Chapter 2: It's Quiet for Once

Balamb Garden

CRASH!!!!!

The sound seemed to echo around the corridors of Balamb Garden

"SELPHIE, I told you to be careful with that" said Squall as he brought his hand to the bridge of his nose a tell tale sign that he was annoyed, and who could blame him as he had just watched Selphie drop his prized gunblade.

"Sorry" was the sincere reply that came from the short girl as she stared at the floor.

"Its okay" said Squall as he realized he couldn't stay mad at her given the fact it was Selphie and she had this way that would make you feel guilty even if you hadn't done anything, and she was willing to help him move his room around. As it turned out she was the only one able or willing.

Rinoa his girlfriend of the past three years was away to Timber for the week to visit Watt's and Zone, Zell had pulled out some excuse that he had to go and visit his mum in Balamb even though he had seen her the day before, Quistis and Irvine had been assigned on a mission for the last month and even though he was the commander of Balamb Garden he wasn't even allowed to know what it was about, all he knew was that they had been gone for the month and had no idea when they would be back, and had only briefly checked in from time to time.

So luckily for him Selphie was willing to help.

"So that looks like everything is done" said Selphie "Why change things around?" she asked

"Just felt like it" replied Squall

"Fair enough I guess" said Selphie "Well what do you want to do now?"

"Guess I was going to go to the training centre" Squall replied

"Ok, well I said I was going to meet Nida and Xu in the quad to just relax a bit, why don't you come?" asked Selphie

"Maybe later" replied Squall

"Okay see ya later" as Selphie made her way out of the door.

"Thanks for the help" Squall shouted after her.

After Selphie had left Squall made sure everything was in its place and then grabbed the gunblade making sure it wasn't damaged from Selphie dropping it and made his way to the training centre. Garden was busy at this time of the day with people going from class to class, and if not in class going back and forth from Balamb town as they had settled the Garden outside Balamb again after they realized it was too much effort to keep the Garden mobile if it didn't need to be. But they knew they could always move it again if they needed to. This meant that any long distance trip was made using the trains or the Ragnarok which was know stationed at Garden on loan for a price from Esthar. One thing that Squall was beginning to notice was the increase in the number of students who enrolled this year with it increasing significantly against that of the year before, most likely due to people's fear of joining garden after the battle with Galbadia and Ultimecia, but that had been just over three years ago so maybe the fear was starting to lose its grip.

Squall eventually reached the training centre when he heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Yo Squall" said the man behind him

As Squall turned he immediately knew that it was Zell Dincht, Gardens hand to hand combat specialist. Instantly recognisable due to his blond hair and distinctive tattoo which runs down the side of his face.

"Hey" Squall replied "I thought you were visiting your mum?"

"Huh, oh you mean that well you see, kinda tried to but she was out so, just came back to help you out but then found you were done so came here to do some training" was Zell reply as he nervously tried to cover up the holes in his little lie about visiting his mum.

"Okay" Squall replied

"Great didn't think you buy that" Zell said but seconds later realizing he had just said what he was thinking out loud "blew the cover right?" he asked Squall

"Yeah but don't worry about it Selphie helped me out but not before trying her best to wreck my gunblade" Squall said with a hint of sarcasm, sarcasm becoming ever more common over the past few years in conversations with Squall, he was also known to make a joke and get involved in conversations about any foolish thing well at least in the company of his five closest friends, things that were unheard of three years ago.

"So going to do some training?" asked Zell

"Yeah" Squall replied "You?"

"Yep, mind the company?" Zell asked

"Not really but I'm not saving you if you screw up" said Squall

"Okay, let's go" Zell said maybe a bit too enthusiastically for Squalls liking

As they turned to enter the training centre the intercom announced.

"The following report to the headmaster's office immediately Squall Leonheart, Zell Dincht and Selphie Tilmit."

"Guess we better go" said Zell as both him and Squall started walking towards the lift.