Chapter Two: Cid's Bad News

Quistis Trepe sighed and rolled over. Thoughts from the day lingered in her head, refusing to depart and let her sleep. As she lay in her fairly small bed at Balamb Garden, the window open blowing a gently cool breeze in, she quenched her eyes shut. She had been desperately trying to sleep for what seemed like hours. She let her eyes open and she glanced at the clock. The numbers told her it was far too early in the morning: 3:42. She stared at the clock without blinking for a minute, and then let her eyes flutter close. Her thoughts continued to pester her.
Squall... Quistis thought. She held back the tears that threatened it flow. What happened to you?
She remembered it clearly....

For a month, or was it more?, Squall had been distant to Quistis and the others. There was no surprise over it. He had found Rinoa and decided to leave his other friends behind.
Oh, of course, Quistis loved him still. She may have told the others differently, but that was just so they didn't get themselves worried over her "feelings" toward him. She loved Squall with all her heart.... but let him go.
Why did I let him go? Quistis demanded of herself as she walked through the Garden hallways. Why? Was it because Rinoa loved Squall?
No... it was because Squall loved Rinoa. Quistis knew she should let Squall be happy. Even if it meant he ditched her completely.
"Hey, Quistis!"
Quistis stopped walking and turned to see Zell half running, half skipping, towards her. She put a smile on her face and waved. "Hello Zell!"
When Zell was up to her, she noticed a solemn expression on his boyish face. "Um... Quistis?"
"Yes?"
"Selphie, Irvine, and me..." Zell went on. "Thought you've been lookin' depressed lately."
Quistis raised an eyebrow. Lately, she thought scornfully. I've been depressed my entire life.
"What ever do you mean?" Quistis asked him.
"You've just been distant," Zell told her. "Like Squall. Actually, Selphie said it was `cause you still loved Squall. Me and Irvine told her she was full of it."
Well well... Quistis thought. Selphie is smarter than she looks.
"Anyways," Zell shrugged. "We wanted to talk to you about a few things. Will you come with me to the cafeteria? They're waiting there already."
"Why the cafeteria?"
"Hot dogs," Zell said grinning ear to ear. "They're selling them today."
She looked at him, "shouldn't you be there before they sell out then?"
A look crossed over Zell's face. "You're right!!" He turned and bolted for the cafeteria.
Quistis shook her head as he walked off.
Pitiful, she thought.
Deciding to do what Zell wanted her to do, she walked slowly towards their meeting area. Her thoughts were strung on Squall, and she was in the mist of a deep thought of him when she walked straight into the back of Raijin.
"Whoa!" He called. He looked at her in a funny way. "What are ya doing?'
"Sorry," Quistis mumbled, turning away from him.
"Now wait a minute," Raijin commanded, stepping in front of her. "You should be watching where you're going, ya know."
She had to look up at him; he was so tall. "I said I was sorry."
"That's not good enough, ya know."
She sighed, annoyed, and shoved him roughly aside. He obviously wasn't expecting that, and stumbled away.
"Whoa!" He called out once more.
Quistis didn't want to face that big baby again, and quickened her pace to the cafeteria. She was grateful when Raijin didn't follow her.
When she walked into the cafeteria, she was bombarded by her friends. Irvine threw her into an unwanted hug. She was sorta startled.
"Irvine!" Quistis gasped. "Let go."
He pulled away and grinned a slanted grin at her. "Come on, ya know you like it."
"No," Quistis answered quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Selphie's face flush a bit. She wasn't happy with Irvine.
"Hey," Quistis began, "Selphie? Zell said you guys needed to talk with me?"
Selphie brightened. "Oh, yeah!! We wanted to talk to you about Squall!! We think he's been ignoring us lately. Is it the same with you?"
Quistis had to smile. Selphie was always so happy, it even made Quistis feel better. Selphie was indeed Quistis' best friend.
"Yes, very much," Quistis answered honestly. "I think it is because of Rinoa."
"Why Rinoa?" Selphie's cheerful green eyes widened with confusion.
Because Rinoa is a bitch, Quistis thought. "Because Squall is head-over-heels in love with her."
"We know THAT much," Irvine said, waving his arms around like a bird getting ready to fly.
"I think it is the reason," Quistis said, shrugging. She hesitated, "Hey.... where is Zell?"
"Who knows?" Selphie asked. "Quisity? Will you help me put together a play for the Halloween show?"
"Sure," Quistis said with a small smile. It would be good to do something different.
"Whoo- HOO!" Selphie cheered, pumping her arm into the air. "Thank you so much!!"
"Sure," Quistis said again. She glanced quickly at her wrist watch. "Oh... I must run. I have a lunch-in with Xu."
"Oh," Selphie and Irvine said. They were both clearly disappointed.
"Bye Quistis!" Irvine gave a spunky wave.
"Bye Quisty!!" Selphie jumped up and down.
Quistis waved to them both as she left the cafeteria. She was suppost to meet Xu in the front of Garden. Realizing she was a few minutes late, she quickly jogged over, her footsteps echoing in the halls.
She noticed Xu wasn't where she was suppost to be.
Quistis looked about, but found no sign of Xu.

~Ding~

"We have some very bad news," came Cid's voice over the loudspeaker. "But we will have to tell you all later... first... would Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Irvine please report to my room?"

~Ding~

Bad news? What was Cid talking about? But his voice sounded urgent. Quistis ran as fast as she could to the elevator.

* * * *
She was the last to enter. Selphie, Irvine, and Zell were sitting in chairs in Cid's room. They all had solemn looks parched on their faces.
"Good," Cid said, his voice dark. "Quistis is here. Now I may tell you all...."
Quistis didn't take a seat, thought she felt something was horribly wrong. She felt it in her very soul.
Wait.... Quistis thought, feeling confused and startled. Where's Squall? Why didn't the Headmaster call Squall and Rinoa here?
She missed Squall terribly. She just wanted to tell him she still loved him.
"It's about Squall...." Cid went on.
Quistis sucked in a deep breath. What happened?
"There's no easy way to say this," Cid continued. "Oh dear.... I'm afraid.... Squall.... Squall was murdered early this morning."
Quistis heard her other friends gasp.
But Quistis.... she couldn't move. Couldn't take another breath. Couldn't think.
"I felt you guys should know first," Cid said, his voice remained strong. "We found him this morning. I know he was a very strong SeeD. He must have been taken by surprise. People are thinking it was a friend."
What was going on, Quistis had to wonder. Why is Cid lying so?
"Quistis?" Cid asked. "Are you okay?"
What about the others? Aren't they okay?
"Don't lie," Quistis whispered.
"Squall is dead," Cid said, his voice beginning to waver.
"STOP LYING!!" Quistis shrieked. She watched as Cid drew back in shock. She wasn't the type to lose it.
"Quistis..." Cid moved towards her.
"No..." Quistis let out a pained moan. She began to tremble. Her body shook horribly, in violent tremors that did not cease. Cid placed his hands on her shoulders.
She shook him off.
Now she knew why Xu hadn't been waiting for her.
"Squall!" Quistis gasped out. "Please no!"
With that she turned and fled from the room. She raced to the elevator and lunged into it. She pressed the down button to floor 1. Half way down from the 2nd to the 1st floor, she pushed the stop button on the panel. She felt herself slump down onto her knees, onto her pink skirt. She was still shaking so horribly. Now there was tears streaming down her red cheeks, splashing away from her as she shook. Her teeth were chattering, and she felt so cold. She glanced down at her hands. They were covered in blood.
Who's blood is that? Quistis wondered. Her mind was not working properly.
Why do I have blood on my hands?
It took the blonde girl another few minutes to realize it was her own blood. She had dug her fingernails so hard into her palms she had cut them. She watched the blood drip to the floor; it seemed to fall in slow motion. Suddenly she was falling with the blood, in slow motion.
Her head smacked the floor of the elevator first. A roar sounded in her ears, and she continued to shake. Her eyes closed and she burst into loud sobs.


Quistis rolled over in bed again, realizing, finally, she would never be able to sleep. She had a feeling she would never be able to sleep again.
Squall... Quistis thought, swallowing hard. Who did this to you, my love?
She silently vowed revenge.