Chapter 9 Sharing Heart

Author's note: Glad to say 'Put Your Hand In Mine' has ended, on a nice note too, I believe. Anyway, sorry for keeping ahold on this one - I had some trouble with my brain lately. But No fear, this fic is continuing. Other than that, keep a look out for my new one (I'm crazy...)

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"Seifer?"

Rinoa felt her blood drain from her face. She must be dreaming. But it was so real - Seifer, standing in front of her, beseeching her with his eyes. "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," Seifer sighed and reached for her hand. "Rinoa, I'm really sorry for what I've said. Please don't be - "

"No!" Rinoa burst out angrily. "How can you say that?! You just left me for some brunette just like that?! And you expect me to forgive you, huh?"

"Rinoa, I was stupid to play around - "

"Say that to the girl you left in Winhill," Rinoa spat. "You left her for me, right? I can't trust you, Seifer."

"Will you please listen?" He tried to pull her to him but in a flash a grip like vice had taken hold of his wrst and twisted it, making him release Rinoa's hand. "Ow!"

Rinoa looked up into Squall's icy gray eyes, who was glaring at Seifer with distaste. "Do you have a pass, sir?"

"Yeah," Seifer growled and showed his pass. That made Squall frown. "You've tried to harm one of our models. Please leave."

"So you got yourself a new boy, huh?" Seifer narrowed his eyes. Squall's look matched his. "Leave."

"I'm not giving up," Seifer growled, running a hand through his hair. "Don't think I'm giving up, Rinoa."

"Spoken like a true male,' Rinoa said sarcastically and watched him leave. Squall stared after him with annoyance.

"Rinoa?"

Rinoa turned around and saw the other girls coming over. "What happened?" Ellone frowned and Rinoa just shrugged. "Just... someone."

"Don't go out alone," Squall said suddenly, still grim. "He's serious."

She suddenly felt bashful. "Um... right. Thanks, Squall."

Quistis stared at the dark entrance. Why had she felt something when Rinoa went out? Something unpleasant...

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The house was silent as everyone retired in exhaustion. Even Martine, after being hugged a.k.a choked by Selphie had to call it a day. But Rinoa couldn't court sleep no matter how hard she tried. Feeling restless, she pulled on a nightgown and stepped outside.

The corridor and stairway was dim, but she saw a light from the dining hall. Strange... is Martine still awake? Maybe Quina's researching breakfast recepies...

But to her enormous surprise it was Squall, sitting at his place, staring at the opposite wall. He started up when she accidentally knocked against a potted plant. She grinned sheepishly. "Can't sleep?"

He stared at her for a moment before resuming his scrutiny of the wall... or correctly the painting on the wall. It was an oil on canvas of a morning in a dew-kissed garden.

"Mind if I join you? I... can't sleep," Rinoa asked hesitantly, not sure what mood he was in at one a.m. Squall nodded slightly and she saw in a chair, eyes narrowed at the painting. "It's beautiful... is there such a garden here, in Esthar?"

Silence. And then, "No."

She wasn't expecting him to respond so she nearly jumped. "Oh."

Squall looked at her. 'Aren't you tired?"

She turned slightly pink. "I was... thinking about this evening... and I guess..."

He nodded vaguely. "Boyfriend?"

"...Was. I don't know..."

"... This is a Garden in Centra," Squall said suddenly. "My parents' home. My father painted this."

Rinoa nodded. She wasn't sure what to say. "Look, Squall, I'm really thankful about just now."

"... He was hurting you." There was a trace of anger in his voice and she felt her cheeks grow warm again. Was he... did he care about her? "Well... He wanted to talk."

Squall nodded and got up. "If you don't mind, I'm going to bed. Good night."

Rinoa nodded as he strode out of the room.

He was restless as he climbed the stairs to his room. He had been thinking... trying to fathom his own thoughts, but somehow, he couldn't shake her out of his mind. It wasn't lust... it was... fascination. He couldn't understand why she could reach out to him so effortlessly. She only needed to lift those glorious eyes and he felt himself drawn to her. And this evening... she had looked on to him for help, and somehow, he did. He couldn't understand how, or why, but he could feel - every step she took, he was there, guiding her. And being restless, he turned to the one thing which could make him forget - his old home. But today, even the memories of childhood couldn't tear her cerulean eyes out of his mind.

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"Oh, dear," Xu said, sounding disappointed when in reality she was furious. He messed it up!

"She was so angry... and there was some bloke with her," Seifer said heavily. "I couldn't speak to her."

"Bloke?" Xu felt her anger rising. "What did he look like?"

"Tall, with ash-brown hair. Looks too slight for a guard, but those eyes - "

Squall, Xu cursed. "That's okay, Seifer," Xu said soothingly, while she furiously tore a sheaf of papers to shreds. This calls for some major rethinking. "Just lay low, and I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Xu. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"No problem," She said edgily and hung up. Oohh... she can't believe Squall had managed to mess up her plans!!!! Maybe it's that idiot's fault, she thought. If he wasn't so rough, maybe none of this would have happened.

Oh well, she flipped her calendar. She had a photo shoot tomorrow, and the week after that there's a mini show in Lindblum Avenue. How much could she bet that Rinoa would be there...?

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"Come on, relax, smile, strut around," The camera whirred and clicked every few seconds, and Quistis was feeling incredibly silly. What 'strut'?! And this outfit - an off-shoulder blouse that had a vertical slit that exposed her navel. And the pants might as well have been painted on!

"Irvy, these heels are killing me," Selphie gritted her teeth behind her smile. The photographer grinned. "Hang on, Seffie babe. Just give me one of those gorgeous smiles - that's it..."

It isn't just the heels, Quistis thought as she smiled at the camera. It's the whole thing - her, being here.

"Okay, I think we've had enough," The photographer announced and Quistis breathed a secret sigh in relief.

"Alright!" Aerith cheered and patted the ringlets in her brown hair. "Can't wait to wash this goo off!"

"Is every photo shoot this exhausting?" Quistis asked tentatively and Aerith laughed. "It's not exhausting, just a little annoying when you have to wear things you don't like and get yourself covered in goo - or hairspray," Aerith yanked off the stilettos and rubbed her feet. "If you can get into the flow of things, it's alright,"

Quistis nodded and changed. She was thankful her hair hadn't been tampered with. Aerith said one session required Cloud to have his hair highlighted green, and the highlighter didn't come off! "He wore a cap for a whole fortnight," Aerith had laughed at the memory.

"Okay you guys," Selphie finished applying her makeup. "I'll see you later, kay?"

"The photographer is her boyfriend, Irvine Kinneas," Aerith whispered confidentially to Quistis. "She publicly fights with him but look out for the secret signals!"

So they do know how to have fun, Quistis mused as she accepted a ride home with Aerith. The girl was a mix of contrasts - one minute she could be bubbly, another; a quiet doll. Cloud must be really lucky, she thought.

"Ahh... I'm beat," Quistis sighed as Martine admitted her in. "Shall I ask Quina to prepare calming tea, Miss?" Martine inquired politely but Quistis smiled. "No, I think I just need some rest - "

A loud bang from upstairs made her look up and frown. "Oh no... is Ellone and Squall squabbling again?" Despite their mature appearance, they can act like children. Martine drew a composed sigh that only butlers know how. "Regretfully. Rikku has taken a day off, and I am feeling indisposed."

Quistis grinned. "Seems like you need the tea if you ask me."

Now the roar progressed downstairs and Quistis saw Squall looking quite cross. "I've already accepted this invitation moths ago! I can't go without alone!"

"So model the necklace yourself," Quistis thought she saw Ellone snigger. Just then her eyes fell on Quistis and Quistis felt her heart drop. Oh no...

"Perfect!" Ellone shouted happily and Quistis stumbled, catching hold of Martine. "What?!"

"Quistis can go with you," Ellone said triumphantly. "She's already dressed anyway!"

Squall regarded her and Quistis silently pleaded; No, please N -

"Alright," Squall growled. "You have ten minutes to get ready."

She mentally banged her head against the pillar and Martine looked at her sympathetically. "Shall I bring the tea, Miss?"

"Have I no say at all in this?!" She cried a few minutes later when an excited Ellone had dressed, pampered and styled her hair. Ellone deftly secured her hair with a sparkling clip and stepped back to admire her work. "Wonderful. You look stunning."

She looked venomously at Ellone's reflection. 'Why does it have to be me? What about you? What am I getting into?"

Ellone took a deep breath and leaned into Quistis' ear, keeping her eyes on her reflection. 'Squall accepted the invitation months ago... when he was still married to Edea," She said softly. "The dinner is a charity auction, where each guest will bid for one item for their partners. Unfortunately..."

Quistis looked numbly at Ellone and the older woman straightened up again. "So you understand, I cannot go. Perhaps, you can help him regain his pride."

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. A perfectly made up woman stared back.

Ellone nodded in satisfaction. "Make him smile, Quistis."

But seems like I'm not making any progress, she thought glumly as she sat next to him at the back of the limo. The darkness outside was far more interesting that conversation, and she too had taken to examining her reflection in the mirror. Her earlier fatigue still egged her and she was rudely jolted awake when a hand gripped her shoulder. She swiveled around and saw him looking at her with concern. "Tired?"

Thank god for darkness, she prayed when she felt her cheeks grow warm. "I'm sorry," She apologized. "It's just that I'm not used to it... yet."

She saw him nod and in the dim light, his eyes glittered strangely. "Maybe we should turn back - "

"No," she said firmly and smiled. "It's rare to see you attending functions," She added with a smile. "I'm hoping you'd enjoy this one."

He released his grip and settled back into the leather. "My sister, you mean."

She fell silent. "She told me... does it offend you?"

He didn't answer and she let it be. At a length, the limo pulled up into a well lit driveway and Quistis stiffened. There wasn't many people, but they were all so...

"Maybe you're right."

She turned to him and was surprised to see him smiling.

"Trust Ellone to be bossy," He sighed as the chauffeur came over and opened the door. A sudden wave of panic washed over her. WHAT IN HELL WAS SHE DOING HERE?!

Squall came over and held out his hand, a thin smile on his lips.

This is why, she thought as she accepted his hand with a gracious smile. For this wonderful man. She owed him this much.

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"You are so wicked," Selphie said in awe as Ellone told her everything amidst giggles. "You forced the poor girl to accompany Squall to a dinner?!"

"She wasn't happy," Ellone confirmed laughingly. "But seriously Selphie, I think I'm on to something."

"On to what?" A gaily voice interrupted them and Ellone smiled as Yuna entered the room, as usual with Tidus in tow. The latter looked around. "Martine looks quite harassed. Is Squall throwing one of his tantrums again?"

"If he hears you you're in for a beating, but he's gone out." Ellone smiled. Tidus raised an eyebrow. "He went out? As in a business meeting, you mean?"

"No, he went to a dinner with Quistis." Ellone expected a double take from Tidus and Yuna but surprisingly the two nodded sagely. "Ah."

"You knew?" Selphie squealed in indignation and Tidus exchanged looks with Yuna. "We saw them shopping together, that's all."

Ellone laughed merrily but quickly sobered. "I just hope tonight will make him better," She said wistfully. "His divorce was hard, especially with the media hounding him. I was hoping he could regain some of his dignity tonight, just to show that he's not moping."

Selphie snickered, but not unkindly. "I can't wait to see tomorrow's tabloids!"

Footnote: Trust Selphie to do that. Anyway, reviews, please? Anything you'd like to say? Flames? All accepted. Just press the little button down there.