Sweet Music
Chapter Four: Honest Mistake
By PasifiKStaR
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or anything associated with it.
"Squall! Squall, wait!"
His booted feet padded heavily on the concrete steps of the stair well as their sounds echoed off the wall. Behind him, he could hear the exuberant thuds of her pale fist pounding against the heavy metal door while the muffled shouts of his name fell on deaf ears.
His heart was racing as his hands began to shake. He didn't know if he felt angry or stupid or both. As he reached the bottom floor, he threw open the door startling some workers as he stormed out.
A minute later, his shaking hand grabbed the door knob and turned it quickly, entering the dressing room looking furious. Irvine looked up from where he was leaning back on the couch, picking at his drum sticks. Seifer was reclining on his chair, fingering some chords on his guitar.
Irvine frowned. "Um-"
"Let's just get out there and play," Squall growled in a rough voice, his darkened face making both his band mates cringe. "I want to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Ah!" Irvine smiled as he stood up, looking bright and energetic. "Looking forward to the after party?"
In an instant, Squall's arm shot forward and grabbed the collar of Irvine's jacket, pulling the cowboy hat wearing drumming up to his face. "I'm not going to the after party," Squall hissed behind gritted teeth. With a harsh push, he let Irvine gone and turned back to his guitar on it's stand. "I'm heading home IMMEDIATELY after."
"What?" Seifer snorted. "A bunch of people will be there - the label, the studio, the media - they'll be crawling all over the party. You need to at least make an appearance-"
"I don't care!" Squall yelled. "Have Nida make up an excuse or something!"
"But-" Irvine began, only to be silenced by Squall's glare.
"Make up an excuse." Irvine swallowed at the intensity of Squall's glare.
There was a knock on the door and Squall gripped his guitar tightly as his heart froze momentarily. Seifer glanced over at the door. "What?"
"It's time to get back out there, sir!" a stage hand shouted through the door.
The lead guitarist and drummer looked up at Squall, who was heading towards the door. "Squall," Seifer said as he stood up, stopping his friend in his tracks. "Stop being such a baby. You're a big boy now - stop your tantrums and deal with it."
Irvine rolled his eyes and ran his hand over his face as Squall brandished his middle finger at Seifer before walking out the door. "You have a real way with words, you know that, Almasy?" Irvine sighed as he hesitantly followed after Squall.
Seifer smirked. "Oh yeah, I'm a real poet."
"Squall!" Rinoa's body fell against the cold metal door that she had been hitting for the last minute. Her chest heaved up and down with each labored breath as she closed her eyes tightly and slid down against the locked door. "I don't get it! Why isn't he answering me?" She sobbed tearfully as she tilted her head back.
Zell stood a little ways from her, his face etched with concern for his long time friend. "Rin...I don't know..."
"He was SO SWEET the other day, Zell," Rinoa stammered as she looked down at the ground, her arms carelessly waving in front of her. "He smiled and talked to me...he even kissed my hand and watched me waving stupidly at him as the train left...what happened?" she asked in a weak voice as sobs threatened to resurface.
Zell walked over and crouched down in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her. "It's okay, Rin...everything will work out..."
"I really thought we had something..." Rinoa whimpered as her petite frame trembled. Zell bit his lip, unsure of what to say. "There was something there...I know there was..."
"Then maybe he doesn't realize it," Zell told her. He pulled away and held her at arms length. "Don't worry, Rin... he'll get it sooner or later. And if he doesn't, then he's not good enough for you."
Rinoa sniffled and rubbed her eyes with the back of her right hand as she nodded her head. "Thanks, Zell..." she said softly. She lifted her head and offered him a weak smile. "Heh...thanks," Zell stood up and offered his hand. The young teacher took it and was pulled up. "I'm sorry, Zell. I worried you and took you away from your date..."
"It's okay," Zell assured her. "She understood," He gave her a lopsided smile as he blushed and looked away. "She's really cool like that."
Rinoa giggled and nodded. "Well, I'd hate to keep you away longer than necessary...You should get back to her."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Zell asked, suspiciously. Rinoa nodded.
"Yeah...Besides, your date is WAY more important," she grinned. "You get one...what? Every decade?"
"Funny," Zell shook his head. "Just for that, I'm ditching you."
"As well you should," Rinoa nodded. "Thanks again, Zell."
"No problem," Zell smiled as he turned and headed back towards the door he had entered from. "That's what friends are for. And Rin? Don't give up. He was only here for a brief second, but I saw his face and the way he looked at you."
Rinoa tilted her head slightly to the side and looked at Zell, confused. "How did he look?"
Zell shrugged. "Kind of hurt."
Selphie looked down at her watch and pressed the little button on the side that turned it's blue light on, illuminating the numbers on the screen. 'Where is Rinoa?'
According to her watch, Rinoa had been gone almost an hour and she silently prayed that Rinoa didn't leave. She was her ride back. Selphie shook her head and tried to clear her mind. Rinoa would be fine. She just went out to get some air, after all. Fifty minutes ago.
Selphie groaned and looked over her shoulder for the billionth time that night. The band was about to play their last song of the night and Rinoa would miss it if she didn't get there soon. She looked up at the trio on stage. Seifer was telling the audience what their last song of the night would be. "Come on, Rin..."
"The last song of the night started out as an apology letter to someone," Seifer was saying. "A few years ago, I was dating this girl...she was in college and her partner for one project was this guy and one night, I came to surprise her at a law library where she and the guy were doing research on their project. I heard some books fall and ran into an aisle. She was sitting on his lap, his arms around her and books all over. She'd fallen off the ladder and he caught her. He saved my girlfriend and I thought he was trying to steal her from me. Man...that was embarrassing. I mean, I kicked that guy's ass, but still...anyway," Seifer grinned as the audience laughed. "She wouldn't speak to me and I wrote her a letter - It was an honest mistake."
Just as he finished his sentence, Irvine began hitting the drums. The crowds began screaming as they jumped up and down. Xu was screaming energetically as she leaned forward, her arms reaching up towards the band, just like so many other's. As the guitarist finally began to play their instruments, Selphie glanced over her shoulder one last time.
She still couldn't see Rinoa.
At the far back of the packed area, behind the sea of screaming people, Rinoa leaned against the wall. Her arms were crossed over her chest protectively as she took a deep breath. She had stood outside for fifteen more minutes after Zell left, her mind flooded with thoughts of the bass guitarist. When the cold got to her, she got up and headed in, but remained hidden in the back.
'Selphie is probably worried about me...' she thought to herself as she looked at the bouncing crowd. 'I better get back...'
She took one step forward and froze. She shivered as she remembered that she would be directly in front of Squall. Brown eyes closed tightly as she tried to suppress the cold glare she had received from him earlier that night. She ran her hands over her upper arms and shook her head. She'd just look away...she couldn't bare to see another glare that night.
Rinoa took another deep breath and began to make her way through the crowds. Half way through the pushing and shoving, the jumping, the screaming, and the off key singing, she had already broken into a thin sweat from the heat of the crowd. It took her a few minutes to finally work her way back to Selphie.
As she pushed her way through the last set of people and on to the floor area where Selphie and Xu were starting to sing the chorus of the last song. As she mumbled 'excuse me', Selphie turned her head around sharply and beamed a relieved smile as she saw Rinoa coming towards them.
"There you are!" Selphie gasped as she reached out and grabbed Rinoa's hand, pulling her closer to their little group. "I thought you left without me!"
"I was tempted to when I thought about how you would be after tonight!" Rinoa said, putting up a cheerful front. "Sorry I worried you!"
Selphie shook her head. "Don't worry! As long as you're okay! You even made it to the last song!"
Rinoa nodded. She was already moving her body slightly to the beat of the music and as the crowd chanted the chorus around her, she began to pick up on them.
I swear I never meant for this
I never meant...
Seifer sang into the microphone as the audience screamed and Rinoa unconsciously brought her head up. Almost immediately, her eyes locked with cold blue ones. Her heart stopped in her chest as her mouth opened and she joined the hundreds of fans' voices.
Don't look at me that way
It was an honest mistake
Don't look at me that way
It was an honest mistake
An honest mistake
His eyes had settled on to a dark haired head with soft highlighted bangs as it melted from the shadows in the back of the crowds and into the energetic audience. To everyone else, she was unnoticed, but she stood out to him like an angel in hell.
"-It was an honest mistake."
Squall didn't even hear Seifer's words as he stood in his spot, eyes downcast on his darkened face. Behind him, Irvine began to play the drums and that's how he knew what song to play. His hands rose to the strings of his guitar and he unenthusiastically began to pluck them.
He tried desperately to keep his mind on the music and his eyes away from her, but both betrayed him. His body was once again on auto pilot as his eyes rose and watched her. The short, green eyed girl who had already declared her love of Irvine a dozen times had reached out and took HER hand. The hand he had kissed...
She tried to laugh, but he could see the pain in her eyes. Eyes that lifted and met his gaze.
For a second, he thought he had stopped playing, but felt the contours of the strings against his fingers. He kept his eyes on her, unable to tear them away as he played and joined the chorus.
Then her soft pink lips opened and she was speaking to him and only him.
Don't look at me that way
It was an honest mistake
Don't look at me that way
It was an honest mistake
An honest mistake
Why was she looking at him like that? Her gaze was steady and unnerving, yet desperate and hurt at the same time.
Squall tried to glare at her like he had done earlier, but took a step back instead. He tore his eyes away from her pained look, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't even give her a chance.
Don't look at me that way
She had been gone for almost an hour.
It was an honest mistake
How long had she stood out there, pounding on the door? Calling for him?
Don't look at me that way
He could see the redness around her eyes. She'd been crying.
It was an honest mistake
He'd just left her there. Believing what he saw was truth - no questions asked.
An honest mistake
He didn't even give her a chance.
"That concludes tonight's show! Thank you for coming out to support us!" Seifer shouted, getting a resounding yell from the crowd. "See you all next time! Have a safe drive home!" He added before he removed the guitar strap off his body and began to walk off the stage amongst all the cheering.
Rinoa watched with a heavy heart as Squall was the first to leave. As soon as the song had ended he stood there, stoic and eyes downcast as Seifer bid the audience a good night. As soon as the lead guitarist was done, Squall walked off the stage with quick, long steps, not even bothering to remove the guitar from him.
Next to her, Selphie was still cheering and clapping. "That was great! That was SO GREAT!" Selphie shouted as she turned to Rinoa. Immediately, the dark eyed brunette put on a happy front for her friend. "Thanks so much, Rin!" Selphie squealed as she threw her arms around Rinoa and hugged her tightly. "I've never been so close to them before!"
"This was so cool! Thanks for inviting me, you guys!" Xu added.
Rinoa beamed them both smiles. "Hey, the night's not over yet! There is still the after party!"
"Oohh! That's right!" Selphie said as her eyes lit up. "AHHH! I get to see Irvy up close and personal!"
"Oh, this'll be good," Xu laughed. "We're going to have to pry you off of him."
Selphie grinned. "Heh...try me," she said confidently. She turned to Rinoa and smiled. "And you get to finally talk to Squall!"
Rinoa's smiling face fell for a split second before she quickly gathered it back up. "Oh yeah! I forgot all about that..." 'Oh, Hyne...' Her heart was starting to pound nervously in her chest.
"You two can finally figure out what you're going to do about that rumor," Selphie assured her. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll understand." She added, misreading Rinoa's momentary lapse.
Rinoa nodded her head weakly. "Yeah...I'm sure..."
"We should get going! It's in the private lounge backstage," Xu said, clutching her pass tightly against her chest. "Let's go before there's a line!"
Selphie nodded and grabbed Rinoa's limp arm. "Whoo! Irvy, here I come!"
"Wakka, bring the car around," Squall said as Irvine's cellular phone was pinned between his shoulder and his ear. He was standing over the couch, laying his guitar into it's case. He frowned as he slammed the cover firmly over the case. "NO, I'm not going to the after party!" he growled.
Behind him, Irvine rolled his eyes as Seifer put away his guitar. "Squall, this is a mistake..." Irvine said in a low voice, only to be rewarded with an annoyed glare.
Squall looked back down at his guitar. "The back door NOW, Wakka! I'm not kidding!" He snatched the phone from where it had been held and snapped it closed. He tossed it back to Irvine and grabbed the handle of his guitar case.
"Squall, this isn't just an after party-" Seifer began, but the brunette ignored him.
"Get out of my way," he grumbled as Seifer stood in front of him. "I want to get out before Nida gets back."
"WHAT do you want to do before I get back?" a disapproving voice echoed from the door way. The band looked over and saw their manager standing there, his arms crossed and his lips set in a tight line. "NOW what?"
"Squall's not going to the party. He's going home." Irvine reported coolly.
Nida's eyes widened as they turned to Squall. "You're WHAT?"
"Going home," Squall spat out. "I don't feel like a party-"
"I don't care that you don't FEEL like it," Nida snapped back. "You already cut out early on that release party. You're not going to cut out on this! The label and media are back there and want to talk to you!"
"Can't they set up a meeting with you or something?" Squall grumbled. He put his guitar behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. "Isn't that what you're for?"
"Squall-"
"Tell them I got sick or wasn't feeling well," Squall hissed. "I don't care."
"You're being very selfish, Squall," Nida told him flatly. "Just because you don't feel like going, doesn't mean you have to make the rest of the band look bad. Rumors will spread if you miss two parties in a row," Nida frowned and narrowed his eyes. "And there are already a lot of rumors to deal with."
The corner of Squall's lip twitched as his hands tightened into fists beside him. "Fifteen minutes. You have fifteen minutes."
"Fine! Just make appearance - head straight for the record producers and those people from the magazine," Nida rushed. "Fifteen minutes and you can leave!"
The three men looked at Squall. The brooding guitarist thought for a moment. He could live with fifteen minutes. And typically the line to even get into the after parties was at least thirty minutes long. He could be in and out before SHE even got through the doors.
"Give me your phone." Squall said as he turned to Irvine.
The drummer looked surprised and reluctantly handed his phone over to Squall's extended hand. "What happened to yours, anyway?"
"It got lost." Squall stated simply as he redialed the last number.
"Man, you loose a lot of phones..." Irvine mumbled.
"Wakka. Fifteen minutes," Squall said into the phone before snapping it closed. He turned to his band mates and manager. "Let's get this over with."
"Great!" Nida said as he clapped his hands together. He pulled open the door where two body guards were standing outside, waiting. "Let's go!"
Squall followed lazily behind the three men and body guard. One body guard was behind him, probably under Nida's instructions not to let him sneak out. As they got into the private elevator to the top floor, where the party was being held at the private lounge, Squall mentally debated whether or not he should talk to her or at least give her a chance to speak to him. All he had to do was stay a few more minutes longer and she'd find him.
The doors opened and they were surrounded with the sounds of screaming fans. Seifer cringed at the sound as Irvine waved at the crowds held at bay by security. He threw a few female fans his favorite 'sexy smile' and winked as they walked across the hall and into the lounge. Squall refused to make eye contact with anyone, just in case she was somewhere close, and kept his eyes on the floor.
As the cheering got louder with their appearance, Selphie's head jerked up and she began to jump up and down from where they were in the line, trying desperately to get a better look at what was happening up ahead. "Oh, man..." she whimpered, frustrated as she wrinkled her nose. "I can't see anything! Xu, do you see what's going on?"
"Nope," Xu said with a shrug of her shoulders. She was craning her neck forward, but she still couldn't see anything. "But I think Scars just walked in."
"Ohhhhhh!" Selphie's eyes lit up as she began to jump up and down, clasping her hands together eagerly. "They're HERE! They're HERE!" she chanted excitedly. "I can't believe I'm actually here! That I'm going to BREATH the same air as Irvine Kinneas!" At the mere mention of his name, Selphie lapsed into a slight drooling daze, making Xu and several others in the line with them snicker.
Rinoa was looking around nervously, her brown eyes darting back and forth, as if looking for someone. "Are you okay?" a concerned voice next to her. Rinoa quickly turned her head to her left and looked over at Zell's worried face. He was standing next to her calmly, holding his date's hand as she talked to another fan next to them.
"Yeah," Rinoa nodded, silently choking back her urge to scream. She didn't know whether she wanted to go in there and confront Squall or run away. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You look like a squirrel waiting for a hawk to pick it up and eat it," Zell informed her. "If you're not feeling well, we can take you home."
"No! No," Rinoa stated firmly, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I am fine. I don't need to be driven home. Besides, I don't want to ruin your date."
"Rinoa, are you sure this is okay?" a quiet voice said behind Zell. The dark eyed brunette looked past her tattooed blond roommate and over at the bookstore clerk Zell had been infatuated with since she moved to Esthar City. "We don't have passes."
"Don't worry about it," Rinoa reassured her with a warm smile. "You're with us and we have the passes. If they don't let you in, you can have mine and share it between the two of you or something."
"Oh, no! We couldn't possibly do that!" the other dark haired girl told her quickly. "But thank you. I've never been back stage before. I heard it's really wild."
"Selphie said that Scars is a pretty laid back band. So you don't have to worry about drunken madness or anything." Rinoa giggled.
"Oh come on! Let us in!" The three people turned their heads. They had slowly made their way to the front of the line and were just a few people from being let into the lounge. At the front were three young woman, scantily dressed, and pleading with the body guard. "You let us in last time!"
"You had passed then," the guard replied harshly. "No pass, no entry. Get going."
The under dressed, over make-up wearing set of girls pouted as they swore at him under their breaths and moved over to the side. "Wait until Irvine hears about this! He'll fire you for sure!" one girl snapped.
"He ALWAYS gives us passes! He'll be pissed when finds out you didn't let us in!" another added bitterly.
The guard merely glanced at them behind his sunglasses. "He didn't give you passes this time. Must've found something BETTER," He told them simply. The girls glared at him as he promptly turned away. "Next!"
"Jerk." the second girl grumbled as she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"What an asshole." the third one added as she turned sharply on the heel of her boot.
"Let's get out of here. Irvine's probably going straight to the hotel suite afterwards. We'll meet him THERE." the first girl stated, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Yeah, you do that," the body guard snorted. "I said NEXT!"
Rinoa looked over at Selphie. "Umm...explain to me why you like Irvine so much again?"
"What's there not to like?" Selphie smiled brilliantly. "He's tall and cute and friendly-"
"Next!" the body guard's voice cut through.
Immediately, Selphie and Xu's attentions were pulled forward as they darted ahead. "That's us!" they chorused. Rinoa rolled her eyes and stepped forward.
"Passes." he stated.
Xu and Selphie quickly showed him their passes and he nodded and let them through. Zell and his date hesitantly stepped forward as Rinoa showed the guard hers. "Um..." the brunette bit her lower lip as she looked up at the guard. He had been the one to give her the tickets and she silently prayed that he remembered her and would let her friends in. "They're with me."
"Where are their passes?" he replied coldly.
Rinoa swore under her breath. Selphie and Xu were waiting by the door for them to catch up and looked slightly worried as their friends were held up. The couple behind Rinoa looked at each other and nodded. "Rinoa, it's okay," Zell said as he looked over at her. "We were going to grab a quick bite to eat anyway."
"But you guys-" Rinoa began.
"Hey! There you guys are!" a voice boomed from the lounge doors. The group turned around and saw Irvine standing at the door way, a wide smile on his handsome face as he waved for them to hurry up. Selphie's mouth dropped as her large green eyes fastened upon her drum playing Adonis. "Auron! It's cool. Let them in!"
The body guard at the door stepped aside reluctantly and let Rinoa, Zell, and his date get past. "Thanks..." Zell mumbled in awe as he passed the fierce looking body guard.
"Rinoa, right?" Irvine said as he approached them. As he emerged out into the hall once more to greet his guests, a few screaming fans shouted from the line. He looked up slightly and smiled before turning back to the Rinoa and ushering her and her friends in. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Yeah...well, thanks for the tickets," Rinoa said, slightly confused as he draped his arm around her shoulder and Selphie under his other. Rinoa glanced over at her perky friend, only to find that the girl was still in a drooling state of shock was looked like she was going to collapse from the wonder of TOUCHING Irvine Kinneas at any time. "Mr. Kinneas-"
"Please, Irvine, is fine!" the cowboy laughed as he lead them into the darkened room. There were dim lights as music played in the back ground, mostly from the band's newest album. People were standing around and drinking and towards one corner, they were dancing and singing out the lyrics.
"Right, Irvine." Rinoa said. They walked past a full bar were people were sitting around talking and laughing. A few people greeted him as they passed.
"Hey, you guys want something to drink?" Irvine said, stopping at the bar. He lifted his arm off of Rinoa's shoulder and squeezed between two people who were sitting at the bar. "Bartender! Get my friends some drinks here! Anything they want, okay?" He shouted. One of the two people behind the counter nodded and Irvine looked back at the group. "Help yourselves, guys. Anything you want."
"I wouldn't mind having a quick drink!" Xu giggled as she hopped on the nearest stool. "Rum and coke!"
"Why don't you two get something to drink and relax?" Rinoa said, talking to Zell and his date. "Just relax and take in the party!" she said over the pounding music. "If we get separated, just leave anytime you want!" She looked over at Zell's date and extended her hand for a friendly hand shake. "It was nice meeting you, by the way. Zell's my buddy here," Rinoa added as she casually tossed her arm around Zell's shoulders and gave his head a slight noggie, messing up his delicately spiked hair. "Treat him well!"
Zell blushed and pulled away. "Rin..."
His date laughed and nodded. "I will! Thanks again, Rinoa! It was nice meeting you, too!" Rinoa nodded and joined Irvine, who was now looking slightly confused.
"Um..." Irvine said as he looked at her. He moved aside to reveal the still shocked Selphie beneath his arm. "Will she be okay?"
"Yeah, she'll be fine," Rinoa nodded. "Just give her a second. Listen, you wouldn't know where-"
"Squall, right?" Irvine asked. Rinoa nodded.
"How'd you know?" she asked loudly over the music. Irvine grinned.
"Call it a hunch!" He chuckled. He moved to the side and pointed towards one corner. "There's a booth back there with a low table. Squall was heading over there to talk with the record label people and stuff! He should still be there!"
"Thanks, Irvine!" Rinoa said. She smiled at him and paused before she walked forward. She sighed heavily and snapped her fingers in front of Selphie's face. "Selphie! SELPHIE!"
Before Rinoa could call her name once more, Selphie's eyes lost their glassy look and sparked to life. "IRVINE?" she shrieked, shocked.
"The one and only!" Irvine laughed as Selphie blushed furiously. "Selphie, right?" She nodded energetically as her heart raced against her chest. "Great! Selphie, want to get a drink?"
"YES!" Rinoa laughed as Selphie nearly jumped at Irvine. She shook her head and turned her attention back to her target. She could see the dim lights just over the table to the far end of the room. She felt her stomach churn as her hands began to shake. She swallowed nervously as she began to make her way through the maze of people.
"Rinoa!" Irvine shouted as he looked over at her once more. "You better hurry! You only have..." He trailed off and frowned as he realized she had disappeared into the wild dancing crowd that laid between them and Squall. "A few minutes..."
"So how do you feel about your latest album?" a journalist from a music magazine was asking Squall. She was a pretty young woman with long brown hair and green eyes, a pad and pen in hand as she scribbled notes.
She sat across from the blue eyed man who sat stiffly in the cushions of the booth seats. His eyes were looking past her and over at the crowd, as if searching for something or someone.
"I think it's a very good album," Squall stated tonelessly. "We all worked hard on it and I hope it will do as well, if not more so, than the others."
"I heard there is a song on the album that you wrote on your own and sing the vocals to. Can you tell us a little bit about that?" she asked as she wrote his earlier response on her notepad.
Squall's hands tightened at his sides. This was getting annoying and he wanted to leave. "I can't really explain it," Squall repeated the words that Nida had come up with to explain 'Squall's track'. "It's just something someone has to hear. But it was an interesting experience writing it by myself, without the help of Seifer or Irvine."
"Was it more difficult or easier to write the lyrics by yourself?"
"It was..." Squall trailed off as he caught sight of Irvine's hat. He followed it down and gritted his teeth as he saw the petite brunette he was talking to. "Difficult."
"Really? Why was that? I would think it would be easier since there is no compromising, it's all your words," the journalist told him as she nodded. "Is it because there was no one to help with the brain storming."
"Kind of," Squall stated. His eyes widened as Irvine lifted his arm and pointed in his direction. 'You little piece of...' He straightened up in his seat and looked around for the nearest exit. He glanced back in Irvine's direction and saw Rinoa squeezing her way through the crowds.
"Now, I know this is a personal question," the journalist said, not sounding at all reluctant. "But do you really have a girlfriend?"
'She's coming!' Squall's senses were going off. His hands slammed down on the table, making the interviewer jump in her seat as he stood up suddenly.
"Mr. Leonhart?" the journalist asked, confused and shocked at his reaction.
"Huh? Oh, sorry," Squall said as he began to make his way out of the booth. "I don't feel very well... it must've been the food we had before the show...it was from some new place...I'm sorry. Listen, Nida will reschedule the interview. I have to go!"
"Wait, Mr. Leonhart-" the journalist protested, but Squall was already slipping through the back of the crowds. She sighed and got up, deciding to look for the band's manager. As she stood up from the booth and turned, she ran into a tall, hard body. "Oh, sorry!"
"Don't worry about it. Are you okay?" a masculine voice asked. She nodded and looked up to see Seifer standing there, holding a cellular phone to his ear.
"Yes, I'm fine. You wouldn't by any chance know where Nida is, would you?" she asked.
"Nida?" Seifer paused for a moment and craned his neck up to look over the crowd. "Oh yeah! He's over there talking with Raijin and Fujin from the record label," He said, pointing to the manager's direction. He glanced over at the empty booth and frowned. "Where's Squall?"
"He said he wasn't feeling well and left. Something about what he ate earlier..." the journalist said as she looked over at Nida's and began her way over.
Seifer sighed. "Yeah, it was some new place..." he added. The journalist merely nodded as she left him standing there. Seifer looked around and quickly slid into the booth, taking it for himself as he turned his attention back to his phone conversation. "Apparently, he took off already. It hasn't even been fifteen minutes!"
"Excuse me!" a gasping voice said. Seifer looked up and raised an eyebrow as Rinoa reached him. Her hands reached for the edge of the seat to steady herself. "I'm...I'm looking for Squall?" she asked weakly.
Seifer looked her up and down. She must've tried to rush through the crowds and was thus tossed around quite a bit from the looks of her displaced hair and her wrinkled clothes. Her face shined with sweat from being trapped amongst so many hot bodies in a small area.
"Sorry, he left already." Seifer said. He watched as Rinoa's face fell. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
"Hyne...is he running away from me..." she whispered as her hands tightened around the material of the chair.
"Give her your address and have her go there." a voice said through Seifer's phone. The blond frowned.
"What? No! I don't want her running to my place and bugging us every time she and Puberty Boy are at odds!" Seifer retorted quickly. He winced as the woman he was talking to gave him an ear full. "All right! All right! Damn it, woman...give me a second!" He put the phone down and placed it on the table. "Do you have a piece of paper?"
Rinoa sniffled slightly and looked up at him. He frowned at the sight of her reddening eyes. "What?"
"A piece of paper? Give me a piece of paper." Seifer demanded, rolling his eyes as if she were stupid and couldn't comprehend his words.
Rinoa's eyebrows furrowed in question, but she dug through her purse and took out the business card of some restaurant. "Will this do?"
"It's fine," Seifer said. He took the card and held out his hand once more. Rinoa looked at him in question. "A PEN," he insisted. "What, you expect me to write with an imaginary pen?"
"Oh...sorry..." Rinoa dug through her purse once more and took out a small pen she was painstakingly dug out from the bottom of her purse. Seifer snatched it from her and quickly drew a small map and wrote the address on the card.
"Here," he said, sliding the card to Rinoa. "He should be there soon. Just keep ringing the door bell."
Rinoa looked at the card and her eyes went wide. "This is..."
"Our address. Puberty boy ran off to hide in his room, probably," Seifer shrugged. "Better hurry before he changes his mind and runs off else where. Oh, and you'll need this...if he's sleeping, there is no way in hell he'll hear that bell."
Seifer reached into the pocket of his jacket and took out a set of keys. He had driven himself there that night. Rinoa watched with a mixture of hope and confusion as he took one key off the ring. "Your house keys?" she gasped as the silver piece was slid across the table to her.
"Yeah, just give it back and don't make copies." Seifer told her casually as he lifted up the phone.
"What about you? Won't you need it?" she asked, unsurely. Seifer merely shrugged.
"I have a place I can crash for the night," he smirked as he placed the phone back against his ear. "I know a comfortable bed with my name on it that I haven't hit in a while..." he added in a low voice.
"Thanks!" Rinoa gasped, shocked. First Irvine and now Seifer. Who next? The President of Esthar? "Wait... why are you giving this to me?"
"You're that Rhino girl right?" he asked, smirking slightly as he screwed up her name purposely. "The one from the train station?"
She sent him a glare, but quickly retracted it when she remembered he was helping her. "My NAME is RINOA."
"Right," Seifer smirked. "He's been looking for you for a week and is in a bad mood. It's really getting on my nerves. Fix that, will you? Thanks," Before Rinoa, could reply, he was back to his phone conversation. "Yeah, I did it."
Letting out a frustrated growl at Seifer, Rinoa whirled around, her hand wrapped tightly around the card and key, as she darted out of the long and headed straight for the parking structure.
Squall didn't bother turning on the lights as he walked into the pent house and tossed his jacket over the couch on the way to his room. He dropped his guitar case on the floor, next to a pile of clean laundry still in a basket. His mind was racing. From the moment he stood, he already had begun regretting what he was going to do.
He should've stopped to talk to her. Should've waited until she got there. He took a deep breath and stood in front of his closet. He lifted his hands. They were still shaking. He needed to get out the excess energy or he'd never get any sleep that night. The last thing he needed where thoughts of her plaguing him before his sleep or worse - in his dreams.
If he just laid in bed, his mind would merely run through the events of that night. From the second he laid eyes on her to the moment he rushed out of the room, desperate that she not catch sight of him. Every moment he closed his eyes he had seen her face. That face while she was singing the chorus of their last song. The sadness, the disappointment, the questioning looking.
Squall gritted his teeth and pulled open the door to his walk in closet. He stomped inside, kicking off his shoes as he made his way in. His eyes scanned the neatly organized closet and grabbed a worn pair of athletic shoes from the rack at the bottom. They hadn't been used for a few weeks, but they would still serve their purpose. He grabbed a sweat shirt from a hanger and stalked out of his room, barely pausing to put the shoes on and grab his keys from the kitchen counter.
A few moments after he had entered, he exited the pent house. He shut the door and locked it immediately behind him before stalking towards the elevator. He pushed the down button and didn't have to wait long. The doors opened and he stepped in, pushing the 'door close' button.
Just as his elevator doors closed, the elevator next to it reached the top floor and opened up. Rinoa stepped through the doors and looked down at the directions Seifer had written down. 'Last door at the end of the hall...' her mind chanted as she looked around the hall. She saw the door ahead of her and readied the key in one hand.
As she reached the white door she stopped and took a deep breath. Her beating heart had steadily quickened since she left the long and by now was threatening to burst from her chest. She raised a trembling hand and inserted the key into the slot.
She turned the key and pushed the door open. "Squall?" she called out into the darkened room. She looked around and frowned. "Squall?" she called out as she walked out into the living room and looked around. Rinoa felt her heart tighten in her chest as she gripped the card in her hand, wrinkling it. He wasn't there.
It was raining. Of course. Rinoa turned her wind shield wipers on and she gripped the steering wheel tightly. She sniffled back her tears, determined to get home and bawl in the comfort of her room rather than in her car and crash into a tree in the midst of an emotional break down.
As she stopped at a stop light, she heard her phone ring. She reached over and put down the volume of her radio before grabbing her phone from her bag. "Hello?" she asked in a shaking voice.
"Rin? It's me! Selphie!"
"Oh...hey..." Rinoa replied tiredly as she sat there. "How's the party?"
"It's GREAT! This is SO COOL! Hey, where are you anyway? I can't find you." Selphie added. Rinoa's eyes widened.
"OhmyHyne! Selphie! I am so sorry!" she gasped, horrified. "I completely forgot...oh, Hyne!"
"Rin..." Selphie said in a low voice. "I don't think I like where this is going..."
Rinoa was inches from slamming her head against her steering wheel. "Selphie...oh, geez, you're going to kill me. I'm not there any more."
"WHAT?" Rinoa pulled the phone away from her ear and cringed as she heard Selphie screaming. "You DITCHED ME? WHY? Where are you? HOW AM I GOING TO GET HOME?"
"Selphie, I'm sorry! I swear I'll make it up to you-" Rinoa stammered as she pictured Selphie freaking out at the after party.
"I'm STRANDED!" Selphie wailed. Rinoa rolled her eyes as Selphie's dramatics were cut short. "Huh? Oh yeah, sure... here..."
"Selphie?" Rinoa asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her phone.
"Hey, Rinoa?" a voice asked. The girl in the car jerked her head back.
"Irvine?"
"Yeah, hey, don't worry about Selphie. I can have our driver drop her off when he's dropping me back at my place tonight," Irvine told her. "So...did you find him?"
"No," Rinoa told him miserably. "Seifer even gave me the keys and address to your place to find him and he wasn't there! I don't know where he went!"
Irvine let out a heavy breath. "Sorry, I can't help you. I don't where he goes. Sometimes he just disappears. We still haven't been able to figure out where he disappears to."
"It's all right..." Rinoa said as she ran her hand down her face. She drove down a street and signaled to turn. "Thank you...I really do appreciate it..." Just by chance, a blur of white in the darkness caught her eye and Rinoa looked over her shoulder. 'A soccer ball?' She looked at the clock on her dash board. 'It's past midnight...who in the right mind would let their kid out this late to practice?'
"Anyway have a safe drive home. I'll take care of Selphie for you."
"Yeah...thanks..." Rinoa trailed off. She slowed down as she passed by a park. She could barely make out a male figure, drenched in rain water, kicking a few mud splashed soccer balls into goal in it the park field. Her eyes went wide and she looked over at the parking lot. "Hey, wait! Irvine, what kind of car does Squall drive?"
"He has four or five...I think the one he keeps at the pent house is the black sports car-"
"Thanks! That's all I needed to know!" She snapped her flip phone closed and tossed it on to the car seat next to her as she pulled into the parking lot.
A.N. - Thank you all for waiting patiently! I'm in the middle of moving around this time, so things are a little hectic for me. Please be patient - this chapter kind of sucks, I know. Nothing really happens except for Squall being a whiny baby about the whole thing. I hope it'll get better, too. The song is "An Honest Mistake" by The Bravery. Also, on a personal note, if anyone just happens to speak Tagalog and can translate the Tagalog chorus of BEP's "The APL Song" for me, that would be great.(email it to me!) :) Thank you for reading! Much Love!