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Epilogue
 
Chapter Six: Dance with Me

Miles frantically worked his collar in front of the mirror. Behind him, Jasmine sat on his bed, her full-length blue gown accentuating her eyes, and more… attractive features.
She grinned slightly at his struggle, “Miles, will you relax? I showed up at your room twenty minutes ago, and you’re still struggling with the collar.”
“I can’t… get it… right.”
She shook her head and walked up behind him, “Relax, you look great.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Now come on!”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room.

***

Lee stood silently against the wall during the ball. He watched the couples move fluently together on the dance floor. Miles and Jasmine had a whole new beat going, while Squall and Rinoa were slowly moving back and forth just enjoying being with each other. He shook his head sadly and grabbed a drink from a quickly passing waitress.
“So, Mr. Reist, how are you doing tonight?”
Lee jumped and looked to his right, where a young girl had propped herself up against the wall in his exact same position.
“Who are you?”
She looked shocked, “You don’t recognize me?”
“No…”
“I know who YOU are.”
“Well, yeah, but…”
She shook her head, “It’s me, Veronica! I’ve sat behind you every day in class for the last two years!”
Lee sagged and looked down, “Oh man…”
She smiled, “It’s okay. Dance with me?”
“What?”
“C’mon, you do know how to dance, right?”
“Well… yeah, but…”
“C’mon!”
She grabbed his hand and dragged him out onto the floor.

***

Rinoa laid her head on Squall shoulder as they moved back and forth. She closed her eyes and sighed softly.
“It was ten years ago.”
Squall nodded, “We met on this dance floor. You taught me to dance.”
She smiled a bit, “You learned quickly.”
“I had a great teacher.”
She sighed again, and they continued the slow dance.

***

Miles and Jasmine ran giddily to the balcony. Miles twirled Jasmine and landed her in his arms for a kiss. The lip lock lasted for a minute, before they broke and looked up at the sky.
Jasmine leaned against the balcony, “It’s a beautiful night. You can see the stars.”
Miles stood next to her, “It pales in comparison to someone I know…”
She laughed, then playfully hit him, “Quit it.”
He shrugged and stared out into space, “You want a drink?”
She grinned and nodded, “Thanks.”
He slowly walked back inside, and was heading for the drink cart, when a loud explosion shook Garden. Miles collapsed to the ground from the shockwave, as well as everyone else. Tables collapsed, and hanging decorations fell as Garden leaned and straightened out. Alarms began to blare throughout the area, reporting different alarms.
Miles pushed himself up and looked back at Jasmine.
“You okay?”
She nodded a bit, still sitting on the ground.
“Okay. Stay there, I don’t want you to move and be really hurt.”
She grinned at his attempted heroism, “Miles, you really need to know how to treat a lady.” She pushed herself up, “that chivalry stuff actually turns off some girls.”
That’s when the balcony collapsed.

***

Squall cursed as he picked himself up. Rinoa was a few feet away from him, slowly pushing herself up. Panic was ensuing around them. Squall looked around and took in the scene. People were sprawled all over the dance floor. Many looked hurt, but that was the extent of it. Chandeliers had come crashing down, and glass was scattered on the floor. Drinks had spilled, and the floor was wet to boot. Other than that… everything was all right.
Squall motioned to Rinoa, “You alright?”
She nodded.
“Good, here’s what you need to do. Find Zell, Quistis, Irvine, and Selphie. Tell them to move on disaster plan A4, in case they haven’t already.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to find out what happened.”

***

All of Garden was suffering damage. Small fires were in each room, from ruptured gas lines and other disasters. Fire crews were quickly acting and fending off more damage. Squall ran straight out into the fray. One of the crew stopped him and forced a gas mask on, Squall reluctantly put it on, then continued his dash into the crowd. He finally found the chief tech, who gave him a quick salute.
Squall returned it, “What’s the deal?”
“Well, sir, we have damage on all floors, mainly concentrated on the MD level from what we know so far. Minimal damage in your office, and floors one and two are light also. Fires are concentrated within the training center, the cafeteria, and the garage. Gas rupture in the cafeteria. Hence the masks.”
“Alright, are we getting that under control?”
“Yes, we have about ten minutes until the leak is stopped, ventilation has already begun.”
“Right, the fires?”
“Contained and slowing down.”
“What about the MD level?”
“Like I said, damage is heavy there. We’ve got most of our crews down there now, fighting the fires and investigating the extent of the damage.”
“Is the MD level safe?”
“Just stick behind the crews, sir.”
Squall nodded and dashed for the elevator.

***

“JUST HANG ON!”
Jasmine grinned slowly, “Like I have a choice?”
She was dangling precipitously from Mile’s arm. Their hands were engaged in a tight grip, but it couldn’t last forever, and neither could summon the strength to get her back up on the ground.
Miles reached within himself, harkening to some ancient primal sense, looking for that inner strength, the adrenaline rush.
It didn’t come, and he could feel his grip loosening.
“C’mon, Jas, don’t do this to me, please.”
She winked, “Hey, this ain’t bad, I’m getting a lovely view.”
Miles chocked, and his voice cracked with nervousness, “Just shut up, okay? Don’t waste your strength.”
Jasmine felt her arm pop out of its socket, and a tight stretching feeling. She gasped and tried to hang on. It was only a matter of time.

***

Zell helped another person to their feet, and gave them a quick check for cuts or other wounds. He turned around to look for another wounded person, and then he heard the yell.
“JUST HANG ON!”
He turned again and saw Miles prostrate on the balcony, obviously hanging on to someone.
Jasmine!
He began a mad dash to the balcony; it only took him a few seconds.

***

Miles felt the sweat on his hand, as it got wetter, he realized that time was up. Jasmine’s grip was weakening every second.
She realized it too, and choked. Tears fell from her eyes as she spoke to him, “I love you.”
Her hand slipped from his wrist, and they were just clutching each other’s hands now.
He bit his lip, part of him refusing to believe that this was the end, “I love you, too.”
Then, her hand slipped. Miles closed his eyes and looked away.

***

Zell slid to the ground next to Miles a second too late. He turned and looked at Miles, who was now looking into the sky blankly.
“Miles… man…. I’m sorry. Fuck, I’m so sorry.”
Miles didn’t respond, just stared at the stars.