05.21.04
gosh… now I'm old.. just turned 18 last week.. I think.. o.O; waiiii… X3 hope yew guys like this chapter.. btw… the chappies broken down a bit.. wrote it way longer than the previous one.. X3 maybe.. ill do this every now and then? WatchathinK? X3
3 ne0nchan signing out for now!
SHOUTOUTS TO:
Dkmagby88 = hehehehe.. thanks again!!! bows bows but im not really good at action stuff so I just added that to spice up the Squinoa relationship.. X3 thanks for pointing out that flaw… will try to work it out...
zornoid13 = lol welll yah… but actually I prefer "Quisty's" domination.. X3 GIRL POWAAA im being feminist again..
Frederikke Neergaard = more Squinoas????? DITTO! second to that just love them! 3
ayumi-hamasaki = waiiii.. one of my fave jpop singers X3 thanks thanks bows to yew for giving it a fave story position.. just when I thought of putting it to a stop..
waiiiiiiiiiiiiiii your reviews keeps me working!!!! 33
Standard disclaimers apply.. but Perilemia and the plot do belong to me.. XD
Ffviii: Sweet Love…
Story Nine Part A: PICTURES OF BETRAYAL
9:45 am Main Lobby
The next day, Briand Chateau, a fine man with rich black hair, entered Balamb Garden University, carrying a suitcase full of clothes, cameras, rolls of films and other photography stuff you can think of.
"Hey, isn't that the famed Briand?"
"Yeah… isn't he cute?"
"Will he be in class 2-A like the others?"
"I suppose not.. I heard from the SA that he won't be.. but in Class 2-C instead."
"COOL! He's on my class then! Boy, am I so lucky!"
"Heard he's into photography.."
"Do you think he'll take interest on Ms. Rinoa..? You know… she's photogenic and all.."
"Well.. we can't say for sure… but we do have reliable sources, don't we?"
Chattering goes on, and Selphie's face showed satisfaction on the things she just heard and decided to tell Rinoa all at once. Upon hearing this, Rinoa threw back her head, laughing.
"You know, Selph.. all of that aren't true.. I only have eyes on one special person.."
"Hmm.. mmm.." Selphie smirked, showing a hint of mixed doubt and interest.
I knew her smile meant something… curiosity.. sheesh! Why did I let myself get carried away with that…?! She mentally kicked herself for slipping her tongue. Regrets began to cloud Rinoa's head.
"Come on! Tell me who's the lucky guy!"
"I won't."
"I am trustworthy."
"Its definition doesn't match you, dear Selph.." (Ne0n: whoa.. mean rinoa.. X3)
"I promise I won't tell!"
"Nope."
"You can always count on me."
"No, thanks."
"Am I not your friend…???"
"Aww.. Selph.. it's TOP secret.. sorry."
"All right.. I surrender… but won't you just give me a hint who he is?"
"Oh, Selphie… " Suddenly, a pile of folders fell in front of the two girls, revealing a number of expertly taken pictures.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to.." Briand apologized as the three started picking the pictures up.
"These are so beautiful.. did you take them?" Rinoa asked as she enthusiastically browsed over them.
Briand blushed. "Yes, thank you."
"Then you… you must be Briand Chateau!" Selphie realized, shocked.
Briand nodded, smiling at his best as he bowed down. "I'm Briand Chateau from Paris, France. Pleasure to meet you."
"Rinoa Heartilly. And this is my friend…."
"Selphie Tilmitt. We're very pleased to meet you too." Selphie finished, offering her hand. Briand laughed as he accepted it.
"I'm beginning to enjoy my stay here."
"That's.."
"Ms. Rinoa Heartilly, Ms. Selphie Tilmitt. Please proceed to the Prinicipal's Office immediately…" The speaker paged.
"Oops! That's us! We gotta go! See ya then, Briand!" Selphie grabbed Rinoa's hand before making their way to the office, leaving Briand interested before he went on his way.
"I can hardly believe it! Tomorrow's my competition!" Rinoa announced excitedly, not touching her food during the lunch period at the dining lounge.
"A dream come true?" Quistis suggested, picking the pickles out from her nachos. She just hated pickles. She wrinkled her nose as she continued on. "I'm happy for you… darling.."
"Well.. I just can't wait!" Rinoa gushed before finally eating her already cold burger.
"We will be there, right, Quistis?" Selphie said, after drinking her strawberry shake. She just hit a spot in her statement.
Quistis began fidgeting nervously. "Um.. I… I… I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to be a party pooper and I hate to break the bad news to you guys.. but I can't come.." Quistis apologized, lowering her gaze from Rinoa to her own food.
"Why not?"
"Uh… well.. we SeeDs.. um… happened to be.. on an exercise… for the upcoming awarding ceremonies.." Quistis went on with uneasy pauses.
Rinoa remained silent for a while but managed to reply her back in a stable tone. "Don't worry, Quistis. I understand.. I guess I should be practicing now.." She quickly left the table without meeting their eyes.
Now, I'm more worried. Selphie thought, giving Quistis an apologetic yet worried look.
8:00 am Rink Plaza
Rinoa nervously shifted her foot from left to right as she waited for her turn at the contest. She looked around to ease herself and saw Selphie giving her some silent support. She sighed, slumping back at her seat as she watched other skaters do their stunts.
If only HE was here…"Oh.. I almost forgot.. Squall.." Selphie stopped talking for a while as her hands panickly rummaged through her things inside her apple green bag.
"Squall did what?"
"He gave me this.." Selphie held out a silver necklace with a ring as a pendant, perfect on Rinoa's white skin. ".. to give it to you as your lucky charm." Only that Zell and I made him do this.. and you don't have to know about it.. after all, I knew you liked him. Selphie giggled in response to this self-exploration.
"What are you giggling about?" Rinoa questioned in bewilderment.
"Oh, nothing. He also wishes you good luck." Selphie added, placing the necklace on Rinoa's neck. Rinoa blushed, silent and too surprised to speak.
"Contestant Number 15.. please enter the rink.."
"You're on! Good luck!" Selphie winked before they released hold of each other's hands.
"Thanks.. I'll try my best…"
4:30 pm Student Lounge
"Hi, guys! We're back!" Selphie announced as she and Rinoa entered the room, carrying the paper bags as evidence that they had just shopped.
Quistis quickly moved to make room for the two to sit down. "Oh, finally… Just when I was tired of worrying.."
"We sure had fun. Right, Rinoa?" Selphie inquired, unintentionally catching Rinoa in her absentmindedness. "Rinoa? Rinoa?"
"…Oh.. uh… y.. yes." Rinoa stumbled in her words.
"What happened to her?" Irvine asked in a whisper after the four people decided to call a "secret meeting" in the corner
"Wasn't she happy when you handed her Squall's gift?" Zell queried.
"Kinda.. but…" Selphie began.
"What?" The three chorused.
"I guess… the thing she was unhappy about was you guys especially Squall not coming to see her win… she's been like that after the contest.." Selphie let out a heavy sigh.
"Win?" Zell asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She won, dear Zell.. that is if you're paying attention a while ago…" Selphie explained further, looking at Rinoa who was playing lifelessly with the pendulum beside her. "It's just that it's not like her.. I tried to cheer her up by going shopping.. but it was useless… I do hope she feels better soon."
9:00 am Classroom 2-A
"Rinoa! Rinoa!" Selphie called as Rinoa entered the room, covering her face with a textbook.
"Selphie?" Rinoa asked, sitting down at her desk as Selphie walked towards her.
"Guess what? There's a party tonight! Thanks to you." Selphie announced cheerily, lowering a flyer in front of her. "Good thing, we already shopped."
Rinoa held the flyer. "A party… TONIGHT?"
"Also, since it's a victory party for both you and the SeeDs. I can tell Squall will be there too."
"Oh, Selphie.." Rinoa groaned as Selphie continued filing in some details.
Squall saw Rinoa walking out of the classroom after class, debating whether he should approach her or not, especially when he saw going to his direction after talking to Selphie and with her eyes glued again on her textbook. Zell then took a peek behind him. Satisfied was he on what he was witnessing. "Oh, it's Ms. Rinoa. Look! She's going to out direction!" He then gave Squall a playful push good enough to make him almost fall on the smooth marble floor.
"I'm going to get you, Zell.." He muttered under his breath as Zell smirked mischievously and quickly backed away.
"Squall." Rinoa said before she accidentally bumped into him again, finally putting down her textbook.
"…. Rinoa.. uh.. um…" Squall began, not looking Rinoa straight in the eye, and stammered.
"If you got nothing important to say.. I should be on my way then.. Pardon…" Rinoa then began to walk past him. Squall surprisingly held her hand. "Huh?"
"Ah.. Rinoa… after the awarding ceremonies.. um.. there's this.. uh… party… at.. the Serenity Park… I am asking if… uh.. well.. you're available.. to be… my date… to make up for… not coming to.. your competition.."
Rinoa almost dropped her book upon hearing the last word. "You? You're asking me out?"
Squall realized that he had been holding Rinoa's hand far too long and decided to let it go. "Ah.. I meant is that… Zell told me that it is a must to have a date… and so I thought.."
Rinoa assumed." So.. you just need me to play as your 'date?""
"Well.. ah.. yeah…"
"Hrmm…" Rinoa paused to think. "I'm available anyway…" Squall then released a smile.
Then she asked again. "Is this somewhat a dare?"
"Of course not..."
"So.. ok.." Squall gave out a nervous laugh. "It's a date." Rinoa smiled. This time's for real. (Ne0n: Like who wouldn't.. I certainly want Squall as a date!! X3)
"Riruka! Riruka! Haven't you heard?"
"What?"
"Squall's taking Rinoa out!!!"
"That's.. That's impossible!"
"Better believe it!" The gossip went on. And Perilemia heard the current breaking news from the chattering students and was very much satisfied as she went on her way. Her pink lips displayed a mischievous smile full of malice. (Ne0n: Jokerish smile? O.o)
"Good. Everything's according to what I had just planned."
10:10 pm Dormitory Section Hall
Perilemia timed her cure to walk up and bump into Rinoa, and as usual, succeeded, striking up a conversation as part of her scheme.
"Oh, there you are, Rinoa! I'm looking all over for you." Perilemia sweetly greeted. "Please do me a favour, will ya?"
Rinoa wondered, curious. "Me, a favor? Uh.. well.. what is it anyway?"
Perilemia sighed as she explained. "Because Briand… you know him already I hope… tomorrow, he's gonna have a photo shoot for the yearbook at the Campus Gardens.. he's kinda short of ideas so he needs a photo expert.. and you're the only one I know that attended photography seminars before…"
Rinoa said with uncertainty." Ah.. but I already had something to do.."
"Don't worry… the photo shoot will only last for one or two hours maximum.. It won't be late.."
"I'm afraid that this will be another subject for gossip.. and I don't like that.."
"I know you and Squall already have a date, but don't tell me you don't like to cooperate with anyone else just because you're so desperate to date – "
"That's… That's not true! It's not even like that… how can you say that…"
"Well.. you had become so popular girl… because Squall just invited you to be his date…so.. will you take the job?"
"I guess I will… I don't want to waste such opportunity.."
"Good. I knew you'd agree. I'll tell him now that you'll be coming to help him out. Ciao!" Perilemia left her with an unnoticed evil smirk on her face.
1:45 pm Lobby
"Rinoa! Wait up!" Squall ran to Rinoa who was on her way to the Library.
"Squall?" Rinoa turned. "Oh.. hi Squall! What brings you here?"
"Well.. I forgot to tell you when will I pick you up." Squall replied.
"Then?"
"Then what?"
"When will you pick me up?"
"Oh. 6pm tonight."
"Ok." Rinoa smirked. "Good luck on the ceremonies."
"See you then."
Now its done!
Now its done!
Lets dance!
Soooo.. what do you think? Hate? Like? Or GRR?? ??? Tell me.. I appreciate your reviews..
… What was really inside Perilemia's mind? How will this affect our dear Squinoa????? Stay tune for Story Nine Part B: Deception!!!! Please support my fic 33