A couple of months later, and I had completed my T-Rexaur challenge. Squall was on a brief mission in Timber with some other SeeDs, including Zell, Selphie and Irvine, and I was all alone. Well, Quistis was still here but she was so busy teaching classes we hardly had time to see ach other apart from meal times.
I had plenty of chance to get ready for my up and coming exams though, which I was grateful for.
However, my day was to take quite a turn when I was called to Headmaster Cid's office later that week.
"Aah, Rinoa, please sit down," Cid was warm and welcoming as always. "How are you coping in your hero's absence?" he joked.
"I think you should be asking Squall that question," I laughed, emitting a chuckle from him.
"Oh, I'm sure," he smiled. "But anyway, down to business. Now I don't want you to panic or get angry, but a former student has returned and I know things are going to be a little strange and difficult. He was going to make a SeeD, but due to unforeseen circumstances he never graduated. You know him best so Rinoa, I want you to team up with Seifer Almsay in your classes," his speech was very rushed - I knew he didn't want to break this news to me.
"Oh," was all I could reply. Seifer - he had a lot of nerve. He broke my heart - nearly killed myself and Squall on numerous occasions and on the whole was a complete, self obsessed prat. But what the hell, I'd only have to put up with him in lessons, and headmaster Cid did so much already for me and Squall.
"I can understand if this is a little strange to you my dear.. But please, think about it and let me know as soon as you're ready,"
"I'll do it," I replied, no expression on my face.
"Splendid," Cid's smile grew even warmer now. " I think you'll be surprised.. All that time in hospital has really changed him. You never know, your group could have one more addition," Yeah fucking right, I thought, although of course I didn't tell Cid this.
"When's he coming?!" I asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," he replied. "He will be taken straight to Instructor Trepe's classroom where introductions etc will take place."
"Right," I replied, staring at the floor.
"What's wrong?" asked Cid.
"Well, you know.. Seifer and I have… history," I replied sheepishly, still concentrating on the swirling carpet patterns.
"I am aware of that," Cid looked me right in the eye. "But you and Seifer are different people now - do you really think I'd let you get in any danger?"
"Of course not," I replied. "I'll get back to class, shall I?"
"Oh yes, of course. Thank you very much Rinoa, you're a great help," he smiled again. Yeah. Great, I thought. I didn't go back to class, I went straight to the quad where I smoked about 3 cigarettes in a row. I could have done with something stronger but with Squall being away I didn't have access to anything.
I considered riding to the Balamb, but I didn't fancy sitting in a pub on my own. Nope, this wasn't something I couldn't handle. It would be fine.
It was quiet with all of my friends away, there was no one to talk to. I didn't want to worry Squall either, knowing this sort of information could easily make him fuck up whatever he was doing. So when he called later, I turned on the smiles.
"So, do you miss me?" he asked cheekily.
"Maybe.. I miss part of you," I teased.
"Don't start..I'm sharing a room with Zell and Irvine you know!" he warned playfully.
"Even better," I chuckled, even though it was forced.
"What's wrong baby?" he asked
"Nothing," I sighed, wrapping the phone cord round my finger over and over again.
"Come on tell me, you sound so miserable," he whined.
"I guess it's cos I miss you," I mumbled.
"Aww baby, don't worry! I'll be home before you know it!" I could hear his voice pick up when he knew I missed him, little things like that always seemed to cheer him up. "Anyways, I gotta go now. Duty calls and all that. Love you,"
"Love you too," I whispered, before hanging up. Great, well I suppose Seifer returning to Balamb Garden would certainly surprise Quistis.
I managed to catch up with her after lessons were over. She was in the library going over papers from the younger students.
"Quisty, can I have a word?" I asked. I must have looked pretty pathetic as she cleared a space for me and her attention was focused on me only.
"Sure, is it anything to do with tomorrow by any chance?" she asked.
"Well actually... yeah," I replied. "Everything that happened... well... it's gonna be really weird. I don't know why Headmaster chose me though,"
"Rinoa, this is something really important, a valuable lesson you shall learn in life," she smiled. Great, trust a teacher to make everything into one big bloody lesson. "See, Cid and I both know all of this, and we want to give Seifer another chance. Non one knoes him better than you, apart from Rujin and Fajin but they have gone their seperate ways. If you can do this, you can do anything. And do you really thinkg Seifer's going to play up? This is his last chance at Garden.. his last chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a SeeD,"
"I suppose you're right," I shrugged. "Thanks Quistis,"
"Anytime," she smiled. "Now I have to get bacl to these appaers, I don't mean to be ruse but can we meet later?"
"Sure," I replied.
Quistis was right... there was no way anything really bad could come of this.
Was there???
I had plenty of chance to get ready for my up and coming exams though, which I was grateful for.
However, my day was to take quite a turn when I was called to Headmaster Cid's office later that week.
"Aah, Rinoa, please sit down," Cid was warm and welcoming as always. "How are you coping in your hero's absence?" he joked.
"I think you should be asking Squall that question," I laughed, emitting a chuckle from him.
"Oh, I'm sure," he smiled. "But anyway, down to business. Now I don't want you to panic or get angry, but a former student has returned and I know things are going to be a little strange and difficult. He was going to make a SeeD, but due to unforeseen circumstances he never graduated. You know him best so Rinoa, I want you to team up with Seifer Almsay in your classes," his speech was very rushed - I knew he didn't want to break this news to me.
"Oh," was all I could reply. Seifer - he had a lot of nerve. He broke my heart - nearly killed myself and Squall on numerous occasions and on the whole was a complete, self obsessed prat. But what the hell, I'd only have to put up with him in lessons, and headmaster Cid did so much already for me and Squall.
"I can understand if this is a little strange to you my dear.. But please, think about it and let me know as soon as you're ready,"
"I'll do it," I replied, no expression on my face.
"Splendid," Cid's smile grew even warmer now. " I think you'll be surprised.. All that time in hospital has really changed him. You never know, your group could have one more addition," Yeah fucking right, I thought, although of course I didn't tell Cid this.
"When's he coming?!" I asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," he replied. "He will be taken straight to Instructor Trepe's classroom where introductions etc will take place."
"Right," I replied, staring at the floor.
"What's wrong?" asked Cid.
"Well, you know.. Seifer and I have… history," I replied sheepishly, still concentrating on the swirling carpet patterns.
"I am aware of that," Cid looked me right in the eye. "But you and Seifer are different people now - do you really think I'd let you get in any danger?"
"Of course not," I replied. "I'll get back to class, shall I?"
"Oh yes, of course. Thank you very much Rinoa, you're a great help," he smiled again. Yeah. Great, I thought. I didn't go back to class, I went straight to the quad where I smoked about 3 cigarettes in a row. I could have done with something stronger but with Squall being away I didn't have access to anything.
I considered riding to the Balamb, but I didn't fancy sitting in a pub on my own. Nope, this wasn't something I couldn't handle. It would be fine.
It was quiet with all of my friends away, there was no one to talk to. I didn't want to worry Squall either, knowing this sort of information could easily make him fuck up whatever he was doing. So when he called later, I turned on the smiles.
"So, do you miss me?" he asked cheekily.
"Maybe.. I miss part of you," I teased.
"Don't start..I'm sharing a room with Zell and Irvine you know!" he warned playfully.
"Even better," I chuckled, even though it was forced.
"What's wrong baby?" he asked
"Nothing," I sighed, wrapping the phone cord round my finger over and over again.
"Come on tell me, you sound so miserable," he whined.
"I guess it's cos I miss you," I mumbled.
"Aww baby, don't worry! I'll be home before you know it!" I could hear his voice pick up when he knew I missed him, little things like that always seemed to cheer him up. "Anyways, I gotta go now. Duty calls and all that. Love you,"
"Love you too," I whispered, before hanging up. Great, well I suppose Seifer returning to Balamb Garden would certainly surprise Quistis.
I managed to catch up with her after lessons were over. She was in the library going over papers from the younger students.
"Quisty, can I have a word?" I asked. I must have looked pretty pathetic as she cleared a space for me and her attention was focused on me only.
"Sure, is it anything to do with tomorrow by any chance?" she asked.
"Well actually... yeah," I replied. "Everything that happened... well... it's gonna be really weird. I don't know why Headmaster chose me though,"
"Rinoa, this is something really important, a valuable lesson you shall learn in life," she smiled. Great, trust a teacher to make everything into one big bloody lesson. "See, Cid and I both know all of this, and we want to give Seifer another chance. Non one knoes him better than you, apart from Rujin and Fajin but they have gone their seperate ways. If you can do this, you can do anything. And do you really thinkg Seifer's going to play up? This is his last chance at Garden.. his last chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a SeeD,"
"I suppose you're right," I shrugged. "Thanks Quistis,"
"Anytime," she smiled. "Now I have to get bacl to these appaers, I don't mean to be ruse but can we meet later?"
"Sure," I replied.
Quistis was right... there was no way anything really bad could come of this.
Was there???
