I kinda had this chapter up ready a few days ago,but I couldn't upload it due to the probs fanfiction.net was having.Anyway,here's Chapter 8.Hope you like it,and thanks for all the sweet reviews you guys wrote!Really inspired me...

@I just realised how kinda similiar this fic is to the one ritten by Honey B called Malice of The People.It's a great fic,that,based on the book Malice by Danielle Steel.I've read both the book and the fic,and they rock!!!

@@PLEASE read my other fic,Sometime,and review it!!I've got 149 reviews,and I need a few more to go over 150.

@@@This chapter is dedicated to AnGeL-WiNgs.Thanks for your reviews and mails!

## EIGHT ##

"Mmmm...." Squall yawned as he got up and stretched his limbs.Turning to the clock beside his bed,he noted the time.

8:03....still got 'bout half an hour... He went to the bathroom and splashed cold water at his face.As he stripped off his clothes in preparation of a quick shower,he suddenly remembered about the night before...about what he and Rinoa did....

Oblivious to him,the sides of his lips curved up into a small smile.He could still feel her lips against his...his hands on her body....his brown hair falling down onto her face...

God,she felt so good.....

Then a sickening thought struck him.

Oh no....Headmaster Cid and Commander Briggins saw us!! He clutched his head and began to softly tug his hair,forgetting about his naked form.He gritted his teeth and sighed.

"Ohhhh great....." he groaned to himself.What was going to happen?What if the headmaster ticked him off in front of the other students?Heck,he'd be damn embarrassed!And Rinoa...she might shy away from him once more....

A knock at the door broke his thoughts.Zell's lively voice called out,"Hey,Squall!You awake?"

Squall grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist,walking to the door and opening it."Yeah?"

Zell gave him a grin and nodded towards the Cafeteria."Don't you wanna get breakfast?Come on!"

"Can't you see I'm just going to have my shower?" Squall replied.

"Well,skip it!Hey,come on!" begged Zell.

"I'll see you in the Cafeteria in 10 minutes," said Squall firmly.When Zell opened his mouth again,he raised a warning finger."No,Zell,I like to maintain my hygiene....unlike you...." He cracked up.

"Hey!" Zell frowned good-humouredly.

"I was just kidding..."

"Well,I'll see ya in 10 minutes then.Catch ya later!" Zell sauntered off as Squall closed the door.He went back into the bathroom and had his shower,his mind floating back to his former thoughts.Then he changed into his uniform,got his back,and left his room,brushing his damp hair with a small comb.He was a little self-conscious as he passed some students,wondering if they knew about what happened last night.But when they didn't even glance up at him,he calmed down immensely.

You're being stupid,Squall... he scolded himself,but his heart jumped up to his throat when an uncertain and a soft voice greeted him.

"Hey,Squall...."

Ahhh!! He didn't even know where that thought came from.He swirled round,only to find him face to face with Rinoa,who had a tiny smile plastered on her lips.

"Oh,hey.'Morning," replied Squall casually.

"Listen,I'm kinda in a hurry.Let's meet up later,okay?In the Quad,at twelve?" she suggested.Squall immediately nodded.

"Sure."

"And...one more thing...." Rinoa leaned in closer to him and said in a low voice."Please don't tell anyone about what I told you last night,okay?Please?"

I'm not a big-mouth... "Yeah,don't worry.I understand," Squall answered truthfully.

"Thanks..." She glanced up at some observing students nearby and narrowed her gaze.Then she walked off,pressing her books and file against her chest.Squall raked his hands in his hair as he made his way to the Cafeteria.He knew some inquisitive students were whispering to each other about what they'd just seen,but he simply ignored them.

"Squall!" Irvine's voice sounded from the other end of the noisy Cafeteria.He waved his hand frantically.Squall advanced to the table his two best friends were sitting at,eating their breakfast.

" 'Morning," Squall greeted.

"Late..." Irvine remarked.Zell,as usual,was gobbling hotdogs down,but he had time to push a tray of food to Squall.

"Ore brokefiff," he said with his mouth full.Squall gave him a quizzical look.Huh?
"Your breakfast," translated Irvine with a grin."We got it for ya.Ain't gonna say anything?"

Squall grinned back in return."Thanks." He sat down and began to tuck in.

"Ya know,Zell and I were planning to do some training in the Training Centre later.Wanna join us?" asked Irvine.

"Sure.What time?"

"I'd say 'bout 12 or so..."

Squall immediately stopped eating for a moment.12? "Um,on second thought,I'll skip the idea..."

"What's up?" Irvine raised his eyebrows.

"Class..." Squall lied.

"What class?I thought the instructors are supposed to have a meeting this afternoon?Wasn't there a notice on the board?" Irvine scratched his head.

Uh-oh...I totally forgot about that! "Umm....." Squall racked his brains for some logical excuse.He wasn't going to tell Irvine and Zell about his relationship with Rinoa......well,at least not yet...

"Ya're doing something!C'mon,spit it out!" Irvine pointed a threatening finger at him.Zell swallowed the hotdog in his mouth and cleared his throat with a grin.

"I just have an appointment with someone..." replied Squall rather truthfully.Zell gave a gasp.

"You've moved on?" His eyes went wide.

Oh well...might as well just let them know a little...... After all,Irvine and Zell were his two best friends.

"Kind of," admitted Squall.Irvine leaned in front at once and whistled softly.

"You're serious?"

"Do I look like I'm not?"

"Who,who?!Who's the girl?!" hissed Zell impatiently,trying not to let the other students hear.

"I'm not telling...." Squall said irritably.

"Aww,come on!"

"No..."

"Please?"

"No...."

"Just whisper it!"

"No..."

"Squall,come on!"

"No."

"Don't be such an idiot!Tell me!"

"NO."

"Rinoa Heartilly,huh...." Irvine coolly stated,earning a shocked stare from Squall.

"What?!" Zell said.

"How did you...." began Squall,then stopped,his heart turning cold.Oh no!!He must have seen us last night!The embarrassment......!!

"Wait,you're telling me I'm right?" Now it was Irvine's turn to be shocked."I was just kidding!"

Phew!But the cats outta the bag... "Uh,yeah...you're right..."
"You're dating Rinoa Heartilly?" Zell hissed."Are you crazy?She's the only girl in school that has that 'touch-me-and-you're-dead' look!"

"She's fine," Squall said in defense."Don't say that..."

"Wait a minute,are you really serious?That girl has a damn problem!" Irvine slapped his hand on the table.

"Yeah,well,she does,but I understand..."

"You may understand,but she doesn't,don't you get it?"

"What the hell?!Look,it's my life,and I choose my own girlfriend!I don't need both of you preaching and telling me who to choose!Why're you picking on her when I didn't pick on Selphie and Leane?" Squall exploded.Fortunately,the noisy atmosphere in the Cafeteria successfully drowned his voice.Irvine and Zell seemed a little embarrassed but they calmed down quickly.

"Hey,sorry,man...I mean...we're just...you know..." Zell started uneasily.Irvine took over.

"It's just that....since you and Quistis broke up,you've been kinda sad,you know?We just...want you to make sure about it this time...before anything goes wrong again...."

Squall fiddled with his spoon silently,then said,"I appreciate your concern,guys.But...trust me,I know what's wrong with Rinoa and I understand it.She know that too.I can't tell you what her problem is,but..just..let me be,okay?"

Irvine and Zell nodded slowly."So,err...how'd it all actually begin?" Irvine asked,changing the subject.That made Squall's lips involuntarily curve into a smile.

"It was last night,actually..."
"Oooh,after the party,I suppose?" teased Irvine.

"Yeah...after curfew..."

"After what?!" Zell and Irvine was taken back.

"Yeah,I know it was breaking the rules,but...well...ahh,I don't know...."

"So it's like,you both talked and talked then she agreed to let you try her?" Zell's eyebrows arched up.

"No..." Squall leaned in,causing Zell and Irvine to do the same.Then,making sure no one could hear him,he whispered,"I kissed her..."

The reaction he received practically got the attention of the whole Cafeteria.

"WHAT!!!"

"Shhh!" Squall tried to cover it up but it was too late,every single student was staring at them in surprise,even the Cafeteria ladies.Zell clasped his hand to his mouth and Irvine merely grinned around,tipping his hat up.Squall groaned silently,grabbed his bag,and faked a smile to his friends.

"I'm going to class.See ya,guys!" His tone was jovial,but his eyes clearly said one thing.

*Tell anyone and I'll kill both of you....*

** ** ** ** ** **

What was I thinking last night?How could I ever let him kiss me like that?? Rinoa sighed heavily as she laid her head on her arms,hugging her knees tightly.It was a quarter to twelve,and since she had a free period that time,she thought she'd go to the Quad and think things over...throughly...

What was I thinking?! she screamed to herself again.She gave herself a shock when she wanted to tell him about her past...she was even more shocked when she DID tell him.What was she feeling towards him?Surely she wasn't in love with him?

NO.... she told herself firmly,squeezing her eyes shut.No...I'm not...

If so,then why did she feel so secured and comfortable with him?And when he kissed her....Oh God... he was so gentle she could have melted against him.It wasn't one of those crashing,rough kisses that Lac gave her years back...it was a soft,sweet,fragile one...

Lac.... Just thinking about that name gave her the jitters.A shudder shot through her body,causing her to shiver.She was starting to have goosebumps on her skin as she dove back to her past...the moment where Lac first started abusing her...then the incidents which happened daily...

No...not anymore.... Rinoa felt hurt tears flooding her eyes and she quickly brushed them away.Squall might be there any minute.She didn't want him seeing her crying again.

Then,as if on cue,his cheerful,cool voice called out to her from behind.

"Rinoa?"

She involuntarily gave a soft gasp in surprise.Her heart punded double quick against her chest and she turned to him.He wore a concerned expression on his face.His eyes rested on her,looking apologetic.

"Did I startle you?I'm sorry...." he said as he sat down beside her.She shook her head at once.

"No...no,you didn't...."

He suddenly stared at her face carefully.

"Have you...been crying?" His voice was dripping with deep concern.She felt touched.

"I..." What could she say? "I....nevermind..." Right then,'nevermind' seemed to be the appropriate word....

"Is it...about last night?" Squall raised his eyebrows inquiringly.

"Kind of..." she admitted.Even when she was turned away,she could still see the boyish smile on his lips.

"You wanted to talk 'bout something,right?" he asked.She nodded silently.

...........

"Well?" he prompted.

"I..." she gulped."Umm...I just....wait,you didn't tell anyone,did you?"

"Anyone?Oh,you mean about last night..." He suddenly looked rather sheepish,but the slight guilty expression in his eyes made her panic.She sat up straighter and narrowed her gaze.

"You did?" she demanded.

"No!I didn't!Honest...." he said earnestly.She gave him a look of disbelief and bit her lip.He shrugged.

"I didn't tell anyone about what you said,okay?But...about last night....I guess I kinda let it slip out....but not on purpose!"

"I don't care about last night.You're just sure nobody knows?" she asked anxiously.

"Yeah," he replied assuringly."Um...am I...the only one who knows?Other than you,of course..."

Rinoa turned away from him."I'm not supposed to tell anyone..." she murmured.

"Huh?"

"I mean...everyone...all the instructors,the commander,and headmaster....they know...."

"Eh?Oh..." No wonder Instructor Aki's lenient on her...and the other instructors too...I figured the headmaster'd give her a talk-to for the anti-social behaviour....

"I don't want anybody else to know.How'd they react?" She looked away.Squall blinked.

"Then...then why did you suddenly tell me?" he asked,puzzled.

There was a pause.

"I...I don't know..." she said truthfully."I just...I guess I just felt like saying it..." What a lie.... she sneered at herself."I mean...I trust you...you know,because you saved me and all that.And because you treat me real good..."

Ah? Squall raised his eyebrows."Oh...okay..."

There was another pause.Longer this time.

"Listen,I was wondering..." began Squall,summoning all his courage."Are you free tonight?If you are,maybe we can go Balamb Town and--"

"You're asking me out?!" she practically squeaked.Her voice was high-pitched with surprise.

"Er,yeah," he admitted slowly."Why?"

"You can't!" She immediately moved herself further away from him,a cautious,no-no look in her hazel eyes.He stared at her,shocked at her reaction.

"Huh?What's wrong?"

"We can't date!" she stated,panicked."We can't..."

"Why not?Did Headmaster Cid forbid you to?"

"No...it's just that...I don't want this,okay?I don't want a relationship with anybody...." Rinoa ran her hands in her hair nervously.

"What?"

"I don't want to be involve with anyone,understand?!" she screamed.Squall looked around hurriedly,afraid that other students might hear her.But majority of them had classes at that time,and the only other couple there was so busy making out they didn't even notice Squall and Rinoa.

"And why is that?" he demanded.She seemed quite unable to answer that.

"I just...just don't want it,okay?!" she said.

"Is it because of what happened between you and Lac?"

"No.." she lied.

"I'm not going to hurt you,Rinoa.That's the last thing on my mind!"

"It's not about that..."

"Then what IS it?" He took her wrists and forced her to face him.As his eyes searched hers intently for an answer,she snatched her hands back and said,"Please...Squall,don't...I just want to be friends..."

"But I don't.I thought you said you trust me?Why're you acting like this?"

"That's different...that's--"

"Why didn't you resist last night?You kissed me back,right?Don't say you didn't...." Disappointment and disbelief potrayed his face.She exhaled and fingered the ring at her neck with anxiety.

"Squall,please..."

"Just give me a chance,Rinoa.I'll prove it to you.I won't hurt you....never..."

"Squall..."

"Please,Rinoa?" He tried not to sound to pleading,but his voice said otherwise.She stared at him before falling silent,her mind thinking rapidly.

What am I going to do?I thought I told myself never to fall for a guy.They're all the same...they just want fun,that's all....but...Squall... Yeah,sure,he DID save her alright,and she felt that she trusted him.But did she trust him that much to start a relationship with him?Part of her wanted to,but the other part constantly pushed her away.What if he was lying?What if he just wanted to get her to bed with him and then ditch her aside?What if they're relationship went wrong?She wasn't sure how she was going to take it....

"I....but what if I...I don't know if I can....." Rinoa trailed off,resting a hand on her face with a deep breath,closing her eyes.She felt Squall sliding his arms softly around her and slowly pulling her to him.The feeling of secured -- protected --flooded her at once.

"You can....I know you can....I want to erase your past,Rinoa......I don't want you to remember anything from it....I just want you to start your life....all over again....this time without a mistake..." he whispered into her ear as he went lower down and planted a kiss on her shoulder.He leaned his head onto hers and closed his eyes,breathing in the sweet fragrant scent of her raven hair.He felt her relax against him before resting her head tentatively on his chest.

As they laid together,it seemed as if a century had just passed by.Then Squall broke the silence,"So,how 'bout it tonight?"

Rinoa merely gave him a small smile.

Reeeeeeeeeeview please!!Wasn't much...but I like to go slow...the problem now is,I kinda got an idea of what I'll do later,but I don't actually know how to finish the whole fic!!Argh...never...a little brain racking will do me fine.