Squall arrived home. home. if that's what you called the most...screwed up household on the block then okay. home it is. Generally, it wasn't the nicest area, Most people barely left their houses, unless they needed food...or unless they were selling drugs to kids on the street. All in all, the town itself wasn't a bad place, but the people...most of them were scum.

"I'm home" Squall muttered in annoyance as he came through the front door, eager to just get in his room and slam the door to everything. It had been a really...weird...annoying...crappy day. And right now, Squall just wanted to be by himself, and think about everything that was going on.

"Squall!" a voice carried after him down the hall. Damn. Life is never easy, is it?

Squall continued away from the man who was his father. Well temporarily anyway. His name was Gray, and he wasn't the first of many 'fathers' who had a very low tolerance for Squall's behaviour. He continued into his room, not bothering to turn and acknowledge the man behind him.

"Don't ignore me young man" Gray bellowed, he clearly wasn't in the mood for any form of bullshit.

"Okay, whatever, what do you want?" Squall asked, turning to look the man in the eye. He was in his early 40's. His once raven hair had began to silver more and more since he'd been living with Squall and his mother. Squall hated him, just as much as he hated all the others, if not more. This man had a nasty temper, and the way he spoke to Raine was disgusting. I dunno what the hell she see's in this asshole.

"I got another phone call from the school today, I'm not going to put up with this kind of thing forever you know..."

"Then leave!" Squall spat angrily.

"I am NOT going anywhere! This is MY house now, I pay the hyne damn bills and work to put food on the table! All you do is cause trouble with your stupid friends! And I'm sick of it!" Gray roared.

There was silence.

"...You need structure boy..." the man continued, trying to calm himself down. "You need to stop hanging around with those kids.."

"Fuck you" Squall mused, he brushed past the man and headed back down the hall. He was ready to leave the house...at least until his mother came home from work. The maybe Gray would leave him alone. He could hear quick footsteps behind him, a firm hand grabbed him by the shoulder, turned him around, and the next thing he felt was a sharp pain on his jaw. He stood frozen for a moment.

Silently, he continued out the front door. "Tell mum I'll be home later..."

_

The girls left mall, with six bags filled with new outfits for Rinoa.

Rinoa noticed Selphie was still really hyped up...from well...something. What happened an hour ago seemed like some kind of mysterious blur, Rinoa couldn't quite remember what had gone on.

"Hahah...don't worry Rin, she's always like this" Quistis laughed as she linked arms with Rinoa. Selphie was running eagerly off ahead, they were all on their way home again. Rinoa took another sip from her chocolate milkshake.

"I can't believe Squall...he can be such a prick" Quistis said, wincing as the light shone into her crystal blue eyes. Rinoa couldn't help but notice how perfect she looked, almost like a doll. Her long hair shone like silk in the sunshine. Her skin was pale and clear. Rinoa wondered about what had happened before between Quistis and Squall, it seemed like there was something going on there that she didn't know about

"He doesn't know what he wants...one minute he wants me all over him...the next moment he wants me to just disappear!" she continued.

Rinoa looked at her. The subject had really caught her attention, though she didn't know why. "Are you and him...a couple then?" Rinoa asked curiously.

Quistis continued to look forward. Selphie had stopped in front of a house not to far ahead and she was waving at them both with a big silly grin.

"That's Selphie's house up ahead" Quistis said softly. Obviously...she doesn't want to talk about her and Squall anymore...

They approached the house, "Heeey girls, Rinny you coming in?" Selphie asked jumping up and down.

Quistis offered Rinoa a tiny smile, "I'm sleeping here tonight, you wanna stay with us too?" she asked.

"No...um...I think I better take my shopping home...and get some rest. I had fun though."

Selphie nodded. "Awww...okay then, we had fun too girl! you're so totally hanging out with us at school tomorrow and from now on!"

The three hugged in union and waved goodbyes and Rinoa continued home.

_

Squall snapped shut his cell phone. That was a really insightful conversation...geez he thought as he sat down on a park bench with his head in his hands. He'd just spoken to Seifer, who was usually a decent enough friend to talk to when something bad had happened. Hyne, Seifer knew. He got the most shit out of everyone...and often people forget that and wonder why he has such a short fuse. Irvine and Zell were with Seifer though at the moment, and were constantly interrupting the phone call by screaming things into the receiver. Just really...stupid things...

About her. Rinoa.

And it all just angered him even further.

He wondered about Quistis for a moment. She was pissed off, like always. Her temper was always running hot these days. And she just didn't understand anything at all. The whole thing was just...this giant misunderstanding...She'll get over it Squall thought, right now he had greater problems. Like the pathetic excuse for a man that was currently living in his house. Squall reached up to his jawline and applied pressure with his hand. Fuck. The pain didn't take long to register. He reached into his pocket, hoping to find a joint...or even just a cigarette...but he found nothing but gum wrappers.

He looked up from his misery to the sun that was sinking down in the sky. Squall was never the kind to admire the setting of the sun. But today...the sky looked almost surreal. Hues of yellows blended with brilliant oranges and slight reds. It really did look un-real...

And to top off the most beautiful thing he'd seen in so long...

There she was...walking in his direction.

He looked so alone. He was the first thing she'd seen that didn't fit into this beautiful portrait the world had painted around them. And she took comfort in it.

"Hi...Squall" she smiled awkwardly, his blue eyes looked up into hers. So sad...those eyes...

She couldn't help but notice the swelling and bruising on his face. Oh Hyne, he's hurt!

"Oh no...Squall! are you alright?" she exclaimed, dropping all her shopping bags and kneeling down to properly examine his face. Not thinking twice, she reached out and ran her fingers gently over his source of pain. She felt him flinch slightly at her touch. And it finally registered what she'd just done. I-I just...touched him!

She almost jumped back, her face now complete with two cheeks pink with blush.

"I-I-I'm so sorry...I was...just shocked to see you hurt!" she blurted, trying to finds words that would justify her actions. Trying, and failing.

"...Squall are you alright? what happened?"

His eyes never left hers. It was like...some weird connection...like a gravity pulling him towards her. He shook himself internally, trying to shake away these crazy thoughts. But then she touched him. Hyne, did she just touch me...

He flinched at the feeling. Touch was usually an un-welcome sensation, something he pretty much tried to forsake himself from. But this was different...No way, she didn't just touch me...I must be stoned.

Squall watched as she moved backward slowly. She looked so cute, her usually pale cheeks flushed with pink. Innocent. Shopping bags all around her. She looked so lost...She's just like me he thought.

He listened as words poured from her mouth, he was too deep in thought to even catch a single word. It were as though she spoke to him in a language only they could understand. He didn't hear her words, but he heard enough to know she was concerned. He remembered the mark on his face as her next question snapped him back into reality.

"Squall are you alright? what happened?" he heard her ask.

He felt a small pain in his face again, and he shot quickly up from his sitting position.

"I'm fine, it's nothing really, I just hit my face when I was under my car trying to fix something" he lied. She remained where she was, "You need help with those?" he asked as she scrambled to gather all the shopping bags back into her hands.

"Nah...It's okay" she blushed even harder. He wanted to laugh, but his cool exterior did well to keep it all in.

"Here, C'mon" he said, this time offering her his hand. Which she hesitantly accepted.

"You're going up that way right?" she listened to him question. His voice was barely audible above her ragged breaths which she hoped so very badly he could not hear the way she could. What just happened? It was so strange...

She nodded quickly. "Thanks" she squeeked.

"...Well, my house is the other way...so...um...see you at school tomorrow right?" he smiled. She melted.

"Yeah...school...tomorrow..."