Author's notes: Oh my God!!! 17 reviews?! For the first chapter?! Woo-hoo!!! I feel like I'm in Heaven now! Or at least, you people—my lovely reviewers, make me feel that way! Weeee *jumps up and down spontaneously* Thank you so much!! I give y'all my humble gratitude! Also, special thanks to Forgotten Carrie for helping me find a song for this chapter, too! ^_^ Other than that, have fun reading!
And this chapter was re-edited on July 30, 2003 ^-^
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft, and the song, "After Tonight" by Mariah Carey is copyrighted to her.
The Promise in a Kiss
~Chapter 2~
After Tonight
-*****-
Rinoa woke early the next morning. Although she could tell it was daylight, she kept her eyes shut tight.
"It was a dream," she told herself firmly. "I dreamed that some…guy left me with a mesmerizing kiss and gave me two rings. When I open my eyes I will look to find that there are no rings and that this was all just a dream. That's right, a dream," she assured herself.
There was suddenly the sound of Rinoa's alarm clock ringing.
And that is my exasperating alarm clock, Rinoa thought, her heart sinking. But she still didn't open her eyes. It had been such a good dream.
Ring Ring Ring
"Alright," she mumbled, "I'm getting up."
She sat up quickly and reached for the clock to shut the damn thing off before it's loud chime woke her roommate.
Before she got up, Rinoa stared at her nightstand.
"Or was it?" she asked herself curiously.
Once her hand touched the handle of the first drawer, she hesitated before she had the courage to pull it open.
After she did, Rinoa's heart skipped a beat. Although she was petrified, she was still glad that she thought wrong before.
The so-called, dream was real.
Her anxious hand grasped for the rings. The astonished teenager studied them carefully while admiring their unique form. A picture of a lion was engraved into both accessories.
She unclipped the silver chain which held another ring her mother gave her before she passed away, and put the two other ones she was given by someone she never even seen at least once in her life, onto the necklace. Then she hung it back around her bare neck, allowing the cold steel its first clash with her ivory skin.
Rinoa waltzed stealthily into the bathroom and took a nice, refreshing warm shower. After blow drying and changing into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, she returned to her part of the dorm. The dark-haired girl grabbed a pen and paper from her desk to write the lyrics to her song, which flowed very smoothly. It was easier to write the words down then she had expected. After doing so, she suddenly heard a loud cacophony coming from the other room.
"Selphie?"
Upon hearing no reply, Rinoa fleeted towards her roommate's room. As she knocked on the closed door, Selphie opened it with full exhilaration.
"Hiya Rinny! Sorry if I woke ya up from that loud thud… I just sort of fell off my bed, tee-hee!"
The female opposite from Tilmitt changed her look of worry into one of pure confusion. She didn't get how someone so short and skinny could create such loud noise, with absolutely no sign of the slightest bit of injury.
"…Uh, that's comforting, Selphie. What were you doing before you fell off your bed? …No wait, never mind I asked."
Rinoa didn't want the brunette to change into her 'never stop talking' mode, especially about a subject she did not want to hear about. Heartilly changed the theme rather quickly.
"So…want to see the lyrics to the song I wrote?"
Nope, not telling her what happened to ME yesterday night. It can wait.
-*****-
They chatted for quite a while when Selphie had to excuse herself to help with the Garden Festival.
Meanwhile, Rinoa was practicing with the song she was to sing. After rehearsing about as much time to prove she was ready, she dragged Selphie out of Garden so they could go into the Estharian town to buy themselves evening dresses for the upcoming night.
-*****-
"Hey, this store looks interesting, doesn't it, Rin?" Selphie pointed out while asking the girl standing next to her, as they looked about the bustling city for good, yet inexpensive companies selling dresses.
"I guess so," Rinoa shrugged, "why not."
The two adolescents sauntered towards the department named, 'Oltitander's occasional Dress shop.'
As they walked into the store, their mouths' dropped. The shop was filled with all kinds of dresses, from short length to ankle high length, and diamond white colors to dark forest greens. The amazed duo searched through all of the aisles with their eyes taut to everything that sizzled.
"Wow, where should we start, Selphie?"
~*4-5 Hours later*~
"Oh my Hyne," the astounded brunette started as she put a hand on her chest and blinked. "Rin, take a took at yourself in the mirror! You look phenomenal in that dress! Told ya to pick it, hee-hee!" Selphie commended.
Rinoa blushed and thanked her frisky friend as they admired their dresses in the mirror of her dorm.
"You know, Rinoa, you seem rather…peculiar today. Did anything very good happen to you yesterday? I also heard the door shut before I fell asleep during the night. Was it you by any chance? Or was I just hearing things?" Selphie questioned the female next to her while fixing her sparkling sky-blue dress.
Rinoa sighed anxiously before replying. She knew that Selphie wasn't fully asleep the other night, but it was rather hard to tell. She'd love to tell her now, but was just too worried about seeing him there. What if he thinks that she is a desperate weirdo when Rinoa would be singing her song? Or what if he doesn't even like that song? Too many questions were nagging at her mind, and this was unnerving her very self.
"Nope, no surprises yesterday." Liar! "I think that you are just getting over-excited about tonight, Selphie." Well, at least this part is true. I hate lying to people, but sometimes…
"You betcha! Everyone better like what Irina and me did with the decorations, too. And plus the thing with Irvy," Selphie heaved a romantic sigh at the thought of seeing her flirtatious date again.
Rinoa chuckled and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
A black, enchanting straight lace gown with luxurious stretch fabric molded to every curve of her skinny body, while beautiful lace panels covered her sheer sides. Asymmetric strap design was made for a glamorous entrance when she would step into the ballroom.
Although Selphie, on the other hand, wore a short, seductive off-the-shoulder dress, which molded to every curve of hers, too, while a triangle opening in both the front and back provided striking detail. A spectacular crystal brooch with draping strands showered the room with light.
"Hey Rin, can you please help me with my hair? I gotta leave thirty minutes earlier before the party starts at half an hour past seven," Selphie asked Rinoa while putting on sandals which had an open toe mule on each one with long suede ankle straps that featured a stunning crystal band made out of fake Jet stones.
After Rinoa helped with the brunette's wild hair, Selphie left the dorm, leaving Rinoa all alone in solitude.
The young teenager waited anxiously for the remaining half hour before it was time to go.
Rinoa put her three inch heeled sandals on, which consisted of an open toe mule on each one, like Selphie's, with long, suede ankle straps that featured gorgeous jewelry detail. She put them onto both of her bare feet, while taking a quick glance at her complexion. After fixing her wavy hair and spraying on some tasty perfume, Rinoa left the dorm with full contentment of herself.
-*****-
As the young beauty neared the entrance, she prayed that she would see him there, awaiting her with open arms and an invitation to his life.
But would he really be here? Rinoa wrapped her hand around the sterling rings on her necklace. I hope so. This may be our only chance…
As Rinoa entered, she was amazed with how the whole room was decorated. No wonder Selphie was such a resourceful girl.
Her eyes darted across the prismatic lights, which were giving the quad wondrous taste. Instrumental music was roaring into her ears, while extravagant dancing couples waltzed around the large ballroom floor, inevitably entering her vivid perception. The sound of people's cheerful voices echoed throughout Trabia Garden.
"Rinoa!"
She turned around upon hearing her name called.
It was Selphie. Surprise!
"Hey Selph. You having fun? Where's your date?" Rinoa asked her before she had a chance to open her mouth.
"Tee-hee! Irvy's right there—no wait, stay here Rinny, I'll go get him!" she exclaimed before bouncing off.
Poor guy. I'll pray for her date.
"Woah-woah-woah Seffie slow down, will ya?!" her breathless boyfriend demanded.
Both girls giggled at his clumsiness.
"Oh my chum-chums! Hellooo hot momma! Who's your cute friend, Seffie?" he asked his sweetheart after noticing the 'reason' Selphie dragged him here.
Rinoa blushed slightly and Selphie introduced her to him after slapping Irvine on the shoulder.
"Bonjour gorgeous! How 'bout you an' me—" Selphie cut him off before he had a chance to finish asking his "invitation."
"Irvine Kinneas!! How many times do I have to tell you God damnit?!" the exasperated teenager scolded.
"My bad precious! I can't help it. You just look so adorable when you get aggravated, hee-hee!"
"Ugh!" With that said, Selphie stormed off after waving to Rinoa, with Irvine running after her like a crazed fool.
Rinoa grinned after realizing how cute those two looked together. But her eyes never left the crowd, since she was searching for a certain someone.
Where could he be?
-*****-
"Hey Rin! Rin! Rinoa!!" Selphie yelled as she searched for her friend. "Oh there you are!"
"Oh hi again Selphie! Are you having a good time with Irvy and the Festival? I'm having a blast!"
Bullshit Rinoa. Why do I have to keep lying to myself and my best friend?! I won't have a blast till I find him.
"Really? That's so awesome! Just take note that ya gotta hit the stage to sing your song in a few moments! So get ready!" Selphie told her eagerly.
"Oh my gosh, so soon?! You have got to be kidding me! Oh Hyne…" Rinoa sighed looking nervous.
"Hakuna Matata Rinny! Do ya remember what that means? No worries! Just go up there and sing! You have a spectacular voice anyway, so I'm positively sure everyone will love you! Besides, me and all our other friends are right here counting on you, so just go on up there and kick ass!" she assured her uptight looking companion.
"Thanks, Selphie. I guess your right—" she was cut off by the microphone.
"And now, ladies and gents, I bring you the ever lovely, and talented, Miss Rinoa Heartilly who will sing a very romantic song for us tonight, so come on up girl!" the person on stage told her on the microphone as the crowd cheered when Rinoa started walking her way up onto the stage, butterflies dancing in her stomach.
The raven haired beauty walked slowly towards the microphone as the room grew placid. Selphie winked at her and Rinoa anxiously smiled in return. As the slow music started to play, couples got with each other and slow-danced with the theme.
Rinoa put all her mighty courage and stamina together then started singing in her angelic voice.
Here goes nothing…
"I look at you looking at me
Feels like a feeling meant to be
And as your body moves with mine
It's like I'm lifted out of time
And time again
Patiently I've waited
For this moment to arrive
After tonight
Will you remember
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled me closer
After you go
Will you return to love me
After tonight begins to fade
I feel your touch caressing me
This feeling's all I'll ever need
With every kiss from your sweet lips
lt's like I'm drifting out of time
Alone will tell
If you feel the way I feel
When I look in your eyes
After tonight
Will you remember
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled-me closer
After you go
Will you return to love me
After the night becomes the day
Time
And time and time again
So patiently I've waited
For this moment to arrive
After tonight
Will you remember
How sweet and tenderly
You reached for me
And pulled me closer
After you go
Baby will you return to love me
After the night becomes the day
After tonight begins to fade"
The soft music started to end and the crowd burst into frenzy applause. Unknown to the singer standing on stage, a young man secretly left the ballroom, purposely dropping a white envelope with the name "Rinoa" written in penmanship. He smiled zestfully as he saw her leave the stage.
Forgive me…
-*****-
Author's Notes: Reviews will be gladly appreciated! Also, since this song is named, "After Tonight" and the lyrics go like "after tonight" and stuff, you may think Rinoa means after this night (the present one in her world), but she is really singing about the time when she encountered him.
Well, byeness now!! ^=^