Disclaimer: It hurts to say it. . .
I don't own FF8.
Chapter 5 - Home . . .
Home Sweet. . .Never mind.
Selphie and I waited on a street corner for the bus, that seemed to never come, and that I didn't mind. The last place I wanted to go was to see my dad, but Selphie insisted. The green bus attendant seemed relieved as the red and black bus started going down the street. With his help, soon I was on the bus heading down to the mansion.
"Rinoa, it's not that bad. He's just your dad." I laughed.
"You don't know my dad. . ." My dad certainly wasn't the nicest guy around, and when I was little, I often found myself locked in my room for something I never did. General Caraway never had enough patience for a daughter, and at the moment, I didn't have the patience for him. We passed the hotel, and I wished we could have stayed there instead, but the bus just kept on rolling. I heard Selphie start to sing the familiar old song.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round. . ." Ugh, now this. Could things get worse?
"Selphie, please." Selphie nodded, but her impatient and hyper self rocked back and forth in her seat. I swear, I don't even think she sleeps. She tapped her fingers on her knees and kicked her legs. I watched, slightly amused at her inability to sit still. Then, I saw the house come into view. I inwardly groaned and clutched my bag that sat on my lap. Selphie noticed and immediately grabbed hers as the bus slowed to the stop. Selphie grabbed my clasped wheel chair and unfolded it out of the door on the bus. With the help of some friendly riders, I got out of the bus, and Selphie wheeled me to the gate, where the doorman greeted me.
"Ah, Miss Heartilly, what happened to you?" I shook my head.
"Don't remind me." Squall was actually kind of lucky. He got to forget the whole incident, but it kept replaying in my mind, over and over again. He only nodded and opened the gate, letting me pass through. The house was the same it was when I left it - The cleanest house in the city. The hedges were perfectly square, the windows were spotless, and the door was polished. Selphie lightly knocked, afraid to even leave a mark, and the old maid, Helen, answered.
"Rinoa, where have you been? Oh my God!" She said, noticing the ugly wheelchair. I awaited the flood of pity to follow. I hated being helpless.
"You poor child! Come on in, and tell me everything that happened?" Selphie helped me in, and sat me on the stainless, perfect white couch in the living room, and Helen brought me a mug of coffee. I was already being catered to and I haven't been in the house five minutes.
"Where's dad?" I asked, sipping the coffee. Ugh, no sugar, just the way my father drank it. I placed the mug on the table, hiding my face of disgust.
"He's in the study, doing his business work. Would you like to go see him?" I rolled my eyes. How couldn't I guessed? That was all he ever did.
"I guess." I had to get it over with before I chickened out. Selphie pushed my chair down one of the many, many halls until we came to a tall, oak door. Helen insisted on opening it, and I saw my father, sitting behind his desk with piles of paperwork. He looked up and squinted as if in disbelief.
"Rinoa? What in the world happened to you?" Selphie thought it was safe to wheel me into the room.
"Accident." He nodded his head, and invited Selphie to come sit in one of his leather chairs. She and I sat next to each other, because she knew I needed her. Dad would be slightly more bearable knowing I had company.
"What kind of accident? And where's that boyfriend of yours, shouldn't he be helping you instead of her?" He nodded towards Selphie. I bit my lip. This meeting would be harder then I thought.
"A motorcycle accident. Squall can't come help me. He's still in the hospital." My father looked like he was starting to get angry. I'd rather him treat me like an adult then show pity though.
"Let me guess, he was being a reckless idiot and nearly got both of you killed." My father rose his voice. Selphie looked quite intimidated. This was one of the many times I wanted to slap my father.
"You don't even understand." How could I call him my dad?
"Oh, you're wrong. I understand perfectly. Now that you're injured, you have to come crawling back to me, like you always do. Let me guess, money for hospital bills? A new motorcycle? What this time?" I was about to snap. How dare he degrade me like a selfish little brat. I gave him a chance, a long time ago.
"I don't want money!" I shouted at him. His face started to turn red. Very, very few people shouted at him.
"You're just a selfish little liar, how much money do you want?" That was it. I was anything but a liar. I knew what I was going to say could get me into trouble, but no one, not even my own god damn father, could call me a liar.
"Listen to me. I don't want your MONEY! I didn't care if you had a damn penny to your name! I thought, I have a father, maybe I could come home, stay here for a few days, and maybe even patch things up with 'dear old dad.' But obviously you proved me wrong. The only thing I can count on you for is being a selfish bastard and a lousy father!" I never, ever swore to people I should respect. He was about to come back with a reply, but I just waved him off.
"Selphie, let's go." Selphie was still in awe that I would talk to him like that, when she couldn't even greet him. My father stood up and pointed at me.
"Rinoa, if you go out that damn door, you're not coming back." I turned to him.
"Bye, General Caraway." And finally, I left my dad for good, and for the first time in 2 days, I was happy. I told Helen and the doorman goodbye, and I left the mansion forever.
I woke up in the bed of the hotel, and contently remembered everything that happened. For once in my life, I told my dad what I really thought of him, and it felt like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. The whole trip to my father's house was wasted in the lodgings department, but I would never have to go back there again. What more could I ask?
Now all I needed was something to do while I was here until I got tickets back to Balamb. But I was entering new territory - I've always had someone to go to, or come back to, now that Squall didn't even remember me, I broke ties off with my dad, where was I going to stay? I couldn't live in a hotel forever. Maybe I could enroll in the garden for student dormitory, or even buy a house in Balamb. But my dad certainly wouldn't let me grab a hold of funds now, not after what I did. I looked at Selphie, who was still sleeping, and the light bulb went off in my head.
Maybe me and her could earn some money, and buy a house in Balamb. We could split the costs and even be roomates. I would need some help after what happened to my leg and arm. Then I could be with Squall for however long he needed me, and I could always have a place to go back to, somewhere that was mine. I just yawned and closed my eyes again.
Too many worries, too early.
Aha, I just thought I should provide Rinoa with some defiant characteristics, and there you go. For those who love Seifer almost as much as I do, he'll appear next chapter. Insert huge smile and heart here.