Disclaimer: I don't own Squaresoft…yet ;)…but until that gloroius day comes and I give all my reviewers free memorabilia…I am merely using the characters and in no way consider them my own making…duh! I aint *that* creative…enjoy!

Chapter 14-Our Song

Rinoa continued to study Quistis carefully, noticing the way she subtly tried to evade eye contact with Rinoa. However, it wasn't until Zell finally went to pay for the bill that Rinoa decided to confront her. "Alright, what's going on, Quistis?"

The blonde haired woman looked up surprised, as if she were a deer caught in headlights. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, let's recap what's happened. I told Zell about Squall, he threatens to kill him and you cry out 'No, don't!'" Rin gasped, hand clasped to her chest, mimicking Quistis exaggeratingly. "Now I know you're a good and kind person most of the time, but usually if someone does threaten to kill another, its not actually taken seriously. Besides, when you found out about Squall you weren't too happy with him either."

"Well I don't recall saying I wanted to kill him."

"But if you had, we would've all known that you were speaking figuratively, unless you're a serial killer. So, tell me, what's up with you? Even right now you seem to be on edge."

Quistis bit her lip and glanced up at the ceiling nervously. If you pull this off, Quistis, you can have a chocolate before going to bed. Yes that's right, your very own mind is bargaining with you… "Alright, alright. It's embarrassing, but I'll tell you anyway. Well last night I was watching this foreign film and this normal looking kid, you'd never think he was a killer, he was so quiet and so deranged that one night while he was helping his mother cook, he just grabbed a knife and went all chop-chop on her! And then he turned on his whole entire family and it was so unbelievably gruesome and graphic that the images just stuck in my head, I guess. It was really freaky!" She closed her eyes for effect, mentally patting herself on the back. Ever considered acting as a career?

You were in bed before I was last night though…Rinoa thought as she frowned. Ugh, fine, I'll drop it…I'm probably just being paranoid. "Okay, if you say so," she replied doubtfully.

"Why? What did you think the reason was."

"Don't know exactly…never mind."

"Come on! Let's go, Zell's waving at us from the door," Selphie chimed, inwardly congratulating Quistis on her cover up.

Quistis turned to glance at the sight and, sure enough, Zell was there shamelessly waving at them, his arms pretty high in the air. "Yeah we better, before Zell starts jumping and shouting."

"Yes, 'cause that would be embarrassing," Rinoa smiled. Grinning, they all stood up, collecting their belongings and pushing in their chairs, and proceeded to where Zell was already waiting for them outside the restaurant.

"So, what were you girls discussing without me?"

"Some scary movie Quisty watched last night," Selphie happily put forward.

"Gee thanks Sef, now Zell thinks I'm a wimp."

"Well aren't you?" Rinoa asked with a smirk, receiving a confirming glare from the blonde.

"I told you, it was really, really scary! You can't even stand medical shows where the doctors do surgery and all that stuff! You squirm at the very sight of blood!"

"Fine, fine, shall we go now?" Rinoa suggested hastily, dismissing the topic of her weakness.

"So Rin, I take it you'll be busy tomorrow with last minute prep and everything."

"Yup, sorry, Zell. I have a sound check and rehearsal with Louise and then I have to get ready and then I have to be there at like 5."

"That sucks," Zell sighed, glancing up at the sky as they walked back to his car. "'cause it turns out I'll have to leave straight after the comp which means you and me wouldn't have had our usual coffee out."

"Don't worry, we'll just do it next time you come out again."

"Alright."

"Zell!" Selphie's voice pierced the air momentarily. "Why the hell did you park so far away!"

"How was I supposed to know they'd have their own little, private parking lot?!"

"You know, for someone with a degree in journalism, you aren't very smart," Quistis quipped.

"Pfft, I'm on a break, leave me be."

Quistis was just about to open her mouth with another comment when her cellphone vibrated in her pocket, surprising her for a moment. Pulling it out, she hastily opened the message, glancing quickly at Rinoa when she saw who the sender was.

It read, Call me later. Seifer :o)

Smiling secretly to herself, she placed the phone back into her pocket, removing any trace of happiness from her face before looking up at Rinoa.

"Who was that from?"

"Another teacher reminding me to bring the test papers I re-marked for her."

"Re-marked?"

"She was sick when she did it first and didn't trust her judgement, good thing I did it. Some of her comments were totally unnecessary."

"I stall can't picture you as a teacher in front of all those students."

"What?" Rinoa frowned at Zell. "Quistis, ever bossy and full of knowledge, not able to be pictured as a teacher?"

"Oh," Zell nodded as he opened the car door, "I see your point. Guess I didn't really try picturing it before, but now that I have, that's so totally you."

"Got that right!" Selphie put forward. "Sometimes she forgets that she's at home and starts treating us like students."

"Only when you need to be treated that way," Quistis replied in a quiet, non-defensive voice quietening the rest of the conversation during the ride back to the house. Trying to hide her eagerness to get to the phone, Quistis yawned obviously as she got out of the car and walked to the front door. Upon entering she tossed her keys onto the table and yawned a "I'm going to bed now. 'Night." and closed her door, waiting a few minutes before grabbing the phone and dialling Seifer's number.

"Hello?"

"Oh my god, Seifer, I almost screwed everything up."

"I'm very well, thankyou. And you?"

"Just peachy," she replied, her sarcasm matching that of Seifer's.

"Why? What'd you say?"

"Well I wasn't exactly thinking straight and Rin was telling Zell about Squall and he said 'I'm going to kill him'-"

"-Squall's name usually has that effect-"

"-And I quickly said 'No, don't!' So of course Rin got all suspicious like she always does and interrogated me about it."

"So what did you say?"

"I made up some crap about having watched a movie last night with really graphic killings and that it really freaked me out 'cause the images stayed in my head."

"Smooth."

"So now I'm afraid to talk about killings and I watch foreign movies, okay?"

"Say what?"

"Never mind. So yeah, why'd you want me to call you?"

"Oh, I dunno…I guess I wanted to hear your voice."

"Seifer," she started scornfully, a smile playing at her lips, "You promised you wouldn't give me that soppy crap."

"Sorry, couldn't help myself. Besides, I can tell I made you smile a little."

"That's complete bullshit."

"'She doth protest too much, methinks.'"

"Oh, shut the hell up!"

"Fine, fine. So what you get up to today?"

"Well, I went out with Zell and Selphie."

"Can I ask a question-"

"-You just did-"

"-Funny. Who's Zell?"

"Oh, Rin's stepbrother."

"That's right, I knew the name rang a bell."

"Why? You met him?"

"Nah, just remember Rin talking about him a lot. He was away at college most of the time, I remember."

"Yeah, he's visiting for a few days."

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I have to go and teach tomorrow."

"Ah right, I was hoping we could meet up for lunch or something."

"I'll see you at the competition."

"Yeah, but Rin'll be there."

"Don't worry, we'll work it out. Just a warning, I don't 'know' you, okay? Just be prepared to play along."

"No problem…"

- - -

"Alright Rinoa, I know you've done this all before so I won't bore you with the details. All I'll tell you is that you enter from stage right."

"Yep, alright…I got it. Louise, this is Alexia, she's the event planner for the conservatorium. Basically, just do as you're told or else she'll get really crabby." Rinoa winked.

"I'm not nearly as bad as I'm usually described," the dark haired girl quipped as she extended her hand.

"Nice to meet you," Louise replied as she took Alexia's hand in a warm handshake. "So how do you know each other."

"Oh, well this isn't the first competition I've accompanied for," Rinoa modestly put forward. "Besides I went to school here for four years."

"Rinoa really should be the one competing, but she always insists on accompanying. Did you know that she graduated at the top of her class and won the Joan Flores Award of Achievement?"

"It's not something you just say out of the blue, Alex."

"Well it should be…er…never mind. So anyway, Louise, you're the third one up tonight so you need to be waiting in the wings when the show starts. Don't worry, we usually have food and everything so you won't be bored."

"Okay, thanks."

"Listen, why don't you two go get some morning tea down the hall and when you come back we'll have a sound check. Then after lunch we'll have a run through of the whole show, is that okay with you?"

"Yup, totally."

"Alright then, see ya in a bit," Alex nodded as she turned around to talk to one of the lighting crew.

"So, the Joan Flores Award of Achievement, eh?" Louise smiled as they walked toward the numerous tables with food and drinks.

"It was just a stupid award they give for the best performance at the end of the year, its based on interpretation of a piece and audience appeal or something like that. Anyone could've won it."

"I don't think just anyone could've won it. So what song did you play?"

Rinoa smiled slightly at the fact that she'd just heard the song played a few days ago. "Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata.' Its my favourite piece."

"Really? Well it's the only song Squall knows how to play."

"Squall plays the piano?" she expertly feigned ignorance.

"Well not really, I don't think he wanted me to know. I just caught a glimpse of him playing at my parents' house once."

"Yeah, well guys having this thing about knowing how to play an instrument…well the 'too cool for school' kind of guys, anyway," Rinoa nodded convincingly.

"I so know what you mean…but Squall isn't like that at all. He had a secretive sort of smile on his face when he was playing so I just figured it was a really special song, so I didn't push it."

Special? What's so special about it…it's my song…well…

…our song.

- - -

A/N-AH! Omg! I've been dead for the longest time, haven't I? Over a month, right? I'M SO SORRY! I really am, I got back from my holiday overseas and had to go straight back to school and my goodness is there a lot of work! *insert scream* I swear I'm going crazy with the amount of work I get every night! Last night alone, I did 5 hours of maths…5 HOURS OF MATHS! Can you imagine that?! So I'm totally swamped with work and haven't even turned my computer on for the past week, let alone caught up with the pile of fics I have to read…so to any of my favourite authors, I'm so sorry I haven't reviewed or anything…I will as soon as I can! I promise! Ok…so to this chapter…I do realise its short and is probably a 'filler' more than anything, but next chapter will have more action hopefully and will also be the second last chapter! Wow! I promise I'll try to update within the fortnight but no promises alright? I'll do my best! Please be patient! (yes I do realise I am a hypocrite, so no need to point that out). To everyone who reviewed last chapter (I don't have time to write individual responses) THANKYOU SO MUCH! I hope you haven't lost faith in me :)

Remote mine, BerlinBrownEyes, !~*moonlight chick*~!, jisatsu silence, wcigtdniw (I'll be sending an email you way soon), angel-brokensorrow, The Ever Smiling, Tai Style, Etherealist, Melissa, Noacat, emina, Henrybear, mariedel (you owe me an update), chrono-maku, TheBlackRose5, Black Demon567, Wind Chime Bells, Angelprinczess29 (again, I apologise!), sweetangel6749, baka_shinji_01 and RayTheThief.

Thankyou all for your continual support. Plz R&R! 3 e.t.