A/N: Alllright...so, here is chapter 2, with allot of editings done on this!
Hope you like it =3
Disclaimer: I DO NOT HAVE COPYRIGHT TOWARDS FINAL FANTASY VIII AND THE CHARACTERS. They ALL belong to their rightful owners!...and that wouldn't be me!!
~*Chapter 2*~
The early morning sun shined on the Deling Train Station with very impressive pride. The station was littered with many men, women, and children of all sizes. No matter what those people were doing like taking a vacation of a life time, going on a buisness trip or whatever that pleases them, Deling City will still feel like a dumpster to young seven-teen year old, Rinoa Heartilly.
Rinoa's father, General Fury Caraway, never had any time for her ever since the death of her mother, Julia Heartilly. One of Deling's famous and greatest pianoest/singers of all times. After that tragic car accindent she was involved in, Caraway just constenly drowns himself into piles of endless paper work and let's work itself get in his way. From then on, Rinoa refuses to refere Caraway as her father.
Rinoa and Caraway been getting into massive of arguments. One night, it came to a point where Caraway lost his temper so bad, he just released all out by slapping Rinoa in the face so hard, it caused her to crash to the ground. He roared at her to get out of the mansion and that's what Rinoa did; except she wasn't going to come back.
She griped her train ticket in one hand while holding her suitcase handle very tight in the other hand and keeping her purse very secure. At this stage of the game, she doesn't want to deal with any theifs. She was now outside the Deling Train Station, waiting in line patiently to get on the train to Balamb.
"By the time when I'm on that train it's 'Goodbye Caraway and Hello Sweet Balamb'". The thought of not having to put up with Caraway anymore made Rinoa feel so good inside.
When she left the grounds of her mansion (she refers it to as her prison), she felt that heavy weight come off her back and Rinoa was able to breath and spread her wings of freedom again.
Finally, the line started to move and Rinoa was the last person to aboard the passenger cart. She gave her train ticket to the man who was collecting them, one-by-one.
Once inside Rinoa went to go look for a seat that didn't had anyone else sitting close by. She just wants to have a nice peacefull train ride to Balamb. With great success, she found herself a seat that was next to a window and with no one around. She sat down, setting her suitcase on the seat next to her and placing her purse on the floor next to her legs.
Rinoa sigh as she looked out the window. "This is it. There's no turning back now."
The train gave out a loud whistle and it cautiously started to move. Rinoa watched as the train station and Deling City began to fade away as the train continued it's journey to Balamb.
After long minutes of looking out seeing nothing but trees passing by, Rinoa decides to pull out a magazine from her bag and start her peaceful reading.
As time flew by Rinoa felt someone standing next to her and hearing this person clear her throat.
"Excuse me, can I just take that seat over there? Everywhere else is full." A young girl who looked about Rinoa's age asked.
"Oh sure! Have a seat." Rinoa answered, giving the young girl some space to set down her things.
"My name is Selphie Tilmitt." The girl known as Selphie extended a hand towards Rinoa to shake.
Rinoa gladly shook it. "Rinoa Heartilly." she introduced back.
"That's a pretty name." Selphie complement.
"Thank you."
"So where are you heading to?" Selphie asked as she sat down across from Rinoa.
"I'm planing on going to Balamb Garden." Rinoa answered simply.
"No way! That's where I'm going!"
"Awesome!" Rinoa exclaimed. "Now I don't have to worry about entering a place thats so brand new all by myself."
"Yeah, same here! Even though I transfer from Trabia Garden, it's great to meet someone on the first day" Selphie explained.
"Aren't you going to miss your friends?" Rinoa asked.
"I am, but were deffinetly keeping in touch and were going to see eachother over the Christmas break."
"That's good." Rinoa replied.
"Did you transfer from a different Garden?" Selphie curiously asked.
"Actually, I'm from High School. This is my first time going into a military school."
"Really?! Wow! We hear not very many high school students coming to a military school. Your a first."
Through the rest of the train ride, the two young girls who were becoming close friends just talked about their lives and how there going to spend time together at Balamb Garden.
"Attention all passengers, we have now reached Balamb. Please gather up your belongings and watch your step as you step off the train. Thank You and have a nice day. That is all." the announcer instructed through the loud speakers. The two girls gather up there things and descended off the train.
"Wow, this is very different from Trabia!" Selphie exclaimed in excitement, looking around and taking notes on how beautiful Balamb looked. Rinoa was doing the same. There wasn't any tall fancy city buildings around or cars honking at one another like at Deling City. The buildings were just nice and simple small. The large buildings were just, well...large. Rinoa could smell the fresh sent of sea water which was located at the front entrance of the train station.
"Let's go and see if we can find ourselves a ride to Garden." Rinoa nodded and followed Selphie. They reached the front entrance and looked around to see if there was any vehicle of some sort to take them to Balamb Garden.
Thankfully, Selphie spotted a bus that was heading to Garden.
"Let's take that bus and quick before they leave without us." Selphie and Rinoa grabbed their things and jogged over to the line up of people who are boarding the bus. As everyone else was seated, including Selphie and Rinoa, the bus started to move.
An hour later, the bus came to a halt at the front entrance gate of Garden. The two teenage girls got their stuff and got off the crowed bus.
When the bus left and the girls turned around to face Garden, both of their eyes were wide in amazement. Selphie and Rinoa both knew that Balamb Garden was a very large place, but they never thought it would be this big in person!
"Wow..." was all Selphie could say.
"This place is beautiful..." Rinoa comment.
Selphie sighed. "Well, here goes nothing. Ready?" Selphie asked as she picked up her bags and waited for Rinoa to answer.
"Ready."
Once inside, the front office wasn't that far off, thank hyne. The two girls walked up to the front desk, told the lady who they were and asked for some directions for there dorms and who is their homeroom teacher. The lady gave the girls their key to their dorms, their daily schedule and told them that they both have different homeroom teachers but all the classes there taking are with the same teacher. They thanked the lady, grabbed their bags and went for the hunt for their dorm rooms.
"I'm going to my dorm so I can unpack and meet my new instructor." Selphie said as she was going to head for the dorm area. The girls have checked the main map, which was in the main hallway, to see where are the dorms located at so there well on there way now.
"I'll see you later at lunch" Rinoa said as she was about to go seperate ways from her new friend.
"Okay then. See ya!" Selphie shouted enough for Rinoa to hear.
"Now let's see...my dorm is Room 201 on the left side." She looked up from her card and began scanning the doors she passed by.
"198....199....200....201 here we are." Rinoa slid her card key in the key hole and a bright green color appeared, singling that the door is now unlocked.
She opened the door, closed it behind her using her back and looked around, admiring everything. There was a small kitchen to her left and a small living room with one couch and an oak coffee-table with a small TV. Straight ahead were two doors beside each other; one leading to the bathroom while the other door led to Rinoa's bedroom. She walked in, dropped her bags and let herself fall gracefully on her bed.
"This bed is so confortable. And so soft" Rinoa admired, feeling the fabric of the bed sheets under her bare arms. She felt like she was lying on fluffy clouds.
A few mintues later, Rinoa was about finish unpacking her belongings when there was a knock at the door. Rinoa stopped what she was doing and walked over to see who is it. SHe opened her door and was greeted by a young lady.
"Hi, I'm Xu and I'll be showing you to your first class." Xu proudly said as she extended a hand for Rinoa to shake.
"I'm Rinoa" she said happily, taking Xu's hand and shaking it. "Will I be needing my SeeD uniform right now?"
"You don't have to if you don't want to. Were not really required to wear one. Only on special occasions is when you need to wear them." Xu simply stated.
"Do you know who my Intructor is?" Rinoa asked.
"I sure do. Instructor Trepe is one of the most youngest Instructor's here, and very popular. Anyways shall we go?"
"Mmhm" Rinoa sounded out happily.
The walk to Instructor Trepe's class room wasn't very far away on how Rinoa expected to be. When they arrived, Xu knocked on the door and waited for Instructor Trepe to answer. The door open, revealing her Instructor. She had blond hair that was tide back with some hair falling to each side of her face.
"Hi Xu" The Instructer greeted. Her voice sounded like a teenager's voice.
"Hi Quistis, I have the new student here that's assigned to be in your class"
"You must be Rinoa, nice to meet you." Quistis said kindly shaking Rinoa's hand.
"Nice to meet you too Instructor" Rinoa replied with a smile. Just how many handshakes will Rinoa need to shake?
"Come in, were just decusing over the upcoming Field Exam."
Rinoa followed Quistis inside the huge class room that Rinoa has ever seen in her life. She looked around the classroom and the students as they were doing there work.
All of a sudden, Rinoa felt a cold glare being shot at her. This kinda freaked her out. She looked in thay direction and that was when she caught a glimpse at a familiar blond guy. He was known to be Rinoa's ex-boyfriend, Seifer Almasy.
"Oh no. It's him!" Rinoa panicked in her thoughts.
"I hope Instructor Trepe won't get me to sit beside him"
Seifer pushed in his glare into Rinoa's soul. Her stomach was forminginto a tight knot and her face went dead pale.
"Rinoa, I'm going to sit you beside........" Quistis was now scanning the room to where Rinoa should sit at. Finally, she found the perfect spot.
"Not Seifer. Not Seifer. Please, don't put me next Seifer!" Rinoa begged, begged, and bagged again.
"I'm going to put you next to Squall Leonhart back there." She said as she pointed to who Squall was. He seemed to have his head shot up pretty quickly when that was said. Rinoa thought he was going to give himself a wip-lash.
"Wow...he's pretty cute..." she thought to herself.
Rinoa nodded at Quistis and started to walk over to her new seat. She still felt Seifer's greedy eyes starring at her but Rinoa ignored it and took the seat next the guy named Squall. He watched her as she sat down beside him.
As Rinoa was comfortable in her seat, she felt another pair of eyes, laying on her. She looked up and found Squall starring down at her. He looked away from her slowly and resumed to what he was doing before. Without thinking, Rinoa decided to introduce herself to Squall.
"Hi, I'm Rinoa" she said, extending her hand out. Squall stop what he was doing and just stared down at her.
"............."
"Aren't you going to shake my hand?" she asked cocking her head to one side.
"............."
Seh waited for a second, until she took his leather gloved hand, put it in her hand and shooked it.
"Nice to meet you." she said smiling, letting go of his hand and started up her computer.
Squall just kinda stare at her for a few seconds until he went back to work.
"That was rude of him. He could have at least introduce himself and shake my hand, other than me doing it for him!" Rinoa thought angrily to herself. Making sure Squall was too busy with his work Rinoa gave him a cold glare before logging onto her computer, using the her password she was given to log in.
Rinoa peered over to the corner of her eye just take a glimpse at Squall. She noticed a fresh bandage that sat on the bridge of his nose, coming down to his left side cheek. Rinoa wanted to ask where he got it from, but sided against it knowing that he wouldn't want to tell her about it.
Quistis was now going over some things for the Field exam like what they will be expecting, what they will be needing for it, when it will take place, etc. Rinoa felt a bit worried and scared about the exam. She is a very talented fighter and healer, but she just felt a bit unconfortable about it. Soon, Quistis dismissed everyone for lunch and everyone started to leave for the cafeteria.
"Rinoa, can I see you for a minute ?" Quists asked while she was putting away some of her paperwork.
"And Squall, I also need to see you." Quistis added.
"...Great..." Squall rolled his eyes.
Rinoa walked up to Quistis, Squall following her behind.
"Rinoa, since the exam is coming up soon and you just got here," Qusitis began, "I going to get someone to help you train for it. Even though your paper's say that your a well fighter, your magic and curing spells are one are really great, I feel that you can gain more experience if I asign someone to train you." Quistis explained to her new student.
"Sounds good to me. Who's going to train me?"
"Well, I thought Squall will be perfect for this one."
Squall mind completely went a blank when he heard this. There was no way he was going to train with a...girl. Sure, he's a experienced fighter, but hello?! He's Squall Leonhart! The boy who keeps to himself and let's no one get in his way!
"So Squall, I'm counting on you to make sure Rinoa is ready for the exam. Got it?" Quistis said in a bit of a serious tone.
"....Isn't there someone else that can train her...?" he asked annoyed.
"Ahhh, it speaks." Rinoa thought, feeling some what affended at Squall.
"I'm sorry Squall, but your well of an expert out of this class and I think you training Rinoa would be excellent."
Squall sighed loudly. "....Fine..." He groaned.
"Good. You two make go now." As soon as Quistis dismissed them, Rinoa was soon out the door heading to the cafeteria, followed by Squall, who of course was just walking normal.
"How could he be so cold!? Especially when he asked instructor Trepe if anyone else could train me instead of him!!! Does he think I'm a waste of his time, or does he think I'm just weak because I'm a girl?! What a jerk!!!
Rinoa felt the need to kick the floor in frustration. Then again, Squall was kinda behind her so she'll probably have to take her anger out somewhere else. Right now, all she wants to do is start training earlier and get a bit of a head start.
"Tonight, I'm going to the training center where I can gain more fighting skills and show that Squall guy that I CAN fight." Feeling a bit more happier again, she resumed walking to the cafeteria to meet up with Selphie.
A/N: Okey-dokey, chapter 2 (which used to be chapter 1) is now edit and checked. I hope i didn't leave anything out that needs some attention. if there is, LET ME KNOW!!!...please :D anyways, a review is muchly appreciated!!! leave a review and I'll give u a cookie ^_^
so far to the people who has already review on this, i liked to thank them all. you guys get a cookie :D
Ms. Croft
