i suddenly realized i made a huge mistake on telling this story! it's alot harder telling this kind of story in first person mode when there's so many moments when you have to be in third person mode to understand! ARGH!!

what should i do?! i'm already 5 chapters in!!....oh well. might as well keep going on like this.

Enjoy!! (prepare for some rippal fluff)

Chapter 6 - A Pity Look

"I'm really sorry for the way I was behaving!" Shelinda repeated for the tenth time. I just smiled and patted her head.

"It's ok! It's totally understandable." I said, "I don't want you to get hurt anyways. It's best you avoid me during school."

"Are you sure?" Shelinda asked. "I just feel so guilty. After all, it was me who bumped into Tidus that day. I should've been the one to get the red notice."

"It's ok. Don't worry about it. I can handle them, because I'm Rikku - the tough machina." I said, pumping my fist.

It was nice talking to Shelinda again, and it was comforting to know she didn't abandoned me completely. I'm not alone in Luca Liminality anymore, as long as Shelinda will support me from behind the scenes, everything won't be so bad.

It was late at night, and we were walking where large posters were displayed along on sidewalk billboards. All of the posters where of the famous model that I admired from a long time.

"Oh, wow. She's pretty." Shelinda said, gazing at the pictures.

"It's Yunalesca, our senior." I replied. "She's very beautiful, huh?"

"Oh no!" Shelinda gasped.

"What?"

"It's one of F4." She pointed.

I followed where she pointed up ahead and there was Gippal, sitting on the bench and staring at Yunalesca's billboard as well. My heart started skipping, and I knew I wanted to approach him.

"Wait here, ok." I said to Shelinda, and slowly walked closer to Gippal.

I wasn't sure what to say at first. I didn't want to seem like I was a creep and that I've been watching him from afar. However, he didn't noticed me as I approached closer. His eye was trained on the billboard pictures.

Finally, I spoke. "What are you doing here?"

At first, he didn't look up.

"Oh," he mumbled. I knew I had to follow up with the conversation, but nothing was coming out my mouth. Finally, I remembered my research back at the shop.

"Ah, it's 8 hours." I said bluntly.

"Hmmm?"

"The time difference." I replied. "Between Luca and Bevelle...it's 8 hours."

"8 hours, huh?" He said, and just nodded and continued to gaze at the billboards.

"Oh, that's Yunalesca." I said, also staring at the pictures. "I heard she's a famous international model and she's also studying to be a summoner." I sighed, lost in my admiration for my senior. "I wish I could meet her."

I felt a sudden warm breath on my cheek. The moment I turned my head, I was staring at a single green eye. I didn't even heard him move while I was gazing at the boards. Gippal was leaning so close, I had to step back, but he continued to stare at me with that interesting look on his face.

"W-what-" I fumbled.

"You..." He spoke and brushed the side of my cheek.

I could have swore I felt steam coming from my ears.

"...have white powder on your face." He said.

I quickly wiped my face, feeling embarrased.

"Ah...that must have been the powdered donut...earlier." I recalled when I was at work.

"Donut?" He asked, as if he never heard of a donut. Then he stood up straight, giving me some space. "I see....later."

And he walked away.

"Are you ok?" Shelinda appeared, "What did he say?"

"Nothing. Just...said I had something on my face." I said, still at a daze.

I could still feel his warmth on my cheek...

Another day of school is another day of surviving torture. However, I can make it through this, because I secretly have Shelinda behind me. As long as I face my troubles, I don't need an excuse to quit.

I was facing my locker again, wondering what horrors would be waiting inside this time. Probably rats or cockroaches or something gooey just waiting to rain down on me. Finally, I burst my locker open, but nothing came out to surprise me. Everything was normal, and I felt a surge of relief.

I grabbed my things, closed my locker, and turned to see Shelinda walking past me. We secretly gave each other a smile, and I left for class as she went to open her locker. Everyone wasn't doing any weird attempts to embarrass me when I entered my classroom. It was as if they got bored of me...

"RED NOTICE!!" Someone yelled down the hall.

My heart sank.

"Shelinda of the junior year! She has a red notice!"

Everyone whooped and cheered as they ran out the class and hunted down my friend while I remained in the room, confused and angry. How could this be?! Why would they change targets?! Shelinda hasn't done anything wrong! Have F4 found out already about our friendship?!

Did Gippal ratted me out? Or did they spot Shelinda and I together?

I knew they were cornering her in the cafeteria, so I grabbed a janitor's broom I found and ran towards the cafe. They already started harassing her before I arrived.

"Shelinda!" I cried, shoving everyone aside and kneel down next to her.

She was soaking wet and then covered in chalk dust from the erasers to stick. She was in tears, trembling, and terrified. Tidus, Baralai, and Nooj was already there, watching from their comfortable couches and chairs. I stood up and glared at Tidus, who lazily stared back on his grand winged chair.

"What is this?!" I demanded. "You're suppose to be at war with me! I'm your target, not her!"

"It was you though." Tidus quickly replied with a cold stare.

"Huh?"

"You declare war on me." He gave an evil smirk. "And so you will get your war."

"Is this how you'll be?" I said, getting more frustrated. "You'll involved people who have nothing to do with this? That's unbelievable! You can't even fight fair. You're a coward!"

"How dare you say things to Tidus!" Someone yelled.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone throw a bottle of syrup at me. With the broom in my hand, I whacked the bottle away like a game of baseball. Everyone watched as the bottle bounced off the wall and landed - it's juice splattered all over the floor.

Including on Tidus' boot...

Everyone was completely silent. We all watched Tidus as he stared down at his ruined white boot. It was just a tiny dark stain that you can easily wipe off with a napkin, but to rich people, it was despicable. Finally, he gaze up at me with a fury in his eyes. I didn't want to shudder, but I knew I was in for it. He slowly got up and walked toward me until he was practically an arm length away. He just rolled his eyes.

"Lick it off." He ordered.

"....w-what?" I whispered. He glared at me again, and I suddenly felt small.

"I said...lick it off." He repeated.

It was so quiet, you could here the wind blowing outside the school. Then, someone started a chant.

"Lick it off. Lick it off. Lick it off!" The school jeered.

I was frozen for all could focus on was Tidus. His blue eyes just stared right into mine. I didn't know what his expression was but it looked...like a pity look, as if he was sorry. As if he wanted me to fight back, but everyone surrounding us was chanting and clapping. Shelinda was still crying on the floor, and I felt I had no other choice. I could stand up for myself and smack Tiduswith the broom in my hands, or I surrender and hope that my new friend won't be harmed again and this charade can finally end.

I slowly got down on my knees. Everyone laughed and clapped even faster. I stared at Tidus' boot and the syrup stain on it. I didn't want to do this! I didn't want show my weakness! I didn't want any of this!

"You were wrong." A clear voice rang out.

Everyone grew silent and moved aside, and I looked up and gasped. There stood Gippal, smiling as if the scene was nothing to him. I was speechless at such timing.

"It's 7 hours." He said, looking at me.

"...huh?" I mumbled.

"It's daylight saving time, so it's really 7 hours." He explained. "Maybe you should do more research."

And with that, he left the cafeteria. No body moved, and no one said a word. It was so awkward that even Tidus stomped away.

"Well, that's it everyone." Nooj sighed, following Tidus and Gippal. Baralai also left.

"Show's over." Baralai smiled at everyone.

Unbelievable...

well, i hope that shows alitte flare growing between tidus and rikku i know it doesn't seem like much, but they'll grow to like each other soon. *coughnextchaptercough*

lately, i've been meaning to update this story a whole lot faster, but i've been so fascinated by dramione fanfic stories, that i've nearly lost track of my own story. even my life! lol, just kidding.

as for the whole, daylight savings in spira?! well, i know it wouldn't really take 8 hours to get to luca to bevelle in the game. but if you think of it as if it was real...in walking terms...maybe it is 7 hours. lol!

tell me what you think!~!