Chapter one – Introductions

Laura lay with her long chocolate brown hair flowing all around her and hanging off the side of her bed, it was almost down to her hips. She was five foot, four inches in height; she considers it to be small and often wished she could be taller. She has quite a slim build, with quite strong arms and legs; just right for her, not too strong she always says. Her intense brown eyes were hidden behind her eyelids as she breathed steadily in her sleep. Until something near he slumbering head disrupted her rest.

Laura forced her heavy eyelids open to find out where the annoying buzzing sound was coming from, she rolled over in her bed and fumbled around clumsily on her dressing table for the source of the buzzing. With the sudden realization that it was her mobile phone, Laura sat up and answered the call without looking at the screen to see who was calling.

"Hi Laura! Do you want to come down to mine today?"

"Oh, hi Alix…" Laura mumbled, "Yeah, that sounds great… What time is it?"

"It's quarter past eleven, I woke you up didn't i?"

"Yes…"

They both started laughing.

"So when should I come over?"

"Erm… whenever you ready"

"Okay, sounds good… I'll get some breaky and get ready and stuff and then I'll give you a ring to let you know I'm on my way"

"Okiely Dokiely… oh and Laura?"

"Yes…?"

"You can bring final fantasy 8 with you if you want!"

"How did I know that was coming, haha!"

"Hehe… okay see you soon"

The two said their goodbyes and Laura dragged herself out of bed and straight downstairs for breakfast. .

Half an hour later Laura was on her way to Alix's house with Final Fantasy 8 and the memory card that Alix and her had been using. She walked along pleasantly as the summer sunshine warmed and glowed cheerfully up in the perfect blue sky above her. She quickened her pace as the sun began to beat down on her. She arrived moments later an even before she could knock on the door, the door flung open and Alix appeared to greet her.

Alix had shoulder length bouncy chestnut coloured hair which was always straightened to perfection, what Laura envied most about her friend was her shining emerald eyes. Laura had always wanted green eyes but had been stuck with boring brown. Alix was always chirpy and bouncy no matter what the situation was and could always put a smile back on your face, probably because of the cheeky grin that seemed to be a part of Alix, never leaving her.

They ran straight upstairs to Alix's room, Alix leading the way after stealing the game staright out of her hand, Laura's prized possession, to play on their current favourite game. Laura chased her up the stairs almost sending herself straight back down them again.

"I was having Final Fantasy 8 withdrawls again Laura! Haha"

"Yeah, me too!"

"Well you have the game at home with you"

"I know, but I don't play on it because I want to complete it with you"

"You've completed it before though… it doesn't matter"

"Meh, So what lol"

"What kind of a word is meh…?"

The two girls quietened down as the game loaded up.

Laura chirped up, "Oh I remember now we where up to the bit where we are just about to meet Rinoa woo!"

"Hey, shh don't spoil it"

"Oops, sorry haha!"

They watched the cut scene of the dance at Balamb Garden. Laura sighed.

"I love Squall!"

Alix rolled her eyes, "I know Laura… this is about the five thousand, six hundred and forty second time you've told me"

"That's quite specific, Alix"

After a few hours of game play the two girls took a break, they were becoming increasingly hungry and tired.

Later that day the two sixteen year olds set off together for their karate class. They arrived quite early and their friend Danielle was already there so they pulled a seat up and began chatting as usual. They were the first people to arrive apart from Danielle which was usually the case. Then, ten minutes later, lee arrived and was walking to the changing rooms.

"Hi Lee" the three said in unison.

"Hi everyone!" Lees grin was bigger than Alix's but never as cheeky!

"I bet you he's in there for ages" Laura said to the other two.

"He always is… and they say us girls are bad!" Danielle replied.

They all laughed and started making jokes and conversation again. The foyer started filling up with karate students in white pyjama looking karate suits called gis. A rainbow sea of coloured belts swam through the room; yellows, greens, oranges etc… and also the boring dull colours as Laura thinks of them. Even though brown and black belts are the more senior belts, it's still boring thought Laura tightening her worn black belt. Laura felt at home as familiar faces started flooding in. The first she noticed was John's, he bobbed towards them and sat down next to Laura. John's younger sister Sophie wasn't for behind chatting away to Catherine about nothing in particular. Then the Jack's, or as everyone called them Jack and Jill. Jill is the more random and crazy of the double act. They all went in and started practicing awaiting their session of karate.