Running Away

Chapter Five

Bedtime Kiss

Sometime during the night, I found myself awaking, feeling sick to my stomach while music gently played in the background. I sat up on my bed, stomach doing a summersault in the process. Heaving myself out of bed, I ran immediately to the bathroom.

I skid across the sleak bathroom tiles and tumbled into the wall, flopping onto my back in the process. It was a race to lift myself to the toilet before I threw up. It came, my stomach lurched worse at the awful aftertaste. I could smell the rank odor of vomit in the toilet below, causing me to puke once more. I don't care what anyone says, the worst taste in the world is vomit. Or maybe it's aftertaste, maybe both.

I sunk against the wall, carefully flushing the toilet. Shakily, I stood and shuffled into my bedroom. The door was wide open, but not a soul was in the room. I scratched the back of my head and took easy steps out of the room, ready to rush back to the bathroom if need be. I unplugged the radio on my way out, the muffled voices were audible now. I looked around the hall, trying to register what exactly happened. Events played over in my mind. Marza coming over with the vodka, the boy sneaking around outside...Gippal! Gippal had come over, Marza—oh no!--Marza. She had done something! I was right. I should have just trusted my intuition. What if she and Gippal—a wave of panic flashed throughout me. Gippal, he got—she made him—what if, no!

I ran from the room, feeling my stomach tie itself in knots from both liquor and the mere thought of them...

Don't think like that!

I stumbled over to the nearest potted plant and vomited. Liquor baaad. Eew.

Looking up weakly, two shadows of person-like figures greeted me from just down the hall. I sighed in relief, at least Marza was no where in sight. The feminine shadow couldn't have belonged to her. It had shaggy, straight hair, while she had curls. Being so close to them, the voices were louder now. One of them was yelling, while the other calmly spoke. The yelling voice wasn't Gippal, another good sign. I sneaked up, staying out of sight to listen in on the conversation.

"Gippal! This is an ALL girls school, do you have any idea what would happen to you if an administrator found you? I mean, it's bad enough you being who you are, but if they had found you! You would be arrested, or worse, they would kill you! This is not good. You need to get back to your school and now!" The female's voice said. Although she was yelling, she sounded like she was more worried for Gippal than anything else.

"Yuna, you worry too much. No one is even here but students on these weekends. It is all about...er...um..."

"Circumstance?" The girl offered, her voice anything but charitable.

"Yeah. If something had happened. But, nothing did." Gippal drawled.

"That is no excuse for your actions!" Her voice was becoming shrill and she gestured like a mad-woman. It took all my self restraint to not giggle. She was upset over--hiccup--nothing.

"I never said it was." He countered plainly. "I have to go say goodbye to Rikku first." Gippal finished, I peeked out from the corner, careful to not be seen. His eyes were dulled as if he'd been through hell. I sighed, wishing I could be out there. Just to be there beside him...

Oh, geez. I'm so—he's just...perfect with all of his—well, they aren't imperfections...hmm, defects? No, that sounds worse--

"You two got her drunk, remember? She passed out. You'll be lucky if she even wakes up and wants to ever speak to you again. If she wakes up at all! What were you thinking? Marza is on thin ice as it is..." The girl, Yuna, said. I gaped. I cannot believe she just said that. Who is she to interrupt my reverie about Gippal with her shrillness, and then accuse me of hating the boy I sort of, kind of loo... lov... Well, I'm not saying it. You can't make me, Brain.

"Hey! Let me make my own decisions, would ya?" I yelled, my hand flew over my mouth. ... I didn't just say that aloud, did I? More importantly, was that directed toward Yuna or my brain...

"Rikku?" Gippal said, stepping out from behind 'Yuna.' Crap! I can't believe I just said that aloud.

"Hehe, hi?" I laughed nervously, tipping my head from behind the wall. I clumsily stood, hoping not to upset my stomach too much and walked up to them. "I'll take him back to his side of the ... uh, um..." Oh, geez. What is it called? "Lake!"

The girl frowned, looked behind her, and shook her head. "Suit yourself." She took off, leaving Gippal and I to awkwardly stand, both unable to make even a desperate stab at conversation. I bet he thinks I'm insane.

And touché to that.

"So...should we...er go?" I asked, motioning to the elevator. Gippal slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me roughly into him. I could smell the liquor on him, the smell had sunk into this clothes. No wonder that girl stopped him.

"Rikku." He sniffed the air, then looked down at me. His hair was cowlicked to oblivion, his eyepatch was off-center, and he had a sloppy grin on his face. Despite it all, and my own standards, he looked gorgeous.

I bet I could kiss him now and he wouldn't remember a thing...

I can't.

Well, I shouldn't.

No, I can't. Can't. Don't you dare think of it a moment longer.

"You smell nice." He said, hugging me closer.

Yes, I could.

I leaned in, snuggling into his sweatshirt, and wrapped my arms around his waist. Underneath the rank smell of vomit and liquor, I could smell the faint scent of fabric softener. I wonder if he uses the one with the little bear on it.

"We should go, Rikkie." He murmured, taking a step forward. I refused to move for a moment, then, while still leaning on him, I followed him into the elevator.

"What happened tonight?" I asked, feeling him tense as I spoke.

"Don't you remember?" He said, slowly choosing his words. The idiot slurred his words like the drunk he was, but it sounded cute on him.

Wait, woah! Since when does a drunken slur sound cute?

I need help. ...Gippal's help...no! Bad mind, bad mind! Find a happy place, find a--

"Not really." I mumbled into his chest.

Gippal remained silent until the elevator reached the bottom floor with a subdued 'ding'. He led us out into the parking lot and around the maze of dorm buildings. I clung to him as I saw the lake in the distance.

I don't remember much of the evening, but I suddenly wished it wouldn't end. I didn't want to say goodbye to him, not yet. "Hey, Gip." I muttered.

"Yeah?" He said, easing to a sit on the dew covered ground. I released him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you came."

He was silent for a moment, then he gave my hand a squeeze. "Thanks?"

I snorted a laugh and stood. "Wanna go for a swim?"

He looked up to me, devilish smile on his face. "But, you didn't bring a bikini! It would be a travesty!" He pushed my head and cackled like it was the funniest thing in the world. I sat there, thoroughly confused. Instead of asking for an answer that would only continue to confuse me, I stood and stripped off my tank top, leaving me in my jeans and my favorite yellow bra. I slid off my jeans, revealing matching bikini-style panties.

Gee, I'm glad I didn't wear the thong today...

"C'mon, slowpoke!" I ran to the lake, launching myself in. The cool water tingled around my once warm body. I shrieked as I surfaced, smiling all the while. Gippal stood on the banks, staring at me like I'd gone crazy. "What, do I have to swim alone?"

Gippal peeled off his sweatshirt and squatted, smiling down at me. "Yeah, you get to be soggy and complaining. I gotta get home."

"WHAT?" I yelled, splashing water onto him. He fell over, reflexes not catching up fast enough in their broken state. I reached for his ankle clumsily and yanked. He tumbled into the water, making a perfect belly flop. I laughed and swam to the other end of the lake. Gippal came up sputtering, then fixated his magnificent green eye on me.

"You are so dead!" He yelled, swimming after me. I smiled as his arm wrapped around my stomach. He snickered in my ear, then lifted me above the water. My smile faded as he began tickling my back with his free hand.

"Let me down!" I shrieked, flailing in his grasp.

"As you wish." He laughed and tossed me backwards. I slapped against the water, doing a spectacular flop myself. My back stung for a moment, then it passed. I scrambled out of the water, sliding across the equally slick grass.

"What are you doing? What are you, high?" Gippal hollered, hoisting himself out of the lake.

"Drunk!" I yelled, turning to face him. Then, like the moronically graceful awesome-person that I am, I slipped and fell to the ground in a loud thud. I laughed, legs far above my head. I rubbed my sore butt before rolling onto my side, giggling all the while. Gippal flopped down beside me, gushing water from his soaked jeans onto my stomach.

"You're insane."

"If you met Brother, I'd seem normal." I said, resting my head on his shoulder. He stretched an arm around me, pulling me closer onto him. "Player." I whispered.

"Rikku." He echoed, tickling my side briefly.

I shoved him and lifted myself on top of him to a sitting position.

"Who is the player now?" He lifted an eyebrow, waggling it provocatively.

"Shut up." I said, playing with his collar. His wet shirt clung to his deeply tanned body. Ooer, muscles galore. I smiled and poked his forehead.

"Hmm?" Gippal mumbled, his eyes closed.

"Sleepy?" I said, tracing his chest muscle with my fingertip. He rolled over, so he was on top of me. He put just enough pressure on me to keep me pinned.

"Yeah, so shuddup." He rolled off, our limbs in a tangle. I leaned my head against him again and sighed.

"Nighty night, Gippal."

"Night." He kissed the crown of my head and fidgeted so we faced one another. His arms drooped over my hip and I shivered. He scooted closer, our breath meeting between us. I watched his chest rise and fall, his lips slowly turn into a pout as he drifted, then succumbed, to sleep. I smiled and leaned closer, getting as close as I dared. His heated breath flashed and I kissed him softly upon the lips. He sighed in his sleep, I pulled away, resting my head under his. Blushing at my own daring, I brushed my hand across my lips. I smiled, letting my mind wander into the night.

Okay, I know I used a few words you won't find in any dictionary, but fuck it...I couldn't find an alternative. So, I didn't fix 'um.

And, I've just gotten out of school for break. Summer has officially started for me, and not only am I'm working now, I'll be out a lot...so updates will be far and few between. Then again, only one person seems to be taking any notice of my story at all, and I thank you for that. Please review, at this point, I only have one constant reviewer. And, I luffles Hommeles for it! Thankies to all your support!

I have an true FFX-3 story planned for the future, I'll be writing with whatever opportunities I get. Once again, it will be RikkuXGippal...

However, I'm getting quite despaired by the little feedback, negative or positive.

Please review. Edit -- 11/17