Hatred to Love

Chapter 9 – Dear Stepsister Part II

"Welcome to the Caraway family Mandy and Amber!" Rinoa's Aunt Sophia said warmly as she hugged the two of them.

Rinoa could only roll her eyes as she witnessed the entire scene. Am I the only one that can actually see that Mandy's a fake? And also with Amber? Like Mother, like Daughter.

Amber and Mandy were mingling with the Caraway family in the banquet room and so far most of Rinoa's relatives were charmed by their charisma and their well-mannered behavior. Very suitable for the Caraway family as they were always of a high class and standard.

"Rinoa, darling! Come over here!" Her Aunt Sophia called out.

Rinoa smiled sweetly at her aunt and obediently strolled over to where Sophia, Mandy and Amber were chatting and laughing amongst each other.

"Rinoa, since your father is busy with some last minute preparations for the dinner party, I'll do all the formal introductions," Sophia said with a beautiful smile on her warm face.

Rinoa sipped some more iced Sprite from her glass.

"This is Amber, your soon to be stepmother. She is a fantastic woman and I think you will be delighted that she is going to be a part of your life," Sophia continued on.

Then why don't you become her stepdaughter then if you think she's all that?

Rinoa rapidly forced a tight-lipped smile onto her face as Amber leaned over to embrace her tightly.

"I can't wait to get to know Richard's beautiful daughter. I hope that you will accept me as your stepmother sweetie," Amber announced with a teary smile on her lovely young face.

It was then that Rinoa kind of regretted all the nasty things she thought about Amber. But that doesn't mean I can't be cautious. She might be a loving person when other people are around, but she could be the evil stepmother of all time when I'm alone with her.

"And I think you've already met my precious only daughter Mandy. She did say that you used to attend Balamb High with her," Amber said softly and gesturing to the now gently smiling Mandy.

Rinoa looked over her shoulder. "Yeah, we've met before at school," Rinoa remarked coldly.

The joyful smile on Amber's face quickly disappeared, as did Sophia's. Mandy looked from Rinoa's irritable looking face to her mother and Rinoa's Aunt Sophia's stunned expressions. She had to act fast so she quickly slipped her arm through Rinoa's own, causing Rinoa to almost choke.

"Mother, Rinoa is probably feeling a little unsettled tonight. I mean, she just had to move from Balamb to here and she has to meet us. She might be a little uncomfortable right now," Mandy explained with a glittering smile that showed all of her straight white teeth.

Rinoa turned silent. Sophia and Amber's faces turned from stunned to normal again.

"Why didn't you tell us Rinoa dear?" Sophia asked in a motherly way.

Rinoa's rage was building up. She couldn't take it anymore. So she struggled to get Mandy's arm off of hers and she walked off sulking to Nida leaving Mandy, Amber and Aunt Sophia behind speechless.

"I'm not sure what's gotten into Rinoa. She was content and smiling when I arrived here this afternoon," Sophia quickly apologised.

Mandy shot a deadly smile to Rinoa after she had dragged Nida into a corner on the other side of the room.

"It's alright Sophia, no need to apologise. All of this must be very hard on Rinoa after all," Amber said with a cheerless smile.

"Mother, she probably does need time to get used to all of this," Mandy said thoughtfully as she was tugging onto her delicate silver chain necklace.

Actually, I'm going to be the one who needs time to get used to all this. After all, I'm going to be General Caraway's stepdaughter. I have a couple more tricks to pull on Rinoa. Then she'll accept me as a stepsister and then I'll toy with her again until she has no choice but to finally give up! Mandy thought.

"Would you like to sample this Mandy?" Sophia asked offering Mandy a cocktail snack.

Mandy smiled her 'for adults only' smile at her. "I'd love to…Auntie Sophia,"

Sophia beamed at her. "I hope you're as lovely as Rinoa dear," She whispered causing Mandy to almost spit out the cocktail snack.

"Auntie Sophia, Rinoa doesn't normally walk off when company comes over does she?" Mandy asked gazing around the room after she had consumed the cocktail.

Sophia shook her head. "No dear, she's normally very warm, polite and certainly not like she was before,"

Mandy looked down at the tiled floor. "I think it's because Rinoa hates me. I don't know why, but she was always talking about me when we went to school together. She did everything she could to make me look like the mean girl. Rinoa almost slapped me one time," Mandy said almost whispering.

Sophia placed a hand over her mouth. "That doesn't seem like Rinoa at all!"

Mandy slowly shook her head. "It's like she has two different personalities, but its true though Auntie Sophia," She smiled triumphantly to herself as Sophia gave her a sympathetic hug.

As promised Rinoa, there is always a little white lie to tell.

"What's wrong now little cousin?" Nida asked in an exasperated tone.

Rinoa bit her bottom lip. What on earth was she going to tell Nida? There was too much on her mind and the only person that would actually listen to her without making that much of a big deal at the moment was Nida.

"Oh, so it doesn't bother you that Mandy is sucking up to your mother?" Rinoa snapped furiously.

Nida was taken back. Normally, Rinoa wasn't this bad-tempered. But probably with the turn of events, she had little choice but to be grumpy about everything that was happening right now.

Nida watched Mandy now keenly listen to what his mother was saying with interest. He rolled his eyes. His mother loved to yap about anything and everything. To him, you'd have to be very easygoing and polite to listen to what Sophia Caraway had to say!

"I can't believe what she'd do just to be accepted into our family!" Nida hissed.

Rinoa gazed around the whole banquet room. Sophia and Mandy were chatting or rather Sophia was doing all the talking and Mandy was pretending to courteously listen, Amber was socializing with Rinoa's other relatives and the rest of Rinoa's relatives were talking amongst each other.

Rinoa smirked. "I know. But soon, she'll be exposed as the faker she is. Nida, you do know what she's done to me, right?"

Nida looked down at Rinoa and smiled feebly at her. "Yeah, I've heard about it, but I've never actually witnessed it or anything Rinny,"

Rinoa gave him a mischievous smile. "Want to expose Mandy?" She asked softly, but before Nida could answer, she quickly whispered her plan to him.

"It's good to finally get to meet you Elle!" Amber said uneasily as she greeted her fiancé's mother.

Elle turned away from her conversation and glimpsed at Amber. Elle didn't want to be the evil in-law, but she wasn't going to be the loving 'I'll accept you as my daughter-in-law right away' type of person either.

"You're Amber, right?" Elle asked eyeing her distrustfully as Amber was nervously running a hand through her light chestnut brown hair.

Amber nodded. She had to admit though; she was a bit afraid of meeting Richard's mother. But she wanted Richard's parents blessing after all. From what Amber had heard from Richard, his father was a good-hearted man unlike his wife. But he was unable to come that evening.

"Good, Amber's distracted by Grandma Elle. I need to get Mother distracted now as well," Nida muttered to Rinoa.

Rinoa knew that everyone in the banquet room at this moment was deeply absorbed in something and they wouldn't realise that something happened unless he or she shrieked loudly or there was a loud noise.

Rinoa casually walked over to the refreshment table where Mandy was now standing awkwardly on her own; Nida had somehow convinced his mother to talk to his other relatives and not just Mandy. Rinoa filled another glass up with Sprite and turned around to talk to Mandy.

"What the hell was with you before?" Mandy asked coolly as Rinoa walked up to her.

Rinoa smiled sincerely at her. "Oh you know me Mandy. I detest being around fake people like you,"

Mandy's fake sweet smile then turned sour. "Like it or not Rinoa, I'm going to be your stepsister and your father's stepdaughter and I'll be taking so much more than just residence in your charming mansion,"

Rinoa couldn't resist but roll her eyes. "Wow, I'm scared," She responded sarcastically.

The colour from Mandy's face drained. She then remembered what she should be doing. And that was to be a generous, loving and caring stepsister on the outside, but an evil, back-stabbing, stepsister on the inside. She had to make Rinoa like her; otherwise her plan wouldn't work at all. She had to bite her tongue to stop any more smart mouth insults coming out of her mouth.

"What's with you now?" Rinoa asked dryly, looking at her now slightly pale face.

Mandy was going to snap back at Rinoa, but she had to keep a civil tongue. "I was just feeling a little uneasy, that's all Rinoa," Mandy quickly replied.

Rinoa stared in disbelief at her. Like I'm going to bother to listen to that yet alone believe it anyway…

Mandy turned around and waved at some of Rinoa's relatives and Rinoa hastily took advantage of that. She pretended to stumble over something and then spilt her drink all over the back of Mandy's dress. Rinoa walked away from Mandy with pleasure.

Mandy felt something wet on her dress and looked down to see it. It was a big wet patch on the back of her expensive designer candy pink halter dress courtesy of Rinoa Heartilly. But she didn't know that. She looked up ready to yell at the person who spilt it onto her dress, but there was no one there.

Mandy had to plaster fake smiles on her face at the people who were giving her warm, friendly smiles.

I'll bet 100 Gil, that Rinoa did that. But where the hell is she! Mandy thought furiously as she was scanning the whole room for a certain raven haired girl. But Rinoa Heartilly was no where to be seen.

Rinoa already made her way from where she was standing with Mandy and when Nida caught sight of her, she flashed him a smile of satisfaction. Nida returned the smile.

When she reached him, he hugged her tightly. "That's going to be your birthday present Rinoa! But I will participate in any future anti-Mandy plans of yours," Nida said teasingly while ruffling her hair.

Rinoa laughed. "But here comes trouble…" She hastily murmured to him.

Nida let go of Rinoa and the both of them were watching Mandy (who was now looking rather pink again) slowly make her way to them, anger burning in her light hazel eyes.

"You! I want a word with you!" Mandy said heatedly and pointing to Rinoa.

Nida moved over for Mandy who was ready to kill. He smirked at her. "I like the mixture of candy pink and…what's the other colour?" He asked pretending to peer at the spot where Rinoa had 'accidentally' spilt her drink.

Mandy shot him a deadly look. "Shut up you!"

Just as Mandy was ready to shriek at Rinoa and give her a piece of her mind, a servant had come out and announced that dinner would now be served.

Mandy then glowered at Rinoa, but didn't say anything to her.

Rinoa gave her a smirk before running up to walk with Nida.

"She'll probably want insurance as well Rinoa," Nida whispered with a snigger.

"Feeling any better Mother?" Squall asked Raine as he came into her room to see how she was.

Raine smiled as she got up from her bed. "Much better than I was this morning Squall,"

Squall sat on her bed and sighed. "Mother…Father wanted to talk to the three of us, since Ellone is at her friend's house again,"

Raine looked at him and asked him, "Squall are you alright?"

Squall looked astonished. "…"

Raine gave him another warm smile. "I know that you'll miss Rinoa very much dear, but Deling isn't that far from Esthar and…"

Squall cut her off. "No, it's not about Rinoa at all,"

"Raine, darling is there anything else you want to eat?" Laguna asked her as he entered the room.

Raine coughed. "No Laguna,"

Laguna sat near his wife and stroked her hair. "You got me so worried Raine. Please get better soon honey," He whispered before kissing her forehead affectionately.

Squall, not wanting to observe this any longer, cleared his throat.

Laguna and Raine both smiled as they caught sight of their son waiting impatiently for them.

"Father, Mother, I feel a bit tired now, so I'm going to bed," Squall said shortly and left the room.

"And to think that he'd want to stay back for me to tell him that Rinoa will be in Esthar tomorrow," Laguna said with a warm smile.

Raine looked up at her husband in surprise. "What do you mean Laguna?" She said referring to what he just said.

Laguna chuckled softly. "Richard is taking Amber, her daughter, Rinoa and some of Rinoa's relatives to Esthar for a family vacation for a couple of days. Richard invited us to meet his family tomorrow night,"

Raine curved her lips into a small smile. "Squall would be pleased to see Rinoa again. Should we tell him?"

Laguna shook his head. "Telling him would take all the fun out of it Raine. We should just let Rinoa tell him, if she's planning to,"

Laguna hugged Raine and a single tear fell down from her eye and splashed onto Laguna's crisp, clean shirt.

My three beautiful children. Ellone, Squall and Adelina. I miss you so much Adelina! I know that the angels are looking after you and you're always going to be watching over us…

She peered over Laguna's shoulder and looked at a photo frame with a photo of her three children; Ellone, Squall and Adelina. She smiled miserably at the sight of it.

The darkness in Squall's bedroom never really bothered him that much. In fact, he liked it. He didn't bother to pull the curtains over his windows, so the moonlight shone vibrantly into his bedroom.

He lay down on his back on his bed. He sighed deeply. All sorts of emotions and thoughts ran through his mind at once. It badly hurt his head.

Flashback

"No girl's ever going to replace Rinoa, am I correct Squall?" Mandy asked tearfully.

Squall didn't respond. He just simply ignored Mandy.

"Squall, I'm right aren't I? No one is of a high standard, like darling Rinoa," Mandy said quietly.

"Mandy, why can't you understand that I don't want a girlfriend right now?" Squall asked grimly.

Mandy's striking light hazel eyes searched his own electric blue ones.

Slowly, tears dripped down from Mandy's eyes. She leaned over and hugged Squall closely. Squall had no idea what to do. But he didn't hug her back.

"Please, please Squall. I know that I was your pillar of support after the accident, but why won't you give me a chance and date me?" Mandy asked looking up at him with more tears forming in her eyes.

Squall grunted. "You're right. But no one will ever replace Rinoa. Why don't you date someone else?"

Mandy shook her head. "Because Squall…I want you. Call me crazy, but when I helped you out, I…fell in love with you as well…"

Squall looked down at her. In many ways, Mandy reminded him of Rinoa. Her playfulness, her stubborn personality, everything. Even the way she spoke, she could easily be mistaken for Rinoa, because of her high, soft, gentle voice.

"I'm…not ready," He said and walked away without saying another word.

End Flashback

Squall closed his eyes. Out of all of my memories, why did I have to remember that one? It was the first time after the accident that I felt…normal. Mandy did support me after it…but it was… too soon. I wasn't over Rinoa yet. And yet, she patiently waited for me. She was exactly like Rinoa. That was probably the only reason that I…I had a liking for her. But now, look where she is. She's the school slut.

Rinoa couldn't stop laughing. The whole dinner party was a disaster! Or so she thought.

She was brushing her hair and walking around her room in her pyjama bottoms and a warm, cotton candy pink short-sleeved shirt. She knew that it was disrespectful to continue laughing, but she couldn't help herself at all.

Firstly, when they got into the dining room, Mandy sat firmly down on her seat and refused to get up, in case she accidentally showed anyone the wet patch that was on her dress. Amber kept on eyeing Mandy strangely throughout the whole dinner. Rinoa almost had to stuff her napkin in her mouth to stop any laughter from coming out.

Secondly, Rinoa and Mandy refused to talk to each other for various reasons. They both avoided eye contact and only spoke to each other if it was necessary. Mandy kept on trying to start a conversation with her, but Rinoa more or less ignored her when no one else was looking for obvious reasons.

She smiled one more time before tying her long raven hair up into a ponytail.

She plopped down on her bed and stared at her phone. Should I call Squall or any one of my friends? I miss them so much right now!

"Are you going to make me wait here or what?" A sarcastic voice asked.

Rinoa snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at the intruder. It was Mandy. Out of all the people in her household right now, Mandy had to be the one that decided to visit Rinoa before going to bed.

"What do you want?" Rinoa asked serenely as she fiddled with her silver charm bracelet that she was wearing on her wrist.

Mandy observed Rinoa's whole bedroom before sitting down on Rinoa's bed right next to her.

"I…I just want to apologise for being mean and really bitchy to you," Mandy responded softly.

Rinoa couldn't believe her own ears. Apologise? APOLOGISE! Mandy Portman wants to apologise to me! She must be on drugs or something. Or she must want something.

"Mandy, spit it out already! What do you want?" Rinoa asked frostily.

Mandy looked shocked. "All I want to do is apologise for being mean and all that. I just don't want any ill feeling between the both of us…seeing as we will be living under the same roof pretty soon,"

Are you kidding me Mandy? There's nothing but ill feeling between the both of us…

"I know that I must've been a real mean girl spreading rumors about you and I'm really, really sorry for that Rinny. I was blinded by my feelings for Squall and jealousy because you're with the one that I love the most…I mean, if a boyfriend left you, what would you do?" Mandy went on.

Rinoa rolled her eyes when Mandy was admiring some of Rinoa's eye catching jewellery that was lying on her make-up table. "I'd somehow get over him, what else?" But Mandy probably chose to ignore that or simply didn't hear Rinoa.

Mandy leaned over and embraced Rinoa. "I'm…I'm really sorry dear sister…please forgive me,"

Rinoa didn't know whether to punch the girl in the face or pretend to accept her so called apology.

Rinoa took a deep breath and regretted the words that slowly and quietly came out of her mouth. "Mandy…I…I…I forgive you,"

Mandy looked up at Rinoa, scanning her face for any traces of lying. But her face was sincere, like it mostly always was.

But that doesn't mean I won't be on my guard Mandy Portman! I know you well and you usually don't give up without a fight. What's with the change of heart?

Mandy ended the embrace with a whisper of "Good night dear sister" before quietly leaving Rinoa's bedroom and shutting the door behind her.

Rinoa was almost flabbergasted. She didn't want to be called anyone's sister or have to call anyone a sister. She had longed for a younger brother or sister when she was younger, but that was all in the past. She was terrified of having to call Mandy Portman a sister.

Mandy stood outside of Rinoa's bedroom, leaning against the door. I hope that my dearest sister doesn't think that I'll always be sugary sweet. In fact, I'll be even worse than that! And tomorrow, I get to watch a tear-jerking reunion between dear sister and dear sister's hot boyfriend. Mandy giggled. I'm so going to enjoy the time I have tormenting you Rinoa. Mandy thought as she trailed off to her new bedroom down the hallway.

"I never knew that Esthar could be so picturesque!" Mandy cried out.

Rinoa couldn't resist but roll her eyes. She was stuck in a car ride to Esthar for a family vacation with Mandy. She wanted to sit with Nida, but Mandy, Amber and her own father insisted that she sit with Mandy so they could catch up with each other. Rinoa had tried to protest, but with a stern look from her father, she had no choice but to sit with Mandy.

"Squall lives right here in Esthar, doesn't he?" asked Mandy suddenly.

Rinoa leaned up and sighed. "Yes he does," She said through clenched teeth.

Mandy smiled gloomily as she continued to admire Esthar's beautiful landscape.

Rinoa observed her suspiciously. Is she just trying to make me feel guilty about having Squall as my boyfriend?

"What's wrong dearest sister?" asked Mandy sweetly as she caught sight of her.

"I just feel tired," Rinoa responded curtly.

"Oh," Mandy turned away from Rinoa and continued on admiring the view.

Rinoa was now lost in her own thoughts. Not only was she tired from not getting enough sleep last night, but she had a sinking feeling that this holiday would not go well.

Rinoa then peered out the window. This was the exact same view she had seen, when she was riding with Squall in his limousine. She smiled sorrowfully at the thought of Squall.

But I probably won't get to see him on this holiday. I'll be too busy with the family and Mandy to get to see him or even visit him at all.

Squall was walking along a main road of Esthar on his own. He would've preferred to stay home, but his Mother had insisted that a breath of fresh air would be good for him and he had to pick up something from a store as well.

He sighed heavily as he saw some girls around his age giggle and point at him.

Squall hated this type of attention that was thrown at him whenever he was seen; he'd rather remain anonymous than be publicized, but as he was President Laguna Loire's son, his face often appeared in magazines and newspapers.

"We're finally at Esthar!" Richard Caraway announced with a cheerful smile as the five of them got out of the cars and into the driveway of Richard's exquisite Esthar home.

Where else would we be? Rinoa thought.

"Richard, Nida and I will stay at our house to unpack everything and Rinoa and Mandy can walk around the city for a bit of sight-seeing. Is that alright?" Amber asked.

"Actually Amber, I thought that I could -," Rinoa started, but her father cut her off.

"Rinoa sweetie, surely you can cancel whatever plans you have and take Mandy around the city with you?" Richard interrupted as he unloaded several suitcases from the car.

Mandy couldn't help but smile brightly at Richard. Nida caught sight of this and gave her a look of utter disgust.

"Thank you Father," said Mandy sweetly.

Richard chuckled as he patted her head. "Soon to be, but I'm sure we'll be as close as a real father and daughter,"

Rinoa couldn't hide her own looks of pure hatred either as she stalked off onto the footpath, making her way into the city.

"Rinoa! Wait up!" called out Mandy as she hurriedly tried to follow her. But it was impossible with her knee high boots.

Squall continued to browse along the stores of Esthar's main road. Where was that shop? I swore that I saw it here the last time I visited.

There it is…

Squall stood in front of Esthar's most expensive jewellery store "Crystal Petals". They had the most beautiful bracelets, necklaces, rings and anklets mainly made out of crystals and other precious and rare gemstones. Several weeks ago, Squall had ordered something and it was meant to come in today.

Rinoa had made it to Esthar's main road where most of the stores were situated. She looked around and she sighed with relied as she didn't see any blonde haired girl wearing a tight, long sleeved black top that emphasized her chest with a tight, a leather black mini skirt that could easily be mistaken for a belt and knee high boots.

Rinoa walked across the road and immediately stopped in her tracks as she caught sight of a tall, hot looking boy with dark brown hair. It couldn't be…

It was Squall Leonhart.

I'm going to kill Rinoa when I find her, Mandy said to herself. How DARE she let me get lost in Esthar? She is taking this way too far now.

Mandy suddenly stopped as she saw a guy that looked strangely a lot like Squall.

She pinched herself. That is Squall. He looks even hotter than the last time I laid my eyes on him.

Mandy was about to calmly wander over to her ex-boyfriend and casually flirt with him, but then she caught sight of her dear soon to be stepsister Rinoa, trying to make her own way to him.

Fire burned in Mandy's hazel eyes. Why does she always take what's mine! She wanted to scream.

"Squall…Squall?" Rinoa called out from the crowd.

The brown haired guy turned around and looked at her with a surprised look on his handsome face.

Rinoa…

Squall…

Rinoa made her way to where Squall was standing and ran straight into his open arms.

"Rinoa," He softly murmured into her ear.

She dug her face deeper and deeper into his chest. "Squall…I missed you so much…"

Mandy hid behind a store and smirked as she twirled strands of her long blonde hair. Too bad that moment won't last forever. Pretty soon it'll be me in Squall's arms and Rinoa as the onlooker. I honestly can't wait for that day to arrive!