"Rinoa! The Garden Festival Committee could really use your help. We have so little members…"
The four girls were at the library, and Selphie had been trying to convince Rinoa to join the committee for over twenty minutes, with little luck. Rinoa had resisted, but her protests were becoming weaker by the second. She knew it would make Selphie happy, and it would be the only way to get her to lay off the subject.
"Ok, Selphie. Ok. I give up. I'll help out when you need it. Satisfied?" Selphie let out an emphatic "Woohoo!" before getting up from their table and walking toward another group of people. "You know, you're too nice for your own good, Rinoa." Alira commented with a laugh. "Like you're any better Miss I-Just-Wanted-Some-Peace-and-Quiet-So-I-Could-Study." Rinoa shot back.
"That is true." Alira admitted. "But Selphie does a lot for her friends. Her being so happy all the time always raises everybody's spirits. I figured it was the least I could do. Besides, there really aren't that many events. Just a couple of dances and concerts…"
Quistis sighed. She seemed down. She had been determinedly trying to ignore the conversation at the table, so as to get some work done. Rinoa noticed, however, that she had been at the same page in her text book for the past half hour.
Rinoa's heart froze when she saw Selphie's next victim. Squall had been cornered by Selphie, and was looking extremely uncomfortable in his current situation. Rinoa smirked.
'Payback. Maybe that's why Quistis isn't able to study? Because Squall's here?'
She allowed her eyes to wander over his facial features, and sighed in admiration.
'Why does he have to be so good-looking? It's a good thing we are always fighting in class, or I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else except staring at him.' No. Not good. She was not going to think about Squall that way. It just wouldn't work out. One of her friends had a thing for him. Not only that, but they were polar opposites.
'And he would never feel the same way. He dislikes me because I annoy him...' Rinoa thought unhappily. She hated to admit it, but even though all they did was fight, Rinoa felt attracted to him. He was a jerk, and hard to get along with, but… there was just something there.
'Geez, Rinoa.' She thought to herself. "Always attracted to the bad boys and the ones you can't have…'
Deciding to have mercy on Squall, Rinoa interrupted a still talking Alira, told her to hold on, and headed towards Squall's table.
"Hey Selph, I think your fighting a losing battle, hun. Maybe you should try again some other time." Rinoa said gently. Selphie looked at Squall, then at Rinoa, finally nodding and heading to her next group of victims, not hindered at all.
"Thanks." Squall muttered, looking relieved.
"No Problem." Rinoa replied. "I just know how annoying it can be to have to deal with Selphie's persistence.
Squall nodded. Rinoa waited for him to say something, but then realizing that he wasn't going to, she said, "Well take care, Squall." And walked back toward her seat by Alira, who shot her a questioning look.
"You know, Rinoa, for someone who says they don't like Squall, you seem to be around him an awful lot. I saw you two coming to dinner together last week." Alira teased.
"Please Alira. He was showing me where the cafeteria was and then insulted me. I'm in love with him, let me tell you." Rinoa answered, cheekily.
At that moment, Quistis slammed her book shut, muttered something about having somewhere to be, and left the library.
"I shouldn't have said that around her. She's very insecure when it comes to Squall. She gets very splenetic when I mention him." Alira frowned. "I know you don't like Squall. I was only joking."
"I know." Rinoa said. 'You don't like him, but you think he's attractive…' Blocking out that thought, she replied, "I just wished Quistis would like somebody who would give her the time of day. I mean, she's gorgeous and smart. I'm sure there is a wonderful guy out of her many admirers who would treat her right."
"Oh well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
Rinoa smiled. "You and Selphie with your damn cliché sentences. Come on, let's go drag Selphie away from those poor souls."
Later that night, Rinoa was heading to her dorm from dinner, when she was suddenly grabbed by the arm from behind. She looked into the deep green eyes belonging to the assailant, recognizing them immediately from all the staring into them she had done last summer….
"Seifer." Rinoa had known this would be coming. She had been trying to avoid him ever since she first came to Balamb. Seifer had been a friend of Rinoa's friend, Stacy, back in Deling. Since boarding school didn't extend to the summer season, Seifer spent plenty of time with Stacy, hence being introduced to Rinoa.
Their relationship had been short-lived and passion-driven. Rinoa had fallen for his bad boy persona and good looks immediately. She had taken to him so well, she naively believed she was in love with him. However, the summer had ended, quicker than Rinoa would have liked, and Seifer had to leave for school. Rinoa had begged him to keep the relationship going, but to no avail. Seifer said he wasn't interested in a long distance relationship, and had broken Rinoa's heart.
Time had healed Rinoa of her infatuation, and she dreaded the confrontation that was sure to come from facing Seifer.
"Rinoa, it's been a long time." Seifer said with a smile. He leaned towards Rinoa, but she took a step back.
"Seifer. It's nice to see you… well no, not really. I don't have time for this…See ya around."
"Rinoa, you are going back to your dorm. You have plenty of time. We have plenty of time to rekindle our relationship. Don't pretend like that's not what you want." Seifer smirked.
"No. It is over. That's how you wanted it. So take your decision like a man. I'm not interested." Rinoa turned to walk away, but was once again pulled by the arm straight into Seifer's arms.
A wave of nostalgia crashed into Rinoa as Seifer lowered his lips onto hers. She remembered all the feelings that had once ignited her soul, her passion….
'No Rinoa. You were too hurt. Don't let him manipulate you…' Rinoa mustered her strength and pushed away, but Seifer grabbed her arms and pushed her against the wall.
"Stop fighting it, Rinoa." Seifer tried for her lips again, but she turned her head.
"Seifer, stop it!" Just when she was about to give up hope of being rescued, she received salvation; salvation in the form of Squall Leonhart.
"Seifer, I believe Heartilly said to leave her alone." Squall, arms folded walked over to where the two were standing.
Seifer let go of Rinoa, who took the chance to move behind Squall.
Glaring at his enemy, he replied, "I don't think this is any of your business, Puberty Boy. What, are you playing Knight now? Have a crush on Rinoa? Wow, those hormones sure kick in fast."
"Seifer, you're only embarrassing yourself with your idiocy." And with that, Squall grabbed Rinoa's wrist and pulled her down the hallway.
"Owww… Geez, do you mind? That's the third time today. My shoulder's gonna come out of its socket." Squall let go of her wrist, and glared down at Rinoa.
"Whatever." He started walking down the hallway toward his dorm, when he heard a "thank you" come from behind him.
But Squall, already tired from the minimal amount social interaction he had encountered, just waved a hand in reply, and kept on walking.
Rinoa waited for her usual feeling of annoyance emerge, but it didn't. Instead, she felt happy. Squall had helped her. And touched her…. But she wasn't going to admit that had made her even happier.
But she would admit that Squall was slowly edging his way into her heart.
'Too bad he's an untouchable…'