A/N: This fanfic was first published July 24th, 2004. It's been two years that I've been working on his certain project. It's been a painful experience for me to write this, it's fill of angst and it's so over dramatic. This was my first dark romance. So I'm sorry if you grow uncomfortable, or don't like many characters here. This first chapter has been edited to be more detailed. You'll see many changes, but not much. And Caraway is less abusive.

Warning: Angst. Out of character-ness. Abuse.

I

It began another dreadful morning in Heartilly-world.

Yawning, Rinoa arose from her bed and frowned. Today was just another day. That is…another day of endless torture upon misery only adding to the state of depression she was. The ugly matter was that Rinoa was the damn the school's geek, shunned by all. No friends and practically no family. And the worse part of it all was the horrible fact that her father was known as a drunk, secretly abusive on that note.

"Another day of torture..." Rinoa sighed and took a quick shower. She dressed in layers and layers of clothing unable to reveal her true body figure. Rinoa wore her sunglasses so no one would tell the horrid but barely visible bruise that formed on her eye and had a ponytail. She had gotten her stuff and head towards the kitchen mentally praying that her father had not yet awoken.

Hyne was on her side that morning.

'Good...he's not awake!' Rinoa thought upon hearing absolute silence in the kitchen. She walked out her door and ran towards school running from her house. That's all she ever wanted to do, run from it all. Her father, her school, her town but of course being her shy and no-risk self, she'd never have the guts to do so. It was only everyday that she pushed the thought of running away out of her mind.

Ever since her mother had died from a car accident Rinoa had become lost. Her father started blaming her for her mother's death. Rinoa never shared with anyone anymore, she became a loner and soon a reject for not blending in with society. She never wanted to wear anything that every girl at her school wore...she thought it would make her sluty...like her father had called her and her mother.

"Watch it, you!"

Rinoa walked forward to her locker and took her books for her class. Trying to avoid the popular kids from torturing her she ran straight to her class...but it was unsuccessful. But of course fate always had bad things in store for people who tried to escape them. It was Xu, perhaps a total bitch in need of attention in Rinoa’s eyes. She held a nasty glare as she approached Rinoa. "And where do you think you're going?" Xu asked. Xu was one of the people who where in the IN crowd, which consisted of vivid people just as the name sounded. "I asked where do you think you were going!" Xu was a bitch…and she fought like one at that.

"I-I was going to my class." Rinoa explained. Xu grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and laughed as she dropped the girl on her rear.

"Hey, don't waste you're time on the loser." Came a tired reply. Also part of the IN crowd. "Let's go." Rinoa got up and brushed herself and continued to head towards her class. English class was her favorite; she loved writing poetry and stories. She also felt safe since her favorite teacher, Mr. Avi was around. And because no one from the IN crowed was in that class.

….

Squall Leonhart was the hottest and most popular guy in school. Brown chestnut hair, blue-grayish mysterious eyes, and most of all he was rich. Squall loved the way woman would practically worship him, and how their boyfriends would get jealous. Every month he'd go out with different girls but Adel, his latest ex girlfriend cheated on him. This was against all that defied laws and physics…it was practically a sin to do such a thing!

"Yo, Squall. We all heard what Adel did to you." One of Squall's best friends, Zell said. Zell had blonde hair and a weird tattoo on his face. As much as he hates to admit it he loved being popular-only because he gets free hot dogs from girls that like him. Squall crossed his arms, grunting. "Yeah, well life's a bitch. I was going to dump her anyway." Squall explained.

"Yeah, right! I heard that she did it to boost up her popularity." Irvine said. Another of Squall's best friend. A ladies man-or at least he tried to be, with brown long hair. Drove the girls crazy especially with his western accent-when he pretended to have one. Seifer came from behind, crossing his arms.

"I doubt it." Seifer said, another friend of Squall’s. "I think that most girls that find Squall...hate her guts for cheating on Squall." Seifer explained. Seifer was also a ladies man, he was the center of attention-other than Squall of course-blonde hair, and blue eyes. Oh yeah, the girl went wild for him.

"Look I don't feel like talking about it right now, I just need to think right now." Squall said.

"Wow, you're really heart broken!" Zell laughed receiving a punch on the arm from Irvine. The brunette almost raised his brows at the sudden feeling. Adel was his girl friend and good looking, but it wasn’t anything that special…was it? Squall shook the thought away. It wasn’t like him to feel something for another girl.

"I'm not heart broken...actually I'm trying to find a way to get revenge from her...no one cheats on Squall Leonhart!" Squall said. He noted that he'd get Adel good...real good.

Lunch

Rinoa got her lunch and sat on the far side of the cafeteria, all alone. She ate silently as many students passed by and laughed at her. She continued to eat until a shadow figure stopped in front of her.

"Hey, is this seat taken?" The figure was female.

"No." Rinoa responded.

"Hi I'm Selphie! I just moved from Tribia. Um...why are you sitting here all by yourself?" Selphie asked.

"Because, I am shunned by all students here." Rinoa said in a mono-tone. "If you want friends then I suggest that you leave."

"Nah, so...what's you're name?" Selphie asked. Rinoa's head shot up, no one except her teachers knew her name.

"My name...is Rinoa Heartilly." Rinoa responded.

Meanwhile

"So, Leonhart how do you plan on getting Adel?" Seifer asked, Squall sat there still thinking of a plan. His head shot up and shook his head.

"I really have no idea...I don't suppose you have an idea?" Squall asked the trio. They all shook their heads.

"Hey, I have a plan." Squall's head shot up and looked behind him. There, who stood before him was Quistis. Quistis was Squall's best female friend. She had always been like a big sister to him and nothing more.

"What?" Squall asked.

"Well...why don't you make her jealous. By going out with a girl that she hates?" Quistis asked.

"Well, she's pretty much hates everyone." Zell said.

"Yeah, but why doesn't he date the girl that she tortures most..." Quistis said.

"Where are you going with this?" Seifer asked.

"Look, go out with the geekest girl of the school. She'll freak out right, since the oh-so-popular guy in school is going out with the loser of the school."

"Huh?" Squall said.

"I think I know what you're saying." Irvine said. "Turn a geek into a cutie, Squall goes out with her. And Adel will get jealous that the school's geek is getting the attention." Irvine said.

"Then she'll crawl back to Squall, and he dumps her in front of the whole school." Zell finished.

"Great plan!" Squall said. "But uh...who's going to be the lucky girl?"

"Think of the most girl that is very intelligent, dresses funny, un-social able and is hated most by Adel..." Quistis said.

"How about the girl with the pig tail?" Irvine asked.

"NO!" Zell shouted. "I-I mean...Adel doesn't really hate her."

"How about...her?" Seifer pointed. He pointed to Rinoa. Squall looked over and smiled, she was perfect for the job.

Rinoa's POV

I listened to Selphie as she talked about her life in Tribia and how she misses it. She is my first friend I've ever made since I came here. I smiled, it was the first time I had smiled at school. Maybe having a friend like Selphie would be the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Hey, maybe I can give you a make over? We can go shopping, or maybe go to Mrs. Moogle's bakery! I love her cakes! Have you ever tasted one?" Selphie asked.

"No." I laughed.

"Pardon my interruption. I couldn't help notice that you two lovely ladies where here chatting away all alone." I looked up and saw two guys standing in front of us. The one who had spoken had a western accent and brown girlish hair while the other had brown hair with a smirk on his face.

"Y-Yeah?" Selphie asked.

"Pardon me, I'm Irvine and this is Squall." Irvine introduced.

"I'm Selphie and that's my friend Rinoa." Selphie told them. I glared at her wishing that she hadn't told them my name. These two were from the IN group but she didn't know that.

"Um...Selphie lets get out of here." I grabbed her hand as we both made our way out. On or way I looked back and saw both Irvine and Squall staring at us.

Normal

"Well That Rinoa girl will be a tough one." Irvine said. "Unless you're willing to give up on her."

"No way, I like a challenge plus the Leonhart's are never quitters." Squall said. "I think we both have science together."

Science Class

"What was that all about?" Selphie asked.

"I don't like those two. they are apart of the In crowd, they torture anyone who gets in their way. Just don't get mixed in with them, alright?" Rinoa asked.

"Okay, since you're my friend and I'm fresh here I'll take you're advice." Rinoa sighed in relief and smiled at her new friend.

"But, you should loosen up, that Squall guy was eyeing you!" Selphie said. She blushed and shook the thoughts of her and him out of her head.

"Oh, poo. We both don't have a lot of classes together. I better get going, I have English next." Selphie said. "I hope the teacher is nice."

"Don't worry he is." Rinoa said. She sat down her seat and listened as Mr. Kiros started his daily lessons. She wondered why the guys even talked to her, maybe it was a joke to get her mind thinking that she was cool.

'Great now those fuckers know my name.' Rinoa thought. Her thoughts were interrupted when Squall burst through the door.

"Mr. Leonhart, I believe you are 15 minutes late. Do you have an excuse?" Mr. Kiros asked.

"No, not really." Squall said as he breathed heavily. Girls shot up their heads and sighed. "Hey ladies." Squall said.

"Mr. Leonhart, since you are late you will have to sit in the back with Miss. Heartilly." Squall looked back and smirked, he walked over and sat beside her. She tried to ignore him while he stared at her. She wanted to slap him there when she realized that he was trying to stare at her chest.

'Shoot, she's got layers and layers of clothing.' Squall thought. Her eyes burned into red flames wanting only to get Squall away from her. She couldn't stand jerks like him.

"What?" Rinoa finally asked in her motionless tone.

"Nothing, just admiring you're beauty." Squall said. She didn't flinch, did Squall Leonhart actually say a compliment to Rinoa?

"Yeah, whatever." Rinoa responded trying not to show any emotion. He stared at her and smirked she was blushing, and his charm was still in work.

"Its true, you know if you take off those big glasses then you'd realize that I'm right." Squall said. She looked at him for the first time to see his blue-gray eyes. She looked back down and blushed.

'It's working.' Squall thought. He got closer to him as she tried to back away from him. She blushed harder and harder each time he'd move closer.

"Can you move down?" Rinoa said angrily.

"Maybe..." Squall said. The bell rang and she immediately got up and left. He smacked himself on the forehead and left looking for her.

"Hey Rinoa, why are you red? you feeling okay?" Selphie asked.

"I-I'm fine, its just that Squall. I can't stand him! Let's go." Squall looked over but couldn't find her. Then he gave up on finding her tomorrow was another day.

Home

Rinoa came home still praying that her father was still sleeping. Too bad her father was a light sleeper and can hear any of the slightest noise.

"RINOA!" He yelled. She cried in surprise and turned. She was going to get a beating. "YOU'RE LATE!" She walked back trying to get away from her father.

"I-I'm sorry s-sir. I-I w-went t-to the m-mall w-with m-my n-new friend..." Rinoa said. He slapped her in the cheek. She fell on the floor while she cried.

"You...frigkin...whore! You turning out to be like...you're mother! She w-was a whore...likes you goanna turn out to be." He said. She left crying to her room and locked it. She looked at the mirror and cried in front of it, she was NOT a whore and neither was her mother.

"He's trying to put you down..." Rinoa told herself. She took off her glasses and realized that Squall was right, she did look good without her glasses.

"Sniff Mom...I wish you were here with me." She cried herself to sleep and dreamt of her mother. How much she hated her father and her life but at least she had a new friend. Maybe things could turn out better for her.