Chapter…EIGHT!

Nightfall. We once again zoomed into the apartment building where Squall and Zell lived. Zell was like usual, skipping his way back to the floor he live. But this time, his destination isn’t the apartment room he lived in, but the room across the hall, the one where Raine stayed.

It had been a few days he and Squall had their dinner across the hall, where he can have home-cooked food. Instead of cooking in Squall’s apartment, Raine prefer to cook at her’s since everything she needed is there, and Squall’s apartment’s kitchen is…well…not that well maintained.

Even though Squall can have home-cooked food everyday, he didn’t seem to fancy this much. But Zell on the other hand was filled with joy every time he stepped into the room across the hall. He gets to enjoy nice home-cooked food. That is enough to keep him away from eating outside.

“Just a minute!”

A soothing voice was heard the moment Zell opened the door of the room across the hall. He knew that that phrase translates into “dinner is about to be ready” and Zell was right when he saw food being laid out on the table already. Zell rubbed his palms and walked towards the dining table with his eyes fixed onto the delicious food on the table. He felt so lucky…

“Dinner’s ready! Where’s Squall?”

Raine asked when she is carrying out a bowl of steaming rice with her mittens. Zell could only stand still, and scratched his head. He knew that what he is about to say will upset her.

“Uh, Squall’s not coming back tonight. He didn’t say why.” Zell announced and Raine had an annoyed look on her face. She put down the bowl of rice and took off her mittens.

“That kid. He should have said so earlier! I’ve cooked extra today.”

Raine complaint and Zell looked at the amount of food on the table. That is a lot of food to be finished by two people. Zell just made a smile and then pulled out the chair at the dining table and sat on it.

“No problem. I will finish it all.”

Zell said confidently and Raine just smiled. Somehow Zell’s presence made Raine felt a little better. The two soon started eating, and had a little chat and before they knew it, they started laughing and enjoying themselves.

“Uh, Aunt Raine. You might consider not cooking tomorrow night. I am coming back rather late tomorrow.”

Zell informed Raine just before the two almost finished the food. Raine just looked at him in amusement.

“It’s Friday tomorrow. Could it be…a date?”

Raine asked Zell with a curious smirk and Zell just chuckled. He shook his head.

“No, not a date. I am not that lucky. But I am going to do something even better. I am going dancing.” Zell replied Raine’s joke. Raine just stared at him.

“Dancing?” Raine asked with an interested tone.

“Yes. Dancing at one of those dance clubs. I go there every week and learned some cool dance moves. Maybe I should show you one day.”

Zell answered confidently but Raine returned a smile.

“Kid. I know more dance move than you could even imagined.” Raine exposed a little of her talent and Zell folded his arms and stared at Raine.

“Oh really?” Zell asked Raine and Raine replied with a nod. Zell won’t buy this easily. Not without proof.

“What kind of dance you know? Cha-Cha?” Zell joked by mentioning dances that are from another generation.

“As long as you lead, I will be able to follow.” Raine replied confidently. Zell nodded, and attempt to challenge her.

“I will not believe it unless I see it. Why don’t you join me tomorrow night?” Zell challenged Raine and Raine just hesitated.

“Well…”

“Why? Scared?”

Zell challenged Raine further and Raine just looked back at him.

“I haven’t done it for so many years…”

Raine gave an excuse but Zell continued to pursue.

“Well, it won’t hurt trying, right?”

Zell persuaded Raine but Raine is still hesitating.

“It will be fun! You done it before, you know it will, right?”

Zell continued persuading and Raine seemed to loosen herself. She just nodded her head as a reply, and Zell had a smile on his face.

“I will pick you up at 7 tomorrow night, Aunt Raine.” Zell confirmed his ‘date’.

“Please, don’t call me Aunt. I don’t want to feel that old. Just call me Raine.”

Raine corrected Zell that still addressed her like an elder.

“Well, Raine. I will pick you up at 7 tomorrow night. How about that?” Zell repeated himself with a half-joking manner and Raine once again gave that refreshing smile of hers. Zell’s heart leaped with joy. He completely forgot what Squall had told him, and how it looked like to go out with someone so much older than himself.

Enjoy now, think later.

A tiring day. A really, really tiring day for Squall. A lot of work had been done at the studio and he hadn’t slept or rest for a long period of time. With his heavy legs and heart, he slowly walked along the corridor, back to the apartment across his. At this moment of time, she should be preparing dinner, waiting for him to come home.

Although Squall didn’t really like the idea of his mother staying across the hall, but he had a warm feeling that there is someone he is familiar for his entire life living near him. That sort of feeling is…special.

Squall reached the front of the apartment and pulled out a key and opened it. The moment he opened the door, he saw his mother sitting on the floor, tying up her pair of …snickers?!

Squall came to realized that something is wrong. Instead of her usual sweater and long pants wear, she is wearing a white blouse with a red jacket over it, and a black short skirt that matched the jacket. Her hair was tied, and there is a layer of make-up on her face.

Something is really wrong. Squall suddenly got a sister he didn’t have.

“Ma?!”

Squall exclaimed but before he could say anything else, his mother stood up and intercepted, while adjusting her jacket.

“Does this jacket match my hair?”

Squall was absolutely stunned to see her dressing up like this. She is a middle age woman. And now she is dressing up like a…

“Dinner’s on the table. It’s still hot so go wash your hands and eat now.”

Raine commanded but Squall hadn’t recovered from his shock. He couldn’t possibly take this. Where can she be going? Or more importantly, WHO can she be going with? Calm down Squall, calm down…

“Heeeeyyyyy…………..”

The voice died down the moment Squall turned around to the speaker. Squall saw Zell behind him wearing a leather jacket and a pair of jeans. Zell made a forceful smile at Squall, hoping that he won’t do anything bad to him. Boy, talking about strict parents…kids?

“Zell, what in the world…”

Squall stared at Zell with a frightful stare and Zell could only cower backwards. Suddenly, Squall felt a slight push on the back of his head and he turned around and saw his mother crossing her arms, looking at him with a mean look.

“Hey. Don’t mess with my date. Go have your dinner.”

Date?! She can’t be serious, can she?

Squall was staring blankly at his mother while she tidied herself up and left her apartment. She walked ahead of Zell and Zell followed. Zell then turned back and shouted to Squall.

“I will bring her back by midnight!”

Squall looked as the two disappeared around the corner. Stupefied, he had no idea what lies in the future.

The two had finally arrived at the dance club and had been sitting there for a while. Zell seemed to be energetic but Raine seems to be …nervous. The flashing lights, the loud, noisy music, the people dancing wildly around, the smell of smoke and alcohol …everything seems to frighten her.

Zell had noticed this the moment they entered the place. He knew that something like this will happen, but nothing as serious as this. She seems to feel out of place. She keeps on looking around, but kept quiet all the time. Slowly sipping on her drink, she seems to be waiting for time to pass by.

“Come on, let’s go out and have a dance.”

Zell told Raine with a egoistic tone but Raine just kept quiet and look back. Zell can feel that she regretted coming to this place.

“You come here to dance, right?”

Zell asked Raine but she remained quiet. Zell scratched his head and thought. He had run out of ideas to get her out there.

“Maybe…I am too old for this…”

Raine finally spoke and looked around her. Everyone here is younger than her, even though her appearance today doesn’t show any sign of her age. The rage and passion to join the crowd seemed to die down. She just wants to get out of this place…

“Come on, follow me.”

Zell held Raine’s hands and slowly pulled her off her chair. She at first resisted by then she just followed obediently. Zell started to move his legs side wards on the spot away from the crowd, following the music. Raine reluctantly followed.

“Let warm up first, okay?”

Zell moved his legs and then started to snap his fingers. Raine followed and then things started to get smoother and smoother. She followed his steps perfectly and then Zell started to move more freely He waved his arms, his steps becoming larger. Raine slowly followed and after some time, a smile was formed on her face. She started to enjoy this!

“Fun?”

Zell asked Raine but Raine couldn’t listen. She was started to dance on her own moves following the music. Zell felt a sense of joy, knowing that she started enjoying this. This evening will not be a waste.

“Watch this!”

Zell shouted near Raine’s ears and Raine just looked at him. Zell made some rather complicated dance moves, did a few turn and twist, and smile at Raine. Instead of looking impressed, Raine just looked and smile. She immediately mimicked all of Zell’s moves and Zell got a shock seeing this. His moves just now are not meant for the novice. This means that…she’s a veteran?

Zell couldn’t stop right here and he did a few more difficult dance move, those which are difficult to perform and follow. But Raine just followed all of them and in some cases, did it better than Zell did. Zell couldn’t believe his eyes, a middle age woman can actually dance better than he can. His arrogance was challenged.

“Bet you can’t do this!”

Zell spoke to Raine in the noisy music and lend out his hand, waiting for Raine. Raine held it and twisted towards him, until their faces are only inches away. Raine spoke out and Zell made out the words.

“Let see.”

Zell performed some duo moves and Raine followed them with grace. Zell continued performing more challenging ones but Raine can follow each and every one of them!

By this time, the two had actually caught some attention from the surrounding crowd. The two danced extremely well and the crowd watched with awe. Before they knew it, a circle of space was formed around them and them crowd cheered out each time they performed a beautiful trick. Before long, the music was about to end and the two performed a killer finale, stunning the crowd.

The music finally stopped, and the lights went off and there were cheers around them. Raine had finally revived the dancer within her. She was glamorous tonight. Again.

The author speaks again...

(Whoa, they are friends! Just friends! Nothing more than that! Come to think of it, if this is not a fanfic and Raine cannot be pictured out from the game, this fic will really flop badly. Just keep reminding yourself of the Raine with Laguna in the past, the really young one. Lame explainations will follow later on... I promise...)

(For the part about the dancing... I am not a dancer and I don't really know much about the terms used. All I got is from a few movies and TV shows so pardon me if it is not descriptive enough. I will try to improve on this, somehow...)