Many apologies; I said i would get this uploaded sooner, but I have not had access to the computer! As a way to make it up, i shall try to upload chapter 3 sooner! Yay =)
Hope you enjoy!Disclaimer: I think it's obvious that i do not own any of the characters... yadda yadda yadda

Chapter 2

"No Rikku." The crimson eyed warrior lay back on her bed engrossed in a book that was of no interest to the Al Bhed - who had just proceeded to bounce next to Paine in order to stir her from its pages.

"It'll be fun I promise!" the bubbly Al Bhed grinned

"For you." replied Paine who had just lost her place but narrowed her brows in concentration at the paper before her in an attempt to make Rikku go away.

"You will enjoy it, I know you will. You just haven't tried it yet." Rikku continued to plead and jump on her knees up and down on the mattress that Paine was lying on.

"I don't want to try on dresses, that's my final decision." Paine informed Rikku once again.

"Please Paine! I bought you so many nice outfits when we stopped off. Yuna helped me pick ones out that she thought you'd really like."

"You shouldn't have bothered." said Paine monotonously.

"That's so ungrateful." whined Rikku as she stuck out her bottom lip.

"I never asked you to. And you know I hate all that girly stuff so why would you think it was ever going to be something I would agree to?" Paine asked, putting her book to rest on her chest for a moment so she could see Rikku's reaction.

"Well I know you don't like shopping for clothes and girly things, that's why I did it. Because I know you don't have anything to where at this event in two days and I thought I would be a good friend and make you look gorgeous."

"I do have something to wear!" protested Paine strongly.

"I know that but I meant you don't have anything to wear for when we get off the ship. And it's important that you look good for that too."

"Is it?" queried the girl in black.

"Yes!" Rikku smiled, "Please, just let me do this. I won't force my styles on you; I understand you have your own thing going on." Paine gave Rikku a look as if to ask 'but why bother for me?' "Oh c'mon Paine, please! I'm so unbelievably bored! You have to let me do this or else I'm going to jump ship because there is nothing left for me to do on here!" At that Paine picked her book back up and scanned the words to see what she recalled last reading. Rikku remained silent for a moment as she realised she'd taken the wrong approach. Thinking it through again she then suggested, "How about, any clothes you really hate then we can throw them off the deck, or tie them to the back of the ship like a pirate flag? You remember the last time we did that with all of Brother's new engine cloths? Took him forever to reach them and grab them down again." Paine smiled as the memory as Rikku giggled. That could be fun, and it was mighty boring on here. It took so long to get up to Bevelle, 2 days they had been on the ship so far. Yes they had been coming from Luca and it was all the way across the globe but Paine was sure the journey could be faster than this. She realised the guys probably planned this slow journey so that they could turn up just at the beginning of 'the event'.

Sighing, she could barely believe she was about to agree to a Rikku plan, but hey if it shut Rikku up for a couple of hours, Paine could make do with the peace and quiet later on. "Fine."

"YAY thank you Painey! You will be happy you agreed to this, I'm going to make sure of it." Rikku smiled and grabbed Paine's arm before dragging her off the bed and towards the wardrobe.

"What do you think of this one then?" Rikku pushed Paine towards the full length mirror for about the forth time. Paine studied herself for about half a second before she scoffed and shook her head again. Quickly she bent down to the bottom of the knee-length, hot pink, frilly garment Rikku was trying to call a dress. Suddenly Rikku came by her side and started to adjust the thin straps on Paine's shoulders, but the warrior was having none of it and swiftly pulled it off. "Urgh Why not that one Paine? What's wrong with it?"

"Well for a start it's revolting, and if you want some advice then maybe look for something that suites my colouring." Paine suggested sourly. Rikku absorbed this and then moved back to the wardrobe to rummage through her outfits. After a couple of minutes Rikku handed Paine another hanger. For a second Paine considered throwing it straight back to the hand it had come from, but then she really looked at it. She turned it around and actually didn't mind the sight of it – a first! It was about two thirds black; her comfort colour. Paine felt natural in black, she felt comfy. Paine would have wondered why Rikku even touched anything with black on it but it was rather sleek and stylish. Then there was the added fact that from the top at the wide strapped sleeves to just underneath the bust line the dress was coloured the brightest shade of green Paine had ever seen. It almost hurt Paine's eyes – almost. However, Paine decided she would give this one a go and would at least try to keep an open mind.

As Rikku did up the zip for her, Paine examined herself once again. She actually liked it. It didn't show any unnecessary flesh which made Paine realise maybe it wasn't Rikku's at all, it was probably Yuna's – at least she could dress elegantly when she wanted to. Also the dress was comfortable, Paine could still move in it, which was another shock to her system. Maybe not quite as much she would like to in a sword fight, but she could probably still have a good go if the need arose.

"So what do you think?" asked Rikku moving round to stand next to the mirror so she could get a good look at her friend.

"It's not half bad." Paine nodded her head as she turned to try and see the back.

"Seriously? I found you something you like?" Rikku seemed more shocked than Paine. "Score!" she let out in elation as she did a little dance from side to side. Paine chuckled as Rikku went to find accessories; that seemed a step too far but Paine now feared she had very little choice in the matter.

Suddenly, there was a voice from behind Paine, "Hey Paine, you like the dress I found for you!" smiled Yuna as she reached the top of the stairs.

"You found it?" asked Paine who then eyed Rikku sceptically.

"Aww dammit Yunie, I wanted Paine to think I was good at choosing her outfits!" Rikku pouted as she stomped her foot on the wooden floor, staring at her cousin with a sad expression.

"Sorry Rikku, I didn't realise." apologized Yuna sincerely.

"Don't be a push over Yuna." Instructed Paine, "And thank you, it's actually a good dress."

"I'm sure I could find something Paine would like." Ignoring the exchange, Rikku continued to hunt as if they had never come across the black and green garment the warrior was currently styling. "What about this one? It's very sexy, it'd suit you."

Paine merely laughed as Rikku held up something that resembled a flamingo. "I'm definitely throwing that off the top of the ship!"

"Hey! I happen to love this! It's very flattering." Rikku held it up against herself as she swung her hips from side to side. "Will you two stop laughing at me? It's a beautiful dress I'll have you know. Urgh! Just because you have no style or taste what-so-ever." Rikku flung the dress towards the other clothes piled on the bed nearest to them. Then turning back to the cupboard she pulled something else out. "How about this? I only wear it to funeral's so I guess that's more your thing right?"

"I don't think electric blue is really my colour." Suggested Paine rolling her eyes.

"Well then I don't know!" Rikku threw it to the floor before she stormed past Paine to the ledge where she jumped down to the landing and continued out the door. She was still in a huff when she stomped onto the bridge – almost knocking Gippal off the stairs.

"I'm sorry about her." Yuna apologised yet again to Paine who was fiddling with the zip on the back of the dress in order to get unchanged.

"Don't be. I know what she's like. But I don't really feel like parading around in one of her weird suits today. She'll calm down when someone gives her something else to do."

"She's bored." Nodded Yuna.

"Maybe you should go keep her company." Suggested Paine who had managed to get the zip down and was wriggling about to get her arms free from the shoulder straps.

"I don't think so." Chuckled Yuna, "But I will give you some privacy." The saviour of Spira smiled as she walked down the stairs and then followed her cousins' footsteps through the door.

With no one around - Barkeep was apparently trying to get a tan on the deck (Yevon knows what colour he would turn) and everyone else was hanging out on the bridge as far as Paine was aware - she tugged the dress off and then went to change into her comfy clothes. This bra Rikku had told her to wear – "invisible straps are going to be handy, dresses come in various shapes and designs you know" – was seriously painful. Paine was pretty sure it was not the right size so she undid that too and moved to her own cupboard. After she yanked out some leggings and an old top, Paine closed the door and inadvertently turned towards the stairs just as Gippal finished his climb up them. He'd been so quiet, how had she not heard him come into the room at all? Shock took over her limbs as she froze into place. What was he doing up here? Why had she not heard him, she never missed a beat and now he'd snuck up on her! Was she losing touch? It took Gippal a moment to even process Paine was there but when he did he seemed to be just as shocked as she was. They stood for only a couple of seconds staring at each other, but it felt like a life time. Then simultaneously she whipped her hands to cover her now very exposed breasts as he quickly spun around to look off the top of the stairs. They stayed in this position for several seconds more before Gippal casually stated, "Good afternoon."

"You can go away anytime Gippal!" Paine ordered firmly, she was so embarrassed.

"I didn't see anything." He told her, man he hoped she would believe him. He hadn't intended to, so really it was the same thing, yeah? Why had she been so naked anyway? It was the middle of the day and she was just strutting around without any clothes on! Well she'd had pants; he'd seen that much in the time it had taken him to scan her up and down. He hadn't meant to do that either but it was a reflex. Oh how he wished he'd called out before coming up the stairs, he didn't know how he'd be able to look at her again without picturing it, especially as it was burnt into his brain. As he closed his eyes, he could still see her. He had to get rid of this image – not that he didn't like it - but it shouldn't be there. She wasn't his to picture semi-naked.

"Sure." She said sarcastically from behind him. It made him gulp. Geez, there was really no smooth way out of this.

"I…" he started, but what could he say to make it any better? "I… er," what, Gippal WHAT! Anything, just say anything at all! 'I don't mind, I see girls naked all the time?' Yeah, that'd go down well, 'I thought you looked great like that, why do you worry about clothes?' I wonder just how many bruises would be issued because of that statement. 'I'm not into girls that way, so if anything it repulsed me!' Hmm how to knock her self-esteem and blatantly lie to her face, nice move indeed! "I'm gonna go now." He informed her and with that he hastily made his way back down the stairs and swiftly out the door.

Hello again... I'm thinking reading back that the characters may have changed a little from the first chapter... if you think so too then please feel free to have a go at me, i shall try to correct this for the next chapter.
Thank you for reading Xx