Chapter Five:
This chapter is dedicated to all my friends at bounty Hunters (lunatics),my parents(who'll kill me if they find out I'm writing this!) ^_^ and lush lou my very scary mate!
(The Cafeteria)
The food war was still in full swing as squall entered the cafeteria,SeeDs were raiding the kitchens now,looking for anything they could use to attack the opposing students.Squall wandered through the hail of confectionaries,calling out for Zell desperatly.He reached the back of the room and saw a body lying slumped against a fallen table,it was Zell.
He knelt down at his side and tried to shake him awake, "Zell,Wake up…..Zell?"
"Mhhh……*Ugh!*" Zell came hurtling back to consiousness with a jolt."Where?" He asked Squall quietly. "The cafeteria.Did Seifer-?" Zell nodded and suddenly realised he still had two hotdogs shoved up his nose.Squall gazed at him sympathetically and stuck his fingers into Zell's ears,he sniffed violently and they shot across the room,hitting a very annoyed Fujin, "IDIOT!" She groused and returned to the fray.
"Let's get out of here." Squall said,supporting Zell as he tried to stand.They circled round the rain of food and headed outside.
Squall helped Zell up onto the Garden Festival stage.He was favouring his left leg and an arm was wrapped tightly around his ribs.Squall settled down beside him and leant against the backwall of the stage.
"I read the posters." He confessed.
Zell rubbed a shaking hand over his face,his lip was bleeding,his cheek beginning to purplew with a bruise. "Seifer he came round and………."
"yes?" Squall prompted.
Zell sighed heavily, "He made a pass at me and asked for money to upgrade the hyperion.He must've taken my diary when I wasn't looking."He stared out over the ocean with dejected eyes.
"conniving little shit………" Squall muttered darkly.
"It's been the same ever since we were in the orphanage,he always teased me about everything.i thought the stuff with Ultimecia would change him………but,he's still the same old Seifer." Zell remembered,grimacing.He turned to face Squall, "I used to feel sorry for him,he never had anyone.At least I've got Ma." Squall shook his head, "People like him don't deserve sympathy."
Zell's lip began to quiver, "what……..what are we gonna do Squall? Everyone hates us." His shoulders heaved and Squall searched his eyes intensly, " we're going to be fine.I'll take care of you." Zell pulled his knees up to his chest and Squall placed a comforting arm around his shoulder. Zell was sobbing now,the first tears of betrayal and isolation streamed down his face.He rested his head on Squall's lap and buried his bruised face in his palms.squall let out a wavering breath and ran his fingers over Zell's sunlight blonde hair,stroking it tenderly.
"I'll protect you." He whispered softly.