Disclaimer: can't be bothered…look at the previous instalment…that one's pretty legitimate. Enjoy.
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Chapter 1: Forced Company
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"Travelling down the road
Passing the signs that used to be
I remember you and me
The moment leads me home
Is it too far for me to find
The days we left behind?"
~ Never Said Goodbye – Martin Nievera
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Squall nervously took in a big breath before knocking. Why the hell am I so nervous? Shaking his head slightly, he confidently knocked on the door with a rat-a-tat-tat. After a few moments, he heard a muffled voice and then the door opened. Rinoa, who's eyes had been slightly downcast whilst opening the door, quickly lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. Squall, too, returned the serious stare, not quite sure whether to say anything or not. Silence encompassed them, and for a moment, they could do nothing but stare at each other. Minutes later, a distant voice was heard from the phone.
"Rin? Rinoa! Are you still there?"
She shook herself out of her reverie and brought the telephone's mouthpiece closer to her lips. "Listen, Quisty, I'll call you back."
"Alright then. What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you later. Bye."
"Later."
Rinoa pressed a button to end the call and placed the phone on the table by the door, her mouth still slightly open in shock. Glancing back at him, she pursed her lips together and lifted her chin indignantly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you too, Rinoa," he said with a cock of his head.
She smirked in return. "Yeah, whatever. What are you doing here?" Rinoa repeated.
"Your mother invited us over for dinner," he informed her as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"You mean, you're the guests?" Rinoa lifted an eyebrow questioningly.
"I think it's safe to assume that," he replied with a hint of a smile.
"So you're back; you've come back to Deling City?"
"Yeah."
"What are you doing here?"
"You already asked that-"
"No, I mean here outside my room."
"Oh, your mom told me to come and tell you that dinner's ready."
"Right, okay," she said with uncertainty as she closed her door. Squall was about to follow her down the stairs when she sharply turned around, a frown present on her face. "Just so you know. You may be my mother's guest but that does not mean I like you or wish to associate with you in anyway. You got that? If you come anywhere near me or piss me off, I swear I will kick your ass just as easily as I did when we were six."
"I've only been here for five minutes and you're already starting with the threats?"
"I loathe your very existence, that fact alone gives me the right to start threatening you whenever I feel like it."
"Can I ask you a question?" he asked as he crossed his arms and leant against the banister.
"You're going to anyway, but as to my answering, I'm not so sure."
With a slight frown he continued, "Why do you hate me so much?"
"Oh, you know the reason," she snapped with a sarcastic smile and nod.
"If I did, then why would I ask?"
"Because you're a…moron," she quickly thought up.
"Gee, I'm flattered."
"Ugh!" she groaned as she cast her glance upward at the ceiling. Then, turning, she proceeded to walk down the stairs, quickly putting on a polite smile as she entered the kitchen. "Wow! Hi Mr and Mrs Leonhart. How are you?" she asked chirpily as she went to hug Raine. When she pulled away from hugging Laguna, she smiled once again and commented, "You know, I still admire the fact you took on your wife's name instead of her taking your's, Mr Leonhart." She held back a laugh as she remembered a time when she was five years old asking her parents if she could have her mother's maiden name of Heartilly in place of Caraway.
"Yes well it was the only condition she made when I asked her to marry me, so how could I refuse?" he shrugged meekly.
"My dear, Rinoa!" Raine squealed as she took Rinoa's hands in her's. "You've grown up so much! And as polite as always! Please just Raine and Laguna, and I'm sure you remember Squall."
"Yes, I remember," she glanced at him sideways as he entered the kitchen slowly. "So, what brings you back to Deling City?"
"I got transferred back here. The main office of the company was restationed here so I got sent back as well."
"Where was it you moved to before?"
"Esthar."
"Oh Esthar! That's where Jem comes from." She glanced at their slightly confused faces. "Oh, Jem, uh…Jeremy Scathe, he's my boyfriend."
"Jeremy Scathe?" Squall asked out of newfound interest.
"Yeah, he's here on exchange."
"I see," he stated with a small smile.
"Why?" she queried with a frown of curiousity.
"Jeremy Scathe, wasn't he-"
"-Oh, no reason, Rin," Squall interrupted before his father could finish.
Rinoa threw him another glare. Don't you dare call me Rin.
"Done!" Julia smiled as she turned off the stove and breathed a sigh. "Rinoa will you bring the potatoes to the table, please?"
"I can do that Mrs Caraway," Squall said as he intercepted the bowl of baked potatoes from Rinoa.
"Thankyou, Squall."
"You don't have to suck up to my mother, alright," Rinoa hissed as their parents walked into the dining room adjacent to the kitchen.
"Who says I'm sucking up to anyone?" he replied with feigned naivety as he began to walk, only to be stopped by Rinoa blocking his way. "It's in my nature to be nice, if you'd give me a chance you'd realise that."
"I'll do no such thing, if that's what you're suggesting I do."
"What gave you that idea?" Squall smirked with a slight cock of the head.
Rin looked over her shoulder, making sure the adults were still out of earshot. "I won't hit you in front of the parentals but I swear if you push me I will, I don't care who the audience is."
"Sure you do, you don't want to ruin the perfect little image my parents have of you, do you?" he asked as he stepped past her, this time without interference.
Argh! Damn him!
"Rinoa! Please hurry, we're waiting. Squall, could you please put them down there," Julia smiled as she pointed to an empty spot on the table. "You can sit there next to Rinoa."
"Everything smells delicious Mrs Caraway," he said as he slipped in the chair next to Rinoa.
"Why thankyou! Please, don't be shy."
Squall flashed another smile as Rinoa rolled her eyes and folded her arms.
"So, when do you start school?" Julia asked as Squall served himself.
"I start at Deling Grammar on Monday."
Rinoa frowned at him as she went to serve herself. "What? You're going to my school?"
She received a stern glance from her mother. "Rinoa, don't be rude."
"Sorry," Rin muttered as she sunk back into her seat.
"Yeah, well my old principal recommended it, and apparently it's a good school."
"It's an excellent school," Julia affirmed with a grin.
"If you're not the one actually going there," Rinoa whispered almost inaudibly, though Squall evidently heard as he tried to suppress a laugh.
"It must've been extremely hard for you, leaving all of your friends behind."
"It was really hard leaving all my friends…" his voice trailed as he began to play with his food.
Raine strategically changed the subject, noticing the hurt in her son's voice. "So Julia, what did you think about the beach house idea?"
"I thought it'd be great. When would you want to go up though, I'll have to put in an application for leave."
"Oh you won't have to miss work for too long, we were thinking of going over a weekend and maybe a Monday. So we'd leave on the Friday night, get there on the Saturday morning and leave on the Monday!"
"I could just chuck a sick day then!"
"Um, could I interrupt?" Rinoa asked with a raised fork.
"You just did, idiot," Squall muttered loud enough for only her to hear.
Throwing him a sidelong glare she continued, "Does this in any way involve me? Not to sound self centred or anything."
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Squall mumbled once more, receiving the same response.
"Of course it does, Rinoa. You and Squall. All five of us!" Raine exclaimed as she clasped her hands together.
"Do you mind, um, doing a recap? What's all this about?"
"Oh, I mustn't have of told you-" Julia began.
"-Nope."
"Well Raine suggested that we rent a beach house along the coast for a weekend and just have fun basically. Just us five. I mean, we haven't seen each other for ten years! I think it's a bout time we caught up. I think it's a great idea."
"Yeah it is, I guess. Would I have to miss out on school then?"
"Well it would only be for a day, and you wouldn't be the only one. Squall will be with you."
Rinoa almost dropped her fork. "What?!"
"Umm, I thought they'd made that pretty clear, Rinoa," Squall interjected with a smirk as he continued to eat. "All five of us." His comment receiving the usual glare from the girl adjacent him.
Like I was listening out for your name! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 oh yeah…Squall included does make five…I knew I sucked at maths!
"You'll have a great time!" Laguna put in. "The property is right on the beach front and since school's begun, it'll pretty much be our own private beach! Most of the other properties are empty, so it'll just be us! All we have to do now is pick a date."
"Why don't we make it next weekend? So you don't have to cancel anything you might have planned this weekend," Raine suggested as she swallowed a mouthful of potatoes.
"Oh about this weekend," Rinoa, too, swallowed as she straightened up and put her fork down. "I meant to ask, mom. Irvine's having a party this Saturday…can I go?"
Julia leaned back into her chair to think. "Well…"
"Come on mom. It's Irvine, you know Irvine. You've known him since…well that time Selphie brought him to that party of mine a few years back."
"Who else will be there?"
"Um," Rinoa almost panicked. I'm so not gonna be allowed now! She asked the question, the 'who will be there' question. Screw this up and I can't go! "Well, you know, Irvine, obviously seeing it is his party, Selphie, Quistis, Zell and Seifer and I dunno who else yet."
"Seifer?" Squall asked with slight grin. "Cool." Haven't seen that guy in ages!
"Yeah…" she replied with a tone of defeat as she cast her glance down at her plate.
An unspoken conversation then began between the two friends, Julia and Raine. Julia bit her lip as Raine shrugged.
Do what you want. She's your daughter.
Julia nodded. I know…Her eyes then widened.
Raine cocked her head with a slight frown. What?!
Julia glanced momentarily at Squall who'd been observing the exchange of stares with utter confusion.
Squall! He could go! Julia raised her eyebrows. If you'll let him of course…
Raine nodded her head eagerly. Of course he can go! This'll be a great opportunity for him.
Julia cocked her head slightly. You sure?
Raine responded with another nod. Of course I'm sure.
Julia smiled as she nodded once. Great!
Raine shook her head with a shrug of the shoulders as her glance passed between the two sullen teenagers. What's up with them two anyway? I don't think Rinoa likes Squall too much.
Julia shrugged her shoulders with a roll of the eyes. I don't know. But Rinoa will agree to this. I know her. She smiled knowingly.
Raine then jerked her head in Rinoa's direction. Go on, make the deal! I gotta see this!
"Well, alright." Julia replied nonchalantly as she observed Rinoa's eyes dilating in surprise as she slowly lifted her head to face her mother. Subtly winking at her friend across the table she proceeded in the negotiations. "The only condition is-"
"-Yes?" Rinoa interjected eagerly.
"Squall will go with you."
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A/N-ok…I wanted to update early because I start school next week and I don't know when I'll be able to update again…though hopefully I will be able to in two weeks. Okay? Cool! Now! oh just a side note…just so you all know, I've decided to base their school system on a totally made up one okay? Because I've tried working out the American school system with help from ol' Johnny boy (thanks mate) but its just a little weird for me being an Aussie…so bear with me! Alright! Now! to all of you who reviewed:
Black Demon567-well…lots of 'yays' for you cos you were the first to review! WOOT! Hehehe, wow thanks for the heads up about the italics problems…I tried fixing it up, but either my computer is screwy or ff.net was that day. But thanks so much! Especially for reviewing! I'm all smiles! ^.^
Noacat-hello again m'dear! Thanks for reviewing! Just so you know…this fic won't look like a squinoa for another 5-8 chapters hahaha, but it's a squinoa nonetheless! Thanks again dude! *huggles*
DBH-thanks for the review! ^.^
zornoid13-thanks for the review! Truly brightened my day! I seem to have a thing for love-hate relationships hahaha. XD thanks again!
SabreHero-hey, hey! Thanks for the review! And I updated as soon as I could…but another two weeks before I update again unfortunately…thanks all the same though!
Wcigtdniw-thankyou so much for your review! It absolutely tickled me pink! ^.^ so…find any errors in this chappy? I didn't edit all that well…I'm on holiday mode and still trying to get through a pile of homework the evil teachers gave us for our 'holiday'. Omg! Thanks so much for your verily informative email! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! Ack! I think the whole world should operate around one system…the aussie system hahaha. My friend gave me the idea of making an original school system…so it'll be a fusion betweent he aussie and american school system…so thanks so much for your help! ^.^ *huggles*
island's lily-thanks dude! I updated as fast as I could!
Angelprinczess29-I love the conflict too! Cept in this fic (unlike moonlight) Rinoa is the one in the wrong ;) that's all I'm gonna say hahaha, and I didn't even tell you that alright? *shifty eyes* thanks so much Alex!
Lendmemoni-no! lend me money! I need it! hahaha jokes! Thanks for the review!
angel-brokensorrow-don't worry about sounding heartless…you were right! And Squall really wasn't to blame *shifty eyes* not that I'm hinting anything ;) hahaha shh! Dun tell anyone! Thanks for the reivew!
seth8-thanks for the review! Yeah, I thought the whole dog shit part was original hahaha, though I don't suppose its really happened to anyone…thanks again!
Dark Angels-how's this for soon? Will it suffice?! I hope so! Thanks so much for reviewing!
Wind Chime Bells-back for fic number 3! Thanks so much for reviewing dude! I'm glad it meets your approval ^.^
Baby Rose-thanks for reviewing…and I wasn't gone for *that* long was I? =S hmm…anywaiz…thanks again! hope you liked this chappie!
trekken46- *sings* star trekken across the universe! Hehehe sorry, your nick just got me thinkin of that really old song. Anyhoo! Thanks for reviewing! Hope this chap was alright!
baka_shinji_cookie man- lol! Kamusta ka? That's prolly really wrong, but hey! I dun speak tagalog! Hahaha…salamat! For reviewing hahaha, that's really pathetic eh? So anyway…thanks for reviewing! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long ^.^
Thanks everyone! Please R&R! it would mean a lot to me! Have a nice day! 3 e.t.