Ch. 4 Found
Seifer was enjoying his time with Victoria without having to worry about Rin. It's not that Seifer ever felt guilty about the things he did with Victoria, but if Rin ever found out his plans would be royally screwed.
It was the afternoon after Rin left the day before. He and Victoria where still lying naked in bed relaxing from the activities of last night.
Seifer found himself caressing Victoria's silky skin lightly with his fingers. She was so beautiful, so beautiful that in fact Seifer was actually considering committing himself to her as so as the Rin thing was over. He knew that any man would give his left testicle to be in his position right now.
Basking in his naughty thoughts of Victoria Seifer almost fell out of bed when the door slammed open and in stepped Rin.
The look on her face as she caught sight of him in bed with another woman was pure pain. Seifer was surprised that he felt a small amount of guilt, but it quickly subsided as soon as she opened her mouth.
"And I felt bad when I went for a walk with Squall you basterd!" Without another word Rin stormed out of the room.
When the hell did she go for a walk with Squall? Indifferently Seifer turned over to Victoria who was staring at him.
"So she knows then," she says to him
"Seems to be the case"
"What are you going to do about it?" she asked.
Seifer knew he should run after Rin, but Victoria's beauty made him stagnant. He leans closer to the singer.
"I'll take care of it later," he tells her following his words with a passionate string of kisses.
* * * * *
How could she be so stupid? How could she be so naïve? How could she be so trusting of someone she knew couldn't be trusted? Rin was very angry and hurt about Seifer cheating on her, but more angry at herself for being all those things above.
Rin yearned to be with Squall at the moment. It was he who she wanted to be with to begin with, but things got in the way and somehow Rin found herself with Seifer.
She didn't even know how she got with Seifer in the first place. She knew she was with Seifer a lot especially with her training and with Squall not being around Seifer's charming personality and good looks eventually got to her. Rin cursed herself for being so weak.
Rin recalled walking on the rocks with Squall so tempted to share a kiss with him. Rin wished she would have.no she didn't that would make her just as worse as Seifer. An image of him and Victoria popped into her mind, no not quite as bad-but close.
Rin knew what she wanted to do and didn't spare another moment being away from Squall. Taking her bag she walked back to the train station.
The next train didn't leave until midnight which was currently three hours away. Not caring Rin bought the ticket anyway. She found an empty bench where she was content on waiting until her train was to depart to Balamb. Unfortunately for Rin she wasn't able to wait alone. Two hours into her wait Seifer came running into the train station.
She hated him, but not fully. As much as she tried to deny it there was still something about him. Even as he approached and she traced no signs of remorse for what he had done she still didn't totally hate him, but she wanted to.
"There you are," he called to her relieved.
Rin didn't respond all she could do was look daggers at him.
"Where you off to?" he asked looking at her luggage. She didn't respond.
"I know you're mad at me and you have every right to be, but will you at least talk to me."
"Tell Laguna I'm sorry, but I won't be coming back to work."
"Why not!?"
"I'm going to Balamb."
"For what?" Seifer was getting worked up and Rin found pleasure in making him sweat.
"Squall," she answered. Rin didn't feel like she had to explain any farther she felt like she never had to explain anything to Seifer Almansy again.
"You're leaving.for good?" she nods "For Lionheart?" Rin repeats her previous gesture.
She had never seen Seifer so distraught, but knew he wasn't upset about loosing her, but for losing Rinoa Caraway. Seifer gets down on one knee and against his better nature begins to beg.
"Rin, I'm sorry please don't leave us."
Us? The word coming from his mouth seemed so outrageous. With Seifer there was never an "us" it was only and always about him.
"Rin, I'll leave Victoria," he stopped for a second before continuing. "Just please don't leave me."
"Seifer," she addressed him making sure there was no emotion backing her words "I'm leaving you and Timber tonight as far as either of you goes from here on out I could care less."
Seifer stands up throwing his arms in the air "So that's it, you just leave when things get tough. Don't think by leaving your ever going to find yourself, find your missing piece."
"I'm sure as hell not going to find it here," she snapped sick of playing his mind games.
"Fine you can leave, but what about Rinoa Caraway you can't just leave her because she's you."
"Screw Rinoa Caraway the only person who ever cared about her was you!"
Seifer defeated storms away but something seemed to stop him and he walks back up to her.
"Rin I might have been dishonest most of our time together, but never once did I doubt that you were- no are the real Princess Rinoa Caraway. Between us, though, the most dishonest person here is you for doubting yourself."
Seifer once again stormed away only this time he didn't come back. Rin tried to forget his last statement she tried to place it with the rest of his lies, but she couldn't.
Was she being dishonest with herself? Rin didn't know, but she didn't spend long pondering about it as she got up from the bench and boarded the train. She took her seat on the train and sat as it made its way to Balamb. There were other things to think about at the moment then what Seifer had said. Like what was Squall going to say when she once again turns up on his doorstep. * * * * *
He sat lazily in bed. Everyone had gone to the local night club, but Squall at the moment wasn't up for the atmosphere.
Thoughts of the night before with Rin took over his mind. Squall wished for the thousandth time that he could stop thinking about her, but easier said then done.
It was getting late and Squall knew that Zell would be back any minute now. If he knew that they where going to be this long he might have gone with them. He was sick of being alone with his thoughts.
There was a light knock coming from his door that made Squall jump out of bed. Zell had a key; he thought curiously, was he too drunk to use it or something? Squall ran to the door opening it.
"R.Rin?" he stuttered shocked to see the silhouette of Rin's figure in his doorway.
She looked at him her hazy brown eyes filled with so many emotions they where near impossible to read, but Squall made a valiant effort.what he saw made his heart clench.
"What's wrong Rin?" he asked his voice full of concern.
"I caught." Rin suddenly lost her voice but after taking a deep breathe she regained "I caught Seifer in bed with Victoria."
"The singer?" he asked knowing that it wasn't the most comforting thing to say but it was the first the thing he thought of.
Rin nodded her lips where trembling. She reminded him of a child that lost her parents. Hesitantly, but surely Squall wrapped his arms around her. Rin sank into his chest he could feel her body shake from quiet sobs.
Squall gently stroked her hair in an attempt to comfort her.
In a hoarse whisper he hears Rin say "I'm sorry."
Squall turned her away from his chest and looked her straight in the eyes. What in the world was she sorry for? "Why are you sorry if anyone should be sorry it should be me," he told her searching her eyes for an answer before she said anything.
Not breaking their eye contact she says to him "I'm sorry for not following my heart in the beginning. For leaving you when really all I wanted was to be with you."
Squall could literally feel his heart flutter. He never before felt half as much for a girl as he felt for Rin, but something kept him from returning the kind of words that he so wanted to share with her. Instead he asked her.
"What do you want Rin?"
He had sort of asked her this question before, but never got a satisfying answer. Now he was asking her bluntly.
"What do you want in your life?" he points to her heart "What is that telling you?"
"I.I want," she seemed to be searching her soul for an answer. Squall thought she knew what she wanted, but was having a hard time admitting it or maybe realizing it. "I want to be a singer, I want to be me and be with people who care about me.I guess though what I want most of all is to be with you Squall."
That was enough for Squall. All he wanted at the moment was for Rin to get everything she wanted, everything she deserved. Squall took her in his arms again they both clung tighter to each other then before. Squall bends his head down and whispers into her ear.
"I'll always be here for you."
It was a promise and he hoped that Rin didn't see it as an empty one. He would be, no matter what happens he would always be there for her.
* * * * *
The next couple weeks were the best of Rin Heartilly's life. Squall had arranged for her to stay with Quistis who had a spare bedroom.
Whatever misgivings Rin had of Quistis at first where soon demolished. Once she got to know her better Rin discovered what a great person Quistis is and more importantly how terrific a friend she was. In fact all Squalls' friends were great and quickly embraced her with open arms.
Rin never had the feeling of belonging before not even back at the orphanage did she feel truly close to anyone. With Squall and his friends for the first time she felt like she belonged, like she was part of a whole.
As wonderful as it was being with Squall's-no-her friends it was just that much better when she was alone with Squall.
One day stuck out in her heart. Squall and herself had gone out for a late night walk. Hand in hand they made their way to Balamb beach when they came upon a child who appeared to be alone. She was a young girl 2 maybe 3 years old. She was sitting down on the rock beach crying.
Rin who lived with young children all her life approached the girl followed closely by Squall. Bending down next to the girl she smiles kindly and says.
"Anything we can do for you sweetie?"
The girl didn't say anything she only sobbed harder. Rin noticed she was pressing her hands against one of her knees in effort to conceal the blood that was seeping from it. Rin tried to coax the little girl in letting her help her, but the young girl wouldn't let her near her wound. Rin turns to Squall who was kneeling beside her.
"I don't know what else to do we can't just leave her here."
He nods at her then turns his attention to the little girl.
"Does that knee hurt?" Squall asked her his voice sweet with concern. The girl takes a break from her sobs to look at him.
"It.it hurts a lot." She tells him.
"I bet it does. Do you mind if I take a look at it?" Hesitantly the girl removes her hand.
"Ah just what I thought.the leg is going to have to come off."
The girl looks up at Squall horrified. Squall laughs and picks up the girl holding her like a baby. "I'm just kidding," he told her "Come on we'll take you home."
Rin's heart lurched as they took the child home. Rin saw the way the child's face lit up every time Squall spoke to her. Even cuter was the way Squall's lit up every time the child laughed.
They returned the girl to her grateful parents then continued their way back to the beach. Rin was suddenly overcome by a question of her own and so she asked.
"What do you want Squall?"
Squall laughed "You're asking me what I want?"
"Well yes," Rin didn't see what was so funny about her asking that.
Squall stops laughing but a smile remained on his face "I have everything I want a good job, good friends," his eyes fall onto her "good everything."
Although for his part it was a good answer it wasn't what she was looking for "You can't want this life forever? I mean I'm sure it's a fine life for a 19 year old, but how about when your 30? How about tomorrow?"
He looks at her seriously "Tomorrow, next week, next year what I want will never change."
"And what's that?" she persisted. The two of them stop walking as they made it to Balamb beach.
"I just want to be happy." Squall said simply before continuing.
"Of course I want to get married and start a family, but I'm not going to worry about when it's going to happen I'm just going to let it happen."
Squall bends down and picks a rock up from the beach "Have you ever skipped a rock Rin?" he asked her slyly changing the subject.
"No, I can't say I have," she said smiling as Squall made a rock skip five times across the glimmering ocean.
"Well it's about time you give it a try," he smirked picking up another rock and handing it to her.
Rin rubbed the rock between her fingers in a very similar fashion as to how she rubs her ring that she wears around her neck.
"First thing you do," Squall instructed "Is take the rock and hold it between your thumb and pointer finger," Rin did as told "Now bend your arm in towards your chest be sure to curl your wrist for that extra skip," she brought the rock towards her "Finally you extend your arm out and release."
Rin obeyed Squall's last step the rock skipped twice before subsiding into the ocean void.
"You did it you skipped your first rock!"
"Not as hard as I thought it would be," she said gleefully.
Squall moves toward her "It never is."
Smiling Rin throws her arms around Squall's neck "It always is," she told him right before the two shared their first kiss.
Seifer was enjoying his time with Victoria without having to worry about Rin. It's not that Seifer ever felt guilty about the things he did with Victoria, but if Rin ever found out his plans would be royally screwed.
It was the afternoon after Rin left the day before. He and Victoria where still lying naked in bed relaxing from the activities of last night.
Seifer found himself caressing Victoria's silky skin lightly with his fingers. She was so beautiful, so beautiful that in fact Seifer was actually considering committing himself to her as so as the Rin thing was over. He knew that any man would give his left testicle to be in his position right now.
Basking in his naughty thoughts of Victoria Seifer almost fell out of bed when the door slammed open and in stepped Rin.
The look on her face as she caught sight of him in bed with another woman was pure pain. Seifer was surprised that he felt a small amount of guilt, but it quickly subsided as soon as she opened her mouth.
"And I felt bad when I went for a walk with Squall you basterd!" Without another word Rin stormed out of the room.
When the hell did she go for a walk with Squall? Indifferently Seifer turned over to Victoria who was staring at him.
"So she knows then," she says to him
"Seems to be the case"
"What are you going to do about it?" she asked.
Seifer knew he should run after Rin, but Victoria's beauty made him stagnant. He leans closer to the singer.
"I'll take care of it later," he tells her following his words with a passionate string of kisses.
* * * * *
How could she be so stupid? How could she be so naïve? How could she be so trusting of someone she knew couldn't be trusted? Rin was very angry and hurt about Seifer cheating on her, but more angry at herself for being all those things above.
Rin yearned to be with Squall at the moment. It was he who she wanted to be with to begin with, but things got in the way and somehow Rin found herself with Seifer.
She didn't even know how she got with Seifer in the first place. She knew she was with Seifer a lot especially with her training and with Squall not being around Seifer's charming personality and good looks eventually got to her. Rin cursed herself for being so weak.
Rin recalled walking on the rocks with Squall so tempted to share a kiss with him. Rin wished she would have.no she didn't that would make her just as worse as Seifer. An image of him and Victoria popped into her mind, no not quite as bad-but close.
Rin knew what she wanted to do and didn't spare another moment being away from Squall. Taking her bag she walked back to the train station.
The next train didn't leave until midnight which was currently three hours away. Not caring Rin bought the ticket anyway. She found an empty bench where she was content on waiting until her train was to depart to Balamb. Unfortunately for Rin she wasn't able to wait alone. Two hours into her wait Seifer came running into the train station.
She hated him, but not fully. As much as she tried to deny it there was still something about him. Even as he approached and she traced no signs of remorse for what he had done she still didn't totally hate him, but she wanted to.
"There you are," he called to her relieved.
Rin didn't respond all she could do was look daggers at him.
"Where you off to?" he asked looking at her luggage. She didn't respond.
"I know you're mad at me and you have every right to be, but will you at least talk to me."
"Tell Laguna I'm sorry, but I won't be coming back to work."
"Why not!?"
"I'm going to Balamb."
"For what?" Seifer was getting worked up and Rin found pleasure in making him sweat.
"Squall," she answered. Rin didn't feel like she had to explain any farther she felt like she never had to explain anything to Seifer Almansy again.
"You're leaving.for good?" she nods "For Lionheart?" Rin repeats her previous gesture.
She had never seen Seifer so distraught, but knew he wasn't upset about loosing her, but for losing Rinoa Caraway. Seifer gets down on one knee and against his better nature begins to beg.
"Rin, I'm sorry please don't leave us."
Us? The word coming from his mouth seemed so outrageous. With Seifer there was never an "us" it was only and always about him.
"Rin, I'll leave Victoria," he stopped for a second before continuing. "Just please don't leave me."
"Seifer," she addressed him making sure there was no emotion backing her words "I'm leaving you and Timber tonight as far as either of you goes from here on out I could care less."
Seifer stands up throwing his arms in the air "So that's it, you just leave when things get tough. Don't think by leaving your ever going to find yourself, find your missing piece."
"I'm sure as hell not going to find it here," she snapped sick of playing his mind games.
"Fine you can leave, but what about Rinoa Caraway you can't just leave her because she's you."
"Screw Rinoa Caraway the only person who ever cared about her was you!"
Seifer defeated storms away but something seemed to stop him and he walks back up to her.
"Rin I might have been dishonest most of our time together, but never once did I doubt that you were- no are the real Princess Rinoa Caraway. Between us, though, the most dishonest person here is you for doubting yourself."
Seifer once again stormed away only this time he didn't come back. Rin tried to forget his last statement she tried to place it with the rest of his lies, but she couldn't.
Was she being dishonest with herself? Rin didn't know, but she didn't spend long pondering about it as she got up from the bench and boarded the train. She took her seat on the train and sat as it made its way to Balamb. There were other things to think about at the moment then what Seifer had said. Like what was Squall going to say when she once again turns up on his doorstep. * * * * *
He sat lazily in bed. Everyone had gone to the local night club, but Squall at the moment wasn't up for the atmosphere.
Thoughts of the night before with Rin took over his mind. Squall wished for the thousandth time that he could stop thinking about her, but easier said then done.
It was getting late and Squall knew that Zell would be back any minute now. If he knew that they where going to be this long he might have gone with them. He was sick of being alone with his thoughts.
There was a light knock coming from his door that made Squall jump out of bed. Zell had a key; he thought curiously, was he too drunk to use it or something? Squall ran to the door opening it.
"R.Rin?" he stuttered shocked to see the silhouette of Rin's figure in his doorway.
She looked at him her hazy brown eyes filled with so many emotions they where near impossible to read, but Squall made a valiant effort.what he saw made his heart clench.
"What's wrong Rin?" he asked his voice full of concern.
"I caught." Rin suddenly lost her voice but after taking a deep breathe she regained "I caught Seifer in bed with Victoria."
"The singer?" he asked knowing that it wasn't the most comforting thing to say but it was the first the thing he thought of.
Rin nodded her lips where trembling. She reminded him of a child that lost her parents. Hesitantly, but surely Squall wrapped his arms around her. Rin sank into his chest he could feel her body shake from quiet sobs.
Squall gently stroked her hair in an attempt to comfort her.
In a hoarse whisper he hears Rin say "I'm sorry."
Squall turned her away from his chest and looked her straight in the eyes. What in the world was she sorry for? "Why are you sorry if anyone should be sorry it should be me," he told her searching her eyes for an answer before she said anything.
Not breaking their eye contact she says to him "I'm sorry for not following my heart in the beginning. For leaving you when really all I wanted was to be with you."
Squall could literally feel his heart flutter. He never before felt half as much for a girl as he felt for Rin, but something kept him from returning the kind of words that he so wanted to share with her. Instead he asked her.
"What do you want Rin?"
He had sort of asked her this question before, but never got a satisfying answer. Now he was asking her bluntly.
"What do you want in your life?" he points to her heart "What is that telling you?"
"I.I want," she seemed to be searching her soul for an answer. Squall thought she knew what she wanted, but was having a hard time admitting it or maybe realizing it. "I want to be a singer, I want to be me and be with people who care about me.I guess though what I want most of all is to be with you Squall."
That was enough for Squall. All he wanted at the moment was for Rin to get everything she wanted, everything she deserved. Squall took her in his arms again they both clung tighter to each other then before. Squall bends his head down and whispers into her ear.
"I'll always be here for you."
It was a promise and he hoped that Rin didn't see it as an empty one. He would be, no matter what happens he would always be there for her.
* * * * *
The next couple weeks were the best of Rin Heartilly's life. Squall had arranged for her to stay with Quistis who had a spare bedroom.
Whatever misgivings Rin had of Quistis at first where soon demolished. Once she got to know her better Rin discovered what a great person Quistis is and more importantly how terrific a friend she was. In fact all Squalls' friends were great and quickly embraced her with open arms.
Rin never had the feeling of belonging before not even back at the orphanage did she feel truly close to anyone. With Squall and his friends for the first time she felt like she belonged, like she was part of a whole.
As wonderful as it was being with Squall's-no-her friends it was just that much better when she was alone with Squall.
One day stuck out in her heart. Squall and herself had gone out for a late night walk. Hand in hand they made their way to Balamb beach when they came upon a child who appeared to be alone. She was a young girl 2 maybe 3 years old. She was sitting down on the rock beach crying.
Rin who lived with young children all her life approached the girl followed closely by Squall. Bending down next to the girl she smiles kindly and says.
"Anything we can do for you sweetie?"
The girl didn't say anything she only sobbed harder. Rin noticed she was pressing her hands against one of her knees in effort to conceal the blood that was seeping from it. Rin tried to coax the little girl in letting her help her, but the young girl wouldn't let her near her wound. Rin turns to Squall who was kneeling beside her.
"I don't know what else to do we can't just leave her here."
He nods at her then turns his attention to the little girl.
"Does that knee hurt?" Squall asked her his voice sweet with concern. The girl takes a break from her sobs to look at him.
"It.it hurts a lot." She tells him.
"I bet it does. Do you mind if I take a look at it?" Hesitantly the girl removes her hand.
"Ah just what I thought.the leg is going to have to come off."
The girl looks up at Squall horrified. Squall laughs and picks up the girl holding her like a baby. "I'm just kidding," he told her "Come on we'll take you home."
Rin's heart lurched as they took the child home. Rin saw the way the child's face lit up every time Squall spoke to her. Even cuter was the way Squall's lit up every time the child laughed.
They returned the girl to her grateful parents then continued their way back to the beach. Rin was suddenly overcome by a question of her own and so she asked.
"What do you want Squall?"
Squall laughed "You're asking me what I want?"
"Well yes," Rin didn't see what was so funny about her asking that.
Squall stops laughing but a smile remained on his face "I have everything I want a good job, good friends," his eyes fall onto her "good everything."
Although for his part it was a good answer it wasn't what she was looking for "You can't want this life forever? I mean I'm sure it's a fine life for a 19 year old, but how about when your 30? How about tomorrow?"
He looks at her seriously "Tomorrow, next week, next year what I want will never change."
"And what's that?" she persisted. The two of them stop walking as they made it to Balamb beach.
"I just want to be happy." Squall said simply before continuing.
"Of course I want to get married and start a family, but I'm not going to worry about when it's going to happen I'm just going to let it happen."
Squall bends down and picks a rock up from the beach "Have you ever skipped a rock Rin?" he asked her slyly changing the subject.
"No, I can't say I have," she said smiling as Squall made a rock skip five times across the glimmering ocean.
"Well it's about time you give it a try," he smirked picking up another rock and handing it to her.
Rin rubbed the rock between her fingers in a very similar fashion as to how she rubs her ring that she wears around her neck.
"First thing you do," Squall instructed "Is take the rock and hold it between your thumb and pointer finger," Rin did as told "Now bend your arm in towards your chest be sure to curl your wrist for that extra skip," she brought the rock towards her "Finally you extend your arm out and release."
Rin obeyed Squall's last step the rock skipped twice before subsiding into the ocean void.
"You did it you skipped your first rock!"
"Not as hard as I thought it would be," she said gleefully.
Squall moves toward her "It never is."
Smiling Rin throws her arms around Squall's neck "It always is," she told him right before the two shared their first kiss.