Disclaimer: Refer to first chapter.
Second Chapter, isn't this great? It's average. As is the third. But once the fourth one comes around, things are exciting. Still read.
Chapter Two
The plane ride was already getting to Rinoa, and it was only five minutes in. She had gotten the annoying aisle seat, and although first class, you still got hit with the carts from time to time. Her friends were no where in sight, and Rinoa had just found her seat. The flight attendant had warned her that this plane would be especially full and it only made her day worse. It also mean that switching seats wouldn't be allowed unless another passenger offered to give up their ticket, and who would give up the window seat? Selphie and Quistis had bought their tickets late and online, so chances were they were separate from each other and her.
Quistis came out from the bathroom, Selphie being right behind her, and Quistis took a seat in the row in front of her, right next to the window. Selphie was the complete opposite of Quistis, so they weren't too far from contact, and had to sit with strangers too. The tall man that had bumped into her and so graciously spilled coffee down her shirt was strolling down the aisles, looking for his seat. He stopped at Rinoa's seat, and looked back at his ticket.
"Looks like I got the window seat." He shrugged his shoulders, and Rinoa moved her feet so he could get through. He collapsed in his seat, looking relieved to have finally found himself a seat and to be away from his friends. Funny, Rinoa was thinking almost the exact same thing.
"Your reason for a gambling vacation?" She asked casually, trying to start any conversation and dissolve the awkward silence.
"Dragged here." She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
"Don't sound too excited there." He sighed, and not once had she seen him smile yet.
"I'm not. It's not my idea of relaxing."
"Oxygen-pumped casinos, filled with the sounds of ringing slots and flipping cards. None seem to fit into the relaxing category, it's supposed to be exciting." He looked up at his seat, giving the look of being appalled.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Are you trying to tell me you're going to casinos to relax?" Both were starting to get a bad taste for each other, obviously seeing the lifestyles were different. Luckily, Rinoa was tired and a nap overcame her before an argument could fully develop. The small noises of coughs, flips of magazines, and the roll of the cart also kept her from a blissful sleep. Only an hour went by before Rinoa woke up, (if you could call what she was in a nap) and she headed towards the bathroom.
The person in the mirror looked hideous in her world, the makeup started coming out of her bag. A little cover-up here, a little mascara there, and she was looking a little better. It wouldn't help for her to do a little bit of her hair, either. Outside, she heard the banging on her door.
"Hurry up, I gotta go!" Although they were Selphie-like words, it was a manly voice, and Rinoa through her things back in her bag and opened the door. A short, blonde haired man was at the outside of the door, with a huge, black design tattooed on the side of his face. He was about to step in when he wrinkled his nose. "Smells like perfume."
He seemed friendly enough, but a little hyperactive and immature for being someone of his age, or perhaps she had been around the man in the window seat a little too long. She sat down, and looked out the window, seeing that it was already dark. The man next to her was deep into some sort of healthy magazine, not even paying attention to the scenery next to him. She wanted the window seat, and she certainly wasn't used to not getting her way, so it was her first reaction to ask him.
"Uhm, lawyer-looking guy?" He looked up.
"I'm not a lawyer."
"Smart guy?" He nodded his head, pushing up his reading glasses.
"I suppose that would be a correct assumption." Although the man could be attractive, he had the 'genius and proud of it' air around him.
"Do you think it's alright if I have the window seat?" He looked out the window for the first time that day.
"It's very comfortable here." She put out her bottom lip, like she always did with her father.
"Please? I mean, it's my birthday and all. . ." Her sad eyes came into place, and the man looked completely unaffected.
"Trade with someone else."
"But. . ." He put a hand up and interrupted her.
"I'm not arguing, I'm going to have a long day, I can already tell." She could have cursed at him in four different languages she was so angry. Who did he think he was? No one ever denied Rinoa what she wanted, and sure enough, he would later pay. After calming herself down, there was only half an hour left on the plane, and she was restless after her nap. She wanted to kick and scream, and throw a temper tantrum, especially when she saw the glow of casino lights from outside the airplane.
Rather then that, she just gripped onto the arms of the chair and gritted her teeth, waiting for the moment they landed. The stewardess warned there may be some turbulence, so reluctantly, Rinoa put on her seatbelt. As soon as the plane landed, she was hoping she could leave without having hit the rude man next to her. Her initial thoughts of him being attractive were almost diminished because of his behavior. It didn't seem to only be her who wanted to get off the plane, her friends looked anxious too; for them, it wasn't because of a certain snotty man in the window seat.
Eventually, the plane did make it's safe landing, and getting away was achievable, so Rinoa lifted her bags from the above seat, and started down the aisles. Quistis and Selphie were following right behind her, with their own brightly colored bags right in tow. The airport was very slow in delivering the suitcases, but thankfully they all came back without a scratch. Rinoa was surprised they had come back at all, you couldn't really rely on airports nowadays. When they were finally free of airports, suitcases, luggage, window seats, and obnoxious men, it was time to become occupied with casinos, revealing clothes, top-rated hotels, and hot men. Did anything sound better?
A taxi graciously delivered them to their tall hotel, and Rinoa checked in without a problem. Perhaps things wouldn't be as hectic as she thought today. The casino and club for that day were picked, as were the outfits and make up colors, so the process started. Each woman had the same low-cut shirt, all in different colors. Rinoa's was baby blue, Quistis' was red, and Selphie's was yellow. All of them picked out different skirts, each one at the length that was flirty, but not the size of a headband. The make up process, like usual, took even longer then getting dressed.
Putting on makeup was a tough task. It took skill and precision to make sure you didn't put too much on, but had on just enough to enhance your features. Not many females could master this technique, but they had acquired the talent after much practice. Even mere eye shadow took up to fifteen minutes when you were a pro at applying it.
"Rinoa, this is going to be so fun!" Selphie said as she curled her bouncy hair into it's usual chestnut flounce.
"Finally, Rinoa is a woman." Quistis said, arranging her blonde strands to perfection on top of her head.
"I'm really not all that younger then you, Quistis." Rinoa grumbled while pinning back her hair in a blue, rhinestone clip.
"Legally, you're allowed to do a lot more stuff." Selphie commented, changing the subject.
"I did all the other stuff illegally before. It's not new to me." Quistis shrugged her shoulders.
"Won't it be much nicer to use your real I.D. now?" She said laughing, while Rinoa pouted.
"I still think I'll use my fake one. I like that picture better." Rinoa replied, finishing her look. Like always, everything matched from the necks down, which was the style they had always stuck to. Whenever one had a new shirt, the others had to buy it, if one had new shoes, the others must owned them. This also caused quite a clutter in closets, because shopping was an everyday activity for girls like them. With one final turn for each of them, the evaluation from the others, and the touch ups in between, the dressing was done, with no time to spare.
Rinoa was about to grab the key to the room, but Quistis grabbed it and put it in her purse first.
"I don't doubt you'll be to drunk to remember what a key is after tonight." Rinoa smirked, and the three ladies went out the door. After pushing one of the numerous blue buttons on the elevator, it started it's trip down and opened it's doors. Another great thing about where their hotel was, is that there was always a taxi running up and down the streets. Selphie hailed one, and it pulled over, allowing it's passengers to enter. Quistis gave the name of the club, and the woman hit the pedal, rushing at Quistis' order to beat traffic.
Rinoa clapped her hands, very excited now that they were getting to the fun part of the vacation.
"I feel so grown up!" She exclaimed.
"You'll feel very grown up when you pay the bill for everything." Selphie said, winking at her friend as if it mattered.
"Promise me something," Quistis stated, looking at Rinoa.
"Yes Quisty?"
"Don't do anything crazy and irrational tonight. It'll ruin the whole vibe we have here." Rinoa shook her head.
"I'm not promising anything."
It felt great to be twenty-one.
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Thank you to my reviewers whom I love dearly.
SavannahX - I'm so happy you're reading another one of my Squinoa Fics! I can't help it, I have a Final Fantasy fetish. I love every one of your stories, update soon. Thanks!
c.ho.y - Thank you so much! You made me feel so good about myself, it makes me want to write all the more.
Amy1993882002 - Thank you for reviewing! I hope to hear more from you soon.
