Squall collapsed onto the bed by Rinoa a little after six in the morning. Cid had made him help with the clean up. Why did it have to be him?

A small sigh escaped Rinoa's lips as she altered her position in bed. Squall shifted his gaze to the sleeping Rinoa. Sleeping so soundly as if she had been sleeping forever, even though she went to bed around one o'clock in the morning. Surprisingly, Cid did not enforce the students' curfew because of the party. Squall was glad that it was finally over. Parties never really were his thing. Squall enjoyed going on missions since he was good at it.

Weakly closing his eyes, Squall laid down. Luckily classes were postponed for a few days just to let the new students get situated in this new environment. Squall acquired the role of being a watch guard, along with most of the other SeeDs and teachers. He always hated this time of year when new students come. The day when some students leave is the day Squall looks forward to. It is quiet in Balamb fir a few months since only the students who graduated and became a SeeD stayed. The others who could not pull it off after for years, usually left to try another course in their lives since this one wasn't possible for them.

Wimps, Squall thought amusingly. It was their fault for not succeeding so, oh well. Teachers could only do so much for the students.

"Squall?" A murmur beside him caused his eyes to flutter open.

"Yes Rin?" He tilted his head to view her tired eyes. Rinoa scooted over slightly and rested herself against his body.

"You're finally back." Squall wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Yes, I'm finally back. It took forever to clean the ballroom."

"You should of let me help."

"No, it's okay. I want you to get your sleep." Sighing quietly, Rinoa buried her face into his chest and closed her eyes.

"You're going to sleep now?" Squall ran his fingers through her soft black hair, massaging her scalp calmly and comfortingly. "Mmm…Squall…"

"Get some sleep." Squall sat up unwillingly, for he was comfortable. The moment was perfect, but he had to make it brief or he would never be able to leave. Rinoa sighed once more and rolled onto her side, facing away from him. "Students will be getting breakfast soon. I have to be down there."

"Not if I call Cid and make him let you rest. You haven't slept for—"

"—enough. I am fine." Squall pulled himself to his feet and strolled over to the closet, dragging his feet noticeably. The lack of sleep was catching up to him, but he pushed the thought of sleep aside. He rummaged through his clothes for a clean outfit, pulling out blue jeans and a white muscle shirt. Discarding his other clothes, he slipped in to the new outfit and ran his fingers through his messy hair trying to settle it. He grabbed a pair of shades and placed it on his head, acting somewhat like a headband for his hair.

Squall turned around to see Rinoa in the same position, with her eyes closed. She wasn't asleep, Squall knew better, but he quietly moved up to her anyways. He pressed a kiss onto her adorable little nose and then left the room.

Ryan was already in the café, staring down at his pancakes, which by now, were soggy and literally inedible. Not like he was hungry to begin with. Last night was fun, for the most part. Lauren and him danced most of the night, but when they felt a little tired, they took a walk outside in the garden. It was so beautiful. Just the two if them, hand in hand, walking under the silver moon and shining stars that lit the sky and brought the garden to life in its romantic and secluded way. There was no noise except the faint sound of the music from the ballroom, and the trickling of water in a fountain not too far from where they were.

They sat down on a cemented bench by the fountain, to see the gentle ripples shivering through the reflection of the moon and stars. A lonely petal floated by the moon, afraid of the strength it presented.

That was when Ryan leaned in and captured Lauren's soft lips in a kiss. He waited until her eyes closed and then let his own eyes close. His arms traveled around her, placing a hand on the back of hear head and his fingers entangled in her hair while drawing her closer into the kiss. When he felt her lips weaken beneath his own, he slipped his tongue between the small gap and into her mouth. Lauren, spreading her lips more, welcomed the intruder.

All of a sudden, the spell was broken by giggles. Both Ryan and Lauren snapped out of the trance and the kiss to see Sally and Mike watching them.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Ryan snapped at the two with a hoarse and wavering tone. His heart was still pounding against his chest and his breathing a bit deeper than usual. He was surprised no one heard his heart. Maybe Lauren was the same way.

"Awe, why did you stop? It was so romantic!" Mike pouted jokingly while Sally covered her mouth with her hands, and her eyes squeezed shut, trying not to laugh any harder.

"Ugh, go away." Ryan muttered as he stood up, still glaring at Mike. He gripped Lauren's hands and pulled her to her feet. Then, he crossed his arms across his chest just to hear Sally snort from laughing too hard.

"But it was a Kodak moment!" Mike made a camera gesture with his fingers and winked at Lauren, causing her to blush.

"Oh shut up!" Frustrated, Ryan grabbed Mike by his collar and narrowed his eyes at him. Sally quieted down quickly and hid behind Lauren.

"Hey man, I was kidding." Mike voice wavered as he looked at Ryan hesitantly.

"Ryan, stop." Lauren's pleading voice filled Ryan's ears. Taking in a deep breath, he released Mike and stepped back.

"Geeze man, you're like that Squall dude sometimes." Mike ruffled his clothes and continued talking. "Before you say anything Ryan, I want to tell you that I have heard a few things from Rinoa at the party. You are like him."

"Shut up Mike, he is nothing like that anti-social stuck up guy!" Lauren snapped back, her voice starting to rise.

"He is not an anti-social stuck up guy! I talked to him a while ago, remember?" Ryan whirled around, feeling the anger rise within him. "You just don't know him! You never actually talked to him. Never judge anyone without knowing what kind of person he or she is. I always thought you knew better." Lauren flinched heavily by his last remark, as if she was just slapped in the face by him. Not like he cared. Ryan turned away and stomped off, back towards the party since he did not want to be there with the group.

Ryan sighed as he tried erasing the memory. Last night was so much fun, until he blew it. Lauren probably did not want to talk to him again. How could he blame her? He wouldn't want to talk to someone like himself again. She stated what she noticed about Squall and acted upon it. Then again, she could easily be mad at Squall for what he did to Ryan yesterday, which was calling his name out in front of the whole group and scolding him.

"R-Ryan?" A quiet voice murmured from behind him. Ryan turned around to see Sally shaking.

"What's wrong?" Ryan shot up from his seat and wrapped his arms around his friend defensively.

"It's Lauren. She's up to something. I saw her this morning in a cloak, and I barely recognized her. She was sneaking off out of the building."

"What! You mean she's gone!" Sally nodded weakly, looking up at Ryan.

"someone was following her also. I don't know who, but she wasn't alone." Who the hell could be following Lauren? His Lauren. Ryan turned away and tried clearing his mind. Where could she have gone?

"It's all your fault Ryan," she muttered through sobs. "Why can't you appreciate Lauren? She tries her best to be who you want your ideal girl to be." Before he could turn around and answer, Sally ran off with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm…sorry…" Ryan whispered to himself while watching her run away. She was right, it was his fault.

"Ryan?" Ryan turned around to see Squall walking up to him.

"Yes sir-Squall?" He murmured, remembering what Squall said about calling him sir. He glanced up at Squall.

"What happened here?"

"Nothing, just something I did." Sighing, Ryan looked down at his feet in shame.

"Oh." Squall kept his eyes glued on the boy. "Well, if you need to talk, just call me." He pulled out a pen and paper, scribbling his number down and handed it to Ryan. "I know Rinoa would want me to so yeah."

"Thanks…" He slipped the paper in his back pocket.

"Don't expect me to be much of help. I don't talk and help people on a regular bases."

"It's okay. Thank you." Ryan turned away and looked off into the distance. The next thing he knew, he turned back facing Squall, and threw his arms around him. What the hell he was doing, he did not know. Squall felt nice and strong against his somewhat fit body. Finally he pulled away and scooted off slowly, scolding himself for what he just did.

What the hell? Squall thought to himself. Interesting kid…

"Squall?" Rinoa appeared from behind him. "Did that boy just hug you?" Smirking, she continued speaking. "What could you have offered him to make him do that?" He placed an arm around Rinoa's lower back and pulled her against him quickly.

"I don't know, Rin. Just kids these days."

"Uh huh. What did you offer him?" She tilted her head back and focused her gaze on his eyes.

"Put me on the spot why won't ya."

"You bet dear." She nuzzled her face into his strong, built chest, smelling his masculinity.

"I just offered to lend an ear," Squall replied while shrugging, making it seem like it was nothing too important or significant.

"That's great! I knew you had it in you."

"Uh huh, right." He whispered tauntingly.

"Hey, watch it." She shoved him playfully and turned away. All of a sudden, the glass windows right next to them shattered, gunshots filling the café without any warning.

Without thinking about the situation, Squall leaped forward, wrapping his arms around Rinoa and acted like a shield as he pushed her to the floor, covering her body with his own. He could feel her frail body quivering underneath his weight. Kissing her ear, he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

"It's okay Rin. Just stay calm." He glanced around the room to see students falling to the ground. Some dead, others screaming. This was a massacre. Even the new students were dropping like flies. New students with high hopes of being the best thy could be, and some might of actually became a SeeD. Not anymore.

The bullets quieted down after a while, leaving only some students that where shaking in fear and sobbing for lost ones, and their own pains. One of those that were sobbing was Rinoa.

"S-Squall?" Her voice shook.

"Yes?"

"There's blood on me, but I'm not hurt…" Squall shifted his body to take a look at her, but when he did, he felt the sharp pain of a bullet that resided within his side. Suddenly he felt dizzy and his vision blurred. Rinoa eased herself from underneath him and laid him down on his back.

"Someone help!" Rinoa yelled with panic. "Squall's been shot!" Her shaky voice started to fade as darkness came to greet the injured SeeD.