'All Instructors are encouraged to prevent the spread of the dreaded Balamb Fish Syndrome by confiscating any fishing equipment or paraphernalia.' She smirked at the new post and walked over to the sink to wash some of the freshly added ink off of her hands. She wanted to go to her room so she could get her Save the Queen and decapitate Rinoa. How could anyone get over the feeling of being stabbed in the heart? No one really expected them to stay together, or even have a baby. They had even secretly taken a poll on how long they could be with each other before Squall had a nervous breakdown. Now they were going to get married…
"Guess what! Squallykins and me are getting married! And we are having a baby!" Rinoa announced just as bright and chipper as the sun that shone through the large glass windows of the cafeteria. Irvine just shook his head and grabbed his bottle of aspirin, this time taking about six and chewing on them. Selphie just looked at the two all bewildered, as if she was trying to figure out which emotion to display towards them. Zell just took off his fighting gloves and began to rub his wrists, he got arthritis when he grew tense or nervous. Squall just sat beside her, as if he had trouble deciphering the news himself. Quistis didn't know what to do or say, so she just did what came naturally.
"Congratulations."
Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw Squall come in and begin to fix himself a cup of coffee. What could she say to him? Nothing at the moment because before she could utter his name his walked back out the door. There were so many things that she could have been focusing on at the moment, why did one of them have to be Squall and Rinoa?
Irvine Kinneas had a severe headache as he gripped his cowboy hat and fell onto his bed, preparing himself for an afternoon nap. He had a lot to drink on the previous night and aspirin was the only thing that could stop the imaginary Galbadian drums from beating inside his head. He remembered the morning vaguely, but all he knew now was that someone was pregnant, and it sure as hell wasn't Selphie.
"Who the hell is there?" he called out from under his hat as he heard someone enter his room and start to shuffle about.
"Selphie Timlett, SeeD level number-"
"That's enough buttercup…" He mumbled from under his hat.
"We have to do something…."
"Of course we do…" He replied, pulling the hat from his face and smirking.
"Irvine Kinneas, not now." She said as she walked over to his dresser and began to play with the figures that sat on top of it.
"What are we supposed to do Selph? Hold a telethon? There is nothing we can do now…"
"Well, there was something we could have done a few months ago…"
"And what would that be daffodil?"
"I don't know…"
"Check my coat for me and give me that bottle of aspirin will ya?"
"No."
"What… hand it over…"
"You should really just talk to your friend."
"What the hell am I supposed to tell him?"
"I dunno, give him support?"
"Why am I gonna give him something I obviously don't have to offer? You know and I know…hell everyone knows that this is an awful thing to do…."
"What about Rinoa…."
"What about her…Squall is her boyfriend let him take care of her…isn't that the whole point of marriage anyway?"
"God Damnit Irvine Ashley Kinneas!" Selphie looked over to him and stood up. She only used his full name, the name that she had found when she was snooping through his file when she was really angry with him. "Have you no heart?"
"I dunno…. Do I?" He smiled after he had said that, he needed to get her out of his room and a fight was just the remedy. She walked out as he lay back down on his bed for an afternoon nap.
"C'mon Damnit!" Angelica stood in line for the showers and shook her head. The hot water in all the dorms had been cut off so that meant she had to stand in line to take a shower in the large trainee bathroom. She stood in line, towel wrapped around her hair and waiting behind a few giggling fellow SeeDs. She had grown accustomed to her hot morning showers in her very own dorm but now she was back to where she loathed, standing in line for what seemed like half an hour later just to feel comfortable. She turned around when she felt a tap on her shoulder to see a short, brown eyed girl standing behind her.
"Angelica…." Rinoa said softly, granting her a smile.
"Hello Rinoa." She replied, turning around to face her.
"So, how's it been? I have not talked to you in weeks."
"I know, I've been busy."
"With what? Some secret mission, gimmie a break when you are SeeD at Balamb Garden you are never busy."
"How would you know Rinoa? You're not one."
"Well…. My fiancé is Commissioner…I have my connections."
"Do those include sneaking in his files after he is asleep?"
"Yes and the occasional morning quickie…if ya know what I mean."
"Sure, if it's Squall I do." Rinoa stared at her in shock, her brown eyes enflamed.
"Ha, I'm joking…"
"I thought that… Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Tada… Squalliekins finally got me a ring" She lifted her hand to show the small engagement ring on her finger.
"How cute," Angelica stated as she lifted her small hand and squinted at the small jewel that sat on the gold band.
"It's only until we get settled, I'm sure he'll buy me an even bigger one once we actually get married." She said, pulling her hand away from her and smirking. "Y a know how things go…the young struggling couple trying to make it while basking in the glow of love." Rinoa dreamily stared up to the corked tile ceilings of the bathroom as if she were gazing at the stars. Angelica looked up at the ceiling and frowned.
"Yeah…I've read all the books and seen about…all the movies."
"I am so confused…I need a maid of honor and I can't decide whom to chose. Selphie or Quistis… I think Quistis is showing her desire to be it by keeping her distance and not seeming too pushy. I hate pushy people."
"Don't we all." Angelica moved a few steps closer towards the showers as the line moved up.
"Well… I just want to get this over before I start to get really fat… A wedding when you are pregnant. Do you have any idea on how whorish that is? And what will my father think when all his friends and colleagues discover that I was pregnant when I walked down the aisle." She shivered at the thought of it and Angelica let out a small giggle as she watched her.
"Well Rinoa, people do have to cope with their tarnished images. That's what life is about, making mistakes and either solving them or letting them lead to their demise."
"But this is not a mistake. It was meant to be…"
"I'm not saying it wasn't, or it isn't for that matter. It's just that well…. It doesn't seem like you are actually looking at the realism involved here."
"How would you know?"
"I don't."
"Exactly." Rinoa walked away, out of the bathroom and totally disregarding the idea of a shower.
