Final Fantasy VIII - A promise from yesteryears

Disclaimer - I do not own final fantasy 8 and the characters that I use in the story.

Author's note: Oh wow, it sure has been awhile since I've written a fan fic. Alrigthy then, all you quall fans out there. Please give it a read and honestly tell me what you think of the fic.

xXxXx

Chapter one

It hurts.

Quistis was on the top balcony, looking down as Rinoa and Squall danced gracefully in the middle of the ballroom. It seemed it was the only thing she was capable of doing, always watching them dance from afar. Always been on the outside, looking in. She sighed and slowly turned the other way, away from the things she'd never have nor experience.

"Another refill, ma'am?", the sharp-looking waiter asked.

She smiled and nodded a no. The content in her glass was half way empty. It had been that way for awhile now, just something she'd like to hold on to. Without it, she would feel alone and empty. The glass she was holding in her right hand was the only thing that was keeping her company.

People and friends greeted her, but to her annoyance they never ask her for a dance, they never did. Not even him. Why is that? She wondered. Was she simply not worthy enough of being approached and asked or is it her being the instructor the reason? A little of both, maybe? Sure, Seifer would ask her, but only does it, so he could amuse himself.

It hurts. The way, people would leave her out in the cold when a dance is taking place. Just this once, she'd like to have someone that she truly loves follow her, instead of her doing the following. Maybe some of it is her fault by having so much pride, but that's beside the point. She's just old-fashion, meaning she'd rather have some guy ask her out to dance.

Quistis let herself look back at the dance floor. Her blue eyes slowly sailing across the ballroom, only to have it settle on him once more. The commander uniform he was wearing made him look so handsome, that it was impossible to even look away once you got caught by the sight of it. She unwillingly took off her glasses and rubbed at her eyes, then put back on her glasses.

All of this thinking was giving her a mild headache. All of this... Quistis stopped her train of thought when she saw Squall leaving the dance floor. She quickly finish the drink, she had been nursing in one gulp and started making her way down to the main floor. Expertly weaving through people as fast as she possibly could and make it seem she not in a hurry.

A few sorrys here and there and she had made it to the main floor in no time. She saw Squall exiting the ballroom and there was no sight of Rinoa either. Geez, I wonder why? She thought. Quistis had to hurry if she wanted to catch up with him. She exited the ballroom and saw him at the end of the hallway.

She had to slightly jog in order to catch up, "Hey Squall, wait up."

He stopped and looked her way, "What, Quistis."

"Ahh," she hesitated for a moment. "Meet me at the training center in half an hour, okay?"

Squall looked at her searchingly as if searching for something. "Sure," he finally said and left to go change out of his uniform.

Quistis let out a breath, not realizing she had been holding her breath all this time. "Alright. I might as will change as well," she said as she stared at his retreating figure.

Twenty-five minutes later, she found herself leaning against the wall and was tapping her feet anxiously. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her whip 'Save the Queen' swing a little at her waist. She kept looking down the hallway for him. It wasn't long after when she heard footsteps coming her way. The footsteps she was hearing was most definitely Squall's, no doubt about it.

She finally got a full visual of him and leaned off the wall and greeted him. "Hey you, so you made it huh?"

"What's this all about, Quistis?" He was a straightfoward kind of person and didn't like people being around the bush.

Quistis was slightly taken aback by his reply. There was a short silence. "I just needed a sparring buddy," she said, "and you are my mission partner from time to time, are you not?"

"Whatever," he said expressionlessly. "Let's go, then."

They skipped pass all the monster fighting and went straight to the sparring room. The place was pretty much empty, since there was a dance going on tonight. Squall stood at the sparring platform and was seemingly uninterested. He was staring at something that wasn't even there. He held his gunblade 'Lionheart' with his right hand and had it on his shoulder.

"So Squall, shall w--" he quickly struck and didn't even give her a chance to form a strategy. Squall was all about movement and unmercifully unleashed a barrage of combo after combo, striking high, high, low and then low, high, low. Quistis flew backwards instantly and was completely overwhelmed by his powerful attacks.

She tried her best to parry off his inhumanly attacks but it was completely useless. His power was absolutely amazing, and utterly frightening that she had no other choice but to keep backing up, backing up and backing up, then a sudden kick square in the chest sent her flying out of the sparring platform.

Thump. Ouch. Quistis landed hard on her back and her weapon flew ten feet from her. Her vision blurred a bit but still managed to focus. She was shaking vigorously, and her head was ringing from the impact. Quistis slowly sat up and got to one knee, and was breathing quite heavily.

"What the heck was that all about, Quistis. I thought you wanted to spar?" He stood above her, and was looking down at her emotionlessly.

"B-but Squall, you attack me so quickly that I didn't get a chanc--"

"So, that's your lame reason of excuse?" He interrupted bitterly. "You of all people should know to always be aware of your opponent, whenever you set foot on the sparring floor, Quistis. I figured since you being the instructor, I thought you already knew this but I guess I was wrong. You were the one who taught me this, now get up."

She tried to do as ordered, but couldn't, "I can't. My legs aren't responding."

He sighed in disappointment. "We're done here, then. I'm leaving."

"I only wanted to talk," she said not looking up.

"Talk."

"Yes."

"About?"

"About some of the things you still remembered when we were both little at the orphanage," Quistis didn't dare meet his eyes as she spoke. "Things we promised, we'd do together when we got older."

"Such as?"

"You don't remember it, do you?"

Squall sighed again, but this time in annoyance. "Listen, Quistis. This promise that you speak of, is really gettin' me nowhere." He ran his hand through his hair. "So what if I forgot. It happens when you get older, you forget."

"I remember."

"Whatever. Was it really that of importance?"

She nodded, frowning. "It is."

"And?"

"I can't tell you," she replied. "You have to remember it yourself."

There was silent for a moment. "I don't got freakin' time for this, I'm leaving," Squall took several steps, then stopped abruptly. "I take my sparring very seriously, Quistis. I suggest you do the same."

Quistis heard him leave the room as tears started to well up in her eyes. She took out a small plastic ring that was neatly wrapped from her pocket and looked at it while she cried quietly. It was one of the toy ring they both exchanged when they were little, she had one and he had one too. Quistis held it tightly with both hands as if her very existence depended on it.

It hurts.

To be continued...