Disclaimer: I do not own Squaresoft, Final Fantasy VIII nor its characters. I wish I do, though.

A/N.: Hi again! Here's the sixth chapter of my fic. Hope you all like it!

Again, thanks to all of you out there who read, but most remarkably, to the people who take time to review. I really appreciate all the encouragement and comments.

Seifer's Incarnate: Nope, Squall isn't Seifer's friend… yet. But they will be in later chapters. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Billie the Kid: Hehe! Well, here's the next chapter! Thanks!

FF9 Zidane: Well, I kinda gave Squall a different perspective in life, but not Selphie-like. Lol! Well, hope you'll enjoy this next chap! Thanks again!

Lucentia: I'm glad you like it. Thanks!

Falling For You

Chapter Six

Seifer slammed his door and sat furiously on his bed. He buried his blonde head in his hands. On his way home from the hotel, he almost ran over a couple crossing the street. He was too preoccupied thinking of Rinoa that he did not see the pedestrians on the road.

Rinoa, look at what you're doing to me, he said to the photographed frame he kept on his bedside table. Beside Rinoa's picture was a frame of Quistis' photograph. He shook his head as he held Rinoa's picture lovingly.

I can't believe I didn't remove your frame here, he said, gazing at Rinoa's picture. He contemplated on what to do with Rinoa's picture and willed himself to stand up. Still clutching the frame, he walked towards his closet. He retrieved a box from the upper shelf and got the contents out.

I promise I'll forget you, Rinoa… he said as he put Rinoa's picture at the bottom of the box. His eyes welled up. For Hyne's sake, Seifer… quit it! You're a man! You're not supposed to cry over a girl. He put back the different objects that were originally in the box.

As he returned the box to the shelf above him and closed the cabinet door, he felt tears sliding down his cheeks. He furiously wiped at his eyes. I can't believe I'm crying over a girl. To make matters worse, she's not even my girlfriend! She does not even know that I love her!

He looked around his bedroom. A stuffed teddy bear that was sitting beside the pillows on his bed stared back at him. Rinoa gave that to me on my nineteenth birthday. She remembered I told her that I cried over a teddy bear when my mom gave it away because it was old and tattered. Seifer felt close to tears again as he remembered. He grabbed the toy, opened his cabinet and shoved it inside.

Everything was going well. When Quistis became his girlfriend, he no longer thought of Rinoa. He believed he was over her. Whenever he was with Quistis, he was happy. He only thought of Quistis. He was beginning to forget his romantic feelings for his best friend.

But when he saw his beloved best friend in the arms of a handsome man, waltzing on the dance floor, his feelings for her resurfaced. He was green with envy and jealousy, not being able not hold Rinoa like that, not being close to her like that. He even forgot that Quistis was beside him.

Quistis… He thought as he walked towards the bedside table and looked at her smiling face that was forever captured in that photograph. I know I love you but… I love Rinoa, too. Is it possible to love two persons at the same time?

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Squall got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.

What should I wear? he asked himself as he opened the cabinet and thumbed through the wardrobe. He selected five shirts and three pants and laid them all across the bed.

I can't believe I'm acting like a girl! he laughed silently to himself as he looked at his clothes. Squall, you're only going out because a girl offered to give you a tour around town. It's not even a date, for Hyne's sake!

He remembered Rinoa's angelic face. Her chocolate eyes. Her hair like midnight. Her creamy complexion.

She sure was bold… Imagine dragging a stranger on the dance floor! He finally decided on a bluish gray button-down shirt and a pair of stone-washed jeans. He returned the rest of the clothes back in the closet , got dressed and put on a pair of loafers. After that, he combed his wavy hair into a messed-up style and sprayed some cologne. He got his cell phone, put on his favorite watch and bolted out the door. He headed straight to the elevator.

He hurriedly walked to the lobby. He scanned the room. Where is she? Did she ditch me? Did she even show up? he asked himself worriedly. He glanced at his watch and saw that he was fifteen minutes early.

Squall closed his eyes and shook his head. Hyne, I'm early. Am I that excited to see her? He sat down on a sofa chair and read the newspaper that he saw on the coffee table.

A few minutes later, he felt someone tapping him on the shoulder.

"Hi!"

He turned his head and saw Rinoa standing beside him. He stood up and admired her beauty. She was wearing a white button-down sleeveless shirt and a denim skirt. Hyne, she looks beautiful! "Hi!" he greeted her.

"Sorry, I had trouble parking my car," she apologized.

"I just got here," Squall said. "I didn't know you'll bring a car…" Squall said.

Rinoa smiled at him. "How am I supposed to tour you around town?" she teased him.

"No, no, it's not that," he spoke. "I was planning to drive around in my car."

"Oh! Well… we could leave my car here," Rinoa suggested.

"Okay, so shall we go?" Squall asked her.

Rinoa nodded and they headed towards the valet. As they were waiting for Squall's car, Rinoa told Squall of her plan.

"I'm thinking of bringing you to the train station, then to the docks and maybe a drive around town. Balamb's a pretty small town," Rinoa said.

"That's alright," Squall said.

A silver BMW Z3 stopped in front of them and the valet got out of the door. He gave Squall the car keys.

"Wow!" Rinoa breathed.

Squall held the car keys out to Rinoa.

Rinoa's eyes widened. "No way!"

"Why not? You're giving me the tour," he said, still holding his car keys.

Rinoa thought for a while and accepted the keys. "I've never driven a Z3 before!" she excitedly confessed as she walked over to the driver's side.

They got in the car and Rinoa revved the engine. Squall pushed a button and the top came down.

"Another confession!" she excitedly announced to Squall.

"What?" he said as he leaned back on the seat.

Rinoa smiled ecstatically. "This is my dream car!" she admitted.

They went first to the train station. Squall persuaded Rinoa to go for a train ride and they went to Timber. They had lunch at a quaint diner. Squall insisted that he pay for their lunch. It was already past five in the afternoon when they made it back to Balamb.

"The docks are these way," Rinoa said.

They walked towards the pier. Squall had to admit that it was such a splendid view of the ocean. Rinoa pulled him to the hotdog vendor and bought hotdogs for them. They sat down on the benches that were facing the ocean and ate the hotdogs.

"I got an idea," Squall suddenly said. "Take off your sandals."

"W-what?"

But Squall did not hear her. He was already heading towards the docks. He took off his shoes and folded his leg pants up to his knees. A few seconds later, he felt Rinoa's presence. She approached him and stood beside him, barefooted like him.

Squall smiled at her, sat down and put his feet in the water. Rinoa did the same.

Squall wriggled his toes in the water, enjoying the coolness of the liquid running between his toes. He glanced at Rinoa and he saw her smiling while watching the sun setting down on the horizon. He gazed at her as he appreciated the raven-haired beauty that was sitting beside him.

"Beautiful," he murmured quietly.

Rinoa turned to face him, smiling at him.

Hyne, did I say that out loud? "Beautiful sunset," he repeated and faced the sun so that Rinoa won't see the blood that rushed to his cheeks.

"Yes, I love watching sunsets here," Rinoa spoke very softly, turning her head towards the sun to enjoy the view.

Squall took exhaled deeply. Almost got caught!

Despite nearly getting caught staring at her, he stared at her again, just in time as a gentle breeze blew. He resisted the urge to brush a few strands of Rinoa's black hair from her face. He mentally scolded himself for thinking such a thought.

Squall, you've only met her last night yet you're acting as if she's the last woman on the face of the planet. Hyne, I got it bad… real bad.