Well, here's the third chapter. Like I said, I was on a roll with this story. I'm seriously in love with the way it actually turns out so far!


I woke up happy that next morning. I had no plans to if anything with my friends, but I wanted to do something with Gippal. I got dressed and headed to his house with a grin on my face. I had hoped he was awake at this hour by now too. I knocked on his door when I heard some shuffling.

Gippal answered the door with his messy blonde hair and wearing only pajama bottoms. I began to blush at his nicely toned body. I think he did too when he saw me standing there looking at him.

"Uh, sorry. I just woke up. Give me a little while, and I'll get ready, okay?" he said as I nodded and waited for him to prepare for the day.

After about a half an hour of waiting, Gippal opened up the door with his smug grin. "So, what're you up to, Cid's little girl?" he snickered at me while pinching my cheeks.

"I have a name..." I whined at him when I rubbed my poor cheeks. "Anyway, I thought maybe we could hang out today since we're not thinking of our bands," I told him once I started swaying around.

"Sure thing," he nodded and ruffled my hair.

We both headed to this local ice cream shop here in Home. It was our favorite place ever since the two of us were young. We used to share a soda with only two straws, but it was because it was a best friend think at the time.

"What do you want to do here?" he blinked after I dragged him here.

"Let's share a soda like we used to when we were little," I nodded, only for him to frown.

"Rikku, isn't that kid stuff?" he asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Nonsense! It'll be like the good old days," I said cheerfully as I giggled with excitement.

"Oh, okay then," he nodded in agreement towards me. "Whatever makes you happy, kiddo," he smiled softly at me.

We both got one soda and shared it with just two straws only. I started to giggle nervously when I stopped sipping. I didn't realize how awkward this would be with us being older. I mean, as kids it was always so much fun.

"What's wrong?" he blinked at me.

"This is a little awkward," I chuckled a little.

Gippal laughed and have a nod. "I agree. It was better when we were little because we didn't have a clue," he said while chuckling.

"There's something I want to tell you right now though," I looked away and started to blush.

"Hm? What's up, Cid's girl?" he looked at me with his sincere swirling green eye.

Gippal always wore on eye patch over his right eye. It was just a fashion statement, so it didn't really mean anything. I thought it was kind of hot the way he wore it, but I couldn't tell him.

"Well..." I tried to think of what I could say, except the words were jumbled up.

"There you are, Gippal!" a familiar girl's voice called to him. "We should be practicing today, not fooling around all day long with girls," she crossed her arms and shook her head at him.

"Can't I just have one day with my favorite girl, Nhadala?" he scowled at her and sighed softly.

I blinked at him when he called me his favorite girl. My cheeks turned pink from hearing that and couldn't help smiling. I started to wonder if maybe he did have strong feelings for me too.

"Okay, fine, but we are practicing tomorrow," she said and decided to leave us alone.

"Sorry about that," he rubbed the back of his head. "Nhadala is our manager, so she gets really strict about us fooling around," he sighed and looked right at me. "So, what were you saying before the interruption?" he asked, only for me to blush madly at him again.

"I-It's nothing," I smiled and shook my head.

"Okay," he chuckled softly at me.

We both continued sipping our soda while laughing at each other. I couldn't believe I was able to spend some time with my best friend. It had been a while since we had this much fun together.

"What did you mean when you said I was your favorite girl?" I asked him.

"Uh, heh... well... I... I um... y-you are my best friend," he blushed just a bit and rubbed the back of his head again.

"I think you're hiding something from me," I crossed my arms at him while pouting.

"You'll find out when the timing's right for us, kiddo," he said when he ruffled my hair.

"Hey! I'm not a kiddo!" I continued to pout at him.

"You are too," he smirked at me.

"I am not!" I glared at him once he let out a loud laugh.

"Yes, you are too," he argued back teasingly.

"Oh, you're such a big meanie!" I flailed my arms around as he laughed even louder. "I don't even know why you are my best friend when you always have to tease me!" I scowled angrily at him.

"I guess that means I win?" he asked with a smug grin.

"Only because you're a big meanie!" I pouted at him while crossing my arms.

"Well, this meanie has to go," he said with a nod. "I've been working on a special song," he told me while he looked away and blushed a bit.

"What kind of song?" I asked curiously.

"It's a secret," he chuckled a little. "See you later, kiddo!" he waved as I started flailing my arms at him once again.

"Oh, stop calling me that!" I yelled at him, only for him to laugh again.

"Nope," he smirked and headed back to his place.

I couldn't stop thinking about what his song might be about. I had no idea he could even write songs either. I wondered if maybe it had something to do with me, but I realized how silly that was. There's no way he'd write a song for me, is there?