Chapter One

Disclaimer: After eleven years, this story is getting a facelift and might even get finished! I don't know what made me decide to restart this. It amused me how short and things my chapters were. Those were not even chapters. But now, I am a much more experienced writer. So I am hoping the first three chapters that are posted will be longer and written better. Oh! I don't own Final Fantasy VIII or it's Characters. All I own is the two AU characters Leo and Coda. And now on to the story!

The sun was showing bright in the sky when I, Leo Wright stepped out of the car in front of Balamb Garden. I had seen the brochure in the welcome packet they had sent me in Deling City, but I hadn't expected it to be quite like this. I couldn't contain my excitement really, and I had been so pleasantly surprised when my parents actually let me go! They had been supportive my whole life but they hadn't expected that I would want more than anything to go to a school like Garden. That I would want to become a SeeD.

I don't even remember when I decided that was what I wanted with my life. I know I was a child when it happened. Now, here I was, about to fulfill my dream. My mother had cried so hard when I left that morning. Her beautiful daughter was leaving to go to school. It's not like I couldn't take care of myself, I was seventeen years old. But I know she would always see me as that little girl opening christmas presents and enjoying the Christmas parade in downtown Deling.

The driver picked up my luggage and began to walk toward the school. I leaned over and grabbed my duffle bag and followed ensuite. The walk between the front gate and the actual front doors of the school was so long. I hadn't really imagined that it would take as long as it did. As I walked I looked around at the students hanging out, talking about getting food and how hard the requirement for SeeD was.

I had already taken the prerequisite for the exam back at my old school. But when it came to SeeD, Balamb was the most famous. So, naturally, this is where I wanted to go. So instead of taking the exam at Galbadia Garden, where I had been before, I transferred to Balamb Garden. When we got through the admission gates, I realized I should get my paperwork out of my bag. As I dug through my bag a tall blond male knocked me flat onto my ass.

"I'm so sorry. That was my fault." I struggled to stand back up. "I wasn't watching where I was going." When I finally managed to stand back up, he was gone.

"Wow, rude much?" I mumbled to myself. When I glanced around I noticed the driver was gone. "Shit." I cursed to myself. It was okay though because I knew my stuff would be taken to my room. I continued walking toward the front doors of the school. When I finally walked in I felt like a completely new person. I had always imagined this place, ever since I read about it but it was so much better than my expectations.

As I walked into the school further a group of kids rushed by and knocked me down yet again. This time everything fell out of my bag as it hit the floor. I sighed and regained my composure on the ground. "Dammit." I cursed to myself again. I watched as the kids kept running. "Someone needs to teach you children manners." Of course I wasn't that mad, after all, they were only children. I got to my knees and moved to pick everything up when footsteps moved toward me.

I looked up and before me was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen in my life. He had brunette hair and icy blue eyes. The necklace around his neck bounced against his chest with each step he took with his heavy boots. His simple white shirt was tucked into his black leather pants. Dear god, I didn't know you made them like that. I thought to myself. I wasn't expecting him to stop. But he did. The god, that's the best word to think of for him at the moment, stopped in front of me.

I could hear the music from the white headphones that were over his ears. I couldn't tell what it was, even when he pulled them down and they sat around his neck. "Kids! I'm not going to chase you…" He yelled off after the children who were giggling. Probably because he had already been chasing them. He glanced down at me on the ground, attempting to pick up my stuff.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine, thank you." I replied as I continued to pick up my stuff. I was surprised but he actually leaned down and started to help me. He handed me various papers and stuff and I stuffed them into my bag. That was kind of sweet. I wonder who he is. I thought to myself as I allowed myself to look up at him. My eyes caught the scar across his forehead and I wondered to myself where he had gotten it. It didn't take away from his handsomeness though. Finally everything was back in my bag and I stood up, as did he.

"Thank you so much." I thanked him. Especially after being run over earlier without so much as an apology.

"It's no problem." He said. "Are you new here?" He asked but before I could reply he had glanced behind me, muttered the word "shit" and ran around me after the children. I turned and watched him as he jogged around the directory and off toward another part of the school. I smiled to myself. Well at least they have plenty to look at here. I wonder if he's a student. I thought to myself as I shouldered my bag once again. Okay, let's see if I can actually walk ten feet without getting run over again. I thought to myself as I glanced around for people who could run into me.

The coast was clear, so I headed from my spot toward the stairs and the directory. I gazed at the map in front of me and ran my finger over the little dot that said. "You are Here-" to the space that said "Dormitory." I heard more running echoing behind me.

"Wow, this school sure is busy." I muttered, but the footsteps stopped behind me and there was a lot of huffing and puffing. The person didn't say anything and I figured it was just another new student gazing at the directory, so I didn't turn around. I just kept looking at the board, trying to familiarize myself with where everything was. Although the school was large, it had a pretty straight forward layout. I didn't think I was going to get lost very easily.

Then, there was a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to the brunette female that was standing behind me, her face was red from running and she was still breathing heavily. I caught her eyes and she had really pretty emerald eyes. She was shorter than me, but not by much. I figured she was about five feet two inches. I, on the other hand, stood at five feet five inches.

"Excuse me, Are you Leo Wright?" She asked.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Thank gosh I found you!" She said with a happy giggle. "I'm Selphie Tilmitt. I'll be showing you around!" The brunette beamed.

She seemed to have so much energy. I liked her already. She seemed like such a happy person. "Thank you!" I thanked her as I followed where Selphie was walking. It was nice to have a tour, it would be better for me to learn where I was going rather than relying on the directory.

We headed left of the directory and as we passed a hallway she pointed. "Okay. That's the infirmary. That's where you get treated for your wounds. But a lot of students just go there for advice. Dr. Kaodwaki is the sweetest lady you will ever meet in your life." Selphie said as we kept on walking.

"Next, we have the quad. Right now, we're working on the Garden Festival. I'm head of the committee." She stopped and turned to me. "Hey! Do you want to join the committee? It's a great way to make friends fast and it will be really fun! Please?" She begged and I laughed.

"Sure! It sounds like fun!" I said. The bell rang and students poured into the main area.

"Are you hungry? That was the lunch bell! You can sit with me and my friends!" She said with a smile. "Want to?" She asked.

"Sure! Thanks so much Selphie!" I said, at least I wouldn't have to sit alone. As the new person the first few days were already the toughest. But Selphie was such a sweet person. I could see us becoming fast friends with her. She was so friendly, I could only imagine that her friends would be the same.

We turned and started walking toward the cafeteria. It was a little more difficult to get through the throngs of students. But Selphie stopped every once and awhile as she expertly moved through them. At least she was making sure that I was still behind her.

Maybe this won't be as bad as I first thought I thought to myself as I continued to follow Selphie to the cafeteria.

Ayu's Note: Here is Chapter One of The Other Side! The first three chapters are going to be rather short because I am basically re-writing them from the old story. But the old chapters were A LOT shorter lol. Hopefully, This will come out better than the older one. I look forward to reviews and follows and what not! Thank you guys for reading. And don't forget to keep up with my other story All that Glitters! Love you all!