Gahཀ This story is almost overཀ So sad.
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Yuffie could hear Tifa calling her through the chaos of everyone changing, but she stayed crouched on a bench in a bak stall until Tifa gave up and left. She figured if she hid for long enough, everyone else would leave and then se could make her escape without anyone seeing her, anyone staring or pointing.
The whole thing had been a disaster. She would go home and tell her mum that she wanted to quit Summerlodge. Or at least she could switch to a new afternoon activity now- like Frisbee, far away from the pool and Riku and Naminé and all this torture. Maybe she would go ahead and date Leon. Even if she didn't feel the same way about him that she did about Riku, at least he seemed to really like her. She could have a real relationship instead of a pretend one and get kissed in a way that actually meant something. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried not to think about it.
Finally the changing room went quiet. It seemed like she'd been waiting forever. She was about to stand up when suddenly she heard voices.
"Now I get it. It's obvious what's going on." It was Naminé. Yuffie froze. What was obvious? The fact that she and Riku were only pretending? "I mean," Naminé continued, "he clearly feels sorry for her. That's why he's doing this. It's probably a favor for her geek loser brother. But it's just cruel, because he obviously doesn't really like her that way, and she probably thinks he does."
A second voice rumbled something, too low for Yuffie to hear.
"Well- look at her for one thing," Naminé said. "Guys like Riku don't date girls like that. Come on, she's so awkward and quiet, and she dresses like she's trying to repel boys. Plus, did you see how she reacted to that kiss? I told you she was a freak. Like she's too innocent to kiss her own boyfriend. Poor Riku. It must be like dating a Care Bear."
Yuffie's face was burning. She pulled on her clothes over her bathing suit, trying to hurry out before she heard anymore.
"That was pretty lame," agreed the second voice. A guy? Was there a guy in the girls' changing room? "I expected her to be more mature than that." He chuckled, and Yuffie realized that he sounded familiar.
"You should have listened to me," Naminé purred. "I told you she wasn't your type. I, on the other hand. . ."
"You are exactly what guys want," said the male voice. There was a pause. Yuffie leaned against the door, wondering if they were gone. She realized that what she was hearing were kissing noises. Who was Naminé kissing in the girls' changing room?
"Yes, I am what guys want," Naminé sad, sounding satisfied. "Riku is going to get sick of the sweet-little-kid act pretty fast. If he doesn't break up with her this weekend, I'll- I'll- I don't know, I'll eat a whole ice-cream sundae or something."
"Why do you care so much if they break up?" the guy's voice said. Yuffie strained to hear. Who was it?
"I'm just trying to teach that girl a lesson," Naminé said. "A lesson about stealing things from Naminé McKennis. And if you really want to know the truth. . ." Her voice went from steely to coquettish. "I was pretty angry that you were more interested in her than me, too."
Leon!
"That was dumb of me," Leon said, sounding repentant. "I didn't realize what a geek she is. If I were Riku, I'd be like, 'Okay, whatever loser. I can go kiss some other girl who won't run away when I do it.'"
"Exactly," Naminé purred. "Like me."
More kissing noises. Yuffie wished she could vanish into thin air and never reappear again.
"So- does this mean we're dating now?" Leon said.
"I told you," Naminé said. "You can be my boyfriend. . . after I'm through with Riku. I need to show him that nobody says no to Naminé, for any reason. Don't worry, it won't be for long. He'll break up with Yuffie soon and I'll grab him. I'll show him how much better he could have had it, and then I'll dump him so hard he'll never date in this town again." She laughed. "It'll be beautiful."
Yuffie clutched the edge of the bench, trying not to make a sound. She wanted to scream and throw volleyballs at Naminé's head, but even more than that, she wanted to escape without them knowing she'd overheard.
"Poor little Yuffie," Naminé said. "She's lost a bathing suit, she's lost a necklace, and she's about to lose a boyfriend. Maybe she'll think twice about taking something of mine in the future, don't you agree?"
"You're so cute when you're evil," Leon said.
Their footsteps were getting farther away, and their voices quieter, but Yuffie wasn't listening anymore. Her hands flew to her neck, and then she grabbed her bag and unzipped the pocket.
Her necklace was gone.
She felt tears pushing at the back of her eyes. She had to get home before she cried. She didn't want to cry there, where Naminé might find her.
Yuffie hurried out of the stall and snuck a look around the door. There was no sign of Leon and Naminé. Pressing her fingers to her eyes, she ran out of the changing room and down the path to her bike.
She was already at the Summerlodge entrance when she looked up and saw Riku leaning against the bike rack. It was too late to run; he'd definitely seen her. But she tried anyway, turning to flee back up the path.
"Wait!" he called.
She made it as far as the check-in booth before he caught up. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her to a stop facing him.
"I have to go home," Yuffie said, looking down at her feet. I have to find a closet I can hide in for the rest of my life. One with cable TV and a never-ending supply of ice cream. That'd be perfect.
"Yuffie, I'm sorry," he said, and guilt in his voice brought her dangerously close to crying. "I didn't mean to upset you. I-I just-"
"I know," she said, "you just wanted Naminé to really believe we were dating. Because why would she believe it? You would never date me. I'm weird and shy and I like hanging out with my brother and watching TV and playing with my dogs, and- and I've never dated anyone but you're perfect and gorgeous and funny and smart, si it- it doesn't make sense and of course she's suspicious and of course the only way to prove it is by kissing me, but I-" To her horror, Yuffie felt tears spilling down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands.
"I just wanted our first kiss to be real," she whispered.
"Yuffie," he said, and then his hands were on her shoulders and he pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She kept her hands pressed to her face, trying not to sob. "Yuffie," he said again, his mouth pressed against her hair so she could feel his lips moving. "You have no idea. . ."
"And she stole my bathing suit," Yuffie said, everything spilling out of her with her tears. "And she took the necklace you gave me and I love that necklace and- and I heard her talking to Leon about what a geed I am and she's still planning to date you and dump you to teach you a lesson because she figures you'll break up with me now that you know what an immature loser I am but-"
"Wait, wait, slow down," Riku said, taking her shoulders and moving her back so he could see her face. She wiped her eyes and looked down at the ground again. "Did you say she stole your necklace?"
Yuffie nodded, her breathing coming less raggedly now.
"That's terrible," Riku said, getting angry. "And you're not a geed, or a loser- did Leon really agree with her?"
Yuffie nodded again. "They were kissing. I guess her plan to snare him finally worked."
"I thought he liked you," Riku said. "But listen, only a real loser would fall for Naminé's act. You know he's a loser now, right? I mean, even though- I thought maybe you liked him."
Yuffie looked up and saw his blue-gray eyes only a few inches from hers. He was still holding on to her elbows. A terrific close-up view of my red, splotch face, she thought, ducking her head again.
"No," she said softly. "There's only one person I like." There. Now he knows. She took Riku's hands off her elbows and pushed them back toward him. "I don't want to be your pretend girlfriend anymore, Riku."
She turned and ran back to the bikes. He didn't follow her, and she was able to unlock her bike and escape.
Okay, I am so so so so so so so sorry that this hasn't been updated in FOREVER!!!
I had half of it done, then I ran into some... guy trouble. SERIOUS GUY TROUBLE. Like ligit.
And my dad had banned me from the computer.
This is your present for the holidays!
And I will try to update the next chapter soon! Only 2 chapters left!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
~Erin
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