A/N: This by far is my longest chapter:) isn't it great?? LOL

Disclaimer: I don't own SquareEnix.

--Chapter 5--

The Local Hangout

Ring ring

Argh he's not picking up, I think he may still be asleep.

Rinoa woke up early the next day remembering that she needed to go with her aunt to go and take care of her college enrollment. Still feeling a bit woozy and dizzy, she got up and decided that she needed to get ready ASAP, she was already30mins delayed of schedule. "Sht! I'm gonna be late!" she exclaimed seeing that her watch said: 9:00AM.

Ugh my appointment is scheduled to be held at exactly 9:30AM! Now I really blew it!

She went into the shower and finished in less than ten minutes. She then rushed to her suitcase to pick out a suitable outfit.

Why didn't I choose what I'm gonna wear today, YESTERDAY! This is stupid!

She found a black suit and a lavender polo shirt, which she accessorized with an eggplant colored tie. She wore it with some closed shoes, which wear of course, pointy and a bit purple too. She then tied up her hair in a pony tail, and muahla, she looked like one of the lawyers in those TV shows she used to watch.

"So what do you think girl?" Rinoa asked Angelo while fixing her suit in front of the mirror. "Make up too much?" Angelo just barked and went downstairs to eat. "Okay, asking a dog for advice is not really a good idea." she said while finally perfecting her ponytail.

I'd better run for it!

As she ran down the stairs, which was a huge accomplishment, because she was wearing 3-inch-heels, she smelled the aroma of pancakes coming from the kitchen. This made Rinoa think about something.

If auntie is the one who set the appointment, shouldn't she be dressed and ready to go now? I mean... OH SNAP!

"I'm in Esthar!" Rinoa said aloud as she slapped herself on the forehead, thinking that her watch was set wrongly.

"Yes Noa, you are in Esthar." her aunt said while serving pancakes on the table, she obviously heard Rinoa's little realization. "You're up early, we won't be needed there for another hour and a half, so we need not rush things," she said that while smiling and offering Rinoa a seat. "It's only 8:00AM, Noa."

"Ugh! I set my alarm on 8:30AM but it did not wake me, and I thought we're gonna be late, I forgot the time difference!" Rinoa said while sitting down and feeling a bit annoyed by this.

"Well at least you are all ready to go," she motioned to Rinoa's corporate looking self. "Look at you, you look like a professional."

Yeah a professional dumbass.

Her aunt Cecile went to clean up, what's left of her pancakes and decided that she herself needs to fix up. So she told Rinoa to relax on the couch for a while. Her couch was huge and was super soft; one can easily fall asleep on it.

"Hmm, I wonder if Squall's awake now... I mean it really is 9:00AM now." Rinoa said as she searched the couch for her phone.

I must have been like an idiot, being awake that early... ugh!

Ring ring

Rinoa kept on slapping herself on the forehead when suddenly a really groggy hello came about.

"Ugh... Hhe--llo? (Yawns) who is this?" a voice on the other end said.

"Oh, I'm sorry for waking you up Squall. Um... it's me Rinoa." she replied apologetically.

"Oh Rin, it's you. No worries, you just woke me up right on time." Squall said. "I have to be somewhere in a matter of minutes and I forgot about it."

"Oh, so you should be thanking me then? Well, I myself have to be somewhere too." she added thoughtfully. "Hmm, since we're both out today, maybe we should meet up. You know grab coffee and you can tour me around the city."

"Wow, Ms. Heartily are you asking me out on a date?" he replied while trying to suppress a laugh.

"Well yeah, I am." Rinoa replied while smiling. "So will you be free by let's say, 3pm?"

"Oh yeah I think so," the brunette said sounding shocked. "Let's meet up in the Estharian."

"Where is that?" Rinoa asked. "I am not familiar here remember?"

"Oh right, and then just tell me where to pick you up." Squall said while getting up and obviously walking. "Just SMS me where, okay Rin? I really need to fix myself up now."

"Okay, see you later, bye!" And with that Rinoa shut her phone. Thinking that she had a car, she went outside and was thinking of warming it up. But then she realized that her car won't be shipped here until the next month, the beginning of her first college term. "Damn, I sure miss my car..."

"Hey Rin, you ready to go?" her aunt called from inside the house. "Yeah auntie, I'm right outside."

"Oh there you are," her aunt said while walking out on the porch, and signaling to Rinoa to hail them a cab. "Rin, can you call up a cab?"

"Yeah sure thing." With one wave of a hand a cab came to stop in front of Rinoa. "Well that was fast." she was marveled by the cab being called so fast.

"Noa, have you ever heard of the cab-sensor?" Her auntie asked.

"Well, no. But I think I know what it does." she replied while opening the cab door. "I'll get used to this place sooner or later."

--

The cab ride was not fun as the first time Rinoa rode on one, she found out that this added to her being queasy last night. Not to mention that the driver was fast! They arrived at the school in exactly 20mins. But the ride was supposed to last for 40-50mins.

"Do all cab drivers drive that fast around here auntie?" Rinoa asked as she got out of the cab a bit shaken.

"No, it's just this certain cab driver is in a huge hurry." her aunt said while glaring at the cab while it sped away. "I think he needed to use the bathroom, don't you think so?"

"Hahaha well," she replied while fixing her slightly ruined raven locks, "I think it's better we're here early, we wouldn't want to be late now, so how do I look?" she added while turning to her aunt with an earnest look.

"Like a professional." the red head then replied to her with a smile. "Look Noa, you look good, no need to fret."

Rinoa just nodded and gave her aunt a smile. Why does everybody say that to me?

They went to enter the administrations building of the university and as they passed by the pillars Rinoa read aloud: "To do what you can is not enough, strive harder, and win better." Then she cocked an eyebrow.

"Hahaha I see you have noticed the motto of the school." her aunt told her seeing the look in Rinoa's face. "I know what you are thinking, and no, I am not a mind reader," she added as Rinoa cocked another eyebrow at her. "This school is really promising, it ranked 1st in the top ten universities in Esthar, so don't let their motto, or oath, or whatever bring you down, or make you think this school is somewhat pompous." she said while walking towards the registrar's office. "Now Noa, I am going to leave you here for a while, I'll be back later on."

Rinoa gave her aunt a nod, and went to "explore" the university's admin building. By explore she means walking around and checking out bulletin boards and flyers. Wow, this place really is huge, and not to mention very busy indeed.

The building alone was huge and it was quite older than the other buildings in Esthar. As engraved in the history wall of the school it used to be a huge military school. It held numerous events regarding gunfire, war reenactments, and the like. It gave Rinoa the creeps, her father had once thought of sending her to one of those types of schools and now she is going to one. Well, it may not be a military school now, but it still has that commanding feeling, the feeling of having someone breathe down your neck.

No wonder I feel weird! It's an old military school... ugh!

Rinoa went to check out the campus itself, but got back not a moment too soon, to meet up with her aunt. "Oh, there you are Rinoa, I thought you got lost." her aunt said while handing her, her schedule and the student handbook. "Here's your schedule, and this is your handbook, try to learn the rules before hand, so that you won't have any trouble coping."

"I don't think I would have problems coping," Rinoa mumbled as she studied her class schedule. "Hey auntie, I'm supposed to live in the campus correct?"

"Yes, it could be in the local dormitories, or in one of the sorority houses, "Her aunt gave her a skeptical look. "Why?"

"Nothing, it's just I applied for a sorority beforehand and they said they'll be delighted to have Me." she said while looking at her feet. "Well, what do you think?"

"Well then that's good news! That means we won't have to worry about where you'll stay." her aunt replied while looking at her. "So what sorority have you applied in?"

"Well, technically, I was referred by the captain of the cheer squad before me." she said while still looking down. "It's the Iota Omicron Phi"

"Oh that one," her aunt replied earnestly, "I think that is one of the best sororities available in this university. When do they want you to move in?" she asked.

"Um," Rinoa thought. Um, when did they want me there again? Is it a week before, or 2 weeks before the start?

"A week before? I'm not quite sure, it is in my acceptance letter; I'll check it again later."

"Good, now shall we go home?" her aunt asked while walking to the exit. She was going to hail a cab for them when Rinoa suddenly remembered she needed to go elsewhere to meet up with Squall, and she also realized that she has 7 missed calls on her phone. "Um, auntie, I was wondering if you could go home without me."

Her aunt gave her a questioning look and asked, "Why? Are you going to do something?"

"Yeah, I was planning on looking around the city, you know, to get to know it." Rinoa replied, sounding a bit more convincing and serious.

Her aunt just gave her a hug and whispered, "Take care of yourself, and make sure you get home by dinner." Then she waved goodbye as a cab just pulled over. "Stellar Avenue please. Remember dinner Rinoa." she called as the cab sped off.

Rinoa was waving to her aunt while also taking out her phone from her left pocket. She saw that she had another missed call, which meant she had 8. Most of them were from Squall, others were from her aunt, and the latest one was from Derrick. Why the hell, would that dumbass call me? Well anyway, I'd better SMS Squall.

She walked alongside the road, while typing a text message. "It's such a fine day today," She sighed to herself. "Hey it's still early, I've got a lot of time."

Damn, why did I have to wear such complicated clothes, maybe I should've changed before heading out, but too late now is it, Rinoa?

She looked at her watch only to find out that it was only 1pm. She was shocked at how time was being so slow for her.

Am I anticipating too much that time has played a trick on me and became slow? This is stupid! Ugh!

Ring ring

"Oh Hyne!" she suddenly exclaimed as her phone vibrated in her pocket. Quite a number of passers-by turned to look at her blushing figure.

Ring ring

"Damn whoever this is will pay big time." she mumbled to herself as she pulled out her phone and simultaneously smiling at the people who were startled by her sudden outburst.

Oh My Hyne... It's Squall, but its only 1pm why would he call this early?

"Hello?" Rinoa said.

"Hey Rin," Squall was almost yelling from the other end. "I finished early and I thought I'd call you up to see if you've finished too." The sound of the car's engine could be heard in Rinoa's end.

"Yeah I saw you left a lot of missed calls. You seem to be in a rush, I mean the car's engine could be heard." Rinoa added while smiling.

"Well, I'm in a hurry to get somewhere, you know the Estharian." he replied mockingly and laughed. "Just kidding, so you free now?"

"Yeah I am, but I told you a million times, I know nothing here, so I don't know the Estharian." Rinoa said sounding a bit annoyed. Don't men listen??

"Hahaha I know you don't know." Squall said. "Tell me, where are you now? Just tell me what you are seeing now." he added as he knew she knew no streets in Esthar.

Wait, where am I exactly? Oh! The big tower building whatever.

"Well, I am in front of the Secular Building, or something, I can't quite read it." Rinoa said.

"Oh there, I'll be there in a few minutes, take care before then see yah," and with that Squall hung up.

Rinoa sighed to herself and snapped her phone shut. She would take care alright, this place was creepy and not to mention a bit intimidating, since the buildings were all big. "I sure do fit in." She said while looking at her reflection on one of the windows of the huge building.

All of the people here are busy, and not to mention, unfriendly. She thought as one woman was walking towards her and deliberately bumped into her without even apologizing.

Well, this is entertaining; I will seem like a hooker that'll be picked up by some guy. "Ugh! What is taking him so long?" Rinoa breathed out as she kicked a stone, which hit a black Jaguar. "Oops!" Rinoa gasped.

Oh snap! I have to apologize to the owner! Where did that car come from anyway? It wasn't there a while ago.

"Oh my Hyne I am so sorry," Rinoa said as she looked inside the car. She was surprised when the window went down, that she took a step back. "Oh, Squall!"

DAMN!

Rinoa smiled goofily at Squall while trying to apologize. "Rinoa its okay," Squall said opening the door for her.

"Thanks, but I am really sorry though." Rinoa replied while sitting down. Squall slammed the door and went to back to the driver's side. "Look Rin, this car is bullet proof, I doubt a stone might be able to scratch It." he explained as he revved up the engine.

"Oh, okay." Rinoa replied.

They went off to the Estharian then and Rinoa started small talk at the first turn. "Hey if you don't mind me asking..."

"Depends on what you're gonna ask." Squall replied smiling at Rinoa. He wasn't looking at the road while driving; instead he looked at Rinoa straight in the eye. "Wow, impressive," she said as Squall taxingly stopped for the red light. "Hahaha. Squall, why is this car bullet proof anyway?" she can't help but ask this question.

I mean what is a normal person doing driving a bulletproof car.

"Well, I'll tell you some other time." Squall replied while pulling over the coffee shop. "We're here now."

"Wow, so this is the Estharian." Rinoa said while getting out of the car, and marveling at the cute little coffee shop. It was in the heart of Esthar and it kinda looked like her aunt's house. It was small and cozy; it only catered to few people since its capacity is not that huge, but this worked to Rinoa's favor for she never liked to hang out in a noisy coffee shop. "It looks sooo cute!!"

"Hahaha. Well not a lot of people know about this place." Squall said while opening the door. "Only the people who grew up here, or have been living here for more than 20 years know this place." he added.

"Why is that? They never branched out?" Rinoa asked as she looked at the homey like surroundings.

"Nope. They wanted people to come to them and they, the owners, wanted to personally know each customer." he said as he waved at the person at counter. "Hey Fred!"

"Who's he?" Rinoa asked.

"He's the owner's grandson. He now manages this place, since the original owners are now retired." he said while leading them to a table. "This place is one of Esthar's landmarks."

"Wow, it is really nice here." Rinoa said as she looked at the menu on the table. "So, being a loyal customer here, what would you suggest I order?" she asked.

"Hmm, almost everything here is good," he said thoughtfully. "I don't know. Well for starters maybe you would like to try their coffee."

The middle aged man at the counter was the one who took their order, and he looked at Squall questioningly, "So Squall, who is this lass that you brought here?"

"This Fred," he said as he pointed to Rinoa, "is my friend Rinoa."

"This Rinoa," he said as he now pointed to the middle aged man, "is Fred."

"It's nice to meet you Rinoa," Fred said, "and welcome to the Estharian."

"Well thank you, and it is my pleasure to meet you too." Rinoa said as she smiled at him. "So Fred, seeing that my friend here is so helpful, what would YOU suggest I order?" she asked.

"Everything we serve here is good," he replied as he winked at Squall, "but why not try our cappuccino since we are famous for it."

"Yeah I'll do that," she said as she shut the menu, "One tall cappuccino please."

"Okay got it," he said as he scribbled at his notepad, "and you Squall?"

"Just the usual Fred."

"Alright then, I'll have your orders served in a few minutes." Fred said and he headed into the kitchen.

Squall never took his eyes off Rinoa the whole duration of their wait, and when their coffees finally arrived Rinoa started asking Squall about Esthar. She asked a lot of questions and then she remembered that she needed to go before 6 and it was now 7.

"Oh my look at the time," Rinoa said as she checked the clock, "I really should go Squall, thank you being patient."

"No worries newbie. I guess I'd better get you home, it is pretty dark." Squall said while paying for the bill.

"HEY! I'm gonna pay for what I ordered!" Rinoa exclaimed.

"No you are not. Now, let's go." Squall said as he threw the 400Gil on the table.

They waved goodbye to Fred and went to go to Rinoa's place. "Listen Squall the offer for dinner tonight still stands." Rinoa finally said.

"Really now?" He asked not taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, so you want to stay?" Rinoa asked while fidgeting on her seat.

"Yeah, I'll stay."


A/N: So what did you think? Was it too soon for them to actually act like that towards each other? well i think so too... so i'll shake things up a lil in the following chapters until then toodles! R &R please