She hung up the phone shakily, trying in vain not to cry. She wouldn't break, she wouldn't cry, she wouldn't selfishly keep him for herself. Because she was always the one who never got the happy ending no matter what the story.

She'd be there tonight. She'd be there to make everything better, make him smile, whisk him away to some fairy tale story in which nothing bad would ever happen to them. And she, she would be alone. She would watch him leave, and wish in vain that somehow, he would just turn around and notice her. But it never happened. He never looked back. Not once. So she would wait, wait for the day she might get a chance at a happily ever after ending, too. But it seemed like there was never one for her. She'd always be waiting in the wings.

Slowly, she got up, steadying herself on the wall before walking back. She would have to tell him now, let him go and watch him never return. And for that, she cursed herself. For wanted him, for loving him, and not just letting go in the first place. She stared blankly at the stairs as they creaked under the pressure of her body weight. Rinoa would go up these stairs. She'd open that door, she'd walk through it, she'd whisper to him; she'd take his pain away.

But all she could do was open the door and walk through it.

He was waiting for her silently, because somehow, she always came back to him. Just like an abused puppy that had no where else to go so it returned to the one that had hurt it so much. She struggled not to let out a bitter laugh. She was the puppy, ignorant and oh so hurt. The blonde let out a small sigh before sitting down opposite of him.

"I didn't mean to make upset." He said quietly, his eyes fixed on the small wooden table that stood between the two of them.

She shook her head. "It's fine." Her hand found its way to the small figurine on the table and absently spun it. "I… I have something to tell you. You might not like what I have to say, though."

He was silently before looking up at her. "…What is it?"

The blonde found herself staring at the figurine on the table. She didn't want to look at him, see his expression. It was oddly hard to draw a breath since the air seemed so incredibly thick, but she bit her lip and forced herself to do so. "I'm leaving." He didn't make a sound. She wasn't even sure if he heard her for a moment. "And I'm not coming back." Her voice cracked a bit at that part, but she wasn't sure if it was noticeable.

"Rinoa…" She inhaled sharply before continuing. "She's coming to help you." Her throat tightened and began to burn. "I promise she'll help. She can help you remember." Her eyes stung, but she wouldn't cry. "You don't need me anyways."

You never did.

"…And you think I need her." He confirmed quietly.

"Yes." She whispered, still refusing to meet his gaze. "She'll be here tonight."

It wasn't fair in his eyes. That she would leave him. Leave him alone. Leave him with someone he couldn't even remember.

"…And that's why you're leaving? Because you think you can't help me?"

She wanted more than anything to tell him the truth. But what good would that be…? Confuse him more, make him shun Rinoa. "Yes."

"Why are you lying?" He whispered.

Her heart caught in her throat for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I'm not."

He slammed his fist down on the table, and visibly jumped. "You think you can't help me. I know that's not the reason. I know you do too. What is it she can do that you can't?"

"She loves you." She whispered harshly. Why couldn't he just be happy that she was leaving? Did he have to go rip her heart out and flaunt the fact he didn't love her too? "She can make you remember…"

"And you can't?"

"No." She said coldly. "I can't." She stood up slowly. "You don't need me, Squall. You never did and you never will."

"How do you know?" He snapped, how did she know what he wanted? What right did she have to order his life around? He marched up close to hear her feeble answer.

"Because…" The blonde told him quietly, "You never looked at me the way you looked at her."

"What about now, then?" He asked. She looked away, how could he put her through this? She felt his hands settle firmly on her arms keeping her in place. "Look at me."

"No."

"What are you so afraid of that you won't stay here with me?" He asked her, gently.

She bowed her head, the tears dangerously close to falling. "That I won't be able to let you go." She whispered.

"Then don't."

She snapped her head up. This wasn't happening. She was supposed to walk away, leave him there. Watch him await Rinoa with open arms. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to say that. He was supposed to tell her to leave. Tell her he hated her. And she was supposed to leave.

But she didn't.

"I have to." She said. "What can I give you, Squall? I can't promise that I'd be strong enough to go through time compression for you. I can't perform miracles. I can't be her. You don't want me. Not when you can have her. How do you know that one day you won't look back and wish you went with her! And when you can't reach her, what will you do? Will you regret knowing me? Wish I left? Wish you never knew me? What will you do when you realize you made the wrong choice…?"

Because she was always either the second choice or the wrong one. And Rinoa would always but the first and the right one. He loosened his grip on her arms until he was no longer touching her.

"Do you love me?"

She found it hard to swallow. No more lies, she promised. Even if she told him, he wouldn't care. He had Rinoa, and compared to her love, hers was nothing more than a spec of dust. "Yes." She whispered, "More than anything. That's why I have to let you go." She took a shaky breath. "I want you to be happy, Squall. And I know you'd be happy with her-"

He placed a finger against her lips. "I won't regret it then. If you love me, than I'll never look back. I'll never regret it." He told her titling her chin and kissing her. Her lips responded on their own and she felt his hands come to rest on the small of her back.

"I'll be waiting…"

She finally gave in and let the tears fall. Didn't he see that even if he said it now he would? Didn't he know that once he did remember he'd hate her and himself? That'd by the time he realized it, Rinoa would be gone? It would be too late? And she'd be left alone. Like a battered and used doll to be nothing more than an empty shell. It wasn't fair to him, and it wasn't fair to her. She pulled away, looking away.

"…So if you come here…"

"I promise you will." She told him. "I promise you'll regret his more than anything, Squall. Don't do this. Don't leave her behind. Don't leave her alone." She choked out. Not like you left me. Slowly he removed his finger from her lips, and she looked away, tears still stinging her eyes, undoing the chain around her neck.

"You'll find me…"

She closed her eyes, and she felt his fingers intertwine with her own. He didn't love her. He didn't know what he wanted. Slowly, she pulled her hand away from his, licking her lips and slowly reaching up and placing the necklace around his neck, leaning into his ear. "Tell her she's beautiful." She whispered, slowly moving away and turning towards the door. "Goodbye, Squall."

She didn't wait for him to respond, but picked up her bags and left quietly, the door creaking shut.

He waited for hours in the dark, until finally the door creaked open. Rinoa slowly opened the door and peaked in. "…Squall?" She whispered.

He looked up at her. "I'm home." She whispered with a small smile, tears streaking down her face.

"But…"

The girl shook her head. "I know, but home's where you are." She offered him another small smile, and slowly he returned it.

The train whistle sounded for the last time, and she looked out the window, before curling up in small ball watching the rain paint the windows. She pressed her hand against the window, watching as the scenery became a blur. She had done it. She had finally let him go. She watched as the dawn slowly emerged from the storm clouds.

Then, she cried.

"I promise."

Alright! So did I make anyone cry? Probably not. Anyways, I'm writing this at like midnight and it hasn't been betaed or anything so don't freak out it if she is accidently spelt he. I trust you can figure out who's who. I hope, at least. So is the end? … We'll see.