I watch you spin around in your highest heels
you are the best one, of the best ones
we all look like we feel.

You have stolen my…
you have stolen my heart

Stolen- Dashboard Confessionals

July 25th, 4020

Gippal

For the first time we both arrive at therapy on time, early even. The lobby of Dr. Schwartz's office is cold, but it looks like she's gone a little overboard trying to make it more pleasant. There are a lot of plants in here, one hanging above our heads, on the receptionist's desk, in the corner, by the door. I was surprised to find that they were real, I never really pinned Anne as the nurturing type. The receptionist must be the one responsible; I glance over to his position behind the small cherry desk, reading an issue of Men's Health, I'm strangely annoyed by all of his piercings.

I scan the cover, it's a new issue. The captain of the Luca Goers stares at me from the cover. Tidus would hate that. I keep my eyes occupied, looking at all the details around the room until my gaze rests on the unraveling stitching of Rikku's old sneakers. Why does she keep those stupid things when she has hundreds of pairs of expensive, really expensive heels? I guess they suit her, at least as much as they ever did.

She pretends not to see me looking at her, chewing on her bottom lip with her eyes purposely pointed forward at the sign on the door. I'm nervous too; I don't know what to say to her. But I don't want to 'break up'. "Rikku—"

The door to Anne's office opens and Rikku stands up from the bench immediately. Her eyes follow the small girl that leaves the room and then swing over to our therapist. Rikku walks ahead of me into the office.

I follow behind, I remind myself that I'm lucky she even agreed to come to after everything. I wonder if she even intends to listen to me or if it is another one of her games. Does Rikku think this is the only way to get me to listen to her?

We take our familiar positions. I don't feel like joking today, so I give Rikku her space and strictly stick to my side of the couch. I think Anne notices this, her throat emits a low 'hmm', and she crosses her legs. "Who would like to begin our session today?" she asks, providing us each with an uncomfortable stare as neither Rikku nor I offer, "Well. This is different."

"I don't know if this is working." Rikku offers. She holds her arms across the chest, like she's cold.

"It's not? Everything seemed to be improving before I left for Kilika. Have the two of you been keeping up with your practices?" We avoid her question, "It's important for you to take what we talk about home."

I turn to the window, thin slices of light peering through the blinds. Is Rikku going to tell her that she moved out? Or is she going to find another way to blame this all on me? 'You said you were done trying', I remind myself guiltily.

"We have trust problems." I register Rikku's voice. I trust her. She doesn't trust me, that's the problem. Her problem. "He'll go and talk to other women about things that he should be bringing up with me. I tried to talk to him about this, I brought it straight to his attention and you know what he said?"

"I'm done trying." The words echo in my head again. I want to spit back that she shouldn't have been spying on me, or that she ran straight to her friends to talk about the fight. I want to poke a finger right in her face and remind her that I tried to talk at Yuna's birthday, that I was there and more than willing to apologize if she would have let me.

"What's your take on the situation?" Anne addresses me with another of her unreadable stares. I use to find this woman attractive, in a naughty librarian kind of way.

"No comment."

"That's not even an acceptable response." Rikku hits me, "You're not even trying!"

Remaining calm, I glance sideways at her heated cheeks. "I know you're upset about Paine. But what if I react like that every time you wonder off with Tidus…"

"Tidus is dating—"

"No dispute." I interrupt. "Baralai is my best friend, right? What's the difference, where did I cross the line?"

"I didn't know you smoked." She rapidly changes the topic, "Another lie, right Miss. Shwartz?"

The woman stares at us both, and then turns to her notepad. "I suggest you move back home Mrs. Csedr1, otherwise there is no point wasting my time."

Yuna

Maybe if I take the freeway I can cut back on some travel time, I scheme while waiting to be interviewed. I'm not even sure if Tidus is ready, he could still be at the gym, what if the coaches kept him late? Braska said he'd send the limo for seven forty-five, but it will wait, won't it? I'll need time to get ready. I woke up with what felts like an onset of the flu that came and went all afternoon, leaving me a little worse for wear. I wish I could have spent all day in bed. I think, cursing my heels and the tight waistband of the grey pencil skirt of my one good suit.

I straighten my back, and run my palms down the front folds of my blouse. Am I sweating? Horrified, I realize that I am. I put my blazer back on, despite the lack of air-conditioning. I like this place. I look around the small office, not flashy or pretentious, a large stack of haphazard papers spread all over the small metal desk, the wall is decorated with posters and pictures of the kids that have filtered through the system. There's a small frame on the desk, I turn it to look at the figure, a familiar man with dark hair letting a small girl ride on his shoulders.

"That's my sister…" I turn around to find the man from the picture staring back at me. Where do I know him from?

"Hello, I'm Yuna." I stand up, offering my hand and momentarily forgetting my clammy palms.

"Kory." He gestures for me to sit down before circling the desk, his green eyes connecting with mine, "I remember you… that night at Faction, right? It must be fate." He remarks offhandedly.

I blush, a little uncomfortable with his comment. I didn't click when he first walked in but I can remember him now, though I was occupied with other things that night. I smile.

"So why do you want to work at the youth center, Yuna?"

*

Tidus

"Stay…" I warn my cowlick, using my pinky to fold it back in place. I keep it pinned to the spot as I search through the bathroom cabinet, unpleasantly surprised that my stuff has disappeared. Rikku, I think, looking through the cosmetics and facial products. Yuna's not this high-maintenance, and if she was, she'd hide it from me. Having female roommates. I can't find my cologne and it's time to play Romeo.

Time to face Capulet, impress the old lord so he won't object to me courting his only daughter. Oh Juliet, where are you? My phone hasn't made a sound since this morning, and I have a feeling getting ready won't be a matter of just throwing on her outfit. What a dress… I examine it, spilling out in a half-open garment bag hanging from the closet door. I don't think this is what Yuna expected when Rikku promised to make her something special. I'll have to remember to thank her later.

I pick out a black game-day suit with a matching black shirt and my only pale-yellowish neck-tie. My pants are a little snug, but I haven't done a press junket in a while, and I probably haven't worn this suit since rookie-season. I look sharp though, with my hair slicked back and fancy get up, even if I'm not really feeling it. Last I recall, Braska didn't want Yuna having anything to do with me, I was bad for her studies, bad for her reputation, a bad influence, a bad seed, but a good thing for the Zanarkand's sports-based economy. I bet he'd like to pretend I'd never seen him at any games.

I wonder what he'll think now that we're going together; I pause looking over my knot in my tie. I loosen and slip it around my neck, under the collar of my shirt, adjusting it until it sits straight. It's not like she'll leave me if he doesn't approve, she thinks she loves me, right? I can't speak for her, but that's not something I'd ever throw around. It means something. What, I'm not sure. That's the problem, 'I love you' is only three words and only the stigma is symbolic.2 Anyone can say three words.

But, I know she thinks she means it. As much as I had wanted to take my time in the beginning, to warm into getting serious and to keep my feet on the firm and straight track, I'm tripping. Lines are blurring and I'm not sure how to keep myself from losing restraint. When we were just friends, not considering her was a problem… but now it's like, well… she's factored into everything. The way things are with Shuyin right now… sometimes it feels like Yuna's the only person I have.

She walks into the room, brushing her hair back out of her face and falling down onto the bed. Waves of guilt and relief wash over me. Shuyin can think what he wants, that doesn't mean it's true.

She opens her eyes, "Hey."

"Tired?"

"Exhausted." She replies, kicking off her left heel with the toe of her right shoe, and vice versa. She closes her eyes again, and I hate to be the one to remind her that we're late. "I know… I wish this bed weren't so comfy so I could worry more about it."

"If you don't want to go we could always order some food, pay-per-view, we could stay in and…" Her eyes shoot open.

"You're not getting out of this."

"You know Braska will blame me if we're late."

She gets off the bed and begins pushing me towards the door, "I'll take full responsibility. Give me… fourty-five minutes. Alright?"

I walk into the kitchen, I'm not hungry but I don't know what else to do so I make myself a sandwich that I won't eat, and pour myself a cold glass of water just so I can keep my hands busy and my throat wet. I've never known a woman to take less than a solid hour getting ready for these things. Yuna surprises me, taking less time than she allotted.

She took out the braids Rikku styled last night when her hair was wet, loose strands frame her face where it's not pinned back in tight curls. The dress is long with a loose skirt, a tight bodice and an empire cut waistline. She worries her bottom lip, as if there's any question in my mind how amazing she looks right now. But I know I have to tell her because these are the things women worry about. I tell her she's beautiful so she feels more confident.

*

Yuna grabs my hand as we walk up the grand staircase of Mangus Memorial Hall. When she squeezes I don't know who it's meant to reassure. We're both nervous, she's having a hard time walking in her shoes and the steps seem to go on forever. From every wall I can see my reflection, the cowlick that decided not to behave after all. I don't really belong here, here where the men are clean-cut and never loosen their ties. I already feel like I'm choking.

"Our table's over there." She says, taking my arm and turning me in the direction of her father. I follow her and try not to drag my feet. I know this is an impression already biased.

Braska stands to reach out to his daughter with a formal embrace, and holds out his hand to meet mine. I meet his gaze and offer my hand in return. We all sit, the remaining seats unfilled. I look over to the open-bar, my fingers twitching from their place on my bouncing knee.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Tidus?"

"Yes, sir." I reply.

His eyes flicker over us with slight amusement, "Sir? How interesting."

I look over to Yuna. Did I say something wrong, or just too different? She looks over to her father, "Have you been watching the sphere lately?"

He chuckles, "No, no… I hardly have the time, though talk at the water-cooler has been favorable. Aren't the Abes doing well this year? I heard your brother made assistant."

"Tidus actually…" Yuna hesitates, "Tidus is an assistant. He's an amazing left field."

"Is that right?" Braska adjusts his position. "Your father must be so proud."

I resist the urge to correct him. This is Braska's territory, next time he uses the presidential box at the sphere I'll be sure to send him a drink.

"I'm proud of him…" Yuna's voice is quiet, she turns to me, "You know you're amazing when you play."

"I suppose we all have our skill sets." Braska replies and rises suddenly. I look up to the new face of his companion with cold shock. Yuna grabs my hand and pulls me up into a standing position. I wasn't expecting this; I should have been expecting this. I can't help notice the way his date looks at Yuna, her gaze set as a peculiar slant as she inspects my girlfriend.

She plays with a chain around her neck and then lets it settle on her chest, exposed by the deep v-cut of her crimson silk dress."I wouldn't suppose you'd be Yuna, would you?" She sits down next to Seymour who begins a conversation with Braska. Leaning up against the table, she examines Yuna carefully, "My name is Eliza, I've heard so much about you."

"You work with my father?" Yuna asks, and the woman laughs airily.

She turns towards her date, placing a hand on his shoulder. He doesn't acknowledge her. "No, no… from Seymour, of course."

Yuna

Nausea crept up on me suddenly and I made my way somewhat rudely to the washroom3. I stand in front of the mirror with a sweat breaking through my foundation. My head and stomach reel with the threat of sickness. My shoulders lurch forward and I gag, throwing myself into the nearest bathroom stall before dry heaves engulf my chest. It comes in a burning stream; I can feel it in my nose.

A washroom attendant assists me out of the stall. There are little baskets filled with mouthwash and lotions, fancy perfumes that assault my sensitive stomach are lined up on silver trays beside the sinks. Though the woman is helping me, I feel as though she thinks I've done this to myself. I thank her but try to clean up quickly on my own.

I hesitate when I consider leaving the washroom, a mild panic has settled in my chest. I can survive this; he's only a man, after all. He can't touch me here. I feel like I've seen something that Seymour tries to hide. A part of him that is fully realized and completely dangerous.

Unsteady on my feet I leave the room. I jump when I see Tidus who waits on a bench beside the payphones. I had half expected Seymour to follow me here with his slick grin and cold stare. I lower myself next to him. "We should leave after the speeches."

"Did you know Seymour would be here?"

I shake my head, I can understand why he'd be upset. "It's not that. I didn't think so, but…"

"You're not feeling well?" he places the back of his hand against my temple. "You're burning up."

"I'm sorry… I made you get all dressed up and now—"

"It's okay." he laughs and I think it's because Tidus never really wanted to come, and certainly not when forced to be civil in this situation; I know he'd like nothing more than to deck Seymour. I understand now that it wasn't only jealousy that effected Tidus' opinion of Seymour, I admit that at the time I wanted Tidus to be wrong; I wanted someone to care about me. "I don't mind. Are you sure you want to stay for the speeches?"

"It would be rude to…" I am distracted by the threatening turn of my stomach, "—Leave so early. He would think that …"

"Yuna—" Tidus tries to object.

"We'll stay." I reply, bracing myself on his shoulder and standing up. "Just as long as we have to."

"As soon as you want to leave I can go and get us a cab. You know that you can tell me if they make you uncomfortable."

"Who?" I ask, gathering my head. I think need to run back into the room and grab an Advil. I probably look awful; I hardly took enough time to get ready, I don't need this right now.

"Seymour and that girl he brought, she looks just like you…" he glowers, "It's uncanny."

"Excuse me." I don't mean to offend him but it's as if the room is tilting, everything aches. I move past Tidus and walk back into the washroom to look for a bottle of pills. I take two with a Dixie cup of tap-water and swallow them whole. It will only take an hour, two at most before we can leave.

Tidus is still waiting for me outside the washroom, standing with his hands deep into his pockets "Yevon Yuna…" he grabs my arm, "I think I should take you to see a doctor."

"I didn't get enough sleep last night...but I'll be fine," I tell him. "Let's go back to the table, okay?"

He follows me but I think he's upset. If we left now my father would be offended, and… Seymour would think it was because of him. I think he'd get satisfaction seeing me like this. So far he's completely disregarded my presence but his date— Eliza won't stop smiling at me.

"It must have been nice to grow up with such an influential father." Eliza begins once we resettle at the table. She sips casually on her drink. "Braska has made so much headroom for the Al Behd and the Guado cultures in this state; I think that there's been a lot more acceptances in Zanarkand this term. Right, Seymour?" When he doesn't reply she continues without seeming to mind. "You're half Al Behd, aren't you? I would guess as much from your coloring."

"Her mother is Al Behd." Tidus says, my father tenses. "I don't know if there is so much prejudice these days. I like to think that we can all get along."

"And isn't that a slightly daft observation?" Seymour turns slowly away from my father, an indication that he's been listening all along. "Yuna, as someone in a situation similar to my own, would you disagree?"

So now he wants to talk to me. "I don't know that I've encountered prejudice…"

"Of course you do." He retaliates. "Are you saying you were never teased because of your heritage?"

I look to my father and over into steel eyes, "By children, but..."

"Children learn from their parents, Yuna." He leans back into his chair, and his attention shifts towards Tidus, "A perfect example, You're father was at one point in time the captain of the Abes, and mine a politician… It's curious, the theory of nature versus nurture, I wonder how far you'll follow in Jecht's footsteps."

"I wonder." Tidus bites out, realizes his temper and loosens his shoulders, "He was an exceptional blitzball player."

"He'll surpass Jecht in Blitzball." Eliza says to Seymour, clearly a fan. "What was your average last season, three points a game? That's more than impressive."

"Is that right?" Braska asks, more interested in his glass of champagne. "That is something..."

"Two-point-three, actually." Tidus replies to my father. "Three sounds like a goal for this year."

"More than manageable for you, I'm sure." Eliza cajoles him. A small girl in uniform pushes a tray towards our table. Once we finish the food there will be speeches, and then Tidus and I can leave before the dance.

She lays each plate in front of us, "Chicken cordon blue, in a white-wine and cheese sauce, asparagus and a cup of __ soup." She bows to my father, "Enjoy your meal. Sir."

Braska nods her away and picks up his utensils. He takes his first taste, and around the table the others follow suit. I hesitate, smoothing the folds in the table cloth under the palm of my hand and then reach forward for my sweating glass of water and let it cool my throat. . I don't know if I can handle eating anything right now, I don't want to risk making myself sick again.

I pull the food around on my plate, it's tempting, and I will not deny that I am hungry. I swallow emptily and put down my fork to watch as the others eat. Silenced by the food and wine conversation has quieted to a minimum around the room. "Are you enjoying your meal?" I ask Tidus who lowers his gaze to my plate.

He swallows. "Top notch."4

"The chicken is a little dry." My father disagrees, and Seymour nods his head in response to Braska's observation.

"It's nothing to compare your daughters cooking to, Sir." Tidus replies.

"She learnt well from her mother." Braska replies coolly. "You should be coming over to my estate for dinner more often. A home cooked meal now and then is always appreciated."

Absentmindedly I place a bite of food to my lips and lower it back to the plate. "Yes."I reply though I have no intention of visiting Braska at his home. He has a full staff and he has his cook to keep him company.5

I excuse myself from the table again because I don't feel quite right. There is a place to find fresh air to the left of the podium, grand doors that lead to a balcony that wraps around the building. The landing is populated with lone individuals, milling about with their glasses of champagne, singles and couples all either lonely or otherwise occupied. Located so near to the ocean, the air is salty and a welcome freshness.

"It's a little chilly out." I turn at once, surprised by the unwelcome follower. Eliza presses her fingers around an oval pendant on her necklace. A locket, I think. She tilts her heart-shaped face up to the sky, "For this time of year, anyway. Aren't you cold, Yuna?"

"I'm fine, thank you." I say to her, cautious. "Did you come here to look out at the stars?"

"I wanted to find you." She replies, "It was so curious, to see you in person. Entirely shocking, I would think."

"Excuse me?"

"I already knew we would look alike, of course." She takes a step towards me, and I brace my hand on the cold metal railing. "But…

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand just what you're—"

"No I guess you might not." She replies sharply and clears her throat. "Never mind that, anyway. Seymour would like to speak with you in private, would that be alright?"

I have a feeling that she doesn't want to be here. Eliza is more angular and sharper featured than I am, but I wonder if our similarities motivated Seymour to choose her for his companion. Is he worried now that I might go to my father? That I could be a threat to his career, or is it something else entirely? The question is can I talk to him? "I don't think that's a good idea, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me." She moves to rest her back against the railing, "It's none of my concern. I just thought you should know."

"What is it that he wants to say?" I ask.

"I'm just a messenger." She replies and then casts off her saddened disposition. "But either way I'd think you'd like your things back? Wouldn't you, Yuna?"

"My things." The articles I left back at the apartment, some clothes, some cosmetics… are easily replaceable. But I can't pretend I'm not curious, nervous maybe, about what might be on his mind. "I don't need my anything. If he wants… he can just get rid of it all."

"I don't think he will." She says quietly, looking down at her hands then shallowly into my eyes. In nearly a whisper Eliza asks, "I just can't understand what it is about you."

What does she mean? I don't ask because Eliza turns her back to me and slowly walks off the deck. My heart beats at a successively increasing pressure as she leaves, I shouldn't panic; everything will be alright. Everything will be fine. But, what could Seymour want with me now? It was clear our relationship had everything to do with my father and an unreciprocated attraction he held for me. I don't want or need an apology.

"I want to forget it ever happened." I say aloud though there is no one around me to listen. The balcony is quieter now the other patrons have filed back into the auditorium room. If the speeches have begun, I should make my way back as well. Tidus will not appreciate have being left behind with my father and ex-boyfriend.

The keynote speaker has already taken the podium; I'm not surprised to see Sir Auron, in his haphazard suit. I pause at the gate and listen for a spell. "To Braska…a great.." his words drift in and out, unprepared. I feel sympathy as he stumbles upon his tongue. Sir. Auron has been my father's long time guardian… a different breed of man and yet they found a companionship I could never quite understand. Maybe in Braska's youth he had been different. He had even been friends with Jecht.

Before the next speaker I retake my seat at the table. My father sits with his chair turned towards the stage, a quiet smile playing on his lips. Tidus looks uncomfortable. He's trying too hard; I think my father might prefer him as a smart-ass. It's really his father who Braska finds unfavorable. Although I've seen team pictures of Jecht, Braska, and Auron in high school, it was hard to believe my father had ever played blitzball.

"Thanks for that." Tidus whispers in my ear, covering with a kiss on the cheek. I adjust the folds of my skirt as I sit down.

I mouth, "I'm sorry." and he shakes his head shortly at me.

Seymour and Eliza have both left the table, I don't know where she went after we talked, and he is up by the stage, leaning against the wall. When He catches me looking at him the color rises to my neck and cheeks. I chance a look back and see him smirking, with his gaze locked down on his blazer.

I feel… angry. Angry that he's here and that he's so close with my father. I'm angry that Braska can't feel this way about Tidus, the one person that I desperately want him to approve of. I lace my fingers with Tidus', and pull him close into me so I can rest my head on his shoulder. He lets go of my hand and places his arm around my back.

It's Seymour's turn to speak. He looks a lot more at home up at the podium then Auron had. He leans his elbows on the wooden stand, and with complete admiration directs his attention to my father. "It is with a great sadness and respect that we gather here today to celebrate the career and the retirement of—"

When Seymour kissed me his lips were always cold, and his hands, his voice, his intentions. I can hardly bear to hear his voice. I would like to leave now. Right away before he gets back to the table. I keep thinking about the nails on his hands, his teeth, all of his calcium deposits and the way they would dig into my skin. Somehow not even having Tidus here helps me feel safe.

I grab his knee under the table, and realize it's been shaking. He turns over to me and away from Seymour. "You really don't look so hot." He says in a small voice that my father doesn't notice.

"That's not exactly what a girl wants to hear."

He reaches forward and tugs on a piece of my hair, "You know what I mean… are you okay?"

I shake my head. My father tears his eyes away from the stage reluctantly, "What's wrong?"

"She's not feeling well." Tidus says for me, "I'm sorry sir, but if you wouldn't mind I think she needs some rest."

Applause surrounds us as Seymour finishes his speech. My father takes a short drink from his glass and adjusts his tie, "Stay a moment, will you?" Braska asks before leaving the table to say his piece.

My head starts to swim again; I grab the edge of the table when my vision starts to tunnel. "Tidus…"

Tidus

Yuna falls limply into my chest. I grab her shoulders and see that she's lost consciousness.

"Lay her on the floor." A voice commands from behind me. He moves the chairs and I place her onto the ground, a group of people have already gathered around us. As reluctant as I am to accept Seymour's help I back off and let him listen to her.

"She said she hasn't been feeling well." I tell him. I don't know what to do, I feel helpless. I hold onto her hand as Seymour dips a napkin into a water glass with ice and then lays it across her forehead. He tilts her head to the side, her cheek facing up. I know it's not the time to object but my teeth grind every time he touches her.

"There's something going around…" I hear a woman behind me say to her companion, "Poor girl."

"— That's Senate Braska's daughter."

The first sign of consciousness is when her eyes begin to flutter. She withdraws her hand from mine to bring it to her face, and slowly lets her eyes open.

"You need to stay down." Seymour says to her, "Don't try to sit up too quickly."

She blinks and looks up at me.

"Hey…" I take her hand again, "How do you feel?"

She shakes her head, "Tidus…"

"Seymour, will you go hail a cab?" Her father asks him once he reaches the scene. "Tidus, you'll take her to the clinic and make sure every thing's in order."

"Yes." I reply, his almost indifferent tone startles me. Braska handles all things as business affairs. I wonder if he ever took care of her skinned knees. Maybe our fathers were more alike than I thought. I take the wet cloth from her forehead, and place it on top of the table. I help Yuna sit up and rest in a chair. The people file back into their seats and Braska walks back to the podium without another word.

"Drink some water." I tell Yuna, offering her my glass, "You might be dehydrated."

She takes it from my hands, drinks and then holds it in front of herself, inspecting the condensation on the outside of the glass. "Can we just go home?" She asks, looking up at me.

I shake my head, "We're just going to see if you're alright. It won't take long."

She tells me that she's tired and that she'll be fine. She just wants to go home. I say that she needs to drink her water, and that we're going to the hospital. She doesn't have a choice, I worry about her.

*

In the cab I hold Yuna's hand and press her shoulders into myself. Her skin is cold and a little clammy. I take off my suit coat and put it around her shoulders. "I just want to go home." She says absently.

I run my hand over her hair, and gather her tighter into my chest. The cab driver is quiet, and the radio is a low hum. Two men talk about health scares in Zanarkand, a case of food poisoning, 3 deaths because of a common bout of influenza. I lower my eyes to Yuna; this is probably the beginnings of the flu. I can already imagine myself taking her hot soup in bed. I don't think I'd mind taking care of her for a while.

I wish the hospital was closer. Braska said he'd call ahead and see what he could do to make this go quickly but chances are we'll still be stuck in the waiting room, I'm sure this doesn't exactly classify as an emergency. I got the impression he was angry to be interrupted in the middle of his speech, instead of being concerned about his daughter. I felt so incapable, and then Seymour stepped in, taking complete control. I must have looked pathetic. I want to be the kind of person that she can rely on.

"You don't need to fuss so much over me." Yuna says, although I know most girls appreciate this kind of attention.

"Sure I do." I kiss her forehead, "If you're coming down with something it's because I haven't been taking enough care of you."

She laughs, "It's probably because I don't drink enough orange juice and I haven't been sleeping well."

"Because I take all the covers." I joke, "For all I know, I might even snore."

She giggles. "You don't snore."

"Now you're just being nice."

She presses her lips to my cheek. "No, you don't. I like sleeping with you, you're always warm."

"How did your interviews go today?" I ask, "You think you got a job?"

She pauses, pulling her lip in between her teeth. "I hope so."

The cab pulls out in front of Zanarkand State University Hospital, and I pay him while Yuna gets out of the car unassisted. It looks like a quiet night for the hospital. I shove my wallet back into my suit pocket and meet Yuna on the sidewalk. I support her into the waiting room where a woman in loose nurses scrubs greets us and without a moment of hesitance take's Yuna away from me.

*

I guess Braska must have some pull around here. I grab an issue of Highlights from the corner table, not at all concerned that the magazine is marketed to young children. I don't feel like reading my horoscope, or hint's about how to lose 20 pounds, tone my gluts, or even about learning to cook a killer parmesan chicken. I'd rather play puzzles, part of my usual hospital routine. My mom use to drag Shuyin and me here too often when we were younger, when my dad would wind up in one of the beds after a night of binge-drinking and bar fights, or a nasty injury during the rougher games between Zanarkand and Luca in a rivalry that even then was epic. We'd fall asleep on these benches waiting to find out what happened, Jecht would come out laughing it off, either still half cut or loopy from the pain medication.

It feels different being in this position and waiting for someone that I care about. I believed Yuna when she told me that she didn't think it was that serious, that she didn't need to come here. Now that we're actually at the hospital, I'm not so sure. It shouldn't have taken this long to check her out, especially since she was rushed in. Maybe I'm overreacting; they wouldn't take any chances with Braska's daughter, think of the bad press…

I stand up when a nurse approaches me… but she only wants an autograph. Reluctantly I sign the notepad, "Thank you so much!"

She pauses, she wants me to say something. "I'm here with my girlfriend… do you think you could check on her for me?"

Her expression darkens slightly, "Her name?"

"Yuna—"

"Oh. Right, of course. Senate Braska's daughter." She walks over to the desk and I follow her. She picks up the phone and dials an extension, "Yeah, hey… I'm looking for an update on Braska's daughter?.... …. …. Right… Interesting. Okay. Thanks."

"Well?" I ask, growing impatient.

She purses her lips, "I'm sorry but I can't really tell you anything. She'll be fine though. Don't you worry..." I don't like the way she tells me to be calm, like there's some hidden joke. I don't understand how anything can be funny in a hospital.

"You should feel relieved, we just announced the fourth death due to the influenza outbreak a moment or two ago… It's dangerous. But your girls going to be fine, well… considering."

"Considering?" I repeat, regretting giving her the autograph.

"That's what you wanted to know right, that she didn't drop dead or wasn't rushed into surgery, you know that she wasn't in any danger. I can't really tell you anything else."

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Samantha, Samantha Lisa Reeves. Why?"

"What if I offered you prime seats to a playoff game?"

"I might consider if you offered me a date."

I run a hand through my hair. Ridiculous. "So what, I go sit down and wait?"

"Pretty much."

"How long is this going to take?"

She gestures towards the seating area, "A few minutes, the doc said he'd be sending her right out after she--- well my guess is that she's on her way by now."

I move back to my seating place, picking up my cell when it begins to vibrate. "Hello?"

"Hey man…" My brother's voice is barely recognizable, "Where are you right now, Can you come over?"

"No, no… I'm at the hospital…"

"Really?" he pauses, "I guess you know then…"

"Know what?"

"Adrianna… wait, why are you at the hospital?"

"Adrianna? No… I'm here with Yuna, she wasn't feeling great, what is it that you called to tell me?"

"Look, Adrianna's brother just called… I don't know what to tell you, but… Tidus, look I'm really sorry…"

"Shuyin?"

"She passed away this morning. Whitney asked me to be the one to call you. It was sudden; they didn't really have a clue that anything was wrong but she had an aneurysm, there wasn't anything they could do… It's just one of those things."

"Yeah. I guess." I say before hanging up the phone.

Adrianna… Is dead.

A/N: Well, I guess there you have it! Not quite as fast as i had planned, but still speedy right? Anyways, since it was a little late I decided to make everyone a little 'treat', well ... kind of? I got a lot of people saying they thought that the picture was cute from the last chapter. I haven't finished it yet but you can check out the WIP my 'artistic' interpretation of that picture.

JennaM dot deviantart dot com/art/CH-17-WIP-153778547

Enjoy the chapter, and please review!

Thanks,

ALF