Chapter 7: A New Beginning

            When Carole opened her eyes, she was in bed. Her body was less painful than before. There was a band-aid on her chin and one on her cheek. Her arm was bandaged and her foot too. There was another bandage around her head.

            She blinked several times but it was a little dark so she wasn't sure where she was until she recalled what happened: the T-Rexaur, Squall... he must have brought her to the infirmary.

            "How do you feel?"

            She turned her head and saw Squall sitting on a chair in the corner of the room. His legs were crossed and his arms too. There was concern on his face and tiredness too. Carole looked around.

            "What time is it?"

            "Dunno, but it's before midnight."

            "What?!" she exclaimed sitting up.

            A wave of pain made her eyes widened and her mouth twist in a painful grimace. She leaned down over the sheets. Squall got up and urged to her, placing a comforting hand on her back.

            "Easy. Doctor Kadowaki said you have minor internal injuries but you have to rest. You were lucky."

            He helped her rest against her pillows. He frowned curiously from her deceived look.

            "Guess I missed the party..." she explained.

            Squall smiled cheerfully.

            "No you didn't."

            Carole turned to him and arched an eyebrow.

            "Some of the new SeeDs were sent for a mission right after the exam so the party will occur only next week's saturday."

            The girl's eyes filled with surprise and relief. She really wanted to attend that party. Living most of her life on the Lunar Base never allowed her to know what a party was. Now that she had a chance, she was glad she didn't miss it.

            Looking at Squall's face made her eyes screw up. There was something strange.

            "Swear you don't have anything to do with it."

            Squall shrugged indifferently and went to leave.

            "Wait! Where are you going?"

            He turned around by the door.

            "I've been here the whole time, I have to sleep too, you know."

            "You watched over me... the whole time?"

            He nodded slightly.

            "You should sleep now. You got a week to get better and attend the party."

            He turned his back to leave again.

            "Squall!" Carole called.

            He turned around.

            "Yes?"

            "Thank you..."

            He granted her a corner smile. Somehow, it felt warm and sincere.

            "My pleasure..."

            He finally left, leaving her alone. She rested against the pillows and blinked.

            "Something in the air is different. He has changed... or is it me?"

            The next morning, Carole was surprised to see Squall coming a second after she opened her eyes. As if he knew. He waved at her and went to sit down on the same chair he sat on the night before.

            "What are you doing here so early?"

            "It's not early, it's already 10:30. I wanted to know how you feel."

            "Much better," Carole said with a smile. "I'll be just fine for the party."

            "I'm glad to hear it."

            Carole looked away.

            "What is it?"

            "I don't deserve your concern," she said. "After yelling at you and..."

            She looked at her hand then clenched it in a fist.

            "I told you: I'm the one who hurt you. Let's say we're even, what do you say?"

            She turned her head to him and scanned his face. He was serious and sincere. There wasn't any coldness on his face... at least less than before. Carole smiled.

            "Alright. Let's forget all about this."

            "I agree."

            They smiled gently at each other when a voice was heard.

            "Is she awake already? Please le me see her! Onegaï!!"

            "She already has a visitor," Kadowaki's voice answered. "She must rest."

            "Pleaase! I beg you! She's my best friend!!"

            "Alright, alright! But don't make her tired. She's still weak from her injuries."

            "Arigatô! Arigatô gozaïmass!"

            An excited asian girl bursted in. Carole and Squall turned to her in the same time.

            "Carole-chan!" she exclaimed hurrying to hug her friend."

            "Mia? How did you know?"

            The girl seemed so relieved it was like she thought Carole was gonna die.

            "After he brought you here, Squall came to the cafeteria to warn us all."

            "He did?" Carole asked switching to Squall.

            He was looking away with his arms folded.

            "He told us you were injured by a T-Rexaur. Oh, I was so scared! But he said you'd be safe. I wanted to see you right away but he said nobody could see you until the morning."

            "Huh?"

            She tunrned to Squall again who was still playing ignorant. He has gone cold again. Why did he say that? She wondered. Why did he stay with me if nobody could see me? Did he... lie?"

            "Then?" Carole asked.

            "Then he left saying he had something else to do before going to sleep."

            Squall suddenly slapped his forehead.

            "Damn! Miaka, you just remindeed me I've got something to do! Thanks!"

            He got up.

            "I'll leave you two alone for a chat. I'll come back later."

            And he left. Miaka took the empty chair in the corner of the room and brought it close to Carole's bed.

            "He didn't say anything yesterday but I could see..."

            She leant forward to her friend.

            "He saved you didn't he?"

            "Yeaj, you can say that."

            "Soooo? Anything exciting?"

            Carole shook her head.

            "No. He appeared when the rex was about to finish me off and he thought it was down when he inquired if I was alright. I saw the rex getting up behind him."

            "What?"

            "It was faking. I've never heard of anything like that before. I pushed Squall away but I couldn't duck in town, I was thrown away, rolling in the dust and I didn't have the strength to get up. But I wasn't uncounscious."

            Miaka covered her mouth with her hands as if she was watching a breathtaking movie, waiting for her friend to continue.
            "And?"

            "I heard him warn: no you don't! When the rex was going for me again, I barely saw him place himself between me and the rex. He said: over my dead body!"

            Miaka clapped happily.

            "How sweet!"

            "He finished off the rex once and for all and brought me here."

            "Is that all?!" a voice asked by the door.

            Miaka and Carole startled and turned to the door. Rachel smiled and entered. Behind her, Zell stood at the entrance.

            "Hi sis," Rachel said.

            She went to sit down beside her on the bed.

            "How are you?" she asked looking at the bandage.

            "No major injuries. I was lucky."

            "Mom and dad will be glad to hear it. I didn't think Squall would ever come at our home to tell us what happened."

            "Wa...wait a minute! He went home?!"

            "Rachel wasn't with us anymore when he got back," Miaka explained. "She was gone home already. When I told him, I suppose he went there."

            Carole was amazed. She thought about asking him when he would be back.

            "Mom was glad he came in person to tell us. She was very surprised to see him. At first, we were afraid that he was bringing some bad news but when he left, dad said he was feeling some pride that he came himself to tell us about you. Squall said it was his fault that's why he came but you know our parents..."

            "Let me guess: they were all excited thinking about wrong things, right?"

            "Something like that."

            Carole sighed and slowly shook her head in discouragement.

            "He saved me because he felt responsible for my anger."

            The girl's eyes shone as she remembered something.

            "Hey, Rachel! Guess who I saw yesterday in Timber!"

            "Rinoa?"

            "And guess who's her new boyfriend?"

            Rachel thought a few seconds then shrugged.

            "Adam."

            The younger girl widened her eyes.

            "Adam? The Adam I know? Your friend and my friend's brother?"

            "Yup!"

            "How was he?"

            "He seemed well but we didn't have much time to chat. Duty comes first."

            "I guess, when you're a SeeD."

            "Speaking of SeeD!" Miaka cut in. "We got our uniforms already! I didn't put mine on because I want to put it on fot the party. You know it's postponed for next saturday?"

            "Yeah, Squall told me."

            "That's lucky for you!"

            Rachel looked at her watch and got up.

            "Gotta go for my next class. I just came in a hurry after getting the Instructor's permission tp go out earlier so, see ya!"

            Miaka got up along and Rachel left.

            "See ya later!" Zell waved by the door before leaving too.

            "You better recover fast okay? We'll have major fun at the party."

            "Sure!"

            "Jya ne!"

            Miaka left and Carole remained alone. That boring loneliness didn't last very long. Squall came back right after everybody else was gone.

            "Squall?!"

            He walked to the chair by the bed and sat down without putting it back in the corner. He looked at Carole.

            "Don't... don't you have something to do?" she asked.

            "Not really. I thought I could keep you company. Being forced to stay in bed is not really cool and it can be boring if you're alone."

            The girl lowered her head and let her hair fall over her face to hide her blushing.

            "I guess so."

            She took a couple of deep breaths and pushed her hair back before looking at Squall. His eyes were still on her and his arms were folded.

            "My sister said you went at my home. How did you find it?"

            "You already told me you were living in Balamb. Don't forget: I'm the leader of this Garden so I have access to the students files."

            "I see."

            The following silence seemed heavy to the girl but to Squall it was peaceful. He used to spend most of his life in silence, never talking and never caring. It seemed to him that it was a long time ago.

            "So?" Carole said to break the silence. "Don't you anything to say?"

            "Huh?"

            "Yeah, you want to keep me company but if you don't say a thing it's like I'm still alone."
            "Oh, yeah! Hum... When I went to your home, I brought your gunblade there."

            "Oh, thanks."

            Silence again. Carole ended up thinking about something stupid.

            "Sukoru..." she whispered.

            "Huh?"

            She looked at Squall and blushed, embarassed. She scratched the back of her head and had a dumb face.

            "Oh, hum... I was just thinking outloud. I said... Sukoru."

            "Which is?"

            "Miaka said it's the way to pronounce your name in Japanese: Sukoru Reonhaato."

            "And how do you pronounce yours?"

            "To tell the truth, I never asked her."

            She placed her hand over her mouth. She hoped he wouldn't guess that she asked Miaka about that. When she looked at him, he just smiled.

            "That's cool, my name... Sukoru... Does that mean anything?"

            "For what I know, it means 'sleeping lion heart'."

            "I guess it's right. Lots of people call me Lionheart."

            "And some call you a jerk."

            "Whatever..."

            Just staring at each other made them laugh. Something definately changed. Was it because of hte exam? The argument in the cafeteria? Or because Squall saved?

            After three days spent in the infirmary, Carole could leave. She had a new uniform but for now it was still the candidate's.

            She met Squall just when she was leaving and he asked her if it was safe. She laughed happily from his sincere concern. At the very beginning, they were hanging together for studying and training, they were training partners but during the three days Carole was in the infirmary, Squall visited her often, everytime he was free. They were not just partners anymore, they were friends. Even though Carole was still hoping for more than friendship between them, she just remembered what Gackt said: wait. She waited long and finally, they were friends. For the moment, it was more than enough.

            Squall helped her train for the rest of the week to make her stronger and faster. They didn't train in the training center, only outside on the field, fighting each other. Squall's advices helped her recover fast. After their training friday before supper, they sat down on the grass as usual.

            "Tomorrow night is the party. Thanks to you, I'll be able to attend it."

            "That's nothing, really."

            "Will you be there?" she asked hopefully.

            Squall leant backward on his hands and looked at the sky.

            "I don't think so."

            "Why?" she asked deceived.

            "I don't really like parties."

            "Oh..."

            Carole stared at her feet and Squall turned to her.

            "Does that disapoint you?"

            "Well, yeah! Miaka will probably go with Gackt and dance with him the whole time and Rachel told me Zell invited her. Audrey and Seifer will be there too to 'watch' the people so I guess I'll go alone..."

            Squall looked away, thoughtful. Carole knew why he didn't want to go. She heard the Timber Wings were invited since the mission was successful. He probably didn't want to see Rinoa there.

            "It'll be a good time to talk with Adam, then."

            "Who?"

            "Rinoa's boyfriend, remember? He's my friend. We couldn't really speak in Timber. We'll have plenty of time tomorrow... if he's not always with her."

            She turned to Squall with determination in her eyes.

            "Can you come please? I know you don't want to see her but... for me? Please?"

            Squall loked at his friend and sighed giving up.

            "If you insist but only because it's you!"

            Carole smiled widely and threw her arms around Squall's neck, hugging him tight.

            "Thank you Squall! It would really not be the same if you wouldn't come!"

            Squall was keeping his balance with an arm, his other hand on Carole's back. She suddenly broke away, blushing shamefully.

            "I...I'm sorry... It's just that I'm so happy..."

            "Hey, hey! You're apologizing like you're afraid I'd take it badly."

            "You don't?"

            "Nobody has hugged me like that for months. It shows you really mean it when you say you're happy."

            She smiled and they looked at the horizon. Carole took a deep breath.

            "You know what? You're a good friend. Like Zell."

            Carole turned to him and frowned funnily.

            "What do you mean? That I'm never serious and always eating tons of hot dogs?"

            "Come on!" Squall laughed. "You know what I mean!"

            They laughed together. Squall suddenly stopped and looked at her.

            "I can't remember ever laughing like that. Thank you Carole..."

            His eyes on her were so deep she felt her cheeks burning. Squall got up and stretched.

            "Guess it's time to go."

            "Oh!"

            She almost added 'already' but kept it for herself. They were always having great time but it was always going too fast. She was always hoping time would stop and let them stay together like this forever but it never happened. Time would go by and the moment they have to leave each other was coming. Every time they had to go, she was sad. Sometimes, she even wondered if he was feeling the same way.

            "We'll see each other tomorrow then," he said.

            "Sure," Carole said getting up brushing her clothes.

            "See ya, then."

            He smiled friendly one last time and turned to Garden. He spun around.

            "Don't forget to put your uniform!"

            "Of course not! But you have to put yours on too!"

            "Okay."

            "Promise?"

            "Yeah, I promise."

            Carole smiled and waved.

            "Jya ne!"

            Squall frowned.

            "Gee what?"

            "Jya ne is a way to say god-bye in japanese. A friendly way."

            "Oh... Jya ne then!"

            Waving to her one last time, Squall left. Carole waved back and traced him until he disappeared into Garden. She took her gunblade and headed home. She was dying to see Squall in his uniform. The SeeD uniform was so cool, Squall would surely look really sexy in it! Carole shamefully blushed placing her hands on her cheeks, feeling guilty for having that kind of thoughts. He was her friend which was better than nothing.

            "We're friends, that's more than I could expect and I'm happy with that. We're not arguing anymore, he's kind to me..."

            She stopped her walk and hugged herself.

            "But I love him... God, I love him so much..."