Sub Chapter 2 (Balamb Garden)

Rinoa felt the wind brush across her face as she clung to the stranger's waist. He drove

fast and smoothly, and Rinoa didn't get nervous. "I've never rode in a motorbike before,"

Rinoa said in her head, "It feels kinda good! Maybe I should get one for myself." It was a

silent ride, the stranger or Rinoa didn't say anything. Finally about an hour later, the

teenager spoke again. "We're almost here," he said softly, beneath his helmet. Rinoa

looked up. "Oh! Okay…" Rinoa replied. Soon they arrived in a huge Garden. Rinoa

marveled at the beauty. This was her first time even seeing how a garden looks like.

"Finally, I'm going to Garden…to be a SeeD!" Rinoa said in her head. The stranger went

into the Garden parking lot and parked at an empty space. Rinoa looked at the parking

space they parked in. It said, RESERVED. The stranger got off and started walking.

"Follow me," was all he said. Rinoa followed him even though when she wanted to ask a

question about their parking space. He led her out of the parking lot to the a long

corridor. Rinoa looked around, there were more corridors leading to other places, and in

the middle there was a beautiful fountain surrounding an elevator. While she was still in

awe, the stranger tapped her shoulder. Rinoa quickly turned around. "Um…It's about

lunchtime, you should go to the cafeteria first before you do anything else," he said

cooly, "are you a transfer student?" Rinoa gulped. "Uh…something like that," Rinoa told

him softly, "I have to see the headmaster. I 'm suppose to see him." The stranger spoke

again. He pointed to a corridor, second to the last on the left. "That's the cafeteria, eat

first, then you can take the elevator to the third floor to see the headmaster," he said in a

monotone voice and started to walking away. Rinoa quickly ran up to him and grabbed

his arm before he could get any further. "Um…I just want to say thanks. You've helped

me so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this," said Rinoa. The stranger just

stared at her beneath his helmet, and Rinoa noticed that she was still holding his arm. She

quickly pulled it away and blushed. "You're welcome," the stranger said and starting

walking again. "Oh…that was embarrassing…" Rinoa told herself mentally, "Wait! I

don't even know his name yet!" Rinoa quickly called out to him. "Wait! What's your

name?" Rinoa called out, loud enough for him to hear. He spoke in the same monotone

voice, only louder. "It's Leonhart," he told her, "Nice to meet you." The stranger then

walked to the elevator, opened it and went inside. "Is that supposed to be his last name,

or first name?" Rinoa asked herself, "Oh well, I guess I better go eat." Rinoa walked to

the cafeteria and looked around. It was pretty big and the food smelled good. She went to

the counter, ordered a good meal and went to find an empty table. She found one, sat

down and started eating. She thought while she was eating. "That guy…I guess he

doesn't talk much, but he did help me a lot though! I thought I wouldn't even get here in

a week!" Rinoa thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned

around and saw a teenager about her age, she was wearing a yellow dress and she had

curled brown hair. She smiled. "Um…hi! I've never seen you here before, are you new?"

the girl asked. Rinoa nodded. "Yeah, I'm Rinoa Heartilly. Nice to meet you." replied

Rinoa. The girl jumped up and smiled. "My name's Selphie Tilmitt! Do you want to sit

with me and my friends? We can tell you a little more about garden that way," she said

excitedly. "Sure!" Rinoa answered and carried her tray. She followed Selphie to her table

and sat at an empty seat. "Okay let's all get introduced!" Selphie yelled out, "Everyone,

this is Rinoa Heartilly, she's new here!" Rinoa blushed shyly and muttered a single 'hi'.

"And Rinoa, this is Zell Dincht," she said pointing to a blond teenager with a tattoo on

his face, "Irvine Kinneas, and Quistis Trepe!" Selphie pointed to two more of her friends.

Irvine was a tall guy, with a cowboy hat and a trench coat, and Quistis was a professional

looking teenager wearing a nice vest and a skirt. They all waved and said hi. They started

talking and eating, and Rinoa learned a little more about garden. "So…Rinoa, how did

you get to Garden? Did your parents send you hear or something?" Quistis asked Rinoa

curiously. "Um…well, I actually wanted to come here on my own, leave the house. So I

convinced my dad to let me join Garden," Rinoa answered shyly, "and as for coming

here, I guess it's a long story." Irvine spoke. "Tell us Rinoa! Did anything happen?" he

asked curiously. Rinoa then started her story. "Well, I took a train to Timber, and I was

about to take a train to Deling City, but well, I lost my ticket," she said softly. Zell looked

surprised. "Don't tell me you walked here!" Zell asked horrified. Rinoa shook her head.

"No…I didn't. I wanted too though, but there was this guy, and he gave me a lift here to

garden," Rinoa said. trying to recall more, "He was a SeeD, I guess." Selphie bounced up

on her seat. "Oh! Who was it? Was he cute? Maybe we know him!" asked Selphie

bouncily. Rinoa simply smiled shyly, and Quistis glared at Selphie. "I don't think those

are the right questions to ask, Selphie." said Quistis sighing. "Oh no! It's okay! The guy

drove me here on his motorbike, but I never got to see how he looked. He had his helmet

on the whole time, and I never got to see his face," said Rinoa answering Selphie's

question. "A motorbike, huh?" said Zell while eating his hotdog. "Uh huh, he gave me

his name though…not sure if it's his first or last, but he said it was Leonhart," Rinoa told

them confused. Suddenly it was silent. She looked around the table and saw that

everyone was stunned.

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Well, that's all for today, Thanks for the reviews! Sorry I took so long to update! If you guys haven't figured it out yet, the stranger is Squall. Just saying!

Ceres81