Important Notes:

- This is ONLY my second fanfic. If you're planning to review it, please take it easy on me ^_~

- This fanfic is written ENTIRELY in Rinoa Heartilly's point of view.

- This fanfic is only the SECOND installment of this story. There'll definitely be more on the way!

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[ Chapter 2 : Rants and Rumors ]



After I was fully dressed and ready for the day, I headed to the cafeteria where I was to rendezvous with Squall. Squall was already sitting patiently at a table, with two bowls of cereal already laid out on it, ready to be eaten. I walked over to the table and sat across from Squall.

"Hello again," I greeted him.

I gave him a little kiss on the cheek. I could tell he was happy to see me again, yet he was reluctant to show it in public. He'd gone back to his normal, closed-off self. He only seems to show his true feelings when there aren't many people around.

While in the middle of eating breakfast, Zell approached our table.

"Hey hey! Do ya mind if I sit down with ya? I have some stuff to tell ya," Zell blurted out.

"Sure you ca..." I started, but Zell had already taken one of the empty seats at our table.

Zell made himself comfortable and had plunked his feet up on the table. That had put me off breakfast. I was sure that the Disciplinary Committee were gonna show up any minute to tell him off.

"Sooo... Lovebirds... Have ya both heard the rumors about the event that whatchamacallit that's supposed to be coming up soon?" Zell asked.

"Ummmm... The SeeD Exam?" I asked, unsure about what he was talking about.

"No, no!!! That ummm.... Beauty Pageant! Yeah... That's right! The Beauty Pageant!" he announced.

Squall and I both looked at each other. We both shrugged. Zell's jaw dropped as if he'd just seen a ghost.

"I can't believe you guys! It's been going around since last night! Everyone's been talking about it!!!" Zell bellowed in shock.

"... Whatever," Squall replied unenthusiastically.

"Tch... Fine! So, Rinoa, are you going to enter?" Zell asked.

"Well... I don't know? I'll think about it," I replied.

Just as Zell was about to say something else, the Disciplinary Committee had arrived, just as I had suspected. Seifer proudly marched up to us. He was the head of the Disciplinary Committee again.

Headmaster Cid had allowed him a second shot at being a student of Balamb Garden, but Seifer wasn't a SeeD yet. Rumor has it that he'd been put on probation for the past few months and he's going to try and become a SeeD at the next exam. The one that I just so happen to be taking.

"Chicken-Wuss... How many times do I have to tell you to KEEP YOUR FEET OFF THE DAMN TABLE!" Seifer yelled angrily.

Zell quickly and obediently removed his feet from the table. The rest of the Disciplinary Committee marched out from behind Seifer. Fujin and Raijin. Zell looked fully chickened out.

"Cool it, Seifer. Give him a break," I protested.

"Yeah man! Gimme a break! I was only telling 'em about that Beauty Pageant thing!" Zell retorted.

"Beauty Pageant?! Hah! I'd love to see YOU in that Fujin!" Raijin teased, staring directly at Fujin.

Fujin scowled and kicked Raijin awfully hard in the shin. Seifer laughed.

"Yeah Fujin! Why don't ya enter that?! It'd give us a good laugh for a day!" Seifer added, joining in on the harassment.

Fujin couldn't retaliate. Seifer was her boss and she wouldn't dare oppose him. She remained quiet and endured the insults. I could tell that she was devastated. She just didn't want to let out her emotions.

"Stop it! How could you both turn on your on friend? You should both be ashamed of yourselves! Especially you Seifer! Have you no heart?" I yelled angrily.

Seifer and Raijin stopped cackling.

"Fine, princess. We'll stop. As for you, Chicken-Wuss, if we catch you with your feet up again, it'll be bye-bye hotdogs. We'll get your ass kicked out of this cafeteria for a VERY long time," Seifer reported.

Squall scowled at Seifer just as Seifer and his posse turned and left.

"Uhh... Does anyone know what time it is?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"8.24 am," Zell replied.

"Oh no!!!!! I'm gonna be late for training! I have to go ok? It was nice talking to you Zell, and I'll see you in class, Squall!" I announced.

I gave Squall a quick kiss before I left, then I bolted to my dorm room. I flung open the door, grabbed hold of my Blaster Edge (now upgraded to a Shooting Star), and I tugged Angelo along with me to the Training Center.

Quistis was already waiting for me there.

"Rinoa, you're late again..." Quistis informed.

"I know... Sorry Quistis. There was some havoc in the cafeteria again," I replied.

"Seifer and his posse picking on Squall again?" Quistis asked curiously.

"Nah. Seifer picking on Zell. Then Raijin AND Seifer picking on Fujin," I told Quisty.

Quisty looked at me wide-eyed. I nodded; signifying that what I had just told her was true.

"Ok... Let's start training!!!" Quistis shouted excitedly...



( To be continued... )