I hope i uploaded this right... it's all still very confusing to me... maybe some tips on how to upload this stuff i read the thing but i still don't get it. Anyway this is the next bit i hope it lives up to the first bit... i think the story will be shifting ever so slightly... you'll see a diff side of Vanille you never thought could be there... but i think it will make it fun... reviews are always welcome ideas etc thank you for taking the time to read Pips

Chapter 5 I'll Have My Lunch on the Rocks

Fang looked Lightning over slowly while poking her lunch idly. "So, what happened last night? You were so quick to get me off the phone this morning, I can't help but wonder."

"Well… I walked her home." Lightning paused not sure if she should tell Fang the truth or make something up. Knowing Fang she wouldn't believe the truth even if she told it. I've already kept things from her… she's my best friend. "I got clipped by a punk on a bike and Vanille helped me to her place where I passed out. But, nothing happened."

Fang arched an eyebrow "Nothing happened… or nothing happened?"

Lightning signed and further explained," Well she… uh… stripped me out of my jacket, turtle neck and skirt-" Fang started to choke on her tea but before she could make a smart comment Light held a hand up," She washed them for me. Really Fang do you really think I would let anyone strip me? No don't answer that." Fang's eyes were shinning with glee. "I swear you are having a field day with this aren't you?"

Fang winked "What can I say I love seeing my efforts pay off. So when are you going to see her again? I mean you saw her this morning…"

"I… I don't know. When is it too soon to make plans?" Light looked down into her drink with mixed emotions confusion, fear, hope. "It's not like our last date went all that well."

Fang rested her head on her hand and twirled her straw in that "I'm thinking" pose. "Well you already woke up to her. So I guess you could really ask her whenever you want. If it were me… I would wait a few days."

"A few days? But you just said it didn't matter." Fang simply reached across the table and poked Light in her bruised eye causing her to recoil slightly. "She's already seen it. She thinks it's from the punk on the bike."

"That maybe what she told you, but until it's healed she will feel guilty about it don't cha think?" Fang gave a smug smile at Light's confused face. "You know for a fancier of women you don't know much about them." She laughed as Light blistered at this remark. "You have to keep in mind she's not as solider like us, love. "

Lightning rested her head in her hands, "I guess that's true… guh why do women have to be complicated?"

Chapter 6 Not Dim But not Bright

One week had passed since Vanille had seen Lightning. "Do you think she doesn't like me? I mean… I don't know." She sat starring out the window of her best friend's house. "What do you think Hope?"

Hope looked up from his video game," I think this game is completely unrealistic. I mean six people have to save a whole world… A WHOLE WORLD! I mean you get powers and cool weapons and stuff, but that seems like asking a lot of a handful of people. I'd just give them the finger and tell them 'good luck with that'". Vanille frowned at him. Hope sighed. "Maybe she doesn't know what to do next? I mean drinking and being hit by a biker then being stripped by a girl you just met is pretty hard to top don't you think?"

Vanille looked away ashamed, "I guess I shouldn't have stripped off her clothes." Hope nodded. "But they were dirty! I wouldn't want to sleep in muddy clothes! And I didn't what mud on my bed." Vanille pouted slightly.

"How did she react when she woke up?" Hope had not been listening the first time. He was fighting a random boss battle at that time.

"She… she seemed calm… a little confused, but not angry. So why hasn't she called me? Maybe I should call her?" Vanille smiled and jumped in the air much like a peppy cheerleader," I'm going to call her!" Hope merely laughed and when back to level grinding.

Lightning was starting to feel her blood boil as rage coursed through her veins.

–Beep-Beep-Beep-

Lightning snatched her phone up," Hello? Who is this?" –click- "Damn it!" The phone creaked in her clenched fists. "That…" her breath was ragged she was beyond pissed," that is the 15th time I've gotten hung up on in a row." Her voice was a low growl.

"Well maybe if you didn't answer like you were going to eat the speaker they might stick around long enough to tell them who they are. What's the number that pops up anyway?" Snow was not known for his tactic or his sense of self preservation when spoke to Lightning.

Glaring she hissed, "Private." The only reason she had not killed this idiot already is that, that would make Serah sad. Even then she could look at his death as a way of saving her little sister from a barbaric moron.

-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-

Snow rescued her phone from being smashed against the wall and answered," Hello. Epic Hero speaking, is the world in peril again?" There was a long pause on the other side of the line. "Vanille? I'm sorry I thought it was the Mayor…"

"Give me that!" Light snatched the phone from his hand all rage from the hang ups gone and walked outside. "Vanille? Hey how are you?" Lightning grunted. "No, he isn't a hero, he's an idiot." Vanille chatted on for some time about everything under the sun before finally getting to the point to her calling. "I'd like to see you again too, I was busy this past week. When would you like to get together? Tonight? Sure I can do that... I'll pick you up at 6pm. Okay. Later." Light smirked to herself. This should be interesting.

About this time Serah walked out to see Light smirking to herself. "Clair, there you are… you're smirking. I take it the phone call went well." Light raised an eyebrow. "Snow said Vanille was on the phone and you ran outside."

Lightning smiled. "Indeed and this should be a very interesting date." Light's smile turn to more of a wolf's grin.

"Why is that? I thought you said your last date was 'very interesting'." Sarah cocked her head to the side. "What are you too going to do?"

"Paintball." Was her only reply.

Chapter 7 Let it Rain Blood... Er… Paint

-POP-POP-POP-THUMP-POP-POP-POP

Lightning ran effortlessly from shield to shield taking out every target in her way. Vanille on the other hand bounced and dove and rolled to each shield squealing the whole way. Lightning coved Vanille as she tripped halfway to the shield.

-POP-POP-POP-

"You okay?" Lightning asked in her tomboyish husky voice. Vanille flopped down on the ground next to her. "You look a bit out of breathe."

"I'm fine", Vanille panted." This war thing is a lot more work than I thought it would be." She smiled up at Light with childish innocence. "I'm sorry I'm such a horrible partner. You've had to take out everyone and cover for me."

"You aren't doing too badly. When you squealed at the slug that landed on you many of them got distracted and became easy targets." Light smiled at the resent memory of Vanille flailing around screaming about evil slime trying to kill her and how she was melting. Vanille's face turned red as she began to pout. "Awe, don't pout. We're almost done and then we can go eat." Vanille brightened and tapped into unknown determination.

"You're going down girlies!" The blue team boys we're taunting them. "You did pretty well getting this far but you can't win!"

"Not with that red head anyway", chirped the smaller of the two." She just downright sucks."

Fire burned in Light's eyes but before she could retaliate Vanille stood and fired four shots, one in the head and one in the heart for each of them. Light blinked many times to be sure she had seen what just happened. "Did you- How did- What just happened?" Light stumbled with her words.

Vanille looked slightly embarrassed. "They said I sucked, I wanted to prove them wrong."

"But… if you are that good why did you act like you weren't?" Light was confused and slightly hurt. She felt lied too.

"Well… I enjoy you looking after me. Makes me feel… special." Vanille pouted and turned away from Light. "Also, I didn't want to show you up, being a soldier and all… I thought … I don't know. I'm sorry."

Lightning didn't quite know what to make of all this. But she did know a change of venue was in order. "Why don't we get some ice cream and you can tell me how you learned to shoot like that?" Vanille brightened and nodded.