A/N: I just want to apologize for all my paragraphs being all up on each other and no line breaks. I keep putting them in there but then I save my changes and fanfic instantly reverts them back. SO frustrating! Anyways, enjoy! :)
II.
"Okay now, my budding flowers spuds! Bmayca naleda dra vencd bynyknybr eh ouin vehacd Ym Prat!" (Please recite the first paragraph in your finest Al Bhed!)
Vaan couldn't help but cock his head at the teacher's saying. He frowned, scribbled a note in his journal, and tossed it at the back of Penelo's head. It made a 'thump' and fell at her feet. He could tell from her instantly rigid shoulders that she was already annoyed; very slowly she reached down and swiped up the note while the teacher was distracted.
What the hell is she saying!?' it read. Penelo sighed, slightly exasperated. His stupidity didn't even deserve an answer. He'd ever so eagerly signed up for the optional language class with her, and now it was clear to her that he didn't even know what is was. 'What an idiot'.
Deciding it would be best to learn the language of the locals, Penelo picked that one: the Al Bhed Language Arts.
But even she herself didn't know what the hell that teacher was spouting.
Rikku bounced up excitedly when her favorite teacher in the entire school asked for a volunteer. "Ooh, ooh! Mr. Rin! Pick meeee!" Without so much as a word to her, the Al Bhed man gave her a stern, knowing look and she uttered the right words.
"Ahaha... I mean, Sn. Rin, bmayca lruuca sa du pa ouin jumihdaan... lyica E jumihdaan yc dnepida!" (Mr. Rin, please choose me to be your volunteer.. Because I volunteer as tribute!)
A tight smile came across Mr. Rin's face as he made a gesture and allowed Rikku to come in front of the class to demonstrate. Since she had long ago noticed two incredibly unfamiliar faces, while she was up, she made sure to put on a great show for them. Maybe they would like her more quickly if they saw how super cool and awesome she was.
The cafeteria was completely and utterly bustling today. From the popular side came the sneers at the not-so-popular side and on that end, was the best group of friends. Yuna sat in between Lulu and Paine, the girl with the tough-girl exterior; only a few girls in the group knew that there was something softer under that, though. With Tidus, Wakka and Gippal on the opposite side of them, Rikku momentarily felt bothered until she plopped down in Gippal's lap with a triumphant smile.
"R-Rikku!" he yelped.
Yuna and Lulu couldn't contain their giggles as Rikku shrugged her shoulders and feigned ignorance.
"What? I'm just sitting down." she smiled coyly and added, "Can't a girl eat her lunch in peace?"
"Ah, Let'c kenm, cdub paehk cilr y vmend.." he muttered, scratching the back of his head. (Cid's girl, stop being such a flirt..)
"Don't call me that!"
"Aw, look at the lovebirds, ya!" Wakka teased.
Rikku and Gippal's cheeks flushed simultaneously as everyone at the table laughed.
Every now and then, Tidus would stop eating and look up; he sat across from Yuna, who was picking at her tuna sandwich, her mind obviously off running errands on another planet. Paine of course, noticed him glancing at her and smirked. Then she announced loudly, "Hey Yuna, Tidus can't stop checking you out!"
With a startled gasp, Yuna's eyes instantly went to the blond jock, but he was now suspiciously staring at his banana like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "You shouldn't tease them like that," Lulu scolded, but she was smiling just like everyone else.
"Oh!" Rikku exclaimed. "I can't believe I even forgot for a second! The transfers; did you guys meet any of em'?"
"There were a couple in my class," came a voice. Everyone's heads went to stare at Nix, who was standing there with a tray in his hands and that same smug look he had on earlier. "And one had really big tits; but nothing compared to Lulu over there."
"Excuse me, but no one asked you!" Rikku snapped, just as Wakka jumped to his feet.
"Hey man, get outta here, will ya?" He managed kept his voice low and steady, although everything in him begged for him to just yell his battle cry and beat Nix's face into a bloody mess.
"Yeah, Nix. No one asked you to butt in," Tidus added.
"So why don't you go away before I have to make you?" Paine put in menacingly.
"Scram!" Rikku finished. Nix shrugged his shoulders and surprisingly, left quietly.
"Thank you guys for defending my honor," Lulu chuckled. "All of the extra wasn't necessary, but thanks anyways."
Wakka sat down, relieved. "Anytime, Lu."
"Well, even though Nix Gremer is a big fat jerk, I still want to know about the transfers," Rikku said.
"I was in the same class as Nix, so I think I know who he's talking about," Yuna spoke.
And, as if on cue, the two people who had been in the same class as Yuna strolled into the cafeteria, their own group reunited.
Fran at this point, had grown weary of the people trying to touch her hair and asking if it was real, and if not, 'where did you buy it from!?'. The boys also would not stop trying to hit on her. Before, it was a trite flattering, but it had quickly grown old and bothersome. They were all like little gnats buzzing around her.
Noticing her irritation, Baltheir lightly tapped her arm and smiled up at her, "Don't worry, Fran. They just think you're one cool lady, is all," he chuckled. Vaan, who was in the front with Penelo sniggered.
"Yeah right. They're all just a bunch of pervs who can't keep their hands off such an 'exotic beauty'. That's what they'd call her down here, right? 'exotic'?"
"Ugh! You really know how to make a person feel better, don't you," Penelo snapped. She would've smacked him in the back of his head, but another person beat her to it.
"Ow- hey!"
Ashelia walked alongside the two with Basch, her hand all ready to hit Vaan again, if necessary.
"My pleasure," she returned, with a smile at Penelo.
Basch gently touched Ashe's hand, asking. "Would you like me to get your food?"
"Oh," she smiled warmly, "No, thank you. I think I can manage."
Basch's short, sandy blond hair was the thing she liked most about him; made him look more mature. He'd shaved his face not long ago, and it looked quite excellent, in her eyes.
"Very well," he said, returning her smile.
"Get a room, will you?"
Everyone groaned with annoyance at Vaan, but this time, they all got the chance to smack him upside the head, even Fran.
They sat at a table not too far away from another jovial looking group. "It's kinda weird that everyone's stared at us, but no one's tried to strike up a conversation," Vaan remarked.
"It's like they're afraid of us or something," Penelo sighed.
"Not that I'm complaining," Baltheir added, under his breath. He was secretly glad nobody had tried to talk to Fran yet; he knew he'd become jealous. Hell, he was already pretty jealous, what with all the male attention she was receiving. In Ivalice, the Viera were common, even though you'd usually see more Bangaa, Seeq, Humes and Moogles than you did the lagomorphic race of people.
Fran couldn't help but heave a sigh. She sort of wished someone outside of their group would actually try to talk to her as a person, not as some uncommon wonder. She felt out of place there in Spira so far.. At least the humes in Ivalice had the common decency not to stare and poke and prod.
Tidus spied the girl he had been looking at in his class sitting with a bunch more people. Gippal noticed and followed to where he was looking.
"Hey, she's a hottie," he whistled.
"What? Who? ME?" Rikku tried to crane her neck to see what they were, but to no avail. "Argh! Gippaaaaaal! You can't say that about some other girl while I'm sitting in your lap!" she wailed.
"Ey, they must be those transfers, ya?" Wakka pointed at their table.
"Should we try to go make friends?" Lulu asked, ready to get up. It could be nice to meet someone else outside of their original group.
"They'd think we're too eager to meet them, wouldn't they?" Paine said. "Maybe we should just leave them alone for now. I know I wouldn't want anyone invading my space like that."
"But that's just you," Yuna smiled. "I don't know; I would usually say, 'maybe they could use a friend', but it looks like they all have plenty..."
Before any one could react, Tidus stood and began to stroll over to the transfer students' table.
"Heya." He flashed his most charming smile, while placing one hand on their table and leaning slightly down. His face was close to the girl he had been classmates with. 'Man, she's much prettier up close'. The confident jock noticed everyone at the table's heads turn towards him, their expressions sort of resembling awe.
Ashe glanced up at the random boy with the sort of dirty blond hair, startled. She recognized him from her class, or at least she recognized the back of his head and had her memory register it right when she saw his face.
When she didn't greet him back, he somewhat awkwardly continued, "You're the new transfer students, right?"
"Yeah? What's it to you?" a pale haired boy across the table remarked. Even though Tidus wasn't even paying Penelo any attention-yet-Vaan still felt it necessary to be cautious. A sharp jab in his side made him wince in surprise and pain as Penelo piped, smiling, "Yeah, that'd be us."
"Cool.." Tidus said, warily giving Vaan a look, only for a moment taking his eyes off Ashe. "So anyways," he started again,"I just thought I'd- uh, come and get to, uh, know you guys." His cheeks flushed momentarily before twisting around and pointing behind him.
"Those are my friends over there. You can easily spot them by the big guy with the orange hair." He snickered, referring to Wakka and his loud hair.
Baltheir suddenly spoke up, also slightly cautious of the random boy who came up to them, "Is there some other motive you have by coming over here?"
"No, man." Tidus shot him a hard look, instantly offended. He truly just wanted to know them; there wasn't any hidden motive... maybe. The way the red haired guy talked to him sort of put him off.
Then finally, Ashe opened her mouth. "Then it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She didn't care much for the boys at this school, but this one was alright so far. Although, Rasler still owned her heart.
Tidus grinned at Ashe and said, "I'm Tidus." The painfully formal way she spoke was a little odd to him, but he didn't let that discourage him.
"Ashe D'nar." At the same moment when she said that, Basch's hand came to protectively rest on her shoulder. She wasted no time introducing the rest of the group. "These are my friends, Basch, Fran, Baltheir, Penelo, and...Vaan."
"Why'd you pause at my name?" Vaan asked with a whine in his voice.
"Because you're like that. You embarrass us all," Penelo lashed out.
Taking on a hurt expression, Vaan lowered his eyes and said nothing else but a simple, "Nice to meet'cha."
Penelo didn't notice his wounded face, and added cheerily, "Thanks for coming over."
"Hello," Fran said with a small smile.
Baltheir and Basch did not say anything, managing to keep their manly facade. Well, at least Baltheir was.
Tidus ignored the two's lack of conversation and said, "Cool to meet all of you. Listen, there's this little hangout we all go to every Tuesday night; that's when there's a good amount of people, not too many and not too little. It's better on weekdays when it's not swarming with high schoolers. It's called Shiva and Geneva's. You guys should come."
Ashe raised an eyebrow at his invitation and looked back at her friends. "We might. Thanks for inviting us." She gave a small smile that made Tidus' cheeks heat up a bit.
"Alright, sweet. We meet up there at 7:30 after school. I hope I'll see you there," he finished with a charming, pretty boy grin. They watched his retreating form go back to his own table where a giddy blond girl nearly tackled him as soon as he was within range.
"What do you guys think?" Ashelia asked once he was gone. Basch immediately responded, "I don't think it's a very good idea. That place sounds like a nightclub and your father wanted me to keep you out of trouble-"
"We're going," Ashe cut him off, her words sharp as a razor blade.
No one objected, but they were all thinking:
Since when did she become the boss?
"Well, well?! Tell me what happened before I attack you!" Rikku squealed as soon as Tidus was back at their table.
"Nothing much," he replied, all cool and vague as he slid back into his seat.
"Spill iiiiit!"
"Alright, alright," he laughed.
Wakka put in, "You walked over there on such a high horse; I'm surprised those macho looking guys didn't jump you or somethin'."
"I would've," Paine put in.
As Lulu concentrated on peeling the pepperoni off of her pizza, she said, smiling, "Well, Tidus. Do tell of your short excursion." Wakka leaned over and snatched them off her tray as Tidus began.
"Wait, wait," Gippal started. "Before you get into your tale...do ya have a crush on that girly over there?" He grinned.
"What? No, of course not!"
"Uh huh, sure. I believe you, man." Tidus couldn't help but glance at Yuna, whom he noticed was somewhat solemnly picking at the sandwich she still hadn't eaten. The gloomy aura around her was almost visible. Although he felt kind of conflicted, Tidus put her mood off for a while and continued trying to tell his story. "...So I invited them to S and G's."
"Ooh, this is so exciting!" Rikku giggled. By now, she had already taken up her own seat, relieving Gippal. She was just too jittery for him.
"It would be a good way to get to know them, that's for sure," Lulu said as she finished off her apple. In the end, she had just given both slices of pizza to Wakka. It was too greasy anyways.
"Don't you think we're moving too fast?" Paine said, looking around at everyone with her crimson eyes. "I mean, they just transferred here and we already have them coming out with us, a group of strangers."
"Paine! You're so negative today!" Rikku cried. Gippal shook his head.
"I agree with Paine. We didn't even meet em', Tidus did. We could be a group of gangsters for all they know."
"I'd be surprised if they really thought we were gangsters," Tidus laughed. "Well, with Gippal's eye patch and Paine's tough girl look, maybe we kinda do."
"Hey, don't go hatin' on the patch, now," Gippal said, a bit defensively even though he still laughed. Yuna was silent the entire time until Lulu touched her shoulder lightly.
"Hey, Yuna.. are you feeling alright?" she asked softly.
Her reply was almost silent; "No, no, I'm fine." She managed a tiny smile, but as soon as she turned back to her untouched lunch, her eyebrows returned to their furrowed state.
Tidus had kept his eyes on her for while, just quietly watching. He was, of course worried. But then an emotion came over him; he felt like he didn't have the right to be worried about her now. It was probably because he was so obviously flirting with Ashe.
He thought deeply about this all throughout his last classes. 'Maybe she's feeling down because of what Gippal said..? Damn him, that loud mouth.. But it's mostly my fault, isn't it? I can't control myself.. Wait, what am I talking about; Yuna doesn't like me that way! Of course I-
His train of thought was interrupted while when coming out of the school's sphere pool- soaked to the bone- he spotted one of the guys from the transfers' table wandering around. The pale haired one, he amazingly remembered, to be Vaan.
"Hey, what're you doin' down here?" Startled, Vaan spun around to face the sopping Tidus.
"I, uh... I was looking for Penelo," he lied. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. Penelo had disappeared from his side while he was distracted with buying them vending machine drinks, but he also had another reason to explore (snoop).
"Hey, uh, what's that thing called that you were doing just now?" he asked. Tidus looked at him funny, like he was looking at the stupidest person in the world. Then he remembered Vaan wasn't from Spira and shook his head.
"Blitzball. It's an official sport with tournaments and all. Kind of like soccer, volleyball and basketball combined, just underwater."
"Ohh, right, right..." Vaan inspected the locker room a little more while Tidus watched him with curious but wary eyes.
"Do you need something?" he asked him as he used the towel around his neck to wipe his face and dry his hair. Vaan looked at him fully, his blue gray eyes searching Tidus' bright blue ones.
"I just wanted to let you know," he took a couple steps closer to him, until he was only a foot or two away, "to stay away from Penelo." The way he said it wasn't mean, but threatening, in a way. Tidus was about to say, 'Who's Penelo? 'But then he quickly remembered; she must be the girl Vaan was sitting next to. 'The one with the big boobs that rivals Lulu's,' he thought.
"Look, I dunno know why you came all the way down here to say that; I don't have any interest in that girl," he replied coolly as he stripped his shirt off and tossed it in his dirty laundry cubby. His muscles were pretty defined, just enough to show through a t-shirt. Seeing them, Vaan was considerably intimidated; he didn't really have any muscles to brag about.
"Not yet, anyway," Vaan muttered.
"Why do you even care anyways? I know you're friends and all that, but I don't think a simple friend would go out of their way to threaten someone else about someone who's just their friend. What, you got a crush on her?" he asked, a small grin beginning to form. Vaan just stood there, glowering at him. In his perspective, Tidus was just mocking him, looking down on him. With his stupid big muscles, too! The atmosphere in the room had turned dark, and Vaan continued to glare at Tidus.
"What if I do? I bet you just want to get into Ashe's pants anyways. I saw you drooling over her at our table. Admit it, you wanna get her alone and rape-" By the last word, Tidus had advanced on Vaan; he was completely in his face, with their chests almost touching.
"It's not like that, so I'd suggest you shut the hell up now," he growled. Tidus was about half an inch taller than Vaan, so to anyone else, it would've looked like he was ready to hit the shorter boy.
'Looks like a found a weak spot', he thought with a barely visible smirk.
"You should get out of here."
"I'm done anyhow." Vaan shoved his hands into his pockets and took a step back. "Remember, though. Ashe is my friend and not so willing to get to know the guys here. She has a boyfriend back at home, after all. I can tell her all sorts of crap about you... Doesn't even have to be true." And with that, he left the locker room.
Yuna pushed away her plate, having barely even touched a thing. "I'm finished," she said quietly as she stood up.
Her father, Mr. Braska Tollipher looked at her worriedly.
"But you didn't even eat a thing.." He watched her for a moment and then said, "Yuna? Is there something going on at school? You know, you can always come talk to me-"
"I'm alright, really. There's nothing going on at school; everything's fine." She smiled. It was a sad, fake one, but it was enough to fool Braska. "I just ate a lot at lunch today. I'll be good as new tomorrow," she added as she threw out her food, put the plate in the sink, and went upstairs to her room. It wasn't much, just pink and blue walls with a desk, a vanity/dresser cluttered with her things, a twin bed, and a small TV on the edge of her desk.
Yuna plopped down on her bed, feeling miserable. 'This is all Tidus' fault!'.
Even though she thought that, she knew it wasn't entirely true, if at all. She knew he was definitely interested in that girl;she was really pretty and had that fancy, mature air about her. Yuna was nothing like that.
She slowly ran her fingers through her hair that was a little longer than her shoulders, imagining Tidus' hands instead of her own. If only she had had the courage to confess to him earlier on, then the other girl wouldn't even pose a threat! Maybe...
Feeling as if there was nothing she could do, she sighed dejectedly. It was clear to her that she'd have to try harder, but the way to go about it.. Be more aggressive?
"No," she laughed dryly to herself. She couldn't imagine being like those girls at school. Besides, it would mean changing everything about herself, including the way she dressed.
"Well," she started. "If I really like Tidus, I'll try harder!" she declared, attempting to encourage herself.
Just then, her cell began ringing. It was still in her bag that was now flopped on its side on the floor. She took her precious time to get it, not really in the mood to talk to anyone. The caller ID read: Kaleo, Lenne, the name of Yuna's old friend from another state. They hadn't seen each other in years, but they talked on the phone every weekend.
"Hey Yuna!" came the cheery voice on the other end.
"Lenne! How are you?"
"I'm great... I was just calling to tell you that my aunt invited me to stay with her for a week or more, soooo..."
"So I'm going to get to see you for a whole week!" Yuna finished, ecstatic. "Where are you going to stay?"
"At my aunt's apartment. I've already got it all arranged, so I'll be there in a few days!"
"I haven't seen you in forever! I'm so excited."
Lenne laughed, replying, "I know. Feels like a thousand years or something, right?"
"That's a bit of an exaggeration, but it kinda does feel like that a little."
After ending the call with Lenne, Yuna quickly slipped into her pajamas and dove under the covers of her bed. Talking with Lenne for even that short while had lifted her spirits considerably, and she was able to go to bed with a smile on her face.
A/N: Sorry for the 'thousand years' thing; I just HAD to haha. Anyways, thanks for reading! Constructive criticisms are very much appreciated.