Chapter 3

Sitting in the Balamb Garden cafeteria, Selphie Tilmitt had a stony look upon her face. Her arms were crossed, and her usually cheerful, smiley face was set into a frown.

Today had not been a good day.

Firstly, she had woken late. Her alarm had failed to go off, so she had missed the first half of her lesson. The one in which she had happened to be teaching. Not a good start to her new self defence classes.

Secondly, her hair would not be tamed into submission. The normally smooth hair was a tangled mess, and as she was late she had no time to do anymore than tie it up into a quick knot. It looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards. Twice.

Thirdly, her favourite sun yellow dress had a big dirty smudge on the back, so she had to wear a plain white vest and black jeans. She had no idea how it had gotten there, as she had just gotten it washed. She never felt herself in plain clothes.

Lastly, Irvine was supposed to be meeting her almost fifteen minutes before.

Selphie was not amused.

It is SO typical of him to be late. Well, he can just wait. I'll give him a piece of MY mind. He's probably off drooling over some other girls. I hate when he does this.

Selphie Tilmitt is enough for any man! She declared to herself, trying to convince her own mind of the fact.

And I'll be sure to let him know that.

She sighed, and looked towards the lunch queue, where she noticed Zell pleading with the workers to make him some more hot dogs. He had already eaten five that she was aware of. A small smile spread across her face. He was the only person she knew who could eat as many hotdogs. She herself thought they were disgusting.

If only Zell knew what they were made of. Then he wouldn't be as keen to eat them!

Her smile grew and she laughed slightly to herself.

"What're you grinnin' at doll?" she heard a deep voice drawl.

Irvine.

Irvine Kinneas was a self proclaimed ladies man. With his long, chestnut hair habitually tied back into a ponytail, brown leather chaps and trench coat, and a cowboy hat planted firmly on his head, he was a hard person to miss. Especially as he was around 6 foot tall.

Indeed, he had his usual smirk upon his handsome face. Selphie wanted to slap him. Nobody else realised they had been having problems recently. Selphie didn't like to advertise the fact. Their relationship was their own, and it was hard enough without everyone else offering little pieces of information.

"Where have you been?" she asked in a low voice. "You were supposed to be here quarter of an hour ago."

Irvine noticed that Selphie wasn't in a good mood and recoiled slightly. Selphie in a bad mood was directly proportional to Selphie in a good mood. The girl didn't do things by half. He could swear she was growling slightly.

"Listen Selph, I'm real sorry, but I got called to Cid's office. It's Squall. He's done a runner again. Apparently, I was the last one to see his sorry ass. And Rinoa, she just bolted. Y' know what she's like!"

"Oh no! Is she ok? Where is Squall? Is he ok? Oh, I should go and find Rinny. Remember last time? It's my fault. I spoke to him last night. I should have seen it. He actually smiled. I should have realised then something was up! What if he dies Irvine? Where did Rinny go? I need to find her!"

All thoughts of the problems she and Irvine were having left her mind. All she could think about was her friend. Rinoa was probably the closest person to a sister Selphie would ever have, and Selphie was extremely loyal. Nothing was more important to her than her friends.

"I need to find her Irvine. Don't you dare try and stop me!"

With this Selphie launched herself off of her chair about to go in pursuit of Rinoa. That is, until Irvine grabbed her.

At almost a foot taller than Selphie, the cowboy loomed over her as he held her. He could feel the tension in her coiled muscles.

"Ain't much we can do the now Selph. We'd be as well lettin' her come back in her own time. Meanwhile, me an' you should just sit here till you calm down."

"Lemme go Irvine! I told you not to stop me you big lump! I wanna help Rin-"

She was cut off by the sight of Rinoa dragging a bemused blonde boy into the cafeteria. She noticed the gleam in her friend's eyes, the almost predatory smirk on her lips.

Rinoa had a plan. Selphie just wasn't sure she would like it.

Oh no… what is she thinking now? This can't be good. Rinoa's plans always end up with us in trouble… And why is she so happy after Squall has just disappeared?

"Rinny!" She yelled, squirming out of Irvine's grasp. "There you are! I was worried. How are you? Where is Squall? Who is THIS guy?"

"Selph, I'm fine. I don't know where he is, and to be perfectly honest I couldn't care one little bit less if I tried. Now! This guy here, he is called Cloud. Has no idea where he is. From Midgar, if you can believe that."

Cloud put on a blank face of indifference when everyone stared at him, and raised a hand in acknowledgement.

"Hey there" Selphie exclaimed, noting to herself how much he acted like Squall. Trust Rinoa. "I'm Selphie, and this big lug here is Irvine."

Irvine looked the man up and down, not comfortable with his sudden appearance. Irvine didn't like change. He didn't want his "gang" split up. Not again. Not after he had found them all.

"Hey, was'n Midgar like, forever ago? Esthar now, right? So, this guy must be lying! He can't be from there. Else he'd be, old…"

Rinoa sighed, and plopped herself down.

"Irvine, I think it is a side effect of the time compression."

Everyone looked at Rinoa in shock. That wasn't what they had expected to hear. Not at all.

"Rinoa, I think you had better explain yourself. Now please." Irvine said in a quiet voice, sitting down next to her.

So Rinoa explained how they had met, omitting the crying part, just saying that she had been at the beach and had tripped and that Cloud had helped her.

"So, he explained that he had fallen through a black hole thing. Seems to be like what happened to us during the compression. It may have been at the same time as we killed her, but, it dropped him off here. You know, the all times as one thing. Only problem is, in this world, there are no portals left. So basically, he is stuck here. I explained this, and I also explained how I am the last sorceress left, and I can't open portals." Rinoa explained quickly, her eyes shining.

"So, are you just ok with staying here?" asked a bemused Selphie.

"What? Yea, I s'pose so. Not really much for me to go back to. I would be as well staying here."

"Great! Listen, I shall go and talk to Cid, see if I can get quarters for you. You just stay here."

With this, Rinoa jumped off her seat and sped away, leaving Cloud with an excited Selphie and a sour faced Irvine.

"So. Wanna join the Garden Festival Committee?"