A/N: Okay it's up again! Reviewed and edited as best I can with my brand-new shiny software! Hope this makes more sense! Tell me what all of you think, I'm almost dying from lack of reviews. I'm a big girl I can take it!

Thanks, Lucy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Jane Austin or her works. I also do not own Square-Enix Final Fantasy characters. This is purely fan made.

Enjoy!


Chapter One:

January 8th

Today was a good day. Today was, to be more specific, January 8th and a Friday. As I was on my way out of the school building I was a bit too content with the music blaring in my ears to notice two very important things. The first thing I had failed to notice was the group of people, with the seemingly worried expressions, standing at the base of a ramp that lead down to the stair case. The second thing that had not attracted my attention was the sneaker-ed foot that had nonchalantly jutted into my path. Later I would realize that the mess I was about to get into could have been easily avoided had I heeded my mothers warnings about playing my music too loudly.

Terror flooded through me as I was flung into the air. I had felt someone's foot not seconds before my levitating act. I now took notice of the group of people in front of me and with out thinking I flung my arms out in front of me. I thought I had screamed. I must have, because I heard a scream and he turned around.

"Oh no! NO NO NO NO! Of all people on the face of the planet not him!"

With that perfectly smooth smile he reached out for me, almost as if he'd been waiting for me to fall into his arms. On impact my arms stayed completely extended as if I was still flying through the air. Then, I could smell the forest and grass and summer. In the milliseconds it must have taken me to blink his lips touched mine. I could taste chocolate and strawberries and something else sickly sweet reminiscent of alcohol. His lips were as soft as fleece, or maybe silk, and I could feel my ears getting hot.

For only a moment, I looked back towards the person who belonged to the sneaker that had gotten me into this mess. Daniel Graft was standing at the top of the ramp with his mouth hanging open. At that moment I closed my eyes. After all if I could use this situation to spur such a reaction in my greatest enemy I might as well milk it for all it was worth.

I relaxed my arms and proceeded to tangle my fingers through the hair of the one person who came even close to Daniels hate meter level. It took all of my psychological strength to part from him. I don't actually remember how I had managed to do it. I think my hand must have moved involuntarily, but I remember closing my eyes and feeling my hand impact something soft with a sharp "smack!" Immediately I pivoted on my heal. I felt as if my body was moving of its own accord and, no matter how many times I requested that it stop, it kept moving. As I approached the sneakers culprit, I had a sudden sense of deja vu. In seconds I had repeated the same act of hitting something soft with my hand but this time when I opened my eyes it was balled into a fist and there was a small amount of blood on my knuckles.

I looked down just to make sure I hadn't done any major damage and when I was done enjoying the vision of Daniel holding his nose awkwardly in pain a realization occurred. It was then that it hit me that I had to turn around and walk back past the idiot that had received the first blow. I had a feeling that this thought dawned on him at the same time it had me because as I slowly turned, absolutely fuming, to the male at the bottom of the ramp all he could do was hold his cheek and chuckle.


I suppose in order for you to understand my episode on the stairwell we'd have to go back about two weeks. One might think two weeks isn't nearly enough time to develop such a loathing for one person but with this guy it was as easy striking a note on a piano.

It would seem as if he had arrived with a group of people really. On the very same day 6 new people had arrived. Two new teachers and four students.

My English teacher had suddenly been stricken with some foreign disease and a certain Mr. Basch Fon Ronsenburg was to replace her. It seemed as if our librarian had become ill as well. She was replaced accordingly by a Ms. Fran. No last name that I knew of.

We had gotten two additions to our Junior class, Penelo and Vaan. Penelo and I had chemistry together. I had never seen someone light so many things on fire in my life. Not to mention that the things she had "lit on fire," had all resulted from what appeared to be spontaneous combustion. Vaan, on the other hand, I had serious issues with. He was my partner in math and he seemed to know nothing about what we were doing. Not only that, he never seemed to stop talking. I mean this kid seemed to blab uncontrollably. It was all I could do to be polite and nod casually without pummeling his face in!

We got a new Senior. Well that's not true. We got two new Seniors. The girl, Ashe, was actually pretty cool. Although, she was a bit snooty, and when I asked she simply replied, "I'm a princess!" That was followed by a look of, "Oh crap! I shouldn't have said that!" With that she hastily walked away without another word.

Then there was Balthier. Now I'll admit when I first saw him I found him very attractive. Especially his accent, which sounded elegantly British. The guy dressed modernly enough, but it always seemed as if he was from a different time let alone somewhere far far away. At first I thought he might be gay but that thought was quickly abolished once I had witnessed his excellent silver tongued skill when dealing with ladies; though I really doubt you could call half the female population of Robinson Centinal High School "ladies."

That's when the hate started to formulate. I hated guys like him. Guys who thought that with the flick of a finger he could have any girl he wanted. What was worse for some reason he seemed to find pleasure in aggravating me of all people.


Early today, after second period, I headed for the cafeteria. At one time I quite enjoyed sitting in the lunch room for my open third period. It gave me time to nibble at something and maybe read a little before the flood of conjoining voices punctuated itself like a shrill scream in my ears. I enjoyed it, of course, until Balthier found himself two tables down competing in what seemed like a one sided staring contest. It didn't seem as if he had blinked even once. To make it worse he had that stupid half smirk on his face. Looking up from my book I had an opportunity to shoot him an aggravated glare and that's when I could see the intensity in his eyes change. No not change intensify, if that was even possible. I quickly returned to Mr. Darcy.

Of course, from what I did catch of his manner, not only did he appear from a different time but he seemed much older than he claimed. He must have had to be held back many times. In a high school you would expect pubescent boys, with ideas of themselves that made them even more repulsive. Baltheir, on the other hand, had the charm of a man. He had the posture of someone who had lived far longer in a rougher world then the boys of Robinson Centinal.

The bell for lunch rang. A swarm of squealing girls blotched out his intense hazel eyes. As I cast one last glance his way I looked into his eyes. I could taste chocolate. Then Tanner sat down.

Tanner was my best friend. He understood exactly why I didn't like Balthier, and I could imagine that he harbored the same feelings towards him. Tanner was cute. He had pretty eyes and what they lacked in intensity they made up with a feeling of comfort and safety. As I told him the details of my encounter with Balthier he seemed to grow on edge. He moved closer to me, I could feel his warmth and as I leaned on his shoulder I glanced towards Balthier. His eyes were down cast. He left suddenly. The lunch bell excusing us to class rang. Tanner wished me luck with Vaan as I departed for another eventful period of math.


I sat down and for once Vaan seemed completely quiet. I looked at him and he looked away. Of course I didn't press the matter because, after a week his ramblings about fairy tales of sky pirates got a LOT old. The math period was relatively silent. Vaan asked a few questions about angles and then went on with his work. He didn't look at me once the whole period. I knew that look. It was sad and guilty. What was Vaan guilty of? What would that guilt have to do with me? I didn't know what was wrong with my mind. 'Get back to work! It's Friday and Tanner is probably going to grow a pair after school today! Come on get pumped!!!' The bell excusing us from school finally rang and my music was blaring faster then you can say T.G.I.F.

I started almost skipping down to the Orchestra lockers where Tanner had told me to meet him. I approached the ramp that lead down the stairs to the stairway to the arts hallway. I was excited. I was happy. I was finally going to have someone who loved me. I wasn't paying attention.

I tripped. I was kissed, and a third thing that slipped my mind was the boy climbing the stairs with my instrument. I also missed his eyes. The comfort and safety long gone and now the blue was a blue of tears. Eyes that looked as if they could will the ocean and all its wrath upon me. I had missed the disappointment and I had missed the small note written in almost calligraphy drop from his hand.

"You know, your not bad at this." Balthier spoke into my ear as he joined me at my side.

I spotted my Viola and looked quizzically at it. The day was too weird already so I just grabbed it and rushed to the lockers.


"He's not here. Pity. I really do love a good love story." Balthier smirked as he took a bite out of a particularly crisp apple for the season. He had probably kept it from lunch that day. He rubbed his cheek.

"And what would you know about this your majesty?" I asked.

"Hardly," he said, "I am far far far from royalty. Quite the opposite in fact."

I rolled my eyes and looked around the corner for Tanner.

"I don't speak of Monarchies you idiot. You know what I mean! Your the Prince of Robinson Centinal! Or did you not notice the crowd of girls waiting for you?"

He approached swiftly causing me to back up against one of the large bass lockers.

"What if I'm not interested in those silly girls? What if I'm looking for someone with more of a,"

He paused and stroked the side of my chin,

"Well with more of a bite."

With that, he walked nonchalantly away. As if he were a Cheshire cat. Even his walk radiated arrogance. I spotted Tanner in the parking lot and I ran towards his car. No one could have prepared me for what happened next.


"I waited for you." he said.

"I looked for you." I replied excitedly.

I must have been grinning from ear to ear.

"Wipe that stupid smile off your face. It just makes it worse."

Now I was confused. He hadn't ever talked to me like that.

"Tanner, what's going on? I thought you were going to... You know... ASK me something."

I hinted as subtly as I could have under the circumstances.

"Yeah well. I guess my 'Services are no longer required."

Now I was really confused. Without a word more Tanner opened his driver side door and started the engine.

"You know, I really expected more out of you Tawny." he said dejectedly.

I looked into his eyes pleading for an explanation but there was nothing but hate. There was nothing but anger. He wouldn't look at me with those bright blue eyes again. I knew he would never talk to me again, let alone love me. What had I done? I couldn't figure out why he was so mad at me. And then it hit me. As hard as if he had rammed me with his car. I closed my eyes and began to cry.