Hey There, Cowboy!

Meeting Irvine. Sorry it's not so long or detailed, I was in a rush somewhat.

The group wandered outside. It was boiling, the sun beating down and reflecting off of the sandy pathway. Selphie moaned. She wasn't used to so much heat. Trabia is a snowy place. Beautiful and white. She couldn't wait for her friends to see where she had grown up - the snow-capped mountains of Trabia - chocobo land! Lost in thought, she hadn't even realised the time. She'd been waiting for an hour.

Zell: Erghhh.
Quistis: Let's just wait here. The master should be coming with the orders soon.
Selphie: He's pretty late.
Rinoa: Oh! I think that's him. Just pretend I'm a SeeD, too. It'll be less complicated that way.

A car approached, heading straight for the group. It came to an abrupt halt, and a man got out. Well! That's just lazy, Selphie thought. Using a car to move a few inches. Tsk. Quistis quietly whispered as he approached; "This is Martine Salerte, the headmaster." The group saluted the man as he handed Squall sheets, and he began to speak - the same gruff voice that had called them to 2F a few hours earlier. What followed was an overly long speech, most of which Selphie had to ask about later - she daydreamed too often and for too long.

Martine: Good day.I have official orders from Headmaster Cid addressed to you. Following regulations, I have gone over these orders. After careful consideration of our options, we have decided to fully assist and cooperate with Headmaster Cid. Actually, we too, have been planning for this quite some time now. In order to stress the importance of this mission, I must first brief you on the current situation. At ease. You all know about the sorceress being appointed as the peace ambassador for the Galbadian government.

Zzzzzz...seriously...this was tiring enough!

Martine: However, this ambassador thing is just a cover up. There will be no peace talks, only threats. The sorceress creates fear among people. Therefore, peace talks are impossible. Galbadia is planning to use this fear to negotiate favourable conditions for itself. It is clear that Galbadia's ultimate goal is world domination. Garden is no exception, either. It is a fact that the sorceress is planning to use this Garden as her base...We have very few options available to us. We entrust world peace, and the future to you. Details of the mission are enclosed in these official orders. Any questions?

Selphie perked up. It was probably time to pay attention now.

Squall: The orders say by means of a 'sniper'. We have no one with that skill.
Martine: Don't worry about it. Let me introduce an elite sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden. Kinneas! Irvine Kinneas!

Selphie looked over toward the grassy common area, and watched a brown coated man lying down, playing with a butterfly. He had long brown hair, and a large cowboy hat. Carrying a rifle, he stood and and winked at her, strutting towards the group. She glanced back at her friends, and saw they all had a range of emotions on their face, Quistis and Rinoa's intrigue, to Zell and Squall's...well...disgust. It looked like they weren't fond of him already, before even speaking to him. But she was, he looked familiar. It was strange.

Martine: This is Irvine Kinneas. He will be your sharpshooter. Leave whenever you're ready. Failure is not an option.

Martine got back into his car, and was driven off in the direction of the Garden. Irvine made a shape with his hand, shooting at Martine's car. "BANG!" Turning back to the group, he clicked his finger and pointed at Selphie, cheekily winking and grinning at her. What on earth...? She smiled back nervously...he was a bit...over-confident, wasn't he?! He had pretty brown eyes. Eyes that stared straight through her. It was slightly unnerving. Like he knew her.

Irvine: Looks like I'm with you rubes from Balamb. Greetings.

Zell stepped forward, shaking slightly. He always did that when he was angry. Selphie hadn't known him long but she'd known him long enough to tell when he was annoyed. And right now, he was VERY annoyed. She wondered why. Irvine seemed harmless enough.

Irvine: You cool with me helping you?
Squall: That depends on your attitude.
Irvine: I say things that get a rise out of some people. Just don't let it bother you and we'll get along fine.
Squall: I'll remember that.

Selphie shook her head. Zell wouldn't get along with him then. She looked over at him, and caught him looking at her. He was smiling. Aww. She smiled back, and walked over to stand next to him. Maybe he'd calmed down now.

Squall: Our next mission...This is no ordinary mission. It's a direct order from both Balamb and Galbadia Garden. We're to...assassinate the sorceress.

Selphie gasped. They couldn't do that, could they?! It was so...Selphie couldn't even think of a word. She'd wanted to stop the sorceress, before anything happened like last time, but she'd never even entertained the idea that it would be their group of newly promoted SeeD's that would be doing it!

Squall: We're to shoot her from afar. Kinneas will be our sharpshooter. We're to support Kinneas to our fullest. Should the sniper fail, we are to attack head on.
Irvine: Thanks for the support, but I never miss my target.
Squall: Eliminate the sorceress. That's our order. We're going to head to the capital of Galbadia, Deling City. There, we'll meet up with General Caraway to go over the details for the plan. Let's get going.
Irvine: Well then...We'll need to choose a party for the trip to Deling City.

Irvine smiled at Selphie, and grabbed her by the arm, before grabbing Rinoa too. Dragging both to his side, he grinned, wrapping his arms around the both of them.

Irvine: How's this?

He looked down at Selphie, before tightening his grip on her, pulling her by the waist, closer towards him. Zell's face flushed red. Selphie's did too. But for different reasons entirely. Selphie bit her bottom lip - I guess Zell is just tired of him joking around...she looked up at the cowboy, and smiled slightly. He was kinda cute. And at least he paid attention to her. No one ever paid attention to her. Zell didn't like her, the way she liked...NO wait! Selphie stopped herself. I DON'T LIKE HIM LIKE THAT!

Squall: I'll decide.Selphie, Zell, you're with me, Irvine, you take the girls. There.

Irvine frowned as Selphie skipped over to her friends, the ones she'd begun her journey with not long ago. I guess Squall likes us to be as a trio, she smiled.

Irvine: What!? Are you serious?
Squall: I've balanced out the party.

Irvine, Quistis and Rinoa walked away, Quistis excitedly telling Irvine how she knew the quickest way to the train station. Zell spent the trip insulting him furiously, occasionally watching Selphie for her reaction - but Selphie didn't notice. She was in a world of her own. She knew that guy from somewhere. It was like he was family, or something. It was similar to how she felt like she knew Zell, but this time it felt different. It felt like Irvine knew her too.

Yeah, short, I know.

Read and review pleaseee, don't be mean nowww.