Wow…it's the new year already. And I haven't even finish writing this fic! But I will try my best to update as fast as I can, and finish this fic soon. (I think I'll write up to chapter 9…) So, here's Chapter 7 as promised…

DISCLAIMER: FF8 belongs to Squaresoft, fic belongs to me.

THE SECOND ROUND!

NOTE: The ones in (…) are the people's reaction while […] means the echoing part of the song. I know this song has been chosen many a times for fanfics, but I wanna give it a try. It's a nice song from M2M…

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"And now, may we present our next group of performers to sing their number, Rinoa Heartilly, Quistis Trepe, Abby Simfields, and my one, and only, Selphie Tilmitt!" announced Irvine into the microphone as the red curtains drew apart to reveal the foursome. The avid crowd in the Quad roared their approval, and silence descended again as the music started belting out its notes. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight was beamed down on a single figure in the middle of the stage, revealing Rinoa. She smiled and started singing.

Rinoa: I lie awake at night
See things in black and white
I've only got you inside my mind
You know you have made me blind

Another spotlight focused down upon Quistis.

Quistis: I lie awake and pray
That you will look my way
I have all this longing in my heart
I knew it right from the start

Then the entire stage lighted up with a myriad of valentine colors, and the group of four sang in unison.

All:
Oh my pretty pretty boy I love you
Like I never ever loved no one before you
Pretty pretty boy of mine
Just tell me you love me too

Oh my pretty pretty boy
I need you
Oh my pretty pretty boy I do
Let me inside
Make me stay right beside you

The lights dimmed again, and now the spotlight switched onto a bouncy Selphie.

Selphie: I used to write your name
And put it in a frame
And sometimes I think I hear you call
Right from my bedroom wall

Another spotlight was next shone upon the figure of Abby.

Abby: You stay a little while
And touch me with your smile
And what can I say to make you mine
To reach out for you in time

The stage lightened up again, this time with pink and red confetti floating down from above. The surprised singers stared up to see Irvine sieving the stuff from a huge sieve attached to some rods. He grinned and cocked his cowboy hat. Selphie smiled and said, "That's my Irvine."

All:
Oh my pretty pretty boy I love you
Like I never ever loved no one before you
Pretty pretty boy of mine
Just tell me you love me too (Rinoa: tell me you love me too)

Oh my pretty pretty boy
I need you
Oh my pretty pretty boy I do
Let me inside
Make me stay right beside you


"Go, Abby! You're just doing great!" shouted Zell at Abby as she winked at him.

"Shut up, Chicken-wuss. Don't spoil the performance," said Seifer. He smirked as he watched Zell fumed and showed his bare fist at him. [Abby made him keep it in his room to avoid situations like this, but still, fists are fists…]

"Watch it! I'll tell Quistis about this!" warned Zell.

"Go ahead."

"Why you…grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..."

"Go growl somewhere else, dog."

"If you keep on bothering Zell, I wonder what's gonna happen to this Gunblade," said Squall as he held up Seifer's Hyperion. Seifer stared at his weapon and said, "How the hell did it end up in your hands?" He looked around. "And where the hell did that cowboy go?"

"Now that you've said it, where's Irvine?" asked Zell. Squall pointed Hyperion upwards.

"Up?" said Zell. The trio of them looked up to see Irvine messing around with the spotlights and a sieve full of confetti.

"How did he get all the way up there?" asked Zell, scratching his head.

"Ask that monkey later. He'll pay for giving Puberty Boy MY Gunblade to guard…of all people…" Squall heard Seifer said.

"Shut up, all of you and just watch the show," said Squall through gritted teeth.

Rinoa: Oh pretty boy (S, A, and Q: pretty boy pretty boy)
Say you love me too

All:

Oh my pretty pretty boy I love you
Like I never ever loved no one before you
Pretty pretty boy of mine
Just tell me you love me too (Rinoa: tell me you love me too)

Oh my pretty pretty boy
I need you
Oh my pretty pretty boy I do
Let me inside
Make me stay right beside you…

As the song ended, the Quad quaked with the thunderous applause given by the student. Chants of "Quistis, Quistis" from a bunch of die-hard Trepies at the front made Quistis felt proud as she beamed happily at her supporters. She saw Seifer glared at the bunch of Trepies and she giggled.

"Thank you people for your support! Thank you!" said Selphie and everyone took their bows. Then they left the stage, exiting through the right wing as the red curtains were lowered. The guys were already waiting up for them.

"How did I do?" asked Rinoa.

"You did just great," answered Squall as he gave her a small smile. She beamed happily and smiled back.

"Is there any problems while I'm gone?" asked Quistis.

"Well…sort of…but never mind," answered Irvine as Seifer gave him a death glare. "Here." He passed the Gunblade back to Quistis.

"How did you get up there?" asked Abby. "I don't recalled of this stage getting a ladder when it was built…"

"Through the means that us lonely sharpshooters are bestowed with for survival," said Irvine as he winked at her. "As long as it is to please my beautiful ladies…ow! Selphie!"

"…Right, Irvine…" said Selphie as she pulled Irvine by the ear.

"Sorry…I..I was just kidding…really! Ow ow ow ow…" She finally released the poor cowboy as he ran and hid behind Abby, massaging his painful ear.

"Anyway, what's next?" asked Rinoa.

"Yeah…you guys didn't tell us the full thing," said Irvine.

"Huh? Oh…." said Selphie and Abby. They smiled broadly at each other and nodded their heads knowingly.

"What? What's going on?" asked Zell.

"You'll know later…for now, we need to run a little errand…be right back," said Abby as she and Selphie ran from the wing, giggling like a bunch of high school girls.

"I wonder what they have in store for us…" murmured Squall thoughtfully. Quistis sighed and shook her head.

"Let's hope that it was not what we did last time when we're at the Orphanage…" said Quistis.

"What did we do?" asked Seifer. His jade-green eyes grew wide. "Wait a minute…not…"

"Don't tell me it's THAT…" said Irvine, gulping.

"What? Oh NO!!!!!!" moaned Zell. "Anything but THAT!"

"What? What is it? Is it something bad?" asked Rinoa, a worried look on her face.

"…It's worse than bad…" said Squall quietly, with a slight hint of… fear?

Zell, Irvine and Quistis nodded their heads gravely. Seifer made a throat-cutting action. Squall added, "Every time it's her birthday, wherever she laughed like that, and ran someplace else, it means…"

Nobody said a word. Rinoa grew more frightened as she watched her friends' reaction…

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Hmm…What was it that made everyone, even the brave Squall to fear whatever Selphie and Abby had in stored for them? Well, stay tuned, and don't forget to review!