Hatred to Love

A/N: Hey there again! Wow, I can't believe that I'm up to 12 chapters already! Seems like just yesterday that I posted up chapter 1…anyways I'll probably be crying by the time I finish this story. This chapter takes place on the first day (of school) of term 2 for the gang (R, S, Z, Q, I and S). I'm really, really sorry that Mandy is in this story (and having a fab time ruining Rinny's beautiful life…), but I created her for a purpose and I can't kill her off. But you can, if you decide to write a fic about all the cruel stepsisters (or evil siblings) in the world of FF VIII fanfictions. Just kidding! But really, you can. Cerulean Devil, you're right. I purposely made him 'forget' that Mandy would be Rinoa's stepsister. You'll also see in future chapters why he forgets. And Kiz, I know that it seems weird, but you'll see Mandy develop more in future chapters. Special thanks to Sammie and Tina. I hope that you enjoy this chapter! (Although I do think its quite boring…)

Chapter 12 – First Day

Rinoa moaned as the alarm clock on her bedside table rang. She pulled off her warm blanket and stared with sleepy chocolate brown eyes at the pure gold encrusted clock that was placed there messily along with her other belongings as well. She lazily dragged her arm up and turned off the alarm. She yawned and slowly got up from her bed.

How could the holidays end so fast? I'm still not used to waking up this early…

Rinoa folded up the sheets and neatly made her bed. After she was done, her bed looked like no one had slept in it or even sat on it. Rinoa then, walked over to her windows and tied her curtains back to their usual hook. She half expected it to be cloudy and gray like it was in the holidays, but to her surprise, she was greeted with a clear blue sky and some bright sunlight.

And ever since the night where she and Squall had a secret rendezvous at 'Glass Roses' in Esthar, Rinoa actually smiled. It wasn't a forced smile that she had quickly plastered onto her face, whenever people she didn't feel comfortable with talked to her or were around her. It was a real, pure smile. It actually showed how she felt right then.

After that night where Rinoa was locked in her room by Mandy, she had confronted the blonde, but the blonde had burst into tears and said that it was a terrible thing that anyone could ever do. Rinoa had said that she had suspected that her blonde haired, hazel eyed stepsister had done it, but Mandy had protested that her lock could've had a glitch that caused it to lock itself. Rinoa had rolled her eyes at the stupidity of Mandy's answer, but she couldn't help but think that it could've been either Amber or Mandy who had committed the crime.

Rinoa would've immediately blamed the blonde beauty if she had caused any more trouble, but to her surprise, the naughty blonde hadn't been up to any mischief lately. What surprised Rinoa even more was that she was now treating her like a real sister would. But Rinoa never let her guard down, even if the blonde was treating her like a sister, she was still very annoying, just like a piece of gum stuck onto your shoe.

With a last smile at the picture perfect clear blue sky, Rinoa walked over to her wardrobe and opened it. She sighed as she took out her new Deling Academy uniform. Before the holidays had begun, her father had bought her, her school uniform. She had to admit that it looked nice, but she had thought that Balamb High's uniform was better.

After she had gotten changed, she stood in front of her oak floor length mirror (which was right next to her wardrobe) to see how she looked. The skirt was a light grey colour and it seemed to perfectly go with her raven black hair. The blouse was white and it had her new school's emblem on the right breast pocket. Her warm, woollen v-neck jumper was also of a light grey colour and had the school emblem sewn on it as well. She also wore long knee length white socks and a pair of black leather school shoes.

She spun around a couple of times, to see how she looked at different angles. From the back, she thought that her skirt looked way too short. She tilted her head and let her raven hair hang down. Strands of her hair also fell in front of her eyes. She wrinkled her nose and then decided to do her hair. As she ran a brush through her silky black hair, she wondered about her new school. I really wonder if I really made the right choice. I wonder if everything will be alright. I wonder if Squall and everybody will miss me.

Setting her hair brush back down on her make up table, Rinoa reached for her school shoulder bag which was on a shelf in her walk-in wardrobe and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind her.

Raine felt the sick sensation come up again. She couldn't keep it down much longer. Her stomach had felt painful for almost two months and she thought that it would've gone away by now.

She placed her hand over her mouth in hopes that she could stop it, but it didn't work. She began to vomit. Luckily for Raine, she was in the bathroom.

Raine began to sob. Tears streamed down her cheeks and splashed onto the bathroom's blue tiled floor. When she heard footsteps approach, she quickly wiped away her tears.

"What's wrong Raine?" asked a panicked Laguna as he rushed over to his wife's side.

Raine said nothing as her husband took her into his strong, firm arms. She instantly felt the warmth of his body. Raine snuggled closer to her husband.

A small frown crossed Laguna's handsome young face. "Raine, what's wrong?"

Raine looked up to meet Laguna's strong steady gaze. She had to tell him now, before the truth would become too obvious. "I'm…I'm pregnant Laguna," said Raine quietly.

Laguna's eyes lit up and a smile crossed over his now cheerful face. "That's great news Raine! How many months pregnant are you?"

Raine couldn't help but manage to smile a bit at her husband's reaction. "Almost…two months now…"

"Come to think about it, you were sick a while ago. Didn't you know that you were pregnant?" asked Laguna with concern. Raine shook her head and glanced at her worried husband.

"Why were you crying before Raine?" asked Laguna softly. His deep, smooth voice seemed to soothe and relax his wife. But only for a while.

"I'm scared! I don't want to lose another child!" said Raine in a high pitched, panicked voice and breaking down into even more tears. She was referring to Adelina, Squall's twin sister, whom she lost due to an accident when her two twins were 13 years old. A year after the accident, she had gotten pregnant again, but sadly she had a miscarriage. Ever since then, she was afraid of getting pregnant, in fear that she would not be able to carry the child to full term.

Laguna gently placed his arm over Raine's shoulders. "It's alright Raine. You won't lose the baby this time," he tenderly whispered in her ear.

"How can you be so sure Laguna?" asked Raine softly. Even though her face was stained with tears and her eyes were now a little red, she still looked radiant and beautiful. Raine's hands were now placed around her stomach protectively.

"I have a good feeling this time Raine. Don't stress or tire yourself out too much. I can take time off work to look after you," said Laguna soothingly and stroking his wife's silky, long brown hair.

Raine's eyes broadened. At one stage in the past, Laguna was so wrapped up in his work that he spent all of his time at his office. Even when he didn't need to be there. He rarely ever came home, he rarely visited his family. All that mattered to him was his job as president of Esthar. Raine thought it was because he didn't care about his family anymore, but it was because of Adelina's death and he had thrown himself into his work. During that time, Squall had gotten depressed and he needed his father. But his father was hardly ever around and that had angered him. And he still was. Until this day, Squall was still angry at his father, but never showed it when Raine was around.

"No, it's fine Laguna. I'll be all right, don't worry about it honey. You're president of Esthar, you cannot take time off work," said Raine with a small smile. Laguna's smile widened.

"I can always get Kiros or Ward to fill in for me. You know that Raine," said Laguna kissing the top of Raine's head.

Raine closed her eyes and exhaled. The next seven months weren't going to be easy for her. And she knew that all too well.

A single tear dropped from her eye and stained Laguna's crisp, clean shirt.

Where on earth is that girl? I don't have time to be late for my first day at Deling Academy! Hell, I don't have any time to be late at all! That girl better drag her ass out here right now or I will break down her door! Thought Rinoa, fuming as she raced upstairs to get her stepsister down, so that their chauffer could drive them both to school. If her father hadn't told her that she had to wait for her stepsister every single morning, then she would've easily left for school without the mischievous blonde. A maid had told Rinoa that the blonde hadn't left her room at all and that had really irritated her, but she didn't show it at all.

"Mandy! Get out here right now!" barked Rinoa furiously. She knocked, or rather banged on her stepsister's door several times and tried to open it, but the door was locked. Figures, thought Rinoa.

The door then opened and Rinoa stepped back, ready to tell her stepsister off. Rinoa gasped as she examined the girl that stood in front of her. Mandy shook her head, her blonde hair swaying along with it. Her trademark long, light blonde hair was gone. Now it was shoulder-length, layered and a sun kissed honey blonde colour. Also, Mandy now had a side fringe and wisps of it fell in front of her eye. She had already changed into her Balamb High uniform and Rinoa noticed that she had a black scarf wrapped stylishly around her neck.

"What did you want Rinoa?" asked Mandy sweetly with an innocent smile on her face. Seeing her stepsister with her mouth hanging open, Mandy laughed in a girly manner and brushed strands of her hair behind her ear.

"What…What…what did you do to your hair?" asked Rinoa, after she had found her voice again. Seeing her stepsister with a different hair style and lighter shade of colour surprised her, as several encounters in the past had told Rinoa that Mandy hated to do anything that would 'wreck' her precious locks.

"Oh this?" asked Mandy, running a hand through her soft, honey coloured hair. "My mother took me to a salon yesterday afternoon and they suggested a whole new look. So…what do you think?" Mandy looked at Rinoa questioningly.

Rinoa cleared her throat and said, "Mandy, the chauffer is not going to wait any longer for us. I finished breakfast and packed my bag, so can we please go now?"

"Jeez, sorry if I'm not perfect like you," muttered Mandy, as she followed her stepsister down the stairs and to the foyer of Caraway Manor.

The car ride to Rinoa's new school (as Deling Academy was closer and more convenient to get there than Balamb High, the chauffer decided to take Rinoa to school first) was unpleasant in her opinion. Rinoa had insisted that she sit up the front with the chauffer, so that she could stay away from Mandy, but the blonde girl had said that she didn't want to be all by herself. Rinoa rolled her eyes, but Mandy had somehow made her feel really guilty. So Rinoa tossed her shoulder bag into the back seat and proceeded to sit down opposite Mandy.

For the whole ride to school, Rinoa sat with an arm propped up against the window and her eyes focused on the admirable sights of Deling City. Once or twice, she had caught her stepsister staring at her with a twisted smile, but with a cold look on her usually friendly face, Mandy quickly smiled contentedly and resumed to applying her eyeliner.

"What's wrong now?" asked Rinoa with a sigh, who had caught the blonde staring at her again. Mandy smiled as she placed her eyeliner and mirror back into her pink make up bag.

"Where's my breakfast?" demanded Mandy as she tucked parts of her fringe behind her ear. She had left home without eating any breakfast as Rinoa had rushed her. Mandy had overslept and also spent a long time showering as she was washing her hair.

Rinoa looked her with an expression on her face which was a cross between a smirk and a smile. "Your fault for not getting up any earlier Mandy. Just ask Stuart to stop at a bakery or whatever so you can purchase something to soothe that hungry stomach of yours,"

The limousine then stopped. Rinoa gazed out the window and saw that they had arrived at her new school, Deling Academy. The school was breathtaking, with the buildings resembling a university rather than a high school. From the view inside her limousine, Rinoa could see that the gardens outside the buildings (and where students were now beginning to flock in) looked more like a Chinese garden and that made Rinoa secretly smile.

She leaned to the front and thanked Stuart, before taking her bag, opening the door and leaving. But before she left, Mandy had spoken.

"Good luck Rinoa," said Mandy as she tilted her head to the side and letting strands of her honey coloured hair fall back down onto her face.

Rinoa looked back and gave her stepsister a flabbergasted look in response. Seeing her stepsister speechless, Mandy said, "I know that it's hard starting at a new school, especially since you were really attached to Balamb High. So good luck for your first day sis,"

Rinoa curved her lips into a small, forced smile as she placed her bag over her shoulder. "Thanks," she had replied shortly and she shut the limousine door.

She hadn't seen Mandy smile like a Cheshire cat as the sleek black limousine drove off into the distance. Rinoa sighed as she made her way into Deling Academy's grounds.

I hope that I made the right choice after all…thought Rinoa as she tightened her grip on her shoulder bag.

"Yo Squall! How ya doing man?"called outZell as Squall walked towards their usual spot where they all hung out during lunchtimes and before school started in the morning.

"…" was Squall's response. Zell's head drooped down. In his mind, he knew that Squall had turned back into 'cold' mode, the way he was before he had gotten together with Rinoa. But now that the caring, loving angel was gone, cold Squall had come back.

"Hey Squall," said Selphie and Irvine together. The two locked eyes for a moment, before looking away. Selphie slid down away from Irvine, causing his eyes to drop and a pained expression to come onto his face.

Zell sighed as Squall took a seat, his usual one located near the tree, that he enjoyed leaning against.

"We're missing someone," said Squall as he leaned against the tree. Zell looked around and looked back at Squall with a puzzled look.

"Um, Squall, if you're talking about Rinoa…yes she's missing," said Zell, scratching his head. Squall exhaled as he heard Zell's answer. Squall tilted his head over to the side as he briefly glanced at the cerulean blue sky.

"A certain blonde haired, blue eyed girl isn't here," said Squall coolly. Zell nodded and Selphie and Irvine skimmed the whole area in search for Quistis. They couldn't see her, but her long golden blonde hair was hard to miss, as they spotted her walking and laughing with Leanna, Jessica, Erika and a redhead whom they didn't know.

"Quistis!" called out Selphie. Quistis turned to the direction in which she had heard her name and quickly waved at Selphie before blushing and continuing to walk with her friends. Selphie frowned and turned back around.

"What's up with her?" asked Irvine, speaking for the first time since he had greeted Squall. Zell shrugged as Squall remained silent.

"Come to think of it, I heard in the girls' toilets that Quistis has decided to re-join the sluts again. Leanna sounded like she was over the moon when she told it to her friends," said Selphie wistfully as leaves from a tree slowly came down and scattered around her.

"They're not sluts for the last time Selphie," said Irvine distractedly. Selphie gave him a dirty look, before taking her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and walking off in a huff.

Irvine looked at Zell, confused and then nestled his head on his folded arms. Zell looked at the brunette who had almost fallen over as she knocked into several people. After that, she awkwardly made her way into the school's science blocks.

"It's probably going to be just us three again, if we decide not to hang out with the other guys," murmured Zell, referring to the other popular guys they used to hang out with. But then Irvine had gotten into an argument with one of the guys and the three of them decided to leave the group.

Squall closed his eyes. I wonder how we'll manage it through the rest of the year... seeing as we're just like we were, before Quistis, Selphie and Rinoa joined us, mused Squall.

"Looking through your school records and reports Miss Heartilly, I'm wondering why you didn't enrol here at our school earlier," the principal, Mr. Norman said as he gazed at Rinoa with interest through his spectacles. Rinoa smiled at him nervously and kept on looking around her new principal's office.

"A student in the advanced maths class, extension English class, representative at district debating competitions, an exceptional vocalist and piano player thanks to your mother," smiled Mr. Norman as he narrated the list he was holding that listed all of Rinoa's academic, sporting, performing arts and leadership achievements.

Rinoa smiled at the middle aged man warmly and nodding, and then he continued to read the list out loud to himself.

"A representative at district and regional athletic carnivals and was also a member in the student representative council," concluded Mr. Norman with a pleased smile as he rounded off all of Rinoa's achievements.

"I think that our school is perfect to cater for all your needs and wants. In time, I think that you'll be even more successful in all your academic, sporting and performing arts areas than you were at your old school,"

Rinoa didn't know what to say, so she curved her lips into a small smile. Then, a lady at the office (situated right next to the principal's office) entered the room and handed Mr. Norman a plastic sleeve filled with what looked like school equipment. The lady smiled welcomingly at Rinoa, before exiting the room.

"Ah, yes of course," murmured Mr. Norman as he examined the plastic sleeve. He handed it over to Rinoa, who after receiving it, stared at it.

Seeing Rinoa looking baffled, the middle aged principal chuckled and explained to her what the package she was holding in her hands was.

"That plastic sleeve contains your timetable, your school diary, a copy of the school's code of conduct and also a list of school fees and subject payments, but your father has already paid for them, so there's a receipt clipped to the list," explained Mr. Norman gesturing to the package. Rinoa looked at the package and then smiled thankfully at her principal.

Mr. Norman then stood up, almost knocking his leather black chair over, but his hands shot out quickly in time to avoid it from actually falling. Rinoa got up at the same time as he did, wondering what would happen next.

So far, this school seems…decent. I wonder what will happen next, mused Rinoa with a wistful look on her pretty face.

"Well, that does conclude our introduction to the school Miss Heartilly. I did make sure that we could squeeze in a little tour of the school,"

"But Sir, what about my classes?" inquired Rinoa.

"Ah, yes your classes. After our brief tour, a student from the student council has volunteered to take you to all your lessons, as you have most of your lessons with him anyway," responded Mr. Norman with a friendly smile.

"Sir, did you say him?" asked Rinoa, not sure whether she had heard the man properly. Mr. Norman nodded in response to her question.

Mr. Norman then opened the door and gestured to Rinoa to come out. Rinoa smoothed her slightly wrinkled skirt, before strolling over and exiting the room.

What's up with Selphie and Irvine? They both hardly ever argue and they usually forget about it after a day or so, thought Squall.

It was true. The once picture perfect couple were in a bitter argument. Since Rinoa wasn't here, Squall had no one to talk to. Selphie was already in class and sitting at their table, when Irvine and Squall walked in. Selphie had taken Rinoa's old seat which left Squall to sit in between her and Irvine.

"So…what'd you do in the holidays?" asked Irvine with forced cheerfulness. He was trying to break up the tense atmosphere, but it didn't seem to go well.

Squall didn't bother to reply to Irvine's question and neither did Selphie. Seeing that the two of them weren't in any mood for a conversation, Irvine turned around and began to chat with Leanna.

"Hey Irvine, what's up?" asked Leanna brightly with a warm smile.

Irvine's lips formed a small smile in return as he and Leanna soon became engrossed in an intimate conversation. He then took his chair and moved it over to Leanna's table.

"Why was Quistis with you anyway Le?" murmured Irvine, so that Selphie, Squall or anyone else on Leanna's table wouldn't be able to listen on to their conversation.

Leanna's brilliant emerald green eyes were filled with reluctance. "Promise you won't tell anyone else, k?" Irvine nodded and then keenly listened to Leanna.

"She said that she's been ignored for months now by you guys. Once in a while, you'd tease her or rely on her for something. She wanted friends who she could talk to, rely on, and depend on. She really missed hanging out with me and the girls. I mean, she used to be one of us! But then she left us, mainly because of Mandy's bitchiness and the fact that she enjoyed Selphie and Rinoa's company," explained Leanna quietly. Irvine nodded solemnly as Leanna's words drifted around in his mind.

I thought that Quistis was cool with the fact that we were always joking around with her. I hope that we're all still friends though. I may not show it, but I value her friendship. When all of us, Leanna, Quistis and co. and Squall, Zell, me and all the guys were all hanging out, Quistis actually looked out for me, helped me and listened to me. I never knew that she was feeling this way…thought Irvine, a gloomy expression crossing onto his face.

"Anyway Irvy, just talk to Quistis herself. I'm pretty sure that she doesn't want to lose her friendship with you guys. Just because she's hanging out with us, doesn't mean that she hates you, wants to forget about you or isn't your friend anymore. I'm certain that she'll still be your friend, no matter what," said Leanna gently as she placed her hand on Irvine's broad shoulder.

As Irvine was about to open his mouth to say something, he was interrupted by their science teacher's abrupt entrance into the classroom. Irvine smiled appreciatively at Leanna, before getting up and taking his chair and placing it back in its original position next to Squall.

Mrs. Kramer opened up her roll book and then marked the roll. When she reached Rinoa's name, she called it out, forgetting that the raven haired girl was no longer a student in this school.

"Where's Miss Heartilly?" asked Mrs. Kramer, tapping her pen impatiently against the roll book.

"She left the school," said Selphie vaguely as she fiddled with the zip on her pencil case. Irvine noticed that his distant girlfriend didn't sound as cheerful as she used to be.

Is it because of Rinoa leaving? Or is it that she's upset that Quistis has left our group? Sefie doesn't even try to confide in me anymore, thought Irvine with a cheerless smile on his face.

After their young science teacher had finished marking the roll, she looked around the classroom, a thoughtful look on her pretty face.

"There'll be some adjustments to the science partners, seeing as how Miss Heartilly is no longer in our class and Miss Portman's…" said Mrs. Kramer, but was rudely interrupted by Mandy.

"It's Miss Caraway," interrupted Mandy with a rude tone in her voice. She looked around the classroom, seeing how the other students would react before looking back at her teacher and saying, "Go on,"

"And Miss Caraway's partner switched science classes at the end of last term. The silly boy didn't know that he wasn't meant to be doing this science unit until at least next year," continued Mrs. Kramer with a roll of her eyes.

Whispers went around the classroom. "Mandy is General Caraway's stepdaughter?" "Duh! Do you know any other Caraways?" "I wonder if Rinoa left because of Mandy." "If Rinoa's not at this school, then why is Mandy still here?"

Squall rolled his own eyes after hearing those whispers. Irvine and Selphie had no need to question about Mandy's new last name. They had known that Mandy was to be Rinoa's stepsister, after she had told them before the end of the holidays.

"That's enough chatter now. So, Miss. Caraway, your new science partner will be…Mr. Leonhart," said Mrs. Kramer, jotting down something in her book. Squall didn't bother looking up. He sighed quietly as Mandy squealed happily and pulled out a chair at his table.

"So Squall, how are you going to deal?" whispered Selphie pointing to Mandy.

Squall shrugged. "No idea…"

Mrs. Kramer then wrote up notes on the whiteboard and all the students hastily opened up their workbooks and pulled out a pen to copy down the notes. Squall had noticed Mandy glancing adoringly at him, but ignored it.

I wonder what you're doing now…Rinoa…

"Did you like what you saw Rinoa?" asked Mr. Norman once they were back in the school's main entrance after the tour of the school.

Rinoa pretended to think, but then she smiled charmingly at Mr. Norman and said, "It's amazing! Deling Academy looks more like a university than a private high school. The school gardens are absolutely beautiful, and the atmosphere of this school…it reminds me of my old school,"

"I'm glad Rinoa. I'm glad. Because if you didn't like our school, then you probably wouldn't be able to focus on your studies. If you have any questions, problems, anything at all, feel free to talk to me. Now, time for you to get to your first class," said Mr. Norman in a gentle manner. "Where is that boy?" mumbled Mr. Norman under his breath.

Rinoa stood there, running her hand through her silky black hair several times. After a while, she heard footsteps running faster and faster from behind her.

Not really wanting to find out who 'that boy' was, Rinoa stood still and didn't move a muscle.

"Finally. Where were you?" asked Mr. Norman grimly, glancing at the young man through his glasses.

"Sorry that I'm late Sir. I was just caught up in something," replied the young man. Rinoa had noted that his voice was deep, smooth and tough. Something about his voice had reminded her of someone.

But it couldn't be him…could it?

"You're here now, that's good. I want to introduce you Rinoa to Seifer, your personal assistant for today. He'll take you to all your classes and help you if you need it," said Mr. Norman, introducing the two teens.

At the mention of his name, Rinoa turned her head around swiftly, her raven hair swaying along as well. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock as she met the strong, steady gaze of the blonde haired, handsome young man. It was him.

"Seifer…Almasy?" whispered Rinoa, afraid to even know the answer.

"Nice to meet you again…Rinoa," said Seifer with a smirk on his face.