Disclaimer: I don't own FF8 … however, I DO own popcorn … mmm … popcorn … *shovels popcorn into her mouth*
Chapter XIV
Before I actually describe my mother's reaction, I would just like to make a little reference to chapter four and the whole mail incident. Yes, the one where Jake walked in while Squall was touching the lower portion of my back. I specified that I didn't want another of those uncomfortable situations to take place again and then I said 'Then again, my prayers are never answered.' Well here's the proof. So pity me.
Now back to my mother. You know that wild-eyed look people tend to get when an elephant taser charged with twenty volts gets shoved up their anus? Picture it in your mind… Scary isn't it? Now try picturing that look on your mother's face… And that's enough to send you to therapy for the rest of your life.
There was an awkward silence… To which I could practically hear Squall's mind gears clicking into place. He was planning out his next moves; 'Ok, first I escape from this household, get on a cargo ship, change my name to Smokey Bear, and work minimum wage at the liposuction factory down in Timber… And I could maybe avoid the nuclear fission gun that Caraway would be pointing at my temple.' I found out later that I was right.
"Uhh… Yes, that's right! Towels to clean Mikey up… I'll bet you they are right down this hallway! Where I put them…" Even though my mother said this, she did not make a move to retreat her poking head through the doorway. "Yes…"
Another awkward silence. Ok, not completely silent, I had to clear my throat at some point. Now my mind gears started to click. Had she been listening to the conversation? I didn't really have time to analyze the facts because she spoke again, "Right… The towels… Down the hall… Uh…"
"Here, I'll go get them!" Squall's voice was cracking and I think he was just about ready to die.
"Oh, no you won't!" My mother and I actually said something in unison. This seemed to really freak him out because he retreated to his initial position like a wounded dog.
And then… The inevitable happened. My father walked in, "What's the problem? Julia, where are those towels?" He sounded slightly exasperated.
"Down the hall." My mother replied. Now, I think everyone knows the fucking towels are down the fucking hall and if they don't, they must be pretty slow… The people who are reading this… Not the towels.
Yes, I was slightly cracking at this point. And then my father decided to make his little investigation, "What is going on?"
None of us spoke. Which was a good thing… But at the same time a terrible thing since my dad lost patience, "Why are you all looking like someone shoved a twenty-volt elephant taser up your goddamn asses?"
Now the fact that he said that was scary for three reasons. One, because I didn't know I could even begin to resemble the wild-eyed look my mother had on her face. Two, because I was too afraid to look at Squall and my imagination was beginning to run on what he would look like with a twenty-volt elephant taser up his ass. And the third reason as to why this was scary was that my father and I were actually beginning to think alike. Which was not a good thing, by any means.
"I'll bet you that was a rhetorical question." I heard the words slipping off my tongue and could not do jackshit to stop them. Now I would just like to point out the irony, before I forget. I had felt like the happiest person on earth exactly three minutes ago when he had told me he loved me. Now I not only felt like the stupidest, but I also felt like an idiot that's stuck in waist deep shit. That isn't a good, happy feeling.
"Stop being an idiot!" He snapped at me. Ok, dad… I'll try. I'll sincerely try.
So I thought of the most obvious way of doing this. For an idiot that is, and I was an idiot, after all. "Hi dad, mom… This is Squall. He's been living with us for just about a year now… And…" I couldn't really think of a way to end the sentence. So, being an idiot, I found the most idiotic way to end it, "And… We've been going out for three whole days." This isn't comic relief and anyone laughing at this moment will die a horrible, horrible death.
Oh yeah, now who looked as if a forty-volt elephant taser had been shoved up his ass, dearest father? Funny thing, he was the first to speak, "Ah… Uh…" Ok, spoken in caveman language however, spoken nonetheless.
"Hello… Pleased to meet you?" There was a slight questioning tone in Squall's voice and this made him a bigger idiot than me. Which was a good thing, since it would flatter my ego once in a while.
My mother looked as if she was about to burst into uncontrollable, maniacal laughter. She patted my father's back (who still looked very much under shock) and looked back towards us, "Pleased to meet you, will you be staying for supper?"
***
That 'I've-just-had-an-elephant-taser-impale-my-ass' look stayed with my father throughout supper and I sincerely hoped that it would go away soon because it was really ugly. At the end of supper it had become really unbearable.
"Ok, dad. Get over it!" I snapped. Squall sat uncomfortably at his regular spot, eating slowly.
"I'm trying to, honey, I really am!" Not angry, annoyed. That was visible in the least, "It's just that… It's just that…" He motioned towards Squall and then me and then finally… "Holy shit, I don't believe this!"
Mikey and Stu must have thought good ol' dad was going off his rocker and by Hyne he kind of was. Of course, something unexpected always has to happen at times like this. No, my father did not take Squall in his arms and welcome him to the family; neither did he hold up a gun to his head. Selphie and Quistis, however, walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, hey… Sorry to barge in at supper." Selphie excused herself.
"We were just worried that Rinoa might have… Died." Quistis explained, "It's not common for someone to disappear just like that."
I could have died. No really. If I had fit in the microwave, I would have set the time, pressed 'Start' and jumped in. My father caught on of course, "Wait a minute… Disappeared? When? She was home all week."
There was this little awkward silence and Quistis made it worse by opening her stupid mouth, "Oops… Did I just say something I wasn't supposed to say?"
"Where did you go?" He roared, "Squall!"
"We'll talk about it later! Selphie, Quistis, why don't you fucking knock or ring the doorbell once in a while?" I yelled.
"We've been doing this since fifth grade…" Selphie tried.
"I don't give!" I snapped and shoved them out of the kitchen. Anything to avoid my father at this point. As much as I loved Squall, he'd have to defend himself right now.
***
"What was that all about?" Quistis scowled, once safely in my room.
"You idiot! You stupid idiot!" I snapped.
"Can I please know why I'm such an idiot?" She hissed back.
"Because you had to open your big mouth! He didn't know I had gone somewhere else, neither would he have allowed me if I asked! Not for the reasons I would have had given him!"
"Oh… Yeah, we came to talk to you about that. We heard about your break up with Jake… Um… Actually… Everyone… Pretty much knows." Selphie spoke softly, "Sorry… About the whole Jessica thing."
"It doesn't matter." I scowled.
"I… Also broke up with Brian. She was also amongst my reasoning." Quistis said coolly. "Speaking of which… You think Squall's offer still stands?"
My blood froze. What was I supposed to reply to that? Again, I had those evil thoughts that involved a steak fork and Quistis' eyes and the burning feeling that I was about to spit something along the lines of 'Back off, bitch.'
"You can't date Squall!" I nearly shrieked but I did manage to keep my voice low.
Quistis looked at me, confused, "Why not?"
"Because… Because… Because!"
"He asked me… Remember? The time where he was soaking wet!" Yes, I remember! But he hadn't been serious, had he?
"Yeah, but you just can't!" I retorted.
"Why the hell not?" She persisted.
"Because… Because…" And how was I supposed to finish that sentence? 'Because I'm already in love with him.' Oh yeah, right… That would work. Of course it would… I would only have to remove all pointy and dangerous things from her reach.
Squall then appeared in the doorway, "Rinoa, why did you just leave me there?" I could tell that my father had been, overall, displeased with today's news.
"Squall! Just the person I wanted to see." No! She wouldn't! "I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime?" And she just did… That little bitch!
It was as if he noticed her there for the very first time. His eyes darted to me and I shrugged. "I can't." Obviously he didn't have a knack for rejecting people.
And unfortunately, Quistis wasn't rejected so easily, "Why not?"
"Well… Because… Uh …" He was still thinking this one out and that wasn't a good thing, "Because, I've got a girlfriend." That just made me feel so loved, and all warm and fuzzy inside.
"But… Just a while ago you asked me out…" Quistis isn't the type to let off the hunt easily. This was a very bad thing at the moment because one: Squall was my boyfriend. Two… I'm not quite sure but I think I'm PMS-ing. I'd have to check the calendar sometime soon.
Yes, I'm very possessive and I'm a bitch (especially when it comes to 'that-time-of-the-month') but she was, after all, flirting with the first guy I've actually loved.
"Yes… And a very short while ago… I got a girlfriend." Ok, it was clear that he could not reject anyone for beans.
"Well… Who?" Quistis scowled, "No, wait a minute. Rinoa disappeared… Caraway didn't know. When he found out, he yelled out 'Squall'. Squall has a car; Squall can drive Rinoa everywhere. Rinoa and Squall got caught. Rinoa disappears without Caraway's knowledge… Blame falls on Squall. Oh my fucking GOD!"
She was smarter than I thought. That wasn't a good thing. I usually play on people's stupidities for my gain. Just my luck, Quistis decides to buy herself logic. I could see a tiny smile tugging at the corners of Selphie's mouth so I shot her a glare that clearly stated, 'Nothing of this is funny!'
"I can't believe it! Why didn't you tell me?" Yes, Quistis does like to be aware of the latest gossip and rumors. In fact, I think she feeds on them.
"Um… Gee whiz, I don't know… It might have something to do with the fact that it would probably be on the six o'clock news if I had!" Ok, I was being brutally honest, and so what? There's a first time for everything.
"Oh yeah? Well you know what? I may have a big mouth, but your emotional attachment is non-existent!" And as if it was necessary, she added, "And that's even worse!"
"Hey, you know I love you." I offered. Then I realized the impact of those words. Squall's eyes were popping out of his head. "In a platonic way." I added, more for his convenience than for hers.
Days passed by, needless to say, Quistis didn't care about me dating Squall. She found it rather… Cute. I won't go into details. Anyways, my dad eventually did wear off the elephant taser look, which was a good thing. My mother and Joan were quite enthralled by the relationship… Using the same word Quistis had… Cute. I could not see what was so 'cute' about my relationship with Squall… Neither could he for that matter. My brothers, however, didn't know a thing about it. That didn't last for long.
It all started one day while Squall was playing that stupid Raccoon game. I went over to the games room to study. Ok… Not exactly study. That's not what we ended up doing anyways.
"What are you guys doing?!" I guess he was more of a moron than we were. Well, I don't know Mikey, what are we doing? His tongue was in my mouth a second ago and my hand is making its way up his shirt, what does it look like we're doing?
Well, besides every other little detail that went wrong, people were generally very accepting towards our relationship, which was a good thing. The bad thing however, was when my grand-ma found out and she mistakenly thought that we were approaching a wedding day. Which was a very, very bad thing. After we got that out of her head… Things seemed a little brighter and eventually, Squall had to take the Balamb exams. I had helped him with all I could… And I mean all I could. But I didn't want him to leave… I wanted him to pass the exam and 'make his dream come true' but I didn't want him to leave me… But I wanted him to be happy… And see? My thought just went round and round again.
He came back from his exam at around 9:30 PM. He had a straight day of exams that would decide what he would be doing for the rest of his life and so I guess he'd be very tired. He came in my room and interrupted me in the middle of my calculus homework.
"I got the results right after the test." He said.
My eyes went wide, "And? What are the results?"
He said it softly, but I could still hear him. "I'm moving out tomorrow."
Sammy: Ok, this wasn't really supposed to be a cliffhanger but people still want to know what happen between Squall and Rinoa … right? Right! So review, be nice, and tell me what you think! I like reviews, and I will post up the next chapter … maybe next week … and maybe not. Because at the end of next week EXAMS'll be starting and I think I might DIE if I try to fit it all in the schedule. However I will try my best. Don't forget that my beta has to have time to edit! So please review and I hope you enjoyed it! People don't seem to know how EASIER it is to write in Rinoa's POV … I'm a GIRL so I wouldn't really know what goes on in Squall's mind. Anyways, REVIEW!
