A/N: Well, here's their date...it didn't really come out as I wanted it, but don't worry, it's still a fun chappie!

Chapter 12

The Date

That morning, Seifer woke up with an aching back, he had been tossing and turning all night with excitement and at the same time anxious about his first date. All his life, he had never really asked anyone out. Although, to his dismay, not by his own will it had to be Quistis, his instructor and friend. He didn't really mind about going out with her, only problem was he wasn't ready for a real date.

He stretched his arms as far as he could then stood up to go to the bathroom. It was 6:00 in the morning, his vision was still gloomy from his sleep, but he had to get up as stated in 'The Schedule' for the sake of his future.

When all was done and ready, he headed out to Cid's office to receive further instructions and materials for their date.

"Good morning Seifer, had a cozy sleep last night?" Xu greeted him as he exited from the elevator.

"Yeah yeah, morning to you as well, but drop the cozy part, I had a terrible night." Seifer greeted her back looking a bit weary.

Xu giggled before she was able to reply. "Go right in, Seifer, the Headmaster is waiting…good luck."

Instead of asking Xu how she was able to know, he simply gave her a cocky grin then went right in to Cid's office. At the back of his mind, he was so annoyed by the fact that other people were aware of what was about to happen. (That headmaster is gonna be so dead if I hear that he told the whole Garden about this.)

"A fine morning to you, Seifer. I'm glad that you did as I told you." Cid immediately greeted him and had Seifer seated. Before Seifer could even comment about his agonizing back, Cid continued on speaking. "Now here is the bouquet of flowers that you will be giving Quistis. Tell her how much you appreciated her acceptance to your invitation," Cid said giving Seifer a large bundle of white roses, and before Seifer could even react to him the headmaster started mumbling once again. "Here's the continuation of the schedule that you're suppose to do for your date. As written, you are to propose to her by the end of the day, now, I give you the freedom to choose whatever ring you wish to give to her, just make sure you get the job done, understood?"

Seifer took the bundle then gave Cid an assuring nod as he usually would every time people ask him favors. He took Cid's silence as an opportunity for him to speak. "Why are you doing this?" he asked with a little mockery in his tone.

This question startled Cid for a moment then bid his response. "Seifer, I just want you to know, your compassion for Quistis can never be denied and that arrogance of yours cannot be tolerated in the game of love. I can't simply allow you to let this chance of loving her pass you by. Seifer, I want to help, please don't let go of this chance for you to tell her how you feel." Cid explained passionately, his words took Seifer by surprise.

The blonde stood there for a while filled with Cid's words of reason. When he finally snapped back into reality. He quickly turned his attention to Cid who was standing there smiling at him. Both were silent, Seifer was simply astonished while Cid avoided speaking for he sensed the realization in Seifer's eyes. Seifer neither spoke nor blinked, he just suddenly left the room without saying goodbye. As he walked along the hallways of Balamb, new questions came to mind.

(I don't get it, why do they have to force me? I'm not that helpless, I could do things on my own! I lived for past eighteen years of my life as an independent being, have they never thought of that? Besides, what is it that's gonna be so different about love anyway? And Quistis…what does she have to do with this?…)

Deep in his thoughts he wasn't aware of where he was going, until a voice suddenly called out.

"Seifer? Are you all right? For who are those flowers?"

"Huh? What?" Seifer was startled back to reality. He turned down his gaze towards the voice that called out.

"I said, for who are those flowers?"

Seifer caught sight of Quistis' soft smile and slight blush as if she had been anticipating him all day. Unable to promptly react, he simply looked at her emotionless. After a few swift seconds he finally managed to come back to his senses. "Oh, these? Uh…well…these are actually for…well…wait a sec--" Tense at the situation, he wasn't able to remember what he was supposed to say. So he needed to turn to his backup. He pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it, then read out loud. "These flowers are supposed to signify my deep appreciation for you not turning down my invitation to a date."

Since Seifer had read it out loudly because of his tension, people around the cafeteria turned their attention towards the two. Seifer and Quistis could hear soft mumbles and whispers around them. Seifer, noticing the change of atmosphere immediately handed the flowers to Quistis and sat down stooping his head in embarrassment.

Both were quiet for a brief while, just until Seifer was able to pull up his guts and decided to forget the whole incident. He twitched his fingers then slowly looked up at Quistis who was admiring the beauty and scent of the flowers. "Uh-umm…. Sorry for speaking too loud, its just that--"

"It's alright, Seifer, I wouldn't mind the whole world to know, there's no malice in our relationship, right? Oh, and thank you for the flowers, they are simply adorable! Did you pick these out yourself?" Quistis questioned as she held the flowers closer to her chest.

It took awhile for Seifer to respond to her curiosity. He could either lie to her and make her admire him for his sense of taste or tell her the truth and make Quistis doubt him even more. "Actually, it was me who chose them for you. I hand picked them myself in Winhill yesterday."

As Seifer spoke, Quistis looked at him as if she was really glad of what Seifer did. She softly smiled at him and then they finally had their breakfast

After their breakfast, they headed towards Balamb. As Seifer said to the boatman that they'd be renting a rowboat towards Dollet, Quistis immediately butted in.

"What!? And do you expect me to paddle all the way there!!??"

"What else do you expect? Of course we're paddling our way there."

"And if I say no!" Quistis argued resisting Seifer's ridiculous idea

"Then I'll just have to force you!" Seifer insisted as he lifted Quistis off her feet and carried her gently in silence towards their boat.

"SEIFER ALMASY I DEMAND YOU PUT ME DOWN IMMEDIATELY!" Quistis reprimanded hitting Seifer relentlessly with her bouquet of flowers.

"Hold still will you!? You're destroying the flowers I gave you." Seifer exclaimed back as he was carrying her, grasping for his breath cause Quistis kept on choking him as well.

Finally, after much struggle and arguments they were able to reach the boat. Without hesitation, Seifer dropped Quistis then hurriedly he paddled away from Balamb. This made Quistis really angry. She kept quiet at the far end of the boat away form Seifer.

"Hey! C'mon, don't be such a baby…I'm sorry now okay!?" Seifer kept on and on

Finally, Quistis uttered "You know what, Seifer? You are toooooo…..I don't know! Its just that you think you are just tooooo…..I mean you're just sooooo! ARGH!!!!" Quistis yelled not, unable to speak anything that was on her mind.

"You know, that attitude of yours reminds me of you as a child. I have such vague memory of you…all that I could remember of you was your bossy attitude towards everyone. Indeed I must say, you are the boss of your own being, but why don't you lay low sometimes and let the others take care of you, get what I mean?" Seifer mentioned as he stopped from paddling and picked up an acoustic guitar beside him and started to play a soft mellow tune that sounded so familiar to Quistis.

Now that things had gotten a little smoother between the two, Quistis asked him what was he playing. She tried to remember, but the memory was far too obscure for her and she had to ask.

"Can't you tell? It's 'Evening's Sigh' the one that Matron use to sing for us before we go to bed, remember?" Seifer replied as he kept on playing.

"Oh yes! I remember!" Quistis then gave Seifer a momentary giggle then went on saying "We use to sing along with her, but your voice would usually be the loudest, as well as the most annoying, but lucky us, you're also the first to drift off to sleep."

Seifer was silenced by Quistis' sudden accuse of his being annoying.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to speak it in such harsh way…but it's true…your voice was quite annoying as a child…but now, I find it quite…romantic…."

"….romantic?"

"Don't take it the wrong way, it's just…never mind…."

Quistis was silenced by her sudden repartee, but Seifer didn't mind at all being called a romantic. While on the other hand, it was an embarrassing moment for Quistis' slip of tongue.

"Hey Quis, do you mind paddling from here? My hands are aching and I have to sing for you all the way from here." Seifer said, as it was on "the list" that he had to sing to Quistis at least five love songs and they were already late on schedule.

"Is that an excuse to laugh at me? Because you know I'm not that strong." Quistis protested at Seifer's favor.

"Okay then, why don't you feed me? I'm starving! I brought along some pastries."

"…I wouldn't mind…so what's in the basket?" Quistis questioned as she motioned herself to take a peek at the picnic basket that Seifer brought.

"Go take a look for yourself, I don't care what you give me as long as it's edible." Seifer responded, as he himself didn't know what was in the basket because Xu had been made to pack them up for their snacks.

"Let's see…we have cake, spaghetti, and some salad. What would you like?" She asked once again as she placed the delicacies on the seat and out from the basket. "…Well that's odd, there's no utensil here what so ever." Quistis mumbled as she tried searching around the boat for a fork.

"Is that so? Why don't you hand feed me then." Seifer suggested

"WHAT!? Forget it Almasy…you are such a seducer."

"There's nothing wrong about hand feeding me! I am here, busy singing for you, tired and exhausted from all the paddling, and this is what I get in return!? Okay, if you don't wanna feed me and soil your little hands, then you can paddle all the way there…unless you're a damsel in distress, unable to do things herself!!!" Seifer countered with arrogance. He felt a bit insulted when Quistis refused to feed him, it was not his hunger that aroused his fury, but more of Quistis' ungratefulness that made him feel mocked.

"How dare you call me damsel in distress! I AM SO capable of doing anything!" Quistis argued back. She too got all fired up when Seifer called her damsel in distress, not from the thought of being so girly, but when people call out that she is incapable of doing things for herself, she feels offended. She took the paddle from Seifer's side and started rowing as fast as she could exerting much effort.

Both were mute as Quistis paddled along. Seifer stopped singing and looked at his list. It stated to dock their boat on Dollet's Lapin Beach.

When they docked there, Quistis' hands were so numb that they had to rest for a couple of minutes before they headed out to Dollet's dock where they were going to have their lunch.

"…I'm sorry…" Seifer apologized, he let down his pride in order to speak with Quistis once more. Though it's not Seifer's first date, he wanted to make sure that both of them had fun and not feel uncomfortable with each other throughout their date.

"…Me too…I'm as awful as you are feeling…I shouldn't have argued with you…"

It took them awhile in the restaurant before they headed out for the movie house. The movie could have been great for the two of them if it hadn't been for that nosy guy in front who kept on peeking at them every three minutes. It could have been better if the atmosphere was romantic, but instead it was filthy and crowed. Seifer thought to himself half way through the film, why did Cid chose that movie house without air-conditioning, uncivilized people, stinky chairs, the one which smelled like sweat and smoke, sticky floor; filled with chewed up bubble gums and spilled sodas? The place was simply revolting and they had to leave before the movie could end. The place was so bad since a couple of kids who were seated right behind them kept on pulling Quistis' hair while the one seated right beside Seifer kept on drooling on his coat. Two BIG FAT lovers sat right in front of them blocking the screen. So they just listened to the character's conversation, which could've worked only if the teenage girls would have kept quiet for at least a minute. They kept on blabbering at each other like they were miles away form each other when they are seated all together in one single row. The whole movie seemed like an actual nightmare for the both of them that they where so relived when they left.

After their terrible experience in the movies, Seifer invited Quistis to go to the Communication Tower where they could have some privacy. They easily passed the guard who had bad pair of legs and continued on towards the tower. When they reached their destination, they tried to ponder on Seifer's last SeeD test before all those awful incidents occurred.

"Quis, do you think I could make it this time?" Seifer asked looking a bit down. It was a painful memory for him, siding on the evil wing, not being able to pass his SeeD test, being kicked out of the Garden, all were too painful, even for a man like him.

"Of course you could! I mean, you're a strong fighter, you even have more experience on everything a SeeD should have. What makes you think you couldn't do it?" Quistis tried to comfort her student.

Their chat didn't last long because Seifer felt a tremor on the ground. While Quistis heard strong thumping sounds on the earth.

"Shhh…listen…" Quistis warned as she held on to Seifer's wrists.

"I know, there's something coming in our way." Seifer replied not budging

The sound kept on for awhile, as seconds passed by, it became louder and louder as the quake intensified. And when they turned back, three large X-ATMs were on their way thumping hard towards them. Being adept at fighting, right away they drew out their weapons. They attacked the X-ATMs one by one, but it was simply too much, even for veteran fighters.

When all three were knocked off on the ground, they immediately ran off towards the bridge only to be blocked off by another pack of X-ATMs. They were ambushed, there was no way out, they couldn't fight 6 X-ATMs all at one time. Both were exhausted from knocking down the first three, they had no where else to go.

"So, this is were it all ends…" Quistis mumbled

"No! There's a way out of this!" Seifer then grabbed Quistis and jumped off the bridge falling into the river. The current was strong, but both were determined to live. They swam to the edge of the river where they found themselves behind Dollet's Pub.

They sat in there for awhile, weary and wet. Quistis decided to call it a day, but Seifer resisted for he still had a couple of errands to do. He begged Quistis to be a little more patient cause there was something he really needed to do. Luckily, Quistis cooperated and went with him to the card painter, the father of the Queen of Cards. There they picked up a painting; it was a collaboration of him and Quistis sitting on the beach gazing at the sunset. Quistis was shocked while Seifer was perplexed.

"Seifer, is this your idea?" Quistis questioned ready to punch him in the face, how dare he order an old man to create graffiti for the both of them when they are not even lovers?

"Heck NO! I was asked by….uhh….Zell to pick this up for him." Seifer denied, at the same time accused Zell to be the culprit saving him for Cid's wrath.

"ZELL!!!! He'll regret this! I'll make sure he gets what he deserves!" Quistis cried out in frustration.

When that was over, he gave the dog a piece of bone that he received form the painter's grandson saying that a middle-aged man ordered him to do so. Knowing that the boy was referring to Cid, he had no choice but to do it. When he handed the dog the bone, the dog suddenly became furious and started running after them barking hard. The poor exhausted couple also ran away form the dog, and they ended up in Nautilus where Seifer bought some fuel for their trip back to Balamb. Everything went on smoothly from there. They rented a car by the entrance where Seifer was given a note by the lady. The note stated that Quistis had to drive the car form Dollet all the way to Obel Lake, and from there Seifer could take over.

"WHAT!!?? You know that I can't drive!" Quistis exclaimed as she entered the car.

"That's why I'll teach you!" Seifer said insisting that she had to drive.

They entered the car, and Seifer told her the basic steps in driving. Quistis was a great teacher and learner, too bad she couldn't get the hang on driving as fast as others could. So they bumped on a couple of rocks on the way, almost got hit by the passing train, but still they reached Obel lake in one piece.

As they went down the car to exchange seats, Seifer told Quistis to pick up a rock and throw it in the lake. At first it skipped three times, when Seifer had his turn, it skipped five times. This continued on until all the stones that surrounded them were in the lake. When that was done, he took out his piece of paper where it stated "Try humming at Obel Lake for a change." Seifer felt ridiculous about the idea but what choice has he got? So he did, then a black shadow appeared on the water. Seifer fell on his feet in shock while Quistis ran off towards the car as fast as she could since she was eagerly looking at the water when Seifer hummed and the black shadow appeared right before her face.

"At the beach near Balamb, something special washes up sometimes." Uttered the black shadow before it disappeared back into the water.

"What?" Seifer was deeply confused by the shadow's words, so he thought of forgetting all about it and drove their way to Timber.

At Timber, he was asked to do a couple of things as well before they rode the train back to Balamb.

He was ordered to go to the Editorial Department of Timber Maniacs where they got stuck for two hours talking with the Editor-and-Chief there. It was already around 1800 hours when they were able to leave. By then, the couple was dying to go home, but orders were orders for Seifer. He was asked to get the Owls Tears for their dear Matron and finally some Gin Aura at Pub Aphrora for Cid before they headed back home.

They rode the train back to Balamb, from which they walked back to the Garden. It was already around 2200 hours when they arrived. Everyone was dead asleep.

When they arrived at Quistis' dormitory all was silent. All they could hear were their footsteps and their hard breathing they got form their long tiring day. Both were barely moist form their unexpected bathing in the cold river. They were weary, tired, and frustrated. They were supposed to arrive by the 2100th hour, but the train that they were on board was stopped for spot-checking regarding terrorism as the guards explained. Even they were interviewed with such ridiculous questions such as their birth date, their marriage date, how many children they have, which they knew nothing of since they had no idea how to respond. No matter how many times they repeated that they were not a couple, the guards insisted that they were so, and wouldn't release them until they've answered all questions. What made it worse was that all the guards' questions were irrelevant to terrorism. It took them around 45 minutes to get away from them.

As Quistis unlocked her door, Seifer remained quiet. Many thoughts were in his mind.

Though the atmosphere was perfect for him to make his move, he still felt uncertain of making such a commitment. The moon was full and the stars were brightly shining. Though the lights of the corridors were turned off, the hallways could still be seen by the luminous light of the moon. Just as Quistis was about to bid her goodbye, she noticed Seifer's perplexed look.

"Hey, why the troubled look?"

But Seifer remained silent; his hand was in his pocket. His fist clasped a small box. He couldn't help but ponder on Cid's words earlier: "If you wish to be a full fledged SeeD, do as I tell you…propose to Quistis." He could still remember Cid saying: "After your date, you are to place the ring of your choosing on her finger and ask her love in return. When all is done, come to me and your mission will officially be over."

Seifer wondered if what has happened to such a principled person. He knew Cid for a long time, and never would he do such an unrefined deed. Indeed Seifer always made good judgements about people. His vision for his Headmaster became hazy as he firmly clasped the small box. His thought of him suddenly departed when he popped back to reality.

"Seifer! I said are you alright!?" Quistis said a little bit louder this time.

"Oh! Huh? Yeah yeah, I'm fine…" He replied in excuse

"So…I guess this is where we say goodnight huh?"

"Quistis…there's something I need to tell you…" His heart pounded wildly. As he was about to take out the box, Quistis motioned to his pocket peeking of what was in store for her that night.

"What is it?" She questioned with excitement

He firmly closed his eyes for one last time and took a deep long breath before he relieved his arm from the box in his pocket. He knew he failed his test. He was aware of the consequence for his decision, but he was just not ready. He cared and loved Quistis, but not to the point of taking the next step with her. He was just not in love with her as of the moment…he too knew of the outcome if he'd propose to her at the wrong time. It was just not the right time to advance further with their relationship. He was sensible enough to accept his fate though he knew it would not be admirable. Instead of showing her the ring, he instead cleared his throat and said: "Goodnight."

Quistis was confused with his simple words, she expected something better, and instead what she got was a mere goodnight. "…that's it?" She couldn't help but state her thought.

"Well yeah, did you expect something more intimate?"

"NO! I just thought that you had something in your pocket."

"I see…well there's nothing here I got for you."

"I don't get it…there is really something in there." Quistis persisted, but Seifer's gaze turned fierce and defensive when she said those words. She simply took precaution and held back her words. "Never mind…"

"Well in any case, I apologize…our first date didn't work out as I thought it would."

"It's alright, I don't think it's the last."

"Really? Then in that case, you wouldn't mind going out with me again?"

"Uh-huh, only next time, I'll make the schedule." Quistis kidded for the first time that day.

"You got that right…"

Both were silenced once again for a short second. They had nothing else to say. They had talked so much all day that they seem to know so much of each other already.

Quistis entered her room smiling at Seifer. "Well…goodnight…"

"Yeah, nite…"