A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay! I upload my stories on the Internet with my dads laptop (cause mines too old and doesn't have a modem! ^_^ ~shakes fist~ but that's ok! I was able to write the next chapter as an apology for the wait! Please read and review and I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far! Especially the ones who have been reviewing every chapter :')



'Zell?'

~Ugh, who's coming buy at...~

I look over to my night stand to see its quarter to nine. I run a hand down my face and smack my lips, trying to get the sleep away. I fail miserbaly and give in to tempation and close my eyes.

'Zell! We're going to be late! Open this door!'

My eyes suddenly shoot open again. Shit! I have that god damn meeting this morning in Squalls office! I jump out of bed, clad only in boxers and open my door. I come face to face with a very disgruntled looking Quistis. I suddenly remember what happened yesterday and smile...and then I remember im only in my boxers!

'Quistis! Ah, give me a second will ya?' I ask, closing the door and grabbing my house coat thats hanging on the hook behind the door. I re-open the door to find Quistis standing there with folded arms and a impatient twinkle in her eyes, 'Sorry about that babe, I was just so tired from yesterday that I~'

'Ok, you can explain later just get dressed!' Quistis said sternly and then smiled and put a hand to my cheek, 'I'll wait out here.'

'Are you sure? You can come in and grab something to eat if your hungry. I think I have some pop tarts in one of those drawers,' I said, leading her into my messy dorm room. I turned around to see her grinning at the Combat Kings all over the floor among other combat related items.

'Heh, sorry. I'm not the tidiest person,' I said, scratching the back of my head. Quistis looks up and a smile cracks her face as her eyes move up to my hair.

'Nice hair jungle boy,' She teased and gave me a kiss, 'Now, go get ready, you have ten minutes.'

'Yes, ma'am!' I teased and skipped away just as she reached out to slap my butt. I closed the bathroom door (still a little surprised Quisty tried to slap my butt!) and opened the mini mirror box and pulled out my hair jell. I would have usually taken a shower but I didnt have any time and I didnt want to make Quistis wait. I squeezed the hair jell into my hand and grabbed the tuff of hair at the top of my head and started pulling it upwards. Once I had succeeded in making one giant spike I broke it off into three seperate spikes. Pleased with my hair styling abilities, I turned around and poked my head out the door.

'Hey Quisty? Hanging on the back of my chair are my jeans and inside the very last drawer should be a shirt. Can you grab them for me?' I asked, watching Quistis as she nodded and walked over to grab my garments. I smiled my thanks as she tossed them to me then closed the door and proceeded to get dressed. I shrugged off my housecoat and pulled on my shirt the lifted my left leg to put it through a pant leg, repeating the same process wiht my right leg.

'Damn freakin jeans! Freakin button not doing up!' I cursed at my jeans, I guess I ate too many hotdogs last night. I spun around when I heard a gentle knock at the door.

'Is everything ok, Zell?'

'Yeah, I'm fine Quisty. I'll be right out!' I called back.

'Ok, just hurry up, its five to nine now!'

I nodded to myself and finally managed to button up my jeans. I threw on my t-shirt and opened the bathroom door, grabbing my keys on my nightstand then follwing Quistis out the door. After locking it, I turned to her and took her hand in mine.

'Sorry about all that, ' I apologized. Quistis waved her hand at some invisible fly and smiled.

'Dont worry about it, happens to the best of us,' She said. I smiled and gave her a kiss .

***********************

'We still owe some of the workers at Fishermens Horrizon.'

'How much?'

'Over a thousand Gil.'

'Are they willing to wait a couple weeks?'

'I dont know, I'll ask them later.'

I sit patiently and listen to Squall and Quistis speak. God, I'm so damn bored! Sure, I loved helping and everything but it had been AGES since we last had a party. I knew Selphie was chomping at the bit to get one going soon but Squall kept on saying now wasnt a good time. I didnt understand that though, I think we all needed to let loose after all this work. I think Selphie saw it the same way I did. I also think some of the others wanted to as well but just didnt say it. Either way, I think I'll have a chat with Selphie some time about it.

'Zell, are you paying attention?'

'Yeah, sorry, Squall. I drifted off for a second there,' I said. It wasnt the first time in my life that I was asked if I was paying attention. Hell it seemed all my life I had been asked if I was paying attention, almost as if people thought I didnt listen nor care. Oh why the hell am I thinking about this now? Your thinking too much Zelly.

'Zell, you ok?'

I smiled at Quistis and squeezed her hand gently.

'Yeah, I'm fine baby, just this money talk is frying up my brain,' I joke. Nobody laughs as usual, but at least Quistis flashes me a smile. Hyne, she was gorgeous when she smiled. Not only that but she always laughed or smiled at my jokes when no one else did... I cant believe I have her, hell I cant belive I never realized i had these feelings for her.

'Hey Squall, if we're done here im going to split with Selphie here. I promised I'd take her to Timber for some shopping,' Irvine said, slowly standing, 'If you'll all excuse us.'

'Sure thing, Irvine. I'm done anyways,' Squall said, sitting back down at his large desk while Rinoa went and stood behind him, giving him a shoulder massage.

'Mighty kind of you squall,' Irvine said, tilting his hat,' See ya'll later. Come on, Selph.'

Selphie jumped up and hooked her arm around Irvines and giggled.

'Toodles guys!'

'Laterz,' I said, waving lazily in they're direction. Quistis nodded and gave Selphies arm a squeeze.

'Be careful you two,' she said. Selphie nodded, as did Irvine and then they left. Quistis sighed and flopped down into the chair beside me. I outstretched my arm and wrapped it around her shoulders.

'So, what are you two lovebirds going to do today?' Rinoa asked as Squall pulled her intro his lap. I shurgged and looked at Quistis who looked a little sad.

'Well, I cant really do anything, I have lots of tests to mark from my classes and I promised my students I'd have them marked by tomorrow,' She sighed, standing up and stretching her arms out. She then turned to me and placed a kiss on my cheek.

'I'll see you later ok, Zell?'

'Yeah, sure thing babe. Maybe I'll stop by and bring you some lunch,' I sighed and stood up as well, 'I'll go into the training center and see if any of my students are there and give them a pop quiz.'

Quistis chuckled and nodded in Rinoa's and Squall's direction, flashing them a smile.

'I'll see you all later then,' She said and then walked out of the room. I watched her leave and still stared at the door even after she had left. I heard a chuckle behind me and turned to see both Rinoa and Squall biting back a snicker.

'Oh shut up you two, you're no better,' I argued amiably. They both flashed me a smile and I took that as my que to leave, 'I'll see you two later.'

The office door shut behind me just in time to hear Rinoas squeal. I closed my eyes and smiled to myself. Maybe I'd go pay Quistis a visit now. Sure, my written grammar was crap but maybe I could help her in some way. I stepped into the elevator and pressed 1F deciding to grab us some lunch first then take it up to her.

A cheerful 'Ping' informed me I had arrived on the first floor and I jogged out of the elevator and bonced down the stairs. I almost collided into a SeeD candidate I recognized as one of my students.

'Shinji, we have a physical exam in two days, you should be at the training center training,' I said, straightening my posture. I knew this kid was only a couple years younger than me, but as an instructor and memeber of SeeD, I was superior to him. Of course, I barely ever told my students to treat me that way, half the time I just wanted them to treat me as one of they're friends. It made combat training more fun and also I had better relationships with my students because of it.

'S-sorry sir, its just my legs b-been acting up,' Shinji stammered, averting his eyes.

'Well, go to Doctor Kowadaki,' I said, slapping him on the shoulder, 'She'll make it better in no time.'

'Thats just what i was off to do, sir.'

I smiled and took my hand off his shoulder.

'Good, I'm glad to hear that. You take care, alright? I expect you to be in top shape for the exam,' I said then saluted and the two of us parted ways. I started to head towards the cafeteria when I heard my name called behind me, the voice very familiar.

'Hey Zell!'

'Hi Molly,' I said, looking around nervously. Molly giggled and flicked her hair.

'What you looking so nervous about, huh?' She asked, leaning towards me the way Rinoa sometimes would whenever she asked someone a question.

'It's nothing Molly, I'm jut on my way to the cafeteria for some lunch,' I said, nodding at her. I started to walk away but she caught my arm.

'Say, I'm headed that way myself, why dont we go together?' She asked. I didnt see the harm in that although people would still think the two of us were together. I scratched the back of my head. It didnt really matter if we walked together to the Caf, it doesnt mean that we're some madly in love couple now would it? Nah, I'll just walk with her, get me and Quisty's food and then I'll leave.

'Yeah, why not,' I said and started walking, while she skipped along by myside. Once we got to the Caf she and I got in line. The queue was pretty long and I decided it would be nice if I allowed Molly in front of me. After she had finished ordering her slice of pizza and drink it was finally my turn.

'Sorry Zell, no hotdogs,' Rita told me. My shoulders drooped a bit but then I smiled.

'That's ok Rita, I'm here to also get Quistis some lunch. I'll just get a grilled cheese and then uh...,' I scratched the back of my head and blushed slightly, 'Do you know what Quistis would like?' I asked. Rita laughed kindly and grabbed my grilled cheese and then handed me a cesar salad with a cheese croisont.

'Quistis likes the cheese croisonts but she doesnt get them that often, they can be as popular as the hotdogs. So tell her its from me, ok?' Rita asked, giving me a wink. I smiled and payed Rita the money I owed and then grabbed one of the little take out boxes the Caf ladies had and put my food into it.

'Zell, over here!'

I turned towards Molly's voice and saw her sitting at one of the tables...with Nida. I grabbed my take out box and walked up to Molly's and Nida's table and pulled a chair up.

'I see you two are together,' I said, smiling at the couple. I couldnt help but be amazed that a girl like Molly, who had supposedly been madly in love with me, was now with another guy after only twenty four hours. I scoffed to myself and shrugged the subject away.

Nida blushed darkly and Molly smiled.

'Yeah, Nida's a great guy,' Molly said and planted a kiss on Nida's cheek. It felt kinda weird to sit there and see that when it had been done to me so often. I shook the thought out of my head and stood up, tucking my chair back in.

'Sorry guys, but I cant chat any longer,' I said then lifted my small box of food, 'I gotta go get this to Quistis.'

Nidas eyes widened.

'Your with Instructor Trepe now?!'

I was a little surprised by his question and stepped back a bit, raising an eyebrow.

'Yeah, didnt Molly tell you?' I asked, looking in Molly's direction. She hid her eyes from me and I felt a pang of anger. Poor Nida, I wonder what lie she told him.

'Molly just said you had gotten bored with her,' Nida said gingerly.

~Figures... ~

'Tch, no, that wasnt the case. Since Molly hasnt told you the truth,' I flashed an angry glare in Molly's direction, 'The real truth was that Molly and I BOTH agreed it would be best if we broke up because we were feeling the relationship was starting to crumble.'

'Oh,' Nida said, nodding his head as he played with his maccaronie and cheese.

'Yeah, i'll see you guys later,' I said, walking away, my angry footsteps echoing through the entire cafeteria. I couldnt belive molly! What was her problem? Was she hiding from the truth or something? I'll think about it later, right now all that matters is getting this salad to Quistis before the heat from my grilled cheese makes it soggy.