Author's Note: It's like chapter 7 I believe? I really have a good time writing stories and all. I really do, so I don't mind giving up some of my homework/studying time to write this story. I don't care if I do have some mistakes in the story. I really love the Final Fantasy VIII game (It was my 1st FF game actually).


Alright the last chapter was kind of short, so I hope to write longer chapters. The story isn't coming to an end any time sooner. More stuff coming your way. Enjoy! Read and Review please!

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Chapter 7

After the long day so far, Laurette and Garland went back to their rooms and got ready for the SeeD party tonight, welcoming all SeeD members. "So what happened today? I didn't see Aleron in the classroom when we gave those speeches…that luck fool." Garland smiled as she did her hair. "Errr…" Laurette didn't answer but just straighten out her new uniform. She was proud of it. All of her life's work just to wear this uniform with pride. "Hey…did something happened between you and Aleron?" Garland asked now sitting across from her. "He tired to kiss me…or hurt me….I dunno." Laurette said and brushed the long raven black hair that shimmered in the light. Garland gasped. "Really? Oh my! I can't believe that he would do such a thing!!" Garland said. "I know…Rosemarie might know already, but don't tell anyone else. You know how this garden could be sometimes." Laurette rolled her eyes. Garland giggled. "Yea I know…" Garland smiled and looked at her watch. "Oh! It's so close to party time. Lets hurry!!" Garland said and rushed back into the bathroom. Laurette just started to change into her SeeD uniform and soon they've found themselves in the grand ballroom in the garden.

Laurette entered the room, filled with people. It was the same every time. After going to these balls her whole life, she already knew this and that, but tonight was her night, she have to enjoy it. "Hey!!" Rosemarie showed up and popped in front of Laurette's face. "Oh, Hello." Laurette smiled at her friend. "This is so awesome isn't it?!" Rosemarie asked as she clapped her hands together in delight. "Yea…I guess." Laurette did her best to try to sound like she was having fun. Rosemarie giggled. "Oh come on Laurette. If you're lucky…knowing you, you would be, some hot and cute guy will ask you to dance." Rosemarie winked. Laurette looked over Rosemarie's shoulder to find Iven stealing glances at her friend. "Maybe you'd be the one who's lucky…" Laurette smiled. "Huh? Who would dance with me?" Rosemarie laughed.  Laurette then saw Iven coming up from behind Rosemarie without her noticing. He then cupping his hands around her eyes. "Guess who?" He asked. "Iven…?" Rosemarie asked. "Hey how did you know?" He asked her this time facing her. "I just got a hunch…" She smiled sweetly at him, and for a moment there the two just stared at each other. Laurette cocked an eyebrow as she saw what was going on between her two friends. "Err…well I'm going to go…get a drink now…" Laurette said walking away. She then bumped into Iven on her way. "Ask her to dance…" She whispered loud enough for only him to hear. "Oh…" He blushed a bit as Laurette walked away. He then turned around and faced Rosemarie face to face. "Howdy  madam. Would you do me the honor of having this dance?" He asked bowing to her. She giggled. "Certainly I will." She smiled and hand in hands the two walked on to the dance floor dancing.

Laurette sighed as she lead against the wall watching her two friends dancing together for the first time. She looked around to find Jules and Garland talking. There was nothing for her to do right then, since all of her friends seemed to have something to do. She then saw her mother and father walking through the door, along with all of their friends. Laurette didn't want to get mixed up with them for the time being and just stayed in the shadows, slowly lurking away and outside on to the balcony. Once she was outside she took a deep breath of the crisp breeze. There was always something about the night sky that hooked her. Pulling her into it, making her lost in her thoughts. She lean against the railing and smiled looking at the stars, blazing in the darkness of the sky. Millions of them were out tonight, same space same time. She then heard someone taking a breath and looking over to her right to find Aleron smoking pot. "Hey…miss me?" He asked smiling sharply at her. She gasped. "What? What are you doing here?" She asked him a bit shocked. He was in his SeeD uniform alright, but there was something about it that doesn't seem to suit him right. He then took another smoke of his pot and blew the smoke into her face. She coughed and looked away. "Doesn't that smell good?" He asked smirking. He started to get close to her. "Get away from me Aleron!!" She said and started to walk away. "Hey don't go! The party's just starting!" He shouted. "What party?" She asked not even turning around to look at him. "Our little riding and banging party…" she could feel his eyes glazing upon her, causing her to shudder. "Oh come on Laurette…you know you wanna…" He said. She could feel that he was really close to her now, because she could feel him exhaling on to her neck. She turned around and looked at him. "Aleron! You just don't get it do you? I DON'T LIKE YOU!! You're not my type. I only see us as friends. I'm sorry." She said directly at him and just started to run this time. "We'll see about that…" he smirked and walked in.

She ran back into the ballroom, and not looking at where she was going she ran into someone. She looked up to find a familiar looking face looking at her. It was Arnoux.  His hazel gray eyes looked a bit surprised. He then offered her a hand.  "Are you okay?" he asked her. "Yea… Thanks." She said blushing. She looked at him in his new SeeD uniform. Something about him made him fit into that uniform better then Aleron. "Hey you look great." He commented her with his soft smile. She turned red a bit, not knowing what to say. She've been in tons of situations like this, but never have she blushed. "Thanks…so do you." She said getting rid of her blushing pretty quickly. She twirled around flipping her raven black hair at him playfully. He just laughed. "So we're SeeD now eh?" He asked. "Yea! This is pretty awesome." She said. "Yea, I've been wanting this my whole life." He told her. "Yea me too!! My dad kind of inspired me to join." She told him. He smiled at her, just smiled. His burette bangs were covering his eyes. 

"That's the boy that backed off Aleron today." Squall told Rinoa after he caught her watching her daughter for a while. "Oh really…?" Rinoa asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice. Squall nodded and handed her a wine glass. "Arnoux. Not a bad student." Squall sipped his wine.  "Hm, I see." Rinoa said and turned around to see Seifer, and Quistis approach them. "Rinoa! I love your dress!!" Quistis smiled. She was wearing a red dress and was hanging on to Seifer's arm. "While, Thank you Quistis!" Rinoa smiled at her. "Hey." Seifer greeted pretty much smiling now. Squall nodded at him and he nodded back. "So our kids got promoted, isn't that great?" Rinoa asked trying to start up a conversation.  "Oh, yes. I was positive they was going to pass. Rosemarie was so nervous!" Quistis said. "How about Laurette? Was she nervous?" Quistis asked. Rinoa shook her head. "Not that I know of. I was nervous though because of her training before that exam." Rinoa said. "Oh yea, she was injured during training wasn't she?" Quistis asked. Rinoa nodded. "Yes, and you know how us mothers are." Rinoa laughed and so did Quistis. "Say, Squall can I talk to you for a minute?" Seifer then asked. Squall nodded. "Be right back okay?" Squall told Rinoa and kissed her. Seifer then walked with Squall out of the ballroom.

"What's up Seifer?" Squall asked crossing his arms. "I just wanted to say sorry about how Arnoux acted to Laurette today." Seifer said looking a bit down. Ever since he was accepted as one of the gang members again, and back into the garden, he've changed a lot. Squall cocked his neck. "Sorry? What's there to be sorry for? You didn't do anything Seifer." Squall told him. "Yea, but he's my son…" Seifer trailed off. Squall sighed. "Don't worry about it. Aleron should be the one saying sorry, not his father." Squall placed his hand on to Seifer's shoulder. "Besides, what's over is over." Squall said. Seifer sighed. "Oh come on Seifer. No worries. Come on, lets go back in." Squall said and patted Seifer on the back and started to walk back into the ballroom. "You really have changed a lot." Seifer said. Squall turned around and looked at him. "And so have you." Squall told him. "It's been a long time then." Seifer said again. Squall sighed. "Yes, now lets go back in." He then took Seifer in and back to Rinoa and Quistis.

Laurette laughed as she and Arnoux enjoyed each other company. She felt happy around him. "So he was walking up the stairs, and bam! Right in the face. It was so funny!" Arnoux laughed. Laurette laughed along with him as he explained a story. "How do you know so much?" Laurette asked after catching her breath. "I dunno…" He said and looked up at the sky. They were now in the Garden's Quad, just sitting there on the steps looking around. "Hm, I see." She said. "Say Laurette, do you believe in angels?" He then asked. "Hm? Why?" She asked him back. "Because I'm looking at one right now." He smiled. She turned to look at him to find him smiling and looking at her. She blushed softly. He laughed. "I'm just messing around." He playfully punched her arm. She then giggled and looked at her watch. She then yawned. "Feeling tired already?" He asked. "Yea, a bit." She answered. Then fireworks exploded in the air, sending multiple colors into the dark sky, and burning it up. The two watched in amazement. She then looked at him, as he at the same time looked at her. They both started to laugh. After a while, the two got up and said their goodbyes in front of Laurette's new dorm room, which wasn't far from his'. "Hey!!" Laurette shouted for Arnoux before he departed. "Why don't you meet me in the cafeteria tomorrow? At around 8? We could have breakfast with some of my friends." She asked him. He stood there for a minute thinking. "Sounds great. I'll be there." He smiled and started to walk off again. Laurette smiled and opened the door to her dorm. She then fell into her bed, and into a sleep wishing tomorrow would come already.

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