Disclaimer: Squaresoft will always own FFVIII.

Author's Note: Chapter2 will be up soon. Anyways, this is a new fic done in Selphie's POV. Bad intro, I know. Selvine or Zelphie?

A WHISPER IN THE DARK
Chapter One: Evocation
by Ascendo Tuum

Quietly, I watched, as an invisible breeze ruffled the blossoms of the spring flowers in the Quad. Most of them were irises and daisies, but a few bright red tulips mingled among the ribbon of purple and yellow blooms. This garden had been the result of much lobbying on the behalf of the student body for a more lively campus, and after three weeks' of hard work, Cid gave in and allowed the student council (yours truly as President) to trek dirt across the floor as we planted the flowers.

I soon heard footsteps coming my way and willed myself not to turn around. I already knew it was Irvine, as he liked to play these sorts of "Guess Who" games. The fact that he also wore a musky cologne, which wafted around thickly in the air, did not help in shrouding his identity.

"Guess who?" rumbled the soft baritone voice he carried in him with great pride. Sometimes I wondered if he was exaggerating the tone, or if he naturally sounded that deep.

"Irvy?" I answered in a forced childish voice. His little antic was fast becoming exhausted from overuse, but it wasn't up to me to hurt someone's feelings. I was never one to nurse grudges or harbor resentment towards anyone. It didn't make sense to dislike someone overa little thing. That didn't mean that I was the forgive-and-forget type either. I tended to sulk silently but I would always shrug it off later because it never made sense to stay angry for so long. I guess this was a weakness too, because people could take advantage of me, knowing I'd never hold a grudge against them.

Irvine laughed. "You're right Sefie!" He placed an arm around my shoulder and we walked towards the empty stage. I had not decided on a new event for Garden yet, but we sorely needed one. I saw too many SeeDs and SeeDs-in-training walking in the hallways with downcast faces. It was high time there was some fun.

Of course, never mind the fact that these people were all sad looking because exams were coming. I, Selphie Tilmitt, promised to lift everyone's spirits up with the next big bash.

Zell soon came along, as usual with a hot dog in his hand. "Hi Irvine, Selphie." He greeted before taking another bite of his staple food. "I got the last hot dog today." He added proudly, as if he had won the lottery. I noticed a small dab of ketchup spattered on his blue vest and wondered if he was going to wipe it onto his hot dog.

"Good for you Zell," Irvine remarked in a controlled voice. I could sense the disappointment and slight agitation in his voice of not being able to be with me exclusively, just the two of us. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to be his girlfriend, but there were so many cons flying in the shadows, I often became confused. It was common knowledge that the cowboy was a womanizer, and that his affections were fickle, but many girls swore that in the brief time they were with him, it was heaven.

"What's up?"

I shrugged. "Garden's been boring. Quisty's on a solo mission and Rinoa took Squall shopping." The words felt like heavy leads in my mouth, used too often. For once, I wanted to break out of the usual, surprise everyone with the Selphie inside. It wasn't worth it though. They would be shocked to think that there was a deeper side to the shallowly exuberant girl they thought they knew so well.

Zell nodded slowly, absorbing the information in his mind the way his body took in what little nutrients were in the hot dog. "Why don't you plan something, Selphie? You're good at planning things."

"That's what I'm going to do now--with both of you helping me," I replied firmly and shrugged off Irvine's arm. Going over to where a clipboard lay abandoned, I picked it up and pulled a pen out of my pocket. "Let's get some ideas going." So saying, I hefted myself onto the edge of the platform and sat down.

"How 'bout we plan a square-dance?" Irvine purred, winking. I gave him a brief smile before turning towards Zell.

Zell scratched his head slowly. "Hot-dog day? We could serve hot dogs and uh… eat hot dogs." He finished weakly.

"We need something new and refreshing," I reminded in a rather chiding voice. I knew Zell had good ideas, he simply had trouble getting them through. Irvine preferred all things Western, and I strongly doubted SeeDs would welcome another Western-themed event with open arms. The last Sadie Hawkins dance we planned had gone awry, with Quistis dragging a drunken Seifer out the room by the cuff of his neck. Besides, the possibility had over-exhausted itself.

"What about a boxing match?" Zell piped up, his cobalt-blue eyes alight with glee. He added a few punches for effect and ended with a jab aimed nowhere.

Irvine snorted derisively. "Oh come on Zell, not everyone can box. I nominate a day at the beach. Selphie will definitely like going to the beach."

"Not everybody likes becoming a tomato," Zell retorted smugly. "I think Selphie will like having the boxing match instead. We could charge people to fight and the funds could go to uh.. her committee. Yeah!" He eyed Irvine suspiciously, and was met with a glare too.

It was then that I realized both of them were vying for my attention. For how long, I didn't know. I was never really an observant or analytical person. That didn't mean I didn't care, I just didn't notice the little things.

I knew one thing though. There was a difference in the way they tried to get my attention, apparent as it was. Irvine liked to play around and hide his real intention behind sugared words. Zell played the more direct admirer though he too did not fully display his affections.

Sighing quietly to myself, I hopped off. "Let's go get some rest, each of us and meet back in three hours. Maybe we can have a killer idea that'll lift everyone's spirit."

It was a coward's way out of pensive boredom, but I felt it much required to break the thin ice of tension. I needed to sort my thoughts and clear my head from its burden.

Who knew that two guys would want me? It was a surprising enlightenment, and I for once, did not feel energetic enough to mull it over in delight.