Disclaimer: okay..there are several songs mentioned, as you all will soon find out, and I own neither their names/titles or words. They belong to their respective writers/singers. Just like ff8 and squaresoft. Sad news that I must tell you all…..i got out bid on ebay when it was being auctioned off…it pains me to even tlak about it…but I thought you should know.

A/N-righty….another chapter, though I really didn't expect to be posting it so soon…I guess your reviews just gave me the motivation *hint, hint* so yeh, keep em coming!!! ^.^ have a nice day all and enjoy this chappy

~Music~

Here I sit like a lone wolf, he laughed at his own thought. Lone wolf. That's what they used to call me......that was until she came along.

A lonely man of broad build sat at the bar of a restaurant doing nothing…not even drinking. He had never developed a taste for alcoholic beverages, despite all the fancy functions he was forced to attend. But even then, it was only because of her. Memories were all he had of his old life. Nothing but images in his head playing over and over again. They were all he had left, the only things worth living.

"You never stop thinking, do you?" An elderly woman's voice chimed next to him.

"You closing already, Mrs Sullivan?"

"Well, business isn't as good as it used to be, not since Louise went and got herself married. We have no more evening entertainment. She had such a lovely voice too. Hmm…well, I could ask my nephew to see if he can find anyone with talent."

"Your nephew?"

"You know, Brendan, you've met him once or twice. He was the one playing the guitar in the room next to your's that other time. He only comes when he can…he's so busy at school, yet he still finds time to go to parties! There's bound to be some performer at one of those get togethers."

"Yeah…Well, Mrs Sullivan, I think I'll be heading back now."

"Would you like me to help you? I'm just about to close up."

"Umm….no thanks, ma'am. I've walked the route for 3 years, its not about to change."

"No, of course not. See you in a bit, Squall." With that he unfolded his walking stick and headed towards the door and along the street to the house opposite the street. "Yeah…*see* you…"

~*~*~*~

"RIN!!!!" Selphie shouted through the door in front of her while at the same time hitting it fiercely.

An agitated Rinoa answered the door. "What is it, Selph? I was just about to get ready for bed."

"Bed? Its 8:30!!! Curfew doesn't start for another two hours!"

"Is that all you came to tell me?"

Selphie laughed then returned to her stressed state. "Well, um…Irvine forgot to book a band."

"And the problem is?"

"WHAT!? How could you not see the problem!!! Its so big its hard to miss!!!"

"Irvine conveniently forgot to book a band, so where do I come in? do I have to make arrangements now?"

"Well…umm….the Dance is in two nights! I was wondering if you could sing…"

"What?!" now it was Rinoa's turn to exclaim the word in surprise. "Me? Sing? In front of people? But I never perform publicly."

"Well, there's always a first for everything," Selphie said slowly trying to be as encouraging as possible.

"Umm…." Well, I won't be doing anything anyway, she thought, what harm could it be. Besides, you've been in trouble for singing loudly in the shower...and it could get your mind of other things... "Sure, I'll do it…..will I be singing….alone?"

"Well, I've been looking around and I've found some people who play instruments. Umm…Zell offered to play the drums, though I can't say I've ever heard him practise. I found a guy named Brendan and he plays acoustic guitar, and I was hoping you could how off your piano skills as well as your vocal skills."

"Uh…ok, I'll do it. anything for a friend." Selphie practically jumped onto Rinoa and gave her a big bear hug when she said that.

"THANKYOU SO MUCH RINOA!!!"

"Anytime, Selph. But please don't make this a regular thing."

"Oh, I won't…its just this one time. Thankyou! You're a life saver!"

"Umm….can I go to sleep now?" Selphie quickly removed her arms from around Rinoa and giggled.

"Oh, sorry…didn't mean to disturb ya. Could ya start organising songs? So that you guys can practice tomorrow?"

"Sure thing…g'night," Rinoa said while closing the door.

She went to her desk and took out a pad of paper thinking about songs to play and sing. She came up with fifteen then went to bed. "I'll discuss it with the guys tomorrow."

~*~*~*~

Rinoa quickly made her way to the ball room where she was told to meet Zell and that other guy, Brendan.

"Hey there, Rinoa!" the blonde called.

"Oh hey, Zell." She looked at the brunette who stood beside the blonde and smiled weakly.

"I almost forgot, Rinoa this is Brendan. Brendan, Rinoa." Zell smiled, proud at his introductory skills. The two strangers shook hands and stood in awkward silence.

"So, Rinoa, I hear you're going to be singing for us," Brendan stated trying, but not quite succeeding in, breaking the silence. For Rinoa just meekly nodded.

Rinoa turned to Zell, whom she was comfortable with and began a conversation with him, not purposely avoiding Brendan. "Zell, do you actually have any experience on a drum kit?"

"Rin, I'm surprised at your lack of faith in me! You underestimate how talented I am."

"Umm, well we'll see won't we…uhh….I came up with a list of songs…did you two have any suggestions?"

"I don't mind, just give me the chords and I'll be happy."

"Up to you, Rin, you are the star."

"Er…okay…well….you two might think they're kinda girly, but I can't help it seeing as I am a girl and my vocal range isn't all that great…"

"Just give us the list Rin, Selphie told us to play whatever you wanted, no complaints." Rinoa smiled and looked down to the piece of paper in her hand and sighed.

"Hmm…Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile, You Are the One, Everything, Skater Boy, My World, Mobile, I'm With You, Things I'll Never Say, Anything But Ordinary, If You Believe, Walk Me Home, Can I Go Now, Someone to Watch Over Me, The Game of Love and one special song…kind of a solo. Is that ok with you?"

"Yup, sure!"

"No problems."

"Um…Brendan, can you play electric guitar as well?"

"Yup, nothing to it."

"Great! Well lets get started"

~`~`~`~

"Seifer."

"Yah…"

"I'm a little worried about Rinoa…"

"Still?" the white coated, gunblade wielder turned to face Quistis. "How many times have I told you? She's no longer our baby, she's grown up…making her way through the world."

"Seifer, I'm being serious!" she shouted in exasperation. She got off the couch and made her way to the window. Seifer followed her and put his arm around her.

"So was I. Quistis, we both know that she is the only one who can get herself through this, even if it is taking three years. She has no idea what happened to him, its that information, or the lack thereof, that keeps her like this. Now, if we knew he was dead she'd move along faster, but she has this feeling that he is still alive. She just wants to find her knight again."

"I know, but, what happens if we never find out the truth. She's my friend, I can't let her keep going the way she is…she'll die of anxiety one of these days, I know it!"

"She won't. She's as strong as a fully grown chocobo and her will is even stronger. Come on, we'll be landing in Dollet soon. You can go shopping or do whatever you what to get your mind off these things."

Quistis smiled and hugged Seifer. "Thanks Seifer," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. "I'll go the day after the dance."

"Why don't you go watch Rinoa and Zell rehearse for tomorrow night?"

"Yeh I think I will…you coming?"

"No…I think I'll take a nap," he yawned, emphasising the fact that he was tired.

Quistis kissed his cheek and made her way out of her room to where the 'band' was rehearsing. Expecting loud music coming from the ballroom, she was surprised to see Rinoa alone at the piano playing the song that they all knew to be her song, even though it was written by her mother. When she finished, Rinoa heard the distinct tapping of Quistis' shoes, making her turn and feel slightly embarrassed.

"How was it? I haven't played it in so long."

"It was beautiful. Your mother would've been proud."

Rinoa smiled and stood up taking in her surroundings. "This is where it all started," she sighed and walked out to her room. She said the words in her head over and over, like she had so many times before…

You'd always be there in the corner,

Of this tiny little bar.........

A/N-was that a cliffhanger? Sorry about any mistakes…I don't have time to edit… Anyhoo…..now, next chapter definitely won't go up automatically like this and the previous chappy. Please be patient. Now, as you all did last chapter….theres a purple box at the bottom of your browser. Now there is a rectangle and a square. Pressing the square will do glorious things, so click it and find out! And you'll all get a chocolate prize! Thanks all!!!