Secrets of the Sorceress
Chapter 5
Apologies and Disappointment
After a few more days of sleeping in and catching up, I felt in control of myself again. The sleeping on the lunch table times were gone, but the hurt I'd caused Irvine was not. I knew that what I had said was mostly induced by lack of shut-eye and crankiness, but he didn't. What I'd done needed to be remedied, no matter how angry he was with me. Selphie hadn't been talking to me much either.and that really caused an ache in my heart. So, I finally cornered Irvine in his classroom he was teaching, while he was on a break.
"Hey Irvine," I said softly as I walked in, loitering by the doorway. He looked in my direction, and only grumbled a response.
"I know you must be mad at me," I continued, walking forward with my hands behind my back. This usually worked with Squall, so why should Irvine be any different? He still didn't lift his eyes, but he was losing the stiffness in his back. I'd seen him tighten when I entered.
"I wanted to let you know I'm sorry for what I said, and I really hope you'll forgive me."
He set his pen down on the paper he was correcting, and finally looked over at me. I smiled a begging smile, leaning my head forward and awaiting my answer.
"I don't know Rin," he said, making my heart sink. "You really hurt my feelin's."
I stared at the floor, kicking it with my toe. What could I do to make it up to him? "I know.and I'm so sorry. You were right. I hadn't gotten enough sleep, and I was cranky. I didn't mean to take it out on you, honest."
He made no other motion, and I sagged, defeated. Obviously he wasn't going to forgive me, I just had to accept it. As I was leaving, I heard him call out my name.
"Don't leave," he said, raising himself from the desk chair. "I forgive you."
I lit up like a Christmas tree. Irvine's friendship was so important to me, I couldn't imagine not talking to him every day. He was the one I came to when Squall was doing something I couldn't quite figure out, or one of other friend's had a male issue I knew he could sort out. Living without that because of me just wasn't an option. I beamed at him, ran over, and hugged him close.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I yelped, a rush of air squeezing out of him. He chucked, and tried to loosen my grip to no avail.
"Okay Rin. I gotcha. Try not to kill me, will ya?"
Grinning sheepishly, I pulled away and left the room. But before I did, I grabbed the doorframe and shouted, "Thank you!"
Now it was time to make amends with Squall.
I found him in the meeting room, sitting in a huge chair, by himself in the spacious room. Doughnuts sat in a box in the center of the table, untouched and waiting. I knocked on the open door, and entered. When he saw that it was me, his eyes widened.
"Rinoa," he breathed, standing up. "I thought you were still sleeping." I cut him off with an even tighter embrace than I'd given to Irvine. He gasped, but returned the hold. Closing my eyes, I whispered, "I love you," in his ear, and kissed his cheek. When I let go, his eyes were softer.
"I love you, too. Hyne, it feels good to hear you say that again."
A sharp pain went through my heart; I really had been neglecting him. "I'm sorry, Squall. Things have just been a little confusing lately. I promise, I won't get that way again."
He smiled genuinely, and kissed my lips. My eyes popped open, as I expected the frightening pictures to return, but nothing came. No cries, no terror-stricken faces, no Squall. I let myself fall into the kiss, thankful that they were gone.
~*Two Weeks Later*~
"Squall! Squall!" my choked shouts resounded through his office. My feet had carried me faster than I ever thought possible, especially under the circumstances.
Hearing my terrified voice, he rushed down the hall toward me, shaving cream spread upon half of his face. I stopped running as he reached me, and sagged against him, trembling.
"What is it, Rinoa?" he asked urgently, checking me over. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head vigorously, tears escaping my eyes. "Well what's wrong, then? Why are you shaking?"
I tried to find the words as he led me to the nearest seat in his office. But everything inside me was jumbled; I couldn't seem to sort it out. My hands went over my face, but my muffled voice spoke nonetheless.
"I went to see Dr. Kadowaki today," I gasped between words. Not wanting to prolong the news any longer, I blurted, "I'm not pregnant, Squall."
Author's Notes: Yeah, I know Rinoa's probably overreacting a little about the pregnancy thing, but please understand it was a big step for both of them, you know? She was really counting on the first time to be the charm. Keep reading, because this is going to get really good in chapter 6. Please keep reviewing, with constructive criticism, if you feel the need. No flames, please. Not that there have been any.but just to be safe. My feelings are hurt easily. ( By the way Erin, I didn't really take your review offensively, I just wanted to make it clear that I want everybody to focus on the real parts of the story, not the little details, okay? I didn't mean to pick on you two or anything. Anyways, keep reviewing, and I'll keep posting! Thanks!
Apologies and Disappointment
After a few more days of sleeping in and catching up, I felt in control of myself again. The sleeping on the lunch table times were gone, but the hurt I'd caused Irvine was not. I knew that what I had said was mostly induced by lack of shut-eye and crankiness, but he didn't. What I'd done needed to be remedied, no matter how angry he was with me. Selphie hadn't been talking to me much either.and that really caused an ache in my heart. So, I finally cornered Irvine in his classroom he was teaching, while he was on a break.
"Hey Irvine," I said softly as I walked in, loitering by the doorway. He looked in my direction, and only grumbled a response.
"I know you must be mad at me," I continued, walking forward with my hands behind my back. This usually worked with Squall, so why should Irvine be any different? He still didn't lift his eyes, but he was losing the stiffness in his back. I'd seen him tighten when I entered.
"I wanted to let you know I'm sorry for what I said, and I really hope you'll forgive me."
He set his pen down on the paper he was correcting, and finally looked over at me. I smiled a begging smile, leaning my head forward and awaiting my answer.
"I don't know Rin," he said, making my heart sink. "You really hurt my feelin's."
I stared at the floor, kicking it with my toe. What could I do to make it up to him? "I know.and I'm so sorry. You were right. I hadn't gotten enough sleep, and I was cranky. I didn't mean to take it out on you, honest."
He made no other motion, and I sagged, defeated. Obviously he wasn't going to forgive me, I just had to accept it. As I was leaving, I heard him call out my name.
"Don't leave," he said, raising himself from the desk chair. "I forgive you."
I lit up like a Christmas tree. Irvine's friendship was so important to me, I couldn't imagine not talking to him every day. He was the one I came to when Squall was doing something I couldn't quite figure out, or one of other friend's had a male issue I knew he could sort out. Living without that because of me just wasn't an option. I beamed at him, ran over, and hugged him close.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I yelped, a rush of air squeezing out of him. He chucked, and tried to loosen my grip to no avail.
"Okay Rin. I gotcha. Try not to kill me, will ya?"
Grinning sheepishly, I pulled away and left the room. But before I did, I grabbed the doorframe and shouted, "Thank you!"
Now it was time to make amends with Squall.
I found him in the meeting room, sitting in a huge chair, by himself in the spacious room. Doughnuts sat in a box in the center of the table, untouched and waiting. I knocked on the open door, and entered. When he saw that it was me, his eyes widened.
"Rinoa," he breathed, standing up. "I thought you were still sleeping." I cut him off with an even tighter embrace than I'd given to Irvine. He gasped, but returned the hold. Closing my eyes, I whispered, "I love you," in his ear, and kissed his cheek. When I let go, his eyes were softer.
"I love you, too. Hyne, it feels good to hear you say that again."
A sharp pain went through my heart; I really had been neglecting him. "I'm sorry, Squall. Things have just been a little confusing lately. I promise, I won't get that way again."
He smiled genuinely, and kissed my lips. My eyes popped open, as I expected the frightening pictures to return, but nothing came. No cries, no terror-stricken faces, no Squall. I let myself fall into the kiss, thankful that they were gone.
~*Two Weeks Later*~
"Squall! Squall!" my choked shouts resounded through his office. My feet had carried me faster than I ever thought possible, especially under the circumstances.
Hearing my terrified voice, he rushed down the hall toward me, shaving cream spread upon half of his face. I stopped running as he reached me, and sagged against him, trembling.
"What is it, Rinoa?" he asked urgently, checking me over. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head vigorously, tears escaping my eyes. "Well what's wrong, then? Why are you shaking?"
I tried to find the words as he led me to the nearest seat in his office. But everything inside me was jumbled; I couldn't seem to sort it out. My hands went over my face, but my muffled voice spoke nonetheless.
"I went to see Dr. Kadowaki today," I gasped between words. Not wanting to prolong the news any longer, I blurted, "I'm not pregnant, Squall."
Author's Notes: Yeah, I know Rinoa's probably overreacting a little about the pregnancy thing, but please understand it was a big step for both of them, you know? She was really counting on the first time to be the charm. Keep reading, because this is going to get really good in chapter 6. Please keep reviewing, with constructive criticism, if you feel the need. No flames, please. Not that there have been any.but just to be safe. My feelings are hurt easily. ( By the way Erin, I didn't really take your review offensively, I just wanted to make it clear that I want everybody to focus on the real parts of the story, not the little details, okay? I didn't mean to pick on you two or anything. Anyways, keep reviewing, and I'll keep posting! Thanks!