Talking Bushes: Part One
By. Bento Box
04/06/03

--

Bright blue eyes were covertly watching two nearby, standing figures.

Zell's face held a dark frown as he continued to casually observe the brunette and the taller blonde. For the past two months, Zell had been noticing something odd about the two. It had all started when Squall and Rinoa had broken things off. Squall had seemed outwardly okay with what had happened athe time, but then not even two days later Squall readmitted Seifer back into the Garden. At that sudden change of heart towards the other blonde, Zell began to wonder if Squall had been a lot more shaken by the breakup than he appeared--because there just had to be something wrong with the brunette's sanity if he had let Seifer back in!

As the weeks drew on, the once before palpable hostility between the two had noticeably--to Zell--dropped dramatically. Oh sure, there were still the taunts and sneers and cold shoulders, but more and more Zell had seen an alarming frequency in what seemed to be civil and privately arranged meetings.

Something smelled fishy about the entire thing, and it wasn't the Surprise Ingredient Tuna Casserole the cafeteria was now serving.

So Zell had been on stake out for the past month, following the two whenever he was able to, and whenever he actually caught them together, like right now.

Zell didn't consider it stalking, at all. It was merely a friendly concern for his friend's well-being and overall sanity. That and seeing the two together sent large, stabbing, spikes of jealousy through Zell.

Not that he'd ever admit that. Nope, not jealous here! Just one greenish tinted blue-eyed Zelly-boy! Not jealous at all.

He inched a bit closer, hoping that the large, indoor, potted fern would do its duty in hiding him. This was one of those rare times that Zell was glad for his short stature because the fern towered over him.

Ears straining to catch the low murmurs of conversation going on between the two, he held his breath as best as he could to catch the soft words.

"--in the gardens, later?"

That was Seifer.

"Yes."

And that was Squall.

"Alright. See ya tonight then."

With that, the two parted ways, and Zell was left wobbling tenuously in his hiding spot. He had been leaning to the side so far that was losing his balance. He was just gratefully that he had only started to wobble just as the two were walking away, otherwise he would have been caught for sure with the fern's leaves shaking and twitching rather obviously as he tried to remain upright by grabbing onto the plant.

Finally regaining his balance, Zell scratched the back of his head and stared thoughtfully at the now unoccupied area.

This entire thing was getting stranger and stranger. There hadn't been any negativity between the two at all! At least, not during the last snippet of conversation that Zell had managed to overhear.

Hn.

Maybe tonight would reveal what exactly the two were keeping secret to themselves? Going a tad pale, Zell fervently stuck with his belief that two were merely making up and were friends. Like. Secret buddies or somethin' so that they'd save face since they were reputed to be bitter enemies and stuff.

Yeah. Nothing more at all.

And Zell spying on what were obviously private conversations was all in the sake of friendship and care and... friendship!

Glancing down at his watch, Zell let out a curse. "Shit! I'm gonna be late for the next class!" With that, he immediately took off at a rapid pace, not noticing the curious stare that was gazing after him as he was sprinting away.

--

Notes: Righty-o then. Muses sicked a plotbunny at me, and it attacked me this mornin' as I was dragging my lazy carcass outta bed. It immediately turned me into a pile of giggling hysteria and energy. I couldn't resist my muses' pleas. They've been silent for so long, and now they're chanting "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" at me! OO I CANNOT RESIST! And trust me, with the way my muses are actin' up... this is gonna be one WEIRD series. oO; One I actually have high hopes of COMPLETING. SOON!

Stay tuned for more.