Echoes of Time.
Chapter I: Shooting Stars.
Squall watched as Zell paced up and down impatiently, his fists clenched. Seifer was almost as still as he was, leaning in apparent nonchalance against a wall. Raijin and Fujin, as always, followed him like faithful dogs. Other Garden students waited anxiously for the SeeD results to be announced. Today, their hopes and dreams would either be proven- or crushed. Squall idly wondered what he would do if rejected. It didn't seem like much of a big deal to him. He wanted to be a SeeD, but not with the desperation that others seemed to feel. Besides, he knew he had done fairly well at the examination, despite having Seifer as a leader.
One of the Garden Masters walked slowly down toward them, a list of names in one hand. People stiffened, and conversations stopped abruptly. It was in clear silence that the names of the chosen few were read out.
"Zell. Zell Dincht."
Zell gave whoop of delight, "Oh baby!!" he yelled as he leaped into the air, fists raised in victory. He practically skipped out to the elevator.
"Squall. Squall from Squad D."
His heart leapt, even though he did not look around, or display any sign of joy. Squall strode out, looking neither left nor right. Behind him he heard,
"Seifer Almasy. That is all."
"CONGRATULATIONS."
"Go Seifer! You really deserved it, ya know? Me and Fujin knew you could do it ya know?"
Squall waited by the elevator for the Garden Master and Seifer, while Zell bounced up and down on his toes excitedly. They went up to the third floor.
Cid smiled to himself. Five new SeeD's had made it this year. He stood, and handed each one their certificate, and a little advice.
The first was a cheerful girl, Selphie. She had transferred from Trabia Garden, and had taken over the Garden Festival. He whispered in her ear, "I'm looking forward to the Garden Festival."
She smiled at him, and shook his hand.
Next was a nondescript young man. Nida. Competent, but nothing about him was very memorable. Cid knew sometimes he felt lost in the crowd. As he shook the young man's hand he said in a low voice, "Do your best- even if you don't stand out."
The young SeeD gave him a wry smile, and murmured, "Thank you Headmaster."
Cid moved onto Zell Dincht, an excitable young fellow, who looked like he could barely hold still. "Psst," Cid murmured. "Try to control your emotions a little." Zell nodded vigorously, grinning, and Cid stifled a sigh.
Seifer Almasy had a slightly condescending smile on his face as he shook hands with the Head Master. Cid leaned forward and quietly said, "Try to think things through." He was a bit worried about Seifer, and wasn't sure if he really should have passed him. He had failed the last two exams, as he didn't exactly follow commands very well, and tended to rush off and do his own thing.
He went onto Squall Leonhart. As they shook hands, he grinned and said, "Finally. Gunblade specialists in SeeD." Squall nodded, but his expression did not change. Cid had to stifle a sigh again. He had high hopes for Squall, but wished he would speak more often.
He started his speech, and was rambling on about the pride of Garden. Just listen to me. I sound like an old woman. The Garden Master touched his sleeve deferentially, and said, "You have many meetings sir. Try to hurry."
Cid sighed, and rubbed his head. Those meetings gave him headaches, bargaining for the price of flesh and blood. But he had better get down to business. "Very well."
He finished up, and dismissed his youthful charges, then followed the Garden Master out.
Squall followed the rest of the newly made SeeDs to the elevator. Zell nudged him in the ribs and grinned. "You looking forward to the Graduation Ball, Squall?"
Squall made no reply.
Zell didn't take any offense. "The food there is supposed the best, baby!"
Selphie giggled. "Tee-hee! You're a pig Zell! I always see you stuffing yourself with hot dogs at the cafeteria, and I haven't even been here very long!"
Zell shrugged. "Hey, it's a talent. I am the hot dog eating extraordinaire!"
Seifer snickered loudly. "Yeah, whatever. . .chicken-wuss. ."
Zell turned on him, eyes flashing, hands knotted into fists. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!!!!??"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Can't you hear either, chicken-wuss?"
Zell looked like he was about to explode again, then dropped his fists, and shook his head in disgust.
Selphie looked embarrassed, while Squall stared stoically at the floor. Silence reigned in the elevator.
They walked out again, towards their old classroom. Raijin and Fujin bounded out.
"CELEBRATION." Fujin said decisively.
Raijin followed up on what she was saying. "Yeah, ya know? We got that SeeD ball to go to ya know?"
Their leader smiled arrogantly. "You'll come as my guests, of course."
The other students crowded around, and began to clap. Zell grinned and bowed elaborately, while Seifer smirked. Selphie looked euphoric, and Squall could hear her murmuring quietly, "SeeD! SeeeeeDD!!! I made it into SeeeeD!!!!"
Squall looked at the faces of his fellow SeeD and his old classmates, which included many Trepies. He turned around, and left.
He wandered around Garden a bit, trying to decide how he felt. Why wasn't he delirious with joy that he had finally made it into SeeD? He had worked his way up to this for almost his whole life. So why didn't he feel any thing? He just felt a deep emptiness. He didn't care.
He headed for his room.
Selphie Tilmitt was waiting for him. He stopped for a moment, surprised, though nothing showed on his face, or in his eyes. Selphie laughed.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Squall realized that she was wearing a SeeD uniform. She showed it off to him. "Yours is in your bedroom. Instructor Trepe asked me to drop it off. Why don't you change, and we can hit that PAH-TEY!!!"
Squall shrugged, and entered his room. A SeeD uniform awaited him. He closed the door, and changed quickly.
Once he was done, Selphie dragged him off to the ballroom on the second floor of the Garden.
Rinoa Heartilly looked around for any signs of Seifer or Cid Kramer. They still hadn't arrived, and all these stupid boys were hitting on her because of this stupid dress! She resisted the urge to tug the high hemline down. Other girls were wearing even skimpier outfits. This was fine.
She looked out the window disconsolately. The moon shone yellow at her, like a big lamp in the sky. She watched, enchanted, as a shooting star went by, and wished. She didn't even know what she was wishing for; it was just a vague feeling in her heart. . .
She looked across as something caught her eye. It was a young man, a SeeD graduate from his uniform. He was really cute! She could see he was looking at her, but made no other move. His eyes were a blue-green; no a gray-green; no. . . they shifted colors even as she watched. She pointed to where the shooting star had flown through the night, and smiled.
He inclined his head slightly in a subtle movement. She got it. She walked over.
She put her hands demurely behind her back. "You're the best looking guy here." She couldn't believe she actually said that!
"Dance with me?"
He said nothing. Great. The one really cute guy in the room, and he had to be a dumb mute. Or. . .
"I get it. You'll only dance with someone you like."
He kept those beautiful eyes on her, as she clapped her hands, and leaned closer to him, and waved her hands as if casting a spell.
"You're-going-to-like-me, you're-going-to-like-me. . . Did it work?"
He shrugged, and said, "I can't dance."
He speaks! At last! "You'll be fine," she said, grabbing his hand. "I can't be alone on the dance floor."
The strains of Waltz to the Moon started as she pulled him on. He was very awkward, but she persisted, even when he tried to walk off. He only started to really dance after they bumped into a couple.
"Watch it!" the guy said.
Rinoa made a small face at him, then continued dancing with someone who suddenly knew the steps better then she did. They completed the rest of the dance, and began to sway gently to the rest of the music. Fireworks started, she could see them through the huge glass dome that arched over the ballroom. That sly dog, she thought amused. He really didn't want to dance, did he?
She looked at him. He had an almost peaceful look on his face, and he was smiling very slightly.
Her eyes widened however, as she looked over his shoulder. Seifer was storming towards them, and he did not look happy.
Seifer was a SeeD. At last. He shouldn't have doubted himself, he knew he would make it eventually. Just knew it. Raijin and Fujin heaped praise on him, as was his due. Everyone was congratulating him. He wondered where Rinoa was. She had promised she would be here for his triumph. He looked around the ballroom, his gaze straying to the dance floor. His breath caught, for there, on the dance floor, was Rinoa Heartilly.
Dancing in the arms of his rival, Squall Leonhart.
He stalked over, ignoring what his admirer's were saying. For once, he didn't care. Jealousy welled up in him. Rinoa had come for him!
"Rinoa." He said icily, when he had reached them. "You're coming with me."
Squall eyed him calmly. "She's dancing with me Seifer."
Seifer glared at him. "Not any more. Come on Rinoa!" He grabbed her by the wrist.
Rinoa pulled her wrist away. "Don't create a scene, please Seifer." She said pleadingly. She looked at both men, who were ignoring her now, gazes locked, one hostile, the other unfailingly calm. And contemptuous.
"You don't have to go with him." Squall said softly.
Rinoa shook her head in frustration. This was turning out to be very ugly. "Seifer."
"Yes, Rinoa?"
"I'll go with you. Just. . .don't make anymore of a scene ok?"
Seifer smirked triumphantly at Squall, turned and dragged Rinoa off the floor. She smiled embarrassedly and then winked as she followed his rival.
Squall stared after her, his shock not manifesting on face except for a slight narrowing of his eyes.
End of Chapter I.
Author's Note: Ah, the melodrama of it all. I'm sorry, I know it is melodramatic, but I liked it too much. Heh.