Wow, I got a review from one of my favourite authors - 6jrz422. All I can say is that I feel like a Harry Potter fan showing their creative writing skills to J. K. Rowling.
Talk about pressure! I feel really nervous now - I'm going to have to make the next chapters really good.

So far chapter 16 has been completed and I'm pretty happy with it. So need to work fast to get chapter 17 done and out of the way.

Chapter 13 - Making headlines!

Laguna and General Caraway sat on the kitchen breakfast bar talking about the press conference they were scheduled for Friday evening. It was 6:00am and the two sat with their coffee mugs in hand going through what each person had to say. They needed the practise; it was their only chance to persuade the entire world that the course of action they were to take was in the best interest for both their countries.

Laguna rubbed his eyes; they were still sore from the late night they both had getting things in order. Running a country was not simple.

"Say Laguna, what are we to do about our other problem?" Caraway asked, looking out of the kitchen window. It was sunny outside although very windy.

"Which problem?" Laguna asked amused.

"The one with our children?" Caraway replied, looking at him raising his eyebrows.

"Well, one part of me tells me to get involved and ask what's wrong, but the other part tells me to leave it up to them to fix."

"And which part is stronger?" Caraway asked.

"The part that's telling me to get involved." Laguna honestly replied.

"Why's that?"

The younger man took a deep breath. "After Squall lost his mother, he closed up completely. Rinoa came into his life and I started to see he was opening up again. Not to everyone else, only to her, but it was fine. I mean, for him to at least have one person he can talk to, to share life with, to love." Laguna said, analysing his son's behaviour. "I know something is wrong, he wouldn't have agreed to going off to ECU a week ago. Now he's saying he has nothing left in Balamb; completely disregarding Rinoa."

Caraway nodded his head. He and his daughter had their fair share of trials.

"Fury, the last thing I want is him to close up. I don't know what's happening, but sooner or later, we might have to get involved."

"I know." Caraway spoke, smoothing down the table cloth. "I can't believe they grow up so quickly. Rinoa's never been in love before; I just hope this doesn't end quicker than it started."

"I'll second that. I thought I'd never see the day Squall would fall in love." Laguna smiled. He looked at Caraway and his smiled disappeared. "Do you think Squall has anything to do with that plaster on her cheek?"

Caraway nodded again. "Yes sadly, as much as Rinoa has to do with that bruise above his eyebrow."

The two men just shook their heads; it seemed the uniting of two teenagers was a bigger burden than that of the uniting of two countries.

Rinoa got out of the shower wrapped in her blue towel. She quickly dried herself and dressed in her jeans and blue vest, pulling a V-neck light blue sweater over her head.

She poked her head out of the bathroom and ran into her room. There, she quickly put on her Lonsdale trainers and grabbed her school bag; it didn't weigh much except for the Literature book she had in it. She had decided to leave her books in her locker after seeing Squall waiting beside it. Now she had to rush to school to retrieve the books and finish her Maths homework before it was due in.

She made her way downstairs quietly, making sure not to wake the lone wolf sleeping in his soundless abode. The last thing she needed was another awkward situation.

She walked into the kitchen and saw Laguna and her father sitting down to breakfast.

"Morning, you're up very early." Laguna smiled up at her.

"Yeah I thought I'd get a head start. I left a couple of books in my locker and I got homework due for the subject." Rinoa confessed.

"Are you heading out now dear?" Caraway asked, watching as Rinoa quickly buttered her toast and grabbed a glass of orange juice, downing them both in a hurry.

Her glass still attached to her lips, she nodded her head in confirmation. She wanted to head out before Squall woke up. It was bad enough she had lessons with him throughout the day, it'd just be too awkward to ride in the same car as him.

"You're not waiting for Squall?" Laguna asked.

"No, I don't want to bother him this early." She quickly explained.

"So how are you going to get to school? It is a long way from here." He continued to question her.

"I'll just walk to the Villa Estates and get a bus from there."

"Why don't you take Squall's car? He won't mind." Laguna took Squall's car keys off their hook hanging on the kitchen wall and handed them to Rinoa.

A week ago she would have jumped at the chance to drive Squall's car, now she wasn't so sure it was appropriate.

"No…" She shook her head.

Caraway looked at his daughter. "Rinoa, it's a long way even to the bus stop. Accept the kind offer."

"I don't want to put him out." She still detested.

Laguna walked up to her. "Ellone has a 9 o'clock start, she can drop Squall off with her car."

She looked at the keys still not wanting to take them. She didn't want Squall to have a reason to look for her during the day to get his keys back.

"Rinoa." Caraway called out to her. He then looked over to Laguna and nodded his head.

"Rinoa." Laguna looked at her in the eyes. "Let's make a deal. You take Squall's keys and we won't ask you how you really got that cut on your cheek and how Squall got that bruise above his eyebrow."

She stood dumbfounded. She knew her father didn't really believe the lame story she told him last night, but she didn't realise they'd put two and two together. She knew she couldn't argue, she couldn't defend herself on the spot. Yet if she took the keys, it'd mean something between her and Squall did happen.

She couldn't think and so could only comply. She took the keys and said her goodbyes and headed out.

Literature:

It was safe; Seifer and Quistis were both in the class with her so Rinoa didn't have to face Squall alone. It was awkward when he walked in and sat directly behind her. She just concentrated on her work throughout the lesson and quietly thanked the teacher when he gave them all exam practise questions.

Squall had written straight for the past forty minutes without break. His hand was aching from the fast movement. He was surprised he had been able to concentrate with his work although Rinoa was directly in front of him. He wanted to reach out and stroke the softness of her raven black hair. He had woken up and found out that she had already headed off to school with his car. It gave him something to talk to her about; getting his keys back. That way, he could apologise.

Break:

Rinoa ran out of the classroom not bothering to wait Quistis or Seifer. She knew if she did, Squall would approach her and she just wasn't ready for that. She still hadn't thought about what she'd say to him, she just felt so awkward. The more she thought about what had happened the day before, the sillier and futile it seemed.

She got to the administration office and knocked on the door until she heard someone call her in.

"Hi, I'm just here to hand in my permission form for tomorrow's trip?" She told the woman in front of her.

"Ok, thank you, it's a two-day trip so you'll need an overnight bag; here is a checklist of things you may want to bring with you." The woman handed her a sheet of paper and ticked her name off from her notepad.

She thanked the woman and turned round to see Squall behind her.

Squall didn't know what to do; he just looked down at her and watched as she quietly made her way out of the office. He mentally slapped himself; She must think I'm stalking her.

He didn't know she was down there, she had ran off after their Literature class; he didn't know where she was headed.

He needed to submit his form in otherwise he wouldn't be allowed to go to the trip; he didn't know she was there for the same reason. He walked to the lady in the office and handed in his permission slip, he thought to himself how this trip would be a series of even more awkward situations.

Physics:

Rinoa found her physics lesson a lot more bearable. Although their class was filled with spectacle wearing quiet 'nerds', having Zell in the lesson always brought humour. The energetic joker would spend the entire lesson getting Professor Odine worked up, making the class enjoyable for Rinoa. It was just what she needed to be distracted from Squall.

She sat in-between Zell and another student with Squall sitting next to Zell on her left. It was easy for her this way; she didn't accidentally look at him nor did she feel his gaze on her.

Squall sat mute, not laughing at Zell's attempts to hassle the teacher, though the entire class found it amusing. He, however, was thinking about Rinoa sitting on the same table as him refusing to make eye contact. He remembered back to the week before when she had noticed him from her Chemistry Lab and walked up to him. He wished he could go back in time and play that scene again. He wondered if he'd do anything differently. Whether he'd take her hand and hold it in his and tell her how he felt? Whether he'd promise to never hurt her and trust her. Or whether he' still feel the same insecurities that nestled inside him refusing to diminish.

The class laughed louder now at something Zell had just suggested; Professor Odine looking like he was about to explode.

Squall returned back to staring at his table, still refusing to take part.

Lunch:

Rinoa could feel Squall's eyes on her as she walked down the foyer with Zell. She was contemplating whether she should tell them she was heading for the library or stay with them through lunch? She knew if she mentioned where she was going, there was the possibility of Squall following her to 'talk' and she still had no clue as to what to say. She didn't want to talk to him until she was ready.

On the other hand, she knew it was safer to go sit with her friends, that way maybe Squall wouldn't approach her.

Squall waited until Zell and Rinoa turned the corner into the Cafeteria corridor. He kept walking, past the corridor and towards the Library. He didn't fancy sitting there with Selphie, Quistis and Seifer all refusing to talk to him after what he did to Rinoa. He doubted any of them would have forgiven him for his actions; he hadn't forgiven himself.

He got to the end of the Library and sat behind one of the far end shelves in the corner where he wouldn't be spotted.

He took out a magazine from his bag; it was the latest issue of Weapon's Monthly. He was reading through the articles about different weapons and their uses while eating his homemade sandwich. He was slightly amused at the irony of the situation. It was a déjà vu for him; it was something he did when Raine had passed away. He didn't like to sit there with people all telling him they were 'sorry' and if he 'ever needed anything'.

He thought about Rinoa, he knew she was ignoring him; it was evident by her behaviour. She had run off in the morning, had completely ignored him during break and even sat away from him during physics. He didn't need it spelled out; he knew he ruined his chances. He needed to apologise, but the need to respect her wishes were greater.

He sighed knowing he had let his insecurities ruin the only chance of ever being sincerely loved by someone he equally, if not more, loved back. It hit him now more than ever, the 'loss' he had feared, the 'poison' she was for him, he had done it to himself. He was the poison; he had lost her, all because of his fears and doubts. Now he had to suffer the consequences. Might as well quit while I'm behind.

Advanced Maths:

Rinoa walked into the classroom and found Squall already seated with his books and pen out.

She took a deep breath and sat down in her assigned seat. It was very awkward now, Zell was still in the same class as her, but now she was sitting directly next to Squall, and she had to endure this for the next hour and forty minutes.

She quickly snuck a glance at him, her heart raced faster. He had his chin resting on top of his hands that were interlocked at the fingers as he looked down at his desk. His face was so motionless, no expression, a blank canvas . His lips were relaxed but closed, the only thing that gave away hint of emotion were his eyes. The steel blue of his eyes exposed his hurt, disgrace and shame, she could tell he was suffering inside. She tried to put herself in his shoes: finding out someone loved you and being worried that you might get hurt but ending up hurting them instead. She thought about how Squall had refused to speak to her after what happened at Selphie's party. I'm doing exactly the same thing to him. He refused to let me explain what had happened with Seifer and now I'm refusing to let him explain his actions. It was an accident.

She moved her hand up to her left cheek leaning on her elbow as the teacher was explaining the lesson to the class. She could feel with her little finger the scab that had formed from the cut she got. It was very thin, probably wouldn't even leave a mark let alone a scar.

She looked at Squall again, he hadn't changed his position. It was a mistake, wasn't Squall? The question is: can we go back to normal? She sighed and closed her eyes briefly before starting on the exercise questions.

He took his pencil and started working on the questions the teacher instructed the class to carry out. He had to do everything in his might to not look at Rinoa, even when he felt she was looking at him. He was about to face her when he realised she might have been staring out of the window that was next to him.

He just kept mentally shaking himself, no matter how much he desired her, he had to resist and respect her wishes. She'd talk to him when she was ready. If she's ready.

He had been working for a couple of minutes when a piece of folded paper landed on his desk. He looked to his left and saw Rinoa with a sympathetic smile on her face.

He unfolded the paper reading it slowly. He looked at her confused, but she was bent down writing in her exercise book. He looked up to make sure the teacher wasn't looking before writing to her.

What do you have to be sorry for? I'm the one who is sorry.

He folded the paper and chucked it back to her. She looked up making sure the teacher wasn't following their interaction. She scribbled her reply.

I over reacted. It was an accident, like what happened with me and Seifer at Selphie's.

Still, that was Lauren's fault; it was out of your control. It's nothing compared to what I did.

Nope, it's the same. Seifer was making you mad; you were bound to snap any moment. I just happened to be there at the wrong time.

Still doesn't make it right. I still hurt you.

For some odd reason he found it easier to write down his feelings than speak to her directly.

Don't flatter yourself, takes more than a petty slap to get me down. Lol, see I'm already joking about it.

I'm sorry.

Its fine, don't worry about it.

He didn't know what else to write. She had accepted his apology, but he wasn't sure whether they would go back to normal, whatever normal was.

The rest of the lesson ran by quickly after they cleared the air. The bell rang and the students started clearing their tables.

Rinoa put her books into her bag and stood up. She waited right next to Squall modestly smiling at him, it felt quite surreal that only an hour ago she was feeling anxious and agitated around him, yet now it was the complete opposite. She wondered whether he felt any different.

He looked up at her waiting for her to speak first as he slung his bag onto his shoulder and pulled up his hood over his head.

"So." Rinoa just smiled and shrugged.

"…" Squall wasn't sure what to say. He didn't exactly know what was going on. He wasn't sure whether he had been forgiven, or whether she was just showing him some mercy. It was weird for him, she had ignored him all day and now she was approaching him out of her own accord.

She started walking to the exit so he followed her cautiously still uncertain about how she wanted him to behave.

"Oh, I have your keys." She informed him and took them out of her bag and dropping it into his open palm.

"Thanks." He whispered.

They walked silently towards the car park neither knowing what to say. It was very awkward. Neither was certain how to behave after the ordeal they had faced. Nor did they know the status of their relationship now that they knew how they felt about each other, or even if they still felt the same way.

They were approaching Squall's car when they noticed Quistis and Seifer leaning against Quistis's red convertible. Selphie, Irvine and Zell were also with them watching as the two approached. The awkwardness they were feeling heightened as they were being watched by the group unaware of how they should react.

Squall, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, walked past his friends head down and unlocked his car getting into the driver's seat. He shut the door and put his belt on turning the engine on. He wasn't sure if Rinoa was going to join him, or whether she had made plans with the group.

"Rinny is everything ok?" Selphie asked.

"Yeah. I'll see you guys later, Squall's giving me a lift home." She smiled and waved to the group.

Squall heard the passenger door open and watched as Rinoa made her way in. He smiled inwardly, he was happy she was joining him, but still felt he wasn't given the all clear.

The drive was quiet the whole way, only the breathing of the two teens could be heard. Rinoa wanted to discuss their situation but couldn't find the words. Squall couldn't even think; everything felt so surreal for him. He couldn't believe all these events could have taken place within the space of a week.

Once they parked up outside the house they got out walking to the front door. Rinoa looked up at the sky looking at its colourful tones of blue and the big fluffy clouds that had formed. She squinted at the sunlight that hit her eyes. The next thing she knew, she was hurling over as her foot buckled on the uneven paved slabs leading to the house.

Before she landed on the floor Squall's reflexes caught her, she was holding onto his arms as he held her up, she looked up at him briefly. She remembered the last time she was this close to him, even now her chest was only a few centimetres away from his and her eyes were looking back to his lips.

"Thanks." She muttered, as he let go of her nodding his head and making his way into the house.

Back in the house Rinoa sat opposite Squall in the living room. Their fathers had gone for the day presumably sorting out the situation with their countries. Ellone was studying at Uni and wouldn't be back till late.

Rinoa looked at the brown shag rug; she curled her toes along it feeling its softness. She looked at Squall who had his gaze on her toes still showing no emotion. She knew she had to say something, it was going beyond ridiculous, and they needed to sort out whatever the situation they were in.

"I…" She started but stopped quickly. He looked at her waiting and willing for her to continue. She scratched the back of her neck. "I… I don't have any ill feelings towards you, if that's what you're thinking. I know it was an accident."

Squall looked at her. He was unsure of how to reply, what do I exactly say to that?

He looked back at his safety zone, her toes. I still don't deserve her, what if I hurt her again?

"It was pretty silly of me to get worked up. After that, I just didn't know how to be around you, so I wasn't really ignoring you." She tried again at getting him to talk. She found it odd now that she finally agreed to sit and talk with him, but now he seemed to be out of words. But then again, you weren't much of a talker, eh Squall? She smiled to herself, this week truly was odd, and she wondered what else would occur.

Squall still sat mute, he couldn't speak. He physically couldn't speak. Now that he had apologised, he didn't know how to be around her. The earlier thoughts of taking her hand, hugging her and stroking her cheek had all but vanished. Now she forgave him he was confused, he wasn't sure what they were, or even if she still felt the same way.

"Squall, please say something?" Rinoa softly spoke concerned.

"I don't know what to say." He finally spoke.

"Say anything, what's on your mind, spill it!" She joked smiling at him.

He closed his eyes and sighed. What he really wanted was for her to walk up to him, for him to be standing with her hands on his chest leaning against him telling him she loved him. And in that scene for him to reply back with the same confession. How he wished for time to go back so he could relive that scene. It was all a mess now, he wasn't confused about his feelings, but he couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, he still lost her.

"Do you…" He tried to ask her but still was hesitant. He didn't know if it was the right time. He wanted to shout on the top of his lungs that he loved her. But he was scared she'd changed her mind and her heart.

"Do I?" She repeated looking at him with her head to one side.

"Do you…" He breathed, I can't do it. It's over. I've lost her. He looked at her straight in the eyes. "Do you want some Ramen noodles?" He got up walking towards the chicken slowly.

Rinoa looked at his retreating back oddly; she knew that wasn't what he wanted to ask her. But she decided to leave it, she had enough drama this week, she just settled on playing along.

"Sure." She replied and smiled.

Rinoa woke up to loud noises downstairs, she looked at the time on the digital clock on the bedside table. It showed 6:15am. She'd of had to get up in another fifteen minutes anyway so she thought she might as well get an early start. After their noodles last night they waited for their fathers to get home before dinner. Rinoa caught up with her homework and Squall went to finish off his assignment. The parents seemed happy to see that their children were now playing happily and the evening was pretty much normal.

Rinoa slipped into her robe and opened the door. She could hear her father shouting so worriedly she made herself down the stairs catching a few bits of information.

"…bloody will be fixed… dare they interfere with my family life! They have no right! This has NOTHING to do with my ability to run a country, this IS DEFAMING MY FAMILY!"

Rinoa walked into Laguna's library slowly and made out the figures in there. Her father had just sat down on Laguna's chair his face in his hands while Laguna spoke to the person on the phone in a calmer manner. Ellone was sleepy-eyed and sitting on the corner of the table. She noticed Squall right away; he was further from the rest of the group nearer towards the door, nearer to her. His face looked like he had woken up in the same manner as did she, his eyes were puffy from sleep and his hair was messier than usual. She knew there was some sort of trouble, but even in this situation she couldn't help blushing at Squall's presence. He had obviously rushed downstairs from the noise as he hadn't put a shirt on. He was only dressed in his long pyjama trousers that showed off his well muscled torso. His abs were toned and hairless, each pack making its distinct position on his smooth honey complexion skin.

Squall turned to her suddenly aware of her presence, his face was shocked to see her standing there.

"Rinoa." He said getting the attention of the other three people in the room.

Laguna hung up the phone and looked at her sympathetically.

"I heard shouting." She explained feeling like a 5 year old girl talking to her parents.

"Rinoa." Caraway looked at her not knowing what else to say.

She walked into the room wanting to give her father a hug. Squall raced past her and gathered together the newspapers sitting on his father's desk.

"What's going on?" She asked looking around.

"Nothing poppet, why don't you go back to bed?" Her father smiled at her.

"No…" She looked around the room; Ellone was staring at Laguna, who was looking at the newspapers in Squall's hand edging towards him. She looked at Squall who just looked preoccupied pretending not to notice her stares.

"Tell me what's going on." She demanded. She felt it was unfair they were keeping things from her, If Squall gets to know, so should I.

"Its nothing, just some business." Laguna said taking the newspaper's off his son.

"Yeah? Well what's with the papers?" She asked pointing to them.

They didn't know what to say, Squall was mute as usual, but her father just stared at her with his jaws locked.

"She's bound to find out when she gets to school, might as well give her a head's up." Ellone called out.

"Find out what?" She asked nervous. Now she wasn't so sure she wanted to know.

Laguna placed the newspapers down on his desk. They were three of Galbadia's top read newspapers, each with the similar stories though different headings.

The pictures however, was what the shouting was all about. The first was easily distinguishable, it was the same picture posted on the forum, of her and Seifer under the birch tree. The second was of her and Caraway eating lunch at the Balamb Hotel's restaurant, the third was a picture of her getting out of Seifer's Jeep the day he dropped her off outside the Villa Estates. The last picture was somewhat weird, it was of her and a figure she couldn't make out and what position she was exactly in. By the looks of it, it was probably Squall catching her as she nearly fell over the day before. She took the newspapers skim reading each story. One was about how 'Daddy's Little Girl All Grown Up' was going from one man to another. Another was about how 'G. Caraway Unable To Control Daughter - Can He Control Our Country?', and of course the last was 'From Local Hunk To Mysterious Lover'. The pictures were continually used, the latter paper heavily referencing to the picture of her and the mysterious stranger.

Rinoa looked at everyone in the room, their sympathetic smiles all trying to comfort her. Squall just looked blank not sure how to respond to her.

"I'm sorry Rinoa." Laguna said trying to find words of comfort.

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "Is this it?" She asked. They all looked at her with confusion.

"You're not upset?" Laguna asked.

"No, it's dumb, besides I've gone through much worse. Anyways I'm heading into the shower now." She walked off upstairs ready to start her day and head off to the trip to Shumi Village. She wasn't bothered by the newspapers; she'd had experience with rumours already. What she had to do now was brace herself for the effect it would have on her once she got to school.

Ok so its the Shumi Village trip next chapter and then we really get into the plot. Thanks to all my frequent reviewers, n9neSTAR, effect20, crepesculo4ever, and the anonymous ones too!

Please keep reviewing, it really boosts my motivation to produce more and i really cant wait to start posting BTA. Lol, i'll let you guess what BTA means. (n9neSTAR no spoilers! Keep it a secret!) :P