Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

Racuous Times at Balamb Middle

"Cheerleading tryouts are this Thursday!" Raine pointed eagerly to the poster on the wall stating that. "'3:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Dress comfortably, and be able to stay for at least an hour.' Hmm, I'm not completely sure Dad will be sold on that whole hour thing..." She rubbed her chin. "Which is so not fair. I mean, I'm 12. It's not like I'm a child anymore. Aurelie!"

Raine turned to where her long-legged friend had continued to walk down the hallway, not paying the poster any mind. Apparently, she wasn't paying Raine any mind either, because she continued to walk.

After catching up with her, Raine gently pulled Aurelie's arm so she'd stop walking. "Hey, I was talking to you!"

"You were? O-oh..." Aurelie gently bit her lip. "Please accept my sincerest apologies, Raine; I wanted to hurry and return this book to the library so I could check out another."

"That can't wait until after school?"

"I'd rather it didn't; I have a free period for last period today, and it'll be better if I have something to read." Aurelie smiled, "If it isn't too much trouble, could you repeat what you said to me before?"

Raine pointed down the hallway. "Cheerleading tryouts are Thursday, I wanna go, and you should come too."

"Oh. I'm not sure I could fit that on my plate, though..."

Raine sighed as they continued to walk. Unlike herself and all their other friends, who were all in sixth grade, Aurelie was in eighth grade and was already taking high school courses, all at the age of twelve. She was already 5'7" tall, so she wasn't a blatant outcast with the other, older kids, but she still had yet to "develop" like they had, so some of them knew that she was young.

"Aurelie, why are you in such a rush to finish school?" asked Raine. "Why can't you just kick back and enjoy the ride?"

"What if I'm not enjoying it?" she asked softly.

Raine stopped and stared at her. "What do you mean? I thought you liked learning."

"I do- I love to learn- but I'm not learning anything here. The courses are so rudimentary, and it's so boring," Aurelie complained. "Why would I want to stay at a place that doesn't fulfill the very purpose it exists? I certainly won't miss being teased by delinquents."

Aurelie was often teased at school; if not for her height and platinum-silver hair by the kids her age, it was for her flatness by her classmates.

"You know, if you'd gone through the grades regularly like the rest of us, you'd have developed to a point where there wouldn't have to be any teasing," Raine said.

"Raine, I'm not going to elongate my stay in a place I hate waiting for my breasts."

"Fair enough." Raine shrugged. "I'm really going to miss going to school with you, Aurelie."

Aurelie turned to her. "What do you mean? You'll be in high school in two years."

"You mean I'll be at Garden in two years," corrected Raine. "We both know my parents are pushing it, and we both know your parents are sending you to that fancy-schmancy Academia high school. They'd never let you anywhere near Garden."

Instantly, Aurelie imagined Quistis and Hope's reactions to the idea of her going to be SeeD. Raine was right; they'd never allow it in a million years.

"You're right, but that doesn't mean we'll never see each other," pointed out Aurelie.

"It's not the same." Raine pouted.

"You're being childish, Raine."

"You're being adultish! Cut it out, you're like twelve."

Before Aurelie could realize that Raine was technically right about that, she'd been pulled into a crushing hug by their huge friend Gale. "Hey, girls! Going to get lunch?"