-1A/N: Thank you for the reviews everyone! I hope you all have a great Christmas, and haven't been crushed under the mad rushes in the shops!

Chapter Six

Rinoa was sitting on the sofa, for someone who had got to sleep quite late, she was up surprisingly early. Quistis was awake also, but was sitting in the kitchen with the cook, waiting for bacon. Rinoa lazily flicked through the channels, it was Sunday morning and there wasn't a lot of choice. She skipped past the news to the cartoons.

Selphie hadn't seemed very interested in her news, she was still upset over Irvine, and he filled most of the conversation. Rinoa was willing to bet that Selphie had remembered nothing about the SeeDs. As she was staring at the cartoons, she was joined by Zell. He looked miserable until he spotted the TV.

"Flipping heck, look at the size of that!" he said in awe. He walked forward and started examining the TV.

Rinoa had never thought about it before, but she supposed the TV was rather huge, unnecessarily so. But instead of feeling pleased, she just felt ashamed. However Zell didn't seem to care, he was still marvelling over the picture quality and the surround sound. Quistis joined them, with a bacon sandwich for Zell.

"Awesome," he said taking the sandwich. "Look at that TV instructor, it's flipping ace. I love it here, I even get fed in the mornings!"

"It's a very nice television," Qusitis said sitting down beside Rinoa.

Rinoa felt uneasy sat next to Quistis, she felt like she was sat next to the most popular girl in school. Although Quistis had said and done nothing to make Rinoa feel inferior, she couldn't help but feel inadequate in her presence.

"Why does Zell call you instructor?" Rinoa asked. She thought the best way of overcoming her nervousness of Quistis was to make an effort.

"Becaushe Quistish ish an inshtructor," Zell mumbled, his mouth full.

"Thank you Zell, that clears things up," Quistis said, her voice with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm a teacher at Balamb Garden. I used to be Zell's teacher, but he seems unable to stop calling me Instructor. Even though I have told him, my name is Quistis."

Rinoa smiled, maybe Quistis wasn't so scary after all.

"But you're really young to be a teacher," Rinoa said. Then she thought about her words. "Sorry, I didn't mean…"

But Quistis stopped her.

"I became a SeeD at fifteen, it seemed only natural to keep climbing up the grades."

Rinoa looked back at the TV, but something on her face must have spoke her feelings.

"Don't compare your life to SeeDs, it's a different world," Quistis said.

Rinoa bit her lip, but she couldn't take Quistis' advice. She couldn't help it, she was seventeen and struggling at school, and didn't have a job, compared to these people, she seemed pretty pathetic. She stared ahead at the TV until they were interrupted by Squall.

Rinoa had thought that he was still asleep, since she hadn't seen him all morning. But when he walked into the room he was wearing a coat, and there were still flecks of rain on his shoulders.

"We need to brief our cadets," he said.

For a moment Rinoa thought he meant her also, just the way he spoke made her sit upright and want to behave professionally. Her heart raced a little at the task, then she slumped back in her chair, it was nothing to do with her after all, she'd most likely have to stay behind. Plus, being her father's day off, and him being at home to watch her, none of the SeeDs would be likely to stay with her. Especially not Squall.

"What about Rinoa?" Quistis asked.

Rinoa settled herself back in the cushions, Squall was about to say she was staying behind, she knew it. He looked at her, but Rinoa missed catching his eye by turning to look at the TV.

"She's coming with us," Squall said.

Quistis and Zell said nothing, just stood and waited for Rinoa to stand also. She got to her feet slowly then followed them out into the hallway.

Having heard the movement of four people in the hallway, the general appeared in his study doorway. Rinoa reached for her coat, hoping that by putting it on he would think it too much hassle to make her take it off again and stay behind.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Rinoa cringed at his tone, it implied that they might be up to no good. Towards herself she could understand, but he had no right to speak to the SeeDs like that.

"SeeD cadets are arriving this morning, and we are required to debrief them," Quistis explained.

Rinoa understood now why she had found Quistis intimidating, as a teacher, she spoke with authority and confidence. Her tone soon settled the general, he saw a teenager before him, but heard a strong woman in her voice.

"Your daughter will be very safe with us," she added.

"You are taking Rinoa?" he asked, only just noticing her there amongst them.

"Of course," Quistis said, then she smiled warmly. "She will have a much more productive day learning about SeeD, than she will sitting in front of the TV."

The general couldn't argue with that, and was forced to allow his daughter out of the house.

"Ah, freedom!" Rinoa said as she stepped outside, even though it was raining, it was good to be in the fresh air. "Hey you really won one over on my dad," she added to Quistis as she followed her down the path.

She saw Quistis' shoulders shrug.

"Years of diplomatic training," she said as they all followed Squall. "You'll never get anywhere if you lose your cool."

Rinoa nodded, eager to learn more about winning arguments, but knowing that this really wasn't the time, the SeeDs looked to be in a hurry.

"I'll drive," Quistis offered as they neared the hired car.

Squall stepped away and moved to sit in the back with Rinoa. This is stupid, she thought as they drove in silence, it was plainly clear that Squall wouldn't be interested in a silly girl like her. He wasn't even looking at her.

They pulled up outside the train station, where two small vans, with blacked out windows were waiting. They parked alongside one of the vans. Rinoa waited for something to happen, and looked out of the window expectantly, but she could see nothing of interest. Apart from the vans, everything seemed normal.

"We're waiting for the cadets to arrive," Quistis explained.

Rinoa nodded and looked back out of the window. Without saying anything, Squall opened his car door, and a gust of cold air mixed with rain pelted Rinoa. She was about to tell him to shut the door, but before she could speak he was outside the car, and closing the door on her. A few seconds later Zell followed him.

"There," Quistis said pointing. "See that group of people standing by the ticket barrier? That's our cadets."

Rinoa stared at them, they looked a motley crew of people. One man towered over the rest, extremely wide with muscles, and taking up a lot of space. There was a girl with similar hair as herself with a rucksack on her back, and another girl, very small, who looked a lot younger. The rest were too far away or hidden behind the large man.

Squall was talking to them, and Zell was writing something down, but before she could ask Quistis any questions, the group headed towards the vans. Rinoa rearranged her coat, so that when Squall got back into the car he wouldn't sit on it, but he climbed into one of the vans instead.

They remained sandwiched between the vans, one in front, one behind, as they drove down the main street. They were headed for the army barracks on the edge of town, Rinoa knew because she had accompanied her father there on several occasions.

She was going to ask what the cadets missions would be, but was prevented by the bleep of her phone. Fishing it out of her bag, Rinoa saw she had a message.

Hey babe, hope ur ok. Sel told me the cops let u go. It was one of my friends cops were lookin 4. Sorry. TB seifer xx.

TB? Text back? Text back what? She supposed she should tell him that she was fine. Really she wanted to speak her mind about his friend, leading trouble to them, but she found she didn't want to risk making him angry. It wasn't his fault after all. Instead she ended up hiding her annoyance and sending a message to make him feel less guilty.

Hi, I'm fine. Don't worry, wasn't ur fault. I don't think I can come out 4 a while tho, dad went mental. Rinoa xx

Once the message was sent, she wondered whether putting the kisses on the end was such a good idea. But when her phone bleeped again, she knew she'd been right to.

Aww, no way. Was lookin 4ward 2 seeing u! Seifer xx

Something about Rinoa's smile spoke volumes to Quistis, as she looked at the girl in the back via the rear view mirror.

"One of your friends?" she asked.

Rinoa blushed.

"Yeah…something like that."