Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or actions pertaining to Final Fantasy VIII. I just own the plot. Hope you like it, enjoyPlease review and tell me what ya think
Ch. 6: Broken Dreams
After walking Zell to his door, Selphie didn't know if she should leave Zell alone or not. She knows Zell is an extremely emotional guy, and very reckless at times, who knows what he will do at a time like this.
"Well Zell….here we are. Do you want me to come in with you?" Selphie's words seemed to linger within the silence between them.
Finally Zell spoke.
"No Selph, I need to be alone for awhile." Zell's tone was very solemn.
'Alone, but Zell you are always alone….' Selphie's words echoed throughout her mind.
Will that said, Zell turned around and began unlocking his door. All of a sudden he felt something warm and comforting wrap around his body.
Selphie has embraced Zell with a loving hug from behind. Zell completely caught off guard, didn't know what to do, he didn't even know this feeling. The feeling of someone else besides his dear Ma actually caring for him, someone else who actually…..loved him.
Selphie could feel a single drop of warm liquid dance upon the skin of her arm before Zell broke her grasp and disappeared into his room.
"Zell….." Selphie couldn't tell if she called out his name or not. The word seemed to form in her mouth, but she didn't know if sound came out or if she just mouthed his name.
Zell collapsed to his knees in front of the closed door and stared into the abyss. How long he was there he didn't know.
"Why." Zell asked to the listening walls in his room.
A question, which was racing through his mind when Quistis first began yelling at him.
"Why do I care this much? It's not like I'm…..in….." Zell's thoughts trailed off as a serious of furious knocks crashed into his door.
Zell shook his head and got up and opened the door.
As the wooden barrier opened, she was staring into puffy, bloodshot eyes. Selphie couldn't help but pull Zell into her loving embrace and hold them there, never wanting to let go.
This wasn't a sign that Selphie was madly in love with Zell, yes she loved him almost as much as Irvine, but she wasn't in love with him, and Zell knew this, he could tell from the tenderness of her hold on him.
She was there for him in his time on need. She loved the feeling of being there for her friend, it was as though she was the only one who could help him and brighten up his world. She was his shining star.
Although it seemed like less than a second, Selphie released her hug on Zell, because she knew she had been holding him for almost three minutes now. She stared into his deep sapphire pools and almost burst into tears right there.
"Zell.." Selphie started, but realized her tone wasn't cheerful enough, so she tried harder.
"Zell I got great news!" Selphie exclaimed jumping up and down.
Zell didn't even respond, he didn't show any emotion, he just stood there.
"Zell will you go with me to the Garden Festival?" Selphie asked will more enthusiasm than you could shake a stick at.
Zell's eyes widen at the sound of Garden Festival. Because of those two words, Quistis hated Zell even more than before. But could Zell really say no to the only true friend he has, and one that recently has been helping him out so much?
Just as Zell was about to speak he was struck with an epiphany as a small scowl slithered its way into the corner of his lips.
"Oh….you mean with you and Irvine?" Zell asked dejectedly.
"No silly. Did I say his name, I don't think so. He just got a call to go on a mission with Squall and Rinoa to Deiling City. They have to meet up with Rinoa's father, so he can brief them on their mission."
"What's the mission?" Zell asked rather curious, and also wondering why Squall didn't ask him to go, instead of Irvine.
'Oh yeah, because Squall really doesn't like me either.' Zell thought.
"There has been some recent increased monster activity in Deiling, they have to go there, check it out, and eliminate all potential threat."
"Oh." Zell said plainly, though sounding hurt.
"Well Zelly, I know I can be really annoying, and I know I'm not the best lookin' gal in Balamb, but do you think you could find it in your heart to take lil' old me to the Garden Festival?"
Zell stood there not knowing what to say.
"Pretty please Zelly, without you, I won't have anyone to go with." Selphie looked at Zell and stuck out her bottom lip while giving him "puppy dog" eyes.
Zell couldn't help but smile. "Of course Sefie, it'd by my pleasure to take the most beautiful girl in Balamb to the Garden Festival." Zell stated proudly.
Selphie didn't hesitate; she pounced on him and gave him and crushing bear hug. Zell tried to struggle but he didn't realize how strong this little petit girl could be.
"Se…Selphie…I can't…..Breathe…." Zell stuttered out between gasps for breath.
Selphie quickly let go and smiled a wide grin.
"Sorry Zelly, I don't know my own strength sometimes." She giggled. "So Zell, you better dress nice and meet me at my room around six. That should give you enough time to clean yourself up and look handsome for me."
"But Sel, what should I wear?" Zell yelled, but Selphie was already out of his sight and down the hall.
Zell lets out a huge sigh. He turns to look at the clock and realizes he doesn't have one….anymore.
"Damn."
Zell's stomach let out a horrific growl that could scare a Behemoth away. Zell rubs his stomach.
"Well looks like it's time to eat."
Forgetting about his troubles for the moment Zell heads down the hallway ready to eat. Upon entering the cafeteria, Zell could smell the sweet aroma of hotdogs. His mouth began to water.
After a few minutes, Zell was finally at the head of the line.
"Ten….no fifteen hotdogs please." Zell asked politely with his trademark grin.
"Oh sorry dear, we're all out." The sweet lunch lady replied.
Zell's stomach dropped, and tears actually began to water up his eyes.
"No…no hotdogs! Huuuhhhh…..fine just give me four peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The lunch lady smiled and complied. After getting his sandwiches Zell started to walk towards his usual table, but visions of Quistis sitting across from him swam before his eyes making him stop dead in his tracks.
'Why does she hate me?' Zell questioned himself. But the thought made him loose his appetite.
Zell walked to a different table and though he wasn't hungry he forced down his sandwiches as fast as he could so he could get out of there. It seemed Quistis was at every table he looked at, and for a second he thought he was going crazy.
After scarfing down his food, he went back to his dorm. Zell looked around his room at all the piles of clothes and videogames strung everywhere.
"Should I clean it now or later?" Zell pondered this question for a moment.
"Later." With his mind decided he figured he would try and rest and hopefully forget about his troubles.
As he lay in bed tossing and turning, Zell stared at his ceiling, the cracks seem to be mocking him at his attempt to sleep. Finally after an hour of restlessness Zell was able to allow the dark serenity of sleep carry him away.
Zell's body became rigid as he was tossing and turning even more than before. Sweat began to congregate across his entire body.
A vision of Zell happily surrounded by all his friends outside of Garden, getting ready to finally watch one of "Zell's" sunrises, cascades through his mind. Abruptly just as the sun was about to awaken, the skies turn an ominous blood red.
Zell looks to his left and then his right, but nobodies there. He is alone, shrouded by an empty void of darkness. Zell begins to yell for his friends, but no answer. He starts running as fast as he can, but he isn't going anywhere, no matter how fast he runs, it's as though he is standing still.
Zell collapses to the ground, 'I'm all alone…. I'm always alone…..'
"Zell" a voice cackles through the darkness.
"Who's there?"
"How could you put everyone's life in danger like that? Your rash actions almost got everyone you care about killed!" This strange voice hissed.
Zell knew exactly what this voice was talking about.
"But it wasn't my fault." Zell pleaded with the intangible being.
"Oh please Zell. Excuses, excuses, excuses, when are you going to grow up and take responsibility for your won actions?"
Zell was speechless, he just stood there lost.
"I suppose your going to tell me Tribia wasn't your fault either? You know everyone still hates you for that, especially Selphie. Because you were too STUPID to think before you spoke, you killed every single one of her friends.
"What, no! That's not true; Edea was going to send the missiles anyways!" Zell pleaded, tears now stinging his eyes, fighting to break their barricades.
"Poor Zell, living in denial, do you think you could ever forgive someone for killing everyone you ever cared about? I mean come on; you haven't forgiven Seifer have you?"
Zell was speechless; those words have somehow stolen the breath from his lungs. He couldn't disagree with this voice, because the voice was right. He hasn't forgiven Seifer, and he never thought he would. Every time he sees Seifer at Garden his blood boils and he wants to kill Seifer right there.
"Everyone hates you Zell, they always have and always will. Don't worry though, you are meant to be…..alone." The strange voiced whispered in a way that made Zell pure white.
"I'm to be forever…..alone…." Zell echoed the words that lingered throughout the air.
"Let me end it for you Zell. After this all your pain will finally go away, and everyone will for the first time in your life be happy with you."
Just then a sharp pain explodes throughout his body. His eyes fall towards the ground but are impeded by a sight of a knife thrusted through his stomach. He can see his life slowly drain onto the unforgiving ground. Zell turned around to see cold blue eyes staring at him. Those eyes he has seen them before.
There less than a foot away from him, a silhouette of a slender figure with blazing blue eyes.
"Quistis!" Zell shoots up in his bed, sweat sheltered his entire body. His breathing was shallow and his heartbeat was racing.
Zell puts his hand on his face and shakes his head.
"What the hell was that? What could it possibly mean? I'm…..alone"
Zell swore he could still hear that maniacal laughter echoing throughout the hollow walls in his room.
"……Quistis…..?"
Author's Note: Oh Yeah! Well i just put the last chapter up at 11:30 pm. and I decided to through caution to the wind and because of Tamarani and azndreamer45's reviews I figured I would write another chapter. Well I hope you's still like my story and keep sending me reviews, it means a lot and thanks. Laterz...