Disclaimer: Usual... not mine... I wish... blah blah blah...
Author's Note: Writer's block is a bitch. That's all I have to say. Just thought I'd share. xD
Rainy Days: Chapter 5 - Meeting You Today, at the Cafe
"Selph," I said gathering books and binders in my hand and stuffing some into my bag. "I appreciate your wanting to help me with my love life and all, but honey, I just don't like him." I grabbed a final binder that I carried and we walked out of my room, heading down to our classes.
"He really likes you though, Rin!" she exclaimed was we climbed down the stairs and out the door.
No kidding, the guy was practically stalking me the other day. We walked out of the building and into the sun. I slipped on sunglasses that I had perched up on my head.
"Listen," she said seriously while we waited for the street light to change. "Zell used to have hard time with relationships according to Irvy. He didn't have very many loyal companions apparently."
The light changed and we crossed the street.
"I guess that makes sense..." I mumbled to myself.
"What?"
"Nothing," I told her quickly. We kept walking turning a corner here and and crossing the street there, then finally dividing up and walking separate ways to the buildings where our classes were.
"I'll see you later!"
"Yeah. Bye!" I waved to her before crossing another street.
I walked down the stairs and out of the doors of the old, brick building. Finally my last class of the day was over. It was a ritual almost, for me and Selphie to meet at our usual cafe after our classes on the few days that we had them. Irvine and Selphie usually arrived after me together, and on certain days Quistis would join us along with Seifer. Those days seemed rare though, more than usual because while the rest of us had dropped of half our classes to finish up the required classes for term, Quistis loaded up on more. She was working really hard balancing her school work and an internship that she was able to get at a nearby garden. From what I heard Seifer was still there to bug her, but was also what kept her sane.
The cafe was a bit of a walk from my last class that day, but it was a nice, sunny and warm day that you can't help but take advantage of. There were only so many days when you can almost tan and walk around the city at the same time. I pressed the crosswalk button and opened up my bag to find my sunglasses. Just as I found them, a car pulled to a stop right in front of me and the window rolled down. Just my luck...
Ice blue eyes glanced at me when I put my sunglasses on my head instead and walked up to the car. What do I say?
"I'm heading towards the cafe," he said bluntly without even a hello. "If you're headed that way, get in."
I grinned. "How'd you know?"
He shrugged. His eyes studied me while I leaned against the car. 'Are you coming or not?' I could almost hear him think.
I stood up straight and backed up from the car. "Thanks, but... no thanks. It's a nice day, Squall. Take advantage of it while you can."
"I thought you were a rain person," he said, sounding so serious. I could tell by a flicker in his eyes he wasn't though, and was just trying to start a light hearted conversation.
"I can enjoy both the sun and the rain, thank you," I moved my sunglasses from the top of my head to my face. "I'll meet you there."
He nodded and the windows rolled up again. His car sped off down the street.
Apparently taking advantage of the warm day had taken quite a bit of time, because by the time I got to the cafe, Selphie and Irvine were already there looking at some magazine together. I saw Squall hiding in a corner and smiled at him. He nodded in acknowledgement, but didn't seem to want to be noticed yet.
I ordered at the counter quickly, adding on to Selphie and Irvine's orders, and sat down with them. Selphie jumped up at once and began flipping through pages to show me the many things that she wanted, ranging from jewelry and perfume to bright yellow chocobo pajamas that she just "needed her precious Irvy to be buy for her on her birthday."
I laughed when she pointed out to me that they were "foot pajamas too! Oh Irvy, I need these!" He nodded but looked like he winced a bit when he looked at the price. Selphie continued to point out things to me flipping back and forth in the magazine.
"A bit slow today, huh Rin?" Irvine more stated than asked. I looked up for a second and smiled a bit, nodding. I turned my head down to continue looking at the magazine with Selphie when my cell phone went off in my purse. She went quiet for a second, and moved over to Irvine so they could look together some more.
"Hello?" I said pleasantly into the phone, turning away from the table so I didn't disturb them.
"Think it's safe to pay a visit?" a deep voice asked. Typical, no hello. I rolled my eyes and looked over to the corner where he sat with a grin.
"I don't know..." I drew out slowly, turning away from him. "She might rip your head off..."
"She being you?"
"Er-" It was a joke Squall... I looked over at him again and saw his eyes laughing at me. I got you! they screamed. Of course, being Squall, his face didn't show it except for a small smirk that barely showed up on his face.
I tutted into the phone and leaned back. "I'll see you soon," I told him sweetly and hung up on him. He looked at his phone and flipped it closed, shoving it in his pocket. I turned back in my seat to face Irvine and Selphie glaring at me from the corner of their eyes almost as if saying, "You're leaving us already?"
When Squall came over, he didn't say anything. He just coughed to get their attention while they were making faces at me. Selphie's jaw dropped. Before I could say a word to Squall, or see Irvine's expression, she grabbed my arm and pulled me to the bathrooms. I heard her say a few 'excuse me's here and there while she dragged me.
Finally she threw me through the doors and paused, solidly shutting the door and then checking the stalls to see if anyone was there. Then she turned around and grabbed my shoulders. "Are you okay!" she asked quickly.
My eyebrow rose and my mouth opened but she cut me off.
"No! - of course you aren't okay!" she gave a big huff and started ranting - although none of it made sense from her point of view. "Who does he think he is, coming into our lives like this? He must've broken up with what's her face and decided to come crawling back because no one was there for him. Oh boo hoo - oh ho ho, I'm Squall and I'm useless and pathetic-"
My hand found it's way to her mouth somehow and clamped it shut. Her eyes widened and she looked as though she would go mad. "Selphie..." I started to explain. I loosened my grip a bit and slowly let her breathe. "It's okay. Squall and I--"
"What do you mean it's okay!" she burst out.
My hand flew over her mouth again and she began to struggle to get free of the grip around her lips. "What are you getting so worked up about this Selph? He's my ex, not yours."
She suddenly stopped struggling. I let go again, ready to shoot my hand back if needed. "Oh yea..." she breathed out as it dawned on her. Then her nose wrinkled up and she was confused. "I thought you-"
"We worked it out already," I said, knowing exactly what she would ask. Her eyes lingered on me skeptically. I smiled, knowing again what she was thinking. "He caught me playing in the rain again the other day. I kind of invited him in since it was raining, and we ended up catching up rather than hating each other." I shrugged. "We definitely aren't back together, but... we have no hard feelings."
She nodded in understanding and walked over to the door, unlocking it. I stared at it, confused for a second. When'd she lock the door?
"Rin? You coming, or what?"
"Huh? Yeah! Just a sec..." I glanced at the door one last time before going back to the table with her.
Apparently the fact that I used to despise Squall never registered in Irvine's mind. When we got back, he and Squall were sitting and laughing and talking casually the same way that they did when we were all together. Our orders had come already, sitting on the table between Irvine and Squall.
"My, my, have you girls prettied yourselves up nicely..." Irvine said in a western drawl. He didn't talk like that all the time, but he liked to play cowboy whenever flirting with Selphie - which was really about three-fourths of the time.
"Silly, we didn't pretty ourselves up," Selphie said, wrinkling her nose and pinching Irvine's.
I leaned over to Squall's ear. "I told you... so in love it makes me sick sometimes..." I sang softly into his ear. He chuckled and raised his eyebrows in agreement. I giggled softly with him.
"I see you two are getting along well," Irvine said, back in his normal tone of voice. He tipped his usual cowboy hat on his head. "Any chance I'll be seeing you two in a double date with us soon?"
"Not a chance," I answered in a giggle. Squall didn't answer, but he seemed to agree. Then again... maybe-I'm not him, I wouldn't know... Noticing an awkward silence passing through, I quickly added unconsciously, "Besides - didn't you want me to date that other guy?"
Irvine stayed quiet for a moment to take a sip from his cup. "Selphie tells me you two aren't really getting along."
My head snapped over to Selphie, but I forced my eyes to quickly divert back to Irvine. "Umm..."
"Rin, he's a nice guy and all, but if you don't want to date him then don't. He'll understand. Squall's a good guy too you know."
"Oh... uhm..." I scratched the back of my head uneasily. "I'll just talk to Zell and-"
"Hey Rin!" You've got to be kidding me...
A big grin was on his face as he walked over to our table. Irvine got up and they did their manly handshake-hug thing. To my surprise, Squall got up as well, and didn't seem to need introductions.
"What th-- I mean..." I shook my head. Think happy thoughts... not bad... not a total disaster... "Oh, you've met." I said sweetly. What the hell was that?
"Yeah, Squall and I go way back," Zell said, punching his arm. He didn't seem to notice the fake overly sweetness that was in my voice. "Partners in crime, yah?"
Squall put down his cup. "I wouldn't really say that..."
"Yeah huh! We did everything together man!"
"You followed me everywhere." This shut Zell right up. He didn't look too upset, but his pride was definitely wounded a bit. Typical Squall... guess you haven't changed that much.
"I have to get going," Squall announced, standing up. "Thanks for letting me join you guys. It was good catching up man." He said to Irvine.
"No problem," I said softly. No one else said anything though, so he clearly heard me and smiled. He walked out the door swinging car keys pulled out of his pocket.
"I gotta get going too," Zell added. You liar - you just don't want to sit next to me! My eyes narrowed. "I'll catch you guys later!" He ran over to the counter and ordered something quickly then left. Not without glancing at me everything 3 seconds of course. Once he rounded the corner, I let out a breath that I didn't even realize I was holding.
"Interesting day," I said.
"Really?" Irvine and Selphie asked in unison. Their eyes were wide and they were truly confused. They both thought I was crazy, I could see it in their eyes.
"Er... no. I meant interesting.. um, afternoon." I stressed, hoping that would make sense. They nodded along, but I could tell they only partly agreed with me.
"Squall and I split the bill already, so don't worry about it Rin," Irvine said when I fished for my wallet in my bag.
"Thanks," I smiled gratefully.
He and Selphie led us out. As we were about to separate and walk off in different directions, Irvine turned around and smiled at me. "By the way Rin," he said, tipping his hat, "Have fun tomorrow!"
He and Selphie walked off without even glancing back.
Tomorrow? What's happening tomorrow?
I walked home praying that whatever was happening tomorrow didn't have anything to do with Zell. I still don't forgive him for everything yet.