Hey, hey! It's me again! You know, I realised something. I'm working on this one story more than I thought I would. Oh, well. I like it. That makes me happy. Here's chapter 3. I won't bore you with my usual ramblings. Oh, and thank you for telling me Angelo was a male dog! I had no idea! My mom and I got into this big debate about poor Angelo's sex, but I won't bore you with that!
Life Less Ordinary
"Denial"
Saturday started as a pretty boring day. Instead of all the feelings of this weekend being fun and interesting, it was nothing short of flat out dull. Yep, dull.
Rnoa spent the better part of Saturday locked up in her room. She was still a little wary of seeing or speaking to her friends again. Knowing them, they'd probably bother her until she broke down and told all. Rinoa knew that she had to stand her ground firmly. When she thought they needed to know, she'd tell them. Until then, she wasn't going to speak a word. That part of her past was dead. Everyone and everythingthat had been there was dead to her was dead now. Her life began when she moved to Balamb, and as far as she was concerned, shehad beenborn in Balamb, not Deling. Denial can be a very ugly thing when you think about it.
She helped her mom around the house, cleaning up and doing some chores that she usually did after school. Julia had stated that she was surprised that her daughter wasn't hanging out with her friends, which was what she usually did every Saturday. Instead, Rinoa had opted to stay home for the better part of the day. She had gotten up at about 8 o'clock this morning. She was always up early. It was a habit. She developed that perticular habit a long time ago. One individual could be thanked for that, but she refused to even speak to the person responisble.
Rinoa's mother, however, had been up much earlier. She'd been up and about since five thrity. She would come in every now and then to get various things and then be out again. She gave Rinoa the address where she would be all day if she needed her for anything. Rinoa figured that she was helping her friend move into her new house, and they were probably catching up in the process.
It was ten thirty now. Rinoa had finished the few chores that she had left to do that weren't done during the week, andnow she sat on the couch in the den with a good book. She wanted it to be a peaceful, normal day with no interruptions. Naturally, she didn't get that lucky, but one would have to see. It could happen. Doubtful, but it could happen. She had left her cell phone upstairs in her room for a good reason. If she wasn't there to hear it ring, then there was no way that it could disturbher. Okay, so she felt a little bad about ignoring her firneds, but she just didn't want to dig up the past. She'd kept it behind her for a good reason, and she had planned on keeping it behind her. Well, that was the plan, anyway.
Rinoa had just gotten to a good part in thebook when the doorbell sounded. She groaned and went to answer it, knowing 99 out of 100 that it was Selphie and Quistis. She figured she had better come up with a good excuseand fast. When Rinoa reached the door, she saw a glimpse of yellow through the glass that stood for decorational purposes on either side of the door. She had been right. It was Selphie. Who esle has a favorite color of yellow and wears it every hour of every day. No, wait. Don't answer that.
She opened the large door to find both Selphie and Quistis standing before her. Neither of themm looked too happy, and she had a good idea why, too.
"Oh, hi guys!" Shetried to put enthusiasm and surprise in her voice, but it didn't work and failed miserably. She sighed and motioned for them to come inside, not that they really needed an invitation.
"Rinoa Heartilly!" Quistis exclaime in that voice that meant you were in a lot of trouble. She pu her hands to her hips impatiently for an added effect.
"If you're here to chew me out for leaving Joe's, I-" Rinoa started to say but Selphie cut her off.
"Oh, we're not here to chew you out, whatever gave you that idea?" Selphie asked her innocently. She had gone from being mad to suddenly verysweet, which Rinoa found suspicious. What were they plotting?
"Yes. Why would we chew out our best friend in the whole wide world?" Quistis asked in the same exact way that Selphie had. Rinoa raised an eyebrow at the two and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Okay, what are you two plotting?" She demanded, tapping her foot on the hard wood floor impatiently and giving them a stern glare, much like her mother's.
"What makes you think we're plotting something?" Quistis smirked while Selphie stood beside her, nodding.
"Because, Quistis Trepe, the only time that you are ever acting sweet is : 1. You're trying to win over Seifer, 2. You want something, or 3. You're plotting something." Rinoa stated rather bluntly.
Quistis' jaw dropped in absolute surprise. She stood there staring at Rinoa fora few moments in disbelief. Selphie covered her mouth and giggled, silently applauding Rinoa.
"Well, I am surprised!" Her voice changed drastically from her previous tone.
"Got ya!" Rinoa smiled wickedly. Quistis scowled at her friend and turned her back on the othet two.
"Okay, so what are you doing here, acting so suspicious?" Rinoa aksed, heading to the kitchen and motioning for the other two to follow.
"Well, if you must pry." Selphie responded grabbing a chair at the small kitchen table.
"I must. I must." Rinoa handed them both sodas.
"We were hoping you could tell us a little bit about your past rendez-vous with Seifer's best friend." Quistis spat out. She was just a little mad at Rinoa for what she said, even though it was all true, but she sure didn't need Rinoa to tell her that.
"You know, I'm not in the least bit surprised. I had a hunch that was the reason you guys had come." Rinoa sighed as she joined them at the table.
"Well, since you foresaw us coming, then you should go ahead and tell us." Quistis suggested, mirroring the wicked smile Rinoa had worn previously.
"Uh, I don't think so." Rinoa returned the smile and crossed her arms over her chest again. They weren't going to get it out of her that easily. Oh, no.
"Oh, come on, Rinny! We're your best friends! Why on Earth can't you tell us?" Selphie demanded, speaking up for the first time in the past couple of minutes.
"Because there's nothing to tell! Honestly!" Rinoa insisted, staring at the table. She wasn't convincing them at all, and she knew it, too. But how do you tel them something you promised to keep buried behind you?
"Yeah, right! I'm willing to bet that there are some juicy stories between you two!" Quistis rasied her eyebrows and stared at poor Rinoa, who squirmed in her seat. She didn't like being put on the spot. She always cracked like an egg.
"Quistis!" Selphie slapped her friend on the arm as she watched Rinoa's chheks flush. "Quit doing that!"
"There's nothing juicy about my past, believe me." Rinoa continued to stare at the table as she spoke those words slowly, trying to maintain her composure.
"Then why are you blushing?" Quistis demanded. You know, here were times when she just plain enjoyed being evil.
That's something you don't need to know. Rinoa thught to herself. She suddenly began to shudder and immediately felt very cold.
"You know, if it's killing you so badly that you have just got to know, why don't you go ask him!" Rinoa pushed back away from the table and stood. She was now mad, but not at Selphie. No, she found herself mad at Quistis. Why in Hyne's name was she pushing her like this? Why did she have to be so damn curious? Hadn't she ever heard that curouisty kiled the cat!
"he said he couldn't remember back that far!" Quistis used in defense. She had a feeling that he remembered perfectly well, but she wanted to try and get it out of Rinoa first.
"Oh, bullshit!" Rinoa exclaimed. She usually didn't cuss very often, but right now, she was mad, reaaly mad. "I'm sure he knows! And I'm sure he wouldn't mind telling the whole world! It's not like it's a big secret or anything!" Rinoa threw her hands up and stalked out of the room. Selphie and Quistis followed her.
"Then why won't you tell us?" Quistis demanded as they followed her back into the den where she planned on returning to her book. They knew where the door was, and she hoped it didn't hit them on the ass on the way out.
"I was being sarcastic!" She screamed. "I figured you of all people would know what that was!"
"Oh, I know what it is all right. I am the QUEEN of sarcasm!" Quistis yelled back. She was starting to become a bit mad at the raven-haired girl. There was no need for Rinoa to be such a bitch. All she did was ask a simple question.
"Quisty! Rinny! Stop it! This is ridiculous! You guys shouldn't be acting like this! You'd think you guys hated each other or something!" Selphie exclaimed, trying to stop a war.
"Well, if she keeps on, we just might!" Rinoa crossed her arms over her chest, a common habit for her, and leaned against a wall. The den was just down the hall. She could make a run of it and simply lock herself in there, but something was holding her back.
"Oh, please. Spare me. All I did was ask a simple question, and you snapped!" Quistis glared at Rinoa, who refused to meet eye contact with the blonde and focused on something else.
"Oh no,no,no! You didn't ask anything! You demanded that I tell you! That's not asking!" Rinoa yelled. She was totally beyond mad now.
"Oh, whatever! I was just curious! You're the one who went all crazy on us!" Quistis yelled back.
"All right! All right! ALL RIGHT!" Selphie screamed over both of them.
Quistis and Rinoa looked at Selphie in complete shock. She'd never exploded like that before. Wow.
"Now that I have your attention, why don't both of you cool off? You're both acting like total children! And it's totally ridiculous! Now, Quisty, if Rinny isn't ready to tell us, then we need to respect her decision. Maybe she'll tell us, maybe not. And Rinny, I'm not mad at you or anything." Selphie said to both of her friends. Rinoa still stood with her back against the wall, arms crossed over her chest and staring forward. Quistis had her head hung, disappointed that she had let herself act that way to her friend.
"Have you been listening to your parent's marriage counselor?" Rinoa asked Selphie, but Quistis interrupted before Selphie could exclaime that she hadn't.
"Rinoa, I'm sorry. I guess I just let me curiosity get the better of me, and I shouldn't have. If you want to be mad at me, I understand."
"Nah. I'm not mad. I just planned on keeping things buried and then I see him again and it makes things rather difficult to keep them all behind me." Rinoa sighed and pushed herself off the wall. She headed back down the hall to the den with Selphie and Quistis in two.
"So were you guys friends or what?" Selphie aksde her as they entered the warm den. If she wasn't going to tell them the full stroy just yet, then maybe she would release a few pieces to give them a general idea.
"No. We weren't friends." Rinoa couldn't believe what she was saying. Was there someone else controlling her brian and the words that came out of her mouth?
"Oh, so you two didn't get along ver well? Or are you just in denial?" Quistis asked.
"No, I'm not in denial. We never did get along. He was one of my brother's friends." Rinoa answered, looking away from the other two. Where were these lies coming from?
"One of your brother's freinds? Ooh!" Selphie grimaced. Rinoa had an older brother named Tony. He was two years older than Rinoa and enliste in the Galbadian Army. She hardly ever saw him. Well, anyway, part of that had been true. He had hung out with Tony when he was out of school. They seemed to get alonmg well enough, so that wasn't much of a lie.
"Yeah, so I didn't get along with him very much. I prety much avoided him." She was putting herself deeper and deeper into ahole that she knew she might not be able to get herself out of.
"So him being here is definitely not a good thing for you?" Selphie asked Rinoa.
"Right. I never thought I would see him again, and then he shows up right when I finally manage to bury it all. I'm a little upset." Rinoa sighed.
"We noticed." Quistis whispered. "Considering you've been avoiding everyone for the past eighteen hours."
"Sorry about that." Rinoa blushed and grinned at them sheepishly.
"It's okay!" The other two said in unison.
"Do you think things are gonna change?" Selphie asked after a few moments of silence.
"Probably." Rinoa muttered with distaste.
"And who knows if they're going to be good changes. With our luck, everything is going to go all downhill from here." Quistis grumbled out loud.
"We seem to have that kind of luck, don't we?" Rinoa smiled at her.
"It would appear that way, wouldn't it?" The blonde responded. Rinoa nodded.
"So, um, Rinny? Are you going to stop coming to Joe's after school?" Selphie asked somehwat sadly.
"I'll still come.." Rinoa asnwered, reassuring her nervous friend.
"She'll just be avoiding Mr. Esthar." Quistis finished for the other girl.
"Pretty much." Rinoa agreed. She chuckled at what Quistis had called him. It was somewhat amusing.
"This is going to be really strange, you know that? I can just see the bad that this is going to bring already." Selphie sighed.
"Oh, you don't know that. Things will probably stay the same." Rinoa hoped they would anyway. The last thing she needed was for everything to go crazy now that Squall was here. She knew that everytime she saw him now, memories would begin to resurface. It was unfair. She had tried so hard to free herself form those dark times in her life, but now, they were trapping her again.
"Rinny?" Selphie touched her friend gently on the shoulder, bringing her back into the cruel world of reality. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Rinoa mentally shook herself out of those thoughts and pushed them as far as she could to the back of her mind. Hopefully, they would stay there for a while and leave her alone. "I was just thinking about some things."
"Okay." Selphie looked into her friend's face, hoping to see something that would tell her what was wrong. There was nothing there that helped her. Rinoa's face revealed nothing that gave Selphie even an inkling of what was going on within her tortured mind.
"Guys, I think I'm just going to stay here for the rest of the day. I'll meet up with you guys at Joe's later this eveing. Okay?" Rinoa sudden'y felt very tired. A nap sounded like the perfect thing for her at the moment. Anything that took her mind off it for a while would be perfect right now.
"All right. We don't want to push you to do something that you don't want to do. If you need to stay away from Joe's for a while, we understand. Don't we, Quisty?" Selphie demanded of Quistis, giving her expecting glances.
"Oh, yeah. Of course." Quistis answered quickly.
"No, that's okay. I'll be there. I can't runaway forever. I should've known that this would come back to hit me in the face. I guess I just didn't see it coming." Rinoa shrugged and rubbed her temples in hopes to get rid of her headache that had formed suddenly.
"Are you sure? We don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything. You don't have to do anything that you don't want to, honest!" Selphie reassured her. She just didn't want Rinoa to get hurt. She was her best friend, after all. No strings attached.
"I'm positive. You can relax, Selphie. I'm probably going to read a little or something, and then I'll meet you guys at Joe's. You don't have to worry." She grabbed her book and led the two of them back out to the front door. She honestly wasn't trying to rush them out or get rid of them. She just wanted some time to think and figure out what to do about this whole situation.
"Okay, we'll see you later Rinny!" Selphie hugged the raven-haired girl fondly and opened the door. For Septemeber, it was still really warm, as it usually started to get colder after August.
Quistis followed the other girl outside but stopped and truned to Rinoa.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Rinoa. I hope you won't hold it against me." She smiled weakly.
"Of course not. Don't worry about it." Rinoa returned the smile and waved to them as they got into Quistis' car and drove off, probably to Joe's or one of the other's house.
Rinoa slowly closed the door and then turned to the stairs. She wanted to go up and sleep until the end of the world, but knew she couldn't run or hide forever. She headed up the stairs ayway, lost in her own thoughts, still unsure of what to do. She needed to come up with a plan of how to get through this. She hadn't planned on ever seeing him again, and now, here he was, back in her life for round two of Hell. It was aggravating to the fullest, and she swore she might just go crazy.
Her thoughts slowly drifted back to what she had told Quistis and Selphie. She was still in shock that she had lied to them like that when shesaid she had Squall hadn't been friends. That was the very opposite. They had been almost best friends, and she didn't even understand why she had lied to them in saying what she did. She had to wonder if she was that determined to keep things buried behind her, dead forever.
She slugged into her room and collapsed onto the bed. Things were so strange now, and she was afraid of change. When change came, that usually meant something bad was going to happen. It was something of a sixth sense that she had.
"What in Hyne's name am I going to do?" Rinoa asked out loud. She didn't recieve an answer, and frankly she hadn't been expecting one. Who was there to even answer her? She was all alone in this big house.
She eventually decided to sleep some before going down to Joe's. With her luck, it was going to be a long night.
"Why me?" Rinoa sighed and pulled the pillow over her head.
A/N: Well, there's chapeter 3 for ya. I thought this chapter was funny when I wrote it, and going back and typing was a blask as well. Watching Rinoa get mad was the funniest part. R&R, guys. Later Days.