1Here you go! I feel bad for not updating in awhile and leaving that ... hanger, so I updated twice!
P.S. there's only 4 chapters left!
Disclaimer: Me don't own, sadly.
Friday morning arrived.
"Are you ready?" Riku aid as Yuffie walked down the steps of the porch.
"Ready?" she asked.
"For the pool volleyball final!" he said. "We're going to win! Rarrr!" he did a cute goofy victory dance, crashed into his bike, and tipped over onto the lawn. She giggled.
"It's like I always say," Riku said from the grass. "Coordination, grace, the ability to stay upright... all totally unnecessary in the pool."
"I think our team would have a better chance of winning if I didn't play," Yuffie said.
"No way," he said, scrambling to his feet. "You have to play. You're essential. You're the heart and soul of the team! Besides, we need five players or Ariel will disqualify us. You know her; she's a stickler for rules." He grinned and she smacked his shoulder.
"Oh, it's nice to be so vital," Yuffie said.
As he pedaled down the driveway, she checked her shoulder bag again. Her black bathing suit, a book to read, sunscreen, and a change of clothes were all there. Why did she have the weird feeling that something was missing?
She must be imagining things. She waved to Zack, who was standing in his window, and took off after Riku.
During tennis, she left her bag, as usual, with the other bags, over by the benches under the shelter. She could see it from the courts, but she didn't pay much attention to it, since she was focusing on trying to hit the ball.
It wasn't' until the girls went into the changing room at the pool that Yuffie opened her bag again.
A sick, nervous feeling shot through her stomach.
Her bathing suit was missing!
She shoved the rest of her things aside, feeling around at the bottom of the bag. Then she sat down on the bench, and dumped it out, putting everything back in piece by piece.
It was definitely, definitely gone.
Her breathing seemed to have sped up and she felt on the verge of panic. Without the bathing suit, she couldn't play, which meant letting down Riku and the team. Sure, it was only a dumb volleyball game, but she would still feel awful about it. And Ariel was going to be mad. Yuffie wondered if you could get detention at summer camp.
"Oh dear," Namine said, and Yuffie turned around to find her leaning against the nearest mirror. "What on earth's the matter. You look so pale, Yuffie, dear."
Tifa popped her head out of a stall a few doors down, as if the tone of Namine's voice had aroused her suspicions.
"My bathing suit," Yuffie said. "It's gone, but I'm so sure I packed it this morning..." A horrible suspicion hit her. She looked up at Namine, whose face concerned expression couldn't hide the smirk in her cold blue eyes. "Did- did y-"
"And it's your only one, isn't it?" Namine said sweetly. "That is so sad. What are you going to do? Your poor boyfriend is so excited about winning this tournament. Oh, dear."
"Namine!" Tifa said, stomping over. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything," Namine said, batting her eyelashes. "Poor Yuffie has lost her bathing suit. And I'm still not speaking to you. Oh, I have a great idea, Yuffie."
"'Great' meaning 'humiliating,' I'm sure," Tifa said, her arms crossed.
"Why don't we check the lost and found?" Namine said, ignoring Tifa. She pranced over to a large cardboard box in the corner. "Maybe your bathing suit is here... or maybe there's another one you can wear!" With a flourish, she yanked a bathing suit out of the box and brandished it at Yuffie.
It was the most hideous thing Yuffie had ever seen. It was mustard yellow with a giant bright pink flowers all over it. There were ruffles at the sleeves, ruffles around the waist, ruffles at the thigh. And it was obviously about three sizes too big for Yuffie.
"Perfect!" Namine exclaimed. "I mean, considering you don't have anything else. I guess you either wear this, or you ruin everything for your boyfriend. Hmmmm." she touched one of her long, manicured fingernails to her chin and pretended to look thoughtful, which on Namine looked more like she was trying to pick a new nail color.
"Namine, give her back her bathing suit," Tifa snapped. "Give it back right now."
"I don't have it," Namine said. "I suppose you could search all over Summerlodge for it... It must be around here somewhere, right?" she smiled, and Yuffie felt cold all over.
What was she going to do? She'd never get Namine to giver her suit, and it must be hidden somewhere hard to find. But she did not want to wear the yellow flowered monstrosity. If she had any chance of Riku ever wanting to really date her, his seeing her in that would definitely kill it.
Tifa looked as worried as Yuffie felt. A whistle blew out by the pool
"Yuffie, I have to go out there," Tifa said. Her team was up first, playing another team for third place. "You have a little while before your team has to play. You'll think of something, don't worry." Tifa started toward the door, then turned and hurried back. She dug into her bag, and pulled out her cell phone, and pressed it into Yuffie's hand. "In case you need it," she whispered. "And I've changed my mine. Namine is crazy and evil." she gave Yuffie a quick hug and ran out to the pool.
Namine dropped the yellow bathing suit on the bench next to Yuffie. "See you out there," she said smugly, and strolled after Tifa, winding her lavender towel around her waist as she went.
Yuffie stared down at the phone in her hand.
There was one other option...
She touched the yellow bathing suit and pulled her hand back with a shudder. Had Namine planted it in the lost and found box? Was it just her luck that there was really something so hideous in there? Did that mean someone else had worn it before? It gave her the heebie-jeebies just thinking about wearing it.
She switched on the phone and dialed home.
She was hoping Zack would answer, but instead it was her mom's cheery voice that said, "Hello, hello, Kisargi residence!"
"Hi, Mom," Yuffie said, wincing. "Um-is Zack there?"
"No, he's not, sweetie. Is everything okay? Aren't you supposed to be in some activity class right now?"
"Yeah," Yuffie said slowly. Where the hell was Zack again, in the middle of the day? If only he were there, she wouldn't have to let her mom know what she'd done with the red bikini. But she had no choice.
With a sigh, Yuffie said, "Mom, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure honey. What is it?"
"I, um, I forgot my bathing suit."
"And you have the pool volleyball finals today, don't you?" her mom said. Yuffie could never predict what her mother would remember and what would fly out of her brain the minute it went in.
"That's right," Yuffie said. "So I need the red bikini. Could you bring it to me?"
"Absolutely," her mom said. She sounded so pleased to help. Yuffie felt extra guilty about what was going to happen next. "Where is it?"
"In my room," Yuffie said. She could hear her mom's footsteps going up the stairs, and the creak of her hinges as Mrs. Kisargi went itno her room.
"Is it in the closet?"
"Um. No," Yuffie said. "It's... under the bed."
There was a pause. Yuffie heard rummaging noises, and then another pause. Finally her mother said, "Yuffie, it still has the tags on."
Yuffie could picture her mother standing in her bedroom, holding the red bikini with a crestfallen look on her face.
"I know Mom," Yuffie said. "I'm sorry."
"You haven't worn it?"
"I've been wearing the black one, but I really want to wear that one today."
"Oh, Yuffie" her mom said. "You don't have to wear it if you don't' like it."
"I do!" Yuffie said. "I mean, I need it! As soon as possible. Please, Mom?"
"I'll be right there," her mom said.
Yuffie hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. She dreaded the thought of wearing the bikini, but it couldn't be as embarrassing as the mustard-yellow ruffles.
Out by the pool, Namine was lounging on the bleachers next to Leon. She raised her eyebrows at Yuffie and made ruffling motions with her hands next to her shoulders.
Yuffie scooted up to Ariel, who was watching the volleyball with intensity of a bird of prey.
"I forgot my bathing suit," Yuffie said. "My mom's bringing it. Can I go meet her?"
Ariel barked, "Yes! Hurry, but don't run! And don't do it again!" without taking her eyes off the game.
Yuffie ran down the path to the parking lot, ignoring Ariel's instructions. She had been standing there for only a minute when her mother pulled in. Yuffie nearly threw herself through the driver's-side window, she was so pleased to see her.
"Thank you Mom!" she cried. "You saved me, you really did!"
"Are you sure you want this?" Mrs. Kisargi said, holding the bikini out of arm's reach. "We shouldn't cut the tags off if you just want to return it."
"I do want it," Yuffie said, leaning in the window. "I do, I promise. Please, please, please!"
"All right," her mom said, cutting off the tags with a pair of scissors. "But, Yuffie you should always tell me if I get you something you don't like."
"Impossible," Yuffie said, grabbing the bikini and kissing her mom on the cheek. "Thank you! Bye!" she ran back across the parking lot and all the way back to the swimming pool, although she remembered to slow down as she passes Ariel.
Had that been a surprise look on Namine's face as she went by? Yuffie hoped so. She couldn't wait for Namine to realize that her evil plan had been foiled. Unless, fo course, the bikini looked as terrible as Yuffie was afraid it would.
She jumped into a stall and undressed quickly, carefully putting her bead necklace in the zipper pocket of her bag. The top of the bikini was a halter top, but luckily not the kind you had to tie in the back. Yuffie was always afraid those would come undone- or, with her luck, Namine would probably untie it when her back was turned. But this just slid over her neck, and the back was a hood that even Namine couldn't undo without Yuffie catching her.
The bottom was simple and fit her perfectly, with a cute decorative knot tied at either hip. And the whole thing was a solid wine red, which, if Yuffie had, had, to pick a bikini, was what she would have picked.
The whistle blew out by the pool. The first game must be over. Panic hit Yuffie again. Now she had to talk out there like this! She glanced down at her stomach and wondered what kind of girl-hating designer had come up with the idea of bikinis in the first place.
Still better than the mustard-yellow ruffles, she reminded herself.
The whistle blew again. Taking a deep breath, Yuffie slipped on her flip-flops and ran out fo the stall, grabbing a towel on her way to the pool. She had time only to glance in the mirror as she went by, but she prayed that nobody would even notice her new bathing suit.
No such luck. As she dropped the towel on the bleachers, Yuffie could feel Namine glaring at her, as if blunt icicles were jabbing into the back of her neck. She was kicking off her flip-flops when Leon popped up beside her.
"Dude," he said. "You are smoking. I love it. Why don't' you wear this suit everyday?"
Um," Yuffie stammered. "I-"
"Oh, awesome," Tifa said, coming up behind her and giving her a giant wet hug. "This is exactly the comeuppance Namine deserves. For you to turn around and look so amazing. Holy cow."
"It's nothing," Yuffie mumbled.
"Oh, yeah?" Tifa said. "Your boyfriend doesn't seem to think it's nothing." she pointed across the pool at Riku, who was staring at Yuffie with an unreadable expression on his face. It made Yuffie nervous. He looked like he'd never seen her before in his life.
"Alright, come on, people!" Ariel yelled. "Enough chitchat! Into the pool!"
She didn't have to say it twice. Yuffie couldn't wait to get the bikini underwater and out of sight.
"I see your sinister plan, you know," Leon said, leaning over the ladder as she scrambled down it. "You're trying to distract me with your hotness so your team will win." He wagged a reprimanding finger at her.
She didn't know what to say to that. Why did he keep flirting with her? He knew about Riku. And it sure seemed like Namine would be interested in dating him, if he'd just turn his charm on her.
Luckily, she didn't have to answer because Leon slouched off to the other side of the net without waiting for a response. Yuffie slid into the water and swam over to Riku, who was holding the volleyball and looking kind of dazed.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, taking her position next to him.
"Uh, yeah," he said. "Totally okay." He shoved his wet hair back and glanced at her sideways before quickly looking away again.
She decided it was maybe not the right time to tell him about Namine and the bathing suit heist. A moment later, Ariel blew her whistle and the game began.
After ten days of this, Yuffie suspected she was actually getting better. Of course, Leon and Namine were very good, so she didn't expect to win. But Riku seemed to be playing like a possessed person, slamming the ball across the net and spiking it whenever he was close enough. A couple of times he sent the ball her way and she managed to get it over, although Leon was always right there to bounce it back.
When Namine's team reached five points, they switched sides. Leon gave Yuffie a wink as they went by, but Namine stuck her nose in the air and wouldn't even look over. She did stop to run her hand across Riku's shoulder, though. "You're doing so well, Riku," she purred. He nodded, looking distracted, and walked away, which made Namine's eyes get even narrower.
Finally the score was 9-9. Riku served, and Leon punched it back. Another girl bounced it up, Riku hit it over, and Namine slapped it into the air like she was batting a fly. It hung for a moment, suspended and then fell toward Yuffie.
She jumped up to hit it and felt Riku bump her shoulder as he reached forward to knock it up again.
But it wasn't far enough. It was going to fall on their side. Yuffie dove forward, her fists connecting under the ball just before it hit the water. She sank below the surface in a spray of bubbles, and when she came back up, her teammates were hooting and hollering and the audience was on their feet, applauding.
She looked around, bewildered, and saw the ball floating on the other side of the net. It had gone over! They'd won!
"We did it!" Riku yelled, splashing over to her. "You did it! Woo-hoo! Yuffie!" he threw his arms around her and spun her in a circle. She clutched him with a shriek, laughing. She felt giddy. She felt victorious. She felt Riku's warm arms circling her bare waist and it made her feel pretty close to fainting.
"We really won," she started to say as he put her down, but all of a sudden he seemed really close to her, and his eyes were very blue, and then his arms pulled her closer and he pressed his lips to hers and-
He's kissing me!
The universe seemed to spiral into the one perfect, central point where his lips were touching hers, and for a moment that one spot was the only thing she could feel. Then suddenly she felt hands pressing into her back and her her hands on his shoulders, and then she remembered that they were in a pool with fifty people watching them, and then, like something was exploding in her mind, she remembered that this wasn't real, none of it was real, he was just pretending for Namine, and that meant that this, her first kiss, her first real kiss ever, meant nothing at all.
Yuffie pulled back so fast that she slipped on the bottom of the pool and stumbled backward into the water. Riku reached for her hand to help her, but she scrambled out of reach, floundering over to the side and pulling herself out as fast as she could.
"Yuffie," he said, "wait."
But she had already grabbed her towel and darted into the changing room, where he couldn't follow.
Hahahahahahahaha cliff hanger! Sucks to be you peoples who don't know what's going to happen!! JK
Ah, I don't feel like updating for a little while. Maybe I'll let you peoples go crazy for a few days. I love being evil. XD
Evil cookies to:
Dark Rose Forever
koalabababy
Ink
Badhrra
Bonbon the Cat
Dark Ambition
Warriorcat's Spirit
SecretAgent99
hikari-kasumi