Confessions of a Broken Heart

-T h r e e Lessons –

Soundtrack: The Curse of Curves; Cute is What We Aim For

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There wasn't anything wonderfully amazing about him, but there was something I couldn't quite resist.

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After the incident at the diner, Rikku decided that being with Gippal wouldn't be such a bad idea. She figured that she could control herself and ignore his subliminal manipulation. She was slowly becoming more and more attached to him-finding herself bored half to death when he wasn't around and feeling more alive when he was with her. She would get detention at least once a week because she knew he would always be there.

They spent a lot of time together whether in school or not, leaving campus to get lunch or catching movies on the weekends. She still made time for Yuna, but with Tidus Yuna was just as busy.

"He's just so sweet to me," Yuna sighed. "He'll surprise me with a flower in my locker or dinner at a nice place. It's so romantic!" Rikku nodded and smiled along with Yuna. It had been a month or so since she and Tidus met and now they were dating like it had been many more months than that. Rikku was jealous of their stability. Gippal tended to be unpredictable, and Rikku found it hard to not get angry with him at times.

He wouldn't drop calling her princess, and sometimes she laughed and smiled up at him like he was the funniest boy in the world and other times she punched him in the shoulder and glared. It depended on the tone of voice he had when he used the nickname, she guessed.

They hadn't heard anymore from Vanessa/Katie and for that Rikku was thankful. Truthful to his words, Gippal wasn't acting like she was a trophy but rather a secret he wanted to keep from the rest of the world. He was protective of her like he was her brother…but also not? Rikku couldn't explain him.

That day left Rikku feeling annoyed. It was Friday and she had gotten detention without even trying-what was happening to her?-and was stuck at school for another hour. She had no doubt that Gippal would be there, as he was nearly every day, but…it was Friday. She had plans with Yuna that night.

She stepped into the familiar room and waved sheepishly to the teacher at the front. He frowned at her and narrowed his eyes. She quickly searched out the sleeping form of Gippal in the back row and made her way behind his chair. The soothing guitar of Tequila Moonlight drifted out of a hidden headphone as she examined his sleeping face. She smiled before poking his nose and ducking out of the way as he swung an arm where her body was just moments before.

"Jeez, Gippal, what did I do?" She asked playfully. He frowned at her.

"You woke me up, that's what," Rikku grinned and took a seat next to him. He stretched out and took a deep breath. "Mmm…you look hot today, princess." Rikku turned red and looked at him from under her eyelashes.

"Why thank you, you don't look half bad yourself," she giggled. She crossed her legs and drummed her fingers on the desk. He actually looked like he had just woken up after a long nap.

Rikku sighed. This boy stirred emotions in her that she didn't know what to make of. Everytime she saw him her eyes lit up and she would run toward him already smiling with a teasing remark on the tip of her tongue. He made her crazy.

"Y' know, you smile a lot for a girl who's gettin' detention this often. Where's your tough girl exterior, huh?" She turned to look at him.

"Where's your tough boy exterior?" She retorted. She crossed her arms and turned to the front with a scowl.

"See, that's what I'm talkin' about! We need more of that!" She continued to scowl until it turned into a playful pout and she was looking at him from the corners of her eyes. "Nope, that ruined it."

She opened her mouth to protest but he put a finger on her lips.

"Let me teach you. There's three rules: aloof, alone, and alarming. You gotta act like y' don't care, you have no one, and like you're dangerous." Rikku busted up laughing after a moment of silence.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Gippal gave her a dirty look.

"Well, if you ever are, y' know, in a situation where it calls for being a tough girl, you'll know how to pretend…'cause everyone knows you're really not, but it's a good skill to have. Pretendin', I mean."

"Whatever," Rikku replied.

"Well, try it. Be a tough girl, if you think you can," he teased. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist it if he challenged her.

"I can!" she shot back. "I just don't want to…"

"Yeah, uh huh. Prove you can, Rikku." It was turning into a game.

"Fine!"

She got up and walked to the other side of the classroom, leaning against the wall with dangerous eyes shooting coolly towards everybody in the classroom. The newcomers eyed her warily and looked away when she flung her acid stare towards them. She crossed her arms and glared out the window for a moment before turning to Gippal.

"Good enough?" she hissed. He smiled and inclined his head a bit.

"Come 'ere," He said lightly. She walked towards him slowly, hips swaying until she was arms-length away from him. He looked at her hips hungrily and turned his darkening gaze to her face. She smiled slightly as he reached out an arm and pulled her to him. "Smile, won't you?" She broke out her sunniest smile as he grinned back at her. They smiled sweetly at each other for a minute before Gippal stood up and gripped her face between his hands. Rikku was proud for keeping her breathing steady as she lost her smile and looked into his eyes.

He kissed her softly. Rikku became dizzy and she brought her arms up to his chest. He pulled back far too quickly and she was left…kind of empty. She frowned.

He backed away slowly as they stared at each other.