Chapter 3

So, for the first time in a while, I woke up with a hangover that wasn't caused by Ice-Cream. I was beginning to remember why I'd limited myself to two beers up till now. Looking at the clock, I realized with horror how incredibly late/early/just not a good time it was. It was 2:00 P.M. and I was going to be late for my bake sale! Or at least, if it was still Thursday, March 18. I looked at my calendar and realized with relief that it was the middle of June. So, all was well.

Except for my tiny Yuna problem.

Groaning, I forced myself to stand up and slowly. I shuffled into my kitchen, where I made quick use of some Advil. For the second time in the past few days, I looked around my kitchen and almost cried. It was a mess! My life was a mess! And for more than one reason. Actually, there were like, FOUR reasons.

A) Yuna was asleep on my coach, 2) Wakka cheated on me, C) My kitchen was ruined, and my cake, D) Don't even get me stared on d...

Just as I was channeling my inner angst, I heard this little yawn from my living room.

You know, Yuna really reminds me of a dove sometimes. Like seriously, I have never before heard a yawn quite like that one.

Well, a dove and Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch.

So, once again, I had to face my problems. I ran into the living room just as Yuna was waking up and looking around.

"Huh? Where am I?" she asked. Oh, God. I knew what this meant. She was going to get all upset, and start whining, and then she'd become all clingy. I had a feeling this wasn't going to be fun.

"Ah...Yuna? You're at my house. Tidus. You've been here all night."

"I have?"

All of a sudden, Yuna's cheeks went really, really crimson as probably most of the blood in her body rushed to her face. She hung her head quickly and started fidgeting.

"So... Um..." she said. Because she seemed so confused, I decided I'd best make sure she knew what was going on. If she was having memory problems, I didn't want there to be too many mix-ups.

"We were trying to get revenge on Wakka, remember?" She still seemed a little disoriented. "At the club...? We got kind of drunk...?"

Yuna was quiet for awhile, but after about 30 seconds I noticed realization of the night's events dawning on her face, and she once again turned red.

"So..." she said, "Do you have anything for an insane headache?"

I swear to God, I have never seen anyone clean a kitchen faster than Yuna. It was truly an amazing site.

I got Yuna the medicine she needed for her headache, but she insisted on coming in the kitchen with me. Needless to say, she wasn't very impressed.

"Tidus, this is... Awful! Your kitchen's a mess."

"Yeah, I... I know." I was quite disappointed in my kitchen as it was, and Yuna was rubbing it in. I was not very happy. I was going to tell Yuna, but she did something that shocked me to the core, so I really just couldn't speak.

She started to clean. Yeah, and I mean really clean. She actually picked stuff up. She didn't shove it to the end of the counter, or hide it under something else. She cleaned!

She zipped around the room, tidying, and wiping things off, asking where this or that went. It was a big surprise for me. Within about one hour, my kitchen was really clean. It looked better than it ever had before.

"So," Yuna said when she'd finished, "What now?" I was still to shocked to speak. "No ideas? How about we go to my house to plan some more? It's... Better decorated."

Wait, what? Better decorated? Yuna rushed to the front door, leaving me to ponder what she'd just said.

"Oh, wait," she called back, giggling. "Maybe you should put on some clean clothes!"

"Huh?" I looked down. My clothes were... The same clothes I'd worn yesterday. Ew! When was the last time I showered? "Here's an idea, Yuna. You go to your house and get cleaned up, and I'll come over in a few minutes."

Yuna smiled. "That sounds good."

She opened the door and stepped out, closing it quietly behind her. I rushed upstairs to have a shower and change. That took me 8 minutes all together. It was most certainly the shortest shower I'd ever had. Which is odd, because I like taking really long showers.

I don't know why, though, but right then, I was more eager to get to Yuna's than to have a real long shower. For some reason, despite only being apart from her for a mere 8 minutes, I felt really awkward. Confused, you know? I guess it's because I'd been spending so much time with her lately.

I ran out the door and headed to Yuna's place. I was about five minutes away when I realized that Yuna was, after all, a girl. She wouldn't be dressed and ready! She was probably washing her hair. And no doubt singing while she was at it.

I sighed. Why did I even care? It wasn't like I was going to die within the next five seconds if I didn't see her... No, it wasn't! She said my house was poorly decorated! That... Oh, I could kill her. It's not that bad, really. I mean, yeah, Ice-Cream containers aren't exactly amazing decor, but at least my house wasn't hideous. Like some of those rooms they have on that... Trading spaces, or whatever. I have a hard time believing people don't sue those losers after seeing what they've done.

As I was walking, slow now, because I wasn't desperately wanting to see Yuna anymore, an awful realization struck me. Yuna's house was probably awful. No doubt it had pink carpets, and pink furniture in every room, with pink paintings hanging from the pink walls!

Oh, God, I had to escape.

I wasn't there yet, but I was sure that when I did get there, I would have to escape anyways, so it didn't really matter. I was desperately trying to form a plan when I found myself walking up Yuna's driveway, which was very long. I was beginning to wish I'd driven there. The outside of the house was...

Not pink, surprisingly. Actually, it was an extremely nice house. It was one of those old Victorian style houses, and yeah, it was nicely decorated. And big. It was really big.

Which surprised me. I always knew Yuna lived here, but I had never actually seen the house. I just hadn't taken the time to go up her huge driveway before. It was her parents' house. They'd died in a car accident and had left everything to Yuna. So I guess it was understandable that she still lived here. It just... Seemed like a lot of room for one person.

The house, I said, was big. That was an understatement. It was huge! It was three stories high. And really pretty, as I said before. But... Man, it was nice. I stood back and tilted my head upward, looking at the high vanes and beautiful, deep green shutters. As I was admiring the house windows, I got an excellent view of the decor on the front door.

When it swung open in my face.

"Tidus! You're here!"

It was Yuna, of course. The Advil I'd taken earlier had really begun taking effect, but it promptly wore off, and my head began to throb in pain again.

"Ow... Hi, Yuna.."I rubbed my head, plotting ways to kill the girl standing before me.

And you know what she did? I'll tell you. I was standing there, planning her death, and she giggled. I was outraged. How dare she?

"Well, are you coming in?"

I looked up, glaring into her (pretty) eyes.

"Fine,"I grunted.

I entered her house, and actually began feeling guilty. Although I had no reason to be... I hadn't been mean to her aloud...

The inside of the house, much like the outside, hadn't lived up to my pink expectations I'm afraid. It was also very nice.

"This is... A lot of room for one person."

Yuna's head shot up and she gave me a confused look. Oh, no. She was getting ideas again. No! I don't want to move in with you! Thankfully, she realized her mistake before embarrassing herself out loud.

"Oh... Yeah. I guess... Um, hey, you wait here. I'll get us something to drink." She laughed. "Non-alcoholic this time!"

"Okelie dokelie..."

Once again, Yuna gave me a confused look, but this time, she just laughed and headed into the kitchen.

I moved over to her sofa and sat down. I was in her sitting room. Which was nice...Of course. I looked around and noticed a tiny leather-bound book sitting on the coffee table. It was nice, but worn. Probably a few years old.

I looked to see if Yuna was coming and opened to a page in the middle.

May 30, 2001

May 30... 2001? This was from high school. Ha! Score! I'd found Yuna's high school diary!

The ending of the soccer tournament was today! We won, of course. Which isn't a surprise, really. We have Tidus and Wakka on our team, so there's no way we could lose! Not only are they great players, they work as a team so well. They're such good friends, they know what the other's doing before he does it!

Hm. It was true. We couldn't lose.

...I can't believe I was such good friends with that cheating jerk!

Tidus scored the winning goal! I got a really good picture... It was kind of funny, at the end of the game. The players were so hot, they all took their shirts off. The girls around me all started swooning over Tidus and Wakka's muscles... Not that I blame them...

Well, not on Tidus' count anyways. I don't know, Wakka's cute, too, I guess. But Tidus is way cuter...

What? I know it's true and all, but... why is Yuna saying this?

But I guess everyone already knows I feel that way... Well, everyone who pays any attention and has half a mind. Which apparently ISN'T Tidus. No matter how many hints I drop he just doesn't get it!

What is this all about? What hints?

And, wait? Everyone knows but me?

Huh?

I flipped back to an earlier page.

December 11, 2001

Christmas dance is coming up... Two days...

And I can't wait until the stupid thing's over and done with.

That's whatI can remember of that year, Yuna was crazy about dances. They were all she ever talked about. Especially the Christmas one. I can't remember having a single conversation with her in December where she didn't mention that stupid dance.

Seriously, it would suck even if I was going. Tidus is so stupid! The only thing I've talked to him about for the last two weeks is the dance and he still doesn't get that I want to go!

Oh... Oh, I get it now...

Shit.

Oh, well. I guess I shouldn't really expect so much from him. A man can't look good and be smart enough to get romance, right?

I was beginning to feel bad for Yuna. REAL bad. I wanted to know what happened to her that night, so I flipped a page.

And immediately felt quite bad. The page was blotched with tear stains... Stupid Yuna. If she'd asked, I would have gone with her! Well... Maybe. I guess if I'd felt as bad then as I do now I would've.

December 14, 2001

I HATE Tidus. I hope he dies... A little. I can't believe him! I asked him whether he was going to the dance and he said, "Nah. Dances are stupid... The only people who really want to go are dumb little girls with crushes... Half the time the guy doesn't even like them anyways..."

Yeah, I said that. So what! ...Right?

God, dumb little girls with crushes? Doesn't he care when someone likes him? Doesn't he care that I like him! Probably not. Maybe it's not the dances... Maybe it's just me... I mean, Tidus and I have always been friends, but what if he just... Doesn't like me as more than a friend? I guess... I guess I'll just have to forget him... Maybe.

Well, at this point I was really feeling guilty. I didn't know that Yuna... liked me. I always thought we were just friends. Yeah, I guess Yuna was always a... Slightly obsessive friend, but what's wrong with that?

I froze as I heard footsteps coming down the hall. Oh, crap. I flung the book down on the table, and leaned back casually.

Then noticed that the book was still opened. I reached forward and slammed it shut just as Yuna entered the room with two drinks in her hand.

"Here," she chirped, handing me one.

She hadn't noticed that I was touching the diary.

Yuna sat down next to me, searching the table for a place to set her drink. She flushed in embarrassment.

"Wow... I didn't realize the place was such a mess!"

She leaned over and began clearing off the table. After reading that diary, I decided to be nice.

"Oh... That's okay, Yunie..."

At the name 'Yunie' I saw her head shoot up. It had been her high school nickname. She shot me a fake glare and continued cleaning. As her hands passed over the diary, I saw her face go bright red.

"I wonder what this is doing in here..." she muttered. Then she turned to me, and said more loudly, "Just hold on a second."

She snatched up the diary and ran into another room. I could see her shoving the tiny book into a drawer. She came back in, smiling broadly.

"So... What's part 2 of our plan?" she asked, taking her seat beside me again. I noticed with great unease that she was sitting rather close. But, our plan was more important than Yuna's high school fantasies! I had to get revenge on Wakka!

"Hmm... I don't know," I replied. I said it very thoughtfully, for I was feeling quite thoughtful.

"Well," Yuna gushed, eager, "I think you should pretend to still like him... Throw a party and invite everyone..." She giggled. "Then we'll totally embarrass him in front of everyone!"

It seems Yuna's really been thinking about this.

"Yeah... Yeah, that could really work!" I slammed my fist into my other palm.

This was going to work. I would make it work... With a little help from Yuna, of course.

"So... How will we embarrass him?" I asked.

Yuna grinned. At that moment, I realized she had been thinking. Despite the fact that we were the only ones in the room, Yuna leaned over and whispered her plan into my ear.

"Yuna! You're a genius!"

And she was. In pure glee, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a hug. When I withdrew from the embrace, I saw a bright red blush lingering on her cheeks. Apparently the crush had lasted longer than high school.

"Well, um," she stuttered, "Who do we invite?"

"Oh... A bunch of people, I guess. The more people he's embarrassed in front of, the better."

Yuna smiled.

"Yeah! We can invite..." She began listing people...A lot of people. "Gippal and Rikku, of course... Wakka and Lulu would have to come... I'm sure Leblanc could make it... And of course, if Leblanc comes, Nooj is , Baralai... Yaibal can come... Clasko, Lucil, Elma... Who else?"

"Um..." Jeez, Yuna, I don't know. Isn't that enough? It's... 12 people. 12 people! That's not enough! "Oh, ah... We could invite... Brother... And Ormi, and, oh... That other guy..."

"Hmm? Logos?"

"Yeah, him. And Buddy can come."

"Right..."

"Well, we'll think of people as we go along! Let's start planning."

"It can be... Do you have a pool?"

"...Duh! It's huge! How could you miss it when you were at my house!"

Yuna grinned.

"I didn't."

Uh, oh. I don't like that look. I do like, however, my pool. I am not risking it.

"Oh, no... We are not having that party at my place."

"Come on, Tidus! It's the only way it'll work!"

Yuna pleaded at me with her eyes.

"Fine!" I finally gave in.

This could be a problem. I really don't want my pool ruined.

"Okay, and..." Yuna continued spitting out plans until the entire party was arranged. It was now 5 o' clock.

"Man, Yuna, I'm hungry!" My stomach let out a (tiny) growl.

Yuna giggled.

"So I can tell. Come on.."

We went to her kitchen and had dinner, still discussing who we could invite.

"What about..." Yuna bit her lip. She took a deep breath. "What about Shuyin and Lenne?"

I could feel the colour draining from my face. Shuyin was my twin brother, but we didn't talk anymore. We hadn't since Shuyin found out that I... Wasn't straight. Lenne's okay, I guess. But she's with Shuyin.

I wanted to protest, but the look on Yuna's face was so... Well. So. I couldn't do it. Lenne was Yuna's best friend, and I still felt guilty about the high school crush thing... So I could probably make up to her this way, right?

"Yeah... Sure. But you're inviting them."

Yuna's face lit up.

"THANK YOU!"

She looked so cute, so happy... Maybe... Maybe it wasn't guilt that had made me do it...

"Woah... Uh. No problem."

Yuna grinned. She was really cute.

No! It was just guilt... Just guilt.

"Okay! Let's start inviting people."

She grabbed a phone sitting on the counter and dialed Paine's number. While she made that call, I pulled out my cell and called Rikku and Gippal. I was pretty close to Rikku. She'd come.

Ring!

I hate rings. They suck.

Ring!

They just represent how long you have to wait for someone to get their lazy ass of the sofa.

Ring!

That's it. I give up.

"Hello?"

What?

"Oh! Hi... Gippal."

Crap. I didn't want to talk to him.

"Yeah... Tidus?"

"Um..." Drat. This was awkward. "...Yeah."

"Yo! Man, I haven't talked to you since, like, high school!"

Wow. This was unexpected. He must not have heard I'm... Gay.

"So..." he continued. I could almost hear him grinning on the other end. "How are things with-" He cleared his throat. "-Wakka?"

"Horrid. I hate him."

"I thought..."

"Yeah. Well, Wakka doesn't exactly know yet.. But..." Gippal was a good friend of mine. Always had been if he was still talking to me. I could tell him. I looked across the table at Yuna, now talking to Leblanc. "I think I like someone else."

Gippal let out a strangled sound, and I almost repeated it myself wondering what I'd been talking about. Did I like someone else? Why had I said that?

"Uh... Dude? I..."

"Ew, Gippal," I interrupted. "Not you. Anyways... Wakka cheated on me. Still thinks we're going out... He doesn't know that I know."

"Oh... Uh, sorry?"

"Nope. Don't tell anyone, though. I have a little... Revenge planned. Which is what I called about! I'm having a party... Can you and Rikku come?"

"When?"

I gave Gippal the date, said it was at my place and everything was confirmed.

I hung up and Yuna gave me an accusing glare.

"What?" I had done nothing wrong. This girl was so uptight... Well, not really. She wasn't uptight at all.

"I've invited Paine, Leblanc, Baralai, and Nooj... You've gotten Gippal and Rikku in that time."

So? I was having a moment!

"Gippal and I haven't talked in a while! We were having an important conversation!"

"So I heard." Yuna's face became sad all of a sudden. "So... Who is this other person you like?"

"None of your business," I joked, grinning. I picked up my phone, and dialed Buddy's number. "We have calls to make, Yuna."

She glared at me, but picked up her phone and called Brother.

"Hello?"

"Buddy, it's Tidus."

"Tidus? I haven't spoken to you in a while."

"Yeah... Listen, Yuna and I-" Why did I say that? It was really just my party... Not Yuna's... People would think we were together if I kept saying 'Yuna and I.' Hm... Yuna and I. Didn't sound too bad. Er... What am I saying? "-are throwing a party at my place... kinda like a... 'high school reunion' type deal. It's tomorrow, Saturday. You have to come... At 6:00. Kay? Kay!"

"What? Um... Can I bring someone?"

"Huh? Who?"

"A... Female friend of mine."

Buddy has a... 'female friend?' Oh, this would be good.

"Of course you can... Can't wait to meet her."

Buddy laughed.

"You already have. See ya tomorrow, Tidus!"

"Yeah... Later."

Wow. I was surprised that so many people were still really cool about talking to me. I mean, people like me weren't usually... So well respected.

Well, Yuna and I called around, and soon we had about thirty people coming. My pool area could fit quite a few more, though. It was, as I said, huge.

"Well, I know a few other people that can come. I mean, Isaaru, and Maroda.." Yuna she looked straight at me. "But first we're calling Shuyin."

"What? YOU'RE calling Shuyin. I said I wasn't going to!"

"You don't need to talk to him!" Yuna sighed. "Just pick up another line and listen!"

"Wha-"

"Go!"

I stood up slowly and walked to the hallway. Picking up the phone, I tried to twist it at an angle where my breathing wouldn't be heard.

Ring!

I was beginning to hate those things more than ever.

"Hello?"

Oh, man, it was actually Shuyin. I was hoping Lenne would answer.

"Shuyin! It's Yuna..."

"Hey, Yuna."

"Yeah, listen..." I heard Yuna taking a deep breath. "There's a party I want you to come to... I'm throwing it with a friend... Tidus."

Shuyin's end was silent for quite some time.

"I... Don't know, Yuna..."

"Shuyin! He's your brother; your twin! You have to come!"

"Yeah, well... Tidus and I aren't very close anymore..."

Yuna sighed.

"I know... But I also know that it would mean a lot to him if you came." Pft. Yeah. A lot of awkwardness. "And it would mean a lot to me if Lenne came."

That was probably true.

"Yuna, I bet you Tidus would care more if Wakka came than if I came."

"That's unfair."

"No, it's not. Tidus totally forgot about me. He likes Wakka more."

Shuyin actually sounded... Really... Sad. But I didn't forget him! He refused to talk to me!

"He doesn't like Wakka more, and he didn't forget you! You refused to talk to him!"

Go, Yuna!

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

Wow. I didn't know Yuna was so... Passionate about this.

"Well... Tidus doesn't care anyways..."

"Shuyin," Yuna's voice began to break. "Just, come, please?"

Shuyin was quiet for a really long time.

"Fine."

Yuna told Shuyin when the party was, where it was, and finally they hung up.

I trudged back into the kitchen, thinking.

"He's coming, at least. You can talk to him there."

Despite the weird feelings inside me, I smiled at her. I guess it was mostly because all of those mixed-up feelings weren't towards Shuyin; some were for her– I didn't want to let her down.

So, I smiled.

Apparently, she didn't buy it. She sat down beside me and said everything will turn out fine. Then she did something... Unexpected.

She kissed me. It was really... Awkward afterwards. She pulled her lips away from mine and said we had to keep planning the party.

Her cheeks were...Bright red, and if I hadn't known better, I might have said it was really cute.