Thanks for all your reviews!Here's Part II!!
## TWO ##
The next few days proved to be uncomfortable for Squall.He found out that he only had 3 classes with the ever-cold-and-silent Rinoa Heartilly,2 of them,Language and Mathematics,which he had with Zell and Irvine too,but not the last one,History Class.He began to dread sitting beside her in Language Class,feeling as if he was near some abnormal or dead person,she barely uttered a word.But Instructor Aki,who usually didn't like inactive students,had nothing to say to or about her at all.
Anyway,it's a good thing that girl's not sitting beside me in Mathematics and History Classes too... Squall sighed in relief.Although he was still slightly annoyed by Rinoa's behaviour that day in Language Class,he couldn't help keeping his eyes on her.True,she was always silent,but her beauty was breathtaking.She had streaks of gold in the dark fringes of her hair and the soft curves of her body was enough to make any guy drool.A single ring hanging from a necklace rested on the pale,smooth skin of her neck.Surprisingly,she showed some interest in Mathematics,but none in History at all.
Involuntarily,Squall found himself wondering a lot about Rinoa.Not about her looks or anything,but her behaviour.He had never met someone so introverted or uninteresting before.He also noticed some guys trying to woo her,but one cold stare from her was enough to make the guys turn away hurriedly.After that,nobody else tried to interact with her anymore,with the exception of Seifer.Although he'd never said a word to Rinoa,Squall could see that he had his eyes on her.The look on his face when he watched her was enough to let somebody else know that she was his next target...
Quistis,to Squall's annoyance,stuck to Seifer like a leech,and Seifer,wanting to have some fun,played along with her.Squall wanted to tell him to get away from his ex,but he knew he had no right to do so.His heart always burn everytime he saw him flirting with Quistis,and when she wasn't looking,he would turn to Rinoa,who was peering onto her work,the sly expression on his face.
One more important thing Squall noticed about Rinoa was her shedded,horrified look when somebody touched her.Just a light graze on her skin was enough to make her backed away,her eyes wide in sudden terror,just like the time when he'd helped her in Language Class.His curiousity tortured him most of the time.Call him inquisitive,but he really wanted to know...
"What's her problem?" Zell growled when he saw Rinoa expectedly snap at a guy who was trying to get her attention."Did something got shoved up her ass?"
Squall ignored the vulgar question and shrugged."Don't know..." he replied.
"She may be hot,but her attitude is hell..." Irvine stated,crossing his arms together.
"I wonder why the instructors don't do anything 'bout her!" complained Zell,looking at his notebook."Instructor Aki,especially..."
Squall looked around for while before motioning Zell and Irvine to bend down to him."I think," he whispered."I think she REALLY has a problem...."
Irvine gave a low whistle."What's that?"
"I don't know..."
"Geez,I thought it'd be something juicy!" Zell turned back to his work."You know,I--"
"Mr.Dincht,is there any need to talk to loud?" the slow,clear voice of Instructor Delson spoke.He narrowed his gaze at the tomato red Zell.
"Umm,no.Sorry..." Zell answered meekly,quickly returning to his notebook.He glared at Irvine and Squall,who were both trying to stiffle their laughs."How come I always get it when 3 of us talk?" he huffed.
" 'Cause you're the one with the big mouth," replied Irvine,grinning.
Squall continued smiling and only stopped when his eyes laid on Rinoa.Burning curiousity blazed through him at once.
Why the hell is she always like that....?!
** ** ** ** ** **
"Yay,less mustard than usual!" chirped Zell happily as he grabbed a hotdog from his plate.The Cafeteria was crowded with students at lunch break,all of them chatting loudly in their cliques.Well,except one student...
Irvine made a face and said,"Hey guys,check out Miss Snow-woman." He nodded towards someone sitting alone on a bench at the end of the Cafeteria.Squall and Zell turned to the direction he gestured.Zell squinted his eyes and asked,full mouthed,"Whozzat?"
Squall,without further hesitation,sighed and answered,"Who else?Rinoa Heartilly..."
"Awh...." Zell turned away,losing interest.
"Geez,I just wished she wasn't that hot..." complained Irvine with a grin.
"Why don't you try going after her?" suggested Squall,poking his salad with a fork.Irvine snorted.
"What,is that some sort of crazy experiment?Not a chance,man!Didn't you see how she blew Cervil off when he tried to talk to her?"
"Yeah,I know,but what I meant is try to find out what her problem is," explained Squall patiently.Another snort came from Irvine.
"Oh no,not me.I don't have the effort and patience..." he said.Zell shook his head when Squall raised his eyebrows enquiringly at him.He swallowed the hotdog in his mouth and said,"Why do ya wanna know anyway?Getting wages for spying her?"
"No,I just feel curious,that's all.There must be a reason for someone to act so cold and distant.And I wanna find out..." Squall said wearily.He placed his fork down and reached for his soda."Nevermind.."
"Well,I'll say,if you wanna research that,count us out," Irvine said.
Squall didn't reply.He just stared at Rinoa's back facing him,his thoughts drifting away once more.Her ebony haired head shone brightly as the sun rays laid on it.Frowning,Squall suppressed another sigh.
"Checking her out,eh,Squall?" came a mocking voice from behind.Zell,Irvine,and Squall immediately turned.Squall scowled.
"What the hell do you want,Seifer?" he demanded drily.Seifer laughed,drawing attention from some students near by.
"Looks like you finally plan to move on,huh?"
"Mind your own business,Almasy," snapped Irvine,irritated.Seifer glanced at him,his eyes gleaming.
"Aww,look who's trying to shed it off?Eh,cowboy?"
Zell swallowed the other hotdog in his mouth with great effort and jumped onto his feet,his temper flaring."Frickin' hell!!" he growled,readying his fists.
"Oh,Chicken-Wuss up for a 'lil one on one?" Seifer ran a modest hand in his hair.Squall stood up and waved Zell down,casting him a warning look.He knew how quickly Zell lost his temper,and he didn't want a big havoc in the Cafeteria just then.
"Get outta here,Seifer..." Squall said in a tired voice.
"What's the matter,Squall?Still sore from your break-up with Quistis?" Seifer smirked."Hell,I'd be too...but she knows who's the man between us,huh?"
Squall narrowed his gaze intensely."Whatever," he muttered,knowing that quarreling with Seifer would obviously lead to a fight.
"Not manly enough to--" began Seifer,but a calm voice cut him short.
"What is going on?"
All the students in the Cafeteria stopped their eating and looked up.The headmaster stood enquiringly near the counter,raising his eyebrows at Seifer.
"Well?" he said,when no one answered.
"I can tell ya,Headmaster Cid!" Zell leapt up obligingly and pointed a finger at Seifer."This guy came--"
"Zell," Squall growled through gritted teeth,causing his friend to stop and melt down onto his chair again.
"Mr.Almasy,I'm sure you have an explanation?" Cid eyed Seifer carefully.
"Just came over for a 'lil chat,sir," Seifer answered in a casual tone."No harm done..."
Zell twitched in his seat."Tch...."
"Mr.Leonhart?"
"It's a misunderstanding,sir.Everything was and is fine..." Squall replied.
"I would like to remind you,Mr.Almasy,that any student who starts a fight will be brought to the Disciplinary Committee and action will be taken on him.I'm sure you remember Garden Code,Line 5,Article 2?"
"Uh,of course,sir."
"Good." Cid gestured to the other students."Carry on,please..."
As he walked away,Seifer gave Squall a dangerous look before retreating to his table,where Quistis was.Zell slammed his fist onto the table.
"Bastard..." he cursed.
"Enough,Zell..." Squall said,taking another sip of his soda.His eyes caught sight of the red tweet vest of the headmaster at the end of the Cafeteria.He was talking to Rinoa,who,for the first time,seemed inclined of even opening her mouth.Squall observed the short conversation they had,wishing he could hear it.Before it ended,the headmaster nodded with a smile,said one last sentence,and walked out of the Cafeteria.
After a moment,Squall began to think that the reason he came all the way to the Cafeteria from his office was just to talk to Rinoa Heartilly....
** ** ** ** ** **
The elevator doors slided open and Squall rushed out,trying not to fall on the slippery marble floor.He had completely forgotten that he had History Class after lunch,and he was already 3 minutes late.Thank goodness Instructor Derek wasn't really strict and usually excused students who came not more than 5 minutes late to his class.
"Ah,Mr.Leonhart.I was wondering where you were..." he said as Squall walked in the classroom,panting.
"I'm sorry.I lost track of the time..."
"3 minutes late..." Instructor Derek said,looking at his watch."Take your seat,Mr.Leonhart.The lesson will begin shortly."
"Thank you." Squall looked at his usual seat,which was already taken by a guy.Sighing silently,his eyes tried to find another empty seat.He knew it was always 'first come,first served' for the students to get their seats,so he didn't blame that guy.When he finally found an empty seat,he groaned in his heart.
Oh noooooooo.......
There were 30 seats in the class,and exactly 30 pupils taking History Class.And the last empty seat was,unfortunately,beside Rinoa Heartilly.
Oh God,help me!! Squall tried not to look so crestfallen as he walked to the seat.He lowered himself down and took out his books.Rinoa didn't even glance up.She continued scribbling something on her notebook.
Okay,Squall...just do your work like usual....act as if she's doesn't even exist... He told himself calmly.History Class began uncomfortably for him,but luckily,it went on smoothly without any disturbance.
Until...
"Ms.Heartilly,would you please state which government signed the Treaty of Peace in 2021?" Instructor Derek asked as he wrote some notes on the board.Rinoa perked up at once,her hands grasped together.Squall raised an eyebrow when he saw that she was trembling slightly.
"Umm..." Her tone was unsure,for the first time."I beg your pardon?"
"Which goverment signed the Treaty of Peace in year 2021?" repeated Instructor Derek patiently.
"Uhh..." Rinoa was clearly at lost.She gripped her pen with such intensity that her knuckles were almost white.Feeling slightly sorry for her,Squall took a deep breath,then bent down a little lower,and said softly,"Galbadia and Esthar..."
Rinoa turned to him,her eyes suspicious.He glanced at her and noted the slight emotion in the hazel brown of her eyes.She bit her lip and looked back up.
"Um...Galbadia and...Esthar...?" she answered.
"That's correct.Thank you,Ms.Heartilly..." Instructor Derek wrote her answer on the board and then continued his lecture.Rinoa rested her head in her hands with a low sigh,then turned to Squall again.
"Thanks," she whispered stonely.Squall shrugged,replying,"You're welcome..."
For a while,he considered asking her a string of questions he had in mind about her,but stopped.It wouldn't be the right time...and anyway,she was still so distant and hard-shelled....
Oh man.....
How was that??Yeah,a little 1% of Squinoa action...but plz review!!!!!