Disclaimer- You guys should already know that I don't own Squaresoft or any aspect of Final Fantasy VIII. I do however have two cats now.

Author's Notes- I would like to apologize to all of my readers that are still following this story. I lost the original version of this chapter when my old computer finally quit working. Then I had to wait a few weeks to get a new computer and then try to retype this chapter from memory. While trying to do that, I hit a massive writer's block that I've only just now been able to overcome. I probably could've had this chapter out a few weeks ago except that things have gotten really hectic here in the past few months with planning for my wedding and my husband preparing to get deployed. If any of you out there are still reading my story I appreciate it. For any of you still reading and reviewing, I love you!

Coming Clean

The sunlight poured through the cafeteria windows, intensely lighting everything in the large room. Off at a table on the side, Nida played with the napkin holder. He watched as it reflected the sunlight onto the ceiling above. Out of the corner of his eye he caught one of the lunch ladies watching him. Subtly shifting the light weight metal container in his hands, he reflected the bright light in her direction. He watched as she watched it dance on the wall behind her. She shook her head and sighed. He grinned and then placed the holder back on the table top. Leaning forward against the table, he studied his reflection on the holder's side. Resting his cheek on his hand, he crinkled his nose at his reflection.

"You look fine kiddo," The lunch lady's voice startled him. He looked up at her and the styrofoam cup she held.

He shrugged.

"Is this going to be one of those days where I have to let you complain about your appearance so I can disagree and say nice things to rebuild you're self-esteem?"

He laughed. "No," He said as he rested on his elbows. "I was just debating over whether or not my spikes were too much."

She rolled her eyes. "Nida, I've known you since you were thirteen. For five years your hair has always been brushed to one side or the other. Trust me, it looks good," She said as she sat the cup down. Nida looked down at the cup curiously. "You know what it is," She smiled.

"Roasted hazelnut with one scoop of creamer and three of sugar?"

"Nida, you've ordered the same cup of coffee for the past four months."

He grinned as he dug in his pocket.

"Don't bother," She stopped him. "On the house...consider it an early birthday present if you will."

"How did you know?"

"Thanks to Instructor Trepe's following, everyone knows about you. Good luck tomorrow," She said as she walked away.

Left alone, Nida ran his fingertips along the rim of the cup. The door across the room slid open and Quistis walked into the room. He watched as she joined the breakfast line. A smile crossed his face as he watched her pull her glasses off. Picking up his coffee, he took a tentative sip, testing the liquid's temperature. When he looked back up to see where Quistis was, his eyes were met by an ocean of navy blue. He jumped in surprise and looked at the two candidates blocking his view.

"You seem to be fairly harmless and admirable," The male spoke. "While it wasn't unanimous, you seem to have won enough of us over." Nida stared at the boy in confusion.

"What?"

"You two make a good couple. If there's anything you ever need help with you can ask any one of us," The girl gave a stern glance to the boy beside her and then handed Nida a napkin to wipe up his spilled coffee.

"Umm, okay," Nida answered unsurely as he carefully took the napkin from her hand.

"But if you ever hurt her, don't count on ever seeing the light of another day," His threat was silenced by his companion's hand. She rolled her eyes playfully.

"He's just jealous of you," She assured Nida. "But in all seriousness, if you hurt her, there will be pain. Lots of pain." Nida cleared his throat and tugged at his shirt collar. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder. "Remember, if you need anything at all just ask," She smiled as she grabbed her partner's arm and dragged him away hastily.

Nida watched them leave as he sat the tainted napkin aside and sipped his coffee.

"What was that about?" Quistis asked as she sat down across from him.

"Uhh...I'm not really sure," He grinned. "I think they like me."

She sent a skeptical glance in their direction and shook her head. "They give you any trouble let me know."

He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Um, I only have a few minutes, Cid's got me doing some kind of presentation and tour for some of his new business associates."

"Investors?" Nida asked.

Quistis nodded. "They seem to have a slightly less shady agenda than Norg did."

"That's always a good thing," Nida grinned.

Quistis smiled. "Yeah. I'd hate to have to snap my whip on one of them."

Nida raised an eyebrow.

Quistis rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly. "I'll see you a little later this evening."

"How much later?" He asked.

"I'm not really sure. I guess it'll depend on how demanding Cid's clients get," She shrugged.

"Alright," He answered.

"See you later," She said as she placed a hand on his cup of coffee to keep him from drinking from it. He looked at her questioningly until she leaned over the table and kissed him swiftly on the lips. He was left in a somewhat dumbfounded daze as he watched her leave the cafeteria. It wasn't until she'd long since stepped out into the main hall that he realized that he was now the center of attention. Feeling the discomfort of everyone's eyes resting on him, he quietly stood up and left the cafeteria as well.

That evening...

The moonlight filtered through his open window and doused the contents of his dorm room in a pale luminescent blue hue. Nida studied the lighting effect silently. Sitting on the cold tile floor, he leaned against his dresser and stretched his legs out. The tattered ends of his drop cloth felt rough under his bare feet. He leaned forward and bunched up the end of the cloth. Tilting his head to the side, he mentally traced the shape of the shadows the moonlight cast on it. After a few placid minutes, he slowly rose to his feet and walked around to the front of his easel. Carefully dipping the tip of his paintbrush in a jar of ink, he lightly pressed it to his canvas and dragged it in an exaggerated arc. He dabbed his brush on a paper towel and then ran his brush parallel to the line he'd already made.

He worked in a slightly interrupted silence. The bugs and small creatures in the forest outside sang him a sweet and soft lullaby as he continued his work. With a final touch of his brush, he stepped back and evaluated his creation. Another shadow fell across his floor, making his already dark room, darker. He looked up to the figure in the doorway and jumped in surprise. She stepped silently into his room, and shut the door behind her. Nida stepped quietly out from behind his easel.

"Hey," He said nervously.

"Hey," She responded as she placed her hand on the light switch. "Here come the lights," She warned. Nida grimaced as the room lit up a bright fluorescent white. When his eyes adjusted he saw Quistis grinning back at him. "What were you doing in here? Hiding in the dark?" She asked as she walked past him.

"No," He smiled uneasily. "I was looking at how the moonlight made the shadow's look...you know...for one of my paintings."

"This is me," She said softly. He spun around and winced when he saw her examining his latest work.

"Yeah," He answered guiltily. "Its actually ink, not paint...I hope you don't mind."

"What would I mind?" She asked. "I suppose I should be flattered that someone thought me interesting enough to put me on a canvas."

"You're beautiful."

She fell silent and looked down at the floor for a moment. "So are you," She looked up at him, a serious expression on her face. "You shouldn't be here. Why do you stay with Garden? And don't even let your answer contain the name Sarah."

Nida looked down to the floor and carefully crossed his arms across his chest. "Its my stability," He whispered. "Its always going to be here. So long as I'm a soldier I'll always have a bed to sleep in and food to eat...its my security."

Quistis' shoulders slumped.

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I was just curious." He fidgeted uncomfortably as she walked up to him. "Look at me," She stated. He silently did as he was told and tensed as she placed her hands on top of his. He watched her nervously as she ran her hands up onto his forearms and wrapped her thin fingers loosely around his wrists. "What's the matter?"

"N-Nothing," He answered as he weakly tried to pull his arms from her grasp. An expression, somewhere crossed between hurt and worry crossed her face as she tightened her hold on his wrists and then willfully turned them over. Nida looked immediately to the ground, avoiding all eye contact with her. Quistis stared at the marks that laced the underside of his forearms until he managed to pull himself free of her grasp.

"Nida, why do you do this!" She asked in a half-panicked tone. He shook his head as he tightly crossed his arms.

"I-I was hoping you wouldn't find out about this," He whispered.

"...Did you think that this was just something I wouldn't notice?" She asked.

"I don't know," He mumbled as he covered his face with his hands. "Please don't leave me," He whispered from beneath his hands.

She sighed as she grabbed his hands and pulled them down to his sides. "I'm..." She searched for the right words. "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just...afraid."

"Afraid?" He asked.

"Yes afraid!" She exclaimed. "You could kill yourself doing this!" She cried.

"I haven't done it in a while," His voice was barely audible. "Not since we've been, you know, dating and all."

Her gaze softened. "I just don't want anything to happen to you," She admitted as her eyes teared up.

"Please don't cry," He whispered as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Please don't cut yourself anymore," She said as she placed her hand over his, holding it to her cheek. "You're the only person in this Garden that makes me feel like someone special. After days like today, you're the only person keeping me here."

Pulling his hand out from under hers, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. Letting him just wrap his arms around her, Quistis allowed herself to fall against his chest and rest her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," He spoke as he kissed the top of her head. "You're more than special to me...I...I um...I loveyouQuistis," He mumbled in a rushed and barely audible voice. She quickly pulled out of his embrace and looked up at him with tear stricken, surprised eyes.