Actress In The Mirror
Chapter Nine
The full moon in the night sky was the only source of light in the rather untidy office. Squall sat with his feet on the desk messing around with his pen. There were still many forms to sign and letters to write but he had too many things on his mind. He had spent practically all of the last two weeks either in his office or his room. No one would want to see him anyway, even if he was the headmaster.
He sighed to himself and delved into his pocket to get his mobile phone. No new messages. Neither Rinoa nor Quistis had bothered to reply to his many apologies. It looked like they didn't want anything to do with him anymore.
Squall sat upright in his chair and took out the first form which lay neatly in his in tray. It was yet another plea from the cafeteria staff asking for more funding. He just grunted and threw it straight into the bin. The Garden just wasn't getting enough money for things like that anymore. The next form received the exact same treatment. If people wanted a basketball court then they should just switch to another Garden for all he cared.
As he sorted through everything he quickly came across a yellow sheet of paper known as a 'transfer slip'. Odd, he thought, who would want to transfer in the middle of the semester? At closer inspection it became all too clear. The name on the top of the sheet was Quistis Trepe and she wanted to transfer onto Galbadia Garden.
Squall clicked his pen, knowing that he should sign it but something inside him told him not to. Transferring students to other Gardens was a long process anyway as there was a lot to sort out. But with someone as well known and as admired as Quistis it should not take more than three weeks. Her teaching skills would get her in for sure.
The tip of the pen lightly touched the paper but it did not move. He slowly began to write his signature until there was a knock at the door. The slip was quickly budged underneath the many other forms and letters. Getting up Squall wondered if perhaps the person at the door was either Rinoa or Quistis. What would they want? He twisted the doorknob and as the door opened he was greeted with a cheerful looking Irvine along with a six pack of beer.
"Hey Squall! How you been? You know everyone's wondering how you are seeing as you've been cooped up in here for so long. So what's cooking?"
Irvine barged his way into the room and perched himself on the desk whilst turning the lamp on at the same time. Squall rubbed his forehead. Of all the things he didn't need right now, this was it.
"What do you want?" he asked angrily.
"Come on, you've got to move on. I know what's happened and I just don't think this is the way to handle it, that's all," the sharpshooter replied.
"You've got some nerve telling me that," Squall uttered as he closed the door. "You think what you're doing is right? Acting all happy and cheerful isn't going to make the problem go away."
"So you know," Irvine sighed sadly.
It was common knowledge in Balamb Garden of Squall and Quistis' affair but people were just as well informed with the news of Irvine and Selphie's break-up. It was Xu who had told Squall about it.
"You want to talk about it?" Squall asked as he opened up a can of beer.
***
The card remained closed. It had been sitting on the table for half an hour. The front said it all. Sorry… Sorry for what though? Why was it so important for his forgiveness? Staring at it wasn't doing any good but opening it would just make him guilty. He shoved it into his bag and swiftly left the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria to wait for Rinoa outside the training centre. She had become his top priority. Whilst he taught many of the students in Garden he taught her outside of class time as well. Today was her toughest challenge yet, going into the training centre for an hour alone. The hour was nearly up.
The bench just outside was free so he sat and waited. Ten minutes passed but there was no sign of her. Another ten but not a thing. He wanted to go in there and find out what was holding her but he knew that Rinoa would have to learn that in a real situation there is always the possibility that no one will be around to save her.
"Zell I did it!"
Cries of excitement and joy lightened up Zell's spirits as Rinoa came running out. She was smiling, something which she had not done for quite some time.
"I didn't think I could do it but I did!" she yelled. "I beat the T-Rexaur all on my own and I have you to thank for that. Thank you!"
"What are you thanking me for?" he laughed. "You're the one that did it, not me."
"But you've taught me so much. I can't thank you enough for what you've done. Thanks for just sticking by me, I know I haven't been the best person to be around lately."
Her smile faded as she found herself lost in painful memories.
"Hey, you sit here and I'll get you something to eat."
"OK."
Zell headed off in the direction of the cafeteria and Rinoa sat on the bench. His bag lay next to her and she could see something white sticking out of it. Curious as to what it was, she took it out and scanned it. Someone had given him a card. She opened it up and read it. It was a message from Quistis, the same which she had received that morning. But why was she apologising to Zell? It wasn't as if he had anything to do with it.
Rinoa put it back and sat in silence. There weren't that many people around so there was no chatter in the background, just silence. She began to hum a tune to herself and heard a rustling sound. She looked behind her at the plants but couldn't see anything unusual so thought nothing of it. Silence………….and there it was again. That same noise. She got up and primed her pinwheel, ready for action. She was sure that it was just a monster which had escaped. But there was nothing. She could not see anything moving.
She heard footsteps coming from the direction behind her so she turned round to tell Zell about it.
"Zell, I must be going crazy but I keep hearing this noise and………."
Her voice trailed off as her eyes stared in horror at what was standing in front of her. Its eyes stared right back but they were cold and heartless.
"Wh - who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Who do you think? The question is, who are you?"