Disclaimer: How about you just don't try to sue me and it just makes it easier cuz then I don't have to write long disclaimers, k? Oh yeah and the Cure's lyrics don't believe to me, but god damn listen to anything by the cure, they AMAZING!
Author's Note:
Chapter 8:
The phone rang violently and Rinoa groaned in aggravation…
God I don't wanna wake up is that ok…?
She turned and gripped the phone, not so vividly she found the green button with her gaze and punched it with a finger and relaxed back into the covers of her bed once again. Than in an unsure, groaning voice spoke…
"Hello?" The displeasure apparent in her tone.
"Hello, Rinny." It was Edea, sweet and calm as usual.
Rinoa looked over her watch on her desk. 7:00? Why was she calling so early? Rinoa didn't have classes or anything. And what was with Edea being so informal suddenly? It didn't sound quite smooth, in fact awkward. Was Edea trying to connect on a teenage level using nicknames?
"Hi, Matron." Rinoa yawned. "What's going on?"
"I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday!" The smile audible down the phone.
This took a little while to register. She had been raving about her birthday about a week ago, she wouldn't deny she had thought about it over the past week but not quite as concentrated on the 'celebration'. Instead she had bragged continuously to her friends about the significance of the date, her and Squall's anniversary! Essentially, her birthday was no big deal. Her and Squall's anniversary however WAS a big deal, and she'd made a point of writing it in just about everyone's diary. But Edea didn't congratulate her on this. Only her birthday.
"Oh, thanks Matron!" Rinoa beamed in reply.
The young sorceress was happy that Matron had remembered the date and given up the time to call her and say happy birthday…but in the morning? Matron was sort of a mother figure now, even though Rinoa was old enough to not even consider trying for someone to take that place that's what Matron felt like. Rinoa would always remember being woken up by her own mother, Julia, early in the morning so that they could be excited together from then on and open presents and so forth. So maybe Matron felt like a parent, maybe she felt the need to wake up Rinoa and excite her about this 'special' day. Thinking about it gave Rinoa a buzz.
"I know you probably have a million and one things to attend to my child so I will leave you with this. But I hope with all my heart you have an enjoyable day! You've grown up a lot since I first met you. I am so proud." Matron continued to parent.
Those were the words Rinoa's mother should have been saying, those are the words Julia should be speaking right next to Rinoa right now, hugging her tightly. However the depressing the insight to the speech was, Rinoa still found some pleasure in the fact Matron took Rinoa under her as one of her children. Before she'd been in an awkward position, being the only one except Kara and Xu to have not been at the orphanage made her feel not welcome, or not one of the group. These statements made her feel more like a part of them. Being the insecure person she was, sometimes these moments were exactly what she needed.
"Thanks Matron. I appreciate it. I'll come and see you at some point, don't worry, I've got the time." Rinoa took a deep breath and cuddled into her thick duvet covers and closed her eyes, still in the process of waking up.
"Try not to get angry. I know why you left as soon as the option became available yesterday." Matron sounded concerned but also tried to be stern, Matron being the caring and passive person she naturally was made her not very good at this. Neither was she good at the teenage levelling or the nick names, as she'd shown at the beginning of the conversation.
"Yeah." She'd nervously laughed. "Sorry about that…I was so embarrassed." Rinoa wouldn't attempt any further to make what had happened more light, she was still worried about it. She'd been so confused when the lack of control took place, still unsure of what part of her exactly took over and did such a thing.
Rinoa bounced from her bedroom still in her bunny pyjamas singing to herself some unrecognisable tune to sight Kara in her seeD uniform sat at the table chomping on some cereal that didn't look quite as enjoyable as Rinoa thought while she wondered what she could eat.
"Good morning!" The ebony haired sorceress beamed, joyfully, skipping around the room.
Kara's dark ringed eyes, misted with orange foundation glared at the bouncy room mate as she continued to dance about as she pleased, when suddenly she remembered why she was so bouncy. Her perfect thin coffee eye brows raised along with her lips that curled into a smile…
"Hey, happy birthday." Kara giggled.
"Hey, dude!" Rinoa stopped on the spot and pointed at her. "It's not just my birthday!" She placed her hands on her hips and watched as a clueless Kara watched from the table.
"Erm…oh god, Happy anniversary! One year, jesus, Rin!" Kara hysterically laughed to herself.
"What's that meant to mean? And didn't I say for you to buy me a card!" Rinoa yelled back, despite the early time of morning, suddenly she was so excited.
"Oh yeah, spose I forgot." Kara shrugged. "What ya doing today?"
"Well right now I'm gonna go get pancakes and chocolate sauce from the cafeteria and take my time eating it, then I'm gonna wander about and be bored until Squall gets off work and then I'll bombard him with KISSES! YAY!" She screamed as she began to run around the room again.
Kara rolled her eyes as she finished eating the remains of her oat cereal which was only possible through the constant reminder 'It wouldn't pile on the pounds.' She stood from her seat than made her way round to the sink and began to wash the dish carelessly…
"Do you mind if I borrow your mascara today?" Kara turned round to Rinoa who froze slowly, beginning to breath heavily through the excitement and exercise.
"Erm, sure, but don't you have like 3 kinds of-" Rinoa was cut off.
"Yeah well ya know, I just feel like using some new stuff you know and I hear from Quistas you have an expensive one." Kara nervously continued to mumble quickly, keeping her eyes well and truly away from Rinoa's.
Rinoa tried to however grip her gaze, she could tell when Kara was lying about something and it was very odd to lie about having mascara! But Rinoa didn't want to press the subject and just shrugged her shoulders, her eye brows quirking in confusion.
"Go for it. It's in my make up bag under my bed." Rinoa smirked. "Can I borrow your new purple top today then?"
Kara's nervousness wearing off, she smiled widely, with a little laugh and nodded her head.
"COOL!" Rinoa beamed, feeling so much happier than she had in what felt like a very long time. "I'll go get it."
Rinoa than waltz off, the second Rinoa was inside Kara's bedroom and the door was slightly closed Kara dashed into the under sink cupboard and gripped several things than sprinted into Rinoa's room. A few moments later she arose from the room and began to make her way towards the door, gripping her gloves on the way out…
"Any way, I'm going now. I'll see ya later!" Kara yelled behind her.
Rinoa continued to look furiously through the babes clothing when her ears pricked up while listening to what Kara had to say, followed by the sound of a slamming door before she even got a chance to reply. Pondering over the suspicious behaviour of her peer momentarily she finally spotted the object she had searched for. Even without anyone in, she still vocally celebrated the fact she'd found the top than danced into her bedroom stupidly.
Upon her bed were several bags of marshmallows (one of Rinoa's favourite sweets), with a card signed Kara. Rinoa smiled lightly than moved forward to hold the card in realisation…
Slipping on her head phones Rinoa began to dance around the room again, the sound pumping through and the rhythm in her body creating the motions. The guitar strips plucked and the vibration of the sound comforted her satisfaction for the loud sound. Miming to herself, she began on her way to the cafeteria. The electric sounds pulsed and the groans of the singer continued to fuel the never ending smile that stretched her cheek muscles to the max.
Rinoa should have learned her lesson a thousand times before, putting ear phones on with amazing sounds blasting through will always fill you with the impulsive desire to sing out loud, without any knowledge of what you actually sound like. How many times had she sang out 'Reason' in her bedroom with the head phones and how many times had all of her friends heard her form the other end of the corridor and cracked up in fits of laughter.
She stepped out the door bopping her little ebony haired head and closed her eyes for a moment, than turned round to lock the door and the singing began…
i don't care if monday's blue
tuesday's grey and wednesday too
thursday i don't care about you
it's friday i'm in love
By now she was moving sideways with her shoulders, back and forth still smiling to herself. Blindly she turned round and painfully hit the wrong notes still confidently bouncing down the corridor towards the cafeteria, passing opening dormitories with students watching with smirks.
monday you can fall apart
tuesday wednesday break my heart
thursday doesn't even start
it's friday i'm in love
saturday wait
and sunday always comes too late
but friday never hesitate...
The worst part was while in the main corridor with all the chambers leading to every area of garden where Zell and Irvine watched from the elevator as a pale beauty skipped by screeching words with about thirty or so seeD members following behind laughing in hysterics. They both looked at each other in shock, Zell rubbing his forehead in frustration and slight embarrassment for the girl.
i don't care if monday's black
tuesday wednesday heart attack
thursday never looking back
it's friday i'm in love
All the low feeling had climaxed into such a positive feeling, however much at the back of her mind she knew the higher to climb the further you fall, she was too optimistic with Robert Smith's voice drilling into her skull.
monday you can hold your head
tuesday wednesday stay in bed
or thursday watch the walls instead
it's friday i'm in love
saturday wait
and sunday always comes too late
but friday never hesitate...
Finally she made it to the cafeteria where she let the ear plunks continue to produce the beautiful beats play into open air across her collar bones as she took them from her ears and dropped them. The students had all disappeared in fear of what she might have done if she'd known how hysterical they had thought her singing would be if caught following her.
dressed up to the eyes
it's a wonderful surprise
to see your shoes and your spirits rise
throwing out your frown
and just smiling at the sound
and as sleek as a shriek
spinning round and round
always take a big bite
it's such a gorgeous sight
to see you in the middle of the night
you can never get enough
enough of this stuff
it's friday
i'm in love
"6 pancakes, LOT'S of chocolate sauce and banana cuts PLEASE!" Rinoa giggled at the counter as the track finished, still moving about, unable to keep still.
The lady behind the counter with her overalls smiled kindly and wrote down the order…
"Of course birthday girl." Her voice strong and low, without even asking for the gil she turned away and began to prepare the food.
Rinoa in slight confusion almost said something, inhaled to ask the question but suddenly heard someone call her name. Quickly, she turned and found Xu, Selphie and Quistas sat at a table drinking coffee, well Selphie had a strawberry milkshake in hand actually. Rinoa smiled as a greeting than turned back to the counter and yelled lightly…
"Thank you!"
Bouncing over to the table she watched to see the cafeteria lady turn her head from the preparation table and smile just as warmly as before to acknowledge what Rinoa had said…
"Hey guys!" Rinoa said cutely, taking a seat beside Selphie and Xu.
Quistas and Rinoa looked at each other briefly, Rinoa tried to keep the look locked but Quistas turned her focus away with a little embarrassment pathetically covered up with disinterest. Rinoa frowned slightly, ever since they had spoken in the library things had been different and the young sorceress wouldn't dare bring up the subject of the hurt Quistas had portrayed. And the subject posed ignored again for at least another session together.
"Hey, happy birthday!" Selphie beamed excitedly, knowing exactly what was in store for Rinoa. Finding it horribly difficult to keep the knowledge inside she instead burst out into laughter and covered her face with her hands.
Each girl watched her in surprise for a moment, but these crazy moments were nothing out of the ordinary for Selphie and so they moved on fairly quickly from it…
"Yeah, happy birthday Rin!" Xu and Quistas spook quickly afterwards to try to recover from their short moment of forgetting the date.
"Thanks, ya know what date-" Rinoa was again cut off. Twice in the same morning, wasn't she the one always cutting people off rudely?
"Happy anniversary Rinoa!" A voice called from behind her.
Quickly she turned round to see a girl she didn't know too well, but a good friend none of the less. Her name was Amber, a friend of Selphie's introduced to Rinoa, from then they'd talked a lot about boyfriends and other girly aspects of their lives. But this was quite a surprise for Rinoa.
The dark sorceresses eyes traced up the seeD uniform clad woman to focus on her ivy green eyes gazing deeply at Rinoa, her skin already crinkling around her brows. Amber was outstretching her arms, at first Rinoa thought the blonde sweetie was wanting a hug until she looked down to see a purple envelop.
"Thanks Amber!" Rinoa, still in shock, nervously laughed.
"It's just a stupid card but I thought ya know, it means something to you ya know." Amber smiled shyly, letting her short straight blonde her fall in front of her burning cheeks. Usually she was an out going girl who wouldn't let very much embarrass her.
Quistas and Xu exchanged looks behind Rinoa's back, but Selphie was too intrigued with the concept that someone actually bought Squall and Rinoa a card, why the hell didn't she?
Rinoa stood up very slowly and took the card directed towards her. The paper felt velvety in her hands, and in scruffy writing read their names 'Rinny + Squall'. If it wouldn't have been for the fact that she'd feel stupid afterwards Rinoa would have cried her eyes out right on that spot in Amber's arms.
"Thank you so much Amber! You've got no idea!" Rinoa quickly took the girl into an embrace and they tightly hugged for a few moments.
Once both were apart Amber returned to her normal self, the card was out of her hands now, she wouldn't have to think about the moment she'd give the thing away any more.
"Any way, chick-a-del, I gotta go catch m' lesson. Late again ya see." She seemed pretty proud to be rebelling in this way, Amber was that type of person. Very pathetic with attention seeking but really her heart was in the right place.
"O, ok, well have a good day alright and I'll see ya round. Thanks again." Rinoa beamed and took her into her arms again.
Soon Amber was gone and Rinoa was left to marvel at the card in hand. Slowly and carefully she ripped the card open while everybody else remained silent. It was a plain card, nothing special at all. Nothing perfectly beautiful about it and didn't look expensive but right now it was the best thing she'd ever been given. It meant so much more than anything else she could even conjure up ever getting for another birthday.
Quickly reading the inside a tacky poem read…
'…a day for those
who care about you
to wish you
all the happiness
that you deserve so well.
Have a Wonderful Day and a Great Year Ahead.'
Rinoa laughed lightly to herself, a 'great year ahead'? That was a joke, but it didn't matter. If anyone else had bought them a card they would have given her it already and again she was filled with disappointment in her friends and her faith in them. Amber didn't even hang with Rinoa more than 2 days a week, these were her best friends and they couldn't even god damn be bothered to remember the one day that meant something to her. Why was this nasty awakening of what her friends were really like dampening her soul now when things are getting bad?
She gulped down the hurt and sniffed for a second, but then continued to smile. Amber had made her feel just great, this card was just perfect, she saw the card as a sign, everything was going to be alright. Someone believed in them, someone believed in their happiness.
Rinoa looked up very cautiously from the card to the rest of her group and waited for something to be said. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Selphie about to crack up in fits of laughter again for some mysterious reason. They all turned their focus to her again as she exploded with delight…
"Here ya go dal'" Rinoa next heard from behind as a plate of delicious looking pancakes were placed in front of her by another woman different from the one she'd seen at the counter.
"Thank you!" Rinoa stuttered. And quickly moved on from those heavy thoughts in her head and indulged in the rich butter and chocolate caked over the 'breakfast'.
The girls returned to their classes and Rinoa was once again left a lone with nothing to do but watch the clock tick…and tock…tick…and tock…until several hours again, while lying in her bedroom she heard a quiet bleep indicating she'd just received a new message, Squall was out of work!
She jumped from her place on the bed and checked the message. Soon she was sprinting down the corridor…
"Guess what?" Rinoa excitedly chimed.
Both adolescents walked slowly by each other through the garden training area, Rinoa had a lesson with Edea soon and Squall was busy for the rest of the night so they usually tried to make this stroll back to her place as slow as possible.
"What?" Squall replied, today he didn't look quite as tired as he had done the other day and for that Rinoa was pleased.
"We got a card! How cool is that!" Rinoa giggled, beginning to jump about again.
"We did? Cool." He smiled back at her excitement, not overly sharing the same special joy she had received from gaining the little present. But he smiled because she looked happy, and he loved that.
"From this chick called Amber, don't know why she sent me one though, bit weird but it's so cool! Left it in my dormitory though." Rinoa looked down to her feet shamefully. "Sorry, I forgot it."
"Don't worry." He replied calmly, seemingly unbothered.
"Erm…wanna sit down?" Rinoa pointed to a newly made bench near the entrance/exit of the area.
He nodded his head in response.
Rinoa skipped a head of him, feeling weary from the laps they'd done around this place already and the few battles they'd had. Rinoa was pulling out on a lot of the exercise and practise she used to put into fighting and running, she had become slightly lazier but than she'd always been quite lazy. Sleeping all the time, walking around her place in her pyjamas, binging on pizzas every weekend. An endless girly cycle she had no will power to escape.
They both sat down next to each other, one more obviously exhausted than the other. Rinoa rested her head on Squall's shoulder finding comfort in cuddling up to him this way, this certain tiny piece of intimacy was what she loved about their walks, the moment they got to just rest on each other for a little while, just gaze with each other, a tiny piece of their memories.
There were a few moments of silence where Rinoa enjoyed his company, but soon sensed Squall's uneasiness. Rinoa loved these moments she could just find peace with him, the few moments in her day that her emotions were crazy or sad but over the year she'd found Squall's discomfort in the silences. Did he find them awkward? Didn't he enjoy the same rest with her? Or did he come to her to destroy the voice in his head, the way Rinoa's seemed to die with the silence. Maybe when they'd first met and everything was still new, she'd been very lively and girly, maybe when she wouldn't shut up he enjoyed it because he wouldn't have to think, just admire. She enjoyed every piece of information he blessed her with, she understood the difficulty Squall had with expressing himself and who he is. So she took care in listening to him when he did talk to her, or even when he felt like being talkative. She'd just become used to the silence, sick of hearing herself drone on about nothing and everything.
Squall took something from his pocket and immediately Rinoa turned her eyes away from it, her stomach filling with butterflies. This wasn't where she specialised, sure she might act like a spoiled brat a lot of the time but when it came down to people actually buying her things she got all squirmy and embarrassed. It was just as bad at Christmas that year when he'd bought her a necklace and being handed it all she could do was hold the box and watch it, too embarrassed or shy to open it. And this was just going to be a repeat of that day, and Valentine's Day which was even worse when he'd bought her another ring.
Rinoa breathed heavily to herself than slyly moved off from him as he presented the small red case more obviously…
"Squally!" She squirmed nervously, with a slight smile.
"What?" He chuckled back, wearing the same smile.
"Wh-h-h-y?" She whinged like a baby.
"Because it's your birthday and our anniversary." He stated not coldly, but very automated.
"But I didn't buy you anything and I don't CARE about my birthday." Rinoa continued to whine looking any where but at it.
Resistively Squall opened the box to show her the ring he had bought for her, she had seen it once before; in fact he'd asked her whether she had liked it or not a few weeks back and he'd made it obvious why he wanted her to like it. Rinoa gasped as quietly as she could to herself than shook her head, upset with herself that she hadn't bought him anything. She hadn't even made him anything. Once when she hadn't had much money she'd decided to make him some biscuits instead, how Squall had remained optimist about the crumbly burn dry things she had no idea, but it showed he loved her.
He took her hand slowly, took the ring, Rinoa's eyes widening as she watched him begin to place it on her engagement finger. She didn't say a word, didn't look at his face, just his hand as it carefully placed it on her finger, fitting perfectly…
Oh god oh god oh god…
But he didn't ask the question, only stayed very quiet. Rinoa continued to watch the ring, waiting for something else to happen. Nothing did happen, in fact the awkward realistic god continued to make time spin and Rinoa soon realised she was yet again late for Matron's lesson.
"Thank you." Rinoa whispered nervously.
…
…
Everything that happened between then and when they kissed was a blur to her. He took her slowly and no where near fully into his arms and slowly pressed his lips to hers, as she did the same to him. Gripping his shirt, she inhaled his familiar scent and felt the soft skin of his perfect pale lips caress her own; shamefully she felt some sadness in herself that she couldn't just run away with him now to somewhere only they knew.
The strange unfamiliar feeling of the white gold band around her engagement finger was always hot on the sensations of her body, while caressing her neck or reaching for an object, the next few days were straight but always triggered a smile when she realised it rested there.
When Rinoa gained a moment alone all she did was hold her hand and watched the glistening diamonds, watch the shine of the band, and watch how he'd placed it on her finger in her mind again…and again. And every time it was perfect, her only regret was, why didn't she ask the question? Was there a silent question and she was just too blind to notice? How would she ever find out? He'd probably laugh at her if she asked him about it,…right?
She was leaving soon…but suddenly this idea became more and more frequent in her stream of thoughts, pushed away for 'the right day'.
The 19th of April…maybe a couple of years later she'd ask the question…
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Ok, I'm sorry that the last chapter was boring, and I took note of what you said and tried to put more Squall and Rinoa in it, so I'm sorry if your looking for the romantic type thing in the story, I just wanted to I don't know explore a bit into Rinoa's life. But the next chapter has a nice long flash back about a night they went out together and a long phone call too so hopefully that'll please you. So sorry if I disappointed you again, I'm trying. Another thing, I'm pretty positive that Rinoa's birthday isn't April the 19th but I picked the date for a personal reason only one person reading this will get so I'm sorry if that annoys you to. Any way, thanks for all you reading and reviewing, if you think there are more areas for me to improve in than just tell me k? And I'll try my best. (And I'm really sorry if this is boring again, I'll try harder).