Hatred to Love
A/N: Expect slower updates than usual, because of school. Sorry for that! It's really not my fault that my teachers love nothing more than to give out tests and assignments whenever they feel like it. To Angelsorceress, I'm really sorry, but I think Mandy will be what you think she is! Rinoa might be able to survive her and that's all I'm saying! This chapter is just an introduction of the real interesting things to come, so I'm really sorry if it's boring! Just bear with me for now. That's all I ask.
Chapter 6 – Tender
I was only thinking about the education you are getting at that ridiculous public school of yours Rinoa. You'd do so much better at Deling Academy. You probably don't remember this, but I planned for you to attend Deling Academy ever since you started high school, but then your mother and I had to get divorced and you decided that you just had to live with Julia, Richard thought.
Rinoa led Squall down the long hall and into a dark passage way.
What are you up to now Rinoa? Squall thought.
"Don't worry Squall, I used this little passage way all the time when I was younger," Rinoa said with a mischievous smile.
"Funny, I thought that you were just crying before and now you're cheerful already?" Squall said with hints of sarcasm while rolling his eyes.
"Whatever Squall," Rinoa said in the same tone that Squall uses regularly.
They ran down the passage for what seemed like forever until Rinoa finally said that they were out of Caraway's mansion.
"There, now that was a good little shortcut!" Rinoa said with a sweet smile on her innocent, attractive face.
Squall looked at her as if she was crazy. "Are you joking Rinoa? That was the longest shortcut I've ever taken,"
Rinoa giggled as she pulled him along with her. You probably haven't taken that many shortcuts then!
"We're going to your limo and then back to your house, ok Squall?" Rinoa said looking up at him.
Squall simply nodded. She had told him earlier that she wanted to stay at his house for the night. Rinoa refused to stay under the same roof as the man who had wrecked her and her mother's life. And she didn't want to stay alone in her house. It made her feel 'abandoned'. Luckily, Laguna was on a business trip with Raine in Dollet while Ellone was staying at a friend's house for the weekend. So that meant that they would be all alone. Together.
"Now, where did your chauffer park that limo?" Rinoa asked gently while scanning the road for the limo.
Squall looked down at her. He had to smile at the sight of her. She was like an angel to him. His angel. She could easily touch people's hearts and melt the ice within them. He didn't want to let her go again after all they had been through together. He was somewhat glad that he had stopped hating Rinoa for insulting him and saying sarcastic remarks. She had always called him an obnoxious, cocky rich guy who had nothing better to do than sleep with a different girl every two weeks. Now, she was always there for him and he was always there for her ever since two months ago. But the only time when he couldn't be there for her…The accident two years ago…The one that lost him his twin sister, left Rinoa critically injured and almost lost him his very own life…
"Rinoa, my chauffer parked the limo over there," Squall said and pointed over to a small street opposite to where they were standing.
Rinoa looked up at him and beamed. She loved Squall so much even though they had only been together for a short period of time. She wanted to tell Squall that she loved him, but she was afraid of how he would react. She knew that Squall kept all his feelings bottled up inside, but honestly; she wanted him to show that he cared for her by saying three simple words that almost every girl wanted to hear from her boyfriend.
Oh Squall, why won't you ever tell me how you feel? I want you to come out and say how you truly feel, not me choking you and forcing you to admit your feelings…its simple Squall. Eight letters, three words, one meaning. I want you to say 'I love you' to me! But if you said it right now at this very moment, I'd think that you bumped your head really hard while we were taking the shortcut. Because it's not like you to blurt out your feelings and I know that. Or maybe it's just too soon, I mean, it has only been just two months so far, but the idea of me choking Squall, just so he could tell me that seems like a pretty good idea to me… Rinoa thought.
Squall looked over to Rinoa and wondered why she didn't cross the road and head over to the limo yet. Squall sighed and saw the expression on her face. It wasn't really sad, yet it looked like she was trying hard not to smile. Squall quickly grabbed her hand and dragged her across the road with him.
"Rinoa, what's wrong?" Squall asked her once they were across the road and near the limo.
Rinoa remained silent and slipped into the limo and sat down on the leather seats. She had acted like Squall didn't even ask her the question. "Squall, if you don't hurry up, the chauffer will leave without you and I don't think you'll enjoy walking back to your house since it's so far away from here,"
Squall smirked. Why did she try to avoid my question? Caraway, what did you poison her mind with this time?
Squall muttered something under his breath as he slipped into the car next to Rinoa.
After some time in the limo, Squall looked over at Rinoa who was leaning on his left shoulder.
"Rinoa, tell me the truth, what's wrong and what happened when you were alone with, um, him?" Squall asked quietly.
Rinoa looked up at him in surprise. Squall, wanting to know what others felt? He probably did hit his head when they were both running down the passageway.
Rinoa laughed quietly and slipped her hand into his. Squall felt a little shocked at what Rinoa did, but he gave in to her feelings of affection anyway.
Rinoa smiled tenderly at him. "My father wants me to move to Deling with him and attend some prestigious private school called Deling Academy. Also, because he wants me to get to know my soon to be stepmother Amber and her possibly snobby daughter, my soon to be stepsister,"
Amber? As in Amber Portman? This really isn't good…I wonder if Rinoa knows who Amber's daughter is yet?
Squall became silent. If Rinoa went along with Caraway's idea, he would lose the one he loved…If Rinoa went along with it, she'd probably forget about him just like that…If Rinoa did eventually go to that private school, attending Balamb High would have no reason at all except for his friends, Selphie, Zell, Quistis and Irvine…If…
Stop thinking about that! Rinoa wouldn't attend Deling Academy, she just won't. She's stubborn and she'll never go to that school even if her life depended on it… Why am I thinking so much today?
"Squall, are you ok? Really, that's all we discussed. Me and my father that is," Rinoa said while playing with his Griever chain necklace.
Squall looked out at the window. The gentle wind was swaying the trees outside like it had no care in the world at all. Several flower petals flew in rhythm with the soft, gentle breeze. The sky was getting darker, but was lit by the many stars that were in the night sky at that very moment. Life was really worth living and enjoying again, after Rinoa became his girlfriend. The beauty of life had become visible to him once again. But if she left for Deling and just saying, didn't get to see him that often, what would life really be worth?
"Do you…Do you really want to go live with him and attend that school?" Squall said a little lost for words.
Rinoa, who had been resting her head in his lap looked up into his grey blue eyes and smiled weakly. "Not really Squall. But this might be my only chance to get to know my father. I do respect him, but he broke my mother's heart. I just don't want to get to know Amber. I feel like he's betrayed my mother and me in a way. And as for the private school, I'm not that sure yet…but I'm pretty sure that I have no choice in this,"
"But anyways Squally, I'm a little sleepy, so I'll take a quick rest…" Rinoa whispered before closing her eyes.
Squall winced at the nickname that Rinoa insisted was 'cute'.
He looked down at her now sleeping body. He smiled a bit at the sight of her. She looked like a baby angel. He stroked her raven black hair softly. He was going to miss their moments together, if she left. She'd probably be too busy with her studies than worry about spending any time with him.
Half and hour later…
"Come on Rinoa, we're at my house now," Squall mumbled softly to the sleeping Rinoa.
Rinoa mumbled a bit but still kept her eyes shut.
"Rinoa…please wake up," Squall whispered exhaustedly.
He groaned and then proceeded to carefully pick her up and carry her gently in his arms.
The things that I do for love…Seriously, sometimes love can do strange things to you. Like it does to me.
"Master Leonhart, you look like you have your arms, err full right now. Would you like me to open the doors for you?" His chauffer said.
Squall nodded gratefully and walked to the door with his chauffer and Rinoa still sleeping peacefully in his arms.
When they reached the door, his chauffer was still getting the keys out from his pocket. "Does she remember yet, Master Leonhart?"
Squall shook his head. "Not yet. If she does, then all of us involved will have a lot of explaining to do and she'll probably be very angry at us for lying to her all these years,"
His chauffer smiled at him. "Well, we have tried very hard to cover up the truth. If she ever finds out, we're all in deep trouble. Alright then, just let me know if you need anything," And then he opened the door for Squall to walk through.
"I will," Squall said in a slightly friendly tone.
First, I'll put Rinoa down into my room where she can continue sleeping; I'll shower after that and then cook dinner for the both of us. Thank god that I don't have to cook for anyone else. The chauffer should be leaving soon and the maids, cooks, gardeners and the housekeeper have already gone home for the night. If they ate anything that I cooked, they'd probably go home sick…but Rinoa might pretend that it's an appetising meal and quickly try to eat it all up, even if it tasted really bad. Because that's the kind of girl she is.
He walked up the stairs slowly and carefully, so that he wouldn't wake Rinoa. When he got to his room, he swiftly and quietly kicked the door open, walked inside his bedroom and then gently placed Rinoa on his bed. He took out another warm blanket from his closet and placed it over Rinoa's body.
"Sweet dreams Rinoa," He whispered and stroked her cheek affectionately before placing a tender kiss on it.
Rinoa stirred a little but still didn't wake up.
Before leaving his room, Squall grabbed some clothes and a towel out of his closet so he could shower. He quietly left his room after that.
"Irvine! Baby, what's this?" Selphie asked while looking through Irvine's bookcase which was in his bedroom.
Selphie, Zell and Quistis were spending the night at Irvine's mansion, while his parent's were away for some business trip. Rinoa and Squall were invited to come, but they were too busy 'babysitting'.
"Baby?" Quistis repeated with a devious smile.
Selphie stuck her tongue out at Quistis.
Irvine looked over to his girlfriend, Selphie Tilmitt. "That? I have no idea. Sorry Sefie,"
"Idiot, it's our photo album," Zell said with a small snicker.
"What photo album?" Irvine asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Quistis took the photo album and quickly looked through it. "The photo album filled with photos of you guys from year 7 til now with all your popular guy and girl friends. Oh and some random shots of Squall and Rinoa together. They look pretty young there. Wait, Squall and Rinoa! Our Squall and Rinoa!"
"Really? Our Squall and Rinoa? Well, we don't know any other people named Squall and Rinoa anyway," Zell remarked with a spark of interest.
"Let me see Quisty!" Selphie squealed happily and tried to snatch it off Quistis.
"Selphie, please ask me politely if you can that is," Quistis said with a small scowl.
"You're not my mother Quisty! So you can't boss me around!" Selphie shot back.
"Oh that photo album! I had no idea that I still had it yet owned it!" Irvine said with a playful smile. Quistis and Zell both rolled their eyes. Sometimes, they wondered why Irvine acted ditsy like his own girlfriend. She probably taught him some of her own bad habits.
The three of them peered over Quistis' shoulder to get a glimpse of all of the photos.
Most of the sleeves were labeled with what school years they were in. Quistis flipped the album back to the beginning and turned the album pages slowly so all of them could see the pictures clearly.
In the first couple of photos there was Squall and Rinoa together and they were both smiling and they had their arms around each other.
But that can't be true! Squall and Rinoa were together ever since two months ago! But why do the pictures show something that's definitely not true? I mean, the label clearly says 'Year 7' while I know that that couldn't be possible! Quistis thought.
Zell and Irvine were both quiet. They didn't know when they would have to reveal the truth to them, but today was probably going to be the day.
Then the others were filled with Squall, Zell, Irvine and the rest of the popular crowd at school. Squall didn't have the same friendly expression anymore like in the photos before. In these pictures, his face looked emotionless and pained. What had happened during that period of time?
The ones after that had some random shots of all the guys and Mandy and Squall together. As a couple, Selphie and Quistis both guessed. But where the hell was Rinoa?
…Mandy and Squall got together at the end of year 8 and remained boyfriend and girlfriend til the beginning of this year…Selphie thought.
Squall still looked cold and tense, but his facial expressions had softened a bit.
Did Mandy really do this? Did she really melt the ice within his heart, after he turned... cold? Quistis thought.
"Zell, Irvine…could you please explain all of this?" Selphie finally asked after the long period of silence and gestured to the photo album.
After remaining quiet for some time now, Zell spoke up. "Come outside and sit down. We'll explain everything to you and we'll answer all of your questions,"
The four of them walked outside to Irvine's balcony and sat down on the garden seats.
"Please, do tell us now!" Selphie blurted out.
Irvine pulled his chair closer to hers and placed his arm around her slender shoulders.
"I will. Let's just say that Rinoa didn't always hate Squall like it seemed…" Zell began.
Quistis and Selphie leaned in closer to listen to the truth about the unknown past that had been haunting some of them for quite some time now…
Mandy paced around her room. It was hard to believe, but it wasn't that unbelievable. She had to call her friends and tell them the good news. She had been keeping it to herself for quite a while now, but kind of let it slip in homeroom today when she was yelling at Rinoa with hatred and anger. But that was the only first half of her happy news. Usually when there's something she was excited about, she'd tell her friends immediately, however she had to wait until it was just right. Like now.
But before calling all her closest friends to tell them her news, she had to do something first.
She walked over to her bulletin board which was across the other side of her room. The bulletin board that had all her photos including the photos that she held closely to her heart. She scanned them, looking for the photo that she wanted to see at that moment. She found it and her heart fluttered.
It was the photo that she took of her ex-boyfriend, Squall Leonhart. It was kind of a close-up shot and Squall didn't really know that he was being photographed at that moment, but it still looked like a professional photo anyway. She treasured that photo the most out of all her photos.
Mandy smiled sorrowfully at the sight of that photo. Those were the good old days. But why? Why did I have to go and cheat on Squall? He was all that I ever wanted and he was all that and more, but Paul? Seriously, he was so good looking, but he really lacked in the brains department.
She stroked the photograph lovingly as if it were the real person himself. Soon Squall. Soon I'll have you all to myself just like before. Thanks to someone kicking a certain girlfriend of yours off to a private school in Deling City. I hate to keep you waiting, but it won't be much longer baby. I promise.
Then, Mandy realised that she shouldn't be hanging around there and drooling over a photo of Squall. She should be calling all her friends and telling them the good news.
She picked up her phone which was on her bedside table and started dialing her closest friend, Leanna's number.
After a few rings, someone finally picked up.
"Hello?" A young voice said softly, almost inaudible.
"Hi there, could I please speak to Leanna?" Mandy asked the child sweetly.
"I'm not allowed to give out information about my sister to strangers," The voice replied in the same sweet manner.
Mandy knew that Leanna's little brother was just testing out her patience, but it was now wearing thin.
"I am NOT a stranger. I am Leanna's best friend, so could I please talk to her now or you never know what I could do to you…" Mandy said frostily.
"Then I'll DOB on you," He replied with hints of fear in his voice.
Bored, Mandy was inspecting her nails just in case they were chipped or had some invisible specks of dirt in them.
They continued to argue for a while, until Leanna came to ask Jason something.
"Who are you talking to Jason?" A sweet, high pitched voice asked kindly.
"Some stranger wants to talk to you Leanna,"
"Sorry for that. Hi!" Leanna said pleasantly into the receiver.
"My god! Is that how hard it is just to talk to you on the phone?" Mandy asked coolly with a hint of sarcasm.
Leanna instantly recognised the voice. "Mandy. What is your problem? Jason is only six years old. He doesn't know any better. Also, we can't all help it that we're not perfect like some people I know,"
Mandy heard the hints of hurt in her voice. "I'm sorry Anna. I know that I've been…I've been a bit of a bitch lately, but I can't help it. You know that I want Squall back so badly and I'll do anything to get him back,"
Leanna was surprised. "So…so you admit that you've been acting bitchy lately?"
Mandy groaned. "If it makes you happy and keeps you as my best friend, then yes I'll admit it,"
"What did you want to tell me Mandy?" Leanna asked curiously.
"Oh that…" Mandy said slowly with a pleased smile on her face.
"Tell me now or I'll get Jason to talk to you!" Leanna threatened playfully.
Mandy laughed. "Ok, ok. You know how this morning I told Rinoa that she was going to go to Deling City and to expect a private school as well?"
"Yeah, go on," Leanna said twisting the cord of her phone and leaning against the wall.
"Well, where should I start off?" Mandy said and sat down on her big, fluffy bed.
Actually I know where to start off. Wait til' everyone finds out…
Rinoa was peacefully napping on Squall's bed. She was really tired today, but now she felt fresh again.
Where…where am I?
Rinoa stirred. She did feel fresh, but was still pretty tired.
Flashback
"I don't like you Squall. You're always so cold and mean to me," announced a seven year old Rinoa Heartilly-Caraway.
Squall remained silent. His piercing electric blue eyes stared coldly into her pretty chocolate brown ones.
"You say that now Rinoa darling, but wouldn't it be funny Julia, if one day, they ended up married to each other?" Raine Leonhart-Loire asked her friend, Julia Heartilly-Caraway. Rinoa's mother.
Julia smiled. It was true that the two had been arguing about almost everything. But deep down, Julia knew that Squall did care for Rinoa. Just like a little sister. Or maybe more.
Squall rolled his eyes.
"Ew! Don't even go there Auntie Raine!" Rinoa wailed with a wince on her innocent, adorable face.
Raine and Julia both laughed softly. They both knew that one day Rinoa and Squall would eventually end up together. One way or the other.
"I'm going to go outside Mummy to try to find Adelina. Rinoa, I'll show you that I'm not so…so mean," He said coolly and simply took her small, lily-white hand and led her outside into the garden with him.
"Be careful Squall. You too Rinoa," Raine called.
"Now, where were we Julia?" Raine asked with a smile.
How were they meant to know that their little prediction that was meant to be a joke, would actually one day, come true?
End Flashback.
Rinoa rolled over and instead of still lying on Squall's bed, she rolled right off it!
"Ouch," Rinoa muttered to herself.
That flashback that I had before… That was probably just a hallucination, same with the one that I had when we were at my father's mansion. I haven't known Squall since I was a child! Hell, I only knew him since year 9!
She quickly got up and made Squall's bed. She realised that she was still in her Balamb High uniform, so she got a spare change of clothes out of her bag and rushed into the shower as fast as she could.
Squall sighed with relief. It had taken him long enough to cook, but he had finished preparing the dinner for him and Rinoa to eat. It actually even looked good enough to eat! The last time that he prepared something for his whole family to eat, they all got food poisoning! But Laguna, Raine and Ellone didn't want to tell Squall that he was a bad cook. Instead they all just told him that it was wonderful to eat, except they had too much to eat and got really bad stomachaches.
He got out forks, spoons, knives, bowls and plates and placed them all on the kitchen table. He didn't want to eat in the dining room, because it seemed too formal to him. Too formal for just enjoying a nice, quiet evening with Rinoa.
He sat down on one of the seats that accompanied the kitchen table. He sighed with relief. Finally, he had finished everything he intended to do tonight. All that was missing was Rinoa.
He looked outside the window. A light drizzle had begun to fall from the night sky.
After waiting for quite a while now, Squall felt a bit hungry and wanted to eat, but not without Rinoa. He knew that it was rude to just barge in while Rinoa was sleeping, wake her up and announce that he wanted to eat. That didn't seem right to him.
He walked up the stairs. Wait he walked quickly up the stairs and into his bedroom. The door was open, but Squall didn't bother to notice that.
The calming atmosphere in his room made it a peaceful place to be. But, something or rather someone was missing. Rinoa Heartilly was no where to be seen in his room.
Squall sighed after he looked around his room for Rinoa. His window was open and a cool, gentle breeze was blowing into his room. He curved his mouth to form a little smile when the breeze brushed against his hair.
I'm beginning to appreciate life again. Just like I did before…
Squall leaned against the wall and looked sideways outside the window that let the breeze come in. Did Rinoa escape through the window?
Rinoa toweled her hair dry. She couldn't find a blow-dryer, so she just decided to use a towel to dry her hair instead.
She splashed some warm water onto her face and that's when she truly felt refreshed and awake again.
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror and dried her face with a towel. She walked out of the bathroom and back into Squall's room to place her uniform in to her bag.
Rinoa saw that he was leaning against the wall, his back facing her. She suddenly smiled cheekily and walked up to her boyfriend as quietly as she could. She leaned up to him and placed her hands gently around his eyes.
"Guess who?" Rinoa whispered softly into his ear.
Squall, whose eyes were now covered by her hands, replied. "Rinoa, I know that it's you. You could help me by taking me out of this darkness," He said huskily.
They both laughed softly. Squall took her hands into his and looked down at her with a gentle smile on his handsome face. Something that he hadn't done in a long time.
Rinoa was about to open her mouth to speak, but Squall placed a finger on her lips.
He tilted her face up to his and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her lips.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer to him. She could feel the warmth of his strong chest.
And there they were. Two young lovers in the darkness of his bedroom, with not a single care for the world. All they needed was each other right then. They had no clue on what would be in store for them in the following days, weeks or months…
Leanna was listening to Mandy talk to her. From what Leanna had heard so far, things weren't going to be so easy for Squall or Rinoa.
"So, what do you think of it?" Mandy asked eagerly.
If looks could kill and could be transferred over the phone line, Mandy would've been on her bedroom floor by now.
"Anna?"
Leanna cleared her throat. "Mandy. That was the most awful thing that I've ever heard. What happened to the old Mandy Portman? The sweet, innocent girl who was totally against being bitchy or slutty? Mandy, this time you've gone way too far. I am no longer your best friend," Leanna said with tears brimming out of her bright emerald green eyes while she sunk to her knees.
Mandy however, didn't even notice that her friend was crying over the phone. "Anna, no one's asking you to help me with my plan. All I want is for you to support me and Squall back and you know that,"
But Leanna didn't hear that for she had already hung up.
Mandy choked back silent tears. I'm sorry Leanna. But if it's the way you want things to be, then so be it.
She waited a couple of moments before calling her other friends. What Leanna had said to her had hit her really hard. But if Leanna wasn't going to be supportive, then she'd be no use to Mandy anymore.
She dialed several of her other friends, but the line was busy. Ha! Talk to everyone who has all the crap as news. I have the scoop for the next several days! Maybe weeks!
She sighed in defeat and dialed a number which she thought she'd never ever dial. Erika.
"Hello? This is Erika speaking," Erika said with a bored tone.
Mandy felt her blood boil. "Erika, I don't have that much time. So shut your mouth and listen," She snapped.
Erika's felt her mouth drop open. "Whatever Mandy. I'm listening now,"
Mandy smirked. Getting Erika to listen to me is like child's play.
"That was so good to eat Squall. I never knew that you could cook so well," Rinoa said softly as she snuggled closer to Squall while they were both lying down on the 'princess' sofa in front of the fireplace in the family room.
Squall smiled. It should've been good to eat! It took me ages to read the recipe as well as find the ingredients and utensils to cook it.
He had his arm around her shoulder and she was resting her head on his chest.
This is my kind of evening. Who knew that Squall could be such a romantic? Is it any wonder why every girl wants him? But sorry girls, he's mine! Rinoa thought with a charismatic smile on her lips.
Rinoa yawned. Squall looked down at her.
"Tired already Princess?' Squall asked.
Rinoa looked up at him with a small smile forming. "Not really. But maybe a dip in your indoor pool will make me feel fresh again,"
Squall sighed as Rinoa giggled.
"Do you still want to go to that private school though Rinoa?"
Rinoa stopped giggling. "I don't want to…but as I said before, I probably have no choice. Unless my mother rings him up and forces him to not make me go,"
I don't want to lose her…not again…
Squall began to stroke her hair soothingly.
This was their idea of a typical night in. Their night in. They had been through so much already that they of course had to have some time with each other. Even if it was just for one night. But it was one night to remember…always. Nothing could spoil it. Nothing.
"Shut up Mandy! Shut up! Shut up!" Erika said with a struggle for breath.
"Is that all you can say? Tsk, tsk Erika. I thought you had a reputation for being the school's gossiper as well as the class big mouth," Mandy said coolly.
"What did you just say!" Erika asked with indications of shock and anger.
"Never mind Erika. But pretty soon, I'll be General Caraway's stepdaughter and Rinoa's stepsister. And I'll take much more than just residence in her father's mansion," Mandy said with an evil smile on her face.
"What are you going to take?" Erika asked while carefully trying to apply some lotion onto her face.
Mandy patted the silver chain necklace that was around her neck. The necklace that Squall had given her for her birthday when they were still going out.
"I'm going to take Squall away from Rinoa. And nothing's going to stop me. With my dearest soon to be stepsister at a private school far away from Balamb with Seifer Almasy, it'll be a good time to charm Squall back, don't you agree?" Mandy said looking out the window and gazing dreamily at the drizzle that was falling down from the night sky.
My poor soon to be stepsister won't have a clue on what's in store for her!