculars."

"Okay Tidus, I've heard enough," Yuna said, "Let's go get that ice cream!"

"Whoa, wait just a sec!" Tidus said, "I wasn't looking for you. I was waiting for the mail woman."

"You're kidding, right?" Yuna asked, her eyebrows falling in disbelief.

"Of course not!" Tidus said, that cheeky smile growing wider, "Did you ever see her? She was hot!"

"Yevon, now I've really heard enough," Yuna said, "Come on."

"W-Wait!" Tidus said, smiling widely, "So anyway, I was on my stomach, waiting for her, when all of a sudden, you came running from the garage, and into the front door. Before that, I had only seen your old man, so I assumed he lived there alone. I was shocked to see a girl over at your house. So every day, when I made my rounds to watch for that hot mail lady, I also watched for you."

"Ice cream now!" Yuna said, trying to pull him. He had his hand wrapped around hers, and he was holding her close to him, his eyes bright.

"I had the trees removed," Tidus said, "So that I wouldn't have to lie under my stomach anymore."

"Great story," Yuna said, "Come on."

"But then, I finally saw your face," Tidus said, scrunching his face in disgust, "And I was so upset that I didn't even spy on the mail lady anymore."

"I know, I was ugly back then," Yuna said, "Thanks for reminding me."

"The other day," Tidus said, "Well, I guess it was a couple of months ago now… Anyway, I was at the liquor store with Gip, when I saw this lady. And I realized that it was the mail lady. It wasn't you I saw that day, Yuna. It was her. I had never seen her up close before, and when I did, I was so shocked that I convinced myself that it was you. You two looked similar from the back after all, both with brown hair."

"So what are you trying to tell me?" Yuna asked.

"I was disappointed," Tidus said, "Because the first time I saw you, I thought you were adorable. Soon, I wasn't waiting for the mail lady. I really did want to see you. But I was too stupid to just go and talk to you."

"So why are you telling me this?" Yuna asked.

"Because I feel bad for ignoring you for two years."

"Why?" Yuna asked, shrugging.

"Because," Tidus said, starting toward his house, pulling Yuna along, "We could have hooked up a lot sooner."

Yuna couldn't help but smile. In the strangest way, what Tidus had said was actually rather sweet.

Yuna decided not to be led so easily.

"That's assuming that I would go out with you," Yuna said, smirking at her comment.

She expected Tidus to say something cocky in return, or get angry, or something, but he simply looked thoughtful and shrugged, saying, "Yeah, I guess. But things sure would be easier back then."

"What do you mean?" Yuna asked.

Tidus just shrugged and said, "So, what good ice cream parlors are around here? And I'm thinking it's convertible day, what do you think?"

He didn't wait for her reply. He climbed into his convertible, hopping over the door instead of opening the door.

"Come on!"

He smiled at Yuna, and Yuna simply smiled back, and climbed into the convertible, wondering if she was really in the mood for ice cream or not.

-

"Why are we dressed up?" Tidus asked, rolling his eyes.

"Now's not a good time to ask that," Yuna said, through clenched teeth.

Tidus' hand was shoved in his pocket, and he wore what looked like a suppressed look of annoyance. Yuna glanced at him through the corners of her eyes. Even though he was complaining, Yuna certainly wasn't. No one could admit that Tidus wore that tux well. If not amazingly.

Yuna herself though was wondering the same thing that Tidus had just questioned. She had on a blue evening gown that Rikku had picked out for her just the day before, when they had gone shopping. Rikku had told her that it would be a girl's night out shopping trip, so that Gippal and Tidus could watch the blitz game together, but it had turned out to be a trick formal-shopping trip.

It was Tidus and Yuna's one-week anniversary, and perhaps more importantly, Gippal and Rikku's three-week anniversary.

"She has him whipped," Tidus said under his breath.

"And us too," Yuna said.

"Let's ditch then," Tidus said, "I thought maybe you wanted to come to this."

"Fancy dinner with Rikku and Gippal? Not my idea of fun," Yuna said, "Actually, this whole keeping tabs on weeks thing…Definitely not my idea of fun."

"You get more perfect every day," Tidus said, taking her hand and leading her away from the entrance of the restaurant, "So what's our excuse?"

"We're not in the mood," Yuna said.

"Rikku's going to think I talked you out of it," Tidus said.

"I'll tell her then," Yuna said, pulling her phone out.

"Texting, right?" Tidus asked.

"No, calling."

"Text her," Tidus said, "She'll be upset, and then she'll try to talk you into coming. Not because she wants us here, but because she feels guilty."

Yuna stared at him, and she said, "What if you called Gippal then?"

"Text her," Tidus said, but before Yuna could move, Tidus took her phone and did it for her.

"There," he said, shutting her phone and handing it to her.

Yuna stood there, with her mouth agape, but she couldn't argue. Tidus knew her cousin well.

"How do you do that?" Yuna asked, as Tidus led her back toward his car.

"Do what?" Tidus asked.

"Read people like you do."

Tidus laughed and said, "I don't know. I think it's a gift."

"Well," Yuna said, crawling into his car, "Tell me about myself."

"You're too hard to read," Tidus said, "So where to?"

"Am I really?" Yuna asked.

"Yes, you really are," Tidus said, but Yuna knew his concentration was lost, "So where to?"

"Well, we could go eat someplace," Yuna said, and her phone suddenly began to beep, signaling a text message.

"That's from Rikku," Tidus said, "Let me guess…It says 'Are you sure you don't want to come Yunie? You got that cute dress and everything!'"

Yuna pulled her phone open and flipped it open, her mouth dropping.

"Are you sure you don't want to come Yunie? You got that cute dress and everything," Yuna read, giving Tidus an unbelieving look.

"She's easy," Tidus said, "Just add Yunie every now and then and talk about cute things. I'm surprised she didn't mention Gippal, actually. Text her this back: Yeah, Tidus and I are going to get something to eat at another place. A three-week anniversary is much more impressive than a one-week one, so we'll just give you two some alone time."

Yuna fumbled the words out onto her phone, and sent it.

"She won't feel guilty anymore," Tidus said, "All she's concerned about his her night with Gippal."

"So how about Gippal?" Yuna asked, "Is he easy to read?"

"He's a lot harder to read than Rikku," Tidus said, "I think that's why we've managed to stay friends. To be honest, it sucks when I can see right through a person. I usually know if I like them or not before I meet them."

"So do you like Rikku then?"

"As a friend?" Tidus asked.

"Well, I would hope as just a friend!" Yuna said, nudging him.

"Yeah, I do," Tidus admitted, "But I'd much rather have you then her, and I think Gippal would too."

Yuna blushed, although she didn't know why, and she said, "Gippal seems totally in love with Rikku!"

"Yeah, but she's controlling," Tidus said, "Anyway, where are we going?"

"Up to you," Yuna answered.

"Hey, wanna see the car I want?" Tidus asked, and he turned sharply to the right before Yuna could answer.

"There's a car you want?" Yuna asked, "Don't you already have three? And aren't colleges offering you cars?"

"Yeah, but this is the one I want to give to myself for my birthday."

He drove into a used-car lot, which was of course closed, and parked, and stepped out of his car. Yuna followed.

He led the way to an older car, which surprised Yuna.

"It's a 1950's muscle car," Tidus said, walking around to the front of it, "What do you think?"

"I didn't know you were in to older cars," Yuna said, looking at it.

"I wasn't," Tidus said, "But it's kind of…I don't know, romantic, isn't it?"

"I didn't know you were a romantic guy," Yuna said.

"Yuna, I'm the king of romance," Tidus said, patting the hood, "I wonder how many people have done it in the backseat of that car."

"Don't talk like that," Yuna said, crossing her arms. Her mouth was pressed together tightly.

"Sorry," Tidus said, giving her a confused look, "It's not like I want to do anything in the backseat, I was just thinking…"

Yuna didn't listen to him. She started back toward his car.

Tidus gave one last glance at the car, and then followed Yuna quickly, hopping back into the driver's spot. Yuna ignored him by turning to look out the side of the car, the opposite direction of where he was.

"I'm serious Yuna, I didn't mean anything by it," Tidus said, "I was just thinking out loud, and stupidly so."

"Whatever," Yuna just said, "Let's go."

They drove along in silence with no goal in mind. Tidus wanted to ask Yuna once again where she wanted to go, but she knew her answer would be that it was his choice, and actually, his stupid choice of words had ruined his appetite. He figured hers was ruined too.

Finally, Tidus bit his lip and said, "You look really nice in that dress."

Yuna didn't say anything for a while, and Tidus was wondering if she hadn't heard him, but his fear was loosened when she said, "But I bet you think I'd look better out of it."

"Yuna," Tidus said, looking at her hard, "That's not all I think of!"

"It is too!" Yuna cried, "You told me already that it was. So now that we're dating, it just magically isn't that way?"

"I-It's not like that," Tidus said, "I'm serious, Yuna."

"Our views on that matter are obviously different," Yuna said, finally facing him.

"Yes, they obviously are," Tidus said, "A-And I respect that."

"Good, then don't bring it up again," Yuna said.

"Yuna, I've never—," Tidus trailed. He wanted to tell her that he'd never ever thought about sleeping with her, but he knew that wasn't true. Once again, the shoulder consciences appeared, the angel telling him to shut his mouth and change the subject, while the devil coaxed him to lie and tell her that he was definitely a changed man, physically and mentally.

For once, he took the angel's advice. "Ha, that's twice out of four times now!" Tidus said gleefully to himself, "That's got to be a good sixty percent!"

"Hey Yuna," Tidus said, smiling broadly to her, his sudden change in mood shocking Yuna, "What's two out of four."

"A half," Yuna answered instantly, "Do you mind if I ask you why you want to know that?"

"Yes, I knew I was at sixty percent!" Tidus said happily.

"Um, two out of four is fifty percent," Yuna said, "A half is fifty percent."

"Damn," Tidus said, "I suck at math."

Yuna laughed. She laughed so loudly, that for a second, Tidus thought something was wrong.

"You okay?" he voiced his concern out loud.

"How did you pass basic high school math?" she questioned him.

"I—," Tidus trailed. He wanted to tell her that he'd slept with the math teacher's student teacher, but he dropped that thought instantly.

"Luck," he lied, realizing instantly that that bumped his times listening to the devil up to three out of five. He decided it was about time he stopped keeping track.

"So why were you asking?" Yuna asked.

"That's how often I do the right thing," Tidus said, deciding that made his total three out of six. He had to stop keeping track.

"So you only do the right thing about half of the time," Yuna said slowly, "That's not really a lot."

"Is to," Tidus said, "Currently I'm at three out of six!"

Yuna narrowed her eyes at him. "What were the three that you did the wrong thing?"

"Well, I walked into your room in Besaid that one night, but I think that was actually for the better! I lied and told you it was luck that I passed math when really the only reason I passed was 'cause I was good at blitz," not all of the details, but it worked, "and I didn't tell you that I used you for…" Tidus stopped, and gave a nervous glance at Yuna. To his surprise, she finished his sentence for him.

"For my yard," Yuna said, sighing loudly, "Baralai told me. But I'd figured it out on my own."

"Look Yuna," Tidus said, "It started out that way, but I swear that by the time the party came around I was…Dude, I was in love with you then."

Yuna gave Tidus a very shocked look. They were both at the parking lot to a restaurant—one Yuna had never heard before, but one Tidus loved—and Yuna's mouth grew agape.

"You liked me then?" she questioned, her voice full of doubt.

"I was going to confess," Tidus said, his eyes on Yuna's, "but Dona came and ruined it."

Yuna blinked a few times. She remembered the night perfectly, and she did remember how Tidus was about to tell her something, when Dona had come and interrupted.

"And I never had interest in Rikku," Tidus continued, "Or that dumb cheerleader. It was always about you, Yuna. And to be honest, it was never my idea to have that party. It was Dona's, and my ego got the better of me, and I told myself I had to have it. But while I told myself that the party was my reason for hanging out with you, that was just to mask the fact that I was falling in…" Tidus stopped.

Yuna took a deep, silent breath, and she said, "But you don't believe in love."

"You know how I said I don't lie," Tidus said, his voice soft.

Yuna simply nodded, her mouth still agape.

"Well, I did then," Tidus said, looking sheepish. He swallowed and said, "I love you, Yuna."

Yuna continued to blink. He'd said those words to her so many times, but for the first time, they really sank in. She knew without a single ounce of doubt that he meant them. A small smile crept onto her lips, as she realized that he had indeed meant them all along. The shocks that went throughout her body every time he said it really were real. It was all real.

With that as her final thought, she leaned in to kiss him. Even though she'd kissed him before, and even though she now realized how real those kisses were, even the first one (which she and Tidus still argued about whether or not it counted), this kiss was the full proof of it. It was all real.