ch4 Chapter 4: Journey
Selphie attempted to sleep on the car ride to Balamb train station. But it was hard to do due to Quistis' bad habit osinging in her tone-deaf voice to the radio, Selphie found sleep to be impossible.

"I wanna be the girl with the most cake/I love you so much it justturns to hate/Someday you will ache like I ache!"
warbled Quistis with Courtney Love. This was her only truly annoying trait in Selphie's opinion but it was definitely a bad one.
The song on the radio changed to the Dave Mathews Band and Quistis went right on singing, "I did it /Do you think I've
gone too far/I did it/guilty as charged..."

Selphie moaned and leaned her head against the cool window of the car. She just wished Quistis would shut the fuck up. Selphie knew that the others found her to be annoying at times but at least Selphie could sing! Selphie and Rinoa sung in a band with some of the former Timber Owls. Now that they felt no need for a resistance group they'd simply mutated into a
rock band. Selphie even played guitar now. Ever since the day Irvine had shoved the guitar in her hands for the Fisherman's
Horizon/Squall's Promotion concert Selphie had become quite the proficient guitar player. Irvine loved hearing her play and
he'd never missed any of the Timber Owls concerts. Irvine. Selphie became a little sad thinking of her sweet cowboy.
How she hadn't confided in him even though she knew how much he loved her. She felt guilty for lying but she hadn't
wanted to worry him. Irvine haad enough on his mind, she figured, without having to worry about an ill girlfriend. Selphie
tried to remember the last time they'd made love. January? It'd been awhile. Ever since the bruised haad shown up, she'd
done her best to hide her body from him. She missed the sex though. A lot. Hewas her first lover and Selphie had been
surprised by how incredible he was. Never in her lonely virginal fantasies hadshe imagined anything quite as good as the
ecstasy they reached together. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she felt herself grow hot and wet from the memories.

Quistis glanced at her, "What's wrong Selphie?"

Selphie felt her face turn red at the thought of Quistis knowing what she'd been thinking, "Nothing... I'm sick. Remember?"

Quistis shrugged, "Whatever you say, Selphie..." The radio switched to Britney Spears and Quistis joined in, "Oops I did it again/ I broke your heart/ Got lost in the game/ ooh baby baby/ oops you think I'm in love/that I'm sent from above/well i'm not that innocent."

Selphie sighed, it was going to be a long journey and she knew Quistis had no intention of stopping her sing along any time soon even though she managed to mangle most of the lyrics. Selphie wished they could talk but Quistis had grown apart from the others in the months since the defeat of Ultimecia. She and Rinoa had attempted to include Quistis in their new close friendship but Quistis had brushed them off saying that all Selphie and Rinoa did was talk about their boyfriends. Selphie didn't think this was completely true but she had a feeling that Quistis was a little jealous of them. Still Selphie wanted to be her friend and even then as sick as she was she grappled for something to say.

"So ah," she began hesitantly, "Did you get to meet the new headmaster?"

"Yes actually..." Quistis answered her after a moments pause, "He's a very nice man."

"Really? What's his name? I know everyone is curious." Selphie was glad to get some sort of conversation started.

"hmm Talinn something or another... Bald man... about forty or so..." Quistis shrugged.

Selphie was surprised, "Oh my gosh! That sounds like the man who used to work at Trabia! Instructor Talinn was so cool! He had cancer and his hair fell out and then he got used to seeing himself bald so he never grew it back. He was the best instructor I ever had. He always did aspire to being headmaster. I can't wait to see him."

Quistis smiled at her. Poor Selphie, still trying to be cheerful even though she looked like hell. The mention of the word 'cancer' scared Quistis and she begged in her heart that whatever Gods were out there, they would spare Selphie from the horrors of any such disease.

Selphie slept the rest of the way to Balamb and she slept most of the train ride to Deling City. Quistis miracoulously left her alone in one of the cushy train cabins and Selphie was grateful for the rest. Quistis checked in on her a few times and when they stopped in Deling City station she was reluctant to wake the frail looking girl but she had to in order to make Selphie's doctor appointment on time.

"Selphie... I hate to wake you again but we're here." Selphie sleepily looked at her and Quistis escorted her friend off the train. They caught a bus to the hospital and Selphie sat down wearily next to Quistis and lay her head on her shoulder. Noisy children were riding the bus as part of a school fieldtrip but Selphie managed to tune them out.

The hospital was a big imposing building. Quistis was a little worried they might get lost so she stopped at the front directory to ask for help. "We're here to see Dr. Feldman."

The receptionist nodded and smiled under a heavy head of honey colored curls and big plastic framed glasses, "Third floor, room 305. Take that elevator upstair. It'll be the 2nd door on the right. Go right on in and you'll be in the waiting room for Dr. Feldman. Check in at the desk and have a seat."

The elevator ride made Selphie nauseous and sick to her stomach. When they stopped she looked around frantically for a bathroom. She didn't see one but she did see a garbage can. Selphie ran for it and retched. Quistis stood behind her and rubbed her back. When Selphie found her stomach empty of vomit, she broke down and started crying. Quistis hugged her tightly and Selphie tried to blink back her pouring tears.

"Selphie, sweetie are you okay?" Quistis guided her to a nearby water fountain. She helped her wash her face and rinse the lingering taste of voming from her mouth. Afterwards she handed her a handkercheif from her purse.

"I-I'm so-or-ry Qu-i-i-st-i-is," Selphie trembled.

"It's ok hon," Quistis took her hand and pulled her gently into the 305 waiting room. She sat her in a chair while she went to check in at the desk. Selphie must have drifted off to sleep agin because the next thing she knew Quistis was nudging her.

A nurse was calling her name, "Selphie Tilmitt? The doctor will see you now."

Selphie slowly stood up and she and Quistis followed the nurse into the back rooms.