Emergency punctuation warning! When did that whole "we've suddenly decided you're using the wrong kind of section breaks" deal, not only did they take my nicely formatted section breaks, they also went into Pity the Child and stole my apostrophes! So now "I'm" has become "Im" and "they're" has become "theyre" and it's just... horrible. So you've been warned.
He exited the training center, still breathless, enjoying the burn in his muscles from the exertion of combat. Silence dominated Balamb Garden's main concourse, but he could feel the charge in the air. The impending field exam had every cadet in Garden on edge, waiting for the call to action. Squall savored the tension, remembering the feeling from his own cadet days.
He glanced around the concourse, finding it empty. He walked towards the dormitory wing, footsteps echoing around the sound of rushing water, when he heard someone running towards him.
"Hey!" yelled a familiar voice, and Squall turned around to see Zell barreling towards him at full tilt. "Squall! It's an emergency!" When he neared Squall, Zell slowed to a stop.
"Well, Squall, aren't you going to ask me what's going on?"
"You're going to tell me whether I ask or not, right Zell?"
"Good point," Zell replied. "Anyway, I've heard rumors that the field exam is today. Is that true? Is it? Because if it is, then the cafeteria is going to be nearly empty and that means..."
"More hot dogs for you?"
"Exactly!" Zell's face lit up as he marveled at his own brilliance. "I was just on my way to get my ID so I could grab an early lunch. You want to join me?"
"Yeah," Squall said, "I think I'd better grab some lunch before..."
Just then, the intercom sent out its distinctive chime. "Squall, please report to Conference. Squall Leonhart to Conference." The voice belonged to Xu, but Squall knew the message came from Cid. Cid, waiting to begin a conference about the upcoming exam, and Cid, irritated at Squall's attempt to dodge the meeting.
"Well, I guess I'll be skipping lunch, then. Sorry."
'That's okay. I'll eat a hot dog or four in your honor."
Squall offered Zell a quick nod in place of a goodbye, and made a mental note to find the person who informed Zell about the field exam. Thoughts of lunch forgotten, Squall headed for the center of the Garden.
A group of cadets loitered near the staircase, waiting, no doubt, to bombard Squall with questions about the field exam. Without answering any of their questions, Squall cut a path through the mob, relieved that he didn't have to wait for the elevator. He stepped on board and as the doors started to slide shut, Squall pressed a button and stopped the doors from closing.
"Since none of you have anything better to do, perhaps you'd like to take a lap around the concourse, top speed?"
As one, the students groaned in protest.
"Make it two laps, then."
Without another note of protest, the students turned and began to run. His point made, Squall let the doors to the elevator slide shut.
