Chapter 2
"Badly planned aren't we?"
Quistis looked at the forlorn team who were trying to think of ideas that would bring Squall and Rinoa together. They were both busy people and their schedules meant the ideas the gang had thought of would not work.
"I don't know how this is gonna work," Selphie said frustrated. "They're both way too busy they'll never meet each other!"
"I thought we said that we weren't planning a meeting for them but somewhere they 'bump' into each other," Zell said grumpily. He was forced into the discussion when he would have rather spent time chasing after the girl from the library.
"Zell, try to think of something yourself." Selphie said, she had in fact dragged Irvine into the talk as well. He would have rather spent his time trying to chat Selphie or some other women up. But the power she had over him was incredible.
Quistis knew better than to try to tamper with fate, and change to what wasn't meant to be but Squall and Rinoa were. How the two of them could fall out over such a trivial argument she didn't know. Sighing she cut through the silence.
"Starting from the beginning, they spit up because…?"
"Squall refused to kiss her in public."
"Really? I thought it was because he wouldn't dance with her at that ball?"
"No they split up after that you idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
"My invisible friend, who d'you think you idiot?"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!!!!"
"Nothing!" Quistis managed to out some authority into a command directed at Zell and Irvine that wasn't half as loud as Zell had been. "You two- we're trying to get Rinoa and Squall back together- we don't need you two behaving like children!"
"Squall and Rinoa were acting like children too; they split up over a few silly arguments. About how Squall never shows what he feels in public. Rinoa felt like he was ashamed of her." Selphie had spoken.
"But he wasn't!" Quistis felt like screaming in frustration. The pair of them sounded as though they had acted like a pair of two year olds. A wonderful relationship had been broken when they had encountered a few teething problems.
"I think we need more helpers," Selphie insisted. Quistis sighed, this had been dealt with. They had asked Cid if he would send Squall somewhere if they arranged for Rinoa to be there as well. Garden however considered relationships a distraction for its SeeDs and therefore Rinoa had to stay away.
It hadn't been Cid's fault entirely, although he had confessed that he felt it would be better for the pair to go their separate ways. SeeD left little time to pursue relationships and would lead in disappointment if the SeeD died in action.
Selphie was thinking, she had her thoughtful face on. It lit up and she cried out with all the excitement of an inventor with a new invention. "We can get Kadowaki to help us!"
Quistis was torn between asking Selphie what the idea really was or reminding her to add 'doctor' before it.
"What are you talking about?" Zell asked incredulously. "How can she help?"
Selphie jumped around gleefully. "We can ask her to send Squall of on a vacation to cut down his stress and we can send Rinoa to wherever he goes!"
"Selphie you are a genius," Irvine announced tipping his hat in her direction.
"Not such a good idea." Quistis cut in, "Rinoa won't have a break with this course she's on."
"You're wrong, Rinoa has two weeks holiday coming up and she keeps saying we should meet up sometime. I can say it's a shopping trip in the bargain." Selphie said, excitedly waving an arm in the air.
That was right Quistis thought guiltily, the short SeeD would know because nobody else besides Selphie had stayed in contact with Rinoa since her departure.
"A holiday then?" Quistis asked, looking for everyone's approval.
"Yes." They echoed each other.
"Where do you think we'd go?"
"Quisty!" Selphie exclaimed, "You'll come?" Without waiting for an answer she continued, "We can say it's a girl's holiday!"
"Er, you guys need to ask Kadowaki if she'll prescribe a holiday to Squall." Zell said, "You don't know if she'll agree."
"She'd better do." Selphie said, "How do we get Squall and Rinoa back together unless they meet?"
"I'm sure you'd think of something Sephie." Irvine said smoothly. Quistis was reminded of the way he had tried to hit on Rinoa and a few SeeDs in Garden on arrival. Amazing Selphie wasn't more suspicious of him.
Selphie beamed at him in any case. Quistis watched with an increasing feeling of nausea.
"Hey if you guys want a girls holiday what about us? What are we gonna say to Squall? He sure as hell won't wanna go on a holiday with us. He's always saying how we annoy him," said Zell, suddenly regretting saying anything. He wanted to go to the library.
"Yeah." Said Selphie with uncharacteristic doubt.
"Hey we'll go with Squall whether he likes it or not." Irvine said confidently, "We'll sneak on the same boat he takes and by the time he finds us it'll be too late."
The weather was taking a turn for the worse. Selphie looked outside. "I hate rain," She said- pausing to listen for the rain falling.
"If there's bad weather it means that if we go to the same hotel there will be less opportunity for Squall and Rinoa staying away from each other." Quistis smiled. The plan would work, it had to.
"Oh yeah and it'll be nice to have a holiday as well!" Selphie moved into a ready position to start running. "Book the tickets for us Quisty, I'll tell Rinoa about the holiday idea!"
Without waiting for an answer she ran out of the room. With Irvine following of course, Zell stood up thankful to be able to get away.
"Hey where are you going?" Quistis asked. "You need to ask the doctor whether she'll tell Squall to take a break."
"But Quistis I need to see…"
"Zell if you want to get Squall and Rinoa back together you have to make sacrifices. We all do, now please talk to doctor Kadowaki."
Zell walked away annoyed and irritable. Sure he would be helping Squall and Rinoa's relationship but his own chances for one were low.
This damn well better be worth it.
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"A holiday! Wow!"
Rinoa was delighted at the prospect of a holiday, she missed her friends, shopping and being able to relax.
"So you wanna come?"
"Definitely!" Rinoa couldn't imagine rejecting the idea simply because of her course. She could study a little while she was there if she really needed to.
"Wow Rinoa this is going to be so much fun! Just the girls!"
Yes just the girls, that was the main attraction for Rinoa. No Squall to aggravate her. This was going to be great. She was excited already.
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"You are joking." Squall stared at the doctor in front of him. She was serious. Her expression gave nothing away.
"Squall do I look as if I am joking?"
"I am not stressed!" He prepared to stand up from his chair and leave the infirmary. However her level glare and inner propriety in Squall made him stay.
"I don't need a holiday. Least of all I don't need to leave Garden!"
"Squall. I am sick of this if you don't believe my diagnosis why have me here at all. I clearly don't know my job and have told you a load of rubbish."
Squall protested and she cut him off. "If I say you need a holiday you will have to leave your job for at least two weeks. You're not so important we can't cope without you. Now go on this holiday and maybe Irvine and Zell can teach you to have fun for once."
"Zell and… Irvine?" His face drained of colour. He went white,
"Yes. Now I have patients to see. Goodbye Squall."
"But-"
"Goodbye."
He left the infirmary in a daze. This was too awful to be true. He was dreading it already.
Thanks for the reviews! I wasn't sure about continuing but I did again. Hiasha I didn't say because I wasn't sure I was going to write it myself until just before I did. ;)
I love Squinoas and I want to see more at fanfiction net. This is my contribution.