Chapter 10 When I Think of You...

Author's note: The fic is coming to an end (must be the shortest fic I've ever written) but never fear, it's not the end... yet. There's still at least two more to go, and thank you to all who've read and reviewed. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Shoutouts will be given at the end of the fic, so read on! Anyway, here's the tenth chapter, sadly this one will not be a happy one.

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Rinoa shifted restlessly in her seat. She had been trying to contact Squall, but he had been totally unavailable. She was afraid he was still angry, but it can't be...

Her heart leapt when she spotted his familiar figure enter the café, but a stab of jealousy ensued when she saw he was wearing THAT jacket. But at least he looked calm as she waved to him to come over.

"So.. what are you having? Lemon bars?" She asked eagerly but he shook his head. He had promised to see Quistis today, and after she had returned the jacket, he felt compelled to wear it every time they met. "What is it, Rinoa?"

With a jerk she realized he wasn't calling her 'Rinny' anymore. She bit her lip uncertainly. "I...I was wondering... if you're still mad at me. I'm really, really sorry Squall," She seized his hands and raised her eyes hopefully to his. But he merely pulled away.

"I'm not mad at you, Rinoa," He said calmly, making her heart soar. 'You aren't? Then - "

"But I'm not having anything else to do with you either," He continued, dashing her hopes. Tears welled in her eyes as she fought to understand. "But... why? Squall, I promise I won't cheat... please..."

Squall shook his head. Getting up, he gave her a small smile. "Don't worry. You and I are still friends, Rinoa."

He knew he left her in tears, but strangely he didn't feel heavy-hearted. Rather, he felt like a huge burden had been lifted from his chest.

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"You can't be serious." Quistis said, openmouthed. Squall grinned as he stirred his mocha. "Believe it."

Quistis blinked for a few seconds before laughing out loud, causing several heads to turn. "Your sister's hinting about me? No way!' She chuckled before sipping her latte. That made his smile falter a bit. He had expected her to blush, but he never expected her laugh. 'What's so funny about that?"

Now that made her stop laughing. She stared at Squall in amazement. 'Squall, did you tell her about the orange juice?"

"...No..."

"Then you should," She declared, smiling. "Besides, I don't want another bitch-slap from Rinoa."

"We're through," Squall admitted, and Quistis choked on her coffee. Squall quickly handed her a paper napkin and she coughed for a few minutes. "You - You - How much shocking news can you dump on me in one go?!"

What if I said I love you? He asked silently, but he was afraid... she might really spill her latte over his head! "About that much."

Quistis finished her undignified coughing and sighed. Actually she was really stunned when Squall said what Ellone thought of her, but she next reaction was to laugh. Laugh, because it seemed really hilarious at the moment. Her, Squall's steady? Unthinkable! Up till this moment, anyway. Thinking again, it might be interesting, but no...she vehemently shook her head. Squall thought of her a friend. Ellone's reaction was the same as Seifer's - she had to endure his secret grins. To make things worse, he had taken extended holidays, and she'll still have to face him!

"Attention please. Miss Trepe, Mr. Leonhart, will the two of you please report to the Principal's office immediately? I repeat..." Miss Xu's voice rang out over the PA System and Quistis' heart leapt. Her eyes met Squall's, and she knew what he was thinking.

Garden.

Principal Martine regarded the two of them calmly, but inside he was quite jovial. The Garden Administrative had just called him, and one of the candidates from Acauld High had made it. "Mr. Leonhart, Miss Trepe," He began noticing their nervous state. "I'm pleased to say that the two of you have achieved very high marks in the examination," he paused, not sure how to put this gently. "However, I regret to say that... Garden is very select. Too select, perhaps. And," He looked sympathetically at Quistis and the latter turned pale. "I'm sorry, Miss Trepe," He finished lamely. "It seems that... given the IQ test... Mr. Leonhart scored higher, thought evidently you topped him in the academic paper..."

If the sky had fallen, it wouldn't have fell as hard as her heart right now. She could feel a lump growing in her throat, but she forced herself to nod. In a haze, she got up and left the office, not hearing Squall calling out to her.

"Quisty!"

She turned around and saw Squall run to her. No, not now, she screamed silently. I can't face you now!

"Quisty, wait," he caught up with her, face ashen. She forced a smile and tried to hold back the tears. 'Great. I..."

'Quisty, I..." he helplessly pushed his fringe back. She shook her head. "I need to go back, Squall." She turned around and left him standing there. It's not his fault. Why are you doing his to him?! She screamed silently and she slowed down. It's true. It wasn't his fault. It was... maybe his luck was better. Thinking that way, she turned around and walked back to him, but halted when she saw Irvine talking to Squall.

"Great job you did there, man!" Irvine whooped and gave Squall a hearty slap on the back. "I never thought of it, but you were brilliant! The best scheme in the world!"

"What are you talking about, Irvine?" Squall snapped, feeling impatient. He had to go after her...

"Your plan, man! Who would've thought of it? Flirting with the Ice Queen so you could distract her, and then bagging the offer just like that!" Irvine grinned. "And here I was thinking you really did break up with Rinny!"

Her world was plunged into a dark abyss and she numbly took a step backwards, right into a student. Squall heard her and instantly realized what happened. 'Quisty!" He shouted but she was gone. He quickly ran after her, but she was gone. Damn!!! He yelled silently, dread building up inside. What have I done?!

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"Calm down, Quistis,: Seifer tried to pacify his sister but she was crying her heart out. To make matters worse, his mother was totally unsupportive. "What will the neighbors say?!" Wailed Mrs. Almasy. "I told everyone Quistis would make it! Oh the shame!"

"Mother, she doesn't need that right now," Seifer said testily and Mrs. Almasy sniffed unhappily before leaving.

"Mother's right... I - failed - " Quistis choked but Seifer groaned. 'It's not your fault, Quistis! Stop blaming yourself!"

But who else is there to blame?!

Squall, she cursed. How could she be such a fool?! Believing everything... and it was true. All the while he had been leading her on, making her believe she was something special to him. Did he fake the first incident too?!

Realizing his sister wasn't going to stop sobbing for a while, Seifer quietly left the room. It was always this way after an exam, but this time he could see that something really devastated Quistis.

She wanted to throw things about and vent her anger, but she forced herself to exert some control over her emotions. So she was a fool. An idiot. And he had used her loneliness to his advantage... who in their right minds wouldn't? It was worth spending a little time and money, wasn't it?

You're stunning.

Stunningly stupid, she cursed herself. She had to admit he was one hell of a player... and now he can claim being the guy who went out with ALL the girls in school.

A familiar rumble approached the place and she instinctively snapped the curtains to a close. To hell with him!

Seifer looked up as the rumble of a motorbike stopped outside his house. His mother and father had left, probably to nurse their dashed hopes. Well, he sighed. Perhaps Quistis is better off without his mother's constant bickering right now. He got up and walked to the door, and was met by the same youth who sent Quistis home. "Squall," He smiled, and the boy looked helplessly at him. "She..." he caught himself and smiled slightly, still looking troubled. "Is Quistis around?"

Seifer looked up to his sister's window, and saw the room was dark. "She... she's not in a stable mood right now, man."

Squall sighed. "I know... did she say anything?"

Seifer frowned slightly. This boy seems to know... was he involved? "She flunked the exam... guess any girl would cry. Still, it's surprising someone managed to get the better of her."

Squall uttered a bitter laugh. "I'd gladly give it to her... just to see her smile again, man. I need to talk to her," He said desperately.

Seifer blinked in surprise. So this was the boy who made it to Garden?! An unclear picture began to form in his mind, but there were too many gaps to fill... too many questions without a certain answer.

"Maybe you can see her at school," Seifer offered. "My best guess is she would have calmed down enough by tomorrow morning to see you."

Squall nodded glumly and took off, leaving Seifer scratching his head. He glanced up at his sister's darkened window and sighed. "One mess you've gotten yourself into, sister."

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Seifer absently poured a mug of cocoa for himself as he read the morning papers. Balamb was such a peacefull town that the biggest headline was Balamb's most popular restaurant had declared a ban on its famous fish.

A series of thuds on the staircase told him Quistis was coming down. He quickly folded the paper and tried to look like someone who was deeply in thought.

She appeared at the table, looking calm and aloof as always. Seifer beamed at her. "Morning, squirt."

She nodded stiffly and sat down. Seifer carefully monitored her movements out of the corner of his eye, trying to fathom her thoughts. If only he could, he would have been surprised.

A slice of bread. He's gonna pay, she thought darkly as she daintily picked up the butter knife. "Can you please pass the butter, Seifer?" First that bitchy girlfriend of him. I bet that slap was staged too... ooh it hurts. "Thank you."

Pour the coffee... forget the sugar. Isn't life just as bitter now?

Seifer cleared his throat. "Squall came around last evening, but you were asleep."

"..." Came around to see how well his plan worked? No way I'm giving you that satisfaction. "I was tired."

"Sure," Seifer answered easily. He watched Quistis finish her toast with surprising speed. "Are you going already? But it's not even seven - "

"Bye, Seifer," She got up and left without another word.

Why do I think this is a disaster waiting to unfold? Seifer wondered as he bit into his own toast.

She drove along the road, not really caring where she was going. But she found herself heading to school, which was still mercifully empty. Good, that gave her time to think. She wandered down the corridors, thinking deeply. What am I supposed to do now? I can't sit there in class and pretend nothing happened when all I can think of is murdering him? I can't do that. Worse still, I might end up in tears again. Great. The Ice Queen, melting. That would be some news.

So caught up in her thoughts that she did not notice she had entered a totally different wing of the school. Acauld High was one of those building that had existed for years, and extensive renovations and additions had been made to comply with the growing number of students. She had absently wandered into the old wing, which was currently occupied by the first-years students. And right now they were on a break, which means she was all alone.

Strange... in all her years, she had almost forgotten this wing existed. She peeked in the rooms, looking at the brightly colored boards and announcement. This was her class, she remembered. That was her seat, and there, by the window... she quickly shut the door before anymore thoughts of Squall came to mind.

The next open door came as a delightful surprise. It was the piano room, empty save for a grand piano in the middle of the floor.

She walked up to it, noting the shine of the keys, beckoning to her. How long has it been since her fingers have played a rhapsody?

"The library, maybe?" A startled student suggested as Squall questioned him of Quistis' whereabouts. He uttered a growl. The library had been the first place he had looked, plus the cafeteria, the Infirmary (of all places) and she was simply not anywhere. Yet the guard at the gate had said she had come, and damn early at that.

He stopped at her locker wondering if he should just wait here. She's bound to come here for books and such -

"I don't know... I thought the juniors were on a break?" He caught a girl conversing with her friend through the banging locker doors.

"Yeah, but I swear I heard the piano. I park under the piano room see... think Mr. Lucas is there?"

"No kidding... he's taken a vacation in Centra, right?"

"Yeah... but that song... I've heard it before. Remember the spring musical back when we were first years?"

"You mean the one the Ice Queen played?"

That's it! He banged the locker with such force the girls screamed. But he was off running, heading to the old wing. The old wing... it had never crossed his mind to go there. Partly before he hasn't been in that wing for the past two years, so it was unlikely for her to be there.

As he climbed to the third floor, he heard it - the strains of a powerful sonata. And the girl was right - this was the same song Quistis played in the spring musicale... and he even remembered the title; "Believe."

The music soared to the ceiling, reverberating through the walls, piercing her very soul with its song. And as her fingers danced over the keys, she let her feelings take over, transforming a once soulless piece into her own emotions. Like a bird in flight, she dipped and soared, forgetting everything else. There was nothing else, even to the silent audience standing in the shadows. Her music had gripped him until he was listening beyond the notes - he could hear her voice. She was calling out to him, and he could hear her. But he couldn't reply in return.

As the last notes faded into silence, Quistis rested her hands on the keys and let it wash over her. Playing the piano had cleared her thoughts considerably, and she had never felt better. But it still couldn't erase all the hurt she felt. A sudden prickle told her she was being watched - and she snapped open her eyes. Instantly icy blue clashed with gray. Her eyes narrowed and she got up.

Squall quickly closed the door, knowing fully that; mad as she was, she wasn't about to jump from the window. "I have some explaining to do, Quisty."

"Great, let me find a chair first," She said sarcastically. 'What can you possibly have to say, Squall?" She ignored him and tried to go for the door, but he deftly caught her wrist. "What you heard was a misunderstanding."

"Which was a misunderstanding? Winhill?" She snarled and furiously tried to wrestle her arm out of his grip, but he refused to let go. 'Will you please stop and listen?!"

"What part of 'no' don't you understand, Squall?!" She burst out angrily. "I've had enough of you lying to me! Haven't you done enough?! Just leave me alone!"

That hit him hard. He furiously tipped her chin to meet his gaze, and she furiously turned away. "I didn't lie to you!" He hissed. "What Irvine said was a lie! I didn't - "

"I've had enough," She whispered, so suddenly that it made him blink in astonishment. Her eyes were averted, but he was sure... he was sure she was trying hard not to cry...

"I've lost everything," She continued, her voice breaking. "You've really done it, Squall. I can't believe - after all I've tried to do... I still - I still couldn't keep away... I still fell for you..." She drew a shuddering breath and suddenly wrenched her arm free and bolted out of the door. "Quisty!"

He hurried after her but she had a head start. Ignoring the people, who were looking on in surprise, he pushed through the corridor and emerged at the front doors - only to see her Mercedes pull out of the parking lot. And coming up to him was Rinoa, with Irvine and Selphie in tow. "Squall!" Rinoa called out happily. "Irvine just told me - Squall?!" She gasped as Squall blithely ignored her and jumped on his bike. She stamped her foot angrily. "Squall, will you please - " She was cut short when he raced past her. She turned desperately to Irvine. "After him!!!"

Quistis raced along the road, ignoring the traffic lights and other cars. What has he to say? She screamed silently, avoiding a pickup truck, all the while never slowing down. I don't have anything else to say to you, or anybody else for that matter. Her cell phone rang but she just let it ring. I need to calm down, she thought and grappled in the dashboard for her pills. Stuggling to pop it open with one hand, she tipped it into her mouth. What the heck, she thought and swallowed a fistful of them, not caring what was it she was eating.

It's amazing how fast a girl can drive when she's on the adrenaline high, He thought madly as he tried to keep in line with her. But as she sped through a red light, he was forced to stop, and he uttered a growl of frustration. Where was she going?! That's the freeway...

No wonder Vikings want to be buried at sea... it's so glorious...

"Where is he?!" Rinoa shrieked desperately. Selphie pointed up front. "He's there, Rinny. Keep your head on your shoulders, will you?"

At the first sign of green Squall took off, racing against time. He had a dreadful feeling, and he didn't trust himself. What was she trying to do? Weaving past cars, the promontory came into view - and his heart stopped.

She stood on the ledge, and suddenly she was gone. "QUISTY!!!!"

Footnote: Heehee... did you see that one coming? I didn't. Anyway, what do you think? Should I push Squall over the ledge and save her or shall it be a lost cause? (grins evilly). Just kidding. Don't kill me there, or you won't get the ending.