Author's Note: This is my first ever fan fiction! Please be gentle with me. I write on WordPad so there is no spell check. If you notice any spelling or grammar errors, please let me know about them so I may fix them. I hope you enjoy the story! Reviews would be much loved!
Black Rose
Chapter One
A glowing orb slid silently across the black blanket, it's only company tiny specks scattered around it. The soft light illuminated the earth. Casting shadows at every corner. A woman walked down a deserted street, alone. She walked for a few blocks, then turned and walked through the gates of the Galbania city park. Her shoes made soft clicking noises on the cobblestone path as she walked. A light breeze blew by, and she wrapped her arms around her. It was followed by the sound of a twig breaking. The woman froze. She looked around, but seen nothing. She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking. A dark figure stepped out of the shadows, and crept up behind the woman. The woman screamed out in pain, but the sound quickly died. Just as she did. The dark figure dropped the body to the ground. The figure turned and disappeared into the shadows.
The shrill ring of the telephone made her jump. She turned her gaze away from the television, and looked at it. She reached over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hey, Hey! What are you doing?"
"Sitting here watching tv."
"Are you watching that same old vampire movie again? "
"No." Rinoa lied. "So what's up Selphie?"
"Nothing much, just hanging out with Zell. Hold on a second." Selphie said. In the background there was voices.
"Is that Rinoa?" Zell's voice traveled though the phone.
"Yes."
Rinoa looked at the phone, an amused look on her face as she listed to the two friends banter back and forth.
"Give me the phone. I wanna talk to her."
"No! Go away. Stop it!"
"Selphie…Selphie…"Rinoa said into the phone, trying to catch her attention.
"Well then ask her."
"Selphie!" Rinoa yelled into the phone.
"Ouch, my ear drum."
"Sorry."
"Anyway, Zell wants to know if you're going to go out with all of us night. We're going to this new club over on seventh avenue."
"Selphie, I really don't thi…" Rinoa said before she was cut off.
"Rin! Hey it's Zell. Are you coming with us?"
"No."
"Give me one good reason why not?"
"Because he is going to be there, isn't he?"
"No…"
"I don't believe you."
"Seriously, he is gone. He left town yesterday and won't be back until next month sometime. I wouldn't lie to you."
Rinoa sighed. Zell never had lied to her. Not yet anyway. "Alright, I'll go."
"What did she say?" Rinoa heard Selphie ask Zell.
"She said she'll go. Rin, here I'll give you back to Selphie now."
"Hey! Irvine would kick your ass if he seen you do that."
Rinoa laughed. "What is he doing now?"
"Trying to grab my ass. Get off, perv!"
"Selphie, I am going to get off here, I need to take a shower before we go.."
"Okay, we'll pick you up at nine."
Rinoa hung up the phone. She rubbed her temples. Whenever Selphie and Zell got in the same room with each other, the amount of energy they gave off would give anyone a migraine. She glanced over at the television, she had missed the end of the movie. She knew the ending by heart, it had been her favorite movie since she had first seen it, at the tender age of eight. She remembered how her mother had scolder her father for letting Rinoa watch it.
"She is much to young to watch that...that...movie!" Her mother had yelled.
"Julia, she is fine! Look at her. All smiles and laughter! Not one trace of fear! Good Hyne woman, you would accuse me of having no sense?" Her father bellowed back at his wife.
Julia looked over at her small daughter who was sitting on the floor cross-legged. She was staring intently at the screen. A soft smile on her face. Julia sighed. "If she ends up having nightmares, you get to be the one to deal with it."
Her father hugged his wife and kissed her forehead. "I will even allow you to say, 'I told you so'. Care to watch the rest of the movie with us?"
Rinoa smiled at the rare memory of her parents. She pushed thoughts of them away, and picked up the remote to turn the television off. She stood up and stretched, yawning at the same time. Why did she agree to go out with them? She groaned as she turned to go upstairs. She walked down the hallway and into her bedroom. Opening her closet, she thought about something to wear. She pulled out a pair of her favorite jeans, and then rolled her eyes. It was Halloween night. She put the jeans back and flipped through the clothes that were hanging up trying to find something that could double as a costume. She came to a black dress and pulled it out. See looked at it. The top of it was a corset, with lacing up the back. The bottom of it flowed out from several separate layers of fabric. Funny, she didn't remember ever buying this dress. She looked over it again. She shrugged, it would have to do. She tossed it on her bed, then she headed to the bathroom. She showered and then changed into the dress. She sat down at her vanity, and applied some makeup. She had just finished putting on some strappy heels when she heard her front door open. "Up here Selphie!" She yelled, knowing exactly who it was.
"Hot mamma!" Selphie giggled from behind Rinoa.
She turned around. "Thanks. Oh my Hyne…Tell me your kidding?" Rinoa asked, trying not laugh.
Selphie looked down at herself. "What's wrong with it?"
At that moment Irvine walked into the room. One glance at him and Rinoa couldn't help it. She busted out laughing.
"See, I told you! I look Redciurious!" Irvine said to Selphie.
"No you don't. You look handsome. Now shush!"
Rinoa forced herself to stop laughing. "I'm sorry guys, it's just… Genie and Major Nelson?" She started laughing again. She grabbed her sides, "Oh, it hurts, it hurts!"
"Yo, Irvine! I need you for a second, Dude!" Zell yelled from downstairs. Irvine took his chance to escape.
"Rinoa, did you have to be so mean?" Selphie asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry. It is just not what I expected. Hey, can you help me tie this? I can't reach it."
"Sure." Selphie walked over to Rinoa and pulled hard on the laces and tied them in a big bow.
"Thanks." Rinoa said, and leaned over the vanity. She placed a black choker around her neck and latched it. "Okay, I am ready." The two girls walked downstairs together. Selphie was telling Rinoa about this new club, but she wasn't listening to her. Once outside, the four friends climbed into the car and drove off.
Rinoa half listened to the conversation on the way there. Rinoa had moved to Balamb three years ago. Selphie was the first one she met. She worked at the same office as her. After the two became quick friends, she met Selphie's boyfriend, Irvine. Then she met Zell and Seifer. Seifer and her had dated for about a year. Until she found him screwing around with another girl. She hadn't talked to him much since the day she told him it was over. She avoided him as much as she could. She figured that he would be with them tonight, that was why she hadn't wanted to go. Since he wasn't, she might as well enjoy herself, right?
"Rinoa, are you listening to me?"
"Sorry, what did you say?"
Zell laughed. "I said we're here, and you just sat there staring out the window."
Rinoa looked around. "My bad." She said and climbed out of the car. She followed her friends towards the club, and they walked inside.
Inside the club, the music was almost deafening, there were strobe lights in different colors flashing every few seconds. The air smelled like cigarette smoke and booze. They maneuvered their way through the crowd, heading towards the bar.
"Yeah, can we get four shots of Jack, please." Irvine said, and laid a twenty gil note down on the counter.
"Make that five." A voice behind them said. They all turned around.
"Quistis! Wow, you made it!" Selphie exclaimed as she hugged Quistis. "Oh, Quistis, this is Rinoa. She moved here a few years back. She's part of the group now."
"Nice to meet you." Rinoa said.
"We'll see." She replied.
"Rin, dance with me!" Zell asked, holding out his hand.
She placed her hand in his and went to find a place to dance. Once they found a place, the song changed to "Monster Mash" and everyone started doing the little dance that went along with it. After it was over her and Zell walked back over to the table where their group had ended up at. They all sat around and talked and drank way too much. Zell was the only one not drinking because he was driving them all home.
"So, Rinoa tell me. How did you end up in Balamb?" Quistis asked.
"My mother passed away, my father and me don't really get along. So I left. I had no reason to stay there. I visited Balamb when I was younger and I fell in love. I knew one day I would live here. So here I am."
Quistis just looked at her. "Interesting."
Rinoa didn't know why, but she got the feeling that Quistis didn't like her much. She was judging her.
Everyone was staring at something behind her. They all had a shocked look on their faces. At least, that is what Rinoa hoped it was. "What?" She turned around and looked behind her. She was staring at a belt buckle. She slowly leaned her head back, so she could see this person's face. Damn, he is fine. She let her gaze wander over his face. From his slightly stubble covered chin, to his full lips, that was smiling right now, to his nose, and the scar that ran diagonally across, ending there and starting up on his forehead. At last she looked at his eyes. As she stared into the stormy blue color, she felt as if she was being pulled into him. Suddenly she was aware that she was staring. She felt herself blush a little.
"Hello." She heard him say.
"Hi." She said softly.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
"Sure." She stood, and took the hand that he held out for her, and they walked out onto the dance floor. They was dancing close and grinding together. Rinoa could feel her skin burning. Everywhere his hands went, he set her skin on fire. She turned around and pressed her body against his. He wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her even closer. They moved to the music, and Rinoa could feel herself getting very excited. She turned back around and took a step back from him. She needed space between them. It was not like her to have this strong of an attraction to someone she just met. She didn't even know his name. The music changed to a slow song, and before Rinoa could even think, the mystery man pulled her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she looped hers around his neck. As they slow danced, he ran his hands up and down her back. She could feel dampness forming between her legs. They danced throughout the whole song, not even saying one word to each other. He leaned down and kissed her neck softly, his hot breath caressing her skin. Liquid heat spread thought her whole body, making the area between her legs turn from damp to wet. Before she knew it the song was over.
"You better get back to your friends. They are throwing daggers at me." He grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. "Farewell, my black rose." He let go of her hand, and turned to walk away.
"Wait!" She reached out for him, but he was already too far away. She tried to go after him, but he was lost somewhere in the maze of people. She walked back to her table with a large smile on her face. She sat down in her chair and took a sip of her drink.
"So, how was it?" Selphie asked as she leaned onto the table.
"It was alright. He's a good dancer. I enjoyed myself." She wasn't about to tell her everything right there in front of everyone.
"Do you know who he is?"
"I don't know, he never told me his name. We didn't talk much."
Quistis snorted at this. "They was to busy putting their hands all over each other to talk." She glared at Rinoa.
Rinoa frowned at this.
"Quistis, lay off! Hyne, she was just dancing. You make it sound like she was trying to have an orgy!" Irvine yelled.
Rinoa was relieved that her friends came to her defense. All of a sudden, Rinoa got lightheaded and felt sick to her stomach. She doubled over as a sharp pain ripped through her stomach.
"Rinoa, are you alright?" Zell asked, looking at her.
"Yeah, I'm fin..aughh" The pain came back stronger. "Zell, I don't feel so well. Do you think you could take me home now?"
"Sure thing, babe." Zell helped her up, and they walked off towards the door.
Selphie glared at Quistis. "That wasn't very nice!"
Quistis looked back at her, putting a look of innocence on her face. "I didn't do anything."
"We all know you was being so rude to her! Look, Rinoa is our friend. She doesn't know anything that could make her a threat." Irvine stated.
"What about what she did to Seifer?"
"She didn't do that to him. All she did was break up with his two timing ass. He just took it badly." Selphie explained.
"Whatever." Quistis said, and faded away.
Selphie looked at Irvine. "I hate when she does that."
"Stay here, Rin. I'll go get the car." Zell said as he helped her sit down on a bench outside the club.
Rinoa watched him walk off towards the car. She was feeling better now. The paid was completely gone, and she could barely even remember it. She shivered, and felt goosebumps crawl along her arms. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. She felt as if someone was watching her. She looked around. Everyone she could see was engaged in conversation. She felt someone standing behind her and she turned around. No one was standing there. She heard a horn honk. She turned back around to see that Zell had just pulled up, and was getting out to help her into the car.
Once they got to Rinoa's, Zell helped her inside. "Thank you Zell. It means a lot to me, that you would leave to bringing me home. I think I just need to get some sleep." She gave Zell a hug and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Ok, call me if you need anything. I mean it Rin."
"I will." she whispered and watched him walk to his car. She went inside and shut the door. She went up the stairs to her bedroom. After pulling off the dress, she tossed it into her hamper, and climbed into the bed. She couldn't stop thinking of him. She closed her eyes, and rand her hands over her arms, remembering how it felt to have his arms around her. She had to stop thinking about him, or she was going to get herself even more worked up then she already was. Rolling over onto her side with a sigh, she hugged her body pillow and fell asleep.
