Author's Note- Hey there, my freaky darlings! I know I'm a newbie to this site but I think I'm pretty experienced when it comes down to writing. Um… Well if I don't get as many reviews as I'd hoped I'll live. As long as there are people who read my work I'm happy. But reviews are always welcomed-even constructive criticism.

Disclaimer- I don't own Final Fantasy VIII or any of the characters (sadly) Square Soft or now known as Square-Enix is the owners.

Chapter One- The Cheerleader and the Loner

And its 4 a.m. and we will stalk again

The princess and her bitter queen

On the Fourth Day of July

Deep in summer's eye

Naked like the truth should always be…

-Senses Fail

"Oh! Fight! Fight! Fight…" A gathering crowd began to chant as two 16 year olds drew their blades. "Yeah! Seifer kick his ass!" a random face in the growing crowd called. Seifer just grinned as he looked at his supporter.

"Don't worry about it… He's as good as dead." Seifer said as he gripped his gun blade. His opponent was a boy, a bit shorter than him, a brunet with green on grey eyes and milky skin. His eyes filled with ambition, he stood there not backing down even though the forming crowd was favoring Seifer, his rival since childhood.

"So Squall… you think you can beat me, eh?"

"I know I can." Squall said bluntly as he started to circle Seifer like a tiger would his prey.

"Come on Squall… The entire student body is against you. As if they would side with you… you OUTSIDER!" Seifer said as he charged toward Squall. His gun blade swung and clashed with Squall's almost immediately. Neither of them was letting up, that was until Seifer jumped 5 feet away. Landing in a crouched position, Seifer slowly arose grinning evilly as he saw Squall standing there-not letting up.

"What's going on over there?" a tall blonde dressed in a cheerleading uniform asked a black haired girl that stood beside her-she too wearing a cheerleading uniform. The black haired girl shrugged.

"Maybe a fight or something… Want to go check it out Quistis?" her brown eyes filled with question. The growing crowd's chants were starting to be heard from the distance, "Looks like Seifer's involved. Go figure."

"Come on, Rinoa. It might be worth watching. You know he's always looking for a worthy opponent to fight." Quistis said as her eyes filled with anticipation. All Rinoa did was sigh.

Rinoa knew of Seifer's childish fights, he almost always created them just for attention or to prove his strength that everyone knew he held. She also knew of his on going rivalry he had with a boy about his age. She couldn't quite remember his name but she knew Seifer was always poking fun at him or making stupid remarks toward him just to get him angry. Most of the times the boy would just ignore him and act like Seifer wasn't even there. Which, inevitably, made Seifer even more enraged. Rinoa would always be there with Quistis and Selphie-her posse of friends- to see the show. Quistis had a theory for Seifer's stupid little pointless fights: Rinoa. But Rinoa never really paid Seifer any mind during or after the fights. She only saw him as a friend and his flirty ways as friendly.

Moments after the chants were heard, Selphie came running. Her skirt rose slightly and fell again while she ran to them. She was coming from the direction of the fight. "Rinoa! Quistis! You are so not going to believe this." She slowed her pace to a walk as she reached them, "Seifer is fighting-"

"We know" Quistis and Rinoa said in a "was there done that" voice.

"I know you know but I know you don't know who Seifer's fighting."

"What - another freshman?" Quistis said as she crossed her arms looking bored as she saw Selphie shake her head "no" slowly.

"His long time rival…" Quistis' eyes widen and jaw dropped as she spoke, "Squall. Yup-yup. He finally got tired of Seifer's crap. Come on! It's a fight you don't want to miss." Selphie grabbed Rinoa and a shocked Quistis and started running back to the gathering crowd.

"Excuse us! Cheerleaders coming through!" Selphie said as she and her two friends pushed through the growing crowd. In moments later, the three were standing front row of the fight.

The battle had thickened as Squall showed no mercy toward Seifer. He was going to show Seifer he meant business and none of his stupid little comments was going to divert his attention from his main goal: Beating his ass to the ground. Fighting with full force, all that could be heard from miles away were the constant clash of their blades.

Seifer was growing tired but his face and body didn't show it. It was occurring to him that he had finally met an opponent worth fighting but unfortunately it was his rival from childhood. Who, in turn, had enough pent up anger and rage to beat him so badly that his unborn children would feel it.

He was losing options and he had now noticed that his long time secret love, Rinoa, was now watching them fight. Her hands were covering her mouth as she watched with wide open eyes. I won't be made a fool in front of Rinoa… I can't.

Closing his eyes, Seifer began a spell. He charged toward Squall and attacked him with it. The spell was so effective that Squall fell to the floor. The crowd broke as Squall fell into them. Slowly pushing himself from off the floor, Squall got up. But it was too late. Seifer raised his blade and slashed Squall right across the face.

The crowd gasped and Rinoa was completely shocked. Quistis held her back from intruding. "Don't. You'll get hurt if you go in."

Squall fell to the floor, blood dripped from his face. This time he quickly got back up to his feet. He charged at Seifer and attacked him just as he had him. Seifer fell to the floor, blood was everywhere. The crowd ran toward Seifer, trying to see if they could aid him. And so Squall was lost in the charging crowd.

He turned around, gun blade being dragged on the floor, as he walked away. And so once again he was lost in the shadows… hence the title "Loner" and "Outsider". Blood dripped onto his white tee as he walked. The pain was temporary but his satisfaction for finally hurting Seifer was forever lasting. A gloved hand rose to meet his open wound. He sighed and shook his head Hm… blood. Didn't think that happened anymore… Squall walked up to a huge willow tree and sat beneath its outstretched branches and leaves.

Selphie and Quistis moved toward Seifer, trying to break through their peers. Rinoa slid out of sight and tried to find Seifer's rival. Walking around the area of him and his tree, Rinoa heard gentle grunts. Come out come out where ever you are… Rinoa followed the sound of his grunts and found him sitting up against the bark of the grand willow tree. He was trying to heal himself and wasn't succeeding. Looks like someone isn't passing magic 101…

He looked up, his face stained with blood. His eyes showed an unknown emotion as his face showed the pain of his wound. "What… are you doing here? Aren't the cheerleaders supposed to worship the ground that Seifer steps on?" Squall said bluntly as his eyes narrowed.

Rinoa just sighed as she tilted her head to the side, her eyes laid on the wound, "I'm here to help you. No need to treat me so rudely. And by the way, I don't worship any grounds any guy walks on." Rinoa stepped closer to him so she could get a better look at his wound.

"What are you doing?" Squall asked as he tried to move away from her.

"Trying to see your wound now stop fidgeting." Rinoa placed her hands on his face gently, moving his face closer to her. Their faces were inches apart; she smiled at his confused face, "Relax… ok?" Squall nodded at her gentle words.

Smiling, she moved a finger above his wound as if tracing it. Speaking words that couldn't be heard, she closed her eyes starting a healing spell. Moments later, she had fully healed his wound. "There" Rinoa said softly as she opened her eyes.

"… Thanks" Squall put a finger to his now healed wound. No more pain… She's pretty good- for a cheerleader…

"Um… there's scarring-that's the only thing but other than that you should feel fine." Rinoa smiled softly. "I'm Rinoa-Rinoa Heartilly." She extended her hand toward him as she moved over a bit to give him space.

"Squall Leonhart…" He shook her hand and nodded.

"Yeah, I sort of know who you are from… um… Seifer." Smiled as they both withdrew from the handshake.

"I would guess" he scratched the back of his head.

"Rinoa!" Quistis' voice could be heard just feet away.

"Uh… I'd better go." Rinoa said as she got up to her feet. "It's been nice meeting you and… healing you." She smiled and turned away, moving through and out of the branches. Squall sat there watching the space from which she was standing as if finding it hard to believe what had just happened. He could hear Rinoa and Quistis talking outside of the trees reach.

"What were you doing there?" Quistis asked as she looked in the direction of the tree.

"Nothing… Just thinking…" Rinoa smiled and shrugged, walking away.

Quistis stared at the tree for a long while until she just gave up and walked away.

Squall waited a few minutes before he got up and walked out from under the tree. Quistis turned and saw him there; her eyes widened and mouth opened. Squall, with his gun blade attached to his belt, he looked at her with narrow eyes and walked away.

"What the fuck? No way in hell is she hanging with the Loner!" Quistis looked at Squall walk away and then started to walk toward Rinoa. I won't allow this…

Well that's the end of Chapter One. I hoped everyone enjoyed it. Um… Don't forget to review

Sneak Peek

Quistis becomes the ideal cheerleader-uptight and bitchy! Squall keeps an eye on Rinoa. Seifer tries to show his emotions for his secret love. Selphie hangs out with Squall-her secret friend! And how is Xu going to handle Squall and Seifer's behavior? You'll only find out if you check out the next chapter!