Falling For You

Chapter Two

"Hey, you're early," Irvine greeted Rinoa as she got in the apartment. "Did you and Seifer have dinner already?" he asked her as she plopped beside him on the sofa.

"Nope. Just had a latte and cheesecake," she replied quietly.

"Me, too. I'm starving," he said.

"What do we have in the fridge?" Rinoa asked.

"I'll take care of dinner in just one easy step!" Irvine boasted.

Rinoa's eyebrow arched up. "Oh? And may I ask what step should that be?"

"Easy! Dial take-out! I'll just have a pizza delivered," Irvine said.

Rinoa, upon hearing the word pizza and remembering that Seifer and the woman he met shared one, suddenly burst into tears and ran upstairs to her room.

Irvine was surprised at his cousin's sudden outburst and decided to come after her. He silently climbed up the stairs and softly knocked at her bedroom door which was right across his.

"Rin?"

"Go away," was her muffled answer.

He shook his head slightly and gently asked, "Don't you want to talk about it?" He waited for her reply but only silence was heard. "You forgot to lock your door… I'm coming in."

He opened the door and saw his cousin's figure lying face down on the bead with her face buried in the pillow. Her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed. He sat down beside her and stroke her hair as he comforted her. "Shh… just let it all out." They remained like that for about five minutes.

Rinoa calmed down and sat on the bed. "Seifer's in love with someone else." And she hugged Irvine and cried again.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Seifer just got out of the shower and rummaged in his closet to look for something to wear for that night. But as he was doing so, he can't help but think of Rinoa.

Stop it, he lectured himself. You're preparing for a date and yet you're thinking of your best friend. You have Quistis now. Rinoa is your best friend. Rinoa can't fall for a guy like you.

He put on a gray polo shirt and black pants. He stood in front of the mirror and combed his hair. He thought of Rinoa's angelic face, smiling at him. Hyne, not again! Look, Seifer… Quistis is the one for you. You look good together.

He pictured the lovely Quistis in his mind. So exquisite, so lovely… blonde hair, blue eyes… then the woman's hair changed to raven and her eyes changed to chocolate. I can't believe this! He slammed the comb on the table and sat on his bed. He buried his face in his hands.

He remembered the first time he and Rinoa met. It was five summers ago and he was visiting his friends Fujin and Raijin in Deling City.

FLASHBACK

They were at an amusement park, falling in line for a roller coaster ride. When it was their turn to board the coaster, Fujin and Raijin beat him to the front and Seifer was forced to sit on another coaster. The only available seat was beside a raven-haired teenager. He shyly smiled at the girl and sat beside her.

"You're not from around here, aren't you?" the girl asked.

Seifer nodded. "Balamb."

"I see. This is the most popular ride here in Deling, the Space Shuttle!" She was cut off when a honk was heard, signalling that the ride is about to begin. Both teenagers shouted with glee as the coaster rode back and forth.

Seifer can't help but glance at the girl beside him. I've never seen anyone this pretty. And he felt himself turn a crimson red.

After the ride, Seifer helped Rinoa get off her seat. "By the way, I'm Seifer," he said and offered his hand.

"Rinoa," she introduced herself and shook his. And Seifer felt his heart like a drill machine when she touched him.

Rinoa smiled at him and said, "Well, I gotta go. I'm gonna meet up with my cousin at the burger stand. Maybe I'll see you in Balamb. I'll be staying there next month. Balamb University, you know?"

And after a month, they again saw each other in Balamb. Since that day, they were inseparable.

END OF FLASHBACK

Seifer glanced at the clock beside his bed and saw that it was already a quarter before eight. Quistis. He stood up and left for the hotel. After locking the apartment, he quickly got into the Corvette and drove straight to the hotel. He entered the hotel and scanned the lobby for Quistis. Sure enough, he saw her sitting on the couch, looking very lovely in a burgundy spaghetti-strapped knee-length silk dress. And as if she sensed his presence, her eyes met his and Quistis modestly smiled at him.

Well, this is it. Here goes nothing, Seifer said to himself as he approached the radiant beauty.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Rinoa told Irvine of what had happened earlier at the café.

"I really don't know what advice to give you but I'm sure you'll meet someone," Irvine reassuringly said to Rinoa.

"But I've loved Seifer all my life!" Rinoa cried.

"I know… but loving someone doesn't mean that that someone will automatically love you in return. You hurt because you love. Everyone suffers heartaches. I had my heart broken a number of times before Selphie came along. You should keep in mind that if you get your heart broken, that heartbreak serves as a stepping stone… preparing you for a greater love," Irvine said.

Rinoa got a tissue and blew her nose. "That's sweet, Irv… Thanks," she gratefully said. Then she lightly punched him on the shoulder. "I didn't know you had a… delicate side in you. Selphie's really lucky to have you," Rinoa said, smiling at him.

"Gee, thanks… That's the greatest compliment I got from you, so far," Irvine replied as he playfully pinched her nose.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Rinoa opened her eyes.

Hyne, it's noon already? I can't believe I overslept, Rinoa thought as she groggily forced herself off the bed. Not even bothering to change from her blue tank top and pajamas, she grabbed her favorite Chocobo robe and headed straight to the kitchen, expecting to see Irvine wolfing down the pizza they ordered after their conversation last night.

Instead, she saw a yellow post-it on the refrigerator.

Rin,

Out with Sefie. Be back around 5.

Irv

She opened the refrigerator and got out a carton of milk and got her favorite Oreo cereal from the cupboard. She was just beginning to feast on her breakfast when the doorbell rang.

She put on her robe and peeked out the window beside the front door.

Hyne, it's Seifer!

After quickly checking her reflection in the mirror, she opened the door and approached the gate.

"Good afternoon, sunshine! You just got out of bed?" Seifer asked her as she was closing the gate after him.

"Yup," she replied as she was stifling a yawn. "What brings you here?"

"Well," he said as he put a bucket of fried chicken on the dining table. "I just wanted to celebrate!" he exclaimed. He grabbed Rinoa and spun her around with a bear hug.

Has he come to his senses?! Rinoa thought excitedly.

"I officially have a girlfriend! And I'll introduce her to you tonight!"

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

A/N: Hi again! I'd like to thank my sister for helping me out with the chapters. I edited Chapter 1 and I do hope it's better now.

I really appreciate Keiry and Marty78 for reading and reviewing the story. Thanks for the encouragement and the comments!

And to everyone else, please R&R! And thank you very much in advance!