Disclaimer: well…….I don't own squaresoft, but I do own a soft square!!! Close enough I reckon, anyhoo….yeh don't own ff8 or squaresoft for I only have a very small wallet with practically nothing in it…so don't sue me!!!

A/N-well…I know some of you are really anxious to see some Rinoa/Squall action, but all in due time. I must ask you to be patient, what kind of writer would I be if I gave you all the answers at once? I thought so…..anyhoo…..this chappy is…er…kinda the explainer for some things…… so ya…..enjoy and thanks for all your great reviews!! Also, in the last chapter, though its been fixed now, I kinda got a different person mixed up for Brendan, so any time you read Josh, I really meant Brendan…hope that made sense…but I have fixed it, so thankyou to the reviewer who picked it up!!! Oh and sorry about any mistkaes in this chapter….i unfortunately don't have time to edit…..

~Fateful Night~

Squall lay on his bed. It really wasn't his bed. It was the one he had used for three years ever since the accident. Accident? I don't think so. The events of that tragic night replayed in his mind like a movie against a screen.

One word--one name was all it took to clear his mind of battle plans and mission objectives. Rinoa. Squall stood upon the carrier that was supposed to get him to his destination without notice.

Little did he know what was already planned.

There were of course, other people on the boat, but the took little notice of him, seeing as he had casual gear on and not his SeeD uniform. To them, he was quite anonymous. So he was no threat...no danger. They were in the middle of the ocean and Squall filled in the time by standing at the boat's rear looking up at the stars, memorising each constellation. It was around this time when he noticed several bright flashes coming from behind him. The carrier shook fiercely and Squall made his way up to the front of the boat. The shipmen were already boarding the lifeboats and had completely forgotten about Squall. One of the men went to step out of the boat shouting something at Squall. The man became more desperate, pointing at what he saw behind Squall. Squall, despite his thoughts telling—demanding—him to move forward, looked behind him. The missile landed less than 3 metres from him sending sparks and bits of wood everywhere. Despite the commotion around him, Squall's legs failed him, yet again, and he was caught in an influx of shredded materials. The last thing he saw was a face, so distinct and unforgettable.

Even in the last moment before his sight left, all he could see was her.

He was grabbed forcefully and pushed into some sort of boat. His memories after were of vague conversations between two of the men on the boat...

"Is he alright?" "Yeah, he's still alive...his face looks a bit crook..."

"What are we gonna do with him when we get back to Dollet?"

"I'm not sure. I'll take him home with me first, then we'll see if we can locate some people who know him."

"That was no accident," Squall thought as the boat swayed in the evening air. "Someone knew I was on that carrier. Someone wanted to kill me...but who?"

The questions of that evening still haunted him. A Mr Stephen Sullivan had taken him in, treated him like the son he had never had, but he had passed away two years later leaving Squall in the care of Mrs Sullivan who was the manager of the family owned restaurant. She needed the company and he needed a place to stay, where he could live unnoticed…unknown.

~`~`~`~

Brendan looked around the cafeteria for a familiar face. He saw Zell and made his way to him.

"Hey Zell, listen…I've seen Rinoa around, and I was wondering…"

"Man, you don't want to go there."

"Go where?"

"I know what you want me to do…you want me to set you up with her…" Brendan looked a little taken back.

"What? You misunderstood entirely. I mean, I'd like to know about her, but I don't want to become…er…involved with her."

Zell looked at Brendan suspiciously. "Okay, what do you wanna know?"

"Well…what's her story…she doesn't look like a SeeD."

"Well, no, she isn't a SeeD. But she…well…she and the Commander were I love."

Brendan looked at Zell with surprise. "You mean Seifer and her…?"

"What?! Hell no! oh I forgot…sorry, before Seifer became commander three years ago, a man named Squall Leonhart was commander…you knew that, didn't you?"

"Nuh, I only started coming here two years ago."

"Yeh, well, three years ago he was sent on a mission…well that's what Rin says…and he never came back. No one even knew that he was on a mission, only Rinoa and a couple of executives. Yeh well, she's been heartbroken ever since."

"Hmm…I guess that's why she looks sad almost all the time…"

"Yup! Why'd ya wanna know?"

"Just curious…hey listen, she's got a really great voice, do you reckon she'll be willing to do performances?"

"Dunno…why don't ya ask her yourself."

"Yeh, I think I'll ask her tomorrow at the dance."

"Just a little advice…"

"Yup…"

"Don't get sweet on her, its an automatic thing…every man in Balamb Garden knows they're not to touch her…she still thinks Squall is alive."

Brendan laughed at Zell's protectiveness. "Don't worry, its just a business proposal." He then got up and made his way back to his dorm.

~*~*~*~

Rinoa quickly flicked through the dresses in her wardrobe deciding on what to wear. I wish I'd thought about this sooner, I would've bought something appropriate, she thought, scolding herself. The presence of one particular dress had slipped her memory, if on purpose or by accident even she refused to admit. Her hand felt along the fabric, her eyes gazing at its perfection, as she held it in front of her. What harm could it do, she wondered, it is the only dress I can wear, everything else is too casual. That was very much a lie, but she was trying to reason out why she should wear it despite the memories it brought back. Besides, Squall would've wanted me to wear it.

She heard a knocking on her door and went to answer it. "Hey Selph, what's up?" she asked as the opened door revealed the ecstatic girl.

"Well, me and Quisty are gonna get ready in my room, tomorrow. Wanna join us? We could help ya get your hair done and everything," she squealed.

A spark of the old Rinoa came back after the many years it had lay dormant, "Sure! What time?"

"Well, four-ish?"

"Its takes 3 hours to get ready?"

"Of course not, silly, but we have some gossiping to catch up on," Selphie giggled.

"Alright, alright, I'll be there tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay, cool…listen I gotta run. I told Irvine I'd meet him in ten minuted in his room."

"Have fun," was all Rinoa could say before her friend gaily made her way through the hall.

"Great," she said to herself as she closed the door, "You've just made an appointment with Selphie and Quistis, who knows what'll happen tomorrow." She made her way to the small kitchenette and grabbed an apple. Biting into it, she turned on the television and flicked through the channels, not looking for any show in particular, just glimpsing tiny bits of one show then another.

Just like my mind...all I have are memories now—glimpses of the past.......

A/N-thanks all for reading, I love getting your reviews….i know I said I wouldn't post so soon……but I like to entertain my audience, so please tell me what you thought, because my motivation is solely based on your opinions which give me motivation. Thanks for all you suggestions..keep em coming!!! Luv ya'll!!! Thanks again and have a nice day!!! :D