Sub Chapter 2 (Balamb Garden)
Rinoa felt the wind brush across her face as she clung to the stranger's waist. He drove
fast and smoothly, and Rinoa didn't get nervous. "I've never rode in a motorbike before,"
Rinoa said in her head, "It feels kinda good! Maybe I should get one for myself." It was a
silent ride, the stranger or Rinoa didn't say anything. Finally about an hour later, the
teenager spoke again. "We're almost here," he said softly, beneath his helmet. Rinoa
looked up. "Oh! Okay…" Rinoa replied. Soon they arrived in a huge Garden. Rinoa
marveled at the beauty. This was her first time even seeing how a garden looks like.
"Finally, I'm going to Garden…to be a SeeD!" Rinoa said in her head. The stranger went
into the Garden parking lot and parked at an empty space. Rinoa looked at the parking
space they parked in. It said, RESERVED. The stranger got off and started walking.
"Follow me," was all he said. Rinoa followed him even though when she wanted to ask a
question about their parking space. He led her out of the parking lot to the a long
corridor. Rinoa looked around, there were more corridors leading to other places, and in
the middle there was a beautiful fountain surrounding an elevator. While she was still in
awe, the stranger tapped her shoulder. Rinoa quickly turned around. "Um…It's about
lunchtime, you should go to the cafeteria first before you do anything else," he said
cooly, "are you a transfer student?" Rinoa gulped. "Uh…something like that," Rinoa told
him softly, "I have to see the headmaster. I 'm suppose to see him." The stranger spoke
again. He pointed to a corridor, second to the last on the left. "That's the cafeteria, eat
first, then you can take the elevator to the third floor to see the headmaster," he said in a
monotone voice and started to walking away. Rinoa quickly ran up to him and grabbed
his arm before he could get any further. "Um…I just want to say thanks. You've helped
me so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this," said Rinoa. The stranger just
stared at her beneath his helmet, and Rinoa noticed that she was still holding his arm. She
quickly pulled it away and blushed. "You're welcome," the stranger said and starting
walking again. "Oh…that was embarrassing…" Rinoa told herself mentally, "Wait! I
don't even know his name yet!" Rinoa quickly called out to him. "Wait! What's your
name?" Rinoa called out, loud enough for him to hear. He spoke in the same monotone
voice, only louder. "It's Leonhart," he told her, "Nice to meet you." The stranger then
walked to the elevator, opened it and went inside. "Is that supposed to be his last name,
or first name?" Rinoa asked herself, "Oh well, I guess I better go eat." Rinoa walked to
the cafeteria and looked around. It was pretty big and the food smelled good. She went to
the counter, ordered a good meal and went to find an empty table. She found one, sat
down and started eating. She thought while she was eating. "That guy…I guess he
doesn't talk much, but he did help me a lot though! I thought I wouldn't even get here in
a week!" Rinoa thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned
around and saw a teenager about her age, she was wearing a yellow dress and she had
curled brown hair. She smiled. "Um…hi! I've never seen you here before, are you new?"
the girl asked. Rinoa nodded. "Yeah, I'm Rinoa Heartilly. Nice to meet you." replied
Rinoa. The girl jumped up and smiled. "My name's Selphie Tilmitt! Do you want to sit
with me and my friends? We can tell you a little more about garden that way," she said
excitedly. "Sure!" Rinoa answered and carried her tray. She followed Selphie to her table
and sat at an empty seat. "Okay let's all get introduced!" Selphie yelled out, "Everyone,
this is Rinoa Heartilly, she's new here!" Rinoa blushed shyly and muttered a single 'hi'.
"And Rinoa, this is Zell Dincht," she said pointing to a blond teenager with a tattoo on
his face, "Irvine Kinneas, and Quistis Trepe!" Selphie pointed to two more of her friends.
Irvine was a tall guy, with a cowboy hat and a trench coat, and Quistis was a professional
looking teenager wearing a nice vest and a skirt. They all waved and said hi. They started
talking and eating, and Rinoa learned a little more about garden. "So…Rinoa, how did
you get to Garden? Did your parents send you hear or something?" Quistis asked Rinoa
curiously. "Um…well, I actually wanted to come here on my own, leave the house. So I
convinced my dad to let me join Garden," Rinoa answered shyly, "and as for coming
here, I guess it's a long story." Irvine spoke. "Tell us Rinoa! Did anything happen?" he
asked curiously. Rinoa then started her story. "Well, I took a train to Timber, and I was
about to take a train to Deling City, but well, I lost my ticket," she said softly. Zell looked
surprised. "Don't tell me you walked here!" Zell asked horrified. Rinoa shook her head.
"No…I didn't. I wanted too though, but there was this guy, and he gave me a lift here to
garden," Rinoa said. trying to recall more, "He was a SeeD, I guess." Selphie bounced up
on her seat. "Oh! Who was it? Was he cute? Maybe we know him!" asked Selphie
bouncily. Rinoa simply smiled shyly, and Quistis glared at Selphie. "I don't think those
are the right questions to ask, Selphie." said Quistis sighing. "Oh no! It's okay! The guy
drove me here on his motorbike, but I never got to see how he looked. He had his helmet
on the whole time, and I never got to see his face," said Rinoa answering Selphie's
question. "A motorbike, huh?" said Zell while eating his hotdog. "Uh huh, he gave me
his name though…not sure if it's his first or last, but he said it was Leonhart," Rinoa told
them confused. Suddenly it was silent. She looked around the table and saw that
everyone was stunned.
Well, that's all for today, Thanks for the reviews! Sorry I took so long to update! If you guys haven't figured it out yet, the stranger is Squall. Just saying!
Ceres81
