Actress In The Mirror

Chapter Eight - The Ball (Part Two)

Squall stopped walking as he reached the balcony. There was no where else for him to go and he knew that if he turned round then he would see Rinoa.

"Did we say something wrong? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." There she was, right on time. "I know that you have a lot of work what with your job and all but please don't shut me out. If something's stressing you out then tell me."

Completely missing the point as usual Squall thought. As she gently touched his arm he pulled her away. He did not want to hurt her, she did not deserve that. None of this mess was any of her fault, it was all his. There was no way that he could see of getting out of it either.

"Rinoa, I'm not shutting you out on purpose. I just can't think straight lately, that's all," he confessed, glancing back at the ballroom.

"Why?" Rinoa asked, sounding confused.

"Things have happened and, well, there's no easy way of saying it but some things have changed."

She nodded. A part of her had been waiting for this speech ever since she came back and even though she did not want to hear it, she could not help but feel a slight amount of relief along with her sadness.

"I understand," she said, completely baffling Squall. "You want to break up with me and I guess it's because I've been away for so long. If I'd have known that this was going to happen then I wouldn't have left at all. But tell me why. What made you feel different? Was it something more?"

"I don't know how to explain," Rinoa's eyes were full of pain and he could tell that she was only putting on a brave face to make him feel less guilty. It definitely was not working. "When you left I did a lot of thinking about things and, well, I found someone else."

Rinoa was completely astounded. She could have handled it better if he had have just told her that he felt their flame had gone out but the fact that he had fallen in love with someone else was like getting stabbed in the heart a million times.

"Y-you fell in love with someone else? What? I mean, why? I mean…..who?"

Squall knew that if he revealed who it was then she would be completely crushed. Her eyes were already swelling up with tears and he did not want to hurt her anymore than he already had.

"I can't tell you that," he said.

"You mean you just don't want to!" she shouted. "I know this person don't I?! That's why you don't want to say anything! You're a complete bastard! I hate you!"

She gulped as her tears came flooding out. Her mascara running, Squall just wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be all right but he knew that he couldn't.

"I didn't want you to get hurt that's all," Squall revealed.

"Well you really failed there Squall," Rinoa choked. "I can't believe that someone like you would do a thing like this. And you haven't even got the guts to tell me who this new, wonderful love of your life is."

"I can't Rinoa, I've told you that."

"Just tell her Squall."

***

"You're a complete liar!"

"Look, I'm telling you the truth. Where would you get a stupid idea like that from?"

Selphie fumed as Irvine continued to argue that he was innocent. Part of her wanted to believe him but the other part was so wrapped up in the idea that he was being unfaithful.

"Irvine ever since she's come back it's been the only thing on your mind. I hardly get to see you because you're always with her and you'll always talk about her. Just give up this stupid game of yours and tell me the truth," she said, upset.

"How can I get it through to you that I already am telling you the truth?" he said angrily. "OK sure, I'll admit that maybe I have been spending more time with her than you but it's only because no one else seems to bother with her and she's getting upset about it. I'm sure that if you came back home after a couple of years then you'd be pretty annoyed it you're boyfriend ignored you and a couple of your friends wouldn't even bother to say hi."

"But what about me? I haven't gone anywhere and yet you're still ignoring me. How is that supposed to make me feel?"

Selphie could not even be bothered to hear what Irvine's reply would be. Instead she walked hastily towards the door where she would be able to leave. On the way out she bumped into Seifer. He gave her a bit of a dirty look and carried on walking until he reached Fujin who was looking as miserable as ever.

"Geez Fujin, you could have made a bit of an effort," he moaned.

Fujin looked towards the ground. Strangely it did not feel right without Raijin bursting in with some annoying comment about things.

"SORRY." She apologised.

"Ah Fuu where's not going to have this all night are we? Come on, what's the worst that will happen? Loosen up a little."

Fujin smiled a little. He had not called her 'Fuu' for quite some time and it felt good.

She took a deep breath. "Sorry, force of habit." Suddenly, all defences were down. If this was what her friend wanted her to be like for the night then this was what he was going to get. Her typical one word sentences were a barrier she had put up to make sure that no one's comments would harm her as there were obviously going to be few who would bother to get to know her. It was something which she had done since her childhood. Only Seifer was able to see the real person underneath it all.

"That's better," he smiled.

The pair went and sat down at a table which was free. They were each given drinks by a waitress.

"I wonder where Squall and Rinoa have got to?" Fujin said.

"Rinoa isn't here Fujin, don't be so stupid."

"What?"

"I saw her in Deling Fuu," Seifer's words made Fujin feel uneasy. "She's an actress now, following her dreams. There's no way that she would come back here. She told me herself. The real Rinoa isn't here anymore, the fake one has taken over."

"Seifer, what are you talking about?"

"Rinoa told me that she wants me to get rid of the fake her. She wants to go back to being her, to acting again. I have to help her."

"SEIFER."

***

Quistis stood there, waiting for Squall to say something. It seemed at though Rinoa was already beginning to get the idea.

"You have got to be kidding me," she cried. "You and her?"

Squall nodded slowly and watched as she tried desperately to grab onto the balcony to ensure that she did not lose her balance.

"What the hell is going on?" Zell asked as he came rushing over.

"I thought I told you not to come here," Quistis said, sounding annoyed.

"But I saw everyone getting upset. They're my friends too," Zell's eyes were hard for Quistis to look at. Soon enough, he would have the same problem with her. "What's going on?"

Rinoa ran over to him and held on tight as she cried into his chest. "They were having an affair," she sobbed.

"Quistis?"

She didn't say anything. His eyes looked away from her as they all stood in silence.