Ok we're moving into the plot here. I've mentioned a lot of history and politics in this chapter so sorry if you find it a bit boring, i myself found it interesting... but then again being the writer i guess i would =P.
I only got like 2 reviews from the last chapter so im not sure if i should be continuing this, nor do i know if im making any mistakes so if anyone is out there reading this please review and tell me where my mistakes are i would really appreciate it. Even if your review is one word like Excellent, Good, Poor, Crap, STOP (writing this awful story).
Also a very big thank you to n9neSTAR who keeps pumping me with inspiration and encouragement and crepsucule (sorry i think i mis-spelt it) for the rountine reviews, you guys are ace!
Disclaimer: I dont own Final Fantasy or To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Chapter 7 - Unfolding Plans.
Squall chucked his jacket into his locker and retrieved his black hooded zip-up jumper, sliding it over his head and pulling up the hood. His soft brown bangs fell down in front of his brows, shaking his head to allow them to fall into their default position. He was walking towards his first class, Biology, when he felt an arm go round his head and force it into a lock.
"Sup Pubery boy?" Seifer said laughing and rubbing his fist vigourously into the soft cotton of Squall's hood.
"Almasy, get off!" Squall broke from the lock and shoved Seifer away from him. Giving him a death stare as he walked towards his original destination.
"What's wrong Squall you got your period today?" Seifer teased breaking into a fit of hysterical laughter. Squall just remained silent refusing to entertain Seifer's insults.
"Yo" Zell called while sprinting up to the two boys, he was wearing his three quarter jeans and a black zip-up that made him look like a skater kid.
"Dude you and Rinoa going out?" Zell asked Seifer curiously.
"Nah she's nice and all but I'm more into the blondes myself" Seifer said smugly stroking his own blond spikes.
"Oh" Zell said and was about to continue.
"Yeah but someone over here can't get enough of Miss Hot Heels" Seifer said attempting to grab Squall in a headlock again.
"Dude you touch me one more time and I swear I will heel you were the sun don't shine" Squall remarked shoving Seifer off him for the second time.
"Well Sarah found this on the school website" Zell said offering the printed sheet he held in his hand. Seifer took the sheet off him and read it before bursting into another fit of laughter. He chucked the paper towards Squall whose reflex caught the paper neatly and began reading.
"Some people have too much time on their hands" Squall commented after reading it and chucking the paper back to Zell.
"Some people are jealous" Seifer said teasing Squall.
"Whatever" Squall replied back.
"So you don't actually like Rinoa?" Zell asked Seifer. Seifer shook his head and made a pointing thumb towards Squall.
"Damn, Squall you gotta get in there man" Zell said laughing and then stopped short. "Wait, then why did you go off with Rinoa" he said pointing at Seifer "and you go off with Quistis?" he finished pointing at Squall.
"Chicken-wuss it was suppose to be a set-up, I was meant to go off with Quistis, while Puberty-boy and Rinoa got it going on" Seifer answered reading the printed page again.
The three boys walked into their class and sat at their seats. Zell was the first to speak.
"So what happened?" He asked looking at Squall.
"Well genius over here walked off with the wrong girl" Squall said softly. "And I did not want to 'get it on' with anyone". He added taking his books out of his bag and flipping through the pages.
"Hey its not my fault she kept on, she liked my company, plus we have a lot in common." Seifer answered back. It was true, he wanted to spend his time with Quistis, but honestly he had fun with Rinoa; he didn't regret going out with them.
"Yeah well there was no need to leave me alone with Quistis." Squall said still sour about the dinner incident.
"What was I suppose to do? She obviously didn't want anyone coming along".
"Poor Quisty" Zell said looking into space. "Seifer why don't you just tell her you like her?"
"I wasn't asking for your advice Agony Chicken-wuss" Seifer said rather harshly.
"I'm just saying, if one of you actually like her, tell her. I told Sarah and look where it got me?" Zell said happily daydreaming.
"What? You practically stalked her for months before you plucked up the courage to ask her out. She probably said yes to get you off her back" Seifer joked.
"Shut up" Zell said turning his attention back to his daydream.
The new teacher walked in and settled the class which didn't take much time. The boys all paid attention to the new Biology teacher, Miss Lulu. "Right class, I will be your teacher for the rest of the year, we will start with looking at human cells so please open your text books to page 14." She said writing the title and date on the writing board.
A boy with sandy blond hair at the front raised his hand, his friends sniggering behind him. "Yes?" the teacher asked.
"Miss, you're hot!" He said laughing at himself. Squall rolled his eyes. They had one every year, a class clown that had to stop the learning process in order to achieve some lifetime attainment of acting like a complete ass in front of the entire class.
"Thank you for the compliment, my husband, Coach Wakka, thinks so too" The teacher replied back before turning to the class and started reading from the textbook. The three boys settled down their laughter stopping at their throats. Squall smirked; he was going to like this teacher and her quick wit.
After their biology lesson the boys headed straight to the gym, they had a half an hour break before their next lesson so they normally hung outside the gym so they could be the first to change without having to squeeze past the other two dozen boys that used the changing room like their bedroom.
Squall stood leaning against a large tree planted near the gym's building. Seifer was standing around talking about his foster father's plans to send him to Centra for the winter holidays to get him acquainted with the family business. Seifer was adopted but his family lifestyle was no different to that of Squall's. Seifer foster father acted like a real father, he was an easy-going man but with strict rules that he placed when Seifer disobeyed or misbehaved. But at the same time, he made plans to help Seifer in his future career and always tried to get Seifer to look into different career paths to make him successful. Seifer's foster mother was also a kind lady that treated Seifer like her own son and slightly spoiled Seifer while he was growing up. Both parents had a difficult time trying for children and had come very close at one point. An accident at Shumi village though had left Mrs Kramer with a miscarriage and later she could no longer carry. It was a year after that incident that the couple decided to look into adoption and visited the Centra Ruins' Orphange where they met with Seifer and instantly clicked. In some ways, it was a blessing in disguise.
Zell was sitting on the glass pulling some blades out and muttering replies to Seifer's story.
Squall looked past Seifer and saw Rinoa approaching with Selphie and Quistis. The two blond boys followed his gaze and smiled as they saw the three girls approach.
"Hey guys" Rinoa said squinting into the sunlight.
"Sup" Zell replied, while Squall merely nodded in acknowledgement.
"Sup girlfriend" Seifer mocked in a silly accent.
Rinoa blushed before saying "Oh so I guess you read that?"
"Yeah had a good laugh" Seifer said teasingly.
"I just wanted to apologise if it makes you feel embarrassed or causes you any problems with… erm that thing" Rinoa tried her best to explain.
"Nah don't worry about it, just some hot gossip, it will die down soon enough" Seifer said.
"Shame" Quistis interrupted.
"What?" Rinoa asked.
"I said shame. You guys got like 80% votes and to be honest you look really cute. It's a shame you are not together really".
"Don't be daft" Rinoa replied laughing.
"I'm not, Squall, Zell don't you think they're perfect for each other?" Quistis asked, though she was mainly asking for Squall's opinion. She wanted to punish him for his rude hospitality he showed her the previous Saturday.
"Yeah I guess so" Zell said not too bothered by the situation.
Squall didn't reply, he just looked at Rinoa and then at Seifer, and then he looked away.
Rinoa just stood staring feeling uncomfortable.
"Well I think you two look cute, if there is any tiny morsel of interest in either of you." Selphie giggled.
Rinoa just rolled her eyes and Seifer chuckled. Quistis kept staring at Squall, he didn't answer her question, and he didn't even play along. She knew he liked Rinoa, maybe not in love with her, but there was definitely some kind of feeling that he never shared with Quistis. She didn't like that; it wasn't about fairness, now it had crossed a boarder. He is doing this on purpose, she thought, he is purposefully making me jealous and being rude to me.
The bell soon went off and Rinoa gave a sigh of relief. She waved goodbyes and headed off with the other two girls while the boys made their way to their gym class.
Squall chucked his gym bag into the boot of his car and made his way round the front to get in. He had a tiring day at school and wanted to get home as quick as possible but had to wait around for Zell.
He got into his car making himself comfortable and took out his book. With lessons only going on for a week he had already surpassed his literature reading class by three chapters. He liked reading To Kill a Mocking Bird mainly due to the calm and unbiased approach to society's norms Atticus challenged. The book was more than just a passage way to make people understand the wrong in white supremacy or any other racial supremacy; it was the relationships built through the struggles and tribulations people faced alone and together. It was sort of like the situation that the real world was in with the war between Galbadia and Esthar, only on a lighter scale.
It had gone about five minutes and Squall was wondering where Zell had got to. He looked up ahead and could see Seifer's broad figure talking to Rinoa under the large birch tree that adorned the parking lot. She was laughing and punching him slightly causing her body to be hidden away from Squall's view and behind Seifer's body.
"Ow, look what you did?"
"What's wrong?" Seifer asked looking into Rinoa's now vigorous rubbing of her eye.
"I think some crap flew into my eye" Rinoa replied still rubbing away.
"Well don't make it worse by rubbing it. Here open it up and I'll blow into it." Seifer instructed as he bent his head forward holding the back of her head with one hand and letting the other rest on her chin.
He lightly blew into her iris and could make out the fluff that had entered its way in uninvited. He blew again moving his mouth closer to her face.
A flash went off and then a couple more.
"Perfect" Said Quistis with a smile before plopping her phone into her bag and walking away.
Squall just sat in silence looking at Seifer and Rinoa with their heads locked. It didn't take a genius to know what was going on. He felt as if a weight were attached to his heart pulling it down while his heart struggled to remain in place. Betrayal and dejection was what he was feeling, sure Seifer didn't know how much he liked Rinoa, but those jokes he made about Rinoa and him, what was that? Was he getting back for the situation with Quistis? He couldn't look at him anymore. Either of them.
The side door just opened and Zell hopped in.
"Safe bro, lets go. Damn that Kefka dude, I swear he'd make a better nuclear scientist than a teacher. Always going on about experiments and shit". Zell blabbed on as Squall reversed and sped his way down the parking lot before leaving the school behind.
"Thanks" Rinoa said sniffing and exercising her eyes.
"No probs, anyways I'll see ya later, I'm going to see if I can catch up with Squall and copy his Bio homework" Seifer said before walking off.
Rinoa waved and walked towards Quistis's waiting red convertible.
"There you are" Quistis shouted as Rinoa approached her car.
"Sorry I got talking to Seifer" Rinoa said apologetically and hopped in pulling her belt over her and making herself comfortable.
"Hmm… well for two people who aren't going out you both seem to get a long very well" Quistis said teasing.
"Don't. Seifer actually likes someone else, remember?" Rinoa said matter of factly.
"You know, I think he just said that to play hard to get" Quistis replied.
"Nah, Seifer is too sure of himself to play that way."
"Well, it wouldn't be too bad if those rumours were true, you guys really do look cute together" Quistis said with a huge grin.
She's awfully happy. Rinoa thought. She opened her mouth to ask but then decided against it. Anything but Quistis being upset with her was fine with Rinoa, they had too many futile arguments since she got here it would have been a shame to waste this moment.
Squall sat in his living room against the front of the couch on the floor. Zell had walked in from the living room with some drinks and snacks.
The two decided the best way to relax after enduring a long and hard day at school was to wind down and play some video games.
"Who you gonna be?" Zell asked shoving a handful of cheese flavoured crisp balls and munching on them noisily.
"Who other than Law?" Squall replied sipping on his chilled coke. The drink was cold and he could feel the icy liquid pass down his trachea and fill his entire inside of his chest with it's cold temperature. "You?"
"Nah I'm more into the blonde spikes and leather gloves" Zell teased back before selecting his character and making himself more comfortable on the brown rug he was sitting on.
"Law versus Paul" announced the game and the two started battling it out. No sooner than ten seconds into the game the sound of the doorbell went off.
"Dude you got a visitor" Zell stated obviously.
"Get it then" Squall replied not bothered.
"Dude it's your house you get it"
"Yeah right so you can cheat" Squall retorted. He wouldn't trust to leave his game unattended while playing Zell. He'd only come back and find his character to the brink of death while Zell hopping in one place screaming 'Booya'.
"Lonie! The door!" Squall and Zell both shouted in unison.
"I'm upstairs! Get off your lazy butts and get it yourself" Ellone screamed back in reply.
"Sis… Please!" Squall cried back in a voice that tried to display hurt.
Ellone's scurried footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. She walked towards the front door and opened it. There stood Seifer who smiled at her before taking her into a hug.
"Hey 'lone how's uni?" He asked sincerely.
"Would be going good if I could get some work done" She replied back moving out of his way so he could come inside. She followed him into the living room opting to use the sliding doors that divided the living room and the kitchen as her method to get to the kitchen. Not before smacking Squall over the head with her reading book as she walked by muttering references to how lazy he could be.
"You guys left me back at school to come play this?" Seifer said with mock hurt.
"You looked busy with Rinoa" Squall answered honestly.
"Yeah I was just doing the ol' charm on her" Seifer said smugly.
"Bet you were" Squall replied not looking at him and keeping his concentration on the screen. Seifer's presence and direction of conversation were having adverse affects to his game play. Zell kept looking at Squall's direction as he realised Squall was mercilessly thrashing his character.
"Someone jealous?" Seifer teased. He could tell Squall was, Squall hadn't liked a girl before and Seifer knew he was serious about this one.
"Piss off" Squall muttered back and finally knocked out Zell's character.
"Chill it was joke" Seifer replied frowning at Squall with disappointment. He couldn't believe how emotional Squall was getting over this girl. Almost as if he was forgetting that Seifer liked Quistis and wasn't at all interested in Rinoa.
"Whatever" Squall replied and thrust the controller over to Seifer before picking up his drink and chugging it down.
"Boy, if you going to have another period over this why don't you just hurry up and ask her out?" Seifer suggested although angrily. He began pacing through the screen of different characters before settling for one.
"Yeah why don't you Squall?" Zell pipped in.
"Cause you bloody got me into this crap with Quistis!" Squall finally let out. "Not to mention having your tongue down her throat already!"
"What the… where the hell did you get that?" Seifer asked incredulous at Squall's outburst. He was shocked to hear Squall come out with such suspicions over a small talk with the girl. If this was how Squall reacted to someone he merely liked, what would he be like when he was in love with Rinoa.
"Don't even try to deny it. I saw you both in the parking lot, real romantic." Squall answered sarcastically. The image of them both surfaced and he lowed his eyes, he couldn't look at Seifer. The thought of Rinoa and Seifer made Squall ache and yearn for her even more, sure Seifer met her first, but meeting someone first didn't equal rights. But after what he saw today he wouldn't stand in Seifer's way if Rinoa wanted to pursue something with him, its not like she's interested in me, not after that kiss.
"Dude we were chilling, there was no kissing involved." Seifer replied even more astounded by Squall's suspicious.
"I know what I saw." Squall said looking at him directly in the eyes.
"Well then you need to get your eyes checked because there was no kissing. Unless you mean blowing, cause that I did" Seifer lamely joked, raising his hand to Zell for a high five.
Zell only shook his head with his hands still on the controller. "Failure" He replied.
Seifer dismissed Zell and looked back at Squall. "Dude, she got something in her eye, I blew into it. That was it, honest to God, I wouldn't do that, I know you're like psycho crazy over her." He said sincerely and went back to his game. Squall felt a bit guilty now, he knew deep down Seifer wouldn't do that to him. Sure the two never got along all the time, but both had principles and were decent; they'd never go after a girl when they knew the other liked her.
He felt stupid, yet relieved. "That still doesn't solve anything to do with Quistis." Squall reminded him.
"Well that was before Rinoa. And allow this whole thing with Quistis, woman makes my head spin. Plus it seemed like she was getting bored of you, hardly made any advances towards you today. You may just be losing your touch Squall." Seifer commented while smashing down on the controller buttons.
"Yeah whatever, you got me into this, you're going to get me out" was only Squall's reply.
"Exactly how?" Seifer asked.
"I don't know."
The boys sat there for another hour playing through video games when Laguna walked in. He took off his long coat hanging it up on cloak hanger and making his way to the lounge.
"Hey boys, how was school?" He asked genuinely interested.
"Same old same old" Zell replied.
"We got a hot biology teacher" Came Seifer's reply.
Squall merely looked to acknowledge his father and looked back at the T.V screen.
"Good good, hope you are staying out of trouble this year Seifer, I had a talk with your dad last week he is really interested in you studying at Centra next year." Laguna lectured feeling his responsibility towards Seifer.
"Yeah got my head down this year" Seifer said almost robotically.
"Squall, can I speak to you in the kitchen please?" Laguna asked making his way into the kitchen. Squall followed in pursuit closing the door that divided the kitchen and the lounge once he got there. He knew his father well and the only time he asked Squall politely to follow him in front of his friends was when he had something important to share.
He looked at his father expectedly. Laguna stood at the threshold of the other door to the kitchen and called Ellone downstairs. No sooner she had made her way and sat on one of the kitchen stools.
Laguna shoved his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath. He looked at both his children and finally opened his mouth to speak.
"As you both know, I have been making my way to Esthar a lot this month to settle this whole war with Galbadia. So I am happy, and might I add relieved to say the least, that we have made a Truce of Stability." Laguna started off.
"But daddy I thought the war was over three years ago?" Ellone asked confused.
"The war ended yes, and a truce was made verbally. But this whole time there were no documentation therefore it meant no legal rights of one country over another. Right now we have a major problem with a threat of civil rebellion." Laguna concluded.
"What do you mean?" Squall asked.
"Well sometimes when citizens don't like the way a government is leading a country they reb-"
"No I know what civil rebellion is, I mean what does that mean for Esthar and Galbadia?" Squall asked irritated.
"It means there are people that are willing to sacrifice peace between the two countries to cause some friction."
"So they're like what? Xenophobes that don't want the two countries to work together or something?" Ellone asked.
"No, not exactly. They are more like insecure people that don't believe the governments are genuine and actually want a peace treaty. They feel this peace is some trick of the sleeve and there is some benefit for one country while a disadvantage for the other." Laguna explained.
"So what does that mean for the treaty?" Squall asked quickly. He didn't like endless talk, he was a direct guy and wanted the information in short precise points.
"It means that there are people that will either detest, challenge or revolt. Which means that I must find a way to make the people of Galbadia believe and trust in the treaty and… trust in me" Laguna finally concluded.
"And exactly how are you going to do that?" Ellone asked although she already knew the answer.
"I'm afraid the cover has to come off" Laguna said sadly.
"What?" Squall shouted and immediately remembered the two blonds in the next room.
"Dad you can't!" Ellone cried equally as loud. "You promised, you said that this family would never have to face the lime light. It's not fair to do this in both mine and Squall's final year. Squall still has to go to Uni, do you know the type of prejudice and attention we'd face?" Ellone finished.
"I know honey. Which is why I carefully considered this option and came to a decision. You both have to understand, Esthar is known for its xenophobic attitude." The two were about to argue but Laguna held his hand out as a gesture for them to wait. "Which we all know isn't true. After Adel's regime it was only natural for a country to go completely isolated from other countries for fear of history repeating itself."
Laguna made his way towards the kitchen basin and retrieved a drinking glass and filled it with water. He took a long swig from it and looked back his two children.
"So the world didn't completely understand when Esthar shut its door and bolted it shut. Nor were they ever informed of Esthar's political or social news. Heck when I became president they didn't know. To the rest of the world it is scary, they don't know what we're planning or unplanning, we're like a ghost". He continued taking a short breath.
The two just listened in silence.
"Anyways, the only way it would make the Galbadians feel better is if they knew more about Esthar and more about its people. Hence 'Mission Esthar Open Day'."
"Err what?" Squall asked confused.
"Esthar, as of a date which I will need to confirm with Galbadia's General Caraway, will finally open its doors to countries other than Balamb and Fisherman's Horizon. People from Galbadia are now eligible to apply for Student Visa, Working Visa, Request for Citizenship, we're basically making Esthar a multicultural country." Laguna said hoping to sound as excited as it actually was.
"But there's only one problem with your plan" Squall commented. "How are you going to make people believe that Esthar is a country they will be safe in when the countries have been at war for God knows how long."
"Exactly. Which brings me to my exposure. No one is going to trust a country where they don't even know what they're president looks like. But, I made a decision that they will only know about me, I won't involve you both into my plans" Laguna said sincerely placing a hand on Ellone's shoulder and looking directly into Squall's eyes. In that moment he had just realised that Squall was only an inch shorter than himself. It felt like only yesterday he was helping the boy walk across the garden lawn teaching him how to walk.
The two siblings let out a sigh of relief. "How will it work though? Once they find out the President of Esthar lives here they'll bound to find out about me and Squall" Ellone asked.
"Well, that brings me to my other thing" Laguna said now not making contact with the kids. "I'm going to have to move semi-permanently to Esthar for the time being"
Squall and Ellone both looked at each other with shock. A smile tugged at the sides of Squall's mouth and the two high fived each other shouting 'woohoos'.
Laguna looked hurt and started to protest still stiffling a laugh.
"Oh dad, we're kidding. But it does seem like a good plan, plus it's better for your health if you don't travel so much back and forth" Ellone comforted him.
"Hey I'm not that old am I?" Laguna asked teasingly.
"Still, just because you introduce yourself to Galbadia doesn't mean they will accept you straight away" Squall argued.
"You're right, but it's still worth a shot, plus when they find out that I'm a Galbadian myself they might be more accepting. This whole process is for the two countries to come together, the two biggest countries on this earth it would make things a lot simpler and friendly if they got on like two peas in pod" Laguna explained still exasperated by the situation.
"You're going to have to find other ways of bringing the nations together" Ellone inputted.
"I know honey, that's why the General will be coming over in four weeks. You both need to be very presentable and touch up on your social skills. Squall, you more than Lonie" Laguna joked. "Maybe Lonie can lend you some foundation to cover up that scar"
"Whatever" Squall replied rolling his eyes. Ellone laughed.
"Wait, why do we have meet him?" She asked seriously.
"Well honey, I'm keeping you out of the lime light, but if the General of Galbadia doesn't even know who my kids are than it will look very suspicious" Laguna tried to reason.
The two kids nodded and the three made their final arrangements. Things were going to be somewhat different now that Laguna wouldn't be permanently living with them, but Squall didn't mind so much. He was used to having his own space anyways, although he felt a tad bit upset that his father sacrificed a lot for their privacy. If anything, Squall respected him more than anything.
Rinoa was about to get ready and jump into bed, it was nearing 10pm and she felt so tired she could of just fallen onto her shag rug and snore to 'lala land' right there. Just as she was comfortable her phone went off. Blinking her eyes to focus she grabbed her phone off her night stand and looked at the caller. Shocked at how late he was calling she quickly flipped the phone up and held it to her ear.
"Hey dad!"
Ok so i hope i didnt put anyone to sleep in the second to last scene, the story will be more plot based now seeing as im waaay past the introductory stage.
As promised here is a teaser for next weeks chapter. I'll make it a bit fun for putting those of you to sleep. XD
Next Week on The Set Up...
...
He had found her sitting on the edge of a cliff looking longingly out onto the plains of Galbadia which could be seen outside the town. The sun was setting in the distant horizon and the last traces of golden light illuminated the young girl's face highlighting the delicate tears that streaked her face.
"Rinoa" He addressed her with his calmest and softest voice. "May I take this seat?"
"Go for it" She replied without looking at him. Her eyes were still focused on the setting sun and occasionally she'd take a deep sniff and wipe a couple of stray tears that gathered at the corners of hr mouth.
...
Tune in next week same time same place only on Niqsta!
=p... Lame i know!