Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim Final Fantasy 8 and all its characters. They belong to Square. This goes for all chapters ahead. Thank you. The only characters I don't disclaim are my own.

Author's Note: This is a plot I thought up a few days ago because I was desperate for writing another FF8 fic, even though I've got quite a few unfinished ones. / I know ya'll are going to be mad at me, who are waiting for Secrets of the Sorceress to be finished, but please give this a chance anyway. I'll get Secrets finished, promise, but I really wanted to do this. Please, please review!

But what if I'm a mermaid in these
Jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care, cuz sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice and it's been
Here…silent all these years

Running

Chapter 1
Early Grad

"At ease, cadet," Headmaster Cid said, relieving the young Balamb student of his saluting pose. He sat down at his desk, and folded his hands in front of him, facing the awaiting pupil.

"You called for me, Sir?" he said monotonously, no real expression showing on his young features. He couldn't imagine why the Headmaster had called him up specifically, but frankly, he just wanted to get it over with and go back to class.

Cid cleared his throat and began talking in his professional manner in front of the student. "Yes, I did, thank you for coming. Now Mr. Leonhart, we've had you at this Garden for about two years now, and…"

What's this? Squall thought silently. A transfer to another Garden or something? "…Very much enjoyed the pleasure of having you attend here…" What could I have done wrong? Whatever, I'll just let him babble.

"And I'm sure by now you know all of the rules and regulations at our academy."

Squall found his chance to interrupt. "Sir, if you don't mind, can I ask where this is going?"

Cid looked slightly surprised at the brazen comment, but he did have to admit he was beating around the bush. "Well, what's I'm trying to say is, you know we don't allow cadets to graduate as a SeeD until they are seventeen, correct?"

"Some of your Instructors and I have been going over your records, and we found them academically amazing for a man of your age. Remarkable talent you have, Mr. Leonhart."

"Thank you, Sir. And it's Squall."

"Yes of course. What I'm trying to get at is that my staff and I have decided to allow you to graduate early, if you wish."

Squall seemed stunned for a few moments. He didn't allow his surprise to show, but on the inside he was in shock. He knew he was good at most of the content in his classes, but never did he think it would be enough to allow him to graduate two years early. Nobody in the history of Balamb Garden had ever done that before to his knowledge, and to be the first one overwhelmed him. Searching for the right words and hoping he wouldn't stumble, he looked up at his elder.

When all else fails, go for modesty, Squall. "…That would be…an honor I can't imagine taking, Sir…"

Cid waved a hand in the air, brushing off his attempt at modesty. "Nonsense, you deserve every bit of that honor. As you probably know, it would be the first time a student would ever graduate at this age."

I don't want to be a statistic, Squall thought angrily. I just want to be a mercenary. I don't want attention. Despite his contrary thoughts, Squall had no choice but to agree. If he refused, Cid would be disappointed, and he had nothing better to do with his life than become a SeeD, so why not graduate early? "Yes, Sir…what are the requirements for me to do such a thing?"

Cid looked pleased that he had complied with the offer. Smiling at the talented boy, he replied, "You'll take your SeeD test next Tuesday. We'll need you to visit the Fire Cavern as your prerequisite, and after the test you're home free. I have no doubts you'll do exceedingly well." Getting up from his chair, the Headmaster extended his hand to the cadet, who was now standing as well. "Good luck, Squall. I look forward to having you in SeeD."

Squall had to return the handshake, but quickly took it away, not enjoying the contact. He saluted and nodded, mumbling a thank you, and Cid dismissed him to class. His thoughts jumbled together as he headed back down the elevator and toward the room he'd left minutes earlier, thinking about what the Headmaster had told him. Academic excellence? He'd never been publicly commended for his work at Balamb, although many of his classmates called him an Instructor's Pet, among other names. But to graduate early would be the biggest award he could imagine, and he wasn't going to like the focus of the students on him.

Squall had always been the label of the loner. He sat alone at the Cafeteria table, he walked by no other in the hall, he talked to others in class only when it was necessary, and even then, he spoke little to them. Instructors saw him as the smart student who was too smart to have any friends, when in truth all he wanted was just for them to leave him alone, which they did. But now they would know him by face and name every time he walked by, and he didn't like it one bit. He approached his classroom, took his seat in the back of the room, and sat in silence the rest of the period.

Rinoa Caraway stared at the picture of her mother on her desktop. Her homework spread out in front of her on the comfortable bed, her attention was temporarily diverted from her studies to the memory of her mother. Tears for her long-dead parent had dried many years before, but she couldn't help feeling the emotion of loss, even at the young adult age of fifteen. Many times throughout the day she wished her mother hadn't died in that car accident, and she wasn't left alone with her father in the lonely mansion.

Her father. She shuddered to even give him the honor of the title still. The softness in her eyes hardened, as she thought of the cold man downstairs in his study, where he kept himself locked away through most of the day. They had begun fighting a little over a year before, when she reached the rebellious point of her teenage years. She began to read the look in his eyes each time he looked at her…the contempt he held for his only daughter for reasons she still couldn't understand.

She suspected it was because every time he looked at her she reminded him of the love he'd lost ten years earlier, every time she made a certain face he saw his wife, every time she walked by he could smell her in his child. But she thought because he didn't have a wife he'd give all of his love to his daughter. No, she thought contemptuously. He loves his work, not me. He never did love me. I've always been a burden to his work, nothing more. Not his friend, not his child, not his daughter. Just a kid he has to feed and give shelter to. Not by choice, but by force.

Not that Rinoa helped matters much when she fought with him, she had an attitude was spoiled by the luxuries of her life. She wasn't snobby toward her friends, but she certainly could be toward her father. A knock came on her door, breaking her thoughts, and she called for them to come in. The maid for their mansion stepped in the room, and Rinoa looked over at her.

"Yes?"

"Dinner is ready, Miss Caraway."

Closing up her Math book, she placed her bare feet on the hardwood floor. "Thank you, I'll be down in just a minute."

Nodding, the maid closed the door again, leaving Rinoa alone. She made sure her room was clean in case her father decided to make one of his "surprise inspections," which she had gotten in major trouble for before when it wasn't spic and span. Satisfied with its cleanliness, she headed down the stairs and toward the dinner table, not giving her father the pleasure of a greeting or even a glance to acknowledge his existence. She simply sat down at her usual spot, directly opposite her father on the other end of the impractically long table.

Not a word was uttered from Rinoa as she worked away at her meal. Acting just as if they had a full conversation going, her aura was pleasant to the point of being fake, while she ate her food.

The General of Deling cleared his throat, and attempted casual conversation. "So, how was school today?" his gruff voice inquired. "You never tell me how your day was anymore."

In response, Rinoa's voice was icy, yet her actions were not. "That's probably because you haven't asked me since I was seven."

That one caught him. She had quick wit; there was no doubt about that. Be he had to admit each time she came home from school, he was too busy to ask, and had forgotten at dinnertime. He decided choosing another topic would probably be the wisest thing.

He broke the awkward silence with, "How's that teacher of yours...Mrs. Rayden, was it? Didn't you say you like her a lot?"

For the first time, Rinoa looked at him with cold brown orbs. "I had that teacher in seventh grade."

The General gulped hard. He could negotiate any deal with the toughest of politicians, he could weasel his way into finding out about any secret plan, conquer any political nemesis. But he could never conquer the hormonal teenager across the table from him.

"Well don't you know how she's doing at least? You only had her last year, didn't you?"

This time her actions showed her emotions. The silver fork in her hand fell with a resounding clink on her plate, echoing in the empty room. "I'm a ninth grader, Caraway. Or did you miss my last birthday too?"

She snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right, you conveniently had to miss it, just like you have almost every single birthday since I was five. Face it, General, you don't know me. You never wanted to know me, you're never going to know me. So stop your desperate, pathetic attempts, okay? If you wanted to be a part of my life, you should've started trying about eight years ago, okay?

So do us both a favor and leave me alone." As she headed up the stairs, before she slammed the door, she added, "You seem to be good at that!"