Title: Our Hearts Call Out - 1

Author: Kryssi Louise

Rating: PG - Oh no, there is kissing in this! Hide your eyes!

Description: Psychotic love triangle that consists of Squall, Rinoa, and Seifer. The outcome is a Rinoa Seifer pairing.

Archive: If anyone is willing to take this story and post it on a web page, let me know first, please!

Disclaimer: Yeah, so I'm just a crazy fan fiction writer who owns nothing of these characters, Square Soft, Final Fantasy...blah blah blah, we all know the drill. I have no material gain from doing this, only the wonderful satisfaction of knowing that I'm torturing innocent people with my writing!!! *evil laughter inserted here*

Feedback: Please get back to me!! I love to hear from people! But could we have some constructive criticism please? The "I hate Seifer and Rinoa together" messages are just a bit annoying

* * *

Squall Leonhart lay on his bed silently. The buzzing of the flourescent lights was all that could be heard in the quiet room. He was a young man of seventeen years with shaggy brown hair and ocean blue eyes that many of the girls of Balamb Garden thought made him look cute. None of those girls would talk to him much though. When he came to the Garden word traveled fast that Squall liked to keep to himself. He was hardly worth the time of trying to get to open up. Now he was alone. Finally a SeeD member, his dream come true. Yet he was alone. His eyes wandered to his gun blade as it lay in the case. The words of Headmaster Cid echoed in his ears. "Finally, a gun blade expert." Did that make him valuable? Or was Cid just saying those words because he was required to.

The harsh ring of the doorbell rang out loud and clear, shattering his thoughts. Soon to follow was the sing song voice of a spunky young girl. Selphie Tilmitt also had passed the tests that day. "Squall! You in there?" She rang the bell again, "come on! Lets go! Everyone is down in the ballroom. Its time to party!"

Hoping that maybe she had gone away he didn't say anything and still lay on his bed. Just as he started to drift off again the bell rang once more, giving a shrill intrusion to his thoughts.

Frustrated, Squall got up off the bed, "Alright, fine! I'm coming." he walked out of his room and pushed the unlock button on his door. It opened with a swish as Selphie came jumping in.

"Why aren't you changed?!" Her big eyes looked truly shocked as she looked him up and down. "The party starts any minute now."

Squall just looked at the scrawny girl with pigtail hair in front of him. "How does something so small have so much energy?" he thought. Realizing that she wanted an answer, he let out a sigh, "I wasn't planning on going."

"What?! No, come on Squall." She went bouncing into his room and looked through his closet for his new SeeD uniform. Grabbing it, she came running back to him, "now get changed!" She looked at him insistently and held the uniform under his nose. A sly grin crept across her face, "afraid of having fun?" she questioned.

That did it. Squall Leonhart would not be accused of being afraid of something. He let out a sigh, "fine." Grabbing the uniform he walked into his bedroom, wishing that the doors weren't automatic so that he could slam it.

* * *

The soft clunk of his boots echoed through the empty halls as Squall made his way towards the ballroom. He held himself up high, tossing back his hair, feeling proud that he was a SeeD now. However his mind was still weighed down with how he would rather be in his room, or perhaps in the Training Center instead of going to a formal ball where no one would talk to him. As he walked past the Quad two figures could be seen in the shadows. One was a tall, broad shouldered, young man. Squall could tell right away by the slicked back, blond hair and the long, grey coat that it was Seifer, his rival. He felt the anger swell inside of him as he remembered how Seifer had earlier that day left him with a scar across his face. The other figure was that of a young women. She had dark hair that fell over her shoulders and she wore a soft, cream coloured dress. She was obviously going to be at the ball. Seifer leaned against the wall, his arms on either side of her head as he towered over the women, pressing her against the wall. Leaning down he whispered something to her and a warm, heartfelt giggle came from the girl. Seifer then leaned down and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around to the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

Squall scowled as he walked by. "Why can't people get a room?" he asked himself as he quickened his pace to the ballroom.

* * *

"Rinoa, you look gorgeous tonight." Seifer whispered into the young women's ear. She let out a soft girlish giggle as he then leaned in and softly kissed her. He looked into her deep brown eyes and suddenly saw a sadness there, "what's wrong?"

She looked away for a moment and then back, "I wish you could have passed the SeeD exam today. I was hoping to go to the party with you tonight." She sighed, "Now I have to go alone." Her eyes held such honesty that it hurt even Seifer to see her like this.

"I know." He pushed away from her and slowly started to pace the floor. "I just can't stand the orders they give!" The anger boiled in him as he remembered the exam that day. "We could have been heros if it weren't for that stupid order to retreat! And that goodie-goodie Squall and his side kick Chicken-wuss just HAD to obey orders! Well what about MY orders?!" He stopped right in her face and punched the wall near her head, not being able to hold back his frustration.

"You are still a student here, Seifer and you should follow the rules." Rinoa answered his anger with gentle reminders, "You've been through the exam several times now. If you really wanted to be a SeeD, you could do it." She looked up into his eyes, "do you still hold onto the old dream?"

He looked at her and then away again. How was it that she could stay so calm during his angry outbursts? Yet her words hit too close to home, "I don't know anymore." He unclenched his fist from the wall and let it drop to his side. Her hands slide up his chest to his neck until she was gently holding his face in her soft hands. Seifer had to give a small shudder from her touch, she was the most amazing women he had ever met and did not want to do anything to lose her. The large brown eyes that journeyed deep into his, held truth and honesty, "I believe in you Seifer." Her voice was like a gentle breeze that calmed everything inside of him.

"I know you do." Ever so slowly he leaned down and kissed her. Rinoa pulled away and leaned her forehead against his chest, "Please promise me that you will not lose sight of your dreams, Seifer. You are a strong person in every way, do not lose that."

"Yes, Seifer, do not lose your strength..." A strange voice echoed through his mind.

"Are you alright?" Rinoa looked up at him questioningly. He seemed to have been lost in his own thoughts.

"What?"

"I said, are you alright? You look like you've been to the moon and back." She smiled at him playfully.

"Yeah I'm fine. Don't worry about me, I'll have another chance at the exams." Giving her a reassuring smile he said, "Really. Don't worry. Now, you have to be at the party tonight right?"

"Oh! I had totally forgotten! I guess being with you does that to me." Her smile seemed to light up everything around her, bringing a joy into him that he only felt around her. "You're sure there is no way you can come?" Rinoa looked at him with hope in her eyes even though she knew the truth.

"You know I can't."

"I know." Disappointment flashed across her face again but brightened once more, her emotions never lingering on sadness for very long.

Seifer hugged her close and then pulled back, "Go and have some fun alright? I am sure that Headmaster Cid is waiting for you." With that she nodded, kissed his cheek lightly and started to walk away. Her hand having to leave his as he tried to hold on to her as long as possible.

"I'll come look for you after my meeting with the Headmaster, alright?" She smiled again, "try not to miss me to much!" The heals of her shoes could be heard echoing through the dark hall as he was left standing there watching after her. Rinoa Heartilly was some women, and Seifer was proud to know her.

"I am searching for you my Dark Knight. You will serve me." Once again he was sure he heard a voice in the silence of the night. He looked around him, standing still to listen, yet all Seifer could hear was the chirping of the crickets in the humid night air.

* * *

The music playing was up beat and the dance floor was alive with young couples who waltzed around in circles. All of them smiling and laughing as they enjoyed the evening of relaxation after a long hard struggle to become soldiers of SeeD. The Ballroom was spectacular with is dome shaped roof. A full moon with its accompaniment of stars could be seen through the glass ceiling of the dome. It was a fairy tale night. Everyone was having the time of their life except for one young man who stood alone in a corner slowly sipping at his drink in its crystal glass.

"Squall!" Selphie came running up to him. "So you made it!" She smiled at her own triumph. "Having fun yet?" Was it his imagination or did this girl not stop moving at any time?

"Its really kind of boring actually." Taking a sip of his drink again, he looked for her reaction.

"Well that will have to change." Selphie looked at him determinedly. She would not give into defeat.

While the girl stood in front of him deep in thought on how to make him have a good time, Squall caught sight of a young women in a cream coloured dress. She stood in the middle of the dance floor by herself. "That is odd." He thought.

"Oh Squall, before I forget," Selphie interrupted his thoughts for the second time that day, "Do you think you would be able to help me out with the Garden Festival? I know we have a lot of work to do now as SeeD members but I'm on the committee and I just wondered if you think you would help out at times." Squall looked away from the women on the dance floor and looked back at Selphie. Her eyes were full of hope as she waited his answer, obviously she had not received many takers on the idea.

"Sure, count me in. I will try to help when I get a chance."

"Oh! That is great Squall! You really are a nice guy!" She jumped up and down in one spot clapping her hands together with excitement. "It will be great Squall, just you wait and see!"

"Yo!" A familiar voice was heard coming towards the two.

"Zell! I need to talk to you!" Selphie swiftly turned to him. The young man ran a hand through his spiked, blond hair and flashed her a smile, "Sure babe, anything you want."

Selphie blushed a moment, taken off guard by his words, she looked him up and down. He also was in a new SeeD uniform. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, "What do you say to helping me out with the Garden Festival?"

"What? Um, I dunno Selph, I'll have to see." Quickly wanting to change the subject Zell looked up at Squall, "hey man, now that we are all SeeD, why don't you put her there?" he held out his hand, waiting to receive the other young man's handshake.

Squall looked at him. He never liked Zell from the very start. Zell had a reputation for the fights he and Seifer would constantly get into. He was a loud, impulsive person and to Squall that meant that Zell was unpredictable. You could never trust someone like that to pull through for you on your team. Squall ignored the outstretched hand and took another sip from his crystal glass. Zell shook his head, "even as a SeeD, you're still the same. I guess that is just you though, man."

"Zell, what about the Garden Festival?" Selphie's perky voice was all of a sudden heard again as she did her best to press the martial arts master into helping her out.

"Uh," he looked around for an excuse to get away, "I think I see someone over there that I know. See ya Squall!" With that he took off in a quick jog, Selphie close on his heals.

Squall watched after them a moment. "Some people here are so strange. I can not believe that I told Selphie I would help her. I'm not going to have the time for that stupid Garden Festival. There is lots of SeeD work to do." He looked up through the glass dome into the stars, "Still, she is cute, though overly active, and she needs the help. I guess everyone needs a break." His thoughts trailed off as he once again looked down to the dance floor. The young women was no longer there, until he spotted her standing in between the twirling bodies of the other people who were dancing. She too was looking up at the stars. He looked closer, "where have I saw her before?" Squall could not place her and did not have the time to think it through as she suddenly looked back down and glanced around the room. She saw him watching her. He quickly looked away embarrassed that the mysterious women had caught him staring at her. Thinking it was safe to look back again Squall slowly looked up, only to find her still standing there, staring back at him with a smile. He started to walk away from where he was standing, feeling that he should leave, yet she held up a finger telling him to wait right there as she then began to walk over to him.

"Hello there." She greeted when she reached him, "See anyone out there that you like?" Her smile was unlike any other persons he had ever met. It seemed to radiate from her with a pure happiness.

"I'm not here for that." Was his simple answer, wishing that she would leave him alone.

"Oh, I see." She nodded her head knowingly. Holding her hands behind her back she slowly rock back and forth on her heels in a playful manner. "Well, I am." She smiled again, "Ok, well not really, but I am looking for a dancing partner and you are the cutest guy here without a date. So guess what?" She leaned in close to him as she asked the question and paused, waiting for an answer, "oh, so that is how it is huh? Ok well, anyway, YOU are it." She grabbed his hand and started to pull him out to the dance floor.

Squall dug in his heals to the floor, "No, wait, wait!"

The girl paused a moment, "yes?"

Looking down to the floor, feeling ashamed for what he had to confess, he said, "I don't know how to dance."

That wonderful smile once again spread across her face, "that is alright, you will catch on, just follow my lead." With that she pulled him to the center of the dance floor where she then had him assume dancing position and took off with the music.

He tried to keep up with her but kept stumbling and stepping on her toes. She never showed it though, just kept on trying. Squall could see the determination in her eyes, this girl wanted to get it right. They stumbled around the dance floor, other couples were staring at them and he was becoming very self conscious and frustrated. Throwing down his hands he turned away from her, "forget it! This is useless!"

As he started to walk off the dance floor she grabbed his hand, "no, please, don't walk off." There was a pause in the music. The sincerity in her eyes made him came back to her and hold her as before. "You worry to much, just let go and stop thinking about it. Just do what feels right." She smiled at him once more and as the music started again Squall felt something come over him.

Suddenly they were dancing as one, in perfect sync. Her dark hair flew around her, falling over her shoulders with every turn. The joy behind her eyes lite up as she started to smile and laugh with enjoyment. A smile gently crept across his face. Just seeing how happy she was brought joy into his own heart.

Before Squall knew it the music had stopped and the lights were turned down low as the celebration continued with fireworks in the sky above. Both of them stood on the floor with everyone else and watched the spectacular show. Squall noticed that many couples around them were in an embrace or giving loving kisses to their partner. He looked down to the young women in his arms. The light in her eyes was enhanced by the flashes of light from the heavens. She looked like she was having fun.

The lights were turned on once again as the music began. She looked into his ocean blue eyes and smiled. Her smile never seemed to fade. Never in his life had Squall met anyone who appeared to be as happy with life as she did.

"Thank you for the dance," she said. "I was told to have fun tonight, and I did, thanks to you." She leaned up and gently touched her lips to his cheek, "thank you again."

Her eyes wandered the room until they landed on a group of people to the side, "I have to go. You dance really well!" She called out with a girlish giggle as she then trotted off to the group.

Squall wanted to ask for her to stay, he wanted to know her name, he wanted to know what she was doing with Seifer earlier. "Seifer..." His thoughts all came together. That same dress, the same hair, the same giggle. "That is where I recognized her from." His eyes were wide as he watched her disappear into the crowd of people. "How could such a lovely women having anything to do with that arrogant, poor excuse for a human being?"

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Alright so there you go! More coming I hope. Tell me what you think.

You can just answer the review thing on here, or email me at thunder_dragon82@yahoo.ca

Kryssi :-)