"Rest Stop Before We Go"
The train rumbled along the tracks. The ride passed without any events. Needless to say, it was quite boring. Squall had attempted to talk to Zell, but he remained as silent as ever.
The train stopped and they got off at a small, deserted looking station. It was no surprise. The station was just a stop in the middle of nowhere. Squall sighed and looked at the group around him. Rinoa and Selfie proceeded into the forest. He looked at Quistis and Zell. Quistis was fiddling with her whip and Zell was looking around with his arms crossed.
"Let's go," Squall said.
"Wait Squall," Quistis said.
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"Before we head to Galbadia Garden, why don't we take a rest stop in Dollet? They've made great progress in cleaning up the city since the SeeD Exam."
"Okay," Squall said, "I guess, but let me tell Rinoa and Selfie first."
Quistis nodded, but Squall saw a look of frustration pass over her features. She hid it well, but she wasn't quick enough for him. He could tell that she definitely didn't want the girls along.
Squall ran ahead after Rinoa and Selfie, who had already left the station and headed for the forest. Quistis sat down on the stone steps of the station. Zell put his hands in his pockets and looked out across the sky. His brow knitted and Quistis could tell he was deep in thought.
She began combing her hair with her fingers when Zell suddenly said, "Instructor..."
"Yes Zell?" Quistis asked.
"Do you think Garden will be alright? Do you really think they're gonna retaliate?"
Quistis sighed. She looked down at the whip on her side. She had learned how to use the weapon at the age of ten. War was a big part of her life. It wasn't logical to have thought that her calm life in Garden could've lasted forever.
"I don't know," She said, "There's no way any of us could know. Garden has great defenses and all of the students are prepared for any emergencies. If everyone is ready, I believe Garden will be okay."
Zell nodded and turned back skyward. Quistis knew it wasn't much consolation, but it was all she had to offer at the time. She sighed and waited for Squall to return. Soon he had come back and told them that Selfie and Rinoa had already started on the way.
Good, Quistis thought, We can travel alone now. It wasn't that she disliked the girls, but she just didn't want them around when she was in Squall. In fact, she loved being around Selfie. Her bubbly personality brought something back into her life that she had forgotten long ago.
The stood and head down the road towards Dollet. There was a large forest near Dollet, but Squall decided to ignore it. He could've sworn he'd seen rocks flying around though. Quistis walked into the town. She stretched a little. The sunlight poured in over the bridge they had crossed. It was near sunset and was soon to be growing dark.
Zell walked along the road with his hands in his back pockets. A dog was playing in the street. He recognized it as the same one that had annoyed Seifer during their SeeD exam. Boy had things changed since then. He was so worried about Garden it was making him sick. He hadn't eaten in a while. He wanted to hurry and get to Galbadia Garden and fast.
Squall headed on into the town, taking the familiar street he knew. The one they had used to escape the giant, spider like robot. If it hadn't have been for the woman beside him, he could have very well been killed. He was almost forced to rely on his GF for his life.
He was amazed how at how young Quistis seemed, gazing about the town in delight. He had to admit that Dollet had made great strides since the Galbadian army had withdrew. It started getting dark, and some of the street lights had started to come on. Squall arrived at the fountain in the Central Square where he, Zell, and Seifer had been posted. Rinoa was sitting on the edge of it and Selfie was sitting at a table at the café. They both stood when Squall walked up.
"So what are we doing here?" Rinoa said.
"Quistis had something she wanted to do..." Squall said.
"Oh..." Selfie said, making it very obvious what her comment meant. Squall rolled his eyes. Zell sighed in frustration and walked over to a large building.
"It's getting dark," he said, "Are we staying here tonight?"
"Might as well," Squall said. "We'll report to Galbadia Garden in the morning."
They nodded. They entered the hotel, checked in, and went to their rooms.
"I'll be back soon," Quistis said. She walked out the door.
"That's strange," Squall said. He decided it didn't matter and layed down on the bed.
The sound of a door closing was what woke Squall up. He saw Quistis gaze down at a Triple Triad Card before she slipped it in her pocket. It had a likeness to something he had seen before, but he couldn't be sure. He shrugged and drifted back to sleep.