Well I'm done with Uni now so i did have time to update this week. This chapter is done in short scenes rather than the lengthly ones i had previously, especially the ending of this chapter.
Anyways I hope everyone likes this chapter, I know I got a lot of OCs in this, thats only because FFVIII really had a limited set of side characters that you can expand on, and most of the side characters are male, and the only female ones have really weird names like Card Queen, Ultimecia or even Pub Lady... yeah so I had to include my own.
Chapter 9 - Bathroom Blunders
The next day Squall woke up early to a dimly lit room. The sunlight was trying to seep in from the open creases of his curtain allowing light to fall on certain places on the soft blue carpeted floor.
He got up and hurriedly got into a clean white t-shirt and his black tracksuit bottoms. He made his way downstairs and into the kitchen hoping to find Rinoa there.
His wish came true as he saw the beauty sitting on the breakfast counter happily munching on a great big bowl of chocolate flavoured hoops. She looked up and noticed Squall enter the room and waved at him while chewing the huge mouthful before making its way down her throat.
Squall nodded in her direction and walked to the coffee pot with his back to her. Here, he safely let a smile creep up to his face. She looked innocent and childlike at breakfast, one wouldn't say she had bad table manners, but at the same time she wasn't exactly lady like. Squall however, didn't care, he liked it when people enjoyed their food rather than picking and prodding at it as if he was some kind of monster that was playing dead ready to attack.
He sat down with his coffee mug and an empty plate, taking a slice of toast he spread butter to it and then applied a thinner layer of raspberry jam.
The two sat silently eating neither wanting to talk about the incident that took place last night. Squall was unsure of whether she had actually heard anything and if she did just how much?
Rinoa didn't want to talk about it either; the moment was spoiled when she had received that message with the awful comments. She also didn't want to talk about it because of the guilt that was growing the more she thought about it. Every time she remembered Squall's words an image of Quistis would pop into her head. The entire night she spent tossing and turning, once worried about the message then worried about Quistis. Well Quistis won't get hurt if I don't do anything about this. Squall likes me, that is all. She thought to herself but at the same time felt remorse for herself. She was confused, she didn't want to upset Quistis but she also didn't want to sacrifice something she saw potential in. You promised her. He likes you, it's not like he's in love with you. She thought again and slowly answered herself. He could love me in time.
She had stopped eating now and was in deep contemplation. And if he doesn't, you'll lose your flesh and blood over a boy that didn't even love you.
Squall looked over at the Rinoa sitting deep in her thoughts, he assumed she was thinking about the message she received. He wanted to ask her if she had heard what he said yesterday. She hasn't mentioned anything. Maybe she got out of the bathroom just as her phone went off. So maybe she didn't hear anything.
He was about to break Rinoa out of her trance and ask if she were ok but the simultaneous ringing of both their phones beat him to it.
Squall took his phone out of his trouser pocket and Rinoa reached over to hers sitting on the breakfast bar.
PARRRRRRRTTTAY! My house, 2nyt, bring food, 9pm! - Selphie.
"Selphie?" Rinoa asked Squall as he looked up to ask her the same question.
"Yeah." Squall replied. Rinoa remembered Quistis saying Squall didn't go out much and never to crowded places. She figured he wouldn't go to this one, which she was fine with. In fact she was never allowed to go to these parties back in Deling, her father always lectured her on the activities that went on and Rinoa was more than happy to stay at home on Friday nights watching a pre-leased films on DVDs and munching on pizza.
She was happy Squall wouldn't go as it meant spending more time with him at his house.
"We can go together if you want" Squall asked. Rinoa looked at him in surprise. She opened her mouth to ask why he was going and immediately stopped herself. He'll think you talk about him behind his back.
Squall waited for her reply, she looked directly at him and smiled nodding her head and saying she'd like that.
To be honest he didn't want to go, he hated going to parties with people he barely knew, all drinking and acting like animals. But Rinoa was going and he wanted to be around her, he didn't like the idea of being home alone knowing she would probably be enjoying herself with someone else and having the time of her life without him.
Rinoa sat across from Squall on the brown shag rug in the living room eating her sandwich. Squall sat leaning against the backrest of the couch, one leg propped up while the other rested his plate. It had gone past lunchtime and the two were eating silently with Rinoa occasionally asking Squall questions about Esthar and offering her own experiences in Galbadia.
She looked up at him, he was silently chewing with his eyes fixated on the round plate on his lap. He wasn't the best of talkers but she liked that about him. Most guys would probably sit there going on about how they were God's gift to mankind and repeat all their achievements and goals in life. Squall was different, he wasn't so self-involved yet at the same time she wished he would take the initiative to start the conversation. With Squall she felt she had to literally bottle feed him social skills.
"So you thinking of going to Esthar for the holidays? I mean winter break's coming up soon, you got any plans?" She asked hoping he'd at least offer more than a sentence answer.
"Not sure." He replied.
She smiled at him and his lack of participation. When she first met him she thought he didn't like her which was why he remained silent around her. But after hearing his confession last night she thought maybe he was shy around her. Her thoughts went back to last night and how he revealed his feelings to Ellone, she wondered whether it was the right time to mention it. She wanted to tell that she felt the same way and was happy to hear that he couldn't stop thinking about her. I'll scare him off if I tell him I'm falling in love….
Rinoa giggled at the thought a smirk across her face.
"What's so funny?" Squall asked looking at her curiously as if she was crazy.
Her face became beetroot red, she couldn't believe she had messed up in front of him smiling like an idiot. Not to mention the mere thought of her true feelings for him was sending her on cloud nine, just being around him knowing he felt strongly towards her if not the same.
"Oh its nothing, I just remembered something funny back in Deling." She quickly tried to recover.
He wanted to know more about her life in Deling, so far she had told him of why she moved to Balamb which he pretty much figured out seeing as he was in the same situation. She told him about how her mother had died in a car crash when she was twelve, she told him about her house and the friends she had in Deling High before she was home-schooled and then sent to Balamb. He wanted to ask her more questions but felt shy and unlike himself to approach her.
His thoughts were pretty much clouded, he kept thinking back to last night wondering if she had heard anything. He considered asking her but that either meant that if she hadn't she'd ask why and then go on for a day pestering him about what she should have heard. And if she did overhear his conversation with Ellone, then why didn't she bring it up? The latter held more weight, he didn't want to think of the consequences of her not feeling the same way for him.
She took a deep breath. You can do this Rinoa. She was ready to talk about it now, she knew she had to tell him.
"…" Quistis. She frowned. She forgot about Quistis for that instance. Could she really confess her feelings to Squall knowing Quistis probably still had feelings for him. What would Quistis do or say if she found out about Squall's feelings? What would Squall say if he knew she felt this way but couldn't act upon it. And the truth was, she knew she couldn't. She made a promise to Quistis, she knew she shouldn't have, but until she spoke to Quistis and confessed her true feelings she wouldn't be able to act upon on them.
Yet she wondered if she should at least let Squall know that she heard what he said and it made her happy? I could do that, maybe I can explain the situation with Quistis? No, that's not good at all. Maybe I wont have to tell him about the promise. I'll just tell him until Quistis is over him I cant do anything. But we can be friends. No. We're already friends, and I don't just want to be friends.
Squall looked at Rinoa from under his lashes, pretending to play with the rim of his plate. Her forehead was frowned, she was obviously thinking of something, Maybe the message. He wanted to ask her if she was okay but felt unlike himself again. Why am I such a child? I hugged her yesterday, this should be easy. I need to know if she heard, and if she did, just how much?
They both looked up at each other and their eyes locked. A vibration in Rinoa's pocket went off and she took it out to see a message from Quistis asking if she were going to Selphie's party. Taking it as a sign, she deterred from talking to Squall before talking to Quistis. She started tapping away her reply both with a feeling of dissatisfaction and betrayal.
Squall walked into the kitchen and up to the skin, he turned on the cold water and started cleaning up his dish slowly letting the foam run around the plate as the water spilled onto it. Rinoa followed him and set her plate on the draining board watching Squall's movements carefully. She noticed the ring on his middle finger, a silver band of platinum with some sort of carving around it.
"What kind of a ring is that?" She asked moving her head forward to get a better look.
"It's a lion." Squall said turning the tap off and grabbing a paper towel. He wiped his hands and chucked the towel in the bin.
Rinoa had moved onto washing her plate. He spun the ring around his finger contemplating whether he should continue explaining the ring.
She finished washing her dish and repeated the same actions as Squall. She turned to face him staring at her.
"Brave." He blurted out and immediately mentally kicked himself.
"What?" She asked amused.
"It's supposed to represent bravery and pride." He said taking the ring off and offering it to her. "Its Griever, a lion of great strength and pride."
She happily accepted the ring taking a closer inspection and feeling the coolness of the metal against her fingertips. "Kinda like you huh? More the strength than the pride." She smiled at him.
"Not sure about that." He replied modestly.
She handed him back the ring happy that at least he had offered some information about his personal life.
"And Squall will stay with you the whole time?" Caraway asked.
"Yeah, we're going together and we hang with the same people, so he'll have my back." Rinoa answered.
"Excuse me? He'll have what? I do not understand slang." Caraway replied never entertaining his daughter when she picked up the local languages she'd hear at school.
"I mean he will protect me, shell me in a little ball so I am not harmed or bothered." Rinoa reiterated smiling and taking her father into a hug.
"I tried to teach you so many languages when you were young which you defied to learn, the least you could do is speak English properly."
"Oac Tyt, E ys cunno, E muja oui." Rinoa replied winking. (Yes Dad, I am sorry, I love you.)
"Hu bnupmas, E muja oui duu." Caraway replied and kissed her on top of her forehead. (No problem, I love you too.)
Squall watched with a secret smirk on his face, Rinoa was very childlike around her father; innocent and sweet. He found it adorable that she wasn't a spoilt army brat intent on sabotaging her family's reputation because she didn't get to go out with her friends; rather here she was seeking her father's permission.
"Squall I put her in your trust, I am hoping you will bring her back safely?" Caraway asked in a serious tone.
"Of course Sir" Squall replied with great sincerity and conviction.
"Cool, let's go." Rinoa exclaimed grabbing her jacket and marching up to Squall waiting for him to make the first move towards the front door.
"Squall remember not to take too long, me and General will be back from Esthar by midnight hopefully, and you both will need to get an early night to be ready for tomorrow." Laguna called out as the two were making their way towards the exit.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Rinoa asked at the front door stopping abruptly causing Squall to bump into her.
"Well dear I thought you and I could go and spend some time together, check out the town, I'll even take you to that movie you wanted to see." Caraway offered cheerfully.
"Aww Dad, that movie I wanted to see, I saw… last month" Rinoa giggled walking towards her father and planting a small kiss on his cheek for his kindness.
"Oh well, see I'm not always up to date with these teen flicks. Tell you what, if there is anything else on you like I'll take you to see that. How does that sound?" Caraway tried again.
"Deal" Rinoa agreed and made her way back to Squall. "So are you guys coming with us?"
Squall looked away from her and stared at the open door. He didn't want to let her in on where he was going, not just yet. Sensing this Laguna spoke up.
"Er, Squall and I have some business to attend to tomorrow, but we'll be back in time for dinner, maybe we can all go down to the pier, I know a chief that does a mean grilled Balamb fish or there's a nice little Trabian Restaurant that does an excellent curry."
"Alright!" Rinoa cheered raising her hand for Squall to high-five. Squall merely looked at it, slightly blushing out of embarrassment in front of their parents and continued to look out into nothing.
Not wanting to let it get to her, Rinoa picked up his hand, Squall gasped slightly as her flesh made direct contact. She raised his hand to hers and clapped onto it before releasing it letting his hand fall to his side. She giggled and walked out leaving him to watch after her.
Laguna laughed to himself, Rinoa was one character, the girl was so bubbly and forward unlike his son. She would be a good match for Squall; she'd be able to break him. Already Squall was making his way to a party, something he'd never in his life do before Rinoa came into the picture. Laguna only hoped that Rinoa would be someone Squall could open up to, someone he could smile for again, how he used to be when Raine was alive.
The living room was pounding with loud music and students conversing loudly. Teenagers were sprawled across the chairs and couches, some even sitting on coffee tables. A couple of boys and girls were in one corner dancing along to the music, cups in hand occasionally sipping and talking while moving to the flow.
Sarah saw the group of girls sitting leaned against the wall opposite the couch, she could make out the tallest girl among the group, her shiny dirty blonde hair curled loosely falling onto her bare shoulders. She wore a hot pink tank top and dark blue cut off jeans, her feet were adorned in knee-high brown leather cowboy boots.
Sarah made her way towards the group, she wanted to wait for Selphie but figured she could always call on the girl if she saw her walk past; Selphie was bound to be here somewhere.
She reached the group and bent down to face them. Lauren noticed her first as Sarah had moved her head quite close to the blonde's looking at her straight in the eye and raising her left eyebrow questioningly.
"Yes Sarah may I help you?" Lauren asked laughing lightly in mockery.
"Yes Lauren you may, you can start by adhering to the rules of the forum and stop posting such profanity." Sarah started straight away.
Lauren rolled her eyes at the brown haired girl. "Oh gosh Sarah get over it, no one cares about your lame school website."
"Oh really? But I guess you do since you sign in like eight times a day" Sarah countered back.
"No I don't" Lauren replied back sitting up straight.
"Lauren, I'm a moderator, don't you think I have the capabilities to see whose logging in, when and how many times?" Sarah tried again.
The group of girls around them gave a low giggle at the expense of Lauren. The blonde girl merely gave them an icy glare before looking back at Sarah.
"I didn't even write that damn post, I only replied to it, what ever happened to freedom of speech?" She mocked leaning back again and gulping from her cup.
"I don't care who started, I only care about having to spend all that time deleting unnecessary posts. And as for your freedom of speech; its limited, it doesn't mean you can go around hurting people's feelings. I'm pretty sure Rinoa read all your little remarks." Sarah just shook her head, this girl was a waste of time, she hardly ever got along with any of the girls apart from the ones she had to in order not to be a complete outcast.
"I swear it won't happen again Sarah, I don't think Lauren meant any harm, did you?" Tilly spoke up. The girl was a timid red haired girl, her green eyes were like large orbs that made her look like she was about to cry any second. She was a sweet girl that Sarah very much liked to talk with, Its a shame Lauren couldn't learn a thing or two from her, Sarah thought to herself.
"Whatever, you're having such a go at me, I wasn't the one that started that comment war, have you even spoken to Dexter?" Lauren argued back not forgetting to give Tilly the icy glare she gave the rest of the group a minute ago.
"Yes as a matter of fact, I have spoken to Dexter, he apologised and realised he handled the situation wrong, unlike you. However, as I recall he was trying to settle the situation from infusing." Sarah replied now annoyed that the blonde wouldn't just apologise and realise her wrong. She had enough anyways.
"Look Lauren, I'm telling you now, either restrain yourself in the future or I'm going to have to block you from actively taking part in the forums. You know its an act of misdemeanour and the Disciplinary Committee can actually suspend you if you repeat this kind of behaviour. This is a verbal warning." And with that Sarah stood up ready to walk away.
Rinoa scanned the room of kids all lively from the music and drinks supplied for the party. She couldn't see any of the gang around in the living room, her eyes started from front of the room where a bookshelf stood near the open window. A two seated couch lay next to the shelf facing the widescreen TV, a couple of the kids were busy playing on the video games and cursing each other jokingly. Another couple of seats and couches lay on the open floor with kids sprawled across it talking and laughing loudly.
The room was pretty much filled and Rinoa couldn't spot anyone she knew among the crowd. Finally she spotted Sarah near a group of girls, the brown haired girl was standing up and making her way towards another exit that looked like it led to the kitchen.
"Look Squall there's Sarah, I'm going to say hi, you can go around the other way and see if you can find Zell or the others" Rinoa said looking at Squall who looked at the same crowd she was looking at with distaste.
Squall looked at her and nodded. She was about to walk away when she felt his hand on her arm.
"Look Lauren, there's Rinoa and Squall." Becky whispered into Lauren's ear quietly hoping Tilly or the other girls wouldn't hear her.
"Ech. Look at the way she's all over him, is he so blind? Didn't he even see that picture of her with Seifer?" Lauren looked the Rinoa and Squall, he was saying something to her with his hand softly yet firmly holding her arm.
Becky looked at her friend, she could tell she wasn't happy. "What are you going to do?"
"You'll see" Lauren smiled and sipped on her drink.
"Call me when you want to leave, I'll keep my phone on loud, and don't stay 10 minutes more in a place without seeing me, you don't know these kids, there are a lot of scum among them." Squall warned Rinoa looking around the room full of rowdy teens.
"Don't worry Squall, I'm only going to say hi to Selphie and then I'll drag her with me to meet you." Rinoa assured him and started to make her way towards the direction she saw Sarah disappear to.
Squall walked the opposite way towards the back room in hope to find Zell and the others.
Rinoa hopped over a body lying on the floor, the young boy looked passed out, his body was evidently breathing as his chest was moving up and down and his mouth had let out some drool.
She had nearly reached the end of the room when a hand had poked out and touched her arm.
"Hey you're Rinoa right?" A blonde haired girl smiled brightly at her.
"Yeah I am" Rinoa replied back slightly surprised by the attention.
"I'm Lauren, I think we're in the same Art class." The girl introduced herself.
"Oh yeah I think I remember you." Rinoa actually couldn't for the life of her place the girl anywhere, she did remember seeing her maybe once or twice in the cafeteria but never really put much attention on her.
"So you like the party?" Lauren asked still smiling.
"…and she had the nerve to actually argue, can you believe that?" Sarah was filling Quistis and Selphie in on the whole encounter with Lauren.
"Lauren is just pathetic, she only wrote those cruel things because she's had a crush on Squall since like seventh grade" Selphie inputted.
"What?" Quistis asked. She had been told about the comments that spread from the picture posted on the school forum. A load of nasty comments had been spread about Rinoa by Lauren and her minions, comments that Sarah spent ages removing, but not before Rinoa got to see them.
"Yeah she's been on his case since then, and last year she was really forward about it. She was in my history class and Squall was there, she got me to pass him a note. I didn't read it, I just passed it to him. Squall just looked at me like I was crazy because he thought I wrote it." Selphie started explaining. "Anyways I just asked what it said and he showed me and I burst out laughing and explained it was from Lauren. He just scribbled an answer on the paper and handed it back to her."
"What did it say?" Sarah asked.
"She told him she thought he had the nicest eyes and wouldn't mind looking into those eyes Friday night. It was supposed to be real smooth. He just replied back with: N. O." Selphie laughed.
"There could have been a nicer way to let her down" Quistis suggested.
"Yeah he did before that, she asked him many times before that note and he always said no. The note was just a harsh way to tell her to get lost and stop trying." Selphie said convinced it was a just means to a harsh truth.
"She deserved it after the things she said, I'm so glad I removed them all." Sarah said deeply looking into space. Rinoa was such a nice girl and she hated to see such harsh rumours spread about someone so innocent.
"Dude, Rinoa read most of them, I sent her link before I told you about the comments. When I called her last night she just seemed really distracted and didn't want to talk about it. I think it really shook her up." Selphie replied to a worried looking Sarah.
Quistis could feel as the guilt and shame filled her up, she could feel her heart weighing down making it hard for her to breath. She couldn't believe she was cause for these rumours, of course last night when she read them she thought they were nothing. She knew Lauren and Becky and the nasty things they made up about others, she thought Rinoa would just ignore the comments. That's because she forgot Rinoa wasn't used to these girls. Quistis tried to image herself going to a new school where no one knew her and having someone make stuff up about her. She couldn't believe she had stooped so low to prevent Rinoa and Squall from happening when she didn't need to. Rinoa and Squall barely talk, of course there was that one instance in the Chemistry Lab but that was nothing, Squall looks at Rinoa sometimes with some hidden lust, but that's it. She felt stupid for going to such lengths to stop something she didn't need to stop.
I have to tell her, she deserves to know the truth.
Seifer was sitting on the low couch laughing hysterically while trying to, but failing miserably, throw M'n'Ms into Zell's mouth. Zell stood with his back to the arch door frame, his head titled back bobbing to catch the peanut clustered chocolate.
Squall looked down at his phone, it had only been eight minutes or so, Rinoa was due to call soon. He looked over at Irvine standing against the wall his cowboy hat titled up talking and flirting with some younger girl. Squall rolled his eyes at the sight, I'd hate to be in Selphie's shoes.
Zell let out a loud cheer as he finally caught a sweet. He walked over to Squall's seat and nestled himself on the chair's arm.
"You heard what happened on the school forum's last night?" He asked breathlessly.
"Yeah I saw it." Squall replied not very interested.
"Load of bull, she had something in her eye, I was blowing into it to get it out." Seifer explained, he remembered the incident and wondered if Squall joined the dots.
Squall nodded to him, he had remembered the incident and the accusation he made, he realised that if Seifer had been lying all along, someone would have posted a picture of them actually kissing. Judging by the zoom and frame of the picture he was evident that the photographer was watching them for a long time.
"Yeah but still, those comments about her, man that was cold, really unnecessary. I swear I didn't know girls could be like that." Zell said shaking his head.
"Well, least someone was there to stick up for her, I only wish I had logged onto that crap and dealt with some of those pricks myself." Seifer cursed getting up off the couch and making his way to the shelf over packed with CD cases, books and photo frames.
Zell looked up at Seifer his eyes brightly lit up, "Oh yeah, PupuPrince, that's Dexter right?"
Seifer only nodded looking over his shoulder taking a CD out of the shelf and reading the content at the back. Squall scanned his brain, he remembered a boy in his Literature class, dark spiky hair, fair skin and a look of deep contemplation like he was bubbling with ideas. Whoever he was, he was glad someone was there to defuse the situation.
Rinoa was mechanically nodding her head along to the girl in front of her half listening to the boring story that she had to endure. She realised that ten minutes had probably passed long ago and she should call Squall to let him know she was ok before he sent the whole Esthar army looking for her.
"Lauren, hold on I need to call someone" Rinoa interrupted the girl and pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket.
The phone pressed to her ear she only heard one ring before he picked up.
"Hello" Squall's voice could be heard on the other end.
"Hey Squall, just checking in." Rinoa giggled into the phone.
"Ok, you coming to meet us? I found Zell and Seifer, we're in the back room."
"Erm, no I haven't found Selphie yet, I'll get her and meet you." Rinoa informed him.
"Ok, be quick."
"Ok bye." Rinoa said softly and hung up.
Lauren watched as the raven haired girl hung up and placed the phone into her pocket. She felt jealous the girl was getting so much attention from Squall. She's not even that pretty, she's short, she's got a round face and her hair isn't even highlighted properly. What could he possibly see in her?
The girls walked towards the front room again making their way towards the exit to meet the boys in the back room towards the stairs.
"Look there is Rinny." Selphie pointed out to Rinoa's figure digging into her pocket.
They made their way towards Rinoa, getting closer they could see who she was talking to.
"Hey Lauren" Selphie mockingly greeted the blonde.
"Hey Selphie, cool party." Lauren attempted to be civil.
Plucking up the courage Quistis walked up to Rinoa, "Rin, could we talk?"
"Hey Quisty, yeah sure" Rinoa smiled brightly. Even though it had been only 24 hours since she last saw her cousin she actually missed her.
"I'm going to check on Irvine" Selphie announced and left the group of girls.
Quistis took Rinoa's hand and looked at her in the eyes.
Lauren could see Quistis's mouth moving, she was saying something to Rinoa to which the girl wasn't too pleased with.
"Irvine Kinneas!" Selphie's loud screeching voice came from the arched doorway. "I leave you alone for a few minutes and you already have your rotten cowboy hands over someone else!"
Irvine sprang from the single couch nearly knocking over the young redhead sitting on his lap only a few seconds ago laughing.
"Selphie, baby, its not what it looks like!" Irvine tried. The redhead threw him a death glare equal to the one Selphie was reflecting herself.
Squall looked at the situation, Selphie was fuming her eyes wide, hands on hips, steam almost traceable coming out from her ears demanding an explanation. On seconds thoughts, I'd hate to be in Irvine's shoes.
Squall looked past Selphie's body at the doorway, he couldn't see Rinoa anywhere, he wondered whether Rinoa had bumped into Quistis and hence her lateness. He was getting bored of the party and hoped she wouldn't desire to stay any longer.
"So you posted a picture of me and Seifer to stop what Quistis? You made me promise not to get involved with him, did you actually believe I wouldn't keep my promise?" Rinoa asked unbelievable over the truth she just heard.
"No it wasn't entirely like that. I was acting stupid and I didn't know how else to…" Quistis knew she sounded stupid, as stupid as her efforts to stop Rinoa and Squall from going out.
"I've heard enough." Rinoa pushed passed Quistis, she needed to get out now, she wanted to find Squall and go back to his place. She couldn't believe Quistis was the one that posted that picture. Her own flesh and blood would stoop so low to defame her over something as petty as making sure she kept away from a high school crush. It hurt her, more than what she felt yesterday. Yesterday it was just a bunch of teenagers acting as bullies, today with the confession, it was a stab in the back from a friend. She wanted to shout at Quistis, she wanted even more to tell her that her efforts were useless and that Squall revealed his true feelings, and it was Rinoa he liked. But that proved Quistis's point, she did have a reason for putting that picture up. Even though she was angry she had to admit that regardless of what Quistis did, she had somehow had some form of involvement of making Squall like her.
Making her way towards the end of the room she bumped into someone causing their drink to spill over her shirt soaking her upper body completely.
"Oh no, Rinoa are you ok?" Lauren's high pitched voice came screeching into Rinoa's ears.
"Just fine!" Rinoa said her annoyance growing by the second. She couldn't believe this was happening.
"Come with me we'll get it cleaned up." Lauren said grabbing her hand and leading her upstairs along the corridor and into a small bathroom.
"You wait here, I'll get Selphie to bring you a clean shirt." Lauren said trying to comfort the girl.
"Ok" Rinoa said taking the now sticky alcohol smelling shirt off her body and placing it on the bathtub. She turned the knob of the cold water, letting water fall onto the basin she had just plugged. Using the hand cloth next to the sink she wet it and applied it to her abdomen to wipe at the drink that leaked from her shirt.
"And I'll get this washed and dry" Lauren said and grabbed the shirt off the tub and ducked out of the small bathroom.
"NO! Lauren!" Rinoa poked her head out of the bathroom door only to see the blonde girl's retreating body running down the stairs. Great. How exactly am I suppose to leave this bathroom in only my bra? Rinoa just about had enough. She pushed the door shut and looked at her small cell. The basin was opposite her next to the toilet, along the wall ran the bathtub leaving little room to move about. Having no alternative she waited next to the little space between the sink and the bathtub.
Lauren ran down the stairs and scanned the room, she couldn't see him a first but finally spotted him walking towards her with a bowl of chips in his hand.
"Hey, erm Rinoa's looking for you, she said to meet her in the bathroom." Lauren spoke innocently.
"In the bathroom?" He replied.
"Yeah, here I'll take these, you better go quick she seemed really upset." Lauren gave her most sympathetic look she could muster and took the bowl off his hands.
"Ok, I'll go get Quistis to come with me." He said about to turn the opposite way.
"Er, no that's why she's upset, I think they had an argument. Anyways that's why she wanted you." She smiled sweetly hoping her plan would work.
He just shrugged and started making his way to the bathroom.
She waited a couple of seconds and then quietly followed him upstairs. He opened the door to the small bathroom and noticed Rinoa standing in her bra looking somewhat dishevelled and embarrassed by his sudden intrusion.
He felt two small hands on his back push him forward, stumbling he fell forward and grabbed onto the edge of the bathtub to steady himself. The door closed firmly and a key could be heard turning locking the two inside.
Rinoa tried using her arms to hide her half naked torso averting her eyes anywhere but at him.
"What's going on?" He asked confused still trying not to look at her.
"I think we are being set up, Seifer" She replied shaking her head.
Squall looked at his phone, she was suppose to call five minutes ago but he hadn't heard from Rinoa since the first call. He was about to start calling her when a figure stepped in front of him. Looking up his insides deflated as he saw Lauren somewhat lustrously standing in front of him.
"Hey Squall" She giggled.
"Hi" He said and rolled his eyes. Damn, that was way too rude. He didn't mean for it to be done so blatantly but she among other girls in their year were becoming annoying day by day. He had a big problem with girls like her, why couldn't they just take no for an answer?
Lauren didn't like the look he just gave her, it made her next move all the more sweeter.
"Rinoa needs help, she's in the bathroom, I think she had too much to drink." Lauren spat at him revelling in the moment that was to become.
"Bathroom?" Squall asked.
"Ye-" Lauren tried to reiterate but could only watch as Squall body already made its way upstairs.
Seifer sat on the tiled bathroom floor with some discomfort. The bathroom was tiny and he barely could have his legs crossed under him. He stretched his legs out but they kept touching the end of Rinoa's toes.
"Sorry" He muttered not looking up at the half naked girl he was sharing this prison cell with.
"Its ok" Rinoa replied still annoyed at the situation she was in. She stood leaning against the bathroom door her arms still crossed around her. She didn't know what she was more annoyed at, the fact that Quistis had posted that picture, or that someone had spilled their drink on her, or that someone else had pushed Seifer into the bathroom when she was seeking naked solitude in here, Or the fact that Selphie has such a pathetic excuse for a bathroom, I mean come on, my knickers' draw is bigger than this! She puffed agitated by the small size of the room.
That's when she noticed a click of the key in the doorknob and the next thing she knew the door was pushed open and she was stumbling over Seifer's sprawled out legs and falling on all fours.
Her body was on top of Seifer's, her shirtless chest just centre metres away from Seifer's. She turned her half naked body towards the door to the intruder who knocked her down. The air in her body was knocked out in the same manner as before as she saw Squall look down at her in hurt and disbelief before turning and storming off.
Yup, I just had to go and make drama happen just when she finds out that he likes her.
And I won't be including in a teaser this week, so you're all just going to have to review if you want to know what's happening next week... yeah I know I'm mean :p
