Author's Notes: Worked hard on this. Please, I'm not bashing any characters, Rinoa is just disgusted by her past, okay? So chill out, we'll talk it over. Note: Rinoa's thoughts are in Italics also, Selphie and Rinoa's dresses were designed by Ima Hopeless Romantic, NOT ME, Go make her feel special! If you wanna use it, Which I doubt you do, I have an email I check daily! It’s darkness_empress@yahoo.com and if for some stupid reason that one doesn’t work, I got this one: gatekeeper_of_the_darkness@yahoo.com AAAANNNNDDD If neither ones work, which I doubt, there’s keiry_1217@yahoo.com Ok????? Awesomeness. Thanks for Reading! Keiry Chapter One: Helping Me, Hating You The snow sparkled as it fell from the trees, rooftops, and mailboxes as the wind blew. A cold, sharp wind blew through out Timber, making people's faces red and numb. Rinoa Heartilly sighed, her breath visible in the air in front of her face as she did. I can't believe he forgot me. She thought in disgust, her pace quickening. Rinoa shook her head, her layered hair hitting her heart-shaped face. That was years ago, maybe he changed... The silver bell over the store's door jingled as she stepped in. But why does he want to see me now? We haven't seen each other in four whole years! She peeled off her gloves and put them in her pockets, scanning the various goods on the shelves. I suppose it has to do with the SeeD work... A groan of disgust escaped her. It better not be SeeD work, that’s partially the reason we left each other! She paid for the items she picked out and stepped back out in the cold air, putting her gloves back on, and raising her scarf over her nose and mouth. What about Selphie? What’s with her calling all of a sudden? She just called out of the blue and invited me to that party. What’s the matter, Squall? Too afraid to talk to me? Snow began falling again, covering the freshly shoveled streets and sidewalks again. Cold winds blew again; “I need to hurry before the blizzard.” Rinoa muttered. What is the point in inviting me to that stupid party at the garden anyway? I mean, I'm not even a student there anymore! Rinoa heard Angelo barking happily as she unlocked the door. She held her breath, and opened it, the dog nearly knocking her down. "Okay, okay, calm down, Angelo!" Rinoa screeched happily. She glanced at the clock, 5:45 p.m. Quickly, she put away the items, and went upstairs. "I'll never make it in time..." Rinoa muttered,"I'll be late..." "Oh no you won't!" A cheerful voice cried in her ear, making her jump. Her hazel eyes opened,"Selphie!? How did you get in here?! What are you doing here?!" "Yep, The door, I’m picking you up." The cheerful brunette explained, twirling in her dress, "Do you like it?" Selphie was wearing a yellow dress, that was always her color. It was a tight, sleeve-less, turtle neck which went to 2 inches above the knees. She had a nice yellow buckle belt boots with the zipper on the side and a yellow fighting glove which was leathery like everything else. "Well?" She asked. "It's..uh.. nice." Rinoa commented,"How did you know I lived here?" Selphie smiled,"Mwahaha, I follow you!" Rinoa disappeared,"Haha, very funny." She said sarcastically, shutting the door. Selphie heard her lock the door, and waited. There was a shuffling noise, and then Rinoa came out, "I'm not sure if I like my dress very much...I really don't want to go, either..." "Oh wow, Squall will gawk and daydream about you!" Selphie cried. Rinoa had two sections of her hair that hung around her face pulled back in a barrette, with the rest down. Her dress was a plain white dress. Like a tank top, just no straps to hold it up. It had a nice gold trim along the bottom of the dress which went just above her knees. She had a nice vale, this silk blanket thing which you would wrap around. "I don't see why, my dress is awfully simple and boring." Rinoa replied. Selphie shook her head,"No, not the dress! Your face, it looks all nice and white and angelic." "Selphie, shut up." She cut her off, disgust in her voice. A worried look spread across Selphie's face,"Uh-oh, we need to go." Rinoa pet Angelo goodbye and locked the door,"I don't know how you talked me into this..." She said in disbelief. "Like I said, It was Squall's idea." Selphie replied, putting on her seat belt,"Besides, he says he really needs to talk to you." A cough escaped Rinoa,"Yeah, uh huh." She spoke in a sarcastic tone. The rest of their drive to Balamb was silent. Snow blew onto the windows and windshield as they traveled over the bridge to Balamb. Why am I doing this again? Oh, yeah, because I was too soft to tell, 'no.' to Selphie's puppy eyes. Good Hyne, she's twenty-three, how come she is still so childish? What is with Squall 'really' needing to talk to me? Arg, just stop thinking! Stop thinking! Quit thinking! Rinoa held her forehead in frustration. "We're here." Selphie announced. Rinoa's straight face fell to a frown as she saw the garden, the memories it held hurt. With a deep breath and somewhat 'clear' mind, Rinoa walked in, silently. Her eyes closed and she exhaled,"It's the same." "Yup." Selphie answered, pulling her arm,"Come on." Sadly, Rinoa followed. I'm going to vomit if I see all of them, and if Squall mentions anything from our past, I'm disgusted that I stepped foot in this place... "Hi Rinoa." Xu smiled, interrupting her thoughts,"How have you been?" "Fine... Fine." Rinoa answered, trying her hardest to keep her smile,"How about you?" "Just fine." Xu grinned back,"Glad you could come." Rinoa tilted her head to the side, slightly laughed, and waved, walking into the Quad with Selphie. "Rinoa!" Quistis cried, setting her glass down. Announce it to the world why don't you? "How have you been?" Rinoa smiled kindly,"Just fine, Timber is very nice and quiet, how about you?" "Wonderful!" Quistis grinned back. What’s with Selphie and Quistis's stupid smirks? "Me and Selphie got to go and get that stuff, be right back." Quistis said. "Yah, enjoy yourself!" Selphie smiled, running off with her. Rinoa sighed and wandered around the crowded Quad. Snow rested on the glass ceiling above, blocking out all of the stars. What am I doing here? I don't belong here, I should be at home, with Angelo. "R...Rinoa? What are you doing here?" Rinoa turned, seeing Squall Leonhart. "Selphie talked me into it, and she said that you said that you really needed to talk to me..." Rinoa answered, her voice slightly shaking. Squall shook his head,"I never needed to talk to you...I don't know where she ca-" He stopped,"Quistis said you had to talk to me." "What?!" Rinoa cried. Ah-hah! It was a trick! Those witches are going to get it so bad... "They planned this..." Squall muttered. Rinoa bit her lip,"I bet they did..." "I should be back home." Squall commented. Rinoa’s eyes widened, “You left the garden?” He nodded,"Three years ago." He left the garden? What is going on? "I live in Timber now." "I do too..." Rinoa said, shyly. He narrowed his eyes, “You don’t live in Deling?” Rinoa laughed,"Deling? Never have, never will." Squall looked around the crowded Quad,"So, how are things? Do you have a job or anything?" Rinoa bit her lip,“I write songs, but I really don’t have enough courage to sing them.” Her hair slowly began falling from her barrette,"Life is okay I guess, I mean, It gets quite boring living alone..." She looked at the floor,"At least...I have Angelo..." "What part of Timber do you live in?" Why does he care? "Crystal Avenue." A blank expression reached Squall's face,"You do?" "Yeah, why?" "I do." Squall replied. Rinoa looked at her feet,"Weird..." She looked up,"Do you live alone too?" Squall nodded and shrugged,"Yeah, It doesn't bother me, I'm never home, I'm usually walking in the park or something." Rinoa raised an eyebrow,"Do you have a career?" "Not really." Squall sighed,"I can't get hired anywhere because they can't find my files." "That’s too bad." Rinoa frowned,"Do you have any hobbies?" "No." Aw, he's shy. That’s so cute. Whoa, why do I care? Stop thinking, quit it...STOP! Rinoa looked around,"Well..." She raised am eyebrow,"Where did Quistis and Selphie go?" Change the subject, change the subject, change the subject.... He shrugged,"I don't know." LEAVE ALREADY! Just leave, you're making me nervous. "Uh..." Rinoa stuttered,"It's kinda late, I really have to go..." She walked out without getting an answer. Oh, what a kind way to say bye. The garden was big, and Rinoa couldn't remember her way around. "Hey Selphie!" She cried, noticing her, "I need to go home now, take me back, please." Selphie stopped,"No." Rinoa's jaw dropped. How dare she? Of all the nerve... "Please?" Rinoa pleaded,"I don't feel well." "Go see doctor Kadowaki then." Rinoa frowned,"Selphie, please." Selphie bit her lip,"Rinny, you're staying here." "No I am not." Rinoa snapped. "Well, I'm not taking you." Selphie grinned, entering the Quad. "Well, don't look at me!" Quistis cried, following. Rinoa sighed,"Witches..." She muttered. The night sky was dark, very much contrast against the twinkling stars and the slowly falling snow. The moon was faint, the view blocked by clouds. Rinoa sighed and sat down, looking at the stars, thinking aloud, "Who do they think they are?" She buried her face in her hands,"I'm such a loser, I can't believe I came...I should have said no..." She paused,"This isn't happening..." Rinoa looked back at the stars,"Hyne, it is..." She looked behind her at the garden,"What a nightmare..." She sighed,"I wish I had a license." The snow began falling more rapidly, the air got colder, and the wind blew harder. Rinoa stood, walking to Selphie's car. She tried to open the door,"It's locked..." She sighed and sat,"This is cruel..." "I can take you home, Rinoa, I'm on my way, and it's really no problem." Rinoa turned, seeing Squall. Should I? I mean, I despise Squall after what he did...But Angelo needs to be fed, and I want to go home... That little voice in her head talked her into it. "Would you?" She asked. "Yeah, come on." Squall said. Rinoa smiled,"Thank you." She felt uncomfortable in his car, Hyne, it smelt like him. The silence, oh the silence, it was unbearable. "So...uh...What do you think about Timber?" Rinoa asked. Hyne that was stupid! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid,.... "It's nice, I like it better than Balamb." Squall replied. Rinoa stared at her feet again,"...You go to the park a lot?" Squall nodded,"Yeah, I go there to think...I usually end up wanting to bang my head on the wall because I think too much." Rinoa smiled,"Yeah." At least he is a little more humorous. "You don't have a license?" Squall asked. Rinoa turned slightly pink,"No..." She said sheepishly,"I can't afford a car." "Are you serious? Don't you sell your songs?" Squall asked, in a kind way. Rinoa looked out the window,"I sell my songs, but not many people like them, I can't blame them, I can't get inspired anymore." She swallowed,"The ones that do sell are from when I was like seventeen or eighteen..." Tears filled her eyes, actually...missing her memories for once,"Mostly love songs and slower songs..." She smiled,"I guess I should thank you for that, you inspired me then." Squall focused on the road,"Well, I suppose you're welcome." Snow fell harder, building up on the hood of the car, "A blizzard I guess..." Squall commented. Rinoa stayed silent, she just tucked some of her hair behind her ear, she didn't feel like putting the barrette back in. ********* Squall looked at her,"Rinoa, what's your house number?" Rinoa opened her eyes, realizing she was asleep, on his shoulder. "Oh, sorry about that..." She said, turning red,"I'm number fifty." Rinoa yawned,"What time is it?" "Eleven Fifty-two p.m." Squall replied, pulling in her driveway, "Do you want me to walk you in?" "Whatever you feel like..." Rinoa replied sleepily. She yawned and then it hit her,"I left my key at the garden..." Rinoa frowned and panicked a little inside. Squall raised an eyebrow,"Are you sure?" Rinoa bit her lip and nodded,"I left my coat too..." She eyed her house,"I think I might have left my bedroom window open, because I don't remember closing it..." Rinoa walked around the side of the house,"Yeah, I did!" Squall followed her,"Wow, your window is high, how many stories do you have?" "Two." Rinoa replied, jumping to reach the fire escape,"I'm too short." Squall walked over and touched it easily,"Hyne Rinoa, you are short." He mocked. "Aw, come on Squall, help me please." Wait, was I asking him for help? "Rinoa?" Squall asked from the fire escape, extending his arm. Rinoa took hold of it and he pulled her up. She walked up the stairs of the fire escape, the wind getting colder. Rinoa peeked in,"What the...?" I've...been mugged... "Good Hyne, Rinoa, your room is messy." Squall commented. Rinoa frowned,"Squall, I was mugged." She whispered. Squall narrowed his eyes,"What about, Angelo?" Oh Hyne no... "Squall, come on!" Rinoa cried, pulling him in. Everything was missing from her room, except her bed, and furniture. Her jewelry, songs, clothes, etc were gone. Luckily, Rinoa was wearing all the jewelry that was my mothers, the only things she had left of her. "Squall..." Rinoa whispered,"Why?" He shrugged, peeking out the doorway,"Come on." We crept down the hall, and when she passed the bathroom she paused,"Squall...Angelo is in here..." He turned the knob,"It's locked." Rinoa pointed over the doorframe,"There is a key up there." He unlocked it, Angelo was fine, but ticked off. Squall motioned for me to wait. He went down the stairs,"Rinoa, you've been mugged pretty good." "What?" She went downstairs, Angelo behind. Everything was gone from the living room. "Who could have done this?" Rinoa asked, tears filling her eyes. Squall walked in the kitchen,"I'm sorry Rinoa." Rinoa looked, everything was gone there too, except the cabinets, stove, and fridge. The cabinets were empty, and her secret stash of gil and savings were gone. "How were they un-noticed?" Squall paused,"I really don't know..." She peeked in the laundry room and the den, tears filling her eyes again,"Everything is gone..." This is cruel and unfair. Rinoa looked at Squall, he was deep in thought. "Well, I don't have a phone to call the police..." Rinoa said, letting the tears fall from her eyes. Squall looked at her,"Rinoa, It's okay." "This isn't a surprise though..." Rinoa explained,"I received threats all the time...I-I thought they were jokes or something, but..." Squall opened her front door,"Come on, lets go call the police, I don't live but fifteen houses down, come on." Rinoa followed, not caring that she was following him, as long as he would help. "Rinoa, I'm really, really sorry." Squall said, when they were in the car. "It's my fault..." Rinoa started,"I...should have taken those threats seriously and made sure I shut the window..." "No, Rinoa, It wasn't your fault." Squall replied, trying to comfort her. She looked at her feet,"At least...I still had everything that was my mother's with me, I guess..." The moon shined on her face, making her close her eyes because of the brightness. "Okay, come on." Squall said, pulling up. Rinoa sighed and got out, following,"Oh, you're house is small, that’s why you asked me how many stories I had?" "Uh...yeah." He stepped inside, and Rinoa waited outside,"You can come in." Squall said, walking past the entrance to the phone,"Come in, Rinoa." She paused and cautiously went in, and stood by him at the counter as he talked on the phone. "...Yeah, hold on." He covered the bottom of the phone and handed it to me,"The police want to talk to you, since you're the victim." Rinoa took it,"Hello?" "Hello, are you miss Heartilly?" "Yes sir." "Okay, your house was mugged, correct?" "Yes." "You received threats?" "...Yes..." "Will you allow us to check your house for the next week or so?" "Um...yes..." "Thank you, Miss Heartilly, we will be there as soon as possible, please wait for us in your yard." "Yes sir, thank you." Rinoa hung up. Too bad I have no where to go. "There on their way, I have to wait in the yard..." She explained. Squall brushed his long bangs from his eyes,"Okay, I suppose you'd like me to drive you so you didn't have to walk so far in high heels, huh?" "That would be nice." "Okay, come on." Squall commanded, walking to the door. Rinoa didn't know why, but, she was afraid of Squall now. Why am I afraid? Silence was all that was heard as they stepped out onto the grass again. She turned,"Thanks for the help, Squall." He nodded and walked to his car, when the police pulled up. "Miss Heartilly?" The person from the phone asked. "Yes?" "Is this your home?" Uh, what do you think? "Yes." "Who is that?" Another officer asked, pointing to Squall. "A friend." Squall said. "Don't you move." The officer commanded to Squall. The officer from the phone identified himself,"I am Zone, that is Watts (A/N: Hey! I couldn't think, okay?)." He pointed to the other officer, "We would like you to answer a few questions." ***** A few questions? That was more like 500,000,000 questions! He finally finished asking me and Squall questions. My house was blocked off by the, 'Police Line, Do Not Cross' tape. Angelo stood at my heels, protecting me, just in case. "Miss Heartilly, do you have anywhere to go?" "No." "Any family members?" "No." She lied. She definately wasn't going to stay with Caraway. Watts looked over at Squall,"What about you, can you take her?" What?! They were putting me with Squall?! "Hey, answer me!" "Uh...I guess..." Aw man... Zone paused,"Let Watts check your house for safety first." Watts nodded, and had Squall get in his car,"Do I need Heartilly?" "Yeah, you go too." Rinoa frowned and got in the back seat with Squall, it was going to be a loooong week. Why him? WHY? WHY? Of all the people... "Wait here." Watts said, going in Squall's house. Rinoa sighed,"You know..." She paused,"I never..." She wasn't sure if it was the best thing to say,"Never mind." "Rinoa, I know you hate me." Squall replied. Rinoa blinked,"Then why did you help me?" "Because I really don't hate you..." He paused,"Yet." He finished. Rinoa looked at him, his icy eyes hidden by his hair,"Oh really?" "Yeah." Rinoa shook her head,"How can you not hate me?" "Easy." This conversation was getting nowhere. Rinoa stayed silent until Watts came back,"The house is fine, Miss Heartilly, I command you to stay here until further notice." Rinoa nodded and got out of the car,"Thank you." Watts nodded and drove off. "Thanks." Rinoa told Squall. "Yeah, whatever." What was with the attitude change? He unlocked the door,"He didn't find the torture chamber for twenty-three year old raven haired women then, huh?" He mocked. "Squall, shut up." Rinoa said.