Hello! I thought about writing another chapter to go between this one and the last one but then I was like, this one will be so much cuter!

So if it feels choppy or disjointed, don't stress because nothing very exciting happened between the scenes anyway.

Get a little closer to me, girl,
And you'll understand.
'Cause if you want a guy that knows what you need,
Well, then I'm your man.

Everything you know I'm flipping upside down.

You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) - Cobra Starship

Chapter 13: Second Chances

-Ichigo-

"Actually, can you put these back inside? I don't want them getting too hot out here in the sun." Matsumoto pointed to a large collection of drinks so that Ichigo could move them for the third time that afternoon.

"Whatever you say." Ichigo rolled his eyes and carried the drinks into the kitchen, setting them on a table. The task took him two trips to complete.

The group was currently helping Matsumoto set up for the party that night, along with a few of her other friends.

Ichigo scanned the room for the strawberry blonde, hoping to evade being asked to carry something else. Chad and Uryuu were still bringing more food items and drinks from the girls' cars and Tatsuki and Orihime had already started chatting up some of Matsumoto's strange friends on the deck in the far corner away from the house.

What weirdos…

Ichigo recognized the man with crazy red hair from the last party but this time he was joined by an incredibly short boy with white hair and a sweet looking brunette girl that clung to the boy's arm. He supposed they were dating but their difference in height made it difficult to believe.

Ichigo finally found Rukia talking with Matsumoto and some guy in the living room. The guy had light hair and squinty eyes that made Ichigo uncomfortable. Going against his better judgment that told him to avoid Rukia's annoying friend, he made his way over to the trio.

The shifty-looking man was the first to acknowledge his presence as he entered the small group.

"Hello."

The single word stopped the two girls mid-conversation and they both turned to look at Ichigo.

"Hey," Ichigo responded coolly.

Matsumoto smiled, wrapping an arm around the man's waist. "Ichigo, this is Gin. We started dating that night when you and Grimmjow got into the fight."

"You move awfully fast," Ichigo commented under his breath, nodding at the man in front of him.

"Be nice," Rukia whispered scathingly, forcing her sharp elbow between his ribs.

"Ow!" Ichigo turned to yell at the midget beside him but Gin put a hand out to stop him.

"Please, compose yourself. Rangiku and I have known each other for a long time and the fault of your incident was entirely your own, not hers. I hope you'll be more cordial towards her in the future."

The man's tone was warning, not quite threatening, and it was clear he cared deeply about Matsumoto.

I can't imagine why…

"I hope you can forgive my friend's rudeness. He's not usually this moody." Rukia smiled brightly, annoying Ichigo to no end.

He was certainly not 'moody.'

"Don't worry about it!" The bubbly girl laughed. "I'm just glad to see he's keeping his promise from yesterday."

Ichigo frowned. "What promise?"

Matsumoto's grey eyes glinted, "The party hasn't even started and already you're paranoid about Rukia talking to another guy."

Ichigo felt his face get red. "That is not why I came over here."

Gin looked at Rukia curiously, "Are you in a relationship with this boy?"

Rukia blushed furiously. "No. We're just friends; we all came out here as friends," she stuttered.

Gin's nod of apparent approval bothered Ichigo but Matsumoto lead him away before he could say anything.

"What was that about?" Rukia turned on him once the other two were out of earshot.

"She started it!" Ichigo protested. "I wasn't even-"

"You're acting like a child." Rukia interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest.

Ichigo sighed in defeat but Rukia refused to look at him, choosing to pout in silence. He put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention but she jumped at his touch.

She blushed and walked away quickly, mumbling something about finishing setting up.

Ichigo ran a hand through his hair and watched her leave the room.

I thought she had forgiven me already…

-Rukia-

Rukia quickly made her exit, thoroughly embarrassed by her reaction.

This was the first time they had spoken to each other all day and it hadn't quite gone as Rukia had planned.

The girls had gone shopping that morning for the party while the boys went to the local gym and did 'boy things,' as Tatsuki called them. While trying on different clothes for the party, the other girls had managed to convince Rukia that it was entirely possible that Ichigo had feelings for her.

They had even said it was likely but Rukia refused to allow them to get her hopes up.

The only problem now was that Rukia Kuchiki was generally clueless when it came to dating and relationships.

In fact, the idea of a boy, especially Ichigo Kurosaki, wanting to go out with her was almost terrifying.

Rukia focused on arranging chip bowls on the table to calm her racing heart.

Ok… Completely terrifying.

Where on earth were Tatsuki and Orihime when she needed them?

-Ichigo-

More people had arrived in the past few hours and Ichigo found himself experiencing déjà vu as the same people from two nights ago filled the house.

So much for 'totally safe'…

In order to prove a point, Ichigo had taken to keeping an eye on Rukia from a distance. He wasn't sure why she had reacted the way she had earlier but until she seemed ready to talk again, he decided to hang back.

Besides, he was not possessive.

-Rukia-

Rukia laughed politely as one of the guys in the group she was talking to tried to be funny. She had noticed Ichigo watching her from across the room but he had yet to say anything about her choice of company. This was unfortunate, as her choice of company had ultimately been poor.

The guys sitting around her began vying for her attention once again and Rukia found herself slightly bored with the lame stories and crude humor.

So, when Orihime and Tatsuki asked her to dance with them, she obliged.

They had picked out a loose dark purple tank top and a pair of black shorts for her earlier that day and Rukia loved the way the tank swirled around her waist as she moved with the beat. She grew more and more comfortable dancing to the loud music, not shying away when the people around her brushed against her.

After a few songs, a man with dark hair and silver eyes came up to her. He took her hand and twirled her around.

"I'm Ashido," he shouted over the music. "Wanna dance?"

Rukia looked around for Tatsuki or Orihime, hoping they would tell her what to do, but Orihime had started dancing with Uryuu and Tatsuki was dancing against a tall, muscular man with red hair.

…Is that-?

"Hey," Ashido still held Rukia's hand in his own and now pulled her towards him. "I asked if you wanted to dance."

His breath smelled like alcohol and Rukia immediately resisted. She kicked him in the shin and he let go, cursing loudly. Rukia left him on the dance floor, moving away before he grabbed at her again.

She entered the kitchen area and grabbed a bottle of water to stop her hands from shaking. She took a long sip and her breathing slowed and her heart stopped racing.

At least this is better than last time…

"Everything ok?"

Rukia turned at the sound of Ichigo's voice behind her.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She met his gaze evenly, trying valiantly not to let her cheeks tinge red.

A small smile formed on his lips. "Just checking. We don't want a repeat of Monday night."

Rukia's eyes narrowed in irritation. "I can handle myself, thank you."

She finished her water and went to throw it away.

"Hey, I'm sorry…" Ichigo followed after her. "Rukia, wait."

Rukia paused and looked at the boy in front of her expectantly.

-Ichigo-

Well, it's now or never…

"Do you… I mean, would you…" Ichigo stammered before forcing himself to say, "Would you like to go to the aquarium tomorrow?"

When she didn't respond, he added, "The one in your picture?"

Rukia took a long time to answer and each second felt like eternity to Ichigo.

Finally, after looking everywhere but at him, she regarded him with guarded eyes and asked, "Like a date?"

"Yeah." Ichigo's face grew warm under the girl's stare, "Unless you don't want to, of course."

Rukia's expression changed to an openly excited smile and looked up at him through dark lashes, "I'd like that."

Her cheeks were a rosy color and Ichigo swore his heart stopped beating when she answered.

Finally remembering to breathe, he nodded. "Ok, good. I was thinking we'd go around 3 for the otter show?"

After a long contemplation the night before, Ichigo decided that the blobs jumping out of the tank had been otters. It had been easy to convince Uryuu to drive by the aquarium that morning during their errands to see when the otters performed.

The look of childish eagerness on Rukia's face made Ichigo confident that the trip had been worth it.

"I didn't know they had an otter show now." Rukia smiled, almost unable to contain her obvious delight.

And Ichigo smiled with her, this girl that was so unlike any other girl he knew.

-Rukia-

After a long moment of squealing inside her head, Rukia managed to look at the man in front of her and smile.

Ichigo was taking her to the Churaumi Aquarium! On a date! With otters!

Rukia breathed deeply, trying to calm herself before he thought better of it and changed his mind.

"I-I'm looking forward to it."

Ichigo grinned at her, making her blush even harder. "Me too."

Unsure of what to say next, Rukia stayed quiet. She looked around the room, waiting for Ichigo to say something else, feeling fully the awkwardness that comes after being asked out on one's first date.

"Do you want to dance?"

…did I just say that?

The large group of people dancing in the living room and on the porch had caught her eye once again. But she had never meant to voice her thoughts.

Ichigo looked over at the crowd uncertainly.

"I don't really dance," he said finally.

"Oh," Rukia tried not to appear disappointed. "Of course. I understand."

-Ichigo-

Why does she have to be so damn cute all the time?

Disappointment was obvious in her eyes and Ichigo felt a small twinge of guilt in his stomach.

"I guess… I guess I could try." He said slowly, as if the words were painful. But then Rukia smiled up at him and wrapped her hand around his, pulling him towards the flailing swarm of bodies before he could change his mind.

So. Much. Fluff. It's craziness. And even more next chapter!

Reviews please!