Chapter 12 (The past revealed)
(Previously…)
"Rini!" Selphie said as Rinoa ran away from her and pushed her away, "Wh…what's wrong?"
Selphie asked confused. She looked around and the others looked confused too. They had come to visit her and Squall, and suddenly Rinoa was just out of bed. It was very strange.
Nobody said anything for a while, until Quistis broke the still silence.
"We should let her be alone, I think she saw the commander…" Quistis said softly.
"So, what about it?" Irvine chimed in, "she was crying, you know?"
"I…I'm not sure. I didn't see, but you did, didn't you Zell?" Quistis asked, "You know…what happened to him…"
Zell sighed.
"Yeah…I saw," he said in a low voice, "I was taking some time off after class, and decided to go somewhere for the day, since you know, we have the weekend tomorrow. So I went and well, took a good time wandering around the city for a while."
"Just get on with it Zell!" Irvine said sharply, "it's not about you we want to hear from, it's Squall and Rinoa!"
"Ok, okay! Sheesh!" Zell responded irked, "Well, anyway. You know it started raining and all, and well while I was trying to hop on a taxi I saw something familiar, by the river. I went closer and it was Squall's motorbike. I was surprised, and I reckoned he'd be there too, if he had his motorbike there, so I went to look around. I ran around a lot about a mile, when I spotted something on the ground. When I came closer, I saw Squall, and Rinoa, and well, they were both collapsed on the ground. Rinoa was in Squall's arms, and she was fine, and as for Squall…well…let's just say he wasn't a pretty sight at all.
He was bleeding all over, with huge bruises all over his body, and his clothes were all ripped up. He had a huge gash from his shoulder down to about half of his arm, and well his right arm was broken. It seems they both fell into the river…and Rinoa, judging from all of Squall's injuries, was probably protected by Squall."
"Wow…he must have looked a lot worst before he got to garden…" Selphie remarked with a horrified tone.
"Yeah, I called garden with my cell phone, and they came right away. Squall was pretty lucky though, the doctor said if I had found him even just a little bit later, he would have died from all his injuries and also because his extremely lowered body temperature," Zell said pausing a bit, "she said they must have been in the water for hours."
"That's harsh…" Irvine commented with a sigh, "well, I'm just glad his fine…though I wonder how they ended up in the river anyways."
"Let's not worry about that for now," Quistis said stopping the conversation, "we should go see Squall. That's what we came to do right? I mean…if he's in the mood, maybe he'll tell us what happened."
"Okay," Selphie and the others said and followed Quistis.
They walked the hallway to the infirmary still pondering the story that Zell had told them in their mind. It was a strange scene, and somehow they couldn't get it out of their heads. As they headed inside the infirmary, they hear something. It was screaming. Loud screaming. And worst, when they came to Squall's room, they found out it was coming from him.
"LENNE! WH…WHY? WHY! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?"
The group froze when they heard his sentence. They had no chance to do anything when they heard him again.
"No…NO! STOP, DON'T! NO! COME BAACCKKKKKKK!" The commander yelled out shaking his head, "NO! DON'T! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"Squall…" Quistis whispered as she looked pitifully at him.
"He's delirious…isn't he?" Irvine said not wanting to look at him.
Quistis nods.
"Zell! Go get Dr. Kadowaki! Now, before he gets worse!" Quistis orders him, "We shouldn't worry about that now."
Zell nods and leaves the infirmary.
"Yeah…but how about Rin? It isn't fair to her…is it?" Selphie said softly, "I mean…what if Rinoa also…you know…"
"It doesn't matter Selphie! Rinoa isn't her! She could never replace the one Squall lost,"
Irvine answered, "besides…it's Squall's life, we shouldn't butt in."
"That's cold Irvine…" Quistis chimed in, "even though Squall's been like this since she died, doesn't mean nobody else can come and make him happy…"
"I…It's not like that! Remember the last time we interfered?" Irvine responded with a serious tone, "Squall ended up despising us! And when he did, lighten up, he never ever returned back to normal! He became cold! Like snow!"
"But what if we didn't stop him! He would've died, Irvine!" Quistis yelled back.
"But he could have saved her too!" Irvine quickly countered.
"STOP!" Selphie yelled to them both, breaking up the fight. "It doesn't matter now, it already happened!"
They both calmed down and took deep breaths. Then they looked the other way, and looked back at Squall who was still delirious, whispering her name in his sleep.
"I'm sorry Irvine," Quistis said, and headed out of the infirmary without another word.
"Dr. Kadowaki should get here soon Selphie," Irvine explained, "Watch him until she gets here, okay?"
Selphie nods, and Irvine too left the infirmary.
Selphie sat by the stool by Squall's bed and sighed. She looked at Squall.
"It's been a year since he's been like this…" Selphie said in her mind.
She closed her eyes, and remembered that fateful day.
Flashback
"You don't love me…?Alright…then you can die!" Seifer said as he pushed Lenne to the rapid raging river.
"LEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!" Squall screamed, as he watched her get swept from the river.
"SQUAAALLLLLL!" She yelled back at him, reaching out her hand to him, but to no avail. The river swept her away, and she went underwater in seconds.
Squall ran to the river bank ready to jump in and rescue her, when he felt strong hands grip him. It was Zell and Irvine.
"What are you doing? LET ME GO!" Squall demanded, trying to pry them off him.
"NO SQUALL! WE CAN'T DO THAT!" Irvine and Zell yelled as the storm raged on. "No one can survive that! You'll end up dead too!"
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MYSELF!" Squall screamed hysterically, "LET ME GO! LENNNNNNNNEEEEEE!"
End of flashback
"I still don't know what we really should have done…I mean…did we really save Squall's life by not letting him save Lenne?" Selphie asked herself sighing.
She held her head and thought for a while. And then lifted it and rolled her eyes.
"I should stop thinking about stuff like that! It already happened!" Selphie told herself sharply, "Nothing can be done about it now…we can't change the past."
After a few minutes, Dr. Kadowaki entered the office, with Zell behind her.
"I got her…" Zell said trying to catch his breath.
"Thanks…" said Selphie casting a glance on Squall, who was still talking in his sleep, "I…I'm gonna go find, Rin, ok?"
Zell nods, and Selphie exited the infirmary.
(Squall's point of view- Squall's thoughts and memories He's still asleep)
Flashback
Squall sat in his seat in magic class and sighed. It was such a bore. He learned mostly everything they teach, since he was always ahead. He listened his eyes half closed, and his mind half focused. Suddenly the door opened, and a girl stepped in the classroom. She had long black hair and dark chocolately brown eyes. She went and exchanged a few words with the instructor and faced the class. The instructor got up, and got everyone's attention, with a couple claps.
"Everyone, we have a new student. This is Ms. Lenne Valharte, she transferred from Galbadia garden. Please make her feel comfortable," The instructor said smiling, "Ms. Valheart, would you like to say a few words?"
The girl nodded with a smile. "Yes! It's nice to meet you all!"
Squall watched the girl, as she walked off from the teacher's desk. 'New student, huh?'
"Um…where do I sit?" she asked turning back to the instructor.
"Well…let's see…ah! Why don't you sit by Squall? He's over there," the instructor pointed to the seat next to Squall, "he's the best student in this class, so just ask him if you need any help."
Squall's mouth opened, ready to complain, when the teacher glared at him. He just sighed, and stared out at the window, avoiding the girl's gaze. 'Great…so she appointed me to be the official new student babysitter…this is so stupid!'
The girl went and sat at the seat next to him.
"H…hey! Your name's Squall, right? Nice to meet you!" Lenne said to Squall with a smile.
Squall didn't say anything, and just kept staring at the window.
"Uh…well, I'm Lenne. Lenne Valheart! Well I guess you know that already!"
No response from Squall. He cast her a glance, and still didn't say anything.
Lenne gave him a skeptical look, and then smiled. Squall just stared at her dumbly, wondering why she did, and then she spoke again.
"You don't talk much do you?" She asked, with the same smile.
When Squall didn't say anything, she pouted, and then opened her book.
"Um…what page is it?" She asked him quietly.
Squall rolled his eyes. 'Why is she pestering me? HYNE! I wanna get out of here!'
"…page thirty-two." Squall said in an annoyed voice.
"Hey! You can talk! That makes me happy," she said as she flipped to the right page.
'Happy? Why would it make her happy?' Squall said in his thoughts confused.
When Squall looked back at her, she was smiling again. Somehow, it felt heartwarming to him, and without even thinking about it, he blushed.
"Why the hell am I blushing?" Squall asked himself trying to stop.
"Hm? You're all red. Are you okay? Do you have a fever or something?" Lenne asked when she saw his face.
Squall didn't say anything and just hid his eyes behind his bangs.
Next flashback (Sorry this is a long chapter. It makes up for the long wait though)
(Lenne and Squall are outside Garden, talking)
"Squall…?" Lenne said getting his attention.
"Yes?"
"Wh…why do you push everyone away?…I…I've noticed." Lenne said looking down on the ground.
"I…I don't." Squall answered lying.
"Yes you do! I mean…you always keep to yourself, why is that?" She said back.
"Y…You don't have to know!" Squall responded, turning his back to her.
"Yes I do!" Lenne yelled back to him, grabbing his shirt and making him face her again, "I…I care about you Squall! It's just that you look so lonely! I want you to tell me why!"
"I…It's none of your business! Ju…Just leave me alone, Lenne!" Squall answered back, and then immediately wished that he had never said it.
"So…So…I'm just a nuisance to you…aren't I?" Lenne said letting go of his shirt, tears starting to form on her eyes, "So…it really is none of my business, isn't it?"
"Lenne…I…I…" Squall started.
"NO! I don't want to hear it! If you hated me that much, you should have just said so. So, I'm sorry for interfering in your life! Goodbye!" Lenne said back to him.
She started to turn away and run, but Squall grabs her hand.
"Lenne…I…I'm sorry…I didn't mean…" Squall stuttered.
"Let me go! You don't have to say sorry okay? Because it's my fault for interfering!" Lenne said yanking her hand back, and running back towards garden.
"Wh…What have I done…?" Squall said as he watched her run to garden.
Final flashback (Geez! Finally!)
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lenne screamed, as she saw the T-Rexaur advance toward her.
'I…If he hits me one more time! I'm a goner!" Lenne screamed in her thoughts, "No! I don't wanna die yet! Squall…Wh…What am I thinking? He'll never come…he told me to butt out of his life…I know I've just been a nuisance to him…so why would he come?"
The T-Rexaur advanced more and got ready to attack.
"Still…! I! I want him to come…bu…but why? I…I'm so selfish…this is it…"
The T- Rexaur lunged at her, its white fangs gleaming, ready to bite. She braced herself for pain, but felt nothing. She opened her eyes, and saw Squall. Squall was in front of her, and he got bit instead. His left arm at least. He pulled it off, as the T- Rexaur bit harder, and drew his gun blade with his right hand.
"Lenne! Get out of her NOW!" Squall commanded quickly.
"S..Squa…But! You…you're wou…" Lenne answered trembling.
"Never mind about me! Just go!" Squall repeated.
Lenne backed away, and crawled, for she couldn't walk. She crawled away and tried to get to a safe distance. When she did, she looked at Squall who was quite far off now.
She watched him battle the T-Rexaur, Squall dragging his useless bloody left arm. She watched and gasped, as she saw the T-Rexaur slash his right arm too, but Squall still moved it. He did a powerful limit break, and the T-Rexaur fell. Dropping his bloody gun blade on the ground, he went and limped over to Lenne.
"You're really hurt…come on…get on my back. I'll carry you back…" Squall said with a raspy voice.
"Wh…What are you talking about, you're more hurt than I am!" Lenne answered.
"No…we gotta make it back to the infirmary. Come on…" Squall said, as he picked her up and gave her a piggy back ride. It was hard just to get her in position, because Squall only had one hand to use, and it was slashed too. His left hand was useless, because it was broken. He kept a strong grip on her with his one hand and started to walk, limping to the entrance of the training center.
Lenne didn't say anything…she just stared at him horrified. She could see his arms. One was ripped to ribbons, the other badly slashed, yet he still insisted to carry her back. She did not have time to ponder her thoughts when she heard him cough a few times, and started to speak.
"I…I'm sorry…" Squall said softly, "…about the other day…"
"Y…You don't have to be…it's my fault for interfering in your life…" Lenne answered, as she began to feel like she was going to cry, "…I know I'm just a nuisance to you…"
"Th…That's not true!" Squall countered, still walking.
"Then…then why do you push me away? Do you actually like to be alone…? If you do, all you have to do is say so! Then I won't bother you anymore…so I'll be one less worry in your life." Lenne said, as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
"I…I pushed you away…because…" Squall said as he stopped walking, "…because I love you!"
"S…Sq…Squall…?" Lenne said dumbfounded. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
"Wh…whenever I had someone special to me, whenever I treasured someone, something would always happen to them…" Squall explained, "They would die, get sick, disappear, and leave me all alone…ever since I was little…I always wondered if it was me. Maybe because they were near me, bad things happened to them. Sometimes I still think that that's true. I stay away from people because I know…if they got too close, something will happen to them…and I'll be all alone again…and my heart will never stop hurting. I pushed you away, because I don't want you to disappear! I don't want you to be hurt because of me! I'd rather just stand at the sidelines, being able to see you everyday, seeing you with other people that can make you happy, and just have a one sided love. I'd be happy, just for you to be there…even if we can't be together."
"Th…That's why you pushed me away Squall?" Lenne said as tears leaked down her cheeks, and she started to sob. "D…Don't you know I love you too?"
"P…Please don't cry…don't cry for me…" Squall told her, as he began to start walking again, "a terrible person like me doesn't deserve it…"
"No…I…I won't disappear! I can't possibly leave you alone now!" Lenne responded more tears trickling down to her cheeks, "Not when you've been alone your whole life…Squall…you don't have to be alone anymore! Because I promise to always be here… by your side…and I refuse to die or disappear!"
"Lenne…" Squall answered, as a tear trickled down to his cheek as well.
END OF FLASHBACKS
Squall opened his eyes. He was still in the infirmary. He sighed.
"It's been a while, since I've dreamed of her…" Squall said in his thoughts.
"Ah! You're awake."
"Huh?" Squall said as he saw Dr. Kadowaki. "Oh…Doctor Kadowaki."
"Feeling better?" Dr. Kadowaki asked concerned, "You've been delirious for the past 4 hours."
"Oh…I'm sorry. I must have been a burden." Squall replied.
"No…it's just my job to take care of you students. No need to apologize." She answered.
Suddenly, Selphie entered the room.
"Dr. Kadowaki! H…Have you seen Rinoa? I…can't find her anywhere!" Selphie asked between breaths, for she had been running.
"Wh…What was that about Rinoa?" Squall asked quickly, when he heard her name.
"Ah…Oh, Squall you're awake! Um…I didn't wake you up, did I?" Selphie asked.
"What about Rinoa?" Squall said raising his voice.
Well that's about it for this chapter. So sorry it took so long. I've been busy lately. Sorry it's really long though, too! Please read and review!
