Squall's POV

I'd calmed down quite a bit by the time Selphie arrived. My face flushed when I saw her enter. The first thought that ran through my head was "At least it's not Lenne or Yuna". Selphie had previously had experience with me when I got this way (I don't even know what it was to be honest… was it an anxiety attack? It was possible I'll give it that) so I didn't feel as awkward as I would have if it hadn't been her.

I could see that she was slightly disgusted by the remnants of what were previously the contents of my stomach, though she didn't say anything. I smiled at her in a dull way. She looked a little lost in thought as she walked the 5 meters to our position and dropped herself on my other side, nestling herself in as close as possible and actually wove her arm around my shoulder.

We sat like that for a full fifteen minutes though it certainly seemed far longer. After sitting like this with my two closest friends, my mind shifted back to reality. I was ashamed of what had happened, even though I knew that they accepted it as done. The need to explain myself was as always present and almost unbearable. I stood up, nearly knocking Cloud onto his side in the process.

Following my lead, they stood up and before I knew it, Selphie had me in a rather tight hug. "We should probably leave. It looks like it's going to rain" I said before realising. I thought quickly what a surprisingly good excuse considering that the longer we dwindled here, the more embarrassed I got (after all, the source of my humility was only 5 or so meters away, laying in a puddle).

Cloud nodded in vague consent and we left Garden behind us. I hoped that it would rain heavily so as to wash away the evidence of my frailty. "Follow me" I heard Cloud say and I did. He led me to the performing arts block, stopping only to obtain a key to his classroom from Rinoa's mother. He led me to the room I knew to be his music classroom. Often when I was in P.E., I could hear them practicing up there (his skills were unmistakeable to be honest)

Once we were in the room, Cloud closed and locked the door behind him and I chose a seat towards the back of the class (I was still not wholly over my embarrassment) and sat down. Selphie vaguely scanned the room while Cloud (predictably) strode over to the piano. "Want to hear the song I've written for the School Festival?" he said, his gentle smile plastered on his face again. After he said that my interest piqued (equally predictably). I'd loved listening to Cloud since we were eight years old.

He closed his eyes and played the piano. I'd never heard him play this tune so it must have been very new. Something stirred within me from hearing this new piece – hauntingly beautiful was the only way I'd describe the first part. The music was almost sad, though once he began to sing and I heard the lyrics, I realised the beauty of his song. Even for him, this was an absolutely amazing song.

I was completely enthralled at this point. The more I heard of this song, the more reassurance I got that he had written this song specifically for me. I felt my eyes prickle, though I fought the tears back. I was truly stunned and also exceedingly flattered. No one at school had ever made me feel as happy as these two could. I smiled in silent gratitude as he finished the song and realised that I had successfully managed to withhold my tears though Selphie wasn't as fortunate.

I laughed when I saw that, not to make her feel stupid but because I knew that they were tears of happiness. "That's so mean" she said in mock indignation "Laughing at a lady when she's crying" and if the look on her face hadn't already betrayed her voice I'd have taken her seriously. I laughed harder then she followed suit, Cloud, still sitting at the piano, smiled before joining in the laughter which echoed in the empty classroom. For the first time that day I was truly happy.

Our laughter subsiding, we fell to talking. I gave them a false for having had the anxiety attack (which made me squirm with guilt inside) so their worries seemed to have abated. They may not have fully understood what I'd said though they accepted the story and didn't press me for further details which was fine since the bell was due to ring. The lesson after lunch would probably be the hardest for me to endure.

P.E. was my least favourite class. Why did I take it? I can't remember… I'll plead temporary insanity for choosing it though. Granted I was alright at most sports and activities that Mr Loire had set, showing particular aptitude in gymnastics, athletics and track, though it happened to be the class where most of the people who had it in for me chose. Wakka and his imbecilic sheep were there, Kefka and a few of his closest "followers" and finally Rinoa and her posse of airheads.

Kuja and Zidane (another member of the baseball team) were in this class and were amongst the only people to have ever religiously stood up for me. Usually I had them and the other members of their team around me in P.E. so as to prevent Wakka from getting any ideas and trying anything. They always said that their sense of honour and justice wouldn't permit a two (or any higher number for that matter) attack on a single person. However, no matter how many times they said this, I still got the feeling that Cloud, Lenne and Yuna had a hand in there somewhere.

Today though I arrived a little early and Zidane greeted me kindly. I mumbled my usual greeting, changed in one of the cubicles at the back of the room and made my way back outside, passing a new addition to our class. Seifer it appeared opted to do P.E. as well which meant that I had yet another class with him.

If you had asked me why I didn't like him, I probably wouldn't have been able to give a satisfactory answer. Either way, he stood in the doorway looking at me with emerald eyes which I ignored before striding past him out into the sunshine which had once more crept from behind the clouds. I noticed that almost all of the girls were there. Selphie was there in her uniform already as well as Elena. Rinoa was not here yet and I secretly wished she'd decided to cut class.

Seifer was out soon after I was and I could almost feel his stare on the back of my head. Selphie was more than adequate distraction from turning and acknowledging him since she was bobbing up and down like a toddler. It was not surprising that Wakka and his group (Nooj, Gippal, Baralai, Letty and Datto) were the last to arrive. Mr Loire glared at them briefly before explaining what we'd be doing this lesson.

By some freak chance, it was going to be Gymnastics again. I smiled inwardly knowing that I was one of the only ones in the class that had shown any slight skill at this. Wakka and most of his friends were far too bulky and stiff to pull off half the stuff we were required to do. Rinoa managed rather well, but we all knew that her flexibility was definitely used elsewhere (hint - hint).

Mr Loire arranged the class into several groups, obviously tackling the different apparatus. I watched as Wakka managed to do a face plant after his attempt at the vault. I suppose Rinoa must have seen him since she completely fell off the balance beam almost immediately afterwards. Seifer however was almost too good on the pommel horse. I was watching him intently and didn't notice when my name was called to take my turn on the parallel bars.

I managed to pull it off quite well with Mr Loire giving me a rather impressed smile before Selphie took her turn. She also did quite well and after her, Mr Loire appeared, ushering our group onto the next piece of equipment. I had enjoyed the high bar most – I was probably the best on that though I couldn't judge. By three quarters into the lesson, we had completed everything. I noticed that there were only three others (besides myself of course) who showed any consistency in Gymnastics. They were Selphie, Seifer and Rinoa.

Seeing this and after hearing numerous complaints from the students that he was being far too demanding, he caved in and told everyone to start running laps around the building. The class groaned collectively though the look on his face implied that his decision was final and that NOTHING was going to change it.