Just Wait


By Geminigirlz #1
(no.2 doesn't even know FF...oh well...)




A/N: I had an idea for a AU fic. In most cases, Squall and Rinoa either have a love/hate relationship or it was love at first site. Well, I wanted to see what would happen if they DID know each other, but never acutally got to know each other until they were MUCH older. This makes me feel like there's much more insight to what they want, not just saying something to look smart in your twenties or teens. Or maybe they do, and don't really know what they're saying, either.
And it always feels like they're desitined to be together. Maybe this time, they have to work a little harder to make it work. And this time, they will have more relationships than the usual, Squall-Rinoa-Seifer triangle. Life works that way.



Squall yawned and slouched furthur in the cheap metal chair. In the corner of his eye, he saw the principal glaring at him.

Whatever, it's my graduation.

Four years of the hell was finally coming to an end. And what better irony was it that he was co-valedictorian? According to his teachers, it was Hyne's given miracle that he had made it this far. Someone who didn't give a shit working for something.

Of course, he wasn't the only one. The girl next to him was crossing her arms constantly and staring at him from the corner of her eye. Yes, the daughter of the superintendent.

'What a surprise that SHE made valedictorian.'

People said every time they saw her. He was one of the only people who knew the truth. She was a fierce competitor that hated to see him on the stage with her. Ever since back in 7th grade they had worked on a project together and he got a better individual grade, she had been trying to one-up him on everything. Even sports.

Sad, really.

She cleared her throat.

"So, where's your parents?"

Is she talking to me?

"........."

"Squall?" She sighed. "Fine."

The principal got up and paced around the stage, handing the two teenagers notecards.

"Here, the things you gave me last week. You're going to be up as soon as everyone settles down. So get ready."

Please, barely anyone is here yet.

"Thank you sir." She said politely.

".......yeah."

The principle smiled at them.

"I hope you know that I am very proud of you two. You've come extremely far in this school. And this is our way of repaying you. But I'm sure life will repay you sooner or later for all the smartness you have-" He pointed to his head. "-here." And with that, he waved to a parent.

"What a prick." She smirked.

"Rinoa! Did that just come out of your mouth?" He said sarcastically.

"Probably. What's it to you?"

".....nothing."

Squall reached inside his robe and looked around suspicously. After checking that the coast was clear, he pulled out a box of Marlboro Lights and a lighter.

"You smoke?" Rinoa asked incredolously.

"Yeah, so?" He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then put the pack back in his robe and lit it.

"Everyone can see you smoking!" She hissed prissily.

Squall's eye narrowed.

"Can't you just leave me alone?"

"I-"

But she never got to finish, as the assistant principal rushed over to Squall in shock.

"Mr. Leonhart! You cannnot smoke at a graduation!"

"........."

She took the cigarrette from his mouth and tossed it on the cheap wood they made a stage from. Then, the middle-aged woman stomped on it with all her might. Even Rinoa raised an eyebrow at this site.

"Do you hear me?" She moved her face so it was eye-level with his.

Squall contemplated for a moment, the blew the smoke from his mouth in her face.

Rinoa gasped, so did everyone else, but it was after the assistant principal screamed and stormed away.

"Yeah, my mom will come soon." He said calmly.

The girl stared at him in shock.

"I present to you, one of our valedictorians, Rinoa Caraway!"

Spontaneous clapping is a great thing. She thought as she stepped up to the podium. Her mother and father were in the first row, beaming at her. Even sitting together.

"Um, ahem." She cleared her throat. "I- I've spent the past four years in this school. It's been great. And you know, they say that your friends in High School will never be your friends later in life. I happen to disagree with that-"

There was a faint scoff beyond her. Rinoa scowled.

"-I disgaree with that. It's because there can be no one to replace my best friend, or my favorite teacher. But there are people whom you will strive to forget. Such as a first love, first heartbreak. The teacher that disgareed with everything you said. The day that seemed to never go your way. I- um-" She took a deep breath. "I suppose this is what make High School graduation so special. It's your chance to say, 'I'll never forget' and your last chance to say good-bye to people you will never see again, but feel like you had a connection with.

"When I leave here, I will take with me memories that will stay forever. So thank you, everyone, for making this experience so special."

She smile faintly and stepped down from the stage as a few light bulbs flashed in her face and applause sounded like laughter.

"Thank you for that Rinoa. And now, for our other valedictorian, Squall Leonhart!"

Squall rolled his eyes and got up. He slauntered over to the podium and tried to not lean on it.

What's with him? Rinoa thought.

"So. It's graduation. I for one, am very happy that it is." He sighed and look down. "There have been, as Rinoa said, many memories of this place. However, I don't care for them to stay with me. When I leave, I will make a new life, and hopefully, live that to the fullest."

He saw the principal glaring at him again. Fine, whatever.

"But uh- the lessons and things we learned here will definetly guide me wherever I choose to take my life."

There was some faint applause, and a chuckle from a woman with long black hair. Rinoa thought this was probably his mother.

Squall sat back down with such force that she thought the chair was going to break. But, unfortunately, it didn't.

She sighed as the diplomas started being handed out.

Later...

Raine edged out of her seat as she saw Squall coming toward her. Almost everyone else had already left, but there they were.

"Oh Squall, I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks mom."

She embraced him in a tight hug.

"Interesting speech you had, there."

He rolled his eyes.

"I'm so sick of this high school shit. I'm heading straight for the army."

"Honey, I'm sorry-"

"No, it's alright. College is not for me."

"Maybe your father..."

"Yeah, that's where I'll probably go."

Raine drew back in surprise.

"You're actually going to Esthar to see him?"

"Where else?" He tried to make it like seem like no big deal, but his mother saw right through.

A few meters away, Rinoa saw through it, too. She remembered from 5th grade when his mother came and whispered something in his ear. Sitting next to Squall, she heard the entire thing. His father had been sent away to Esthar on army business. Squall had merely nodded, but Rinoa saw some tears in his eyes, and he refused to speak to anyone for the rest of the week.

Squall turned around slowly and saw the girl staring at him. He scowled.

"Squall, isn't that the other valedictorian?" Raine smiled at her. "I'm Squall's mother, Raine."

"Hello...I'm Rinoa." She smiled back.

Raine straightened her back.

"Be good, I'm going to speak to your principal and make myself look good for your sake." She winked and walked gracefully to the stage.

There was a brief silence before Rinoa broke it.

"You're going to the army?"

"........"

"That's interesting. I'm going to an arts school. I'm not sure why, though. My mom thought it would be good for me."

He noticed something.

"Where are your parents?"

"Huh? Oh, um, talking to some people, you know. They're business people. They have- business- to do....I-um..."

He decided not to touch the subject. She stopped talking, too, and instead watched Raine talking sternly to the principal while his nostrils were flaring. It was quite comical.

"Squall?"

No reply.

"You think, we'll ever see each other again?"

He waited a while before saying,

"Hell, no."

"I think so."

"Great."

"No, really, I do."

"........."

"Come on, Squall. We're both smart, we'll go far. So we'll probably see each other at some big meeting right? Just wait!"

He turned slowly and stared her in the eyes.

"Life isn't as simple as your graduation speech, Rinoa. How do you know that just because we're smart we'll go far? Naiveness takes you nowhere."

She fumed.

"Yeah? Well you're never going to be successful if you never expect anything!"

He sighed impatiently.

"Whatever. My mom coming."

Raine waved, a silent question. Squall nodded and followed her to the exit.

Rinoa sat down on the chair and waited for her parents.

They came in 4 hours.

Don't forget to drop a review if you think I should continue.