A World Apart

Chapter 14

Mall Madness

Seifer was quiet as Squall drove to the mall. He turned and looked out of the passenger window, watching the scenery fly by, but not really seeing any of it. His thoughts were a muddled mix of things he wanted to say, but didn't dare; it was too foreign and new to him to put his feelings into words. Having Squall near him helped to quell his feelings of dread and fear, but, deep down inside, he could still feel them lurking around, biding their time until - suddenly - they would rise, unbidden and unwelcome, to drive straight into his heart.

When he was safe in Squall's home, he didn't have to think about what he'd left behind, and it was easy to pretend that things were okay. But, out in the open like this, away from the protective walls of what he'd come to think of as his hiding place, the fear of being discovered and taken away was overwhelming, and, as much as he didn't want to think about it, he did anyway.

Seifer's silence didn't bother Squall, exactly, but he could tell that the other was thinking about something deeply troubling. He didn't want to intrude into those thoughts, knowing how irritating that was; when he himself was lost in introspection, the last thing he wanted was someone trying to drag him out of it. And so, the silence prevailed, each lost deep in their thoughts.

Squall slowed the car as the mall came into view. Turning into the lot, he parked in the first available space and removed the key, then sat, waiting for Seifer to come back to himself. Glancing over, he allowed his gaze to trace Seifer's profile: the blonde, somewhat spiky, hair, with a few errant strands that, no matter what Seifer did, always brushed his forehead; the almost-too-heavy brow that hooded green eyes gracefully adorned with nearly invisible blond eyelashes; and the strong straight nose that tapered down to the graceful curve of the lips that had so confidently kissed him. Slowly, almost unconsciously, Squall's hand reached out to lightly brush along Seifer's jaw line, tracing his fingers over the fine blonde stubble that announced Seifer would have to shave soon.

Seifer turned at the light touch, allowing Squall's fingers to brush over his chin and then trace his lips. He reached up and gathered Squall's hand in his, pressing his lips to his fingertips before smiling slightly. "Sorry, I guess I wandered off," he said, sighing. Then, gently squeezing Squall's hand, he turned to open the door, but was stopped and turned by Squall grasping his shoulder.

Something not quite definable swirled in those stormy gray eyes. One emotion seemed to crash into another, only to be quickly replaced with something else. Seifer cocked his head to the side and lifted an eyebrow in a silent inquiry.

Squall didn't answer with words. Instead, he slowly leaned forward and brushed Seifer's lips with his own, causing pleasant shockwaves to course through his body. Feeling Seifer tremble slightly, he knew that he'd not been alone in that. He pulled back to observe Seifer's face once more and smiled at what he saw there: a slightly goofy expression, along with a blush that seemed to disappear somewhere in his hair.

"Wow," Seifer said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Squall's actions.

Squall's smile broadened at Seifer's simple exclamation and he got out of the car, again waiting for Seifer to recover enough from his thoughts to join him.

Squall's kiss had sent chills racing through Seifer. Chills that had soon warmed into heated passion that centered directly where Seifer didn't want a reaction. Inwardly he groaned as he pressed his hand against his growing member, trying to silently will it to behave. He took several slow deep breaths and thought about the one thing that always worked to quell such feelings of passion - Rinoa.

The thought of how he'd taken her to that park, lain her down on that blanket, touching and caressing her. Hearing her moans of passion, her shy whisper as she told him she had never been this far with a boy and that she wanted him to be the first. How he'd driven her car up the coast with her hand in his lap, gently teasing him so that it was hard to concentrate, and then spread the blanket on the beach as the sun set. How he'd confided in her that she would be his first and that he was a little afraid of hurting her. Of hearing her soft chuckle and gentle reassurance that he wouldn't, and then her laying him back against the blanket and how she had ever so slowly removed both his and her clothing so that it lay in a jumbled heap in the sand. Of how he had let her take charge, thinking that it would be better for her if she were in control. How he had poured every ounce of his passion into loving her as repeatedly she rode on top of him, taking him to the heights of pleasure that he had never known and thought he would never want again.

And then a few weeks later came the change. It was subtle, at first, an argument here, and an accusation there. Then her outright contempt as she told him the only reason she had been with him in the first place was in the hopes that he would get her pregnant, but that he couldn't even do that right. She had planned to use him against her father.

He remembered everything. How he'd wanted to die at that moment, how used he had felt, and how coldly she announced that if everything had gone as planned, his baby would have been murdered before it could have ever been born. Just so that she could have what she wanted - to go to school in Europe.

A moment later, he sighed as, once again, the mental images did their trick. It wasn't hard to do, the very thought of Rinoa and what they'd done together during that summer not so very long ago, was enough to make him want to be sick.

He scowled and turned to open the door - only to discover Squall's face just inches from his own. The scowl melted away and his shoulders visibly relaxed. The look of concern on Squall's features made him realize that he must have been sitting in the car for quite some time.

"You okay?" Squall asked, hoping deep down that it wasn't because of him that Seifer looked so angry.

Seifer smiled slowly and put his hand on Squall's shoulder. "Hey, I'm alright. I was just thinking about something I shouldn't have been." He paused for a moment, and then, hoping that it would seem as if his parents were the cause of his concern said, "Do you think it's okay for us to be seen out like this? I mean, my parents aren't the best in the world, but they might be looking for me..."

Squall looked into Seifer's eyes for a long time before answering. "Seifer, you're young, strong and fast, I don't think you are going to have any trouble outrunning a psycho like your Dad."

Seifer chuckled and tousled Squall's still messy hair. "Okay, maybe I wouldn't have any trouble, but what about you? I suppose I could just toss you over my shoulder and run like hell." The thought of Squall bouncing around on his shoulder broadened his smile, and the odd look Squall was giving him made him laugh aloud. "What? You don't want to be treated like a sack of potatoes? Or is it that you think I can't do it?"

Squall head jerked up in surprise at the playful tone in Seifer's voice, and he peered into the other boy's face.

'He wouldn't do it, would he? Just to prove that he could? Uh-oh, I don't like the way that he's looking at me.' Squall thought, as his eyes widened and he quickly started to move away.

"No you don't!" Seifer said, exiting the car and reaching out for Squall as he tried to retreat. Grabbing him about the waist, he slung him over his shoulder and bounced him a few times, just to show that he was indeed capable of such a feat.

"No, Seifer! NO! Put me down!" Squall yelled whilst trying to catch his breath from laughing so hard.

Seifer finally complied with Squall's request, sliding the other down his body, inadvertently causing Squall's shirt to ride up over his stomach. Seifer couldn't resist touching the newly bared flesh. His hands were already resting on Squall's back, so it was a simple matter to slowly slide them around his sides to hold Squall's waist. He closed his eyes as he felt the other's breathing speed up a little.

Realizing that he was putting himself back into the situation that he had caused the thoughts of Rinoa, Seifer made himself pull his hands away. Taking a shaky breath, he stepped back from Squall and allowed him to straighten his shirt.

Squall looked up at Seifer, and smiled as it dawned on him that, for a moment, he'd been carefree. It was an incredible feeling. 'So this must be what it feels like to be Zell', he thought, as they both turned toward the entrance of the mall…

What they encountered stopped them both cold. Seifer sucked in his breath, and instinct made him clench his fists. Squall, feeling the hostility radiating from Seifer, looked up questioningly at his companion, then back at the girls standing between them and the entrance.

Rinoa's mouth hung open as she stared at them, her brain trying to conceive what her eyes were insisting they had seen. Instinct told her that she wasn't wrong, but rationality argued that what she'd seen couldn't possibly be what was happening. Seifer wasn't gay; he couldn't be, so why in the world had he just been embracing another guy?

For several tense seconds nobody moved, but Rinoa wasn't one to stay still for long. Not only was Seifer acting gay, but he was doing so with the boy that she intended to be her date for the junior prom. Nothing was going to stand in the way of what she wanted. She set her head to the side in what she thought her most disarming pose, and walked towards the boys.

Seifer steeled himself for the coming onslaught; having to deal with Rinoa with his memories of their relationship so fresh in his mind, was the last thing he thought he would have to do. He watched as she moved toward them, and all he could think of was how much he hated her. Seeing her fix her greedy gaze on Squall, Seifer vowed that there was no way in hell that he'd let her get her claws into him, too. He set his features into a scowl, narrowing his eyes as she neared. "What the hell do you want, Rinoa?" Seifer sneered.

"Why, Seifer, don't hate me because we broke up," she said, smiling sweetly up at him for a moment before setting her eyes back on Squall. "I just wanted to talk to your friend here, that's all."

Squall's eyes widened as she looked at him. What did she want? He couldn't remember ever having met her previously, so having this girl want to talk to him was unnerving to say the least.

"I just wanted to ask you if you'd like to go out with me tonight," she asked Squall, putting on her sweetest smile.

Squall just stared at the girl before him.

Seifer's fists clenched tighter at Rinoa's audacity. How dare she ask Squall to go out with her? The idea was just ludicrous! "He's busy!" Seifer said, as he grabbed Squall's arm and moved him around the group of girls.

Rinoa turned to watch them leave, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed together. How dare Seifer take him away! The girls were all looking at her, expecting her to say something, and Rinoa, not being one to disappoint, opened her mouth and shouted loud across the parking lot, her words echoing off the close walls. "SEIFER, YOU GODDAMNED FAGGOT!"

Seifer stopped dead in his tracks, debating whether or not he should walk back and stuff her into the nearest trashcan.

Squall shook his head and tugged on Seifer's sleeve. "Ignore her," he said simply, and together they entered the mall's double doors.

Once inside, the both entered the nearest department store just in case Rinoa and her crew had decided to follow them. When it was obvious that the girls had left, Seifer began to relax a bit. He smiled down at Squall and reached out to squeeze his hand. Squall smiled back and accepted Seifer's offered hand.

The next four hours were spent with Seifer trying on various outfits. Some of them made Squall laugh outright, while others drew approving nods from him. Despite his initial misgivings about the trip, Seifer had a pretty good time, and when Squall decided to try on a few outfits, it was Seifer's turn to look in appreciation at Squall's taste in clothes. He'd never been one to care about what it was he was wearing, but being with Squall, he suddenly decided that perhaps caring about his appearance wasn't such a bad thing.

Squall paid for their purchases with the credit card, and Seifer whistled at the price tag that had come with such fun. He hoped that Laguna wouldn't get mad at how much they had spent. Squall looked up at Seifer after signing his name. "Don't worry so much, Dad already said he didn't care how much I spent. So stop looking like we're about to face the firing squad."

Seifer smirked. "Alright, in that case, why don't we add lunch to the bill?"

Squall nodded, and together they picked up the bags and made their way to the food court. "Do you know what you want?" Squall asked.

"Nothing fancy. Just food." Seifer answered, taking a look around at the tiny restaurants the mall offered.

"Pizza?" Squall offered, hoping like hell that Seifer didn't agree. The thought of all that slimy cheese and tomato sauce made him want to be ill. The only reason he suggested it in the first place was that teenagers tended to consider pizza as its own food group.

Seifer looked down at the slightly disgusted look on Squall's face and chuckled. He wasn't too fond of pizza either, and from the look on Squall's face, it wasn't the other's favorite food. "Yuck!" he exclaimed, making a face, and then smiling out right at the relieved look Squall gave him. "How about Chinese?" he offered. He'd never eaten it, but was always open to new things.

Squall nodded and gave Seifer his bags. While Seifer found a place for them to sit, he ordered them Sweet and Sour Chicken, hoping that Seifer would approve of his choice.

He made his way over to the table that Seifer had chosen for them, and sat the gigantic plates of food down.

Seifer stared at the mountain of chicken and the red sauce that accompanied it in wonder. 'Good grief,' he thought, 'did they think they were serving starving people?'

Squall unwrapped his chopsticks and began dipping his chicken into the sauce. Seifer watched him closely, not wanting to make a fool out of himself, but not prepared to admit that he had never used chopsticks before.

Squall noticed Seifer watching him and surmised the reason for the other's hesitance. Not wanting to embarrass him, Squall switched tactics: instead of using the chopsticks as they were intended, he simply began skewering his chicken with one.

Seifer was grateful, but a little embarrassed that Squall knew why he wasn't eating. Hunger soon overwhelmed his pride, however, and, copying Squall's technique, he began skewering his own chicken.

Squall was glad he hadn't ordered anything with noodles, that would've been harder to remedy, although he supposed he'd have just grabbed a couple of forks from one of the other restaurants.

Once Seifer got over his embarrassment, he began to eat with gusto, and, before he realized it, he had devoured all of his chicken. Squall was watching him eat and slid the rest of his chicken over to Seifer, who didn't question why Squall had done so. He simply ate Squall's leftovers.

When he was finished, Seifer pushed away from the table and sighed with satisfaction. Squall smiled at the contented look on his face and finished his drink.

Seifer stretched out his long frame and placed his legs on either side of Squall's under the table. Squall leaned his legs outward and touched Seifer's. Happily, they stayed like that for a while.

Twenty minutes later Squall looked at his watch and decided it was time for them to go home. He stood up and stretched languidly while Seifer eased his 6'2" frame up from the table.

Grabbing their bags, they headed for the doors through which they'd entered. As they made their way toward the parking lot, a police car crawled slowly by them causing Seifer to hold his breath. He could see clearly the officer behind the wheel and could hear his radio. When the vehicle had finally passed, Seifer let out the breath he had been holding, causing Squall to look up at him and nodded knowingly. Heart pounding against his chest, all he wanted to do was make it back to the safety that Squall's house offered, and so they quickly returned to the car and threw their bags into the backseat. Squall started the engine and backed out of the space, trying to keep from speeding out of the parking lot.

Once they were away from the mall and back on the highway, the tension within the car eased, and Seifer felt able to speak again. "I don't know about you, but that scared the shit out of me," he said, willing his heartbeat to slow, and his breathing to regain some sense of composure.

Squall just nodded his head and said nothing. His attention was on the speedometer, and trying to keep his foot from pressing too hard on the gas pedal.

When they finally arrived back at the house, and pulled into the garage, Squall had to will his fingers to let go of the steering wheel; his knuckles were white from gripping it too hard.

Seifer opened the back car door and retrieved their bags, trying to keep his legs and hands from shaking, and together, they closed the garage door, and divided up the bags before heading to the back door.

Once inside, both breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the police cruiser in the parking lot of the mall was too close for comfort, and had it really put into perspective what they were doing. Seifer was now a runaway. Granted, he was leaving behind a terrible situation, but the authorities might not see things that way, concerned only with the fact that Seifer was a minor who'd had left home without parental permission. If his parents reported him missing, the officers would do their duty and return him to that home.

Squall couldn't let that to happen, not after seeing what living there had done to Seifer; Seifer was better off staying with him. But that brought up the question of whether or not it was really safe for the other to go to school. Wouldn't the authorities look there first? Squall supposed he had better ask his Dad about that; it was certainly something worth asking.

(End Chapter 14)

A/N: I think I have fallen in love with my Beta Avatar Infidel! You make my stories what they are! I cannot thank you enough!

B/N: Love you too, sweet.