Seifer smiled to himself, as he watched the beautiful instructor sitting quietly amongst the roses. Over to the left of her, a glint of jet black caught Seifer's eye.

"Who could that be?" He thought to himself, as he watched a man with long black hair walk slowly through the garden. "Is that who I think it is? No...couldn't be...."

He continued to watch as the man with black hair made his way in and out of the rose bushes, pausing here and there to smell a rose, and then continue on.

"Oh Hyne. It's president Loire! What the hell is he doing here?"

Then Seifer watched as Laguna walked straight toward the spot where Quistis
was sitting!

"He'd better leave her alone." Seifer thought with a hint of jealousy.

Laguna stood behind one of the white rose bushes that Quistis sat amongst, and for what seemed like hours to Seifer, watched her read quietly.

"Is he just gonna stare at her all day long!?" Seifer thought.

His question was answered at that moment, though, when Laguna reached up and picked a white rose from one of the bushes, and started to walk slowly toward Quistis.

"Hell! I'd better get down there, who knows what this guy is planning on
doing!"

Seifer took off down the quad stairs, his long coat flowing behind him, as he made his way toward the rose garden where Quistis and Laguna were.

The forgotten note to Quistis sat on the edge of the balcony, until a breeze swept it away, most likely never to be seen again.

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Laguna walked quietly up to Quistis, rose bud in hand.

"Ahem..." Laguna cleared his throat to get her attention.

Quistis turned quickly to see a tall man with long black hair smiling down
at her with his outstretched hand holding a beautiful white rosebud.

"Laguna! What a pleasant surprise!"

She closed the book, stood up, and looked at the beautiful flower in the
smiling man's hand. "How beautiful! Thank you!"

As Quistis' hand brushed Laguna's to take the rose, he felt a familiar cramp beginning in his leg.

"How have you been? What brings you here?" Quistis asked, her blue eyes sparkling behind her glasses.

Laguna suddenly felt very shy.

"I'm on vacation here for a week or so. I thought it would be nice to come visit all my friends."

"I am so glad to see you! It's been so long!"

As Quistis talked, she noticed how well Laguna looked for his age. There were no fine lines or wrinkles on his smooth skin, and the few silver streaks at his temples were the only difference since Quistis had last saw him.

"Please come sit over here Laguna. We have so much to catch up on."

Quistis motioned to a small bench that she had been sitting on, before Laguna had come up.

Grateful for the offer, since his leg was becoming increasingly cramped up, Laguna quickly walked to the bench and sat down.

Quistis walked up after him and took a seat. Since the bench was only a few feet long, the two had to sit very close to each other.

Laguna's heart was beating so rapidly, that he was sure Quistis could hear it loud and clear.

"How is it going in Esthar?" Quistis asked, after a moment of silence.

"Very well. Presidency can be trying at times, but for the most part, it is very rewarding."

"I admire that Laguna. Not everyone is able to manage an entire country, and actually like doing it!"

They both laughed quietly.

Quistis watched as the handsome man's white teeth gleamed in the sunlight as
he laughed.

"He looks so good for his age.." She thought as she watched him. "Such great looking features! Squall definitely gets his looks from him."

She shook her head softly, trying to shake the thoughts from her head.

"That's right Quistis! Don't think about Squall's father like that! You have definitely been without love for too long!"

"I hear you are an instructor again?" Laguna asked her, interrupting her
thoughts.

"Huh? Oh an instructor! Yes I decided to become one again. I have always
liked helping others, and instructing is a great way to do it."

Laguna was becoming increasingly nervous around the pretty girl, and he
shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Come on Laguna! Get it together! She's just another pretty girl....You can handle this!"

Laguna looked into Quistis' eyes, her golden hair framing her face made her look so innocent.

"Those eyes, I could look into them forever."

Laguna shook his head, for the same reason that Quistis had before, to clear his mind of the thoughts he was having.  He couldn't help it, though.  He was falling, and falling fast for the pretty girl that sat mere inches away from him.  She looked so mature, for her young age. 

Suddenly there was a rustling in one of the bushes in front of them.  Laguna and Quistis both looked up to see Seifer Almasy standing in front of them, looking down with his jade eyes.

Quistis stood up quickly, surprised to see her student standing in front of her.

"Seifer!  What brings you out here?"

Seifer walked slowly up, a small grin growing on his face with every step.  He enjoyed seeing the instructor blush uncomfortably at his presence.

"Why hello Instructor Trepe……Aren't you going to introduce me to your…..friend?"  His last word was spoken with a hint of animosity.

"Oh…umm…Laguna Loire, this is a student of mine, Seifer Almasy.  Seifer this is President Laguna Loire from Esthar."  

Laguna stood, confused as to why Quistis seemed so uncomfortable around the tall young man.

"Pleasure to meet you Seifer."

The two men shook hands.

"Seifer, how did you know that I was down here?"

"I have my sources Instructor.  Actually I came down here because I…umm…needed help.  Yeah.  I needed help on my assignment for tomorrow."

Seifer, of course, had never asked for help on anything, especially not with things like his homework. Quistis gave him a confused glance.

"Your assignment?  Well Seifer, if its school related, I will be happy to help.  Just one second."   Quistis turned to talk to Laguna.

"I'm sorry our conversation got interrupted Laguna, but one of my students needs help.  Maybe we could catch up later?"

"Of course Quistis.  I will be happy to talk later.  I think I will go take a short nap anyway.  I've had a long day."  Laguna said with a sigh, more from disappointment, than fatigue.

Seifer stood behind the two, arms crossed, rolling his eyes at their conversation.

Quistis picked up her book, and the small rose Laguna had given her, and she and Seifer walked together toward the Garden.  Quistis glanced back at Laguna one more time, and he smiled and waved.  She smiled back, before turning around.

.*****Later that Night*****

Quistis sat on her bed, later that night, thinking about what had happened that day.  After she had left Laguna, she and Seifer had went to her empty classroom to discuss Seifer's "assignment problem". 

What started out as help, though, actually ended up in a small argument between the two.

Quistis ran the conversation through her head again.

"Alright Seifer, I have been explaining this assignment to you for the past ten minutes, and the entire time, you've zoned me out!"

"I was listening Instructor.  I heard every word you said!  By the way, you and that President looked nice and cozy today when I interrupted you."

"That is not why we came up here Seifer.  Stay focused!"

"Hey!  I'm just saying what I saw.  How old do you think he is anyway?  At least 50.  Damn! That's old!"

"Laguna is a good man, and his age makes no difference to me.  He is kind and sweet, and that's what makes a man.  Not how many monsters he can defeat, or how much he can bench press, like some people seem to think."

Quistis remembered how Seifer's eyes glowed a mysterious shade of green at that moment.

"You like him!  You have a crush on this guy, Instructor!"

"How dare you Seifer!  You barely know anything about me!  And besides, what do you care!"

"Damn!  I knew it!  This guy's old enough to be your father! And he's the commander's father! Holy Shit!"

Quistis' eyes narrowed at the man sitting across from her.  She had heard enough.

"You need to leave. NOW!  I am tired of this."

Quistis slammed her book closed, and quickly got up to show Seifer the way out.  She was suddenly stopped, though, by a strong grip on her arm.  She turned to see Seifer, with an apologetic look on his face.

"Look…Quistis…I'm sorry.  I can't help what I think.  Sometimes I just let myself get carried away.  I apologize."

Quistis had a small stubborn streak, though, and she wasn't sure if she should accept his apology.

"Just leave Seifer.  You have said enough.  Goodbye."

She shook her arm free from his strong grip, and was about to open the door when she was spun around quickly, and again found herself staring into Seifer's emerald eyes. 

His face was mere centimeters away from hers.  She could feel his breath hit her face. He leaned his whole body close to hers, almost pinning her against the wall.

"Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are when you're angry?"

Quistis' blue eyes widened at the comment, and then it happened.  Seifer kissed her.  His soft lips brushed hers, and in an instant, he was kissing her gently.

Quistis closed her eyes. She had almost forgotten what is was like to be kissed, and Seifer was doing a good job reminding her.  Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she kissed him back, almost greedily.  He ran his hand down her back, as she ran her long fingers through his hair.

Finally, Seifer pulled away from the kiss.  Quistis simply stood there, her eyes closed, when she suddenly realized what she had done.  She had kissed one of her students!

"Oh my….Seifer….you need to leave…I'm sorry…."

"But…Instructor…"  Seifer looked at her with confused eyes. 

"Please! Leave Seifer!"

Quistis opened up the door, and motioned for Seifer to leave.  Slowly, he walked out, and Quistis had watched him disappear down the hallway, his boots scraping the ground loudly as he went.

Sitting in her room, Quistis could still feel Seifer's soft lips on hers.  She could still feel the roughness of his face against her soft cheeks, his strong hands on her back.  She shivered, and walked over to her nearby desk. 

On it sat the beautiful white rosebud that Laguna had given her earlier.  She smiled at the thought of the handsome, older man, and how sweet he was. 

She sighed quietly to herself.  Just two days ago she was wishing that she had more love in her life. 

Now she was torn between two men.  What would happen when she had to choose between the two?

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Oh man!  This story's getting good!  I am loving this!  I can't write enough!  Thanks everyone for your great reviews! Please let me know what you think of this chapter!  You guys are the best!!!  :D