Ahem. This is, if any of you are veterans of this website, a story by an author that is very, very green. Super green. Everyone needs to start somewhere and this is my start. Read, review, whatever the system is. Timshel.

Disclaimer: Square has done a bang-up job of creating some lip-smacking good characters, that I am taking desperate liberties with to appease my growling creative beast trapped deep inside me. I don't own them, as much as you all want me to. It just isn't going to happen. The afore-mentioned company will always have the goods. ::sweatdrop:: It is a cruel, cruel world.

I Think I Can

"Same old, same old."

"Of course."

The fuss of it all stood still in her mind. The happy laughter, the joy, slaps on the back. Two years ago today she had experienced it. It seems she would experience it again and again. Not that she minded. It was a happy time.

"Sad today, Rinoa?"

She turned. "No, Quistis. Maybe just thoughtful."

The blonde looked out over the crowd at the new SeeD's. "You should have tried, you know. You would have made it. You have the strength, the courage. What stopped you?"

Rinoa gripped her necklace. "Why ask questions you already know the answer to?"

Quistis nodded. "He loves you, Rinoa. I doubt seriously he would judge you over any fault just because he is the leader of Garden. He would not give you special treatment. I ask rhetorical questions because maybe you need to start digging a little deeper. You think you know the answers, but maybe they're wrong."

Rinoa turned to look at her. "You've lost me."

Quistis crossed her arms. "Then you don't know the answers. Reevaluate, Rinoa. It all comes down to whether or not you believe in yourself as an individual and not just as....Squall's significant other. You have a wonderful shine, and it's a shame to let it remain dull."

Rinoa nodded. "I guess so." She looked across the floor of the Quad to where Squall stood speaking with the Headmaster. "Were you ever intimidated by him?"

A rare laugh escaped. "Oh, what a question! I'm not sure. More like frustrated because he wasn't intimidated by me, his own instructor."

She nodded. "He's not so tough once you get to know him, but I feel he expects a lot from the cadets. I'm not sure I could handle that pressure."

Slim shoulders shrugged. "Well, I can't give you answers, Rinoa. Just the support. You don't need to prove anything to me, or the team. You're one of us. You were, maybe from the beginning. You always will be. We're not going to toss you out just because you don't have the rank or wear the uniform. It's a personal thing, on a personal level, I believe. You don't have to do it, but if you don't, will you spend forever wondering why?"

"I guess." Rinoa sighed. "You make me feel like a child who has been sulking over some trivial thing."

Quistis smiled. "Well, maybe. I hoped I helped, at least a little. Now, I'm going to go rescue Nida over there from cadet. He looks, to say the least, miserable."

Rinoa smiled as Quistis went to replace Nida's dance partner. Maybe Quistis was right. Maybe she should just start her training. She was strong enough to handle the strain. She looked in Squall's direction and with her stare on him, he turned to look at her in return. One of his rare smiles flashed across his face, the ones he reserved for her. She smiled.

'Well, whatever happens, we'll survive. We can make it.'