Okay, here's chapter 23 (wow, already?)! I finally managed to write chapter 24 last night, and I'll have to write chapter 25 sometime before Monday... Heh... Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 23: The Car

Every girl wants a fairytale romance. The kind where they fall head-over-heels for a guy, and have him fall head-over-heels with her. After spending an undocumented time together with nothing but romance, drama always unfolds, but in the end, the lovers get back together, their arms outstretched, running into each other's arms.

In reality though, romances weren't like that. Or at least, as Yuna had discovered. She'd spent the last few days reading anything but romance novels. She read science fiction, horror, and mystery, but was shocked to find how much romance was actually in those novels. It made her sick.

What made her even sicker was watching Tidus make out with random girls in his yard. It was a new girl every day. First, it had been a dark-haired girl, followed by two days of random blondes, and now it was a brunette. Yuna assumed Tidus was doing it just to make her jealous, but she ignored him. Usually she'd be out on her balcony, and he'd come out and proceed to kiss the girl right in front of Yuna. Yuna would simply ignore him and pretend to focus on her novel. She knew he was expecting her to get up and go inside her house, but she didn't. She sat there, playing it cool. In reality, she was fuming. She wasn't jealous, not of those girls, especially when Tidus had a new girl every day. She was upset that he would do that to her. He had hurt her enough on the day of the party.

She had expected him to talk to her, or something. Didn't she get a day to collect her emotions, and then wasn't he supposed to approach her and make everything right again? Apparently not. It'd been a week since the party.

Yuna had actually toyed with the idea of getting a boyfriend, and making Tidus feel jealous, but she knew it was childish. Tidus was the childish one, not her. And it was going to remain that way.

Yuna happened to look up from her book only to feel the color fade from her mouth. Tidus was proceeding to give his newest girl a hickie, while her shirt laid carelessly thrown by their feet. Luckily she was in a bra, but the last thing Yuna needed to see was them going any further than they already were.

Yuna dropped her heavy, hardcover science fiction novel with a loud thud, causing both Tidus and his new fling to jump.

"Tidus!" Yuna cried over the railing of the balcony.

The girl froze, but Tidus, who was facing Yuna, simply smiled and said, "Yes Yuna?"

"Take it to the bedroom," Yuna said, attempting to play the part of the disgusted next-door neighbor—the only part that she should have ever had, not the jealous ex-girlfriend—"Alright?"

"Oh, sure," Tidus said, "Sorry 'bout that." He smiled his perfect set of teeth, and led the girl back to his house.

Yuna stood there, staring after them. That smile. She bit her lip. She wanted to see it again. That stupid innocent smile. The one that had her trapped to begin with. How could Tidus literally be having sex right in front of her eyes, but convince her that he was totally innocent with that one little smile?

Crossing her arms, Yuna pouted. He was a jerk. An absolute jerk. She not only loved him for that smile, but she also hated him for it. Luckily, or so she convinced herself, she hated it more than she loved it.

Sighing loudly, she sat back down and picked up her book, finding herself swearing—a very odd and strange habit that she'd just developed—under her breath, for Tidus had made her lose her page.

-

"Ya know, I'm just not feeling it anymore," Tidus said, pushing the girl away gently.

"What? Why not?" she breathed, her hands running themselves down his chest.

"Don't know," Tidus said, his eyes wandering out the window, "Just leave, and I'll call you later, okay Giselle?"

"It's Elsa."

"Right, Elsa. See ya 'round."

The girl glared at him, grabbed her belongings, and marched out of his room. Tidus didn't pull his eyes away from the window.

Well, he'd finally gotten what he'd wanted. Yuna had recognized him. He sighed out loud, realizing that it had taken her an awful long time. Was she really that over him?

Tidus phone vibrated then, and Tidus pulled it out quickly.

"Sorry, but I'm not sleeping with you tonight," Tidus mumbled into the phone, positive that it was one of his hook-ups.

"I'd sure as hell hope not." It was Gippal.

"Oh, hey Gip, you don't want me to sleep with you tonight?" Tidus said, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Not tonight," Gippal responded, "Maybe tomorrow?"

"Good, I need your ass," Tidus said, laughing, "What's up?"

"Party, Tidus. Rikku and I are at the store right now, buying the booze. What do you want?"

"Depends," Tidus said, his tone dropping, "Can you still buy that 100 proof shit?"

"Not with this I.D.," Gippal said, "You know they won't sell it to me when my I.D. is totally fake."

"I thought Rikku wanted you to quit drinking," Tidus said, "Why's she with you?"

"It's not for me, it's for the party," Gippal simply reminded Tidus, "And, the park I thought we'd have it at got busted just last night. Let's have it at your place instead."

Tidus laughed and said, "No can do."

"Why not?" Gippal asked, "You live to party!"

"I'm under strict rules with the neighbor," Tidus said, purposely sneering that word.

"Yuna? Rikku'll talk her outta whatever rules," Gippal assured him, "So anyway, you want the heaviest stuff I can get on this I.D.?"

"Yes," Tidus responded, "But not for me."

"Then for who?"

"For the rest of the guests. This party has to be awesome."

"That's the spirit," Gippal said, "Okay, I'll just get a bunch of everything."

"Sounds good," Tidus said, still looking out the window, "See you around then."

"Yeah," Gippal said, and then they both hung up.

Tidus looked at his phone for some time, and let out a loud sigh. He was not looking forward to his birthday party for the first time in his life.

-

"Tidus knows he can't have a party," Yuna said, putting a book on the shelf and standing up, "So I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

"Yunie please," Rikku said, following her cousin, who was volunteering at the library, "I came all the way to the library to talk to you. At least try to listen."

"I already know, Tidus and Gippal are going to have a joint birthday party, and Tidus is going to go against his word and have it at his house," Yuna said, putting another book on the shelf.

"Which is fine, right?" Rikku said, smiling, "I mean, you're invited, after all."

"I'm not going to be going," Yuna said, shooting her cousin a nice smile, "And that party can be thrown elsewhere."

"Yuuunieeeeee!" Rikku cried, "This is their birthday!"

"Tidus was practically making babies with his daily girlfriend in front of my eyes!" Yuna cried, "I'm not going to give in!"

"Tidus is being a jerk," Rikku said surely, "Please Yunie? For Gippal and me, not for Tidus?"

Yuna laughed. "Rikku, think about it. If Tidus has that party, what am I really going to do about it?"

Rikku's smile faded, and she said, "Tidus refuses to have the pary without your permission."

Yuna almost fell off of the stool she was standing on.

"What?" she cried, "Why? Does he really care what I think?"

"Apparently," Rikku said, shrugging, "He says he won't have the party until you yourself tells him that it's okay."

Yuna didn't say anything. She just kept putting books away, and unreadable expression on her face. She hadn't expected that. She'd expected Tidus to be a jerk and have that party with or without her permission.

"He's up to something," Yuna said surely, "Tidus is right back to his old ways, and I'm certain of it. He's obviously planning something."

"Yes, a party," Rikku said, "Just do me a favor and give him permission. Please Yunie?"

"You just tell him I say it's alright," Yuna said, "I'll just go…somewhere else for the night or something."

"He said you have to tell him yourself."

Yuna rolled her eyes and said, "That's probably part of whatever his plan is."

"Yunie, just because you two broke up doesn't mean you can't be friends. Have you even spoken to him since the night of Gippal's accident?"

"No," Yuna said, crossing her arms, "But he's never spoken to me, either."

"Well, you need to make the moves," Rikku said, "Because Tidus isn't going to."

"Exactly. I'm not going to 'make the moves.'"

"Yunie, you are impossible!" Rikku cried, throwing her arms up dramatically in despair, "Please, for Gippal and me!"

"I'll think about it," Yuna said, shoving another book angrily into its spot on the shelf, "I can't do anything about it now, can I?"

"No…" Rikku agree softly, "Fine, I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright?"

"Fine," Yuna agreed, "Bye Rikku."

"Bye…"

-

Yuna pulled hastily into her driveway, a stack of new books sitting in the passenger side. She unbuckled her seatbelts and walked out of the car, tucking the books under her arm. She walked down the driveway to get the mail, only to notice that there was a new vehicle in Tidus' driveway. It was the old car he'd showed her.

Tidus was standing in his driveway with three guys she'd never seen before, analyzing the car. The hood of the car was lifted and the guys were all looking in there, laughing about something or other.

Tidus shut the hood then, and looked up, noticing that Yuna was watching him.

Yuna of course immediately turned to her mail, attempting to act as if she'd only been looking at what she had received instead of at Tidus.

She glanced up and noticed that Tidus was nodding toward her to his friends, and they were all laughing. She looked down at herself, wondering what Tidus had told them about her.

She swallowed hard then, and marched up her driveway, and toward her house.

"Yuna!"

She stopped. The voice startled her. She looked up at the sky, and turned around on her heel.

"Yes, Tidus?" she asked sweetly, noticing that he was leaning up against his new (well, old) car and that his friends were all watching her.

"Come here for a sec," Tidus said, shooting her a smile.

"I'm kind of busy," Yuna answered.

"Ah, come here!" Tidus cried, "The guys want to meet you!"

"I'm sorry," Yuna said, shooting them another sweet smile, "I really am busy."

"Doing what?" Tidus asked.

Yuna opened her mouth, but she couldn't think of a lie fast enough. She gave herself a quick look-over and laid her books and mail down, and started off toward Tidus' yard, wondering what she was doing exactly.

"Yes?" Yuna just said, realizing instantly that giving into Tidus was a very bad idea. Tidus was still leaning against the car, his arms crossed and a smirk spread out across his lips. His friends were standing behind the car. Both of his friends were rather cute, Yuna had to admit, although standing next to Tidus, they were nothing.

"Like the car?" Tidus asked.

"Sure," Yuna said, "I really have to go."

"Hear about the party?" Tidus asked, ignoring her.

"Yes," Yuna answered.

"You coming?" Tidus asked.

"I'm really busy," Yuna just answered again.

"Of course you are," Tidus said, nodding surely, "Well, just thought I'd let the guys get a close-up look at you."

"Um, okay," Yuna said, looking at the two guys with a very unsure look on her face.

"They're desperate," Tidus said, "And I know you're getting jealous of all my girls, so I thought I'd bring some guys over for you."

The two guys exchanged smirks.

"You are such a jerk," Yuna just cried, and turned around.

Tidus laughed and said, "Yuna! I'm trying to be nice here!"

Yuna ignored him, and marched across her yard toward her house.

"I'll be right back," Yuna heard Tidus say to the guys, and she knew he was walking after her, "Yuna, come back here!"

Yuna ignored him and walked faster.

She reached her front door and hurriedly picked up her books and mail, but she wasn't quick enough. She felt Tidus' hand on her elbow, which he gripped, and spun her around.

"I was kidding," Tidus said, "Those guys are just some guys from my team."

"Ha ha, you're so funny," Yuna said, trying to pull herself from his reach.

"The truth is," Tidus said, "I wanted to know if you wanted to be the first one to ride in the passenger seat."

"Yeah right," Yuna retorted, "Go get that blonde girl, or that brunette, or that red-head, or—"

"I want you it to be you," Tidus just said, smiling widely.

"Tidus, if it's about the party, go ahead, have it. You don't have to bribe me," Yuna said, trying to pull away from him again.

Tidus' features softened, and he said, "Really?"

"Yeah," Yuna said, "I'll just go out of town or something…"

"W-Wait, you're not coming?" Tidus asked then, looking almost hurt.

"No, I'm not coming," Yuna said, "Why are you talking to me right now? That's all you wanted, right?"

Yuna heard car doors shut from the distance, and noticed that Tidus' friends were pulling out of his driveway.

"Where are they going?" Yuna asked.

Tidus shrugged and said, "To a party or something."

"And you're not going with them?"

Tidus looked at Yuna and said, "I don't have to."

"Well you should," Yuna said, "You can drive your new car."

"You wouldn't rather get ice cream or something?" Tidus asked, his eyes directly on Yuna's.

"Tidus, don't feel guilty about the party," Yuna said, her face appearing almost solemn, "It's really okay. It's my birthday present to you."

"Right," Tidus said, nodding slowly.

"…So, you can let go of my elbow now," Yuna said, giving him a sweet smile.

"R-Right," Tidus said, dropping her elbow.

"Bye Tidus," Yuna said, still smiling sweetly.

Tidus didn't say anything. He just stood there, with an almost dumb expression on his face.

"Yuna wait!" he cried, just as she shut the front door.

She took a deep breath, and opened it, so that just the screen separated her from Tidus.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I really do want you to be the first to ride in it," Tidus said, his eyes on hers again.

"It's alright, I'm sure the other girls would enjoy it much more than I would," Yuna said.

"But Yuna!" Tidus said, just as she was about to shut the door again, "I don't want them to ride in it. I just want you to."

Yuna licked her lips and said, "Tidus, I'm sorry, but it's over. Okay?"

"Does it really have to be?" Tidus asked, "I'm sorry for whatever I did, Yuna."

"You don't even know what you did?" Yuna cried, "Tidus, you worried me so much!"

"I'm sorry," Tidus said.

"And you were so violent with me!" Yuna continued.

"I'm sorry," Tidus said again.

"You put yourself and Gippal's life in danger," Yuna continued, "And perhaps mine too!"

"Yuna, I'm—"

"Tidus, it just didn't work out, okay? That's all there is to it."

Tidus took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, you're right…"

Yuna simply nodded. She hadn't exactly expected him to give in so easily.

He proved her wrong though with what came out of his mouth next.

"Yuna, I'm in love with you," he said, giving every word intonation, "I can't stop thinking about you. Okay? It's driving me crazy! I know I was an idiot. I know I was stupid. I know we don't have anything in common, but Yevon-damn it, that's what I love about us! I love the fact that I don't agree with anything that you say, I love the fact that you roll your eyes at me every ten seconds, I love the fact that you'd rather read while I watch a blitz game. I love the fact that even though we both know we're totally opposite, we try to make it work. I love the stupid little arguments we have, and how easily they're forgotten. I love how you wear a tank-top and shorts under your nightgown because you're afraid that it would be too risqué otherwise—"

"Tidus!" Yuna cried, "When have you—"

"Well you do!" Tidus said, "Yuna, I love you."

Yuna was quite taken aback. She couldn't lie to herself, she'd been waiting for Tidus to do what he had just done. Something utterly romantic, sweet, and mature. All of the things that she had forced herself to believe that he wasn't.

Yuna licked her lips and said, "Fine, I guess I can go get some ice cream with you."

"Really?" Tidus cried, his eyes glowing, "I swear, Yuna, I—"

"Come on," Yuna just said, walking back outside, "We wouldn't want them to run out of the cake part of the chocolate cake ice cream."

"Right!" Tidus said, slipping his hand into Yuna's.

"Let's not move too fast…" Yuna warned him, looking down at their enclosed hands, "After all, I didn't—"

Yuna didn't get to finish, for Tidus' other hand went around her waist, and her lips met his before she could stop it.

Her first thought was to pull away, but she couldn't. She simply couldn't.

-

"Okay Tidus, that's enough," Yuna finally managed to push Tidus away, "They'll run out of your ice cream, and we don't want that."

"I'd rather kiss you," Tidus just said, leaning in again.

"The manager has been giving us death glares," Yuna said, pointing toward the window of the ice cream parlor, "I'm sure he hates us."

"Who cares," Tidus said, attempting once again to kiss her.

"Come on," Yuna said, opening the door. Tidus smiled, and opened his door too, walking in after Yuna.

They walked up to the counter, only to have the annoyed manager say, "We're sorry, but we're out of the cake part of the chocolate cake ice cream."

"You're kidding!" Tidus cried.

"Maybe if you weren't too busy making out with your girlfriend in front of my shop," the manager said nastily, causing Yuna to blush deeply, "We wouldn't be out."

Tidus glared at him, and said, "Hey, at least I have a girlfriend."

"I'm not your girlfriend," Yuna whispered to Tidus with a sly smile, "Come on, I'm not in the mood for ice cream anymore anyway." Yuna didn't wait for Tidus. She simply started back toward the door.

"She is my girlfriend," Tidus said to the manager, who was just shaking his head, "Yuna, wait up!"

Tidus chased her out the door and said, "You didn't want any ice cream?"

"No," Yuna said, smiling, "I just really wanted to go for a ride in your new—well, old—car."

"Whatever, you didn't even comment on my custom leather seats! What did you want, Yuna who is not my girlfriend?"

Yuna shrugged and said, "I don't know."

"To kiss me?"

"No, that was the last thing on my mind," Yuna said, laughing as she climbed into Tidus' car, "Perhaps you charmed me?"

"Perhaps?"

"Yes, perhaps."

"So, Yuna who is not my girlfriend…would you like to be my girlfriend?" Tidus shot her a charming smile.

"Let me think…" Yuna said, throwing him a smile, "I don't usually date guys like you."

"Really now?" Tidus asked, "What kind of guys do you date them?"

"Hmm…Well, I like cocky, blonde blitzball players who are horrible at math and who have a strange and bizarre love for chocolate cake ice cream."

"Well, I've never known a guy like that…" Tidus mused softly, "I'm afraid all I have is the blonde blitzball part. But hey, I'm handsome, hot, sexy, have amazing abs—"

"Wow, you have the cocky aspect too!" Yuna said, pushing him playfully.

"I guess I do," Tidus said, "So then, what do you say?"

Yuna laughed and said, "I don't know…"

"Aw, come on Yuna!" Tidus said, a smile huge on his face.

"Alright," Yuna finally said, her smile matching Tidus'.

"Great!" Tidus said, and he leaned in to kiss her again.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else and kiss," Yuna said, laughing, "Mr. Manager is getting really mad."

"Right!" Tidus said, and with that, he pulled out of the parking lot, waving at the annoyed manager as he drove off.