Alright! Well, I've been wanting to work on a Final Fantasy VIII fic for years, and I finally threw one together. About a year ago, I started chapter one. After running through it, I decided to post it up. So, don't shoot me if you don't like it, kay? This takes place after the war and everything. So tell me what you think so I know if I should continue this!! Thankies! Enjoy after the disclaimer!

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII is property of Squaresoft...not me. (sighs) Oh well!

Chapter one: Shunned

Green eyes met blue-gray eyes from across a crowded hallway. The blonde began to move towards the onlooker, however, those eyes turned away and the other hurriedly walked off, reasons unknown. Seifer let out a sigh and turned back to the board, which was why this certain hall was so crowded.

The grades for a recent exam were now posted on the board. Seifer had gone to meet with several students that had questions, and he figured it was the same reason Squall was just there. Yet, ever since he came back to Garden, the brunette seemed to avoid him; for what reasons, even he was unsure. They fought during the war, yes, but he never thought that the reaction would go on this long. Most of Garden did not really care anymore. In fact, Seifer was now an instructor, compliments to Quistis for convincing Squall to allow him. Reluctantly, he agreed and so Seifer was to teach Battle Tactics.

Now in the second semester of teaching, Seifer was quick to become one of the favorites of the female students. Just as Quistis had a fan club, he, too, now had one. However, it did become quite annoying over time; having girls constantly giggle whenever he was around, he was not able to take much more of this. He did an about-face and began to walk back to the elevator to take him back down to the first floor. If he was not teaching a class, he spent quite a bit of time in the Training Center, occasionally running across students that were fighting monsters much too tough for them and having to escort them back to the gate. That, in his eye, was a waste of time. Students that were unable to handle the creatures should not have been in that section anyway. At times, he had run into the Commander, and as soon as he had shown up, Squall would quickly finish a battle and move away.

Once down to the lower floor, Seifer ran into Zell, literally.

"Watch where you're going, Chicken-Wuss!" He shot as he landed on his butt. Papers that Zell had currently been holding went flying everywhere and he scrambled to pick them up.

"Sorry about that, Seifer!" He quickly apologized, continuing to pick up scattered papers. The other only sighed.

"Does Quistis have you running errands again?" He asked, an annoyed expression playing on his face.

Zell glanced up at Seifer's sudden change in attitude. He shook his head as he picked up the last paper and climbed to his feet. "Yeah. I have to get these to Squall before three." He glanced at his watch. "Ah! Damn it!" The time was now showing two fifty-five. "Gotta run!" He called as he ran into the elevator and pressed the button for the third floor repeatedly.

Once the elevator doors shut, Seifer faced the stairs and began to descend them. Figuring he would grab a bite to eat, he headed for the Cafeteria, hands shoved in his pocket, ignoring the passing, giggling girls. Once he reached the Cafeteria, he noticed a brunette sitting at one of the tables with a glass of water on the table and head bent down. He walked over, standing directly over the other with his arms crossed.

"Zell's looking for you."

Squall glanced up at Seifer and only nodded his head before returning to his position, and then gathering to his feet. He began to head for the entrance, but was stopped by Seifer grabbing his upper arm.

"Leonheart," the blonde stated hastily, a bit more forceful than he had intended. "Since you're right here, care to explain your damn attitude? You seem to be the only one that still has a problem with me and it's starting to get on my nerves."

Squall met Seifer's eyes, but turned away and shook his head. He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Selphie entering the room.

"Squall! There you are!" She ran up to them and Seifer released Squall's arm. "I've been trying to find either you or Quistis – hey Seifer – and I finally found someone!" She smiled and latched onto Squall's arm, beginning to drag him off. "It's about the Garden Festival for next semester! I've come up with a few ideas and I just wanted to run them through you first!"

Seifer watched until they were both out of sight before kicked a chair. Cursing once again at the failed attempt to figure out the Commander, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled out of the Cafeteria and towards the Training Center.

----

A Grat let out its shriek as the blonde annihilated the group. His search for a T-Rexaur was not going as planned and the fact that he had begun taking his frustration out on weak creatures was just adding more frustration to his mood. He sighed and headed back to the gate, yet his search paid off as he dodged an oncoming monster. He grinned and unsheathed his sword.

"Now that's more like it!"

He charged at the dinosaur, slicing it across its chest. He ducked when the monster tried to lash at him with its tail and instead, cut part of it off. From reflex, it tried to chomp down, yet missed and only nicked his arm with its teeth. Seifer looked at the sleeve of his coat and cursed.

"You bastard! I just had this damn thing cleaned!" He charged at the T-Rexaur and continually sliced away until it fell to the ground, dead. He smirked and rested his gunblade on his shoulder, letting out a sigh.

He turned and began to head back to the gate. Once outside the center, he watched as a group of teens head in the direction he had just came from. Figuring he would go back to his dorm room and change out of his now ripped coat, he took off.

----

"So, what do you think? Is it alright if we do that?"

"Yeah. I don't see why not."

"Thanks, Squall!" Selphie piped as she hugged Squall around the neck. "Well, I'm off to tell the others they can go on ahead and set up for it!" She released him and began to walk to the Quad. She waved back at him and he replied to it with a small wave of his own.

He let out a yawn and looked around at the nearest clock. It was only four, yet it felt like it was past midnight; however, that was what happened when one would stay up all night, not going to bed until early hours in the morning, and then having to wake right back up. Wondering if it was all right to head back and take a nap in his dorm, he decided that an hour nap would not hurt.

After being stopped in the halls to confirm a few things, he finally managed top reach the outside to the dorms. He let out a sigh of relief and began to walk in but stopped when he saw a familiar face exiting the area. Seifer stopped abruptly as well and Squall averted his eyes to the floor and started to walk pass him. Becoming quickly annoyed, Seifer spun around and had the shorted male pinned to the wall by his shoulders.

"Goddamn it, Squall!" He growled as their eyes met. "What the hell is your problem?!" Squall shifted his gaze back to the floor, which seemed to piss off the other even more.

Seifer put more force on his hold on Squall and the other slightly cringed while muttering, "Stop it."

"No, Commander. I'm not going to let you go until you tell me the hell's wrong with you and why you're the only one who seems to have a damn problem with me!" With his face now only mere centimeters from Squall's face, he said in a harsh whisper: "Or am I going to have to make you?"

Squall's eyes shot open and he pushed Seifer away from him. "D-DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Seifer stood, stunned at the other's reaction and watched as Squall took of running into the dorms. He looked back in disbelief. Those eyes didn't show anger, Seifer thought slowly. No…that was fear. But why? He gazed down the now empty hallway to the dorms. Did I do something? He rubbed the back of his head in confusion.

"Shit!" He cursed as he punched the wall, receiving several curious looks from passing students. He stood upright and headed off back to the Training Center.

----

Quistis took a sip of her coffee before setting it back down on the table. She, Selphie, Irvine, and Zell were currently sitting in the Cafeteria, talking about the test results for some of the students. However, the conversation quickly turned to talking about Squall and Rinoa.

"I don't know," Selphie said as she put his hand to her face. "Ever since Rinoa left, he seems to have reverted back to his hidden self again."

Zell shook his head, glancing up at the brunette. "I don't know. He still acts the same when I'm around. It seems that the only time he ever acts quiet is if Seifer's around."

"But he can't still be upset over that!" Selphie argued. "Seifer's a lot different than how he was before! Besides, haven't we all established the fact that Seifer wasn't exactly – how do I put this – himself during that time. I'm sure Squall couldn't still be bent over that."

Zell shrugged.

"Maybe not," Quistis cut in. "Maybe something happened during that time? We don't know what happened and we're probably never going to know."

"I dunno. I think that Squall should just get over whatever's biting his ass before Seifer knocks the crap out of him," Irvine said calmly as he sat up straight. Selphie hit him over the head and he jerked. "Hey! What was that for?" He cried out as he held his head.

"Stop being a pessimist!" She commanded. "You could be a little more cheerful!"

Irvine grumbled and Selphie gave him a threatening look, making him put up his hands as if surrendering, giving his innocent grin.

"Would you two stop for a second?" Quistis asked, yet it was more of a command. "I'm sure the last thing we need is to get involved in your guys lover's quarrel." Selphie crossed her arms after sticking out her tongue at Irvine. She gathered to her feet and looked at everyone at the table.

"Well, I'm going to head back to the Quad and help with the Garden Festival. No thanks to Irvine for helping!" She walked away, leaving Irvine to sputter a response. He knocked back his chair and went running after her.

"Selphie! Wait! I'm sorry!"

Quistis let out a sigh while Zell was trying to muffle his laughs.

"Irvine really needs to be a bit more considerate to her," the blonde female said as she looked after them. "I wouldn't be surprised if she broke it off with him."

Zell's laughs finally broke through. "I doubt it. They fight more like a married couple than anything else." Quistis only shrugged before gathering to her own feet.

"Well, I'm going. My class starts here soon."

Zell looked up at her. "See? Aren't you glad that you didn't give up being an instructor?" She only shrugged and walked away, slightly smiling to herself. Zell threw his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair. "I wonder when I should as her?"

So? What did you think? Good? Bad? So-so? Review so I know, kay?!