Chapter 7 Garden Festival/SeeD Graduation
Chapter 7 Garden Festival/SeeD Graduation

Selphie twirled around with her arm spread out in Rinoa's dorm room. "How do I look? Like a rock star?

Rinoa forced a smile, "Sure…"
Selphie looked at her, "What is it?"
"It's just… it's so hard believing that you're really sick and you…" Rinoa sighed and looked out the window.
It was an awkward moment but there had been many of those in the days following Selphie's diagnosis.
Selphie looked sadly at her friend, "Rin, we're still gonna play in the Timber Owls and we're still gonna open our daycare center in Balamb. I'm not dead yet. Maybe I'll get well after all. Don't give up all hope Rinoa. I haven't."
Rinoa gasped, "Selphie, I must seem like such a jerk. I wish I could be more optimistic like you. I would have committed suicide the absolute instant I found out. "
"Rinoa, I'm scared to death of this you know but I'd rather not think about dying. Now tell me how I look?" Selphie pointed to her pink gown and the silken butterfly wings attached to the back of it.
Rinoa managed a real smile, "Perfect. How about me?" She referred to her white gown and fluttery ivory wings.
"Like an angel…"
The rest of the Timber Owls showed up then, Zone, Watts and Lens. They looked uncomfortable in suits and ties but the headmaster had said if the band played they had to dress up.
Rinoa had to wear her SeeD uniform for most of the night as it was her graduation party too but headmaster had said while the band played she could wear her costume.
The auditorium was beautifully decorated, even more so then the year before.
This year the new headmaster had chosen to give the graduation and the Garden festival together as well as officially introduce himself to all the students and staff members.
Quistis was especially looking forward to Talinn's appearance at the party that night even though she had told herself she was an idiot for having a crush on him. Quistis had taken extra pains that night in dressing. She wore a strawberry red gown and her usually pinned up hair was down with a red and pink flower wreath in it. Some of the Trepies remarked that she looked like a flower goddess.
Squall and Irvine were sitting around waiting for the girls to arrive in the auditorium with their band. Irvine for the first time wore a SeeD uniform and Squall wore his for the millionth time. They both stared dumbfounded at Quistis when she entered the room.
"Wow! I wonder why she's all decked out." Irvine whispered.
Squall rolled his eyes, "Because it's the Garden festival! Everyone is dressed up tonight."
Irvine said to Squall as he would to an ignorant child, "Squall you have much to learn about women my friend. Girls only doll themselves up that much if they want to impress men.I think our Quisty has a special someone in mind tonight."
Squall was disbelieving, "And who could that be? Seifer? No he's got that whore Carena. Nida? He has both the diamond girls: Ruby and Garnet. Me? She told me she felt like I was her brother. You? She respects Selphie too much for that. Zell? Quistis thinks he's a moron which he is. One of the Trepies? Don't make me laugh."
"Hey I didn't say I knew who it was! I just know when something's up!" Irvine grumbled defensively.
Just then Talinn appeared on the stage and all the students crowded around to get a look at him. "Hi I'm Talinn your new headmaster. I'm sure all of you have heard rumors about me." Several students laugh. "Well anyway I'm not big on talking about myself but I'd love to get to know each and every one of you students. So anyway I'd like to say congrats to all recent SeeD grads: Seifer Almasy, Rinoa Heartilly and Irvine Kinneas and all the rest of you. Now I'd like to introduce the Timber Owls featuring two Balamb Garden students: the aforementioned Rinoa and Miss Selphie Tilmitt. Now Selphie has been ill and I'd like all of you to support her."
"Enough with the PSAs..." Irvine muttered under his breath, "If Selphie wants everyone to know she's ill she'll say something."
Squall nodded but his attention was drawn to the stage where the Timber Owls had just come out to play. Selphie was on guitar and backing vocals, Rinoa was lead vocals, Watts was bass guitar, Zone was on drums and Lens was the keyboardist. Squall was practically drooling over how delectable Rinoa looked and Irvine didn't blame him. Even Selphie didn't look ill tonight, in fact she looked the healthiest she'd been in months.
Rinoa walked up nervously to the microphone, "Hi well I suppose I'm nowhere near as good as my mother Julia Heartilly was but anyway we are going to do a version of um an old song called 'Silver Springs'. We didn't write it but um we love it anyway."
Irvine had eyes only for Selphie as he watched her play. He was a little proud in a way that he'd pushed her to play guitar but he knew all the credit for her talent was her own. It struck him then how much it would hurt him if she died. How much it would hurt all of them. He stopped dwelling on it then because the girls were at the chorus and he wanted to hear Selphie sing.

I'll follow you down til the sound of my voice will haunt you

You'll never get away from the sound of the woman who wants you
When the band was done playing, Irvine felt a little teary eyed. Maybe it wasn't manly of him to cry but Irvine had a soft side, especially when it came to his babydoll. He went over and hugged her after she'd finished putting her guitar in it's case.
"Hey Irvy," She kissed him and smiled.
"Great show tonight Selphie," Irvine reached to help her pick her guitar case up.
"Yeah... Hey how does it feel being a SeeD, Irvine?" Selphie put her arms around him.
"Different... not a big deal though..." He shrugged
"Ah..did you notice Quistis dancing with the headmaster?" Selphie mentioned.
"No but I only have eyes for you my Sefie. Do you think she has a crush on him? She was pretty dolled up tonight?" Irvine looked around for Quistis and Talinn but they were gone.
"Irvine... you're so sweet! Must be why I love you so much..." Selphie laughed.
"Maybe... How're you feeling tonight?"
"I'm fine... Oh Irvy don't worry I'm not going to die anytime soon." She reassured him.