He heard the low murmur of voices around him. Although muted, his head was beginning to throb a little. This reminded him of the time he had awaked after Seifer's gunblade had sliced through his flesh. Except then, he knew what had hit him, and why. And he'd been alone when he awoke.
He worked on getting his eyes to open, letting out a short moan of protest at the sudden light that assaulted him.
"Squall?"
His eyelids flickered open again, trying to focus on whoever was leaning over him. For a moment, he though he was looking into a pair of indigo eyes, locks of dark amber framing them. But no... They were a pair of deep chocolate.
"...Rinoa?"
Rinoa let out a slight sigh of relief. Squall had actually put up a rather nasty fight. In the end, she'd had to knock him into a wall to make him more malleable.
"...What happened? The meeting..."
Ah, so he remembered part of it. Damn that Seifer, probably told him about how a Knight could refuse becoming a brainwashed puppet. Not that Rinoa wanted Squall to be a mindless follower, she just wanted him to be *hers*, as he should be. Not Irvine's.
"You were going to talk to Quistis about the exam..."
He waited, seeing her pause. "... You... Someone attacked you from behind, ambushed you on the way to your meeting..."
'Attacked? Someone attacked me? But why...'
Who would attack him in the Garden? Unless someone was angry that he was with Rinoa... there had been a few cases.
"It was... It was... Irvine..." Rinoa concluded, with a small sob. A few tears trickled down her face; eyes alight with disbelief that Irvine would attack someone he would consider a friend.
"...." Squall fell silent. Something wasn't *totally* right about this, but he didn't know why he felt that way.

----

"Irvy?"
Dark purple eyes looked up, meeting turquoise. They locked for a few seconds, and then Irvine looked back down. He was sure at least half the Garden knew Rinoa's story by now, he wondered how many people believed it. After all, a few students had seen her slap him this morning... But most of the student body had already either been in class or were training. So, he was basically dead. Attacking the most prized Commander of Garden. What bullshit.
"I know you didn't do it."
"What?" Irvine looked back up, shocked. He'd been hustled down to the disciplinary room, by Seifer and Zell. At least his friends had been the one to take him down. Before any of the other students had been able to show up.
"So do the others."
Irvine drew a blank. The others?
"Zell, Seifer, Quistis... We all know Rinoa is a lying bitch. Prolly mad cause you sacked Squall before she did."
Irvine's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Sefie was a sweet talking, innocent girl-child. Who did not call people a *bitch*.
"You've been hanging around Zell too long..."
She smiled. "Don't tell me you're gonna give up on this, Irvy. Cause I'll kill you. I know you can't take pressure well, but this is your life, your love."
Irvine shook his head slowly. "No, I told Squall before. I'd fight for him."
"Good." A pause. "... I don't know exactly what she did to him, or what she's telling him right now. But I know Squall. He'll want to talk to you. We just have to make sure that Rinoa isn't with him."
"And just how do you plan on doing that?"
Selphie giggled. "Helps to run a webpage about one of the most powerful men in the world. Who happens to know a man who knows about magic."
"Selphie, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'd still be just *thinking* about Squall. I swear you've been around him too long, acting as moody as you do. You're a sniper, Irvine, you know how to watch, how to wait, and most importantly, when to shoot. Use those instincts. Okay?"
He nodded, watching the slim girl walk away. It seemed once that yellow dress was out of his sight, the small ray of hope she'd given him was gone with her. But, she said it'd be okay.
"And when Sefie says it'll be okay, it'll be okay."
He repeated to himself, aloud, trying to believe it.

------
A/N- Hmm.. well. No real notes for this. Any thoughts on what should happen to Rinoa? Other then being drawn and quartered (muahaha) Tell me what ya think.
Disclaimer: Square owns them all.