Double Dares and Hopeful Hearts
by Kitian
Disclaimer: None of the characters being used are owned by me because I am not Squaresoft, just a broke RPG fan with lots of spare time to write. Rats.
Key: = character's internal thoughts
Hit snooze button three times. Get up when the fourth alarm sounds. Turn on water in shower, wait for it to heat up. Undress, step into shower when water is luke-warm. Towel dry hair. Wash face, brush teeth, comb hair. Get dressed, skirt first, shirt next, boots last. Apply small amount of blush and lipstick. Prepare mentally for today's classes.
Every morning was a practiced routine for Quistis Trepe. There was rhythm, it was logical, and it helped her to get out of bed and get ready, especially on cold mornings when getting up was the last thing she wanted to do. She'd done it so many times it had become part of her natural reflex without her having to think about what comes next.
This particular summer morning was no exception to Quistis' well-rehearsed routine, and as she was putting the finishing touches on her make-up, she silently deliberated whether or not to give her SeeD students a pop-quiz on how to junction GFs.
Well we'll just have to see how the lesson on casting spells goes, she thought to herself. If they pay attention and don't screw around, I think I'll be nice and let them off the hook this once.
She closed the tube of ruby red lipstick with a satisfying click and dusted off her smartly pressed SeeD uniform. Her red tie was perfectly in place and not a single strand of lustrous blonde hair strayed from her usual hairstyle, pinned neatly up high on her head. Ready to take on whatever trials that day had to offer.
Taking one final glance at her reflection in the mirror, she flashed it a quick smile to check for lipstick on her teeth and turned to grip the knob on the door to her dorm room. Here we go....
Quistis stepped out into the hall, still thinking about GFs and pop quizzes as she walked down the relatively empty hallway to her classroom.
************
"Ahhhh......" Quistis let out a sigh of relief and reached her arms above her head, stretching so that her back arched into the air and her head leaned over the back of her chair.
She had just finished grading the last of the quizzes from her morning class, and scribbling little notes in a red pen that kept running out of ink while hunched over thirty or so sloppily hand-written papers was hell on her posture.
I wish they'd just pay attention in class more often, instead of daydreaming about hot dogs or whatever it is they think about. It would do wonders for their grades, and it would certainly cut down on my workload, she thought ruefully.
Just the thought of hot dogs reminded Quistis of food, which made her stomach growl, a signal that it was time to break for lunch. Shoving some of the quizzes with notably lower grades into the bottom drawer of her desk, mentally listing the students she'd have to have a "talk" with, Quistis quickly locked up her classroom and headed for the cafeteria.
I hope they're serving something other than hot dogs today.....
************
"Quisty!!! Get your butt over here quick before Zell takes the last seat and we're stuck with Chipmunk scarfin' dogs in our faces!" Irvine called out to her from across the cafeteria, waving emphatically to where there was a single empty seat between him and Rinoa. Quistis smiled a little at Irvine's new nickname for Zell, which he'd come up with when Zell almost choked to death stuffing food into his mouth at the celebratory SeeD dance last year, his crammed cheeks making him look very much like a chipmunk. Zell grumbled from the hot dog line at the other end of the cafeteria, where he could clearly hear Irvine's remark.
Selphie was enthusiastically describing her decoration ideas for the upcoming SeeD Ball, practically bouncing in her seat with her excitement when Quistis reached the table. As Quistis took the empty seat, tray in hand, Selphie acknowledged her with a small bob of the head then continued her raving about centerpieces. Rinoa flashed Quistis a friendly smile, not wanting to interrupt the enthused Selphie with a greeting. Squall sat silently next to Rinoa, looking at nothing in particular and picking at his food. Irvine intently watched Selphie chatting away, chin propped on one hand as he listened with feigned interest.
"....and we'll have wreathes of flowers around the candles, poppies or perennials, I haven't decided yet. And oh! Every centerpiece is going to have a glass encasement and little yellow candles inside because everything is going to be yellow, of course! I just love yellow, don't you, Irvy? And I know you like yellow too, Rinoa, because at last year's dance you--"
"Hey now! What's the big idea, not leavin' me a seat? Squall, wouldya mind scooting over a bit? Some people gotta have a place to sit and eat, ya know." Zell shot Irvine a glare before pulling up a chair to squeeze in between Selphie and Squall. Irvine only chuckled, knowing that Zell hadn't taken him seriously.
As Quistis started eating her salad, Rinoa leaned over to her and talked quietly so as not to distract Selphie. "Hey Quistis, where were you last night? We had so much fun at the club; even Squall lightened up and had a good time. You never gave us a straight answer about why you couldn't go....you always seem so busy."
"Oh that....I've been really behind in grading papers and I thought I'd catch up, plus I had to prepare for a pop quiz for today. You know, just teacher stuff, no big deal. I'm glad you had a good time though."
Rinoa frowned slightly, a look of concern crossing her face. "Quistis, that's the third time in the past month you've turned down going out with us to grade papers. Don't you think you should take a break every once in a while and just have some fun? Go to a club, see a movie sometime, go on a date, do something other than work!"
Quistis was about to respond in her defense, but before she could open her mouth to speak, Zell swallowed a mouthful of food and interrupted her.
"Hey, what's this about going on a date? What, Quisty, got some hot fling you're hiding from us and don't wanna talk about? Hmm? C'mon we're all family here, speak up!"
"No," Rinoa explained, "I was just telling Quistis that she never has fun with us anymore. All she does is grade papers and I'm worried that she forgets we're still young and we're supposed to have fun, not work all the time."
Quistis blushed. "Hey, now, I still have fun, I just--"
"Yeah! You're totally right. Quisty, you really need to get out there and PAR-TAY every once in a while, let down your hair and just have some good clean fun, y'know? You know what they say, all work and no play makes Quisty a dull SeeD Instructor."
Now Selphie and Irvine had stopped talking and turned to listen to what Zell was saying. Quistis thought even Squall was showing some interest, and she was starting to get really uncomfortable.
"Zell, that's sooo right! All work is totally not good for the body. Quisty you've been such a fuddy-duddy lately! I wish you'd stop sitting in that boring classroom all the time and hang with us more often. We never see you anymore!"
"Wha--....Fuddy-duddy? Hey now, it's not that--"
"It's all right, Selph. Quistis just needs to learn how to loosen up, that's all. She's gotten so good at being a brown-noser and a bookworm that she just kinda forgot what it's like to be a regular teenager. Isn't that right, Quisty?"
Quistis knew that Irvine was only joking, trying to tease her about her studious habits, but this just wasn't fair how they all were ganging up on her! How did this get started? She knew that what they were saying was actually right on the spot, and she really did wish she could loosen up a little, but it was hard to. She had responsibilities! She was an instructor and she wanted to do a good job. She hated blowing them off for work; she wanted to be spontaneous and crazy and wild more than anything, to let go and have fun like the teenager she was, but it was hard to with all the duties she had to fulfill.
"Look, I know what you're saying, but it's not that easy to just have fun! I'm not like you guys, I can't just be spontaneous and go wild at a moments notice. I like being an instructor, and if I don't keep doing a good job, I won't be able to stay one."
"Aw c'mon, I know you like instructin' and all, but sure you can still have a crazy moment now n' then. You don't have to be perfect all the time, even if you are an instructor. As long as I've known you, I don't think I've ever seen you break a single rule or anythin'!"
"You know, I think Zell's right. Have you ever done something you weren't supposed to?" Rinoa raised an eyebrow at Quistis, who could only stutter in indignation. What, now I'm supposed to break rules all over the place in order to have fun?
"Well just because I'm not some kind of rebel doesn't mean I don't know how to have a good time. Besides, I've broken lots of rules before...." Quistis knew that was a lie; she couldn't ever remember breaking any rules, any major ones anyways, but she wasn't about to admit that right now.
"I don't believe you! Quisty you're lying!" Selphie piped up, pointing a finger directly into Quistis' face and giggling like a madman.
"I am not! I am entirely capable of doing something bad." She tried not to let her voice falter, but the others could only be amused at her attempts to cover up the fact that she really had no experience in breaking rules of any kind.
"Quistis, the rebel. Heh, that's something I'd pay to see...." Irvine laughed, a look that Quistis thought was decidedly suspicious starting to creep onto his face. "You know....there is a way that you could prove to us that you aren't just a bookworm....."
A heavy feeling started to settle in Quistis' stomach. This did not sound too good....
"Like what....?"
"I dunno. Do something bad. Like something that only a 'rebel' would do."
The feeling in Quistis' stomach grew worse.
"Hey Irvine, that's actually not a bad idea! But....what could make Quistis a rebel, of all people? It'd have to be something that a teacher would never ever do....something a punk kid like Seifer would do....stupid Seifer....always pulling pranks on other people and breaking rules and getting away with it just cuz he's on the disciplinary committee and he thinks he's all tough shit....." Zell grumbled as he started complaining to himself about all of Seifer's bad faults.
Irvine sat up suddenly, an evil grin plastered on his features. "I've got it! Selphie, this SeeD Ball that's going on next week, everyone who made SeeD is required to go, right? " Selphie nodded emphatically. "Good. Quistis, this is perfect. You get to prove to us you're really a rebel on the inside, and we get to give out a little payback to Garden's most infamous bully. Here's the plan: while everyone is at the SeeD Ball next week, I want you to sneak into Seifer's room and wreck it. Completely trash the place; graffiti, toilet paper, shaving cream, the works. Seifer just passed the field exam a couple days ago, so he has no choice but to be at the dance, so he'll be out of your way and you won't have to worry about him for a good couple hours. Oh this is going to be so good." Irvine looked incredibly satisfied with himself, smugly crossing his arms.
Zell's face brightened immediately at the prospect of Seifer getting any form of retribution, and he practically fell out of his seat with an excited yell. "YEAH! Man, Seifer's going to be SO PISSED when he finds out his room's been trashed! I can't WAIT to see the look on his face, the jerk! This'll be for all those times he called me chicken-wuss and made fun of my hair!"
"Booyaka! That sounds like sooo much fun! And that meanie Seifer is totally gonna get his, being such a bully to Zell and little kids and all that. He deserves it all the way! Quisty, I totally think you should do it."
As horrified as Quistis was at doing something as immature as TP-ing someone's room, in some way it was kind of appealing....She had never pulled a prank on someone before, and Seifer had been acting up in class a lot, up until he passed the field exam and transferred out, anyway. It would be fun to do something spontaneous and get her friends to stop bugging her about being a "fuddy-duddy" as Selphie so eloquently put it.....Wait, what am I thinking?? Quistis slapped herself mentally. This is crazy! I shouldn't trash someone's room just because Irvine thinks I should. I don't need to prove anything, and besides, Seifer would *kill* me if he found out! What if Cid found out?? Oh god I'd be in so much trouble.....
"Wait a minute, why are you guys talking about this like I've already agreed to do it? I never said I was, and I'm not going to."
"Really? You're not going to do it? But I thought you said you were entirely capable of doing something bad...." Rinoa goaded Quistis on, fully knowing that she was using her own words against her. Inwardly she was smiling, amused at the thought of Quistis running around Seifer's room with a can of shaving cream in one hand and a toilet paper roll in the other.
Rinoa too? What's up with everyone? Surely Squall will defend me....he's the Commander of Garden, he couldn't possibly commend this type of behavior! Yes, Squall will definitely put an end to this....
Quistis turned to Squall with a pleading look on her face. "Squall, you must have something to say about all this...." Her eyes begged him to help her out of her situation.
Up until now Squall had chosen to remain silent, but now he straightened up in his seat and placed his elbows on the table, a thoughtful look coming over his face. Everyone grew quiet, looking at him with anticipation of what the commander of Balamb Garden was about to say. All except Quistis were a little disappointed that Squall had decided to intervene; they were having fun teasing and tormenting Quistis. Oh well, it had been fun while it lasted.
"Hmmm. Actually....I'm a little bit curious as to whether or not Quistis would be able to pull it off. We could always clean it up afterwards, and I'd make sure she wouldn't get in trouble. I don't have a problem with it. I think she should do it."
Quistis' jaw would have hit the floor if she wasn't frozen in horror. Squall, you too?? He was my last defense......I can't believe he's going along with this....
"WAHOOO!! Now we even have the Commander's personal permission to wreak havoc on Seifer! Now no one can stop us!! Finally it's payback time, Seifer! Quisty you're gonna make me so proud!!!"
"Squall, you're the coolest! I never thought you'd agree....this is just so.....so booyaka! I'm psyched!! I'm gonna make next weeks' dance so TOTALLY awesome now, just you guys wait and see!"
Irvine chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He certainly hadn't seen that coming. He was sure that Squall was going to say something in Quistis' defense; he was getting all prepared to be disappointed because he hadn't even expected anyone to go along with his idea in the first place. He was extremely entertained by the whole situation, especially by the fact that Squall had given his blessing to their little dare for Quistis. Things were going well.
Oh Hyne.....things could not get any worse than this. Quistis buried her head in her hands. I can't believe that they're making me do this......
"It's all right." Rinoa patted her friend's back reassuringly. "If worst comes to worst.....the rest of us will be able to have a good laugh." The whole table laughed good-naturedly at Quistis' response to Rinoa's encouragement, which was to groan loudly and shake her head.
"To next week!" Irvine, Selphie, Rinoa, Zell, and even Squall chimed in as they toasted at the hilarious thought of Quistis finally dishing out a little bit of what Seifer gave out back to him.
Oh Hyne.....I just know I'm going to regret this......
Author's Notes: Well there's chapter one of Double Dares and Hoping Hearts! Like it? I was determined to do something lighthearted after doing Eternity Spent, which got me all depressed. How was it? Let me know through R hope to hear from you!
by Kitian
Disclaimer: None of the characters being used are owned by me because I am not Squaresoft, just a broke RPG fan with lots of spare time to write. Rats.
Key: = character's internal thoughts
Hit snooze button three times. Get up when the fourth alarm sounds. Turn on water in shower, wait for it to heat up. Undress, step into shower when water is luke-warm. Towel dry hair. Wash face, brush teeth, comb hair. Get dressed, skirt first, shirt next, boots last. Apply small amount of blush and lipstick. Prepare mentally for today's classes.
Every morning was a practiced routine for Quistis Trepe. There was rhythm, it was logical, and it helped her to get out of bed and get ready, especially on cold mornings when getting up was the last thing she wanted to do. She'd done it so many times it had become part of her natural reflex without her having to think about what comes next.
This particular summer morning was no exception to Quistis' well-rehearsed routine, and as she was putting the finishing touches on her make-up, she silently deliberated whether or not to give her SeeD students a pop-quiz on how to junction GFs.
Well we'll just have to see how the lesson on casting spells goes, she thought to herself. If they pay attention and don't screw around, I think I'll be nice and let them off the hook this once.
She closed the tube of ruby red lipstick with a satisfying click and dusted off her smartly pressed SeeD uniform. Her red tie was perfectly in place and not a single strand of lustrous blonde hair strayed from her usual hairstyle, pinned neatly up high on her head. Ready to take on whatever trials that day had to offer.
Taking one final glance at her reflection in the mirror, she flashed it a quick smile to check for lipstick on her teeth and turned to grip the knob on the door to her dorm room. Here we go....
Quistis stepped out into the hall, still thinking about GFs and pop quizzes as she walked down the relatively empty hallway to her classroom.
************
"Ahhhh......" Quistis let out a sigh of relief and reached her arms above her head, stretching so that her back arched into the air and her head leaned over the back of her chair.
She had just finished grading the last of the quizzes from her morning class, and scribbling little notes in a red pen that kept running out of ink while hunched over thirty or so sloppily hand-written papers was hell on her posture.
I wish they'd just pay attention in class more often, instead of daydreaming about hot dogs or whatever it is they think about. It would do wonders for their grades, and it would certainly cut down on my workload, she thought ruefully.
Just the thought of hot dogs reminded Quistis of food, which made her stomach growl, a signal that it was time to break for lunch. Shoving some of the quizzes with notably lower grades into the bottom drawer of her desk, mentally listing the students she'd have to have a "talk" with, Quistis quickly locked up her classroom and headed for the cafeteria.
I hope they're serving something other than hot dogs today.....
************
"Quisty!!! Get your butt over here quick before Zell takes the last seat and we're stuck with Chipmunk scarfin' dogs in our faces!" Irvine called out to her from across the cafeteria, waving emphatically to where there was a single empty seat between him and Rinoa. Quistis smiled a little at Irvine's new nickname for Zell, which he'd come up with when Zell almost choked to death stuffing food into his mouth at the celebratory SeeD dance last year, his crammed cheeks making him look very much like a chipmunk. Zell grumbled from the hot dog line at the other end of the cafeteria, where he could clearly hear Irvine's remark.
Selphie was enthusiastically describing her decoration ideas for the upcoming SeeD Ball, practically bouncing in her seat with her excitement when Quistis reached the table. As Quistis took the empty seat, tray in hand, Selphie acknowledged her with a small bob of the head then continued her raving about centerpieces. Rinoa flashed Quistis a friendly smile, not wanting to interrupt the enthused Selphie with a greeting. Squall sat silently next to Rinoa, looking at nothing in particular and picking at his food. Irvine intently watched Selphie chatting away, chin propped on one hand as he listened with feigned interest.
"....and we'll have wreathes of flowers around the candles, poppies or perennials, I haven't decided yet. And oh! Every centerpiece is going to have a glass encasement and little yellow candles inside because everything is going to be yellow, of course! I just love yellow, don't you, Irvy? And I know you like yellow too, Rinoa, because at last year's dance you--"
"Hey now! What's the big idea, not leavin' me a seat? Squall, wouldya mind scooting over a bit? Some people gotta have a place to sit and eat, ya know." Zell shot Irvine a glare before pulling up a chair to squeeze in between Selphie and Squall. Irvine only chuckled, knowing that Zell hadn't taken him seriously.
As Quistis started eating her salad, Rinoa leaned over to her and talked quietly so as not to distract Selphie. "Hey Quistis, where were you last night? We had so much fun at the club; even Squall lightened up and had a good time. You never gave us a straight answer about why you couldn't go....you always seem so busy."
"Oh that....I've been really behind in grading papers and I thought I'd catch up, plus I had to prepare for a pop quiz for today. You know, just teacher stuff, no big deal. I'm glad you had a good time though."
Rinoa frowned slightly, a look of concern crossing her face. "Quistis, that's the third time in the past month you've turned down going out with us to grade papers. Don't you think you should take a break every once in a while and just have some fun? Go to a club, see a movie sometime, go on a date, do something other than work!"
Quistis was about to respond in her defense, but before she could open her mouth to speak, Zell swallowed a mouthful of food and interrupted her.
"Hey, what's this about going on a date? What, Quisty, got some hot fling you're hiding from us and don't wanna talk about? Hmm? C'mon we're all family here, speak up!"
"No," Rinoa explained, "I was just telling Quistis that she never has fun with us anymore. All she does is grade papers and I'm worried that she forgets we're still young and we're supposed to have fun, not work all the time."
Quistis blushed. "Hey, now, I still have fun, I just--"
"Yeah! You're totally right. Quisty, you really need to get out there and PAR-TAY every once in a while, let down your hair and just have some good clean fun, y'know? You know what they say, all work and no play makes Quisty a dull SeeD Instructor."
Now Selphie and Irvine had stopped talking and turned to listen to what Zell was saying. Quistis thought even Squall was showing some interest, and she was starting to get really uncomfortable.
"Zell, that's sooo right! All work is totally not good for the body. Quisty you've been such a fuddy-duddy lately! I wish you'd stop sitting in that boring classroom all the time and hang with us more often. We never see you anymore!"
"Wha--....Fuddy-duddy? Hey now, it's not that--"
"It's all right, Selph. Quistis just needs to learn how to loosen up, that's all. She's gotten so good at being a brown-noser and a bookworm that she just kinda forgot what it's like to be a regular teenager. Isn't that right, Quisty?"
Quistis knew that Irvine was only joking, trying to tease her about her studious habits, but this just wasn't fair how they all were ganging up on her! How did this get started? She knew that what they were saying was actually right on the spot, and she really did wish she could loosen up a little, but it was hard to. She had responsibilities! She was an instructor and she wanted to do a good job. She hated blowing them off for work; she wanted to be spontaneous and crazy and wild more than anything, to let go and have fun like the teenager she was, but it was hard to with all the duties she had to fulfill.
"Look, I know what you're saying, but it's not that easy to just have fun! I'm not like you guys, I can't just be spontaneous and go wild at a moments notice. I like being an instructor, and if I don't keep doing a good job, I won't be able to stay one."
"Aw c'mon, I know you like instructin' and all, but sure you can still have a crazy moment now n' then. You don't have to be perfect all the time, even if you are an instructor. As long as I've known you, I don't think I've ever seen you break a single rule or anythin'!"
"You know, I think Zell's right. Have you ever done something you weren't supposed to?" Rinoa raised an eyebrow at Quistis, who could only stutter in indignation. What, now I'm supposed to break rules all over the place in order to have fun?
"Well just because I'm not some kind of rebel doesn't mean I don't know how to have a good time. Besides, I've broken lots of rules before...." Quistis knew that was a lie; she couldn't ever remember breaking any rules, any major ones anyways, but she wasn't about to admit that right now.
"I don't believe you! Quisty you're lying!" Selphie piped up, pointing a finger directly into Quistis' face and giggling like a madman.
"I am not! I am entirely capable of doing something bad." She tried not to let her voice falter, but the others could only be amused at her attempts to cover up the fact that she really had no experience in breaking rules of any kind.
"Quistis, the rebel. Heh, that's something I'd pay to see...." Irvine laughed, a look that Quistis thought was decidedly suspicious starting to creep onto his face. "You know....there is a way that you could prove to us that you aren't just a bookworm....."
A heavy feeling started to settle in Quistis' stomach. This did not sound too good....
"Like what....?"
"I dunno. Do something bad. Like something that only a 'rebel' would do."
The feeling in Quistis' stomach grew worse.
"Hey Irvine, that's actually not a bad idea! But....what could make Quistis a rebel, of all people? It'd have to be something that a teacher would never ever do....something a punk kid like Seifer would do....stupid Seifer....always pulling pranks on other people and breaking rules and getting away with it just cuz he's on the disciplinary committee and he thinks he's all tough shit....." Zell grumbled as he started complaining to himself about all of Seifer's bad faults.
Irvine sat up suddenly, an evil grin plastered on his features. "I've got it! Selphie, this SeeD Ball that's going on next week, everyone who made SeeD is required to go, right? " Selphie nodded emphatically. "Good. Quistis, this is perfect. You get to prove to us you're really a rebel on the inside, and we get to give out a little payback to Garden's most infamous bully. Here's the plan: while everyone is at the SeeD Ball next week, I want you to sneak into Seifer's room and wreck it. Completely trash the place; graffiti, toilet paper, shaving cream, the works. Seifer just passed the field exam a couple days ago, so he has no choice but to be at the dance, so he'll be out of your way and you won't have to worry about him for a good couple hours. Oh this is going to be so good." Irvine looked incredibly satisfied with himself, smugly crossing his arms.
Zell's face brightened immediately at the prospect of Seifer getting any form of retribution, and he practically fell out of his seat with an excited yell. "YEAH! Man, Seifer's going to be SO PISSED when he finds out his room's been trashed! I can't WAIT to see the look on his face, the jerk! This'll be for all those times he called me chicken-wuss and made fun of my hair!"
"Booyaka! That sounds like sooo much fun! And that meanie Seifer is totally gonna get his, being such a bully to Zell and little kids and all that. He deserves it all the way! Quisty, I totally think you should do it."
As horrified as Quistis was at doing something as immature as TP-ing someone's room, in some way it was kind of appealing....She had never pulled a prank on someone before, and Seifer had been acting up in class a lot, up until he passed the field exam and transferred out, anyway. It would be fun to do something spontaneous and get her friends to stop bugging her about being a "fuddy-duddy" as Selphie so eloquently put it.....Wait, what am I thinking?? Quistis slapped herself mentally. This is crazy! I shouldn't trash someone's room just because Irvine thinks I should. I don't need to prove anything, and besides, Seifer would *kill* me if he found out! What if Cid found out?? Oh god I'd be in so much trouble.....
"Wait a minute, why are you guys talking about this like I've already agreed to do it? I never said I was, and I'm not going to."
"Really? You're not going to do it? But I thought you said you were entirely capable of doing something bad...." Rinoa goaded Quistis on, fully knowing that she was using her own words against her. Inwardly she was smiling, amused at the thought of Quistis running around Seifer's room with a can of shaving cream in one hand and a toilet paper roll in the other.
Rinoa too? What's up with everyone? Surely Squall will defend me....he's the Commander of Garden, he couldn't possibly commend this type of behavior! Yes, Squall will definitely put an end to this....
Quistis turned to Squall with a pleading look on her face. "Squall, you must have something to say about all this...." Her eyes begged him to help her out of her situation.
Up until now Squall had chosen to remain silent, but now he straightened up in his seat and placed his elbows on the table, a thoughtful look coming over his face. Everyone grew quiet, looking at him with anticipation of what the commander of Balamb Garden was about to say. All except Quistis were a little disappointed that Squall had decided to intervene; they were having fun teasing and tormenting Quistis. Oh well, it had been fun while it lasted.
"Hmmm. Actually....I'm a little bit curious as to whether or not Quistis would be able to pull it off. We could always clean it up afterwards, and I'd make sure she wouldn't get in trouble. I don't have a problem with it. I think she should do it."
Quistis' jaw would have hit the floor if she wasn't frozen in horror. Squall, you too?? He was my last defense......I can't believe he's going along with this....
"WAHOOO!! Now we even have the Commander's personal permission to wreak havoc on Seifer! Now no one can stop us!! Finally it's payback time, Seifer! Quisty you're gonna make me so proud!!!"
"Squall, you're the coolest! I never thought you'd agree....this is just so.....so booyaka! I'm psyched!! I'm gonna make next weeks' dance so TOTALLY awesome now, just you guys wait and see!"
Irvine chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He certainly hadn't seen that coming. He was sure that Squall was going to say something in Quistis' defense; he was getting all prepared to be disappointed because he hadn't even expected anyone to go along with his idea in the first place. He was extremely entertained by the whole situation, especially by the fact that Squall had given his blessing to their little dare for Quistis. Things were going well.
Oh Hyne.....things could not get any worse than this. Quistis buried her head in her hands. I can't believe that they're making me do this......
"It's all right." Rinoa patted her friend's back reassuringly. "If worst comes to worst.....the rest of us will be able to have a good laugh." The whole table laughed good-naturedly at Quistis' response to Rinoa's encouragement, which was to groan loudly and shake her head.
"To next week!" Irvine, Selphie, Rinoa, Zell, and even Squall chimed in as they toasted at the hilarious thought of Quistis finally dishing out a little bit of what Seifer gave out back to him.
Oh Hyne.....I just know I'm going to regret this......
Author's Notes: Well there's chapter one of Double Dares and Hoping Hearts! Like it? I was determined to do something lighthearted after doing Eternity Spent, which got me all depressed. How was it? Let me know through R hope to hear from you!
