Chapter 9—The new assignment
Squall and Rinoa arrived back at the palace in the late afternoon, and the unsuspecting inhabitants were readily set upon.
"Squall, maybe you should just leave your sister alone. I mean, she is older than you, and Zell is really nice," Rinoa said, jogging to keep up with him. The servants, who had run out to meet them as soon as they had arrived, had been shocked to find Rinoa in the driver's seat and not Squall, and now there were a steady stream of followers that believed that Squall had hurt himself.
"For Hyne's sake, I am fine!" Squall snapped, finally causing one of the maids to jump.
"That wasn't very nice; they're just worried," Rinoa said, frowning. Squall scowled.
"Yeah, well they shouldn't," he decided. Rinoa put her hands on her hips.
"Hey, there is no way I'm letting you talk to Ellone in this bad mood. Why the grumpiness all of a sudden?" Rinoa said, sounding like a mother scolding a child. Squall just glared at her. "Listen, let's just go and hang out in the breakfast room. Your father loves it in there, I'm sure he'll be there so we can say hi," Rinoa said, pushing him.
"Oh, I can't wait," Squall said, annoyed at being pushed, but Rinoa was right, something had suddenly made him angry and he didn't know what.
"Come on."
Laguna and Gloria after dinner always somehow found their way to the breakfast room. By far it was the best room in the house, mainly because it was Squall who had designed it, and built it for practicality rather than amusement. Laguna had begun sneaking a swivel chair in everyday, until Squall had given up insisting it be taken out due to clashing with the surroundings. Indeed the chair was an eyesore, but Laguna seemed immune to that kind of pain, and that was where they found when they entered, eating chocolate ice cream and sitting comfortably in his chair.
Gloria was reading a magazine that had a picture of her and Laguna on the front and was giggling at some reporter's article.
"Hey, Squall!" Laguna said, jumping up out of his chair and smiling. Squall nodded and sat down sullenly. Gloria gave Rinoa a 'what's the matter' look, and Rinoa shrugged. "So. How was your day?"
"We went bowling again!" Rinoa said, sitting down next to Squall.
"Rinoa had some exciting news today," Squall said.
"Oh?" Gloria asked.
"Yes, my friend's pregnant."
"Oh, how lovely! Is she still in Esthar?" Gloria asked, smiling. Laguna finished his ice-cream and put down his bowl in a noisy clatter.
"Is that Selphie? Little Selphie?" he asked looking shocked.
"Yes," Rinoa confirmed. His face broke into a huge grin.
"Ah! Fantastic. We must have you all 'round for dinner. In fact, let's have a party!" he said, standing up once more and almost dancing.
"Yes, that's a wonderful idea. I would love to meet your friends, Rinoa." Gloria said as she tried to calm Laguna down. "Do you think they will come?"
"I'm sure they'd love to!" Rinoa said, excited for her friends more than for herself; they'd finally be able to attend one of Laguna's famous dances.
"So, what theme will it be this time?" Squall asked sarcastically. "Under the sea?"
"Stop it, Squall." Gloria chided, smiling. "Laguna always thinks of something, don't you, honey?"
"Hmm, how about mythical? Where everyone has to dress as their favourite mythical person," Rinoa offered. They all regarded her for a moment before Laguna began smiling again.
"Yes! Mythical! I will go and tell the butler right away!" he said, rushing out of the room.
Gloria sighed.
"I hope your friends will enjoy the party. It'll be the same old people there, of course." she said, almost bored.
"Well, why don't you invite some new people?" Rinoa asked, looking at Squall.
"We don't know that many people," he said simply. "Listen, there is something I need to tell you…"
"Oh! That's my phone!" Rinoa said, pulling out the little noisy object from her pocket. "Um, please excuse me," she said, walking of the room. Squall frowned and walked through the adjoining room into the kitchen.
***
"Hello?" Rinoa asked into her phone.
"Ah, Miss Heartilly!" It was her boss, and by the way his voice was sounding it appeared he had something he wanted her to do. "Could you please make your way to my office as soon as you can? It seems your big story has finally arrived."
Rinoa's heart leapt.
"Certainly Sir, right away!" she said, clicking the phone shut and walking back into the breakfast room. "Squall, I…"
"Through there, dear." Gloria said, pointing over her shoulder while reading the magazine.
"Oh, um, thanks."
Rinoa followed the rough directions she had been given into the kitchen and found Squall burying himself in the fridge.
"If that's Ellone, the answer is no, I didn't eat the ice cream," he said absently. Rinoa smiled.
"It's not Ellone. Anyway, weren't you supposed to be mad with her?" Rinoa said cheekily. Squall snapped his head out of the fridge and looked at Rinoa.
"I'm not mad, I'm just…oh never mind. I don't even know the answer to that one," he said, looking back in to the fridge and pulling out a pineapple-flavoured jelly. "Want any?" he asked after placing it on the table behind him.
"No, thank you. Squall, I need to get to my office, something's come up and I need to leave right away," she said, hoping he wouldn't be too disappointed that she was leaving so soon.
"Ok," he replied simply.
"The thing is, Selphie has my car," She finished, smiling hopefully. She really didn't want to call for a taxi if she could help it, but she also didn't want to push her luck.
"You can borrow my car if you want to," Squall said, handing her the keys. Rinoa took them slowly and held them as if they were made of gold.
"Oh, Squall thank you! This story is going to be great. I can just tell!" she said, excited. Squall watched her as he took a spoon from the drawer. Suddenly she stopped talking and stared at him. "Are you sure it's alright for me to take your car? I mean you might need it!"
"No, it's fine. I have other cars, but that's not the point. Rinoa, I was trying to tell you earlier, the reason I was late meeting you and your friend today was that some business of my own came up. I'm leaving in two days to meet with General Caraway."
Rinoa's face fell, and she almost winced in pain. Squall frowned.
"Something wrong?" he asked, worried.
"No. Just, General Caraway is my father," she said without any emotion. To say Squall looked stunned was an understatement.
"But..."
"Yeah, our last names don't match. Just like you and your father, hey?" she said, trying to make a joke.
"You…"
"It doesn't matter. I hate him, he hates me, and you can imagine that we haven't kept in contact," she said, looking at her nails. "I just pity you for having to speak to him."
"Rinoa, this is…" he was interrupted once again.
"Don't think on it. I wasn't going to tell you, as far as I'm concerned he died along time ago and I'm sure he'd say the same about me. It just slipped out, I'm sorry."
Squall couldn't think of anything to say so he just kept quiet.
"Well, I best get going," Rinoa said, pocketing the car keys. Squall grabbed her arm.
"Wait, I still haven't told you what I need to," he said urgently. Rinoa stopped trying to walk to the door and stood listening. "I'll be leaving in two days like I said, and so I won't be able to see you. But I'd like to, I mean, when I get back, see you that is," Squall said nervously. He was beginning to mumble his words, which wasn't a very winning idea.
"I'll call you, then," Rinoa said, smiling. Squall let go of her arm. "I'll call you," she confirmed as she walked out of the door backwards, giving him the best genuine smile she could find.
Squall watched her leave and stabbed the spoon into the jelly. As soon as something began to go right, something else had to come along and spoil it, like her stupid job!
Rinoa found herself standing in the rain as the butler ordered someone to fetch Squall's car for her. After that it wasn't long before she was on her way to the office in style.
The elevator was being slow again today and Rinoa tapped her foot impatiently as it stopped at two floors before reaching the ground. Rinoa fortunately had the tiny machine to herself as she pressed the button and waited until she was taken up. The office was just as busy as she remembered it, and she found her feet leading her to her boss's small room without instruction. Rinoa knocked excitedly on the wooden door and waited for a reply.
"Come on in!"
She pushed to door open slowly and walked in. A lady with a briefcase and a clip file pushed past her on her way out. Rinoa scowled after her.
"Rinoa, have a seat. Thank you for coming here on such short notice," her boss said, smiling. Rinoa almost fell over in shock. He was being nice?
"No problem," she replied uncertainly as she sat down. After she was seated, he proceeded onto business.
"As you will know, a while back we did a feature about an escaped criminal," he said, folding his arms over his chest.
"The serial killer," Rinoa said, nodding.
"Yes. Well, the woman who did the feature has been taken ill, and we are sending you in her place."
"Sending me where, Sir?" Rinoa asked confused.
"What you will not know, because it will only be realized to the public tomorrow morning is that the criminal was caught today, and is now in holding. What we want you to do is interview him."
"What are you--crazy?" Rinoa asked, jumping up.
"No, but he is. So take extra special care."
"Sir, I don't think I can do this. I haven't the training to speak to someone like that," Rinoa said, panicking. Her boss shook his head.
"Rinoa, you have been pushed into some of the hardest situations a journalist would ever have to face, and each time you have pulled it off. I don't know how you do it, but you work well under pressure, and from your past experiences you are the most qualified journalist we have. This story is yours, so don't let your fear get in the way."
Rinoa sat listening quietly. This was the first time he had ever really praised her, and she knew he wasn't one to give out praise lightly. The feeling was addictive and she found herself agreeing when she should be refusing.
"I'll do it," she said, smiling. Suddenly she felt pride at having been picked. "Are there questions for me to ask?"
"Of course. But you might want to add your own, spice things up a bit."
Rinoa thought his manner of speaking somewhat out of place. This wasn't a light matter, this was dangerous. Couldn't he see that? But maybe there was something he didn't know.
"May I have some background on him, Sir?" she asked relaxing. It was ok; she could be in control of this.
"Yes. Here we are, files on Quikstine. Inside is a copy of the questions you should ask, please feel free to expand on them," he said, placing a small stack of papers in front of her.
"Thank you," Rinoa mumbled. "When am I to leave?"
"Anytime in the next two weeks, but no later than that. The day I will leave you to arrange, you will find contact details inside; they know you will be calling," he said calmly.
"Sir, might I ask why I am I interviewing this man?" Rinoa asked, not feeling the nervousness anymore. Her boss was right; this could be her next big story.
"No other newspaper has dared to before. Esthar-papers like to tread first and leave others to follow," he said, smiling.
"Great," Rinoa said sarcastically.
"Rinoa, don't worry about this. If he won't talk to you, or there is some other problem, then don't worry. It was just an idea of mine that wouldn't go away. But, please Rinoa try your hardest," he said in a voice that signalled the end of the meeting.
Rinoa nodded and stood. She would be glad when she was out of this office and she could sort out her thoughts. Once outside she could push it to the back of her mind and forget it for a while.
Excited but nervous was the strange mix of emotions that ran through her blood and down her spine. The anxiety of a new assignment to work on was what drove her along. It was the thrill of the anticipation and satisfaction when it was done that kept strong the love she had for her job. Sighing, Rinoa ran a hand through her hair and unlocked Squall's car. She sat inside and took a deep breath and started the engine. She decided rather than go back to the palace; she'd go back to her apartment and freshen up.
Rinoa jammed her key into her door and pushed it open. The room was just as she'd left it a few days ago, although a little musty, but that could soon be fixed by opening a window. Her stomach grumbled and she looked at the clock, 8pm, she wondered where all the hours had gone. Boiling a kettle she made a cup of coffee and sat down on the sofa. Today had turned out to be pretty unpredictable, and in one way she was glad that it was over. The television showed her pictures of the latest female singer and Rinoa wondered whether she'd ever do a story about her, and then wondered if anyone was planning on reporting on her. Maybe they were outside right now! At this thought Rinoa got up and closed the curtains and retreated to her bathroom. Maybe she'd be really naughty and call Squall from the bath, she blushed thinking about it and decided she'd see how brave she was once she was in there.
Picking up her phone in trembling fingers, Rinoa pressed the numbers and waited. She kept her hold tight, although she doubted she'd die if it fell in the water, but the phone would never work again if it did.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Squall." Rinoa said, unable to keep the smile off of her face, if only he knew. She almost burst into giggles when he asked her what she was doing. "Well, if you must know, I'm in the bath." She almost heard Squall's jaw drop.
"Where do you live again? I'll be right over."
"You can't, I've got your car," she said in a lower voice than usual. What was wrong with some shameless flirting? It wasn't hurting anyone, and besides, it was fun.
"Well, I'll take the chopper. You stay right there."
Rinoa laughed.
"There's plenty of room in here," she said, splashing the water around her.
"Rinoa, I never thought you were the type for dirty phone calls."
"Shows how little you know. But no, it isn't that type of call. I've been given a new story, and I can tell it's gonna be a good one. But I'm not going to tell you anymore than that, because it might all go wrong yet," she said, raising herself out of the water and stepping out of the bath.
"I'm sure it won't. But, Rin, why didn't you come back here after you'd finished?"
Rinoa sighed. She had just known he was going to ask her that.
"I live here Squall. Thank you for letting me stay at yours, but all my things are here, and besides it would be a waste of the rent I pay every month if I wasn't even using it," Rinoa explained, pulling her dressing gown on. "I just called really to, well, you're going away, and I won't see you for a while so maybe we could meet up again?"
"Rin, I'd love to, but I have so much work needing to be done for when we go..."
"That's ok. I'll call you when you get back," Rinoa said, feeling disappointed. "Listen, I better go."
"Yeah, me too. I guess I'll see you soon then," he said, sounding just as unhappy as Rinoa felt. She smiled slightly.
"Yeah. Oh, and, Squall..." she said closing her eyes, her heart hammering. It was now or never, but her lips refused to move. Finally she bit one and the words came out in a steady stream. "I love you." Frightened, she hung up the phone and half-cringed half-smiled into her towel. She'd said it, after so long of battling against her feelings, and she felt so warm and light-headed that she lay down on her bed and fell asleep smiling.
A/N: Yeah the plot is beginning to creep in now! I've been waiting so long to write it, and now it's here! I'm so excited!
Once again, thank you to Bianka-chan for beta-ing!
Chrono-Maku, onmitoad, AngelPrinczess29, Mariko, Billie The kid, Archangel_666.
La Senioriza : You should read some of mine. Lol.