Part I: Her Arrival
The sound of her heels echoing throughout the crowded hallway immediately silenced the nearby students of Balamb Garden--which was no ordinary feat. As anyone knew, it took quite a disturbance to completely hush so many students in such a little time. Most of the SeeDs in Balamb Garden had heard the rumor of a new instructor from Galbadia coming there soon, but not many believed it. "Nothing to see here," the voice of an annoyed Garden Faculty member sliced through the quiet, "Please return to your prior activities." With this, a small smile was flashed. "This way, Miss Blake," he insisted.
The younger girl accompanying him simply nodded her head, pushed a stray strand of pale blonde hair away from her face, and followed quickly along behind him. A bit nervous about meeting Headmaster Cid, her entire body gently shook. It was her first day here at Balamb Garden..and she would quickly admit she missed all the many familiar faces from her own. She disliked being under such close watch--as she noticed many eyes rested on her, no matter how often the Garden Faculty member shooed them away. Carefully avoiding the students' gaze, she and the faculty member boarded the elevator which would take the two of them to the third floor--and later to Headmaster Cid's office, where she would receive any assignments and her welcome to the Garden.
As the elevator door closed, and it began it's ascent, Kiara leaned lazily against the back wall of the elevator, letting out an exhausted sigh. It'd been quite a long day for the sixteen-year-old, and by this time, she was simply ready for it to end. She watched the blur that was outside the elevator from where she stood, a small smile crossing her lips. When the elevator rose up a bit more, displaying the second floor, a student--none other than Zell Dincht--happened to catch her eye, flashing her a bright grin before returning to his conversation--which seemed a bit one-sided. The other boy seemed to not respond..and instead just watch, nodding occasionally as if pretending to be listening to the other's chatter. For a brief second, she could hear Zell's voice as a couple of undergraduate students stopped the elevator and quickly boarded. "That must have been the new instru--.." was all she heard, with the exception of the childish squeals of the girls who had joined her, before the door had shut once more.
Moments later--to Kiara's relief--the elevator reached the third floor, and she and the faculty member stepped off. Kiara watched over her shoulder as the elevator once again descended down to the first floor, where she figured the two younger girls would get off..still chattering nonstop about their boyfriends, and whatnot. As she was led down the hall..which she was fairly sure would soon reveal the door leading into Cid's office, she stared at the ceiling--perhaps counting tiles? The Garden staff member which had been showing her throughout the Garden since early morn--no doubt passing time--seemed to notice this, and looked over at her. "You know, alot of the students here have been talking about you, Miss Blake."
"Is that so?" Kiara replied with a small trace of sarcasm tossed about over her words. "Been here one day, and already more popular than I was at Galbadia Garden," she sighed, still apparently mesmerized by the ceiling above them.
"Maybe that just proves how much better off you are, here in Balamb?" came the reply, a simple suggestion--one Kiara failed to ignore.
"I was just fine in Galbadia Garden, thank you," she snapped. She quickly settled her anger, however, as they reached the door which would lead her into Headmaster Cid's office. After being led inside, she shifted uncomfortably upon the sight of Headmaster Cid. She wondered what he was to tell her--she'd only been there one day, surely she wasn't already in trouble. Upon entrance, she saluted shortly, only to stand at ease a moment later.
Cid gave her a small grin--one of which she was thankful. "Instructor Kiara Blake, I'm guessing?" he asked, his grin widening considerably after noticing her nodding curtly. "What do you think of our Garden so far?" he continued, looking her over curiously.
Kiara shrugged, leaning casually against the wall behind her, after realizing she hadn't been asked to take a seat. "It's smaller than my own, I suppose..and the people can be a bit nosier," she informed him, "From what I've heard, my life seems to be quite an issue here."
"Um..," Cid looked a bit nervous as such an accusation. He knew it was true, but he couldn't simply agree with the girl. "W--well, I think it's just because it's been a while since we've had an instructor from your Garden join us here..I'm sure the excitement will die down soon enough," he assured her, smiling.
I hope you're right, Kiara thought impatiently--couldn't they just get this over with? It was bad enough she was stuck in this Garden, and would eventually be off on SeeD missions--most likely with people she barely even knew--she'd be damned if she spent all day with a blubbering idiot such as this. "Yes..that would be nice. I can't tell you how disturbing it is to have everyone whispering something to another every time I pass them," she complained, closing her eyes. Come on old man, tell me what you called me in here to tell me.
After several more moments of contemplation, and random chatter from Headmaster Cid, he got around to his point. He informed her of her room number, what she'd be teaching, and many other things, before sending her on her way. Kiara looked rather angry, as she boarded the elevator once more--this time unaccompanied. He called me all the way up here, and put me through such useless rambling, for that! she pondered, chuckling coldly to herself as she stepped from the elevator after it reached the first floor. Spotting the two boys from before, she considered asking them for directions to her dormitory...but quickly thought better of herself. Eyeing the directory cautiously, she approached it. "The hell," she muttered, shaking her head.
Zell grinned at Squall, scratching the back of his head in amusement. "Hey look who's having trouble finding her way around," he joked, ignoring Squall's silent response. "You'd think an instructor could at least navigate a Garden."
"You could do better?" Kiara asked, rolling her eyes at the boy. "You must realize, I've only been here one day...oh how I would have loved to see you navigate perfectly on your very first day here..or at any Garden, for that matter."
This reply caused Zell to double-take. "Eh? O-oh, well I guess you're right," he agreed, eyes slightly widened. "Thought maybe you'd been here before..Zell Dincht," he offered a hand to her, introducing himself. "And this is Squall Leonhart...if you want, we could..show you around the Garden? Maybe show you where your dorm is?" he asked politely, glaring at Squall--who simply shrugged his shoulders--Somehow, he always got wrapped into such things.
"That's fine," Kiara quickly replied, waving a hand of dismissal. She ignored his extended hand, turning back to the directory. "I'm pretty sure I can figure this place out..It can't be any worse than Galbadia," she assured him. "Instructor Kiara Blake, by the way," she quickly added, realizing she'd failed to mention it before then.
Zell smirked. He knew where he had seen this sort of behaviour before. Squall had acted quite closely to this..Kiara's response, the first time Zell had met him. Ignored his handshake, and refused most of what he said. "Galbadia..Instructor..so I suppose the rumors going around are true?"
Kiara simply nodded her head. "I suppose...if the rumors have anything to do with my coming from Galbadia Garden to be an instructor here in Balamb," she mused, pushing a her hair behind her ear. "That gets a little old sometimes though, everyone knowing everything about me--before I get the chance to tell them." Not like I would.. she added to herself, urging a small, twisted grin.
"Students are just curious, I guess," Zell shrugged. "There's still things none of us know." And if she's as much like Squall, it'll probably stay that way, he chuckled. Squall very rarely opened up enough as to let one know how he felt.
"Y--Yeah..," Kiara paused briefly, her voice trailing off in thoughts. "I guess I should get going then? I have some exploring to do," she mumbled, folding her arms over her chest with a final look to the directory. On second thought.. She glanced back to Zell, and then to this..Squall--who had yet to speak. After letting out a small sigh of exhaustion, she swallowed her pride for a moment, "Er..know what? I honestly..think I'd be better off letting you two help me..," she bit her bottom lip, cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment.
"HAH! I knew--"
"Come on," Squall offered, interrupting Zell rudely. "He'll go on about that for hours..."