Part I

August and Everything After

Rinoa was young, and she was in love. She had fallen head over heels for the most unlikely man in the world. Yes, Rinoa (like many other girls) was persistent in getting to the quietest, most uncaring person she knew and had succeeded. She had fallen for Squall Leonheart the first time she saw him, his blue eyes enchanting her. His personality, well, it needed a little work. It was nothing Rinoa Heartilly couldn't fix. While she had fallen for him, Squall had found her almost annoying. She was beautiful though, and she was so much more than he had thought. He finally took the time to notice her when she had fallen into a coma.

He had never expected to fall in love with her. 

Now that the sorceress war was over, and his dear Rinoa was back to normal, they were the most famous couple in Balamb Garden, the sorceress and her knight.

How incredibly touching. It makes me want to puke.

This is where we leave off, my dear friends, and stay with me.

It gets better.

Rinoa awoke, sun shining through the blinds onto her pale face. Her hair was a little messy, but it was nothing Rinoa couldn't fix. After all, she was now the girlfriend of Squall Leonheart, and just look at where she was.

In Squall's new bedroom up on the third floor.

Well, this was lovely. Rinoa looked around, and noticed nothing had happened. Girls just know these things.

Oh, yes, now she remembered! She had been in Squall's room, helping him with permanent records and the like, and then she decided to take a little nap. And so did Squall. That was it. Things like this always happened in the perfect little world of Squall and Rinoa.

"So Rinoa, you busy today?" the blond instructor asked.

"No, not really," Rinoa said, sipping her iced tea, "Why?"

"I thought maybe we could go to the mall with Selphie. You know, girl's day out."

"Mmm, sounds like fun."

Selphie nodded and bounced up and down in her seat across from Rinoa, "Yeah! It'll be super fun! We'll all go get our hair and nails done and then we'll go SHOPPING!"

Rinoa gave Selphie a funny look and Zell asked, "Did you get into the caffeine again?"

"No…"

Squall scooted in next to Rinoa, kissed her on the cheek and said, "Caffeine… that reminds me! Quistis, I need to see a couple of students."

"Why?" asked Quistis, mouth full of hot-dog.

"A few were caught shooting caffeine in the secret area."

"Shooting WHAT?" Rinoa said, almost appalled at what she heard.

Irvine slid into a seat next to Zell, smacked him upside the head for no reason at all, and said, "Caffeine. It's lots of fun actually. I mean it's like a natural high. You jus-"

Squall shot him a glare and said, "You've done it?"

"Well not recently."

Rinoa shrugged and said, "I never knew you could do such a thing."

Zell chewed a hot-dog thoughtfully and said, "That must be what Selphie's on."

Irvine smacked Zell again and said, "I TOLD you before, Selphie is just high on life."

"That's right Irvy!" Selphie approved. Irvine nodded to her and leaned back in his chair, pulling his hat down by his eyes. Apparently he was trying to catch up on his sleep.

It was silent for a while until…

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYAKA!!!!!!"

Everyone jumped at the sound of the perky brunette's high-pitched voice.

"I JUST GOT THE MOST AWESOME IDEA!"

Everyone looked at her, and she hushed and said, "We should all go CLUBBING tonight!"

It was arranged. The girls would go to the mall and the boys, well, they would most likely do stupid things like throw rocks off of the roof of the Garden and see how many people they could hit. That was what boys did.

"Hey!" Irvine said, "I just had the most awesome idea!"

"What's that, Irvine?" Squall asked.

"While the girls are gone, we should go sit on the roof of the Garden and throw rocks and see how many people we could hit!"

"Top notch idea my good man!" Zell exclaimed.

*

"Rinoa, I think Squall really likes you."

Rinoa looked up at the ceiling, anticipating this from both girls. Quistis gave a mini nod and said, "Yes, do tell Rinoa."

"Nothing's happening," Rinoa said bluntly. It was the truth, nothing really was happening between Squall and Rinoa. Quistis and Selphie weren't ready to believe it though.

"Oh? Nothing?"

"Nothing interesting," Rinoa said, almost bored sounding. Quistis raised an eyebrow over to her spunky brunette partner in crime.

"Tell us the uninteresting!" Selphie urged.

"Yes! We want to know!"

"Will you stop that?" Rinoa exclaimed at her friends. At the same time of her shriek, she had jerked her hand away from the manicurist and made a huge mess of her nails in the process.

"My dear," the manicurist began, "If you don't hold still, we'll never get this done. Now I'll clean it up just this once, but if you do it again, you're on your own."

Rinoa shot glares at both of her friends, and noticing their innocent faces, was very annoyed. Nevertheless, she said, "I'll tell you later."

Later, at lunch Quistis slid into the booth next to Rinoa, pushing her over excitedly and saying, "So, Rinoa."

"So Quistis."

"So Selphie."

They laughed together at their stupid little joke.

"Well tell us, Rinoa. What's going on with you and Squall?"

"I tol-"

"Can I take your order ladies?"

Three heads snapped in the direction of the one cute waiter. Noticing this, and being the only single one at the table, Quistis automatically began to untie her hair, letting it flow past her shoulders. She smiled up at the waiter and said smoothly, "I'd like a Pepsi please."

"P-Pepsi. And for you two?"

Rinoa and Selphie exchanged looks and then nodded and said, "Same."

"I'll have that right out for you."

"And-"

"Yes," the waiter said, trying to avoid Quistis's gaze.

"I know what I would like to order."

"Go right ahead, miss."

"Oh, please, don't be so formal. My name's Quistis."

"Oh, well-"

"And I was wondering, if perhaps you would like to do something with me later on tonight," she finished, with a little smirk, knowing he would say yes.

"He'd love to," Someone said from above the booth. Everyone looked up, only to see someone they hoped to never see again.

"Seifer Almasy?"

"Well if it isn't my favorite three ladies, Quistis, Selphie, and the ever-beautiful Rinoa Heartilly."

"Nice of you to come see us Seifer, really it is," Rinoa said, shooting an angry look up at Seifer.

"Well, I have this table, but I knew my friend Leon here couldn't resist three pretty girls, especially you Miss Trepe."

"Oh, thank you! I guess…" Quistis said, shocked at Seifer's last comment. 

"I'm ready to take over for you Leon. See you around," Seifer said, pushing Leon out of the way.

"Now what did you want to eat?"

"Cheeseburger."

"Ditto."

Seifer nodded and jotted it down, then looked at Quistis.

"You, my dear lady?"

Quistis paused and said, "It seems as though you've learned some manners over a few months, Almasy."

"Well you've certainly gotten prettier."

Rinoa and Selphie sat in absolute astonishment. Quistis wouldn't dare… would she?

"Really, you have."

"Oh, Seifer," Quistis said, blushing furiously. She played with a strand of strawberry blonde hair.

"Would you like to do something later Seifer?"

Rinoa and Selphie sat, shocked at Quistis's last remark. Seifer? He's the enemy; he's always been the enemy! Why?

"I'd love to, but only because you're such a pretty girl. Now what was that you wanted?"

"What do you recommend?"

"Just get a cheeseburger. Easier for me."

"Okay," Quistis said, smiling (and still blushing I might add). Seifer took the menus and said, "I'll see you later, Quisty."

Which caused her to blush even harder. Now she was a deep scarlet, and began to giggle as soon as he went to the back. Rinoa lightly smacked the back of her head, and asked, "Now what was that for?"

Quistis managed to contain herself and said, "He was cute."

"HE'S THE ENEMY!" Selphie half-shrieked. Quistis giggled some more and then said, "He's cute, and he's a gentleman now. Didn't you see him?"

Rinoa nodded at Selphie and said, "I don't think he was ever really the enemy. He was possessed, Selphie. It wasn't him."

"Don't do it Quistis!" Selphie squeaked, "He'll kill you!"

Quistis shot back a glare at Selphie and said, "Stop being so immature. He's not going to kill me. He's changed, and even Rinoa can see it. Right Rinoa?"

Rinoa nodded, albeit uneasily, and then stared down into the coke Seifer had just brought over.

Selphie turned bright red and bit her bottom lip to refrain from screaming.

Quistis noticed this sign of silence, telling her to say something to break it.

"Rinoa, how's Squall? You said you would tell us."

Rinoa nodded and said, "He's good. I mean, nothing's happening."

"I bet it's nothing," Selphie said, trying to contain her laughter, "You're never in your own dorm anymore."

"Oh Rinoa, is he really that great?"

"No! I haven't done anything with him!"

Quistis and Selphie exchanged looks again.

"Not even-"

"Not even whatever you were going to say. He refuses to go anywhere."