Disclaimer- Sadly, Final Fantasy VIII is not mine....so sad....

Author's notes- this took just shy of what seemed like forever to update. It was a hard chapter made even harder by work....sorry.

JadeAlmasy- Glad you thought it was funny. That's what I was going for.

element6- But but....I did! Here's the next chapter.

ameli- First off, you spelled your own name wrong. Secondly, I'm glad you liked that scene. It was just something I made up off the top of my head.

Aratcorien - Yes, Seifer does know women. lol Glad you liked it.

Shekae- Nida rocks! Yeah I've always liked him and felt that he should have a larger part then what he was given in the game. Thanks for the review.

Tense Moments

Cid leaned back in his seat as he listened to Nida's surprisingly lengthy presentation. It surprised him how a student with this boy's intelligence had managed to avoid the notice of his instructors. He grinned subtly as he listened to Nida's recommendation on replacing the Garden's current and original navigational system with a more precise system of Estharian make. Off to his left, he could see Xu shifting in her seat and Selphie watching her with knowing eyes. Xu had definitely been proven wrong and Selphie was more than likely going to make sure she remembered it. 'That's my little girl,' He thought with a smile.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught Selphie whispering to Xu. How rude was that? She'd pleaded and protested for Nida to get this chance and now she wasn't even going to hear him speak. 'Women,' Squall thought to himself as he clasped his hands loosely on the desk before him. Regardless of Selphie's actions and Xu's skepticism he was going to hear his former classmate out. Perhaps it would be wise to train Nida. It was important for Balamb Garden to be as self-sufficient as possible. He was pulled from his thoughts as Nida stumbled over a word. 'But the Estharian engineers are professionals,' He thought. 'I don't know.'

Xu twirled her pen between her fingers as she listened to him speak. He noticed and watched her from the corner of his eye. She grinned encouragingly. Perhaps she'd been too hasty to jump to judgment. Beside her, Selphie smiled victoriously as she nudged her in the side.

"He's looking for Quistis," Xu said under her breath.

"Mmm hmm," Selphie responded. As if on que, the door flew open and in stepped a fuming Instructor Trepe.

"What is going on here?" She asked. Everyone fell silent as she stared in disbelief at the four people across the desk from her. Squall immediately looked away and towards Cid who was surprisingly looking over at Squall uneasily. "What's going on here?" She repeated. Xu covered her eyes while Selphie looked down at the desk. "Well?" Nida was just left gaping at the way she was dressed. Mouth agape, he fumbled with the papers in his hands and ended up just letting them fall on the top of the podium. After somewhat composing himself, he looked up to see her staring back at him. He tried to offer her a weak smile but he wasn't entirely sure his mouth actually moved. She looked at him for a minute longer before turning back to the others. "With all do respect, what is going on here? Squall?" All eyes on him, Squall subconsciously slid down lower in his seat.

"Quistis Dear," Cid interjected. She turned her full attention to him, thankful that someone had an answer for her. "You should be enjoying your day off. I assure you we were doing nothing more than a preliminary interview with Mr. Poe here."

"Its Roe," Squall said under his breath.

"That's what I said," Cid insisted. Squall leaned his head in his hands on the desk. "Anyway, back to what I was saying. I can assure you that you are not being left out of any kind of decision. Now go on and return to your day off."

"But..." She tried to protest.

"Go enjoy your day off. You of all people deserve it." Quistis looked back at Nida and then Xu and then left. Pulling the door closed behind her she sighed and leaned her head against the wall.

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The rain drops echoed off of the tin roofing as the mother and daughter sat inside, listening to it quietly. Neither looked at one another, they just resolved to stare at nothing of any real significance. The mother, leaning on her elbows, stood up and collected her things.

"I'm off to work. Stay out of trouble while I'm gone," She said as she dug through her purse. When she received no answer she looked up, raven hair falling into her eyes. "Can I get a response please?"

"Sure yeah, whatever Sarah," Her daughter said as she stared out the window at the rain.

Her mother looked up at her in annoyance but chose to avoid an impending argument. "So when's your brother coming back? Amira!"

"I don't know!" Amira shouted back at her. "You probably ran him off."

"Do not talk to me like that young lady!" Sarah said sternly.

"Or what? You'll send me off too?" Her remark earned her a swift slap on the face.

"Get up to your room!" Sarah shouted.

-----------------

Quistis jabbed at the remnants of her lunch while Xu droned on about some new crush she had. She always had a crush on someone and yet she never acted upon it, so nothing happened. Same old story, same old gossip, same old Xu. The metal of her fork screeched against the glass salad plate.

"Oww!" Xu cried out as she covered her ears. "Geez Quisty that hurt." Quistis grinned triumphantly. "That's not funny, that really hurt."

"Wuss," Quistis said as she wiped up the dressing with a piece of lettuce. Xu stared at her for a minute.

"Am not," She stated.

"Is that the best comeback you could come up with?" Quistis asked dryly as she took a sip of her tea and pulled out her grade book.

"Hey," Xu placed her hand over the book's contents.

"Hey," Quistis mimicked her as she pushed her hand off.

"Oh Quistis, its your day off," Xu protested. Quistis sighed as she put the book away and leaned back in her seat. Both girls sat silently for a moment.

"So what's going on?" Quistis asked.

Xu looked up quickly, dumping the contents of her fork on the table. "What do you mean?" Quistis narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"You know what I mean," She answered. Xu looked around.

"No, I don't," She protested.

"Yes you do," Quistis argued.

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about all of you in the conference room holding an interview without me!" Quistis snapped as she stood abruptly and slammed her hands down on the table. Everyone in the cafeteria quieted for a moment. Xu looked around at them and then back up at a glaring Quistis. Getting bored with the situation, the average students and SeeDs went back to their previous preoccupations. The remaining three quarters of the room sat silently as they watched their idol lay down the law. Her every word, every action, held their total attention. Right now, they were watching their lady in skimpy pink proclaim the dominance and authority they all knew she possessed. Quistis broke her glare on Xu and looked around at all the people staring at her.

"Can we talk about this later?" Xu asked under her breath, the weight of the treppie glares starting to bother her.

"No, we'll talk now," Quistis said as she sat down. Xu began to look uncomfortable. "All I want to know is what is going on."

"Okay okay," We were holding a preliminary interview with him to see if he was qualified for senior engineer. It was just a preliminary, you've missed those before."

"Because I was off on work!" Quistis argued.

"Quistis!" Xu stood up. "You're just having withdrawals from work."

"What? No, no its nothing like that."

"Yes it is!" Xu protested. "And you know what? You wouldn't have this problem if you had someone to keep you busy." Quistis' jaw dropped at the statement along with every treppie's in the room.

"Someone to keep me busy?" She asked numbly.

"I said something," Xu answered.

"No you didn't," Quistis narrowed her eyes.

"Yes I did....didn't I?"

"Look I may not have a boyfriend but I...just don't have time for one." Xu nodded unconvincingly. "Hey this isn't even any of your business okay. Besides, you don't even have a boyfriend. Who are you to speak?"

"First off, I said something not someone. Normal people have hobbies outside of work. That's all I was suggesting. And just to clear things up, yes, I do have a boyfriend," Xu said quickly. "Who did you think I was talking about earlier?"

Quistis raised her eyebrows in interest. "I didn't catch that part."

Xu crossed her arms. "Were you ignoring me?" She stared at her friend in disbelief.

"No!" Quistis thought for a second. "Well, I acknowledged that you were speaking but I didn't pay enough mind to actually listen to your words."

"Oh gee I feel appreciated," Xu stepped closer to Quistis.

"Oh gee I do to," Quistis mimicked her. "You had the nerve to sit by me after lying about an interview that I happened to walk in on! Of course I ignored you! I was mad!"

"Well you know what! I didn't want to keep you out of that room! I played along because it was important to Cid and Selphie! They wanted to see him speak comfortably!"

Quistis stared at her completely baffled. "What are you talking about?"

Xu's jaw dropped. "You mean you don't know?"

"Know what?" Quistis asked in a hushed voice. Xu grinned and leaned forward.

"Look, this was nothing against you. Its just that we were afraid he wouldn't be able to speak with you there."

"Why's that?" Quistis looked genuinely confused.

"Because," She pulled Quistis closer. "He's practically in love with you! The poor guy can barely form words in your presence!" Quistis jumped back in surprise and bumped into the treppies who'd leaned in closer to hear Xu's hushed words.

"Do you guys mind?" Quistis snapped at them. Every treppie in the room hurriedly backed up a few feet. She narrowed her eyes at her best friend. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Xu stifled a grin. Quistis crossed her arms. "He's single you know." Their audience gasped. Quistis looked nervously over her shoulder.

"I don't have time for a boyfriend, no," Quistis said as she collected her dishes and walked off.

"All you need is a little time here and there. Oh come on, he's nice, and shy. You won't have to worry about him trying anything..."

"Xu!" Quistis snapped.

"He's not a treppie," Xu winked at her. Quistis started to roll her eyes but caught the look of her devoted following.

"Not a treppie," She said to where only Xu could hear her. "Hmm," She said loud enough for everyone else to hear. "I'll tell you what, I'm going to take a shower, I'll meet you at the front gate. Be ready for the beach and we'll talk about this friend of yours." A broad grin crossed Xu's face as she followed Quistis out.

Left alone in the room, the treppies stared in disbelief at the spot in which Quistis was just standing. "Let's go! We have to find out who they were talking about!" Treppie #2 shouted to the others.

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"You shouldn't fight with her you know," He words came out softly as he laid sprawled on his back, feet kicked up on his headboard. "Ami, I know things get really tense but you just can't...I mean...just don't start the fights okay?" He stared at his bland ceiling with contempt. Whoever decided the standard paint had to beige....or the cheapest equivalent of it needed to be shot. "So anyway, I guess I'll see you before too long. Rumor in the garden is the next garden fest is going to be held in Dollet." He smiled at her excited reaction as he held the phone away from his ear. "Quiet," He laughed lightly. "You're supposed to be in trouble. Don't make it worse by letting her hear you." He listened to her as he let his right hand slide off the bed and land on the cold floor. His fingers came across the thin of his paint brush's handle and he tossed it lightly up in the air. He watched silently as small object spun in the air and then landed soundlessly in his palm. "You've got to see my new stuff. Its nothing too big.....but you'd like it." He paused. "Selphie wants me to set up a booth at the festival. What do you think? Are my old paintings and sketches still in the top bedroom? Oh, that's good." Hearing a slight shuffling sound, he rolled over on his stomach and looked to the open doorway. "Can I help you?" He asked the student in the hallway. The boy ignored his question and simply walked away. Slightly disturbed, he sat up and returned his attention to his phone conversation. "I don't know who that was. Think it was one of those obsessive treppies. You haven't heard of them?" He laughed. "Let me tell you, they're ridiculous. They're basically a following of SeeD and student alike that have proclaimed their utmost obsession over Quistis Trepe. Its kinda disturbing...if you think about it. There are hundreds...at least." His phone beeped at him. "Hey Ami, I'll call you a little later okay? Stay out of trouble. Okay by." He flipped his phone shut and walked to his doorway.

Speaking of Quistis had refreshed his memories of that morning. She'd seemed very surprised and upset. Deciding he would somehow make things better, he pulled off his shirt and pulled a clean one on. He would figure something out. As a matter of fact, he'd do something he seldom succeeded in doing. He'd talk to her.

--------

Frustrated, she dug through her dresser drawer for her bathing suit. She knew she had one. A quick glance at her clock reminded her that she was running late.

'Xu's probably on her way up here now thinking that I'm not going,' She thought bitterly as she tossed a handful of undergarments on the desk beside her. If she had to completely rearrange her living quarters to find the over priced swimming garment she would. Growing increasingly aggravated, she pulled her still damp hair back while barely managing to keep her towel on. A knock echoed from the door behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and sighed. Xu was really an impatient person. Annoyed, Quistis stepped over to the door and punched the release button.

"Look Xu whenever I find my bathing suit we can go, until then..." She slowly stopped speaking as she stared at the young man in the doorway. "You're not Xu," Her voice was soft and barely came out.

"No," He replied as he looked towards the floor. "This is a bad time."

"No," Quistis argued as she tried to secure her towel. To her horror she felt the fabric slip and slide past her fingers. As if in slow motion, all she could do was watch helplessly as the towel fell to her feet. Once what had happened registered she dropped to the ground and quickly re-wrapped it around herself.

Hand held over his eyes, he stepped backwards into the hall. "I-I-I'll j-just come back later or some-thing." Quistis found herself unable to respond as he hastily disappeared from her line of sight. Pressing the button to shut her door she allowed herself to lean against the wall and slide to the floor.

"That did not just happen," She mumbled to herself. Beside her the door slid open abruptly and in stepped Xu.

"Hey why aren't you ready yet?" She asked. Quistis looked up at her from her seat on the cold tile and then just hid her face. "Quistis?"