V Day Chapter 2
Author note: Sorry about not updating – it's busy what with SATs and everything. But here's chapter two, and thanks for all your comments! I appreciate it!
Paine had never gotten anything for Valentine's Day before. Anything proper, that was. The year before this was her year with the Gullwings. The whole lot of them had got her a card with a huge moogle on the front to try and cheer her out of one of her recent bad moods. It didn't work, surprisingly enough. She had put it, standing upright, on Brother's pillow that night to see his reaction – which had been hilarious, as the drawing of the moogle was frightening to look at anytime of the day, let alone first thing in the morning.
The time between the Gullwings and the Crimson Squad was spent on her own, so it was no surprise she hadn't gotten anything then.
All of her Crimson Squad team – lead by Gippal – had got her a card with a huge chocobo on the front to try and cheer her out of one of her recent bad moods. Again, it hadn't worked. She'd made the card into a viciously sharp paper aeroplane and shot it with stunning accuracy at Gippal's head.
Come to think of it, she was almost positive the two cards were made by the same company. The chocobo was quite freaky looking too.
Those were the only two cards Paine had ever got for Valentine's Day. She knew she was intimidating, but for 18 years, two cards was a total failure. It just went to prove that she was a reject in romance. No wonder she was always in a foul mood on Valentine's.
As she sat down at her table with her coffee, she remembered what she had set the alarm for.
It had been a week ago. Gippal never visited her. Not usually, unless he wanted money or part-time security or something. She'd been stunned when she heard what he wanted.
"A babysitter?!"
"Yeah!" he'd grinned like the idiot that he was. "I need you to keep Rikku out of the way on Valentine's Day so I can set everything up perfect!"
She'd pointed out to him that he never remembered anything. She'd asked why Valentine's Day was any different. And, if she remembered right, she had asked why he had come to ask for this particular favour at 3am on a Tuesday night (Wednesday morning.)
He had done that stupid grinning thing again, like he was so proud of himself, and announced proudly that he'd remembered "so I didn't want to forget again, did I? Rushed over, whilst it was still in my head!"
Paine was too tired to think about when exactly he must have set off and how long he had been travelling just to ask for this particular favour. Gippal was also giving her a headache with his silly
'asking for a favour' grin (she'd realised why his face had been stuck like that), so she told him she'd take care of it, just to get him off her doorstep. Although now, it didn't seem like it had been such a smart plan.
She was debating whether to contact him on the commsphere and act ill or whether to tough it out with Rikku when the post fell onto the mat by the door. (Like Paine would really have a welcome mat).
She scooped it up and flicked through it. Bill, bill, junk mail, sponsors, junk mail, bill –
There was a white envelope in the pile. No address, no stamp. Just 'Paine', written with one of those calligraphy brushes.
She left the the other letters on the table. She could pay bills later. This was a lot more important.
She yanked open a drawer, pulled out a kitchen knife and sliced open the envelope.
It was a simple white card with a red heart shape stuck onto the bottom corner. She opened it up. Then she closed it, and nearly ripped it apart.
What the hell was the point in sending a Valentine's card if you didn't even sign it?