Author's note: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list iota. This is set after the game and is slightly AU. Theme 28: Contest Winners.

She Was the Prize

Squall Leonhart was a dead man. His death would be quicker and less painful than Irvine's, but he was still going to die. She should probably kill Zell while she was at it. He was most likely involved as well. Quistis was absolutely furious. No one had asked her if she wanted to do this, and if they had, she would have refused. She didn't care if it was for a fundraiser for Balamb Garden. This was humiliating and degrading, and it wasn't like Rinoa or Selphie or anyone else who had a relationship. And of course, they hadn't bothered to ask if she was single or not; they had just assumed.

Balamb was sponsoring a Bachelorette Auction to raise funds to create student union. And apparently she was the main attraction. Whoever had the highest bid got a date with her that evening. She wasn't the only one participating in this thing, but the others had volunteered. Quistis had plans for the evening, but those would have to be canceled. So instead of a pleasant evening out, she would mostly likely be stuck with whichever Trepie managed to put up the most cash for her. It was not the evening she had planned. No, Quistis had been planning on having a romantic dinner with her long time boyfriend (even if her friends and colleagues were still in the dark about him).

So, when she stepped out onto the stage in a ridiculous blue dress to catcalls, she was in a mildly homicidal mood.

"Our last bachelorette of the evening is Instructor Quistis Trepe. Quistis is twenty-two and one of the heroes of the Sorceress War. She was the youngest person to make SeeD in Garden history and has been one of our most famous SeeDs to date. Quistis enjoys reading in her free time and also likes to garden. Shall we start the bidding at fifty gil? Do I see fifty?"

A hand went up. Quistis bit back a sigh. It had started. She did her best to keep a calm façade as her price went up exponentially. Quistis recognized the two men who were the main bidders. One had been a student of hers that had never grown out of his crush on her and had become a major force among the Trepies. The other was an instructor whose advances she had never returned. Neither would make for pleasant company for the rest of the evening.

"Five hundred gil," a familiar voice rang out.

"Five hundred. Do I hear five hundred and fifty?"

The instructor's hand shot up.

"Five hundred fifty. Do I hear six hundred?"

The Trepie dropped out, but the new bidder remained. Quistis' smile was a little more genuine.

"Eight hundred." The instructor smirked.

"A thousand," came the counter bid.

"One thousand gil. Do I hear one thousand one hundred? No? One thousand gil it is then. Quistis Trepe goes to the lady in the purple dress."

Matron smiled up at her. "Come along, Quistis."

Slightly stunned, Quistis followed Matron to the edge the crowd. She froze when she saw who was waiting for her, but Matron simply took her hand and placed it in Seifer's.

"I believe that you have something to say to Quistis."

"Here? Now?" Quistis had never heard Seifer squeak before.

"No time like the present." Matron beamed.

"Um, Er. Quistis?"

She hadn't heard him this nervous in ages. "Go ahead, Seifer."

"Marry me?"

She through her arms around his neck. "Yes!"

Seifer spun her around before kissing her.

Matron smiled widened. "Off with you two. I understand that dinner and a shopping trip is planned."

Seifer set her back on her feet, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Shall we?"

Ignoring the flabbergasted crowd behind them, the couple headed for the exit. They had celebrating to do.