SeraphxHeartilly: Good day everyone! Welcome to the 7th installment…not too long till we reach the pinnacle. Muahah but I shall leave you in suspense. ;) I want to thank you all for those wonderful reviews, they totally put me on cloud nine and made me extra motivated to write lots more. Keep on sending in your thoughts and opinions ;D Alright I'll be quiet now…

Squall couldn't breathe. Had she just said what he thought she had? The beautiful raven-haired woman watched him for his response. Franticly she started to mumble,

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to speak. Breathe damn you! He reminded himself. He was still in so much shock. Of course he felt undeniably happy that Rinoa cared for him, but love meant so much more than for her to just like him. This wasn't the same as the affection that some groupie would feel for him. Squall had never felt this way about anyone before. Yeah it felt great, but it was equally as terrifying. So many things he'd loved were gone now. What if by simply admitting his love for Rinoa, she'd be gone too.

"It's alright Rinoa…I'm not…scared."

She looked into his eyes with her warm chocolate brown ones. Already he was feeling a bit less tense.

"I want you to know that I meant it though, Squall."

She really loves me…he thought. Absently he had begun running his fingers through the loose strands of Rinoa's hair. It was so soft and silk-like.

"Can I ask you something, Rinoa?"

"mhmm." She answered. Closing her eyes as he stroked her hair.

"Why?" he asked her.

"What?" Her eyes opened.

"…Why do you love me? I don't really understand…"

He could've sworn he saw her blush before she quickly turned her focus to her lap. She grabbed one of his hands and began tracing along it with her fingertips.

"Well for one…you're the most amazing person I've met. You're so fierce, independent, and passionate. When I'm with you I feel like nothing else in the world matters…I know that's so cheesy and cliché, but I don't know how else to say-"

His lips locked with hers before he could stop himself. He worried he'd moved too fast and that she'd pull away, but to his surprise she melted right into the kiss. He was amazed by how soft her lips were. It felt like he was kissing an angel. He smiled through the kiss since he realized that the thought wasn't too far off. Eagerly their tongues found each other and began to dance together. She tasted so amazing. He almost moaned when he felt her hands running through his hair. He held her closer, wrapping his arms tightly around her. They broke apart for breath and she nuzzled into the small of his neck while delivering it short, sweet kisses. Using his hand, he gently lifted her face to his and was going to go in for another deep kiss when he heard the front door open and slam shut.

"Oh Squall!!" He heard an excited Zell call.

Footsteps could be heard heading to the room.

Rinoa broke apart from him, the look of longing still in her eyes. He smiled at her.

"Trust me, I feel the same way." He whispered.

She smiled back at him.

The door opened revealing Seifer dressed up in some of his 'gig' clothes. He was in black pants with many chains attached and a tight dark violet shirt that showed off to the fans his physique. On his neck hung several more chains and his favorite cross pendant.

"Hey Puberty Boy!" he shouted. "Man, we so got a last minute gig-"

His eyes fell on Rinoa.

"I see she's here." He said coldly.

Squall frowned and glared daggers at his band mate.

What in Hyne was his problem with Rinoa?

"Yeah, she is." He replied sharply, he put his arm around Rinoa. Oddly he noticed that she suddenly seemed really timid now that Seifer was here. She had her hands folded in her lap and her eyes were intent on them. Was she scared of him?

"Anyway," Seifer resumed. "We have to be at the Deling Marquee theatre in about an hour and a half." With that said he walked out into the hall.

"I don't know what the hell his problem is." Squall growled when they were alone.

Rinoa remained silent.

"Don't worry about him, Rinoa." Squall tried to reassure.

Rinoa just nodded.

"Would you like to come to the show?" he asked. He enjoyed having her there. It made the show more important to him.

"No thanks." She said. "I'm actually pretty tired…I was up early this morning. I probably couldn't handle a concert right now."

Something sounded odd about how she said that, but Squall decided not to push on it.

"Alright then. I'll drop you off at your house before I head over to the Marquee."

Rinoa got off the bike with Squall's assistance.

"Knock 'em dead at the show!" Rinoa told him. She gave him a quick hug.

"I'll do my best," he replied, "Even though I'll be without my good luck charm.

Rinoa laughed then stood up on her tiptoes to reach his lips. His lips met hers and they kissed passionately for a few minutes.

When she pulled back Squall gave her a small crooked smile.

"You kissed me like it was the last kiss we'll ever have."

Rinoa frowned, but quickly covered it up with a smile.

It just might be the last one…

"It won't be, if you'll still have me. Good night, Squall."

" 'Night." He replied.

He watched her walk away and couldn't help but to wonder

What does she mean if I'll still have her? Of course I will…

But there wasn't much time to contemplate, as he had to get his ass to the Marquee before Seifer filleted him.

Once Rinoa had made it to her bedroom she immediately burst into tears. She threw herself onto her bed, not even stopping to take off her shoes, and buried her face in the pillows. The dampened cotton sheets couldn't do much to mute her choked sobs.

Seifer's going to tell him…He'll know that I haven't…Squall's going to be devastated.

The young woman curled up on her side, hugging one of the pillows close to her chest.

Why couldn't I just tell him? Instead I had to go and make things harder by confessing how I feel for him. Why can't I do anything right??

She pounded her balled up fist into the mattress in frustration.

I love him so much. He has to understand why I couldn't tell him. But who knows…maybe he doesn't feel how I feel. He didn't tell me that he loves me back…maybe he doesn't.

Rinoa didn't want to imagine that, but it was hard not too. So many fears and insecurities were preying on her all at once. All she could do now is close her eyes and hope, hope that somehow everything would work out.

It was merely a matter of minutes till curtain time. Seifer took another long drag from his cigarette.

Squall sat beside him, doing a last minute tune-up on his guitar. It was obvious to Seifer that Rinoa hadn't told Squall squat. There's no way that Squall would be this calm and not have told him anything at all.

I honestly didn't want to be the one to have to do this, Rinoa. He thought to himself.

"So Seifer," Squall said coolly, "What exactly do you have against Rinoa?"

Seifer snickered. Seeing Squall all pissed off had always been amusing to him. The young man with his scar's twin had been a bit hostile towards him since that little episode at the house. Seifer didn't hate Rinoa exactly, he just was pissed that she'd deceived Squall.

"What if there was something important about Rinoa that she'd neglected to tell you?"

"Like what?" Squall said nonchalant. Seifer knew he had the singer's full attention.

Now all he had to do was say five easy little words 'she is the General's daughter'

Five easy little words that would uncover all the lies…and completely break Squall.

Seifer wasn't a fool. He could tell Squall was head over heels for Rinoa, and it seemed that Rinoa felt the same way. After he'd been thinking on it for the past couple days, it had even begun to make sense on why she'd kept her full identity from him. Still, that didn't make her decision the right one. As much as Seifer didn't want to admit it, he knew that Rinoa Heartilly was the first thing besides music to make Squall truly happy since Raine's death. Seifer planned on dealing justice today, but hell, as much as he loved being a villain, he wasn't pure evil.

"Like that…she really cares for you."

Regardless of what Seifer was going to say, Squall was planning on being angry. He was ready to go all out on Seifer when suddenly he realized what the guitarist had said. Slowly a smile formed on his lips.

"I know." Was all he said.

Seifer growled. Now he was pissed at himself. In the end he had ended up being the one with no guts. Well, whatever. He was curious at how long Rinoa could keep this all up, and deep down he kind of hoped it would work out.

"Curtain time!" One of the stage managers called.

Seifer stood up and walked towards the stage. He paused for a moment then said to Squall,

"Oh and Puberty Boy, I hope you worked on the chorus, the other night you sounded worse than Clay Aiken."

He stayed long enough to see the patented Squall scowl, then resumed his walk to the stage, grinning all the way.