Chapter 2: " Say What?!"

Squall made his way out of the dorms and to the directory, Zell not far ahead of him. He kept his cold gaze down at the floor, in deep thought of course.

" Yo, Squall. What're you thinking about?" Zell turned around and waited for Squall to catch up. Squall looked up a bit, with tired empty eyes.

"Nothing..."

" Wow, not much goes on up there, if you're always thinking about `nothing'."

"......"

"If you wanna talk about anything, you know we're here, right?"

".. I know... but there's nothing to talk about."

Zell shrugged, he knew better, he knew Squall wasn't gonna share his thoughts with Zell.

Sorry, Zell... I know you just want to help, Squall thought, but it isn't as simple as everyone thinks...

The two arrived at the directory, greeted by Quistis and Irvine. Zell waved a bit as he approached, then sat down on the steps leading to the elevator.

"So, where's Selphie and Rinoa?" Zell looked around a bit.

"I'm not sure. Selphie said she and Rinoa were going to be a bit late, something about the Garden Festival. They'll be here soon," Quistis stood in her familiar pink/peach skirt and shirt, with her many belts.

" Yeah, Selphie is sure wound up about the festival, offered my services, and she worked me to death.. Ah, the things we do for love," Irvine put the back of his hand to his forehead and gave a sigh.

" R-right....," Zell quirked a brow and shook his head.

" When are we leaving for Esthar?" Squall looked to Quistis.

She crossed her arms, one foot was a little in front of the other, this is her normal stance. "We leave as soon as Headmaster Cid gives us a mission briefing. So if there's anything you need to do, I suggest doing it now, while you have time."

" In that case!" Zell stood up " I think I'll go purchase myself a hotdog."

" They aren't that good," Irvine straightened his hat and glanced at Zell.

" Excuse me? What did you say about the hot dog? They aren't good? Tch, think what you want, man. What's wrong with you? " Zell looked Irvine over.

"I don't believe my entire existence revolves around a meat product," Irvine chuckled shaking his head.

".. That ain't funny!" Zell headed towards the cafeteria.

Quistis shook her head and sighed.

In the Quad, the two, Selphie and Rinoa, were planning away.

"Hey! Let's get a real band this time! It'll be great!" Selphie's eyes lit up as she spoke.

Rinoa nodded in agreement " That's a good idea... But who?"

".....Ummmm.... That's a good question..," Selphie scratched her head and thought. " Ya know, I'd ask Miss Julia if she were still alive... OH! Sorry, Rinoa!" Selphie covered her mouth realizing what she had said.

Rinoa shook her head looking down a bit, " No, it's okay.."

"I didn't mean to-"

" Heh, I know she'd love to sing at the festival."

"Yeah...."

Rinoa looked up , her eyes a bit dreamy, almost as if she weren't there anymore, but she was in her own world of happy memories. "I remember she'd sing to me when I was little..," she closed her eyes. " I can still hear her voice crystal clear, it was so beautiful. I always wanted to be a singer like her, play the piano too... I wasn't any good though." She opened her eyes and looked back down.

" ....!!!!!! HEY! I have an idea!!" Selphie jumped out of her seat, her arms flaring bit, she was full of energy.

"What's that?"

"You could sing!!! After all you are Miss Julia's daughter!" Selphie was now frothing with energy.

"Me?! No no no! I'm not any good," Rinoa waved her hands up in front of her.

" Oh, c'mon! You are too! And just think about it! You'll be singing to Squall " Selphie winked.

Rinoa blushed a little bit, and considered. "Yeah.. but I still don't know. I'm really not very good at singing.."

"You'll be fine! C'mon, please!!! You only have to sing once or twice! The rest will be the hired band, okay?" Selphie was set on getting Rinoa to sing.

" Oh, fine... I'll sing."

"WHOO HOO!!"

In the cafeteria Zell sat rubbing his hands together, practically drooling over his 2 hotdogs. He took one taking a nice big bite. His cheeks bulged as he chewed, savoring every bite. After every bite he'd set it down then take a drink of his soda.

"Oh man, this makes my day," Zell took another bite, he didn't need ketchup or mustard, he'd eat them plain!

"Hey Zell!" the familiar girl-with-the-pig-tail working on the library committee approached Zell.

"Hey!" Of course his mouth was full, his words weren't so clear.

" Oh , I see you're enjoying lunch," she sat down next to him.

"Yeah! You bet, these things are da bomb!"

"..Umm.. yeah?" She didn't quite understand him but pretended she did.

" Oh yeah!"

"Heheh," she giggled. He swallowed, grinning.

" What would this world be like without em?" He took another bite.

" I dunno, but you sure like them!" she looked at his almost finished plate.

" Uh huh, and none of them will escape from me!" Zell nodded, then took a drink. His mouth being full, it wasn't exactly easy to tell what he was saying. Now, the girl having a big crush on him, and how her name happened to be Anna might have affected how she heard this. In her ears she heard... "Uh Umm, Anna will you go out with me?"

" YES! I'll go out with you!" She practically jumped up out of her seat. Zell spit out his soda, it sprayed all over the table.

"HUH?!"

" I'll go out with you!" she grabbed his hand. Zell's face was over whelmed with confusion. He blinked a few times, then considered the situation, here he had a not too bad looking girl willing to go out with him.

" Sure!" Zell grinned.

"Hey guys!!" Selphie waved as she approached, Squall, Irvine and Quistis.

"Heh heh, my tulip is here" Irvine fixed his hat and headed towards the pair.

" Tulip......?" Squall looked at Irvine like he was weird.

" Hey there, Selphie!" Irvine waved as he walked to meet them.

" Guess what!!" Selphie jumped up.

" You have a kiss for me?" Irvine smirked. Selphie quirked a brow and raised her upper lip to the right a little bit, obviously not amused by the remark.

"No, even better!"

" Okay.. umm..," Irvine pretended to think.

" I got Rinoa to sing for the Garden Festival!!!!" Selphie just blurted it out.

" Hehe, that is pretty cool," Irvine smiled, though he was hoping it would be the kiss.

" Wow, Rinoa, you have courage," Quistis nodded smiling.

"...," Squall looked to Rinoa's smiling face, it brought back some life to his dull blue eyes. "I can't wait to hear it..." It was the most emotion Squall had in his speech in a while, it wasn't much, but it was more than usual. Rinoa smiled at Squall, then walked over.

" You look kinda tired, do you need to rest?" Rinoa bent down a bit looking up into Squall's eyes which were tilted downward. Squall looked up to see Irvine behind Quistis and Selphie giving him a thumbs up and a wink. He is sick.. he thought.

" No, I'm fine."

" Hmm, if you need to rest, don't resist it," Rinoa said, standing back up.

" Where's Zell and Cid, I want to get this over with," Squall looked towards the Cafeteria to see Zell walking towards them with a satisfied grin on his face.

" Enjoy your lunch?" Quistis asked.

" Yup, I even got myself a chick," Zell ran his hands through his hair trying to look cool.

" You did? How?" Irvine suddenly turned his attention to Zell.

" Congratulations, Zell!" Selphie cheered.

" Ha, chicken wuss with a girl? Hahhahaha! Oh don't make me laugh!" The group could hear Seifer's laugh, there was no need to guess.

" Tch, where's your girlfriend, Seifer?" Zell crossed his arms.

" I don't need a girlfriend, it's a waste of time," Seifer shot a quick glance to Rinoa.

" What do you want Seifer?" Squall looked up at him.

" I'll be joining your little mission."

" SAY WHAT?!!!!"