Disclaimer: I STILL don't own Final Fantasy 8...

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~ Chapter 2: Over the Rainbow... ~

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As Cid went down the rows explaining the missions to the individual groups Rinoa thought about Squall. 'What the hell was his problem' was her main thought. She wasn't at all comfortable with the guy. He wasn't just quiet, he was also rude! She hated those types of people. Well, maybe he wasn't that rude, maybe he's only rude in the beginning to make people go away. Rinoa decided that must have been it. She was sure that later on Squall would be just as talkative as her and Zell, maybe they could all actually carry on a full conversation! That was a dream.

"Rinoa, Squall, Zell." Cid began nodding to each one individually. "You're personal mission in the war will be to protect Deling city from threatening Galbadians."

"The whole town!?" Rinoa asked in astonishment.

"Yep, that's why your group has three!" Cid reminded her. "and besides the Galbadians wont be surrounding the city with an army and stampeding in! It'll be little by little. Of course, you can always call for backup from our Garden or Galbadia's!" Cid told her with a smile.

"Well, that sorta puts me to ease." Rinoa said with the tiny glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"It's not supposed to." Squall told her looking down at her. Rinoa just glared out into the plains and breathed a heavy sigh.

"C'mon man. She's real worried 'bout this!" Zell told him. Squall just shot him a death look causing Zell to freeze.

"Zell, it's all right." Rinoa told him with a smile. Zell smiled back, knowing that he had at least tried to help.

"Lets get ready. We'll leave tomorrow at 1300, got it?" Squall asked as he began to walk back to his dorm.

"Well... umm no! But I guess I do now that you're gone." Rinoa said almost to herself. She tried to make Squall hear her comment but that was a negative.

"Quite the jerk we have in our midst." Zell said with a smile as he slapped Rinoa on the back.

"Quite." Rinoa quietly agreed.

*

"Selphie?" Rinoa began as she popped her head out of the bathroom. "Does this look okay to you?" She asked as she stepped completely out of the bathroom. She wore a light pink, sleeveless shirt that exposed a tiny morsel of cleavage with spaghetti straps that wrapped around her neck. For pants she had navy blue hot pants, a belt wrapped loosely around it carrying her 'Angel Wing' which her father had so graciously given her.

"Oh my! You look all sexy Rinoa!" Selphie said with a giggle.

"Shut up, Selphie!" She called as she quickly looked to the mirror. "I just feel comfortable in this." She said with a smile.

"It's all for Squall, isn't it?" Selphie asked with a wink.

"Squall!? That guy is a jack ass!" Rinoa cried, looking to Selphie astonished as if she had previosuly known that.

"Language Rinoa!" Selphie scolded playfully. "Anyways, he really is? Mega bummer!" Selphie cried. "He was so hot to!"

"I know... well, life goes on." Rinoa said with a smile.

"True true!" Selphie admitted.

*

At the front gate the next day Zell and Rinoa sat there waiting for Squall.

"I told you we shouldn't have come early." Rinoa scolded, leaning herself against one of the gate bars.

"Better to be early." Zell reminded her looking her over. Rinoa caught Zell out of the corner of her eye checking her out.

"What?" Rinoa asked, a tiny blush coming over her face.

"Cool clothes." Zell complimented.

"Shut up!" Rinoa yelled, taking the last phrase as an insult.

"No! I'm serious." Zell admitted, a small blush crossing his cheeks. Rinoa smiled at him.

"Thanks Zell." She said.

"Ready?" A voice came from just in front of them. They both looked and found Squall, a gunblade hung from his side.

"Sure are!" Rinoa cheered, all pepped for the approaching mission.

"Me too!" Zell said with a smile.

"Good. Then lets go." Squall told them as he made his way down the long path towards Balamb. The two ran up to him, Rinoa on his left and Zell on his right. There was silence for a few moments until Zell was about to open his mouth to speak but Squall stopped him. "I couldn't get a car. Were walking." He answered him. There was silence from Zell who was slightly astonished that Squall knew what he was going to ask.

"Do you read minds or somethin'?" Zell asked, laughter in his voice.

"Whatever." was Squall's answer. Rinoa bit back a giggle at the word. The word was so dry and worthless, it made her laugh.

"Hey Zell." Rinoa began looking to him over Squall's shoulder. "Race you to Balamb!" Rinoa challenged.

"You're on!" Zell yelled.

"Oh just one thing before we race though!" Rinoa began. "I WILL win!" Rinoa cried triumphantly.

"My ass you will!" Zell countered as he prepped himself.

"GO!" Rinoa screamed. Zell was gone in a flash, a cloud of dust trailing him all the way. Rinoa never followed.

"What was that about?" Squall asked, still looking straight ahead.

"I thought I could talk to you for a bit in private." Rinoa said with a smile.

"I don't talk." Squall simply stated.

"Oh, well you just answered on of my questions." Rinoa mumbled under her breath. "Where did you come from?" She asked, looking to him out of the corner of her eye.

"Why do you care?" Squall asked, emotionless. Rinoa glared at him.

"Just curious." Rinoa simply replied.

"You're curiosity will kill you. Keep it to yourself." Squall told her. Rinoa's mouth fell open in disgust and her glare deepened.

"Well, there's something you should know about me, Squall." Rinoa began, her annoyance obvious in her tone. "I-" She was about to start until she caught her own tongue. She couldn't lash out, not yet anyway. She couldn't wait to lash though. What a prick he was being! "I'm just gonna go on ahead." She told him as she walked ahead, following Zell's dust cloud with haste.

"Dumb jerk." Rinoa said to herself when she was far enough away from him.

After about 20 minutes of walking they all finally reached Balamb. They purchased their train tickets and proceeded onto the train.

Rinoa took her seat next to an exhausted Zell and Squall took his seat way at the front of the car.

"I hope Deling is livelier than Balamb." Rinoa said to Zell with hope in her voice.

"I'm sure it will be, there are so many bars and night clubs n'stuff! It's gonna be a blast!" Zell cheered. Rinoa just gave him an awkward stare. "I know, I know... were not going to party!" Zell pouted.

"Regardless! It's gonna be fun anyways!" She said with a smile. "It's a new place, a new beginning! It's the place we've been wanting." Rinoa said with a warm smile. Zell smiled back.

"These missions are gonna be fun with us three." Zell stated as he leaned back in his seat.

"OOOOOHHHH!!!" Rinoa screamed with excitement as some of the passengers around her looked their way. "This IS gonna be fun!" Rinoa cheered to herself.

"I hope everyone will have as much fun as us." Zell said, remembering Selphie, Irvine and Quistis.

"I'm sure they will! No need to worry! As long as were having fun, they MUST be having fun!" Rinoa said with a smile causing Zell to smile back while Squall looked back to the two, then turned away to look out the window to the passing trees as a rainbow appeared high up in the sky.

"Hey, wait!" Zell's voice echoed through the cabin. "You never raced me did you!?" Zell cried, furious...

'Somewhere Over the Rainbow...'

'Way up high...'

'There is a land that I've heard of'

'Once in a lullaby...'

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A/n: Chapters are moving along kinda slow but in the next one they finally get to Deling! Hurrah!