A/N: Hey I'm back people! And I have another chapter xD
This chapter has Rinoa's and Squall's POVs. So as an early warning, those in italics are Rinoa's and those in bold are Squall's. geddit? Ayt! Chapter 6!
Disclaimer: I don't own SquareEnix and all of these are fictional (DUH!!)
--Chapter 6--
Dinner Disaster
They arrived at Rinoa's place in exactly, 15mins. Squall may have driven off road a couple of times, but they arrived there in one piece. Rinoa was glad to be off of the car, the sensation was utterly disgusting, and she was going to puke.
Dammit Squall's a terrible driver and not to menti--... Ugh!
Rinoa's face was pale and she looked like she just saw a monster. She was having jelly legs and had to hold on to Squall just to support herself.
"Sorry for making you a crutch." the shaken Rinoa muttered while trying to walk to the door.
"It's no problem, besides it is my fault that you became like this," Squall replied as he literally hauled Rinoa up the stairs. "Now you won't have to worry about gaining weight." he added jokingly.
"Ugh..."
Rinoa obviously wasn't in the mood for jokes. She was sick and she definitely lost her appetite. "Look we have to make it seem like I am not sick," Rinoa was making a huge effort by just speaking, how much more if she were to pretend to be normal. "We must make it seem like I just need to go to the--" and she was cut off by the bile that was threatening to come out.
"Yeah yeah I got it," Squall said as he tried to fix Rinoa up. "And I am sorry for driving like that."
"No, no problem," she replied. "I drive like that too, but then I am not used to being the passenger."
"HAHAHA, well then, shall I ring the doorbell?" he asked.
"No. Just knock, you know the sound of the doorbell's horrible." she said while trying to stop him from pushing the gold button.
Squall barely touched the knocker, when the door suddenly opened and Rinoa's aunt was standing right in front of him. Rinoa looked up and barely escaped with her little act. Thank Hyne Squall was there to cover her up.
"My, my you came," her aunt finally said. "Tell me, is Rinoa with you? She still hasn't come home and i am beginning to get worried."
And suddenly, Rinoa peeped from Squall's back and gave her aunt a wave. "I'm sorry. I lost track of time and I got a bit lost, thank heavens for Squall, who passed by and saw Me." she said.
"Oh! Thank you dear, Rinoa might've been carcass if you didn't find her, or saw her, or whatever." her aunt exclaimed while beckoning them inside. "Well then come inside, both of you, and dinner will be served."
"Squall, remember, I'm normal." Rinoa muttered under her breath while still using Squall as a crutch.
"Yeah I know, just hold on to my arm tightly. If you fall, then I wouldn't be able to explain to your aunt." he replied while leading Rinoa to her seat. "I wouldn't want your aunt to think that...um..."
"That?" Rinoa cocked an eyebrow at him. "That I...um...that..."
Damn what the hell.
"Well?"
"Nothing, its nothing." he said finally.
"What's nothing dears?" Rinoa's aunt said while carrying a huge tray with a lot of food.
"Let me help you with that Madame." Squall said while standing up.
"No, no, no, you are a guest thus you don't need to do anything." she replied with a smile. "Well, Rinoa since you came late; I already ate, so you might as well do whatever you want after eating. I'm hitting the sack."
"But auntie it's still early, you could stay here and chat with us." Rinoa said while smiling to her aunt.
"No, no, I'm much too sleepy. Not to mention beat." her aunt said dreamily. "So, I'll leave you guys there and make sure, Rinoa that you clean up. Well, goodnight." and she left for the stairs.
"Then there were two..." Squall muttered under his breath, when suddenly Rinoa fell from her chair with quite a loud thud on the carpeted floor. "Rin!"
Wait! Since when did I start to call her by her nick? Ugh
Squall stood up and rushed to help Rinoa up and take her to the couch. He laid her down on the couch and went to kitchen to get her a glass of water.
Where exactly do i get the water? The tap or the fridge?
Squall searched for water in the fridge but to no avail. "Tap water it is then."
He then went to the now paler Rinoa and made her drink up. "Hey Rin, wake up and drink this, please."
"Ungh...mmm.." Rinoa tried to open her eyes and sit up, but Squall held her down saying that she needed to lie down for awhile, and that he'll hold the glass for her to drink.
Gulp, gulp
"Thanks Squall." she said with a weak smile. "You've been such a great help, sorry if I spoiled this dinner."
"No problem, it is your dinner anyway," he replied. "And besides, it's my fault your sick now."
Rinoa just laughed and started to turn purple again, and then she turned green... and... and...
"BWEHHHHH!!"
"Shit!"
Squall ran up to get some napkins and another glass of water. "Rin you just puked on the carpet," Squall said while returning with the glass of water. "Not to mention on me too." he said indicating the huge vomit stain on his shirt.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay..." Squall said while handing her the water. "What are we supposed to do about this?" he said as Rinoa looked at the carpet.
Oh no, auntie's rug...I think it's Persian... oh no! I think I'm gonna vomit again!!
"Hey, hey! Not here again, hold it in okay?" Squall told her. "Now, point me to the bathroom."
Rinoa extended her index finger to the far right side of Squall and raised her arms. Squall hesitantly carried her, and she in turn wrapped her arms on his neck. He carried her to the bathroom and held her hair so that she won't accidentally spill vomit on it. Squall let her do her business there for quite sometime, and fortunately for Rinoa, he was patient about it.
She vomited quite a number of times that night that it kept Squall busy taking care of her. When she finally become alright, it was already 3am and Squall was fast asleep on the recliner next to Rinoa.
Oh my Hyne, its 3AM... ungh... Squall's still here! Oh no, I kept him... And he looks... He looks like an angel...with a stinky shirt!
"Hmm... I remember packing one of those huge football jerseys that Derrick gave me... I think it might fit on him..." Rinoa said as she silently crept up stairs to get Squall a change of clothes.
She searched her luggage so haphazardly that when she finally found the shirt, all the other clothes lay scattered on the floor, on her bed and even on Angelo. "Sorry girl." Rinoa cooed as she stroked Angelo and went down to give Squall the clothes.
She found him with his head drooping slightly.
Oh... poor Squall... I guess I better offer him a room then... But only...there are only two rooms...
gulp
"Well then he can stay in mine, or here." She muttered as she gently woke Squall. "Squall? Squall. Wake up..."
"Ungh..." he said as he stirred from his slumber."Oh Rin, you need to go to the bathroom again?"
"No silly, I'm...I'm okay now."
"Oh good to hear..." he replied as he checked his watch for the time.
Damn it's already 3am the gates of the palace should be closed now... and there is no way that they'll let me through. I wonder if I could crash here.
"I know, it's pretty late," Rinoa said as she saw the look on Squall's face. "You're welcome to stay here if you want to, I mean think of it as a thank you for taking care of me." and she smiled
"Well it is kind of late, yeah sure, I'll stay." he said as he placed one hand on Rinoa's forehead. Rinoa turned beet red as he did. She wasn't sure but she is slightly shy in front of him, this just happened now, but...
Maybe it's because of him taking care of me, yeah that's it!
"Hey! What are you doing?" Rinoa exclaimed
.
"Just making sure you have no fever, you were kind of red minutes ago," he replied while standing up to stretch. "Well I guess you're okay now."
"Yeah I am, but I don't like the way I smell..." she replied while looking at her vomit stained clothes. Squall offered a hand to help her stand up and said: "Why don't you go wash up now, I'll search my car for any extra clothes, because these," he said as he held up his shirt. "Won't do."
Rinoa blushed scarlet. She knew it was her fault, and she was sorry for it. "No," she said and Squall cocked an eyebrow at her. "I mean, I brought you a shirt, you don't have to go out now... I mean it is not safe."
"Why thank you Miss Heartilly, for vomiting on me and bringing me a shirt too." he said jokingly as he took the shirt. "But seriously, thank you."
"You're welcome, and by the way, the bathroom is—" she was about to say the bathroom but then she was cut off by Squall.
"Yeah I know where the bathroom is, I took you there more than three times." he said with a smile.
Rinoa went up to go to her room and shower too, when she suddenly remembered that there weren't any towels in the bathroom below.
Oh no... I better give him a robe, or a towel, or something to use to dry up.
At that moment, Angelo came with a towel. "Wow, can you read my mind? Just kidding, you know me all too well..."
Rinoa went in to take a quick shower, so quick that she didn't even think it was her.
Wow, that was quick, hmm, I wonder if Squall still needs that towel?
And with that Rinoa went downstairs, with the towel in hand and a wet uncombed hair.
Oh shoot, I forgot to comb.
She still went down despite the mess that is her hair, only to find out that the bathroom door downstairs was still locked.
So he's still in there... hmm... I'd better wait out here... or should I knock? No, I'll wait. But what if he needs his towel? Oh c'mon I'm only going to knock!
Rinoa stood up from the couch, while still trying to comb her hair with her fingers, but to no avail they remained the way they were." Look at this mess; it's a beginning of a very bad hair day." She then reached the translucent door and she knocked.
Knock, knock
Knock, knock
Knock, knock
Okay, what is he DEAF??
"Squall you okay in there? i brought you a towel in case you need one." she said.
Now I'm pissed, what the hell has he gone dead in there??
Knock, knock
"Squall!" Rinoa finally yelled, but then quickly covered her mouth and prayed that her aunt didn't hear her. After a moment of silence, no aunt Cecile came from the stairs, Rinoa was relieved. After, 3 more agonizing minutes, the shower was turned off and a figure emerged from behind the curtain.
"Shoot!" Rinoa gasped as she blushed furiously against the towel. "What the hell?!"
As Rinoa was currently panicking on what to do, what to say, or even what to act like, Squall opened the bathroom door, only to come out wearing only boxer shorts, and his sexy, wet brunette hair. "Oh, hey Rin, didn't think you'd come back so fast." he said with a smug smile.
Oh my Hyne, this is not what I expected...
Thankfully, Rinoa managed to slap herself together and run a bit more farther from the door making seem that she just arrived and was right-on time. Apparently, Squall didn't hear anything she did, or said. "Here's a towel, I thought you needed one."
Rinoa handed him the towel and Squall laughed. "Hey, what's so funny? I only took it here because I thought you needed one, and I know that there is no to--..." she began to rant, but then Squall grabbed her by the mouth to keep her quiet for her voice was rising at an alarming rate.
"Rinoa, we wouldn't want to wake your aunt up now?" Squall whispered into her ear. She was plastered on his bare chest.
Although this was just to shut her up, she was blushing furiously.
Damn, I'm blushing way over the limit!
Rinoa just gave Squall a nod and wriggled to break free from his grasp, but to no avail, Squall never let go. "Hummm! woghts za bbbbgg dlll!" She yelled into his hands. Squall just laughed and asked her, "What was that?" with a mocking smile. He finally set Rinoa free when she bit his hands.
"Hey! You didn't have to do that!" Squall hushed to Rinoa.
Rinoa just stuck her tongue out and threw Squall a pillow. "Think of it as payback." she said with a smile. Squall just laughed and told her that he needed to dry up first before he could think of a comeback line to combat Rinoa's.
"You're just making excuses," Rinoa pushed on. "Pussy."
"What did you call me?" Squall spun around while wearing the shirt Rinoa gave him and cocked an eyebrow at her. "You know that there are certain laws that forbid you from insulting me that way."
"Really now?" she challenged while also giving him a cocked eyebrow expression on her face.
"Yes. My rules." and he gave her his all-so-famous Death Glare.
Let's see if she could resist or if she could stand it.
"Tsk, tsk." she replied while walking towards Squall. "You know you can't treat a woman, or persuade her that way now, don't you Squall?" she whispered the last part into his ears, and she was only an inch away from his lips when she finally stopped talking. "So? Aren't you closing the gap?" She asked as Squall was very much indifferent.
"Why not, that is what you would like correct?" Squall said nonchalantly.
"Maybe, maybe not." she said while walking around him. It was turning into a game and they were both pretty entertained by it. "Your call Squall... Wait, what is your surname?" Rinoa suddenly remembered that she doesn't know what Squall's surname is.
"So, you give up this little charade of ours for the sake of getting to know what my surname is." Squall asked her.
"No, not really..." Rinoa said apparently wondering if he ever told her what it is.
"It's Leonhart." Squall finally said as he gazed into Rinoa's hazel eyes, "and I am telling the truth."
"Oh, thank you... now where was I... "Rinoa looked at him thoughtfully, "oh yeah! I'm trying to have you kiss me!"
"Really now? Give it up Rinoa, you ruined the mood." he said.
"Meanie!"
Squall laughed at this statement. It somehow reminded him of Irene, although he doesn't want to be reminded of such.
"You remind of this kid I baby-sit."
Well I guess you really are full of surprises.
"Um, Rin you okay?" Squall said as he saw the look on Rinoa's face.
"Oh! Yeah! Don't worry, I'm just thinking of something, that's all." she replied hastily and rather embarrassed too.
"I thought you were gonna vomit again." Squall said but not mockingly, instead he was concerned.
"Oh, don't worry; I wouldn't mind lending you another shirt other than that one." Rinoa pointed to the shirt Squall was wearing. "We could throw that to the trash if ever I vomit on it again." she suggested.
"Why? This looks awfully..." he stopped in the middle of the sentence to search for a proper term. "It's awfully big, and not to mention not yours. Is this your boyfriend's?"
"NO!" Rinoa said with a look of disgust spread on her face. "It's... it's... my ex's. That disgusting portrayal of a man."
"HAHAHA" Squall just laughed at the comment Rinoa gave him. "You must've really loved him." he replied sarcastically and went into a fit of laughter.
"Yeah, I did." Rinoa said thoughtfully.
"Rin, I'm so--"
"But all of that love went to the drain when I saw him screwing the biggest slut in our school." Rinoa then smiled at him. "There's no big deal."
"Well then good for you," he said. "For leaving him, that is." He added hastily.
Rinoa then went into a fit of laughter herself. She certainly didn't want to talk about Derrick for he is just a big waste of time but she never really imagined that making fun of him would be as fun as this. They went to sit down on the couch and talk more about this "ex" of Rinoa, and Squall didn't mind it at all, to him listening to Rinoa was like listening to his mom's stories. "You know Rinoa," he said.
"Yeah?" she replied while looking at the now rising sun.
"It's nothing... "
"Oh okay."
"The sun's rising, and we still haven't slept." Squall suddenly said. Rinoa was caught of guard and suddenly realized that it was the morning and that would mean her aunt would be...
"Oh!" Aunt Cecile was in her bathrobes and was going down the stairs when she saw them on the couch.
Oh no...
"What are you doing here so early Squall?" Aunt Cecile said looking at the watch, which read 6AM. "It's way too early, and not to mention Rin's miraculous awakening at this time of day." She added while looking at Rinoa with a smile.
"Wow, she thought I came back early huh?" Squall whispered into Rinoa's ears.
Rinoa was soon giggling and was also slapped by the fact that she didn't clean up the dinner table last night. OH NO!! HERE COMES THE PUNISHMENT!!
"So what would you like for breakfast?" her aunt suddenly peeped out of the kitchen. "Pancakes? Bacon and Eggs?"
"Anything would do Mrs. Simmons." Squall said, seeing that Rinoa was in no condition to talk. "And don't worry, I saw the letter by the fridge while cleaning up, I found out her surname there." he whispered to Rinoa.
He cleaned up? Oh damn, what happened to me...
"You didn't have to clean up the food you know." Rinoa muttered.
"Oh, but I have to, it was way too much if I didn't I mean, since you were already sick." he replied without looking at her.
Then Squall suddenly stood up and gathered his things. "Hey! Are you gonna change?" Rinoa asked.
"Yeah," he then went into the bathroom. "I'll be back."
I wonder if he'll really stay for breakfast, hmm... maybe I should help auntie.
Rinoa stood up and went to help her aunt in the kitchen. "Hey auntie, do you need a hand with those?"
"Why thank you, and yes, you can start beating those eggs right there."
"Okay." And with that Rinoa went to work. Squall emerged from the bathroom after a few minutes and went to the kitchen to help them out. "Hey is there anything I could do here?"
"Oh, Squall, no no, you can just wait for these to cook."
"So you're staying for breakfast huh?" Rinoa asked him as he went to help her.
"Yeah then I'll head home."
"Okay then, I wonder what your parents will say," Rinoa said and Squall gave her a questioning look. "I mean, you didn't even call them, or something, wouldn't they get worried?"
"No they won't," Squall said while carrying the plates to the table.
"Why?" Rinoa followed soon after while carrying the fresh batch of pancakes. "Did you call them?" she then looked at Squall, at the same time her aunt went in with the syrup and told them both to shut up and eat. "Because they're used to it." He said.
Rinoa and Squall chatted away with Aunt Cecile, and not too soon enough all the pancakes were eaten. "That was a good breakfast Auntie."
"Yeah thank you." Squall said. "I wouldn't want to be an "eat-and-run" but I must go now." he said apologetically.
"Oh, it's no problem. Come back anytime," Aunt Cecile then went to hug Squall. "Now Rinny, would you mind showing him out? I gotta clean up here."
"Sure thing..."
Rinoa showed Squall out but he pulled her wrist and took her with him to the car. "Get in."
"What?? But I... "
"Just get in."
Squall then turned on the AC and started heating up the car. "Look Rinoa, there is another Gala at the Presidential Palace, and i have no one to go with... "
Is he asking me to be his date??
"So, um, I was wondering would you like to come with me?" he asked her tentatively.
Brace yourself for rejection!
"Sure! But can I ask..."
"You're always asking," he replied feeling a bit relieved since she said yes. "Anyway, yes?"
"Why are you invited to the Presidential Gala? I thought only the richest and the..." Rinoa trailed off.
"Yeah seems farfetched huh?" he said. "But do you think I don't have the right to attend?" he asked.
"No it's not that, it's just my aunt keeps telling me that all of these galas are prestigious."
"Well, they are. Say would you like me to introduce you to my family?" he said, "They're coming too." he added seeing the look on Rinoa's face.
"Sure! Only problem is... I don't think I packed anything suitable..."
"No problem... I'll come by early like, around... 3pm?" he said "The gala starts at 8pm, I'll take you clothes shopping."
"WOW! Really?? I mean, it doesn't have to be fancy or anything, maybe I have..."
"No, I want you to look your best. Okay?" he asked and Rinoa just gave him a nod. "See you later Rin."
"Yeah see yah!"
Rinoa went off his car and he sped off. Wow! A gala! I better go tell auntie...
