Sidetracked

It was another ordinary day at Balamb Garden. The six SeeDs who defeated Ultimecia obtained the rest and relaxation they deserved. In addition to that, they gained their simple everyday lives back as well.

{To start off this supplementary tale, Cid gave Quistis her job as a teacher and is 'happily' teaching the promising Garden students again-one of them happens to be the spunky Selphie Tilmett. Squall and Rinoa, who we all know deserve each other, were talking on the balcony outsidethe Training Center. In the cafeteria, Zell-who finally got what he wanted all along: the famous Garden hot-dogs-and Irvine were spending their time having lunch. (However, Irvine spent his time saying his hellos to the girls like he usually did.) Anyway, we begin w ith a 'typical' Rinoa and Squall conversation...

"Everyone's so happy now, don't you think Squall?" Rinoa asked cutely.

"So what about it?" Squall replied. "Is there a problem you want to address?"

"Like I've said to you yesterday, Squall," Rinoa began. "DON'T ANSWER A QUESTION WITH A QUESTION!!!"

"Whatever."

"However....."

"However what?"

Rinoa frowned. "Quistis...."

"Huh?"

"......Irvine...."

"What do you mean?" Squall asked. "Quistis and Irvine....."

"You...... caught my drift?"

Squall rolled his eyes. "Rinoa, whatever you do, please don't...."

"Come on, silly!" Rinoa hopped while grabbing Squall's arm. "That pair deserves to be together and you know so!"

"..... Whatever."

"....Whatever, yourself, Mr. Leader!!"

---------

Irvine stood from his seat grimly and exited the cafeteria with a flood of girls following him. Zell noticed his friend not responding with romantic poems or any other lecherous things.

"That sure isn't the Irvine I know." Zell remarked while empting his tray. Before he could leave, he caught Rinoa and Squall waiting at his table.

"Oh Zell!" Rinoa called out sweetly.

"Okay, she's said my name in a cute way," Zell's eyebrows narrowed and his eyes flew to Squall. "Squall! What do you have planned up your sleeve?!"

Squall glanced to Rinoa. "Ask her." Rinoa clapped her hands.

"Okay, I have this 'wicked' plan that'll get Quistis and Irvine together!"

"Why would you want to get those two together?"

"Just because."

"Don't you remember the tape from the party last week?" Zell asked.

"Irvine put his arm around Quistis, and she acted like we casted Mad Rush on her!"

"That's because Irvine was joking around," Rinoa clarified. "That was in good, clean fun, but it's different now! Think about it: Quistis and Irvine, Irvine and Quistis!"

"Quistis and Irvine.... " Squall repeated.

".... Irvine and Quistis?" Zell mimicked, and then shook his head. "Rinoa! Please don't play matchmaker now!"

"Hey! I did it last time and look at you and Selphie!" Rinoa said.

"Whatever."

"What was that?!" A familiar voice rang through the hall.

"Oh no, he's done it again.... " Squall thought.

Selphie struck Zell upside the head. "Look, if you're not happy being-"

"I didn't imply my whatever towards ourselves!" Zell said, facing a Selphie explosion. "I meant it towards Rinoa's comment!"

".... Whatever." Selphie replied, and turned to Rinoa. "So, what's up your sleeve this time, girlfriend?"

"Well..... " Rinoa explained her entire plan to Selphie, and both cried with delight as Zell and Squall sweat-dropped.

---------

"Okay, everyone!" Quistis announced as the bell rang. "Classdismissed!"

The swarm of students left the classroom and Irvine managed to find his way around the mass flood of girls who were surrounding him. Bowing his head to Quistis, Irvine put an apple on his desk.

"Apple for the teacher?" Quistis asked with suspicion. "Come on, Irvine, what's the catch?"

"No catch, fair Instructor Quisty!" Irvine said confidently. "Being cordial to a lady is in the knight's code. Not only that, but you know it's my job to satisfy you!"

Quistis sat and smiled. "Anyway, thank you for your appreciation."

Irvine tipped his hat with a bow and dropped a small bouquet of mixed flowers on her desk as well.

"That Irvine..... " Quistis thought. "He's either really sweet or trying to get something out of me."

As Irvine left the classroom, the group (hiding behind a large plant) looked after him quizzically.

"He's definitely not acting like the Irvine I know." Selphie remarked.

"Gee, tell me something new, Sefie." Rinoa said.

"Could someone tell me why we're doing this when they're not coordinated?" Zell asked.

"Hellooooooo?" Selphie called in Zell's ear. "That's the point of this operation: to get those two coordinated!"

"Another thing is when and where we're going to have this operation commence." Squall noticed.

"Easy!" Selphie brought up. "The Garden Festival Committee has decided, behind my back, to throw us another congratulations party."

"This is going to be sweet!" Rinoa and Selphie were squealing with delight as Squall and Zell sweat-dropped. The moon shone brightly through the roof of Balamb Garden's ballroom. As it was the first party, everyone was happily enjoying the evening. Squall, Zell, Rinoa and Selphie scanned the entire room for Quistis and Irvine, but no avail.

"Irvine's usually here by now," Squall said. "It's quite unusual for him to either be late or to not show up."

"Not only that," Selphie said in frustration. "Instructor Trepe hasn't shown up yet either."

Zell gave Rinoa an odd look.

Rinoa's bomb almost set off. "Zell! Don't make me think what you're thinking, you idiot!"

"Sorry, Rinoa!" Zell replied. "I didn't mean to give you a look that disclosed my thoughts!"

---------

Her hair flew with the wind in the Training Center's balcony. It was pitch black, and either the lights were under repair, or they hadn't been turned on. Whichever way, she preferred the silent black surroundings so she could get more in touch with herself. She felt the moon's light dance on her cheeks and eyes, as the many emotions ran through her.

"I just don't know what the heck I'm feeling right now," Quistis thought. "Do I really care?" She sighed sadly and walked from the balcony.... when Irvine came in running to see if she was there.

"Where in the world could that girl be?" Irvine pondered, and he departed from the balcony.

Walking down the dark and empty corridor, Quistis gripped her 'Save the Queen' whip tightly. All of a sudden, the premonition of something following her, or coming at her, filled her mind. She was about to pull out her weapon when that particular som ething, or someone, knocked her to the ground with its mouth headed on a direct course towards..... Quistis.

Eyes wide open, Quistis was about to push away from the shadowy figure when she felt the brim of a hat; immediately knowing who it was, she began to relax.

The figure slowly got up and lifted a flashlight to Quistis's face.

"Irvine..... " Quistis quietly said, getting up.

"Quisty?!" Irvine's face turned beet red and instantly turned his back to her. "Look..... I'm so s-sorry! I couldn't see a-and it was dark.... "

She put a finger over his lips and gave him a contented smile.

"You don't have to apologize for anything, Irvine. It was only an accident."

Irvine was surprised with Quistis's smile because.... well.... let's just say that Irvine never believed in Quistis liking him since the first party. Joking around, he annoyingly put his arm around her, but Quistis rejected the gesture. Anyway....

"..... Whatever," Irvine snickered. "Right?"

Quistis put her hands on her waist. "Don't steal Squall's best line!"

"Whatever," He said, extending his hand. "There's a party up there with our names on it; go with me?"

Looking at the hand with an expression of doubt, Quistis looked at Irvine's assuring face and smiled satisfyingly taking it. "Why not? Of course, I will! However..... "

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to talk on the balcony?" She asked. "You know, I just feel that..... "

"Don't explain," Irvine said, already dragging her along. "We can talk about it there."

After they walked away, Rinoa looked at Squall with a disappointed facial expression.

"Right before we get to unleash our plan, they go ahead and get together themselves!" Rinoa was enraged.

"Psst.... psst.... (Thank goodness we didn't get to do that plan)" Zell whispered to Squall..... as Selphie came from behind and squeezes Zell's arm.

"Are you saying that our plan was pathetic?!" Selphie yelled. "How dare you, you idiot!!"

"Okay! I've raised my white flag!" Zell confessed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Sefie!!"

Selphie smiled mischievously. "Thank you, Zell!"

"Without our great plan, we've succeeded in finding out that Quistis and Irvine have decided to be better friends."Rinoa said.

"In addition to that, I think we should declare..... " Squall began.

"That this case is closed and this mission is complete!" Selphie, Zell and Rinoa finished.

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