By: XxFatedLoversxX
Chapter One- Everyday Is The Same
She tucked her legs underneath her as she sat down on the window seat. She blew softly on the steaming cup of hot chocolate she held in her hands, and then took a drink of the warm liquid. She looked out the window and watched the snow begin to fall. She felt at peace. A small smile formed on her lips. Not the fake practiced smile she was used to, but a real smile. A car pulled into the driveway and the smile faded away. She watched as he got out of the car and walked up to the front door, followed by the sound of him coming into the house.
"Rinoa, I'm home." She heard him call out.
Do you expect a parade? She thought in her head. No. Not a parade. She always knew what he expected. The thought made her cringe.
"Rinoa? Where are you?"
Better answer him before he gets mad. "I'm in the living room." She called back to him. She listened to his footsteps heading towards her, the peaceful feeling she felt a few minutes ago was now gone. Now she was filled with dread and was uneasy. Life with him was different everyday. But somehow always the same. She went to bed every night feeling the same thing…
"There you are sweetie." He walked up and kissed her on the lips. "How was your day?"
Rinoa looked at him. Did he really just ask how my day was? Okay, something has to be wrong. "It was okay. How was yours?"
"Not bad, not bad at all. What for dinner?"
"I have a pot roast in the oven. It'll be ready in about an hour." She said softly and shifted so her back was towards him, and stared back out at the snow again.
"The weather man says that we're in for a big storm."
She jumped slightly. He had moved closer to her. Soon she felt his hands on her shoulders softly massaging them. He leaned down and kissed her neck softly, moving his way up to her ears. He softly sucked her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled on it. Rinoa felt herself pull away. "Stop." She heard herself whisper. It was barely audible, but she knew by the rough way he pushed her away that it had been like a sonic boom to his ears. Oh shit, I've done it now…
"What did you just say to me, bitch?" He grabbed her upper arm and pulled her off the window seat. Letting go once she was off, causing her to fall to the floor with a thud. "Stand up."
Rinoa felt that overwhelming feeling come over her and she struggled to stand up. He legs had turned to Jell-O. She felt him grab her arm again and yanked her upwards.
"I told you to stand up. Now, I was you to explain to me what you said and why you said it."
She could feel his eyes on her. She couldn't bring herself to look anywhere but at the floor. "I…" her voice faltered.
"Are you going to explain, or do I need to beat it out of you?"
"Seifer… I just asked you to stop so that I could go check on supper. I thought I smelled it burning…" She wanted to scream. She could feel herself try to, but the sound died somewhere in her throat.
"I don't smell anything." He crossed his arms. "Look at me when I am talking to you."
"That's why I said, I thought I smelled it burning." As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted it. "I me…" She didn't get to finish what she was saying. She felt his hand connect with the side of her face.
"You dare get lippy with me? I see that I am going to have to remind you what the punishment is for back talk."
The first punch connected with her jaw, the second with her nose, the third hit her in the eye, the next in the ribs, then the stomach. Rinoa fell to the floor sobbing. She begged for him to stop. The more she begged the harder he hit her and the wider his grin grew. After a few minutes ticked by, the beating stopped.
"Listen to me whore. I am going down to the corner store to get some beer. When I get back I expect dinner to be waiting on the table. Hyne help you if it isn't." He turned and left the room, then left the house.
Rinoa lay on the floor in a crumpled heap, sobbing. Blood ran from her nose and her lip. Slowly she sat up. Using the window seat she pulled herself up to her feet. She headed to the bathroom to clean herself up.
Outside: fifteen minutes later…
He pulled into the driveway and put the car into park. He took the keys out of the ignition, and grabbed a large duffel bag from the passenger seat. He got out of the car and headed up the walkway to the house in front of him. Home, he thought to himself. He was halfway to the front door when he heard someone call out behind him. He turned around. A man was jogging towards him. He noticed the mans blonde hair was perfectly groomed, his clothes neatly pressed. A pretty boy. He felt his eyes roll.
"Hey there! You the one who bought this place?"
"Yes."
"I seen people moving furniture and stuff in here the last few days, but no one seemed to know who the new owner was. I live next door, Seifer Almay." Seifer held his hand out.
"Squall Lionheart." Squall took his hand and shook it.
"Well, nice to meet you. Welcome to the neighborhood. I have dinner waiting for me, stop by some time and I'll introduce you to the little misses."
Yeah, whatever. Squall laughed to himself then went inside his house.
Back inside Rinoa's
"Supper is on the table." Rinoa said softly to Seifer as he shut the front door behind him.
"Perfect. I met our new neighbor. He seems okay, if maybe a little shy."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes. I think we should invite him over for dinner some night this week. Make him feel welcome. What do you say?"
Rinoa wasn't always a fool. She knew that she really had no say. "Sounds good to me. I have this new idea for a spin on tacos. Maybe I could make that?"
"Sure." Seifer looked up at her as she sat his plate down in front of him. "You feeling okay? You don't look so good."
"I think I might be coming down with a cold. I've felt a little feverish today. Would you mind if I go and lay down for a little while?" She was careful how she worded what she said. She couldn't handle another beating tonight.
"Sure." He said and smiled at her. He softly touched the skin around her eye that was turning a light purple color. "You know that I hate to do this to you. You leave me with no choice."
Rinoa stared at the floor. "I know. I understand." It was all she was able to get out.
"Go head and go to bed. I'll clean up in here."
Rinoa had to force herself not to run as she turned and left the room. She went upstairs to their bedroom. She shut the door behind her, and walked over to the bed. She changed into her nightgown that she had laying out on the bed. She opened the top drawer to her nightstand and pulled out a small bottle. She opened the bottle and took out two of the small blue pills. She put the bottle back, and took the pills. Afterwards she climbed into the bed, rolled over on her side and closed her eyes. She sighed softly and whispered, "Everyday is the same…" She laid there waiting to fall asleep.