A/N: Well, here's the next chapter! To answer someone's question, yes
there is going to be several major twists, the first of which will be
coming up within the next few chapters. Maybe next chapter. We'll see.
Well, on with the story.
Chapter 7
The next few days that followed Squall and Rinoa's talk in the kitchen passed with little incident. Squall was busy looking through documents, and Rinoa was busy getting ready for Quistis' party. In fact, when Squall saw her next, that's what she was doing. He found her balanced carefully on top of a large ladder, as she cautiously dusted a huge chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
"Rinoa?"
The sound of her name being called startled her, and she lost her footing atop the ladder, slipping and squeezing her eyes shut as she expected a harsh collision with the floor. Instead, she found herself crashing into something relatively hard, but softer than the cold, porcelain tile. She opened her eyes, realizing she was on the ground, and something, or someone beneath her had broken her fall.
"Nice to see you, too," she heard a voice grunt out from underneath.
She slowly lifted up her head, flipping back her long raven locks to peer into the set of crystal blue eyes that were only inches away from hers. "Hi," she whispered timidly, the all too familiar sensations of embarrassment consuming her once more.
"This was one hell of a greeting," he replied, his warm breath gently caressing her lips. He felt Rinoa's body quiver against his own, and began to feel slightly warm himself. "I hate to disturb you, if you're comfortable, but maybe you should get off me now."
Rinoa's already redden face grew even redder, if that was possible. "Sorry," she whispered as she scrambled to get off of him. She straightened her dress out as she stood up and dusted herself off. "So, what's up?"
He shook his head. "Classified information. You?"
She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. "That's classified, too I'm afraid. But, if you really must know, I'm cleaning for the banquet. Quistis expects every inch of the mansion to sparkle by the night of the banquet."
"I'm dreading that night," Squall replied. "Your sister has ordered me to escort her and that Tilmitt girl." He shoved his hands in his pockets and studied his shoes for a long moment. "So, um. who are you going with?"
"I never go," she answered. "I'm an embarrassment to Quistis, the way she sees it. She's afraid of what I'll do or say in front of her rich, snobby friends. She usually gives me the night off, but sometimes she puts me to work in the kitchen, or something."
"What a way to spend the evening. Haven't you ever thought of just going anyway?"
Rinoa smiled sadly. "Quistis wouldn't be very happy with me if I did that. And even still. I don't belong at an event like that. All the beautiful women in their gorgeous evening gowns. I would just make a fool of myself."
"I don't think so," Squall admitted timidly. "It would probably be more. entertaining with you there."
She smiled again, this one more cheerful. "Thank you. Now. do you even have anything to wear to the banquet?"
He frowned. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
Rinoa grabbed his hand and started pulling him along down the hallway. "Come on. We're going shopping."
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His first impressions of Timber hadn't been far from right. The majority of the town was nothing but shoddy apartments and wooden shacks where Quistis' employees lived. There seemed to be no other businesses in the town save for a few food shops and a run down restaurant sitting alongside the town's only hotel.
"How is it that everyone here is so poor when you sister's business does so well?" Squall asked, staring through the tinted windows at the poverty stricken people outside.
"Quistis barely pays them anything. She keeps most of the money for herself. The people of the town can't do anything, thought. It's either take the pocket change that they make working for Quistis, or starve to death. Not a lot of choice."
"I see. Figures she'd do something like that."
"Yeah," Rinoa sighed, leaning her forehead against the glass. "It runs in the family, I guess. My father was the same way, and so was my grandfather. I guess things will never change."
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Quistis never had any children, did she?"
"Thankfully no."
"Then the business will have to go to you, once Quistis passes away," Squall pointed out.
"You're right," Rinoa replied with a frown. "She never produced an heir. But surely she must've considered this. She'd sooner give up all her riches and join a nunnery than she would give it all up to me."
Her pondering was halted as the limo pulled up to a small dress shop on the edge of town. "This is the only shop in town that sells nice clothes. Of course, no one here can ever afford to buy these kinds of clothes. I don't know how it stays open."
The two left the comfort of the luxurious car, stepping out into the harsh winter air. The shop was small, made with whitewashed boards that were cracked and peeling, with a faded sign over the top of the door with the words 'Marla's Dress Shoppe' painted in sloppy blue letters.
The inside seemed mostly empty, with dozens of unused racks pushed against the far wall. Rinoa stepped up to the front desk, ringing a small bell next to the cash register. A few moments later, a slightly aged woman with auburn hair pulled back into a braid, and a tape measure draped around her shoulder came rushing out from a back room.
"Can I help you?" she huffed, her dull green eyes showing signs of exhaustion.
"Do you have any men's suits available?" Rinoa asked.
"I might have a few around here somewhere," she replied. "I'm not promising anything. Most of them were taken away."
"Oh, is there a big rush for the banquet?"
The woman laughed. "I wish. Everything's being repossessed. Ever since my no good husband left his debts on my shoulders, my business has been going down hill. It was hard enough to stay afloat to begin with. Now, whatever bit of money I make goes to pay off his gambling habit."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Rinoa replied. "Maybe they'll find him, and make him pay it off instead."
"Now there's something I'd like to see. If I find out that good for nothing scum-bag has been alive all this time. Well, it has to be impossible. The police confirmed his death. Of course, they should go after that slut he was seeing on the side. She's the one he spent all his money on. Stupid fool."
Squall and Rinoa exchanged glances, before he said, "This woman he was with. do you know her name?"
She nodded. "Of course. I followed him out to their meeting place one night, and listened in on their conversation. Her name was Selphie, something. Tilmitt, I think. I did a little investigating after that, and found out she was nothing more than a con artist. So I didn't say anything to him. I figured I would wait until she took him for all he was worth. He deserved it."
"A con artist." Squall murmured. "Do you know anything more?"
"Just that she was allegedly a witness to his murder. Other than that, no."
"No use discussing it now," Rinoa sighed. "We need a suit. Could you please go look for us?"
She nodded. "Of course. In the mean time, feel free to look over what little bit I do have left."
The two wondered around the room after the woman ran into the back room once more. "Hmmm." Rinoa picked up a silky blue bow tie and held it up to his neck. "It brings out your eyes."
"No way," he grumbled, gently pushing her hands away. "I don't know why I let you drag me here, anyway. I don't care how I look at that stupid party."
"No, but they do," Rinoa retorted. "You'll be Quistis' trophy for the evening, after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, she's not dragging you along for nothing," she explained. "She wants to show you off to all her high class acquaintances. That's all this banquet's about, you know. Just a big party so she can show off."
"But why me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Have you looked at yourself lately?"
A look of confusion crossed his face. "Not really. is there something wrong with me?"
Rinoa wasn't sure whether to blush, or to laugh. Instead, she shook her head, and slowly stepped away, resuming her search of the room. "This thing with Selphie. I guess there's more to it than you thought."
He shrugged. "I knew there was something odd about it all along. I knew the truth would come out sooner or later. Now I just have to find out more about her past. A jealous wife's testimony isn't going to hold up by itself."
"What will you do once this is all over?"
"I'll leave," he answered simply.
"Then I. I'll be alone in the house with Quistis again."
He was silent, his eyes studying her carefully as he searched his mind for something to say. He couldn't stay there forever, and Rinoa couldn't survive in the world on her own just yet. Still, he couldn't just leave her there.
As he was opening his mouth to speak, Marla came running back into the room, a tuxedo in hand. "The last one!" she announced. "It'll need a few adjustments, I think, but it should do fine."
Rinoa nodded. "Great! We'll need it as soon as possible."
"Just let me take measurements, make some adjustments, then he can try it on."
Rinoa turned to him and smiled, causing a strange feeling to grow in his chest. "I guess that means you'll get to model for me."
A few hours later, Squall stepped out of one of the few dressing rooms, his scowl seeming to deepen at his unease. "I fee like a penguin."
She stepped closer to him, smiling as she studied the simple black suit he wore. "You look great," she commented quietly as she adjusted the collar. Instead of drawing back once more, she allowed her hands to rest on his shoulders. Being so close to him, and staring up into his eyes, she began to feel slightly dizzy. She could just imagine herself standing like this in his arms in the middle of a crowded ballroom. All eyes would be on them, yet, she would know nothing more of the world that what she saw before her.
"Are you alright?" he asked after a moment.
She forced a smile, watching her pleasant little dream slowly vanish beneath the weight of reality. "Yes, I'm fine. We should be getting back soon. If Quistis notices I'm gone."
Squall simply nodded, before he headed back into the dressing room to change once more. Rinoa watched him walk away, a mixture of longing and guilt swelling in her heart. She felt the sudden urge to run to him, and tell him everything. yet, all she could do was stand there, and smile, and try to forget everything that she knew. everything that she'd done.
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A/N: It's short, useless, and boring but. next chapter, will be a very exciting one. Secrets are about to be revealed.
Chapter 7
The next few days that followed Squall and Rinoa's talk in the kitchen passed with little incident. Squall was busy looking through documents, and Rinoa was busy getting ready for Quistis' party. In fact, when Squall saw her next, that's what she was doing. He found her balanced carefully on top of a large ladder, as she cautiously dusted a huge chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
"Rinoa?"
The sound of her name being called startled her, and she lost her footing atop the ladder, slipping and squeezing her eyes shut as she expected a harsh collision with the floor. Instead, she found herself crashing into something relatively hard, but softer than the cold, porcelain tile. She opened her eyes, realizing she was on the ground, and something, or someone beneath her had broken her fall.
"Nice to see you, too," she heard a voice grunt out from underneath.
She slowly lifted up her head, flipping back her long raven locks to peer into the set of crystal blue eyes that were only inches away from hers. "Hi," she whispered timidly, the all too familiar sensations of embarrassment consuming her once more.
"This was one hell of a greeting," he replied, his warm breath gently caressing her lips. He felt Rinoa's body quiver against his own, and began to feel slightly warm himself. "I hate to disturb you, if you're comfortable, but maybe you should get off me now."
Rinoa's already redden face grew even redder, if that was possible. "Sorry," she whispered as she scrambled to get off of him. She straightened her dress out as she stood up and dusted herself off. "So, what's up?"
He shook his head. "Classified information. You?"
She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. "That's classified, too I'm afraid. But, if you really must know, I'm cleaning for the banquet. Quistis expects every inch of the mansion to sparkle by the night of the banquet."
"I'm dreading that night," Squall replied. "Your sister has ordered me to escort her and that Tilmitt girl." He shoved his hands in his pockets and studied his shoes for a long moment. "So, um. who are you going with?"
"I never go," she answered. "I'm an embarrassment to Quistis, the way she sees it. She's afraid of what I'll do or say in front of her rich, snobby friends. She usually gives me the night off, but sometimes she puts me to work in the kitchen, or something."
"What a way to spend the evening. Haven't you ever thought of just going anyway?"
Rinoa smiled sadly. "Quistis wouldn't be very happy with me if I did that. And even still. I don't belong at an event like that. All the beautiful women in their gorgeous evening gowns. I would just make a fool of myself."
"I don't think so," Squall admitted timidly. "It would probably be more. entertaining with you there."
She smiled again, this one more cheerful. "Thank you. Now. do you even have anything to wear to the banquet?"
He frowned. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
Rinoa grabbed his hand and started pulling him along down the hallway. "Come on. We're going shopping."
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His first impressions of Timber hadn't been far from right. The majority of the town was nothing but shoddy apartments and wooden shacks where Quistis' employees lived. There seemed to be no other businesses in the town save for a few food shops and a run down restaurant sitting alongside the town's only hotel.
"How is it that everyone here is so poor when you sister's business does so well?" Squall asked, staring through the tinted windows at the poverty stricken people outside.
"Quistis barely pays them anything. She keeps most of the money for herself. The people of the town can't do anything, thought. It's either take the pocket change that they make working for Quistis, or starve to death. Not a lot of choice."
"I see. Figures she'd do something like that."
"Yeah," Rinoa sighed, leaning her forehead against the glass. "It runs in the family, I guess. My father was the same way, and so was my grandfather. I guess things will never change."
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Quistis never had any children, did she?"
"Thankfully no."
"Then the business will have to go to you, once Quistis passes away," Squall pointed out.
"You're right," Rinoa replied with a frown. "She never produced an heir. But surely she must've considered this. She'd sooner give up all her riches and join a nunnery than she would give it all up to me."
Her pondering was halted as the limo pulled up to a small dress shop on the edge of town. "This is the only shop in town that sells nice clothes. Of course, no one here can ever afford to buy these kinds of clothes. I don't know how it stays open."
The two left the comfort of the luxurious car, stepping out into the harsh winter air. The shop was small, made with whitewashed boards that were cracked and peeling, with a faded sign over the top of the door with the words 'Marla's Dress Shoppe' painted in sloppy blue letters.
The inside seemed mostly empty, with dozens of unused racks pushed against the far wall. Rinoa stepped up to the front desk, ringing a small bell next to the cash register. A few moments later, a slightly aged woman with auburn hair pulled back into a braid, and a tape measure draped around her shoulder came rushing out from a back room.
"Can I help you?" she huffed, her dull green eyes showing signs of exhaustion.
"Do you have any men's suits available?" Rinoa asked.
"I might have a few around here somewhere," she replied. "I'm not promising anything. Most of them were taken away."
"Oh, is there a big rush for the banquet?"
The woman laughed. "I wish. Everything's being repossessed. Ever since my no good husband left his debts on my shoulders, my business has been going down hill. It was hard enough to stay afloat to begin with. Now, whatever bit of money I make goes to pay off his gambling habit."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Rinoa replied. "Maybe they'll find him, and make him pay it off instead."
"Now there's something I'd like to see. If I find out that good for nothing scum-bag has been alive all this time. Well, it has to be impossible. The police confirmed his death. Of course, they should go after that slut he was seeing on the side. She's the one he spent all his money on. Stupid fool."
Squall and Rinoa exchanged glances, before he said, "This woman he was with. do you know her name?"
She nodded. "Of course. I followed him out to their meeting place one night, and listened in on their conversation. Her name was Selphie, something. Tilmitt, I think. I did a little investigating after that, and found out she was nothing more than a con artist. So I didn't say anything to him. I figured I would wait until she took him for all he was worth. He deserved it."
"A con artist." Squall murmured. "Do you know anything more?"
"Just that she was allegedly a witness to his murder. Other than that, no."
"No use discussing it now," Rinoa sighed. "We need a suit. Could you please go look for us?"
She nodded. "Of course. In the mean time, feel free to look over what little bit I do have left."
The two wondered around the room after the woman ran into the back room once more. "Hmmm." Rinoa picked up a silky blue bow tie and held it up to his neck. "It brings out your eyes."
"No way," he grumbled, gently pushing her hands away. "I don't know why I let you drag me here, anyway. I don't care how I look at that stupid party."
"No, but they do," Rinoa retorted. "You'll be Quistis' trophy for the evening, after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, she's not dragging you along for nothing," she explained. "She wants to show you off to all her high class acquaintances. That's all this banquet's about, you know. Just a big party so she can show off."
"But why me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Have you looked at yourself lately?"
A look of confusion crossed his face. "Not really. is there something wrong with me?"
Rinoa wasn't sure whether to blush, or to laugh. Instead, she shook her head, and slowly stepped away, resuming her search of the room. "This thing with Selphie. I guess there's more to it than you thought."
He shrugged. "I knew there was something odd about it all along. I knew the truth would come out sooner or later. Now I just have to find out more about her past. A jealous wife's testimony isn't going to hold up by itself."
"What will you do once this is all over?"
"I'll leave," he answered simply.
"Then I. I'll be alone in the house with Quistis again."
He was silent, his eyes studying her carefully as he searched his mind for something to say. He couldn't stay there forever, and Rinoa couldn't survive in the world on her own just yet. Still, he couldn't just leave her there.
As he was opening his mouth to speak, Marla came running back into the room, a tuxedo in hand. "The last one!" she announced. "It'll need a few adjustments, I think, but it should do fine."
Rinoa nodded. "Great! We'll need it as soon as possible."
"Just let me take measurements, make some adjustments, then he can try it on."
Rinoa turned to him and smiled, causing a strange feeling to grow in his chest. "I guess that means you'll get to model for me."
A few hours later, Squall stepped out of one of the few dressing rooms, his scowl seeming to deepen at his unease. "I fee like a penguin."
She stepped closer to him, smiling as she studied the simple black suit he wore. "You look great," she commented quietly as she adjusted the collar. Instead of drawing back once more, she allowed her hands to rest on his shoulders. Being so close to him, and staring up into his eyes, she began to feel slightly dizzy. She could just imagine herself standing like this in his arms in the middle of a crowded ballroom. All eyes would be on them, yet, she would know nothing more of the world that what she saw before her.
"Are you alright?" he asked after a moment.
She forced a smile, watching her pleasant little dream slowly vanish beneath the weight of reality. "Yes, I'm fine. We should be getting back soon. If Quistis notices I'm gone."
Squall simply nodded, before he headed back into the dressing room to change once more. Rinoa watched him walk away, a mixture of longing and guilt swelling in her heart. She felt the sudden urge to run to him, and tell him everything. yet, all she could do was stand there, and smile, and try to forget everything that she knew. everything that she'd done.
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A/N: It's short, useless, and boring but. next chapter, will be a very exciting one. Secrets are about to be revealed.