Disclaimer: I dun got a thing! I have nothing, nothing NOTHING, if I don't have you…umm no ideas where that came from. But yeh, the only people I own are Brendan, Iona Sullivan…umm all the Sullivan's…they are my puppets. Yes…well Squaresoft own all the FF characters as you know.

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Chapter 9-Strangers

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There was a brisk knock on the door. Frowning, Rinoa turned off the tv and opened the door.

"Rumour has it you're going out with Brendan tonight."

"And who might 'rumour' be?"

Selphie smiled, "teehee…Zell!"

"And where did Zell happen to hear this…er…information from?"

"Why, the lucky man himself!"

Rinoa rolled her eyes and murmured, "unbelievable…"

"What dya say, Rin? Anyways…what time is that BIG date?! Shouldn't ya be getting ready?"

She glanced at the clock, "Selph, its only 4:30, it won't take me an hour and a half to get ready…it isn't even a date, I don't know what the big deal is, people go on dates all the time…"

"Rin, you're not 'people', you never go out…you hardly go out with me! And I'm your best friend!"

"That's not true!…is it?" Selphie merely nodded.

Rin cast her vision down, "I'm sorry Selph, I guess I haven't been myself lately…"

"Try three years…"

"Ok…three years, but I thought you above all people would understand…I mean, if Irvine went missing, though it may be extremely hard to believe, you'd go through depression. I just needed time to accept it. I'm sorry I never told you this…but…since you are one of my best friends…umm…it doesn't feel right to tell only one of you…where's Quisty?"

"Umm…not too far, I'll go grab her if you want…"

"Yeh thanks," and like a bolt of lightning Selphie had run out to grab Quistis who was in her room somewhere down the hall.

Quistis yawned having been awoken, rather unexpectedly, "So what's up?"

"Ok, I shoulda told you guys heaps long ago, but…Squall and I weren't…well…only friends, we were kinda engaged…" Rinoa's voice trailed, waiting for outbursts from her friends.

"Rinoa, why didn't you tell us, how long had it been…"

"Where's the ring?!"

"Selphie!" Quistis scolded. "Well?" she asked again waiting for a response.

"It wasn't long, well…the morning he left for his 'secret mission' I went back to his dorm, I don't exactly know why, and there was this box, with a little note saying

'put it on, we'll plan everything when I get back'

…he didn't even ask, he didn't have to. He knew as well as I did that it was time…"

"So what you're saying is, you two were own your way to the alter!"

"Well, yeah, pretty much, if you wanna put it in so many words."

"Geez, Rin. I had no idea…and here we were pressuring you and everything when you'd lost…your future husband."

"Yeah, now do you understand why I was…a little depressed for a while? But hey, I'm making progress right?!" Rinoa asked trying to get off the subject, "So, what am I gonna wear tonight?"

~*~*~*~

"I'm heading over to the restaurant now, Squall. Are you coming?"

He remained silent, not making a move.

"Squall!?"

Still no answer.

"Squall? If you're still thinking about your girlfriend all I have to say is its no one else's fault but yours. If you love her as much as you say you do, why won't you even tell her that you are alive."

"I don't want to be a burden…besides, I'm sure she's found someone else by now."

"And if she hasn't, don't you want to at least try? She was you fiancee for Hyne's sake!"

"You wouldn't understand."

"I wouldn't understand? Trust me, Squall. I know how it feels to lose a husband, I know all too well, don't give me that shit. Now are you coming with me or not?" she asked in a more-than-annoyed tone.

"I'll come. Sorry Mrs. Sullivan."

"Its not me who you should apologise to. I don't know who she is or where she is, but she has got every right to know that you are alive and….well…alive. Her heart is probably broken."

"Come on Mrs Sullivan, lets just go." She took his arm and led him out the door and across the road. "I love her, Mrs Sullivan, that's why I'm doing this."

"Fine, fine. Go on, sit down at the bar, I'll get you some dinner." She walked towards the kitchen shouting at the chefs. She came back holding a plate of food and placed it in front of Squall.

"What is it?" he asked, smelling it carefully.

"The chef's are feeling a little lazy, its still early and hardly any one comes any more, so they just made you a hot dog. Hope that's fine?"

Where's Zell when you need him? Squall almost started laughing at the memory. He picked it up and took a bite, smiling at the taste of it. "Its fine, thankyou."

~*~*~*~

Brendan nervously stood outside Rinoa's door. Students watched him warily as he went to knock on the door countless times, each time rethinking his actions and returning his arm to his side. Aware of their eyes on him he turned his head to them, their eyes quickly averting their eyes, feigning interest in other objects. What's to be nervous about? Its not a date. We agreed that it was a simple outing of friends. Come on! Just knock damn it! For the hundredth time, he lifted his arm to knock when the door opened. Quistis came out shouting something behind her that she didn't realise Brendan was there until she almost trampled on him.

"Oh geez, I'm sorry Brendan, I didn't see you. Hey Rin! Time to go!"

Brendan sighed in relief. Rinoa came out wearing a pair of hipster jeans and a tank top. She was followed by the ever smiling Selphie who gave him a wink.

"So, shall we go?" he managed to spit out without stuttering.

"Yep, sure thing." They both walked toward the dormitory area exit while Quistis and Selphie made their way in the opposite direction.

"I sure hope he doesn't try anything with her," the blonde instructor whispered anxiously.

"Don't worry, he looks like a pretty decent guy."

"Yeah, well looks can be deceiving."

"Rinoa's not an idiot. I don't think she'd go off with someone she didn't trust. We should trust him too."

"Yeah, I guess. I just don't want her to be hurt again. I swear, if Squall is alive, he is so gonna get his arse kicked."

- - -

The two made their way out of Balamb Garden and started the long trek to Dollet. The remained in relative silence, though Brendan felt compelled to say something. He attempted several times to make small talk, each time failing. I am so bad at this stuff! he thought. finally Rinoa got the idea that he wanted to communicate just to fill in the one sided awkwardness.

"Listen, we don't have to talk or anything. I mean, silence is not going to kill us."

"Oh sorry, I just wasn't sure of what I was meant to do."

"You don't have to do anything. Just act normally." So they continued in silence. They had been walking for twenty minutes and the city had only just begun to show. As a force of habit, Rinoa started humming softly to herself, unaware that Brendan was listening intently. She had upon her face a sweet, content smile as if recalling some memory from the past.

"What song you humming?" she was shaken out of her reverie.

"Oh, its nothing. Hey I see the city. Not long to go now." They reached the city and Rinoa followed Brendan as he steered away from the city's centre, going to the more suburbian area, though still in view of the 'bright lights'. They came upon a quaint restaurant named 'The Benita Banquet'.

"Umm, Brendan, what's Benita, is that some kind of food?'

"No, that's my aunt's maiden name, its her family's restaurant," he laughed. "I'm thirsty as, let's go in and get a drink." Rinoa nodded in agreement.

"But there aren't any people in it, are you sure its open?"

"Yup, I see my aunt talking to some guy. Oh he's the guy who's been boarding with my aunt. Can't remember his name. A Steve something or another." They walked in, making a bell ring as they opened the door.

"Brendan Sullivan!" a soft voice called. In a matter of seconds Mrs Sullivan had walked to the front door, hugging the slightly squirming Brendan.

"Uh, hi aunt Iona," he said, gently releasing himself from her grasp. "My senses tell me you don't get much business any more."

"How'd you know that?" she frowned questioningly.

"Well, I read it in a paper. My guess would be that your main evening entertainer has quit the job."

"Sadly yes, I meant to ask you if you find someone for me. I'm in desperate need of a singer."

"Already done. Aunt Iona, this is Rinoa. She's got a fabulous voice and she said she'd be willing." It was now Rinoa's turn to experience a hug. She was quite unprepared seeing as she was observing her surroundings, admiring the beautiful furnishing.

"I'm glad I could be of service."

Letting go she pointed to the stage. A small elevated platform in the corner of the restaurant, clearly visible from the entrance. "Why don't you go get yourself settled, check it out. There's a microphone, piano, sound system if you have backup music. If you need anything just let me know."

"Hey, Aunty, can we have some drinks, we had to walk from Garden. they conveniently landed a good half hour walk away."

Iona Sullivan's eyes widened, "Garden? Balamb Garden?" A nod was her response. "So that's where you're going to school now. Come to the bar Brendan, I'll fix you two up with something." Mrs Sullivan watched Rinoa make her way to the stage slowly while Brendan followed her to the bar. "So Brendan," she whispered, "Is she your girlfriend."

"Rinoa? Gee, I don't know. I thought maybe it was possible last night, but I don't think so any more." He took his place beside the man who was still silent. "Oh hey, you're Steven, right?" not getting a response he turned to look at his aunt, who shook her head, telling him not to talk to him. Raising his eyebrows he said, "um, we'll just have water, thanks." Brendan averted his vision to the stage where Rinoa had taken her place at the piano. She just sat there gazing around her, then her eyes stopped and focused on something. Is she staring at me? he thought. Nah, she's looking past me...at Steve? He followed her gaze at the silent man, then back to her. She shook her head and concentrated on the piano, hitting random notes.

What's going on?

A/N-wow! By far that is my longest chapter!! And guess what!!! Nope your wrong…..i aint gonna tell any more. Umm…yeh, I hope you like this chapter cos it perhaps the hardest one I had to write, and the next chapter will be even more challenging. It will be written in two pov's….so you have had fair warning. Anyhoo….plz review!! I love feedback, tell me how good of crap it was….so that you will either inflate or deflate my ego….depending on your comment. But my ego doesn't need to be deflated any more than it is…hint hint…so NO FLAMERS! Thanks again. bye!