Blink.
It wasn't Rinoa.
Blink.
It was Quistis.
Blink.
And they were kissing.
Squall blinked just once more and the door swung open once again. "No, Irvine! That's not your dorm!" someone hissed through the open door, and then Irvine was standing there, considerably intoxicated.
"Whoa," he said, "You go, Squall-man!" Irvine laughed, lost his balance, and had to steady himself against the wall.
Selphie walked in, obviously smashed too. "Irvine, this isn't…" she started to say, before taking in the scene around her: Quistis and Squall frozen mid-embrace. "Ooh!" she said, very amused. "I'm telling!" Selphie giggled like a rabid bunny on some form of cocaine and fled from the room.
"Hey, man…" Irvine slurred, pointed at Squall, and promptly passed out on the floor.
Quistis, apparently the impact of her actions dawning on her, stood up abruptly and backed out of the room. It was almost as if she was still comprehending what had happened.
Blink.
Blink.
"Quistis!" Squall cried, but Quistis did not hear. "Quistis!" he shouted once again, running out into the hallway. "Quistis, wait!" Quistis, raises her arms to the ceiling in a gesture of exasperation. "Um," Squall was now at a loss for words, "What was…" he pointed in the general direction of his room. "Um…that?"
"That?" Quistis spun on her heel and tried to look Squall in the eye. It was unexpectedly hard. "That was a mistake," she said, and nodded like she didn't really believe what she was saying. "Yeah."
Squall was taken aback. He wasn't really sure what exactly he had been expecting, (definitely not a declaration of love) but that certainly wasn't it. As Quistis started to walk away again, Squall found himself scrambling for words again. "Because, you know, that was…sudden." Quistis kept walking. "Quistis!" he called, and nearly fell because of a stray puddle of what he prayed was water. He coughed, and Quistis turned around.
She was very red. "I know. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry, and it will never happen again. I swear." It was strange, hearing Quistis speak in such short sentences.
Squall froze. "Well," he coughed, "Good, then."
Quistis smiled like she didn't mean it at all, bowed to her Garden Commander, and started walking away once more.
"Quisty?" Squall whispered after her. "Don't leave, please."
Somehow that tiny sound carried further than any of his yelling. "Why not?" Quistis asked, her back still to him. "I am so embarrassed." Odd, really, how she could just say these things around him. No one else ever saw this side of Quistis K. Trepe.
"I need you." The words popped right out of Squall's mouth before he could blink.
Quistis spun around, and took three quick steps towards Squall. "Excuse me?"
Blink.
Cough.
Blink.
"Um."
Blink.
"No, really. What did you say?"
Blink.
"I need you."
Blink.
Kiss.
Blink.
Quistis backed up several steps. "What?"
Squall was now blushing. "Sorry. I guess we're even."
"I guess so."
There was a pause, a silence that extended far beyond the Garden.
Blink.
Taking a huge risk, Squall asked, "Would you, uh--"
Blink.
Blink.
The final words were cut off by Quistis pressing her mouth on his. And this time, Squall didn't mind quite so much.
Blink.
----------
Author's Note: I hope the blinks didn't get too annoying. I had to build the anticipation some way! And, it was Madame Equinya's idea that Selphie and Irvine come in at that horrible time. So blame her, not me.
Thank yous:
Josefiine: I'm so glad you liked the story. I hate how no one updates over summer, but I think it's because everyone goes on vacation or stuff. I never go anywhere, so I usually update a lot.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: -laughs- You're so nice to me, Mr. Rydell. I am very happy you like my writing.
GothicAngelEyes: I hope you liked this last chapter like you did the others. Of COURSE Squall is going to freak, how would you act if the same happened to you?
Madame Equinya: Glad you liked the story so far, miss Julia. And thank you for still not killing me.
Platonic 1: Thanks for reviewing!
Neko-Yuff16: Sorry for the wait last chapter, I had to rewrite it like three times. I just couldn't get it right somehow! But I'm glad you liked it.