Queen Luana : So, I've continued writing Whose Square is it Anyway?, have uploaded an Avatar fanfic and now I'm writing another Final Fantasy VIII fic. Waw. I really am back. Anyway, Zell has always been my favourite FFVIII character so I decided I'd make a fic about him. It's been since my brother destroyed my four FFVIII discs two years ago that I've played this game so sorry if the characters are a little OOC. This could be a pairing or not, I'll see as the story progresses. Either way, I always wanted these two to be more befriended because I was confident they'd make quite the duo. Enjoy.

Sleepyhead

Zell poked the large bump in Selphie's bed and it groaned, twitched then continued sleeping. "Come on, sleepyhead," he said, thumped the blankets with his foot and waited for the lump to react. All he got was another load moan.

"Zell… leave me alone…"

He had already opened the curtains to let in some sunlight. When he had enterred the room, he had felt like he had enterred a dungeon. With the lights out, the windows and curtains closed, the air had turned damp and musty and for a second he had feared to find Selphie dead in her bed.

"It's almost noon," Zell said and walked over to the end of the bed. "You haven't left your bed in days." He grabbed the sheets and pulled them away. The slender girl curled up into a little ball when she felt the cold air and the sunlight surround her body.

"I don't feel well."

"Yeah, right," Zell snorted, "you're not sick. You're exaggerating." She covered her face with one arm and the other one started groping for the sheets but Zell pulled them away. "Come on! Get up! Show a leg!"

"Zeeeell," she whined and finally sat up straight. Her eyes were bloodrun and her face was red. The brown locks that had always been so neatly combed were now ruffled into all sorts of directions. She did look sick. In fact, this was the worst Zell had ever seen her. "Look, it's nice that you're trying to console me and all but I'm just not in the mood." She reached out her handings pleedingly so Zell picked up the sheets again and tossed them back into bed.

What had happened to the sweet and joyful Selphie? Zell sat down on a chair and watched his friend pull the blanket up till her ears and only a messy bunch of brown hair was left visible. "Selphie, don't let him get to ya," he said and pointed at the door. "I think you should go out there and prove that you are stronger than this! Show him you don't give a damn!"

"You know, Zell," Selphie muttered, "come back and give me that preachiness again once you've had your heart ripped out and stepped on by a bloke."

"I'm just saying," Zell said and jumped to his feet, "don't give him the pleasure of seeing you as a complete and emotional wreck!"

"Exactly," Selphie said and peeked over the edge of the lavender sheets, "that's why I've decided to stay in bed."

Zell sighed desperately and scratched the back of his head. She really must've loved the guy… a lot. If he had been able to this to the ever so cheerful Selphie. He hardly even recognised her anymore. With a smile he stood up and shook her shoulder. "Come on Selph…" But he jerked back his hand when he heard a sob and saw the tears runnning from the corner of her eyes and dripping onto the left paw of the baby chocobo that decorated her pillow.

"Thanks for dropping by," she said squeakily, "I appreciate it, Zelly."

Zell took his cue and headed for the door. But as he closed it behind him, a smile spread on his face. "Don't you worry about a thing, Selphie," he said. "I'll take care of it. And I promise I'll get you out of bed by the end of the week."

"It's me, Zell."

"Oh, Zell? What is it?" Rinoa's voice was a little shaky and he could hear a lot of thumping and bumping at the other end of the door.

Zell was surprised about Rinoa's voice. Had something happened? "Oh… I just want to talk a bit. It's about Selphie."

"Selphie? Okay, yeah, hang on one sec." After some more fussiness, finally Rinoa opened the door and Zell turned red realising what he had just done.

Rinoa was still adjusting her robe but he could just catch a glimps of the red lace bra she was wearing. Her hair was ruffled and a crimson shade coloured her cheeks. Behind her, the window was open and a soft summer breeze blew the curtains across the room. "I was just about to take a shower," she smiled and quickly turned back into the room. "Have a seat."

Zell could feel himself growing red as well. Squall wouldn't be too pleased with him. He carefully sat down on the chair at Rinoa's desk. He knew she and Squall had been looking for a place in Balamb where they could stay together and in the meanwhile Rinoa had just settled in one of the SeeDs rooms. She had decorated it rather nicely. The sheets and curtains were lightblue with a doglike pattern and an enlarged picture of the last Garden ball was hanging above her bed.

"What news?" Rinoa asked. Before sitting down she evened the sheets with great care. When she sat down she was sure to cross her legs and check whether the silk robe covered the right places. Zell had to keep himself from chuckling.

"Well, surely you already heard about what happened," Zell said and Rinoa gave a confirming nod.

"Yes, I know," she said quietly. "Awful isn't it? I swear if I ever get my hands on him…"

"She hasn't left her bed in days," Zell continued. "She looks horrible. But I guess you already knew that as well." Rinoa gave another nod and stroke her raven hair behind her ear. One arm remained clutched around her robe. "And I think we should start doing something about it. You know, help her get back on her feet."

"Of course."

"Now, I'm a bloke," Zell said and scratched his ear. "So, I must say that I don't exactly know too much about girls and… And I'm not too experienced in the relationship department either. But you're girl-" Rinoa giggled "-maybe you could give me some hints?"

"To help bring the cheerful Selphie back?"

"Yes."

Rinoa smiled at him and straightened up. "I'd be happy to teach you a thing or two. You might want to write this down."

After Zell had made notes about what Rinoa had to say about a girl's broken heart, she quickly disposed of him and Zell decided to get out as fast as possible, not wanting to run into a pissed off Squall. He flipped through the pieces of paper.

"Yeah, this should do. Now, back to Selphie."

"Zell, I told you…"

"No, just hear me out for a sec, okay?" Zell said excitedly. "I'll make you a bet."

With a sigh Selphie popped her head out from under the covers and watched him as he spoke.

"I bet, that I will get you back on your feet in less than a week." He raised his fingers. "Give me seven days and you'll have forgotten that you even liked this guy in the first place. By next Monday, you'll be happy you're single again."

"And what if I'm not?"

"If you're not," Zell said, "well, that's up to you."

They exhanged looks for a moment, then Zell extended his hand. "Well, do we have ourselves a deal?"

Queen Luana: Well that's it for now. Review and tell me if you like where this is going. Constructive comments are always appreciated.