AN: Thanks for the reviews so far :) They're really encouraging, and I really want to get Squall and Rinoa back together, but.....maybe I'm evil and I'll never let them meet!! Nah...I'm not that cruel :P Well, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8 and everything in it, Squaresoft does.
Chapter Five: The Red Rose
Squall didn't know how he let them talk him into it, but there he was, standing in the long line up waiting outside the fancy building of Galbadia's grandest theatre, The Red Rose.
There he was, tall and grumpy, in a dark black suit that Selphie had persuaded him to wear for endless hours. And finally, he gave up, at least he got his peace from that nagging little voice.
Whatever...I can just sit, stare, and think. No one will notice. He thought, rather making his situation more pleasant with his thoughts.
"Come on Squall, the line is moving up," Quistis nudged him out of his usual revere as she nodded politely at the guards at the entrance.
Zell tagged along behind, looking around the lobby room as they entered. "Do you think they have a food court thing here?"
Quistis shot him an impatient look and he obediently shut up. Squall took no notice of them as his eyes drifted around the high ceiling of the lobby. It had intricate designs of angels and curls dancing among the ceiling, and once again he was lost in thought until he felt the usual nudge from his former Instructor Trepe.
The auditiorium was vast and filled with maroon velvet chairs, hence the name of the theatre. The murmer of voices was heard in the air, a few urgent calls and sneezes, but everyone eventually settled down into their seats.
Squall immediately paid no attention to the stage, but instead started staring intently at the balding head of the man sitting in front of him.
Zell looked over Quistis' shoulder to look at the program sheet she had in her hands. "Aw man!! Dinner comes after the whole music thing."
Quistis stiffled a laugh since everyone was utterly silent. "Shh." She mouthed to the blonde energetic man beside her.
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a middle aged man came up to the stage, Galabadia's new leader after the most recent sorceress war. President Ryan Deling, a brother of Vintzer Deling himself.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Galbadia's grandest theatre, The Red Rose!" He announced proudly as the crowd abrupted into applause. "As you know, you are all honoured guests to tonight's dinner to celebrate Galbadia's anniversary."
Squall stiffled a yawn as he gazed past the balding head infront of him to another head two rows infront. It was when Ryan Deling stepped aside and the lights dimmed that he finally took notice of the real world.
The stage was dark, except in the middle a spotlight shone, casting light on a black grand piano. The sound of high heels clicking against the wooden stage could be heard as the crowd waited intently for whomever it was to appear.
And finally, she did.
Her tall slender figure glided across the stage towards the black mass that was the piano. Her long tendrils of hair cascaded around her with elegance as she took her seat without a sound. Yet her face was masked, for whatever reason, but Squall could still see through the mask and into the round passionate chocolate eyes of the pianist.
He was mesmerized by her beauty and an air of hope that surrounded her, yet at the same time he scolded himself for such nonsense.
The silence was broken when the young woman placed her long fingers onto the piano and started her song. The crowd was taken away. Taken away to her world, with her music, and everyone listened intently.
"I'll be waiting..." Her lips suddenly parted, and the crowd seemed even more shocked that this young woman had such a voice. Smooth and light, melodious to all ears.
Squall's eyes widened, his head hurt. I'll be waiting.....why? He shut his eyes, memories...
"and I'll always be....." Her voice now seemed to taunt him, yet he knew she wasn't. The young woman was merily singing her song and playing her piano. He frowned at his illusions.
Yet you may hate me
Yet you may love me
I do not care, for I know I love you.
It's not my fault, that I had to go
Did you know, what I was going through?
And now you might stare
At me with hatred in your eyes...
But please still be waiting...
For me...
She lifted her hands from the keys, yet the song seemed incomplete, and she knew it. She raised herself from the black leather bench and faced the crowd slowly.
"This song may sound incomplete, because it is. It is not finished, and it never will be, until I know what is to come." And with that she walked off the stage, leaving a confused and startled audience.
Squall stared, and stared, at that very spot that young woman had stood. He was having a racking headache, and he didn't know why. Why does that girl look familiar? Why is her song so...familiar also? Yet I never heard of anything like it, but I feel like....I know how she feels...what? What am I saying?
His icy eyes darted to the program in Quistis' lap as he snatched it from her lap. His eyes leaped to find the name of the performer that had just made him so confused.
"Scarlet Rose" He mumbled as his eyes scanned the name over and over, backwards and forwards. That's obviously not her real name...or is it?
Quistis noticed Squall's sudden tension and she looked at him curiously. "Is something wrong Squall?"
"No," He replied shortly as he stood to leave.
"Hey wait, where are you going?!" Zell called startled, but was hissed at by the many people trying to watch the next performance up on the stage.
Squall didn't reply but hurridly walked off. I know that girl...or maybe I don't, but there's something about her that I feel like I know.
She walked into the change room and took off the dark blood red mask that hid her face. President Deling had told her that he had invited all of the leaders of every Garden. And for some reason, he could've been in that crowd. He could've heard her sing those words, that were dedicated to him secretly in her heart. One side of her dearly hope he had not come...yet one side mercilessly knew that she had wanted him to hear that song.
"Rose?"
She blinked her round almond eyes and turned to look over her shoulder. "Yes?"
"There's a big-looking man outside walking around, I think he's lost."
Rose stood up and walked towards the door and peeked through the small crack. Her eyes widened as she quickly shrunk back from it. "No, he's not lost, I think he's a...a theif." She uttered.
"A theif?!" Said a fellow performer. "We better call the guards then!"
Rose was numb as the rest called security to go after the man that she knew was anything but a theif. She dropped back onto her seat and stared dumbly at her reflection.
What's wrong with you Rinoa? You want to see him...don't you...? You want him to see you too...yet I'm hiding. I'm sorry Squall...
Squall looked around the dimly lighted hallway he was in. He scratched his head until one door caught his attention. A door that had a little star on it.
He advanced towards that door until he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. Squall spun back, a glare in his eyes.
"What are you doing here young man?" An officer grunted.
Squalled narrowed his eyes at him and stood up straight. "I was looking for the washroom." He grumbled impatiently, mad that he had gotten caught.
"Door next to the elevator. Go down this hallway and turn right, you won't miss it."
Squall nodded as a thank you and walked off with a frown. Maybe I'll see her at dinner...
