Disclaimer: I do not own FF8 it is the property of SQUARESOFT.
Point of View: Rinoa Chapter II
"I think you should have remembered your manners." Joan told me and shook her head in amusement, "Now we look like a freak show… Not a family."
I brushed a few locks of hair out of my eyes, "Give me a break, Jo." I always called her Jo… Ever since I was a little girl. "The guy is going to live with us for a whole year. You're telling me that, in one whole year, Stu isn't going wake up at midnight announcing, he just pissed his bed. That, in one whole year, Mikey isn't going to come home with a crack in his skull. Or maybe, that I will restrain myself from hitting him for 365 days? Or worse; you think he won't witness my parents cuddling each other or… Or… Ok, whatever." I rolled my eyes, not wanting that thought to continue.
In response, Joan coughed. So I continued, "We are a freak show!"
"Ok… But um…" She tried to put in.
I interrupted her, "He might as well start adapting now, no? It'll be an even bigger shock when he learns that daily life is much more chaotic."
I opened the pantry and fumbled for some chocolate chip cookies and emerged victorious.
Joan was trying to hide a smile, then, finally, she spoke up, "But… He is quite cute don't you think?" And she giggled.
I chuckled, "Very cute…"
A tall, brown haired figure immerged from the kitchen doorway. "So, I'm cute, huh?" His voice withheld neither amusement nor anger.
I nearly fainted when I felt the heat rush to my cheeks in embarrassment. Oh Hyne… He was listening? I saw Joan turn away in laughter and I nearly wanted to take after her with a butcher knife.
"Yes…" I replied. Oh Hyne I am such an idiot, "You could pass." Pass? Pass what? Why am I such a dumbass?
He merely shrugged, "That doesn't sound fair."
What? Not fair? I think my present situation is a lot more unfair then yours! "Well what? Need an ego boost?" The irritation was ringing in my voice.
He shrugged again and muttered disgustedly, "Cute…"
I scoffed at him, "That's right… Were you expecting something more?"
I was on my own freaking territory; who the hell did he think he was? There was no way I'd be intimidated.
"As a matter a fact, no. I wasn't expecting anything at all and I'd rather get nothing compared to being called… Cute."
My jaw clenched, if he wasn't expecting anything then why didn't he just save me a helluva lot of trouble and shut his trap! This 'relationship' was already getting off to a bad start.
"Well, if you like this better I found you really hot when you had your mouth shut!" I made the sarcasm as apparent as I could and offered him a cookie.
This seemed too much for Joan as she shuffled out of the room in hysterics. He smirked back, took up on the offer and left.
I let out a sigh of relief. If this is what it would be like for a whole year… I just didn't know what I would do… Nor how I would survive.
***
I lifted the couch cushions, opened cupboards, crouched down in a closet… I looked everywhere and couldn't find the bulky, green, hard-cover text book I'd been looking for… And I'd been looking for three hours and counting.
This was getting ridiculous… I could just buy another one. Then I cringed at the thought of why I wouldn't buy another one. That textbook contained all my notes, diagrams and most importantly the idiot-proof tabs that indicated important points of the itinerary that we had to study for…
The exam was in a week … this was great. Just freaking great. I was going to die.
I whimpered slightly and Joan sighed. "Are you sure you left it right there?" She pointed at my working area.
"Positive! I tell you its Mikey!" I accused. Honestly, I didn't feel all that great blaming everything on him; but half the time he was the culprit.
My searching buddy sighed once more and slapped her forehead, "And why would he steal it?"
"Because… Because…" I fumbled for an excuse and finally I found one. A pitiful one but an excuse nonetheless, "Because he hates me! He wants to make my life a living hell! It's just what brothers do! If you want to learn his true motives then ask him yourself!"
I fumed at the very thought that my brother had indeed been in my room and not only that but snooping around as well. I was going to kill the little bastard.
"Ok… He obviously didn't stash the evidence here so I'm looking elsewhere." I stated and left my messy room.
My destination: my brother's room… The stupid little brat must've hid it underneath his bed… I guess at that point I was hoping I wouldn't have to go in his underwear drawer.
I entered cautiously and stepped in between the soccer ball, soccer uniform and the scattered laundry. Good Hyne… His room was even more disgusting than mine… And that's saying something.
I let out a groan of repulsion and got on all fours. I peeped under is bed … Lint, candy wrappers, clothes and… Oh, ew! An actual half-eaten chocolate bar! That's just nasty.
I felt someone pat me on the shoulder and, under the shock of being caught poking around in my brother's room, I smacked my head on the frame of the bed. I let out an anguished cry and looked up to my aggressor.
Who else? Mr. Squall Leonheart. "Yeah, what?" I snapped, my dignity was vanishing with every glimpse I got of that man.
"Is this what you're looking for?" He held in his hand my science textbook.
My eyes bulged, "Where'd you find it?"
"In what was about to become my sock drawer… In the guest bedroom." He replied simply, "Maybe you should… Tie it around your ankle or something."
I bounced back on two feet, snatched the book away and muttered, "I'm going to kill the little chimpanzee."
"Uh … Good luck and you're welcome!" He cried out sarcastically.
I stopped in my tracks, breathed deeply and turned around to face him, "Thank you… For finding my book… And giving it back." The words forcefully rolled off my tongue.
He nodded, "Good… Now try it without looking constipated."
Is he giving a lesson on manners? Why I ought to… "Excuse me?"
"I heard that can give you wrinkles…" He continued. "Wouldn't wanna ruin your pretty face."
What the hell? Was that sarcasm? He better not be trying to hit on me or I'll… "I doubt you'd care either or."
"You're right, I shouldn't care. I'm just looking out for every guy on this planet. I mean, if some dude tries to get you for the money at least when you dump him he won't have regrets about dating and screwing an ugly bitch."
I could only gape and then the universal words of defense escaped my mouth, "Fuck you!"
"Dinner!" A voice called from downstairs.
I looked back at him and hissed, "Yeah, we'll finish this later."
"No problem, your place or mine?" He snickered.
***
"Dibs on the pork chop!" Stu cried out.
"Dibs? What're you seven?" The words of stupidity left my mouth.
He looked up at me and blinked, "Um… Yes."
I could hear Squall choking on his salad in fits of laughter. I mentally slapped myself; of course he was seven! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid …
"Rinoa, you're such an idiot." Mikey snorted, I wanted to kick his head off, "Mom, please tell me I'm adopted."
"Mikey!" Julia cried out, and I saw my father grit his teeth. For him, this supper was sinking in the depths of hell.
"No, no, mom!" I cried out loud, I was already pretty heated from my confrontation with Squall. "Let the specimen know the truth. It goes something like this, Michael; I was at my first trip to the zoo when I was about… Five years old. When I saw the monkeys, I pointed to one and said, 'Mommy, mommy, I want that one.' And here you are twelve years later."
"Hey, you think my story is bad, Squall… Wait till you hear the one about where she comes from." He laughed and Squall inevitably went into cackles of laughter.
"Ok, really!" My father snapped at Mikey and then gave me his best death glare (imagine an angry Behemoth with a eye twitch). "That's enough!"
A soft ringing was heard and I got up from the table abruptly. "Please, allow me to get it!" And I left the room as quickly as possible.
Well… My only thought of comfort was… 'Things can't get any worse.' Then I began to wonder… What if they didn't get better? Oh Hyne…
Sammy: Maaaahaaahaaa! Ok, well thanks to my eight reviews… *pouts* Well, whatever. Since I've gotten nothing but positive stuff I choose to post another chapter. I'm still QUITE unsure of where I'm going with this however… I hope its something good… *grins* Well, tootles to you all! Be sure to review, eh?
Beta's Note: too busy thinking to write something.
