Chapter Two: Fragrance (Gackt Camui)

"Irvy! Irvy!" Selphie's hair bounced against her shoulders as she hurried to catch up with her friend.

Irvine, who was strolling down the corridor with a curvy blonde student, looked over his shoulder with a grin. He winked at the blonde and met Selphie halfway, "Hey there, Peaches."

She giggled, "Irvy, who was that?"

Irvine's grin remained, "Her name is Skylar and she's one of my top students."

"Oh really?" Selphie looked skeptical, a smile tugging on her lips, "Oh realllly? Are you sure that's all?"

"Well, she did ask me out for Friday night." Irvine confessed, fixing his jacket collar.

Selphie's face fell, "Did she mention the Garden Rave?"

Irvine nodded, "Yeah. Why? Did you cancel it?" he knew full well that Selphie was the head cheese of any Garden occasion. Want to throw a party? You would have to talk to her and then find a way to get rid of her if you wanted to plan it yourself.

"Well, no, but..." Selphie's usually sparkling eyes dulled and became stone. She bit her lip and noticed a spot on the hallway's titling.

"Well..." Irvine frowned as well. Watching Selphie depressed was not his favorite game. He sighed and put on a smile, "I could always tell her I had another date and forgot all about it... so I can go with you instead. I mean, it's not the nicest thing to do, but I'll tell her at class this afternoon..."

The twinkle in her eye returned, "Oh really? Oh thanks Irvy! You're the sweetest boy ever!" Selphie wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'll meet you in front of the Dorms at seven on Friday, okay?"

"Seven sharp." Irvine said, winking and giving a little wave, "See you later, Peaches."

Selphie bounced, waving happily as she watch him go, "Don't be late!"

x-x-x

"A Garden Rave?" Squall questioned, popping an aspirin into his mouth in an attempt to soothe this growing headache.

Xu nodded, "Yes. Selphie and the Festival crew thought it would be a nice-."

"Whatever." Squall cut her off, "Selphie's in charge so I'm assuming it's going to just be another one of her dancing parties with fancy lights and annoying music." he sighed and closed the blinds behind him to block out the sun. "Are you attending?" he asked, doodling a note for himself to get some stronger aspirin at break.

There was a small shrug, "Well, I thought about it, but... I don't have a date or anything like that. I'm sure if I changed my mind, I could go with a bunch of girls that were in my class."

"Why do people always have to go places with other people? There's nothing wrong with just showing up, you know." Squall mumbled, "Besides, finding a date wouldn't be too hard for you. It's not like you're that bad or anything. A little O.C.D.(1), but whatever..."

Xu blushed, "Should I be insulted or flattered?"

He shrugged, "Take it anyway you want. Anyways, don't you have friends you talk to or something?"

"Umm well no. Not really. I'm usually so busy with this job... I don't have a very strong social life."

God and I thought I was bad. Squall mused, looking up at Xu. She wasn't a horrible looking girl. On the contrary, she looked quite sensible with her short brown hair and light make-up. He sighed and stood from his desk. He might as well get his boy scout deed of the day out of the way. He walked up to Xu with a stern look in his eye, "Xu, I want you to put the clipboard down and go shopping."

Xu blinked, "Shopping, Sir?"

"Yes." Squall said, taking the clipboard from her hands, "I want you to maybe take a friend, take a car down to Balamb and go shopping for something to wear to the Rave." he still looked very serious, "If anyone gives you hell, you'd tell them to take it up with me, understand?"

"Sir, I can't just leave-"

"That was an order, Ms. Xu." Squall interrupted, opening the door for her, "Don't come back without a story all about it."

Xu beamed, halfway out of the door, she looked back at Squall, "Oh... Thank you, Squall." she smiled and waved before disappearing, a surpressed squeal still echoed through the hall.

Squall grinned a bit himself, proud of himself for acting human for at least five minutes and even then he was only boarderlining it. He closed the door and sighed, turning towards his desk only to find someone was sitting at it.

"That was nice." Irvine was sitting in his chair, his boots crossed on the maple surface.

"How did you get in here?" Squall asked, completely bewildered.

"It's magic." Irvine replied, a finger pressed against his lips, "and magicians don't reveal their secrets." (2)

'I have a secret.'

Squall shuddered. The events from the previous night were all he could think about and that kiss was haunting his dreams. The worse part being that he had liked it. Though one wouldn't be able to tell by the fact that Squall was about to throw up whenever he got too in depth about it.

"Leo?"

Squall blinked, locking eyes with his lover, "Sorry. I've been a bit distracted today."

"I've noticed." Irvine rose from the chair and kissed Squall's forehead, "Is there something you'd want to talk about with me?"

He shook his head, "I don't want to talk about it period."

"Squall..." Irvine started, reaching out to brush the hair out of Squall's eyes, "I know we promised each other not to be too attached, but as your friend, I can't help but worry about your well being. Do you sleep on the nights I don't stop by?"

"Irvine... don't." Squall demanded, pushing Irvine's hand away.

The sniper suddenly grinned, "Look you. I want you to go to your room and rest while there's still daylight out. There's no scary monsters waiting in the dark if it's not dark yet. Whatever's wrong with you is killing you and I want you to look your best when you go to the Rave tomorrow night."

Squall's eyes went wide, "I'm not going."

"Oh but I believe Xu is expecting a date."

"Xu?" Squall sighed, looking up at Irvine with a frown, "You're not going to leave me to my business, are you?" he nodded and look down at the floor, "Whatever. I'll go get some sleep." he headed for the door.

"Thank you. Do you want me to tuck you in?" Irvine smirked, following Squall to the enterance.

Squall quirked an eyebrow, "Okay, you're pushing it. Besides, if you were to come with me, I doubt you'd make it to your next class on time."

"Too true, Leo." Irvine smiled, kissing his lover deeply before they went their seperate ways, "Oh and if I see you back in your office between now and dinner, I'm gonna take my sniper and hit you in the ass, understand?"

"What?" Squall stopped in midstep.

"I wasn't shittin' around. When I said go sleep, I meant it."

"Irv-"

Irvine smirked, doing a mock salute, "That's an order, Mr. Leonheart."

x-x-x

"I'm so glad you could come with me on such short notice, Quistis. (3) Mr. Squall looked right about to eat me if I didn't agree to going out." Xu giggled, fumbling through a clothing rack in one of the many stores in Balamb.

"No problem. I needed to go shopping myself. I'm just so happy I got out for the afternoon." Quistis lifted up a blue blouse to her body and made a face, "Though I haven't worn much other than my uniform lately. I don't know what looks good on me anymore." she laughed a bit at herself.

Xu giggled again, spinning slightly in bubblegum pink sundress she threw over her head, "Why do you need an outfit anyways, Quistis? You have a date for the Rave?"

"Rave? Please. Raves are not my thing."

Moving over to the scarves, Xu wrapped a silk one around her neck, "Well, I wasn't sure. Since it is this Friday." she put the scarf back and picked up a pair of funky sunglasses.

Quistis gasped, nearly dropping a yellow skirt she had picked out, "This Friday?" she groaned, "Oh damnit I should've known." she took a deep breath and continued to swim through clothing racks.

"What's wrong?" Xu asked, finally stopping at a purple dress that has some classy gold trim with beads, "Is something happening on Friday that's really important?"

"Zell and I made a deal. I would go out with him and have "fun" for one night."

Xu tried not to laugh as they hurried off to the fitting rooms, "Sounds like he just asked you in a weird way out on a date."

"I guess so." She sighed, removing her yellow sundress to try on the number of outfits she had pulled from the rack.

With a shrug, Xu posed in front of the mirror at herself in the purple dress, "Is this dress too elegant for a rave?"

Quistis peered out of the door of her stall to examine her friend in the mirror, "Definately. Try one of the more brighter colors you grabbed." she suddenly blinked, "Hey, Xu, who are you going to the Rave with?"

Xu blushed, clamoring back into her stall, "Umm Squall's going to ask me."

"Squall!" Quistis blinked, poking her head out of her stall to see if Xu was still out there. Her fountain blue eyes wide, "What do you mean Squall asked you?"

"Well, he didn't yet, but I know he will." The younger confessed, coming out wearing a hot pink halter and a pair of black capris, "I like this... not too riskay and I can actually dance in these."

Quistis was still overwhelmed with shock, "B-but Squall?"

"He did send me out here shopping, didn't he?" Xu pointed out, changing back into her regular clothes, "By the way, I liked the blue blouse you dropped earlier on you."

Annoyed and surprised, Quistis changed back into her clothes and returned the other ones to their respectable places, "I just can't believe any of what's happened."

"What? Me and Squall?" Xu asked, paying for her outfit.

Quistis shrugged, not buying anything, "I think it's more the fact that Zell asked me out on a date and I didn't know it! I mean, I must be a dunderhead to totally miss all of the signals he put out. It's Zell! There not much that guy hides." she walked out of the store, leaving the younger girl to catch up, "What did I set myself up for?"

Xu frowned, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder, "Don't worry, Quistis. I'm sure you'll have loads of fun! If you want, we can meet up in a spot halfway during the date to see how each one of us is doing."

"Sounds perfect. About five songs in, meet me at the enterance, will you?"

"You got it." Xu nodded, kisses Quistis's cheek, "Cheer up, okay? We're supposed to be having FUN!"

"Fun... that's what got me in this mess in the first place." Quistis sighed and walked down the cobblestoned road, "and I still don't have an outfit!"

x-x-x

'So, he has a secret and that secret is me.' Squall closed his eyes for a moment, only to remember he was walking and he needed them to see.

'God Seifer and me? I think the world would stop turning. What's the big idea anyways? Why does Seifer think he's so high and mighty, pushing me around and then just taking advantage of me.' Squall swallowed hard as he walked up the dormitory steps, 'His lips were soft though. Softer than Irvine's... and Rino-'

Squall growled, his fists clentched. He couldn't help but connect his fist to the wall, the steel causing his bones to tingle, but he could care less. There was nothing more he could do about Rinoa and he sure as hell didn't want to keep thinking about it.

'Irvine's right. I just need to sleep on it.' Squall nodded, stepping into his room. The shades were down, but it didn't stop much of the sun from coming in. Squall turned off the flourescent light overhead and smiled a bit. It was much better.

He removed his gloves and jacket and was about to climb into bed when a gray coat tail caught his eye.

"Seifer. How did you get in here?"

Seifer Almasy stepped out from the closet with his usual smirk, "You left the door open this morning." he took a seat in the only chair in Squall's room, "So, taking a cat nap?" he laughed slightly, "Mind if I join you?"

Squall's eyes narrowed, "What do you want, Seifer? You want to mess with my head? You figured since you can't beat me with physical strength, you'd try mental?" he glanced over into the corner. His gunblade was too far away from him to just grab.

Seifer's expression suddenly changed. A fire raged in his eyes as he stood, glaring down at the younger soldier, "You just don't get it, do you? I don't want to beat you. I want to be with you."

"Stop it! Just stop it, Seifer!" Squall cried, covering his ears, "I don't want to hear it! Get out of my room and I never want to see you again! Just LEAVE and I won't force you to go." he peered up at the other man, expecting some sort of anger in the other's eyes. However, he was surprised to find that Seifer wasn't looking at him anymore. With a swift swish of his coat, Seifer left, not another word fell from his lips.

Squall blinked, watching the door shut behind him. Did he just finally win?

x-x-x

(1) O.C.D. means obsessive complusive disorder for those who have no idea what I'm talking about. It's when you're EXTREMELY organized and nit picky.

(2) Okay, magic, lame excuse, I know, but that's only because I myself don't know how he showed up, okay? POOF! He was there!

(3) Hey, great minds think alike... or something like that.