############################################################################################## -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: ############################################################################################## FFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFF FFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFF FFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFF FFFFFFF FFFFF FFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF ############################################################################################## -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: ############################################################################################## The Best Is Yet To Come" - By Slayer Z ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The morning sun came in through Squall's window as he awoke suddenly. It seemed as though he hadn't slept at all that night, the excitement of the new SeeD candidates was today and he would have to be the one to pass them on from students to soldiers of Balamb. Since Squall had been the new headmaster to Balamb, he was responsible for the promotions. Squall looked beside his bed to find his speech notes that he spent writing the night before. He wasn't too thrilled about giving speeches to new soldiers, so it wasn't a very long speech. He gently rubbed a hand through his hair and looked at the speech. "Congratulation new soldiers of Balamb, you have been given the opportunity and privilege to a whole new future. May the best of luck come to you. Once again I congratulate you on a job well done." Once again he looked at the speech, folded it up, and stuffed it in the pocket of his jeans. "They don't like speeches anyway, just the party afterward" Squall said to himself. Squall stood and walked out of his room. The sun was shining through the dorm hall as birds were singing on the roof, Squall stopped and looked out one of the big windows. "...Good day for an exam, I guess" he said once again to himself and walked out onto the first floor of Balamb. As usual there were students and instructors hurrying to get ready for the exam of their lives. He headed for the cafeteria to get something to eat before the day started, on the way there he saw a junior student chasing another with a miniature gunblade, they zoomed by... "Hey! Stop!" shouted Squall "Uh, oh no! It's Squall" said the first boy "You know the rules, go put that away until the exam starts" Squall ordered "Yes sir" said the junior classman as he eased it down and walked. The boy he was chasing had already left. Squall turned and started walking toward the cafeteria. "Squall!!" shouted a familiar voice coming from the Lunchroom. It was Rinoa. "Squall! I've been waiting for you!" as she ran to him, Squall stopped as she hugged him. "You're late!" she said. "I am?" he said confused "Yes, you'd said you'd be here at 8:30, last night!" she said "Sorry, I must've slept late. Wanna come sit with me? I'm pretty hungry" "Sure, uhh, i have something to talk to you about anyway. It's pretty important" said Rinoa with an uncomfortable look on her face. "Should I be worried" asked Squall. "It sounds important..." "You sure have changed..." said Rinoa suddenly. "Normally you would say, "Whatever," she giggled "Whatever..." "I was just kidding, but um.. it's up to you to be worried or not" she said. "I don't follow you, tell me now what's up..." Squall said impatiently. "Well, Squall, I..." Suddenly Quistis came over the intercom. **Squall, please report to office immediately!** "*Jeez, what could be so important?*" he thought to himself "Gotta go Rinoa!" He quickly kissed her on the cheek and ran to the elevator that led up to the 3rd floor where the office and the controls to Balamb Garden were located. He pressed the button to go up and waited. Quistis' voice came over the microphone again. *Squall! It's urgent! Please report to the office!* He looked to where the office was at from outside the elevator. "YEAH IM COMING, WAIT A DA..." *ding* the elevator opened and Squall ran inside. He quickly pushed the "3" button that took him to the office. *ding* the door opened at the 3rd floor and Squall ran out. He roughly pushed the office doors open with both hands to find Quistis stand in front of him. "What is it, Quistis?!" he said hurriedly. He looked behind him to see Former Headmaster Cid standing there with a piece of paper in his hand. "He'll tell you..." said Quistis. "Greeting Headmaster" said Cid as he saluted him. "We just got this over the fax machine.... from the Mayor of FH, they're under attack." "Let me see that" said Squall as he took the paper from Cid. "So, Galbadia's still causing trouble... that's fine, we'll send in our students to take care of them. Seems as though talking and settlements isn't going to save them this time." "What about the exam?!" shouted Quistis. "This will be the exam. Quistis, get on the mic and tell the students taking the exam to saddle up quickly. We gonna take care of Galbadia" order Squall "Good thinking Headmaster" smiled Cid. "That's why I made you commander of this fleet." Squall turned his head to the left and looked at the ground while he crossed his arms. "Cid, it's just Squall. I don't like the name Headmaster." Cid laughed. "OK, Squall... Once again, I'm glad I made you commander" "Whatever." He thought to himself. Several minutes later, after Quistis made the announcement to hurriedly get dressed and ready for the exam, Squall met the 10 SeeD candidates and 4 support SeeDs in the main hall in front of the directory. Squall held the fax in his hand and explained the mission to them. "Attention, ten minutes ago we received word that the ocean town of Fisherman's Horizon came under attack two hours ago by one squad of Galbadia troops. This is your exam, the candidates objectives will be to rid FH of Galbadia control. SeeD will have the job of supporting you. If you are to fail, SeeD will get the job done, they always do." Squall looked over to see Zell, Selphie, Irvine, and another SeeD member named Ishito. "I count on these 4 to do there best. As for the candidates, I wish you all good luck. You will be transported by car to Balamb, from there, you'll take a speed boat all the way to FH. Get the job done and we'll see how you do. understood?" "Yes sir!" shouted the candidates. "Good, you all go ahead and head for the garage, the SeeDs will meet you there shortly" said Squall. The candidates headed to the garage. Squall looked at the others "When I say support, i mean don't go in with guns blazing.. understand? Only use support magic on yourselves and the candidates." Zell looked up. "But Squall! Where's the fun in this?!" "This is not a mission for you guys! It's for the candidates. And Irvine... I know your not a SeeD, but you know what to do right?" "Haha, of course!" laughed Irvine as he hoisted his shotgun on his shoulders. "Good. Good Luck." said Squall with a slight grin on his face Selphie looked at him. "Squall you sure have changed... you never wished us luck before. "Whatever..." Squall said coldly. "You guys have a ride to catch... I'll see you later" "Ok... sorry Squall, see ya!" said Selphie "Don't get lonely here by yourself Squall!" laughed Zell "He won't, he's got Rinoa. Rrrrrr!" Irvine said jokingly "Those guys will never change" thought Squall Bringing up the rear, Ishito finally walked by Squall. "Later" he said. Squall sighed and walked back to the elevator. It was quiet now that the candidates were gone and the other students were in class. He went into the elevator and back up to the office. Quistis was at the elevator... waiting for him. "Hey Squall, can we talk for a minute?" Quistis asked "I guess so" Squall replied as he went into the office. Quistis followed him in and shut the door. "It's about Rinoa" she said. "I know what she wanted to talk to you about this morning." "Huh? She told you? I couldn't talk to her cause I had to get ready for the SeeD exa..." "She's seeing someone else..." Quistis interrupted. "She... what...?" Squall said surprised. "She told you this...?" "Well, yeah but that's not how it started. I guess you want to know huh?" Squall got a mad look in his face but slowly sat down on some steps. He put his head in his hands as he listened to what Quistis had to say. "I caught her kissing another guy. Zell. I was quite surprised that I gasped loud enough for them to hear me. Rinoa promised me that she would stick with Zell and end the relationship with you ASAP. I'm sorry Squall." Quistis said slowly. "Why Zell...?" asked Squall "Well, later I talked to her... and she said he was more.... *cough* active" Quistis said with wider eyes. "Active? So I'm always depres..." "No no...Squall, sexually active" Quistis said again. "Oh... that explains it. I see now" Squall said, he laughed like it was all a big joke and stood up. He walked to the office doors. "Well, there goes my "Beloved Rinoa". Women can't stand men like me... who never talk. She's right... I have changed." "Squall, I've always loved you for the way you were." Quistis said shyly. "I... would never... cheat on you. Never." Squall roughly pushed the door open with one hand and began to walk out... but stopped at the sound of Quistis' words. He thought for a second and stared at the ground. "Is that so? You women are all the same, if two or more like the same guy, then it's an all out war for the man's heart. I don't care for that kind of woman Quistis. If you love me like you say you do, then why didn't you tell me this the minute it happened?" "Because I thought she was mature enough to do it herself, maybe you guys could have worked something out. Maybe, hell if I know Squall. Point is I told you because I didn't want to see you get hurt, and that I would never want to see that happen to you. Or is that too much for you?" Quistis said with tears in her eyes. There was silence for a few seconds and then Squall walked out of the room. Back down the elevator he went and to the first floor. He knew he couldn't trust Rinoa anymore, so his mind was full of all sorts of new thoughts to consider. "Have I been used?" "Is what Quistis telling me really the truth? She wouldn't ever lie to me... especially to earn my love..." "Rinoa did seem serious this morning" Squall always had a small crush on Quistis, he just never knew it would grow into a more complicated matter He didn't have to think very long.. Squall liked Quistis, he just never showed it. He was always very uncomfortable around Rinoa, as if he suspected her cheating all along. Squall turned to lean over the bar next to the elevator, the stream that was moving around the garden was calm right now... "I... I know now. I know that I love her... Quistis." He said quietly to himself. "I need to see her... oh no... where's my ring? Dammit... I gave it to Rinoa. I need to get it back from her..." Squall got off the bar and walked to the dormitory. On the way there, he thought about Quistis, and why Rinoa did what she did. He planned to forget about her after he got his ring back and made her confess about her and Zell. He didn't have the heart to kick her out of Balamb for having sex, nor Zell. Squall entered his dorm, only to find Quistis sitting on his bed smiling at him. "I heard what you said, Squall... I thought it was very sweet of you" she said thoughtfully to him. Squall looked confused, he turned his head to the ground and closed his eyes. "Yeah... it's true. Rinoa turned out to be nothing for me, and I had this big crush on you since I met you." Squall said. Quistis looked surprised, she never heard him express that much before. She walked over too him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Squall looked up... "Wha.. What are you doing...?" Squall asked nervously "Nervous?" She asked "No.." He said less nervously. Squall pulled her up and they looked into each others eyes. Quistis wasted no time and leaned over to kiss him. Squall simply closed his eyes while there lips met. Squall snuck his hand around and pulled her onto the bed, her hitting the cushion first. She laughed and looked up at him, Squall was smiling for the first time in a long time. He removed his jacket and tossed it over at the foot of his bed, then leaned down to kiss her, she laughed again before their lips met. Quistis pulled off her shirt to reveal what seems like a treasure to Squall... he smiled again. Five minute later... There was a knock on Squall's door, surprising both of them. Quistis hurriedly covered herself up as Squall yelled out... "Who is it?!" "It's Cid, may I come in and talk to you Squall?" he asked "No! I mean.. what is it?" Squall asked "Well, the students are back and I was calling you in" "Well... I'm.. not feeling to well today Cid.. how about you give the speech?" said Squall. "Goodness... are you sure? You don't need the doctor do you?" asked Cid. "Just answer my question" He said coldly "Well I would be delighted too... just let me come in and get the speech..." "NO!!! I mean... lemme slide it under the door... Im working on a surprise.." Squall let go of Quistis and sat up, he picked up the speech. He then walked over to the door and slide it under to Cid. "Now tell them congrats for me would you?" Squall asked "Sure thing" said Cid as he was walking away. Squall then jumped back in his bed with Quistis. "That should keep them occupied for a while." "Yes I know" Quistis said smiling. "How long do you think we'll be like this?" "I don't know." Said Squall. "But enough talk! More play!" Squall rolled on top of Quistis as he through a blanket over both of them. It was going to be a looong day for the two. (Side note: not that they minded! =p) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The End ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ############################################################################################## -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: ##############################################################################################