~The Love Within~
By Lin Raimondo

Be warned: This is NOT a lemon in any way, shape, or form! By the way,
this is NOT a Zell/Selphie romance, even if it seems that way near the
beginning. It's a Selphie/Irvine, mmm'kay? Mmm'kay.

CHAPTER ONE

"Selphie?" Two familiar voices said in unison.

"Selphie?!" The voices got louder.

Selphie sniffled, and quietly responded, "Guys...?"

One of the voices said, "It's me, Zell, and-"

The other voice cut in. "Irvine. What's wrong? You haven't
been out of your room all day!"

Selphie started to cry, sitting on her bed. In between her
tears, she responded, yelling, "Irvine!" Her voice lowered. "P, please
go away... for now. I need to... sort things out."

Zell spoke softly, "Selphie, you need to tell us what's wrong!
We WON'T go away until you do."

Selphie snarled, "Go away, ZELL! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Selphie
whispered, "Irvine...."

Zell walked away in disgust, but Irvine persisted. "Selphie...
I couldn' hear what you were saying just now; your voice is so low. Do
you want me to go away...?" His voice trailed off.

"No, Irvine-" Selphie was interrupted by the loud, platform-
heeled shoes of Irvine's lady fan club running down the hall towards
him.

"Oh, Irvine! We've been looking all over for you! I want to
show you my keychain collection!" A blonde, pony-tailed fan yelled
with excitement.

Another young woman chimed in, "You just HAVE to see my new
anklet first! PLEASE?!"

Selphie went hysterical and screamed through the door. "IRVINE!
LEAVE ME ALONE! Go have fun with YOUR girlfriends and leave ME be!"

"Selphie...." Irvine was extremely hurt.

"Irvine!" One of the girls yelled. "She's nuts! Come with me;
she's not for you!" The young brunette dragged him by his arm down the
hall. Irvine struggled to get out of her grasp, but the other girls
were helping the brunette and making sure that he couldn't escape.

"Dammit!" Irvine muttered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Zell was walking around aimlessly near the water fountain in
Balamb Garden's main area, one of his hands punching the other
furiously.

'What's wrong with Selphie? Something must've happened,' he
thought.

"Hey, Zell!" someone said from behind him. He could hear some
footsteps coming towards him.

"Oh, hi Quistis, Seifer," Zell said lifelessly.

"What's gotten you down, buddy?" Seifer acknowledged Zell's
unhappiness.

Zell was about to respond like a smart aleck, but he suddenly
remembered that Seifer has become a compassionate, caring person about
other people's problems ever since he started dating Quistis a month
ago. Perhaps it was to make her happy.

"Oh, nothing," Zell responded meekly.

Quistis spoke up, "Oh, come, Zell. Something's up." She flash-
ed a small smile and nodded. "Tell us about it."

"Aw, geez, Quistis." Zell looked down. "Selphie's been really
sad lately. Today she wouldn't even come out of her room. I don't
know what's wrong."

"Has Irvine been treating her badly?" Quistis asked with
suspicion.

"No, no. Not at all. He's been acting really nice to her ever
since her mood changed. He wants her to feel better."

Seifer started in with a funny tone, "Eh? Looks like you've
got some competition. Not that's it new, or anything."

"Seifer!" Zell grew angry. "I do not want her that way!"

"Zell...." Quistis whispered to herself.

"Fine, Quistis," Zell said.

"What?"

"I DO have feelings for Selphie."

Seifer looked surprised. "Dude, I was just joking."

"It didn't sound like you were...." Zell spoke and put his head
down in shame.

Quistis looked concerned. "It's nothing to be ashamed of,
Zell. You should be proud of speaking up and stating your feelings."

Zell looked up. "So, you've got any ideas?"

Quistis responded, "Just be yourself and try to make her feel
better. Listen to her. Sort things out. Be-"

Seifer interrupted, "Not trying to be rude, sweetie, but I
think he's got the point."

Zell smiled. "Well, guys. Thanks for your help! I'll be
checking on Selphie now."

As Zell walked away, Quistis shouted, "Good luck!"

Seifer said, "See ya, loverboy!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knock, knock.

"Who is it, dammit?!" Selphie yelled.
"Zell."

"Oh, okay," Selphie's demeanor changed suddenly. "Come in."

Selphie got up from her bed and opened the door. Zell's mouth
went wide open at the sight of her.

She was wearing sexy, lacy, satin, green lingerie with faint
sparkles.

Zell blushed. "Did I come in at the wrong time?"

Selphie responded with a smile, "Oh, no, Zell. I just wear
this whenever I'm chilling in my room alone. So, what's up?"

END CHAPTER ONE

More to come; check back soon!