I was going to wait to post this chapter for a while so that chapter 8 could sink in, but I changed my mind. Actually, my mind was changed for me. Thank you, Beccy. Anyway, this is another fun chapter that I liked a lot, but I will warn you, it is pretty long. You might want to make time to read it or read it in parts. But do whatever you want and enjoy! (Oh, and I gave Squall sort of a bad boy rep.)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Final Fantasy VIII. All characters, places, and ideas belong to Square. I do however own Drag, Zion, Tony, and the idea of the addition to the Leonhart/Loire family.
Life Less OrdinaryChapter Nine
"Meeting Bryce"
Rinoa, Selphie, and Quistis were currently at Quistis' house, trying to work on a project for Pre-Cal and having no luck at all. They kept getting off subject and talking about random things instead of doing the actual project.
"So when's the big date, Quisty?" Selphie asked excitedly. She sat on Quistis' bed with her textbook and math binder.
"Friday night, and I just can't wait! I'm so excited and nervous all at the same time and everything else!" Quistis was just grinning from ear to ear, so happy. She was finally getting what she wanted, which was funny because she usually always got what she wanted anyway.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know. It's all you've been talking about since yesterday. Seifer this. Seifer that. We know you're happy. Congrats. But don't lose it, okay?" Rinoa pushed her stuff away and climbed onto the bed next to Selphie. Selphie laughed at her friend's lack of enthusiasm for the situation.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't. He's way too perfect to let go. I would hate to have to lose my paradise now that I've got it, right Rinoa?" She smiled slyly and looked at Rinoa.
"Whatever." The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes and looked away. She hid her smile as she thought of Squall. That was his word.
"Speaking of paradise, what's going on between you and Squall?" Quistis asked innocently.
"Nothing. I haven't talked to him. And frankly, I don't care." She was surprised that she had been able to say that with a straight face, not mention confidently, knowing that she was telling a bold-faced lie. She did care. Oh, yes. She cared, but the problem was, she didn't want to.
"Yes, you do!" Selphie nudges Rinoa, giggling again.
"No, I don't! End of discussion!" Rinoa barked unexpectedly, scaring Selphie and Quistis. She was beginning to act severely out of character.
"Okay! Okay! Don't get so defensive!" Quistis jumped up and laughed. Rinoa glared at her. "Anyway, let's get away from this project for a while and see if the guys are down at Joe's. Plus, a little fresh air will do some of us good." She headed to the door and at that last part glanced at Rinoa.
"Why don't I trust you?" Rinoa asked as they left.
"Oh, you're just paranoid." Quistis grinned.
"Right. And paranoia will destroy ya, right?" She rolled her eyes.
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"This is never going to work! I don't know where she got this crazy idea, but it's never going to work! Why did I agree to help her? Why? Why?" Seifer exclaimed, pacing back and forth across the floor at Joe's. He looked positively paranoid and definitely ruffled up.
"What in the world are you talking about?" Drag demanded, chugging down a root beer and watching Seifer in sheer confusion.
"Oh, I agreed to help Quistis do something and I'm regretting it badly. I swore it's never going to work, but what did I do? I went and agreed to help her! I am so stupid!" He moaned, finally sitting down.
"Yes, we get that part!" Zion exclaimed.
"But what did you agree to do? That's what I want to know. All you've been saying is that you know it's not going to work and that you shouldn't have agreed to help her. What did you agree to help her do?" Drag demanded.
Seifer sighed deeply and hung his head. "I agreed to help her put Squall and Rinoa together. She seems to think that they're perfect for each other and want to be together. And she suckered me into bringing in money! We're betting with 50 bucks on the table! It's crazy! I shouldn't have agreed to do anything! It's never going to work! And get this, she's even already concocted a master plan!" He complained.
"You don't think it's going to work? He's crazy about her! They would make one perfect couple!" Drag exclaimed.
"Oh, no! Not you, too! I'm telling you it's not going to work! Just because he likes her doesn't mean that she likes him back! Why is everyone getting so worked up over this?" Seifer demanded, failing to understand from where everyone got this crazy idea.
"Dude, right now, you're the only one getting worked up over it 'cause you've got a very limited faith. But, I have an idea." Drag smiled that one little smile that told you he was concocting some sort of mischievous plan. And that plan was most likely to get him and those involved into a whole lot of trouble.
"And why am I suddenly afraid? Why?" Seifer rolled his eyes.
"Because. Anyway, let's make this fun AND interesting. Why don't we add a bit more money to this pot? $100 says they'll be dating within 2 weeks. That's the fun part. Now, let's bring in the interesting part. We can put them to the test. We'll bring in the 'relationship crasher.' Now that will be interesting!" He laughed at Zion and Seifer's expressions. They both sat there, completely slack-jawed and staring at him like he was insane.
"I'm in for the money part, but I don't know about bringing him into the picture; that's just dangerous. Squall would not be happy. He'd kill him and us, too!" Zion looked afraid, genuinely afraid.
"And besides, he's not even here. How are we going to get him to help if he's not here?" Seifer challenged, finding immediate flaw in this brilliant plan.
"Oh, he's here. Laguna brought him late last night and Aunt Raine let him have it! At, like, 2 in the morning, Raine was giving him her worst lecture. And you should have seen Squall's face this morning when he saw him. It was so funny!" Zell laughed hysterically, rolling onto the floor.
"So what say you, Seif? Are you willing for a little challenge? It's gonna be good!" Drag asked him. If Quistis could sucker him in, then so could he.
"I have a bad feeling about this, but what the heck, I'm in." Seifer shook his head and sighed. "I can already see my head on a silver platter. He's going to kill us, you realize that, don't you?"
"Yeah, but won't it feel good to get him? I mean, we can still make sure he gets his girl but we'll have fun in the process. And plus, he won't kill us; he'll kill the one who's actually going to be doing the crashing, so we're clean!" Drag grinned, obviously having worked this out already.
"Yeah, all we're going to be doing is sending him to an early grave. No biggie." Zion agreed, shrugging.
"Why me? Why me?"" Seifer demanded. "And where did I find such crazy friends?"
"In Esthar, where else to you find crazy people?" Zion asked.
"Galbadia." Drag answered. He then laughed and Zion eventually got the joke.
"Oh, we're dead. We are so dead. I can see it now: 'Four teens died yesterday at the hands of Squall Leonhart, crazed psychotic mastermind who brutally murdered the four guys for tampering with his relationship!'" Seifer exclaimed, jumping up in hysteria. "He's going to brutally murder us! Murder! Do you hear me? MURDER!"
"Ah, what he doesn't know won't hurt us. We'll just put all the blame on our little crony. We'll be fine." Drag said, calmly, definitely not getting all worked up on this like poor Seifer was. Seifer was flat out paranoid.
"But this is Squall we're talking about! And you and I both know that he has many ways of finding answers to things. Come on, he gets what he wants because of his crazy determination! He's going to find out and he's going to kill us! And he's going to make it slow and painful just because he's evil like that! This is crazy!" Seifer yelled, jumping up and down again, flailing around like a fish out of water.
"Will you calm down? It's not going to be that bad. Yeah, if he does find out –which he won't- he'll probably be mad, but then he'll laugh it off and everything will be fine." Drag slapped Seifer on the back, who now sat with his head bent, shaking it in disbelief.
"After he brutally murders us, of course." Zion pointed out, grinning.
"ARGH!" Seifer yelled.
"Nah, I'm just kidding. He's not going to brutally murder us. He might murder us, but I don't think it's going to be brutally." Zion's grin grew bigger, and Seifer glared at him. "I mean, even he's got some class."
"Surprisingly, you're not helping much." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back into the couch.
"That's what I'm here for!" Zion said.
"Yeah, right. Okay. If you insist." Seifer frowned. "I still think that we are going to be in so much trouble. I can just feel the pain already." He shuddered at the thought.
"Oh, grow up. It'll be okay. I promise." Drag reassured him. Seifer gave him a look that said, "Why should I trust you?"
"And if it's not okay? What then?" Seifer demanded of him.
"Ya gotta trust me on this one, okay? I'll make sure nothing happens- to us, anyway." Drag grinned again.
And I still don't trust you, but I'm in, I suppose. I can already see that this is going to end in tragedy. I can already see it." Seifer sighed and momentarily glared at Drag.
"Well, now what exactly are we going to do? We've got to have a plan, you know." Zion asked. The two guys shrugged.
"Don't know. I've got to ask Quistis what she plans to do. She's already mentioned the plan, but she hasn't said how it's going to be carried out. I wanna guess that she's going to enlist the help of Selphie and probably Irvine and Zell, too." Seifer answered him.
"Geez, is she going to get everybody to help? That's crazy!" Drag laughed.
"Well, she can't get everyone to help, considering that it's Squall and Rinoa that she's conspiring against, you know." Zion corrected his brother and in return received a glare that told him to shut it.
"Yeah, I know that, Dimwit." He snapped.
"I'll ask her when she gets here. She'll probably have the whole thing down to a T when she does get here." Seifer stood and stretched. The three of them had been there for almost two hours waiting on everyone else to get there. It was the first cold Saturday of the season and things were kind of slow at Joe's.
"Well, I hope she does because the less work I have to do, the better I feel." Drag said, leaning back and putting his arms behind his head.
"Well, my, aren't we lazy?" A voice said to them from behind.
"Yep." Drag turned to see Quistis standing there with her hands on her hips. "Ah, well, if it isn't the woman of the hour!"
"What do you want?" She asked, smiling.
"Where's Rinoa?" Seifer asked.
"Over there somewhere with Selphie. I think she's mad." Quistis pointed over to the other side of the room.
"Okay, good. We wanted to ask you about your master plan concerning Squall and Rinoa." Seifer lowered his voice slightly even though no one would have been able to hear them anyway.
"We? Does that mean you two are going to help?" Drag and Zion nodded. "Good. What do you want to know?" She joined them on the couch. The leaned closer to each other and certainly looked suspicious.
"Well, what do you plan to do and what do you want us to do?" Drag asked her.
"Hmm, I need someone to get Squall and Rinoa alone, separated of course, and get them each to admit that they like the other. I'm pretty sure that they do, but some of us need to be reassured, and I believe that if they hear from themselves, it'll make this whole thing a lot easier." Quistis answered. "I don't know what I want to have you two do yet, but Seifer, I have plans for you." She grinned at him and he rolled his eyes.
"And how did I not see that one coming?" He asked aloud, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh, don't complain. It won't be difficult." She turned back to the other two. "Right now, I have Irvine and Zell looking for a way to get Squall and Rinoa to meet alone. Needless to say, it's going to be a set-up."
"This is never going to work, Quistis. I'm telling you. It's never going to work!" Seifer exclaimed.
"Oh, shut up, yee of little faith or I will give you something more difficult to do." She snapped. He began to pout and said nothing more.
"What's Selphie doing?" Drag asked, occasionally looking over to Selphie with Rinoa, who looked madder than Hell.
"She's trying to worm a confession out of Rinoa. I told her to little by little bring Squall's name into the conversation. I think she's having some difficulty getting Rinoa to stay on topic. She's avoiding talking about him, or she was earlier today." Quistis glanced to the two girls. Selphie was smiling and laughing, but Rinoa's facial expressions were a bit more deadly, so to speak. She kept her arms over her chest and avoided making eye contact with Selphie or anyone else for that matter.
"Well, maybe that's a sign that this won't work!" Seifer said.
"Seifer!" Quistis exclaimed.
"Shut up!" The three of them said at the same time, glaring at him.
"I'm just saying. Maybe this is a sign, that's all." He muttered, distastefully.
"Well, don't say anything. This is an optimistic operation." Quistis said harshly. "And you're one step closer to doing all the dirty work."
"All right, now what's the plan itself? I mean, what it is that you're going to do?" Drag asked her.
Quistis grinned wickedly at this, "Well…"
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"What are they doing?" Rinoa asked suddenly. She'd been looking over at Quistis, Seifer, Drag, and Zion for the past five minutes trying to figure out what they were doing.
"I don't know." Selphie shrugged. Okay, that was a lie. She knew exactly what they were doing, but Rinoa wasn't supposed to know.
"They're plotting something. They look extremely suspicious." Rinoa then shrugged and sighed. "Oh, well. I guess it's really none of my business, is it?"
"If that's what you think." Selphie answered half-heartily. "Oh! I wonder where Squall is? I'm surprised that he isn't here yet." Selphie tried to add casually.
Rinoa turned to Selphie with a very puzzled expression. "Why do you suddenly care? It's not like he's incredibly important or anything. What is going on with everyone?" She demanded.
"Nothing! Nothing at all! I was just curious! He usually hangs out with those guys and I was just wondering! It's not like I have anything else to do! No harm!" Selphie said defensively, trying to avoid Rinoa suspecting her for anything.
"Everybody has been acting really strange lately. I feel like everyone is watching my every move I make and monitoring me like I'm some sort of lab animal. I just want to be left alone to live my life how I want to." Rinoa sighed. She sat down at a table and put her head down.
"Rinny, have you thought that maybe it's not everyone else who's been acting strange? You haven't really been yourself lately, either." Selphie asked kindly, not wanting to offend her friend.
"That was the first thing that came to mind, but you know, it's easier to avoid the real problem and think that it's the rest of the world that's changed, not yourself." Rinoa answered.
"Well, what's wrong? Why do you think you, well, the rest of the world, has a problem?" Selphie asked her, trying to be nice.
"I don't know what to think or do anymore. I'm so confused and lost. I don't feel the same anymore. It seems that everything is different." Rinoa sighed again, keeping her head down.
"Is it because Squall's here? Is that why nothing feels the same?" Selphie asked, thinking maybe, just maybe, she might get a confession out of her.
"That's when it started, yeah. Ever since he's arrived here, I don't feel like myself. I fell caged, trapped in an 'other' world and being watched at the same time. I keep thinking that I have to impress someone, that I have to prove myself. I hate these feelings, Selphie. I hate my moods that I'm experiencing. I just hate what's happening to me. I don't want to change. I've gone through enough change, and I don't need it anymore. I just want things to stay the same. Forever." Rinoa felt the tears begin to swell up in her eyes and was glad that she kept her head down so that Selphie wouldn't see.
"Maybe you don't have to. Maybe things can stay the same." Selphie touched Rinoa's hand gently. She shuddered lightly at contact. She knew Selphie was just trying to help, and she didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't working.
"But that's just the problem, Selphie. It's going to change regardless of what I do or say. I fear change. I fear what it's going to do to me." Or what it has already done…
"And thus us all because of Squall?" Selphie asked in disbelief. She couldn't put the pieces together that Squall was responsible for this.
"No, I guess I can't really blame this all on him, but it's easier to do it that way." Rinoa sighed again and tried not to cry. She wanted to but didn't want anyone to see her. She hated crying in front of other people. It made her feel weak and vulnerable, and she definitely felt weak and vulnerable in front of Squall. Maybe that was the reason why she was feeling this strange urge to need to prove herself.
Selphie looked over at Quistis just in time to meet eyes with her. She shrugged and pointed to the depressed Rinoa, but Quistis gave her a look that she didn't know what to do. Selphie sighed and looked back to Rinoa.
"Are you going to be okay?" Selphie wondered.
"I don't know. I hope so. But, Selphie," she lifted her head and finally looked at her best friend. Selphie saw how frail and pale she looked. "I think that I've reached a major problem. I never thought I'd ever feel this way before. I always thought it would be the same that we'd just be friends, but now, I'm not so sure. Selphie, I've really got a problem." Rinoa finished in a whisper, continuously shaking her head.
By this point, Selphie was really confused. "Rinny, what are you talking about?" She asked, completely and utterly clueless.
"I think I'm in love with him, Selphie." Rinoa's shoulders began to shake and she dropped her head back down onto the table.
"With who?" She had to hide her excitement and keep it completely curious.
"…Squall." She answered with some reluctance.
SCORE! Selphie exclaimed inwardly. She looked over to Quistis and gave her a thumb's up.
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"Okay, half of step one is complete. Selphie just got a confession out of subject number one. We are one half step closer to out goal." Quistis exclaimed happily.
"Quistis, how do you know she isn't just saying that to make everyone else happy? I think we should call the whole thing off. You can't force two people to fall in love." Seifer, said, trying to get some sense in Quistis' head.
"Hello! This is the Matchmaker you're talking to! I do it all the time!" Quistis smacked him on the back of the head. "And how many times do I have to tell you that they want to be together?"
"Do you have any proof for this assumption?" Seifer demanded.
"She just admitted it! How's that for proof?" She shouted, jumping up in anger.
"Yeah, she did, but he didn't! That doesn't mean anything! And you know it, too! You know very good and well that you're just taking a wild stab in the dark! You have no idea what either of them want! You just want them to be together to prove a point! You just want everyone to see an example of your work!" Seifer exclaimed, getting tired of them trying to put people together who probably didn't want to be together. This was a walking disaster and it would never work. It would fail miserably. He was sure of it.
"And that is where you are wrong! I happen to know exactly what I'm doing, and I know it will work! You've got to have a little faith! It'll work! I promise. Trust me." Quistis smiled at him and held out her hand to him. He sighed and took it and she pulled him back down. "You have got to trust me on this one. It's going to work perfectly."
"I hope you're right, cause I don't want either of them to get hurt. They're both my friends." Seifer warned her.
"I have no intention of hurting either of them. I just want to make them happy. I just want to give them both what they want. That's my only intention." She assured him.
"And how to you know that's what they want? You could be reading the wrong signs." Seifer suggested.
"Oh, don't start that again! You're not trusting me!" Quistis sighed and momentarily glared at him. "Just shut up and don't say anything unless you are addressed by one of us. Got it?" Seifer nodded and rested his head in his hands.
"Okay, so this plan of yours, don't you think it's a little crazy? They'll never go for it!" Zion spoke up for the first time. He'd been listening and getting the details together in his head. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm all up for getting them together, but I just think it's a little far-fetched."
Quistis sighed again and Seifer had a look of triumph on his face.
"What is it with you guys and trust? This is going to work. I promise. I know what I'm doing." Quistis exclaimed, losing what little patience she had.
"Well, I'm all for it and behind you all the way." Drag smiled at her. She returned the flirty smile, which almost immediately pissed Seifer off.
"At least I can count on you, Drag." She said sweetly.
"I doubt that." Seifer muttered distastefully.
"Oh, don't get so worked up. I'm not trying to move in." Drag mumbled to him. Seifer shot him a dirty look and went back to his previous state- pouting.
"Anyway! When are we actually getting this thing underway?" Zion asked.
"Oh, we just did. Rinoa just gave us what we wanted, and now we have to get it out of Squall. Then the real fun starts." She grinned.
"Quistis, if you think Selphie had a hard time getting a confession out of Rinoa, how do you think the person going for Squall is going to feel? He is the most stubborn person who've ever seen!" Seifer exclaimed.
"Well, then that's when we bring in the person who knows him best and who he trusts the most." Quistis said slyly and they all looked to Seifer. "And didn't I tell you not to speak?"
"How did I not see that coming?" Seifer asked himself. "I guess you're going to make me do it, then?" They nodded. "Tsk. Fine. I'll do it. I don't want to, but I'll do it. I mean, how hard can it be?"
"You just said yourself that he's stubborn." Quistis pointed out.
"Yeah, he is, but…" Seifer sighed. He was fighting a losing battle. "Never mind. I'm just going to stop while I'm behind. I'll get what you want." He sighed again, more out of frustration.
"Good boy." Quistis smiled as she patted him on the head.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if he figures it out and brutally murders me, I'm going to come back and haunt you. All of you." He growled.
"But that's part of your job. You need to make sure he has no idea what's going on. Just make sure you gradually slip Rinoa's name into the conversation and see how he reacts. If it goes well, we'll be able to move on with ease." Quistis told him, proud of herself for coming up with such a brilliant idea.
"And if it doesn't go well? What then? What if he doesn't admit what you want him to admit?" Seifer demanded.
"Then we'll go on as planned, but it'll make things extremely difficult, so you had better get it out of him! Do you understand?" She jabbed a finger at his chest, sending pricks of pain through his upper body.
"Yes, I understand! You don't have to poke holes in me! Ouch!" He grabbed her hand and pulled it away before she caused any permanent damage.
"Sorry, just had to make sure you get what we need." Quistis pulled her hand away and went back to Drag and Zion. "Now, for you two."
"What? Wait! Now? You what me to get it out of him now?" Seifer demanded, freaking out.
"Well, when you do you think it should be done? We don't have forever, you know." She snapped, having lost all patience.
"Oh, hey, Quistis, I think it would be best if we left him alone for a while. He really shouldn't be bothered right now. That would be unhealthy. He could explode at any moment." Drag warned her, scratching at the back of his neck. He wore a look of almost fear on his features.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" She demanded, getting more and more agitated by the second.
"Well, you see, really late last night his dad- our uncle- came by the house with the current problem." Zion began but stopped. He wasn't sure if it was such a good idea to bring this into the subject just yet.
"Which is?" She asked. She didn't want anything to get in the way of her perfect plan.
"Squall's little brother." Drag answered.
Quistis' jaw dropped. "Little brother? He has a little brother?" She looked to Seifer in disbelief who nodded. "You're kidding!" They shook their heads. "How old is he? Is he like really little?" Now she was just bursting with questions.
"No, he's sixteen, and he's Squall's mortal enemy." Drag answered her.
"Who's Squall mortal enemy?" Selphie asked coming over with Rinoa and sitting down next to Zion, who grinned to himself.
"Bryce." A voice behind them snarled bitterly. They all looked to see Squall standing there, looking madder than they had ever seen him, even when he was mad at Rinoa. Right now, he had this look about him that could turn anyone into stone like Medusa.
"And who is Bryce?" Selphie asked.
"I am." It was then that they noticed the guy standing beside Squall. Okay, not really beside, more like five feet away. He was about a head shorter than Squall with black hair, almost to his shoulders, stocky like Squall, but he was less muscular. He had slightly lighter skin, bigger eyes, green, and a narrower face. In other words, the two guys looked nothing alike.
"My gosh! You look like you're about to kill someone!" Quistis laughed, pointing to Squall, who's glance immediately shifted to Bryce.
"Oh, believe me. I want to." Squall snarled, cracking his knuckles. Bryce looked at him uneasily and moved away slightly.
"I didn't know you had a brother! This is so cool!" Selphie exclaimed. She jumped up and skipped over to Bryce. "Hi! I'm Selphie!" She stuck her hand out to him and Squall walked toward the rest of them, scowling the whole way.
"No, it's not cool." He muttered, taking a seat beside Seifer and across from Rinoa, who looked at him curiously. He met her eyes and saw the confusion. "I take it you don't remember him."
"No, I thought it was just you and Elle." She shook her head, so confused.
"He never came to Winhill during the summer, only during the winter and holidays." Squall informed her and she nodded.
"Yeah, it's bad luck for us to be in the same area together." Bryce laughed. He had a sweet laugh and a good-looking smile, too.
"Shut up." Squall snarled.
"You've been saying that to me for the past hour and a half!" Bryce complained.
"And you still haven't caught the hint, have you? Do you need me to be any more obvious?" Squall turned around and barked at the other guy, making him flinch and back away again.
"No, that's okay." He whispered. It was very obvious that Bryce feared his brother, and for good reasons, too. Squall could be really scary at times.
"You're mean!" Selphie exclaimed, sticking her tongue out at him.
"He deserves it!" Squall growled, turning back around and settling against the couch with his arms over his chest. Rinoa couldn't decide if he was sulking or mad, or both. But whatever he was doing, she found it highly amusing.
'Well, anyway, welcome to Balamb!" Selphie said excitedly to Bryce. He muttered thanks and kept his distanced.
"Okay, when did he get here?" Seifer asked, leaning over and whispering to Squall.
"Last night. My dad came and dropped him off at around Midnight." Squall answered, tersely.
"Ah, I see. I bet that was a great morning surprise." Seifer chuckled to himself at the look on Squall's face. He was glaring forward with a scowl on his face that looked like it had been plastered there with Gorilla Glue.
"No, not really. I lost my appetite." He growled.
"But what's he doing here? I thought he was going to that private school?" Seifer kept looking back at Bryce who was now talking to both Quistis and Selphie and wondering how things were going to change now.
"He was, until he was kicked out." Squall muttered, obviously he wished that his brother were anywhere else but here.
"Kicked out! How the heck do you get kicked out of Grace Private School?" Seifer was completely shocked. It was almost impossible to get kicked out of Grace! The place was run by a man named Strickler! And he was the toughest principle there was! He never lets anyone leave unless they graduate.
"Do I look like the bearer of all knowledge?" Squall demanded, almost losing his temper. "I don't know, and I don't care. Just keep the little fucker away from me." He stood and headed to the exit, sending Bryce a deadly glance.
"He honestly hates him, doesn't he?" Rinoa asked, watching Squall leave in fury.
"Yeah, Bryce did something to him, and he hasn't forgiven him since." Seifer answered. He got up and headed over to Bryce where Drag and Zion had gone as well, standing with Selphie and Quistis. Rinoa decided not to join the rest of them. She, instead, went to the exit. Something was drawing her outside probably to go to Squall.
She found Squall outside, leaning against the wall with his shoulders slumped forward and his chin resting against his chest.
"Hi." She whispered, rubbing her hands over her arms fending off cold chills.
"Hey," He didn't look at her or move at all.
And so she didn't say anything else but leaned against the wall beside him, staring forward to the parking lot. She pressed her hands flat against the building, which just happened to be warmer than the air around her. She wanted to say something to him or have him say something to her. She at least wanted this cold silence to stop. It was uncomfortable, and it made her wonder if he felt as uneasy as she did, and yet, she was afraid to speak first. It took her some time to notice that he was intimidating to her.
Squall briefly glanced at Rinoa and then focused again on the inside of his eyelids. He was waiting for her to say or do something. After all, she had come out to him, and so she obviously wanted something. But so far, she had been silent. Was she waiting for him to do something, or had she come out here for another reason? He was curious now, curious about her intentions. What was she here for? He wanted to know badly if she was out here for him or just wanted to catch some fresh air.
They stood in silence for some time waiting for the other to make the first move and break the stubborn, cold ice that surrounded them. Rinoa was hoping he would say something first, while Squall was waiting on her.
He finally couldn't take it anymore and let his arms slide down to his side. A plan began to form in his mind and a tiny form of a smile crept to his lips as his fingers lightly touched hers. He kept his eyes closed and face calm, determined not to show any type of amusement in this or confidence. He wasn't going to open his eyes, but wanted to see her reaction. His fingers lightly played with her fingertips, and surprisingly, she played back. A smile found its way to her lips, and she let him do as he pleased. He eventually just laid his hand against hers, and they said nothing.
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"So what do you think of our little town?" Selphie asked Bryce, who had instantly cheered up when his brother left the room.
"It's okay. I mean, it's not Esthar, but it's cool." Bryce replied. He shrugged and leaned back into the couch. Selphie was on one side of him and Quistis was on the other.
"Okay, Bryce, dude. I'm dying to know. How did you get kicked out of Grace? No one gets kicked out of Grace! It's just not possible!" Seifer exclaimed, asking what had been bugging him since Squall told him.
"I know. I would say that I was talented if mom and dad weren't so mad at me." Bryce tried to laugh it off but the nervousness came through instead.
"But how'd you do it? That's what I want to know." Seifer said, rushing him to get on with it so he could ease his curiosity.
"I pulled one of my brother's stunts. This idiot started talking crap about my family, and me so I beat the fuck out of the guy. He ended up with his nose broken, and I was suspended for a week, but the guy kept saying stuff so I went to school while I was supposed to be suspended and kicked his ass again. Strickler kicked me out because I didn't follow my suspension order." Bryce told them, not feeling any regret and that was obvious. "Hey, I was just doing what my brother told me to do. He said that if anyone ever talked shit on me or my family, then he's just asking for a beating."
"Yep, that sounds like Squall." Seifer laughed and nodded to Drag and Zion.
"Squall said that?" Selphie exclaimed. "No way! I can't picture Squall saying that!"
"Then you obviously don't know him very well, do you?" Drag smirked. "Squall's a real bad boy if you catch him at the right moment."
"Ph, please, what's the worst he's ever done? Cheated on a test?" Quistis scoffed at the idea of Squall being a "bad boy."
"Um, try being suspended four times for fighting, thrown out of this place we used to hang out at with for fighting, and knowing Martial Arts and specialized fighting techniques he learned at a Military Academy that he was at for six years." Seifer threw back at her.
"Yeah, compared to my brother's previous actions, what I did was angelic." Bryce agreed. "And I don't think he's ever cheated on anything before in his life."
"Except Brandi." Drag grinned. Seifer held back his laughter, but Bryce rolled his eyes.
"But he hasn't been acting like a bad boy here." Selphie said, still not believing that Squall could be a bad boy.
"That's because he's playing it safe." Seifer told her.
"Yeah, usually, he's really quiet, wearing this scowl on his face 24/7 and never speaking except for maybe his favorite word every once in a while. That's usually how he acts, keeping to himself and staying away from everyone. He can be really cold if you catch him at the right time." Drag filled them in on Squall's normal behavior.
"And he's trying to impress some chick." Bryce added. They all looked at him with puzzled expressions.
"He told you that?" Drag demanded.
"No, well, yeah. It was part of the prep talk he gave me this morning." Bryce shrugged.
"He gave you a prep talk?" Quistis asked, stifling a laugh.
"Yeah, he was nice to me until you two woke up." Bryce pouted, pointing to Drag and Zion. "He told me that I had to behave myself, and if I get into any fights with anyone, he'll beat the shit out of me. No joke. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm taking him seriously!"
"It's about time." Squall snarled, coming back over to the gang with Rinoa behind him. Bryce grinned bashfully and moved away, but Squall slammed his hand down on his brother's shoulder, making Bryce flinch. "And if you screw up, not only will mom kill you, but so will I. Mom's pissed at me because I apparently influenced you, so don't even think about doing anything stupid." He kissed in Bryce's ear. The look on his face was priceless. He had this look of pure fear.
"I won't. I-I promise." He stuttered, swallowing nervously.
"Good." He slapped his shoulder again and then moved back to the couches to sit with Drag and Seifer and the rest of the gang.
"Squall!" Selphie exclaimed, jumping up and pointing to him.
"What, you were expecting maybe Prince Charming?" Squall asked, raising an eyebrow and being cocky, much to the annoyance of Rinoa and Quistis.
"Well, that would be nice, but what's this about you being a bad boy?" She demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
Squall just smirked and said nothing.
"Where did you hear that?" Rinoa asked, looking at Squall like she was confused. Squall? A bad boy? Now that's funny!
"They kindly informed us." Quistis replied, pointing to his pals.
"Yeah, they mentioned something about being suspended four times, being thrown out of a club, and knowing Martial Arts." Selphie added.
"Martial Arts? Club? What?" Rinoa shook her head and looked from Squall to Drag and Seifer.
Squall still said nothing but looked to his friends with an annoyed expression. He didn't really want to admit that was true, but what the heck. "Gee, guys. You flatter me. You really do." He said sarcastically.
…Great. I just had to pick the one with the Bad Reputation. Rinoa rolled her eyes.
"It's true! He's dangerous!" Bryce jumped up.
"Shut up, Bryce." Squall, Seifer, Drag, and Zion all said in unison, each glaring at the younger guy.
"I can see that this is going to end in tragedy." Bryce frowned, folding his arms over his chest.
"You guys are so mean!" Selphie exclaimed. She returned to her seat and wrapped her arms around Bryce in a protective way. "Poor little Brycie! He's so abused by his older, meaner, less cute brother! I'll protect you!" She said, talking to him like he was a little baby, but Bryce wasn't complaining. He didn't mind having a hot girl wrap her arms around him.
"…Whatever." Squall muttered, scowling.
"Oh, for Hyne's sake Selphie! He's not four!" Rinoa exclaimed, rolling her eyes. The little comment about Squall being less cute had more of an effect on her than she cared to admit.
"I can be four! It doesn't bother me! Four is good!" Bryce insisted, snuggling in Selphie's arms.
"See what I have to put up with?" Squall asked Rinoa, pointing to his brother. Rinoa nodded sadly.
"My heart bleeds for you. It really does." She told him.
"Hey, Quistis!" Irvine exclaimed, suddenly coming over with Zell. The two guys had been absent throughout this whole meeting. "We got it!"
"Yeah! We've got the perfect place for them to meet! It's gonna be great! It sets the mood perfectly and everything, and it was all my idea, too! Those two will be hitched before you can say Love-." Zell said excitedly, but Quistis jumped up and nearly tackled him to get him to shut it.
"Zell, what are you talking about?" Rinoa asked, finding him even funnier than usual.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. He was just leaving, right Zell?" Quistis said quickly, turning the blond around and shoving him to another area, like the exit.
"But I Just got here." Zell looked back at his in confusion as she continued to push him away.
"Yes, and now you're leaving." She insisted.
Irvine shrugged at the two and then saw Selphie with Bryce. His face became hot with anger, and he glared at Bryce.
"Who the hell are you?" He challenged.
"Oh, Irvine, that's my brother." Squall shrugged, not attempting to come to his brother's rescue at all.
"Yeah, feel free to pummel him if he deserves it." Drag grinned.
"Which is usually 99 of the time." Squall muttered in a lower tone, making Drag and Seifer both laugh.
"You want to see me inflicted with pain and agony all the time, don't you?" Bryce sat up and demanded of his brother.
"Yep. Pretty much." Squall showed no emotion, making Bryce frown.
"Yeah, well, hi. I'm Irvine, and I'm going to inflict some serious pain and agony if you don't get away from my girl." Irvine growled menacingly. Bryce slowly began to move away, but Selphie laughed and pulled him back.
"Irvine, I'm not your girl, so you can blow it out your ass for all I care." She stuck her tongue out at him and wrapped her arms around Bryce again.
"Oh, damn. I was hoping he'd beat the shit out of him." Drag sighed, seeing Bryce get out of beating. Squall nodded but said nothing. He wore the scowl that Seifer and Drag had talked about earlier.
"Whatever, Selphie." Irvine rolled his eyes and then turned back over to Squall. "Hey, Squall. I need your help with something, man." He began to walk to Quistis and motioned for Squall to follow. Squall sighed and got up to follow him.
Irvine talked to Quistis for a few minutes as Squall made his way over to them, but as he got closer, Quistis moved away and returned to the group. They watched Irvine lead Squall outside and suspicion began to rise in Rinoa's mind. What were they planning?
"Rinny, come with me!" Selphie had jumped up and grabbed Rinoa by the arm, pulling her with her. Rinoa had no choice but to go. Selphie dragged her over to Joe, where he let them behind the counter, and they disappeared into the back room.
"I thought I was going to get it out of him." Seifer said to Quistis, watching the exit door shut as Squall and Irvine left.
"You are. We just need to go over the plan real quick. Irvine and Zell managed to get what I wanted." Quistis smiled. "Plus, I figured that maybe Bryce could help and we could fill him in as well."
"No!" Drag and Zion both jumped up.
Everyone looked at them strangely.
"Why not?" Quistis demanded.
The two had to think fast for a good excuse.
"Because that would really piss Squall off. If you bring him into this, then there is no hope for this to succeed." Drag insisted quickly. Zion nodded at his side.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Bryce asked, confused. He looked at his cousins, then to Quistis, and then back to his cousins again.
"We're trying to hook Squall and Rinoa up." Quistis stated before going back to Drag and Zion. "You don't know that. He could end up being a big help."
"Yeah, a big help in destroying ALL hope!" Zion exclaimed. Bruce raised a questioning eyebrow at him and shook his head. "Squall hates his brother. It would cause nothing but problems, I tell ya!"
"He doesn't hate me. We just disagree… a lot." Bryce put up in his own defense. Whatever they were doing, he wanted a piece of the action.
"See? They just disagree a lot. So why can't he help?" Quistis demanded.
"They do a whole lot more than just disagreeing. Try living in the same house with them. One roof is simply not enough." Drag continued to insist that they leave Bryce out of the plot, but Quistis was determined and she found the two guys suddenly very suspicious. "Not a good idea."
"Fine. We'll leave him out of it, but I'm telling you. It'll work. So if it doesn't, it'll be your fault." She pointed at the two of them. They nodded.
"And we're telling you. It's for the best." Zion smiled warmly at Quistis, but she still wasn't buying it.
"Whatever. Let's just get on with it." She frowned, glaring at the two guys.
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"Selphie, what is going on?" Rinoa demanded. The two girls were standing in the back room with all the drinks and food that Joe stored for the place.
"Oh, I just thought maybe we could, you know, talk about the important things in life. Like boys, shopping, and other wonderful things that make a teenage girl's life so full of excitement!" Selphie said brightly, realizing that she had pulled Rinoa in here without a good reason.
"Right, Selphie. In Joe's storage room? What's really going on? What are you guys all planning because something's up?" Rinoa asked, looking right through Selphie.
"Nothing! What makes you think something's up? I just thought we could talk, and help Joe organize this messy room!" The idea suddenly hit Selphie, and she thought it was golden.
"Selphie!" Rinoa exclaimed. "It's already organized!" She threw her hands up pointing to the items in the storage room.
"Well, then it looks like we're done!" Selphie smiled brightly, grabbed Rinoa by the arm again and pulling her out again. She swallowed nervously as they headed back to the gang. She heard Rinoa sigh in defeat.
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"Quistis!" Zion exclaimed. He pointed behind her. "Selphie and Rinoa are coming back!"
"Oh, shoot!" Quistis muttered. "We'll continue this later when Squall and Rinoa won't pop up suddenly."
Selphie let go of Rinoa and walked ahead of her. "Sorry. I think she's getting suspicious." She whispered passing Quistis to return to her seat.
Rinoa followed and joined them, eyeing them all carefully. Yes, she was very suspicious. They were all acting really funny, and this time, she was sure it wasn't her. They were plotting something. They had to be plotting something.
"So, what are we going to do now?" Selphie asked.
"I have no idea!" Quistis laughed, shaking her head.
But I do. Rinoa thought. And I'm going to get to the bottom of this.
A/N: Yes, I know. That was really, really long. I'm sorry. I'm not very good at splitting up chapters to make them easier to read. That's why I give you guys warnings. J This was one of my favorite chapters, as you can probably tell. I'm working on putting them all back into their main characters, and the introduction of Bryce gave me a perfect opportunity to do just that. This story is something very laid back for me, and I wanted to do it my way. I hope that's okay. Oh! Guess what? I actually updated on TLR! Isn't that exciting? …Okay, maybe not. Later Days!