Disclaimer: I do not own Squaresoft, if I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction…I'd be creating a whole knew game…a sequel, perhaps, for ff8, so yeah. Oh another thing, The song featured is by Air Supply called "Here I Am"…so yeah, really nice song, you guys should consider downloading it ^.^…on with the show…

Chapter 10-Decisions

"I can't do this, Squall." Rinoa dropped her head, focusing on the ground. "You're engaged to Louise and she's my friend."

After a moment to silence, Squall slowly got up from the piano stool, making his way towards her. He gently took hold of her hand, Rinoa's gaze remaining downcast. "Rin, please listen to me. I'm really sorry if I've hurt you in anyway, please…I'm just so unbelievably sorry."

She shivered at his touch, tears nearly escaping her eyes, however, she kept her firm composure as best she could, lifting her gaze indignantly. "If you hurt me in anyway? What was that, an understatement?" she scoffed at his comment. "Listen, just leave. You can't just keep coming back into my life like this, we went on separate tangents long ago and we've obviously moved along just fine. Let's keep it that way. Just please…leave." Her voice faltered slightly as he released his hold. Her strong front had been shed with each word she expressed, her voice evidently getting softer, weaker.

"Goodbye, Rin," he said softly as he turned to leave, obeying her wishes.

He was almost at the door when Rin whispered, "Bye, Squall." He stopped momentarily, almost as if he meant to turn back, before exiting and closing the door shut, leaving Rinoa alone. She sunk down to the floor, hugging her legs to her chest. The tears finally let loose as she rested her forehead on her knees. He has no right, I'll just have to be stronger next time. In a week this whole thing will be over and I won't have to deal with Squall or his fiancee ever again...hopefully. Standing up, Rinoa settled herself in her chair, grabbing a handful of tissues from the box on her table corner. Wiping her eyes dry and blowing her nose, she took several deep breaths, trying to regulate her breathing.

Once achieved, Rinoa settled her gaze on the door Squall had shut ten minutes earlier. If he's shut the door to our past, then there's no reason for me to be crying over him like this. It's been over for five years, I have to accept this. As if there was any chance for me-what hope did I actually have that he'd fall for me again? I'm an ex now, he's engaged and its not me at his side, accept and move on. He's not going to break that up for me. Rinoa lifted her chin indignantly at the thought, as if she disagreed with such thoughts. Then why the hell was he about to kiss me? Why is he...I guess I'll never know...

Fed up with giving Squall more thoughts than he deserved, she vehemently grabbed the remote for the stereo, turning it on to the radio, a piano introduction catching her attention. When the vocals did suddenly start she was dumbfounded, and found herself staring blankly, once again, at the door of her studio.

"Here I am, playing with those memories again
And just when I thought time had set me free
Those thoughts of you keep taunting me.

Holding you, a feeling I never outgrew
Though each and every part of me has tried
Only you can fill that space inside.

So there's no sense pretending,
My heart, it's not mending.


Just when I thought I was over you
And just when I thought I could stand on my own
Oh baby, those memories come crashing through
And I just can't go on without you.

On my own, I've tried to make the best of it alone
I've done everything I can to ease the pain
But only you can stop the rain.

I just can't live without you,
I miss everything about you.

Just when I thought I was over you
And just when I thought I could stand on my own
Oh baby those memories come crashing through
And I just can't go on without
Go on without
It's just no good without you."

With a final sigh, Rinoa leant back against her seat and closed her eyes. Why do songs always seem to tell my situations perfectly? Is some other cosmic power out there trying to tell me something?

Who am I kidding...?

- - -

Squall drove down the road, careful not to speed as he cursed his actions.

"I'm such an idiot!" he said aloud to himself, hitting his head against the head-rest as the traffic light before him turned red. Once it turned green again, he turned, deciding to go to Seifer's apartment, his thoughts resuming.

I shouldn't have talked to her-I shouldn't even have gone there! Louise gave me the damn card, I couldn't just called her. Her secretary would've answered anyway, and if Rin did…well…I'd just fake a foreign accent. Yeah, whatever, it's easy to say shit like that in hindsight. I can't do this…it doesn't feel right anymore…I have to let her know…

Making his way quickly up the stairs to room 16 he knocked impatiently, revealing a very tired looking Seifer.

"Hey Squall," he yawned as he scratched his tummy, "What's up?"

"I need advice."

Even in his fatigued state, Seifer managed to smirk and reply with a, "Don't you always? You know, you've got more issues than a chick these days."

"Funny. And you don't have a chick."

Seifer straightened up at that comment, a serious expression on his face. "That's just low, man. Don't be going there."

"I'm already there. Listen, let me in."

"Oh," he said, surprised, as he opened the door wider. "Sorry, I was taking a nap."

"I can tell. You know, you seem to be home heaps these days, why the sudden hermit act?"

"Well, it's more convenient for you."

"What?" Squall asked as he sunk into a chair.

"I mean, it's more convenient for you 'cause you'll always know where to find me, its also easier for the purposes of this fic," Seifer whispered the last bit, earning a raised eyebrow from his friend.

"Eh?" Squall asked, baffled. Shaking his head slightly, he resumed what he had intended. "Whatever, I need your advice."

Seifer, lying down on the couch with his hands behind his head, perked up, putting a smooth, telemarketing kind of voice. "Hello, you've reached Seifer's advice line called: Conversations with the Master of All. If you would like to discuss life in general, please press one. If you would like to discuss your sexuality, I may not be of any service. All I can say is that I'll be your friend whether you are queer or straight. If you would-"

"Seifer, come on, I'm trying to be serious," Squall interrupted to no avail.

"-like to discuss tonight's dinner menu, press 2. If you would like to discuss my greatness, please press 3." Suddenly fed up, Squall picked up a juggling ball on the table beside him and pegged it at Seifer's stomach.

From reflex, Seifer's torso and legs lifted at the impact as he howled in pain. "Shit man! You gotta warn me before you start hurting me like that." He quickly scrambled into a sitting position, arms wrapped around his tummy as he rocked backwards and forwards slightly.

Squall merely lifted an eyebrow amusedly at his friend. "That would ruin the whole purpose of surprise."

"Fine, fine. What do you need 'advice' about?"

"Louise and Rin."

"I figured."

"You did?"

"Well yeah, you've been kind of…well, distracted since Rinoa came back on the scene."

"Is it really that obvious?" Squall asked, worried.

"Yeah… wait, were you being sarcastic or were you being serious?"

Squall looked slightly offended. "No, no, I was being serious. Was it really that obvious? Would Louise have been able to detect anything?"

"Dude, its obvious to me because I've known you since we were five. I'd be shitty at myself if I didn't notice. Besides, I know what's going on. Louise doesn't."

"Are you sure?"

"Listen, if she knew or suspected anything, who do you think she'd come to asking about you?"

"Me?"

"And she if she didn't want you to know about it?"

Squall's brain clicked. "She'd go to you."

"Correct. And has she come to me?"

He was about to think about the question seriously when he rolled his eyes in response. "I dunno, you tell me."

"No she hasn't, I would've told you if she had."

"Aww, how nice of you."

"That's what I'm here for." Seifer smiled proudly as he leant back against the backrest of the couch. "Okay, so what exactly do you need advice about? As in, specifics."

"How do you break up with a girl?"

"I think you're fairly experienced at that," Seifer said quickly without thinking about Squall's implication.

"Shuttup and answer the bloody question 'Oh Great One'," he rebuked, impatiently.

"Why do you want to know anyway?" Seifer asked distractedly as he went to pick up the juggling ball that had bounced off his tummy. Stopping whilst in the action, he faced Squall with wide eyes. "You aren't going to…are you?"

Squall, who's gaze had been downcast, lifted his focus, nodding slowly. "I'm thinking about calling off the engagement."

- - -

A/N-ahh! How's that for a cliffy? Was it mean? Cos I personally don't think it is a mean cliffy this time (I didn't even think it was a mean cliffy last chapter so yeh). Anyhoo, I'm all happy this week cos I didn't have school (community action instead) and its been the best fun I've had! Anyhoo…as is the case…please, please, please review! I would really appreciate it! To those who reviewed last chapter:

baka_shinji_01-thanks for reviewing last chappy (yes you were the first to review ^.^) and about those cookies…what flavour would you like? Since I'm the one making them this time ;)

Noacat- you're getting married/got married?! OMG! CONGRATULATIONS! And all the best for your future of happiness! Wow! It must be terribly exciting for you! Well, good luck, God bless and thankyou for taking the time to r&r my fic ^.^

wInD chIme beLLs-Can't see Squall playing the piano? Well, he always was a reserved kind of guy so I figured it was imaginable, though I can picture him playing the violin the best…but yeah…how was the ending of this chapter? Answer your question about Squall accounting to Louise? And I'm glad you thought the Seifer/Squall exchange humourous…I admit I thought it wasn't all that, but hey…you're the audience and if you're happy…I'm happy ^.^ thanks again!

remote mine-Squall is an absolute idiot! Hehehe, that was my intention! To make him stupid ^.^ (not because I hate him or anything, I just wanna try out ideas) anyhoo…thanks for the review!

Bembem-don't worry about it, I understand that everybody gets busy now and then, but I really do appreciate you're taking the time to even read my fic! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Jolly B-thanks so much! You don't know how much of a compliment it is to be added to favourite lists (well you probably do ^.^) anyhoo…thanks again for the review…you really did brighten up my day

Wcigtdniw-ahh, good evening again sir ^.^…well I think my fairly long email to you was response enough for review, but I'll give ya something now as well…as for your idea about Tommy at the end, I might just have an epilogue…still thinking about it, and your idea may very well feature ^.^ thanks so much again! (keep those lovely long reviews coming ^.^)

CTHKSI-thanks for the review, dude! Yeah, my friend who reads that magazine was kinda offended when she saw that bit lol!

aZnDrEaMeR1788-you bet its gonna get more complicated! But its still fun to write which is a huge advantage ^.^ thanks for the review!

BerlinBrownEyes-thanks for the review and as for it not doing justice or whatever, even the thought is good enough for me ^.^ thankyou so much!

Melissagurl-hehehe, I'm glad to see you're happy with how this story is going…are you even happier now after reading that last line? ^.^…incidently enough I do play the piano, which is why I'm pretty confident with how everything works. Thanks again for the review and I hope this ending wasn't as bad a cliffy as last.

Mariedel-yes you did review chappy before last and I wrote u a nice lil msg too, but cos you got to read it before everyone (lucky person) you didn't see…aww *tear*…your loss I guess…can't wait to get back to school! Can you? And yes…many other people thought the seifer/squall exchange was funny, ok? So you're not weird…sorry for getting you sick as well =S, though I'm not convinced it was all my fault…laterz then!

SabreHero-hehehe, well…don't you want Squall and Rinny together eventually? That's just the way the cookie crumbles ^.^ thanks for the review! And I'm not evil, really I'm not…just not nice ;)

The Ever Smiling-no…Michael has another appearance I think, maybe…dunno yet. Anyhoo…Squall can't cook, he was just attempting, and he's terrible at it (cos I say so ^.^) thanks for the review, hope everything's all right with school!

Billie the Kid-I demand you stop hurting yourself! Allow me to remind you that the end result will be Squinoa now and forever hehehe ok? So stop pulling out that lovely hair of your's and stop hitting your head because you'll lose an awful amount of brain cells…alright? Good…now…thanks for the review!!!

Raine-thanks so much for the review! I totally agree about Moonlight Sonata, nice, nice piece.

Baby Rose-nice name btw ^.^ thanks for taking the time to read my fic and review! Truly, ruly appreciated!

Chibi Yunie-thanks for the review, and yes, they do end up together at the end, or else I'll be mad at myself ^.^ thanks again

!~*moonlight chick*~!-I'm…special? *tear* wow! That's the first time anyone's ever called me special without a bad meaning ^.^ thanks so much for reviewing! And as to my potential? I'm glad you believe in me so. Thanks so much! You don't know what that means to me ^.^

cdog21-hope this update was soon enough for you ^.^

angelwingstar-thanks for the reivew! Hope this chapter was sufficient.

Angelprinczess29-last and certainly not least, you, my friend! It never ceases to amaze me how your review (a much loved author of mine) will always make me happy ^.^ omg! I so know what you mean about school, and I can totally empathise with you on that. Well, I hope all is going well for you and that you don't over-flood your brain with facts. Good luck with everything! and thanks again for the review…don't worry, there'll be lots of Squinoa moments to come ;) I assure you ^.^

Please take the time to review, it really is a great thing for me if I know what you all think. Also, I know many of you are getting busier and I'm thinking about having an email list, so if you'd like to be notified of when I update, please just give me your email addy in a review…thanks heaps ^.^

3 e.t