Hello everyone, a long time fan of FF8 and lurker of the stories on here. I've been reading FF8 fanfiction like crazy lately and you've inspired me to start writing some of my own. Please be gentle, this is my first time since a kid attempting to write a story so forgive me if this ends up sucking. Not sure if this will become part of a bigger story arc idea I've got in head or just its own thing. Thanks for taking the time to read. :)

Lighthouse

Chapter 1

"You think she's dead?!"

"You dummy! She's still breathing, how can she be dead?"

"Oh! Maybeee she's a princess and can't wake up until a prince kisses her!"

"Really, Selphie? You are just as bad as Zell!"

Three curious faces peered over a small, raven haired girl lying in bed. The girl's shiny hair was tangled and her pale skin was slightly flushed. As her large eyes flitted open and focused on her surroundings, confusion set in.

"Where...where am I?" She asked slowly, her mind still hazy.

"We were hoping you could tell us, Princess." A blonde haired boy said to her from across the room. He stood against the wall away from the other children. The girl suddenly realized, not only was she surrounded by strange children, but she was not in her own bed nor her own house for that matter. She was, in fact, lying in a small bed within a row of other similar sized beds in a room with walls made of stone. She looked at the faces surrounding her. All were children who looked to be about her age. There was another blonde haired boy, shorter and scrawnier than the one who stood by the wall. He had spikey hair with kind blue eyes. To her left was a tiny girl who looked at her with excited, green eyes and who had short auburn hair that flipped out at the ends. Behind her stood a tall blonde haired girl who wore a worried look behind her glasses.

"See, Seifer thinks she's a princess too!" The auburn haired girl exclaimed, her eyes widening.

The boy by the wall waved a dismissive hand in the air, "Tch, yeah right! She needed a name and since she hasn't told us hers yet, I gave her one that fits. Right, Cry Baby Zell?"

The boy by her bed bristled, then puffed his chest out. "I am NOT a cry baby, Seifer! Stop calling me that!"

"Actually, Zelly, you kind of are..." the exciteable auburn haired girl agreed sadly.

"Will you guys cut it out!" The tall blonde girl said narrowing her cool blue eyes at the other children. Then, turning back to the newcomer, she softened her expression slightly, "Sorry about them, why don't you tell us your name?"

"My name's Rinoa...I...really don't know how I got here. Um what is this place?" She asked confused.

"Hi Rinoa, I'm Quistis. This is Selphie, Zell, and that's Seifer over there. You're in an orphanage. Matron and Cid take care of all of us. They are very nice. It's late now but you'll meet them in the morning. We have scheduled lessons and activites and-HEY!" Quistis was interrupted by Zell, as he and Seifer rolled into her, a tangled mess of limbs and insults.

"Bet you did that on purpose you chicken wuss! Figures, running to a girl for help." Seifer taunted as he seperated himself from the other blonde haired boy and dusted himself off.

"SCUSE ME?!" Zell was about to launch himself at Seifer once more when he was haulted by the collar of his shirt. Behind him, holding onto his collar, was a tall boy with wavy brown hair tied back into a low ponytail. "Irvine! Get off me!" Zell cried out.

Oblivious to what was going on around her, Rinoa absent mindedly left the other children and let what Quistis had told her sink in. A horrible realization hit her as memories of the last few weeks came flooding back to her. The coldness of her father, his distance since her mother's funeral. She bit her lip. 'He didn't want me anymore so he dropped me off here. My mom's dead. My dad doesn't even care I exist. I'm all alone.' A small cry escaped lips as her knees went weak and her body sunk to the floor. Rinoa hugged her knees to her chest, hung her head down, and let herself cry deep, heaving sobs. Some time had passed and the dark haired girl's crying fit had eventually subsided to a few sniffles here and there.

"Are you done?" A cold voice from across the room said.

Rinoa's head shot up in surprise. She had thought she was alone. The first thing she noticed was she had somehow ended up in another room of the orphanage and the second was a pair blue-grey eyes studying her from across the room. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, unsure of what to say. The boy stood up and walked towards her, his expression intense as he never broke eye contact with her. He paused as he stood right above her, looking deep into her dark, red rimmed eyes. Rinoa held her breath as she stared up into his stormy gaze, unable to move. The brown haired boy with messy hair dropped something right beside Rinoa, causing her to jump and look away from his mesmerising eyes. A box of tissues sat beside her. An awkward silence passed as she stared at the box, dumbfounded. Rinoa turned back to the boy to say thank you, but found that he had already started walking away.

"Err..thank you..." she called out to him, shyly.

"...whatever." Was the reply she heard him mutter in response.