Chapter XI A New Beginning
You have got to believe me Squall... I would never leave you alone, never. Nothing could take me away from you. Nothing...
"Ahh!" Squall woke up with a start, then looked around the room, adjusting to the darkness. What do these dreams mean? Can I really find her? Where would I go? Squall's eyes lit up, an idea had struck.
"Of course, how could I have forgotten, I have to go tell Zell and Selphie ."
Squall got out of the sleeping bag he was in, on the floor of the orphanage. There were only two beds left there, so Squall and Zell let the girls have them. Squall walked slowly through the room, making sure not to step on Zell, and walked outside. He walked for awhile, trying not to stumble in the dark, until the ground was softer. Stopping, he realized he was standing in the flower field.
If you come here… you'll find me… I promise.
Squall once said these words to Rinoa, but he had heard them from somewhere before. He didn't remember it until that moment, but Mira had said that to him a long time ago there.
"I'm here… where are you?" Squall looked out across the vast field, and stayed out until the sun rose over the hills. He knew she wasn't going to magically appear, but he couldn't make himself leave that place.
"Attention all students, we are about to land the garden back in Balamb. Be prepared for a small crash. Make sure to contain all breakables in a safe place. Thank you."
"Back in Balamb already?" Rinoa asked to no one. Ever since Irvine kissed her, she wasn't really sure about herself. She still had feelings for Squall, most of which were anger and frustration, but all the help Irvine had been giving her was making her warm up to him… a lot. Could I really be with Irvine? I never really thought about him that way, but… how do I feel?
"Rinoa?" Quistis asked through the door of her room.
"Come in," Rinoa replied. Quistis opened the door and walked in. She looked around the room for a moment, then sat down in a chair.
"I wanted to talk to you about… Squall and Irvine. I know you are probably very confused, but it is definitely not good for all the seeD members to be like this. Also, I'm worried about you, you have been, well… a little angry lately." Quistis hesitated to go on, fearing an explosion.
"Actually… you are right, and I have been thinking about it myself… I don't know why, but my heart is telling me that I should move on. That I can't go back, even if I wanted to. I'm sad, but… What else can I do?" It was a rhetorical question, but she paused as if waiting for an answer anyways. "I've made up my mind. Everyone else will just have to deal with it." Rinoa looked out her window, watching all the students pass by in the courtyard.
"So, what exactly are you going to do?" Quistis asked.
"I'm going home, to Deling. It's my home, now that my dad is dead.. I never really felt in place here, except at Squall's side, but now… well you know."
"Oh, I see," Quistis started, " and what about Irvine? He obviously cares about you."
"I know. Last night he kissed me." Rinoa looked like she was reliving the moment, but whether it was a pleasure or a pain, was hard to tell.
"He did! I wasn't aware of that. So, why are you leaving him?"
"Oh! I'm not! He is going to come with me. I wouldn't want to be in that big house alone. I need to get away from here. I'm leaving with Irvine on the train this afternoon." Rinoa appeared to be imagining the long trip.
"I see, well this all seems rather sudden, are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. You can come visit me whenever you like. I just need to get out of Balamb, and all these old memories."
"I hope everything goes good for you now," Quistis stood up, sensing the end of the conversation, and headed to the door.
"Yeah, me too," Rinoa laid down on her bed as Quistis left the room. Things are going to be good.