Welcome to the chapter 13! Bet you never expected me to make it this far, did you? Well, to all who belived in me, I'd like to spread my humble gratitude. To those who didn't, I'd like to gloat mercilessly until your faces pop! Here it is, enjoy!
It became apparent to me the next day that breaking the Rinoa creatures hold on this Squall would be far harder then I thought. They were always together, and for a long time, they were never left alone in public. People would always rush up and congradulate them on saving the world, or buy them gifts and other things. I needed to get them alone in order to truly pit them against one another. Once they were apart, I'd skillfully maneuver the Squall into my friend Quistis' loving arms. Afterwards, I'd celebrate by, again, skillfully maneuvering Rinoa away from Squall. Maneuver her right over a cliff. Hehehe...
It was about a month or so after they'd returned that thing began settling down for them. For once, Squall and Rinoa were simply alone, sitting by each other in the hall and talking. Well, Rinoa was talking. Squall looked to be ready to drown himself in the water. "And so Angelo does this adorable thing where he gets on his hindlegs and dances! Honest to Hyne, dances!" I could here her laugh. The laugh of evil, to me. Maybe like a rusty knife on glass to Squall.
Stealthfully, I snuck over behind their bench, looking up as Rinoa continued to spout jibberish about dancing dogs and adorabilty factors. But as I stared up, it suddenly occured to me. I have no idea how to make these two fight. After a bit of thinking, I didn the first thing that came to mind. I hopped up, grabbing the edge of the bench and pulling myself up just enough to smack Rinoa over her head. It felt oh so good.
"Ow!" I heard her cry, then look to Squall. "What did you do that for?"
"Do what?" Squall asked, brushing some hair from his face.
"You whacked my upside the head, that's what." She said, looking at him confused. "Didn't you?"
"No." He said simply. Though by the look on his face, the thought had crossed his mind. More then once.
Rinoa rubbed the back of her head. "Weird. Maybe the Garden's haunted."
"Probably." Squall shrugged.
"Ohh, Squally. Protect me from the oggie-boogies." Rinoa whined, hugging his arm tightly. Well that didn't work. If anything, it tossed her further into him. I tried again, this time hitting Squall in the head.
He rubbed the back of his head, looking to Rinoa. "Hey, I said I didn't do anything." He said sternly.
"I didn't say you did." Rinoa blinked.
"Then why did you hit me?" He asked.
"I didn't." She said, looking around. "Lousy ghosts, hitting my man. You show yourself, ya spooks and get ready to pay for hitting my Squall!" She yelled as she jumped up.
"Crazy..." Squall sighed, rubbing his eyes and letting his head lean back.
Well crap, hitting him doesn't work either. Ok, physical abuse is out of the question, as fun as it is. Perhaps something a little more mental. Oh well, I suppose I'll just have to try tomorrow. It's lunch time right now, and this ton's hungry.
I managed to get away without being seen, trotting into the lunchroom and looking up. The lunch ladies couldn't see me, and I couldn't very well see the lunch ladies. People passed by, giving me an occasional glance. "Help..." I managed to say in my little whisp of a voice, holding up my arms.
"Oh, hey, buddy." I heard someone say behind me. The man-woman Irvine stood there, crouching down and picking me up. "You hungry little guy?" I nodded in response and he carried me over to the lunch line.
"Well, if it isn't out favorite little green friend." One lunch lady said. That's right, even the lunch ladies think I'm adorable. Who am I to argue?
"Howdy ladies. What's the special today?" Irvine asked.
"Mac and cheese and ham sandwitches." One woman smiled. Mac and cheese? Why would this Mac person want himself covered and cheese, then eaten? Odd human foods.
"Alright, gimme two. There's cheese on the sandwitch, right?" He asked.
"No, sorry hon." She smiled. "But there just might be for a certine cowboy." She said with a small wink.
We were handed our food, Irvine carrying me over to a table and sitting down. I could smell the food clearly. It smelled delicious, and tasted even better once I began eating. This 'mac and cheese' was absolutly divine. "So what's your tiny self doing out and about with Mrs. Trepe or Selphie?" Irvine asked me.
"Plans..." I told him, gesturing to the door. "Squall. Rinoa. Bad mix." I said, shaking my head. "Break. Squall with Quistis." I nodded, giving a small cough. I'd never tried to speak so much in such a short amount of time.
"What? You're trying to break Squall and Rinoa up to get Squall with Quistis?" Irvine asked, disbeliving.
I nodded. "Quistis sad. Squall make Quistis happy." I said as I took a bite of my sandwitch.
"I dunno, little man. That's a pretty hefty thing to do. Rinoa's closer to Squall then she is to her own skin. But..." He said, looking around then leaning in. "Selphie and I have noticed how Squall's been acting lately. He's reverted to sub-zero tempretures, while Rinoa's just blahing his ear off." He gave a small nod before taking a bite of his food. "You might wanna talk to Quistis about this, though. If she really does want Squall, I doubt she'd want him after a forced break up. She'd want him to come to her, not have him shoved to her at gun point."
"Knife point." I said, holding up my knife and waving it a bit.
"Whatever. The point is, Squall needs to figure this out on his own." Irvine said.
"Figure what out?" Squall asked from behind him. Wait. Squall? Oh crap...
"This little guy's trying to split you and Rinoa up." Irvine laughed, that bumbled mouthed man-woman.
"Right..." Squall said, reaching out and patting his head. "Little guy, the jaws of life couldn't get her off me."
"What about her off you?" Irvine asked, chomping down into his sandwitch.
Squall shrugged. "I kinda feel the same way, I guess." He said. "We're doing alright. We...talk a lot and...she takes me shopping."
"For stuff you don't want?" Irvine asked.
"Scented candles." Squall said simply, resting his head on the table. I don't see what's wrong with that, however. Quistis has scented candles lit all the time when she's reading at night.
I finished my food, waving to Squall and Irvine as I walked away. I went back to Quistis' room to see if she was there. Sure enough, she was. It was after classes. She'd come back everyday and try to find something to busy herself with. Reports that needed grading, a book to read, even cleaning up. Which she never really needed. Dust feared her room. "Oh, hello little one." She said surpsingly, jumping up from the bed and quickly walking to the bathroom. Her voice sounded pained, as if she were about to cry, or were already crying. I hopped up on her bed, sitting down as she walked out. "Any new adventures today?" She asked as she came out. Her eyes were red and a puffy, clear signs that she'd be crying.
"No..." I told her, shaking my head. "Normal. Dull."
"Aww." She cooed, walking over and pulling me into her lap. She hugged me for a while before she broke the silence with a sigh, then spoke up. "Hey. Can you keep a secret?" She asked, looking down at me.
I nodded. It's not like anyone would belive anything I had to say, anyway. Being cute is a double edged sword apparently. Sure it gets you noticed and liked, but people don't really take you seriously.
"Well..." She said, shifting to rest against the wall next to her bed. "As you may have already found out, I have...feelings for one of my students. "
"Squall." I said, looking up at her.
She nodded and brushed some hair from her face. "I watched him grow up, helped him learn the thing he would need to survive. I've seen him fight, bleed, even laugh and cry. But...apparently friends don't make good companions for love. Total strangers, who're compleatly opposite of what they're like and have no idea how they lived their lives are!" She said in a surpsingly mad tone. She blushed, compsing herself quickly. "But, if she makes him happy, then I suppose that's all I need."
I blinked and reached into my sleeve, taking out my knife. "Get Rinoa?" I asked, pointing to the knife.
"Oh. No no no n-" She stopped, then shook her head. "No dear. I don't want her hurt. Just..." She sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes. "I just want to be with him. I wanted to be the one to find that special place in his heart, to walk with him in the sunshine. But...I guess that'll all just be a wonderful dream."
I felt a sharp pain in my heart, like nothing I'd ever felt before. Quistis was head over heels in love with Squall, and here she couldn't do anything, because Squall was being latched onto by that...Rinoa creature. "Sorry..." I said, feeling myself start to cry as well.
"It's alright. Nothing you need to apologize for. " She said, sniffing a bit. "I suppose, in time, I'll learn to just...forget those feelings and maybe fall for someone else. Someone within my expectations. I'll always love Squall, but...his love is already taken."
That was it. I was now more determined then ever to try and get Quistis and Squall together. I couldn't stand seeing her like this. It hurt too much, for the both of us. I shifted and stood, patting her arm. "Squall yours. I'll make." I said with a small smile.
"You?" She asked, then petted my head. "Little one, I..."
"Rinoa." I said, shaking my head. "Squall. Bad mix. You. Squall. Best mix." I smiled again, giving her a thumbs up. "Squall yours. Get help. All friends. Help you."
And that, as they say, is that for this chapter. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did typing it. Review, or Tonberry will cry! ;;