"Her"
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own Seifer…even just on Friday nights…heehee….him, along w/ all the other characters/places/concepts in FF8 belong to Squaresoft. I own Kaylia, Xane, any other character I decide to create, and this story.
A/N: OK, so I think this is going to be the third time that I'm revising this story. LoL I just want to apologize to people who actually liked this story… (thanks a lot, guys!) …I'm just lazy. Sorry.
Rated PG-13 for language and some themes and stuff, but I'll probably up the rating later on for some…content. I haven't decided yet. :grins:
~*Friday*~
"Everyone, open your books to page one fifty two!" Quistis told her class. "We still have a little time to go over the different elements in magic."
The class groaned. Quistis, or Instructor Trepe as she was to be addressed, was their favorite teacher, but she always went over everything they already knew. Her class was usually a social gathering of sorts. All of the Trepies were sitting up front, half listening to Quistis and half talking about her. Seifer and his posse, Raijin and Fuujin, were sitting in the corner. Squall, Zell, Irvine, Selphie and Rinoa were scattered across the middle. They were intent on staying in SeeD, so they tried to pay attention, but they couldn't help but start to talk.
"Oh boy, didn't we learn this last year?" Zell whispered as he took his book out and flipped nonchalantly through the pages.
"Hey, I didn't," Rinoa replied. "I just started SeeD, remember?" She took out her book. "This is actually kinda interesting, if you think about it."
"But Rinoa, you're a sorceress!" Selphie told her. "You don't need this."
"Still, it's good to go over." Rinoa smiled. "Right Squall?"
"Right." He said. Squall was still a bit apprehensive about being open to everyone, but he was getting there.
Irvine was looking and listening to his friends talk. He kept to himself when they started to talk like that, because like Rinoa, he transferred over to Balamb Garden. In Galbadia, he didn't learn any of this. He just trained a lot with his gun.
Quistis looked up at the clock. "Oh why bother? We only have five minutes left." She closed her books. "You can talk until the period ends." She walked over to Squall and the others and sat down. "Hey guys."
"Hi," they replied.
"Squall," Quistis said, "did you hear about a new student coming to this class today?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Well, she was supposed to be here. Her name is Kaylia. If you see her, could you show her around?"
"If I see her."
Zell was listening intently to Quistis and Squall. Rinoa and Selphie were talking about something he didn't care about, and Irvine got up and sat next to some Trepie girl. Kaylia…. He repeated in his mind. She sounds pretty.
Suddenly, the bell rang through the classroom. "Now everyone! Remember your homework!" She yelled over the commotion. "Page one fifty two!" Everyone ran to the door except Zell. He walked up to Quistis. "What's up, Zell?" She asked smiling.
"Well…who's Kaylia?" he asked softly.
"Kaylia…oh yes!" Quistis picked up her grade book. "Her name is Kaylia Paridisia. Quite a different last name." She looked at Zell. "Why do you want to know?"
"Um…well…" Zell began nervously. "I wanted to…ya know, say hi. Introduce her to Garden."
At that moment, the door opened and a young girl ran through the door. She had long, free flowing pale golden hair with bright, vivid silver streaks and big, deep, green eyes. Her skirt was unusually shorter than other girls, because she was tall, skinny……and gorgeous! She looked like one of the models that came out of the magazines, but she was ten times prettier.
"Am I late or is this just a really really small class?" She said, looking from Quistis to Zell to the empty desks.
"I'm sorry, but class just ended." Quistis told her. "And you are…."
"Kaylia Paridisia." The girl said nervously, blowing hair from her eyes. She was almost the same height as Quistis, an inch or two taller perhaps.
Zell was staring at her. "Wow…" He said absently, looking into her bright emerald eyes.
"Excuse me?" Kaylia looked at him with a grin on her face.
"Oh! Um….um, hi." Zell said.
Quistis was looking at her two students. "Kaylia, this is Zell Dincht. He'll show you around Garden. Won't you, Zell?" Zell nodded. She pushed the two students out the door. "I have to grade these papers. See you tomorrow!"
Kaylia looked at Zell. "Well…we haven't been formally introduced." She held out her hand. "I'm Ms. Kaylia Paridisia, formally of Trabia Garden."
"Really? My friend is from Trabia!" Zell exclaimed. Kaylia looked at him. "Oh." He shook her hand. "I'm Zell Dincht, of Balamb."
"You grew up in Balamb?" She squealed in happiness. "Oh, I always wanted to go there…but I never did."
"Maybe I'll take you sometime. It's really nice." Zell said, smiling. Wow….she's wonderful…
Kaylia's eyes brightened. "That would be so cool!" She grinned. "C'mon Zell, where should we go first?"
He thought for a moment. "How about the Library? My friends are probably there anyway. I'll introduce ya."
"OK. I've been there just a moment ago, so I know where that is." She started to run ahead, but then she stopped. "Are you coming?" She asked Zell.
He smiled. Just like Selphie, He thought and ran to meet her. "Here. Let's take the elevator." He pressed a button and the two doors slid open. Kaylia walked in and Zell followed. "Us SeeDs only have access to the first an' second floors, but if ya need to talk to Headmaster Cid, then you can go to the third floor. But you can only go up there with permission and an access card."
"Oh." Kaylia said as the elevator bell rang and the doors opened. She ran out of the elevator and down the stairs. There was a piece of paper on the floor. Kaylia slipped on it and fell down the remaining stairs. "Ow-ow-ow-ow-owwwwwww!" She yelled as she bounced down each step and landed on the floor. Seifer, Fuujin, and Raijin were looking down at her.
"Who are you?" Seifer asked insolently.
Kaylia looked up at him. "Why does it matter to you?" She asked defiantly. "But if you need to know, I'm Kaylia."
"Oh yeah…that girl the Instructor was talking about." Seifer smirked.
Zell walked down the steps and looked Seifer over. "What are you doing here?" He asked him.
"I have the same question for you, Chicken Wuss." He said. Seifer looked as Zell helped Kaylia up. "Aww how cute. Chicken Wuss and…a girl?" He laughed.
Kaylia stood and walked up to Seifer. She was only a couple of inches shorter than him, so they almost saw eye-to-eye. Instead of saying anything, she just glared at him, then backed up.
"Oh, you really scared me." Seifer joked. "What were you going to do?"
"This." Kaylia walked up to him and punched him. Hard.
"Ow!" Seifer yelled in pain. When he looked up, Kaylia and Zell were gone. "Arrrgh!" He yelled again in frustration.
Down the hall Kaylia and Zell were laughing. "That was really a good way to start my first day of school!" She giggled.
"Don't worry. It's just Seifer." Zell replied. "Here's the library," He pointed out and followed Kaylia inside.
Kaylia looked at all the books. "Ooooo! I didn't get a real look at this place." She said, picking up a book. "I'm gonna go look at the other books." She said and ran to the other aisles.
I think I'm starting to like her,
Zell said to himself as he looked at Kaylia. She was walking around, staring at shelf after shelf of books. Suddenly, another girl bumped into her."Oh, I'm so sorry!" Kaylia said, kneeling to pick up the books.
The girl bent down to help her. Her hair was a red color, with brown highlights. It was pulled back in a ponytail. "Don't worry about it," She told Kaylia. "Hey, what's your name? I haven't seen you around here."
"I'm Kaylia. Zell Dincht brought me here. He's a really sweet, wonderful guy. Do you know him?"
Kaylia waited for the girl's answer. "Excuse me? Of course I know Zell. I'm Sierra, his girlfriend!" (A/N: Hint hint, the library girl. Hehe) "What are you doing with him?"
"Nothing. He was just showing me around. Honest."
Sierra saw Zell looking at her. She stormed over to him. "Explain her to me." She said angrily.
Zell turned red. "Well…she's a transfer and I was showing her around. Honest, Sierra, nothing happened."
Kaylia walked over to them. "I'm sorry. If I knew he was your boyfriend, then I--"
"I have no boyfriend!" Sierra said and walked away.
"Whoa. Why was she like that?" Kaylia asked Zell.
Zell looked down. "Well…I dunno. Sierra's been kinda edgy. You know…school and everything." He sighed. "We weren't serious anyway….well, not really."
Kaylia frowned. "I'm sorry, Zell."
"Hey Zell!"
Zell and Kaylia turned around. Selphie, Rinoa, Quistis Irvine and Squall were standing in the doorway. Selphie ran over. "I heard Sierra talking about you, Zell. What's wrong?" She looked at him sadly. "Aw…poor Zell…you broke up? And you and Sierra were so close…." Selphie looked at Kaylia. "Who are you?"
"That's Kaylia." Quistis said walking towards Selphie, Zell, and Kaylia along with the others. "She transferred here. Zell was showing her around."
Selphie smiled. "You don't mean…Paridisia? From Trabia?" Kaylia nodded. "Oh! I'm Selphie Tilmitt. We weren't really that close…but I've heard of you."
"I've heard of you, Selphie," Kaylia said, smiling. "I was friends with Nevena and Aquinna. Remember them?"
"Yeah!" Selphie grinned. "Well, I'll introduce you to all these people. This is Squall, and Rinoa and Irvine. You met Quistis and Zell already."
"Hey," Kaylia said.
Squall walked up and shook her hand then saluted her. "I'm the commander of this Garden," He said. Kaylia was giggling. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. But…um, you don't have to do that…Squall? Yeah, Squall." She smiled.
Irvine pointed towards the door. "Well, we were going to the cafeteria. You can come with us." He smiled flirtatiously.
"I'd like that," Kaylia said to Irvine.
"Here. Let me escort you," Irvine said, taking her hand.
Zell walked up to Irvine. "I'm sure she can take care of herself, Irvine." He said. Irvine knew what Zell was trying to say, so he let Kaylia's hand go. She was giggling at Zell.
"Let's just go. I'm awfully hungry." Rinoa said, walking by Zell and grabbing Kaylia. "They're weird. It's how they are every day," She whispered to her. "Irvine is a big flirt and Zell is…Zell." Kaylia laughed a little.
"What are you tellin her?" Irvine yelled. "Aw well. Let's go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The cafeteria was packed. Everyone was in there ---- and that was an understatement. People were eating, talking, playing cards, arm wrestling, doing homework, checking out the opposite sex, sleeping, yelling, showing off their weapons, demonstrating magic, reading, playing hand held video games, making out, passing notes, fighting….
"Wow. Trabia was never like this." Kaylia said in awe of everything.
"Yeah. Balamb is a lot bigger than Trabia." Selphie commented.
Zell pointed over to a small booth. "There's where we can sit." Everyone hurried over there and sat down, but there was only enough room for six.
"Don't worry, I shouldn't be here anyway," Quistis said to Kaylia, getting up. "I have papers to grade."
Kaylia shook her head. "No worries." She slid in next to Squall Irvine, and Zell, who was sitting on the end. Her legs were dangling in the aisle and her back was facing Zell. "See?"
Irvine was looking over at Zell. Kaylia was squeezed up against him. Zell was starting to turn slightly red. "Guess you're not good with women?" Irvine whispered.
"Not really." He replied.
"Don't worry." Irvine said softly.
A lot of the students were looking at Kaylia. Some of the guys were whistling at her. Others were yelling "Go Zell!" A lot of the girls were whispering and looking in her direction. Seifer and his friends were in the corner, staring at Kaylia.
"Do you think these people like me?" She asked, tucking a strand of bright, shiny silver hair behind her ear.
Rinoa smiled. "They're always like this. When I came here a few months ago, they did the same thing…well, not exactly the same."
A guy walked past and gave her a note. Cautiously, Kaylia opened it and read it. "Ew! Gross!" She yelled and looked at the guy who gave it to her. He was laughing with his friends. "Excuse me," She said and walked over to them.
"No one did that to me on the first day." Rinoa said, as she watched Kaylia storm over to the guy.
She threw the note at him. "What was that?" She demanded angrily.
"You're hot." The guy replied.
Kaylia punched him in the arm. "As flattering as that is, the note was a little over the top. Don't do it again." As she walked back to her seat, random people were cheering her. A few guys were whistling cat calls at her. She slid back next to Zell.
Selphie looked at Kaylia. "That was Aidan Hiragi. He's one of the most popular guys in school but one of the snobbiest, too." She leaned over the table and gave her a high five. "You go!"
Squall smiled. "He was always a problem."
"Almost as bad as Seifer." Quistis added.
"Hey Zell…what's wrong? You're not talking." Selphie said with a frown.
"Oh. I'm all right. Just…I don't know."
"Oooooo!" Selphie and Rinoa said at the same time.
Zell looked confused. "What 'Oooooo?'" He asked.
"Nothing!" Rinoa said. Quistis giggled. Irvine tapped Zell's shoulder and even Squall smiled.
"Zell and Kay-" Selphie began, but Quistis put a hand over her mouth.
"There's nothing for us in here. We should go." Quistis said with her hand still over Selphie's mouth. "It's the weekend. What should we do?"
"Wanna take the train to Timber?" Rinoa asked.
"We haven't been there in a long time…" Squall said.
"Timber it is!" Rinoa said, clapping her hands together. "Have you ever been there, Kaylia?"
"Nope." She looked at Zell, which took some difficulty. "Have you?"
"On SeeD missions," He said awkwardly. It was tough, because if he turned his head he would be right in Kaylia's face. "We have to go through Balamb to get there."
"Really?" She grinned. "I've never ever been there!" Kaylia stood up. She took Zell's hand and started to walk. "C'mon! You promised!"
Zell stood up awkwardly. "Um…yeah I did…" A few guys were listening in on them.
"What DID you promise, Zell?" One guy said, while his friends made raunchy remarks.
He blushed. "It's nothing like that!" He yelled.
"Gettin some from the new girl!" The same guy yelled.
"Excuse me young man!" Quistis said, getting up from her seat and taking him by the arm. "Vulgarity is not permitted in the cafeteria. If you want to do something like that, take it to the dorm room." She pulled him out of the cafeteria, along with his friends. Other kids were snickering.
Kaylia was smiling. "Let's go!" She said.
Selphie, Irvine, Squall, and Rinoa stood up. "Yeah! Let's go!" Selphie yelled in her usual perkiness. She winked at Zell and Kaylia. Then, she ran out of the cafeteria. Irvine followed. Then Squall and Rinoa walked after them. Kaylia and Zell were left, looking at each other.
Zell was looking at the floor. "I…um, I guess we should follow them."
"….yeah." Kaylia lost her Selphie-like attitude. She quickly walked out, leaving Zell behind. He followed soon after. She was only a few feet ahead of him, so he quickly ran up to her.
"Hey." He said softly.
"Hey." She replied. "Are…those people in the cafeteria always like that?" Kaylia asked Zell.
"Not really. They've never acted like that. At least I've never seen it." Zell laughed. "Guess ya gotta get there when it's not packed…"
Zell heard Kaylia sigh. "The guys were like that in Trabia, too. I just want to find a guy who can like me because of me….Even your friend Irvine hit on me." She looked over at Zell. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is looking for a sweet guy who isn't very interested in appearance. Or at least holds personality in higher regard."
"…" Zell didn't know what to say. Kaylia was spilling all of this to him, and he wasn't all that great with emotion. "You're right. I wouldn't know how hard it is to find a guy like that."
Kaylia giggled. "That was funny…" She said quietly. "You're awfully nice Zell. Sierra was awfully lucky."
He blushed. "Nah….she wasn't that lucky."
"Really? Why?"
"Because…" Zell began, "I didn't love her like she loved me. I was just interested in casual dating, and when I found that one girl, I'd know. But…Sierra wasn't that girl. Apparently."
"I know. I'm the same way." Kaylia was quiet. "But I think I found my guy." She said softly.
Zell was struck dumb. "Wha…?" He said, confused.
Kaylia looked into his eyes. "You." She almost whispered. "I saw you. There was this…this aura. I knew you were the one." Suddenly, she looked away as if someone hit her in the face. "But…that's how I feel." Her eyes were sorrowful. "You probably don't feel the same way."
Zell stopped walking. "Kaylia…don't say that. I don't know how I feel about you yet. I just…I just met you today."
"Yeah…I understand."
"But…when Irvine tried to hold your hand, an' when those guys in the cafeteria were whistling at you and everything, I couldn't help but feel….kinda jealous."
"Really?" She asked softly. Zell nodded. "Oh…" Kaylia giggled. "That's kind of…sweet." Strands of silvery blond hair fell in her face.
Zell walked up to her and brushed them out of her face for her. He had to stretch a little because she was a bit taller than he was. Kaylia laughed. Zell blushed a little then began to laugh with her. Suddenly, Selphie walked up to them. "Heyyy! You guys! Are you coming? We're waiiiting!" Selphie stopped talking and looked at Kaylia and Zell…standing so close together. "Oooooo!" She yelled and ran off, singing "Zell and Kaylia Sitting In A Tree."
Kaylia sighed. "Selphie hasn't changed a bit since I last saw her. She was like that when I was with my first boyfriend."
"You had a boyfriend?" Zell looked at her.
"Yup. And only one. I was never a dater, but…his name was Xane. I thought he was the greatest guy alive. He had such a sleek, professional look…jet black hair, crimson eyes…oh, I really loved his eyes." Kaylia suddenly stopped and covered her eyes with her hand. "I trusted his eyes….but, one day…he just lost it."
Zell was shocked. Someone as beautiful as Kaylia…abused? "What happened?" He asked her.
"I don't know where we went wrong. One day, I was just hanging out in my dorm…singing, cleaning up, hanging out, you know... Then, Xane came over. He just walked in and…and…" She began to cry.
"You don't have to go on." Zell walked up to her.
"No…I want to." Kaylia sighed. "I turned around to say hello and kiss him. But instead of getting a kiss on the cheek…he hit me. At first, I didn't believe it. I never really saw anything…or experienced anything like that. I remember…touching my hand to my face…and asking him why he did what he did. But…he just slapped me again. Then, they turned into punches." She touched her cheek. "I can still remember the pain of it, you know? That day…we totally went down the gutter. Xane…he abused me. Raped me once or twice, maybe. For two years."
Zell's heart went out to Kaylia. He knew what it was like to be abused. His first foster family wasn't the best of places.
"And now look at me." Kaylia went on. "Everyone thinks I'm so wonderful…that my life was perfect. One look at me and they think all these great things about me. But…I spent my whole real life at Trabia. It's like home. I loved being there. But Xane made it so bad for me, especially after it was destroyed. Then…I pick up and move to Balamb? It's too hard…"
Zell finally realized why Kaylia was the way she was. She's always happy and tough because she needs to hide the pain.
"That's why I hit that boy, Seifer…or whatever… earlier. He was so much like Xane…it scared me. But, I didn't show it. I do that kinda stuff to hide the pain of being abused and neglected. And that's why I'm looking for a guy who's not interested in appearance. Because…that's why Xane wanted me. I was a pretty face. But he…that was it."
"Kaylia…" Zell murmured, not knowing what to say. He walked up to her and she fell in his arms. Although she was a bit taller, she still fell gracefully. Zell held her close to him. "You're all right now…" He suddenly remembered his friends were waiting for him. "Kaylia…do you still want to go to Balamb?" She nodded. "All right. Hold on." He reached into his pocket and took out a cellular phone he used to keep in touch with Squall and the others. All SeeDs had one. Quickly, he called Squall's number.
"Hello?" Squall said quietly.
"Hey, it's Zell."
"Are you coming?" Squall asked impatiently.
"No, not with you guys." Zell paused. "It's Kaylia…she's kinda…not feeling well."
"Oh. Alright. If you decided to come, we'll be here the whole weekend." Suddenly there was yelling and commotion in the background. "No…I think we're going to come home tonight. Bye." Then Squall hung up.
Zell put the phone back in his pocket. What am I gonna do? He whispered in his mind. I have a girl on my hands to take care of. Damn…this never happened with Sierra. Oh boy…I don't even know her, and she's telling me she loves me. Oh boy….
Kaylia had her head resting on Zell's shoulder. Her tears soaked the shoulder of his jacket. "I'm sorry," She apologized softly. "I just dropped all of this on you…"
"You don't have to be." Zell didn't know what else to say. He had next to no experience in this field. Sierra was a very independent girl who knew exactly what she wanted, and she didn't need Zell as much as Kaylia seemed to. Out of the corner of his mind, he thought of something that might make her feel better. "I know about a really nice place that you'll like. C'mon." He softly nudged Kaylia off his shoulder. "Do you like to dance?" He asked. I hope what I'm doing is right…knowing what I usually do is almost always wrong, I know this probably won't go good.
"A little." Kaylia wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand and managed a small smile.
"Then you're going to like this." He grabbed her wrist and led her down the hall and to the ballroom.
It was dead quiet. The moon shone bright and lit up a spot at the center of the floor. Stars dotted the sky. "We usually have all of our dances in here. As a matter of fact, there's going to be one Monday. There's usually one every other month or so. They like to keep us entertained, so we're not out causing trouble or anything…" Zell grinned, because Kaylia was wide-eyed and in awe. I guess this isn't as bad as I thought.
"This is so pretty…" She trailed off and ran to the moonbeam at the center of the floor. It made her look even lovelier than she usually did. Zell's jaw almost dropped just looking at her. "C'mere!"
Zell anxiously walked over to her. Kaylia looked so beautiful, and he also was glad she wasn't crying anymore. He didn't say anything as she took his hand and put it on her waist. "Well…you asked me if I liked to dance, Zell." She put her hand on his shoulder and started to dance. "One two three…one two three…"
He was never that great of a dancer, and stepped on her feet a couple of times. "Sorry."
Kaylia stopped. "Here…maybe you're one of those guys who can't dance without music." She began to hum a familiar tune…'Waltz To The Moon.' "Do you know that one?"
"Yeah." He smiled at her as she put a hand on his shoulder and they tried to dance again.
"So…are you going to that dance tomorrow night?" Kaylia asked after she stopped humming. Zell had gotten the hang of it.
"I would if I could find someone to go with. It's kind of a couples dance…and I only went to one or two of them with Sierra."
Kaylia spun around and then stopped altogether. "Really?" The moonlight made her skin look like ivory and her eyes like two jewels. "Well…I don't know anyone else besides you really…and I know Irvine's going with Selphie and Rinoa will probably go with Squall." She paused. "Are you going with Quistis?"
"No…I don't date my teacher." Zell grinned. "Seifer does, though."
"That makes sense." She looked at her feet. "Well…do you think that…we, could go…together?"
Zell took his hands off Kaylia. "Uh….well, I guess we could…" He was apprehensive about the whole thing. Kaylia only met him earlier that day…
She grinned and threw her arms around his neck. "We're gonna have a great time!" She exclaimed. "I'll be seeing you. I should go back to my room, now shouldn't I?" She paused. "Oh yeah…Zell, I wanna apologize for before. My past really shouldn't be any of your concern, unless...ah, don't worry about it." Kaylia ran off, leaving Zell in a daze. She likes me? But…she only met me earlier today? What's up with her?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*Monday*~
Quistis was sitting behind her desk. Another school day… she thought. The weekend went by so quickly. All of her students were in their rightful seats except for Rinoa and Kaylia. They were sharing a room, and one of them probably had to wait for the other. Quistis sighed and looked at her students.
"Did you all at least read page one fifty two?" She asked, flipping through her grade book.
"Yes." The students replied simultaneously.
Quistis smiled and clapped her hands together. "Good! It's not often all of you do your homework. Maybe it's because I said that if you don't do it all this week, you don't go to the big dance tonight." She stood up and faced the board. "Anyway, now we'll look at….page one fifty five."
Squall, Irvine and Zell were sitting in the back of the classroom. Selphie was up front by the Trepies. "Boy, Selphie always sits by us." Irvine said sadly, looking at her. "I wish she was back here."
"Is that all you ever think about?" Squall asked him as he took out his book.
"No. As a matter of fact, I think about other things."
Squall rolled his eyes. "Like what?"
Irvine paused. "Give me a minute."
Zell, on the other hand, was gazing out the window. He was in a delightful trance, thinking about the dance later that night. Irvine waved a hand in front of his face. "Yoo-hoo? Zell?" Zell snapped out of his reverie and looked at Irvine.
"What?"
Irvine sighed. "Ya gotta get your book out or you won't learn this stuff, Zell."
He picked up his book and put it on his desk. "There. Happy?"
"Gee, Zell. You don't have to get angry." Irvine then looked up at the board as Quistis began to write some formulas.
"Do you see, class? You can tell the Recov Mag-RF ability from the GFRecov Med-RF ability because of two reasons. The first one…" She saw Zell as Irvine was looking over at him. "Are you all right, Zell?" She asked him nonchalantly.
"Huh? Yeah?" He smiled. "I'm fine."
"All right. Don't doze off on me." She started to begin her lesson just as Kaylia and Rinoa walked in the door.
"I'm sorry, Quis- I mean, Instructor Trepe. We had to do some work in preparation for the dance tonight." Rinoa looked at Squall and smiled.
"Yeah. We were walking past the Garden Festival Committee and they looked like they needed the help."
Quistis sighed. "Oh…all right. I know you two." She looked at her students…mostly the male ones. Even Seifer and Raijin were in awe at Kaylia's beauty. Zell was grinning his head off, and Squall was looking at him in disbelief.
Kaylia walked to the back and sat next to Zell. "Hey," she said as she pulled out her book and looked through the pages.
"Uh…hi." He replied. She looked even prettier then when she walked in the class yesterday.
Irvine frowned. "You always get the best ones, Zell."
Squall shook his shoulder. "Zell never gets any of them." He whispered softly.
"Oh…yeah!"
Rinoa was gazing over at Zell and Kaylia. "The sparks are flying!" she whispered, giggling.
"Are you paying attention back there?" Quistis said, frowning. "You better listen, or you five won't be passing your test on Friday!" She returned to explaining the refining of magic in its most technical terms.
"Are you going to the dance tonight?" Rinoa whispered to Kaylia.
"Um…yeah." She smiled.
Rinoa giggled. "Who are you going with? It's a couples dance, you know."
"Don't worry. You'll see," She said, looking at Zell. He was turning slightly red. Rinoa suddenly realized who Kaylia was going with.
"Oooh…." She grinned.
Squall and Irvine were looking at Zell curiously. Before Kaylia sat down, his head was in the clouds. Now all of his attention was on her. "There's somethin up," Irvine said softly.
"I know," Squall said, smiling --- obviously a rare sight. "Finally." Irvine chuckled, because besides for Sierra, who else was Zell really interested in?
Zell couldn't take his eyes off Kaylia. Wow…she looks so pretty today…he thought. "So…how are you?" He whispered, trying to make conversation.
Her attention was directed toward the board, but she looked over at Zell. "I'm pretty good," She whispered. "Excited about tonight." She winked at him and looked back at the board.
Zell promptly turned pink. "Wow…" he murmured.
"Are you all right?" Irvine asked, poking Zell with his pen. Zell nodded dreamily. Just then, the end of period bell rang loudly throughout the class. "This boy needs our help." Irvine said to Squall.
"Our help?" Squall looked confused. "As in you…and me?"
"Yes! Zell has a date with Kaylia. Tonight. This lifetime. And compared to every other guy in school he hasn't even hit puberty yet!"
"Oh," Squall said.
Meanwhile, Zell was walking down the halls, looking for Irvine, Squall, or one of his other friends. What he did find surprised him. "What the…?"
Seifer was flirting with Kaylia, only a few feet away from where Zell was standing. "So, Kaylia…you are easily the most beautiful girl in this school, you know."
She smiled. Boy, this guy is trying way too hard. "Thank you…um, Seifer was it?"
He wrapped his arm around her. "It can be anything you want it to be, sweetheart."
Kaylia slipped out of his arms. "Seifer…if you need a date for tonight, why don't you go with that gray haired girl that always hangs around you? She seems all right…and I already have a date."
"But…" Seifer frowned. "Fuujin is just a friend. And anyway, all of the students expect the most popular guy and girl to go together, right?"
"So why should I go with you, then? By the way you're acting, you're only making me want to throw up more." Kaylia smiled. "Besides, I wouldn't give up my date for the world."
"Who is it?"
Zell decided to intervene. He walked up to Kaylia and Seifer. "It's me." Seifer looked shocked. "Aw, what's wrong? Sad cause you were just dumped by the most beautiful girl in Garden?" Zell was certainly enjoying the moment. "And Kaylia's right. I'm sure Fuujin needs someone to go with. And anyway, she probably also needs someone who can pick out a good dress." He winked and led Kaylia away from him.
Kaylia was staring at Zell. "Boy…that was great!" She said. Zell grinned.
"It's what I've always been good at." He suddenly saw Irvine and Squall walking towards him. "Um…Kaylia, would you excuse me for a second?"
"Sure Zell. Whatabout?" She saw Irvine and Squall too. "Oh…boy talk." Kaylia grinned. "I'll be seeing ya!"
Zell looked at the two boys. "Hey, guys. What's up? Besides you two?" He had to look up at both of them because they were so tall.
"We're here to help you." Irvine said, winking.
"Um…yeah. I guess so. What he says." Squall really didn't like the idea of tampering with Zell's love life….if he actually had much of one…
"Help? Why do I need help?" Zell lost his smile.
Irvine put a hand on Zell's shoulder. "It's because the big dance is tonight."
"We thought that you could use some pointers." Squall looked over at Irvine. He was the commander of Balamb Garden, but that didn't mean that he knew everything, especially in the subject of love. But when something as rare as Zell and a date came up, it was worth getting involved.
"…pointers?" Zell began to look nervous. "Is a date really that complicated?"
"No…" Irvine smiled. "But it helps to know what you're doing."
Zell smiled. "Fine. But I only have…until four. Then I have to get ready for tonight."
"We know. We have to get ready too." Irvine led Zell down the hall. "Now, the first thing you need to know…"
Squall watched them. "This is going to be interesting…"