Author's note: I told you it'll only take me a couple of hours before I post another chapter. don't worry I don't rush my chapters I just have a lot of free time and an urge to keep on writing. So now, without further adieu I give to you Chapter two!
Disclaimer: I don't own SquareEnix so don't ask me if I do
-- Chapter two --
The Trip
"RISE AND SHINE MS. RINOA ANTOINETTE HEARTILLY!!"
Rinoa groaned as she heard her mom's booming voice yelling out her full name in the middle of the night. She turned on her bed only to see that it was only 4am. Covering her face with the comforter she tried, desperately to fall back into sleep, it wasn't that hard considering that it was a really, really comfy underneath her blanket.
"I SAID GET UP YOUNG LADY!" her mom yelled while pulling her comforter away, exposing her to the chilly dawn's breeze.
"Alright, alright! I'm up!" Rinoa said while scratching her head and trying to figure out where left and right is. "Why do I have to get up so early mom?? The plane won't leave until 8am! I could still sleep in for a couple more hours. "
"No! You will get up now, because knowing you, sweetie, you'd take an hour and a half to get ready. "Her mom retaliated while finishing folding Rinoa's comforter.
Rinoa grudgingly walked, rather stormed to her bathroom with a towel and an angered look. She didn't like rising before the sun nor did she like that she was leaving her hometown in a few hours. She was earnestly thinking about rushing the bathing and the preparations so she could snatch a few moments on her favorite hang out in the city, the beach. Technically, it wasn't "in" the city anymore, but it is still considered part of Deling, and it was also the quietest part of the city. Angelo would be traveling with her so she was secured in the pet porter, thus she won't be able to take Angelo to the beach with her.
She finished bathing, dressing, and putting on make up in 30 short minutes. She bade her mom a short goodbye, and promised to meet her in the airport in an hour, which would mean she'd be on time. She then rushed to the doorway, wearing a black tee and a dark blue sweats. She grabbed her keys and started up her car's engine.
She was rushing for no reason, she only wanted to reminisce and hug the Deling sands for one last time before she left for Esthar. She may also have wanted to calm herself, and relax before the stress of the big city. She lied down on the pure white shores of the beach awaiting nothing but the sunrise to bathe her with the warmth of Deling, the warmth she grew to love.
"I would miss this so much," she sighed. "But I guess it can't be helped I need to go."
Not much to her surprise she found that only the calming sound of the waves replied to her. She found it comforting and somewhat friendly. She just lied there with nothing in mind but the sounds of the waves and the nearing sunrise. Rinoa fell almost asleep when she realized that she needed to be in the airport in a matter of minutes. She rushed to her car and revved up the engine.
--
"Oh please! Please don't be late." her mom worriedly ranted to herself.
Then suddenly she heard the screeching of tires and a voice calling out to her.
"Rinoa Antoinette Heartilly, I thought you ran away!"
"Well, if I were to runaway don't you think I need Angelo and my clothes?" she mocked her mom, while panting.
"Never mind." she said as she beckoned Rinoa in the airport for check-in. "Sweetie, I am not able to go with you to Esthar."
"Yeah I know," Rinoa replied while removing her sneakers. "I'll be checking in alone and I would be traveling alone."
"Don't worry though, your aunt Cecile would be there to take care of you before the term starts."
"Argh, what a joy." Rinoa replied sarcastically.
"Now sweetie, call me immediately after you land. I got you the jet plane which would mean you'd be there earlier than you think you would." her mom said while giving Rinoa the biggest hug. "I will miss you so much sweetie, keep in touch okay? Don't forget to come home for your breaks okay?"
"Okay mom," she replied while trying to contain the sniffles.
And with that she waved goodbye to her mom and went inside.
Inside there were a lot of people, considering that it was still very early a lot of people were busy. Rinoa found a spot near a column and decided to sit there and wait a couple more minutes before the boarding call. She sucked up the entire Deling aura and the ambience, until she was finally called up to board the next flight to Esthar.
--
"Seat 1-F... seat 1-F..." Rinoa muttered to herself while trying to find her seat. "Whew! Thank Hyne mom got me a window seat I don't think I could last 8hours without seeing anything."
"Hahaha you like the window seat too huh?"
Rinoa jumped at the sudden comment. She didn't quite expect a comment for what she said because she merely whispered it to herself. So she thought that this creep might just be an eavesdropper and decided not to reply to his comment.
"Look miss, I didn't mean to frighten you in anyway I just wanted to make a friend of the person I will be sitting next to for the next 8hours." the man said with a smile on his face, but Rinoa wasn't paying attention anymore, she was staring at the baggage carrier and thinking if Angelo was alright.
Okaay as if I am buying that, but know what this guy is kinda cute. Maybe, I should befriend him.
"Oh, no problem. I was worried about my dog and you kinda startled Me." she said with the most heart melting smile.
"Forgive me for being rude, my name is Squall and I am from Esthar."
"Oh so you're not a local." she replied.
"I just went here to spend my vacation, even though i didn't attend my graduation..."
"Really how come?" Rinoa interjected.
"Uhm, because I just found the ceremony boring. I was here for the past week for all you know, Miss...?"
"Oops, where are my manners... Miss Heartlilly, Rinoa Heartilly."
"I see, I see..." he replied, obviously lost in thought. "Hey Squall mind if I ask why Deling?"
He only replied a raised eyebrow. Rinoa found this annoying and quickly answered, "Why spend your free time here? Why not in Dollet?"
"Well, do you think if I spent it in Dollet I'd be able to meet up with you here?"
okay I have to admit this guy has a knack for cracking pick up lines... he's one interesting fellow.
The flight to Esthar wasn't as bad as Rinoa thought, well thanks to Squall she didn't get bored. They quickly became friends and Squall decided to take her to her aunt's place.
"No, I insist of taking you there. You don't know what troubles are there in Esthar."
"No, no there is no need! My aunt will pick me up in the airport" okay that was a lie. But I can't let him take me there... it's too much.
"Nah ah... I know you are lying and pick up or not I will take you to your aunt. " he said sternly. "I don't want you to get hurt, I mean a hottie like you would be like a carcass for a lion."
okay he is way over the limit! This guy is way too good with his lines!
Rinoa just nodded and decided it was for the better. Her cheeks flushed as he stared into her eyes trying to look for a lie that was there. She quickly looked away and changed the subject. They continued with the friendly banter until sunset, and their arrival at Esthar.
"Oooohh... Esthar really doesn't sleep huh?" she asked while marveling at the busy city.
"Yep, much like Deling only Esthar is way bigger." Squall replied while looking at the city too.
"Ladies and gentlemen we have arrived at our destination. Welcome to Esthar and we hope you enjoyed your flight with Galbadia Airlines. Thank you and don't hesitate to ask our attendants for assitance.
"Oh, I need to go now I have to get my dog." Rinoa said while trying to get out of her seat.
"Sure I'll help you out with your things, since this is the only thing I brought with me." he showed her a gym bag which was considerably small.
The airport was huge, much bigger than the one in Deling. Rinoa thought she'd get lost in this place if not for Squall. There were a lot of people, and it was giving Rinoa a whopping headache just trying to concentrate. Finally they got Angelo and the rest of Rinoa's things and were now headed for the exit.
"Thanks Squall," Rinoa muttered as she tried to put Angelo in the back seat of the taxi. "If it weren't for you I would've been chopped liver."
"Haha it's no problem. I'm used to traveling a lot so I'm used to the people in the airport. "Squall replied as he was trying to put all the suitcases into the compartment. "Whew, you sure packed a lot of stuff."
"Well I have to, I won't be coming back to Deling in a year so i need a change of clothes now don't I?" she replied while trying to suppress a smile.
"Ha Ha Ha, very funny Ms. Heartilly. Now exactly are you headed? I for one know this place like the back of my hand so I've no need of someone to take me where I want to be. As for you," he stared intently to her hazel eyes. "Hmm, I never noticed you had hazel eyes,"
I for one can't help but notice your steel blue ones.
"Well anyways, as for you, you need a guide! Just be thankful I am here." he added.
"Yeah sure, but I am not forcing you to do this so I don't exactly owe you one." she replied turning away from Squall. She noticed that Esthar was pretty dry, and it was busy. She's only been in Esthar once I her life time and that was when her aunt, Cecile got sick and no one was there to take care of her. She can vaguely remember Esthar and the sights of it. She had made friends here but stupid her forgot to get there contact details and now she has no one but this stranger she calls Squall.
Squall is a gentleman no doubt about that but he is too mysterious. Rinoa can't quite grasp what he is always thinking about, and the thing about him skipping his own graduation, now that is stupid. Although she never really voiced out that she found that stupid she was still thinking deeply about it. "Maybe I should just drop it." she said unexpectedly aloud. She was shocked and so was Squall.
"Huh?" He asked.
"Oh! It's nothing." Rinoa replied defensively. "I was just thinking out loud, nothing to do with you." and she gave him a goofy smile.
Awkward silence
"Tell me Rinoa," he said while looking out the window, "how old are you?"
"Uhm," Rinoa was shocked by this sudden question.
why the hell is he suddenly interested in my age??
"I'm 17 and won't be turning into 18 until another year." she said proudly.
"Oh an advanced child, correct?" he looked at her earnestly. "Me too. Although I am about to be 18 next August," then he lowered his voice into almost a whisper. "Then the real FUN begins."
"You don't seem excited with becoming of age." she looked away from him to stare at the sky, "I know the feeling..."
another awkward silence! Speak Rin, speak!
"So are you going to attend college too?" Rinoa asked aloud.
"..."
"Okay, I can take a hint." she replied sounding a bit disappointed.
"Oh, I'm sorry I was just thinking...what was it you were saying?"
"Oh it's noth-- OH! There's my aunt's house right there. "She said while pointing at the only brick house that stood in the middle of two enormous sky scrapers. It was a duplex with a blue roof and red bricks. It was pretty homey and pretty much like a Balamb style house.
"Oh you're gonna live there?" Squall asked as he paid for the fare. "It sure is weird to see such a house in a big city."
"Well my aunt just can't get the Galbadian out of her." pointing to the extreme blue and red combination of the house. "But, she's harmless, she means nothing agaisnt the Estharians but she just loves the color of Galbadia."
"I wasn't gonna say anything," Squall laughed. "You're too defensive, well aren't you gonna ring the bell?"
Rinoa pouted her lips at Squall and stuck her tongue out like a kid then pushed the doorbell.
DING DONG
"Well now that shook my nerves." Rinoa said while trying to soothe her now shaken head. "This will hurt later on."
"Yeah tell me abo--" but he never got to finish his sentence for Rinoa's aunt, a thin, bony, and stern looking woman, came out to say: "Tell me about what, mister..?"
"Squall, Ma'am." he replied while standing up and offering a hand for her to shake. She shook his hand and asked, "Are you my niece's boy friend?" she then smiled at him warmly.
"No Ma'am, I'm just her friend."
"Oh, and I thought my niece found a more decent boyfriend." she replied with a mocking face to Rinoa.
"Ugh auntie! You didn't have to embarrass me you know, I'm pretty good with getting myself embarrassed on my own!" Rinoa yelled while trying to hide the biggest blush she ever got.
"Hahaha hunny, it's fine, isn't it Squall?" she then raised an eyebrow to him just like she was eyeing him and telling him she knew him from somewhere. "Come, come... i was just about to serve dinner, why not stay?"
"Uhm, I don't think I should Ma'am." he replied sounding a bit embarrassed. "I need to be somewhere too, maybe some other time, and I am sorry to reject."
"No problem about that Squall," said Rinoa, finally getting over the damn blush her aunt gave her. "Why not come back tomorrow for dinner?"
"But I don't exactly know where this is..."
"And I thought you knew Esthar like the back of your hand?" Rinoa challenged.
"Well not this part, most especially this house." then he gave her "the" death glare. "I shall leave now, and Rinoa, if you may be so kind to give me your number?" he added sarcastically.
"Oh why not?" her aunt interjected. "It's 8...3...3...6...2...47"
Squall made a new contact on his cell phone, and gave them a curt nod as a thank you.
"Now make sure you call because my aunt makes killer meals. hahaha" Rinoa said mockingly, "literally."
"Sure, no problem, I'll call if I am going to come by and Rinoa," he then lowered his voice for only Rinoa to hear, since her aunt was busy with Angelo, "can I have your cell phone number too? I don't want to call in the middle of the night to find your aunt answering the phone."
"Hahaha of course," Rinoa keyed in her number on his cell phone, and with that he gave Rinoa a warm smile and bade goodbye to them.
"Well, well, well, I think she bagged herself a royalty now, didn't she Angelo?" Aunt Cecile whispered to Angelo. "Say Rinoa, we'll take care of your college enrollment tomorrow morning okay so make sure after dinner you get a goodnight's sleep."
"Okay." Rinoa replied while suppressing a yawn.
I doubt it; I bet he'll really call in the middle of the night.
A/N: So what did you think? Rushed? HAHAha well, please R & R so that I could make it better for you fellows Cyuz!
