Author's note: I still don't own SQUARESOFT nor FINAL FANTASY and I just write fancfics for my own pleasure and perhaps for yours too.

Shared Feelings
Written by Terra Trepe

Chapter 2: Trying to Forget You

The evening was so beautiful and perfect. The stars starting to appear slowly to the bluish sky, when the warming sun went sleeping behind the horizon, still emitting few pairs of shining rays to the rosy sky that waited the silent night.

The horizon was faded far away and beyond, the sky having the mixtures of different hues of purple, red and orange, making anyone who raises his desperate gaze to the sky, thinking that everything is possible again and feeling his heart filling with the hope that was lost before.

Quistis looked her image from the mirror that was on top of her wooden table, looking her face with sparkling joy in her blue eyes as she brushed her high cheekbones with a soft make-up brush that left a soft shade of golden-peach to her beautiful face, giving her skin a lovely touch of colour. She smiled gently, satisfied from her lovely appearance, as she straightened the sides of her violet gown, the feeling of the soft fabric against her hands giving her more confidence from this night.

Quistis, you look beautiful She thought smiling, being happy that she hadn't thrown this dress away, as it was her only dress that would go with this kind of ball where all the ladies had one of the most beautiful dresses.

But something is missing, She raised her slender hand unconsciously to her throat, just to remember what was missing; the final touch to her perfect appearance. She turned to her brown drawer and opened it up, smile forming to her rosy lips as she started to reach to pick up the wonderful piece of jewellery from the top of her clothes, raising it to the height of her sparkling eyes of diamonds.

It was an elegant necklace with little white crystal that shined with lots of different beautiful colours, matching perfectly with her elegant gown.

Just then there was a polite knock coming from the door, making Quistis jump slightly as she turned her anticipating gaze to the door, feeling her heart-beating fastening, as she wasn't aware that the time had flown so quickly and that clock was already 8:00 pm.

Squall

There the knock was again, just as polite it was in the first time, and Quistis started to smile fully with her face again as she put the necklace around her neck, knowing that this was going to be the night.

The night when the lost ones gets their hope back to themselves and when the dreams will come true, she knew it, just by looking up to the lavender sky of love.

Wait a second She said softly as she walked toward the door and stopped in front it, tracing the sides of her beautiful gown as she sighed softly, closing her crystal eyes.

This is it, Quistis after all the sadness and hardships, you will finally be happy

She took a breath in, opening the door with a soft beautiful smile, wanting to capture his spirit with her appearance, feeling so confident that she had no doubt that she wouldn't.

When she started to open the door, she kept her eyes on the floor and as she raised her lovely gaze to see his wonderful deep blue eyes looking handsomely toward her, she fell in shocking silence when she realized that it wasn't Squall and the eyes weren't like she excepted them to be.

Whoa, Quisty You look really beautiful tonight. The man with turquoise shaded eyes, said with his usual thrilled voice as he smiled widely toward her. His blond hair was the same as always, his front hair pointing in the air in a messy way as the rest of his hair was clipped up whit two little dark pin against the back of his head.

He had his dark SeeD-uniform on, the sleeves of his jacket rapped up to his elbows, making him look less formal, as he liked to wear clothes where he felt cosy and comfortable.

He also had an unique looking tattoo on the left side of his face that had three spikes pointing at different directions and it was completely black, reminding Quistis from a flying bat.

What are you doing here, Zell? Quistis asked after a silent brake, her soft voice echoing with the confusion she now felt, as she didn't see Squall anywhere.

Please, don't say he isn't coming, ZellPlease don't

I came to pick you up to the ball. He said, smiling fully with his boyish charm as he seemed to be enthusiastic from going in there, not knowing how hurt she just now felt as she knew that Squall had probably sent him here.

So Squall didn't come get me after alloh, how stupid I've been!

She said in a soft disappointed voice, feeling her blue eyes starting to form tears, hoping that Zell wouldn't notice them, as she didn't want to get her friends concerning about her.

Hey, why do you sound so disappointed, Quisty? Zell asked in a joking voice, his voice everything else than serious, as he didn't notice the tears that she silently tried to keep inside her.

Squall, how could you do this to me?

It's just that well Rinoa and Squall had promised to pick me up and go with me to the ball.She lied to him as she now locked her crystal eyes with his turquoise-blue ones, fooling him perfectly with the excuse and feeling slightly bad from lying directly to his face.

Zell placed his hands inside his trouser pockets, feeling somehow naked and uncomfortable, as he didn't wear his usual weapons called Ehrgeiz on his hands, and he continued, still smiling fully with his childish smile toward her, as he thought that he had figured the whole thing out:
So, that's why Squall told me to pick you up. They were probably too busy to do that themselves.

So, Squall did go with Rinoa instead of me

I think you are right, Zell. She said in her usual voice, wanting him to think that everything was normal even when they weren't at all. She was hurting badly inside her heart and soul and she knew that she needed her friends support, but she still couldn't put herself to tell him about her sadness and how she was losing her hope and joy from the living on this so called beautiful world.

And she had thought that this night would waken her inner love and hope, just like they would woke up the stars to the celestial sky that carries all the eternal memories of unregretful love, filling the darkness with those precious diamonds.

But she knew that her dreams were already shattered and she felt nothing inside her, just hurting emptiness as she looked up to her empty sky, desperately hoping that it would fill with the twinkling pair of diamonds.

Zell started to extend his hand to her, smiling with boyish charm as he said softly, his voice filled with hope, which Quistis didn't recognize, as she didn't have any of that: Shall we go, Quisty

Accepting his extending hand, she locked her arm with his in casual manner, letting him lead her toward the beautiful ballroom as she felt completely lost again in this dark world of emptiness.

* * * * *

The sky was twinkling with all the amazing stars as the dark cold sky started slowly to replace the matching colors of hue.

The dark cold sky wear the adoring moon as its pendant, remembering the desperate souls that looked up to the sky for guidance, from their lost hope and broken love.

The shining ocean of stars seemed endless in her dark brown eyes, as she couldn't get enough from it, trying to search for that one special star; the Star of Wishes.

Her light champagne-colored dress was to the height of her slender knees and the edges of the dress was lined with a lighter colored straps, the upper one's strap going also around her neck like a necklace, and the silver chain that she always wear was on top of it, the two special rings hanging on it. Her shoes were matching with the colors, as they were light colored, the heels of these slender shoes being just the right high for her.

This dark haired woman's lover walked toward her with a sly grin, passing the dancing pairs in front of him at the ballroom as he looked right toward her brown eyes with his grayish blue ones, his eyes remembering her from all the good memories, completely forgetting the bad ones.

He had his formal dark blue SeeD-uniform on, the few medal of honors hanging on his chest in the remembrance from the times when he and his friends were fighting against the threat of evil sorceresses.

When he had finally reached in front of her to the other side of the dance floor, he wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her into a soft kiss of lovers, before whispering into her ear softly, making her tremble slightly from the solemnity of his words: You're my dream and hope Without them I wouldn't be able to live My dear Rinoa.

Squall started to snuggle against her raven black hair, the softness and the sweet scent of her hair making him feel like the time had stopped only for this wonderful sensation he now felt inside him.

Rinoa closed her eyes in pleasure that she felt from his tender and longing touch, wanting this to last forever and beyond as she opened her smiling eyes to look again up to the sky that twinkled with thousands of stars.

Just then her dark eyes were caught by the passing light that she saw in the corner of her eye, making her turn her head up to the sky and her soft lips curling up to a gentle smile as she saw a shooting star streaking across the night sky

There it was her Star of Wishes.

My only wish is to be with you, Squall Forever and Beyond

* * * * *

The ballroom's dance floor was full with the dancing pairs, the beautiful collection of colors flashing in the twirling set of dresses as the women moved gracefully in the way of music, following after the men who guided them through the dance.

When Quistis let her crystal eyes wander through the hall, unconsciously searching for Squall, she noticed that everyone seemed happy as they smiled fully with their faces, talking to each other from nothing in particularly and it made her thinking.

Am I the only lost one ?

She walked a few steps closer, Zell leading her toward the marble stairs that led to the dance floor, their hands still locked to each other as they took the first step down the stairs.

Quistis absorbed the ballroom's flashy atmosphere to herself, her eyes wandering back to the dancing couples, as she still tried to search for Squall's solemn image, wanting to see him so badly. Just then a few dancing pairs started to spread around the floor, showing her the silhouette of two lovers embracing each other, as they danced slowly at the middle of the dance floor, not noticing the heartbroken image of Quistis who still couldn't believe it.

So Squall really did come here with Rinoa

She kept on going down the stairs, still not being able to move her darkening glance from them as she started to feel more and more desperate, watching their every movement and absorbing their faces.

The dark sky was full with the stars of love and they were the hopeful pair that danced calmly under it, not needing to raise their gaze to admire the stars, as they had each others and the eternity to enjoy that happiness.

Quistis felt a bang of jealousy inside her as she felt her soul and heart bleeding with sadness and emptiness, but still wanting desperately to see those two souls, as they were blessed by the invincible force of love.

Squall backed away slightly from his lover's embrace, just to look deeply to her brown eyes and he whispered to her softly, making her smile with the smile of happiness that this love had given her.

His handsome face started to get closer to Rinoa's beautiful face, so slowly that it seemed like the world was just waiting the meeting of those lips and when they finally touched gently, the love they had between them was clear and anyone could see it deepening by every moment they shared this time.

Quistis couldn't stand look at them anymore as she felt the empty place in her lonely heart getting bigger and bigger, eating the place of love with desperation.

She turned toward Zell to speak with him, only to see one of the librarian girls dragging him over to the dancefloor, trying to persuade him into dance and not giving him any other chance.

Quistis just scanned the ballroom from any familiar face, but as she didn't see any of them she sighed heavily, taking an elegant glass of champagne from the passing waitress' tray, sipping some bitter tasting champagne down her throat, hoping that the alcohol would drown some of her pain away, which it didn't.

I'm all alone again

* * * * *

Seifer raised his glass up to his lips, tasting the champagne carefully as he looked through the ballroom with his emerald eyes, feeling bored from this so-called SeeD-graduation ball.

Damn what kind of ball is this anyway? Not even one great looking woman here

He raised the champagne glass back to his lips and took another sip of champagne, feeling the bitter liquid going down his throat as he started to walk slowly around the ballroom, searching for some source of entertainment for himself.

There were many attractive ladies in the ballroom that seemed to be available for a dance, but Seifer just passed them lightly, not giving them any attention as he kept on going around the ballroom, feeling somehow frustrated when he just didn't found what he was looking for.

They are all so simple, so soulless so not for me

Seifer raised his gaze up to the starry sky, silently wishing to know his destiny that the stars had planned for him.

What is my destiny?

Suddenly one little star streaked across the night sky, making Seifer follow it with his green eyes, before the star disappeared to the nothingness and left a large empty space inside him, which he wanted to be filled.

He continued staring the sky for a second, hoping to find his answer, but not getting any.

Just simple stars nothing else

He turned his bored gaze back to the dancing pairs on the dance floor and just then he saw her lovely image looking up to the sky, as she had just seen that same shooting star.

Rinoa

She was silently dancing with Squall, letting his strong arms surround her body into a gentle embrace as he snuggled against her raven black hair, Rinoa closing her eyes softly as she seemed peaceful, enjoying his warm body so close to her.

Seifer looked them numbly, not knowing how to react from this sight, as he had thought that Squall had came
here with Quistis.

Squall, you bastard

Seifer walked angrily away from this sight, trying to detect a waitress, as his champagne glass was empty and he really needed more alcohol to fill his senses.

He found one waitress walking down the stairs, and he changed his empty glass with a filled one from the tray in her hands, as he went past her, before he continued his way to an empty balcony where the cheerful voices of the ballroom couldn't be heard so well.

The balcony was a large one, the gray marble floor shining with luminousness as Seifer's tall frame walked to the edge of the balcony, stopping in front of the beautiful stone railing as he looked up to the sky again.

So many stars, so many questions

He took another sip of champagne as he walked along the edge of the balcony, following the gray railing absentmindedly with his other hand, and when he felt the coldness of the black shadow falling upon him, he hided himself under it and raised his awaiting gaze back to the starry sky, sighing heavily under his breath.

Where do I belong?

Seifer continued looking up to the sky with his absentminded gaze, as he heard someone coming silently to the balcony, the high heels clinking against the marbled floor when the steps walked past him to the edge of the balcony and stopped there.

Women, the joy of life

He turned around to look at this beauty and when he landed his emerald eyes to her lovely silhouette that looked up to the celestial sky, he felt his breath caught in his throat and strange shivers going down his spine.

She had her soft, honey colored hair down, letting the lovely breeze go through her long hair as they made slight waves to them, her hair caressing her bare shoulders in the way of wind.

Her dress was absolutely stunning; the matching hues of violet and slight pink, mixing into a lovely shimmering color as even a slight amount of silver shone from the soft fabric of her gown under the pale moonlight, giving her dress a rich deep color. The bodice of her dress embraced her torso as her elegant dress was almost reaching to the floor, her glassy high-heeled sandals on her small feet showing under the sheer materials of the flowing dress.

She had silvery liner around her crystal blue eyes, giving her eyes a misty look and deepening her mysterious gaze as her long eyelashes framed her eyes. And she had a soft shade of golden-peach on her high cheekbones, only to give her face a richer colour, and her lips were glossed with a luminous pink, capturing Seifer's absentminded gaze.

His deepening gaze was locked at her pink lips that shone in the moonlight beautifully, her lips slightly open as she breathed softly, her fully lips meant for a kiss. You look beautiful, Quistis No You look like a goddess Seifer raised the glass back to his lips, nervously gulping some of his champagne down his tightening throat, unconsciously tightening his grip on the champagne glass as he felt this strange sensation filling his body.

Quistis closed her eyes tightly as she lowered her head down, her face overcoming with a painful expression as her eyes started to burn with tears that started to slide silently down her soft cheek.

Seifer raised his gaze back to her, feeling a strange pain stabbing his heart, as he saw the little painful diamond that now silently went down her cheek, leaving a wet trace to her lovely face.

A tear?

She raised her gaze back to the moonlit sky, her pink lips curling up to a sad smile as she closed her eyes again,
gripping the railing with her hands as she leaned forward, breathing slowly the fresh night-air as some more tears ran
slowly down her fair skin.

Quistis?

* * * * *

Quistis walked slowly to the empty balcony, the high heels of her glassy shoes clinking softly against the gray marbled floor as she reached to the edge of the balcony, placing her slender hands onto the stone-railing as she looked up to the endless sky, feeling her heart filling with agony that she tried to keep away.

The stars are so beautiful

Her smooth hair was flowing slightly in the air, as the soft wind played around them, making some waves to them, and she gazed up to the sky desperately trying to search her sign of hope, which she needed to find.

My sign of hope it was you, Squall and now I've lost you too

She closed her crystal eyes, which started to form bitter tears, and she lowered her head down, feeling one delicate tear escaping from her painful eyes, slowly slipping down her cheek and then dropping down to the railing like a little sparkling diamond.

I've got nothing now.

Quistis raised her painful gaze back to the moonlit sky, this time her delicately glossed lips forming a smile of sadness.

Perhaps this is my destiny to live a lonely and bitter life

She closed her eyes slowly, feeling the bitter sadness filling her mind and soul as she leaned forward to the stone-railing, breathing peacefully the fresh air in, as she felt the tears starting to overflow from her blue eyes, falling silently down her cheeks. The wind blew softly its comforting breezes toward her crying face, the voice of this soft wind whispering untold promises into her ears as she kept her eyes closed, still feeling the bitter coldness of this shooing breeze against her bare skin that shivered slightly.

Her heart was breaking up, as all her thoughts was on Squall and again, knowing that she would never get him

I don't want anyone else than you Squall I want only you

Just then the passing breeze whistled into her right ear softly, and under it she thought hearing someone whispering her name, or was it a shooing wind.

The voice was deep and silent, ringing with a sound of despair and concern under the voice of wind, as a soft step came from her right side, sounding like someone was approaching her slowly.

She flickered her tearful eyes open, focusing her shocked gaze to the suddenly appeared tall figure that had stepped out of the shadows and now stood next to her, this figure's proud face still overshadowed with light shadows that danced on the figures of his masculine face.

He had a formal SeeD-uniform on, the straight dark trousers with the matching jacket that had some white ornaments on the shoulders, as the slight white colored lines of his shoulder pads lightened his dark uniform. His jacket was open, the tight black shirt showing under it, and he had his silver chain around his neck that had the silver metal hanging on it.

Seifer? Is it you?

His tall figure stepped out from the rest of the shadows, uncovering his handsome face from the shadows to the pale moonlight coming from the sky, and she let her eyes lock her gaze to his emerald eyes as he said softly, the wind going through his short blond hair: It's me Seifer.

Quistis looked his green eyes deeply, still slightly confused from his sudden appearance, and after that she quickly changed her tearful gaze down to her slender hands, as she realized that he had saw her crying.

What are you doing here She finally said under her tears, wiping the tears off from her face with her hand as she still avoided looking toward him.

He walked closer to her, placing his champagne glass onto the stone-railing next to her, as he leaned forward to the railing, looking toward the sky with yearning gaze as he asked softly, his rich and deep voice ringing in her ears:
Why are you crying

Quistis turned her sad gaze carefully toward him, feeling her heart slowing down, as he looked to be withdrawn on his own thoughts as he stared the sky silently, waiting for her answer. I wasn't crying

Seifer kept his deepening gaze on the starry sky, knowing perfectly that she was lying, as she scared to admit her problems. He changed his smooth gaze back to look toward her spring-blue eyes, noticing the overcoming shiver that swept over her, as he continued saying, his voice being stir and still so gentle that she didn't know what to think from it:
I'm not stupid, Quistis You were crying because of Squall, weren't you?

She looked him deeply, being confused from these strange words that he now was offering to her, and she tightened her grip from the railing, feeling a strange sensation that told her that this man really cared from her pain as her other friends hadn't even seen it.

You want to talk about it He continued on with his rich voice as he kept his gaze locked on her, confusing even himself from those words that offered a strange comfort and honesty.

The last time I wanted to talk was when Squall said that I should go talk to wall Wouldn't that be something Seifer would say too, Quistis thought inside her mind, as it was Seifer who had just offered her a listening ear and perhaps even a shoulder to cry against.

I don't want to talk about it Not yet She said with a quivering voice, as she changed her sad gaze back down to her own hands that still were gripping the stone-railing, this time her grip being more relaxed and softer.

Seifer fell in deep silence, absentmindedly looking toward her saddening face that was slightly frowned down, her beautiful honey colored hair flowing slightly in the air but still framing her face with few strains of hair, making her look like Angel of Beauty who had lost her wings and the ability to fly freely in the skies.

Say something, Seifer Anything, Seifer shouted inside his mind, truly wanting to make her smile again, as he just couldn't stand seeing her like this

He turned around slowly, turning his green eyes toward the open french doors that showed a great view from the full dance floor, and he unconsciously found himself from looking intensely toward that one dancing pair that he could saw from the middle of the crowd; Rinoa and Squall.

What the hell does Rinoa and Quistis see from you, Squall

Seifer especially looked Rinoa, that beautiful and free-spirited woman who had once captured his mind and eyes and that still had a great effect on him.

Seifer You've gotten over Rinoa Haven't you?

He looked her deeply, feeling a strange peace filling his mind as she looked to be so in peace in Squall's embrace. Her eyes were closed peacefully and her breathing seemed to be very relaxed, Squall's arms surrounding her body in a way that Seifer's never had.

Quistis still looked down to her hands, thinking of Squall silently inside her mind, not being able to stop thinking of him, as she thought about this afternoon when he had asked her to come with him to this ball.

She raised her gaze up toward the night sky, admiring those sparkling diamonds that lightened the dark sky with their lovely presence and she sighed softly, now changing her gaze toward Seifer, who was still standing next to her.

He was standing there, a barrier of silence covering him, as he still absentmindedly looked toward Rinoa and Squall, not seeing that strange gaze that Quistis now held toward him.

What are you looking at, Seifer?

She followed his gaze, detecting that same dancing pair as he, but now the only thing she felt was emptiness from that heartbreaking sight, as she whispered softly, still looking toward those two: Let's go, Seifer

He slowly turned his gaze toward her and he asked from her, as he wasn't sure what she had just said:
What did you say

She turned her gaze toward him, her crystal eyes still glowing slightly from the little tears, and she asked more clearly now, her heart being in peace: Would you like to go for a night walk with me?

Seifer felt his throat tightening, as he didn't understand why he felt so temped from going with her, but still knowing that he couldn't say no to this lovely woman.

Just be her friend, Seifer Nothing else

Quistis, I I would love that He finally said, looking toward her slender figure in silence.

She looked him for awhile too, before she dropped her gaze and started to walk inside the ballroom, Seifer gulping the rest of his champagne down his tightened throat nervously, before walked after her, quickly taking a new glass of champagne from the waitress' tray that walked past him.

Oh my God

* * * * *

Author's note: Well, well What do we have here Seifer having a soft place for love-starving instructors, who's hearts have gotten broken by Squall? Yeah it seems so, but it isn't that simple Not as long as I'm writing this, that's for sure!

This is the second chapter from the fanfic called Shared Feelings, and there's going to be more chapters too, so this story has just only begun. There's going to be dramatic and romantic situations and perhaps even a bit action, so please keep on reading this, even if there's going to be some little breaks, which I'm trying to avoid, as I'm working days and nights for writing this

Thank you from reading again and please tell me your opinions again, as I really like to know how I'm progressing and I really love to read them, as they give me more energy to write this.