A/N: Thank you for the reviews, my pc died when i was in the middle of writing this chapter and wasnt able to save it, so my 7pages got lost and i had to rewrite it from scratch. Well anyway, enough with my rambling, chapter 7!
Disclaimer: i don't own SquareEnix but i sure own the other additional characters! especially Sylvester, i love his character LOL
--Chapter 7--
Meet my Family
-
Squall arrived at the palace in approximately 30minutes from Rinoa's place, although he drove in about 220km/hour. The Presidential Palace was situated in the heart of the city of Esthar, and since her place was in Old Esthar, which is in the far Northern part of the city, it was quite a long drive.
"Welcome back, Mr. Leonhart." the guard at the front gate called out as the speeding black Jaguar went into the Palace grounds.
Squall was disembarking his car when he heard a huge commotion from the Great Hall, a series of inaudible voices were being heard, and he thinks he knows who it is and what it is about.
As he approached the huge oak double doors, the voice became clearer. "DAMMIT! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO CALL UP THE CATERER AND BRING THE FOOD HERE AN HOUR BEFORE THE GALA AND NOW YOU TELL ME THAT IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE??"
Squall was hearing it clearer when he actually entered the Entrance Hall, "Ellone is too worried, and the gala won't start in approximately 12 hours and she's panicking like it's in a minute." Squall said to the maid that passed by, all worried and panicky. "She should really be told to shut up and "Well, she's been like that since this morning, when she woke up to find that the two men of the house weren't in the 'house'." She said the last part while doing those quotation marks in the air sign.
Squall went to the Great Hall to do HIS job and as he approached his destination he heard Ellone's words a lot more clearly.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I DON'T NEED ANOTHER SET OF MENUS! I HAVE SEEN FAR ENOUGH, I WANT THE ONE THAT I ORIGINALLY ORDERED! THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY PLANNED AND SET! THOSE WERE ALREADY PERFECT AND I NO, I DO NOT LIKE CAVIAR!" Squall found Ellone screaming at the maid while waving the menu threateningly.
"It's the caterer's fault Ellone," Squall said. "Not Clarisse's so why not yell at them and not at her?" Ellone threw the tenth menu to Clarisse and it barely missed her by a few millimeters. Clarisse quickly picked it up and gathered all of the other menus and went to escape Ellone's fuming words.
"So you finally decide to come home?" she hissed obviously hearing what Squall said. "Once again, dear brother, you and our dearest father decided not to come home and help me with the preparations!" she yelled as she approached Squall.
"For Hyne's sake Ellone, calm down." Squall raised his voice seeing that Ellone was red with fury. "Geez, there's still plenty of time to 'perfect' the plan."
"YOU DARE SAY THAT," Ellone was now yelling at the top of her lungs. "YOU AREN'T EVEN HERE TO FEEL THE PRESSURE OF PLANNING, YET AGAIN, A PERFECT GALA! YOU COME LATE TO OUR GALAS AND THAT IS JUST BECAUSE YOU ONLY WANT TO TAKE PART OF THE PARTY ITSELF." she screamed.
"Look Ellone, I went to help this friend of mine," he told her. "She's sick and no one could take care of her so I decided to stay there and take care of her."
"WOW, YOU ARE SUCH A NICE FRIEND." Ellone replied sarcastically. "BUT YOU WILL NEVER REALLY BE TREASURED WHEN THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY TREASURE IS YOURSELF!"
"LOOK WHO'S TALKING! YOU'RE NOT SO PERFECT TO LITTLE-MISS-PRIM-AND-PROPER!" he bellowed on the red faced Ellone. Squall was losing his "cool" and didn't like the way she insulted him just now. "YOU YELL AT EVERYONE YOU SEE, AND SCARE THE HELL OUTTA THEM, WHO DO YOU THINK'LL FUNCTION BETTER IF YOU DO THAT?!"
"WELL YOU CAN'T EVEN COME TO AN EVENT WITHOUT MAKING A TOTAL DISASTER OUT OF IT! YOU ARE ONE HECK OF A PERSON TO SAY TO ME THAT WHAT I AM DOING IS WRONG WHEN YOU YOURSELF CAN'T TAKE ANY PART OF THIS!" she added in a harsher tone.
"LITTLE DADDY'S GIRL THINKING THAT YOU ARE PERFECT!" Squall returned the same fury as his sister did. "HEY, NEWS FLASH YOU HAVE FLAWS TOO, WE ARE ONE AND THE SAME! ONLY DIFFERENCE IS YOU DENY THESE AND I DON'T!" he insulted his sister way worse that she did him
Their sibling bickering continued, as the words that they lashed at each other were getting deeper and darker, and not to mention out of the original argument. This argument was the product of the battles that never really determined who won between the two. All the maids and servants went inside the kitchen just to escape the raging words of fire that the two siblings lashed out. It was war.
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CAUSES ALL THE HAVOC! YOU WRECK EVERYTHING, AND NOT TO MENTION STAIN AND DISRESPECT THE FAMILY NAME!" Ellone was screaming at her brother straight in the face. She was just about to slap him in the face, but then she thought she was better than that, so she remained standing a meter away from him. "YOU ARE A DISGRACE; A BASTARD!"
"OH AND YOU'RE NOT?!" Squall hissed. "YOU SCREWED ALL THE MEN IN YOUR COLLEGE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TO MENTION A PROFESSOR OR TWO! YOU'RE A WHORE!" he glared at her and yelled, "YOU'RE A FRIGGIN BTCH, ELLONE!"
"YOU ASSHOLE!!" and then she lunged at him with claws out in the open. Squall managed to evade some of her attacks but a huge red scratch mark was left on his left cheek.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR? I KNOW YOU SCRATCH MEN WHEN YOUR IN BED WITH THEM BUT," Squall was now yelling at her fallen figure. "ME?! YOU'RE OWN BROTHER?!"
"You are sick. And by the way, I don't use Loire as my surname." he added the last part in a whisper and looked at Ellone with utter hatred.
Now, he has done it. Ellone stood up and fixed her clothes, before once again, lunging into battle; this time she was slapping him. "YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAT A TWIRP! A COMPLETE ASSHOLE!" She yelled at him while tears were starting to form in her eyes from all the anger.
"YOU SLEEP WITH WHORES! FOR ALL I KNOW THE PERSON YOU WERE WITH LAST NIGHT WAS ONE TOO!" Ellone just made the biggest mistake of her life. Squall slapped her square on the face and left her there to be found by their father.
"SQUALL ANDREW LEONHART LOIRE!"
Oh brother he's finally arrived.
"What?" Squall hissed as he spun around to face the raging fury his father has to offer.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR SISTER?!" Laguna yelled at his son, as he helped Ellone up.
"Oh again, the daddy's girl's the one to be saved and considered a heroine." he replied as he rolled his eyes. "I slapped her! Isn't it obvious?" he said sarcastically while pointing to the now red cheek of Ellone.
Ellone staggered a bit to stand up and was now glaring at Squall. "You're the one who started it! You were never of any help and you have the effing right to dictate me, I don't think so!" she hissed.
"OH I STARTED IT?" Squall was getting heated up again. "WHO WAS YELLING AT CLARISSE JUST MOMENTS AGO? WHO WAS THREATENING TO THROW THE MENU AT HER FACE?" he said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Ellone, you yelled at Clarisse? What for??" Laguna was now wearing the expression of utter perplex. He doesn't know who to believe or what to believe.
"Uh, well..." Ellone began, but Squall cut in. "See father YOUR daughter's not so perfect after all, I guess all your seeds are bad." Squall muttered under his breath, feeling the sensation of victory.
"I was just, um..." Ellone cannot explain her side quite well, she was surely losing. "He called me a bitch!" she blurted out.
"You did?" Laguna does not know what to do now. His son was correct; they really are no good. "Well she called me a no good bastard!" Squall cut in. Ellone started yelling at her brother and was starting to heat up as well. They were starting the war all over again, to decide who'll be the victor.
"Enough! Both of you cut it out!" Laguna finally yelled out. "Get out of my face! You are both grounded or better yet I'll cancel the Gala!"
That's just perfect! I'm leaving this place. Crap
Squall walked out on his screaming father, while Ellone, tried to clear her stained name. He stepped out to the grounds and took off. He was debating with himself about where he should go, what he should do, but at his current mood and state he wasn't making any progress.
I need to calm down... at this rate I might just kill the next person I see.
Squall drove on, and on and on. He had no destination in mind, he has only hate. He was so pissed at his family, for taking sides and for blaming him. It was just unfair.
It's never fair, come to think of it, Ellone got off easily, she was enrolled in a regular coed school and I had to attend Esthar's military school. She got the title of first daughter and I got the title of the "other" kid. She's the one with the good image and she knows that people know this, and I was left to be the one criticized.
"It's never fair!" Squall blurted out as he stepped on the gas and headed for no where.
He thought of going to Seifer's place, or maybe Irvine's but then again something deep within him says that doing that will only spike his anger again, and thus, making things worse than what it already is.
What if I go to Rinoa's? I really did promise her that I'd come by… and maybe she can talk some sense into me, because right now…
"Ungh…" Squall groaned as he realized that thinking about his family problem's only giving him headaches. He decided to go to Rinoa's place and he wanted to tell her everything; every nook and cranny of this whole mess.
As he parked across the street, he saw a car was parked outside her house. Hmm, I wonder who that Volvo belongs to.He cut off the engine and decided to give Rinoa a ring before he went to knock, as he searched for his cell phone, a woman stepped out to their veranda and went to start up the engine of the car. Squall just silently looked at what the woman was doing. She was in her middle ages and was apparently waiting for somebody. After a short while, Aunt Cecile went out too and joined the woman in the car.
I think they're leaving, so that would mean… Rinoa will be alone. Perfect.
The middle aged woman then backed up the driveway and went to speed off to the direction of the Eastern blocks. Squall then revved up his engine again and went to park in Rinoa's driveway.
The sound of a rumbling engine came to reach Rinoa's ears in the kitchen and she went to check on it. Hmm, auntie might have forgotten something. I'd better go and check. But when Rinoa peeped through the window, she didn't see a silver Volvo instead she saw an awfully familiar car.
Squall's here!
She then rushed to go outside and welcome him, but as soon as she opened the door for him, she saw the look of utter frustration and melancholy spread across his angelic face.
"Squall, is something the matter?" She asked as she led him to the couch. "If there is, do you need help advice or something…? "
"Rinoa," he began. "I had a fight with my family."
Well, better be done with the hard part.
"Huh?" Rinoa looked confused. "But why? Is it because you didn't come home?"
"Well, part of it. You see when I got home, my sister Ellone was yelling a top her lungs and she could be heard all over the house." He began his story with this statement, not really implying where, what, or even who his prominent family is. "I got off my car, and went straight to where I heard the sounds were coming from."
"And then?"
"Then I saw Ellone, she was yelling at our maid, Clarisse, for something that is of low importance." He continued. "I saw this happening and decided to do something about it, so I went and told her to stop."
"I'm not being irrational by doing it too, since she was the one who was getting pissed off with Clarisse for such a small reason." He added.
"And then one thing led to another, and before I knew it she went lashing onto me."
I hope she doesn't notice that this was haphazardly summarized and not to mention I left out all the good parts.
"Well, seems like you had a pretty big fight." Rinoa said earnestly, trying to think of something to say to Squall, and that is when she saw it. She saw the scratch mark on his left cheek. The swelling has subdued but then there are still some remnants of the nail. "Squall!" she suddenly exclaimed.
"What?!" Squall was caught off guard by this sudden reaction that he actually almost hugged Rinoa, thinking that she was in danger. "What's the matter?"
"Oh, I'm sorry for over reacting. It's just I saw a scratch mark and it looks pretty deep for one." she said trying to sound calm and composed despite her obvious shock from what she is seeing. "Um, we better get that cleaned up."
Rinoa went to the kitchen to search for her auntie's first aid kit. I wonder why he got that cut, and from his sister too, he must've said something that'll make her lunge at him for sure. She thought while searching through the cutlery, and I wonder if he'll still introduce me to them, I mean given their current situation. She finally found the kit, and stupid her, forgot that it was just under the sink.
She returned to Squall with the kit and a bottle of alcohol in hand. Squall cocked an eyebrow as he saw the huge bottle of alcohol. "You really think it is that infected?" he said while still looking at the alcohol.
"No, not really." She spoke nonchalantly as she worked on his cut. "I'm curious, why is this cut so deep, I mean it's only been cut by a nail."
"HAHA, well the answer to that is because my sister gets her nails painted with platinum polish," he said it in an awkwardly happy manner. "You know the ones you use to make your nails the ultimate self defense weapon."
Aww man this is embarrassing I swear to Hyne.
Rinoa just cocked an eyebrow at him and asked, "Why do you know such things? Those aren't cheap you know," she continued. "It's like 200Gil per nail. They're really expensive and not to mention totally useless."
"Well not really since now—OW!" he yelled as Rinoa applied pressure on the alcohol soaked cotton, on Squall's wound. "Sorry." She replied with a smile, the goofy one.
"Anyway, it's not really useless." Squall carried on while indicating the painful sensation he just felt. "Hmmm…"
"Yeah Rin?"
"There is a bit of platinum in the wound, that's why it is painful." Rinoa muttered. Squall found it weird that she knew how to mend things like these, so he asked if she had any background in simple medicinal procedures or techniques. "Nope, I had no training, this is just instinct, you see I'm a cheerleader and when the nurse is not available I tend to my squad's medical need." She explained while trying to get rid of the platinum that was stuck in Squall's wound.
"OOOOOOUUUUCCCHH!!"
"Oh stop being a baby Squall," Rinoa said as she finally pulled out the 3 millimeter platinum in Squall's wound. "There, all done now."
"All we have to do now is put a band aid," she said as she took one from the kit and placed it on the wound. "And muahla!" and with that she gave the wound a kiss, to be exact she gave Squall a kiss on the cheek.
Rinoa turned scarlet and started to clean up the kit as fast as she can. What the hell Rinoa?? The kiss has obviously not yet registered to Squall yet, that when Rinoa stood up that is when he asked, "Did you just kiss me?"
"Well yeah, to make it heal faster." And she went back to the kitchen to return the kit. "So Squall," She spoke from the kitchen sink. "We're not going to the Gala anymore are we?"
"No, I'm afraid we aren't." he said while thinking. Shall I tell her the truth? She deserves it anyways…
"Oh I see."
"Rin, come here I want to tell you something."
Rinoa approached Squall with an earnest but confused look on her face. "Haven't you already told me everything?"
"No. You see Rinoa," he said as he gently pulled her down to sit beside him. "My father's really prominent here, and if they find out what happened between me and my sister, then my dad's ass will be in jeopardy."
"Just how prominent are you when you say you are prominent?" Rinoa asked. Did I just make sense? Well he isn't exactly making any too.
"Well, don't laugh and you better believe me too." Squall said taking her hand in the process. "You have to promise."
"Yeah I promise." She said while taking her hand away from his grasp. "It's not like you're the son of the President, because then I would really be shocked."
What's with her? Can she read minds or is she just lucky? Well... here goes.
"Ahem," Squall looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
"What?! You ARE the son of the president?" Rinoa was shocked alright, she didn't know what to say, which was very, very rare.
"I am, and the Gala that will be held tonight is at our home," he said. "The Presidential Palace."
Oh Hyne, I seduced the President's son. And I am a general's daughter. This is just keeps getting better and better.
"Well then, that's a shocker."
"Yeah I know,"
Awkward silence
Well she could at least say something. Anything.
Rinoa suddenly had an idea that would make her and Squall win in both cases. Since she wanted to meet his family, even if it is the President and the First Daughter, and he wants to take her to the Gala, and even he doesn't mention it, he wants the feud to be over, so she thought of a peace offering
"Squall," she began. "I think you should make up with your family."
"What are you saying? Are you crazy? It hasn't even been a day." Squall answered, obviously annoyed. "I won't."
"You will." She then took his hands in hers. "C'mon."
She took the keys from Squall's back pocket and pulled him to the driveway. She was going to make this person make peace with his family. "Let's go Squall."
Squall looked doubtful. He didn't want to make peace with his family just yet. It's like going against the law of nature. It was just wrong. No way am I getting in that car to go to the Palace. NO FCKING WAY.
"Oh c'mon Squall!" Rinoa went out of the car and shoved Squall into the car, so forcefully that Squall's head hit the shift stick. "OOUCH! Are you trying to make me sit down or are you adding more injuries?"
"Sorry, but you are really stubborn." She replied while closing the door and going to the driver's seat. "Now buckle up."
Wow, I wonder if she realized that this car is STICK!
"Well?" she raised her eyebrows at him disbelievingly. "You are like a little brother you know that!" she added while buckling up Squall. By doing so she went down on him, it was a pretty funny sight from the outside. "Hey! HEY!! Easy Rin!"
"There, all buckled up." She said while fixing her own seatbelt. She buckled him up good for he cannot move an inch. The belt was twirled around his left thigh and also on his right arm. He was held captive by a woman in his own car.
"This is too much."
"It's already 6:30pm, Squall. The Gala starts at 8pm. We have to hurry." She explained as she revved up the engine.
"Rin, you do realize that I know the way, I drive stick and I am a faster driver than you." He protested despite the ridiculous position. "I'll drive."
"No," she answered flatly. "I'll drive; you won't be going to the Palace if you did."
I swear she has mind reading powers.
"Now, just tell me where to go and make sure you hang on tight." Rinoa said as she made final checks on her seatbelt.
"Rinoa this car has MANUAL TRANSMISSION." Squall said once again while Rinoa was backing up the car.
"And you think I can't drive stick?" Rinoa asked with a cocked eyebrow. "Well?"
"Well—YEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Rinoa stepped on the gas, hard. She was an excellent stick driver and not to mention bagged the "Drag racing Queen" Award back in Deling, of course, her mother didn't know about this.
"Well I am impressed." Squall said as he finally regained composure and fixed up his seat belt. "You drive almost as good as I do."
"Almost? What do you mean almost?"
Rinoa took the supposedly 2 hour drive to the Palace in less than an hour in fact she took it almost the same time Squall did. "See I told you, ALMOST." Squall said as he took off his seat belt and went out of the car.
"I love this car! It's faster than my Lexus, "Rinoa announced as she got off the car herself. "And it's way, way cooler."
So she loves cars, she really is interesting. Squall thought as he was unaware that he was staring at Rinoa.
"Hey genius," Rinoa snapped her fingers at him and asked, "Something the matter?"
"No nothing," he quickly pointed to the Entrance hall. "Let's go."
The entrance hall was so quiet, that an imaginary eerie sound emits from one's ears. Squall always found this place soothing, but to Rinoa, it's just creepy. "Squall this place is creeping me out." She said as she grabbed on to his arm. "And I am nervous."
Wow, she thought of this great idea and now she's nervous, women.
"Look Rin, this is your idea, and now you're nervous," Squall began as he pushed the doors to his father's office. "Pull yourself together, and wait here." He left Rinoa at the office's waiting area.
The waiting area did not look like a waiting area. It was like an office itself. It had 3 tables for the secretaries, a bench, a water dispenser, two photocopiers, lot's of filing cabinets, and not to mention it was fully carpeted. "This reminds me of Dad's office in Caraway manor."
She could hear voices coming from inside the office, apparently Squall's sister was in there too, and they are starting to heat up. If their father is not to interfere now, nothing will happen. Someone must interfere. Someone… Rinoa opened up the door to the office to find 2 angry siblings and a very much clueless father.
She felt a little bit hesitant and was regretting that she even opened the door, for the sight that she was seeing was something any person would regret to see.
Damn I think I should've knocked first!
Ellone straddled Squall on the carpeted floor, while Squall was obviously trying to remove and evade her, but to no avail she still slapped him. It was pretty funny to look at but considering that they are both adults and they are the President's children, it looked irrational.
That was then, that Rinoa first laid eyes on Squall's dad: Laguna Loire, President of whole Esthar. He was fairly tall, just like Squall. He also had long hair, and it was black, and none of his children inherited the nice colored hair. Too bad none of them had that hair, I bet their hair were inherited from their mom, I wonder what she looks like. Rinoa thought as he scanned the room for Squall's mom. Seeing that there were only 4 of them there, she gave up the thought and focused on the now fighting siblings.
This time Squall was on top and was trying to stop Ellone from scratching him, again. Rinoa intervened this time, pushing through Laguna, which was only watching the whole fight. "Enough both of you!" she yelled as she pulled Ellone from beneath Squall. "Squall cut it out!" she hissed at Squall as he was trying to grab Ellone, this time Laguna intervened and thought it would be best to grab his son.
"Would you calm down both of you?" Rinoa commanded. "Nothing will ever be fixed if you continue bickering and fighting like you do!"
"Yeah, this young lady is correct," Laguna added. "You better calm yourselves or we'll straddle YOU in between OUR legs!"
"How dare you show such low conduct in front of a guest?!" he hissed at his children.
So if I didn't intervene he wouldn't have? What the….?
"Listen, sir, if you don't control these two," she indicated the two harassed looking individuals in the room. "They might just kill themselves."
"That would be nice! Thinking Ellone as dead is a very comforting thought indeed." Squall said through gritted teeth.
"Oh yeah?" Ellone contested. "And you think you would make a better "First"? Think again!"
"OKAY! That is enough!" Laguna bellowed on both of them. "Squall, why did you come back here with your head still heated up from your previous argument anyway? You never do that."
"I don't." he replied a bit calmer now than before, "This is her idea." He said as he pointed to Rinoa.
Oh shoot, NOW he introduces me!
"Yes, it is my idea to make him come back here." Rinoa said. "Forgive me, where are my manners, my name is Rinoa Heartilly."
"Well, so who are you in my son's life Rinoa?" Laguna asked nicely, although it was pretty out of their current topic.
"I'm his friend, he came to my house to calm down," Rinoa explained. "He was pretty calm when we got here, but I think he heated up again."
"Well, it's obvious enough isn't it?" Ellone said while she struggled to get out of Rinoa's hold. "Rinoa, if you would please let go of me I promise I won't lash." And she gave her a very sweet smile.
"Ookay." Rinoa let her go, but she placed her hands on Ellone's shoulders and pushed her down on a chair. "Why don't you sit down and talk."
"Talk?" Squall asked while Laguna sat him down on a chair too. "About what? If we don't argue we lash, if not, she commands me and she thinks I have to do it right away."
"Look Squall, there is obviously bitterness in your words." Laguna said. "Maybe you should start letting go of what happened between the two of you from long ago."
Rinoa was dazed and wondered what could have happened before to make these two, usually composed, individuals heat up that easily when they see each other.
"You must let go of whatever that is Squall." Rinoa spoke. "I may not know what happened but it is better than just bickering all the time."
"You don't know anything about it Rinoa so zip It." he said harshly.
"Squall! She's just trying to calm you down and probably trying to talk some sense into you." Ellone said.
"Elle, that's enough." Laguna said. "What is the reason behind your coming back here right now?" he asked Rinoa.
"Well, we actually came back here to—"Rinoa started when Squall cut in. "She wanted me to apologize to Ellone."
"Well then why don't you?" Laguna asked.
"Because it is not my fault…."
Eerie silence again. Ugh…
Ellone looked around and she saw that Rinoa was nothing short of pissed off at Squall's attitude, well actually both their attitudes. She decided it would be best to apologize right there and then to Squall; apologize about everything.
"Look Squall, bro," Ellone began, no one expected her to talk so they were all shocked when she did, everyone, except Squall. "I'm sorry for everything…"
"I'm sorry for being such a pompous bitch, yes everything you accused me of is true, but to tell you the truth I did not choose to be like such, believe me. I never wanted to do what I did to you back then, it's just…. "She stopped in the middle of her sentence to calm herself and stop herself from crying, but to no avail. "It's just… I was really hurt when mom died, and I've always believed that you were to blame. Even though I pretended to fill her place, I never really did become her."
"Why…?" Squall asked. "Why did you blame me? I mean mom fell ill, it's not like I wanted that to happen…"
"I know!" Ellone said as tears cascaded her cheeks. "I know! It's no one's fault but then I thought that if I were to blame anyone, it would make me feel better! But it never did."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't want to blame dad for it, and since you were a kid and you knew nothing then, you weren't affected by her death so much. I became angry, angry that you weren't sad about it, that after a month you were back to being normal, I was… I was kind of envious." She was on the edge of her seat when she finished and Squall was all but affected by her speech.
"You envious?" he said as he cocked an eyebrow at her. "You think I wasn't affected?"
"You were always the praised on Ellone, you were always the best one to handle pressure, and for Hyne's sake you're even better at that than dad! You were never criticized and were always favored. I envied YOU. And for your information, I was affected by her untimely death, probably more than both of you were. I only pretended to be a good kid, one that never cries in public, one that was always happy and bouncy, one that everybody would feel happy when they see me, one that was perfect." Squall added the last part bitterly.
"I was affected Ellone. I always cried myself to sleep. I have lived through fake smiles and laughs that I have gotten immune to them, but I never forgot mom. Never."
"So… so…" Ellone began as she sniffed. "So it was only a big misunderstanding?"
Both of them were now calm and much more rational than they were moment ago. Both were starting to understand each other.
"Yeah I think so too, Elle."
"I'm still sorry for it, for everything… I hope you can still forgive me…" Ellone said while looking at her feet. She obviously wasn't equipped to handle anything like this, not right now.
"I forgive you sis." Squall said. "Don't worry. I'll still be your slave." He joked.
"HAHA you don't need to be. You can just be my little brother, just like before." Ellone stood up and gave Squall a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Well, that's that. I better get rid of all the paraphernalia that I left in the Great hall."
Laguna stood up from his chair and went to stop Ellone from going out and said, "No need, we'll push through with the Gala, since the preparations are all finished and we only have an hour before the guests start to arrive."
"So we'll continue with the Gala?" Squall said to clarify and make sure he didn't turn deaf from all the yelling.
"Yes, so you, both of you," he added pertaining to Rinoa. "Should get ready."
"Me?" Rinoa said.
"Yes you silly," Ellone said. "Thank you for forcing him to come here, I mean if it weren't for you we might still be at war." She added with a smile.
"Well, um… thanks?"
They all laughed at Rinoa's comment. But it was cut short when Laguna said, "Alright, enough. Now Rinoa, I'll get to know you later on, right now, you have to get dressed!"
"But, but, I have nothing to wear." Rinoa blushed as she realized that she wasn't able to pick out an outfit.
"Oh yeah! I was supposed to take you shopping…." Squall suddenly realized this fact and was beating himself up inside.
"No worries, I had these kinds of moments all the time," Ellone butted in. "I'll take care of her, and you TWO, you had better get your asses ready on time! Okay?"
"Okay." Laguna and Squall answered in unison.
Ellone took Rinoa by the hand and rushed to the second floor landing, and went through the first door on the left it read: "Tailoring"
Oh god I hope she's not planning to make me a dress now! I mean there isn't much time!
"Matilda? Are you here?" Ellone asked as she sifted through fabrics.
"Yes ma'am?"
"I want you to take Rinoa," she said as she indicated the raven haired girl behind her. "And take her measurements, I would also want you to use these fabrics and make her a simple dress, much like the one you made me that time when the President of Deling came by."
Matilda, the tailor, just nodded and went straight to do what she was asked to do.
"Send her to me when you are finished with her measurements, I'll just be in the other room."
"Of course."
Matilda took Rinoa's measurements quite fast.
She must really be used to being asked to take measurements, or she's just bionic.
"You must really be used to doing this huh?" Rinoa asked as she took her waist measurement.
"Let's see… 24in…" Matilda muttered as she wrote it down. "Yes, you can say that I am pretty used to it. Ellone never wants to repeat her dresses or gowns. She thinks she might just alert the fashion police if ever she did. Same with her dad and brother, except Squall just always wants adjustments."
"Wow, so that's why. I was wondering why you're fast."
"Well, I got used to it." she said. "There, all done."
Wow that was super fast.
Matilda then showed Rinoa to where Ellone was at, and went back inside to start on the dress that Ellone wanted.
"Oh Rinoa! Done with the dress I see. Come, I want to introduce you to someone." She said as she led Rinoa to the interior parts of the room. "Rinoa, this is Sylvester."
"Sylvester, "she pointed to Rinoa. "Rinoa."
He shook Rinoa's hands and led her to the chair. "Madam vat vould yooo like muah to zoo veeeth err?" he asked Ellone.
"Well, put make up on her silly!" Ellone joshed. "Just kidding, I want to make her seem like an angel, can you do that?"
"Ov courz, vut I tell yooo ve zon't reelly need much vork veeeth err fez." He said as he was examining Rinoa's face. "But I'll see what I can do." He added.
"Good, you can take care of her first I'll be right back okay? When I get back you can do me." Ellone said as she went her way. "Oh and can you do her hair too? Thanks."
And with that she went her way.
I wonder what he's planning to do, he seems pretty serious.
Rinoa thought as Sylvester was trying to think of what to do.
"I'll veel take care ov yourrr airr virzt, zen I veel zoo yourrr make up." He said. "Is that okay with you sweetheart?"
Rinoa just nodded and let Sylvester work his magic.
Ellone went to change into her outfit and was on the way to check up on the Great hall, when she passed by Squall's room. At that exact time, Squall went out of the room, looking rather flushed and not to mention handsome. "Elle!" he called out.
"Yep?" Ellone asked as she spun around to talk to her brother. "Oh, the necktie, as usual."
She then went to fix up Squall's tie and within seconds it was perfect. "Thanks Elle. By the way, where's Rinoa?"
"Well," Ellone said while fixing up his suit. "She's getting ready as of now, she is your date correct?"
Oh my, she is my date.
"Yeah, you can say so." He said while looking away from Ellone.
"You like her don't you?" she teased her already embarrassed brother. "Well?"
"Well, she is pretty, and to mention hot." Squall then went red and was shocked that he just said what he said. "I mean, she is—"
"HAHA, well now, you are finding her attractive, why not pursue her?" she asked.
Why am I on the spot here? ELLE!!
"Well? Why not? You are a… "She looked at him straight in the eye with a mocking smile. "LEONHART, are you not?" Then she laughed as she saw the look of utter mortification spread on Squall's face.
I'll get you for this Elle!
Squall was now furiously red from Ellone's joshing. And he didn't like the way he looked now. He was red and was turning green too. He was nervous.
"Hey you okay there?" Ellone asked as she got over her little episode.
"Yeah, just a bit nervous."
"Weird." Ellone muttered. "I'm not pushing to do so but you know what, I really like her."
"Well you're not the one who's going to ask her now are you?"
"Look you already got here, so why not. Try it later. When dad is busy, do it, ask her; so that he won't be such a nuisance." Ellone said with a smile. "As much I want to stay and chat, I have to be somewhere, so I'll be seeing you later; be at the Entrance hall by the next 20 minutes."
"Okay, okay." Squall muttered. "I'll be there, and by the way, you look good in that dress."
"Why thank you, it was given to me by a friend," she then turned to leave and go to Rinoa. "A designer, to be exact."
She went back to Matilda to check up on the dress that she wanted for Rinoa. "Matilda is it ready now?" she asked.
"Yes, but I still need to add a bit more bead work on the edges. "She answered back. "That dress looks good too madam."
"Why thank you!" Ellone said while giving the dress a twirl. She wore an off-shoulder dress with a Venus cut style. It was in the shade of lavender and had some really intricate bead work around the collar area and also on the bottom of the dress. She topped of the outfit with a simple diamond choker and some stud earrings that matched her silver, diamond studded heels. "Do you need help with that?"
"Well, there is a bit more needed at the top, near the edge." Matilda pointed to the top part of the dress.
Ellone went to help and within minutes the dress was perfect. "Thank you Matilda, I better bring this to Rinoa."
Meanwhile, Rinoa was just about done with her make up when Sylvester went to find a lipstick brush, because the one he was using was losing its bristles. "Vhere izz zat zingy!" he was frustrated as he frantically searched for the missing lip brush. "Zis eez ze lazt part and I lozt ze brush!"
Then suddenly the door opened and Ellone peeped through with a dress in hand.
"Well, Sylvester, since you are busy looking for the lip brush I'll take her," she said as she tugged at Rinoa's arm. "And put this on her."
"Wow Ellone you look good." Rinoa said while still running just to keep up.
"Well, I still need my make up but thank you, and please put this on, we don't have much time left." She said as she pushed Rinoa in one of the dressing rooms and shoved the dress in it too.
Rinoa took quite a lot of time trying to figure out where the latch was and Ellone was running out of patience. "Let me help you with that." She said as she invaded Rinoa in the dressing room.
"Hey!"
Ellone zipped up her dress and twirled her around so that they were now face to face. She gave Rinoa a smile and then grabbed her to go back to the now pissed off Sylvester.
"Let uzz finish ze lips…" he said as he spread the lip gloss on Rinoa's lips "And viola!"
"Wow, she looks good." Ellone said.
"Yez… like an angel." Sylvester said as he marveled at his finished project.
Rinoa was stunned to herself in the mirror; she really did look like an angel.
Wow!
"Now, yourr turn." He said to Ellone.
Surprisingly it only took him almost 5mins to finish Ellone up since there really wasn't any goal and she already looked nice. After her fast make up and hair session with Sylvester they bade him goodbye and set off to the Entrance hall.
The sounds of their heels were clattering on the marble floors of the second floor and it echoed towards the Entrance hall.
Oh boy, I wonder how Rinoa looks….
Laguna and Squall both looked up at the top of the stairs at the same time to see Ellone calling to someone; and then they saw her, an angel.
Wow.
A/N: so now I leave you with a cliffhanger!(well not really) Thank you to raindropsX for the reviews i appreciate the compliments:)