(And here we have Chapter 4, a piece of insignificant stuff that I enjoyed writing, because I'm a hopeless romantic and need psychiatric help. Enjoy! The plot really resumes in Chapter 5, tomorrow.)
Rinoa stood on the Balamb balcony,
watching as the garden came to life with night sounds and creatures. Her white
nightgown flowed around her ankles, and she shivered in the cold wind. It
might be last time I ever see this, she thought, and was saddened and
worried again. "Curse you, Ultimecia," she muttered, tears springing to her
eyes again. "Yes,' came a familiar voice from the hall. "It's she we all have
to blame, isn't it?" Squall stepped into the light, and walked over to stand
beside Rinoa on the balcony. She looked ant him for a moment, then out over the
edge again. "I don't want to leave. I know I haven't been here that long, but
it's my home."
Squall nodded. "I know what you
mean. But you're not leaving everything behind. We're all coming. And someday
we'll come back here, when it's safe." Rinoa turned to him, and smiled a
little. "You think so?" "I know we will." He smiled back, and reached out to
hold her hand. As he did so, she became aware that music was playing. It
sounded really familiar…
"That's…" "Eyes on me, by Julia
Caraway," Squall finished for her. He smiled again, and it was her turn to
return it. Squall extended his hand. "May I have a dance?" She nodded and let
him lead her into the ballroom. Someone was singing, but she couldn't see
anyone but her in Squall in the darkened room. Squall put his arms around her
and began a slow waltz. She laughed. "You've improved considerably since that
first dance of ours." He mock bowed. "Why thank you. I've been practicing." He
began to sing quietly along with the words of the song.
"Darling,
so there you are,
With
that look on your face,
As
if you're never hurt,
As
if you're never down,
Shall
I be the one for you…"
He stopped, and a shadow stepped out into the light, separating into two shadows. "Selphie? Quisty?" They were singing, taking up where Squall left off. Quistis winked at her. Another shadow separated into Irvine and Zell. Zell was playing the saxophone, and Irvine grinned. "Wha-what?" Rinoa was speechless. "Just a little surprise we set up for you," Irvine said, waving her away. "Go on, keep dancing, don't let us interrupt." He dragged Zell away to a corner.
Squall whisked Rinoa back to the
dance floor, and smiled encouragingly at her. "Well?" What do you think? She
had tears in her eyes again. "You're the best friends in the whole world." She
leaned her head on his shoulder. "It's wonderful." Then she began to sing, closing
her eyes.
"So
let me come to you,
Close
as I wanna be,
Close
enough for me,
To
feel your heart beating fast…"
She placed a hand on Squall's heart, and looked up at him, smiling the same way she had when he'd first met her. They danced on for a while, with no sound except the soft playing of Zell's sax. Irvine sat down on the step and sighed happily. Selphie came over and pulled him on to the floor. "Dance with me!" He laughed. "Ok, ok, but slow down! Whoa!" Quistis laughed as she watched them cross the room, to dance beside Squall and Rinoa, who had stopped dancing, and were standing to the side. "You know," Rinoa said, smiling, "I don't feel so alone anymore." "That's what I wanted to hear," Squall replied, and he kissed her.
"OH YEAH, GO SQUALL! Y-!" Zell's exultant egging cheer was cut off by Quistis's hand over his mouth. "Kindly shut up and play the saxophone," she commented mildly, watching Rinoa and Squall turn, looking sheepish, and then grin. Then they turned away again, and walked back out to the balcony. "Good show, everybody," Quistis approved. "Now, let's all get to bed."
Rinoa leaned down over the edge, and saw a couple walking below, in the courtyard. Squall put an arm around her. "I promise I'll take you back here someday. It's not the last time you'll ever see it." Rinoa smiled and nodded. "Alright…"
