The Way Life Mocks Me
Chapter 17: A place in this World
" All good things come to an end" That's what my mother always used to say. She used to whisper it to me all the time, when I was feeling down. It was spirit lifter. It let me know that all good times, no matter how unbelievable they might be, eventually come to and end and there really is nothing you can do about it. Although it may not sound like something to make a person feel better, it certainly worked for me. Because then I knew…it wasn't my fault.
But now…why does it have to end?
Why cant I just stay in the moment and live the good times all the time. Why must it be that way? While I was in my room, packing my bags, I was thinking so hard that I swear I could hear the gears in my mind shifting. I had stayed in Esthar for over a month. And boy, I had a great time. I learnt a hell of a lot.
Because all good stories teach you a moral.
But all good stories have a happy ending. All good stories let the main character be happy and stay for as long as they want or be with whomever they choose.
Not my story. My story won't have a happy ending. I will go home, with my memories, with my new address's and phone numbers and an few extra photographs…and three new friends.
I remember the night I spent out in the garden with Squall so clearly. It was just a few hours ago. We had stayed up all night, watching the sky and pointing out constellations. He even showed me how to find north just by looking at the stars. How interesting, I never knew that. I showed him my birth sign and pointed his out. He even told me a few jokes I had never heard. Which is rare now days. We had a good laugh and Squall said goodbye to his 'mate'.
It was raining outside. Big fat raindrops splattered against the window. The large gray clouds stopped any happy sunshine from view. The day I was leaving. It had to rain. Oh the irony of it all.
Confused and dazed I zipped up the last of my bags and sat back on the bed. I needed to sleep…but I had to say my goodbyes and pack everything into the limo.
I slung the bags over my shoulder and walked out into the hallway. Quistis was rushing up the hallway, bags in her hands too. She skidded to a halt in front of me.
" Quistis…where are you going?"
She chuckled slightly and placed her bags on the ground. She took out a hankie from under her jacket.
" I'm going to Trabia with Squall"
" Why?"
She smiled brightly. " Someone has to look after him" She wiped her forehead then put the hankie back. " I've been with him since he was just this big…" To show me exactly she held her arms apart, about half a meter. " I cant abandon him now…besides, I've always wanted to learn how ski…" She said dreamily. With that, she left down the hallway.
I smiled after her and continued on.
Down the hallway I could hear some music playing. It sounded like…Savage Garden. The lyrics echoed through the small space and bounced off the walls, straight into my head. I almost felt dizzy. I could also hear someone singing along to it. They needed singing lessons. Very long and very vigorous singing lessons.
When the person came into view it was Jenny. I should have known. When she spotted me she turned it off and walked over.
" Don't you just love that song?"
" I'm not sure I've never heard it before actually"
She rolled her eyes. " Its called…uh…well I think its called, 'to the moon and back' or something. How could you have not heard it before? It was a hit!" She teased. I poked out my tongue and pushed past her. She turned it back on and continued her ' cat singing'.
That song would forever ruin my peace.
A shiny black limo sat waiting out the front. A tired looking driver sat in the front, with the window wipers left on, swiping an unstoppable army of rain droplets.
I wanted to go home and see my mother again. I wanted to see Dani again and apologize to her for neglecting her. I want to stay here and, oh why do I wish for too much? I'm going home. Dad needs to get back and I have to be home in time for my first year at University. Like I said, my life is moving too fast. And yet, I wouldn't want it to slow down. No I'm not crazy.
Jenny ran back up to me. She spun me around, causing my perfectly balanced bags to fall onto the ground in a heap and grabbed me by the shoulders, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Don't go!" She cried, emotion straining her voice to a mere choke. I smiled gently and chuckled.
"I have to Jenny…I have to go home. You know I could never stay here, right?"
She nodded, sniffing and looking down. "But I've really gotten to know you better and Squall…"
"Squall what?" Was that a hint of hope in my voice?
"He's going to be alone, and you two have become such great friends!"
"I'll see him again, and you…and Dave! I will…I swear"
She sighed, but smiled and placed a hand on her shoulders. "Come on, you just know I'll visit, hey?"
" Yeah I suppose…"
I breathed in deep, I needed to ask this. "Uh…what exactly did Squall say?"
She grinned. "Well…he was upset, and said he'd really miss you"
That was brilliant. Something inside me went 'ding!' and I felt all warm and fuzzy. He was upset about me going. He wants me to stay! Either I was getting too hopeful or he was truly…sad…about me leaving. Something else in me went 'Duh!'. Of course he's upset.
" Oh all right…never mind. Hey wanna see me off?"
" Sure!"
We both ran out into the pouring rain and up to the limo. Jenny shielded her eyes. " Okay Rinoa, this is the part where we promise to see each other again and always be friends. Then we hug and say our tearful goodbye"
I laughed and reached over to hug her.
" We have to see each other again and always be friends. Promise"
" Me two. Now I'm going back inside. So…be safe and…see you when I do Rinoa"
" Bye Jenny…"
I watched her figure run back inside and out of the rain. Slowly I turned back to the shiny limo and grimaced. A long trip was ahead of me. A painful one.
-Squall P.O.V-
Snow.
So much snow. The closest I have ever been to snow is the freezer. And yet, there they were. Three enormous mountains, all tipped with glistening white snow. It was as if Hyne herself had picked up a white tipped pen and delicately painted each one.
It was just a brochure. But it was so beautiful. In a week I would be there. Skiing down those mountains and falling on my ass in the snow. But there would be something missing. Something very special. Three people. Three people whom I now hold dear to my heart. Three people that I will never forget. As corny as that may sound, it's true.
I know the feeling of being alone. I knew it all too well. But now I would have to relive it. I wouldn't really be alone. No. I would have my newly found uncle with me. My aunty and my cousin. Oh, and Quistis. She is considered family as well. So I'll be with a real family for once. Minus the friends.
My experiment with sitting in a lonely spot while feeling sad for myself…was not working. I sat up and walked over to the window. Through the annoying rain I could barely see Rinoa walking over to her limo. I had meant to say goodbye earlier. But I kinda figured that last night was our goodbye.
But…
Maybe if I ran I could catch her. Say goodbye again. I'm not even sure if I'll see her again.
I made up my mind.
Without hesitation I spun on my heel and bolted down the hall. On the way I grabbed my jacket and threw it on. Pulling the windbreaker up I skidded around the corner at the bottom of the stairs. The double doors were open…strangely…and I ran through, right outside into the heavy rain. I prayed she wasn't already in the car…gone.
" Rinoa!!!"
I heard a door close…and my hopes evaporated. Then a door opening. Rinoa appeared around the corner, almost literally drenched. I was so relieved to see her, that I threw myself at her and held on tight. She just stood there, stunned. I let go and stood back.
" I wanted to say bye…and…I'm sorry"
She tilted her head. " Sorry for what?"
" I put you threw hell. All of you, and I'm sorry. I was such jerk, I shouldn't have made you all so worried"
It was hard to hear so we had to yell slightly. She smiled and put her hands on my shoulders. Her hands were freezing.
"Squall. I'm glad for everything that happened. Good and bad. Because you taught me something. I now know how to live, so thank you, honestly"
" Thanks…"
She nodded and pulled me closer. We hugged one more time and she turned her head to whisper to me. " You were the first person I ever danced with. I had never danced before and…thanks" I laughed slightly.
" No problem" I laughed.
While we stood there. Getting completely drenched. I had a reflection moment…
" Don't they look cute?" She had said.
" Yeah they do"
She asked me what time the ball finished and told her 'midnight'. But, she had no idea how much I wanted it last forever. Just being with her that night. It made me feel so special. It made me feel needed.
And when we sat outside on the balcony. At a hotel. That was the first time we really spoke together, it was the first time I realized what a nice person she really was. And…that shooting star.
She let go again and the reflection ended. She seemed a little nervous and looked to the ground, twirling her foot on the ground in circle, a habit of hers that I had previously noticed. Water was collecting like a river at our feet and I had to struggle to keep myself from being swept away by its might and the wind combined. I looked back to her face, to find her eyes peering at me. I caught my breath. She seemed to be looking right at me, into my very soul. I stepped back suddenly, but she grabbed my arm and held onto me desperately. Then without any warning she put her arms around my neck, our eyes connecting.
" To remember me by…" She whispered, her face dangerously close to mine. I tensed.
And…
She kissed me. At first I was shocked, and stood stock still like a wall. But I relaxed and melted into her, wrapping my arms around her waist and returning her gesture. My first real kiss. We weren't anything out of the ordinary. We weren't two crazed lunatics holding onto each other with no hope. Just two teenagers kissing in the rain, and it felt right, but it didn't last long enough. Because when she pulled away, I pulled her back. It was just how I had imagined it would be. In the pouring rain. Freezing our asses off. All of the sudden the voice in my head told me to stop. It was probably a good idea too. Oxygen was becoming an issue.
She stood back and grinned. I held out my arms this time, welcoming her into an embrace and put my forehead to hers. She looked me in the eyes again.
"Goodbye Rinoa" I muttered, finality evident in my voice.
That was the end. She left soon after, waving me goodbye from her car, watching me as I chased it out of the street and away into the distance. I think I stood out in the rain for about half an hour after that. Quistis ran out and pulled me inside, saying something about 'hypothermia' and 'diseases'. But I couldn't care. All I could do was laugh and think about her, and how my story ended.
Perfect.
Fin
Scribbles: It's over! The end. Thank you all so much for your support on this story All you readers and reviewers have been the best. You kept me writing.
-18th of July-
Rewrote this ending because it thought that a story with so much pride in it deserved a more proper, grammar wise. I added more detail and a few more emotions. Hope it's done well. Still contemplating a sequel.
Thankyou's
Bridgy: Thanks a bunch!
FF9 Zidane: Thanks so much for reading! I'm so glad I got someone else to start reading this! Yay! And I loved the cookie. You must have read my mind cos I was starving.
Evan'sRinoa: Yes I agree. My chapters were short. Probably from lack of attention and sleep. But fear not, I will improve. I was shocked to hear you say you spent 45 minutes reading this. I feel so honored! Thanks.
Seifer'Incarnate: Your fic is progressing nicely and thanks for reading mine.
AngelMaster: I hope this final chapter is okay. Thankyou!
JerseyGirl03: I hope you'll be pleased to know there will be a sequel. Cheers!
Rizza426: My bad, I meant to say '90 reviews' my bad. Thanks. I loved your nice comments. Thankyou so much.
Drifting Moomba: I bet the whole uncle thing was a shock! Hope you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
The Angel Of The Lion: Yay, you loved it! Thanks! Your one of my favorite authors!
Billie The Kid: Sorry bout the cliffhanger. I didn't even know it was. Heh, thanks for reading.
XxMazLeonheartxX: hahaha, I loved your review. Thanks for reading. Liking angst? Me too!
Lifebringzdeath: Technically Rinoa and Squall didn't end up together so…yeah…it worked both ways I think. Sorry I didn't ' disembowl' Laguna and Raine. I thought it might be a tad cruel. But I think you'll be glad to know about the sequel.
Selphie Kinneas: Yes Mitch was horrible! But he's nice now. Really. Thankyou for reading.
Angelofthelions: Well its finished! I hope you liked it. Thankyou.
Chichiri's-Girl: yeah school in the holidays does suck! Thanks.
GirlsDontCri: Thankyou.
There was a lot more people who reviewed and I want to thank you all but I don't have much time and my back is sore oooow. I'm sure you wont mind. If I missed you, ill probably email you.