Disclaimer – I do not own the characters/settings/situations of Final Fantasy 8. Oh well…

This story, and the ones to be posted with it, are 'snapshots' of little scenes that I imagined while playing the game. I hope everyone likes my quirky interpretations of the characters. :)

The copy of FF8 I played was borrowed from a friend and was a PC version that... sort of died on the third disk. I managed to get a general idea of what happened next using borrowed saves from kind people on various forums, going ahead to fight the final battle, and reading the summary on wikipedia as well as several fan sites. My snapshots, however, stop around the same place where my game died. If anyone wants me to continue after I've run out of chapters, I'll do it... but it may skip ahead for post game snapshots.

First Step

"I wish we weren't so cheap," Selphie grumbled. "This is what I get for hopping on the wrong transport: blistered feet."

Zell patted Selphie's shoulder in a quasi-comforting manner and then, grinning irrepressibly, ran ahead to execute a few gymnastic flips. "At least the weather is nice; the temperature isn't too hot or too cold. On a day like this, everyone should be in a good mood. Even Squall is scowling less fierce than usual."

Selphie smiled and laughed a little. "I suppose you've got a point. But I still feel the need to deafen Seifer's ears when we get back to Garden."

"I'll help." Zell punched the air a few times. "Want to come too, Squall?"

"I'll pass."

Both Selphie and Zell stopped short to stare at Squall in surprise.

"Wow… I thought you'd just ignore me again," Zell said in a surprised voice.

Squall shrugged. "Maybe you two don't irritate me so much anymore."

"Gee, thanks," Selphie drawled dryly.

"You don't know Squall very well, Selphie," Zell admonished. "That was a compliment of the highest caliber."

"Really?" Selphie gave Squall a sideways glance. "So you genuinely just don't talk much, huh?" She laughed when he nodded in agreement. "You're pretty weird, Squall, but I like that. It makes you unique and unpredictable."

"Instructor Trepe has no problem predicting me," Squall admitted. "It's rather annoying."

"What does she do?" Selphie inquired.

Zell snickered as they began to walk again. "Instructor Trepe will say the exact same thing as Squall at almost the exact same moment Squall says it. Some of the students have taken to referring to her habit as an attempt to learn to 'speak Squall.'"

"Ouch, that must be bothersome," Selphie agreed. "Hey, look! We've almost reached the Garden!" Selphie started to hop around happily and then collapsed on the ground, her hands reaching for her feet. "Owowowow…"

"Blisters?" Zell queried, offering the girl a hand up.

"Uh-huh. I'll have to stop by the infirmary when we get back to Garden," Selphie grabbed Zell's hand and lurched to her feet. "Ow…"

"Here," Squall muttered a few words to cast a cure spell.

"Oh…" Selphie took a few hesitant steps and then whirled around to give Squall a brief hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Laughing, she twirled around before taking off towards the Garden. "Hurry up, you two!"

Zell took her words as a challenge and began to race after the hyperactive girl. Squall, on the other hand, shook his head ruefully and continued to walk after the others.

A/N Selphie and Zell, the first members of Squall's squad, hold a special place in my little world and, thus, their friendship with Squall will hold a special place in this 'snapshot' series.