Note: I don't own the characters of Final Fantasy VIII. However, I am open to offers from Square. In return for ownership, I will make them cool stuff from duct tape (my new hobby). You hear me, Square?!! DUCT TAPE.
I Forgot Your Name
Chapter Four: It's My Party And...
--Balamb Garden's 3F Conference Room
Squall glanced at his wristwatch. It was just a few minutes past 6:30. He looked up at Xu, who had evidently forgotten the time limits on briefings, but that was Xu for you. As much as he wanted to be informed on how SeeD was resolving the Deling City dispute, he was impatient for her to wrap it up.
Rinoa's gonna pissed if I'm late... can't be late again...
He quickly suppressed a small smile which threatened to break out across his face as he remembered how mad she had been when he was late for a formal dinner with her.. and how he had made it up to her later...
Asked her to marry me... but I can only do that once. I need to get outta here.
"Well, I think that's it for tonight, folks," Xu announced, interrupting Squall's train of thoughts. With a quick thank you to Hyne, Squall prepared to stand up. "Oh, but everyone!" Xu added, "I completely forgot. We need to discuss peacekeeping techniques for the city once SeeD has withdrawn..." Squall slumped in his chair. As much as Rinoa and his friends had changed him, Squall Leonhart still followed his orders and completed his objectives. It was going to be a long evening.
--Balamb Garden, 3F Hallway
Zell hurried down the corridor, making for the elevator.
Gonna ask her! Yeah! YEAH! Zell baby, it's all you tonight! Gonna do it!
He paused for a moment, shadowboxing and doing a forward flip in the air. Landing confidently, he gave himself a quick thumbs up.
Yeah! Yeah!
Suddenly a frown passed across his face
What if... what if she says... NO? What if she heard about the time you fell into the fountain at the front gate... or what if her friends showed her that survey they gave me... when I told them my favorite color was pink? Or, or... or what if--
Zell paused a moment, collected his thoughts, and ran a hand through his spiky blond hair. "No man, you're cool. Just relax. If you can't get a girl, you'll just have to console yourself with a hotdog or ten," he said to himself, and started walking down the hallway again, much more collected this time. Passing the conference room door, he peered in the small window and saw several high-ranking SeeD officials having a meeting. At the head of the table was Squall, holding his head in one of his hands, looking pissed to all hell. Most people wouldn't be able to tell that Squall was angry, but Zell knew him well enough to recognize his emotions by his body posture and actions.
The hell's he doing in there? He'll be late if he doesn't get a move on soon...
As if Squall heard him, he lifted his head and looked directly at Zell on the other side of the window. After a quick glance around, Squall mouthed the words "Get me out of here" at Zell. The martial artist nodded and gave Squall a quick thumbs-up.
Think, Zell. Think of somethin' good...
With a deep breath, Zell burst into the room. "I need help!!" he hollered at the top of his lungs. "Someone help me!"
Squall stood up, feigning great concern. "Zell, calm down, tell us what happened!"
"There's a snake in the hallway! Quick!"
Zell could almost feel the daggers that Squalls was shooting at him. "Uh... its a really big snake! Don't let it get to the junior classmen, Squall! Hurry!"
Squall headed toward the door, but turned around to face the panel of SeeD faculty when he reached the doorway. "I'll uh... handle this. Please continue without me..." With that, he turned on his heel and left the room. With a quick wave Zell exited the room behind Squall.
Once the door was shut and the men were safely at the elevator, Zell turned to look at Squall. He could see the murderous intentions written all over his face, so he closed his eyes and braced for whatever was coming. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up. He was surprised to see Squall with a slight smile on his face.
"Thanks, Zell," he said, before quickly removing his hand from Zell's shoulder. Zell breathed a silent sigh of relief. "But you know," Squall continued as they entered the now open elevator, "if you keep using a snake as your excuse to get out of a room, eventually someone's gonna catch on..."
The door closed on the sound of Zell's exuberant laughter and the softer laughter of Squall.
--At the House in Balamb
Rinoa tentatively smiled at herself in the mirror above her dresser. She had applied very little makeup for the occasion, just enough to highlight her already stunning features. Her hair was in a gentle upsweep, small tendrils left to hang in loose curls on each side of her face. She had decided to wear her newest dress, a simple yet elegant dark blue dress with a low neckline, which complemented the two rings she still wore around her neck.
I can't believe it's been a whole year. So much has changed. Everything is working out like how I always dreamed it would. I'm in love with my tall-dark-and-handsome man, surrounded by friends that I care about and who care about me... I don't have a worry in the world...
Her hand, which had been reaching for the pair of earrings resting on the dresser, paused in midair.
Except for the blackouts that I had today... Irvine's right, its just stress
She refused to acknowledge that she wasn't under any real stress, because then all the easy solutions would have been exhausted.
Because I'm fine. I'm fine! Why is everyone walking on eggshells around me! There's nothing wrong! Hyne! Dammit! I'm FINE
Her hand, still reaching for the earrings, strayed and picked up a small decorative ceramic container.
IM PERFECT IM FINE
Rinoa flung it against the wall. As she watched it shatter, she came back to herself put her a to her mouth. She walked over and knelt by the pieces, gathering them delicately in her hands.
Why did I do that? Why did I lose control? Is there... something wrong with me?
There was a knock at the door. "Rinoa?" called Quistis from the other side. "You alright?"
Rinoa stood up and walked to the door, opening it and showing Quistis the fragments in her hand. "Yeah Quisty, I just dropped this on the floor. Sometimes I wonder about me..." she said with a small wink and a "silly-me" smile.
Quistis looked at Rinoa a moment, then shrugged. "Well, throw them out and go join the party, its almost seven and we have some early-birds showing up already." Rinoa nodded and walked down the hallway towards the living room and the party.
Quistis stepped into Rinoa's bedroom and looked around a moment.
Rinoa.. your room is carpeted.. you didn't just drop that
Ok there's that chapter. Yay! I've decided that I'm doing one more chapter without letting on what's going on with Rinoa, then I'll let you all in on the secret. Oooo. Thanks to all my readers and reviewers, keep the reviews coming, I love them more than the air I breathe. And a special thanks to my friend Becky for giving me some insight into our mutual-favorite character, Zell! Please review and I'll be updating soon! Te amo~ Kupo
