A/n: WARNING this chapter contains characters talking about sex, gasp! Stop reading at the line break, and skip to the next line break if you do not wish to read that part of the story. Also, I noticed I labelled the last chapter as chapter four, when it was actually chapter three, so please ignore that.

Thank you so much to L.B.Dreamer5914, Hououza, Freyjadour, Cerulean Crystal and Yuleen75.

Chapter Four

Selphie hadn't mentioned anything more about Seifer throughout the day, and as soon as Rinoa had left her photography class, she'd seen her father parked on the road waiting for her. Selphie was waiting a little further down the road, she was speaking on her phone, and rummaging in her bag.

Rinoa tried to catch her friend's eye before she climbed into her father's car, but Selphie didn't look her way.

"Hi dad," Rinoa said as she slung her bag onto the floor of the car and reached for her seatbelt.

"Good day?" he enquired, his voice sounding awkward. He never picked her up from school and they rarely ever made small talk.

"Yeah, I developed that film today, and made some prints," Rinoa said watching Selphie disappearing into the distance as they drove along.

"Good," her father replied as if that was plenty of information. "I'm having some people over tonight, you're welcome to join us at dinner, or I can make your excuses."

Rinoa guessed that he must be feeling guilty still, and was making a conscious effort to be nicer to her. Clearly he was still blaming himself, but rather than feel bad, Rinoa thought she might as well make the most of it. She hated social dinners, they made her too nervous to eat anything and she always ended up leaving the table early.

"Thanks, but I've got a lot of work to do. I have an essay on how the weather reflects the moods of the characters," Rinoa lied, she'd in fact handed that essay in today. "For English Lit."

Her father nodded, pleased that she was taking an interest in her school work at last.

"I'll give you some money for a takeaway then," he said.

Rinoa smiled in thanks, he really was trying to be nice.

Once at home, Rinoa waited as her father pulled some notes from his wallet and handed them over. Rinoa thanked him and pocketed the cash, her money had been getting pretty low lately, what with going out so much with Selphie. Keeping up the charade of ordering a takeaway, Rinoa went to the kitchen and found the take out menus.

"I'll phone for one later," Rinoa said as she passed her father on in the hallway, before hurrying up to her room.

Not yet knowing how she was going to manage to sneak out tonight, Rinoa emptied her school bag onto her bed. It was Friday, and the lectures always liked to pile on the homework over the weekend.

English Literature was annotating more poems, photography wanted pictures of nature, law had thankfully let her off, and maths had more problems for her to solve. She dragged out her maths book and stared at the numbers. She'd only taken up the subject because her father had forced her to, she much preferred poems and books.

Maths never took too long to finish, she could only get the answer right or wrong. The rest was another matter. The phone rang as she tapped her pen on the book, and she welcomed the interruption.

Selphie's name was flashing on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey Rin, are you coming out tonight? I think we're going back to the barn. Seifer's bringing some other friends, so Irvine is going to drive tonight."

Rinoa paused before she answered, she wondered whether it might be better just to stay in and get that takeaway, but she also wanted to see Seifer. She needed to know whether she was simply making things up in her mind, or whether he'd want to talk to her again tonight.

"I got caught last night Selph," Rinoa said quietly so that her voice wouldn't carry outside of her room.

"What? You didn't tell me that!"

"I know, but now my dad is being really nice and he's got people coming over tonight, I don't know if I can get out of the house."

There was silence as Selphie thought, Rinoa half hoped Selphie would give up tonight and suggest they went out tomorrow instead.

"But you have to! Seifer has all these people coming, and I don't know any of them. Please?"

Rinoa bit her lip. She knew she was going to regret her reply as soon as she hung up the phone, whatever she said. If she was caught again she knew her father wouldn't be acting like he was at the moment.

"Ok, I'll try. Are you sure we're going to the barn, because I'll wear flats if we are."

"Yeah the barn," Selphie confirmed. "Yay, it's going to be so fun! I'll tell Irvine to come round at seven."

"Alright, I'll see you," Rinoa said before ending the call.

Seven didn't leave her much time. Grabbing a menu, Rinoa ordered some noodles, the cheapest thing there, and headed for the shower. She rushed her beauty regime in order to answer the doorbell and pay for her food. She smiled at her dad who was sitting in the kitchen, and grabbed a fork.

"I'm going up to my room," Rinoa said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Her father nodded, but he was once again buried in post he hadn't yet opened, and didn't reply.

So far so good Rinoa thought.

Irvine arrived on time, she knew he was waiting because Selphie had text her to say they were outside. Sneaking down the stairs, her bag over her shoulder and shoes in hand, Rinoa crossed the hallway and crept into the downstairs toilet.

Replacing her shoes on her feet, she threw her bag out of the small window and attempted to follow suit. Standing on the toilet she pushed herself through the window headfirst. She regretted her decision when she landed hard on her outstretched hands and crumpled onto the floor.

Pushing herself up and onwards before the pain kicked on, Rinoa reached Irvine's car out of breath.

"What happened to you?" Irvine asked as she jumped into the back.

"Climbed out a window," Rinoa said, her chest heaving and her hair a mess.

Irvine laughed, but it was not an including laugh, Rinoa knew he thought she was a joke. Selphie gave her a genuine smile, and Rinoa found herself forgiving her at once for having such a rude boyfriend.

Irvine drove much safer than Seifer, and Rinoa had no cause to be alarmed on the journey. The two in the front were very quiet, and Rinoa found herself the one making conversation.

"Who are these friends that Seifer's bringing?" she asked.

"People he works with I think," Selphie said. "They'e older than us."

There was silence again. Rinoa began to wonder whether Selphie and Irvine had had some kind of row before coming to pick her up. When the car stopped, she was glad to get out.

Seifer had beaten them there, and his friends were making a lot of noise. They had begun drinking already, and were making the most of the rope swing. Seifer smiled Rinoa's way as she followed Selphie and Irvine, and she blushed and looked away.

Irvine left Selphie sitting with Rinoa alone at the side of the barn, and went to join the rest. Selphie rested her head in her hands, her face downcast.

"Something wrong?" Rinoa asked.

"Irvine wanted to have sex," Selphie replied not looking at her, but still watching Irvine.

The bluntness of Selphie's reply took Rinoa aback. She had no experience in anything of the kind, and she felt her skin prickle with nervousness. If she didn't give the right advice, or say the right thing, Selphie might realise her inexperience.

"Oh," she said. She hoped Selphie would speak again, and get rid of the silence.

Rinoa felt her face burning. She hadn't been expecting such a reply.

"We've only been going out a few months," Selphie said. "So I said I wasn't ready yet and he got all weird."

"He should respect that," Rinoa said, hoping that she didn't sound old fashioned. It was what chat show hosts usually said, before they were applauded.

Selphie nodded.

"My last boyfriend wasn't very nice," Selphie continued.

"Why?" Rinoa asked, her voice was soft but enquiring. She had never had an opportunity to speak about these things with anyone before, and she didn't know what to make of it.

"He was too rough. I didn't like it," Selphie said.

Rinoa sat stunned. She wondered how Selphie could share something so personal and not be embarrassed. She saw tears forming in her friend's eyes and realised that Selphie was trusting her not to cast judgement. She touched Selphie's arm in support.

"So, you see I don't want to rush this time."

"Can't you tell him?" Rinoa asked.

Selphie laughed, but it was hollow.

"Tell Irvine? You know what he's like."

All that Selphie's story did for Rinoa was to confirm her belief that Irvine was not the kind of boyfriend Selphie needed, and that sex was the cause of all problems. She was glad that she was without a boyfriend, then looked at Seifer and her feelings began to change. He smiled at her again once he saw her looking.

"Want a drink?" Selphie asked, trying to be bright and cheery once more.

"Sure," Rinoa said, but before they could get up, the barn was flooded with a bright light.

"Police!" the intruder shouted causing everyone to panic. The bright light was coming from the headlights of a police car.

Seifer's friends bolted for the back exit, but Rinoa knew she couldn't run. She was too frightened, staring into the bright light blinded.

Rinoa was delivered back to her house in the early hours of the morning. She hadn't been charged with anything, let off the charge of trespassing and breaking and entering. The police took her home with a warning, and abandoned her to her father's anger.

"Dad I'm really sorry," Rinoa said once the police had gone, but her father wouldn't be appeased.

"I don't want to hear it" he shouted making Rinoa flinch in fear. "Being brought home by the police. That's it Rinoa, I've had enough. I can't watch you all the time, but I'll make damn sure someone else will!"

Rinoa watched him turn his back on her and walk away, once he was gone she leant against the wall and slid down to the floor. She had never felt so frightened in all her life. All she wanted was some friends, and was it too much to ask that she might one day have her very first boyfriend? She didn't understand why it had gone so wrong.

And, what did her father mean by finding someone to watch her?