Disclaimer: I don't own anything from FF8, Squaresoft does.

Instructor Quistis Trepe was lonely as she looked around at the surrounding ballroom. The night was supposed to be a time of joy for everyone. A night to relax and just have fun and let loose.

But, Quistis Trepe did not let loose, ever. That just wasn't her style. She would rather maintain some semblance of control over her class and, to her reasoning, the fastest way to get and keep that control was to maintain rigid discipline, inside and out of the classroom.

That explains why she was standing by the refreshments table not dancing or talking with anyone.

The rest of the teenagers in the room were spinning around the room in a waltz or standing near the walls in small groups, talking about their plans for after graduation.

She sipped her champagne as she surveyed the children around her. That's what they were really, children. Not even legally able to drink and yet most of the people in this room had already had at least ten years of combat training. True, she herself was only eighteen but she felt lifetimes older than the carefree youth that surrounded her.

As she looked over the room her cerulean gaze fell on Selphie Tilmitt and her vain quest for more people to join the Garden Festival committee. Quistis watched as the hyper brunette entreated everyone she met to join. Sometimes her face would fall in discouragement but she would shrug it off and run to her next…victim.

Next, Quistis' stare found her former student Zell Dincht. She watched him leap around the room, excited. The hyper martial artist greeted everyone that he ran into with an exuberant slap on the back and a huge grin. He worked his way around the large ballroom to where Squall Leonhart was leaning against a column.

Like Quistis, Squall had been standing to the side, not taking part in the proceedings. Maybe that was why he was her favorite student, he was just like her.

Zell jovially greeted Squall and stuck his hand out to shake. Squall just stood there, staring. Zell wiped his hand down the side of his pants leg and tried again. Squall continued to just stand there. Zell just shrugged and continued on his way while Squall took a sip of his drink.

Quistis' blue eyes stayed glued to Squall as he continued to just stand, separate from everything.

Just then Selphie arrived in front of Squall. Quistis watched as Selphie made her proposition to Squall. She saw the two exchange words and smirked as she saw Squall shake his head. Selphie was persistent, however, and after a couple of seconds Squall reluctantly nodded. She happily skipped away, in search of more 'volunteers.'

Not long after Selphie's departure Quistis saw a young woman with dark hair walk over to Squall. Quistis expected her pupil to reject this young woman the same way he had previously rejected Selphie's attempt at conversation. To her surprise she watched the dark haired woman take Squall's hand and lead him onto the dance floor. She saw the two begin to dance and against her will her eyes stayed focused on the pair as they moved across the floor.

She sighed as she turned to get another drink. Maybe get something harder this time. As she turned back to the refreshments table she bumped into Seifer Almasy. She apologized without looking up at him and turned reluctantly back to the dance floor to watch Squall dance with the mystery girl. Seifer's green gaze followed hers and he scowled in distaste.

Rinoa was here. Dancing with him. It didn't bother Seifer that Rinoa was at the party dancing with the other SeeDs. It bothered Seifer that Rinoa was here dancing with Squall. Of all the newly appointed SeeDs in the room, why him? It shouldn't bother him, he and Rinoa had broken up the previous summer, she could do whatever she chose. And she had chosen to dance with Squall Leonhart. That is what bothered him.

Making a decision, he extended his hand and tapped Quistis on the shoulder. She turned slowly and glanced up at him.

"Was there something that you wanted?" she asked primly.

He gallantly held his hand out to her.

"Dance with me?"

Quistis was seconds away from turning him down when she decided to just do it. The only person in the room that she had any interest in was too busy with some stranger to notice her so why should she just stand around waiting. Seifer was a good looking guy, and he wanted to dance with her. Who cared what Squall Leonhart did? He wasn't wasting time waiting for her, why should she wait for him?

Seifer was surprised when Quistis' blonde head bobbed up and down. He hadn't actually expected her to say yes.

He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. She gently placed her hands in their proper places and began to teach him the steps. Unlike Squall, Quistis was an excellent dancer. Seifer, unfortunately for Quistis, was as clueless on the dance floor as his rival. After a couple of agonizing minutes for Quistis' toes Seifer got the hang of the waltz. When he was comfortable with the motions of the dance she surrendered leading over to the taller blonde.

They whirled around the floor, totally involved in the dance. Seifer happened to be facing Squall and Rinoa when Squall bumped into Nida and his girlfriend and smirked. Quistis saw it and questioned him about it.

"What's the smirk about? Can you see down my dress or something?"

He shook his head. "Unfortunately, no I can't see down your dress. Puberty Boy over there just crashed into Nida," he explained.

Quistis just sighed. Seifer rolled his eyes at the look on her face at his mention of Squall and grinned.

Without warning, he dipped her low and reveled in the short squeal of surprise that escaped her lips as her arms wound tightly around his neck to keep her from falling.

He pulled her back up and she growled as she pulled away from him and began to stomp angrily off the floor. He grabbed her arm and spun her towards him. He caught her gently by the shoulder and spun her back out. She went with it and he wound his arm around her waist as she came back to him. He leaned his head over her shoulder and grinned down at her.

"I was just kidding Instructor, don't leave," Seifer apologized. His green eyes bored into her blues and she gave him a tiny smile.

He grinned at her and dipped her again, slower this time. When he pulled her up she did not attempt to escape again.

As they spun around the floor more she realized something.

"Seifer?" she asked him.

"Hmmm," he murmured in reply.

"How did you even get in here? You didn't graduate."

He winced momentarily over her blunt statement but quickly covered it with his customary smirk.

"I'm Seifer Almasy. I can get inside anywhere."

"It helps that there is no security at this party too, right?" she returned cheekily.

He wasn't fazed but just smirked wider.

"Yeah, that helps."

She rolled her eyes and returned his smirk.

"You never change."

"Would you want me to?" he responded instantly.

She looked carefully at him for a moment and slowly shook her head.

"I guess not."

Just then fireworks exploded over their heads and they both leaned back to look at the falling flames. Seifer contented himself with a short gaze and then looked back down at his dance partner. Over her shoulder he saw Cid standing by the food table and out of the corner of his eye he saw Rinoa break away from Squall and head towards the headmaster without a backwards glance at the scarred brunette. Seifer was surprised when he felt a small wave of sympathy for his rival. He knew how much the resistance mattered to Rinoa. It was the most important thing to her. A single dance with a stranger was easily forgotten. Then Cid was waving him over to the table and he had to abandon Quistis, the same way Squall had just been abandoned. He let his hands slide lightly down her sides until they met her fingers. He gently squeezed her hands and as she tipped her head back down to him he pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Quistis was shocked when she felt Seifer's warm lips on her cheek and then strangely lonely when he pulled back short seconds later.

As he walked away from her she turned to watch him. Her hand rested on her cheek where he had kissed her.

She was smiling gently as she turned her gaze back up to the stars that floated above.

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