Chapter Two: One Small Step

July 7th

Knock…

Knock, knock, knock…

Bang, bang, bang!

Rinoa's eye flew open and she tried to catch her breath. She could literally feel her heart racing in her throat. It took her a second to gain her bearings and to figure out why she had awoken in such a dazed state. However, it didn't take long to remember. Whoever was pounding feverishly on her door started relentlessly doing it again. The person on the other side better have a damn good reason for waking her up this early.

She grumbled inaudibly glancing at her alarm clock. It was only twenty minutes until her first alarm went off, she wouldn't have managed much more sleep anyhow. But twenty minutes was twenty minutes and she needed every last one of them.

This was all seeming like a very bad case of déjà vu. Of course what made today's interruption worse by tenfold, was the fact it was a workday. The sorceress usually didn't even think straight until after her second cup of coffee.

Managing to stumble from under her sheets, Rinoa looked back toward Angelo. Who, unlike yesterday, seemed in no hurry to leave the comfort of the bed. In fact, the canine stretched out as if to say, "Ha, you got up. Your spot is mine!"

Forgoing all concerns about appearance, Rinoa answered the door. Not too surprisingly on the other side was a ridiculously energetic Selphie. How could someone be so happy all the time? Was it scientifically possible that Selphie had found a way to replace her blood with caffeine? It appeared the only logical explanation at times.

"Rinoa, you need to come with me now!"

"What's wrong?"

"The cafeteria, you gotta come eat breakfast with me! Now!"

"Please tell me you're kidding. You honestly just didn't wake me up this early, on a Monday, to go to the cafeteria?"

"Don't be silly. I woke Quistis up first, her room was closer!"

"Of course," Rinoa grumbled, "How inefficient of me to think otherwise."

Selphie waved it off, this was important. "Just hurry up and get dressed, you're not going to believe it."

"What won't I believe? You know what – scratch that. I'll find out in a minute. Just let me toss on some clothes."

Rinoa settled on a pair of jeans and red t-shirt. Thankfully there would still be time after breakfast to come back, shower, and get dressed properly. It would be easier without the vigilant eyes of Selphie upon her. She pulled her hair back into a high ponytail letting small tendrils highlight her face. She debated on whether to put on any makeup, as it was the cafeteria…still she quickly applied a little blush, eye shadow, and lip gloss. Just in case – in case of what still remained a mystery.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she was nearly tackled by Selphie who grabbed her arm and dragged her out. Rinoa barely had time to close her door as she felt the petite girl's death grip yanking her forward.

"Selph, I'm obviously coming. Can you please let go of my arm? I think you're cutting off my circulation. Seriously, I can't feel my fingers. That can't be good."

"Sorry, but you just have to see this!"

"Something tells me I don't want to know…" Rinoa hesitated, mentally picturing a worse case Selphie scenario. "You didn't do anything… um, bad to Irvine and leave him in a compromising position for public display in the cafeteria, right?"

"No! But I like how evilly you think. I knew we are friends for a reason!" Selphie blurted out extremely loud. The two girls received glances from others walking the corridors. Rinoa tried to smile and ignore their sideways glares, though she did feel really awkward.

"Selphie, can you please tell me why I'm going to the cafeteria this morning?"

"Breakfast, duh!"

Rinoa placed her hands over her face. "You're doing this to me on purpose, aren't you?"

"Me?" Selphie feigned innocence.

Rinoa stopped dead in her tracks. Placing her hands on her hips, she gave her friend that look of "Don't mess with me; I haven't had my daily pot of coffee."

"Fine, fine," Selphie laughed. "I'll tell you if you just walk with me."

Rinoa shook her head, at least if she continued forward she'd be closer to the caffeine. That was the only reason her feet weren't firmly planted in place.

"There is a new guy in the cafeteria!"

"Seriously… you dragged me down because there is a new guy in the cafeteria!"

"Yes, seriously I did. You should see him. In fact, I'm going to make sure you see him! I mean…just… wow…"

"Do you hear yourself? Either you have been hanging around Irvine too much or I woke up in a parallel universe. Either way, I could have slept for twenty minutes more!"

"Rinoa… he is very cute."

The two girls rounded the hallway to the cafeteria. "Yes, Selph I'm sure he's cute."

Selphie stopped and reached out grabbing Rinoa's wrist once again. With every syllable she seemed to shake it as to accentuate her point. "No, Rinoa he really is cute... I mean beyond cute... he's... well... whatever is beyond cute. I don't mean cute as in Sir-Laguna-kind-of-cute. I mean in that other way of cute."

"I'm not positive what 'Sir Laguna kind of cute' is," Rinoa inwardly winced after hearing herself say those particular words. It felt wrong on so many levels. "Selphie you do realize that you are now forcing me to think of my boyfriend's father as 'cute.' I'm pretty sure if Squall heard me say that, it would seriously complicate our relationship. But if you are saying cafeteria guy is cute... I'm sure he is."

"Okay, well maybe 'cute' isn't right... I mean he has that foreign charm that you read about in cheesy romance novels. You just look at him and can't help but stare... Seriously, it is like some carnal instinct. It is almost scary... really."

They entered the cafeteria where the line literally snaked through the tables. Rinoa wondered for a moment if they were serving hotdogs for breakfast, though highly unlikely. Maybe everyone was just hungry the Monday after the dance… maybe?

"Look at this line. I knew we should have hurried more! See how fast the word gets around Garden! I tell you this is the biggest news at Garden since Quistis and Squall!"

"What?" Rinoa responded flabbergasted by the comment.

"No, no, no… I mean the Trepies and Quistis… and Squall and his big gunblade duel with Seifer. Geesh, glad I didn't say Seifer and Squall."

Rinoa rolled her eyes. She certainly was far from a morning person, and Selphie this early was just a little too much cheerful for anyone. "Selph, have you stopped to hear yourself talk? I mean has Irvine heard you?"

"Yes, Irvine has heard me, it's not like I haven't heard him make comments about women. It's completely natural..." Selphie smirked evilly, "At least that's the line he's always giving me, nice to say it back and mean it for once."

"You guys have the most dysfunctional relationship that works out perfectly. Do you know that?"

"Hehe, I know. Don't worry I don't think Irvine's serious or anything. I think I'd actually worry more if Irvine didn't look... It is Irvine after all. Don't tell me you never look at other guys."

"Me?" How did this conversation take such an abrupt turn? Really, why couldn't she be sleeping right now? She made a mental note never to answer her door again. Ever.

"Cute, Rinoa... the innocence thing doesn't work on me."

"Whatever," Rinoa answered stealing a tried and true line from her boyfriend's repertoire. "Sure, I might notice guys. I'm human you're right, but never past a second or anything. The last person to make me completely speechless was Squall... and trust me, he does that quite often."

"We should ask him his secret."

"Hey, Pot meet Kettle. Plus, this isn't about me... this is about you and your 'Cafeteria Guy Infatuation.' Which by the way, I may say seems completely unhealthy."

"His name's Carl."

"Rigghtt… Carl. If there is a section dedicated to him on the Garden Square, don't expect me to say anything nice."

"Trust me, there would be a hundred girls standing in line to leave him a personal message, so no worry there. It's not an infatuation; I'm just saying I have a reason to actually show up for three meals a day in the cafeteria...on time."

The two girls continued waiting in line. Rinoa once and awhile would glance into the crowd. Honestly, she was trying to see if she could spot Squall. Would he even bother showing up this morning in such a public venue? Selphie, on the other hand, had her eagle eyes scanning the masses in search of the new guy, who presently was unaccounted for. Apparently though, Selphie was right about one thing, there was a sizeable amount of the female population who seemed to be made up more than normal. Rinoa remembered Squall saying something about hiring a new guy to work in the cafeteria when they went to Balamb, but didn't think any more about it. Still she figured that something like this was big news at Garden, new instructors and staff from the public sector were rather rare.

Finally they reached the front and Rinoa grabbed a tray. She could hardly see how one person there would make such a difference. "You know, the guy is working in the Balamb Garden Cafeteria... I don't think his career goals are exactly looking towards the Dollet Culinary Institute."

"I'm offended," Selphie replied. The SeeD then placed her hand on her forehead and acted as if she was going to pass out from the comment.

"It's not like I don't work here," Rinoa laughed at her friend's behavior. "But seriously Selphie, if you want a career in the military you join SeeD. If you want to be a world renowned chef… well, you don't."

The two made it through line without much further ado. Though Rinoa did notice that today in place of her usual pancakes, the cafeteria offered crepes with fresh strawberry filling. She wasn't sure if this was because of the new worker or not, but at least it was a welcome change for a Monday. The girls started to head towards their 'usual' table in the back, which oddly most people tended to avoid. She didn't know if it was out of respect or fear, but at least they never had to search for a place to sit.

Again, the cafeteria seemed to be overflowing with students. It appeared that the entire population (or at least the females) were all stuffing themselves into the area. Someone ran by and accidentally knocked Rinoa off balance. She tried to regain her footing, but knew inevitably the tray would crash land on the floor.

Rinoa took a deep breath preparing for the embarrassment that was destined to follow. At that moment, a young man showed up grabbing the tray and studying her in one fluid motion. He was definitely older than them, probably ten years their senior. Still he did hold that mysterious air that Selphie had mentioned.

"Oh wow you really are…" Rinoa found herself starting to say, but immediately willed her mouth to shut the hell up.

"Are what, madam?" His distinct accent intensified the ambiguity surrounding him. She could hear Selphie sigh behind her and tried not to start laughing.

"Um... wow you are really quick with that service," Rinoa said in one hurried breath.

He smiled politely, "May I escort you and your beautiful companion to your table? It would be an honor if the two of you would allow me to carry your trays."

"I... I would hate to impose... you are busy here." Rinoa could feel the attention of the student body upon her. The last thing she needed was to add more kindling for the fire. She was positive the rumors would already start to fly. Why did everything she do have to be examined under a microscope?

"It is no bother. In my country, it would be a crime for two such lovely ladies to go unescorted in such an environment."

Rinoa tried to smile as Selphie giggled in the background.

"It's a cafeteria!" A voice angrily said from behind them. "A freakin' cafeteria!"

"Zell!" Selphie slapped him on the arm as he made his way towards the trio. "Show some respect! This gracious man is offering to carry our food for us. When is the last time you have done something so gentlemen-like?"

"So you'd suddenly would look up to me if I carried your food?" The martial artist was not about to back down from this, his manly pride was on the line.

"Well it might be worth a try," Selphie shot back.

"Fine. No problem. I will." Zell answered curtly.

Carl smiled with a slight bow, offering the trays to the blond man. "It would be an insult for me not to extend this opportunity to you."

Zell instinctively reached forward seizing both trays, which was not an easy task. It was then the realization had set in. Now his hands were full while Mr. Accent's were completely free.

This man was sly, very sly.

"Now ladies, since I do not have the honor of carrying your food, may I escort you to your seats?"

In one precise movement, he turned interlocking both Rinoa and Selphie's arms with his. It took every ounce of Zell's willpower not to toss crepes on this guy's head. Nobody had rubbed him this badly since the day he met Irvine at Galbadia Garden. Yet, that was different. This guy just seemed...well somehow you put an accent on a guy, dark hair, throw in the ability to cook, and half of the school thinks he is the greatest invention since hotdogs. Okay, Zell bet the guy could make some damn fine hotdogs, but that was beside the point. Although again, they would probably be damn fine.

The group, minus Squall, was almost done with breakfast. Most of the table no longer focused on the newest addition to Garden. Save for Zell and Irvine who seemed mildly aggravated by the female students fawning towards Carl. Quistis' only comment was at least he had better manners than the last cafeteria lady, who seemed to despise her job with every slab of meatloaf served.

Selphie drained the last of her juice, "Hey Rinoa, if you're not busy want to watch a movie tonight?"

"I can't, sorry. I'm supposed to be training with Squall."

"Training?" Quistis asked removing the napkin from her lap.

"What does one train with Squall for," Selphie hinted with a wry laugh.

"That's it. Absolutely no more time with Irvine."

"Sorry Rin, I just had to get it out of my system. Really though, you guys working on weapon training or what?"

"Well no…" Rinoa quieted her voice making sure that only her friends could hear. "He's worried about my sorceress skills. So going to be working on magic, I guess… I'm not sure what he has planned exactly."

Selphie turned to a more serious tone. As much as she loved to have a good time, she also knew there was a time and place for everything. "I'm so glad you two are working together. I know you'll do fine. If you never need our help or support, you know we're all here for you."

"Thanks Selph, it's good to know. I guess I'm a little nervous. I mean I really haven't tried to use magic sense well… the spider thing or that once in Trabia… But Black, White, Support, Status - all the magic is so different. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't worried."

"Take it slow," Quistis pointed out using her years as an instructor to guide in this situation. "Rinoa, don't feel rushed, just go at a pace you can handle. I know Squall will do his best and be there for you no matter what."

"Thank you," Rinoa answered more humbled than before. She always felt a sense of honor when Quistis offered advice. Somehow she still looked up to the older SeeD. "I just have this horrible feeling I'll need to be dragged out of bed tomorrow morning. I have no idea what he has planned."

"Well, if you need assistance getting out of bed in the morning, I'll be glad to oblige," Irvine winked. "Always hate to see such a lovely lady in distress."

"I think I'll manage just fine," Rinoa countered with a hint of sarcasm. Selphie didn't let the comment go unacknowledged either. She gingerly flicked a piece of bacon off of Irvine's plate and onto the floor.

"Manage what just fine?" A voice asked from behind.

Rinoa nearly choked on the milk she had just sipped, thankful that it didn't come up through her nose. There was nothing more sexy than milk nose… She seriously considered putting a GPS on her boyfriend. He had this unique way of either being in the wrong place at the wrong time…or missing from the face of the planet.

Selphie smiled brightly looking at Irvine with loving endearment, "Oh just that my boyfriend quite graciously volunteered to get your girlfriend out of bed tomorrow morning."

"Really?" Squall replied rather noncommittally. He casually grabbed a chair from a nearby table and placed it between Rinoa and Quistis.

"Well, you know how I love to joke around." Irvine tried to play it off attempting to fetch his bacon from the floor. It was an easy choice to search for the sliver of meat rather than face the glare of the commander. Squall did know he was just kidding right?

However, the commander had something else in mind. "Well, since you are so concerned about getting people out of bed, report for morning calisthenics with the junior cadets tomorrow. I'm sure they'll be honored to have someone with your stature join them. It will be good for morale."

"You're not serious are you?" Irvine looked horrified at the mere thought of it. Sure he liked kids, just not the seventy-five of them at one time.

"Very," Squall stated simply.

"Great… First I lose my bacon, now this. I hate Mondays." Irvine piled his trash on his tray. "I better report to work on time or with my luck I'll be refining M-Stones for the rest of the week." The cowboy waved casually as he excused himself from the group.

Zell did some gesture with his arm outstretched in the air. "Squall man, I never knew you had such a jealous side in you, I'm impressed." The commander thought maybe the gesture was some sort of backward high five, which apparently only Zell understood. The others at the table looked just as confused by the meaning, as the martial artist grinned sheepishly.

"Can you really do that to Irvine?" Rinoa asked looking slightly shocked.

"Well," Squall started while pilfering a piece of her food. "Technically, I am suspended. In theory, I really can't tell anybody to do anything…"

"You're not going to mention that to Irvine, are you?" laughed Selphie.

"See, and people say I don't have a sense of humor," the commander shot back.

Rinoa smiled while reaching for her napkin, "They certainly don't know you like we do."

"So what were you guys really talking about?" Squall asked, again snatching another bite of food.

"Oh, I was just telling them about the torture…I mean training that we're starting tonight."

He didn't reply to that - just nodded his head in agreement. It wasn't something that he wanted to bring into a group discussion, at least yet. He was still trying to figure out the best way to approach the situation. He was going to call Matron later and get some suggestions from her. The physical training he had little concern with, it was the mental and emotional exercises that still had him perplexed. He remained his normal impassive self at the table while the others began to talk about insignificant things. He had started to drown out their conversation when it turned to the latest movie release and Selphie's apparent pressing need to watch it tonight. In fact, he had managed to block them out entirely as he dissected Rinoa's crepes into bits.

"You know, if you're that hungry, you could go get your own breakfast."

It took a second for him to register that Rinoa's voice wasn't so distant and was directed solely towards him. He looked at her in that apologetic way as if to say, "I'm sorry dear, did you say something?" Of course those were words he would never say; it was just that nonverbal look of blank confusion.

She didn't like to admit how cute he appeared at times he was socially lost. He still wasn't used to being involved in groups or the idle chitchat that they tended to create. He had spent so long living in that shell of solitude, she certainly didn't expect it to go away. So instead of being upset about him not listening, she was only thankful that he had remained with them in the first place.

"I asked if you were going to get your own breakfast."

"Oh," Squall answered retracting his hand from the tray. "No, I can't. Have you seen that line?"

Squall's comment was met by an immediate 'hmumff' from Zell. Apparently, the martial artist still had not let the Carl situation rest.

"Dear Shiva, not this again," Quistis said placing her hand over her forehead.

Rinoa and Selphie also joined in her concern. All three females were glad that the focus of conversation had shifted from the new employee. Apparently, the retreat was only temporary.

"Why Squall, why? What did we ever do to you to deserve this torture?" Zell raised his hands drawing attention from nearby tables.

"I'm sorry?" Squall said taken aback. It appeared everyone else at the table understood this outburst.

"You know, we all save the world and this, this is how you repay us?"

Quistis kept her head down, while Selphie tried to calm Zell down by patting his back. Rinoa just smiled nervously looking between Zell and her boyfriend, wondering how badly this would end.

"He doesn't like Carl," Selphie announced while rolling her eyes. Of course, that motion had gone unseen by Zell – thankfully.

Squall seemed to be confused by the name. Rinoa pointed under the table to the man standing behind the juice machine. The commander tried not to crack a smile at the absurdity of the situation.

"What's to like about him!" Zell managed while beginning another tirade, "I mean the guy is old. I mean really, really old like seventy and he's here and all these girls are like 'oh you're so great because you can speak another language' blah, blah, blah it makes me sick. Not to mention he thinks he's like Odin or something because he can carry two trays at once. I mean, come on… The guy is foreign, speaks in an accent, cooks food, and the girls here line up like he's the King of the Cosmos or something. The man is sly. Squall you really, really need to watch him around your girlfriend. I tell you, he is evil…"

"He outsmarted Zell," Selphie added with a huge grin.

"I saved the world, he cooks food!"

"I had nothing to do with it," explained Squall crossing his arms. "Apparently his mother is good friends with Cid and Matron. They knew each other from Deling."

"Ah hah!" The martial exclaimed triumphantly, "He's from Deling…which means his Dollet accent is fake! I so knew it!"

"Zell, that girl you met at the graduation dance…did you call her yet?" Quistis asked trying not to laugh outwardly at her friend. Certainly it wouldn't be very fitting given her position. He was just making it so damn hard.

"Yes, and she wouldn't go to breakfast with me because she had something 'more important.' I get here right after the cafeteria opens and she's the third in line. Third in line! And…and… I can hear her friends going on… Carl, this Carl that…"

"Mystery solved," Selphie answered sarcastically.

Rinoa looked down to her tray and handed the remainder of her food over to Squall. "I'm done with breakfast. I need to get back and shower before I'm late to work. You know how strict that Garden administration can be, they're nearly impossible to work for."

Smiling as she stood, the sorceress reached down to her knight's hand and wrapped her fingers over his. She knew he wasn't into big displays of public affection, so she just squeezed it simply as a nonverbal goodbye. He looked at her and their eyes locked and he nodded his farewell.

"Zell, will you walk with me for a moment?" The three SeeDs at the table seemed surprised by her request, but nonetheless the martial artist agreed. He begrudgingly got up from the table as Quistis offered to throw his trash away.

When they were away from the cafeteria Rinoa asked, "You really doing all right? I'm worried about you?" She was too. She had seen Zell have slight outbursts about things, but she knew something deeper was troubling him this time.

"Me? I'm fine. Just tired of all this," he sighed in exasperation and leaned against a nearby wall.

"You know Zell, you're like one of the closest friends I've ever had in my life. You were there for me so many times. Something tells me, you're going to be there for many more. So if you ever need to talk, I'll be here day or night."

"I know you will, Rin. Just, I guess, I get my hopes up about someone…and well, you know…they want a guy like Carl."

"Well, whoever she was, she certainly doesn't know what she's missing. It's her loss." Rinoa thought back over the last year. "What about that girl from the library? I know you said she had been seeing someone else and you guys were going to remain friends…"

"Her? Yeah we're still really good friends. She always calls me when the new magazines arrive. Plus we're always talking about movies. We both like those kind of horror shows where people are always running and screaming in the woods. Then they find a pile of disemboweled body parts scattered all over the place, and you know, do completely the wrong and stupid thing."

"Wow, sounds…thrilling. I guess my question would be: is she still seeing someone?"

"No, they didn't last long. I've thought about asking her out. I just don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Well you know they say sometimes the best romances are rooted in friendship. Maybe next time you're in the library ask her to lunch or something. Have her sit with us… Then it won't be a date, just a bunch of friends getting together."

"You think?"

"Yeah I do. You already know you have something in common. Maybe you guys could even go with Selphie and Irvine to a movie, make it more like a group thing. I would say Squall and I could go, but I think double dating with the commander tends to scare off most people."

Zell laughed scratching his head, "I can't believe I'm taking relationship advice from someone who dated Seifer."

"Hey, that hurts…" Rinoa playfully punched him on the arm. "Now come on and walk me to my room. I really do need to get ready."

Grumbling in annoyance, Rinoa knocked again on the commander's door. This time with much more brute force than her previous two attempts. Normally she always felt an uneasy apprehension knocking on her boyfriend's door. However, right now, she had been saddled with the task of running some essential work items to his room. These, of course, had to be a lethal combination of heavy reference books, a plethora of paperwork, and an assorted bevy of office supplies.

Rinoa wondered why would the man need two staplers anyhow. I mean how often did he run into a stapler emergency? Could he just not load a single stapler if it became empty? Or did that possibly take up way too much valuable commander time in which he could be, well using his two pairs of scissors that she was also carrying. Apparently being Commander of SeeD required a lot of cutting and stapling.

She sighed, trying to regain the perfect balance which she had managed in the elevators and down the hallway. But with the last knock on the door, the books and the paperwork awkwardly rearranged themselves in a lopsided pyramid. It was now leaning treacherously close to the point where the laws of physics would inevitably cause a catastrophic mess if she didn't get help soon.

Thankfully he answered the door before a major calamity ensued. It took him by surprise, not seeing Rinoa standing there, but the sheer amount of items she had managed to carry in one trip.

"Do you need help?"

She smiled in kind, although she really was surprised he had asked the question – to her it was painfully obvious. He managed to grab a large portion of the items and signaled her with creak of the neck to follow him. She wordlessly obliged, closing the door before trailing him to the spare bedroom.

"Just put them on that table."

Again she followed without added commentary, but to her it was rather apparent where to put them. The room was completely empty save for two card tables placed next to one another. Well, okay there was a folding chair behind one of the tables, apparently no expenses spared on his part. Squall's lack of furniture was always disturbing, but to see him attempting to use this as a makeshift office was rather humorous. He did have a laptop, a multiline phone, and a small lamp sitting on the table, no doubt furnished by the headmaster. She often wondered why Garden had given this beautiful apartment and he seemed to have fewer belongings than in his old SeeD dorm.

"I love what you've done with the place," Rinoa finally commented as the commander returned to his lone chair.

"Thanks, I have a natural talent for it."

She found herself giggling at his remark. She had pondered eating after her long trek down here so she asked, "Hey, I was wondering, as it is after twelve, do you want to grab some lunch in the cafeteria?"

"I really can't," he replied apologetically. "Right now I'm trying to straighten out the faculty budget and it would take forever to get through line."

"You're just scared you're going to run into Zell again," Rinoa joked semiseriously.

"That's probably true. I really don't want to know about his new fetish with the cafeteria guy. I have to actually get this proposal done by next week."

"It's not a problem." She hesitated for a moment wondering if she should broach the subject. If she saw Selphie again it would be one of the first questions on her mind. Well the first question after the age, height, and astrological sign of Carl.

Squall interpreted her hesitation differently, afraid that she was upset about declining her lunch invitation. Honestly he would have gone, it was just he wanted to make sure to get as much done now so they could still train together this evening. He wasn't used to his role of boyfriend and thought maybe he'd broken some huge cardinal relationship rule. So in some attempt to save face in the boyfriend department, or maybe just because he really wanted her there, he quickly thought of an impromptu solution.

"Chicken."

Rinoa looked at him in confusion. "Excuse me?"

He stood from his chair and walked around the table. Reaching for her hand, he led her into the kitchen.

"Oh," she chuckled softly.

"I just remembered I have some leftover chicken from last night, if you're interested. I'm sure it's not as appetizing as whatever they're serving in the cafeteria today. I'm just saying I have some food if you'd-" He didn't know why he stopped or why it was difficult just asking her to do something rather simple. It was just a meal… in his apartment, right?

Rubbing the back of his neck he tried again. "I have leftover food if you'd like to stay here for lunch."

Honestly she had no real plans, just to meet the usual gang at the usual table. In a way it was like an advanced version of her school years. Even though they were now all instructors, staff, or SeeDs - the social structure didn't seem to fluctuate often.

"I'd love to," she responded cheerfully.

When he opened his refrigerator door, Rinoa noticed that it seemed to mirror the state of his apartment. Beside some tin foil, which she assumed held the chicken, there were a few bottles of water, a half carton of milk, and a few fruits she could make out through the see-through drawer.

While he placed the food on a plate, she jumped up to sit on the center island. It seemed that neither of them knew what to say at the moment. He touched a few buttons on the microwave and then opened the fridge doors again, grabbing two bottles of water.

"Sorry, it's pretty much all I have. I really wouldn't trust the milk."

"It's okay."

She opened the water and quickly drank a good quarter of its contents. Apparently she was thirstier than even she had realized or maybe it was due to nerves. She would place money on the latter. Here it was the perfect opportunity to ask about Selphie's birthday. The situation honestly couldn't have been more ideal.

So she made up her mind that she was going to ask him. The worst he could say was 'no,' right?

Okay, maybe the worst he could say was 'Oh dear god, you are loonier than a Chocobo running around the field in the rain. What would ever make you think I'd agree to that!?' But again, that would probably be way more words than Squall felt like saying in a lifetime.

"Um, Squall," she began rather awkwardly. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you. I know this seems rather last minute, which is totally my fault because… well just because. Do you know how Selphie's birthday is coming up?" She stopped speaking after receiving a look she couldn't decipher.

After her pause he nodded, acknowledging that he 'knew Selphie's birthday was coming up.' He had given Irvine the time off and remembered the whole conversation with vivid clarity. Still that didn't explain why she was looking at him so strangely. Did he do something wrong?

"Okay… well here is where the 'favor' part comes in."

She took a deep breath and tried to look him directly in the eyes. That only lasted a few seconds after becoming nauseatingly nervous and looked down to her feet instead. She had gotten this far, there was no backing down now.

"Irvine planned a trip to Dollet for her. He knows how much Selphie wants to meet his friends from Galbadia… So his best friend from there was going to bring his girlfriend. The four of them were going to just have fun and hang out in Dollet – Selphie style."

Of course he knew all of this; Irvine had told him a week before the Graduation Ball. However the detail that he did catch on to was her use of the term 'going to bring his girlfriend,' as in past tense. Past tense was never good in his field. Never.

"Well, everything was set and then his friend got called to go on a survival weekend. Since, apparently this guy is new to SeeD, well he has no seniority to get out of it. So unfortunately, they can't go… This is where the favor comes in."

And he knew it. Well, he had a suspicion somewhere during her rather longwinded explanation of the whole thing. It was just hearing the actual words that sealed the deal. Maybe it would sound better if he beat her to the punch of the request.

"So they want us to go in the place of Irvine's friends, right?"

Yeah, it didn't sound any better when he said it, but honestly, it didn't sound any worse either.

"Exactly. Please Squall? Selphie really wants us to go, we're basically the only other couple they know, or would want to spend a weekend with. I'm not going to beg. I'm only going to ask you this once, so if you don't want to – I understand and respect your decision."

"I don't suppose I can order Zell and Quistis to start dating immediately?"

Well, that response thoroughly confused her; it was about the last thing she'd expect out of him. Sometimes reading him was hard. No, that was an understatement: sometimes reading him was like trying to read the emotions of a rock. She wasn't positive if his answer was humor or his polite way of refusing her request. The most logical thinking on her part right now was to play along until she could feel out the situation a little better.

"You could try to make them, but like you mentioned earlier, you're technically suspended… so it's about a fifty-fifty shot."

"Forget it," he responded. He noticed that she still had not looked at him, but he also made no attempt to approach her. Instead he went to the microwave to retrieve the chicken. "Honestly, Zell would totally freak and end up needlessly hounding me, asking if I was serious. And Quistis would more than likely recite verbatim every SeeD rule, section, and article, which I was breaking with my command. So I guess to save myself the pointless crap from them, we'll have to go in their place."

"Really?" She was hopeful. Still she somehow needed that verbal conversation that her ears hadn't deceived her.

"Yes, I'll go. But you can't make me have fun."

"I would never try!" She beamed as she scooted from the counter. He must have heard, as he turned away from the microwave to face her. He had been around Rinoa long enough to know her behavioral patterns. As predicted, she jumped up into his arms much like the second time they met aboard the train.

This time, unlike back then, she pulled him into a kiss. Over the months, he seemed to have grown accustomed to the act and rather enjoyed it more than he'd let on. It amazed Squall how 'him' going anywhere could make another person happy. A year ago most people were happier, at least he thought, when he wasn't around. The simple fact was: he liked making her happy. It was something he discovered about himself that shocked even him.

He had jumped into space for her. How could going to Dollet with Selphie be any more dangerous?