Chapter 8

"Don't worry about Rikku," said Paine determinedly as she and Baralai walked along the beach a little afterwards- well, actually, Baralai walked, Paine stormed. "She's been trying to set me up with someone ever since I met her!"

"I'm not worried," said Baralai, shrugging, but Paine wasn't done.

"When will she just give it up?!"

Feeling that it was better to just let her rant for a while, Baralai nodded silently.

"I mean," she said, petering out a little, "I don't think that I'm… you know, in love with you…"

"No, of course not, don't worry," said Baralai, smiling half-heartedly. "It's just Rikku and Gippal being stupid."

"Yeah… yeah, you're right. Thank you… nothing personal, Baralai, I'm just a little… I'm not a very romantic sort of person…"

"Relax, Paine! I know!"

"Okay…"

"Why don't you calm down a little and we can go and get some lunch?" said Baralai and Paine smiled a little.

"Yeah… sorry, I was just little thrown off by… uhm, yeah, sure… sounds good." She smiled determinedly, then bit her lip, "I'll go and see if anyone else wants to come."

Baralai looked a little put out, but nodded, "I'll meet you on the Celsius."

"See you in ten minutes."

-

"Lunch?" Nhadala repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, I could eat."

Suddenly Rikku popped out of nowhere, "two seconds, Nadi? Please?"

Paine shrugged and Nhadala nodded, "okay- just two seconds."

She left, walking a few metres away to speak with Rikku in a hushed voice.

"Don't go," Rikku whispered.

"Why not?"

"Because if nobody else goes, it'll be just her and Baralai!"

"You're not trying to push them together again, are you?" Nhadala sighed.

"Just a little!" said Rikku, making a tiny space with the thumb and forefinger of her right hand, her eyes taking on a pleading look as Nhadala groaned.

"Look, Nadi, I saw how she kissed him-"

"She kissed him?!"

"Well, me and Gippy kind of arranged it… but still!" said Rikku, "it looked so right! And she was smiling and blushing and… and then she sort of… tore away- looking scared… but it was there! It was there!"

"Calm down, Rikku," Nhadala sighed, relenting. "I'll stay."

"Great! Help me warn the others?"

"Whatever."

Nhadala straightened a little and walked back towards Paine, "look, I'm sorry but there's been a problem with my dress back at the store- Rikku's taking me there in the Fahrenheit, so you can still use Celsius. Again, I'm really sorry."

Paine shrugged easily, "I'll go ask Lulu then, bye."

"Have you warned Lulu?" asked Nhadala, watching him go.

"I'll message Gippal," said Rikku quickly and she whipped out her communicator, explaining to him quickly.

Gippal: I'm nearby- give me two minutes!

-

"Lunch?" said Lulu, "I'm sorry, Kimahri needs to go back to Gagazet for today on urgent Ronso business and he asked Wakka and I to come- we have to catch the ferry, uhm, right now actually. I have to go. Be good, Vidina- Brother, Buddy, don't do anything stupid."

"We won't," said Buddy.

"We're thuh babeeseeters!" said Brother happily and Buddy nodded beside him.

"Bye, then."

-

"Yuna?"

"Wedding plans! Wedding plans!" the girl fussed, and Paine left.

-

"I'm busy with the plans for the SphereScreen," Shinra explained, shrugging.

"Hows it coming?"

"It should take about another day… uhm, like, today. Bye!"

-

"Sorry- I'm making some adjustments to this damned monkey suit," said Cid, holding him tux up grumpily.

"They call it a penguin suit," said Tidus, rolling his eyes before adding, "I'm helping."

"I don't care what you call it!" Cid huffed, "it just ain't natural!"

Paine sighed and left.

-

"Lunch?" said Ormi- close to last resort. "Wish I could, but Barkeep wants to show me and Logos this hypello club-thing- we're catching a ride with Nhadala and Rikku- I pretty sure Dona and Le Blanc are going too."

"Have you seen Nooj?"

"I think he just went to see Yuna."

"Thanks, bye!"

-

"Any luck?" asked Baralai as Paine walked onto the airship, alone.

"None!" Paine huffed, "everyone is busy!"

"I guess it's just us then."

"Yeah, I guess," said Paine, shrugging, "just…" she paused a little, eyes widening slightly, "…uhm, us..."

"Is that a problem?" asked Baralai, giving her an odd look.

"No, no problem," said Paine.

"You're still thinking about that kiss, aren't you?"

"Just a little," Paine agreed.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know," said Paine, and she sighed, "it was just one of Rikku's silly games… wasn't it?"

"I thought so," said Baralai. "Did you… did you feel anything? You know, like Rikku said?"

"It's not fair that Rikku can just mess us up like this," said Paine, folding her arms across her chest irritably and subtly ignoring the question.

Baralai, however, was not fooled, "Paine?"

"It wasn't unpleasant," said Paine and she climbed into the driver's seat.

Baralai got into the pod-thing beside her and nodded slowly, "just a little…"

"Awkweird?" Paine suggested.

"No, not 'awkweird'," said Baralai, "just… different."

"I don't understand what you mean," said Paine, staring straight ahead as she started up the Celsius.

"I mean that… well, what you said exactly: it wasn't unpleasant."

"And if it were to happen again?"

"Wha?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering…"

"If there was any truth behind Rikku's words?"

"Yes."

"Do you think there is?"

"I don't know."

"Would you like there to be?"

Paine shook her head, "I'm so confused, I just don't know!"

"Rikku's made a mess of things, hasn't she?"

"Again…"

"Well, look, Paine, nothing has to change. I'm still me and you're still you- we can make things go back the way they were."

Paine smiled at the look on his face and nodded, "good… thankyou."

"So how about the wedding, huh?" said Baralai, grinning as he changed the subject.

"I swear," said Paine, "if they make me wear that dress in public, I'll die."

"It can't be that bad," said Baralai, laughing.

Paine prepared the airship for landing in Bevelle and raised an eyebrow, "it's terrible!"

"I don't believe you."

"Then don't," she said, "but you'll be surprised on Thursday."

"Four days until the wedding."

"Yuna's frantic," said Paine. "I'm learning to stay away from her or risk getting dragged into the preparations."

"It looks like everyone booked themselves up for the same reason."

"Poor Nhadala, she's gone to Luca to get her dress refitted or something."

"Ouch… well, if it helps, my suit isn't much better."

Getting out of her seat as the Celsius touched down, Paine laughed a little, "I can't wait to see."

"Meanie."

"Don't you forget it."

"So where do you want to go?"

Paine shrugged, "I don't mind."

"Then I'll choose," said Baralai, grinning evilly.

"On second thought, I will," said Paine quickly.

"Nope. Nope." Said Baralai, "you passed the decision onto me already. I'm choosing where we eat."