Sorry for leaving you on such a cliff-hanger, hehe, although I did have fun leaving you all on the edge of your seats.
I think the break in chapter 10 was good as it acted as an intermission, but i should warn you that there may be more breaks in my updating simply because i'm not entirely happy with chapter 14+ - yes i am very ahead. So that means, if you want quick updates, REVIEW!
I should mention there is a small parody at the end, you dont have to read it - it doesnt effect the storyline. Its just some fun me and n9neSTAR were having, its our attempt at self-inserts (which by the way, we think is a bit lame - hence the parody). Enjoy!
Chapter 11 - Rough Divide vs. No Mercy
Quistis was waiting in the library, it was only 8:35am but she thought she'd get there early so not make Rinoa wait in case the girl had gotten to school before her. She had the letter in her bag, which she could have taken out to keep ready, but it meant the less time she would spend with Rinoa as she would be expected to quickly hand it over.
She was looking through the tall book shelves and spotted a book, it was a fantasy genre called The Sorceress's Knight which Seifer was fond of when he was young. Her thoughts went back to the day before in the café where Seifer confessed his feelings. She was surprised that she didn't spot it herself; she always knew Seifer paid her extra attention; but she always thought it was because he respected her, how he respected Fujin.
She hoped it wasn't a rebound sense of feeling, but now knowing Seifer took a keen interest in her, she wasn't too upset over the rejection from Squall. The more she thought about it, the more she realised she really did waste her efforts; she should have given up the first time he rejected her. Seifer came back to her thoughts and she couldn't help the smile that crept up to her face which she tried to hide by pressing lips together. Guess I am moving on. She thought happily.
Rinoa jumped out of Squall's Audi chucking her bag over her shoulder and quickly made her way towards the school building without looking back. The car ride was completely silent as he drove her to school, only their breathing could be heard.
Now at the school neither made any recognition of each other walking their separate ways as if they never knew the other existed.
Rinoa walked down the corridor to the Library her face completely straight lacking any emotion. She had her sunglasses on as her eyes were bloodshot from the excessive crying she had been doing night before. When she woke up that morning feeling hollow and dejected she decided that she just wouldn't care. If Squall didn't want her friendship she wouldn't beg him for his. She would go on as if he didn't exist. She could do that, If I could live 17 years of my life without him, I can continue for the rest of it.
Even though she kept repeating these thoughts she still felt hollow and miserable over it, she was hurt, he had hurt her and she didn't want him to do it again. She had to promise herself that she wouldn't put herself in a position where she would care for someone to the extent that she would get hurt in the process.
She walked into the library and spotted Quistis immediately. She found it funny that she spent the whole of Sunday morning being annoyed at her cousin for what had happened, yet here she was now, not bothered to care in the slightest. She had already lost Squall, she realised she didn't want to lose anyone else. Guess the promise was binding after all.
"Rinoa, hey!" Quistis said trying to sound cheerful hoping her mood might project onto her cousin whose face couldn't get any straighter than ruler.
"You have my letter?" She asked not bothering with greetings.
Quistis was deflated immediately, she felt stupid for thinking that Rinoa would just go on like normal after what had happened at Selphie's party.
"Yeah, it's in my bag." She said taking her bag and fishing through it. She handed it over and watched as Rinoa took it and started turning away.
"Wait, Rinoa. Erm I was thinking maybe we could walk together?" Quistis said and immediately regretted how lame she sounded.
"I'm going to the geography building; you have Computing on this floor." Rinoa stated while still walking.
"Yeah I don't mind, I need the exercise with all the snacking I've been doing." Quistis attempted at a joke laughing nervously.
Rinoa just kept walking out of the library and down the corridor. She was making her way out of the main building towards the lawn that took her to the small huts that were part of the campus. Classes were about to start in less than 10 minutes and students were wondering around aimlessly in the courtyard.
A group of athletes were goofing around chucking a football at each other, one boy accidentally backed into Rinoa on his way, knocking her glasses slightly bringing them down to her nose exposing her bloodshot eyes.
"Sorry." He muttered and ran off with the ball in his hands.
She reassembled the glasses and continued to walk until she felt a strong hand on her arm. She turned to find Quistis, a worried look on her face. The blonde reached over and took off her sunglasses.
"Rin, what's wrong?" She asked concerned.
"Its nothing" She lied averting the same eyes that exposed her a few seconds ago.
"It's not 'nothing', tell me. Look I'm really sorry for what I did to you, and I'll grovel later, but for now please see me as your cousin and tell me what happened." Quistis pleaded.
Rinoa's eyes brimmed with tears again, she didn't want them to; when they brimmed with tears it meant she cared. She didn't want to care for Squall, she wanted to be rid of him, she wanted to be rid of the hurt she felt, she wanted to be rid of the love she still felt for him.
"Look, I have lessons now; I'll meet you at break. I'll tell you then." She smiled and walked off.
Quistis just nodded and stood watching the girl go. She couldn't think of what could have made the girl's eyes so bloodshot and dark. Again the feeling of guilt was filling her gut as she hoped it had nothing to do with Squall.
"…is a type of what cell, Seifer?" Miss Lulu asked looking at Seifer sitting in the far end of the class.
"White blood cell." Seifer replied not very interested. The class were listening to Miss Lulu drone on about Phagocytes. Seifer tried to keep his concentration but his mind kept wondering to the events over the weekend and his eyes kept wondering over to Squall's still body sitting next to him.
"Good. So we know that a phagocyte recognises the antigens on a pathogen…" The teacher kept explaining while the students wrote hurriedly in their exercise books. "A lysosome fuses with the phagocyte vacuole, so the enzymes break down the pathogen."
Seifer took a break from his writing and looked up at Squall. The brunette still hadn't moved. His eyes were still fixated on his paper that had nothing written on it. He was surprised the teacher hadn't noticed.
"… then presents the pathogen's antigens. It sticks the antigens on its surface to activate other immune system cells, so it is also called a what, Squall… Squall?" The older woman tried to get the young boy's attention.
"Dude." Zell whispered poking Squall's back with his pen. The brunette lifted his head from the staring competition he was having with his empty notepad.
"Squall can you tell us what these cells are called?" The teacher repeated her question.
"Oh… antigen-presenting cells." He replied softly.
"Good." The teacher approved but with a careful eye, she continued lecturing and Squall repositioned his eyes thinking back to last night's events.
He hadn't meant for it to get that far, but he couldn't let her in like that. She messed up his mind, she messed up his feelings. Even though she was innocent of the bathroom incident, the mere thought of her betraying him sent his mind in an array of confusion and his heart in a deep void of pain. How did I let myself get so close? I'm so stupid. He was revelling in his stupidity of allowing her in to his thoughts and into his heart. He had never felt love for any other girl before, and now realising how it could quickly poison his mind and heart making him dependant on her, dependant on wanting her love, he didn't want these feelings. Of course she didn't hurt him, she just scared him. It was the idea that he had become so close to her; she had the power to make him crumble, she had the power to wound him, if she wanted to. She could place his heart on a silver platter, take a sharp knife and slice into it… and he'd let her.
"Ok class the bell will ring in a couple of minutes, but I want to announce your assignment partners now. You need to make sure you both devise a plan together, I will hand out a check list on all the content you should add to your assignments."
Squall looked up at the teacher; she was reading out names from a list for the assignment they needed to hand in. At least this tonne of work will keep me busy. He knew he needed a distraction at home to keep him away from Rinoa; it was difficult that she was currently living with him; he needed a reason to stay up in his room all day without looking inhospitable in front of the General.
"… Seifer and Bailey." Miss Lulu read out.
"Bloody hell!" Seifer cried out slamming his fist on his desk. Bailey was a very smart student that Seifer had the privilege of being paired with last year. The two didn't get along as Bailey's constant demands and lectures on Seifer's lack of involvement had the two nearly starting a civil war. He had, of course, last year approached her asking to be paired with her thinking it was an easy A and would have gotten his father off his back about his inconsistent grades. Little did he know, the small petite girl was a lot stronger than her appearance deceived others and didn't put up with his lack of effort.
Bailey turned to him glaring a look of pure hatred. "Shut up Almasy, you're not exactly the brightest achieving student here."
"I'm probably brighter than you will ever be, Shorty." He retorted.
"Pi-"
"Excuse me! This assignment is on cells, NOT on how well you get along with your peers. So suck it up and deal with it." Miss Lulu reprimanded from across the class room. "Now as for the rest of you… Squall and Zell… Sabrina and Dexter…"
Seifer looked over at Bailey still glaring at him while talking to her friend Sabrina who was muttering some sort of reassurance and casually throwing Seifer dirty looks. Deciding to taunt Bailey more he flipped her off making the girl's mouth fly open in shock by his sudden movement. He chuckled to himself and went back to packing his books into his bag. A sharp pain hit him across his cheek when he felt a sudden impact. Looking down on his desk sat a sky blue pencil; he looked up at the two girls giggling on the other side of the classroom. Sabrina was twirling an identical pencil around her fingers, a smirk across her face and her left eyebrow raised.
Cursing lightly to himself he grabbed his belongings and made his way to Zell and Squall remembering to pick up the sky blue pencil.
"Just come over to mine today and we'll work on it." Squall was talking to Zell as they made their way out of the class room.
"Sure." Zell complied.
"Squall, we need to talk." Seifer addressed the brunette.
"Don't feel like talking." Squall wasn't in the mood for a Rinoa lecture.
"Well then listen and I'll talk." Seifer countered back.
"Whatever."
Seifer just watched as Squall walked off not bothering to wait. He just shook his head and made his way to the cafeteria with Zell.
Rinoa looked around hoping not to bump into Squall in the cafeteria. She wanted to play it safe by sitting with Sarah but she couldn't find the girl anywhere in the large cafeteria. She spotted Selphie waving to her from one of the round tables next to the windows, only Irvine and Quistis were with her. Deciding it was safe she made her way to the group and sat down with her snack.
"Rinny how you doing?" Selphie asked placing a hug around her neck.
"I'm okay." She smiled lightly.
"I'm so sorry about Saturday I really tried calling you but your phone was turned off."
"Yeah I just needed space but I'm fine now."
"Well, here is your shirt and jacket back; you left them at mine." Selphie smiled sympathetically and handed her a bag with Rinoa's garments.
"Rin, you said we'd talk?" Quistis asked from across the table.
"Yeah, you know it's actually nothing." Rinoa tried to dissuade the blonde from further questioning her; she really didn't want to talk about Squall, especially with Irvine there.
"Rin, you look like you've been crying, tell us I'm… we're your friends." Quistis attempted. She felt like a hypocrite for saying that after what she had done. She wished she could turn back the clock and stop herself from her madness. She'd realised she had to do some major grovelling and making-up to get her cousin's trust back.
"Rinoa," Irvine called out to the girl, "if it's about Squall, Seifer called him and told him it was an accident. So I'm sure if you speak to him he'll be fine now."
She stared at all three of her friends, they didn't know the full story and she contemplated whether or not she should tell them. Would they agree with her? Or would they simply pat her back and tell her she fell in love with the wrong guy. Would Quistis still wear the same smile if she told her that she confessed her love to Squall, the one she promised she wouldn't go after?
"I know. Thing is I bumped into Squall yesterday and he… he told me he knew about the incident with Seifer being a mistake. But he still doesn't want anything to do with me." She slowly revealed to the three. Selphie gasped while Quistis frowned worriedly. Damn what have I done? The blonde cursed at herself, she never thought her actions would result to this extent.
"Why?" Irvine asked perplexed at Squall's behaviour. It wasn't like the brunette to hold something against someone for a small mishap; Squall was taking things too far.
"I don't know, he just said that we weren't friendship material, whatever that means." She replied her gazed on her unopened granola bar. She could feel it now, that heaviness that settled in her chest whenever she thought or spoke about him for too long. She had that feeling all last night and now it was back again claiming residence in her weakened heart.
"That's dumb! He's being such an ass, what's the big deal?" Selphie burst out attracting attention from some students near their table.
"Look guys, I'd appreciate it if you didn't say thing." Rinoa said getting up from her chair and gathering her belongings. "I don't want this to be a big issue, if he doesn't want my friendship, that's his call. I don't care anymore."
"Of course we won't say anything," Irvine agreed, "right girls?" He looked at Selphie and Quistis; he knew they'd have a few tricks up their sleeves.
"But, this isn't fair, I don't understand why he's being such a-" Selphie tried to argue.
"Sephie, it's none of our business, Rinoa doesn't want it to be a big deal." Irvine explained.
The brunette girl just crossed her arms and nodded. Quistis got up from her chair ready to follow Rinoa. The two girls walked out of the cafeteria making their way to the large water fountain in the foyer.
"Rinoa I need to apologise. I shouldn't have posted that picture, I never knew it would lead to all this, I… I'm just so sorry." Her voice broke as she started crying. She sniffed and looked at the raven haired girl through her tears.
"Quisty, don't worry about it, what's done is done and to be honest I need all the friends I have right now. Look I need to apologise too." She took Quistis by the hand and led her to the fountain.
Once seated she faced the blonde ready to explain. "I wanted to apologise, I think the reason why you posted that picture, and the poll," Quistis looked at her in surprise, "yes I figured it was you, was probably because you felt insecure. And I am to blame for that."
"No Rinoa, you're not!" She tried arguing back.
"Hold on, let me explain myself." Rinoa said calmly. "See, although I made that promise, even when I made it I knew it was something I would regret. So instead I wanted to befriend Squall if I couldn't have anything else with him." She took a deep breath. She didn't want any skeletons in her closet. She forgave Quistis, she hoped the girl would also be forgiving.
"See, I did like him and the more I wasn't allowed to like him, the more I did, make sense?" She asked to which the other girl nodded. "Quistis, after what happened on Saturday I thought to myself that the promise was nullified. I was angry at you, so I thought that it was no longer in effect and I wanted to do whatever I could to keep Squall." She blinked hard; everything was a mess from such a small act.
Quistis listened patiently, she couldn't help thinking back to the promise, it was stupid now, and she shouldn't have made the girl promise to such a silly request.
"Rinoa I understand, and I'm glad you thought like that. I was stupid to make you promise such a thing." She said humbly.
"Quistis, hold on, you won't like me for this." Rinoa said averting her eyes guiltily. The blonde looked at her cautiously. "I thought everything was fine afterwards because Squall went back to acting normal. But it wasn't, that's when he told me he didn't want anything to do with me. So I told him I liked him." Rinoa further explained. The heaviness in her chest became greater, she wanted to stop talking about him, but she also wanted Quistis to know the truth, even if it meant nothing now.
"But he told me he didn't like me back." She concluded.
"This is so crazy!" The blonde shouted making the other girl jump. "Rinoa, I'm sorry but I am so glad he turned me down. I can't believe over some stupid bathroom incident he's acting like this. What is his problem? A week ago he kept making cow eyes at you and drooling when you walked past, and now he's acting like… like… argh!" She stood up for emphasis; she couldn't understand why he was being like that.
"Quistis," Rinoa stood up getting the girl's attention, "it doesn't matter, I wanted to apologise, not because I broke our promise. Quistis, even before this incident happened, when I was 'under' your promise" she made quotation marks with her fingers "when I knew you still liked him," She hesitated, now or never, "Quistis I fell in love with him, and I'm pretty sure I tried to get him to feel the same way."
Quistis stared at her, she knew what her reaction would have been like if she had told her this a week ago, she'd probably have a fit and swear never to talk to her. But now she realised she made Rinoa promise something so futile. Whether or not she wanted it to happen, Rinoa still fell in love with Squall, and funnily and ironically now Quistis wasn't bothered by it.
"I just wanted to apologise…" She averted her eyes, the tears were back and she couldn't let them reappear.
"Rin, you don't need to apologise. That promise meant nothing; I was stupid to ask you to do that." She took the girl into a hug rubbing her back. "Maybe if we tell him how strongly you feel-"
"I told him." Rinoa broke from the hug and wiped her eyes. Quistis looked at the girl.
"And he?"
"He said he didn't feel the same way." At that moment the bell rang and the students around the foyer were making their way to their lessons.
"Look I gotta go; I'll see ya at lunch." Rinoa ran off to her lesson leaving Quistis still standing in the foyer.
I have to do something, I need to fix this, it was my fault, now I gotta set it straight.
Seifer was making his way out of the gym following Xu, who had come in and told him there was an emergency call from his father.
"Er, Xu, the office is this way." Seifer said to the girl pointing to the opposite direction from the way the girl was leading him.
"I know, just follow me, I'll explain." Xu said still walking ahead past the lawn towards the back of the Gym.
Seifer followed and shortly reached the back of the huts to find Quistis waiting for him leaned back against the building wall.
"What's going on?" He asked curiously.
"Right, you didn't get a call, she wanted to talk to you. Quistis, don't make me do this ever again, I can't get fired over this, you know this job will be paying for my fees for Uni." Xu cautioned the blonde girl who nodded and said her thanks.
"Seifer, you need to help me." Quistis didn't bother with introductions she went straight to the point.
"Okay, what with?" He asked still cautious.
"Rinoa told Squall she loves him." She breathed out. "But he told her he didn't feel the same way and now he doesn't want anything to do with her."
Seifer looked her at through frowned eyes; he put his index finger and thumb to his lips thinking. "Are you sure?"
"Positive, she told me herself. Seifer we need to do something. This is all my fault!" She stamped her feet feeling like a six year old girl.
"But why would he tell her he didn't feel the same way?" He asked more to himself.
"I don't know, she said after Saturday he didn't want anything to do with her even though he knew she was innocent." Quistis said looking at the blond who was staring at the ground deep in thought. Realisation hit and he slowly shook his head. "What?" She asked.
"I know why he doesn't want anything to do with her, and believe me Quistis it is nothing you can change."
"How?" She asked deflated at his discouraging behaviour.
"Trust me, Squall will change himself, and if he doesn't, tell Rinoa I know some friends I can set her up – Ow!" He put a hand to the side of his head where she had just smacked him.
"Be serious!"
"I am! Quistis, Squall doesn't fall in love; its too much headache for him, don't you remember what happened when he lost his mum? It's a series of heartbreak and emotions that never pass; even though you cope afterwards, that feeling never leaves." Seifer spoke empathising with the brunette.
"But he doesn't love Rinoa, so why's he staying away from her? Because he's scared he's going to fall in love with her?" She asked only to answer her own questions.
"Ha-ha. No, because he's already in love with her." Seifer muttered.
"Wait, you just said he doesn't fall in love."
"I know, but he has now, it's the only possible explanation why he doesn't want anything to do with her. If I know anything, it's that Leonhart doesn't want to depend on her, I saw his face on Saturday; looked like he had a thousand daggers piercing through his heart."
The two were silent for a while. Quistis was in deep contemplation, she didn't want this to escalate even further but she had to fix what she started, there had to be a way.
"Seifer, we're going to fix this." She said looking up at him.
"Nah-uh! No way, I am not getting involved." He shook his arms in front of her for emphasis.
"Seifer!" She put her hands on her hips giving him a stern look.
"No!" He enunciated slowly.
She took her hands off her hips and stepped close to him, placing her hands on his shoulders and leaning into his lips, stopping before she touched them with hers.
"Seifer please?" She breathed against him pleadingly.
He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her in closer. "We're so going to hell if this doesn't work out."
Squall made his way to the cafeteria with Zell, he wasn't hungry but thought he should check in with group although he hoped Rinoa wasn't there; he didn't want to deal with the awkwardness of being around her. Though a part of him wished she was, for that pleasure he got from seeing her. He missed her, he missed her smile, her giggles as they escaped from her mouth and the way she creased her nose when she found something funny. Don't think about her. He removed the thoughts from his head not letting himself fall into her poison.
Rinoa grabbed a coke off the open fridge and added it to her tray; although she had purchased a snack during break she didn't have the time to eat it and was over-due a proper meal.
After paying she made her way to Selphie's usual table spotting the rest of the gang minus Squall. Since he had dropped her off his morning she hadn't seen him, making school all the more bearable for her.
She had just reached the table when she saw Squall's tall muscled figure sit down next to Irvine pulling the chair towards the table. His head was down as he was straightening his sitting position, his soft brown hair covering his view. She stood still, she couldn't handle sitting on the same table as him. She looked around at the rest of the group who were eyeing her wishing for her to take a seat. But she couldn't. She stood there staring at him, feeling the heaviness deepen in her chest.
He looked up noticing an alien silence that descended on the table. They were all looking at him and looking at the figure standing next to the table. He looked. She stood there. Her mouth was slightly open as she stared at him through those sad chocolate brown eyes that once danced with laughter and excitement.
She turned and walked off towards a far table out of sight.
He looked to the rest of his companions sitting in silence not knowing what to say. Selphie, he could tell was fuming, she sat arms cross not looking at him. But he knew the fumes were directed to him. Irvine just played around with his fries pretending not to have noticed anything while Zell quietly ate his hot dog. Quistis was leaning with her back against Seifer's chest, his arm around her; she was playing with his fingers refusing to acknowledge Squall. Only Seifer looked at him, but out of disappointment.
"Screw this" Squall said softly and pushed his chair back making his way out of the cafeteria.
Once in the quiet corridor he heard Seifer call out to him.
Rinoa looked up as she saw Quistis shout out to Seifer who was busy chasing after Squall. She wondered what had happened after she left. Quistis looked at her and she knew something was about to happen. Getting up she followed Quistis's retreating body out of the cafeteria.
"Puberty boy, stop being so emo and listen to what I gotta say." Seifer shouted once he reached the quiet and desolate corridor grabbing Squall's arm forcing him to turn around.
"Don't touch me you–"
"You what?" Seifer interrupted.
"What the hell do you thinking your playing at?" Squall angrily pushed him back.
"Why are you being such an ass to her? She doesn't deserve your crap." Seifer spat at him.
"Well she doesn't have to; she's staying out of my way and I'm staying out of her's." Squall retorted walking away.
"Don't walk away from me." Seifer yelled pushing him onto the blue lockers lined-up against the wall. "You were the one that had a fit over the idea of me and her, and now what? You just chose not be involved with her after she's fallen in love with you?"
Squall darted his eyes at Seifer, How did he know? He was breathing hard; it wasn't anyone's business why he didn't want any involvement with Rinoa.
"You're so up yourself! She did nothing! Why do you have to be such a dog to her?" Seifer angrily shouted.
"If I don't want anything to do with her that's my business, if you love her so much you go be with her."
The two girl's reached the corridor along with Selphie, Irvine and Zell where Seifer and Squall were verbally sparring. Neither saw the group approach nor realised they were standing there.
"She doesn't love me; she loves you and bloody hell I don't know why! You're such a moron; I don't even know what she sees in you." Seifer kept shouting.
He didn't have to listen to this, he didn't need to be told that he was hurting her, he knew he was. He couldn't help it; if he didn't hurt her now, they'd both be hurt in the long run.
"She's in love with you, and you reject her after making puppy-dog eyes at her since she's been here?" Seifer looked at Squall who stood mute head down, refusing to make eye contact. "Do you really think she'd hurt you? She thinks the world of you Leonhart, your respect. She felt degraded at Selphie's party, not because of me seeing her, but because of the look on your face. THAT'S what is important to her; YOU and your bloody opinion of her!" He raised his voice again angry that the boy wouldn't reply.
"I don't need your psychoanalysis crap!" Squall countered back and began to walk away.
"Leonhart! Don't-" Seifer pulled him back again pushing him up against the lockers, he had Squall's shirt wrap around his fists refusing to let go. "Admit why you're doing this to her!"
"Why? It has nothing to do with you!" Squall spat back, he was boiling with anger now; Seifer was overstepping the marker.
"She loves you, she deserves better!"
"I don't care!"
"You do care! Otherwise you wouldn't going through the trouble keeping her away from you, so why? WHY?"
"Because I love her back ok, OK?" Squall shouted back surprised by his own outrage, if Seifer didn't let go of him now he'd go overboard.
"If you love her, then you'd show it." Seifer said through clenched teeth.
"Let, go, of, me." Squall spoke in a deep low tone, he put his hands on the grasp Seifer had on him.
"Bloody hell Leonhart, she's not mum, your mum died, she didn't abandon you so stop treating Rinoa like she's guilty of just that!"
"Argh!" Squall pushed Seifer back, the mention of his troubles bringing him to the edge. He hit Seifer across the face, punching the blond on his right cheek to the right side of his nose causing it to bleed.
Seifer stumbled slightly and regained his balance, he looked at the brunette and rushed for him throwing a punch but missing. Squall ducked, so Seifer used his left hand to pick him up by the collar and laid the missed punch onto his right cheek. Freeing himself from Seifer's grip he pushed the blond against the wall kneeing him in the stomach but not before the blond threw another punch which landed on Squall's left eyebrow.
The group witnessing the fight ensue rushed to break the two boys free.
"Seifer stop!" Quistis called out running in her heels. Rinoa who was faster reached the two first grabbing Squall by the shoulder and trying to get him away from Seifer, stopping this futile argument.
"Dude stop it!" Zell shouted just about reaching the group with Irvine closely behind.
"Let go of me!" Squall shouted and backhand slapped the figure pulling at his shoulder.
He looked down eyes wide in shock, his mouth wide open, the rage in him completely gone and replaced with sickness and guilt as Rinoa sat on the floor her hand on her left cheek that was hastily growing redder by the second. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at him in shock.
"Rinny!" Selphie shouted running to the girl helping her up onto her feet. Quistis made her way trying to force the hand away from her cheek to inspect it but the girl just lowered her head letting her tears fall to the floor.
He didn't know what to do, but he needed to check if she was alright. "Rinoa, I didn't mean…" He walked towards her his hand raised reaching out to her.
She looked up at the hand and immediately moved back. "Don't touch me!" She cried back through her tears and allowed the two girls to help her out of the corridor.
"Nice going you prick!" Seifer spat and followed the girls along with Zell and Irvine.
He just stood there unable to move, he didn't mean to hit her; he didn't even know she was there. All this time he was scared she'd hurt him, that the idea of losing her would be unbearable for him and he wouldn't be able to handle it. Instead he had hurt her and the feeling that was pumping into him now, the feeling of heaviness that filled his chest, knowing that one simple ignorant act could never be erased. The heaviness of regret, remorse and shame, the heaviness of knowing that the love she had for him, was probably shattered by his actions.
He looked down at his hand; it looked clean, but it felt dirty.
What have I done? He slumped down against the wall, and let his head fall looking down at the floor in shame. He looked at his hand again, and that's when he noticed it. On the smooth edge of his Griever ring ran a smear of fresh blood.
Parody - The One with the Self Inserts
Seifer logged onto one of the terminals in the Library thinking he'd quickly get some work done before his shift at the Mall. He wasn't bothered to work after the incident that took place at lunch, his mind kept reeling to Squall's hand smacking Rinoa away. He knew it was an accident, but he wasn't sure if Rinoa would see it that way. She had cried in the bathroom while Quistis wiped her up. She refused to go to the infirmary to get the cut checked and refused to allow Quistis to take her to her Dad's villa. She had returned to her lessons after wiping her face and allowing Selphie to apply a plaster on her cheek. He had joked and called her Nelly, but she wasn't in a joking mood and made her way to her Chemistry lesson quietly.
He logged into the school's chat room to see if anyone had any tips on the assignment. He chuckled to himself when he saw the message from Bailey appear. He looked up from his terminal and there she was at the far end of the Library next to her friend. Bailey's medium blonde hair with vivid blue roots matching the immaculately applied blue eye make-up stood out from the rest of the crowd. Sabrina was similar only with black hair and almond shaped eyes, she resembled Rinoa slightly what with the same complexion and chocolate brown eyes minus the natural copper highlights, and the addition of a nose piercing. She was a couple of inches taller than Bailey but both dressed in complete black, making themselves look like a Goths, their bubbly and energetic personalities proving otherwise. Bailey looked at him expectantly waiting for him to reply in the chat room.
Hyperion9999: YES woman! I will get it done, why'd you think I logged on?
n9neSTAR: Wasting time?
Niqsta: Maybe he's writing his fanfic lol
n9neSTAR: LOL! Talk about lame!
Niqsta: Yeah, as lame as self inserts *looks sheepishly*
Hyperion9999: Lol you're so funny *rolls eyes* and I wrote that stuff when I was like 14
n9neSTAR: How could we forget!
Niqsta: So Seifer, you still want be the Sorceress's knight?
Hyperion9999: Do you still cosplay as Aonir?
Niqsta: No!
Hyperion9999: Well there's your answer nerd.
n9neSTAR: Don't call her a nerd, at least she'll get somewhere in life!
Hyperion9999: Don't you losers even know how to stick up for yourself? You're always backing each over up; seriously fight your own battles.
Niqsta: You're only saying that because you have no friends, you're always fighting with Squall.
n9neSTAR: Yeah that's how you got your disgusting scars.
Hyperion9999: You guys don't know ****, stop ****ing me off.
n9neSTAR: What are you going to do? Use your limit break on us Mr. Knight?
Niqsta: LOL limit break.
Hyperion9999: Just keep out of my way or you'll be sorry.
n9neSTAR: Oh yeah? What are you planning to have us assassinated?
n9neSTAR has been Blocked
Niqsta has been Blocked.
Seifer closed the browser and opened up a fresh one starting his research. He tried his best to stay focused but occasionally he'd go back to the situation with Squall. He couldn't understand why Squall still refused to let Rinoa in, he knew it had something to do with his mother. It was evident when Squall had started throwing punches, he just didn't know Squall was that seriously troubled and scared of getting close to someone.
Seifer sighed and looked at the small digital clock on his screen, it was 4:30, he had to get ready and head for work. He looked up to see Bailey and Sabrina making their way out of the library. He really didn't like those two, he found them irritatingly annoying. As he packed his things he noticed the pencil he was using, a sky blue pencil. A smile crept up to his face.
He made his way out of the Library quickly and headed to the foyer. There were Bailey and Sabrina sitting down on the fountain edge talking and presumably waiting for Sabrina's brother Dexter to turn up.
He walked up to the two girl's confidently, a broad smile on his face.
"Bailey," He spoke softly, the two girls looked up at him curiously, "I just wanted to apologise for the way I spoke to you and I'm sorry about my lack of effort in the assignment. I promise I'll have it done by Wednesday." He smiled again sweetly.
"Er, Ok." She eyed him suspiciously.
"So you guys wanna ride or something?" He asked but only out of politeness, he hoped they would say no.
"No, Sabrina's got her car we're just waiting for her brother and a few friends to turn up before we head to the Mall."
"Ok cool, well see ya later." He said walking off.
"See ya." They both said in unison.
"Oh I almost forgot," he said taking out the sky blue pencil, "you might want this back." He chuckled handing Sabrina back the pencil.
"Oh, thanks." She replied blushing taking the pencil guiltily.
"Eww, I think you both just sat on bird poo!" Seifer cried scrunching his face and looking at the fountain edge.
"Where!" Both girls jumped and turned around looking at the fountain edge where they had been sitting comparing it to their bottoms. Only it was completely clean, not any form of dirt on sight.
Seifer smirked and laid one hand behind each girl's back and pushed with little effort forcing both girls into the icy fountain water.
He burst out laughing as both girl's shrieked from the coldness, flapping around trying to stable themselves but failing and falling over and over again and again.
"And that ladies, is how the Sorceress's Knight strikes back!" He chuckled and walked off feeling very happy with himself. Ah, that never gets old.
Hope you liked both the chapter and the parody, again it was just a bit of humour at self-inserts. Also if you can answer this question i'll send you a long preview of next week's chapter.
Q: There are two scenes which mirror n9neSTAR's story 'From Riches to Fame'. Which scenes were they and in which chapter can they be found (in her story)?
Other than that PLEASE REVIEW!