A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews! Not really sure what to say this time…just hope you all like. Please review!

'The Call'

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

13:00

Rinoa awoke with a terrible headache and a craving for coffee. Stumbling into the kitchen she opened the fridge. As per usual it was empty, one of the down sides of no longer living with parents. Groaning, she realised she had forgone food shopping in order to buy a new outfit for the night. Now she regretted that decision as she rubbed her stomach, knowing that if she didn't eat soon she'd begin to feel ill. There was little point in making a coffee if there was nothing to eat afterwards. So trudging back to her bedroom and changing into her sweatpants and hoodie, Rinoa jammed her feet into trainers and grabbed her handbag.

Her flat might not have been in the most glamorous of areas, but at least she was only a few minutes away from the shops. Ten minutes of walking took her past the small hairdressers and into the newsagents. Once inside Rinoa picked up a basket and began to fill it with all sorts of fattening foods; doughnuts, readymade milkshake, bacon and finally the local paper.

Standing in the queue Rinoa tried to focus on anything other than her empty stomach and looked at the advertisements in the window. Suddenly something caught her eye, in big black letters on a piece of white card: Quistis Trepe, Paranormal Investigator. Putting her items on the counter, she absentmindedly paid before wandering away towards the window. Taking the card she wondered whether she should pay it any mind. It had caught her eyes after all.

She knew that if she called this number she'd be admitting that something weird had really happened and that she believed in something supernatural. But if she didn't call, then she could forget about it. Pretend it never happened.

Like hell she could forget. She was calling the number.

A woman with a professional sounding voice answered the phone. She wasn't what Rinoa was expecting to hear, having imagined twinkling bells and more mystery.

"Hi, my name is Rinoa…I was wondering if you could give me some advice?" she asked as she slowly walked back home.

"What sort of advice?" the woman asked.

"I er…" Rinoa paused. What was she doing? Was she really going to tell this stranger all about her weird adventure? "I met some odd people the other day…I mean I saw some strange things… one of them sorta appeared out of thin air, I think that they were out looking for something but I got in the way. Sorry, you must think I'm crazy…sorry for wasting your time." She was about to hang up when the woman began to protest.

"No, listen I'm interested in what you've seen. Can we meet? Somewhere public of course. Where are you? I'll drive to you."

Rinoa looked around. Further up the road was a café, if she dropped her food home then came back…A café was a public place, it would be safe to meet there. Making the arrangements Rinoa hung up, then allowed herself to worry all the way home.

The woman who walked through the doors fitted the businesswoman's voice that Rinoa had heard on the phone. Her long blonde hair was pulled back with a simple clip and her plain clothes hid away any trace of identity. Rinoa gave her a brief smile as she walked over to join her.

"Rinoa?"

"Yes."

"My name is Quistis Trepe, may I?" she pulled the opposite chair out from under the table but waited for an answer before she sat.

Rinoa nodded for her to join her. She hadn't been able to wait for her company, her rumbling stomach getting the better of her. She'd ordered her own drink and bacon sandwich as soon as she was able.

"I'd like to know what you saw, if you still want to tell me?" Quistis said before stopping the waitress and ordering coffee.

Rinoa began to repeat the strange occurrences of the night. Quistis said nothing as Rinoa spoke, letting her say what she needed to without any interruptions. Instead of asking questions she made notes and nodded her head to show that she was interested. In the end Rinoa talked herself into silence and Quistis looked up from her page of notes.

"I don't think I can answer these questions for you Rinoa…but I think I know someone who can. Want to take a chance?"

15:30

Selphie folded her arms as she leant against the wooden headboard of her bed. Still half covered with the heavy blankets she stared at her two companions. Seifer was spread eagled on his back in a star shape, with the blankets twisted around his leg and draped across his middle. Something about the way he was lying annoyed her. He could even be cocky in his sleep, not needing to curl up to feel safe.

Under her irritated gaze he rubbed at his nose before flinging his arm back down on the bed. In contrast to Seifer's haphazard way of sleeping, Squall was still in the same position that he had started in. Back to her, on his side, facing the door. As if he wanted to be as far away from them both as possible. She wondered if she slept in a funny way too. If she asked Seifer he'd only tease her, making out that she did all number of strange things. There was no way that she would even consider asking Squall.

Not that she could really complain about being in the same room. If she wanted to she could go anywhere she liked. Provided she didn't mind the risk of waking up some Bleaks and then dealing with them alone. Plus the fact that she tended to become lonely when not in company, even if the people available to talk to were annoying; it was better than nothing.

Throwing the blankets back she weaved her way around the room into the bathroom and locked the door. Having made it to the bathroom first she decided to make the best of it by claiming the complimentary towel and running a bath.

Her peace was disturbed ten minutes later by someone knocking loudly on the door.

"Oi, who said you can go in there?" Seifer shouted still hitting the door.

Selphie rolled her eyes. She'd been foolish to think that her peace could last. Next chance she got she would make a break for freedom. Maybe it was about time she put some space between them, she'd been with them a week now. Things had been hectic lately, more so than usual. The Bleaks didn't tend to lurk around one town as much as they had this one. Once they emptied a town of it's unwelcome guests, the trio would move on, taking a small break to recharge their energy. However their usual routine might not work here. The amount of Bleaks here was unusual to say the least.

Neither Seifer nor Squall had mentioned anything about this, and Selphie had the sense that they were keeping something from her. She worried that they still didn't trust her. Sighing she lay further back into the water.

"I asked you a question!" Seifer yelled now rattling the handle.

"I'm having a bath," Selphie shouted back.

"It better not be a long bath, I have to shave."

Selphie smiled to herself; there was nothing on earth that was going to get her out of this bath. Not unless Seifer got down on his knees and begged her. Anyway, he could survive without a shave; she needed a bath… girls needed baths.

Closing her eyes she began to relax, until the door flew open and Seifer stomped into the room. Jolting upright and covering her chest with her arms, her face contorted into an expression of horror.

"What the hell? Get out!"

Scrabbling for the towel, Selphie tried not to let Seifer see anything he shouldn't, whilst attempting to keep some of her dignity. How dare he come barging in, breaking the lock on the door and disrespecting her privacy? She glared at him as she wrapped the towel securely around herself.

"I told you," Seifer said lathering up his face. "I had to shave."

"If you think I'm going to let you get away with this…" Selphie warned pointing her finger into his face. "Urgh!"

Quickly drying herself as she wandered back into the bedroom she shot Squall's empty bed an evil stare. Where had he gone? Neither of them had even been awake when she had gone into the bathroom, did they do it on purpose? That's it she'd had enough. Screw Squall's rules of not drawing unnecessary attention; if she stayed any longer she'd end up killing someone. Closing her eyes and calling her magic, she faded into the air around her and shot out of the open window in a stream of gold.

15:50

Zell looked up at the sky as the golden streak of light flew overhead. Sometimes he found it hard to believe that no one else saw this kind of crazy stuff. They couldn't all be looking the other way all the time could they? He'd spoken to so-called other 'magicians' but they just looked at him blankly, or stared at him as if he was mad. In the end he'd kept it to himself and scratched out a living via those that believed in what he could see.

Quistis was going to come back to see him today, he could feel it. Therefore he decided to quickly tidy the front room. He hadn't made much of an effort before, not that anyone ever seemed to care. But if she could be bothered to come back and talk to him again, then he could at least offer her a comfortable seat.

All he needed to do was wait.