Disclaimer: I have now conquered the world and therefore I own Squaresoft and FF8 along with it! Muwahaha!!! *Gets overthrown by the protesting civilians* Drat … I no longer own this corporation …
~Chapter 5: "We're Going Camping!"~
Time soothes all pain. Treason is forgiven, although it might not be forgotten. Eventually, the harsh winter melts away the ice and it no longer hails. People move on and gladly adjust to their new living conditions. The renewal of the land has come: spring.
Rinoa carried on. Each day, she tried not to think of Squall, trying to forget and erase the pain. The article had come out, exactly like Sefeir had predicted, and she grew so immune to the blossom of rumors that she didn't even care whom he married anymore.
"Maybe you should take contact with him…" Quistis suggested lightly, trying not to anger her friend.
Rinoa sighed, "No, I don't think it would do any good. Let it go, ok? Just stop bugging me about it. He's happy now."
Squall Leonheart was not happy, content, joyful or any of the above. He had become a real bastard these days. Snapping at whatever or whoever didn't please him, losing his head over tiny the mistakes his secretary made. Sefeir made him aware of the cost.
"You know … it was your choice. You can still go back on it. The wedding isn't until September." He said, permitting himself to sit in the Balamb commander's chair.
"Yeah, my father would totally accept that." Squall said sarcastically.
Sefeir rolled his eyes, "Your stupid father can jump a donkey, Squall. For that matter, so can you if you're giving up on Rinoa."
These conversations repeated themselves every afternoon when either commander went to visit each other. Enough that they got Squall thinking.
Did he really want to give up on Rinoa?
Was obeying his father to this extent simply ridiculous?
Thinking was never good for the 19-year-old commander. This made him confused on which paths to take. Thinking was even affecting the way he signed papers.
Should I make my signature more legible? Maybe I should add a fancy loop to that 'S' …"You know… You are pissing me off. It's been 4 months and you still haven't called, heard from or seen Rinoa. Plus, you're acting all mopey-like and it's really cramping my style."
Squall pounded his fists on his desk, "Damn it! I can't go on like this… If I keep thinking about her, I'll end up yelling out her name while I'm fucking Sarah!"
Sefeir's eyes went wide. "Is that the only thing you're worried about?" He was getting ready to kill Leonheart.
"No…" Squall admitted hesitantly, "I think about her a lot… I think I'll fix the problem… I think I'm going to blow off the wedding."
***
Summer swept in. There were no longer little wet spots in the street and people began walking around without their winter coats or windbreakers. It was hot, dry and everything about it was perfect. Summer holidays for all!
"You know, we should so get together with Irvine and his friends." Selphie suggested as they walked through the mall.
"That would be so cool! I mean… we could go in the country or something." Quistis agreed and then turned to Rinoa, "What do you think?"
Rinoa didn't respond. She just stared blankly at the coffee shop. Quistis sighed and suggested to Selphie, "I think she wants a coffee."
"No I don't want a coffee. If you people want to go with Irvine to the goddamn country, then Goddamnit, go! Just stop…" She walked away and Quistis fumed.
Quistis walked briskly and grabbed Rinoa's shoulder, "You're pathetic. You are-"
"Being ridiculous … that dress so isn't you, …" A high-pitched voice said. Quistis swapped around and scanned for the stupid bitch that had interrupted her. She couldn't stand people who squeaked like that.
"Oh my god! … It so is my color."
"Whatever honey. Red is so passé."
"Oh my god!" Rinoa moaned and turned around when her eyes met the thin blonde. Sarah with her friends.
She bumped into a muscular figure and her eyes traveled up to meet another unfortunate sight. The cool, blue eyes of Squall Leonheart.
"Oh my god!" She nearly shrieked. She swerved around to Quistis, grabbed her friend by the shoulders and pushed her through crowds of people staring, "We're going … now!"
"Rinoa wait!" Squall called after her. He followed her outside while Sarah just stood there with a look of utter confusion.
"Rinoa!" Squall caught up with her and grabbed her arm. She turned around and pulled her arm away.
"What?" She nearly snapped.
"What's wrong with you?" His temper flared.
"With me? Look at you!" She retorted.
He snapped back, "At least I don't run from someone when I don't want to see them!"
Fire flared in her eyes and was sensed in her tone, "It's not my fault I can't stand your face!"
Sarah had come outside to watch what was going on. "Did you ever let me explain?"
"Who needs an explanation, Squall? I'm not stupid, you don't have to draw me a picture!!"
"That's enough!" Quistis stepped in the middle like a barrier, "You people are so stupid!"
"Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous Quistis. You can get hit from both sides." Rinoa snapped.
"Yeah, let mommy and daddy talk for a while." Squall retorted.
"You don't want to talk! You people want to fuck each other so badly it's annoying me! You're just too scared to come out and say it!" Quistis spat.
"What?" Three people said in unison.
"Excuse me?" Sarah was obviously not pleased and she was damn right ready to make a scene.
"Oops, so I let it slip. Guess you can call off the wedding now." Quistis smiled sweetly.
Rinoa glared at Quistis and then turned to Sarah, "Don't get this the wrong way, I'm not with Squall. I never was. We're just trying to resolve a small friendship problem."
Then turning her icy gaze to Squall she said simply, "Tell Sefeir I said 'Hi'." And she turned on her heel and left.
***
Quistis heaved a loud sigh as she exited the Galbadia garden infirmary. She had taken up on this job offer when her course requirements included a first hand experience. She wanted to become a nurse; maybe even a doctor. She didn't, however, expect it to be this exhausting. Students were coming in for headaches. What kind of moron doesn't know how to cure a headache?
She walked down the dull hallways drowsily. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Hello, hot stuff!"
She turned around and glared at the speaker, "Who the hell are you?"
"I happen to own this garden. You're that new chick at the infirmary … wanna play doctor?"
"What?" She cried incredulously hoping she had misheard.
Sefeir rolled his eyes and looked around to make sure no one was coming, "So you're Quistis, right?"
"Yeah … who are you?"
"I'm Sefeir. I want to talk to you about Squall and Rinoa."
"You know them?"
"Yeah, and you know … they're having that little dilemma on getting together so I'd like to give them a little push, you know? Help them out."
Quistis smiled, "Interesting… you're talking my language."
Sefeir smirked proudly, "There are a few obstacles, but we're fairly incredible people. I think we can manage."
***
"Squall told me you said 'Hi'." A mocking voice came from the other end of the phone line.
"Wonderful." Rinoa replied sarcastically. "At least he's good at something."
A sigh could be heard, "You mean besides twirling his tongue half way down your throat?"
"Go to hell." She replied.
"That's my kingdom, it's where I rule." He allowed himself a grin that she couldn't see.
"So why did you call?" She suppressed the annoyance in her voice.
"To invite you to go camping next weekend. Irvine, Zell, Quistis, Selphie, you, Squall, Sarah and me will be there."
"Then I'm not going."
"I was expecting that. Resistance is futile. I've already organized everything and we're planning a kidnapping in case you refuse to come." He paused for dramatizing effects and then said, "Do you hold your teddy bear, Pookie, in high emotional regard?"
"I haven't slept with that thing since I was 12, Sefeir." She couldn't keep the amusement from her voice.
"Oh shit … well … we'll kidnap you then. Point is, you're coming." She didn't have time to respond when she heard a faint click from the other end. Sefeir had hung up.
She rolled her eyes and hung up as well. How was she supposed to explain this to her father?
***
"It'll be fun!" Selphie tried to sound convinced.
Rinoa grit her teeth, "Not for me!"
"Yes it will be! Squall will be there. He'll be nice scenery to look at!" Quistis begged.
"And his wife'll be there too, so no, I'm not going!"
"But this might be your chance." Quistis pointed out.
"I have a lot of chances left. He's the one who's run out!"
Rinoa crossed her arms; people in the restaurant were starting to look at them. Selphie felt like giving them all the finger but decided against it.
"Rinoa, you're coming… Whether you want to or not. It's public camping grounds so there are these various spots where you can shower. There are restaurants; tennis courts, hiking grounds, fishing lakes, even movie theaters!! Ooh, movie theaters Rinoa, movie theaters!! A place where you can do whatever you want with Squall without his wife really knowing …" And then Quitis winked, "We got you covered, girl."
Rinoa rolled her eyes and held her head in her hands, "What did I do to deserve this?"
"Easy… you should have never borrowed my red crayon in kindergarten." Quistis said, amused, "Then we would have never been friends."
"I knew I should have stuck with the pink!" Rinoa hissed.
***
"I'm having so much fun already!" Rinoa yelled out sarcastically.
"Ok, ok… Maybe I should have made that right turn." Sefeir admitted.
Zell groaned in the front seat, "You are so stupid."
"Fuck you, hot-dog boy." Sefeir hissed.
Quistis smacked her forehead, "We'll never get there! Irvine and Selphie are probably there by now. With Squall and that other girl."
Rinoa said nothing at this, but Zell told his share, "Yo! We're saved!! Look!!"
He pointed to a nearby fast-food restaurant named … yes, you guessed it, 'Mr. HotDog Sausages'.
"Ew!" Quitis remarked, "That sounds dirty."
Rinoa and Sefeir burst out laughing and Zell grimaced, "I think you just ruined hot dogs for me."
"Anyhow …" Sefeir chuckled, "I'm going to call Squall on my cell phone."
***
"You guys took forever!" Selphie exclaimed, greeting the
four people.
"Thanks to Sefeir." Zell accused and Sefeir just grunted; he was annoyed.
Rinoa barely glanced at Squall and Sarah. She felt uncomfortable already; and she felt that this wasn't going to end very well. She was right.
***
"So yah, I'm completing med school at the start of the next school year." Quistis concluded.
Sarah stood there, amazed, "Wow, you are like, so brave. I would never have the courage to complete school."
"How far did you go, grade 10?" Quistis said but then covered her mouth, "No, I meant … college."
Irvine tried in vain to retain laughter and his eyes accidentally met Rinoa's. Both started laughing hysterically and Selphie, Sefeir and Zell joined in.
"Um anyhow… What blood type are you Sarah?" Quistis asked, trying to retain laughter herself.
"Oh, I'm blood type B negative." She replied, completely oblivious to the earlier outburst.
They were all around a campfire; it was about eight thirty with a full moon peering down on them. The air was cold but being outside felt nice for a change.
"Really? Squall, aren't you AB positive?" Quistis crossed her fingers.
"Yeah …" He said rather tediously, staring in the fire.
"Oh, gee that's bad." Quistis put on an expression of fake deception.
Sarah squeaked, "Huh? Why?"
"Well, because if ever you and Squall had a child, its chances of surviving are reduced to about 5%. You see, the baby will inherit the positive blood factor from Squall and when you bear the baby, the baby's blood will mix with your own… and then you'll end up producing antibodies against its blood because the positive factor is a foreign substance to your body. Your antibodies will end up killing the baby."
Everyone went quiet as Sarah pondered this. Finally an answer came, "What?"
"She says that if you ever have a kid with Squall, you might have problems giving birth." Rinoa filled in, "95% of the time, this doesn't happen because your blood and the baby's blood usually never mix. If it does happen, 45% of the time the baby will have the negative factor like you so there won't be any problems and if there are, which is, by the way, extremely rare, you get an injection and everything goes right."
Sarah was still clueless and Rinoa received a swift kick in the shin from Quistis, "Oh, since when are you a nurse?"
"But I don't want to take any chances, so it's good that Quistis made me aware of the consequences."
"Woah! Big word there… Consequences…" Sefeir muttered and Rinoa restrained a giggle. She looked towards Zell and asked, "Pass me one of the sausages you cooked, Zell. And a bun."
"Hey, it's my labor … you have no idea how long these take to cook on a campfire." Zell stated defensively.
"Just pass her the goddamn hotdog." Irvine and Sefeir said in unison.
"Chh … fine." Zell passed Quistis a hotdog, which she passed to Rinoa.
"Well, what can I do?" Sarah persisted onto the topic, "Is there any way that I can get my blood type changed?"
Quiet settled once more on the campground and raspy noises could be heard from Rinoa, who shoved her head in Sefeir's coat to muffle her hysterics.
"Um … no not yet." Quistis smiled and raised an eyebrow, "But we're working on it, want to donate your body to science?"
Rinoa manage to submerge her laughter and took a bite out of her hotdog, Sarah responded with a "Would it be worth it?"
Sefeir leaned in towards Rinoa and whispered, "Not sure … considering they need your brain."
Rinoa was in a very delicate situation … Sefeir had broken the barrier between sane and insane. She started laughing and choking at the same time. She handed the hot dog to Quistis and got up from her sitting position to head into the bushes.
Squall rushed up from his sitting position and nearly took after Rinoa. Sefeir stopped him, "She's choking … she doesn't need your help with the Heimlich maneuver."
Spitting could be heard from the bushes and Sefeir started laughing, "Ew, Rinoa! That wasn't very lady-like!"
"Did she just spit out a perfectly good hotdog?" Zell cried out incredulously.
"It was that or die!" Rinoa called back.
She came back to the campfire and started rummaging for a soft drink, "Malfunctioning of your epiglottis?" Quistis asked.
"Could you please stop dictating your biology lesson to us?" Rinoa finally found a coke and began to drink it immediately.
"Tell us how the reproductive system works, Quistis!" Irvine raised his eyebrows up and down and smiled mischievously.
"So what are we doing tomorrow?" Rinoa completely steered the subject.
"What are you Rinoa, embarrassed about it?" Sefeir asked tauntingly.
"I'm not embarrassed about it … I'm just kind of scared it'll wheel off into a personal region of the topic." She glared menacingly at Sefeir, "Get my drift?"
Sefeir smiled innocently and replied, "Received one on one."
Irvine smiled and purposely added, "Oh I gotta tell you guys, this one time-"
"I've heard about how you fuck, Irvine. Selphie has told me in great graphic detail." Rinoa interrupted then added, "Four inches? That's pathetic."
Everyone started laughing, even Irvine and he nearly yelled (blushing like hell and laughing like hell), "I feel transgressed and violated."
"I had to listen to this! Feel my pain!" Rinoa stuck out her tongue. It was such a nasty, five year old habit, but she couldn't help so.
Squall bit his lip and smiled. Through the fire she looked so beautiful. The raven hair, the brown eyes, porcelain skin accented with the flames.
Though he knew that if he reached for her, his hand would contact the fire and pain would be induced.
Sammy-Chan: Wow … ok … this was amazing. I'm not proud of this chapter but anyways. Another chappie chucked at my poor, poor beta reader. Hee hee hee … I mean … POOR, POOR ERICA!! Ha ha ha. Well, anyways, I know some of you are mad because Rinoa and Squall still aren't together and 'Sarah' looks like she's clinging on pretty tight … so R&R and I'll post the next chapter. BY THE WAY: I do NOT own the quote 'Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous, you can get hit from both sides.' This is a quote by someone else (Jane Austin, I believe) but I assure you that it is not mine!