Author Notes: Back with another chapter. I know some of you are displeased by the lack of updates, but school and family life really tug me down and the spare time I do have I try and utilise by writing chapters. Of course the problem there is that I have three stories going on at once. Honestly, those who read my closing note in FIE will know I have another story in the making, but I've written only the first chapter and put a lid on it. I doubt I will even post it so soon, I'm going to wait until this has touched the main plot (which I know I'm taking my sweet ass time in getting to). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is...sorry? *pleads with puppy-dog eyes*

I love that you all are really intrigued by this story and willing to read through each chapter to see what the big secret is, but compared to TSU and BTA, I'm taking my time writing each chapter to the fullest, deep-rooting and bringing all the loose ends together. So when I finally do end this story, you won't feel it was rushed. And if you still do by the end of it, then I personally give you permission to pelt MonMonCandie or redmangobliss95 with rotten fruit... they won't mind ;)

But in all seriousness this fic will probably be my last first-person POV, and (this is surely going to peeve some of you off) this also may be my last AU. I'm sorry guys, I wish I had the zeal to keep writing, but I've converted to postgames. They're pretty fun to write, especially when pulling tidbits from the game and making mountains out of them. Aside from the fun aspect, some of you have noticed a vast difference between my AU and PG writing. I think turning 23 this year sort of dissolved all pleasure in reading a good high school fic, and now I'm really inclined to marital breakdowns, withholding the truth and making the 'wrong' choices. As cliché as that sounds.

Major thank you to Emerald-Latias for beta reading this chapter. I've noticed a weird connection with this fic and the amount of betas that go missing . . . it's spooky.

Chapter 10 - Feels Like Home

Though I hadn't been here very long, I had noticed a bizarre routine involving the Fated Children. Every other Tuesday, each member was nowhere to be seen. Not one of them attended school, not even the ones that shared the same class as me had their names called out during roll call. I found it peculiar that the teachers didn't even question where they were.

Selphie and I were in the same Geography and Maths classes, and while I didn't have any Maths classes on Tuesday but I did have Geography. I waited for her name to be called out but, instead the teacher skipped her name and called out Kyle's. Then in English, I waited for the teacher to call out Quistis's name but the teacher simply jumped to Trevor's instead. It was bizarre.

When I met up with Nida at lunch, I had a huge craving to ask him if the teachers did the same in his lessons — well, the lessons he shared with Irvine and Quistis — but I knew that asking such an odd question would only make myself look suspicious. The incident back at Mega Flare Burger during my first week in Balamb already had Nida suspicious of my 'friendship' with the group. I really didn't want him asking me anything personal, and there was absolutely no way that I was ever going to tell him about Squall; in a sense, I felt like I was emotionally cheating on him.

However, aside from my dying desire to know what my 'best friends' were up to, I promised myself that I was over them. Maybe Tuesdays was their crack-a-heroin day? Or, or, spliff-a-joint day? Man, I crack myself up sometimes.

Laughing to myself, I walked into my house to see Dad just about to heading into the living room.

"Had a good day?" Dad asked with keen interest, seeing my jovial mood.

"Ah, yeah fun." I decided to play along rather than give the real reason why I was laughing. Dad wouldn't find my jokes humorous and would most definitely worry about my mental state.

"Good. Lance and I are just having some tea. You're welcome to join us." Dad walked straight into the living room, not waiting for my response. I figured that was more of an order than an invitation.

I dropped my bag near the foot of the stairs and hung my jacket on the rack. Kicking off my trainers, I put them to the side before making my way into the living room.

I spotted Lance sitting where he sat yesterday, this time actually seeming more conscious as he relaxed into his seat and drank his coffee. Dad sat opposite him and helped himself to a biscuit, pointing me to the sofa opposite Lance.

I sat down and watched both men carefully, both acting so weirdly normal. They didn't look like an ex-General and a potential murderer; they looked more like two old friends enjoying evening tea.

"So, how was your day?" Dad asked with a thin smile.

I glanced at Lance before looking back at Dad and replying, "Fine. Just the usual."

"What school do you attend?" Lance asked. It caught me by surprise that he directly asked me.

"Er, uhm, Balamb High." I cursed myself for mumbling. Not exactly doing a very good job in showcasing normalcy in front of him, I thought. I just hoped he'd take it as a startled reaction to his question.

"That seems like a nice school. You made any friends?" he asked, smiling at me. I contagiously smiled back at him and nodded. "Good."

The three of us just sat in silence for a little while longer, no one making any movements or bothering to make any more conversation. Dad's mobile started ringing in the other room and so he got up, announcing that he was expecting a call.

My insides, mainly what felt like my intestines, felt like they were knotting up. Alarmingly, I realised that Dad was leaving me alone with Lance and I wasn't so keen on that idea. I wanted to get up and announce that I should get started on some homework or something but I just knew it would sound so lame. I didn't want to upset the poor guy either.

So, while cursing Dad in my head, I sat silently, looking at my socks as if they were the most interesting and wondrous thing I'd ever seen in my life. I hoped Dad would come back quickly so this awkward silence didn't drag on. I also wanted to look up at Lance and see if he was staring at me but I was too scared to do that.

"Thank you for letting me stay here," Lance eventually muttered.

I instantly looked up at the sound of his voice and took a sharp breath. Okay, so I wasn't expecting that.

"No problem." I felt obliged to reply but was utterly perplexed by his gratitude.

"I know it can't be easy for you. You're what, in your final year of high school, right? I know it must be a lot to take on when your father brings a complete stranger into your home."

I gulped, not sure how to respond. The guy was so far off base but strangely echoing my fears at the same time. Yes, it was my last year but I was no way in any position to be mad at Dad for bringing someone home. Heck, school just started so it wasn't like Lance could have had that much of an effect on my education. However, he was one hundred percent correct on his being here affecting me. I really did not understand why he was staying, how he was mixed up with a murder case involving President Loire and, on top of all that, why Dad was telling Vinzer Deling that he'd hand Lance over if he spotted him.

I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask, but there was not enough time and not one person who would answer them. But what Lance was saying was right on the money. Among all my worries, currently I was more distressed at the man my father was turning out to be.

"May I ask you a question?" I asked cautiously.

"If you like," Lance responded with ease.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but out of all the places you chose to hide, why did you come here?" I held my breath, waiting for Lance to lash out at me or get angry though . . . I don't why I even thought he would. When I saw the corners of his mouth upturn enough to crack to a smile, my heart settled with relief.

He chuckled lightly to himself before looking at me earnestly and replying, "I came here because it feels like home."

"Home?"

"Your father is a very nice man, Rinoa." It felt so strange to hear my name come from his mouth, but I ignored the sensation and concentrated on his answer. "I spent many years in the army with him back when we were young. Even after he became General, he helped me out and I always tried to return the favour.

"I guess . . . your father sometimes acts like an older brother. I don't have any brothers but I have a sister in eh-" Lance paused slightly, shaking his head and looking down at his lap. "I have a sister but no brothers," he finally concluded.

I nodded at him, a bit confused by his sudden change in behaviour. The room was getting a bit hot and my lips were drying up. I put a hand to my head and pushed back my hair nervously.

"Do you have any kids?" I suddenly asked, wondering if he had any other family members. If he did, that would be pretty sad. I had already lost one parent, but if I lost my Dad that would pretty much would have turned my world upside down.

"Er, yes." Lance smiled, sadly nodding his head at me. "I have a son."

"You must miss him a lot," I commented, trying to be comforting, but I presume it came across as if I was basically rubbing it in his face.

"I do. I love him a lot." Lance set his cup back down on the table and leaned into his seat. He let out a tired sigh and sort of went into a state of deep contemplation.

Deciding that I'd let him have this time to think to himself instead of asking the thousands of questions in my mind revolving around him and Dad, I sat back and waited for Dad to walk in.

Eventually when Dad did, he suggested we start on dinner and then for me to complete my homework. I honestly didn't get how he could jump from military mode to World's Best Dad within minutes.

I was mildly pleased to see Selphie the next day in Maths. Mildly being the key word as I was still a bit pissed off at her for getting me into that sticky situation with Seifer. I normally didn't hold things against anyone though; if someone had a problem with me over something I could change and apologise for, then it's cool. If not, well then, they needed to sort it out themselves. But this entire situation with the Fated Children was something that I don't even think they could sort out between themselves. Whatever reason Seifer and his friends had for finding me a threat, it had to have been concocted in their warped minds.

Selphie did say 'hi' to me once I sat down, to which I did the civil thing and replied back. We didn't say anything further and waited for class to start. Once the teacher set some work for us, I got down to business.

"Rinoa," I heard Selphie whisper.

I looked at her, expecting to be asked if she could borrow my eraser again but she caught me off guard with an apology.

"I'm sorry about Monday. I swear I didn't know Seifer would react like that," she earnestly told me. Looking into her eyes, I could tell she was sincerely sorry and I didn't have the heart to hold it against her.

"It's okay. It's not your fault." Well, other than her involvement in taking me down to the school pond.

"I know what Seifer did was so disgraceful, but he just acts like our big brother; he doesn't want any of us getting hurt. He doesn't hate you or anything." Selphie shook her head at me, hoping to get her point across.

"Thanks, I didn't think he did hate me but, that's good to know." I rolled my eyes jokingly.

"Oh! No I didn't mean that he does. He doesn't, it's just that he isn't very trusting. He normally is like that with newcomers."

"Girls." Selphie and I both looked up to find the teacher staring at us expectantly. "I hope you're giving these math equations just as much attention."

"Sorry, Miss," we both muttered.

We spent the next minutes pretending we were doing our work. Well, I was only half-pretending, I don't know if I could say the same for Selphie. Once a good, considerably believable amount of time had passed between us, we continued our conversation.

"Selphie, what is Seifer's problem? Other than the day he borrowed my pen, I've never spoken to him. I don't see why he's so untrusting of a person he doesn't even know a thing about." I let a huge breath out and stared at the brunette as she processed everything I just blurted out.

"It's not that he doesn't trust you, but he doesn't know the kind of person you are yet," Selphie explained, "I think it's partly to do with the people you hang with."

"What, Nida?"

"Yeah . . . and Xu," Selphie elaborated.

I opened my mouth to say something but paused once I realised their predicament. I had almost forgotten Xu and Quistis were friends.

"Look, it's none of my business, I don't know why you're no longer friends with Xu, but I'm not someone you need to feel threatened by." I shrugged my shoulders, hoping she'd understand that I was just a confused individual and really wasn't out to get them.

Selphie caught me off guard again as she grinned at me. "I know."

My mouth was agape as I nodded my head at her. Her change of attitude was still so puzzling.

"I guess it's just been a while since we all met someone new. I'm just sorry that we got off to a bad start. You must think we're so stuck up!" Selphie remarked forlornly.

"No," I negated her thoughts, the sympathy had truly settled in my heart.

"Good. Hey! If you still want, I can tutor you?" Selphie offered out of nowhere.

"Girls . . ." I heard the teacher call out again.

"Sorry, Miss." Selphie and I threw an apologetic look before putting our heads down and solving the next equation.

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think I need the help," I replied to her earlier question. Selphie's expression fell as I realised my words must have seemed like I held some resentment. "Maybe we could just hang around sometime?" I suggested, hoping she didn't misunderstand my earlier words.

"Oh, okay. That'd be cool." She smiled at me, looking relieved so I grinned back at her.

I continued with my work for another couple more minutes until Selphie asked another question.

"So, is Nida your boyfriend?"

"Erm, not really." I looked into her emerald greens to find that she was actually pleased by that. She smiled at me before giggling quietly.

"I heard otherwise."

I smirked at that and rolled my eyes. "Between me and you, he didn't even ask me. I just heard from Xu that he had a girlfriend and apparently it was me. I felt guilty to confess that I'm not that into him. He's not really my type." I made a slightly-disinterested face just thinking about Nida. My heart uneasily thumped inside my chest just thinking of the idea of him kissing me. That hadn't happened yet, but I wasn't so sure how I'd react to it.

"But you guys seemed to really kick it off at the mall." Selphie frowned at me in confusion.

"Oh, so you saw us then?" I teasingly asked with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, sorry about that." Selphie gave a genuine apologetic smile and put a comforting hand on my arm.

"Don't worry about it, it's fine." I paused, taking a breath and digested my thoughts before explaining myself. "We get along and he's a good guy and all but . . . I just don't see a future with him. Call me old fashioned but, if I don't see a future with a guy, I don't see the point in dating him."

"Call me old fashioned, but I don't see the point in talking in class if you're only going to get detention for it." I looked up to see teacher glare at me and Selphie, her arms folded in annoyance and giving us that 'you're so getting a detention slip' look.

"Sorry," we both insincerely muttered.

This time we put our heads down and continued our work in quiet, though not before smirking at each other when the teacher had her back to us.

Last week had been quite boring — Monday had been the most eventful day in my life, Tuesday had been the least, but today was a very pleasing one. Just talking to Selphie somewhat freely gave me some relief. I didn't like the Fated Children being weary of me, but if I could get one of them to believe I wasn't a threat or out to get them, or expose them or whatever, then hopefully I could get the others to believe that too. And ultimately, get Seifer off my back.

As usual, lunch period was spent with Nida and Xu and a bunch of people from their Politics class. Jack was among our table, and since our bitter exchange in World Development class, we hadn't engaged in any further conversations. It was still my first month in Balamb and I wasn't entirely acquainted with the rest of the people at my table. I normally kept my conversations to a minimum and even then, it was only ever with Nida, Xu and occasionally Sarah.

I had caught sight of Selphie when I passed by her table with my lunch and threw her a sneaky smile, then she surprisingly returned the gesture with a wide grin. Seifer and the others caught sight of that and looked at me wistfully before I turned my back on them and sat down at my table.

The conversations at our table weren't always the liveliest but, it definitely toed that line today. The topic of Laguna Loire had come up, along with a lot of theories of him staging his death. Some putting it down to the fact that he had disappeared a few months ago, arguing why would he announce his death now, meanwhile others were hardcore believers that the former President just had enough of this world and wanted to be reunited with his family.

"I'm telling you! This is all some conspiracy!" Jack declared. "Why would he kill himself?"

"Because he lost his entire family to that fire. You should have seen him during Squall's funeral. He looked so ghastly white, I thought he was dead!" Wimbly snorted.

"Aw, Wimbo, that's harsh." Xu frowned at her disappointedly.

"I'm just saying he didn't look too good."

"I don't know, I think he is dead, and when they find his body, they'll find all the answers from the autopsy. But I don't think he committed suicide." Kyle put his arms behind his head, eyes directed up at the ceiling, looking contemplative.

"Well, how else would he die?" Xu curiously asked.

"I think he was murdered." Kyle smiled at us evilly. After just hearing that word, my heart thumped in my chest. Damn, was Kyle hitting close to home. "C'mon, you think someone like President Loire would kill himself because he lost his family to a fire? Sure, he loved them and was crushed when they died, but I doubt he would kill himself and leave a suicide note."

The group looked at each other before staring back at Kyle for an extensive answer. The boy sighed and put his elbows on the table, coming closer towards us and, weirdly enough, we mimicked his actions.

"Think about it, if you commit suicide would you really write why you're doing it?"

"I would," Jack answered.

"Well, no one knows you. The whole world knows Laguna Loire lost his family, it would have been obvious to assume that is why he did it." Kyle's words were certainly making sense to me, but I decided not to voice my opinions on the matter. To be honest, if I did, I'd probably slip up about Lance's involvement.

"So, you think he was murdered? But by who and why? He isn't in power so who would want him dead?" Wimbly asked a series of questions evidently perplexed by Kyle's train of thought.

"Okay, what I am about to tell you guys doesn't leave this table, got it?" Kyle looked at every one of us determinedly. We all nodded our heads, myself included, as we waited with baited breath for him to continue.

"My Uncle's friend works for the Presidential Palace in Esthar, he's a security guard and normally does a number of security jobs for the President's aides," Kyle whispered, taking a brief pause before continuing, "The night Laguna Loire sent that note to his aides, a man was in his office."

"What? I thought Laguna gave up his Presidency?" Jack impatiently interrupted. I wanted to smack him in the head with my bottle of coke for that.

"Well he did, but he still had an office there," Kyle continued, "I think at first he gave up his Presidency to take a lesser job, something like a Senator or something like that.

"Anyway, Laguna had actually showed up at the Presidential Palace that night with a visitor. Everyone was in a complete surprise to see him. My uncle's friend said that the guy had to sign-in before he was permitted to enter. The cameras in the office picked up video footage of them arguing. Then they both walked to a blind spot where the cameras couldn't pick them up. A good while later, the other man came out of the office and walked out of the palace."

"Then what happened?" I asked gravely.

Kyle looked at me with a knowing smirk. "My uncle's friend and his colleague went to check up on Laguna Loire, when they entered his office, he wasn't there… but there was a pool of blood on the carpet and blood stains on a plaque." Kyle paused again as we continued to sit still and process what he said. However, what he said next really shook me up. "The weird thing is, no one knows who this guy is. They checked the sign-in sheets and the man signed as 'L Walters.'"

Again, my heart thudded in my chest and my gut twisted into a knot. I felt sick and paranoid; a part of me believed Kyle was only telling me this because he knew Lance was at my house. But I knew I was just being completely irrational.

I didn't want to hear anymore, so I announced that I needed the toilet. Nida half stood up from his seat, asking if I wanted him to accompany me. I shook my head, slightly annoyed that he expected us to do everything together. I wasn't sure if my irritation was genuine or only stemmed from my conversation with Selphie though.

Nevertheless, it was true. Now I was actually a bit annoyed that Nida had just assumed we're boyfriend and girlfriend over one date. I was more annoyed at myself for even telling Xu and the others there was a possibility. At the time, I had only said it since I gathered there was no one else for me, and Nida was on my good books for telling me about Squall. But now, I felt his presence was taking over Squall. It was almost like the more time I spent with him, the less I thought about Squall.

Again, the thought was utterly ridiculous seeing as I didn't even know Squall, nor had I ever met him. And even if he was alive and I met him, I couldn't guarantee that we'd get along. Nah, actually we probably would have. Squall seemed like a really easy-going person, not to mention he seemed like he was always really kind to the other girls that asked him out.

Damn, I was so jealous of Diamond and Wimbly. And that Lilly girl that I still hadn't seen or met. There was one Lilly in my Biology class but she was a short red-haired girl and, from Squall's description of her, the other Lilly was supposedly blonde.

Once I reached the back toilets, I was happy to see it empty. I set my bag down on the counter top near the water faucet and headed into the cubicle. Once I was done, I walked out only to find Quistis and Selphie enter the toilet and shut the door behind them. Selphie pulled the garbage bin from the corner and positioned it in front of the door, before shoving her bag on top of the lid, probably to add more weight.

I watched them warily as they walked up to me, Selphie smiling sweetly and Quistis looking a bit apprehensive.

"Hi Rinoa," Selphie greeted a bit awkwardly.

"Hi," I replied back tensely, wondering if today was payback for eavesdropping on them.

"This is Quistis," Selphie pointed to the blonde next to her and continued smiling.

I nodded at her, knowing full well who she was; I doubt we needed any further introductions since we did share a class together. Nevertheless, Quistis gave me a thin, anxious smile.

"Hello." Her voice came off slightly squeaky and laced with nervousness.

"Hey." So we're going round and round with the greetings? This was fun.

I continued washing my hands and gabbed a few paper towels to dry them, staring at Selphie and Quistis expectantly as they stood aloof and mute.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" I eventually asked when neither of them said another word, probably oh-so astounded by my cleanliness.

"No," Selphie replied.

"Actually," Quistis paused and took a breath, "We want to talk to you."

"What about?" I asked inquisitively.

They both looked at each other, exchanging some hidden words in their glances until Selphie finally nodded and placed a hand on Quistis's arm much like how she did with me back in class. The blonde momentarily closed her eyes and slumped her shoulders, biting on her bottom lip almost as if going through a de-stressing routine.

I just stood with one hand resting on my hip, observing their weird behaviour and anxiously waiting to hear what they wanted to talk about. After what seemed like a million years, Quistis finally looked at me and, for the third time that day, caught me so completely off guard that I nearly stumbled backwards even though I was standing.

"We want to talk about Squall."

Author's Note: Ahem . . . Yeah . . . Oh look! It's a flying Ochu! *runs*

Edit, 16th Oct 2011: Came back to fix those darn ellipses. Love learning grammar at uni . . . hate acknowledging the ton-o-mistakes I've made thus far!