Hiya! How's everybody? I wanna thank everyone for their reviews on this story and The Last Reality. I really appreciate them. Just one thing, keep 'em coming! That'd be great. Those of you, who reviewed or took the time to read my stories, THANK YOU so much!

It's really comforting to know that it's being read. Again, thank you. I don't really know what to say anymore, so I'll get on with the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I still, as of all my life, own nothing. Yes, I know. It's shocking.

Chapter Six

"Um… Sir?" Rinoa asked nervously knocking on Cid's office door.

Cid was sitting at his desk, shaking his head. He looked up. "Oh, there you are." Cid, now calm, replied, completely forgetting that she was late. "Uh, could you possibly do something for me? I need you to…um… Yes, Squall, I mean, Commander?" Squall had come into the office and stood next to Rinoa. A hint of amusement in his face.

"Sir, the mechanics from FH are here. Maybe an announcement to warn everyone that they will be working in the ballroom should be made to warn everyone. And, sir? Make sure that the intercom is OFF this time when you finish." Squall gave Cid a strange look and left, missing just barely the book Cid had thrown at him.

Rinoa looked like she was about to fall down and laugh her head off and quickly left before she got into any more trouble.

"C'mon guys! Stop fooling around! We have to get this done!" Selphie yelled at Zell and Irvine, who were rolling around on the ground, laughing.

"Sorry, Selphie," Zell got up, trying to keep a straight face, which wasn't working. Cid had been yelling at someone in his office while the intercom was on.

Irvine and Zell had finally got back to work, when Xu came in to help. "Hey!" She called.

"Hi, Xu!" Selphie climbed down off the stage. "Have you come to help? We need all the help we can get."

"Yeah. Cid told me to come. He's in a bad mood. Squall made him look like a fool." Xu giggled.

"Hey! What happened?" Zell asked, walking over.

"Well, Cid had been in his office yelling because Rinoa was late, when Squall came in. he told Cid to 'let it all out' and then said something about people ten miles away who didn't hear him. Then Cid noticed the intercom had been on. A few minutes later while Cid was talking to Rinoa, Squall came in again. He told Cid about the mechanics from FH and told him that he should probably make an announcement and the turn off the intercom. Cid wasn't very happy."

"What!" Selphie exclaimed. "Squall knows Rinoa's here!

"Yeah. He must have found out last night." Xu shrugged.

Quistis walked to a nearby table. Lunchtime. It had been a rough morning. Thank goodness classes are done for the day. She thought.

"Hey Quistis!" Rinoa sat down next to the very tired Instructor. "Something wrong?"

"No, just tired. Today hasn't been my day." Quistis played around with a leaf in her salad. "I may have to skip tonight's party." She yawned.

"Oh, no! Maybe you just need a nap." Rinoa assured her.

"Quisty! Rinny!" Selphie called from across the Cafeteria. She was with Zell and Irvine. They got their trays and walked over.

"Hiya!" Selphie looked excited. "It's all done! I can't wait!" They sat down. Zell and Irvine looked about the bust. Quistis was slowly drifting off.

"Quistis," Selphie nudged the sleepy Instructor, causing her send a bit of salad flying.

"Trying to start food fights, Instructor?" Someone asked from behind. Quistis , Selphie, and Rinoa turned around; Zell and Irvine burst out laughing. Squall was standing behind Quistis, eyebrows raised. He took the seat between Zell and Rinoa.

"No." Quistis replied, annoyed. Zell and Irvine just laughed harder.

"Commander," Quistis continued with a hint of sarcasm. "You seem a lot happier today and talkative. Did we finally decide to come out of our little cave?" A smug smile spread across her face. Squall scowled. Selphie started to giggle, and Rinoa put her head down, her shoulders shaking with a silenced laughter. Zell gave Quistis a high-five and Irvine buried his face in his large cowboy hat. Once again, like old times, Squall had been had.

They finished lunch talking about the party that night.

"We're gonna have a real band, too!" Zell said. "An ALL girl band!"

"Let me guess," Quistis replied. "You picked it out?" She pointed to Irvine.

"Why, Quistis, you know me so well, would I settle for anything less?" Irvine coolly replied, ignoring the disgust on Selphie and Quistis' faces.

Squall had barely been paying attention to what they were talking about. He just happened to be in his own little world.

"Squall?" Rinoa nudged him in the side.

"What?" He shook his head.

"Are you awake?" Irvine asked, slowly drawing it out for the Commander's (and his own) benefit.

"Yeah, and I need to be getting back to the office." He stood and left the Cafeteria.

"Squall, I'd like to see you in my office, please." Cid popped his head into Squall office and was gone again.

Squall slowly walked down to the Headmaster's office as asked. "You wanted to see me, sir?" He was motioned to sit.

"Commander, I just received a call from Esthar," Cid began. "The worst is here. Ultimecia has returned…"

"This is gonna be great!" Selphie squealed as she and Rinoa walked into the now beautifully decorated Quad. The party was going to start soon and everything looked great.

They found Quistis, Zell, and Irvine. "What do ya think?" Zell asked grinning broadly. Quistis rolled her eyes.

"It looks awesome!" Selphie exclaimed.

"Um, I believe he means the band." Rinoa pointed to the girls on the stage.

On the stage, warming up, were four girls in skimpy outfits and high-thigh boots. They looked like any teenage guy's dream.

"Could you two get any more pathetic?" Quistis asked, disgusted. The guys just grinned.

"Well, at least now we know you aren't gay." Rinoa rolled her eyes.

"Hey! One shot at a time, darlin'!" Irvine frowned.

Selphie giggled. "Nice one, Rinny." She mumbled.

"Anyway," Rinoa waved the comment away. "Have you guys seen Squall?"

:Not since lunch, no." Quistis answered. She shook her head. The others also shook their heads.

Suddenly, the band kicked into high gear and began to play their loud, hard rock music Zell and Irvine turned around to watch. Selphie glared at Irvine's back and Quistis mumbled something that sounded along the lines of, "Shitkickers."

Rinoa just wandered around, searching the crowd. After a few minutes, she walked out onto the balcony and looked up at the sky, a beautiful velvety black. She closed her eyes, feeling the warm wind encircle her.

Suddenly, a warmer arm came around her shoulders.

"Hi." He whispered.

"Hey." She turned to face him. He was staring out at the sea. There was a look of temporary comfort on his handsome features. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." His response came too quickly, too defensive. "How do you like the party so far?" She knew he changed the subject purposely.

"I would've preferred a bunch of hot stripper guys." Rinoa answered, not looking at him. A wide smile spread across her face.

"Oh," He replied half heartedly. Then it hit him. "Hey now!"

"I was wondering when you would get it." She laughed. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"That was cheap." He whispered dangerously. "Very cheap."

"Oh, no! Bad, Rinoa! Bad, bad, Rinoa!" She laughed again.

"Oh, you're in for it now."

"Oh, am I?"

"Yes."

The music inside had turned from the fast pacing heavy stuff to a slower beat.

"You own me a dance now." Hebegan to drag her back inside.

They made their way through the crowd to a halfway isolated spot. The music flowed through them as they settled into a good rhythm. Rinoa moved her arms to his neck and he placed his hands at her hips. She noticed how much he had relaxed and become comfortable with her in front of who knew how many people.

Squall silently vowed, as he held her in his arms, swaying to the soft music that he would never let any harm come to her. Ultimecia won't hurt you this time. I promise.

A/N: Well, yeah. There's six. I have an orginal written copy that I am copying all this from and I reread this chapter before I started typing and I was just like, "Ugh! That's horrible! We are definitely rewriting THAT before we post this one!" So this probably sucks worse than the original chapter six. Oh, well. Let me know what you all think about all this. I need to know if it's being read and if those who are reading it like it or not. If nobody likes it, I'll probably remove it by March 15th. Just a warning. Thanx and Later Days!

P.S. If I can get about 10 to 15 reviews on this story, I'll continue. So, please, R&R! I need to know what I'm doing wrong!