A/N: Sorry about any delay Uni's started up again so I'm having to focus on that more than my stories.
Selphie had driven her insane with all sorts of bemusing questions to which she could not find the root cause. Irvine had been of little help but she suspected that he had more than one reason to try and shush Selphie every time he though she wasn't looking. She was. She didn't care to hear those reasons. If Selphie was still the girl she had once known then she probably knew all too well what the cogs turning in that small girl's head were leading to maybe she just denied herself the pleasure of believing she would or could do such a thing to a friend.
She was too busy and lost in her own world to much care. She was angry, fuming in fact, that he could be so... so arrogant. How dare he ruin her only escape? How dare he?
How dare she show up here clear as day!His mind mumbled away contently to itself with constant smart remarks and crude comments about the raven haired girl. He shoved his clothes back into his duffel bag with the greatest force he could muster a wonder they hadn't come straight out the other side. If she wasn't a girl he was sure he would have more than likely used that force on her. But she was. And she would have had to have thrown the first punch male or female.
The phone call to his sister and been trying on his frazzled temper. Every time he believed he couldn't be any more enraged she somehow managed to do so to him. Another wonderful trait of hers, he wondered if somehow perhaps the two young women were related, they seemed to share the same level of annoyance, maybe they had conspired to make his life hell. No Ellone had to be worse and what did he care if it was a conspiracy? Everyone else seemed to have one or more about or against him, why not them?
Each time he repeated the words, "I'm coming home" she'd just ask why or mutter something about gluttony for pain or was it punishment, whatever, he didn't care anyway. He didn't understand half the sayings she recited to him and he didn't know why she bothered she always got the same answer. Anyway she knew it only made things worse. She'd even used Quistis Treppe as a means of trying to persuade him to stay. Of course he hadn't actually explained or even referred obscurely to the real reason why he was coming home just that he was. She only would have tried to make him stay more. He wished she had a different taste in music than that beautiful sombre voice.
He cursed himself as he stared disapprovingly at the heavily creased train timetable he had pulled from his back pocket. Brilliant, just brilliant! Did I ever mention you're a complete moron Squall Leonhart? He had timed the walk from the station to here upon his arrival; apparently the Garden schools had their uses. An hour that was all; it'd take him an hour. And the next train, well... that was a little different. One problem with being in the middle of nowhere public transport remains something of a mystery to these people. He'd have to wait two days for the next passing train. Just what he needed two more days to bump into her. He hoped he was old enough to drink here.
She was still fuming when she returned to the hotel, although she did managed an apologetic smile at the hotel owner after nearly removing the door from its hinges upon her entrance. Somehow she had managed to shake off Selphie, Irvine's doing no doubt. She had hesitantly approached the desk tarring her chocolate brown eyes from the small piano hidden beneath the stairs. The owner winced at her request to play the said instrument but had nevertheless allowed her to do so.
There was something calming and yet sorrowful about the way her fingers glided and rolled across the surface of those ivory keys. She remembered vividly the first day she had sat at her mother's grand piano at only the age of four. She had been fascinated, enthralled by the magic of the sounds produced by the keys. It had taken her some time but she had taught herself to play a rather disjointed version of 'twinkle twinkle little star' within a few weeks. She had been so excited about showing her mother that she had forgotten all the rules she had broken by sitting at that piano let alone by playing it. Her mother had been kind and smiled, her obvious disobedience over looked for her creativity. Her father had failed to see it in the same light, he had been very angry. Her mother had calmed him and she must have seen something there because she spent some time each day for the last year of her life teaching her to play. Like she had known something would happen and wished something of herself into that fragile vessel of a girl.
Over time classical had become her favourite along with anything that would sombre her mood to a suitable level. She despised her own voice it did so little justice to her mother's so she made it dark and sober fitting for the harsh reality she had endured. People seemed to sympathise, was it sympathy or something deeper? Each human's inner desire for darkness, eternal sleep if only to save another from a frightful fate or maybe to save one's self. She had very little understanding of what those people saw in her music she thought for some time that if she were a person completely separate from her work that she would find herself very much repulsed by its depressing sway of moods.
Such a short time she had been seated there tapping lightly on the keys to produce a melancholy and yet heartening tune all too familiar to her ears. She resisted the urge to sing along or even hum her voice just that tiny bit lower in pitch than her mother's making it feel like another song when she sang. It struck her how easily forgotten her problems were when she played, even if it did bring deeper rooted problems back. She loved her mother her death had been wrong but there was nothing she could have done at just under six years to help her, nothing. She tried every day to tell herself that and she knew it was true but she couldn't let go of her mother hers was the only real love Rinoa had ever truly had and she couldn't let go because if she did she would lose that love forever.
In a matter of moments she became nothing more a crushed mass of what was once a brilliant joy filled little girl sprawled across the tops of those monochrome ivory keys sobbing into the darkness or her raven locks. Wishing that those warm motherly arms would wrap themselves around her being just once more. Just once more...
Squall Leonhart wouldn't have exactly called himself a drinker and he most certainly would not have been the first person to suggest they 'go out to the pub'. But in his world a pub is very different from this, not really a pub at all he isn't sure such a thing exists anywhere but here. It's dark in here but not so that it hinders your vision. Soft piano music plays faintly in the background forget to listen out for it and you wouldn't even notice it was there. A few lone drinkers have dotted themselves around the place sinking back into the dark velvety colours of the room. Almost nothing more than shadows. The smell of the lily-like flowers dotted around the room reminds him of Ellone and Laguna. It's early and he expects this is as empty as the place becomes while open. A charming middle aged woman stands behind the bar and for a second he almost sees the face of his mother in place of hers, a trick of the mind nothing more. Her short precise curls sway as he approaches her.
He is twenty years of age soon to turn twenty-one and yet he feels his palms begin to get clammy and he can almost feel the sweat running down his forehead. Of course it is nothing but his imagination and nerves that if he can't get a drink he isn't sure he can make it through the next two days. The woman smiles as she takes his order and his heart drops back where it belongs its thudding falling from his ears. She waits until his fingertips touch the glass before asking after his age, he must have looked like a chocobo caught in headlights because she just laughs and tells him to sit himself down.
He seats himself at the bar; chances are he's going to be there a while and the one drink won't suffice.
She's been stood there for what feels like an eternity the white fluffy material of her towel tied firmly around her while the second flops in her face after she unsuccessfully twisted it up into a turban. She's freezing stood there in her bathroom staring at a clouded mirror. With one swift sweep of her arm it's as if someone has just melted a line through a field of snow. She can see her reflection now her tired eyes circled with the black of her makeup. The corners of her mouth twitch up into a smile as she observes how ridiculous she looks. Her raven hair all twisted and tangled flops down onto her shoulders as her second towel falls away. Her lips and cheeks still flushed from the heat of the shower despite how cold she feels by comparison now. She quickly decides that some clothes are in order at least.
Walking out into her room she is more than stunned to find Selphie sat idly on the end of her bed. Instinctively she reaches for the knot in her towel and grips it with a grip of death.
"Hey!"
"Selphie how did you get in my room?" It was like someone just clicked their fingers and had woken the girl when she next spoke.
"Oh the owner said I should come check on you after your little 'episode' earlier." She even punctuated the words in the air to exaggerate her meaning.
"Well I'm fine." She was being oddly blunt but she was stood there in just a towel.
"Are you sure? 'Cause he said it was kinda bad."
"Yeah I'm sure and well... I wouldn't mind getting dressed." She brushed some of her wet hair over her shoulder and shuddered as the cold air hit her bare skin.
"Oh ok." She got up to walk out the door but paused, "Hey Irvine's been bugging me about going up to the pub tonight ever since he found it, it doesn't really seem like my kind of thing wanna tag along?"
"Um sure, again Selph really like to get dressed now." The girl smiled as she practically skipped to the door.
"Ok well I think Irvine wants to grab dinner and then go." She waved bye with one hand as she disappeared behind the door to her room. Taking her key she made sure she was alone in her room. Slowly her hand eased up on the knot of the towel. Although she had to admit she now felt completely paranoid.
Dinner was always served at around six in the evening just as breakfast was only for a few short hours. She couldn't complain however there was something about the routine of it that she found somehow comforting. She smiled as she approached Irvine and Selphie who were already there waiting for her. Irvine look much less like a cowboy with the absence of his hat and instead he was dressed in a faded pair of jeans and a purple shirt. No doubt it had been by Selphie's guidance. Selphie was out of yellow since the first time Rinoa had met her at the plane. Instead she wore a long green jumper that matched the shade of her eyes over and pair of jeans similar in tone to Irvine's. She only knew this because Irvine had stood to greet her and Selphie had turned to watch her approach.
"Wow, I wish I had more of a figure." Rinoa smiled at Selphie's form of a compliment as the smaller girl glanced down at her smaller chest.
"No need Selph I think you look gorgeous the way you are." Irvine kissed her on the cheek as he approached Rinoa to help her to her seat.
"How did you ever find such a gentleman?" Rinoa quizzed the smaller girl distracting her from her chest.
"Hey he had to be trained a little too." Rinoa smiled.
"Well in that case remind me to send them your way first." Selphie smiled widely at her attempt at a joke while Irvine pulled a face that suggested he took great offence to the statement or that he was a bumbling idiot they weren't sure which.
"Looks like some of us are in need of some manners!" Irvine's tone was playful and Rinoa responded by sticking out her tongue. Irvine rolled his eyes dramatically, "Well this just won't do at all, they can't seriously expect me to dine with such... such... cavewomen!" the posh accent he had put on had both of the girls trying their best to hold back their laughter. Rinoa couldn't help but notice the wolfish grin he sent in Selphie's direction making her feel like something of a third wheel.
Dinner was interesting, neither awkward nor comfortable especially not when the hotel owner's wife had given her that sympathy smile as she served them their meals. Only just a day away from home and she had almost forgotten that horrid look of pity. She had been pleasant smiling and joking with her companions but her mind had been far away for most of the meal, the horrible event Mister Leonhart had mentioned, the loss of her mother. It was a heavy world that lay across her shoulders Hyne must have hated her it was the only reason she could think of. She barely touched her desert appetizing as it looked she didn't feel much like it. Something about her sadness whisked away her desire for food. She had been so entranced by her thoughts that Irvine was practically shaking her at the end of the meal.
"Hello earth to Rinoa."
"Anyone there?"Selphie asked while waving her hand before her face. Rinoa shook her head to awake her from her dream like state.
"Just thinking..." She muttered.
"Well no more thinking today ok? We're going to try and have some fun tonight so no miss grumpy face." Selphie did her best sad Rinoa impression and a smile spread across her lips. Irvine rolled his eyes.
"She thinks it'll be like back home."
"I don't care how boring it is in there me and Rinoa are going to have some fun!"
"You are?" Irvine seemed baffled by the statement.
"Apparently we are." Rinoa offered as Selphie dragged her away to collect her purse. Irvine shook his head and left through different doors which lead out to the hotel's reception area.
Selphie had chatted away constantly as they walked up to the bar from the hotel. Rinoa was grateful she wasn't really sure she could have made small talk without falling uncontrollably into a broken mess like at the piano. It also gave some form of distraction to her mind. Irvine had remained fairly quiet too just holding onto to Selphie as they walked. She felt like a burden.
"Here we are!" Selphie announced in excitement. Rinoa raised her eyes from the cobbled street and stared at the dark outer wood work. She liked it already, so different from the dazzling hotels and clubs in Deling city it fitted her mood that much better too. She shuddered as the warm air from inside mixed with the cold breeze when Irvine opened the door.
"Alright?" Irvine asked as they stepped inside. She nodded in response it was a beautiful mix of rich mahogany woods and velvety fabrics, they melded together as if there were no difference where one ended and another started. The dark colours sank easily into the dimmed lighting, the darkness a great comfort to her soul. It inspired her made her want to play. Irvine ushered them off into a corner booth and then left to collect something to drink. The place wasn't particularly busy, at least not by Deling city standards and he quickly returned with three drinks.
Selphie happily raised her colourful mixture to her lips and sipped at it, Irvine took a swig of his beer but Rinoa sat there with her fingertips wrapped around the freezing bottle in her hands. She liked the distraction the numbness of her fingers caused. Her eyes drifted around the room of their own accord and she was glad for the first time that day that Selphie and Irvine were too entrapped by one another to notice her stare into space. She excused herself from their company and proceeded to the bar to ask for directions to the ladies room.
He was beginning to feel the effect of the alcohol he had consumed. In reality that was a lie he'd been feeling the effect for some time and somewhere a coherent though arose questioning whether or not his legs could still carry him. Maybe he'd spent a little too long here, perhaps the barmaid had though so too because long ago she had placed a large glass of water before him. He decided that it might be beneficial to him to drink that water.
Through the sloshing liquid before him he saw her approach the bar. How she enraged him, how he wanted to strangle to life from her and yet how amazing she looked in that simple outfit. He tried to convince himself that at that particular moment in time even the enormous Shumi Called Norg would have seemed like the most beautiful person on the planet he didn't believe it not for a second. Was it even humanly possible to be drunk enough to think so? He doubted it. He managed to make out the barmaid pointing something out to her and she quickly disappeared. Somewhere inside of him his mind sighed, he had kept his mouth shut.
His eyes were struggling to focus and his mind was a blur of voices and images. He fought against his desire to sleep this much alcohol always made him so, he assumed it would make anyone so. He felt disgusting and yet completely content all at once and he wondered how violently his body would punish him in the morning. The aching head he could deal with the likely vomiting maybe not so. One more drink couldn't hurt.
"Don't you think you've had enough?" That beautiful voice...