Disclaimer: I own nothing except Louise. Squaresoft owns the usual characters and mariedel owns the character of Michael Sinclair. She also wanted me to point out that I own the apparently *mean* side of Michael, I was telling her about what's going to happen and she thinks he's mean…so…okay! ^.^ ENJOY!
Chapter 7-Coming Clean
Rinoa nervously took a breath and closed her eyes, lifting her head from where it hung. She opened her eyes slowly as if she were afraid of what she would see. Her gaze rested on his chin, then cautiously proceeded up to the eyes she had seen in her dreams every night since their shattering break up.
She held her breath when their eyes locked and for one instant, there was no one else in the room but them.
Rinoa, as a force of habit when she was nervous, reached up and took hold of her necklace fiddling with the ring – no, that ring had been given away long ago, it no longer brought her comfort and safety. In its place was a single pearl – a lonely tear shaped pearl.
"Louise!" Aunt Jo's voice squealed, ignoring Louise's company. "There you are! Come with me, I'd like you to meet someone."
"I'll be back soon you two." That said, she hastily exited, not sensing the terrible tension between the two 'acquaintances'. Michael, too, had exited the scene, having recognised Squall Leonhart. The same man he had seen on numerous occasions, the same man he envied. He'll always have her heart, he thought as he walked to the bar.
Noticing her situation, Rinoa's mind was racing with thoughts bearing the same message…
I need to get out of here.
Deciding to satisfy her conscience, she quickly stepped back and turned away, making for the door leading to the balcony. Please don't follow...
You didn't five years ago, why should you now...?
Still holding her necklace, she sighed as she relished the feeling of the fresh breeze against her skin. Leaning her hand against the balcony railing, Rinoa closed her eyes as she held the tear-drop pearl that had symbolically taken the place of his ring, remembering the feel of it, its curves and contours, and the last time she had seen it.
- -
Graduation. The only word that I can associate with that now is break-up. God, Squall, you always were one for great timing. Why the hell did you have to spoil what would've been a great day?
I'll never forget it, the way he took my hand, it was so cold. I knew immediately something was up, for one thing he hadn't come to my house the night before like he said he would.
"Squall?" I said nervously. "What's wrong?" I reached out and stroked his cheek. He stopped and stepped back, that's when I started feeling scared.
"Rin. I can't do this anymore."
Could it be that my whole world was falling apart..."Can't do what?" I asked. Not so much out of confusion, I just wanted him to say it, if it was to be true. How I dreaded his next words...
"Us."
He said it so coldly, as if it really was the end; as if there was no going back. What was I suppose to say? I wasn't in any mood to start grovelling – I'm better than that. If he doesn't want us anymore, then so be it. If he doesn't love me anymore then...
I took the chain off that had his ring on it. I needed to give it back, it was kind of my way of closing what we had...maybe that was why it was so hard. I took the ring off and put it in his hand and without waiting for another word from him I ran. I had hoped – wanted – him to run after me like I thought he would, but I didn't feel his arms come around me. So I sought comfort in Zell, with only one thought in my mind.
I thought I knew you, Squall...I thought you loved me
- - -
Squall ran his hand through his hair. Shit...that's twice she'd done that to me...what am I suppose to do?
"Squall?" Louise's voice broke his reverie.
"Hey, what's up?" he replied to his fiancee. Crap, you and Rin are friends. Ten bucks says you don't know about me and Rin.
"Where's Rinoa? I thought I left her with you."
"I think she went to get a drink," he lied expertly.
"Okay, well," she pulled a blonde guy towards where Squall and she were talking.
"Squall, this is Michael, Rinoa's date, perhaps you'd like to keep him company?" she suggested a little too forcefully. "I'm going to go look for Rinoa."
The two men stood in awkward silence, Squall giving Michael glares every so often. With newfound confidence, he lifted his chin slightly, as if gaining authority. "So, you and Rinoa going out? How long?"
"We aren't going out, we're just friends, man."
"How long have you two known each other?"
Michael frowned in response. "Not that it's any of your business or anything, but we were neighbours before she moved out with her friends."
"Yeah, sure, neighbours," Squall scoffed as he rolled his eyes.
"Listen, if you want to get answers, I suggest you talk to her, Squall. God, what the hell did you do to her anyway? I mean, she probably still thinks about you all the time, but here you are engaged."
"Who the hell are you? How do you know about me and Rin?"
"As I said, her neighbour. You weren't the only one who was after her, you know. You were just fortunate enough to get her first."
"Oh, so I suppose you're madly in love with her, then why aren't you two going out?" he said as he continued to glower.
"Because she still loves you. Always has, always will," Michael stated monotonously.
Squall almost smiled, but kept his stern look. "And how are you so sure about that? Are you clairvoyant or something?"
"No, it's just obvious, I don't know how it passed you. You're probably in love with her as well." He paused to see Squall's reaction, just as he expected. Head bent, thinking seriously. As if to reinforce what he'd just said he continued before walking back away from Squall. "Aren't you?
You really are clairvoyant. Squall lifted his gaze to rebuke what Michael had just said, but he wasn't there. Instead, Squall looked for the opening leading to the balcony intent on following her this time. I want answers this time. Quickly heading to the balcony doors he thought about all the questions he'd wanted to ask her over the years. With the intention of making a loud entrance to set a sort of relaxed mood, he quickly changed his mind when he saw her back to him, shoulders slightly hunched as one hand clutched her necklace. She hasn't changed a bit... He wanted to walk up to her and put his arms around her like he'd done so many times in their past ...but I have.
Slowly he walked up to the railing, leant his lower back against it as he faced her. He watched her with her eyes closed, totally oblivious to the fact that the very man she thought of was standing with her, not that Squall knew that of course. Gradually, her eyes fluttered open and she tensed slightly at the sight of him.
"Hey Rin," he said, almost with a smile. God it's been a long time.
She held her breath at the sound of her name escaping his lips. She was about to smile back when she realised who she was talking to. It was the present Squall, not the one from highschool. She quickly shut the door to her emotions and lifted her chin in defiance. "Listen, you don't have to make conversation for the sake of looking or being friendly. If its any consolation, I really don't want to talk to you either, so let's just go on about our own business and not feel obligated to talk on account of being friends with Louise, or in your case, engaged." She cringed slightly at the fact – Squall was engaged.
Squall frowned at her reaction, and was hurt at what she'd just said. "For God's sake, Rinoa, it's been so long since we last spoke, or saw each other for that matter, what, three or four years?"
"I don't know, you tell me," she replied, a glare almost upon her face. "I'm not one to remember moments that hurt, let alone remember when they happen." Okay, so I lie a little.
Shit, must she make this harder than it already is? "Okay, so its been five years since we last spoke…"
Rinoa tilted her head as he spoke. He does remember...
"…But it's been so long, I'd have thought we'd at least be able to carry on a civil conversation."
"You obviously don't remember who ended getting hurt that day, do you?"
He stepped back slightly, confused. Yeah, it was me. "What day?"
"Oh my God, don't feign naivety, Squall. I know the memories are probably stored in some tightly shut box in that brain of yours, but if you really must know, the 'day' that I'm referring to is the one when you decided to break up with me, oh," She brought her hand up to her mouth in mock surprise. "Did I mention it was graduation? So how could you forget."
"I think you're missing a really big part of the whole thing."
"And that would be what?" Her eyes narrowed.
The part where you cheated on me. He decided to be more subtle in his approach. "I see you're still together with that blonde, you two are probably on the point on engagement aren't you?"
Rinoa raised her eyebrow questioningly. "I really have no idea what you're talking about. For one thing, I haven't seen Michael for three years, and secondly, if I was getting engaged, it would be no business of yours."
So Michael was telling the truth. "I wouldn't care if you were."
"No, I don't suppose you ever did," she stated boldly as she crossed her arms.
Not expecting such a comment, Squall's gaze returned to her's. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Gee Squall, you aren't very bright anymore, are you?"
"You just leave my intelligence out of this. Alright, let's get everything out in the open, whatever it is you have to say, don't hold back."
"You think I was holding back?"
"Funny."
Rinoa smiled sarcastically. "Okay, I'd start this little 'bonding session'. If that's alright with you, of course?"
"By all means." He opened his hands out to her, inviting her to begin, which she did without hesitation.
"Alright, why'd you break up with me?"
What? "What?" You really took that suggestion seriously didn't you?
"You're going deaf as well?" she said in mock surprise.
"Oh, you're just on a roll now, aren't you?"
"Answer the question, then." I have to know...please, I just have to.
"It's a bit late too be asking now, don't you think?"
"It's never too late for anything, Squall."
"Why didn't you ask me then when it happened?" I wanted you to ask me...I wanted at least that much as a reassurance to not give up on you...
"I didn't ask because…" I was hurt, I couldn't speak... "I guess, I didn't really want to know at that point of time. I mean, I had a sort of idea that something was wrong when you didn't come over the night before graduation like you said you would, and you didn't call either," she said almost softly, most of her rage having been vent.
"I did you know. Go to your house, I mean."
Rinoa shook her head. "No you didn't."
"Yes, I did," his voice started to get slightly angry. "And you know what I found out that night?"
That you didn't love me anymore? That my window was too high for you climb even thought we'd put a ladder there? "You tell me," she shrugged with genuine ignorance.
"That you'd been cheating on me with some blonde, probably the same guy you're with tonight."
Excuse me? "What?" Now it was Rinoa's turn to be confused.
Squall's eyes narrowed as he shook his head. "Don't act like you didn't know who he was. He was sleeping on your bed for Christ's sake!"
Rinoa frowned as the scene of that night flashed before her eyes. Zell had just come home, he had come into my room moping about his latest break-up – who would've known I'd be in his room the following night with the same problem. We'd talked for a while, then I went to take a shower and when I came back...Zell was asleep, face down as he always was.
"Squall," Rinoa started gently. "I never cheated on you." Rinoa frowned as she came to terms with what Squall had been thinking all this time. You thought that I was cheating on you with… "That was my step-brother, Zell."
- - -
A/N-AH! Guess who's back from the dead, or more commonly known as the world of exams. ACK! I just failed a maths exam worth 40% of my year 10 mark…don't worry, I won't trouble you all with my woes ;_; so I was rather upset this afternoon, and I wrote the majority of this chapter this afternoon in the span of two hours ^.^ so if its dodgy, please let me know. Thought most of it was already written in my idea book…anyhoo, to get back to the main msg of this a/n please review! I really wanna know what you all think about the progress of this fic! It would really mean a lot to me ^.^…so yeah, to those who reviewed last chapter:
CTHKSI-I did say I was sorry didn't I? Well, I'm really sorry, I hope this chapter made up for it ^.^ thanks for the review…I'll try not to do it again, but no promises.
Wcigtdniw-^.^ hehehe I liked Tommy as well! I've taken up that request of yours and Tommy does have a scene later with Rinoa and Squall, it think. That's what I think atm, it might change tho. Anyhoo…who's theodur? Hahaha also, thanks so much for your luck! How was this chap?
Noacat-gee, thanks! I came up with that line during a bus trip and is just had to be the closing line of a chappy. ^.^ I'm getting pins and needles writing these msgs! But I wanna make it known to y'all how grateful I am, so thank you!
baka_shinji_01-hehehe I'd love some choc-chip ones thanks ^.^ I've been having a craving for them lately. Thanks for the review!
remote mine-did this chapter answer your question as to why Squally broke up with Rinny? I hope so…hehehe and about the denial, I'm an expert at denial…ask anyone who knows me…its true! Thanks for the review!
Jolly B-yes…it was a cliffy, and I really do apologise for doing that, how was this chapter? Does it make up for the wait? Thanks for reviewing! ^.^
Karla3-its ok if you don't read, I won't throw anything at you lol ^.^ thanks for taking the time to review anyway!
SabreHero-sorry to say this, but they don't get together for a while *looks around* I didn't just say that did I? Well I was lying *shifty eyes* erm…how'd you like this chapter?! Thanks for the review!!
Exhile87-how are you so sure Squall dumps Louise for Rin? ;) joking! Hahaha thanks heaps for reviewing!
!*~moonlight_chick~*!-you only hadta wait 2 weeks…does that make the cliffy any better? Prolly not. XD thanks for reviewing anyway, and I hope you didn't get too crazy, I know what its like to face a cliffy.
Angelprinczess29-how's this for soon? Is it ok? Ok, good, thanks for the review and many apologies (again) for the cliffy. Btw, me n my friend were talking about you at school, don't worry, nothing bad was said. You're such a cool author! I luv you!
Billie the Kid-I updated as soon as I could, exams are the worst thing ever created by humans…erm…thanks for the review! ^.^
Melissagurl-first off, thanks so much for your luck ^.^ I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long! all in all, thanks for reviewing!
x20 Vision-thankyou so much for the review ^.^ and your compliments
bem bem-wow! I must say, thank you ever so much for reviewing…every single chapter? You really didn't have to hahaha, thanks all the same! I tried updating as soon as I could!
wInD chIme beLLs-hahaha that part doesn't happen for a while, if it ever does happen ;) thanks for the review!
Preaw (Rinoa)- thanks a lot for the review ^.^
The Ever Smiling-*takes a closer look* OMG! It is you! Wow! Thanks so much for reviewing! I figured you were busy with school and everything, but thanks so much for taking time to let me know what you think! ^.^ thanks again!!
PLEASE PRESS 'GO' & REVIEW FOR ME ^.^ verily much appreciated
3 elanor
