Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any part of the series.
Author's Note: *argh*... Squinoa... moments... almost... there...
This is a long chapter, mostly emphasizing how the rivalry affects Rinoa. So, where are the real Squinoa moments? Hmm? Hmm? HMM???
There will be more (MANY MOOORREEE) of those in the near future, so just hang on there! :3
Thank you for everyone who never gets tired of reading my story and giving me reviews!
It went on like that for Rinoa during lunchbreaks for another couple of days. Cloud would buy her lunch, sit with her along with Yuna and the others, and send glares to Squall... though the glaring part lessened a bit each day. It was more like he would try and ignore Squall and simply let him know that he's there, right beside Rinoa. Even Cloud wasn't sure of what he was doing, but he did know that he doesn't like how his rival acts around Rinoa. He doesn't like him, and his resentment has not died down one bit against Squall, even if he owes him for helping Rinoa once. That was it, he helped her once, but then he acted quite strangely to her, he treated her differently from other people. Cloud knew well that Squall was just being nice, too nice actually.
And he doesn't like it.
But most of all, he doesn't like where this can possibly lead to.
Despite the strange habit Cloud was keeping up for himself during the past two days, no one, not even his best friend Zack, dared to ask him what he was trying to do.
Squall on the other hand, who has been sitting on the opposite side of the cafeteria all this time, would obviously be pissed at Cloud. He has always been furious of every part of Cloud's being, but at least he was doing something to avoid fighting him in every way possible, and he credited himself for that. He was convinced that his blonde rival owes him for that too, unless he wanted this fight to carry on. But sadly, with what Cloud was doing, Squall figured that he didn't care if they remain as enemies for the rest of their lives.
Then so be it.
At any rate, Cloud's rival decided to play his little game and stay at the cafeteria no matter what. Squall knew that the blonde head's presence did not only mean he can't get anywhere near Rinoa, but it was also his cue to leave the place. And he's definitely not going to do that.
Rinoa, the girl in the middle, the reason of it all, was being haunted by the endless feeling of awkwardness. Part of her wanted to approach Squall, apologize and tell him that she doesn't know what was going on either. But with Cloud never leaving her side, she knew she couldn't even take a single glance of Squall. The other part of her told her not to do anything and simply let Cloud do his thing. After all, what's so wrong about eating with him during lunchbreaks? He is her friend. And as much right as she has to spend her lunch hour at the cafeteria, he does too.
But Squall is also her friend, as far as she's concerned. And maybe that's the problem, she's good friends with Cloud's rival. It practically tells her to choose one side; her section's Alpha who took good care of he all this time, or 3-A's brunette leader whom she encountered quite several times and showed her nothing but kindness. That's what made her so uncomfortable. Everyday, all she could think of was how she could help put the rivalry to an end. It was bad, the fight between those two egotistic people had always been bad, and she is now more than involved.
Not only that.
Now Rinoa also has to deal with the rumors spreading about her and Cloud. Everyone at school thought they're dating, which is big. Cloud is an inexplicable person, and the idea of him going out with someone is somewhere close to a miracle. Rinoa became an intriguing subject too, being a new girl and all. And in an instant, she became a special item to everyone, the person known as "Cloud's girl". It shouldn't be such a big deal to Rinoa, especially that it isn't true. But the deadly stares she got everyday from girls (and some *ahem*, boys) who she assumed adore Cloud quite worry her. Just because she was often seen beside Cloud, it didn't mean that she's his girlfriend or anything like that. Somehow, she just knew that the reason why Cloud does what he was doing has something to do with Squall becoming closer to her. And she wished she could tell everyone that she was just a girl that accidentally got caught up in the middle of a deep rivalry.
And the only way for all of it to end is when those two finally decided to call a truce.
Rinoa sighed deeply at the book she had been attempting read for over an hour, yet couldn't get off from the same page. She thought being in her father's company at the study room will help distract herself from the problem she has at school, but it proved otherwise. It will stick with her and she wouldn't be able to escape it no matter what she does. She knew she could solve it, it's not like she has to bring peace between two fighting countries. It may be a war between two people, and it should just be a simple thing. Rinoa reminded herself that it wouldn't be too hard to find a way to end it.
But how?
General Caraway, who was on his desk filing reports, noticed Rinoa's endless sighing. At first, he was worried that she might have already been hyperventilating, but when he asked her if she was doing okay, she said she's fine and gave him a reassuring smile. After a while, she was doing it again and so he finally decided to check her out. He went closer to the golden couch where his daughter was sitting and observed how she was staring at the same picture of a gizzard on the book she was holding for an hour. He knew she has not flipped the page yet, he saw that same illustration when he gave a short glance at the book as soon as Rinoa opened it an hour ago. Something must be bothering her, the General thought.
Rinoa's father sat down next to his troubled daughter and put his arm around her in comfort.
"Sweetheart, is something wrong?" He asked gently, trying to hide the worry in his tone.
Rinoa looked up at him with her mother's brown eyes and shook her head. "No Dad, I'm fine." She put on a smile, but it wasn't enough to convince the General. He rubbed her arm and shook her slightly.
"Come now Love, tell Daddy what's wrong, and I promise I'll pay you with ice cream." He said in a playful voice.
Rinoa giggled. Her father knew that ice cream is her weakness, and she would do anything for a scoop. She knew instantly that he was getting a bit worried about her and she should tell him. "Well, it's about two of my friends." She thought for a moment if she should go on with the details, but decided to skip that part and get on with the real problem. "They happen to be rivals. When I first arrived, another friend of mine told me about them, but I thought, there's nothing wrong to befriend both, right? So they became my friends, good friends actually." She paused and thought of Cloud, the protective, helpful type who has always been there for her. He cares alot about her, no doubt, and she feels safe and nice around him. Many were afraid to approach him, but there really isn't much to be scared about. As tough as he looks, he's quite a gentle person. Rinoa recalled how he tirelessly helped her with Psychology, how he brought her home himself that one rainy day, how he charged at 3-A's room when he heard about what Seifer did to her at Tidus' party, how he was obviously keeping her away from Squall during lunchbreaks... though she should be annoyed about the last part, she still found it sweet of Cloud to buy her lunch and eat with her at the cafeteria regardless of his enemy's presence. She reminded herself to talk to him about it, but she figured that whatever reason he has, it's probably a justifiable one.
Then, there's that cold, taciturn Squall, who surprised her in many ways. He annoys her with his stubborn nature, and the funny thing is, she happens to be a stubborn one too. In the end, it's either he or she would give in, just like what happened in the library a week ago when she cleaned his cut. She could still remember how both of them struggled before she can get her tissue to touch his wound, and all it took her was a slap on his face to make him stop and surrender to her tenacity. She had not thought of the possibility that he might fight back and hurt her, and all that mattered was that he didn't. There was also that part when she stroke his hair with comfort, and Rinoa was quite shocked when he didn't pull away. He simply let her touch him, without any sign of restraint. Somehow, Rinoa felt she should be uncomfortable with him especially with the lofty air he brings. Not to mention, he's the leader of her section's rival, the main enemy. But there was something between them, something unexplainable that she didn't even see in Cloud. It's like a connection that she never wanted to break, and the memory of how his deep blue eyes looked at her told Rinoa that she didn't want to lose him despite being the Squall he is. Not that she wanted to lose Cloud either, she never did. Even if she sometimes can't explain that mysterious blonde, she can't imagine herself losing someone as special as him.
If only she could keep both of them, it will make her more than happy.
"Then... what happened?" Rinoa was lost in her thoughts when her only confidante at the moment mildly snapped her back to reality.
"Well, nothing much happened. I just... want them to stop fighting. I mean, it is getting hard for me, especially me." Rinoa tilted her head slightly as she looked at her father to emphasize her part of the story. "And, with the way things are happening right now, I feel like I had to choose just one between the two of them. And I don't want that, I want to keep them both."
The General, who have never been good at things like this, took in a deep sigh as he absorbed all his daughter's admission. It was just a simple problem that everyone around his age should already know the answer to. In the battles he had been through, fights like these were settled through either two things; peaceful and professional negotiation, or the bloody game of war. But what his daughter was dealing with is a different kind of battle, a particularly hard and complicated one. It doesn't need negotiation nor fighting, it needs something less technical but a bit more difficult tactic.
"Well, sweetheart, you're not supposed to take sides." He paused for a little while and gathered his thoughts. "If both are your good friends, then both should be the nice, good ones. Neither of them is wrong, nor the bad one. Whatever reason they have for their rivalry is to be kept among themselves, leaving you out of their conflict." He noticed Rinoa sigh again. "But, if you've gone far enough to be involved, then the most you can do is talk to them and try to understand them. Then, in turn, tell them how their fight affects you. Maybe you can also play as their bridge and help them get in touch with each other."
General Caraway stared as his daughter thoughtfully. He had no confidence with his advice, but he very much hoped it helped Rinoa.
The raven haired thought of the same thing before, though neither she thought it would work. But hearing those encouraging words from her father, she thought she'll give it a try. Rinoa was pretty sure it won't make the matter any worse, and there's nothing to lose if she does talk to Squall and Cloud.
Right?
She stared back to her father and gave him a grateful look.
"Thanks Daddy."
Rinoa's father rubbed his daughter's back for the final time and gave her a comforting smile. He stood up and was heading back to his desk when he remembered something.
"Oh, by the way," he turned around and faced Rinoa. "we were invited to a dinner tomorrow at Esthar by the President, Laguna Loire. It would be nice if you'll prepare yourself with something formal to wear."
"Oh." Rinoa looked back down to her book. "I... I don't really have anything."
The General frowned and shook his head. "Nothing to worry Sweetheart. I'll give you nine thousand gil..." He took out his wallet and handed Rinoa the thick bills. "so you can buy everything you want and need."
Rinoa's jaw dropped at the large cash in her hands. She stared at it for a while, and before her father can sit back to his desk, she threw herself to him and pecked him on his cheek. "Thank you Daddy!"
"Anytime Love, anytime."
That was her mission, to have some serious conversations with Squall and Cloud. And she planned to do it as soon as she can.
The next day, Rinoa decided to confront Cloud first, probably during lunchbreak. Then Squall, if she can get the chance to corner him again at the library after dismissal.
Hyne, why give me this problem?
Lunchbreak has never been so difficult for Rinoa. Lining up to pay the cashier for their foods with Cloud beside her made Rinoa's heart beat twice as fast. She was nervous, she has never done anything like this before and neither did she wish she ever had to. She didn't even know what to tell Cloud that she wanted their rivalry to end without sounding too selfish. But it was getting out of hand, and she knew it's about time she tries to do something about it.
Before reaching the cashier, Rinoa patted Cloud's shoulder. She noticed that they felt harder than normal ones. Are those muscles?
Cloud turned to her. "Yup?"
"Let's go sit somewhere away from the others. I want to talk to you about something."
Rinoa was expecting another frown, or some resistance in which she could already forsee herself doing some more convincing. So she was quite surprised when Cloud simply nodded without any second thoughts.
Okay, great!, Rinoa thought to herself.
Cloud took their tray and followed Rinoa, who spotted a smaller table, perfect for two people. After they sat down and fixed their platters among themselves, Rinoa waited for a short while before she started to speak.
"Cloud, I've been wondering for quite a while now, about why you suddenly decided to come here at the cafeteria and eat with us, which I heard you never did before." She paused and sat up. "I mean, you never even set foot here before, except if Squall is not around." She asked the blonde before her, who started with his lasagna. He didn't stop to look at Rinoa, he just keep slicing his lunch.
"I just don't like how Squall was acting around you lately." He replied.
"What do you mean? I don't see anything wrong with him."
"No. And that's the problem. There's suspisciously nothing wrong with him."
"Cloud, what made you think that? I've encountered him quite a few times, and he never did anything bad to me, nor did I see him do anything unreasonably bad to anyone."
Cloud finally dropped his fork and knife, then turned his head to look at his black haired companion. "Even so, I simply don't trust him."
"Well, obviously." Rinoa crossed her arms.
Cloud shook his head. "If you're thinking that this about our rivalry, then maybe you're right. But it doesn't exist for nothing. There are many reasons why we don't trust each other, why I don't trust him. Reasons that does not only involve me, but other people as well. Squall is a cold person, and no one knows to what extent that goes. Sure, he helped you that night, but it may also mean he needed you for something else in return. He may use you for whatever intention he has, and what can make it worse is that you're from 3-B, classmate of the person he despises. Then again, I don't read minds, and I may be wrong. Still, I don't trust him enough to believe that he meant well in everything that he does."
There was a pause. Cloud waited for Rinoa's reply, while she took her time to absorb what he just said. Rinoa thought for a moment. Squall is a good person, and she was sure about that. Was. But after what Cloud had said, she realized that it could be possible, that Squall may be doing the things he did so she would trust him enough to do whatever he asks of her. But then, she may be wrong, and even Cloud admitted that he may be wrong. He was just trying to protect her from any possibilities like that.
"I see." Was all she could reply. After all, that's what she was intending to do, right? To know why Cloud's doing this. Then, she remembered something else she should do.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I feel happy that I have someone like you care for me this much." I feel flattered even. She saw Cloud's sky blue eyes turned attentively to her. She hesitated to carry on at first, but she decided to finished what she has already started. "But, I don't like what your fight with Squall is doing to me. Whatever intention he has in his mind, as far as I know, he's also my friend, though not as close one as you are to me. And because of that, I'm having a hard time keeping you both in my circle of friends, especially with what you're doing now." Rinoa saw the pain in his blue eyes, and she felt her guilt-stricken words melt her heart. "I mean, yeah, I get you with what you're trying to do, but it would make me feel alot better if the reason why you're doing this is because you wanted to casually join me for lunch, and not because you wanted to act like my bodyguard to protect me from Squall."
Cloud looked back to his plate and contemplated for a moment. Rinoa watched him as she waited for his response.
"Sorry." He finally said. "I just had to do this, even if I know it might make you feel this way. But, if I simply let things happen without doing anything, I won't be able to forgive myself."
Rinoa gave him a sympathetic look. She understood what he meant. He was just scared that something might happen to her, and it would be his fault because it's his job to keep Rinoa away from all the troubles of the rivalry.
But Rinoa wanted him to know that there's nothing to be worried about.
She reached her hand to his and took it. Her blonde lunchmate was startled at her gesture, so she patted it to show him that she meant it in a friendly way.
"Don't worry Cloud, I will be okay. That I can promise you." She smiled reassuringly.
Cloud stared at her brown eyes to search for more affirmation. Then, he finally nodded.
Well, that's settled it with Cloud. Now I only have one more person on my list...
He saw everything as the turn of event unfolded before his eyes. He was sitting at his usual spot, as far away as possible from where his rival is. Squall have seen the same scene for three times; Cloud buying lunch with Rinoa, paying for the food, carrying their tray to Rinoa's usual table and eat together. The first time bothered him, even angered him. But this time around, it went on differently, and so did his feelings.
Instead of sitting with that Besaid girl and Rinoa's other friends, they took a table for just the two of them. Squall was sure his friends noticed it too, but he didn't turn his eyes away from the scene. He kept watching the girl he always encountered in the library with that blonde bastard.
Rinoa talked first, and as she gave Cloud a worriesome look. The blonde one did not look up to her in response, he just kept on slicing his food. She then kept shooting him with more questions, and he finally looked at her. He didn't look annoyed, Squall could read the sincerity in his face as he seems to be explaining something to Rinoa. After listening to him, she stopped for a moment and talked to him again. Cloud's eyes looked more serious this time, and Squall could hardly guess what Rinoa was telling him, and he was itching to know, until his blonde rival looked back to his plate, looking all sorry and said something.
Suddenly, Rinoa took his hand.
Squall was stunned at what he saw, and indignation panged at him. His heart stopped beating for quite a few seconds, though it seemed like forever to him. It felt tortured by his sense of sight and presupposition, that those two people he had been watching were going out of the boundaries of simple friendship.
He looked away. He couldn't stand another second of the scene. He couldn't look at them anymore.
It bothered Rinoa to noticed that Squall was constantly ignoring her. After lunchbreak, she accidently passed by him at the corridors, and she knew he saw her. But he kept walking and acted like she's invisible. She was only thankful that nobody else noticed. After Psychology class, she decided to head to the library, hoping to find him there and talk to him. Well, she did find him at the usual isolated part of the library. He was sitting there while reading a book, but as soon as he saw her, he stood up and walked away. She tried to catch him, but he was too fast for her.
She was in her room, putting on the short black dress she bought for the dinner she and her father will be attending that night at Esthar. Rinoa wondered at first about how they will be able to travel to a place as far as Esthar, to which the General simply replied "By an airship."
After combing her hair and strapping on her shoes, Rinoa decided that she's all set. She climbed downstairs and met her father by the porch of the house.
"Sweetheart, you look beautiful!" General Caraway complimented as he spread his arms wide to his daughter.
Rinoa giggled at him. "Where's our airship?"
"Oh," Her father placed his arms down and put them on his back. "we don't have an airship, Kiros and Ward will arrive with it to pick us up."
"Kiros and Ward?"
"Yes, they're Laguna's close friends and loyal advisers."
"Oh." Rinoa felt embarrased for thinking that her dad owns an airship.
A few seconds later, they heard a screeching sound of engine just outside the house.
"Well, sounds like they're here." General Caraway smiled to his daughter and extended his arm to the door. Rinoa opened it and was greeted by a big, red airship. Rinoa gasped at the sight of it, as excitement overshadowed her major problem on that day.
Two men walked out of the airship; the slimmer one has darker skin and long black locks tied up at the back of his head, while the other one is as twice as large as his company, wearing a bandana and a recognizable scar on his face.
"General!" The thinner one called as he and his companion were walking towards the father and daughter.
"Kiros!" General Caraway greeted back.
"It's a pleasure for you to join us tonight, as usual." Kiros gave the General a sincere smile. Then, he nodded at Rinoa.
"Oh, Kiros, as promised to Laguna, I'll be bringing my daughter Rinoa with me."
"Ah, so this is Rinoa." Kiros extended his hand to her for a formal handshake.
"Good evening Sir Kiros." Rinoa shyly took his hand and shook it.
"Pleasure, my dear." He looked at her father. "He looks so much like Julia."
The General chuckled. "Fortunately she does. Her mother is a beauty."
Kiros nodded. "She is."
The larger one, whom Rinoa assumed is Ward, gently put his large hand on Kiros' shoulder, who looked up at him. Then, he nodded.
"Well, if you two are ready, we can now board the ship and head to Esthar. Our dinner is waiting for us." Kiros said with a smile.
"Yes, of course. Come Rinoa." General Caraway put his arm around Rinoa and lead her inside the airship.
The interior was huge, much larger than Rinoa had expected, and was even dazzled by the magnificent passengers room surrounded by glass windows that gave Rinoa a chance to watch the sceneries as they pass them by. Kiros mentioned that the name given to the ship it was "Ragnarok", and the only one that never needed a fuel. It was ran by a self-recharging battery source, which was invented by a mad scientist. He mentioned the name, but Rinoa didn't catch it. She had enough hearing unusual names for that day.
After around twenty minutes, they finally arrived at the futuristic city of Esthar. Roads were overpasses, and vehicles were floating circular plates that slides through a tube. She can barely see plants or anything green. But she did see alot of tall buildings.
Rinoa suddenly felt the airship slowly moved to its landing and ultimately stopped. Kiros stood up from his seat. "Well, here we are."
They headed to the entrance of a building, a bit smaller compared to the other ones around it. But as soon as they entered, she was mistaken. The small building that she saw outside was just the entrace part of the whole place. It was alot bigger inside, and it was then she realized that the President's place was actually a palace. And even the palace was highly advanced in technology. Though the floor was carpeted, it has automatic sliding doors and see-through elevators. Even the furnitures inside looked modern.
"Caraway!" A man with tied long black hair suddenly appeared from one of the sliding doors, with arms extended to Rinoa's father.
"Loire! It is nice to see you again!"
The man let out a hearty laugh. "It had been a long while since we last saw each other!" He then turned to Rinoa. A small smile formed on his lips. "This must be your pretty daughter."
"Ah, yes Laguna. This is my daughter, Rinoa."
Rinoa blushed a the compliment given to her by the man, who she assumed was the President of Esthar.
"It's an honor to meet you Sir Laguna." Rinoa bowed to her father's friend.
"Oh! Please, no no no, no bowing!" Laguna held Rinoa's shoulder's and pulled her up gently. "And please, remove the 'Sir', just call me Uncle Laguna!" Esthar's President raised a thumb and pointed it to his chest.
Rinoa let out a soft giggle. "Okay Uncle Laguna."
"As always, make yourselves at home!"
Kiros cleared his throat. "Laguna, I believe our guests are hungry."
"OH! Yes yes, I'm sorry." Laguna scratched the back of his neck in embarassment. "To the dining hall we go!"
They all followed Laguna as he went through one of the sliding doors on the right side of the room.
The dining hall was a plain one, though the lenghty table was pleasingly decorated with foods on the table. Rinoa noticed how there were so much dishes served, enough to feed one whole army.
"Please, take a seat." Laguna gestured at them as he sat at a chair placed at the end of the long table. He then looked around, as if looking for someone.
"Your son said he'll be joining us in a few minutes." Kiros plainly said.
"Ah..." Laguna gave out a sheepish smile. "Well, can't let our guests wait too long, can we? C'mon now, gobble up! Don't be shy, just eat... whatever! Use your bare hands if you want!"
Rinoa picked up her spoon and scanned all the foods in front of her. They all look tasty and she wondered which one to take first.
Suddenly, they all heard the sliding door open and the sound footsteps approaching the table. Rinoa turned her head to see who just came in.
And froze on her seat.
Tall guy, brown hair, familiar deep blue eyes, scar on his face...
Squall entered the room in a semi-formal clothing. He was wearing gray button up shirt with its long sleeve folded halfway, matched with a black pair of pants. His eyes were fixed on the host for that night.
"Well, Squall my boy, come eat with us!"
Squall... Laguna's son?
Rinoa's schoolmate turned to General Caraway. "I'm sorry to be late, Sir. There was a task I had to attend to."
The General waved the matter off with his hands. "Don't worry about it. Come join us!"
Squall then looked at the girl beside the General.
And that same girl looked back at him.
Both were shocked to see each other.
Their fathers looked at them questioningly.
"You two... know each other?" Rinoa's father asked.
"Ah, they might be classmates or something." Laguna chuckled.
Rinoa was still staring at Squall. Squall is here. Laguna called him 'my boy'. He's Laguna's son. He lives in Esthar. He's the son of the President of Esthar?
Squall was the first to break the staring contest he was having with Rinoa and turned to her father. "She's a schoolmate of mine at Deling High."
General Caraway nodded. "You study at Deling High?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Hmm... how do I put this." Laguna began massaging his chin. "Well, he didn't want to study here at Esthar. Besides, it would be a wrong idea for him to learn with so much gizmos and technology. We decided that it would be better for him to enter a more normal and traditional school. And the best one around is Deling High."
Squall walked around the table and sat by his father, while Rinoa's eyes followed him.
"Well, that's good to know! You have a friend with us tonight!" The General rubbed his daughter's back, who in turn gave him a shy smile.
Throughout the whole dinner, laughs and stories were heard among the four men, while the two teenagers were silently eating their food. Rinoa would take glances of Squall once in a while, but he never looked at her. He only looked at his food and the people around him; General Caraway, Laguna, Kiros, Ward, the maid... to anyone, but Rinoa.
And it was getting annoying for her.
She wondered what she did wrong to him. She replayed everything in her head, and so far, none of those memories told her of a single possibility that he'll think badly of her. She was tempted to ask him a question, anything, in front of the four old men and she knew he won't ignore answering her. But she decided not to, with the fear that she might just embarrass herself.
"Lica," Laguna beckoned on the nearest maid. "would you be a dear and bring us some of those booze?"
Shortly after, Lica returned with three bottles of wine, and poured some on each wine glass on the table. Rinoa stared at her glass, hoping that it would be alright for her not to drink it before she gets another allergy attack. And for a split second that she didn't notice, Squall gave her a worried look.
Laguna stood from his chair and raised his glass to a toast. "To the youngsters among us!"
Everyone else followed suit. All of them gulped the wine down from their glasses, except Rinoa who put hers down the table. She thanked Hyne that nobody noticed.
Shortly after, the four old men were getting drunk, almost finishing the two bottles served to them. They seem to be enjoying themselves so much to realize that Squall excused himself and stood up from his seat. Rinoa did as well and followed Squall.
Outside the dining hall was alot more silent, and only the clicking of their shoes can be heard. Squall knew Rinoa was right behind him, but he didn't turn around to look at her, nor to stop her. But the raven haired girl didn't care, she was more than determined to corner him and talk to him.
She followed him as they passed the lobby and the huge living room. Rinoa could swear that she's getting tired from walking in his huge house, or palace.
Squall then entered a room, and with the fear that he might lock it, Rinoa ran her way as fast as she can to get inside, with success.
Rinoa closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before facing Squall. They seem to be at a small library, since she noticed that they're surrounded by books. Her presence was very much obvious to Squall, but he didn't stop to look at her. Instead, he swiftly took a book from a shelf and sat on a nearby couch.
"Okay Squall, what's your big idea?" Rinoa demanded. But she didn't get any response.
She waited for another moment to pass. "Squaaaall?" She called again, raising her tone on the last letters, but he still ignored her. And she have had it.
Rinoa walked in front of him and pulled his book off his hand. Still, Squall didn't look at her. Instead, he stood up and about to walk away.
"No!" Rinoa held him and pushed him back to the couch. "Sit!"
That got Squall. He obeyed and he finally looked up at her, as if saying 'You happy now?'
Rinoa pointed her trembling index finger at him. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Squall looked at her for a while. "I don't want to have anything to do with you or Cloud."
"What..." Rinoa was clearly confused. "What did you mean by that?"
"If Cloud found out that I'm speaking to his girlfriend right now, we'll just fight again."
"Girlfr- what?! I'm not Cloud's girlfriend!"
"Yeah, whatever. Just leave me alone." Squall turned his head away and waved his hand.
"No! Not before hearing what your problem is!"
"Then I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"Alright, then that only means I'm never leaving you alone."
"Why are you annoying me like this?" Squall sat up and looked at Rinoa in her brown eyes. "Why don't you just follow Cloud like a dog instead, like you usually do?"
Rinoa was shocked at his words, and so was Squall. Follow him? Like a dog? I never did that.
"I never did that!" Rinoa's voice was near sobbing.
"Of course you don't." Squall retorted sarcastically.
"No, you don't know!" Her eyes were beginning to get wet with tears. "You don't understand! None of you people do! For the last time, we're not dating!" Rinoa burried her face to her hands and sat on the couch next to Squall, who tried not to take in the painful sight of Rinoa crying.
It took a few moments before Rinoa said anything again. "If this is about what was happening at the cafeteria lately, then you're wrong." She said each word between sobs. "Cloud was eating with me because he wanted to protect me from you. Because he doesn't trust you." She gave out another set of sobs then looked at Squall. She hesitated to say the following words, but since she was already being honest, she decided to get through with it. "He noticed how you're being too friendly to me, and he thought that you have other intentions other than just being nice to me." She shook her head slightly. "I can't blame him. I know you're his rival and all, that's why he tends to think like that." She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled at the sad thoughts of it. "I just wish... for this rivalry to end." She began to say her piece. "It's getting really hard for me... to see two of my friends fight."
Squall sighed. "I'm not your friend."
"I may not be to you, but you are to me." She shot him with a painful look from her brown eyes and stared at his deep blue ones to stress her honesty to the statement. "To me, you're a good friend I never wanted to lose."
Squall stared back at her. Part of him was glad to hear that she thought of him as a friend, and that was at least enough for him to forgive her.
"I want to keep you both as my friends. But with what you two are doing right now, you're not even giving each other a chance to reconcil-"
"No." Squall cut her. "No way am I going to make up with him."
Rinoa knew she can't force anymore of her opinion on him and stayed silent as she let out a few more sobs and wiped her tears with her hands.
Squall wasn't getting any more uncomfortable with the silence. With Rinoa crying because of him while he said nothing very nice all this time, he didn't know what to do next. It was hard for him to fight the urge of rubbing her back with comfort.
"Oh..." He suddenly heard Rinoa's soft voice.
Squall turned to the only company he has in that room, only to see her holding a book in her hands, the same one that occupied his free time.
"You read the Purgatorio too." The brunette saw a small smile formed on the girl's face.
"Yeah." Squall turned his head away again... sheepishly.
"So, you took my advice, huh." Rinoa turned to look at Squall.
"Yeah. You told me you like it, so I figured it should be nice." The young master of the house replied. He didn't dare tell her that the reason why he began reading it is simply because she likes the whole divine comedy, so he wanted to know more about it.
Rinoa giggled, and Squall was surprised by her sudden recovery. "How do you find it so far?"
Squall shrugged. "It's fine."
Rinoa saw a folded page in the book, and guessed that it could be the mark of the part he's up to. She flipped it open.
"Hmm..." Rinoa murmured amusingly as she ran her fingers through the page. Squall stopped himself from smiling while watching her.
She turned back to him. "You're getting there." She said as she got herself locked in his deep blue stare, while he stared back at her brown ones.
He wanted to tell her not to look at him that way, but there really isn't any reason why. He knew he couldn't resist her.
He closed his eyes and looked away from her.
"I don't trust Cloud either." He decided to start explaining at least. "I hate him, every part of him ticks me off. But," He looked down to his lap. "I didn't want this rivalry. I want to do something and end it, not simply accept that it's just there."
Rinoa looked at him as she listened. And while she tried to think of something to reply, she gently closed the book in her hands. She then stood up, walked in front of the brunette, and kneeled to get a good look at his face. Squall saw Rinoa and glanced at her. "Then let's do it together! Help me end it, and I'll help you with Cloud. It would be great if you two become friends, though you don't exactly have to be. But to end the fighting is a good step forward."
He hoped that she would take his hand too, like what she did with Cloud, and pat it. But she didn't.
She, on the other hand, wanted to take his hand, but was hesitant because it might make Squall mad for being touched. After all, she doesn't know him that much.
Squall looked at her with his plain eyes. He did not show any sign of anger or doubtfulness, and thought about Rinoa's idea.
He knew it won't work. It never will. But he couldn't let Rinoa down either.
Squall recalled what Rinoa told him about the book 'Inferno' back at the school library.
"...it's better to go through Purgatory's punishments than remain in Hell forever."
Yes, he wanted the rivalry to end, but it would be hard in his part. It would also mean declaring peace with Cloud, which would require him to swallow up his pride. He also knew that it's always better to do something about it as early as now before it gets any worse, to the point that it can never be fixed anymore.
He thought he was facing this fight all alone, even if he has his friends to help him. All this time, he thought he was alone, until Rinoa came along. Someone who would risk anything, even her pride, just to chase him and tell him that she too wanted their little feud to end. Of all people, she who gave him a strange feeling of tranquility everytime...
Like now.
Rinoa was an enough reason for him to fix things with Cloud. That, Squall was sure about, at least.