a/n: There are a LOT of errors in this chapter, I've read it a a couple of hundred times trying to catch them all but I failed...so that's your warning! next chapter has smut (no seriously..I just need to translate it into English)! so stay tuned.
Also, I forgot I signed up for summer classes, so the next 3 chapter might be late....but not 2 months lates again...just like 2 weeks or so...yeah...R&R please!
Knock knock knock
Quistis now regretted giving him permission to come up to her room.
Knock knock knock KNOCK
She stood on the other side of the door looking at the door. Go away. I'm sorry I told you to come up…just go away...
The knocks became more constant and more annoying
"HEY! IF THERE IS NO ANWSER THEN NOBODY IS HOME!!"
Quistis could hear another guest yelling at constant banging that was coming from the other side of the door. She could help but let out a snort. "Q!! I heard that now let me in!!!" Quistis looked at the door again with relief and opened the door snatch Xu in and quickly closed the door. "A little high strung are we?" She said looking back at Quistis who was looking through the peep hole in the door. Still no answer from her, what was she doing? "Were you expecting someone?" Quistis finally turned to Xu direction and smiled. I guess he isn't coming up…
She didn't exactly want to tell Xu that she invited Seifer up because she knew she would get the scolding of a lifetime. "No, I was asleep though." She looked at Xu up and down look at her attire for the gala tonight. "Looking good Xu! Is that from the place we went to in Winhill?"
Xu nodded "Yeah, I though Riau down with me maybe 2 weeks after you and me went to, and as an anniversary gift, he bought it for me along with a few other things." Xu moved locks hair out of the way to show Quistis a pair star shaped emeralds earrings. "He also got me these…and as a surprise for him I got him this." Xu pulled out one of a kind watch. "He's been saving up for this and I thought tonight would be a perfect time to give it to him." Quistis took the watch in her hands.
"This is really gorgeous Xu! He's going to love it!" Quistis smiled while handing the watch back to Xu. "Are you heading down to the gala now? It doesn't start for another hour or so."
"No, actually I came down to see you. I wanted to make sure you weren't dead since you are being honored tonight!"
"Honored?" Quistis was confused.
Xu happily explained what she predicted what was going to happen tonight. "Yeah, Cid said I had to keep it secret, but I'm pretty sure you would've showed for an hour…"
"Only two hours" Quistis corrected her.
"…okay only 2 hours, but you are the Distinguished SeeD of the Year Quistis!" "You're the youngest SeeD to be at your level and this gala is basically for you!"
Quistis was stunned. She didn't know what to say. She never expected in a million years that she would get this honor…or at least not this early in her career as a SeeD. "I...I…never expected this…aren't I suppose to wear a special uniform for this honor?"
Xu nodded her head. "Yes, you are. But Cid made an exception…just for you."
Quistis crooked her head. "But why an exception for me? Is there another reason?"
Xu smiled. "When did you get so suspicious?" When Quistis gave her a look that made her gave up the charade. "Q, come on! Tomorrow are the Garden Games! You know we have a big party before and after the games. Although, why he is giving it to you before the tonight instead of at the end…is still a mystery. I guess it's because you're not actually participating in the games."
"Anyways, you should get ready. You don't want to be late for you own party!" Xu headed for the door then stopped. "You should wear something that was in one of those boxes. I'm assuming you still haven't opened the 'medium' box?" Quistis looked at the box, she completely forgot about it. She wasn't really interested in what were in the boxes instead of the larger one which was still laying on the bed.
Why did he get this for me? I mean yeah it's a nice gesture but still…he didn't need to…
Knock knock knock
Why can't people just leave me alone…? Quistis walked over to the door to open it expecting it was someone she didn't want to see and it turned out to be the one person she actually needed to see.
"You wanted my attention? I'm here, what do you want?"
"Why did you buy all these things?"
"Because you wanted them?"
"But WHY would you buy them…for someone you don't even know?
He shrugged.
"There has to be a reason…"
He mumbled something.
Quistis squinted her eyes at him while putting her hand to her ear. "I…I…I'm sorry I didn't hear you, what did you say?"
"Maybe I…" he mumbled the rest of the statement.
"Perhaps I should get a megaphone for you?"
The hell with this…Seifer wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She fought him off still mad about last night. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Quistis crossed her arms. "A little thing called your using me to cheat on someone else!"
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw you at the train station with a girl in blue"
"Wait I can explain" She closed the door on him sick of excuses one why he is doing this shit to himself. "She's only using me."
"Excuse me?"
"Well I'm using her too"
"That's what I thought…"
"DAMN IT! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
"You have 2 minutes to explain before I give Xu permission to chop off your dick and feed it you."
"She's using to me to get help from the Garden."
"………"
"And I was using her for sex."
"And now?"
"I broke up with her…she was getting on my nerves, and because I found someone better."
"Better in the sack?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Better in general." The look on her face matched his in surprise. "Trepe, I didn't know it was you online all this time, if I did, I would act more like an asshole, instead of this vulnerable sucker that's in front of you."
Quistis turned Seifer around and pushed him out the door. "You need to leave"
As she closed the door, he turned around and talked through the door. "Would it have helped if I admit everything I've ever said online was true?" he paused for a minute "Except maybe the single part"
"Possibly" She said through the door.
"Well it was and still is. Everything I've ever admitted. It was all true. And I win these games and pass the SeeD exams…I will make my romantic dream come true" Seifer starred at the door hoping that she would open it again but alas it was failure. Maybe I can try again tonight at the gala.
Romantic dream? Quistis finally did notice that she didn't open one of the three boxes; part of her didn't want to know what was in the box, then again she did because the contents could make or break the situation that she was currently in. She opened the closet where she moved the boxes so they're were out of sight to open the last box. Anxiety was getting to her. Very slowly, she removed the single ribbon to reveal a plush dog. But it wasn't any time of dog, it was her favorite breed: a trabian husky. She looked at while thinking I never told him about how I always wanted a dog….or about this breed being my favorite. She looked around it and found a tag on the ear that said 'squeeze me' "I miss you" she jumped off at the whiny nasally voice came out of the toy. She nearly laughed while accidently squeezing one of his paws "I'm sorry for whatever I did."
*THE GALA*
The night was young as the cadet from all three gardens arrived at the hotel. In the ballroom, final sound checks were going on one last time. Seifer arrived with Raijin and Fujin who were still in their regular attire. They never were the ones to dress up, and neither was Seifer, but he decided to show up in something completely different. He showed up in a white collar shirt with a red tie, with a vest that had a red rose boutonnière, but to keep his personality a bit, he kept his trench coat on.
Xu was waiting in the lobby outside of the hall waiting for Quistis to come. "Xu, come on, let's go."
"No, she isn't here yet. I want to make sure she comes."
"She will come…You know Quis…" Xu gave him an evil look knowing that whatever he said was a lie. Quistis was always on time or early "she's always early or she doesn't come at all?" Riau had a point, if she wasn't the first to show, she wouldn't show at all.
"I knew it! I knew that if Alma—"
"If Almasy what?" Xu turned to see the Headmaster looking straight at her.
"Ohh…well...you know Almasy, once he gets under your skin he stays there and grows into an uglier parasite."
"Now now Xu, You should know that he only does it for attention."
Xu mumbled something under her breath as she walked away from Cid and Riau. "Xu where are you going?" No answer came from her as she walked back upstairs leaving Cid and Riau confused and uncomfortable with each other. As Xu ran up the stairs to Quistis room she found it a lot harder to get there this time around. Why is there a crowd around her door? Xu was frantic, as everything was good cheers; there still was that emotion of desperation of wanting to know what was going on.
"Quistis! Can you tell us what it feels like to get this award at such a young age?"
"Instructor Trepe! How does it feel being the youngest instructor, SeeD and be awarded with this honor all at the same time?"
The questions went on and on has Quistis stepped out of her room being nearly blinded by the flashed of the paparazzi cameras.
"Alright folks, you'll have time to ask these questions at the end of the ceremonies when she's actually giving the awards." Xu fought through the crowd to Quistis to escort her down to the ballroom. "Are you alright?" Quistis nodded as she fought off the mob with Xu to the downstairs area where SeeD Security finally did their job and kept the million question crowd away from Quistis. "Q, I'm so sorry, I didn't know Cid asked any of the newspapers to come here tonight if I did—"
"I didn't ask them to come."
"No, they follow me everywhere I go. I'm sorry Ms. Trepe." The President's voice came Cid's direction, which caught everyone off guard. "No offense Laguna, but what are you doing here?" Quistis walked up to him as if she was protecting him from Xu's wrath.
"I'm here on a serious matter concerning two of your cadets."
"Almasy and Leonhart" said Quistis.
"What did Almasy do now?" Xu didn't mean to say it like she knew; it was more a force of habit.
Laguna leaned her head to the side while lifting his shoulder to meet it. "Technically nothing…not yet at least."
Cid went on. "What about Leonhart? He doesn't seem to care about anything but himself?"
"Again…technically he hasn't done anything either. This is just a precaution. I want them both arrested."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that Mr. President"
"Cid, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to arrest you wife too."
"That's uncanny! She hasn't done anything! You know her! She wouldn't hurt a fly!" One way to make Cid mad was to mention his wife being mean in anyway.
"This is just a precaution…hopefully we can divert the situation completely by putting them in our custody until this matter is settled" Laguna tried to reason with them as he was trying to convince them to turn over everyone that he wanted.
"I don't get it, if didn't do anything…'yet' then why are you arresting them now?" Xu asked
"Instructor Trepe." With a snap of his finger, the guard beside Laguna rushed to Seifer and put him cuffs. "Hey…what the…What's going on?"
"I'm sorry Seifer, this is just temporary." Laguna stepped in front of him looking at him in agony. "You're under arrest and under investigation."
"I haven't done anything let me the fuck go!" Even Xu felt bad for him. "Mr. Loire, don't you think that this is a little obscure to arrest for something he hasn't done yet? Better yet, something that might not even happen?" Xu stepped out of character for a moment knowing that the situation was killing Quistis. Laguna knew he wasn't going to get away with arresting him tonight because of the occasion and the reply that Xu just gave. "Alright, I won't arrest him…now but I do want to ask him a few questions.
"Right, but first shall we go into the ballroom and enjoy the night" Cid offered his arm to Quistis who happily accepted; Xu and Riau followed them in leaving Laguna, his guards and Seifer in lobby.
"Do you mind fucking telling me why I have cuffs around my wrist President Loire?"
"Hmm...? oh you are being arrested to prevent a war in the future."
"Are you telling me you're arresting me for something I haven't even done yet?" Laguna nodded his head. "Have you ever thought that the future might change?"
"Well yes, but—"
"But nothing! If I haven't done anything, then I can't be convicted of anything…right?"
"Well…no, but before I let you go, let me ask one thing." Seifer starred at Laguna waiting for the question. "Have you ever heard the name Ultimecia?
"No."
"Adel?"
"No."
"Ellone?"
"No…"
"Edea?"
"………."
"Well?"
"…No…"
"Let him go." Laguna called off his guards. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience Mr. Almasy…"
Instead of ripping a new one into Laguna, Cid's voice caught his attention coming from the VA system. "I would like to present to you The Distinguished SeeD of the Year award to Quistis Trepe! She has worked very hard for this award. Being only 15 years old at the time of being promoted to SeeD, she has not only been the youngest SeeD we've ever had, she has also been one of the few to go above and beyond all expectations to help make Balamb Garden a better mercenary school for all people around the world!" Seifer walked in just as Quistis walked on stage to accept her award.
"Thank you Cid." Cid stepped aside