Squall leaned against the wall of the elevator as the doors slid shut. He was thankful that he was alone. The sudden lurch and pull upward made him grab hold of the handicap bar. He licked his lips and exhaled through his mouth slowly.

Who was that little girl in my dream and in the infirmary? Why do I keep thinking I should know these people? And Quistis...I shouldn't have done that. Why am I even thinking this way? I don't need an excuse. I don't need to explain myself to her even if she's my instructor. I don't need to explain my actions to anyone!

The elevator doors stopped on the second floor and opened. Squall pulled some strands of black hair away from his freshly acquired battle wound. He stepped out and walked towards one of the many classrooms on the second floor. He stood in front of the door and swallowed. Just the thought of being face-to-face with Quistis again made him anxious. Not to mention having to endure Seifer Almasy. Squall could already imagine all of the things Seifer said to the class regarding their duel. Not that there was much Squall could or would say to defend himself. Seifer was always the one who bullied him and spread lies about it later, but rumors did not bother Squall all that much. He knew the truth and that was all that mattered, or so he liked to think. Whatever Seifer said about him simply fuelled their rivalry and made Squall want to fight him again even more. It was like that ever since they entered Balamb although it felt much longer.

Here goes nothing.

Squall gripped the handle of the door with his bare hand and pushed it down. The door opened with a click and he stepped inside. All eyes were on him. He hated the spotlight. His azure eyes scanned the class full of people for only a second before looking at the floor. He dared not look at Quistis but knew it was coming

...Three, two, one.

"I'm glad you are feeling well enough to join us, Mister Leonhart."

He winced. Why did she have to say that? As if having everyone stare at him wasn't bad enough. Squall flung himself in his chair at the back of the class, across the aisle from Seifer, ironically enough. Seifer snickered at him.

"Little Squally have a itty bitty boo boo?" The blond said mockingly, declaring it really. Loud enough for the whole class to hear it and burst into laughter. Great. Just great. Not only did Squall have to deal with having a massive scar on his forehead, offending his instructor, and being extremely late for class, but now he had to deal with everyone laughing at him. What else could possibly go wrong? Oh, right, the SeeD field examination. That was going to be the icing on the cake.

Squall said nothing but that did not prevent him from shooting up his middle finger at the other boy. Actions speak louder then words afterall.

"That is enough!" Quistis commanded. The laughing and talking immediately ceased. "Seifer, consider yourself warned."

Squall glared at Seifer. The blond boy's thin lips were curled in a very amused smirk.

Ten minutes later class was over. Squall stood from his chair and walked to Quistis. Only three other students remained at the front of the class. Three members of Quistis' unofficial fanclub. They called themselves "The Trepies". He always thought the name sounded more like an STD than a fanclub but whatever. It wasn't his problem.

The Trepies stood a few feet away from Quistis, who was packing her notebook and other supplies into her laptop bag. Squall stood across from her desk and watched her slender hands put one item after another into the bag. First, her blue and black pens, then her red marker, her notebook, then all of the papers she needed to grade before the end of the academic quarter. Everything was organized just so. It was a little quirky but it was kind of cute. Wait, cute? Where did that come from? Ah, whatever. It was his empty stomach talking, yeah, lack of food. That had to be it.

"How's your head?" Quistis asked with a small smile.

Squall blinked and relaxed his arms at his sides. "It feels a little better. Thank you, Instructor."

"Good. Do you feel you're ready for your field examination?"

He nodded.

"I will be your back up. Make sure you equip your Guardian Forces. When you're ready, meet me at the Front Gate. I'll be waiting." She winked at him and grabbed her things to leave.

"Uh...Wait, Instructor. I have to talk to you," Squall looked at the Trepies. "In private."

Quistis raised a precisely tweezed eyebrow. "You can talk to me on the way to the Fire Cavern. We'll have plenty of alone time there." She smirked and exited the room, the Trepies not far behind her.

Squall's face grew hot. He was thankful she left the room before her or any of her adoring fans noticed.

Why am I blushing? I'm acting like a thirteen year old. I shouldn't be like this. I don't have time. I need to equip my Guardian Forces and get my gloves from the Infirmary. I need to focus on the exam.