The ballroom was lit with candles and small tables lined the walls. The orchestra sat, warming up their instruments, on the raised platform overlooking the dance floor. People crowded the area, elegantly dressed, talking and laughing, awaiting the music, so the dancing could begin. Single girls scoped out single guys for partners, and the guys did the same. Except for three.
“Is Zell coming?” Seifer asked, smoothing his pants, squinting above the crowd toward the stairs.
Squall shook his shaggy brown hair. “Doctor Kadowaki said he was still too weak to rise.” He straightened his tie, surveying the talkative people around them, still as uncomfortable as ever in large crowds.
“Has the mic been connected?” Irvine lazily leaned against the wall, ever present cowboy hat in place, and contrasting sharply to the suit on his tall, lanky form. As a response, Squall nodded silently.
“I would much rather be with Zell than in here,” the brunette murmured. Seifer and Irvine nodded their agreement. “I’m sure others would rather I be there too…” The last part wasn’t meant to be heard.
Irvine reached out a hand and rested it on Squall’s shoulder. “Hey, man, she didn’t mean it. It was the entirety of the situation catching up with her. Don’t worry.”
“Speak of the devil,” Seifer smirked and Squall turned to see his angel descending the stairs in a soft pink dress that floated to her knees. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and a barrette of pink flowers held part of it back. On her feet were dainty pink pumps and she walked down the stairs lightly. She turned her head, scanning the room, hands clasped tightly in front of her. And then their eyes met. A nervous blush rose in her cheeks as Squall stared at her with expressionless blue-gray eyes. Abruptly, Squall moved from his stiff stance, heading toward Rinoa with a purpose, his eyes never leaving hers. He vaguely heard Seifer laugh and say,”Look at that! Puberty Boy acted on his own!”
***
Rinoa watched Squall approach, hands twisting nervously in front of her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking with that emotional mask of his in place. What do I say, she asked herself. How can I tell him that I didn’t mean to slap him? Will he forgive me? Please forgive me. She reached the bottom step at the same time he did and they stared at each other for a long moment. Unable to keep it inside any longer, Rinoa burst out with,
“Squall, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it! Can you ever forgive me? Please, I-“
“Rinoa.”
Here it comes, she thought, closing her dark eyes. He’s going to say it’s over. That he can’t forgive me. Ugh, I feel sick. But Squall said nothing. Warily Rinoa cracked one eye open, then opened both to stare at him in disbelief.
He was smiling. Smiling at her. The mask was gone, vanished as if it had never been there and replaced with that beautiful rare smile of his. He took her hand and her lips parted, a small gasp escaping into the silence that hung between them.
“Squall?” she squeaked in a voice not her own. Her heart began to beat faster as she took in what his eyes were telling her, and she felt an answering smile bloom on her face.
“Rinoa.” The music started on cue, a familiar tune that had Rinoa looking from the band to Squall, but he only looked at her. “This is our song.” And he pulled her to the middle of the empty floor, where they began their Waltz for the Moon.
***
Irvine whooped as he watched the dancing couple and Seifer rolled his eyes. “Looks like your Puberty Boy grew up!” The cowboy tipped his hat upward, indigo eyes dancing with laughter. “You owe me 500 gil!”
Seifer snorted. “I owe you nothing, Kinneas. You made that bet, but I never shook on it!” The green-eyed man shoved his hands into his pockets as the cowboy laughed harder.
“Such a sore loser!” Irvine wiggled his eyebrows. “I suggest you pay up, Seifer, or I’m gonna demand it off Quistis, and she’ll hunt you down.”
“And what about Selphie? If she finds out you were betting, you’ll be in just as much trouble as me!”
“Nah, my girl knows about all my gambling problem.” Irvine laughed again. “Besides, I always tell her when I gamble so she can cover me in case I lose! Which I didn’t, so it doesn’t matter!”
“But you tell her anyway?”
“Yessir.”
Seifer raised an eyebrow and pointed behind the cowboy. “Good. Go tell her. I’ll give her the money.”
As Irvine turned to look, Seifer ducked around the pillar and maneuvered his way through the crowded ballroom, away from the tall cowboy. He snorted inwardly. 500 gil? HA! Seifer Almasy didn’t pay lost bets! If he had, he’d be in the hole a couple thousand…And Quistis would give him that damn librarian look. Best to avoid that look at all costs. Now safe, behind the concessions table, Seifer turned back to watch Irvine approach his lady.
***
“Selphie,” Irvine stared at her from underneath the brim of cowboy hat. She energetically leaned on the railing at the top of the stairs, searching the ballroom, before her eyes met his. A wide smile spread across her face and she quickly descended the stairs.
The cowboy straightened his tie, watching his brunette sprite practically skip down in a dark green sheath, a gold chain with his dogtags hanging about her neck, her slightly rounded face framed by her straightened hair. “Irvine,” she called out with a merry wave, before tripping over her gold shoes and stumbling down the last few stairs. Fortunately Irvine was there to catch her and she grinned up at him.
“Can’t do anything without mah boots,” Selphie drawled at him and he felt a smile spread across his face.
“Well, little lady, I’ll just have to take your arm the whole night, so don’t you worry your head about getting hurt.” And true to his word, Irvine gallantly bowed and took her arm, leading her to dance floor, her happy laughter trailing behind them.
***
Seifer smirked as he watched the couple, deciding that it was now safe to move from the table. Irvine wasn’t going to say a word about the bet. He’d probably forgotten about it with the appearance of his very pretty nymph. Just sit back and wait for Quistis to appear. No problems at all.
A hush fell over the people at the concessions table, and Seifer looked up to see what had so silenced them. And felt his heart do a triple axle at what he saw. His cup of water fell to the floor, forgotten, and his jaw mimicked it.
A goddess had graced them with her presence.