Author's Note: Eh, I'm ranting near the end this time. xD Sorry for how long this chapter took! Not only did I do this between school work and activities, but I had some trouble with writer's block for a while...

Rainy Days - Chapter Eleven

Standard disclaimers apply

Squall was accepted by everyone pretty easily. Not that he wouldn't have been anyway. He was, after all, one of our best friends. The fact that he was actually dating me now didn't change anything at all - we were the closest anyway. Apparently, to Quistis and Selphie, we had been flirting with each other for the longest time. I just wouldn't admit that I missed him, and he was hesitant about getting close to me. Each time they mentioned it, I denied that I was secretly in love with him for all those months that he was back, even though I knew it was kind of true.

Nothing really happened for a while. There were ups and downs obviously, mostly in school more than anything. Some days felt like weeks while others were like minutes; other than stressful classes and lack of sleep on certain days, life was pretty good. Sure, it was kind of boring at times (really boring, actually), but it was nice to have them. It was really nice to not have any sudden bursts of emotion or crazy stalker phone calls. I was able to sit down with my boyfriend and hang out, having a good time. I finally got the normal life that I had wanted.

"So..." Selphie excitedly came up behind me one day. "The big one month today, huh?"

"I can't believe you keep track of that," I laughed, rolling my eyes. I adjusted my scarf and bangs that hit my face as a huge gust of wind blew by. Leaves flew all around us as we walked down the street towards the cafe. "Even I don't keep track of it. And it's my own anniversary!"

We laughed together, and she pretended to pout. "You're so unromantic, Rin," she said, making huge, dramatic movements with her hands. "Aren't you doing anything special for your one month?"

I faked thought for a moment while holding on to the door handle of the cafe. "Um... not really," I laughed, opening the door for her. She walked in and sat down on one of the high stools in the middle of the cafe.

"You're such a boring couple, you know that?" 1

I waved at the workers behind the counter, signaling for our usual. "We are not boring."

"Yeah you are," she said, waving her hand. "If you were exciting, you'd find more romance in more places! Like me and Irvine. Next week is our two months and five months! He's taking me for dinner at Alki Beach."

"Wow," was all I could say. One of the workers brought some cookies to us and interrupted us for a moment. I thanked her as she walked away before biting into a cookie.

"What do you mean, 'wow.' It's going to be awesome! Last month he took me out to pier and for our big two year anniversary he took me out on one of the ferries for a romantic night," she sighed, getting a dreamy look in her eyes. After a couple moments of cookie munching (on my part), she snapped out of it and shook her head. "Why don't you guys do something?"

"Like what?" I asked, half a cookie stuffed in my mouth. I swallowed. "Go bowling for our one month anniversary? Oh wow!"I shook my head, laughing.

She frowned. "You're no fun. You really should do something!"

"This conversation's getting a bit repetitive," I mumbled to myself, stuffing a third cookie into my mouth. "Like what Selphie? Throw me some ideas."

"I don't know," she started. "Like a special dinner in that Italian restaurant -"

"Done it," I replied. "Twice."

"No, you were doubled with me and Irvy, and then Quisty and Seifer," she argued back quickly. "Or maybe you could take a moonlight stroll somewhere. Like that park by Central Street. Course you'd have to drive all the way down there first, but it's totally worth it with the whole moonlight by the lake! It's too bad we don't have any beaches really nearby... but it's almost December, so you don't want to go to a beach anyway... but there's still so much, like..."

A waitress stopped by with our orders and receipt. I smiled, thanking her again, and laughed, taking a sip out of my cup of coffee.

"Selphie," I said firmly, getting her attention. She was still talking about the many things that she and Irvine had done in the past that we could've done. "I think we'll be okay just hanging out in my apartment tonight."

"But Rinny!" she pouted. "This is big! This is the one month that you've surpassed without any fights and stuff!"

"But Selphie..." I said, trying to be as kind as possible. "One month is nothing compared to one year. And besides, if you add it all up, we've been together for like... three years."

She sighed, picking up her own coffee and drinking some. "True... but still. Nothing? At all?"

"Yeah," I said, scrunching up my nose and smiling. "Just us hanging out tonight. Like we always do. That's it."

She stared back blankly in reply.

"What?" I asked. "I think it's good. It'd gives me a sense of normalcy and comfort."

She huffed. "And I thought Quistis and Seifer were boring..."

The door bell rang at seven o'clock exactly. Squall always had some weird way of knowing exactly when to leave and exactly when he would arrive somewhere. It was a bit unnerving at first. But I got used to it after a while. After being away from him for two years, I had totally forgotten about his timing.

I jumped off of my bed and walked out of the door of my bedroom to open the front door. 2

"Hey you," I said as I opened the door, running my fingers through my hair. He smiled back and brushed his lips against my cheek. Squall was always a bit sensitive about that. He never really kissed me unless the timing was just right. I led him to the living room area

"Ah," he said as he sat on the couch, picking up one of many thick books that were scattered around the apartment. "Advanced Physics. My favorite."

I laughed, hiding my face in shame. I was so comfortable around Squall that I never really bothered cleaning up and making myself look nice in front of him. Even at that moment I was wearing my school sweatshirt and shorts.

"Sorry!" I laughed. "I was cramming for exams. Two days from now. All at once. It's driving me crazy." I turned right and into the kitchen. "Is Pepsi okay?"

"Yeah," he said, looking over at me. I grabbed some cups and coasters and cans and walked over to sit by him.

He was still looking at my notes. I bit my lip as I took them out of his hands and stacked them on the table. "Sorry again."

"It's fine," he said, still looking at them. "Really. Do you want me to help?"

"Nah, I'll cram some more later. I still have a day," I pulled my legs up on the couch and sat crisscrossed facing him. I sat there kind of bobbing my head or nodding for a while, before laughing to myself. He smiled along. "I don't think we've ever been so quiet or uncomfortable around each other before," I laughed.

He raised his eyebrows, agreeing, and adjusted his position on the couch. "Same," he said, pausing. "Why aren't we?"

"Because Selphie reminded me of something about us and it keeps me thinking," I told him honestly, shaking my head. He stared at me funnily for a moment, as I spit it all out as one long sentence. It took him a moment to process it before it clicked in his mind.

"So," he started, confused. "What was that something she reminded you about?"

I sighed, slightly embarrassed to tell him that I had forgotten. I bit my lip shyly. "It's our one month anniversary today."

"I know," he said. He shrugged. "Rinoa... one month isn't that big of a stepping stone... is it?"

"That's what I said!" I laughed. I rolled my eyes. "Then Selphie went on about how 'Oh of course it is Rinoa! You haven't seen him for two years and now you've been together for a month!'"

"We've been through longer."

"We have."

We fell silent again. Usually we could think of billions of things to talk about - little details and jokes that we had missed during the two years he was gone. But on the one important-ish night we had together, we couldn't. There wasn't anything we had to say to each other.

In the end I let him help me study for all of my exams. We covered just about every part of my apartment; I had somehow spread all of my notes out well enough to make them into stations, so each 'station' was a class and we worked on each subject for about half an hour to forty-five minutes. It had been Squall's idea, so that I could study more in dept in each subject. As boring as it sounded, it was kind of fun, though after a while he started hitting me in the head as I insisted that my brain was in meltdown mode. But then I'd pout and we'd laugh together, and then we'd go right back into studying. It was a nice way to spend time together, and bond with him... but it wasn't exactly how I had envisioned my anniversary. It was at first... but then Selphie put all those ideas in my head. I blamed her for everything. For making me wish that my 'big' one month meant more than it really did.

I got to the cafe the next morning where Selphie sat waiting.

"Rinny!" she excitedly jumped up and pulled me down to the table. "So... how was it?"

"How was what?" I asked, flipping through my bag for a notebook. We still had a while before classes, and although the exams weren't until a whole day later, I always kept notes nearby for studying.

"Duh! Your one month with lover boy!" she exclaimed as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh," I breathed out, shrugging. "That. Like I said, we were just hanging out."

"Doing anything special late at night?" she asked jokingly.

"No," I rolled my eyes. "We just studied for my exams."

She stared at me with her mouth open. "You really are a boring couple," she said with a blank look on her face.

"Selphie says we're boring," I tattled to Squall later that day. We were at an ice cream shop not too far from the cafe, stopping by for some brain fuel. "She says we're even boringer than Quistis and Seifer. Is 'boringer' even a word?" I asked after a pause.

"No," he replied with a laugh. I blew at raspberry at him and dug back into my sundae.

"Can that even happen?" he asked out of nowhere, ice cream spoon halfway to his mouth. "I mean... can anyone be any more boring than they are?" I slapped his arm lightly.

"Squall! They're not boring! They're just... mature."

"And we're not?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Wait, I take that back. I'm not?"

My jaw dropped (fake-like and jokingly) with ice cream still in it.

"Are you saying I'm immature, mister?" I asked in sort of a mumble. I swallowed after I finished speaking.

"Yeah, I think so," he joked back.

I sat up straight, readying myself for an awesome comeback line... but I couldn't think of one. So I just hit him again.

"You're really good at that, you know that?" he said, rolling his eyes. I could never hit him hard enough to get him to even wince.

"You're mean."

"That's life," he shrugged, finishing up his ice cream. "Are you done yet?"

"No!" I laughed, pulling my sundae away from him as he reached over trying to scoop some. After a few moments of eating, I spoke up again. "Doesn't it bother you that we're considered boring?"

He shrugged again, shaking his head. "Not really. Should it?"

Typical guy. "No... it shouldn't matter too much. It's just..." I frowned, pausing. I wasn't sure how to continue. I did agree with him in a way. It wasn't like it was that bad of a thing.

"Do you want to do more things?" he asked me.

"Well..." again, I paused. It was weird to reply 'Yes! I want to do more!' when in truth, I was already comfortable the way we were.

"We can," he said, sitting up more. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

Why hadn't I told him? I couldn't find an answer to that either. It never really occurred to me that we were boring... it never really mattered that we didn't do everything Selphie and Irvine did. Not until Selphie pointed it out anyway. I shrugged in reply. "Never mind," I said sighed. "We don't need to."

"Rinoa," he said sternly, leaning on the table. "Do you or do you not feel like we need to do more?"

I made a face. It would've been a lot of fun if we had done more. But then it felt stupid to think about answering like that. I felt like I was being put under a hot spotlight to answer a really stupid question.

"Just forget about it, Squall," I said softly, trying to put on a smile. I pushed my sundae cup to the center of the table. It was mostly gone anyway. There was only about half a scoop left. I got up and picked up my purse, reaching for his hand. "Come on, let's go," I said.

He wouldn't budge.

"Rinoa..." he scowled, pulling his hand out of mine and getting up on his own. "Are you feeling insecure about our relationship already?"

"No!" I nearly shouted back almost immediately, glaring at him. He began to walk towards the door. I made a face and ran after him as he got out on the streets. "Hey!"

"Hey what?" he asked, fixing his jacket as he walked. I grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"What are you getting so worked up about?" I asked him irritably.

"Nothing," he answered. He didn't even try to hide the bit of anger that showed on his face though. "There's nothing to be mad about."

He began to walk off again. Once again I had to grab him by the arm and pull him back.

"Squall!" I cried, making him face me. "I told you, I'm not insecure about our relationship!"

"Who said anything about that?" he asked. "Heaven forbid we have a healthy relationship."

"Squall, that was uncalled for," I asked, spitting out whatever was on the top of my head. "You know every relationship has its disagreements at first. Our relationship is just f-"

"We were together for years Rin," he said, beginning to walk again. "Years. I think - or at least thought - we got over our troubles already. Apparently not."

"Squall!" I called to him, running to catch up. "We are over our troubles!"

"Then why are you insecure?"

"I'm no-"

"You are," he said, stopping and facing me. I stopped just before running into him. "You are. You never answer that fast after a guilty conversation. You feel insecure about us."

I stood there, not knowing out to respond. I shook my head and opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The only thing that came out were little pools of tears that were forming in my eyes. Only a month had passed... how could this already happen?

"Just go, Rinoa," he said as he walked to the nearby subway station. "I'll see you later."

It was only halfway through the day. I still had classes left to go to and errands to get done. Halfway through the day, and my day was already like crap. I managed to finish up my day without a problem though, allowing myself to be engulfed by the work. I took notes in class, though they never really sank into my head. My professors' lectures and recommendations for our exams all went in one ear and out my right hand. I did everything asked of me blankly, not entirely paying attention but still getting it done correctly. I couldn't focus at all, and skipped out on the usual group meeting at the cafe, walking home instead.

I was alone. For the first time in weeks - months - I walked home alone. I always walked with Squall or Selphie or Quistis, or all of them, including Seifer and Irvine. But for the first time, I walked home alone. I found myself wrapped in work again, hoping to push Squall to the back of my mind.

I cleaned the house, did all of my homework early (for once) and even ordered myself Chinese food that I sat down and watched TV with. Unfortunately, nothing stayed in my mind. What happened on Lost that night? I don't remember. What did I order for dinner? Something edible and rice. What classes did I take and have homework in? I'd have to check my schedule. Why couldn't Squall and I just say those words that would've made everything better? I'm sorry.

I went to bed still numb from the day. I was exhausted, but sleep took forever to come. I always told myself to never get too wrapped up with a guy. I always told myself that whatever happened, I wouldn't devote myself to a man and revolve my world around him. I was going to be an independent woman, and also manage my relationship. I didn't need a man to live my life. We could live together, without getting clingy and think of each other 24-hours a day. I told myself that when we split, I wouldn't cry and weep over him - he was just a boy.

I lied. I was wrong. I was lost.

The alarm clock rang the next morning at eight. I pushed myself out of bed and went through my usual routine for the morning. I purposely hurried through it though, and ate an extra small breakfast consisting of an apple so that I could get out of my apartment and down to my classes without running into anyone I knew. It didn't work.

On my way down the stairs, I ran smack into Selphie.

"Rinoa!" she exclaimed as our books and papers flew through the air. "What's the hurry?"

I shook my head as we collected out books, not sure how to answer. "Nothing, Selph. I just... need to get going. I'll see you around!" I waved and walked around her, trying to speed down the stairs once again.

"Rinny!" she called after me, grabbing my arm before I could get very far. "Rin, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said calmly, trying to shake her hand off of my arm. "I'm just running a bit behind today."

"I'm here twenty minutes earlier than usual," she said to me worriedly. "Rinny, what's wrong?

"I'm fine," I insisted. I finally got my arm from her and stepped down a single stair. "I'll see you around, okay?"

"Will you be at the cafe today?" she asked before I could speed off.

"I don't know. We'll see. It depends on how much work my teachers decide to give me," I lied to her. It was only a little white lie. I wasn't going to get homework. It was the day of my exams; I wouldn't have gotten anything.

She nodded and finally let me go. I waved as I hopped quickly from step to step.

"Rinoa, Squall was looking for you yesterday!" she called down from above. I looked up at her trying to keep a blank face, though I could feel myself slowly frowning. She stared down at me as well, not moving from her step on the stairs. "He seemed worried. Tell me what's going on later... okay?"

I nodded (even though she probably couldn't even see me), and walked on. When I pushed the door to the street open, I ran into yet another person, though my books didn't scatter.

"Ah! Sorry!" I apologized as I recomposed myself. I looked up at the person and immediately shut up.

Squall's blue eyes looked down on me, cold yet caring. He opened his mouth to speak, but I put my hand up to stop him.

"I have to get going," I said to him softly, and brushed by him like he was just any old person on the street. I ran quickly down the street and to my classes, disregarding my feelings. If he had run after me, I wouldn't have known. I never once looked back.

Throughout the day, I felt like someone was watching me everywhere I went. I could never tell where it was coming from, but I could definitely feel the stare that pierced through the book shelves and watched me pull the third book from the left out. Despite our situation, I was sure it wasn't Squall. Squall never stared at anyone, much less follow someone around. I knew him for too long. I knew exactly what his eyes felt like when they were on me.

I hurried home at the end of the day, not even bothering to stop by the cafe. Even if I didn't have exams, I wouldn't have gone near the place. I had a feeling that Squall would've been there. Had it been any other boy, I wouldn't have cared less. But it was Squall, and there was something about the fact that we had fought that I couldn't get over. I couldn't see him right away.

Even while I walked the streets I felt like I was being followed. Once I got near my building though, the feeling seemed to disappear. I walked to my door and found someone waiting for me by my door.

"We need to talk."

I nodded. "Yeah."

I opened the door to my apartment and led the way in, dropping off my books and bags in my bedroom and setting out some drinks in the kitchen.

"I heard about what happened."

"How?" I asked. "He didn't tell you, did he?"

"Not really," she said. "I sort of figured it out."

I half sighed, half laughed. "I should've known. You are our resident genius."

She shrugged in reply, taking a sip out of the cup of orange juice I had set down in front of her.

I took a seat across from her as well. "So what've you figured out so far?"

"You two got in a fight," she said, setting down the cup. "And both feel guilty, because it was probably something small."

I nodded. She was right so far.

"There's not much else to figure out, is there?"

"No," I sighed. "Not really."

"But you're having a hard time dealing with it, right?"

"Yeah." I paused. "You know, I was thinking that I'd be pouring my heart out to you about how horrible our situation is... Squall and I haven't fought in years! Then again, we weren't together for a while too... but still, I never thought we'd have an argument just like that, you know?"

She nodded along with me, and listened as I ranted for about five minutes.

"I guess it just... shocked me that we could still fight, and we could feel insecurities in our relationship. I guess... I felt that we weren't as close as we used to be or something, and that made him think that I didn't trust him anymore. But then, neither of us said the right things and in the end, it all... fell." I dropped my hands in a falling action, and looked back up at Quistis. "Wait... that's not right. Hang on..."

"You really would have a hard time living without me, wouldn't you?" she joked. I laughed and winced a bit.

"This isn't exactly the best time to crack a joke, you know."

"You needed it," she said with a smile. "You really just needed to face the facts and admit it. Not talking to anyone just made you bottle up all those nerves of yours. Come back to the cafe tomorrow and meet up with Squall. You've already told me everything, right?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Then come to the cafe tomorrow," she said with a shrug. "That was the only thing that was holding you back. You'll see. Tomorrow you'll both be fine."

I smiled at her. I didn't like the idea of seeing him much. But she was the resident genius after all, and she and Seifer seemed to be working out just perfectly. "How do you know?"

"I took psychology in high school," she said with a shrug. "I'm surprising myself as well. I haven't told you at all about the brain activities or anything."

I stared at her. "You're not going to lecture me about my emotional hormones and whatnots are you?"

"Would you like me to?"

"No."

I didn't believe her at first, but Quistis was right. We talked for a while longer before she left. I tried to explain my situation to her, though I didn't know it too well myself. Afterwards though, I didn't feel the urge to bury myself in work anymore, and I found myself thinking about Squall rather than avoiding him. I thought about all the different ways that I could tell him I was sorry, to apologize if I made him feel terrible... it was all I thought about for hours. I had a whole conversation planned out by the time I ate dinner - I knew Squall too well. I knew exactly what he was going to say. I liked to pretend that I did anyway.

I was laying on my bed reading, even though I wasn't entirely focused. My mind still switched to Squall every ten minutes, my hand held piece of pizza and my mouth took a bite every so often. Usually I was the ultimate multitasker, but I wasn't so that night. The phone rang just as I finished my pizza.

I pushed myself off of my bed and washed my hands quickly in the sink before walking to the living room and picking up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello princess..." an eerily sweet voice answered back.

My bad stiffened. "Who is this?" I asked. "What do you want?"

"Is this how you answer the phone? What terrible habits. What makes you think I want something from you?"

I winced at the sugar coated tone the man on the other line used. "Who are you!" I asked loudly into the phone.

The voice only laughed cruelly back. "It doesn't matter... are you scared angel? You sound so scared to me..."

My heart was beating quicker by the minute. My breathing was shallow and loud, and I could no longer hide the fear. The eyes... someone was following me...

"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "Why won't you answer me and leave me alone?"

The voice chuckled again. "It doesn't matter angel... all that matters is you and your little prince charming... Squally, right?"

I breathed in sharply.

"What, did you think I didn't watch you, angel?" he continued to mock me.

"You freak..." I whispered into the phone. "You're insane! You need help-"

"Your little boyfriend might be the one who needs help tonight, angel... tell him to watch his back," he hissed back.

His statement sent chills down my spine. "Stop calling me. Leave me alone!"

I hung up on him and slammed the phone on to its cradle. My hand hovered over the phone. Tell him to watch his back...

I couldn't get the caller off of my mind. I still had no idea who it was, but it bothered me more than anything. It was clear that the psycho stalker caller was more than just a caller... the eyes that followed me.

I picked up the phone and quickly dialed Squall's number.

"Come on... pick up the phone, Squall... pick up pick up..." I mumbled as it connected and rang. It took at least four rings before he finally picked up.

"Hello?" his deep, lazy voice answered.

"Squall!" I exclaimed. I took a deep breath and leaned against the wall, calming myself. He was okay.

"Rinoa?" he asked, suddenly confused. "What's wrong?"

"I--" I paused. I couldn't just tell him. Not on the phone. "Nothing's... really wrong. Squall, don't worry about me."

"Do you want me to go ov-"

"No!" I yelled at him before I realized he had no idea what was going on. "No," I said more calmly. "I... stay put, Squall. I just... I'll be over in a bit, okay?"

"Rinoa, what's going on?"

"I don't know," I told him half-truthfully. "But I need to be there with you. Right now."

"Okay," he said softly into the phone. "I'll be waiting."

A/N: I swear, I was thinking about the fluff that I promised you. ... but I change my mind. X I can't let this story run on forever. Then it's just... bad. Stories kind of lose their magic if you let them run on for too long, you know? So there's probably about one or two more chapters of fluffy stuffs and filler, and that's it. I apologize on how strangely written this chapter is. o.O I tried my best.

Notes:
1 - "You're such a boring couple, you know that?" - inspired by me and my friends. Maybe other people do it too. I don't know. This is like a daily conversation between me and my best friends. We have a way of communicating with each other using insults and sarcasm. For example.. "My god this book is boring!" "You're boring." Many other parts of the dialogue in this chapter are inspired by us as well. Like the unnecessary offerings of explanations, blunt replies of "no" and the random jokes at inappropriate times.
2 - Rinoa's apartment - Hmm... has anyone watched Beautiful People on ABC Family before? I loved the show while it was on. Don't ask me why. xD It wasn't even realistic for the most part. Anyway, I fell in love with their apartment. It was so cute... so think that if you would like a visualization.