Authors Notes: Thanks again to the reviewers. This is a pretty long chapter and awfully boring but I had to get some stuff out of the way. I look forward to writing chapter 8.

"Tonight will be a night to forget.."

Kit's POV

The ball..

"I'M NOT FUCKING GOING!"

You will do as I say.. You always do, sweetie. Don't let me down this time.

"Is it fun.. Is it fun for you to watch me suffer? Is that how you get your damn kicks! Is that all I am to you? Another to mock, another to torture. Could you not have found someone else? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ME!"

You'll figure it out sooner or later. You have your fathers brain, thankfully. So use it, child.

"What do you have in store for me there? Something out of a 80's horror movie? Another thing to fuck up my life?"

Just go.

"What, now you can't even tell me? Not even a warning? If I could I wouldn't be here right now, I'd be six feet below. But the goddamn teachers, fucking students, and doctors won't let me go down the road I choose!"

The only thing you have to worry about right now is the ball. And you will go.

"Will red match the dress? WILL THAT BRING OUT MY BLOOD SHOT EYES?"

It hasn't worked before. Give it up.

"I have seen all the things I've been told to see. I've heard all the nasty words people have thrown at me. I have been kicked to the ground, hit across the face and stabbed in the back. I have seen death, life and love. All of this for you, all I do is for you. And I can't fucking figure out why you always win. Is your grip that strong on me? Is your grasp so suffocating? Do you have any of these fucking answers or are you making this up as you go along? All these things are constantly teasing my mind, I know I will never get the answers, I know I will never understand. But I'm so sick of letting someone win, someone so insignificant, someone who doesn't even exsist anymore. But I guess.. I guess that makes me your puppet. But I will win."

Sleep now.

Rae's POV

"Guess what Vince! I'm giving Kit a makeover tonight! She's gonna be gooorgeous when I'm done with her. Just you wait and see." I whispered into his ear during lunch, careful not to let anyone else hear. "And she agreed to this? Haha." He answered back, kinda shocked. "Well.. No.. But who could turn THIS down? Let's be realistic here." Vince smiled, let out a little laugh and went back to attacking his sandwich with a fork. Now, I'm pretty sure it was dead by now but.. I guess it's always good to go the extra mile and poke it good a few times. "Hey.. Wanna come with me for a sec? I've got some more SeeD ball related questions to ask." I requested before getting up and walking out of the cafeteria. There's a bench down the hall away from all the hustle and bustle of the Garden, we could easily talk there.

"Hmm.. Alright. What did you need to know?" Vince asked, taking a seat on the other side of the bench. "Well.. I've seen the way you look at her, don't deny it either. I think it's cuuute so.." I began, "What color dress do you think would look nice on her? I'd personally like to keep her away from black but that seems doubtful to me." He looked at me, raised an eyebrow and said, "Uhh.. Rae. I don't know what you've heard but I'm not good with these kinds of things, if you catch my drift." I erupted into a fit of giggles and shook my head. "That's hardly what I meant, silly. Just answer." He sighed and said, "Yeah.. Anything that isn't black and looks nice on her." I nodded and ran off. "I'll do my best! See ya Vince!"

Vincents POV

What was that all about?

I guess I'll find out tonight.. Maybe she'll give me a chance. Or I'll just have to drag her onto the dance floor, talk about deja vu, eh? Haha.

Smooth, I know. Kit will smile tonight.

Rae POV

Ahh ha! 586, yet again. "Kit, you awake, hun?" I heard some shuffling noises, a light moan and fumbling of the door nob. And then when she finally figured out how the door works, there she stood. Messy bed hair, long white shirt, boxers and a confused look on her face. "Hehe.. Good morning!" I squealed, causing her to cringe. Kit moved aside to let me into her messy but cute room. "So.. What do you want?" I sat down on a nearby chair and pulled out some magazines. "We're going shopping soon! It's the grad tonight and I want you to look gorgeous! I mean, you're a stunning girl, why not show it off?" Kit looked at me, down at the magazines and back up at me again, "Um.. Thanks for the offer but I think I'll pass." I frowned and said, "Yeah.. I knew you'd say that. But this will be for Vince, alright?"

"..And I'd care because..?" Kit said harshly but quickly changed her tone, "Sorry.." I smiled and shook my head, assuring her that I understood. I know that it must be tough, being close to so many new people. Especially guys, after what that asshole did to her.. Just thinking about it- well, I guess I shouldn't think about it. She's here now and I'll make her life better, we all will! "Anyway.. Have you found anything in the magazines so far? I don't mean to rush you or anything but we only have 5 hours until the big night!" Kit quickly flipped through a few more pages before something caught her eye. "Well.. This style looks alright. So Rae, what about yourself? Have you got a dress?" I smiled, looked at the page and shook my head, "Well.. No I don't. But I can find one in a snap! And that dress is PERFECT, the guys will die when they see you."

Kit's eyes filled with tears but she quickly blinked them back and looked towards the door, "So.. Balamb then?"

"Yep! There is this little shop at the end of town, it's hardly known by anyone but it's perfect. We can walk, it won't take long."

"..Ok. But don't get too excited, I won't be staying for long."

An hour later..

"This is just perfect for you, Kit! Try it on, pleeeaaasee?" I shoved a beautiful navy blue dress into Kit's arms and walked away, searching for more. "This dress is way too expensive, especially since the only people seeing it will be you and me. Just.. let me go over to the dresses on sale. That way, it won't take long and we'll save lots of gil." But I immediately shook my head. There was no way in hell I was letting a beautiful girl like Kit go shopping in the sale section when you only get to go to a SeeD ball once. "Heeck no, Kit. Everyone will be staring at you, don't you dare doubt that one. Haven't you looked in the mirror lately? Gosh. Anyway, that blue one is perfect. As soon as I find myself one, we'll both go and try our dresses on, ok? Do a little twirl for each other and then empty our bank accounts!" Kit smiled a small, shy, unsure smile and started looking for a dress for me. "Hey.. Rae. Maybe you should give this a shot."

The dress was a beautiful sea foam green, strapless, with shimmering details. The entire dress skimmed a body just right in every place, and would surely bring out my emerald eyes. It was perfect.

(Think.. This dress. http/ )

"Kit, it's perfect! Thank you so much! Now get your butt in the change room!" We both headed into our seperate rooms and tried to figure out how exactly to get into a dress. Now, it's not rocket science but pretty damn close.

Kit POV

(Dress.. http/ )

The dress was blue.. Not black. It was tight, not loose and.. It was feminine, not gothic. Sure, it looked nice. I mean, for once I looked.. Alright, at least in my eyes. It sure wouldn't scare anyone away and would catch a glance or two but.. I didn't want to go. I hadn't planned on going, it was never something I wanted to do. Maybe I was just completely different from every other girl in the world or maybe.. I'm in denial.

I'll make my entrance, stand on stage and then leave, simple. But 700 gil for something so unimportant seemed a little ridiculous.

Whatever.

Vince, here I come.

Back at Kit's Dorm..

"I'll.. go and get dressed quickly, and then the bathroom is all yours. One minute, please." I walked into my tiny bathroom stall and looked down at the sink.

Red spots. Deep red spots. Razor. And a stained towel.

I quickly shoved them into the hamper and began undressing myself. I was no where near perfect.. My legs were hardly twigs, and my arms, although muscular, looked unhealthy. I was too pale because I just couldn't tan, not even 6 hours in the sun left a mark. My face was too small, my eyes were too green, my chest was too small and when I looked at my stomach, I wanted to scream. Not a single thing stood out when I looked at myself. I was plain. I was nothing. I was myself.

Rae's POV

I glanced at the small mirror connected to her dresser covered in various products, none of them seemed to be touched. The only thing that caught my eye was a note. A poem, I guess. Did she write this?

I've cut it twice,

I've cut it once,

Broke down the walls,

Excuses turned to dust,

Release my anger,

On my perfection,

The skin that has never been graced,

Never touched by sin,

But when the metal calls,

The answer will show,

The next day when you receive the call,

Your daughter is gone,

She's far too sick,

She will not recover,

There is no hope,

For the girl that wants to die,

But I know you'll cope,

Shut your eyes.

When your tears turn to anger,

And your anger turns to blame,

Remember that she wanted this,

She was no longer sane,

The pain she felt for so long,

Changed her soul within,

There is no fixing the girl,

That God so badly wanted to let in.

Kit.. I..

Before my thought could be completed she rushed through the door, almost falling over in the process. The heels didn't seem to be working for her. "Hehe, you ok there, hun?" I asked, stiffling a laugh. Kit nodded and held onto the closest wall, walking slowly and carefully. I wanted to ask her about the poem.. I really did. But now wasn't the time. I was asking enough of her as it is.

I ran into the washroom and closed the door. I'll tell Vince, I think I remember most of it anyway. He'll know what to do!

Tonight will be a night to remember!

Kit's POV

Tonight will be a night to forget.