Selphie had told him while trying not to cry that she had been feeling trapped and it felt like Irvine was trying to take her away from everybody. She had only cried harder when Zell had insisted that he hadn't been, so he had shut up and given her a hug. Sooner or later Selphie was going to have to realise that everything changes eventually, you can't fight against it the way she had been. He shook his head, it wasn't his place to tell her and if he didn't stop musing on it he would never be packed in time to leave in an hour.
Zell began to jog back to his room at a leisurely pace, he didn't really notice anyone until Irvine stepped into his path. He slowed to a stop.
'Heya mate how's thi…' The punch caught him off guard and he fell to the floor. 'What the hell?' He cried out in surprise. 'What do you think you're doing?'
'Listen to me, we aren't mates, not any more. I always thought you were as harmless as you pretended to be.' Zell stood up and looked Irvine in the eye.
'Man, I can honestly say… huh? What are you talking about?' Irvine stared at him.
'I mean Selphie.' Zell looked at him blankly.
'I'm sure there is supposed to be an end to that…. I mean, come on, is it time for your medication or mine?' He asked, Irvine stepped forward threateningly. 'Did I mention the severe kick in the groin you will be receiving if you touch me again?' Irvine looked at him, Zell was a much better fist fighter than he was, not surprising really. He backed off a little. 'Right, better, what was that about Selphie?'
'I saw you and Selphie last night.' Zell shrugged and gave him an 'and?' kind of look. 'I saw you together.' Zell shrugged again, then daylight dawned.
'I'm not after Selphie, Irvine. Seriously.' Irvine stared at him.
'How can you look me in the eyes and lie like that.' Zell looked around, a small crowd had started to gather.
'I'm not lieing, just because Selphie is with you, you believe that everyone is trying to get into her knickers. Granted a few people are. I don't have time to deal with this today okay Irvine.' He tried to go around Irvine put his hand on his chest.
'You aren't leaving.'
'Look I know you've put aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public but please leave me out of it.' He took hold of Irvine's wrist and held it away from him. Then he left him standing there. He looked pointedly at the little crowd and they hurried to disperse, leaving Irvine with a bemused look on his face.
*
'You aren't serious? Poor Irvine.' Rinoa said sadly.
'We don't know if it's the truth yet, I only heard it from some students. And they were the class gossips.' Rinoa looked at Quistis thoughtfully.
'But it would certainly explain the way Selphie has been acting.' She countered. Quistis didn't quite know what to say, Selphie would have told her, surely she would have. Rinoa was all too ready to believe that Selphie had been stringing people along, which confused her, didn't Rinoa know Selphie at all?
'She isn't the type Rinoa, and all I heard that there was a fight between the lads and Selphie's name was mentioned. That doesn't prove anything and I don't think she's all that attracted to Zell anyway.' Rinoa shrugged and gave her a knowing look. 'I'm going to talk to Squall.' She said finally.
'Seriously though, what will Squall do?' Rinoa said and it made Quistis pause, she was right, what would he do? 'He's never been one for getting overly involved in things that aren't his business, even more so now he is officially running this place. All he'll say is that it's Selphie's business and as long as she isn't forcing people into anything he can't do anything about it.' She grinned. 'Go ahead, try. Those will be his exact words. Give or take.' Quistis nodded, Rinoa knew Squall, and Quistis was likely to believe her opinion.
'You think it's true don't you?'
'Not too sure actually. In the past week the only one who's been making Selphie smile has been Zell, but that doesn't mean anything, he's the only one who has been trying.' She shrugged.
'Are we that bad a group of friends?'
'Nope, Selphie and Zell are very similar though, it's why they get on so well. And they are the groups comedians, who would you go to if you were feeling down?' She smiled. 'For me it's Zell.' Then she thought about it. 'Not that Squall doesn't have his techniques too.' She winked at Quistis.
'Oh, please Rinoa, I really don't want to know.' She smiled. 'But I do understand what you mean, I go to Selphie. It's really quite depressing when you realise that, if your friends are down the first person they turn to is not you.' Rinoa shrugged.
'Sort of used to it by now.'
*
Squall turned and looked at Zell with wide eyes. 'He hit you?' Zell shrugged and nodded. Squall frowned. 'And he thinks that you are… you know… with Selphie.'
'I got the distinct impression yes.'
'You set him straight?' Zell shrugged and kind of made a so-so sort of gesture with his hand. 'Explain.'
'I told him the truth but… you know… macho law forbade him from admitting he was wrong.'
'So you just let him believe what the hell he wants?' Zell gave him a withering look.
'I think the bruise on my eye attests to the fact that I didn't just let him, he jumped to the wrong conclusion all by himself.' Squall nodded and looked at his eye again. 'Is it noticeable?'
'Only from about three miles away.' Zell gave him a dark look and Squall grinned. 'Okay so I guess, as ever, I have to sort this out, I'll be glad when you lot leave you know.'
'Erm that's kind of what I wanted to talk about, I think I'll pass on the Ragnorak, with the way Irvine's feeling towards me right now, there are too many dangers there, ya know windows, doors etcetra.' Squall smiled and looked down at the table.
'It's okay. The Ragnorak or another airship is the only way to reach Trabia until the new train route is laid in and we don't have an overabundance of airships right now. So you and Selphie can take it, I'll send Quistis and Irvine by train. I'll just inform Galbadia Garden to expect them a little late that's all.' Zell laughed.
'My hero.' He looked at him. 'Don't suppose I could ask you a favour and talk to Irvine for me?' Squall frowned.
'I'll see what I can do.' He said knowing that anything he did do would probably make the situation ten times worse.
*
Selphie picked up her bag, it was time for her and Zell to be flying back to Trabia. She was really happy at the thought of going back home but quite depressed that she would be leaving all the people she really loved, well she had the Ragnorak, it was hers now, and as long as she could fly her friends would never be too far away. She looked at the time and, hauling her bag over her shoulder, she left for the airfield.
As she wandered down the corridors of Balamb she got the distinct feeling that everyone she passed was staring at her. The feeling got greater as several of Irvine's closest friends glared at her as she walked. It wasn't until Cassia McKee, one of his closest confidants passed her and said. 'Nice dress, are you hoping to slim into it?' That she got the distinct impression that she was being victimised in some way. The comments got much worse as she went along, she was near tears as Quistis joined up with her.
'Selphie, are you okay?' The look in Quistis' eyes was worried. Selphie just swallowed hard and shook her head.
'Have I done something wrong that I don't know about?' She whispered.
'Why?' Quistis' face made her check herself.
'You know something don't you?' Quistis nodded. 'What?' Quistis sighed and looked into her friends face.
'Okay Selphie, there's something you should know…'