So, this chapter is coming out in the wee hours of the morning on this Friday instead of it's usual evening release. That's because I'll be away all weekend and I'm excited to give some scene time to the other game characters who we've neglected thus far. Enjoy!
.06.
Layla was livid. She felt her skin burn as her temperature rose. Her breath was ragged as she stared down at the phone. "You really think I'm some slut?" She asked the air. "That I'm nothing?" She took a moment to recover from the drama that was that phone call. Had she not said she could explain this? Maybe she should have been clearer? She saved the number Rinoa had called her from under the name 'psychotic bitch' and adjusted the ringtone so it might prepare her for any possible future madness involving this woman.
She needed help. That was for sure.
Thinking for a moment on who would be best to call, she remembered her uncle and his friends were at the pub in the city.
Flipping open her phone, she called Kiros. "Hey, is it okay for you to talk right now? I have a really complex situation on my hands and I just want advice on how to solve it."
"Just let me get somewhere a little quieter," he replied. There was noise and then, "Alright, what's wrong?"
"I don't want to involve President Loire, but the woman his son is seeing might be a total psychopath and she's scented my blood."
"I see."
"I'll tell you everything and then it'll make more sense, but please promise you won't tell anyone else and that you won't hate me." She chewed her lip.
"It can't be that bad, but alright. I promise."
"I know how badly the President wants to reconnect with his son and so I kind of went behind his back and contacted Squall using a number I got from Edea. Anyway, we've been talking for some time now..." she began. Once she had gone through everything she could think of about the situation, she sighed, "See my problem?"
"I do. I wouldn't worry about it though. She's very disconnected from her father and even if she found it in herself to ask him such a favour, I can't say he'd comply. The General is a fair man. Stern, but fair. Besides, there's nothing he can do to you that the President can't make go away. You're Uncle and I have power equal to that of General Caraway. This threat of hers is really just her venting her frustrations. You can understand why she's upset, right?"
"Yes, I can see how she misinterpreted the situation, but she wouldn't even let me explain. This is the second call she's made to me in as many days. This one was much worse though. I can't take another like that. She called me a whore and said I was nothing."
"Don't let it get to you. Go make yourself some tea. I'm on my way over. We can talk more about it when I get there."
"Thank you. I'm not telling my Mom because she'd never let me go to Balamb if she knew."
"You still plan on visiting with us even though the general's daughter just made you cry?"
"I'm not a coward. I can handle the meaningless words of some spoiled brat."
He laughed and she was relieved already. Just knowing he was on her side and if Kiros didn't consider something a problem, it really couldn't be one. Which was, admittedly, very good.
She stared down at her phone while she waited for the kettle to boil. Her mother was working and wouldn't be home for a while, which was good. She wanted this dealt with before they left, but not bad enough to admit to her mother that there was any reason for her not to go.
The dilemma now was whether it would be wise to let Squall know what just happened. On the one hand, it would look really bad if Rinoa found a text received from her right after she'd called to bitch her out. Squall would undoubtedly already be having a difficult time dealing with the bitch. However, maybe he should be warned about the kind of rampage the girl was on.
The kettle whistled and shattered her concentration on the issue. She'd just ask Kiros to help her decide. A third person perspective wouldn't hurt.
As she poured the tea, she thought about supper. Maybe she'd make something. Ask Kiros to stay. It would please her mother if they all sat to eat. It might put a little pressure on the man though. She looked down at her phone again. Maybe she'd invite the President and her uncle to join them.
Again, she placed the final decision in the hands of Kiros.
The front door opened and he called out, "I'm here."
"Kitchen, come on in! Want some tea?"
He entered the room and nodded.
Squall was sitting in Cid's office, listening to his mentor ramble on about what he'd need to know while assuming the position of headmaster. It didn't seem like anything particularly overwhelming. Not to mention – as Cid kept mentioning – Quistis had agreed to assist however and whenever he could.
His real problem was that Layla hadn't messaged him all day. It was strange. Especially when considering what the next day would bring. It was going to be a big deal for the both of them. It was already late afternoon and he hadn't heard any word from her.
He flipped the phone open and closed as he thought about whether he should initiate contact. After all, she was probably busy planning out the President's coming week or something. Maybe writing cue cards for topics he and Squall could discuss if the old man panicked.
"That's getting a little irritating," Quistis confessed from beside him, "The phone flipping, I mean. Were you expecting to hear from someone?"
"Sort of," he replied honestly.
"Well, let's take a break and you can give them a call. I could use a bite before we fly out," Cid told them.
"You're leaving tonight?" Squall asked, suddenly aware of the situation's demanding nature.
"Yes. I thought Quistis could drop me off on the way back from Deling. I should be showing Xu my support as much as possible and it would make sense to get started now. If I leave any later, my time away would overlap with the new semester. I wouldn't want to burden you with performance reviews and the application process."
Squall would have been lying if he'd said he was pleased. This obviously meant that Cid had assumed he'd take the position.
Frowning, he stood up and left without a word.
He heard the clicking of heels upon the tile as Quistis followed him. He looked back, making a point of expressing how unimpressed he was with all of this.
"I know you don't want to take on any more than you already have, but this is how it needs to be for a while, Squall. I'm sorry. The orphans need somewhere to go and just think of the happiness they could experience with Matron caring for them. They could have a childhood like we had. I don't know how much of it you remember, but it was a good time." She looked at him, her bright blue eyes bleary with a hint of oncoming tears.
It hurt to see her so upset so Squall tried to think of what someone with better social capabilities would do here. He thought back on a marathon of romantic movies Rinoa had convinced him to sit through.
He recalled what he should do when a woman was about to cry, but without the assistance of dramatic music, he wasn't sure it would be effective. Still, the idea of Quistis crying told him he had to try.
He slowly raised his right hand to touch her cheek. "Don't cry. I will do this."
She looked confused and he thought maybe he'd done it wrong, but before he could try to explain or fix the issue, she was off, running into the small restroom behind the empty receptionist desk.
Women were too complicated. He should have realized Quistis wasn't the type to be swayed that way. She was much more independent than Rinoa or any of the women in the movies. He scowled at his own failure as he continued to the elevator.
Thinking of Rinoa had reminded him that he needed to plan out a proper date. Now, he'd just have to find time for one.
Quistis stared at her face in the mirror over the small porcelain sink and touched her face where Squall's hand had caressed her flesh. She was sure he had his reasons and that he hadn't meant to give her the impression she'd first gotten, but that was what hurt the most about it. He hadn't meant to lead her on.
She couldn't even categorize him as some playboy bastard and be done with this stupid crush once and for all. No, she was being assaulted by his innocence in the face of the obvious. Had he really believed her idiotic rambling about confusing her sisterly feelings for romantic ones?
"You're such a damn tool, Squall..." she sighed aloud.
She took off her glasses and placed them on the sink's ledge before gently splashing cold water up onto her face. A few deep breaths and she was ready to dry up, put on her glasses and venture back out to face the day that lay ahead.
Her watch beeped at her, reminding her she needed to eat. She'd even written it into the itinerary. If she hadn't, she'd probably have worked straight through and ignored the angry grumblings of her stomach.
Take-out. She'd visit the cafeteria for take-out sandwiches and bring them onto Ragnorak for the trip. Xu was probably too excited to eat yet anyway and the Headmaster... Well, he'd never been so great with taking care of himself.
Selphie was in the quad and trying to decide on how it would be best decorated for the new SeeD graduate party. There was only about a month left before the next term started.
Lost in thoughts of how Cid would feel about a steam-punk themed decor, she didn't even notice Irvinne creep up behind her.
It wasn't until he'd dropped his hat right on top of her head that she turned around. At which point he slicked her nose with something chill and wet that was on the tip of his finger. She reached up quickly to wipe it away. "Irvy..."
When she pulled her fingers away, a little white smear of something was on them.
"Sunscreen. Gotta protect that pretty skin of yours."
He was right of course. It was rather bright out and she had skipped out into the sun without any thought about potential skin damage. Still, she couldn't help but reply, "That kind of talk is best reserved for murderers. It puts the lotion on its skin...'she sang teasingly.
He pushed her playfully and remembered why he was there. "Selph... Listen..." he said as he slipped a hand behind his neck nervously. "I was thinking about going into town and I wanted to know..." he hesitated.
"Could you pick up that cookie recipe from Mrs. Dincht while you're there?" she asked before he could finish.
Frustrated with himself for having paused, he tried to keep it smooth. "Or you could pick it up yourself..." he trailed off, trying to sound cool.
Selphie was certain he was implying that she was lazy and frowned at him. "Fine. I will." She pushed his hat into his chest and grumbled expletives, leaving him to stand in the quad and think about what he'd done. She was a little angry with herself as well. After all, how could she have feelings for someone who didn't appreciate the work that she put in to everything she did?
She headed for the elevator to get a car key from the headmaster's office. Maybe if Cid wasn't busy, he'd come with her.
Irvinne had realized how bad his words had sounded all too late. "I should have said, 'Or you could come with me...'. Dammit."
He thought for a moment. If she was going into town, she'd need a car. She'd probably have to go get a key from the office, so if he went straight to the garage he could intercept her and explain himself.
Also, maybe some time in the elevator would give her a chance to cool down before she saw him again.