Disclaimer: I have researched for hours and hours to find the perfect disclaimer. A disclaimer that would be short but to the point. Here is the result:

I do not own FF8 or any of its characters.

~Chapter 2: Scheduled First Date~

The warm breeze brushed against his face as he stepped out of the train. He scanned the horizon. The desert.

"Wow isn't is pretty." He thought sarcastically, "What kind of hicks could possibly live here? Oh that's right, my good friend Sefeir Almasy."

The commander had been assigned by headmaster Cid himself to enter negotiations with Galbadia Garden. Some sort of 'exchange student' program. What a waste of time and effort. Sefeir wasn't exactly the type of person to come to a fair conclusion.

He sighed heavily and stepped down the first few stairs of the Galbadia train station. He saw many students get up to take the train heading for Deling.

"Don't you think he's so cute though? I mean such a charmer." He overheard an energetic 17-year-old say.

"Big talker." Concluded a tall, blond 18 year old. "Don't you think so Rin?"

The three girls were passing by him now. Rin? He spun around and grabbed the girl nearest to him, the girl with raven hair.

"Rinoa?" He asked.

The girl spun around a little shocked, "Uh … Squall?"

He smiled, "Hey! Long time no see."

She seemed uncomfortable. Her two friends gaped at the attractive SeeD Commander. "You don't come to the New Year parties anymore." Squall stated.

"Yah well, I don't like seafood." Rinoa stumbled for an excuse. "No actually, it's because you're a bastard." She thought.

"Oh really? And might I ask what you three are doing at Galbadia Garden?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Not that it's any of your business but Selphie came to visit someone." Rinoa managed to mask her annoyance. He was beginning to remind her of her father.

"Ok, ok." He smiled, "It's been two years since I saw you."

"Yeah, I guess." She felt her face getting hot. She hated being reminded about what had happened two years ago.

"So anyways, you should go catch your train." He acknowledged.

"Yah, we should. It was nice to see you again." She waved slightly and climbed the remaining steps to the train.

"Oh Rinoa!" He called, "You know that there's chicken on the menu? It's not only seafood. Give it a try, come this year!"

Before she could even think, the words were out of her mouth, "I'll be there!"

***

"He is so hot!" Quistis clutched her heart. "How come you know him?"

Rinoa sat at the opposite side of the compartment, "My father is a General, and he's SeeD Commander. Make the connection."

"He doesn't have Irvine's way of speaking but he's got the looks to make up for it!" Selphie squealed.

"Have you ever … engaged in a type of relationship with him?" Asked Quistis innocently.

"No." Rinoa lied. "He's a bastard and I don't like him."

"Liar." Selphie taunted bouncing up and down on the train.

"If you keep doing that Selphie you might derail the compartment. Stay still." Rinoa looked out of the window.


Obeying her friend's command, Selphie sat next to Quistis and they began observing Rinoa.

"You like him." Quistis said simply. "I mean, even I like him." She giggled helplessly.

Rinoa rolled her eyes in annoyance, "You guys wouldn't understand, he's got a girlfriend."

"Oooh …" Selphie said comprehensively, "But you like him?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Once. Actually, I thought he liked me." Rinoa gave up more of her emotions that she anticipated.

"Well, maybe he did. I mean, were there signs?" Quistis put on her psychiatrist persona.

Rinoa sneered, "Yah for one, he kissed me."

Both girls' jaw dropped, "Was he a good kisser?"

"Amazing." Rinoa said sarcastically, "He's so hot so he must be a good kisser." She mocked. "I'll bet he's amazing in bed too! Why don't you try him out Quistis?"

"Ok, ok!" Quistis said defensively, a bit shocked by Rinoa's sarcasm, "I didn't mean it that way. But he is good-looking and don't deny it."

"Doesn't take away the fact that he's a bastard." Rinoa snapped.

There was a slight silence, "Erm … I'm sorry, what did he do to you again?"

"Oh forget it!" Rinoa threw her hands up in exasperation.

"So I'm guessing your going to that party tomorrow." Selphie observed.

"I guess. I said I would go so, I guess I'm going."

"Good! Let's shop till we drop in Deling so you'll be all ready to see that extremely sexy guy tomorrow." Quistis clapped her hands excitedly.

***

Squall entered Galbadia Garden and grabbed the nearest student by the back of his shirt.

"I'm here to see the Commander of the Garden so tell him to hurry up." He said off-handedly.

The student quickly mumbled, "Right sir, I'll contact a staff member."

Squall sighed a flicked a few strands of hair out of his eyes. It was great to see her again. She had grown up a bit. A little taller and a little more developed.

Squall closed his eyes in embarrassment. "Aw shit, I promised myself I wouldn't think of her like that.

He sat down on the nearest bench awaiting the arrival of Sefeir. He had better get here soon. Squall didn't like to be kept waiting.

"Commander Puberty! Nice to see you!" The blond headed, 6" commander called.

Squall stood up and crossed his arms. Some students turned around to stare, "Nice to see you too." He faked enthusiasm.

As Squall got close enough Sefeir said inoffensively, "Saw Rinoa this morning. Was accompanying some chick that came to see that dumbass, Irvine."

"I saw her at the train station." Squall grinned, "She likes me."

"In your dreams." Sefeir smirked, "So shall we get down to business?"

***

"So are you coming tomorrow night?" Julia perceived the answer but bothered to ask anyways.

"Yes, I am." Rinoa looked up from her supper.

"Oh, well that's nice, you have something to wear?" Julia said, surprised.

"Yup." Rinoa responded.

Caraway looked up from his pasta and stared at his daughter closely. She noticed after a few moments and stared back, "What are you looking at?"

"Do you remember that fish incident from two years ago?" Her father asked suspiciously.

Rinoa's heart skipped a beat, "Yes …" She gulped, "I wasn't in the room though, I was with Squall."

"Oh good job Rinoa, make it sound really wrong!" She thought, "Well, you might not be blamed for the fish guts but then you'll start rumors about you and Squall!"

"Do you remember the incident with Lieutenant Grey's wife and her food tray? That was three years ago." The interrogation continued.

"Yes …" Rinoa literally saw her life flash before her eyes.

"Have you ever wondered why these stupidities happen every single year? Except for when you don't attend?"

Rinoa stood up abruptly, "Well, I have to go walk Angelo! I'll see you later!" She rushed out of the room in the search of her German Shepard.

"So guilty." Muttered her father from his cup of tea.

"Oh give her a break, honey." Julia laughed slightly.

The General grimaced, "I think I might start marriage plans."

Julia nearly choked on her potatoes, "What?" She screeched, "That's so old fashioned, I don't think she's ready for this."

"I don't want her ending up with a bum on the street, Julia." He countered. "How about Melvin Tribal, you know the son of-"

Julia interrupted, "Have you thought of what the children will look like?!" She screeched, "Oh yes the eyes of their mother, the silky hair but the face of someone who walked out of the movie 'Planet of the Apes'!! Did you see the hair on that child, dear Hyne!! Think darling, think!!"

General Caraway laughed and reconsidered, "Fine, fine, how about Sefeir Almasy?"

There was a short silence that Julia quickly broke, "I fail to see the difference between him and a bum."

Caraway sighed once again, "Hyne, Julia. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Yes, as a matter a fact I do." Julia said happily, "Let her choose!"

"But what if she ends up with someone who looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy?!" Caraway demanded.

"Then we should be happy. At least we'll know she loves him and besides. Fat children are so cute." Julia then singed-songed, "Pillsbury, my heart to yours!"

"Oh good Hyne." Caraway got up from his chair, "I have work to do."

***

Rinoa anxiously played with her silver chain encircling her neck. She once again found herself scrutinizing the room for Squall Leonheart.

Her knee-length dress was really annoying her. "Why is it that the pretty things are always so annoying?" She thought.

The worst part was that he wasn't here and that she had been forced to eat seafood … again.

"I can't believe you were stupid enough to assume that a place called 'Exquisite Lobster' would serve chicken." She scowled to herself, "You're a big dumbass."

Looking around the room once more she saw the famous Balambian SeeD outfit and she strode towards it being extra careful not to trip and fall on her face with her needle high heels.

She lightly tapped the dark haired man on the shoulder. Squall Leonheart spun around to face a pissed off looking Rinoa.

"Wow you're all big!" He said remarking the few added inches with the shoes.

She perceived it in the wrong way, "Excuse me?" Her voice held a tone of shock.

"No!" Squall said quickly, "I meant … your shoes. I-"

"There was no chicken." She said accusingly.

"Oh really?" He questioned with fake surprise, "I was sure there was chicken, there was last year. I remember clearly seeing it on the-"

"There was no chicken." She repeated icily.

"I'm really, really sorry," He said gravely, "I definitely owe you a supper of chicken. I've heard about this great place in Balamb. It just opened up. I'd be honored if you'd accompany me to a movie and a dinner."

"Are you asking me out?" She said incredulously.

"I believe I am." Squall answered.

"You … have a girlfriend." Rinoa managed to stammer.

Squall raised an eyebrow questioningly, "Where'd you hear that? Ok, whatever. If you don't accept my invitation I'll have to accidentally let it slip to Melvin Tribal that you've got a crush on him."

Rinoa wrinkled her nose, "The guy that looks like a monkey?"

"Yup, if you turn around right now he is staring at you very intently. His eyes are specifically narrowed on your ass. I think he would make a move on you if he had the confidence that you liked him." Squall grinned.

"Is that a threat?" Rinoa winced slightly.

"Nah," Squall reassured her, "It's just a statement. So, I'll pick you up at 5 p.m. Saturday?"

"Are you kidding? No." Rinoa spat.

"Well, I guess I'll go see Melvin now." He brushed past her and she grabbed onto his arm.

"Ok, ok! Fine. What movie?"

Sammy-Chan: Wow, another chapter. I think I'm really getting into this story. Well, you'll be hearing more from me during the Christmas break!! Please review my fanfic!! Thank you all! Oh and by the way: I do not own Pillsbury Dough Boy … or Planet of the Apes for that matter. Nor do I want to.