1Zack wasn't the only one acting bizarre. Mrs. Kisargi kept giving Yuffie tiny smiles all through dinner Tuesday night. On Wednesday she left a pile of nail polish and makeup on Yuffie's desk. And on Thursday evening she suggested a shopping trip, "just us girls," even though she knew Yuffie hated shopping. Yuffie wasn't about to be bossed into tennis and shopping in one week, so she said no.

"Are you sure, sweetheart?" her mom said. "We could get you something nice to wear. In case you need it sometime soon. For anything."

Aha. Yuffie's mom was on to her. Mrs. Lockheart must have told her about the double date. Yuffie was kind of impressed that her mom had managed not to ask Yuffie a million questions right away.

"Oh, no, I don't need anything," Yuffie said. Her mom's face fell, and Yuffie felt a twinge of guilt. "Besides Mom," she added trying to be nice, "You're a much better shopper than I am. I like the stuff you get me." It was true. With the exception of the bikini, Mrs. Kisargi's taste in clothes was remarkable. Sometimes Yuffie thought it was the only thing keeping her out of the ranks of the true dorks of the school.

"All right," Mrs. Kisargi said, hovering in the doorway. "If you're sure."

"Uh-huh," Yuffie said. "Thanks."

As her mom closed the door, Yuffie crawled over the bed and knocked three times on the wall, the signal for Zack to come over. Then she started pulling clothes our of her closet.

"What?" Zack said, opening the door and poking his head around.

"Come help me decide what to wear tomorrow," Yuffie said.

"No way," Zack said.

"Zack!"

"That's girl stuff."

"And where am I supposed to find a girl to help me with this?" Maybe if Kairi wasn't all the way in China... although, Kairi had never really cared about clothes either.

Zack shrugged. "Ask Mom."

"Yeah right," Yuffie said. "So, should I lie to her and say I'm suddenly dating Riku, who's been our friend for three years, or should I explain that I'm only pretend dating him to protect him from another girl? Which of those fantastic stories do you think she'll like best?"

"Whatever," Zack said. "I see skirts, so I'm leaving."

"Zack!" But he had already shut the door with a firm click.

Yuffie hesitated, looking at the scattered hangers and folds of fabric. Was this a fancy date? The diner wasn't exactly a fancy place. So was it more of a jeans and T-shirt event? She didn't want to look like she'd made to much effort, but she didn't want to look underdress, either. She tried to remember the time difference in China. But her parents had set strict rules about when and for how long she could talk to Kairi, and their next phone date wasn't for another week. She'd have to find her girly advice elsewhere.

Her hands shook a little as she picked up the phone and dialed. Sure, Tifa was probably only doing this date thing because Namine told her to. But she couldn't lie about what she was going to wear. So maybe her advice could be useful, in just this one situation.

"Oh, howdy-doo, Yuffie," Mrs. Lockheart said with significant emphasis. "Hold on, let me get Tifa."

"Yuffie!" Tifa cried as she picked up. "I'm so glad you called! I was just freaking out because I have no idea what to wear tomorrow."

"Really?" Yuffie said, her nervousness evaporating. "That's why I called you!"

"Oh awesome," Tifa said. "Okay. Describe every single item of clothing you own, and then I'll do the same, and then we'll pick outfits that will look good next to each other but won't look like they deliberately match, and then we'll panic and pick backup outfits, and then we'll change them around, and we'll throw out the whole plan and start over."

Yuffie laughed. "All right, you asked for it. But I own a lot of clothes. My mom loves shopping."

"You're so lucky," Tifa said. "Mine will never take me. And you guys have great malls around here; in my old town there was like, one, and it was a whole hour away. I could spend my life in a mall, couldn't you?"

"Um," Yuffie said. "Well..."

"We'll go together sometime," Tifa said. "I'll bet it's a lot more fun with someone who doesn't always answer the question 'Does this make me look fat?' with 'Actually, your fat makes you look fat.' I think Namine got that from a movie, but she thinks it's so funny."

"That is crazy," Yuffie said, feeling a lot braver now that Namine wasn't there to hear her. "Tifa, you don't need to lose weight. You're way thinner than I am."

"Yeah, but you're cute like that," Tifa said. "You have curves. My extra weight just makes me look thicker instead of curvier."

"Tifa, seriously," Yuffie said. "That is crazy talk."

"Well, start with your tops," Tifa said, changing the topic. "Do you have anything red?"

"Sure," Yuffie said, and Tifa laughed.

'I'm kidding, Yuffie. You wear red, like, everyday."

"I do?"

"I'm surprised your bathing suit isn't red," Tifa said.

"Maybe if I ever got a second one, but I like the one I have."

"Doesn't it get boring wearing the same one everyday?" Tifa had three that she'd been cycling between, two tankinis and a one-piece.

"No-I mean, I like it," Yuffie said.

"That's the important thing," Tifa said. "So, tops. How about green for a change?"

Finally, an hour later, they had decided that Yuffie would wear a grey shirt and black skirt with sandals that were comfortable enough to walk a few blocks in, while Tifa would wear a sky-blue sundress.

Yuffie fell asleep feeling much happier, even though she was still mad at Zack for being unhelpful.

the next morning, as she was detaching her tennis racket from her bike, Riku suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Are you excited for our date tonight, Yuffie?" he said, a little bit too loudly.

"Shh," Yuffie said, glancing around for Namine. But the only person she saw was Leon, strolling across the parking lot a few feet away from them. He gave her a wave-alute and headed in through the gates.

"Is it a secret from Leon too?" Riku said, still holding on to her hand.

"No," she said. "I was just making sure Namine wasn't around. Ironic, right? I mean, we're going on this date to prove that we're dating, but we're keeping it secret from the person we've proving it to. Who knew deception could be so complicated?"

"It is funny," he said. "So are you? Excited?"

How was she supposed to answer this? "Are you?" she asked.

"I asked you first." He smiled, but there was a small dent about one of his eyebrows that he got only when he was worried.

"Sure I am," she said. "Don't worry about it, Riku; we'll have fun."

"It's just, this is the part where my last three girlfriends... okay, my only three girlfriends... usually started getting mad at me," Riku said. "Like, because I'm not calling enough, or complimenting them enough, or giving them enough presents, or something."

"You don't have to do any of that," Yuffie said, shaking her head. Lowering her voice, she added, "This is just pretend, remember?"

"I know," he said, looking down at her hand in his. "But- if it were real, would you want me- I mean, whoever your real boyfriend was- to do all that stuff?"

"I don't know," Yuffie said truthfully. 'Not if it's work. It shouldn't be hard. I wouldn't want you- I mean, him- to only be complimenting me because I asked for it, you know? Or because you think you have to. I mean, I think if someone wanted to date me, I'd be happy with whatever they wanted to do to show it." she shrugged.

"That's what I figure," Riku said. They started waling up the path into Summerlodge. She wondered if he remembered that he was still holding her hand. "Although I guess if it were the right girl, I'd want to do all that stuff. So maybe Selphie was right about me."

"Nuh-uh," Yuffie said loyally. 'She didn't appreciate you." Not like I would.

"Oh look, it's the lovebirds," Namine said, popping out from behind the check-in booth. She stretched, showing off her perfectly flat, tan stomach between her shirt and short skirt. For once, she was wearing a color other than white- a light blue fitted shirt. "So what are you guys dong tonight?" she said in her low, silky voice. "To celebrate your one-week anniversary? Or did you celebrate it on Wednesday?"

"We have plans," Riku said.

"Private plans?" Namine said. "Or maybe we could double-date. Because I was thinking of asking that guy Leon out." Confusingly, she and Riku both glanced at Yuffie as she said this.

"Oh, I don't-" Yuffie started to stammer.

"Sorry," Riku said. "Private plans."

Namine narrowed her eyes. "Doing what?"

"It's a surprise for Yuffie," Riku said. Smart, Yuffie thought.

"Hmmm," Namine sniffed. "All right, you can tell me later, Riku. It can be our little secret." she ran her manicured fingers down his arm and he twitched away.

Namine tossed back her pale blond hair and stared at Yuffie while Riku signed in. Yuffie balanced one foot on top of the other sneaker, feeling uneasy. Namine's gaze traveled up and down, examining every inch of Yuffie.

"What's that?" Namine said suddenly, darting forward and plucking at Yuffie's necklace.

"It's my necklace," Yuffie said, falling back.

"You wear it all the time," Namine said. "Even when it totally doesn't go with your outfit. Like today." After what Tifa had said, Yuffie had decided to dig out a shirt that wasn't red. It was true: The dark purple color of her T-shirt didn't exactly match the glowing ruby red of the beads.

"It's- Riku gave it to me," Yuffie mumbled.

"Awww," Namine said. "Only a week and already you're giving her jewelry? What a dashing boyfriend you are, Rikey. I hope your girlfriend is good enough for you. Kidding!"

"I gave it to her a while ago," Riku said. "Back when I was starting to figure out I liked her but didn't know what to do about it yet."

Yuffie thought she must be turning the same color as the beads. Only if that was true!

"I have to get to tennis," she blurted out, and took off at a sprint for the courts. Riku would have to handle the rest of the morning's interrogation without her.

Leon was warming up outside the fence by jogging in place. He had showed up Wednesday in jean shorts that were clearly he'd just the legs off of, but now he was wearing real shorts.

"Hey, Yuffie," he said. "Remember how we were talking about Lost yesterday?" she vaguely remembered saying something about liking the show, but she wouldn't have called it a whole conversation. He rattled on without waiting for her to answer. "Well, they're having a marathon tonight on TV, and I thought maybe we could watch it together, so you can explain it to me and maybe I'll see how good it is. Whatcha think? We could order pizza."

"Oh, that sounds like fun, Leon," Yuffie said. "But I'm going out with Riku tonight. Sorry." She was half sorry and half not. She loved watching Lost, but it sounded a bit intimidating, just her and Leon hanging out.

"Awww," Leon said. "Sure you don't want to ditch him? This is the only night the marathon will be on!"

"I can't do that, but I can loan you the DVDs of Season One, if you want."

"I'd rather watch it with you," Leon said. "What are you doing with Riku tonight, anyways?"

"We're going to the movies in town," Yuffie said.

Leon looked like he was going to try again to convince her, but just then Tifa came up, linked her arm through Yuffie's, and tugged her away, whispering about plans for that night.

It wasn't until later, during lunch, that something occurred to her. Had Leon been asking her on a date? TV and pizza wasn't a typical date... and he knew about Riku... but some people would call that a date. It was certainly the first time a boy had asked her to do something with just him.

What would she have said if she weren't pretend dating Riku? Would she want to date Leon? But I don't like him that way, Yuffie thought. Do I? He doesn't make me all fizzy inside the way Riku does. He makes me nervous... but maybe that's what it's supposed to feel like, meeting a new guy you like.

She didn't want to date anyone but Riku. But if Riku didn't want to date her- and Leon did- maybe she should try it, for the experience. I don't' want to be the only girl in high school who's never been kissed. The thought of kissing Leon gave her butterflies in her stomach.

Well, it doesn't matter, anyway, she told herself firmly. He thinks I'm dating Riku. And now that I've turned him down once, I doubt he'll ask me again. She glanced sideways at his shaggy mane of hair and his large hands. On her other side, Riku leaned forward to grab a napkin. His arm touched hers, and then stayed there, his skin brushing hers, for the rest of lunch.

Leon kept looking at her and kept trying to make her laugh. He even stole a couple of her carrot sticks. And every time she looked up, Yuffie found Namine glaring at her. Namine had been flirting with Leon all week, but he didn't seem to have noticed. She'd even been ignoring Riku in favor of Leon, but all Leon's attention was fixed on Yuffie. This surprised her as much as it did Namine. If he spent one day at Destiny High, he'd realize the difference in their social status, and then surely he'd lose interest in Yuffie immediately.

She sort of wished he would. She didn't like the way Namine looked at her- as if Yuffie had stolen two of Namine's boys, and now she would have to pay... one way or another.

She was able to push Leon and Namine out of her mind as she biked home with Riku. Their date was only a few hours away! Even a pretend date was worlds more exciting than sitting at home with her parents and Zack for another Friday night, especially with her brother's ongoing weirdness.

"I'll be back at six," Riku said, pausing in the driveway. "With my tuxedo pressed and my shoes shined."

"I should hope so. My ball gown wouldn't go with anything else," Yuffie said.

He grinned and saluted as she wheeled her bike into the garage.

"Hello?" she called as she went into the house. "Zack?"

"He's at the library," Mrs. Kisargi said, popping out of the den. "How was your day? Is tennis getting more fun?"

Yuffie shrugged. "Not really. But I think I'm getting better at pool volleyball." She'd actually gotten a couple of serves over the net. Riku had whooped and hollered, and Leon had applauded from the sidelines. Even Tifa had given her a thumbs-up.

Yuffie's mother hovered for a minute, as if she were waiting for something to happen..

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"Of course I am," Mrs. Kisargi said. "Don't you want to go upstairs and drop off your things?"

"Yuffie glanced down at her shoulder bag and her tennis racket. "Yeah, okay. I thought I'd get a glass of water first."

"I'll get it," Mrs. Kisargi said, bolting for the kitchen. "You go upstairs."

"Mom, you're acting bizarre!" Yuffie called after her. Shaking her head, she headed up the stairs and dropped her stuff inside her room.

Hanging from the hook on the outside of her closet was a dress. It was shimmering burnt orange color, like autumn leaves, with a V-neck, a dropped waist and the knee length hem. Yuffie touched it in awe. The fabric was soft and shiny but not clingy.

"Do you like it?" her mother asked from the doorway.

"Wow Mom," Yuffie said. "I mean-wow."

"I hope it fits," Mrs. Kisargi said, sitting down on Yuffie's bed.

"Let's find out," Yuffie said, slipping it off the hanger. It rustled like autumn leaves too, as she slid it on. Her mom came over to help her zip up the back. It fit perfectly.

"How do you do that?" Yuffie said, spinning in front of the mirror. "It's amazing."

"Well, I just thought you should have something special for your first date," Mrs. Kisargi said, and then clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh! I wasn't going to say anything!"

"That's okay," Yuffie said. She wanted to tell her mom the truth, but wouldn't her mom be dissapointed that she'd gone to so much trouble for a fake date?

"I've been hoping you'd tell me about it yourself," Mrs. Kisargi said.

"Well, we're trying not to make it a big deal," Yuffie said, feeling awkward.

"I understand," her mom said, getting up and heading to the door. "I just want you to know- I've always thought you and Riku would make a perfect couple." She beamed at Yuffie as she shut the door behind her.

Yeah, me too, Yuffie thought. Now somebody tell Riku that.

Oh jeez, two in one day! I'm on a roll! Seriously, I've never done this before. Maybe it's because I have 4 10 year olds in my house for my sister's sleepover party. And two of them are obsessed with me. Seriously, they are. They keep wearing my stuff, and touching me and such. Sometimes it's a little awkward.

I'm going to work on the next chapter, their date chapter. It's just that I'm updating this story so much faster than my others because I know what I'm doing with this one. The others I'm like, "umm, hmmm, no thoughts whatsoever."

Forever Yours,

Erin