Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy, nor the whole series.
Author's Note: This is probably the longest chapter so far, with Squinoa moments. (YES! FINALLY!)
There was this scene that you'll be encountering, and it has this coincidentally great similarity with one part of MonMonCandie's story "Between a Mother and Son" (You guys SHOULD READ her story. It's consisted of cute chapters that narrate Squall's and Raine's relationship as they go through some mother-and-son problems). It was funny because I already planned for that fight to appear on this chapter before even reading her story! So I was practically shocked when I read her first chapter, though I honestly thought it went better with her story. I told her that I'll think of something else to replace it, but then as I went through writing this chapter, it can't really be helped and that fight should be there, though I changed some parts. So, public apology to MonMonCandie. ^^" (really sorry! ^^")
I guess, great minds just really think alike XD
Anyway, like always, I hope you enjoy this chapter and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
thanks :3
The sunlight was seeping through the golden curtains of Rinoa's room, dazing her half awaken eyes. The day is calling to her, but the mistress of the mansion refused to leave the comforts of her fluffy king sized bed. She planned on using the whole Saturday morning to get as much sleep she needed from all the tiring errands she did for that week, especially from yesterday's incident. Actually, there were two incidents that happened that afternoon; the one at the library with 3-A's Squall, and after that when Cloud saved her from the rain.
She can remember how scared she was being alone with the intimidating brunette. He didn't seem that much of a meanie, unlike what she first thought of him. After all, he helped her get the book in the end, though not before letting her struggle at extremity to stretch her whole body just to reach the book she needed for herself. Nevertheless, his annoyed deep blue eyes and that irritated frown frightened her.
Then, she recollected how helpless she was under that shed until Cloud came at the right time and took her home safely. Compared to Squall, Cloud definitely seems nicer, judging by how he looked at her with his calming and assuring sky-blue eyes. Also, he was immediately there and not by mere coincidence, unlike Squall who just happened to be reading at the same place where Rinoa was. Her spiky-haired savior came, as if he knew she'd be stuck in the rain and came all the way back just for her.
Thanks to Cloud's kindness, Squall seems a big meanie to Rinoa now. But it's too early to judge. Rinoa recalled how her late mother told her not to judge until she knows them intimately. She had known Cloud for three days, and she only saw the nice part of him. There can be another side of that gentle guy, and for all she cares, he could be as mean as Squall. Though Rinoa hated to think of him that way. On the other hand, she encountered Squall only once, and it was also a bad time to disturb him. Still though, he was a bit mean to her, and first impressions last longer to Rinoa than what she or anyone usually believe.
RING!
Rinoa froze. She knew she had to get up and answer her phone, but she couldn't be bothered. She can always ignore it and let the caller think she's still sleeping. Truth is, she's still reluctant to get up and do anything. She needed to pee too, but was too lazy to even conside-
RING!
The second ring annoyed Rinoa.
RING!
The phone was being persistent.
RING!
Finally, the hesitant sleeper turned and grabbed the phone from her side table. She then flipped it open.
"Mmmmhello...?" Rinoa managed to grumble.
"Hey Rinoa! Sorry we're kinda late," Late? Rinoa thought. "but we'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
"Rikku...?"
"Yep! Wait..." Rikku's voice suddenly turned alarming. "Rin, you don't sound right. Are you still sleeping?"
"Err, yeah..." she didn't like where this is leading her. She was afraid to ask but she needed to know. "Why?"
"Oh my Hyne, Rinny! We're gonna watch the game today!" Her blonde haired friend yelled from the other line. "Don't tell me you forgot all about it!"
Rinoa panicked. Oh Hyne... Oh Hyne indeed. Of course, Tidus' blitzball game is today, and I completely forgot about it!
".... You've got to be kidding me."
"No Rinny!" her friend on the other line was getting as panicky as she is.
"Wait, okay okay, I'll be ready in fifteen minutes!"
Rinoa frantically stood from her bed and ran to the bathroom to take a quick shower. As soon as she finished, she checked her clock and saw that she still has ten minutes to prepare. Rinoa opened her huge cabinet and grabbed a sky blue shirt and a pair of jeans. She then searched through her shoe rack and took her white sneakers. She checked the clock again, she still has five minutes before her friends arrive. She went to pack the sling bag she'll be bringing when her phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Rinny! Are you ready? We're here!"
Wow, they're a bit early, Rinoa thought.
"I'll be there in a minute!"
"Okay! Hurry up!"
Rinoa quickly packed her bag and ran down towards the exit of her house. After telling Robert that he won't be working for her today, she went out of the gate to meet her friends on Rikku's Machina Convertible.
"Hey guy! I'm so sorry I completely forgot-"
"Good morning Rinoa!" Yuna, who was sitting on the passenger's seat, turned to greet her with a kind smile. "It's okay. Rikku's overreacting. We're not THAT late anyway. We'll make it in time."
It only took them twenty minutes to reach the venue, which Rinoa stared in awe. It's a huge stadium with a spherical water that covers the whole place. Two large convexed golden metals were spinning around the round roof, maintaing the water's regular flow.
"... Oh my..." Rinoa gasped in astonishment.
"This your first time to see a blitzball stadium?" Rikku amusingly inquired.
"Yes." The raven haired admitted.
"Wait 'til you get inside it." Yuna winked.
After they parked, the three friends ran towards the entrance, which was already jam packed with people. Nonetheless, they managed to get inside and surrender their then went further inside the find the entrance to the stadium proper, which was also filled with alot of people.
"Rinoa, stay close to me." The brown haired one commanded as Rinoa nodded.
They were pushing themselves in when someone suddenly bumped Rinoa, hard enough to make her fall on the floor.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!"
"Ow..." Rinoa sat up, massaging her arm. She looked at the culprit and saw a petite girl, about her age, with shoulder length light brown hair.
"Are you hurt? I'm so sorry-"
"No, I'm fine. It's okay." Rinoa stood up and searched for Yuna and Rikku, who were no where to be seen among the large crowd.
Great.
"Are you okay? What's the matter?" The petite girl who sounded worried, asked Rinoa while observing her from head to toe. She seemed to have seen the annoyed look on Rinoa's face.
"Oh, nothing, it's just..." Rinoa sighed. "I just... lost my friends."
"Oh no! They ditched you? That's mean!"
"No no no no! It's nothing like that," Rinoa was violently shaking her hands to gesture the girl's misunderstanding. "with all this commotion, I just couldn't see them anymore."
"Oh! And it's all my fault! I'm sorry!" Rinoa thought the girl was going to cry.
"Oh, please, don't worry about it. I'm sorry I'll find them when I get in."
"Oh yeah! You can find them inside, it won't be that hard anymore!" The girl grabbed Rinoa's hand. "Come! Let's go!"
She pulled Rinoa in, fighting and pushing against everyone in their way. Rinoa could feel and smell the bodies of avid viewers as she squeezed herself into the crowd. Still, the girl pushed through while pulling Rinoa in. And after what seemed like forever, they made it inside and Rinoa can finally breathe again.
"Whee! We made it!" The girl spread her arms and danced.
Rinoa giggled at her childlike move. Then, she searched through the stadium for any sign of Yuna and Rikku. Still, she couldn't find them anywhere.
"You look familiar to me." The brown-haired girl's arm was folded across her chest, while her free hand was massaging her chin. "Are you from Deling High?"
Rinoa turned to the girl. "Yeah."
"Wohoo! Finally a schoolmate!" The girl spread her arms again. "What's your name?"
Oh! A schoolmate! Rinoa thought "I'm Rinoa Heartily. You?"
"Selphie Tilmitt. Pleasure to meet ya!" She reached her left hand to Rinoa's and shook it.
Rinoa's phone vibrated. "Excuse me." She gestured to Selphie. Rinoa reached for her phone and was relieved to see who was calling.
"Yuna!"
"Rinoa! Where are you?" Yuna sounded really worried.
"I'm inside now." Rinoa assured her. "I met a schoolmate of ours, she helped me get in."
"Oh... that's good to hear." Yuna sighed in relief. "What's her name? I might know her."
"Selphie. Selphie Tilmitt."
There was a pause. Rinoa wondered why Yuna wasn't responding for quite a few seconds.
"Hello?" She called to Yuna.
"Oh... uhm, Selphie..." her friend from the other line sounded disoriented.
"Yeah, Yuna. Why?"
"Well, Selphie's from 3-A." Rinoa's eyes widened and did not dare take a glance at her newfound schoolmate.
"But, don't worry! From what I know, Selphie's a really nice and friendly girl. She's friend's with Rikku actually. But..." Yuna paused. "remember Yuffie? From our class? Well, they hate each other. And that's maybe because Yuffie's from 3-B."
"Oh... well..."
"It's okay Rinoa, it's best if you stay with her. You won't find us anymore because Tidus found us and gave us reserved seats on the front row." Rinoa looked around, and realized that she was at the middle part of the stadium. Front seats were located way way down below.
"Yeah, I'm pretty far from you guys now." In Rinoa's dismay.
"Yeah." Yuna sounded upset too. "You should be fine with her, she doesn't seem to know which section you belong to, but it's safer if you don't tell her anything about that."
"Yeah, I got you." Rinoa nodded in agreement.
"I'll meet you at the entrance of this building when the game finishes, okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll see you later!Take care!"
"I will! You too!"
Rinoa turned to her company and smiled. "Sorry about that."
"No worries!" She grabbed Rinoa's hand. "Let's go take our seats!"
Rinoa nodded while forcing a smile. She was clearly scared because she's practically with her section's enemy. This friendly and cheerful girl actually belongs to the rival side, and even hated one of Rinoa's classmates. She figured that whoever she is, wherever they are, they represent the sections they're in. 3-A and 3-B will always be enemies no matter what. They should be fighting or snobbing each other right now, and Rinoa hated the thought of that. She prefers having Selphie as her friend like how she is right now. And, as ridiculous as it may sound, hiding something simple like she's from 3-B makes Rinoa very uncomfortable. Selphie is her friend now, but what if she finds out that they're supposed to be enemies? Will their current friendship instantly change even if she has not done anything to her?
"Is this okay with you?" Selphie broke Rinoa from her thoughts and pointed at three empty seats.
"Yeah, that should be fine."
After they sat, Selphie loaded Rinoa with alot of questions like where she's from, how her mother died, where she lives and what her favorite food is. Rinoa found the last question a bit random, but she still thanked Hyne that she hasn't asked what section she's from.
"I like chocolates. Hell I'm gaga over them."
"I like chocolates too! I eat, like, five bars of them a day!"
Rinoa's eyes widened with surprise. Five bars? And yet she looks thin?
Selphie read the question in Rinoa's expression. "It's true! Isn't it funny that I don' get that fat?"
Rinoa giggled. "Well, you're lucky to have that kind of body."
"Yup! Luckily I do and eat all the chocolates I want! I can't live without them!" the hyper one patted her stomach.
"Hey there beautiful!" A male voice called behind them. Both girls turned around.
"Irvine! Honey!" Selphie stood up and hugged him. Rinoa saw a tall guy with long, brown wavy hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a cowboy hat. After he let go of Selphie, he turned to Rinoa.
"And who is this fine lady?"
"Oh! She's my new friend, Rinoa! She's from our school too!"
"Nice to meet you." Rinoa nodded at him.
"Irvine's the name." He reached for his hat and took it off. He held it against his chest and took a bow. "Pleasure."
Irvine then went and sat beside Selphie. Rinoa realized why Selphie saved another seat. It's for her boyfriend.
Then, does that also mean, Irvine's from 3-A too? Rinoa became even more terrified. She felt like a lone soldier in a battle, outnumbered by enemies.
"By the way Rinoa," Selphie turned to her new friend. "what section are you from?"
Rinoa froze as soon as she heard the words "what", "section", and "from". She asked it after all. Oh Hyne, please, not this question. Any question will do. Just not this one.
Rinoa turned to look at Selphie, hoping that she wasn't as serious in asking. But on the contrary, she does, she was patiently waiting for Rinoa's answer. Rinoa tried to regain her poise by taking a deep breath.
"Well," she let the word pass through with the air that she took into her lungs. "I'm-"
The lights around them turned off. The crowd began to cheer hysterically. She saw her friend stood up and waved her hands as she yelled. It's starting.
Oh Hyne, I'm forever grateful.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the thirtieth season of Interschool Blitzball Competition, sponsored by Cid Corporation, Oaka and Company, Rin's Travel Agency, and Fujin Electronics." The crowd died down a bit. "And now, we present to you, the challengers of today's game, on the left hemisphere, the Balamb Aurochs!" The crowd from the opposite side of the stadium began to cheer loudly as Rinoa watched topless guys wearing puffy purple pants swimming from the left side of the water sphere. "And on the right hemisphere, champions of three seasons in a row, the invincible Deling Abes!" Selphie, along with other people from their side boomed so loudly Rinoa thought she lost her sense of hearing. She turned to the other side and saw Yuna's dirty blonde guy swimming out, leading his team. Unlike their competitors, they're wearing yellow hoodies, which are half open, exposing their chests, and black shorts, with one side longer than the other.
"Go Tidus!" Rinoa shouted from the crowd.
Squall was peacefully sleeping on his couch while holding an open book against his chest. He was reading all night and slept at a considerably late hour. He has been on that couch since and his tired body refused to get up, even when the warm sunlight from his window touched his soft fair face. He was lost in his dreamland...
when his phone rang.
RING!
He grumbled and ignored it as he shifted uncomfortably from the noise his phone was making.
RING!
Disgruntled, he finally reached for his phone.
"Hey Squall!"
"Tidus.." Squall mumbled as he moved his arm on top of his forehead.
"Guess what man, we won!" his friend from the other line proudly announced.
"So?"
"Hey, you know the deal!" Tidus pressed. "You're coming to the afterparty."
Of course he remembered the deal. He won't be at the game, only if he agrees that he'll come at the afterparty if Tidus' team wins.
"No."
"Hey, no cheating!" His friend accused. "You didn't even watch me play, you should at least make it up to me for losing one viewer. And my friend at that too."
"You know I don't like crowds. As my friend, you should understand." Squall stressed the word friend with a sarcastic tone.
"Why, did you even watch our game on television?"
He got Squall at that. His brunette friend was sleeping all this time, he wasn't even able to turn on the television.
Squall let out an annoyed sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll be at the party."
"I'll take your word for it dude! I'll be expecting you there!" Tidus replied with demand on his voice.
"Whatever."
Squall put his phone down and sat up. He took a glance at the clock. It was 6:15, and he only has forty five minutes to prepare. He felt stupid for agreeing on the deal. Of course they will win, when did they ever lose?
"We won! We won!"
Selphie was jumping endlessly as they exited the stadium. She, Irvine and Rinoa were now heading towards the exit of the building.
"The way they played! It's amazing!" Rinoa was still astonished with the game as she was cheering with Selphie.
"Yo Rinoa, you coming at the afterparty?" Irvine interruped the two victoriously cheering girls as they approach the building exit.
"Afterparty? Where?" Rinoa asked with a confused look on her face.
"At Tidus' place." Irvine pointed his thumb at the stadium's direction, where their school's starplayer played. "You coming?"
Knowing how Yuna would love to be with Tidus, she might end up attending the afterparty. Then again, maybe not. "Well, I'm not sure yet. It depends on my friends, really."
"Oh yeah! Where are your friends?" Selphie, who suddenly remembered about Rinoa's friends, stopped jumping.
"We agreed to meet up at the building exit right after the game. I'll wait for them there."
"Oh, goodie! Do you want us to wait with yo-"
"Oh! No no no, I'll be fine." Rinoa immediately cut her off. If Yuna knows who Selphie is, then this girl probably knows her brown haired friend. Though she wondered if they're at least acquainted, since Yuna's cousin Rikku is Selphie's friend.
"Oh, okay then!"
After a few minutes of fighting again against the crowd, they finally reached the exit. Rinoa can clearly see Yuna and Rikku standing there, waiting for her.
"Well, I'll go ahead and meet my friends there." Rinoa almost pointed at Yuna's spot, then she remembered she's with people from 3-A, so she waved at Selphie and Irvine instead.
"Alrighty! Hope to see you at the party!" Selphie waved back at Rinoa.
"Yup! I hope so too! See you around!"
"See ya!" Irvine winked.
Rinoa turned and ran to her friends. She saw Yuna turned to her wearing a worried look. So did Rikku.
"Rinny! I'm so glad you're okay!" Yuna hugged her black haired friend.
"Yeah, she was really panicky, she almost missed Tidus' winning shot." Rikku rolled her eyes.
Rinoa chuckled. "You guys, I'm fine, really. They were nice to me."
"They?" Yuna let go of Rinoa and exchanged confused looks with Rikku.
"Yeah, well, Selphie's boyfriend Irvine arrived and watched the game with us."
"Oh. Well, that's good. Irvine's a good guy." Rikku assured Rinoa.
"Yeah, he seems like it." Rinoa replied. "Oh, by the way, are we going to the afterparty?"
"Of course! Yunie MUST be there!" Rikku elbowed Yuna.
"She just really can't resist Tidus." Rinoa shrugged.
The three headed back to the Rikku's convertible and went out of the area. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a modern wide house, which was seemingly built with glass windows. Colored lights were seen flickering from the residence, and young people (probably students from Deling High, Rinoa noted) were heading inside the house.
"Tell Tidus, that he has a really neat crib, but he needs to start buying some curtains." Rinoa commented to which both her friends laughed at.
After Rikku parked in front of the house, they jumped out and headed inside along with the other students. There was loud music, torturing Rinoa's recovering eardrums which suffered enough from all the cheering back at the game. She then got a good look around and saw even more modern furnitures inside, and she especially noticed the couch where most couples where seated, hogging to her disgust. She also noticed a big round alcohol bar located at the center of the starplayer's large living room with a male and a female bartender doing some stunts with the bottles and shakers, sliding drinks to everyone seated on the stalls around them.
"Hey!" Yuna yelled as Rinoa turned and saw two big hands covering her friend's eyes. He friend from Besaid was smiling as she held them. Rinoa and Rikku, who were trying to hold their laugh back, knew who the guy behind Yuna was.
"Tidus!" Yuna shouted and turned to see the blonde star of the night smiling back at her. She jumped and embraced him "Congratulations! You did great!"
Her two companions knew better that they should leave them with their privacy. Rikku grabbed Rinoa's hands and pulled her towards the bar.
Squall parked his car, lining it with the other vehicles that brought alot of people to the party. Through Tidus' windows, he can see the crowded place. He turned off the engine and shook his head, irritated that he's going to do this... again. He doesn't like crowded places, and he'd rather stay alone at his apartment, sleeping. But he owes his friend ALOT of games, and he needed to do this for him. The reluctant brunette let out a last sigh before stepping out of his car.
As was expected, everyone looked at him as he entered the Hyne-forsaken house, even as he wore his black shades. Seems like people still recognize him after all.
He hates it.
He looked for Tidus, just so he can prove to him that he appeared at the party and get himself quickly off the hook, but he doesn't seem to be mingling with his guests. Then, he caught Tidus' blonde head at a bench outside, by the pool that glistened with the moonlight. He was sitting with the Besaid girl, his arm around her. Finally, Squall thought. It was getting painful (and annoying) watching his friend do nothing about his long-time crush. He had his eyes on that girl ever since she got herself into that school, and he only had his childhood friend Squall as his confidante. Now, looking at the scene, Squall could only grin. As much as he wanted to mess with his friend and interrupt the moment, he decided to simply leave and return to the comforts of his home.
Squall was about to head to the door when something caught his eye by the bar. He took a good look.
Long, black hair that belongs to a petite girl with pale skin, sitting at the bar. He wished he can see her face, but her back was facing him. But he knew it was her, that new girl from the library.
Maybe I'll stay around a bit.
"Yo Gippal!" Rikku was waving her martini, beckoning on her eye patched friend sitting beside her. "Get your ass inside and show us your mega bartending crap you've been bragging about!"
"No fucking way!" Her equally drunk blonde friend yelled back while taking one big gulp from his bottled gin, only to find it empty. He shook it downwards, hoping a drop would come out. But there was none.
"Wherehas therhum-" He hiccuped. "gone..." He managed to say as he was swaying to his sides.
"C'mon you nincompoop!" Rikku's free, wobbly limbs pushed Gippal, who instantly fell on the floor. Rikku hiccupped and turned to Rinoa. She pointed her thumb to her knocked out friend and grimaced. "Idiot."
Rinoa hasn't touched the martini Rikku ordered for her, especially after watching her friend get drunk with that Gippal guy. It was her first time to drink alcohol, and seeing how the rest of the guests were so used to getting drunk, she felt embarrassed for herself. She raised her glass up to her nose and smelled it. She didn't like the strong stench she took in. She returned it to the table.
"What are you-" hiccuped "waiting for?" Rikku, after taking another gulp, slurred at Rinoa.
"Ugh..." the blonde one's eyes widened and held her stomach. She shook her head violently. "I'll go.. to the bathroom." She then pointed her index finger to Rinoa. "And when I come back-" she hiccuped again. "you'll be done with that." She meant the martini. With her wobbly legs, she pushed herself against the crowd and headed to the poor bathroom. Rinoa looked at her untouched drink and inhaled deeply. "Okay."
The first gulp was a bit strong, but she can taste the sweetness of the drink. The second one was painful, it felt like acid flowing through her throat. Rinoa decided that was enough as she put her glass back at the table.
"HEY! STOP IT!"
Rinoa jumped at the small shriek that came from behind her. She turned around and was surprised to see a furious Selphie glowering at someone, while her arms were widely spread, as if protecting a poor victim. And she was defending someone, it was no other than her boyfriend Irvine who was sitting on the floor, his nose bleeding. Rinoa glanced at the attacker and saw a tall blonde guy, wearing an outraged expression.
Their brawl has attracted enough attention from all the guests of the party.
"Tell that asshole to GET THE FUCKING OUT OF MY WAY!" The tall one said. "It's MY problem with Quisitis! Not HIS!" His face was fuming red, his eyes were widended with anger. He's obviously drunk with that kind of temper he was showing.
"He was just trying to help you, SEIFER!" Selphie moved her face closer to her boyfriend's assailant.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" He raised his hand, about to hit the brown haired girl when someone suddenly blocked his way.
"STOP!" Rinoa ran in between them. She spread her arms wide, to defend her friend Selphie.
Squall, who was sitting at a far corner of the venue all this time, witnessed the whole incident. His friends Seifer and Quistis were having a bad argument in front of their friends, Zell, Selphie and Irvine. Seifer was getting drunk too, and if it wasn't for his pony-tailed friend who blocked Seifer's fist, he would've almost hit Quistis. Enraged, he punched Irvine and broke his nose, but the fool didn't fight back, and simply received another blow. Selphie, who automatically defended him, was also getting another attack from their short-tempered friend. Until that girl came.
Squall, who was invisible from the sight of many, stood up almost immediately, as if his reflexes alarmed him. His heart jumped as soon as he saw that girl face the presently dangerous Seifer.
"Rinoa!" Selphie cried to her surprise at Rinoa's arrival. Her friend was glaring at Seifer, even if she obviously doesn't know who she's dealing with.
Seifer looked at Rinoa, then Selphie, as if he can't believe that they're stopping him. HIM. He let out a loud laugh.
"Wow, two girls fighting for one guy. You should be proud Irvine!" The tall one taunted at the bleeding Irvine, as Rinoa spread her arms even wider, still shooting a more furious glare at Seifer.
"Stop it!" Rinoa demanded.
"You!" Seifer grabbed Rinoa's black hair as she held his hands to pull them away from her head. "Stay out of thi-"
Then, another hand forcefully grabbed the drunkard's arm.
"That's enough Seifer." A low voice commanded. But his hands didn't let go of the unfortunate girl's hair, who let out a small whimper.
"Not you too, Squall."
"Let go of her." He ordered, with demanded finality in his voice. Seifer turned to him, as he glared back at the ice blue eyes piercing at him.
"Make me." Seifer grinned, making fun of Squall and of the moment.
But Squall did not take the joke lightly.
He charged at Seifer with a strong blow, sending his opponent off flying to the center table. He got up and rushed towards Squall with a fist, but the brunette easily dodged it. He then grabbed the drunk one by his shoulder and sent a strong hook to his stomach, and another one to his face, knocking him down, leaving a bleeding cut on his cheek. It was easy to get knocked out when you're drunk, and Squall knew that weakness part of his opponent.
"RINOA!"
Squall turned back at the two girls Seifer was picking on earlier, and saw a distressing sight. Selphie was kneeling beside a seemingly unconscious Rinoa, who was wheezing. Her limbs were as limp as her whole body, with only her torso expanding as she attempts to take short breaths of air inside her lungs.
Also, she was turning pink all over, and red spots started apearring on her arms.
By this time, the whole crowd around them stood frozen, watching the whole thing happen before their eyes. Even Tidus was already inside with Yuna drearily hugging his arm.
Squall knelt beside the unconscious Rinoa and instinctively scooped her in his arms. He then turned to Selphie.
"Get Quistis."
"It seems like she had some serious allergy attack." A female voice explained. "That remedy we gave her should be enough. She'll be alright."
Rinoa's breathing became slightly easier for her after taking a liquid medicine that was forced into her mouth. She barely remembered what happened, besides the incident with Selphie and that guy Seifer. The next thing she knew, her chest tightened and she was fighting for air.
She slightly opened her eyes and saw warm yellow light surrounding her. She also saw a blurring figure of a man with brown hair, hovering on top of her face. She blinked.
Then, there was another figure, a female one with long, blonde hair. She blinked again.
The people around her became clearer as she tried to open her weak eyelids. She turned her head back where she saw the first person to look at her.
And saw Squall.
She instantly noticed his blue eyes. They weren't frowning anymore, though his expression is still plain, yet there's a hint of worry.
"Rinny! She's awake Yunie!" A familiar voice cried tha belongs to none other than Rikku.
Yuna rushed to her side. "Rinoa! Thank goodness."
"Mmm..." Rinoa mumbled. "... what happened?"
"You fell unconscious." Selphie, who appeared by Yuna's side said. "Then Squall carried you to Tidus' room and had Quistis here take a look at you."
"You just had an allergy." Quistis brushed Rinoa's hair. "Is there something you ate, or probably drank tonight?"
Rinoa thought for a moment as she recalled what happened before that incident. "Uhm... I drank a martini."
"Have you ever had a martini before this party?"
Rinoa shook her head. "No. It was my first time."
"Then you're probably allergic to martini, or possibly anything with alcohol content." Quistis smartly explained.
"Ahehe..." Rikku scratched her head. "I think it's my fault. I bought the martini for Rinoa."
"No, it's okay Rikku. None of us knew I was allergic to it."
"Still... I'm sorry."
There was a long pause. Rinoa couldn't be stuffed talking anymore. Her head still hurts. As much as she wanted to stay on Tidus' bed and rest for a while longer, she wanted to go back to her own room.
"I should go home." She mumbled.
"No dear, you need to rest a bit longer."
Rinoa shook her head. "Please, I just want to go home." She sat up and as soon as she did, pain stabbed her head. She grumbled as she put her hand on her forehead.
"I'll take you home Rinny!" Rikku offered.
"No, it's okay." Rinoa didn't want to ruin the party for her friends just because she wanted to go home. Besides, recalling how she acted at the bar where Rinoa last saw her, she's probably still drunk. "I'll just go call Robert to fetch me here."
"I'll take you home." Squall cut in.
Rinoa would rather have Rikku take her home than deal with Squall and owe him for the favor. "No, Robert should be fine. Thank you anyway." She reached for her bag, which Yuna obediently gave to her.
"Does he even know where this place is?" Squall, with a teasing tone in his voice, questioned Rinoa.
"No, maybe you can explain to him. That will be a great help." Rinoa was getting irritated with his persistence, and her throbbing head wasn't helping.
"No."
Rinoa turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Because it's stupid. Why would I bother explaining the direction to Tidus' house when I can take you home myself?"
Rinoa opened her mouth to reply, but no word slipped out. She looked around and everyone froze at their little argument, waiting for Rinoa's rebuttal. But she's in no mood for entertaining them, and there's no way this guy is giving up.
She sighed in defeat. "Fine."
The whole trip was a quiet one. Annoyance and awkwardness were the atmosphere's main components. After being given with directions by Rikku, Squall had to carry Rinoa down to his car when her weak legs were slowing them down. Of course, this embarrassed the raven-haired which made her even more annoyed at Squall.
She turned here eyes from the windows to the owner of the car. His eyes were frowning again, like he was giving much focus on the road. But then, it seems like they weren't. He was frowning, but he wasn't angry. He seems to be... thinking.
He felt the brown eyes from the passenger's seat staring at him with much curiousity. He glanced at them for confirmation.
"What?" He had that same tone he gave her back at the library after he helped her get the book.
"Why did you want to take me home?" Rinoa asked suspiciously.
Because it would make him feel better if he takes her home himself.
"Because I felt responsible for what happened."
"What does this have anything to do with your responsibility?"
"Because Seifer was part of my group."
"He's from 3-A?"
"Yes."
"With Selphie?"
Squall didn't answer.
"But why was he going to hit her? And that Irvine, he broke his nose!"
"Seifer's like that. He gets out of control easily." He plainly stated.
"And you felt responsible because you're their leader?"
"Maybe."
"Do you even know which section I belong to?"
Of course he knows, ever since he first saw her. "You're from 3-B."
"Then why did you help me?"
I don't know.
"Trying to avoid fighting Cloud again, I guess."
"Oh..."
There was a long pause.
"What's it with this whole, rivalry thing anyway." Squall heard Rinoa mumble. But he didn't reply to it. He honestly doesn't know why he's still in rivalry with Cloud, even after the school seperated them. They should've just shoved their fight aside and live their own lives, yet it went even worse. Not only it became a worse fight between two arrogant people, but a fight between sections, involving more people.
Including this girl beside him.
She stared at his eyes again. They're looking at the road now, but still frowning, though she noticed how his eyebrows were closer now to each other. Something seems to be bothering him.
"Something wrong?" Rinoa asked with sincerity in her voice. Squall looked at her curiously and shook his head.
"No."
Then they stopped, and Rinoa realized that they finally arrived at her house. Squall stepped out of his car, walked around to Rinoa's side and opened her door. She was about to get off when he suddenly scooped her again in his arms and carried her towards the gate of her mansion.
"Hey!" Rinoa was swinging her legs and pushing herself away from Squall. "I can walk! Let me go!"
"And when do you plan to step into your house?" Squall was firmly holding her still. "In ten years?" He sounded serious.
"If that's what it takes then I'd rather deal with that, so put me down!" Rinoa yelled.
"No."
He's annoying.
The gate was opened by one of Rinoa's maids, who gave them a puzzled look. Squall was clearly irritated, and so was Rinoa, who was pouting with her arms crossed against her chest.
"Ma'am? Are you alright? Who is this ma-"
"I'm fine."
"She's fine."
Both cut the maid in unison.
The finally reached the door of Rinoa's mansion when Squall placed her down, gently. Rinoa still had her arms crossed, careful not to look at the brunette.
Squall sighed. "You're being childish."
"So?"
Squall rolled his eyes. "Listen, before you go in, there's something you should know." Rinoa finally looked at him. "It's better that this news doesn't reach Cloud."
"Too late for that, don't you think? Everyone at the party saw what happened." There was anxiety in her voice.
Squall shook his head. "My friends will take care of that."
"How?"
"Don't worry about it anymore."
Rinoa nodded. "Okay."
After taking a last good look at Rinoa, Squall turned around and headed back to his car.
He didn't bite, Rinoa thought. After what happened tonight, Squall is not really as scary as his cold disposition.
She opened the door and walked to the stairs. All she wanted now is a good shower and a long rest. She tried to recall if there's anything for tomorrow that she could've probably forgotten again, and thankfully there's none. She had a long day and thanked Hyne for letting her get the sleep of her life.