"Ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall. Ninety nine bottles of beer."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" thought Squall.
"You take one down, you pass it round. Ninety eight bottles of beer on the wall."
"Why couldn't they have given us two cars?" Squall began to bang his head against the back door, trying anything to drown out the sound of Selphie, Zell and Irvine singing. He didn't understand why Galbadia Garden had decided to lend the SeeDs a van instead of two cars. Quistis had offered to drive and had therefore spared herself the torment of hours and hours of songs. Rinoa sat quietly next to Squall, obviously deep in thought.
"Ninety eight bottles of beer on the wall. Ninety eight bottles of beer."
"Will you be quiet?" Squall shouted. The three SeeDs stopped singing, shocked at the sudden outburst by their Commander. A stifled laugh came from Rinoa.
"Sorry, Squall. We were just having fun," replied Selphie, obviously downhearted.
"Yeah, Squall. Let her have her fun," said Irvine sticking up for her. Squall said nothing, which Selphie interpreted as a cue to resume singing.
"You take one down, you pass it round. Ninety seven bottles of beer on the wall."
Squall hit his forehead with his hand in frustration, which provoked a laugh from Rinoa.
"What's so funny?" he growled.
"Nothing," she laughed. "It's just that we haven't been going for five minutes yet, and you lot are already at each other's throats."
"Glad you find it funny," he replied dryly.
"Oh, don't start getting offended. You know I'm only joking."
"Whatever."
"Stop that!"
"Stop what?"
"Saying whatever. You always say it." They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the singing of Selphie, Zell and Irvine. "Squall, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"What will happen to me? You know after we reach Balamb Garden?" He shrugged.
"I guess when the Headmaster realises what's really going on, and that Caraway is the enemy, he'll let you go home."
"Is that it? You just send me home?"
"Well, where else do you want to go?"
"I mean, what if they try and get me again? Caraway knows where I live."
"Well, you could always move house."
"I know him. That won't keep him away from me for long. He has spies everywhere."
"Well, what do want me to do? I don't even know for sure if the Headmaster will just let you go."
"I don't know," she sighed, resting her head in her hands.
"Look. If you want me too, I guess I could ask if you could stay in Garden for the time being."
"You'd do that? Thank you," she gasped, throwing her arms around him. Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, she quickly pulled away. "Sorry."
"Whatev…" Squall checked himself. "It's alright." She smiles at him, at which point he felt his cheeks become warm. He was so sure that he was about to blush, that he turned away from her.
"Hey, everyone," exclaimed Selphie, obviously bored of her song. "I've got a great game."
"Cool, a game," enthused Zell. "What is it?"
"I spy." She jumped up and down, clearly excited.
"Great, that's all I need," muttered Squall under his breath. He felt a sharp elbow in his side, and looked up to see Rinoa glaring evilly at him.
"Don't be so miserable," she hissed.
"Erm, Selph? How are we going to play I spy if there aren't any windows?" asked Irvine, confused.
"Silly. We can look out of the windows in the back doors." Selphie, Zell and Irvine all crowded around the two back windows, near Squall and Rinoa's seats, squashing them against the door. "I'm starting, I'm starting. Right, I spy with my little eye, something beginning with G"
"Grass," screamed Zell at the top of his voice, causing Irvine to put his hands over both ears.
"That really hurt!" he screamed.
"Wuss," replied Zell. Irvine looked as though he was about to hit Zell, but quickly reconsidered when he remembered that Zell was Garden's martial arts expert.
"Stop it children," admonished Selphie, trying to mimic Quistis' instructor tone of voice. "Now, Zell. It's your turn."
"Erm, I spy with my little eye, something beginning with S"
"Sky," drawled Squall, boredom showing through in his voice.
"Aww man, how did you get that?"
"The only thing out there is grass and sky. We're in the middle of nowhere," he explained. "Now if you could please move away from the window, I'd like to be able to breath again."
"I guess we'll have to think of another game," sighed Irvine.
"Truth or dare," announced Selphie, a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Count me out," Squall insisted.
"No way, Commander. You're not getting out of this one."
"Alright, who's first?" asked Zell.
"Seen as you asked, you can go first. Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"I've got a good one," announced Irvine. "What did the Headmaster want to speak to you about before we left?"
"No way. I am not answering that." He folded his arms and turned away, determined not to say anything.
"Aww, Zell," whined Selphie. "You have to tell. I'll make you." She started prodding him in the stomach. "Tell, tell, tell, tell…"
"Ouch. Alright, alright. Just stop that. If you must know, I was using my T-board in the halls and I accidentally ended up the girl's bathroom okay?" The group burst into fits of laughter. Even Squall managed a slight smirk. "Don't tell anyone, please?"
"Fine, but for protesting so much, you have to have two turns," Selphie ordered. "Truth or dare?"
"Seen as you were so mean last time, I'll take a dare."
"Fine. In that case, I have a great dare for you Zell. You know our old physics instructor?"
"Ewwww," shivered Zell in reply.
"You have to ask her out next time we're in Garden."
"Selphie, you are evil," said Irvine proudly. "That was one impressive dare."
"Selph! I would rather face a thousand T-rexaurs than put up with her," Zell moaned. "I can't believe you'd do that."
"Well, you know me." Selphie flashed him an innocent smile and turned to Irvine. "You next."
"Truth," announced Irvine. "I don't want you thinking of a dare."
"I've got one for Irvine," exclaimed Zell. "How do you really feel about Selphie?"
"Zell," he hissed. "You know I can't say that?"
"I think you'll find you have to," said Zell smugly. Rinoa and Squall watched on in amusement, wondering if Irvine would really say.
"Erm, well. She's nice?" he offered.
"The truth," ordered Zell.
"Fine, she's very nice."
"Hey, I am here you know?" Selphie shouted indignantly. "I have a name."
"Okay, then," he stuttered. "Selphie, I, I really like you. Well, more than like. Much, much more." Both Irvine and Selphie looked at the floor, embarrassed and not knowing what to say. Selphie quickly snapped out of it, looking for another victim.
"I think it's the turn of our glorious Commander, don't you?"
"I'm not playing."
"Don't be such a spoil sport. Well, I guess that means we can pick for you, and we pick truth." Selphie moved closer to Squall so that he could no longer ignore her. "Has anything ever happened between you and Quistis?"
"I told you, I'm not answering anything."
"That means yes, doesn't it?"
"It means I'm not answering."
"It did happen, I know it," Selphie jumped around, clapping her hands, excited at the prospect of a new piece of gossip.
"What happened between you and Quistis?" asked Rinoa, crestfallen.
"Look, nothing ever happened between me and Quistis, alright?" he shouted. The rest of the group was taken aback by his sudden show of temper.
"Sorry," Rinoa muttered sheepishly.
"Look, if you don't believe me, ask Rinoa. She was the one who told me that Quistis liked me."
"You didn't know?" asked Selphie, astonished.
"No, how the hell was I to know?"
"It was just so obvious. She's liked you for years. Even I noticed," said Zell.
"So, do you like her?" enquired Rinoa.
"She's a good instructor and that's all she is to me. Happy?"
"Not really. I was looking for some juicier gossip than you being blind and not being able to see what's right in front of you," Selphie said, obviously disappointed.
"Fine we'll ask him another one," suggested Irvine. "Do you like Rinoa? You know, like Rinoa?"
"Right, that's it. I've had enough of this." He banged on the partition separating the driver from the rest of the van. "Quistis, pull over." The van ground to a halt and Squall leapt out of the back doors.
"What's wrong, Squall?" Quistis asked, concerned.
"I'm driving," he announced, getting into the driver's seat.
"Wait," shouted Rinoa, who got into the passenger seat next to him. "You think I'm waiting for my turn?"
"I don't blame you."
"So you don't mind me sitting with you?"
"As long as you don't sing or try to play stupid games."
"Deal," she announced, smiling. "Are you alright?"
"Why shouldn't I be?"
"You just seemed pretty annoyed with everyone."
"I don't like childish games."
"That doesn't surprise me. Childish games can be fun though. Well, I used to think they were when I was little. Let me guess, you never played them?"
"What's the point?"
"It's supposed to be fun."
"Well, it's not my idea of fun."
"What do you do for fun then?"
"I go to the training centre. Either that, or I study."
"I said for fun Squall. What do you do for fun?"
"I heard you the first time."
"But, don't you have a hobby or anything?"
"Not really."
"Everyone needs a hobby. I play the piano and write my own songs. My mother taught me before she passed away, so every time I play it makes me think of the good times I had with her."
"I guess SeeDs don't really have hobbies."
"Sure they do. Zell likes T-boards, Irvine likes women, and I can't see Selphie studying all day."
"Fine then, I don't have a hobby."
"There must be something."
"Well, sometimes I draw, but I haven't done that for a long time."
"See, everyone has a hobby. Can I see some of your pictures when we get to Garden?"
"I don't know, they aren't very good."
"Please?"
"Fine. I'll show you them."
"Thanks." Silence ensued for a few minutes, before Selphie, Zell and Irvine began to sing once more. Squall and Rinoa looked at each other, both sighing at the laughable rendition of She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain that resounded through the van. "Thank Hyne we're here," he muttered.
"Thank Hyne indeed."