Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or the song Petals by Hole.

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Kit's POV

"I..I'm not sure. Maybe another time." I glanced at her, hoping she'd understand. I told myself before I came here that I would give friendship a try and learn to trust people around me. But upon coming here.. I've realised just how hard it is. No matter how many times I tell myself that I can do it, I know it's far from the truth. I'll always be a lost soul looking for answers and finding nothing but more questions.

"Yeah, no worries. Can I at least drop by your dorm today to help you get settled in?" She wasn't about to give up easily.. Rae was determined and I had a feeling that no matter what I said, she'd find a way to 'accidentally' bump into me.

"I guess so." Arguing would only be a waste of my time.

No, you can't..

I glanced at Rae quickly, softening my features. "But I might be asleep by then.." I sighed a bit and turned to walk towards my new dorm, hoping she'd leave it at that. "I'll stop by anyway. Oh, and you should really go see Dr. Kadowaki. I'd show you where to go but I can't be late for my next class. See ya, Kit!" She raced off towards the elevator, closing the door before any one else could follow her in. A few students hoping to reach the doors in time were seconds too late and only caught a glimpse at Rae's teasing wave as the doors shut in their face.

Pain shot through my head, a feeling all too familiar.

I'm only looking out for you..

"Just leave me alone."

Rae's POV

I glanced down at my watch and noticed that class had started over twelve minutes ago, which meant that I was going to be late yet again. I swear, my last report card had numerous lates reported and that was first term. Mom was not happy with me, I can't disappoint her again. Shrugging off my worries, I ran quickly to class, bumping into several of my classmates until finally meeting my match..

Headmaster Leonhart.

"Oh gosh, I'm so, so sorry! It's just that I'm late to class again and well, I need to get going and I wasn't watching where I was going. And.. I won't speed in the halls again, please don't get the disciplinary committee on me! Can't you let it slip just this once? Please!" He just stood there and let out a little laugh, "Ms.Tilmitt hurry to class. Tell Mrs. Akira that I have already talked to you about your lates." Beaming, I shouted many thanks and calmly walked off to class.

Kit's POV

I pulled a square sheet of paper out of my pocket and read the three numbers out loud. The room I was assigned earlier was bound to be the furthest down the hall, far away from other students. Not that I mind.

I was almost excited to find my dorm room and hide away from everyone, even after they'd been kind to me. People change.. they'll quit pretending sooner or later. And Kate well.. I know she hates me, which really isn't saying much.

What's her problem anyway? I'm not competition, I'm not even in the running..

All the lillies bloomed and blossomed..

I found the female dorms moments later and began jogging down the hall, looking at each number and then back down at the paper I was holding. When I was almost at the very end of the corridor I found it, 586.. With a sign reading, "Welcome Home! - Rae" taped sloppily onto the door. I glanced at it for a moment and carefully tore it down.

Wilted and they're shivering..

You know you'll end up hurt. Clinging on to life, just like before. Your life, it means nothing to them.

No, I can't stop their withering..

"This is different.. I'm going to be different."

I screamed out to Her, running to the bathroom and grabbing an old friend. One that had never let me down before. It wasn't picky, nor was it jealous. Just simple, sharp metal. I removed the bracelets I wore to cover the old scars left from another time and placed the cold, hard metal on my skin.

This world is a war..

"What will you do when I'm gone, huh? You'll have nobody!" I screamed and unleashed a fury of cuts, some large, some deep, some small.

And you'll never know what hit you.

Rae's POV

It was 7:05 by the time I remembered to see Kit. Even when I'm the one planning something, I can still find a way to be late. Racing down the hallway, I looked for the sheet of paper I had just taped to her door.

"Slow down, Ms.Tilmitt." Gary, a member of the disciplinary comittee cautioned.

I gave an irritable nod and walked on, finding her dorm immediately after, though the paper was now missing. I pressed my ear against the door but couldn't quite hear anything moving on the other side. It worried me a little, even after she told me that she might be asleep by the time I arrived. Something didn't feel right and I have a sense about these kind of things. I just know when to expect the worst.

I knocked once, twice, even four times. But no one answered, not a single noise was made from inside the room. I suddenly panicked and ran down the hall, ignoring Gary this time around and looked for any one to help me. After a few minutes of running aimlessly, I noticed Vincent and grabbed him, forcefully dragging him with me. "Kit, I don't know.. She may not be okay.. I went.. knocked.. four times! Nothing.. please..!" His eyes held all sorts of questions but without a word, he followed me down the hallway. I stopped at her door and told him, calmly, about what had happened.

The only way to describe the look on his face is confusion. Total confusion. Taking his gunblade out, Vince sliced the knob in half as if it was nothing at all and pushed the door open, stepping into her room.

Blood.