Chapter 9 – Graduation Ball

Seifer returned to the hall and waited as everyone cleared the hall on the 2nd floor. It was approaching 10pm, so everyone was going either to the inauguration ball or hitting their dorms. As soon as he saw his chance, he got in the elevator and punched in the override code to unlock the 3rd floor.

He found Headmaster Cid at his desk.

"Excuse me, sir." Seifer stood and saluted the Headmaster at the door.

"Seifer?" Cid looked up.

"Yes, sir." Seifer answered.

Cid stood from his desk.

"What brings you here, young man? Unfortunately, there's not much I can do for you regarding your punishment.."

"I didn't come here for that, sir" Seifer said, waving his hand off. "I understand my decisions were reckless and I accept the consequences."

"Good to hear." Cid smiled.

"I came here on behalf of a friend of mine whom has submitted a request for assistance and keeps getting denied. I don't believe its ever come to you, and I wanted to ask if you could please review it yourself."

Cid frowned as he sat at his desk and gestured Seifer to also take a seat.

"Absolutely." Cid agreed. "Who is it filed under."

"Its under a resistance group called The Forest Owls." Seifer answered.

Cid pulled up their application on his computer. His brow furrowed.

"I believe they were being denied over potential lack of capital because of the size of their resistance group." Seifer stated. "Thing is, they have a BIG mission coming up tomorrow that they really need assistance with. I have their representative here tonight to speak with you. If you could just give her 5 minutes of your time…let her tell you about what the Forrest Owls have done for Timber since the occupation, I think you'll see that they're worthy of SeeD support."

Cid nodded in agreement.

"OK. I have yet another matter to attend to right now. Have your representative give me a few minutes. In fact, just have her meet me at the party. I'll be giving a speech there."

"Ok." Seifer said.

Seifer left Cid's office and checked his Chrono. It was already 10:30! He ran into the elevator and raced to the library.

He is late, the girl thought.

Very, very late.

The petite, dark haired girl sat inside the library, impatiently tapping her heels.

Maybe I should just go up there?

I'll give him 5 more minutes.

Five more minutes came and went.

"Argggghhhh…" She got up and walked over to the girl with pigtails behind the counter.

"Excuse me, but could you please tell me where the ballroom is? I'm new here."

"Oh sure!" the girl with pigtails smiled "Take the elevator to the 2nd floor and turn left. At the end of the hall you'll see 2 large doors."

"Ok, thank you!" The petite girl said.

"You're welcome!"

The girl started trotting out of the library and went to the elevator. She easily found the ballroom from the music and people coming to and from. She walked inside and began looking for Seifer.

Seifer burst into the library, looking for the petite girl to find her gone. He walked up and down the bays but found no sign of her.

He saw Lilly behind the Library counter and ran over to her.

"Hey Lilly!" Seifer greeted.

"Hi Seifer!" the girl with pigtails greeted back. "Its after 10, aren't you going to the dance?"

"Uh, yeah...I am." He said. "I'm looking for my date. She was waiting here for me. You might have seen her. She…"

"Had dark hair and was wearing a white dress. Very pretty."

Seifer smiled and winked.

"That's her!" He confirmed. "Do you know where she went?"

"She asked where the ballroom was about 10 minutes ago, so I directed her there."

Argh.… I was up there too long.

"OK. Thank you. You're amazing!"

"You're welcome! Have fun."

Seifer raced out of library.

Too many people here for my liking, Squall thought.

Way too many…

The ballroom was in full swing as his fellow colleagues danced to the live band playing. The room glowed golden under the skylight. Squall felt the skylight provided the best show of all…the night sky.

He leaned up against the wall and sipped sparkling cider out of a stemmed glass, enjoying his solitude.

Unfortunately, solitude was short lived.

"Yo, Squall! S'up?!I" Zell greeted, dressed in his SeeD dress uniform. This was probably the only time Squall could remember the man wearing long pants.

"Guess we're both SeeD's now, eh? Put em there."

Zell thrust out his hand. Squall simply looked at him with a dead pan expression.

"If I shake your hand, will you go away?" Squall asked.

Zell's smiled faded.

"Even as a SeeD, you're still the same." Zell said wearing a hurt expression. "Its typical of you, I suppose. See ya around."

Zell walked away, searching for the next person to greet.

He got a few feet away from him before he encountered Selphie.

"Pretty excellent party, eh Selphie?"

"I think so," Selphie said, "The Garden Committee pulled off a miracle within days...aka, yours truly!" Selphie beamed away.

"Wanna join the Garden Committee and make the next one…"

Zell started flaying his arms around in an awkward manner.

"Oh, sorry…I just remembered about..THE THING…yeaaaah. Gotta go!"

Zell took off trotting and exited the ballroom.

Squall was just about to enjoy his solitude again when he saw Selphie fix her sights on him.

Damn it…

"Hi Squall!" She ran over beaming like an unwelcome ray of sunshine.

Squall politely smiled.

"You seem to be the type that likes to take pride in making Balamb a the premier Garden to attend!"

…I do?...

"Would you like to join the Garden Committee? "

She looked up at him like a child would. Her eyes almost pleading.

Ugh…I can't say no to a kid…

Not when they look at me like that…

"Sure. You seem to be putting a lot of effort into it."

Selphie's green eyes grew 3 times larger.

"REALLY?!" She said.

Squall nodded.

"Woohoo!." She cheered. "I know we'll be busy with SeeD stuff, but we can still put our best foot forward. Thank you so much. Bye!"

Squall awkwardly waved as Selphie danced off into the night.

He happily resumed his solitude, drinking sparkling cider and watching the night sky, thinking about nothing and everything all at once.

As the celebration continued, Squall continued to look at the heavens through the skylight. A brilliant shooting star caught his eye. He followed it down across the night sky.

That was when his eyes gently met hers.

She smiled and pointed up at the sky, never breaking her gaze from his, as if to ask if they were watching the same star. Squall cocked his head in curiosity. Yet another stranger...this one with dark, almost black hair and peaceful, dark eyes...like the black velvet sky they were both studying. Before he knew it, she was coming towards him wearing that same knowing smile… like she knew a secret between only them.

Squall's stomach plummeted as she approached. She continued to smile at him as she got closer. He felt heat rise to his face, his uniform now uncomfortably warm, as his heart began to speed up.

She now stood in front of him, her eyes were now playful, as she gazed up at him.

"You're the best looking guy here." She said.

?

"Dance with me."

Squall's face felt as if it might combust. He turned his head and took a long, hard, drink of cider to quench the heat.

Why did she unnerve him so badly?

He wanted to turn to run outside and stay to keep looking into her eyes all at once.

"Let me guess," she smiled playfully, "You only dance with someone you like. Ok then…"

She grabbed his chin and turned his face to hers.

"Look into my eyes….you're going to like me…you're going to like me…" she said as she waved her right hand in front of his face.

"Did it work?"

The innocence of the question made Squall start to laugh. He felt his senses return to normal.

"I…can't dance." Squall answered.

"You'll be fine!" She took his hands and drug him behind her. "Come on! I'm looking for someone. I can't be on the dance floor all alone."

Squall stumbled along behind this strange, star gazing girl onto the dance floor. She turned to face him once she chose their spot and began to position his hands on her.

Squall once again began to feel flush as she lead. He couldn't feel his feet as he clumsily stumbled over hers and his own feet.

"Twirl me!" she said as she twirled out.

He beckoned her back…too hard.

Their bodies came colliding, almost both tumbling onto the floor.

"I…I'm sorry…" Squall said as he turned to flee.

She grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Please, don't go." She pleaded.

He turned back to her and looked into her eyes once more.

He wanted to stay because she asked and flee at the same time.

Could she see how terrified he was?

"We'll just try again." She smiled reassuringly.

They started to dance around each other, their rhythm worse than ever now as they both tried to lead.

They collided with another couple as they tripped over each other's feet.

Squall's eyes grew wide with embarrassment.

"I'm terribly sorry." Squall apologized.

"Heh..no worries!" his fellow classmate said.

Squall's insistent dance partner gazed up into his eyes again.

"Wh-wh-what?" he stammered.

"Can you waltz?" she asked gently.

The only response he could give her was a nod.

She smiled. "ok. You lead."

He breathed out.

They began to dance.

Squall allowed himself to get lost in the music letting it guide his movements as he lead he and his dance partner moved around each other.

She mirrored his moves exactly. Their rhythm matched each other perfectly. It was like dancing in a mirror.

His nerves loosened further as he spun her out and beckoned her back. This time they met in the middle gently, pausing briefly to look at one another. Squall matched the faint smile his dance partner wore.

Blue and purple Fireworks bathed the ball room through the skylight with their dazzling light. Squall glanced up as he held her...still feeling her gaze upon him...and then over his shoulder?

"Excuse me. I see who I was looking for."

He turned as she walked away.

"Thank you for the dance!" she turned and called back to him.

"You're welcome.." Squall muttered to himself.

I don't even know your name….he thought as she walked away.

Still...I don't think I'll ever forget you.

Squall stood and stared off at where she disappeared into the crowd, lost in himself as he slowly became aware of the peering eyes of everyone on the dance floor staring at him.

Panic began to fill him as he lost his breath. He quickly ran out the balcony doors to escape.

He hung his head over the balcony, trying to take in as much air as he could.

Easy come, easy go…

But did he really want her to stay?

In the end, she'll be gone too…like everyone else.

No...its best to continue a lone wolf.

He was SeeD now...like he would have time for such things as love or eventually a family.

That would never be the life for him.

It never has been.

He's always been alone.

The sooner he could really accept that...the better it would be.

The thought hurt...it always did.

Maybe one day it won't hurt so much.

But today, it was absolutely crushing.

"You really are an excellent student. Even that dance was perfect."

Quistis's voice snapped Squall back to the present. His body tightened up.

"Thank you." Squall replied, continuing to stare off into space from the balcony.

Quistis stood in the doorway to the ballroom behind him, not saying a word. Squall could feel her eyes trained on him, making him feel very uncomfortable.

God…what is it now…?

"Yes?" He inquired.

"So you'll dance with someone you don't even know, but you can't even stand being around me?"

Squall could hear the twinge of jealousy in her words.

Jealous of what?..

Of a girl he's never seen before that left him standing alone on the dance floor in front of Hyne and everyone that he'll more than likely never see again?

What is her deal today?!

He had enough.

"Whatever!" Squall turned, putting some edge into his voice.

"You're my instructor. I am your student. It's kind of awkward when you just stand there, stare at the back of my head, and don't say anything!"

Quistis visually jumped back at his words. After a moment, she breathed out and dropped her shoulders.

"You're right, Squall." She said. "I'm truly sorry. That's not appropriate of me."

Ya think?.. Squall thought as his glare turned to hardened steel.

"I came here to give you one final order as your instructor." Quistis said.

"ok." Squall replied.

"I need you to change and meet me in the 'secret area' down in the training area. You know the spot, right?"

Squall shot her a confused look. It's just one strange thing after another with her..

"What do you want to do there?" He started. "Tell everyone they're violating curfew?!" He rolled his eyes at her.

Quistis motioned to clarify, but Squall abruptly cut her off.

"FORGET IT!" He began to shout. "Leave it to the Disciplinary committee. I'm not doing it!"

Quistis stepped backwards into the ballroom.

"No, no…its not that at all." Quistis said, taken aback from his response, even more harsh than his 1st.

He stared at her with his arms folded.

"Look, I promise this is the last thing I ask. Please…" Her eyes pleaded.

Just go, Squall told himself...if it'll get her out of your hair.

"Ok." He said throwing his hands up. "I'll be down in 15 minutes."

She smiled.

"Thank you."

Whatever…

Squall walked past her through the door and barely acknowledging her existence. He was tired, sad, and confused on a day that should have been triumphant for him. The last thing he wanted to do was whatever crazy thing she dreamed up.

Seifer slowly felt his resentment grow like a boiling kettle as the scene unfolded inside the ballroom.

He watched 2 people dance in the center of the floor, the night sky illuminating their features from the skylight above…one was the girl he was looking for. The other was Squall Leonhart.

They danced like they had known each other for years, each anticipating the others move. He twirled her and they met each other gently, holding each other for a moment as the faintly smiled at the other.

It was enough to turn Seifer's stomach.

It was at this point she left him and came running to Seifer. Seifer could see the bewildered look grow upon Squall's face as she ran from him. Seifer abruptly turned to head out of the room. As he left, he heard her call out for him.

"Seifer!" she cried out. "Wait!"

He made it into the hallway when she caught him.

He turned to her, blue eyes blazing with anger.

"That's how you show your appreciation…" Seifer trailed off.

"What are you talking about?" The girl asked.

"You!" He roared. "You go off on your own and I find you dancing with HIM!"

"I was looking for YOU!" She shouted back. "You never showed up at the library, so I came looking for you. He was just my cover so I didn't look like a weirdo in there…like I don't even know his name…"

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" Seifer asked.

Before she could answer, they heard a voice from down the hall.

"Ah! This must be the lovely Miss Heartily that Seifer has been telling me about. "

Cid came up to Seifer and the girl. He took the girl's hand.

"Pleased to meet you " he said.

Seifer turned to walk away.

"My work is done here." He said, waving off his hand to dismiss her.

The girl looked on, helpless as he walked away.

Not wanting to be rude, she replied to Cid.

"Very pleased to meet you." She said. "Thank you for taking some time to meet with me. Seifer tells me you are a very busy man."

Cid laughed briefly.

"Unfortunately, Balamb doesn't run itself. " He said.

"Do you mind if we go to my office to discuss your request?"

"Not at all." She said. "Thank you. "

The both walked along the curved corridor to the central elevator.