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

Note: WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I finally got a new chapter up!!!!!!!!!! It's been forever I know, I'm sorry!! Get reading and REVIEW like a good little reader!

Additional Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cereals named in this chapter :)

In the Meantime

Rinoa woke to find herself in the Infirmary with Dr. Kadowaki's face above her. As she looked about, she heard Dr. Kadowaki's soothing voice telling her to stay put and rest. Rinoa tried to sit up, but the doctor's firm hand pushed her back down, and she desisted and lay still, turning yesterday's events over in her head.

All this pain I've caused.... to him, to myself.... I don't deserve to exist....

I'm a fool...to think he would ever not love me simply because he has complicated things that busy him.

And to go to Seifer...of all people, I chose to betray him with his archenemy.... what kind of wretch am I?

Rinoa turned on her side to look at Dr. Kadowaki, whose back was turned to her. The doctor was looking at her computer. A medical analysis of Rinoa was displayed on the screen.

Frontal torso and legs - medium burns

Face - deep burns

Loss of skin and blood

Has been treated with Tricloserene-597, most burns respond well, with no apparent allergy.

Continual treatment with Tricloserene-597 should heal burns totally.

Rinoa sighed. Burns. The analysis seemed to have overlooked the deepest burns on her soul.

--

Selphie strolled into the Cafeteria trying to act normal. Nobody seemed to notice anything was different about her. She grabbed a box of cereal and a mini-carton of milk and took a seat. Frosted Flakes.... too much sugar for her. She'd be way too hyper to deal with.

Perfect.

Suddenly, Zell plopped down right across from her.

"Hey Selph. You don't look so good. You ok?"

His eyes flicked down to her bowl. His eyes widened and he backed away from the table

"Oh, no you don't Selphie; you know how you are after a bowl of those!"

Selphie looked up at him with a half smile, but said nothing.

Zell reached and moved the bowl away from her.

"What do you say we switch breakfasts, and then we can talk about what's bothering you?

Selphie wrinkled her nose.

"You have hotdogs for breakfast!! No way am I switching!"

Zell smiled and flushed red, but then pointed to his tray. An innocent bowl of Cheerios sat there, ready to be eaten.

"I decided to eat a healthy meal for a change."

He pushed the bowl of Cheerios over to her, and grabbed the Frosted Flakes before Selphie could protest. Selphie smiled, and began to talk.

"Well, I'm.... worried about Squall."

"Tch...aren't we all? C'mon Selph, he's been through worse!"

"But...Zell, there's something that not everyone knows..."

Zell studied her face for a moment. She looked solemn and scared.

"Selphie, if he did something to you, I swear I'll-"

"No!!! It's nothing like that!" Selphie practically yelped. She looked around the cafeteria. Only a few people seemed to have noticed her outburst.

"No..." she continued. "He... he made a noose... and hung it up, as though he was going to... going to hang himself!"

Zell's face became grave. "Did you get rid of the rope?"

"Of course!... I locked up his weapons, and his gunblade is in my room... Oh, Zell, what are we going to do?"

Selphie promptly proceeded to burst into tears. Zell looked around and realized how much attention they were getting. He tried to get her out of her seat, but when she simply plopped back down into it, he had no choice but to pick her up right out of the chair and carry her princess-style. He took her to her dorm and plopped her on the bed.

"Look, Selphie, you did the right thing, locking his stuff away. It's okay. Don't worry. I'm going to go talk to him."

With that, Zell walked out of her dorm and shut the door behind him.

Note: Okay, so I finally had a good idea of what I was doing, but suddenly I threw Zell in and my ideas have all changed. Oh well. REVIEW!!!!!!!!!