Disclaimer- *sings* I own nothing, nothing, NOTHING! So please…don't…sure meee….eeee….^.^…hehehe, so how was my rendition of Whitney Houston's song? Pretty ain't it? ^.^ jokes! Enjoy!

Chapter 15-This is My Moment

Louise nervously paced the corridor outside the stage door. Oh my God! I can't do this, I can't do this! Yeah, pick a great time to let the nerves get to you…

"Louise? Louise…hello?" Rinoa waved her hand in front of Louise's face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…just a little nervous, that's all," she weakly smiled.

Rin grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, the Concert Hall only holds 1,200 people-"

"Only 1200?! Are you trying to kill me? I can't do this! Not in front of so many people!"

"Listen, Louise, trust me on this, it'll just seem like it's a rehearsal. You won't see anyone. Its so dark out there and the lights are so strong that you'll feel like you're the only one on stage, except for me, of course."

"Really? You aren't lying just to make me feel better?"

"It's the truth. Besides, would I lie to you?" She then strategically added, "About something like this?"

"I guess not. Thanks."

"Anytime. So are you tuned and everything?"

"Yup, I'm all ready to go."

"Hey Louise," a voice called from down the corridor. They both turned to see Squall coming towards them. At the sight of the two girls he almost stopped dead in his tracks. He took in the image of Louise with her simple, dark green, satin gown held up by two spaghetti straps. But what really stunned him was the vision of Rinoa in her red, elegant georgette gown with a draping cowl neck also held up by two spaghetti straps. Shaking his head slightly, he put his hand on Louise's waist and kissed her cheek. "I just wanted to wish you both good luck."

"Thanks, Squall."

"Yeah, thanks," Rinoa hesitantly put forward. He always looked good in a suit. Don't stare, he'll think you're checking him out! Well you kinda are… ARGH! Damn him!

"So, I'll be heading back now. Have fun." That said, he turned back to the way he came from and proceeded down the corridor. Once he was back into the foyer of the Concert Hall he smiled boyishly to himself. Rin is so damn beautiful…

"Rin!" a girl waved as she saw the two girls enter the wings of the stage.

"Angie, hey! Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you this afternoon, you know how Alex is about socialising during rehearsal."

"Do I ever. So what's the deal this year? You're accompanying again?"

"Yeah I am. Angie, this is Louise. Louise, this is Angeline Kurmann."

"I know. You're like the greatest pianist ever!" Louise said as she stared in awe at the slightly taller girl. "Wow. It's an honour to meet you," she gasped as she accepted Angeline's hand in a handshake.

"Honour? I'd say the real honour is having Rin here accompany for you."

Rin smiled humbly. "Angie and I went to school here together, but as she went off to compete all around the world, I became a teacher."

"Which is good for me, because had she decided to compete with me, I wouldn't have as many awards as I do now."

"That's nonsense - complete bullshit."

"Whatever you say Rin. Listen, I'll talk to you later, I'm first on tonight. You know the tradition, last year's winner plays first."

"Yep, alright, I'll see ya soon then. Good luck!" she said as she hugged her old friend.

"Good luck to you, too! Though you don't really need it," she said with a wink before turning to walk to the other side of the stage where Alex was hastily waving for her.

"Wow! I can't believe you know Angeline Kurmann. I love watching her play."

"Yeah, it is a privilege. Listen, the shows about to start, do you want a drink or anything?"

"No," she smiled gratefully," I'm fine. Thanks Rin."

Outside, the lights of the Concert Hall slowly dimmed out to darkness signalling the start of the competition. A spotlight shone brightly against the crimson curtain, after a few minutes a slightly elderly man entered to an applause. Finally, when the claps had died down he began, "Ladies and Gentlemen. I welcome you all this evening to this prestigious event. This is the 48th year of the Persis Holland Award, named after, of course, the founder of this Music Conservatorium. This evening's performances demonstrate the extensive talents found across our city and will begin with last year's winner, Angeline Kurmann playing Claire de Lune."

The curtain lifted revealing a sole piano. After a few seconds, a girl dressed in a black, sleeveless gown approached from the stage wing, received by an enormous applause. Rinoa and Louise both applauded as she took her place at the piano. The black haired girl glanced at the girl beside her with a knowing smile.

"I think you should know – last year's winner isn't allowed to compete so I wouldn't be to worried about losing to Angie."

"What?"

"This is just her little performance. She isn't part of the competition."

With newfound confidence, Louise smiled as she watched the pianist play. Whoa…I have a chance. Yes!

When Angeline stood up after playing, accepting a few bunches of flowers and flashing a smile, she subtly hurried of the stage, sighing as she arrived beside the two ladies who'd been watching.

"Next we have a young flautist-" the MC began again outside on the stage.

Meanwhile Angie placed her flowers on the table and hastily took a glass of water to drink. "That's what I hate most about these things: all the fake smiling. No one just walks of the stage when they're done. They have to appear to be enjoying the applause, which is all good once in a while, but a whole ten minutes of it is a bit much. I'm so glad that's the last I'll ever have to do."

Rinoa frowned slightly. "Last? But I thought you liked competing."

"Yeah, well it gets tiresome after a while, as you should know, besides I've been inspired to take up teaching."

"Well it's a very rewarding profession," the darker haired girl reassured.

"Who said anything about wanting a reward? I'm in it for the bossing around!" she laughed, receiving a glare from Alexia not too far away. "No seriously, I've always thought about it, and besides, I'm getting married next year, I don't think I should be travelling everywhere, leaving Vic at home alone and stuff."

"Vic? You two are still together?"

"Yep, four years now. Can you believe he's still trying to teach me how to play the violin? He's been trying since we started going out and he's a pathetic teacher-"

"Sorry to interrupt your little catch up Rinoa, but you and Louise go on in about five minutes." Alex informed them. "You better make sure you're ready."

"You all tuned up?" Rinoa asked as Louise started hyperventilating slightly.

"Yep."

"Are you sure you want to go on?"

"Yep."

"Because you could always just leave and cause a huge uproar."

"No," she quietly laughed. "My parents are here. I'd hate to disappoint them."

"Alright then. I'll talk to you later Angie."

"Good luck Louise, you'll be great!"

"Thanks." The two girls took their place next to Alexia who was busy whispering into her headset.

"Tell that stupid trumpeter to stop drinking the champagne, that's for after the bloody show. How the hell did he sneak it in back stage? You actually let him? Did I honestly hire you? No don't answer that, I know I did. Listen, you get that bottle away from him right now or else he's not going on, I don't care how sober he thinks he is."

"Last chance to turn back."

"No, I'm fine, really I am. At least I'm not succumbing to the temptation of alcohol like some people." She sniggered as they observed one of the backstage crew on the opposite side of the stage chasing around some guy who was undoubtedly the 'trumpeter'. "What about you, Rin? You're so busy asking me whether I'm ready, what about you?"

"Oh I'm never ready, but I think I'm feeling pretty good tonight."

"Well…good luck!"

"You, too!" Rinoa returned as she accepted a hug. So Squall's out there, and I'm on the stage. Why does this bring back memories…

Rinoa sighed nervously as she turned to face the stage.

…This is it.

- - -

A/N-okay, I know I said that this was gonna be the second last, but at the rate this is going, I'm pretty sure next chapter will be the second last…so that would make this chapter…the third last! Geez I'm good! Anyhoo, wow! I didn't realise so many people actually kept a look out for my fic…but wow! Thanks everyone for still reading, you have no idea how much it means to me! In particular:

Tai-Style-Squinoa action soon, I promise! Like next chapter soon. Thanks so much for the review!

remote mine-hehehe, I'm trying to stay away from the two month mark…*shudder* I have fun writing the Queifer bits, cos I'm sure I'll never write a full queifer fic, so yeah! Thanks so much dude!

Emina-omg! There's so many fics I have to catch up on, I'll check out your fic as soon as I can, which'll be like a month. But I'll try, I promise! Thanks for the review!

Angelprinczess29-aww, its my little dedication to you, ya like? Hahaha, I knew you would ^.^ thanks so much for all your support and I hope you update real soon, cos I can't wait. That little Squall thing wasn't originally part of the chap, but I was doing some last minute editing and said, why not? It'll be cute! Hahaha, so thanks again!

angel-brokensorrow-yeah I know, I'm working on that little updating problem…if only you knew how much work I have to do…but anyhoo, I'm trying my hardest to complete this fic so I can start another hahaha, so thanks for the review and your support!

Graywords-girl-wow! *tear* thankyou so much for your compliments! It's a joy to see different people reading my work, so thanks for reviewing!

Wcigtdniw-ah, its you again I see. Did you ever get my email? Just wondering…I dunno if I wrote the email addy correctly or whatever…but yeah…it was all prety meaningless anyway, but yeah. Just the usual thankyou so much, you're really funny and all that jazz *starts singing* erm…perhaps not. Omg! You hafta continue your little Squika! I swear I can't wait! AH! Omg! Oh yeah, I finally got ffx-2! So :P hahaha, omg! I've only played like 11 hours…I can't believe I've put school before ffx-2, but hey, what ya gonna do…anyhoo…ttyl! Thanks so much again! you rock! ^.^ *huggles*

Verdanii-wow! Thanks so much for reviewing every chapter! Not a lot of ppl do that nowadays…I really appreciate you taking the time to r&r…to thankyou so so much!

jisAtsU siLENcE-yup! Couldn't agree with you more: school does suck! But thanks for the review! Makes up for all the hours I spend in the dreaded classrooms and corridors…yeah thankyou!

code-wyze-so that's how you spell thankyou eh? Well I spell it as one word and I'm pretty sure all aussie's do so as far as I'm concerned it's the correct spelling. But thanks for pointing that out and thanks for reviewing!

Etherealist-sequel? Possible but unlikely…I have other ideas that I really wanna tackle, but rest assured, you have not heard the last from me! Muahaha! Erm…that sounded more evil than I anticipated but yeah…thanks for the review and for continuing to show interest…why you do I have no idea, but thanks all the same!

Shenny G. Potter-thanks for the compliments and choosing to read Moonlight Sonata, I do hope you enjoyed your ride and yada yada hahaha…always good to see a new reader so thanks for the review and the encouragement!

Wind Chime Bells-this chapter was faster coming out eh? Well I hope it was ok and I promise more action in next chapter…I woulda made this chappy longer cept I'm running short of time and I have heaps of assignments due. So thanks for your understanding and constant encouragement! Thanks a bunch!

Aograv-thanks so much for reading my fic! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thought it was okay.

baka_shinji_01-I think you'll hafta put that cookie order on hold for a while…I have time to even think about cooking! But soon, I promise! Those cookies will be headed your way! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Trin-I dunno…what does happen to Rin? Oh am I spose to know? . a little help? Kidding! Thanks for the review! I'll have the next chap out as soon as I can!

Black Demon-thanks for the review and apologies once again about the lateness…I feel so horrible for doing that!

Noacat-thanks for not forgetting bout lil old me! ^.^ you rock! Thanks a millions for still reading and reviewing!

CTHSKI-lucky last but not least, thanks for the greetings…you just reminded me of my age hahaha. Don't worry though, there isn't any bloodshed…I don't think. Thanks so much dude!

Thanks everyone! Please R&R! have a nice day…

3 e.t.