Eight Hours Earlier
Quistis, Selphie and Rinoa took their dresses and their make-up down to Balamb so that they could see Zell's mother. They had been surprised when she had offered to do their make up. They thanked her and agreed that she would do their makeup. When they knocked on her door she answered it as though she had been waiting by the door.
"Ladies" she said "The boys will be lucky to have you"
"We think Quistis is the lucky one" said Selphie "Now let us make her the belle of the ball"
"Yes, I have been hearing about your man" said Zell's mother "Now let's knock his socks off"
It had been a thrilling day and eight hours later, when the gong rang, Quistis truly felt like a princess. At the moment the gong rang out Quistis was stood in her bathroom, by herself, admiring her image in the mirror. It was very rare that she got to dress herself up. Now she was stood there, in the white glow of the bathroom strip lighting, with her hair tied up and wearing the black satin dress. Quistis straightened the thin shoulder straps of the dress and brushed off any strands of hair from her dress. The dress, which had cost more than double what Selphie and Rinoa had paid for theirs, was slender right the way down and covered her feet. Quistis picked up her silver necklace, which had been given to her by Zell's mother. Quistis smiled as she put it on and wondered what Yazoo was going to think of her. Quistis was as nervous tonight as she had been when she got her Instructors licence, which had changed her life. Quistis took another deep breath and looked back at herself in the mirror one last time.
What little make up she wore was flawless, her skin practically glowed, her nails and hair were practically perfect and the pendant around her neck glittered as did her eyes. Quistis smiled at herself and picked up her black shawl which she put over her shoulders. With a final fleeting look at herself in the mirror Quistis stepped through her door into the crowd of women who gasped when they saw her.
The crowd of young girls who admired her gasped the loudest.
"Miss Trepe, you look gorgeous!" one said.
"Thank you" said Quistis "You too look beautiful"
"Quistis" said Selphie hugging Quistis "you look great, now lets get to the ball"
The entourage of women walked from the dormitory to the Quad where Selphie declared the Spring Fling underway. Quistis stood by the entrance with Xu waiting for their dates who were already four minutes late.