Title: Knowing You More

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own FFVIII at all! Hope I do, though. . . . Oh, well!

Chapter One: Relief From Boredom . . . Not!!

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"Headmaster?" Quistis Trepe went in the office of the headmaster of Balamb Garden, Cid. Early that morning in the cafeteria while she was eating breakfast, an announcement broke out from the speakers calling out all the instructors and some staff who has to do with teaching Balamb Garden students. She had been surprised to hear Headmaster Cid's voice boom through the whole Garden. Of course, why would she not? For the past few days, there had been nothing going on in the Garden that even she, who always had her schedule full due to teaching, was becoming bored and bored each day. Plus, she had been listening to complaints from Selphie, Rinoa, Irvine and Zell. She even heard a mumble of boredom from Squall!

She stopped in her tracks as she found herself at the back of a large crowd gathered around in the headmaster's office. She strolled to the farthest corner, stood there and waited for Headmaster Cid to make his appearance.

Suddenly, a voice boomed from the front of the crowd. "Hello? Is everyone here? No. . . . Has any of you seen Instructor Trepe? I don't think I see her here. . . ."

Quistis blushed as Headmaster Cid's voice called out her name. She slowly made her way to the front and presented herself. "I'm present, sir."

"Oh!" the headmaster said, peering at her through his glasses. "Didn't see you. . . . Now, shall we begin, please?"

The crowd of staff members and instructors fell silent, waiting for Headmaster Cid to proceed.

Headmaster Cid smiled warmly and waved to them all. "Can you all see me? Can you all hear me? Well . . . that's good, then. Now, as I've been walking around the Garden, I've been noticing students getting lesser and lesser in number in the halls. Most of them had their noses hidden behind text books and if not, just eating."

A burst of whispers aroused from the crowd. Obviously, all of them were wondering where the headmaster was going. Quistis glanced around for a while, then went back to listening to the headmaster.

Headmaster Cid held up a hand to silence all of them. When they did, he smiled again. "Not only the students, I observed, but also the teachers," he said.

A smile began to play across Quistis lips. She knew where the headmaster was heading to. She was sure he would put up an event to cheer up the Garden for a while. Yes, she was sure of it. Just thinking about it made her excited inside. It had been long since the Garden Festival her friend, Selphie Tilmitt, had prepared for them all. It had been fun, but after that, it was back to books.

"I was thinking . . ." the headmaster went on, pacing up and down the floor, "that what if . . . we forget about books, tests, pop quizzes and other school activities and . . . well, we could do something else for a change. . . ."

"Sir, I don't think I'm following you," an instructor called out.

The headmaster stopped in the middle and looked at all of them. "Why don't we get to know more about our students?" he said quietly.

Quistis blinked in surprise. She had been expecting a dance next week and a festival in the other, but this? She didn't need to know her students. She knew almost everything about them. And she knew the other instructors knew their students well, too. So why was the headmaster suggesting this idea?

Everyone was silent. They didn't seem sure to agree or not. If they agreed, they would just waste their time getting to know students more when they could cover up a whole test. If not, they'd die in boredom.

The headmaster nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, isn't it a good idea?" he said. "Hmm . . . SeeDs could participate as instructors, too . . . since there aren't enough instructors. . . . Right! A student will be paired up with one instructor or SeeD! It's settled! I will assign each of you a student. Changing your students aren't allowed, I will keep a list to make sure you're all cooperating with your student. Now, if all of you could just please fall in line?" He dropped behind his desk and took out a stack of paper and a pen.

Quistis heaved a sigh of relief. Now that the headmaster said that they would be assigned with only one student, she thinks she might enjoy doing the activity.

She inserted herself in line behind five people who were at the very beginning.

She wondered which student would be assigned to her. Her heart thumped loudly as she thought of Squall and her walking around the Garden, holding hands and looking at each other's eyes. . . .

"Instructor Trepe?" a voice broke her thoughts and she blinked in surprise. She looked down and saw Headmaster Cid, holding out a rolled piece of paper to her.

"Yes, Sir?" she said, standing up straighter.

"The name of the student you're assigned with is written inside that piece of paper," Headmaster Cid said, dropping the roll on Quistis' outstretched hand. "Take care of him, now, okay?"

Quistis nodded and hurried out of the office. She went in the elevator and waited until it arrived in the second floor. Once it did, she almost ran to her classroom and slammed the door shut behind her back. Leaning on the door and her heart pounding, she slowly unrolled the piece of paper.

'Please let it be Squall,' she prayed silently. 'Please let it be Squall!'

She opened the paper up and felt her heart crush. "No. . . ." she whispered dejectedly. "Oh, shit. . . . Why Seifer . . .?"

She crumpled the paper and threw it in the trashcan. Fuming, she tapped her foot against the floor and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Oh, I'm really going to enjoy it . . . not!"

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Author's note: Well, there it is! The first chapter of my first FFVIII fanfic! Hope you enjoyed it, folks! Please don't forget your reviews!!