Disclaimer: If I'd own any Final Fantasy VIII characters I'd be rich. In other words: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII.
Chapter 17: Giving Up Forever
"Are you sure you're ok?" Quistis asked for the fifth time.
Rinoa rolled her eyes, slightly red from crying, "Yeah, I'm fine, really. You guys should go now. I don't really want my dad freaking out."
"Why would he freak out?" Selphie asked; she had shed a few tears as well.
"He's my dad, Selphie. He got me engaged to a monkey. Doesn't that say it all?" Rinoa smiled weakly. Maybe reminding herself of Melvin wasn't such a great idea.
"Alright, well. If there's anything, you call us. Like… Anything at all. If you can't find missing socks, if you've lost your dog, if-"
Rinoa hugged Quistis and said, "Quistis, just go. I'll be fine."
Selphie took her turn giving Rinoa a quick hug and both girls slipped out of Rinoa's bedroom window, being careful not slip and die. Rinoa took a deep breath and let it out calmly. What to do now? Was there anything she really could do to save herself from this situation?
She glanced at the mirror, making sure that her appearance wasn't that of a beat up dog and decided to go downstairs.
She stepped into the kitchen and recognized her mother at the counter, her back turned to her. "So he told you?"
"Yeah…" Rinoa replied casually, "Mom, why didn't you try to convince him against it?"
Her mother gave off a short laugh, "Don't you think I tried? Your father's head is like a rock. I'm sorry, Rin."
Rinoa went over to her mother and sighed, "It's fine… I guess." Meanwhile her head was screaming, 'Fine? Fine! You think its fine! You've just ruined your whole life!'
At this moment, Caraway slipped into the room and said calmly and soothingly, "Rinoa, Melvin is in Deling… He will be over for a short visit."
"Oh sure… I would love to see him." Rinoa spat out sarcastically at her father and stormed out of the room before the General could put one word forth.
***
Squall sat impatiently on the train heading from Galbadia Garden to Deling city. He was nervous and uncomfortable. Mixed feelings of betrayal and solitude stirred in his insides. He couldn't really trust his father's words, could he? He decided he would get a more honest response from Rinoa. Why would she lie to him?
The train continued on its tracks towards the never sleeping city of Deling.
***
"I'm pleased to know you've accepted my proposal." Melvin grinned in all his monkey-like glory. Rinoa stifled a whimper.
She was alone in her bedroom with Melvin and she was quite afraid that the turnout wasn't going to be so good, "I never really accepted. My father did."
"I'm sure you are just as pleased." His smile just couldn't be wiped off his face.
"Don't flatter yourself." Rinoa hissed at him. Already she couldn't stand him and it had only been five minutes or so. She couldn't possibly imagine him as her husband.
Melvin's grin faded slightly, "Stop being so cold." It wasn't a suggestion, nor was it sweet teasing: it was an order.
He advanced towards her and she shivered when he pressed her against the wall and pinned her arms behind her back. A rush of panic bolted through her body. He pressed his lips against hers and forced his tongue into her mouth.
She didn't return the kiss. Instead she brought down her incisors firmly onto his tongue and bottom lip. She felt the metallic-tasting blood flow into her mouth and thankfully he retreated at once.
"You stupid bitch! The hell was that for?" Melvin wiped his bleeding lip.
"Don't ever… Do that to me again." Rinoa's shaking voice warned and she to wiped her mouth, disgusted at the very thought of him touching her.
"Oh trust me… There'll be loads more of that." He spat at her.
But before he had time to approach her something collided with the back of his head and he was knocked to his knees. Rinoa watched in disbelief and surprise. Then she saw Squall in the back of him, his black jean jacket sleeves were pulled up his elbows.
"What the fuck did you think you were doing?" His voice filled with venom as he watched the straggling Melvin. "Don't you ever touch her again, you sonofabitch!"
He delivered a swift kick into Melvin's abdomen; Melvin winced and clutched it in pain. "Squall, no, stop!" Rinoa grabbed Squall's arm in a pleading gesture.
Squall calmed down at the sound of her voice but his blood was still bubbling with rage. Rinoa didn't let go of his arm as Melvin slowly rose to his feet, still feeling the pain biting at his abdomen and skull.
"Get the hell out of here!" Squall hissed at him, his fists clenched, arm muscles contracted.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Melvin scowled at him.
"You aren't in a very good position to ask me that, shithead!" Squall glared at him, "Now get the fuck out!"
"Please, just get out." Rinoa asked in a nicer tone than Squall had.
Melvin glowered and left the room as quietly as possible. Squall was reassured that Melvin wouldn't go and complain to Caraway. Melvin could be a real jerk-ass but he had a certain amount of pride and running to Caraway with tears in his eyes and saying 'Squall beat me up, sir!' would contradict that theory.
Rinoa exhaled a retained breath and gasped at Squall, "What are you doing here?"
"So you are engaged to him?" Squall refused to look her in the eye.
Rinoa put her hand on his face and turned his head so she could- with all the honesty in her heart- look at him in the eyes and say, "I only found out today."
He believed her. He scowled slightly and said, "So what do we do?"
She remained silent for some few seconds then said, "I want you to… Take me out one last time."
He didn't respond so she just kept talking, "Just please…"
"So you're giving up? One last time." He asked and she kept her eyes downcast. "Let's go then… One last time."
***
The fast food restaurant was filled with dozens of children. They were sitting in a booth at the back of the room, sharing a hamburger. Trying not to remember that this was to be their last date together… Ever.
"You know, I heard they make these out of rabid cows." Squall grinned over half of his burger, "Then they freeze it over and inject dozens of chemicals to enhance the flavor."
"Squall, I'm eating." She reminded him.
He continued, smiling at the disgusted expression on her face, "Sometimes they have replacement meats… Mainly dead rats from the factory."
Rinoa began to chew more slowly and her facial expression darkened as she glared at Squall.
He smiled gloatingly and took a bite out of his half, "Mmm… Tasty."
She rolled her eyes at his immaturity and continued eating.
***
"Bet you anything it's going to rain soon." Squall predicted as they strolled through the park. Rinoa slipped her hand in his and walked along side of him.
As if almost on cue, trickles of rain fell from the sky and it soon became a full shower. The couple just stood there, getting drenched.
"We should go…" Squall urged forward, "Standing here like dumbasses isn't a good idea."
"Are you kidding me?" Rinoa grinned maliciously and she jumped onto a bench.
Squall grinned and repeated, "Come on, you'll probably come catch pneumonia."
Rinoa ignored him and acted out the skating park, "Will you catch me if I fall?" She tilted suggestively on the edge of the bench.
He looked up at her, smiled and replied, "I'll always catch you if you fall."
"Prove it." She smiled and tilted more towards the edge.
"Ever thought of what would happen if you slipped and cracked your ass?" Squall asked.
Rinoa jumped off the bench and walked up to Squall, "Then again, I wouldn't crack my ass if you'd catch me, hmm?"
Squall looped his arms around her waist and stated, "Yeah, you're right." Their faces were only inches away.
"Kiss me…" She whispered.
For some reason, he couldn't, "Seriously, Melvin's spies might be out here… And… they might kill me or something." He joked.
"Seriously." She said, "I am serious." And pulled him down by his jacket, kissing him softly. The rain unrelenting- like their kiss- continued to soak them.
***
They both entered through the window, still doused with the downpour.
"Squall… Let's… Give up forever." Rinoa said, "Forever is impossible… So is our relationship… We can't do this."
He closed his eyes, he had been dreading this moment and yet he still agreed with her, "Yeah, I guess it is."
As he bent down to give her one last kiss a call came from downstairs interrupting him, "Rinoa! Come here!"
"Oh crap." She murmured.
"Right…" He said, ending a slight moment of awkwardness, "I better go."
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and exited through the window.
Sammy-Chan: Hello, well, I hope you liked this chapter and NO it is not the end! So, I hope you liked it and please review!!!
Beta's Note: I hope you're happy. It's 10:39 and I'm tired and full and… Right. I need a life. Anyways, Dashes are your friend. They're like parentheses. Well, yeah. That's all I have to say. TTYL, LYLAS, BBYE!