A/N: Well here's the next chapter hope you like it…
Chapter 11: May the Best Girl Win Part III
They arrived in Deling City on time. Still Rinoa was so infuriated. Kiara was really irritating. It was obvious that she was making up excuses to keep Squall busy and for her to be out of place. She made her look to be the one intruding to them. "Oh for the love of all that is holy!"
She just stayed by Selphie's side the moment they got out of the train. It seems that fate was not by her side as of today.
"Uhmm…hey guys we'll just go there and shop if ya don't mind..." Zell said to them.
"If you don't like its okay…" Quistis added.
"No…of course...go ahead" they all said. They stared at the two lovebirds walk together hand in hand. Zell and Quistis look good together…which kinda made Rinoa envious of them.
They all strolled around Deling...then Irvine suddenly spoke.
"Guys…I hope you won't mind also that Selphie and I will go over there..."
"Sure, why not. Have fun!" Squall said. This alarmed Rinoa, if they leave then there would be Squall, Kiara and her left since Kiara's friends decided to go to Timber instead. She must stop this but she should not hinder her friends from enjoying. Selphie pulled her aside for a moment then asked... "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Yes, don't worry about me." She answered.
"Want to come with us?"
"No, I don't wanna ruin your moment with Irvine."
"Okay…thanks. But if anything happens don't hesitate to come to us okay?"
"Okay, thanks!" she said and off hand in hand they left again. Her friends are really lucky. For a moment they all just exchanged looks and glares (from Kiara!).
"Uhmm... would you like to proceed into buying your clothes now?" Squall asked.
"Okay!" Kiara said. She just nodded at him. They went to a store Morning Moon...kind of a weird name. The moment they walked in, she saw different kinds of clothes. She saw Kiara finally let go Squall's arm. She looked around to look for her dress. When she looked around she saw Squall looking for some clothes too...as well as Kiara. She headed into one corner and there, a mannequin was wearing a dress that the moment she laid her eyes on, she felt it was the one for her. "Do you like that dress?" she heard someone say from behind her. When she looked back she saw an old lady, probably on her sixties or something. "Yes…very much." was her only reply.
"Do you want to try it on?" asked the old lady.
"Is it okay?"
"Yes...Nina…come here." Then a girl probably on her mid-twenties came. The old lady whispered something to her then the girl called Nina went inside a room.
"Come follow me dear." said the old lady.
"Oh ma'am I almost forgot to ask for your name." she said.
"Call me Mrs. Cynthia" she replied. Then they went to the fitting room. Kiara was also there too. "Are you here to try on a dress Kiara?" she asked.
"Well, what do you think?" she answered just then Squall came.
"Have you chosen your dresses already?" he asked.
"Yes! Sit there Squall I want you to tell me how I look after I put on the dress." Kiara said.
"Oh…okay…well how about you Rinoa…have you chosen already?" Squall asked him.
"Uhmm... yes." she replied. Kiara went first to try on her dress. She was still waiting for her dress from Nina. She went to where the shoes were. She looked for sandals that will match her dress. She saw a strappy pair of white sandals with 2-inches heels. She knew it was the perfect match for dress. When she came back, she saw Kiara was already done. She chose a black dress that revealed her back and it was short okay…short as a mini skirt. Kiara excused herself saying she'll go get some shoes. Oh well… she just took the dress from Nina then went into fitting the dress. When she put on the dress she felt shiver run down her spine. "Weird." she thought to herself. She looked at herself in the mirror. The dress fit her well. It revealed her slim but curvaceous body. Next she put on the sandals she chose. She strapped the sandals then she went out.
Squall was busy reading the latest issue of Pet Pals when suddenly he heard footsteps coming from the fitting room. He looked up and was mesmerized by the sight he saw. Rinoa was walking slowly and gracefully in his direction. The simple white dress suited her figure very well. Finally she was there more beautiful than she had ever been, standing in front of him.
"Do I look funny?" she asked then smiled shyly.
"Ehem…uhmm…no…why would you say that?"
"The expression on your face is kinda weird actually."
"Oh...is that so? Pardon me then."
"Nah...that's fine. So how is it?" she asked blushing.
"Uhmm...you look…amazing." he answered then blushed also. They smiled at each other but then the sobbing of Mrs. Cynthia surprised them.
"Uhmm...ma'am what's wrong?" Rinoa asked.
(sigh)"Nothing... I just remembered my daughter. You know…you look kinda like her… well…she was the one who designed that dress. sniff…but she didn't get the chance to wear it...sniffs..."
"What happened to her?" she asked.
"The night she was supposed to go to a party with her boyfriend, she was on her way home but then an accident occurred and it took us by surprise... days after her death, we found a letter...she said that the dress is really special and if something happened to her... I must find a rightful owner for the dress..."
"Are you sure you want to give the dress to me?"
"Yes... I guess I finally found the right owner of the dress." she replied.
"I'm much honored then ma'am."
"Just please take care of the dress for me dearie..." she said in a very tender tone.
"You can count on it." she said. When they were all finished choosing they paid for it. She didn't pay for the dress just for the shoes as Mrs. Cynthia's request. They were walking around when Squall asked where they wanted to eat. She was really craving for hamburger today...
"Uhmm... Squall... can we go to a place where we can get hamburger?" she eagerly asked.
"Oh sure! What about you Kiara? Is it okay with you?" Squall asked.
"Actually... I don't eat hamburger. Can we just go to a place where we can have steak?"
"Oh...it's really okay Squall..." Rinoa replied when she actually wanted to strangle Kiara right this very moment.
Squall felt pressured at the moment. He knew he shouldn't have let Kiara join them. They were enemies for crying out loud! He didn't have a choice though, if he chose to go with one of them, then it will make the other feel bad. He thought for a moment... then finally came up with a solution for their food problem.
"Uhmm... maybe we could go to a place where we can have both?" he asked.
"Oh, okay!" Rinoa said.
"Yeah...sure!" Kiara answered then she clung on her arm around his. He was a little uncomfortable but it's okay.
If looks could kill, Kiara will surely be dead by now. That smirk on her lips is really irritating. When she looked at Squall, she saw that he was also looking at her. Kiara was busy looking around the shops. Squall offered his other hand to her. At first she was hesitant to accept it but the pleading look on his almost-perfect face makes it hard to resist him. Together they walked to the restaurant where they met with the two other couples. When they were already settled and had ordered their food, Rinoa, Quistis and Selphie excused themselves and went to the washroom. Once they were in, Selphie made sure that the door is locked. Making sure that nobody else was inside, they started asking their questions.
"What happened? Did that bitch do anything to you?" Quistis started.
"Want us to get back to her since she has no reinforcements?" Selphie added.
"I'm really touched you guys... but I'm fine. Good thing Squall was a perfect gentleman and was very considerate of how I feel... if not for him... I might've strangled Kiara there and then."
"We just want to make sure you're fine." they said in unison.
"I am, plus I wouldn't want to look like the antagonist here..." she said with a laugh.
"Yeah...you're right." Quistis said.
"Well then, we just have to put up with her and let Squall see how awful she really is." Selphie replied. After retouching they went back to their table and pretended everything is normal. After eating, they all had an unusual craving for ice cream. Good thing they saw an Ice Cream parlor called...Breath of Ice. The store offered many types of ice cream and even milk shakes. Since it was just eight o'clock they decided to drop by. Rinoa ordered her favorite...chocolate!
She was so absorbed in the sweetness of the ice cream that she didn't notice Squall watching her every move.
Squall was busy watching Rinoa savor her ice cream. She looked so cute and naïve. He noticed that there were drops of ice cream on the side of her lips. He went over to tell her but instead something told him to do it for her instead. He used his thumb to wipe the side of her lips. When his thumb made contact with her skin, he felt like million bolts of electricity flowed within his thumb. How a single touch can do that? Well that remains a mystery. He looked at Rinoa again who seem to got out of her trance. She returned his gaze. There was a clueless look on her face that made him proceed into explaining.
"Oh...uhmm...err. pardon me...it's just that you had some chocolate over there." he said.
"R-really? I-I'm sorry...and thank y-you." she said as she bowed down her head.
"Y-you w-will always be welcome." why was he acting this way? It was just a single gesture for pete's sake!
Rinoa didn't know how to hide her now red face. When Squall's thumb brushed against her, she felt like million bolts of electricity flowed into her system. "It was just a little gesture for crying out loud!" she told herself. She just bowed her head down to hide her embarrassment. Squall on the other hand, didn't seem to notice for his face was just as red as Rinoa's. After everyone was done, they all boarded the train together and went home.
Just as they arrived, another train left. He didn't understand why but he felt something weird with that train. "Oh well, I have a mission to do." said Major Biggs to himself. He ordered his men to scatter around and look for all likely places to find the prince. He on the other hand went into the shop called "Morning Moon". He went inside and saw two ladies cleaning up.
"Excuse ma'am, I just want to ask if you happened to see this boy?" he said and then showed her the picture of their prince. The lady upon seeing the picture smiled and said...
"Why, he was in here not so long ago."
"Are you affirmative ma'am." he asked. He was getting excited about this new development.
"Yes...why? Who is he? Is he a criminal?" the lady asked.
"He is the only heir to the Dollet throne." he explained. Upon saying that, surprise washed upon the face of the old lady. "Do you happen to know where he might be?"
"He was with some other teenagers... they may be students so why don't you try the Galbadia Garden?" she replied.
"Galbadia Garden? Okay then, we'll head there. Thank you, you've been a big help." he said then went on to gather his men so they could proceed into the said garden after they have reported to the king.
a/n: yey!finally finished this one after a long time. I hope my readers will still read and review...thanks for the support. to all who gave reviews, THANKS A LOT!
