ch2 Chapter 2: SeeD Health Exams

Rinoa walked in silence with Selphie up the hallway towards the infirmary. Selphie still refused to speak to her about what was going on and Rinoa really didn't want to pressure her. Selphie and Rinoa had at one point been close in size but Rinoa had grown 3 inches taller and now stood 5'6 to Selphie's 5'1. It seemed to Rinoa that Selphie had lost considerable weight in the the past few months but under the baggy sweater and thick stockings Rinoa couldn't be completely sure. She hoped Selphie wasn't pregnant; that would be a disaster but it could explain Selphie's weakness and her inability to keep food in her stomach for more that a short while. Selphie had been depressed and tired looking for a few months and Rinoa hoped she wasn't alone in her concerns. Irvine hadn't been his usual cheery self recently and Rinoa wondered if something bad had happened between them. Or maybe he was just worried about Selphie too.
The Balamb Garden infirmary was already full of girls, most of whom had ensconced themselves in the hallway just outside of it. Selphie crumpled on the floor and buried her head on her knees thus discouraging Rinoa from talking to her. Rinoa shrugged and sat down next to her wishing she could do something.
Dr. Kadowaki and Fujin addressed the group. The doctor said, "Well as you all know the new headmaster has ordered health exams for every student. These exams will include height, weight, vision, blood work, heart rhythm, urine, blood pressure and other vital signs. Also all students will be given drug tests oh yes and all girls who have reached puberty will have to have pregnancy tests."
A few of the stupider girls giggled about the pregnancy tests but Fujin glared at them, "QUIET! YOU! LISTEN!"
Dr. Kadowaki nodded, "Oh and Fujin is here to keep you all in line. Part of her duty as a member of the disciplinary comittee. The new headmaster insists that these health exams are mandatory and Fujin has been given specific orders to punish any young lady who chooses not to cooperate. Ok now everyone line up! I will call your names and them you will step up to this scale right here!"
Quistis emerged from the infirmary carrying a scale which she set in the hall in front of the doctor, "Doctor remember the rest..."
The doctor nodded, "Oh yes all of you must strip down to your underwear to be examined in. These are the headmasters rules. Besides it will give me an accurate perception of your health if I can see you without the clothing on. All right I am going to go and pull some charts from my files. All of you girls strip and be ready when I get back.
All the girls began reluctantly taking off their outer clothing. Well all of them except for Selphie. She hadn't moved at all. Rinoa nudged her but Selphie simply raise her hand in protest. Rinoa began undoing her own clothes. Fujin and Quistis were helping the younger children but they soon noticed the reluctant Selphie.
"YOU. GIRL. GET UP!" Fujin stated. Rinoa could tell Selphie was crying by the muffled sobs coming from her lap.
"Selphie!" Quistis gently shook her, "What's wrong? It's ok... we're not going to laugh at you in your underwear. It's just us girls in here."
Rinoa could tell that modesty wasn't really what was upsetting Selphie. She'd seen Selphie in her underwear during the winter holidays when the two of them had gone to Rinoa's fathers house in Deling City. She and Selphie had shared her room in what basically had been a big slumber party. And she knew Selphie had slept with Irvine because the two girls always confided in each other. Of course the crowd of girls in the infirmary hallway might have been Selphie's problem but then Rinoa remembered Selphie had worn a bikini on costume day and everyone had seen her then.
"If you don't undress Selphie Fujin and I will have to do it for you and you don't want that." Quistis prodded.
Selphie looked up at them with her tear streaked face but finally she stood and began to unbutton her sweater. Rinoa gasped in horror as she saw the bruises on Selphie's thin little arms. Selphie had gotten so much thinner than she had once been. She looked so pitiful and childlike that Rinoa wanted to hug her but Quistis held her back. When Selphie stood there in her skimpy bra and panties everyone was horrified. Her frail body was covered in bruises and her bones were plainly visible.
Dr. Kadowaki emerged then and looked shocked at the sight of Selphie, "Alright young lady into my office at once." She grabbed Selphie's arm and Quistis and Fujin followed her.
The other girls sat around in mystified silence for a moment but then Rinoa heard impudent whispers behing her, "God where do you think she gets those bruises?"
Rinoa recognized the speaker as Carena Shelt and she heard a response from a girl named Jesina Whicks, "Carena I bet her boyfriend beats her! He looks violent!"
Another girl Toria Miry giggled, "Or maybe she just likes rough sex!"
Rinoa couldn't stand it any longer, "You three bitches need to stop talking about Selphie and Irvine like that! None of that shit is true!"
Carena smugly sneered at Rinoa, "Oh and who's going to make us?"
Rinoa shoved Carena into the wall, "Me that's who!"
Lindy and Xu both got up then too, "We'll whoop your asses too."
"Fight! Fight!" shrieked the other girls as the angry sextet went at each others throats. Quistis, Dr. Kadawaki and Fujin were much too concerned with Selphie to pay any heed to the commotion in the hall.