Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or locations they all belong to Squaresoft.

Note: This is the revised edition of this chapter, so there will be a few small differences, but hopefully this is easier to read. Enjoy and please review!

Pondering and a Mistake

Rinoa strolled along the 2F hallway, heading towards the elevator. She took the elevator up to 3F and looked about.

"Hey, Cid! Have you seen Squall anywhere?"

The friendly head of Cid popped out from behind a small desk.

"Nope, sorry Rinoa, you might want to check the Training center or the Dorms though!"

"Thanks sir!" Rinoa yelled as she turned for the door.

Rinoa urgently needed to talk to Squall about their relationship. She wanted something more, and finally she'd gotten up the courage to talk to him. If she didn't find him soon, her resolve would be gone before she knew it. She ran around the Garden for awhile, finally stopping at the Courtyard. Hmm....not in the dorms...not in the training center, not anywhere else...he must be here. She walked inside and looked around. Squall was there, sitting on the stage and staring out the window. Rinoa sneaked up right behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, cutie!" she screamed.

Squall jumped, then turned around with anger that turned to surprise when he saw Rinoa's face.

"Oh..." he said. "Rinoa, it's you. Look, I've been wanting to talk to you, but I can't right now, ok?"

Rinoa put on her pouting face.

"Aw, come on Squall, you're sitting here doing nothing, and you don't have time for me?"

Squall gave her a light hug and replied, "I'm doing more than I look like. I've got to plan something top secret."

Rinoa leaned on his shoulder and giggled. "Oooooh, what is it?"

Squall looked back at her with a fake annoyed expression. He spoke in an innocent, calm voice. "I told you Rin, it's top secret. Please leave me alone."

"Squall! I order you to tell me!" Rinoa said, faking an authoritave voice.

Squall turned to her and raised and eyebrow. "You think you can order me around?"

Rinoa looked at the ground and sheepishly said "Well, umm...yeah, I do! You're my boyfriend aren't you?"

Squall looked at her with a sad face. I want to be something more, he thought silently. He met her sparkling gaze, and felt the resolve within him weaken. He put on his poker face and turned back to the window.

"Please just go Rinoa. I'm too busy for you right now."

Rinoa stared at him silently. As she turned to leave, she thought to herself about what he had said. Its top secret, leave me alone, I'm busy. Words silently played over in her head. Please just go Rinoa. I'm too busy for you. I'm too busy for you. She turned and walked away. She thought to herself...Does that mean more than I think it does....he looked so sad when I called him my boyfriend...he's too busy for me...that cold poker face. He's never been too busy for me! She began to feel tears welling up in her eyes. So he's lost interest...he doesn't love me anymore....or did he ever?

She ran to her room and sat on her bed, letting tears fall freely. She stood up and turned around, looking at her bed. The bed she had made love to Squall in. Had he ever really cared? She needed to get away from it. She dried her tears as much as possible then left her room and began to walk around the Garden, looking for a place that wouldn't spark a memory of Squall.

There was no such place. Frustrated, she ran up to the 2F deck and let the tears flow again.

"Why Squall?!" she shouted. "Why?! Did you ever really love me??"

She sat down and began to sob. She didn't even notice the person who came up behind her until she felt their firm hand on her shoulder. Rinoa jumped up and turned.

She gasped. "...Seifer? What are you doing here?"

Seifer smirked. "Well, that's a nice way to greet an old friend. Oh, and don't worry, I've been given probation. I didn't break out of jail or anything."

Rinoa smiled. Suddenly, she ran into his arms and gave him a big hug and, in between her sobs, he was able to distinguish only a few words.

"Oh Seifer, he doesn't love me anymore!"

Seifer pushed her away and looked her square in the face.

"What? Who?" He wore a totally puzzled expression.

"Squall!" She screeched. "Who else?!"

Seifer looked at her with a slightly amused expression.

"You're kiddin', right? Come on, the guy saves you from being locked in a seal forever, rescues you from being controlled by an evil sorceress from the future, and he doesn't love you? I mean, I hate to stick up for the guy... but really. What happened?"

Rinoa sat down and began to regale Seifer with all of her personal thoughts and fears and emotions. When she was through, Seifer looked at her, and with a slight smile said,

"Y'know Rin, I think you're overreacting a bit."

Rinoa sighed and said with a smile "This reminds me of old times, you know, that summer before Ultimecia?"

Seifer smiled back.

Rinoa scooted over and plopped herself in Seifer's lap, wrapping her arms around the strong blonde's neck. He looked surprised, but sort of pleased.

"I kinda miss that summer." Rinoa said.

Seifer smiled and stroked some hair out of her eyes. Rinoa leaned up and began to kiss Seifer, and she ran her hands over his muscled chest. She drew back to see Seifer at first wearing a surprised look, which turned into his regular mischievous grin. He pulled her head towards him and engaged her in a deeper kiss. He stopped. Rinoa looked up at him questioningly.

"What's wrong?" she asked, speaking as sweetly as she could.

"I can't do this, I'm with Quistis." He turned and looked away.

Rinoa stroked his muscled chest.

"Oh yes you can."

She pulled his head back and kissed him deeper, wrapping her legs around him and pulling the unwilling man closer.