Things Change
Chapter 8
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8 or its characters.
======
"Seifer is afraid of me because he's my brother." Sionna seemed to watch Zell, almost like she was interested in him.
~So the evil man has an evil sister?~
"Twins?" Zell asked. Sionna shook her head.
"We agreed no more questions and you said you'd leave me alone. I'll see you later." She walked off down the beach.
~Damn, I should have seen it right away. They only way someone could ever be as bad as Seifer is if they were related to him.~ Zell walked in front of the car and sat down. ~So now what? Just sit and think? Maybe I should take a nap or something. I still feel really tired.~
He took off his jacket and bunched it up, then stuck it under his head. He laid back and listened to the waves.
~Sounds like that stuff Quistis always played when she was sitting in one place before she'd start training. That new age meditation music.~ He thought as he closed his eyes and listened to the calming waves.
~At least Squall seems to understand what I'm going through. And Rinoa looked like she was coping. I wonder about Quistis, Irvine and Selphie though. I mean, Quistis gets obsessive and worries if when she writes a paper whether she misspells words. And Irvine and Selphie are both kind of happy-go-lucky people. This will probably bring them both down. I almost feel sorry for them. That's almost funny. I'm the sick one and I feel sorry for them.~
-{ Tchak! }-
~What the?!?!~ Zell sat up and looked.
~What's a blue dragon doing here?!?!~ Zell thought as he saw the huge beast heading right for him.
"Diablos!" Zell called out. It was then he came to a chilling realization.
~Shit! I forgot to junction my GF's when I woke up!~
Zell scrambled to his feet and raised his fists.
~At least I still have these.~
"Nike! Come forth!" Zell turned and saw Sionna standing behind him, hands raised.
[Champion's Light!] An otherworldly voice said, as a woman who appeared to be an angel dropped out of the sky. She looked around, then rested her eyes on the dragon. The woman pointed her hands at the creature. A beam of blinding white light shot out and propelled the creature back. As the woman faded away, Sionna gave a small laugh.
"And you supposedly helped save the world?" She looked at Zell, shook her head, then started to walk away.
"I didn't ask for your help."
"But you needed it."
"How do you know?" Zell ran up to her and grabbed her arm.
"Lets see, you called a GF and nothing came. Meaning you didn't junction anything even though you know the coast is a very popular area for monsters. Good job on that by the way. Second, you thought you'd be able to take on and beat up a dragon with your bare hands. Only way that would be happening would be if you had about three hours and a lot of potions. Finally, you were backing up, as if you were going to retreat. You know, soon I'm gonna have to start charging you for my services." Sionna pulled her arm free.
"By the way, I don't LIKE being grabbed."
"Listen, you are just begging for me to beat you up!"
"Sorry, but I make a point of not fighting someone who I know I could beat. There's no challenge." She walked back to where she was sitting.
"Listen, I am sick and tired of this attitude!"
"Then why did you dome with me?"
"I have my own reasons." Zell watched as she smuggly started to pack up her bag.
"You think I'm hot and sexy, don't you? Sorry, but you're not my type Chicken-Wuss. I want a man. Not some dork who can't even protect himself."
~What is she smoking? Is all of Seifer's family like this?~
"WHA THE?!?!?!"
"I know, its hard for you to comprehend, but don't worry, one day you'll find yourself a nice hen and settle down. Let's go." She started walking towards the car.
"Listen you little Bi..." Sionna put her hand on his mouth and stopped him.
"Now now, didn't your mother ever teach you not to swear in front of young ladies?"
"Yeah, but I don't see any young ladies around here." Zell pushed her hand away. "Give me the keys."
"Why should I? I rented the car in my name. If you drive it and wreck it, then I get busted for it."
Zell pushed Sionna to the ground and pulled off her backpack. He held it in both hands in front of her.
"I will toss this into the ocean if you don't give me the keys."
~I'm probably gonna incur Seifer's wrath for this, but this girl has it coming to her.~
"You wouldn't." She stared him in the eyes, then caved. She pulled the keys out of her jean pocket and tossed them at the ground in front of his feet.
"Was that so hard? Go get in." Zell walked to his door.
~Move slower. Or else she'll know something is up.~
He slowly opened his door and slid in. Sionna was just reaching for the handle, when he clicked all the locks.
"Zell, open the door."
Zell looked at her and mouthed the word what.
"Zell, I know you can hear me. Open the door."
"I'm sorry Sionna! I can't hear you! What? You want to walk home?"
"ZELL!"
Zell put the key in the engine and started the car up.
"Okay then, if you want to take a nice walk, fine. I'll see you around!"
Zell sped away, with Sionna at first running after him.
~I guess she'll have a lot of time to think about what she's done to me while she's walking home.~ Zell smiled as he watched the Garden grow bigger and bigger.
---
Zell walked happily out of the garage.
~Finally I seem a little happier. I guess thats why Seifer picks on people. I actually feel a little better about myself now.~
Selphie saw him and instantly ran up and hugged him.
"Hi Zell! How are you? I'm so sorry about this. Are you feeling okay? Where's Sionna? Squall said you went out with her."
"I did. She was too much to be around, so I ditched her."
"You ditched her?" Selphie let go and backed up, staring at him. "That is so mean! And she is such a nice person! How could you do that to her?"
~Nice? She utters that word when talking about Sionna?~
"Listen, I don't know if we're talking about the same person."
"Sionna Almasy?"
"Yeah, thats her."
Selphie hit his arm lightly.
"That's her! She is so nice! She helps out at that shelter in Balamb. Oh, and when Trabia was hit she went to help out. Plus she helps out in the clinic here and is helping with the festival."
"So she does a lot of nice stuff. That doesn't make her a good person."
~It makes her a hypocrite.~
"Listen. I know her personally and I've known her ever since I got here. She has always been pretty decent to everyone. In fact, the only person I've ever really seen her mad at is Seifer. She does have an... odd... personality though." Selphie looked up at him. "Maybe you just caught her on a mad day. So, I'm going to the stage to work with decorations. Wanna come help?"
~Well, I could be doing worse things.~
"Are a lot of people going to be there?"
"Irvine, you, and me." Selphie counted on her fingers as she talked. "And even though you treated my friend bad, since you've had a pretty bad few days and I know what a sweetie you really are, I'll let you slide." Selphie grabbed Zell's arms.
"What's the show going to be?"
"Les Miserables. Quistis loves Hugo and musicals, and she had the final say for the student play. Wanna be in it?"
"I don't sing."
"Yes you do! I heard you when back when we all went to the pool!"
Zell stopped and paused.
"Um, but I was singing in the changing room there. In the mens' room..."
"Oh Irvy and Squall had a tape recorder and..." Selphie stopped and turned around to look at Zell in the face. "Um, nevermind!"
"You recorded me in the shower!?!?!"
~Well, at least this will be fun. Play mad for a while. Course I do have to find that tape before it becomes available to the public.~
"It was all Irvine! Really!" Selphie started giggling and running as Zell chased her around the halls.
"Ahahaha! Gotcha! Now to administer the coochi-coo treatment!" Zell said as he grabbed Selphie outside the quad.
"Oop, Irvine, looks like the Chicken-Wuss got your girl."
"Yeah, well, I'll let it slide this time."
Zell looked up as Selphie squirmed away.
~What the???~ He looked at the person standing next to Irvine on the stage.
"Oh, hi! I didn't know you were going to help us with this!" Selphie said as she ran up.
======
Why is Sionna only cruel to Zell?
Who was on the stage?
When will Seifer strike?