"C'mon sleeping beauty, the beast is waiting for you to awaken from your slumber and rip you to shreds," I grinned.
"Just let him try!" I stood up and stretched. I got out of the car and saw the gang were stood around waiting for me. Irvine was flirting with Selphie, Quistis was talking to Squall, trying to cheer him up. Rinoa was stood outside the car.
"Hey, I'm Rinoa... But I guess you knew that already, huh?" She asked. I nodded. I offered my hand.
"Karena Dove, more commonly known as Karen or Kaz," I explained. She took my hand and shook it. I heard raised voices and looked over to see Quistis getting more and more exasperated with Squall.
"How can you be so self-centered? How can you not care at all about your friends? Are you really that far gone?" Quistis asked. Squall looked back at her calmly. I couldn't really relate to Squall, as I'm sure I might have been able to if he hadn't changed.
"Let's go and see the Headmaster," Selphie said, loud enough so Squall and Quistis heard. I nodded. Quistis stepped forward and seized my arm.
"I'll take you, I'd rather not have anyone kill you before we get to the office," She lead the way. I knew, vaguely, which way to go, so I took time to admire Garden.
It was easily one of the most beautiful buildings I'd seen. And one of the biggest. It was huge. The pretty fountains and elegant patterns, the charming sky blue, the chatter of students. I found myself thinking I could like it here. Then I reminded myself, I was here so I could go home. I wasn't planning on hanging around.
"Into the elevator," Quistis stepped inside. I followed. The door was just about to shut when Squall stepped in. I groaned and leaned against the wall.
"Couldn't you leave this to Quistis?" I asked. Squall looked at me with his harsh eyes.
"I want my point of view to get through to the Headmaster," He said smugly. I felt my hackles rise.
"And what is Mr. Leonhart's point of view?" I asked. Squall smirked. Quistis coughed loudly but I ignored her.
"To see you out of Garden and on your merry way back to whatever hole you crawled out of," He replied. That was it. I didn't care about the consequences. Squall was getting under my skin and that was something no sane person did. I slapped him, so hard it was like a whipcrack.
"Well done, Miss Dove. You've done what the rest of us have wanted to do for weeks!" Quistis said as she held onto my arms restraining me. Squall was rubbing his face absently. I shook of Quistis and folded my arms.
"Why are you being such an ass? Not even Seifer was this bad!" I shook my head. Squall looked over at me and then he looked at Quistis, I could tell what they were doing. They were compairing notes about me, all the evidence that I wasn't from this world.
"I'm only what she made me," Squall said as the doors opened. I didn't get the chance to have him elaborate. Quistis took my shoulder and walked me up to Xu, who was outside Cid's office.
"New candidate, Karena Dove. Found in suspicious circumstances. Here for interview with the Headmaster and Headmistress," Quistis stated formally. Xu eyed me then opened the door.
Cid was sat behind his desk, Edea was stood next to his right shoulder, leaning over to read something. She straightened up. Her long black, grey streaked hair fell down almost to her waist. I remembered the Parade, when I beat her so many times with Squall, Rinoa and Selphie on my team. I remembered the way I had thrashed her ass at the end of disc one.
"Karena Dove? I am Edea Krammer, and I am going to save your life," Edea said, calmly. Cid looked up from his paperwork, as though he had only just seen us. I frowned.
"How? Are you also-" I began but she didn't let me finish. She smiled.
"Let's say I know a certain Hironobu Sakaguchi. Story time later. Now, dear, you can interview her. I would suggest SeeD candidate..." Edea looked at her watch. "It is twelve midday in Tokyo, I must speak with Mr Sakaguchi, tell him you've arived safely." I stared as Edea left. Cid frowned.
"Edea says to keep a vow of silence over all matters concerning your home world. Squall," He turned to Squall who was stood to attention. "Miss Dove will be a SeeD candidate. Edea says her fighting abilities will be suitable. However, I also value your opinion, and Quistis's for that matter," Cid turned to her. Quistis smiled.
"I would be honoured if Karena joined our ranks. She is an excellent fighter, she's resourceful as well. I think she'd fit into the SeeD ranks," Quistis patted my shoulder. I smiled. Squall sighed.
"Quistis and Rinoa can train her. Zell too, as he seems to have made the effort to side with her already. If she's not ready by the time the next SeeD Exam comes in, then she won't take the test," Squall said. I nodded, I only planned on being around until Edea told me how to get home.
"I've got a feeling I'm not in Kansas any more," I said under my breath. Quistis looked at me.
"What?" She asked. I blinked a few times, then giggled.
"The Wizard of Oz, surely you've heard of it?" Quistis shook her head. I laughed again and turned to the Headmaster. I watched Quistis's salute to the Headmaster carefully. Then copied it. Cid raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Nice Miss Dove. You just need a little more respect for your instructors," He said. I turned to him and folded my arms.
"People have to earn my respect, Headmaster. Edea has earned it, Rinoa, Quistis, Zell. You have. Squall, he's just a pain in the ass, with a mean streak. He's done nothing but mope and bully. He doesn't deserve my respect. It may seem harsh, but the simple truth is, Squall and Seifer are so alike that I'm surprised they aren't brothers," I challenged Squall. Squall didn't say anything but he turned and walked away.
I followed and then I remembered something. I let them lead me into the elevator again, before turning to Quistis.
"I don't have a weapon Quistis. I think Cid and Edea forgot that..." I said. Squall turned to me, taking my arm. I pulled it out of his grip.
"You're a rod fighter, I can tell. You'll be able to do all the acrobatics that come with that. You'll be damned good at it as well. Just to prove yourself in front of me," The corners of Squall's mouth twitched. He stuck out his hand. I stared then crossed my arms.
"You remind me of myself when I was your age," He said. I frowned, he sounded like he was an old man.
"Do I? I'm like this because I don't care what people think about me, you were like that because you were insecure and were worried what people thought. I may seem like you, but I'm not," I leaned against the wall of the elevator. After a few seconds of silence, there was a judder. I looked at the door then at Quistis.
"Of all the times. Here, out of my way," I pushed passed Squall. I kicked the buttons so the metal casing came away. I immediately saw the problem and shook my head. I pushed the two wires together again and sat down.
"We'll have to wait until someone pushes the button for the elevator downstairs," I said. Squall and Quistis followed my lead.
"How did you know about that?" Quistis asked. I shrugged.
"I lived in an apartment block until I was fourteen. The elevator always used to break, so I learned how to fix it. It's easy really, as long as you know what you're doing I suppose," I banged my head backwards against the wall. I looked at my watch. It had stopped.
"What time is it?" I asked. Squall glanced at his watch. He held it out for me to see. It was three thirty.
"Lessons end at four," Quistis volunteered. I nodded and closed my eyes, about to go to sleep. I found myself sitting opposite Squall, who was studying my face carefully. I smirked.
"Never seen a red head before?" I asked. Squall shook his head, smiling. That smile was so sexy...
"I can't quite place your accent. It sounds vaguely like Edea's," He ran his hands through his hair.
"It's the Queen's English, I'm very posh you see. My mom is an author, childens books, my dad is an IT consultant, he earns a bomb. I went to a private school, where I picked up the accent. It's great for doing Shakespeare," I explained. I didn't want to go into what Shakespeare was for them, I'd let them figure it out. The elevator began to move again.
"Thank God!" I said, standing up.
"That's Hyne," Quistis reminded me. I nodded and when the doors opened I fell out of them, straight into Zell. He looked suprised when I flung my arms around him.
"Thank you thank you thank you! I thought I was going to be stuck with him-" I pointed at Squall. "FOREVER!" Zell looked at his shoes, smiling and then he looked at my face.
"No prob," He gave me the "thumbs-up" sign and jogged into the elevator.
"Can we eat?" I asked. Quistis nodded and the three of us wandered to the cafeteria.
