Timber - 7.55 p.m. (Timber Time)
The sun had completely hid itself behind the Timber Mountains, leaving the world in darkness. At night, fluorescent lampposts that lined the streets would turn Timber into a light bulb if seen from above.
Squall and Rinoa waited for their bus with the instructors and the Trepies in front of the hotel, while admiring the colourful city lights.
"Timber has been more colourful lately," Rinoa said thoughtfully.
A white bus then pulled over and screeched in front of the pack. The pack lined up as they waited eagerly for the door to open. Squall and Rinoa entered the bus first and chucked their backpacks in the compartments on top of their seats. Quistis and Xu rested easily in their seats. Rachel then argued with Daniel about who was going to sit behind Quistis. In a few moments, the door closed and the bus started moving.
The pack soon learned that the bus was heading for the mountains.
At a restaurant situated on the same street as the Timber Hotel, Selphie joined Irvine, Kadowaki and Edea for dinner. She immediately forgot Seifer's rudeness when she chatted with Edea and Kadowaki, smiling again.
"You know what? Teaming up with Seifer hasn't been bad at all," Selphie commented.
Irvine spat after he heard Selphie.
"Zell will be furious to hear that."
"Anyway, are you going to lock him in a hotel room from now on?" Selphie asked, imagining Zell as a muskrat caged up in a hamster playpen.
"Depends," Irvine said while sipping his pina colada. "Luckily the Metalhead concert is aired on TV so he'll be like sticking his nose on the screen for a long, long time."
"Poor Zell," Kadowaki said sarcastically. Everyone on the table laughed.
Seifer was happy enough to have Fujin and Raijin treating him to dinner at the Timber Burger Palace. Fujin stared sternly at Seifer, who was munching his cheeseburger.
"QUESTION," she started. "How can you guarantee that we'll not be eliminated."
"Don't worry," Seifer mumbled with his mouth full. He washed down the food with Pepsi. "Once I know what the next task will be, I'll plan on something that ensures both of you from getting eliminated. I'll also make sure that Selphie will never screw it up." His tone turned solemn. "She has been a bloody pain in the ass."