The following day, at evening time, people were hesitant to show up. Quistis believed it was because someone would try and hijack the power again. This would cause much more confusion than the previous incident had because more people would attend here than the people who were up and about when the power had been shut off.
Quistis tried not to worry. She didn't think he was stupid enough to pull that again. Everyone else had been thinking the same thing, so everyone was on high alert. Cid had assured her that it wouldn't happen again.
But Quistis still worried. Raiun was supposedly the culprit for what happened. How had someone who seemed so nice.. be to inhumane? And where had his body gone? None of it made sense.
And one other thought lingered in her mind: Squall had seemed to change somehow. He looked so much paler than before, but he must've had a lot on his mind. Even still, something seemed dark about him. Sure, he always used to seem quiet and maybe almost menacing, but only hardly. Something about him now just seemed.. odd.
She tried not to question so many things. This evening was going to be full of dancing and good times, and she couldn't ruin it by being such a worrywart. But of course, she was also quite saddened because everyone would be leaving after this, and out on their own. What would become of her..?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Cid, and she blinked a few times to regain focus. She hadn't even seen him standing there for the past few moments.
"Quistis, you look worried. Something bothering you?"
"Well," she confessed, "I'm still concerned about the incident a few nights ago. You don't think it could happen again?"
"Perhaps a possibility if someone were to copycat Raiun's actions, but I don't think that will happen."
"Sir, we still haven't found his body. How can we say that we're safe?"
"Quistis, there will be guards everywhere," he assured her. "We've always had high security at these SeeD Balls, and now, we're just bumping it up a few notches. If anything were to happen to the guards, this ball is going to be full of topnotch SeeDs who have attended here, and they'll clear it up quickly. You must also remember that Squall is one of our best SeeDs, and he's willing to stop any threat to Rinoa--"
"Are you done?"
Cid blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
Quistis giggled. "I'm sorry, I just hate for people to say that I'm wrong."
Cid grinned. "Well, you better get used to it because I'm a strict optimist, and I won't settle for any negativity."
Quistis sighed. "I don't mean to be negative, but--"
"No buts. This Ball is going to be completely safe. I will take full responsibility of it so you don't have to worry about anything."
Quistis smiled, and bowed. "Thank you, sir. I shouldn't worry so much."
She turned, and left him. No one had shown up yet, but she didn't expect anyone to for a few minutes. She only hoped for the best.
Rinoa was in her dorm room, staring at the full-size mirror in front of her, trying on her dress for the Ball. It had a kimono-style button-up collar, and it fitted her snugly down to her knees, where there were two slits on each side. The dress was a cranberry color with black trimming. She wore tall, black dress boots that came just below her knees.
She wore her hair in two pigtail buns, with hair sticking out only a little bit in each. She looked in the mirror, and smiled, satisfied that she looked like a little Chinese doll.
Her smiled faded. She thought of Squall. Why had he seemed so different? He changed somehow. She didn't want to think of it. Everyone was trying to convince her to get in therapy because her self esteem was too low, and she didn't want to start blaming herself because of Squall's behavior. She didn't want to go to the nut house.
Still, she was concerned, but forced herself not to express it. She put a smile back on her face, and walked out toward the lobby.
"Hold still, Irvy! Quit squirming!" Selphie demanded.
"Well, you're pulling my hair, and it hurts! I know it's long, but I'm not a girl!" Irvine shouted.
"Hey, quit shouting, both of you!" Zell told them.
Irvine wiped a tear away from his eye. "Well, she's pulling really hard."
"I could put some bows in your hair, you know," Selphie giggled.
"Give him some big, bright pink ones," Zell laughed.
Selphie was sitting at the edge of her bed, Zell beside her, and Irvine was sitting on his knees in the floor, facing away from them. Selphie was tugging at his hair and trying to put it into a braid, but his hair was really tangled. After much screaming and groaning, she finally got all the tangles out, and she was slowly braiding his hair, making sure it looked nice.
"How much longer?" Irvine complained.
"Almost done. Quit whining," Selphie muttered.
"Yes, ma'am," Irvine said.
Selphie tied the end of his hair, and looked at her work. "There we go. Much better than your hair being all mangled and loose."
Irvine looked back to her and grinned. "Can I put a cowboy hat over it?"
"No, sir, you can't. It'll get all messed up if you do."
Irvine stood. "Well, thanks, guys. I'll be off in my room, now. See you in the lobby."
Irvine left, and closed the door after him. Zell looked to Selphie, grinned, and pounced on her, pinning her down. "Muwaha," he laughed evilly.
Selphie giggled, acting like she was struggling to get up. "Get off, I gotta get dress."
Zell gave a pouty look. "I can't watch?"
Selphie stuck her tongue out. "Nope, cause I'm so mean."
Zell smiled, and kneeled, kissing her. "Yes, you are." He climbed off of her, and stood. "I guess I had better get dressed. I'll be in my room if you need me."
"Okay. Meet'cha in the lobby."
Zell left Selphie's room, and suddenly had a gut-aching feeling that something bad was going to happen. He turned, and went for Selphie's door, but she had already locked it. He turned back down the hall, and walked into his room, having an premonition that something bad was going to happen. He wasn't sure if needed to worry about Selphie.. or Rinoa.
(Aren't I just evil, leaving it at a cliffhanger?)