Broken
Chapter I
Selphie grimaced at the ring on her night table. A band with no beginning and no end, unlike the relationship that she had just ended.
They both should have known it was just matter of time before it ended. It was obvious to everyone else, wasn't it? All the late night fights were getting to be too much, especially when she was forced to smile in the morning like nothing had happened. But, she was sure everyone had known.
Couple their constant arguments with the rumors of Zell's indiscretions with that slut that worked in the library and…Well, the whole thing was a ticking time bomb threatening to explode at any second.
Finally, she just couldn't take anymore and…It was over. Of course, to save face, the blonde maintained that he was the one that had ended the relationship. And he refused the engagement ring when she had tried to give it back…Probably just to save face and come out looking like the bigger person.
As if…
Every time she looked at the ring, she was overcome by memories of all the kisses, all the screaming, the infidelity, the sex…Everything. Nothing seemed to fit right about their relationship and she felt nothing but anxiety and discomfort when she glanced at the only remain of "Selphie and Zell".
She put the ring in the top drawer of the night table and locked it in, along with the dreadful memories. After a quick look in the mirror, she headed out of her dorm, ready to face the world in front of her.
As she locked the door behind her, Irvine turned the corner.
"Hey Selph…" He said with a smile.
"Hey Irvy…" She said, attempting a smile up in his direction.
The cowboy just looked down at the woman in front of him. She seemed so down lately…Part of him wanted to kick Zell's ass for turning her into this, but…He was sure Selphie wouldn't approve of this approach.
"Headed to the cafeteria?" He asked, extending his arm to her.
"You wanna escort me?" Selphie asked with a light giggle, linking her arm with the long haired man beside her.
"It would be a pleasure, ma'am…" He said playfully, tipping his hat to her.
They walked into the cafeteria and met their friends at the usual table. Selphie took her place beside Quistis.
Ever since the Sorceress War, Selphie and Quistis had become closer than they ever thought they would be. They ended up spending more time together than they did with anyone else. Selphie considered Quistis her best friend, with whom she had no secrets.
Quistis knew what had happened behind closed doors with Selphie and Zell and was filled with relief when her brunette friend finally broke it off.
Zell, on the other hand, could be seen moping around Garden, sucking his female friends' sympathy dry. When Selphie saw him, she tried to avoid eye-contact, but she could always feel those blue eyes leering at her.
It was a dreadful feeling.
But, thanks to Quistis, she was starting to get back some of that self-esteem that she had lost and she was trying to go back to her old self. The one that Zell had, for all intensive purposes, killed.
Quistis looked especially cheery this morning when she greeted her best friend.
Selphie responded with a raised eyebrow, unsure of her beautiful friend's newfound spunkiness.
"What the Hell are you so happy about?" She asked through a wavering smile.
"We need to talk after breakfast…" Quistis said, referring to the ears around the table, honed in on them.
Selphie looked around at her friends.
Quistis, Irvine, Squall, Rinoa, Seifer…
Yes, even Seifer.
When he was finally able to think for himself again, he realized the errors of his ways and somehow…Everyone mended the rifts between them.
It was almost unbelievable how quickly everyone put their differences aside. But…when people are on the verge of losing their lives, they begin to realize how petty their old squabbles were.
Everyone finished their breakfasts over casual conversation and lighthearted laughter.
Selphie was only biding her time until she could hear whatever it was that was making Quistis so giddy.
Finally, once the table was cleared and the two women were the only people left, Selphie was finally able to ask her.
"Now…what were you grinning about?" The brunette asked.
"I think I've found the perfect guy for you!" The strawberry blonde said excitedly.
"No, no, no…" Selphie said, holding up her hands, "Quisty, we've been over this."
"Okay…fine…So you're never gonna date again? You're never gonna be with another guy just because Zell's an asshole? You're never gonna have sex again, Selph?"
Selphie smiled and shook her head.
"Sex is fine," She laughed, "It's the commitment I'm not ready for."
"Just give him a chance."
"I don't even know who it is."
"Well, if I tell you, will you say yes?" Quistis asked, smiling.
"No…" Selphie asked, smiling even bigger.
"Then never mind…"
"Fine, never mind…" Selphie laughed heartily as she stood.
"Wanna have dinner tonight?" Quistis asked.
"What? In town?" Selphie questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Sure, I'm buying. I just need to get you out of this bitchy little mood." Quistis joked and pinched her friend's cheek.
The girls walked out of the cafeteria arm-in-arm.
Quistis dropped her friend off at her dorm and then visited another friend's dorm.
He opened the door, anxious to hear what Quistis had to say.
"Sorry, Irv…" She said with a grimace, "She's just not ready yet…"