Disclaimer: I do not own the Final Fantasy series or any part of it.

A/N: So here you'll find out what happened after the afterparty incident. I hope I can say more, but I want you to read this chapter for yourself and let you be the judge. :3

Again, thank you for those who read and wrote reviews for me!*huggies* ^^

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you! :3

"Seifer grabbed Rinoa's hair!"

Those four words Reno yelled were enough to make Cloud rush out of the classroom and bolt towards 3-A's room.

Just a while ago, before Cloud arrived, nobody dared to talk about what happened during the afterparty, not even Rinoa or Yuna. They talked about school, shopping, the game... anything, but the afterparty. But Reno and his big mouth was kind enough to skip the part where Squall saved Rinoa and told his spiky head friend what Seifer did to their new classmate.

And Cloud was definitely not pleased.

"Almasy." He demanded by the 3-A's door as the whole section froze at his arrival.

It was his taller rival Squall that appeared to face him, and his culprit friend behind him. By this time, people were gathering in front of 3-A's room, and Rinoa had to squeeze herself towards the commotion.

"Strife."

"Move Leonhart, I came for Almasy."

"Is this about the afterparty?"

"So you do know."

"I already took care of him."

"I still haven't."

"It was done."

"What happened has happened."

"So get over it."

"Not a chance."

"C'mon Squall, let me have a good fight with this chocobo!" Seifer interrupted the steely argument between the two rivals, provoking Cloud with his mocking voice. "Besides..." He let out a grin. "was it my fault that she stepped in my way?"

Squall sent his blonde friend a deadly glare.

Cloud was already fuming with anger. "Step aside Leonhart. Don't make me fight you out of it."

Squall chuckled before looking away from his friend and faced his blonde rival. "So you'd rather go through this again instead of letting it go."

"Exactly what I'm doing."Cloud's fist was shaking with fury.

"Stop it!" Rinoa cried as she stepped into the middle of the brunette and the blonde, trying to halt yet another fight. This time, she wasn't mad anymore, rather begging the two men to stop, both of which were surprised to see her.

"That's enough!" Rinoa cried again. She had seen enough fighting.

"Please..." She looked at Squall with pleading eyes, who slowly calmed down, but still glowering at Cloud.

"He saved me." She then turned at Cloud, who gave her a sympathetic look. He finally relaxed his fist, but not before giving Seifer one last glare as if saying he's not done with him yet.

Everyone froze. Everything fell silent.

Cloud finally turned and began walking to their classroom, with Rinoa's hands gently placed on his back, as if pushing or leading him away from the spot where he almost fought Squall. She then gave the frowning brunette an apologizing look before disappearing out of his sight.

Cloud was sitting alone at the far back corner of 3-B's classroom, surrounded by an invisible dark and terrifying aura. No one, not even one of his friends, went anywhere near him. They knew they had to leave him alone this time, and his exasperated face told them so.

"Wow, never saw him THAT angry before." Zack, who was sitting in front of Rinoa and Yuna, commented worriedly.

"Was it that bad?" Cloud's short haired friend Yuffie intriguingly asked Rinoa.

Rinoa sighed. "He just pulled my hair. Nothing so serious to fight about, really."

The large chested girl Tifa, who was sitting beside Rinoa, rubbed her new classmate's back. "Still, he hurt you. He shouldn't do that, nor should anyone."

"I know, but Squall was right. It was done. Finished. There's no point dwelling about it anymore." Rinoa was getting irritated about the afterparty issue.

Yuna gently took Rinoa's hand and patted it. "Rinoa's right, but it's sad how Seifer doesn't seem to be sorry at all."

"Well..." Rinoa thought for a moment. Yuna was right, that jerk wasn't sorry. With that look on his face a while ago, it was as if he enjoyed the moment and the incident. Rinoa could slowly understand how Cloud exactly felt, to think it was her he attacked that night. But she already chose to forget about it and let it pass. Besides, Squall already took care of him for her.

"... it's not my problem anymore." Rinoa continued after giving much thought about what to reply. "What matters to me now is that nothing worse than that happened."

The rest of the day was filled with rumors and intrigues about the afterparty, which did not help Rinoa with her want and need to move on from the incident. Sure, it was finished, it ended as soon as it started. But with the curious stares and unusual attention she had been receiving that day, people from Deling High obviously did not want to let it go, nor let the issue die down.

At lunchbreak, Rikku and Yuna tried their best to avoid ever talking about what happened that morning, and about the major headline everyone has been keenly discussing about. While Paine, well, Paine was just her stoic self, neither giving much care about the issue, nor acting that it actually happened, which actually made Rinoa glad. Paine was the only thing normal about her day.

She glanced around the cafeteria, and looked for his usual spot, but Squall wasn't there. She wasn't even able to thank him about helping her from Seifer, her allergies, and for bringing her home. Even if it was against her wishes, he helped her through the night out of his own will. He didn't even ask her much favor in return except not to let the incident reach Cloud's ears, before leaving her by her mansion's doorstep.

Then, Rinoa realized something. Rikku told her that everyone here in Deling knows where her father's mansion is. She wondered then, why did Squall never mentioned anything about it when he brought her home.

Did he forget? Maybe he doesn't know? But if he was here for quite a long time, ever since he started high school, he should know. He is, after all, THE Squall Leonhart, Cloud's equal, and they practically rule the place. Yeah, he probably does.

But then again, why did Rikku had to give him directions back at Tidus' house if he does know? shouldn't he have memorized every corner of Deling City at the back of his hand by now?

"Hey Rikku," Rinoa, who didn't let go from her trail of thoughts yet, turned to her blonde friend. "you gave Squall the direction to my house, right? Back at the party?"

Rikku gave her a confused look. "Uhm, yeah..." she then looked up, trying to remember. "well, he asked for it, so I gave it to him." She shrugged.

"So he didn't know?"

"Probably. Maybe he didn't know how to get to your house from Tidus' place, or maybe he forgot, I dunno." Rikku shrugged again.

"That's weird... you told me before that everyone in Deling City knows where my house is."

Rikku's eyes widened. "Whoah. Well, that's creepy."

Rinoa honestly thought the same.

As far as she knows, anyone who encounters her house would instantly recognize who she is, the daughter of General Caraway. Not to brag about it or anything, but shouldn't Squall at least identify the owner of the house he brought Rinoa to? Or maybe he doesn't care?

Then, Rinoa realized a more sensible reason.

Does Squall even LIVE in Deling City?


That afternoon was Psychology period again, and Rinoa was still scared to get anywhere near Cloud. Recalling how dreadfully mad he was this morning when he was facing Squall made her shudder, and now she had to deal with the tempered one for two hours. She couldn't avoid him by moving her chair somewhere else in the room, that might make him feel worse than he already does. She glanced at their corner before entering the room, and as usual there he was, staring again at nowhere out of the window.

Carefully, she sat beside him, without attempting to greet him like she usually does.

"Don't worry, I won't eat you." Cloud plainly assured her without taking his eyes off the window. Rinoa couldn't even get herself to laugh at his joke. Actually, I'd rather let you eat me right now, Rinoa thought.

The class started almost immediately and they found themselves scribbling notes again. Rinoa acted as if she understood what the professor was discussing, cautious that Cloud might notice and teach her, as usual. Only Hyne knows how he'll talk to her, and she wasn't ready for it yet.

And her act was working great so far. But it was getting awkward, and her attention kept on drifting away from the lesson to the blonde sitting next her.

An hour has passed and the silence between the two was getting uncomfortable for Rinoa. She glanced at Cloud, who was boringly listening to their teacher. She felt guilty for avoiding him, and she thought she had to at least do something to get him start talking again. After all, it was her who was trying not to start a conversation with him.

She flipped her notebook to the last page and wrote something. Then she slid it on Cloud's desk, who quickly looked at it. He read.

I'm sorry about this morning.

His expression didn't change. Rinoa was expecting at least a smile or a frown, but nothing like that came. He simply shook his head and looked at her (finally!). His sky-blue eyes were not angry anymore. They were... deadpan.

"It's not your fault." He told her. "Don't worry about it."

Rinoa smiled meekly at him.

"Cloud," She hoped he won't get angry again at the next words she was going to tell him. "please don't be mad at Squall anymore."

She pleaded.

Cloud's brows met again as he looked away at Rinoa. The black-haired girl can feel her heart beating fast with tension. She knew she would regret saying those words to Cloud, but it was done and she had to push through.

"Cloud, he helped me. When Seifer grabbed my hair, he immediately appeared by my side and practically threw Seifer away." She was exagerrating that part so Squall would sound heroic, but it WAS what she saw that night. "And when I collapsed-"

"You WHAT?!" Cloud almost shouted the last word. Rinoa's eyes quickly darted to their professor to check if he noticed, but luckily he was busy writing notes on the board.

"I drank a martini that night and it happens that I was allergic to alcohol." Rinoa quickly explained. "It was bad, so I fainted. Selphie was there too," She started to try make Selphie sound good to Cloud. "she was instantly by my side. Then after knocking Seifer out, Squall carried me and took me to Tidus' room. And this girl Quistis was there, she checked me and told me I had an allergy."

"Hmm..." Cloud muttered curiously.

"I saw how Squall was worried, Cloud. When I came to, I saw his face, he was worried about me." Rinoa was hoping she was good at persuading her seatmate that Squall was her hero that night. "Then, he took me home himself." She concluded, and reminded herself to thank the tall brunette for that. Also she had to ask him about the whole direction dilemma that bothers her.

Nevertheless, she was worried if she did the right thing. Did Squall wanted Cloud to know the whole story? Would he be mad at her if he found out she told his rival that he saved her, helped her and took her home? It doesn't make sense to Rinoa if it will make him mad, but she knew she had to tell Cloud anyway.

The spiky blonde was reflecting upon Rinoa's story, barely focusing on the lesson. Squall helped her, even if he undoubtedly knows Rinoa was from his section. But why would he do that? He has known Squall for almost three years and he never heard of him lend a hand to anyone, especially from 3-B. Of course, there were also those times when they fought, and he would arrive to "defend his classmate". Still, it was clear to both of them that the fights they've gone through had to be done for the sake of the existing resentment between them, not exactly for the sake of other people. Helping someone like Rinoa was a first time for Squall, as far as Cloud knows. And he wonders...

"Hmm..." he muttered again.

"What? What are you thinking?" Rinoa asked.

"Nothing."

His seatmate groaned.

A few minutes after, dismissal came. And the two classmates waved each other goodbye.

"See you around."

"See you."

They were finally back to normal.

"Hey puberty boy!"

Seifer grabbed Squall's shoulder as they were walking down the corridor. "Why did you fuckin' stop me from having fun with chocobo head?" His voice was stern, but Squall did not answer. The blonde one held Squall's shoulder harder and pushed him to face him.

"I'm talking to you." Seifer pointed at Squall, shaking with anger. But the brunette still did not reply. Instead, he was scowling at Seifer.

"You owe me alot, puberty boy." The blonde's voice threatening.

"I think it's the other way around." Squall retorted as he shoved Seifer's hand off him.

"I owe you for this?" He pointed his index figher at the cut Squall gave his face that night at Tidus' house.

"You had it coming."

"You know it wasn't me, it was-" He stopped. Then he realized something.

"Ooohh..." His mouth emphasized the one-syllable word. He laughed menacingly. "Puberty boy, it was that girl, wasn't it?"

Rinoa? What does she have to do with this?

"Ooohh, puberty boy. Hormones kicking in?" Seifer taunted.

"Whatever fuck you mean." Squall turned his back at the tall blonde.

"You know what the fuck I mean." Seifer chuckled. "You were out of the whole scene until I grabbed that stupid girl's hair." The last three words made Squall's blood boil. "She got in my way, as if she can do something. Some weakling she is." Squall slowly turned around, glowering at Seifer with such fury that his stare can summon all the demons from hell.

"And when I grabbed her empty head, was she able to do anything?" Seifer grimaced as he enjoyed the brunette's anger. "She even whimpered..."

Before he can say anything more, Squall charged at him. The first blow he sent to his face was easily dodged by Seifer, who sent the same punch which almost hit Squall. Then, not letting a single moment pass, the blonde one sent his other hand with another quick, strong blow at Squall, who wasn't able to avoid it this time. He almost stumbled to the floor and felt blood flowing down from his forehead, but he quickly regained balance. He then saw Seifer charging at him with another punch, but he stepped aside and easily avoided the attack. He then elbowed his back that sent the blonde down and gave him a hook to his stomach. Then sent another one.

Suddenly, Irvine grabbed Squall, with his elbows hooked upward under the brunette's arms, pulling him away from his opponent, while Zell did the same with Seifer. But the two fighters were struggling to get each other.

"Both of you! Stop it!" Quistis commanded with much authority, enough to make the two stop shaking themselves off from the men who stopped them from fighting. Squall and Seifer glared at each other for a long while before the brunette shoved himself off Irvine, who let him go. Then he walked away.

"Squall!" He heard Selphie call on him

Rinoa was waiting for her driver Robert at the entrance of her school. He's unusually late today, which made her wonder what happened to him. Also, he did not call nor send her any message to tell her why he didn't arrive on time, which he usually does, until this day.

She figured that maybe she should call him instead, since she's the one waiting for him. Rinoa opened her tote bag and reached for phone. She was about to dial Robert's number, when she realized how much free time she has on her hands.

And that she can use this chance to do one more thing that will make her day complete.

She went back inside and tried to search through the passing crowds heading towards the exit of the building. He wasn't anywhere in sight.

She went to the cafeteria where she first saw him and identified nobody in particular she was looking for.

She took a quick look at the gym and saw no tall brunette there either.

Where could he be... Rinoa frowned, massaging her forehead.

She recalled all the possible corners where he can find him, but she was sure she checked everywhere.

Except one more part of the school.

"The library..."

She ran to the place where she first talked to him and opened the tall door that first greeted her. She let herself in and quickly seeked for the same spot she once saw him reading that Inferno book. She found the shelves, with those same Psychology books she was browsing on that day. But she didn't find him there.

She was beginning to be frantic, and her need to find him was becoming even more eager. Maybe he already went home? But something tells her he's still here at school, and the library is the most possible place she can find him.

She ran from one bookshelf, to the other, only to find nobody. After she reached the end of one side, she began to search towards the other side.

And then, she stopped.

There he was, she finally found Squall, who was sitting on the floor, leaning against a bookshelf beside a wooden door. But this time, his hand was not occupied by a book, rather holding his forehead. Rinoa noticed drops of blood on his white shirt.

He was hurt.

She slowly walked to him, careful that her disruption might anger him. She sat beside him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Squall..." She quietly called.

He slightly turned his head to look at her. He's still mad, about Seifer, and the pain on his forehead. He bowed his head down again.

"Let me see that." Rinoa held his arm and with much care, she pushed them away from his head. There, near his eyebrow, was a deep cut, and there was a trace of blood from it to his cheek.

She took a quick glance at Squall and realized that he's looking at her, and this time, she was closer to those ocean blue eyes. Rinoa turned her attention back to his cut and decided to help him at least clean it up.

"It isn't so bad." She cooed to the brunette. Rinoa reached for the pack of tissue and a bottle of alcohol from her bag, with her back facing Squall and left him wondering what she was doing. Rinoa poured some of the disinfectant on the tissue and turned to Squall. He immediately realized what Rinoa was planning to do the moment he smelled the strong stench of the alcohol.

"We'll just clean it up a bit, okay?" She smiled a him, but it wasn't enough for him to remain calm.

Alcohol? To clean this up? It makes sense but it's not gonna happen.

He turned his head away from Rinoa's hand, trying to avoid the alcohol-filled tissue.

"Hey! Just... a... bit..." Squall was violently shaking his head away from Rinoa, while she tried to reach the cut on Squall's face. The two were struggling and were near wrestling when Rinoa had enough.

She lightly slapped Squall on his cheek. And it was enough to stun him.

"Stop it! Hold still!" She commanded as she held his face mildly with her free hand and gently patted the tissue that slowly erased the blood on his cheek.

As he closely watched her tend to his cut, his blue eyes examined her round, pale face that he never got so near to until now. Her skin is soft and flawless, not one scratch can be found on it. Then, he looked at her focused brown eyes... they made him feel tranquil and safe. They told him so much why he can trust this girl. It made him wonder if these angelic features are exactly the reasons why he helped her that night, but he never got to see her like this before. There was something more about that night, and maybe with the previous days as well. Something about her fascinates him that pushed him to protect her.

Next, he trailed down to her supple li-

He winced and groaned. Her alcoholed tissue reached his cut.

"Oops! Sorry! I just had to especially clean that up..." She put more alcohol on her tissue, then looked at Squall. Her brown eyes met his blue ones and he let it stay like that.

"This will get hurt a bit, okay?" She warned him before placing the tissue on his cut that instantly burned his skin, and he mewled.

Rinoa, who perfectly understood the pain Squall was going through, wished she could do more to make it less painful for him.

"It's okay," She murmured. "just a bit longer, it's gonna be fine."

Instinctively, she patted the brunette's head for more assurance.

His hair... feels nice.

The next thing she knew, she was stroking his soft, brown hair. Maybe it'll help to calm him down.

And Squall let her.

After a few more seconds, she finally removed the tissue from his now clean cut.

"There, looks much better now." She gave him a shy smile, but received no reaction.

She cleaned up the tissue and the alcohol, and packed them all back to her bag.

"Thanks." He murmured to her.

Rinoa turned to him, and gave him another smile. "Anytime."

Then, she remembered.

"Oh! By the way! Thank you about last Saturday! For saving me, for helping me, and for taking me home!" She said each favor while counting them with her fingers.

"No problem." He plainly replied.

"Oh! And..." Here goes... "did you, by any chance, recognize my home?"

Squall gave her a confusing look then shook his head. "No. Why?"

"Okay." She nodded. "Well, it's just that, I was told everyone knows where my house is." Squall became even more confused.

"How's that?"

"Well," Rinoa took a breath. "I don't know either." She wanted to skip the part that it belongs to her father, General Caraway. "But I just want to know, since you don't recognize it, where you actually live."

"Hmm..." He muttered. Sometimes, he's just like Cloud, Rinoa thought.

"Do you actually live here?" She gave him a curious look.

"Not exactly." He looked away from her.

"Is it okay for me to know where exactly?" Rinoa hoped he would tell her.

"It's kind of complicated." Squall was about to place his hand on his forehead again when Rinoa stopped him.

"No! Don't do that! It might bleed again!" She held his arm again away from his head, but this time, her touch made Squall's heart stop for a second. He should be pushing her away, but he wasn't able to do that either.

"Where did you get it anyway?"

One word. "Seifer."

Rinoa eyes narrowed. "You two fought?"

"Yeah."

Rinoa sighed.

Then, she heard her phone vibrated.

"Oh!" It should be Robert. "I have to go now!" She quickly picked her bag. "Thank you again!" She waved at Squall before heading to the library's doors.

The overwhelmed Squall could only stare at where she disappeared.

Rinoa ran as fast as she could to the spot where she previously waited for Robert. True enough, she saw her limousine parked in front, though there's something new about the car's arrival. Right next to it was a man wearing a what seems like a military cloak, leaning on the limousine. He seemed a bit old, and his face was beaming at Rinoa. He also looked very familiar to her.

"Dad?"

Slowly she approached the man to get a closer look.

And she was right.

"Dad!"

She jumped and hugged her father she haven't seen for thirteen years, who put his arms around her. He brushed his fingers through her long, black hair.

"Sorry we were late." He quietly apologized.

This day couldn't get any better.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the Squinoa moment! ^^