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 23: Wrong Color.

Your Eyes

Quistis smiled and tried not to think that something must be wrong with her. Aiden Stone was in many ways the perfect match for her. Of course, Quistis hadn't really been looking for a perfect match as she was currently in a relationship, and if she had known that Selphie had set her up on a date rather than a dinner meeting about Garden business, Quistis would have refused. Selphie didn't approve of Quistis' current relationship. In fact, only Matron and Rinoa had really supported it.

Still, even being in a relationship, Aiden should have attracted her. He was intelligent and accomplished, having just become an instructor at Trabia Garden. He had been completely courteous and respectful towards her the entire evening. He was attractive, tall and blond with grey eyes. Quistis bit back a frown. Aiden's eyes were bothering her, and she didn't know why. There really was very little not to like about the man. By all rights, she should be attracted to him. All Quistis could muster was general friendliness.

"Would you like to go some place for coffee and dessert? I know a great little place just down the street."

She bit her lip. "That's very sweet, but I need to head home. I have a class to teach tomorrow morning."

"Are you not having a good time?" He looked concerned.

Quistis smiled gently. "It was a very nice evening. I'm just not interested."

Aiden frowned. "But we're perfect for each other. We're smart, successful, intelligent people. We even look good together. Why can't you give me a chance?"

She bit back a sigh. He only saw Instructor Trepe, not Quistis. She had also seen figured out why his eyes had been bothering her all evening. They were the wrong color.

"I'm sorry Selphie led you to believe that I was available, and I'm sorry I didn't make it clear at the beginning of dinner. I didn't mean to lead you on." Quistis rose from her seat. "I apologize if I have hurt you."

Quistis left the restaurant and walked into the first bar she could. She needed a drink. Thankfully, this was one of the waterfront bars, and it was easy enough to head down to the beach once she'd finished her lemon drop. Quistis sat on piece of driftwood, her head in her hands. What in the world was she going to do? Tonight had proved that Selphie clearly was not okay with her current relationship. That posed a problem since Quistis was entirely sure that she was completely in love with her boyfriend.

The wind off the ocean made her shiver, and a thick coat was draped over her shoulders.

"I thought you might be brooding again." Seifer sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Bad meeting?"

She leaned into him. "It wasn't a meeting. Selphie set me up on a blind date."

"Ah."

"I don't know what to do about this. I can't seem to convince them that I'm serious about you, and I don't think I can take too much more of their schemes to set me up someone better." Quistis sighed.

Seifer twined his fingers with hers. "You could always marry me. Then you wouldn't be available."

She turned to meet his green eyes, the ones she'd been unconsciously expecting all evening. "Are you serious?"

"About marrying you?" He smiled. "Yes. I love you, Quisty."

"Okay."

Seifer leaned down and kissed her. As it turned out, he didn't have a ring, but they made do with a piece of string that he found in his pocket. With the string securely tied around her ring finger, they sat in comfortable silence watching the waves for awhile before Quistis decided that she should be heading back to Garden. She hadn't been lying about the class in the morning.

Her fiancée walked with her back to Garden, taking his leave at the gate. Quistis opened the door to her quarters to find Rinoa and Selphie waiting for her. Rinoa looked apprehensive while Selphie just seemed excited.

"How was your date?"

Quistis smiled. "Awful really. I left after dinner. I did get engaged afterwards though."