Disclaimer: I own the plot and nothing else. Squaresoft own the usual characters and my good friend Mariedel owns the character of Michael Sinclair, I'm just using him with permission…
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Chapter 4-Old Friends
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"Rinoa's got a date!" Quistis' voice chimed through the house as they entered it. Selphie at once bounded out of her room.
"With who, with who, with who?!" she asked chirpily.
"Ugh," Rinoa rolled her eyes. "It's not a date, its just dinner with an old friend."
"Right, friend..." Selphie winked at Quistis. "So when is this dinner?"
"Tomorrow night!" Quisits answered quickly.
"You guys are being really lame. Michael-"
"Ooh, nice name." Selphie interrupted.
"Was my neighbour before we moved here, we sort of grew up together."
"What's he like?"
"Well, he's finishing his medical degree this year-"
"I meant looks-wise"
She rolled her eyes again at them. "Umm, he looks like a guy," she replied sarcastically.
"He's tall, blonde, and he has the nicest blue eyes I've ever seen," Quistis answered instead.
You've obviously never seen Squall's then...what?! Rinoa! Stop thinking about him! "Yeah, that's pretty much it."
"Wow! What you gonna wear?"
"Jeans and a top, its just a casual dinner."
"Sure Rin, you say that now."
"You two are pathetic." That said, she slammed the door of her bedroom and collapsed on her bed.
So...what will I wear tomorrow...?
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"How does this look?" Louise looked at Squall in the mirror.
He stared at the dark green dress she wore, it brought out the rich chestnut colour of her hair and reflected her eyes. "You look," he sighed. "Absolutely beautiful."
"Should I get this one then?"
"Definitely," he smiled.
"Alright I will, I'll just get out of it," she said as she walked over to the dressing room cubicle.
"I'll be outside."
"Alright."
Squall leant against the glass display window observing the people passing by. His ear pricked when he heard a distantly familiar voice, or so he thought.
"…Oh my God, Quisty, get over it!…"
Shit! Was that Rinoa?! His eyes hastily scanned the crowd until he spotted a black haired girl. Rin...?
"Okay Squall, we can go now."
"Huh?" Squall shook his head slightly.
"I've paid, we can go now. Are you okay?" Louise asked concernedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just kinda hungry," he lied.
"Oh shit, sorry, I didn't mean to keep you stranded in the mall for so long. Come on, let's get some food, my treat."
"I'll eat at home, it's cool."
"Are you sure?" she frowned.
"Louise, I'm the lawyer in training, don't argue with me, you're bound to lose."
"Fine, fine," she held up her hands in defeat, "You're fault if you die of starvation, though."
"I won't die, a human can go-"
"Three days without eating but can't live without water, I know I know," she continued as she rolled her eyes. "Let's go then!"
"Alright, let's go." Taking her hand he looked over his shoulder, seeing that the person he was looking for wasn't there, he continued on with Louise.
Could it really have been her?
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"Just dinner, huh?" Quistis eyed Rinoa's attire, consisting of a printed knee length skirt, and three quarter length top underneath a burgundy cardigan.
"So I'm a little more dressed up than I said I would be, there's nothing wrong with looking presentable."
Selphie chose that moment to walk into the kitchen to get a drink. "Whoa! Rin! Isn't that skirt a bit short for you?"
Looking down she answered, "No, it reaches my knees doesn't it?"
"Only just," the blonde smirked.
"Oh my God, you'd think I was wearing hot pants or some other raunchy article of clothing."
"And you're not even wearing stockings! Rinoa's showing some leg!"
"Okay, now you guys are being really immature," she scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
"Just kidding around, Rin. It's not everyday you go out on a date."
"That's because I'm not a slut."
"Never said you were."
"Can't wait to meet this Michael guy, you seem to be quite taken with him."
"Just a friend," Rinoa stated as she shook her head. "I haven't spoken to him in like three years, we're catching up."
As if on cue, the door-bell rang.
"Give you three guesses."
"Ugh, I'll see you tonight."
"Or tomorrow morning."
"I'm so outta here." Grabbing her handbag and keys she quickly made for the door, stepped outside and closed it quickly behind her. "Hey Michael."
"Hey Rin, everything okay?"
"Yeah," she smiled, "The maturity level in there is just decreasing really quickly."
"Ah, I see, so shall we?"
"Let's go."
"Got anywhere in mind?" he asked as they walked down the path.
"Not really. Anywhere, I guess."
"Alright." He opened the car door for her and made his way to the driver seat.
Rinoa glanced back at the house before stepping in and shook her head. I never knew that closed windows could make curtains move so aggressively.
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"…It's so cool that we had a chance to meet up again, I never thought I'd see you again once I heard you'd moved out."
"Do you go back home often?"
"Mostly in the holidays, Mom likes me around her, I think it makes her feel needed."
"That's right, you're an only child."
"A spoiled one at that, so were you."
"Only until I was fourteen, my father married again remember?"
"Oh yeah, your step-brother, how's he?"
"Pretty good," she shrugged. "He's been travelling around a bit, but I email him every so often, he said he might come watch me play in a couple of weeks."
"Play?" he queried as he chewed his food slowly.
"Oh, I'm accompanying a violinist at a music competition in a couple of weeks."
"Cool, I forgot you played the piano, I used to hear you a lot when we lived next to each other."
"You never thought to complain?" Rinoa laughed.
"Never was a need to, you always played really well, I heard you sing as well sometimes."
"Oh," she blushed. "The disadvantages of living in a quiet street."
"Nah, you were really good."
"Thanks," Rinoa smiled as she glanced at his eyes. Okay, he does have nice eyes...
Noticing her look, he smiled at her.
Nice smile, as well. If only I didn't keep comparing him to...
The waiter took away the dishes and Michael went to pay for the meal. When he returned, Rinoa stood, putting down her napkin.
"Why don't I take you for some ice cream?"
Ice cream? Yum... "Sure why not."
"I know this really great place near the park."
"Cool! Okay, let's go."
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Rinoa sat on the bench while Michael went to get the ice cream. Looking up at the stars she stared up at the moon, its light creating the beautiful shadows of trees before her. Another shadow formed as Michael approached. She stood to accept the ice cream off him and they started on a casual stroll.
"You're right, this ice cream is pretty good."
"Yeah, I knew you'd like that one. It's my favourite flavour."
"You got good taste."
"I am a Sinclair you know," he said with a smirk.
"Yeah and I'm a Caraway, doesn't mean a thing, except that our father's are well known men."
"I know, I know, but you have no idea how many things I get away with by using that line."
"I can imagine quite a lot."
"You be right." They had finished their ice creams and continued on in relative silence.
"Rin?"
"Yeah?"
Michael stopped and took her hand, making Rinoa face him. "I…" he started nervously, eyes downcast, as if he were five years old again.
"What's the matter?" she said as her hard beat quickened at the soft touch of his hand against her own.
And before she knew it, and without hesitation, they inched closer. As she closed her eyes, Michael closed the gap with a kiss.
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A/N-teehee, they had to get together, they just had to! Don't kill me please, all those Squinoa fans, might I remind you that the summary says Squinoa…*hint hint*, so yeah, review and my update might come sooner ^.^…*please* review, you have no idea what your feedback means to me, see I even give little messages to those who do!!
Noacat: interesting name, I must say, thanks a lot for your review! The Michelle branch song was totally coincidental, I needed a song and I asked my friend and I was like…"Oh, angsty…good good." Thanks again! ^.^
wInD chIme beLLs: it was short? Oh, I try not to make my chapters too long, that'll give a way too much ^.^ hehehe and I like people in suspense, when I can get them there. Can't tell you what happens to Michael…it's a secret…hehehe, read on and you'll soong find out ;) thanks for the review!
Lenathebornadventurer: don't worry..they'll meet again, as to when however, that you'll still have to wait a while for…well, not a while I don't exactly know when, but soon-ish. Thanks for the review!
XxSquall's angelxX: wow! About the Michelle branch song, read noacat's response. Thanks for the review!! Hope you liked this chappy as well
Angelprinczess29: I was hoping *someone* would mention the sales lady ^.^…I knew you would ;) hahaha thanks for the review!!!
PrincessMercury: thanks for reviewing, and I probably won't get around to emailing you hehehe, I'm going out…yet a agin and I'm just doing these really quickly…hope you liked this chapter!
Wcigtdniw: hehehe I know your nick off by heart ^.^ thanks for reviewing! Really made me happy!!! Doesn't it make you feel good to know you made someone happy? I reckon it does ^.^
Exhile87: you know, it was my intention to make everyone think it was Squall, but it wasn't, not for a few chapters yet…so please be patient ^.^ thanks for the review!
Angeles Erare: wow! That's such a huge compliment!! I've always doubted my writing ability, but when people say that to you its really comforting…thanks for reviewing!
FF9 Zidane: no it wasn't Zell…not yet, he'll come in eventually, and hopefully it'll all go well. Thanks for the review (oh and the lollipop ^.^)
!~*moonlight chick*~!: thanks so much for reviewing! I'm so happy you liked return to me, it's the greatest thing that's ever come out of me so far, thanks for your support ^.^
Sabam: oh, I just finished writing this chapter after I read your update….evil person! I've said it many a time before and I'll freely say it again…I realise its your birthday but please update soon, like very soon cause I'm dying in suspense!!! Anyhoo, no…hehehe your jedi mind trick didn't work, my mind is too strong, and I'd rather *not* kill any of my (you know what I mean) characters ^.^ thanks for the review!
Styx: actually, I do play the piano (though I'd really like to learn the violin) and I've worked with a lot of musical groups, so I know how they work and my friend is a violinist. Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!! Just push 'go'…its that simple ^.^
