Chapter 6
Rinoa slept the night in Squall's arms. She had never felt so safe, secure, and loved. (Does he love me though?) she questioned herself. She looked at his strong jaw, and traced it with her fingers. His hands were still on her waist, holding her close to him. She kissed him lightly on the lips and smiled. Rinoa whispered, "You've opened up my heart and renewed my trust in people…except maybe Seifer of course. You're my protector, my religion, Squall Leonhart. I…love you." She slipped out of his arms and out of his room as not to wake him, still wearing his jacket. She closed the door quietly and headed back to her room, not noticing two guys in the hallway.
Rinoa went into her room, taking a shower, and changing into more fitting clothing. She threw away her torn shirt, and slipped into black jeans and a white shirt. They fit her figure perfectly. Then she put her long blue duster over to complete the set. Rinoa combed her hair until it sparkled again.
The two guys in the hallway looked at each other. Zell Dincht, one of Squall's best friends looked at Irvine Kinneas. Irvine was only visiting Balamb Garden for a short while, learning from different instructors, honing his sniping skill. Zell was a very charismatic, emotional guy, although for all his practice with talking, he was still bad with women. His weapon was his fists. Irvine was more calm than Zell, but attractive in his mysterious, easy going character. As bad as Zell was with women, Irvine was equally as good. Zell broke the silence, "Did you see what I think I saw?!"
Irvine looked at Zell, "Yeah, was that Rinoa coming from Squall's room AND wearing his jacket?!" Irvine gave Zell a nudge. "Must have been some night…and I thought I was good with women!" They walked to Squall's room, wanting to know what happened. Zell pounded on Squall's door with his fists.
"Yo! Squall! Wake up man! We want to talk to you!"
Squall stirred, and felt for Rinoa. He didn't have to open his eyes to know that she wasn't there. (Was it a dream? Did she really say that she loved me?) But he knew the answer when he looked at his bandaged shoulder, proving that it wasn't a dream. Then he heard Zell's voice yelling at him to open the door. Groggily and with a thin, tight shirt on, and his usual black leather pants, he opened the door.
Irvine and Zell barged in, closing the door behind them. Irvine spoke. "So…what happened last night between you and…" he winked at Squall.
"What are you talking about?" Squall said, starting to deny everything that happened with Rinoa. (How do they know?) He wanted to protect her reputation.
They laughed, but were not satisfied. "Come on man, we know Rinoa was in here."
Squall shifted, uncomfortable in this interrogation. He sighed, "She just needed someone to talk to. Nothing along the lines of what you think happened. I'll meet you in the cafeteria in fifteen minutes. I need to shower and change." It was his way of saying, "leave already."
Irvine tilted his cowboy hat at Squall. "Anything you say Squall. See you soon." The pair left and resumed talking about the finer points of courting women.
Squall showered, shaved, and changed. He wore a different pair of black leather pants, and a tight white t-shirt. He looked for his leather jacket, when he remembered he had put it on Rinoa. (Hmm…maybe I should go check on her after last night. That whole thing was a little strange.) He headed out the door and went to her room. Squall knocked.
The door opened slowly and she looked so beautiful to him. (So this is what it's like to see her first thing in the morning,) Squall thought. "Yes?" her soft, bell like voice floated to his ears.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing…after ...well you know." He blushed slightly from being awkward about last night.
Rinoa smiled. She looked in the hallway and then pulled him in her room, closing the door behind him. "I feel…opened up." She cornered him into the wall just like he had done last night. She grinned at him teasingly. "Thanks for being so caring..." Squall shifted uncomfortably. (Man, this girl knows how to drive me crazy), he thought. Rinoa continued getting closer to him. "I wanted to thank you for watching out for me and everything…" She wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing how tense Squall was. She pulled him closer to her, and he complied by placing his hands on her hips. Then he leaned down to give her another one of those breathtaking kisses. They were swept up by their passions and hunger for each other, when Squall remembered he had to meet his friends. (Damn! Why couldn't I've had said I wouldn't be eating breakfast), he cursed himself mentally.
"Rinoa," Squall mumbled, half in a daze of pleasure. She turned her innocent, beautiful eyes towards his.
"Yes?" she answered. She caressed his face, and played with a strand of his hair and put it behind his ear.
"I have to go…I told Irvine and Zell that I'd meet them in a few minutes." They both knew how much he regretted having to leave. Rinoa remembered his jacket.
"Oh here." Rinoa fetched Squall's jacket. "I meant to give this back to you. Thanks."
Squall gave her another quick kiss before heading to the door. "Come with me?" he seemed to plead with his eyes.
"I...don't know. I don't know if I'm ready for getting to know more people just yet."
Squall gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand with his. "They may be goofy and really into women, but they're good guys."
She debated with herself, but then decided against it. "I'm not ready….go ahead and have fun with your friends. I'm not hungry anyways, so I might work on my fighting skills." (To kick Seifer's ass sometime,) she added in her mind.
Squall smiled, and Rinoa saw his crystal blue eyes sparkle. "O.k., as long as you promise to stay safe today."
She laughed and winked at him. "Cross my heart and hope to die?" Squall hugged her close to him. She didn't know that she would break that promise, and the cost would be enormous…