Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything related to FFVIII, all I own is the plot.
- Chapter six: A Diversion -
"Are you alright?" Squall asked.
Quistis had been quiet all evening. Her silence unnerved him. He was used to silence, that wasn't the problem. But he was used to his own silence, not hers.
She sat down on a little chair in a corner. "I'm fine. Really. I just feel-"
"A little awkward. I understand Quistis, I really do. But if you knew you couldn't handle this then you should've staid home. But seeing as how it's too late to change now, we'll have to make do."
She looked up.
"You think you understand?" she snapped. "You actually think you understand? How could you possibly! You have no idea what this feels like. I can't just pretend nothing ever happened. I still love him and now I have to be here. I have to witness him marrying someone else. So don't try to tell me you understand! Not when you've got the one you love by your side for ever."
Squall sighed. "Okay, fine. I won't say I know how you feel. But I know how I feel. And all I want right now is for you to pull yourself together and focus on the mission. I don't want to fail just because you couldn't get a grip on your emotions. There's more to this then you understand."
"Fine." she snapped back. "Whatever Squall. If I didn't know better I'd say you were pregnant. I've never seen so many mood swings in anyone before."
It was silent for a moment. Then Squall started to chuckle slowly.
"…You're really something, you know that?" he asked with a smile on his face. "Even when you're angry you still pull out a joke from somewhere."
Quistis tried to sneer at him but she couldn't. She too started to laugh.
"I…I guess so."
"Look, I said some things I shouldn't have. But I do mean it when I say that I need you to keep a clear mind more than ever."
She nodded slowly. Squall walked over to the door and looked through the glass. The hall was filled with dancing couples. He spotted Selphie and Zell behind the big chair at the end of the room. They were dancing but their eyes were scanning the room, ever vigilant.
Squall looked back. "Quistis, come on. Let's see if we can change that frown of yours."
He took her hand and dragged her off towards the door. He opened it and they slipped through.
"Come on."
She looked at him curiously. "What?"
"Don't you want to dance?"
She smiled faintly. "That's a nice gesture, Squall. But I don't want you to dance if you don't like it."
He smiled.
"But I do like it."
She laughed as she took his hand. He led them onto the dance floor and they started to dance.
"Since when do you like dancing anyway?" she asked him over the music.
"Since Rinoa took me to dancing lessons one day a week for a few months. If you do something a lot, you end up liking it."
Quistis smiled. Dancing cheered her up. It felt like all her troubles melted away when she was dancing. All that remained were the music and her partner.
For a moment she even found Seifer disappearing from her mind. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted from her shoulders even though she knew it would only last until the end of the song.
"Thank you Squall." she said when the music ended. "I feel better."
She wanted to walk away from the dance floor but Squall grabbed her wrist. She turned back.
"Squall, if you want another dance you could-"
She stopped when she saw his face. She followed his eyes and her heart started to beat faster. Somewhere among the crowd she saw the familiar glint of light reflecting on a blade.
She looked at Selphie and Zell but they hadn't noticed yet.
"Squall, we can't reach him in time…we must warn them. "
"A diversion…" he muttered.
They looked at each other and knew what they were both thinking.
"Do it." he whispered.
She pushed him into the table with drinks forcefully and managed to produce a convincing angry sob from her mouth.
The music stopped and the whole hall looked at them.
"Squall?" someone asked unbelievingly.
Pretending to wipe away her tears she turned around dramatically, pushing people out of her way. She managed to fight her way over to Selphie ad threw herself around her neck.
In between fake sobs she whispered her message.
"There's a man with a blade at ten o' clock."
"Hey, what's going on? Play music, there's nothing to see." Rajin's voice raised above the whispers.
The orchestra started playing again and Rajin helped Squall up. "I hope that had a purpose. Anyway, it was really convincing."
Squall nodded curtly. "It was. If I didn't know the truth, these glass shards in my back would've convinced me I really had done something terrible."
He looked for Quistis. She had hidden herself in the shadows of the room.
Selphie and Zell made their separate way over to the man with the knife. Selphie closed in on the front. She bumped into him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." she said. "Please forgive me."
She stepped on the knife he had dropped with her foot and kicked it towards Zell before the man knew what was going on. She took one of his hands and twisted it.
His face screwed up in pain. He raised one had to hit her, but Zell caught it in the air.
"I don't think so." he hissed.
He quickly twisted the man's arm behind his back and forced him out the hall, Selphie close behind them.
She cast a sleep spell on him and jumped up and down cheerfully.
"We did it!"
Squall joined them. "Don't be too happy too soon. If these guys are serious then they'll send more like him."
They looked up as the door opened and closed with a bang. Quistis looked at them, her face pale and her eyes watery.
"I want to go to the hotel."
Selphie rushed over to her and hugged her. "Did you…"
"I want to go now." Quistis urged.
Selphie looked at Squall pleadingly. He sighed.
"Fujin must know we're here now, after all that commotion. I don't think they'll be trying to hurt her again tonight." he added, kicking the man on the ground. "Zell, you and I shall stay. We need to be around to answer questions and we still need to guard her. Selphie, take Quistis to the hotel. It'll be convincing if both of you aren't there."
Selphie nodded and guided the stunned Quistis away.
"Call Rajin." Squall said to Zell. "His men can dispose of this one here."
Zell nodded and followed Squall back inside the hall.
Dark Angels: Hehe, no, history isn't important at all! They'll meet soon! Next chapter, I promise! Thank you for the review, no go revise for school, cause…actually…it is important :D Hehe, no, history isn't important at all! They'll meet soon! Next chapter, I promise! Thank you for the review, no go revise for school, cause…actually…it important :D
JadeAlmasy: Where are Rinoa and Irvine, you ask? Well, I explained somewhere in the beginning that they were away on a mission together. Or in other words, I needed them to be out of the way for this story ;) Anyway, thanks or the review
Matron Raenee: Completely hooked? I am really flattered by that! I promise the updates will be quick ones. After all, now that school is over, I have hardly anything left to do! See you then!
Firess Ifrit Devil: Oh no! You will come after me Ifrit style? Please, no! AAAAAAAAAAH (runs around in little circles) Please, no! Have mercy, here is the update! AAAAAAAAAAAH…(you scared me…..you would not hurt me, right? Not while this story still needs to be finished!) Enjoy this update and I promise the next one will be up soon too!
See you all at the next chapter,
love, Raven55