Disclaimer: I still don't own FF8.

Chapter 6:

"No it can't be...!" she said softly.

"What??!" asked Selphie.

It seemed that she didn't even hear Selphie. Those girls are not just some girls, those are

their mortal rivals. She was just looking at them. And maybe because she was just

looking at them Selphie saw them too.

"Look who's here!" Selphie said with disgust.

Just then Quistis arrived and also saw their rivals with Squall.

"Oh, now who are they trying to snatch away." Quistis said with an angry look.

"Rinoa, don't be jealous. Let's just pretend that they're not here." Selphie said.

"And besides we're not yet sure what's really going on." Quistis added.

"Okay....!" she replied softly.

Squall was talking to Kiara and his friends when he saw Rinoa and her friends. His

heartbeat suddenly increased. He was thinking of asking her to be his date. He just

needed to gather some energy and confidence.

"Excuse me." he said to the three girls then he made his way to Rinoa's table.

"Hi there!" he greeted them.

"Oh, hi Squall!" greeted Quistis and Selphie with a sweet smile on their face.

He was waiting for Rinoa to greet him but she didn't say a word. He sensed that there

was something wrong with Rinoa.

"Hi there, Rinoa!" he greeted her.

"Oh, what?" Rinoa said obviously she is absent-minded.

"Are you alright?" he asked full of concern.

"Ahm...she's not feeling well since this morning." Quistis said.

"Right, so can you please take her to her room?" Selphie added.

Hearing that Rinoa is not feeling well he volunteered right away. "Ok, I'll take her back

to her room." he said. 'But can you wait for me. I won't take long."

"Okay." Quistis replied.

"What are you doing?" Rinoa whispered to her friends.

"We're helping you keep Squall away from that monster." Selphie said.

"It's obvious that you're more important to him than Kiara. You see, when we told him

that you're not feeling well, he volunteered immediately." Quistis added.

She saw Squall talking to Kiara and her friends.

"You don't have to ask him to bring me to my room."

"Let it be. And besides you need some private time with him."

"But—......" she didn't finish what she has to say because Squall was back in their table.

"So let's go now." Squall said.

She just smiled. Then she stood up but it seems that her whole body is not cooperating

with her because she lost her balance. She thought that she would fall into the floor but

before she did, Squall had catched her.

"Easy now sweetie." Squall said.

She was touched by his gesture and she loved the endearment he used. And it's as if fate

is doing something to bring her and Squall even closer.

"I'll carry you." Squall said.

"But...uhm..." she didn't know what to say.

"No buts!" Squall said in full determination.

Without a word Squall carried her. Everyone in the cafeteria was looking at them but it

seemed that he didn't mind at all.

"We'll just visit you later in your room." Quistis said with a teasing smile.

"See you later." Selphie added.

Before they leave the place, she saw Kiara's and her friends' shocked face.

"Haha... I won over you again." she said to herself.

Squall was walking through the hall of the dormitories. He felt good being able to hold

Rinoa like this. When they reached her room, he gently put her down the bed then he

removed her shoes.

"Squall, do you have a date for the party already?" he heard Rinoa asked.

With that question a smile suddenly traced in his lips. "I don't have one yet." he told her.

"Why are you asking?" he added.

"Well....I was wondering if...you know..." Rinoa said while blushing.

"If I can go with you to the party? Is that what you want to say?"

"Well...yeah..." Rinoa's face is really red.

"Of course. And I should have been the one to ask you that."

"Really? You should have asked me?" Rinoa is smiling sweetly.

"Yeah!" he said sincerely. "Anyway, take your rest now. I know you're not feeling well."

"Please don't go until I fall asleep." Rinoa said.

"Don't worry! I'll stay with you even until later."

"Thank you" she said softly then she fell asleep.

Rinoa opened her eyes. When she looked at the clock in the table, she saw that it was

already 6:00 in the evening. She looked around but she didn't see Squall. When she stood

up, she saw a flower and a note in the table. The note said:

Rinoa,

I'm sorry that I left without waiting for you to wake up.

I'll be back later to check on you.

Squall

She was disappointed when she didn't see Squall when se woke up but she felt happy

when she saw the flower and the note. "At least he'll be going back later." she thought.

She was happy that day. And she has a date for the party already. He's not just anyone,

he is someone special.. While waiting for Squall to come back, she decided to take a

shower first.

Squall was on is way back to Rinoa's room. He really didn't like to leave her but

Instructor Xu have some things to settle with him. He bought food in the cafeteria for

Rinoa. When he reached the door, he knocked first. When the door opened he saw that

Rinoa was already awake.

"You're back already." Rinoa smiled.

When they were inside the room, he can smell the sweet scent of the shampoo she used.

"I bought some food for you." he told her.

"You shouldn't have. I have disturbed you that much."

"I don't mind at all."

Squall was bringing out the food that he bought when someone knocked on the door.

'I'll open it." Rinoa presented.