Chapter 3: The Real Meaning of School
Rinoa opened the metal door to find Selphie standing outside her door.
"Oh, hello Rinoa! I'm just going dorm to dorm and asking if anybody would like to join the Garden Festival Committee. Would you?" She asked in a pleading voice.
"I don't know. What do they do?" Rinoa said.
"Well, we plan all the dances, like the Masquerade dance for Halloween, and the annual Holiday Ball in December. It's really fun so you should so join. Lot's of cute guys too."
"Well...I'll think about it. But I have a really busy schedule since I take three electives, my third one is in a half hour in-fact." She replied.
"Oh, bummer. But, wow, three? What classes do you take?" Selphie said interrogating her.
"Dance, Choir/vocal training and acting. Which one do you take?" She asked, trying to talk about someone other than herself.
"I take the film class. It's so fun. Oh yeah, that reminds, about the Masquerade; who are you going with?"
"Oh, I don't think I'll be going. No one has even asked me!" Rinoa replied.
"Are you serious? Well, I'm sure you're going to get more than one guy asking you. I'll see you later, take care!" Selphie said ask she skipped away.
Rinoa closed the door and headed into the bathroom. "She didn't seem as stuck-up as Nida and Xu portrayed. Quistis must really keep her on a short leash..." She thought aloud, turning the knob on her shower.
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"Now, to get the angle postulate of negative five over seven, you have to..." Rinoa rapidly took down her notes, barely able to keep up with the teacher. She had almost gotten to what she had written on the board, when she felt someone tap on her shoulder.
"Miss Winkler gives us all the notes we need three days before the test. Your wasting time and tree's." Xu told her. Rinoa nodded her head and let the pen she was holding drop on the hard, wooden desk.
"So, are you going to go with anyone to that dance thing next week?" Rinoa asked naively.
"Ha, I wouldn't be caught dead in that 'masquerade'. It's really just an excuse for everyone to live out their fantasies and dress like whores without being ridiculed." She answered pessimistically, "The only dance we go to is the Holiday ball, just to laugh at all the drunken couples in their ridiculous ball gowns. Why, are you going?"
"Oh, no. No, I was just curious. I doubt I'd be asked anyway. Who do you usually go to the Holiday Ball with?" She asked as they picked up their supplies and headed to the door.
"Nida. You should, like, go with Squall this year. The guy needs more social interaction from girls other than me." Xu told her bluntly.
Rinoa blushed and gave a small laugh "haha, I don't think he's really the type to go a ball. Plus, I'm not really interested in going." Liar.
"Hah, yeah. Sure ya don't. Anyways, see you at lunch." Xu said.
"Bye." Rinoa replied. She walked into her next class, and sat down next to Squall.
"Those are really good." She said honestly, looking at his drawings.
"Thanks..." He replied, never taking his eyes of the paper.
What do I have to do to get him to talk to me?
The teacher handed the class a worksheet on chemical compounds. Squall picked it up, and while Rinoa was only on the third problem, he was done. Hm.
"Hey, Squall, I don't get what were doing. Can you help me?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah, sure. You have to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. To find the Electrons you have to subtract it from..." He explained.
Rinoa wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying. She was too busy staring into his oceanic eyes. "He's so hot..."
"Huh?" Squall asked.
Crap! Did I just say that out loud?! "I said...I'm so not... good at this type of thing!" she told him. Nice save loser.
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As Squall and Rinoa sat down at the lunch table, they noticed Selphie hopping over.
Selphie came up to them and asked "Hey Squall, wanna-"
"No." He said, not even letting her finish the sentence.
"Fine. Anyways." She replied, "Have you thought about it yet? Wanna join Rinoa?"
"To hell she does Selphie! Take your clipboard and get out of here." Xu told the girl.
"Humph, I was asking Rinoa, not you." She snarled.
"Uh, sorry. My schedule is way to booked. I'm really sorry." Rinoa said, half truthfully.
"Oh...I see. It's ok. I guess you don't have enough time for us then." She said in an offended tone, quickly walking away.
"And the committee doesn't know how to color coordinate!" Nida screamed after she had turned her back.
The two sat down and shook their heads. "Rinoa honey, you do not want to get yourself involved with the garden freak committee. It's full of blood-sucking bitches. Its run by the cool kids and is just another excuse for them to hang out and talk about how incredible they are." Xu said with bitterness.
"Well, I don't know. Selphie seems... pretty nice." Rinoa told her naively.
"Nice?! She runs around doing Trepe's dirty work! Every rumor that will ever grace your ears was spread by her! That's why her nickname is messenger girl!" Xu replied passionately.
"Just stick with us Rinoa, so you know what to do in this twisted academy. It seems you don't understand the real meaning of school." Nida said.
"Ok..." Rinoa stared at Squall, still deep into his drawing. Is that all he ever does?
"So, do all the dances suck because they run it?" Rinoa asked.
"Yes. But then again, a lot of dances suck." Nida answered.
"Then why don't you guys join the committee? You could run it how you want." Rinoa said.
"Ha! It'd still end up crappy cause we'd have no power. They'd still control it." Xu replied.
"Plus, they've never asked us." Nida said, sounding somewhat insulted.
"Oh...but you still go to the Holiday Ball right?" She asked.
"Yeah. It's so funny. Are you actually going this year Squall? I'm sure, yet again, there's a myriad of girls waiting for the chance to ask you. Maybe some boys too..." Xu teased.
"I know I would!" Nida said.
Squall finally looked up from his paper and said, "Whatever."
"Awww, what? Are you...afraid?" She continued.
"No, I just don't feel like going." He replied.
"Hmm. Why don't you go with Rinoa? Oh my gosh, that'd be so cute!" exclaimed Nida.
"Whatever." He replied once again, turning scarlet. Pure torture.
Rinoa felt herself doing the same. Why must they torment her so?
"Give me one good reason not to go." Xu challenged.
"It's a waste of time." Squall replied simply.
"What do you have that's so much better to do?" Nida asked.
"Whatever." He said, defeated.
"How about we make a small bet." Xu said wickedly, while Nida smiled.
Squall looked at her suspiciously. "What kind of bet?"
"We bet that you don't have the guts to ask anyone to the Holiday Ball with you. If you win, you can nominate me and Nida for Ice King and Queen-"
"Can I be the Queen?!" Nida shouted.
"Sure, whatever...and we endure all the embaressment that comes along with it. But if we win, well then, we nominate you for Ice King."
"Gosh, I wonder who thought up the name for it? I mean Ice Queen? Really!" Nida intturupted once again.
They all glared at him. "Sorry." He muttered innocently.
"You're on" Squall replied. He was never able to pass up a bet.
"Alrighty then. We will be in the band room right now cause we forgot the meeting, but I'll see you around." Xu stated oddly.
"Oh my Gosh! I can't believe we forgot!" Nida said, hurrying to pick up his books.
They threw their lunches, trays and everything, into the garbage can and rushed out the door.
"Um...Squall?" Rinoa said quietly.
"Yes?" He asked, looking at her for once.
"You do know either way you'll have to go to the dance, win or lose. Right?" She asked.
Squall answered her question by putting his head down on the table, and repeatedly banging a small number of times. She knew he was smart, but Xu's strange way of wording had outsmarted him.
Rinoa giggled in spite of herself. "So, any idea on who the lucky girl might be? Or lucky guy...?" Me. Please. Me.
You. He thought. "No. This isn't my area of expertise." He stated.
"Hm. Well, I know there are quite a few girls who would just die if you asked them." Like me.
He looked fairly surprised. "Well, I just might die if I have to go with them."
"Haha. Hey, they might have a great personality." She laughed.
"Uh-huh... very few people at this academy have a great personality. And even fewer have a great personality and are good looking." He told her in a more serious tone.
"So I've noticed. No but really, any girls you at least think are hot?" She asked, feeling upset that the answer wasn't going to be 'you.'
You. "Uh...well...I don't know." He said, blushing again.
"Aww, you're so cute when you're all shy and blushing!" She said teasing him.
Why is she teasing me? "Whatever." He answered.
"I was just kidding. You're so cute Squall." She laughed. God, do you have to be so obvious when you flirt?
Is she flirting with me?! "Whatever" He answered turning a darker shade of pink...
They continued their little game, unaware that they were being watched.
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"Five, Six, Five, Six, Seven, Eight!" The dance instructor projected in a loud voice.
The upbeat music began to play, and the students all moved in rhythm and in sync, to both the music and each other. Tiny feet hit the ground in tempo as they moved across the floor.
"You are dismissed for today. We will be practicing the same routine for the next 3 weeks; so don't get your hopes for change up." She yelled.
Rinoa grabbed her water bottle and took a ling drink. After picking up her bag she headed out of the doors.
When she arrived at her dorm, she looked to see someone coming towards her. It was the tall, blonde guy from a few days ago.
"Hey Rinoa." He said, smiling.
"Hey...Seifer" She replied, remembering his name.
"So, how are your classes? Not getting lost are you?" He laughed.
That wasn't funny. "Oh, no. My classes are fine." Rinoa answered. She really wanted to get inside her room and sleep.
"Yeah, so...like anything you need?" Seifer asked.
Rest. "No, thanks anyway." She replied, tired.
"Hm. Who are you going to the Masquerade Dance with?" He asked in a nervous tone.
"No one...I haven't been asked." She could see where this was going.
"Well, do you wanna go with me?" He blurted out.
She couldn't help but giggle at his lack of self-confidence. Usually it seemed he had enough for the both of them.
Finally she answered him, "Yes, I do."
He let out a long breath and smiled. "Great, I'll talk to you later. Goodnight."
She smiled and stepped into her dorm. "I hope I didn't make a mistake. He hangs out with the 'cool' kids. Will they be mad at me? I couldn't say no. He is pretty cute though...I need to stop having these conversations with myself."
Throughout the talk wither self, she had ended up changed to shower. She took a look in the mirror and removed the elastic holder from her silky black hair, letting it fall down past her shoulders.
"Time for the dreaded weighing." She stepped on the scale and cringed as she heard the dial continue to turn. Reluctantly, she looked down.
"What? 114? How'd I.... when? Oh man, I have to shed some pounds..."
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"You didn't." Selphie said incredulously.
"What's the big deal? I'm sure I'm not gonna be the only one." Seifer replied.
"Quistis hates her! You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT go with her! Plus, she didn't even join the garden festival committee, and that was, like, her last chance of being friends with us!" The small girl told him with zealously.
"Fuck you, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Unlike you, I'm not controlled by Quistis." Seifer shot back.
She glared at him and said, "Whatever Seifer. I think she likes someone else anyways."
He followed her eyes and saw who it was she was talking about. "Leonhart..." he whispered.
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"You didn't." Xu stated in disbelief.
"Well, I couldn't say no..." Rinoa said.
"Well once you're there with him, he's not gonna let you say no! You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT go with him! He is a womanizing bastard and he's one of them!"
"Well, I can't do anything about it now..." She said, feeling guilty.
"Fine, go with him, but you're going to have a horrible time!" Xu told her.
"Go where with who and have a horrible time?" Nida said setting his lunch tray down next to where Squall had just set his.
Xu let out a sigh as her and Rinoa exchanged glances.
"Rinoa's going to the Masquerade Dance.... with him." Nida and Squall followed her glare and saw who it led to.
"Almasy...." Squall whispered.
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I think this chapter was fueled by watching Mean Girls over and over, and drinking lot's of Pepsi.
Well, thanks again to all m reviewers! R&R or...do I really have to say it?