A/N: Thanks to Linnafan, forever-a-mystery, and Shizaeineko for reviewing. This chapter should be longer than the last one, and maybe a little bit humorous.


How to Drown Your Sorrow Out in Beer


"Give me another one," Quistis demanded of the bartender. It was her fifth beer. When the bartender gave her weird look she said "I'm trying to forget something." Zell was staring at her as if she had three heads. She was drinking beer, which is something she rarely did. And he knew why she would be doing the rare occasion of drinking beer. She either quit her job or broke up with Rinoa. Considering that she complained about her job on the way to the bar, he guessed it was the Latter.

"Quistis," he said softly, putting his arm around her. "What happened?"

"What happened?" she asked as if he had asked her what panties she was wearing. "I'll tell you wut happened! Rinoa gat pissed and dumped me!" she started to cry another thing she rarely did. It was actually a shock to see her cry. Zell almost jumped right out of his seat. She was supposed to be the strong one; she was supposed to be the one who would eventually come out at the top in the end. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. The world was topsy turvy.

"Why?" he asked gently, careful not to upset her further. If Quistis was suddenly becoming a delicate flower, he didn't want to upset her. "What happened between the two of you?"

Quistis put down her beer and looked at him. Staring into his aqua eyes she began to tell him her story. "I wuz in the office doing papers," she slurred. "And then cums Rinoa! I wuz happy to see her because I wuz worried a…bout her all night long. I could 't even sleep! Then she asks me all dis questions about are relationship. Wut are we doin'? Are we serious?! I didn't know what to do."

Zell sat there and listened to her story. It was awful hard to make out because of her drunken state. This was why he wished she was sober. She was so much more coherent when she was sober. She didn't throw things when she was sober, and she certainly didn't drool when she was sober. At least, that from what Zell had mostly seen of her.

"So, what did you do?" he asked, hoping to find out more about the situation. Quistis and Rinoa's relationship was always a little crazy, but breaking up so soon seemed a little rash on Rinoa's part.

"I said I didn't know," she answered, getting tired. The urge to sleep was growing on her mind. She didn't want to answer boring questions about her past relationship with Rinoa. That's why she drank. It was the easiest way to drown out her sorrows. And she was being interrogated like a common criminal. She couldn't stand it anymore!

"That's a healthy decision. Good job Quistis," he patted her on the back. "Besides who's she to pop a question like that on you? It's waay too early in the game! She sounds like a freak to me."

Even though he only said that to make her feel better, he still felt bad for saying it. Rinoa truly was a good person and he really couldn't fathom that this was the end. It was really the end of a good thing.

Quistis's head banged into the bar counter. It made such a loud sound everyone around looked at her when she did. Zell tried to get their attention away from her. He shrugged. "Hey, haven't you seen a drunk before?"

He felt bad for his friend...she always suffered in life. She had a rough start with her job that caused her to live in an awful apartment. She always dated the worst people, save Rinoa. And now the only good person she'd dated, had dumped her because she was thought to have commitment problems.

Zell tried to wake Quistis up. "Quistis, come on you need to listen to me on something."

Quistis's eyes sleepily opened. Her eyes were barely on Zell. "What?"

"What about that crazy dude?"

"C-Crazy dude?"

Her thoughts weren't on much at the moment, but the words 'crazy dude' did seem to spark something in her memory.

"You know? That guy who's supposed to be after Rinoa?"

"I don't really remember Zell."

She searched through her memory for something akin to a person who was mad. And finally she found someone with that simarity. Squall: Rinoa's future ex-husband. They were separated, but they wanted a divorce. He threatened her once during work and told her not to come near Rinoa again.

Zell sighed and shook his head. "You remember. Her husband or ex-husband once you verify the paperwork?"

"Oh…him," she groaned. "I remember now."

"Rinoa might be in danger!"

"So wut?"

The very thought of saving Rinoa wasn't on her plate right now and in the future, she didn't want it to be. She was angry at Rinoa. She actually despised Rinoa for dumping her. All she needed was time and she got dumped for that?!

"So what? She was your girlfriend! And now you don't want anything to do with her?"

"She dumped me."

Zell tried to lift her up and get her out of the bar. "I don't care if she dumped you. You owe it to her to protect her from this guy, whoever he is. Come on, this could be the case you were waiting for!"

Those words swayed Quistis. All her life she had been looking for a case that would be of interest to her. And now, she had finally found it. She was really excited now.

Quistis tried to stand up but it was hard. She swayed on her legs and almost fell to the ground on her first try. She blinked her eyes as Zell's words filtered into her brain.

She shook her head trying to clear it of alcohol. "You're right Zell, let's fiqure dis thing out."

Zell helped her walk out of the bar. As they were leaving, those same blue eyes continued to watch them. And as they left the bar the man with the blue eyes got up from his barstool and began to follow them.

"Quistis," Zell began as they were 'walking' down the sidewalk. "the best thing for you to do now is rest your head because right now you're of no use to anyone like this."

"What do you mean," she moaned.

"If you talk 'like dis' people aren't going to take you seriously. Trust me on this one; sleep it over."

"When you're right you're-

Suddenly Quistis felt extremely nauseous and had to bend over for a minute. Soon that horrible squelching sound of vomit was heard throughout the alley. Zell gagged.

"See? This is why we shouldn't drink so much," he scolded her. "Unless…you like throwing up your dinner?"

"No…I don't. Get me home Zell."


Quistis woke up in a strange bed. She felt around to see where she was and when she looked around the room she almost shrieked. She was in Zell's apartment! She knew it by the kung fu posters and the awful decoration. She really hoped this wasn't what she thought it was. Even though she was wearing the same clothes from the night before she still was worried.

"Did I sleep with Zell?" she said to herself?"

No, that's ridiculous I couldn't have! He's my best friend. But then again…I was pretty drunk, she thought.

"Zell," she called, hoping it wasn't what she thought it was.

Zell came into the room fully dressed in a kimono.

Typical Zell, wearing a Kimono.

"What?" he asked, with concern. "Is there a problem Quistis?"

She motioned for him to come closer, so that she could whisper in his ear. "Did we have sex?" she asked hesitantly.

She was really hoping for a "no" because she knew that if it was true then her relationship with Zell would be ruined. She would feel awkward around him and wonder if there could be something more.

Zell laughed, realizing the ridiculousness of the conversation. "What? Hell no! Quistis, I brought you here so we could talk about Rinoa."

"Rinoa?" Quistis asked, surprised. "I told you, I don't want to talk about her."

"Oh but you do," he answered with a wink. "AND, I have some information that might interest you."

Quistis pulled the covers over herself even though she was still clothed. "What's the great news Zell?"

"On the way home I got the distinct feeling that someone was following us."

Quistis forgot about the blanket and shot out of the bed. She couldn't believe her ears.

Someone was following them and Zell had waited until now to tell her. They could have been killed. She could have been gangraped! Didn't he care?

What about Rinoa? What if that man wasn't after them but was after Rinoa's hiding place. The whole thing was bad. Quistis could feel it in her bones. Rinoa was in danger.

"Someone followed us!" she shrieked. "Zell, why did you wait until now to tell me?"

Zell scratched his head. "I dunno, I sort of just realized it until now."

"How could you just realize it?" she yelled, her face turning bright red. "I was the drunk one, you were supposed to look after me!"

"Sorry," he said. "But the person sorta stopped when we got to my house."

Quistis's blood froze. The last thing she need to hear was that there could possibly be a crazy person on the loose. And the very last thing she needed to hear was that he or she may have been breathing down her neck the entire night! That was what creeped her out the most.

"What do you think happened to the person?"

"God knows. Maybe he climbed up a tree and decided he was going to do a little peep show before he murdered your girlfriend?"

Quistis groaned. She was tired of Zell's jokes. And this one wasn't the least bit funny. "Zell, cut it out."

"So you do still care about Rinoa?"

"Perhaps, but it's a very complicated situation. I needed time to think and she wouldn't give it to me."

"Well, maybe you should have given her an answer?" he scoffed.

"I would have, if I knew what the answer was," she answered.

"Well, what answer do you have right now?"

"Oh, I care for her deeply, very deeply," she answered poetically. "But I don't know if that qualifies as love. Ever since Frankie left me I've been re-analyzing what I think love is."

"Screw Frankie," Zell hollered. "He was an ass. He treated you like shit. Rinoa treats you like a Queen, a fucking queen. Tell her how you feel, protect her, and stay with her."

Quistis shook her head. "I'm sorry Zell but things aren't that simple."

She grabbed her jacket, her pocket bag, and left the room.