One With You
A FFVIII Fanfiction by: Kayla Martin A.K.A Kei A.K.A Re-Fantasy-Goddess
I do not own any of these characters, only the storyline. Review and such. I would appreciate no Rinoa bashing. It seriously annoys me.
Chapter 4: Find Your Way
"How could you do that? After all she's done for you and-" Zell cut off, looking for the right words. Seifer just sat on the couch of the home they shared. Of course, at this moment, Zell was seriously considering moving out. 'There's no way Squall would let me live with him… Yeah, he'd end up shooting me in the face eventually.' The thought almost made him laugh. Almost.
Right now, Zell was worried about Rinoa. A woman he only knew because she had been with his brother. But she had also gained Zell's respect and considered her a friend. Now, with the secret of Seifer's cheating hanging over her head… It had been a week since Seifer had told her before leaving her in the library. The only reason that Zell knew this was because he had walked by Seifer's room while Quistis was there, telling her everything that had happened.
The worst part was the way Seifer sounded; completely uncaring to Rinoa's pain. What Zell couldn't understand was that Seifer seemed to care at some points but whenever Quistis came around, he couldn't care less about Rinoa.
Seifer just sat there, on the living room couch, pretending that Zell wasn't right in front of him. After a moment of silence, the younger brother turned and stalked away, knowing that no matter what he said, Seifer would never listen; especially when it came to Quistis.
Nearly scoffing, he trudged up the stairs and into his bedroom. Selphie looked up from the edge of his bed, where she sat Indian style playing his psp.
"You okay?" She asked, her sweet voice calming his nerves. Zell sighed as he came to stand beside her and plop himself on the bed.
"Hey, Selph?" He started. The girl turned her bright green eyes to him in question.
"I was wondering… Would you feel up to meeting Rinoa?"
She flipped over in bed, feeling Angelo's huge head resting on her stomach, making it hard for her to breathe. The dog turned his head and stared at her, seeing that she was awake. Rinoa sighed, patting his back before finally sitting up and shifting the blankets away. She grimaced as she remembered what she had to do today. 'Find a job…' She thought. With another aggravated sigh, she stood and trudged into the bathroom and nearly tossing herself into the shower.
Rinoa thought about the past few days as she showered. She'd been fired from her very important job because her depression was apparently 'affecting other employees.' She glared at the tiled wall. 'Completely ridiculous! It's none of their business…' She thought bitterly. Now she had to find a new job before her rent was due. Rinoa also knew that she could ask her father but she refused. The brunette wanted to live on her own now, already angry that she had let the man pay for her college. The woman finally stepped from the water and toweled off in silence, dressing soon after.
Walking from her room and heading towards the kitchen, Rinoa heard a deep but quiet bark. Someone was at her door and she knew immediately that it wasn't Seifer; Angelo would've growled.
"Hold it, big boy." She mumbled to him as she stalked over to her door. Pressing her hands to the wood, she peered through the peep hole and raised an eyebrow. 'Who…?' She wondered, staring for a moment at the little green-eyed brunette. After a moment, she hesitantly opened the door.
"Hiya!" The girl greeted exuberantly. Rinoa took a step back as Angelo came closer, instantly wary of the stranger.
"Umm, hi?" She half asked, petting Angelo on the head before lightly pushing him back. The girl offered her hand.
"I'm Selphie; your new best friend!"
Twisting the knob, Zell breezed right into the apartment and made his way to the couch. He saw from the corner of his eye that Squall had jerked his head up from where he sat at the counter and was now openly glaring. The look only made Zell's grin widen.
"You could knock." The gray-eyed man stated, a hand going to his forehead in irritation.
"Meh…" Zell muttered, switching the TV on and sifting through the channels. He heard the scrape of a chair as Squall stood and walked into the livingroom. Zell didn't know that the man stood behind him until Squall smacked him on the back of the head with a magazine.
"OW! Geesh!" Zell complained, rubbing the sore spot. Squall smirked to himself as he turned to walk away.
"Oh, wait!" Zell said, nearly toppling over the couch as he twisted to hang over the back of the furniture. Squall turned unwillingly to stare at the blonde.
"Alright! You know about that date I asked you about? Y'know, with Seifer's ex?" Zell winced on the last part, aware of Squall resentful look, however watered down it was.
"Yes?" He asked, looking even more irate than before. Zell chuckled nervously.
"Well, have ya thought about it? I mean, you never know…" He insisted. Squall stared at him, saying nothing.
"Look, I just think that she deserves better than Seifer and we both know that you are. Even if you don't like to talk." He finished with a grin. The brunette shook his head, making for the door a moment later.
Zell pursed his lips, miffed by Squall's attitude. 'I swear, ya never know what the guy's thinkin'.'
Squall stepped from his apartment and turned towards the stairs that led to the lobby. 'Rinoa…' He thought. 'Yeah… She definitely deserves someone better. But why would Zell think of me? He knows I'm not interested in dating.' He glared for a moment, thinking of the blonde's girlfriend. 'There's no doubt it was Selphie's idea. I bet she's a secret match-maker. Probably even has her own business card.' He pondered, taking the second flight of stairs down and finally reaching the door that led into the lobby.
He walked swiftly from the building and headed left, down the street, towards his father's bar. It wasn't a place he enjoyed visiting too often but if he didn't, the man would come to his apartment and, much like Zell, sweep across it like a damn tornado. Squall guessed that he got his tidiness from his mother.
Laguna, that was the man's name, tended to be happy-go-lucky and act as if there was never a thing wrong. It had been that attitude that had driven Squall away to college for four years. He couldn't stand that, even after the accident that took his mother and sister's lives, Laguna continued to act as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Of course, the man wasn't heartless. Laguna only acted the way he did because he was trying to keep Squall from going into a depression. He had never been fooled though. When Squall was a child, he'd walk by his parents room and see his father sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his wife's wedding ring to his chest, and sobbing like his heart was shattered. No, Squall had never been fooled by the appearance of happiness that radiated from the older man but he did appreciate the attempt. He knew that his father was only trying to help.
'And now, I'm all he has…' Squall thought to himself as he came to the entrance of Galbadia Hotel. Laguna owned the hotel and the bar downstairs. It was one of the most popular hotels and hangouts in the city.
With an aggravated sigh, the young man pushed through the glass doors, nodded at the receptionist and heading down the elegant flight of curving stairs that led to the bar. He spotted Laguna instantly. The man had long, charcoal hair, vibrant green eyes, and lightly tanned skin. Women tended to flirt with the man but Laguna appeared to be oblivious. 'Or maybe…' Squall thought. 'He really didn't notice at all. Wouldn't surprise me…'
"Son!"
Squall's head jerked towards his father and he wanted to groan at the scene. His father was reaching over the bar and waving exuberantly. Stifling the urge to bolt, the young man trudged to meet Laguna. His sat on one of the many bar stools, staring at the man.
"You'll break your hand waving like that." He said.
"Naw! I'm just so happy to see you. I gotta say, I was about a day from storming right into that apartment of yours." Laguna finished.
'Of course you were. I wouldn't be surprised if you had come today…' Squall thought to himself, wanting to shake his head. Laguna poured a drink and chugged, not bothering to make one for Squall, considering the fact that the young man didn't drink.
"Well, then, what have you been up to?" Laguna asked, spying at Squall through the bottom of the glass playfully.
"… I saw Seifer the other day." He started. Squall noted how his father's grip tightened on the pour cup, nearly breaking it.
"Oh?" He asked, nonchalantly. Laguna tried to mask his instant disgust in the man mentioned. He knew his anger would only spur Squall to act on his own. The young man turned his head, looking across the room, before he spoke.
"From what I could tell… He cheated on this girl." He stated, trying to sound uninterested. His irritation at Seifer was mostly because of the fact that the man hadn't changed at all. Possibly worse.
"Not surprised. Who was she?" His father asked. Squall sighed and turned back to the man.
"Rinoa. I ran into her before though. She… seemed nice." He finished. If he had been looking at Laguna, he would have noticed the smirk adorning his face.
"Considered dating again?" His father asked. Squall glared at him. 'God, not this again.' He thought, already standing to leave.
"I don't think so." He said, turning and making for the stairs. He heard his father chuckling behind him.
"Well alright, but you know I always have someone set up for you-"
His father's voice faded as he hit the stairs and ascended them. 'I don't understand why everyone thinks that I need someone…'
"Oh! I know somewhere that you could get a job!" Selphie enthused, jumping up and down as her and Rinoa strolled down the street. Rinoa smiled half-heartedly at the girl.
"C'mon! I think it's a good idea! Plus, the boss is super nice!" The girl continued, grabbing one of Rinoa's gloved hands and pulling her down the street.
"Um, Selphie, are you sure? I mean, what type of job is it?" Rinoa asked hesitantly, worried for the answer. 'Good lord, let it be moral.' She thought. Selphie giggled as she twirled by some random people walking the opposite way.
"You'll see!" She said, winking. Rinoa sure did feel like she'd had a year's worth of Selphie's enthusiasm and it's only been about an hour. The girl had shown up at her door saying Zell had sent her and she had thought that Rinoa could use a day out. When the woman had said that she really had to find a job instead of playing around, the girl had immediately asked if she could help.
And so, here they were, on their way to some place that she could probably get a job at. Rinoa liked Selphie already but the ridiculous amount of cheerfulness was a little much for her glum mood. Still, Rinoa tried to keep up with her.
It didn't take long to get to the place that the girl mentioned. Rinoa only knew they were their when she stopped in front of two large glass doors.
"Galbadia Hotel?" Rinoa asked, staring at Selphie. She just grinned and pulled her inside. Selphie smiled at the people in the lobby before pulling her down the stairs. The place was beautiful, she'd give it that. Once they hit the carpeted floor at the bottom of the stairs, the girl pulled her over to the bar where a man served drinks.
"Hey, Laguna!" She greeted happily. The man turned immediately and smiled widely at the girl.
"Selphie, it's so good to see you!" He enthused, leaving the bar and going over to the two and hugging her. Rinoa stood off to the side and waited.
"Oh, Laguna, I want you to meet my new friend! She needs a job right now and I instantly thought of you!" She said, getting to the point. Laguna nodded and turned to Rinoa.
"This is Rinoa Heartilly." Selphie informed. The man's eyes widened slightly before he offered his hand.
"Laguna Loire, at your service."
Author's notes: Okay, so I'm hoping all of you have enjoyed this story so far. I want to thank you guys for reading and supporting me. Believe me; I need it so that I'll have the confidence to become the writer I dream of being. Review please, it is much appreciated.