Chapter Fourteen:
(I've never seen him look this..........hollow....empty.......lonely....)
Quistis peeked at Zell discreetly from behind a copy of Timber Maniacs.He was sat at a table in the far corner,an untouched hotdog lying on his plate.His eyes downcast and he looked exhausted. "I can't stand this." Selphie's voice held an atypical sadness,she fiddled with the tie on her uniform restlessly.Quistis nodded,folding the magazine up, "I don't know what to do.Until Squall wakes up.......I guess we'll all have to wait." Selphie nodded, "For Zell's sake,I hope he's okay...." Quistis sighed and pulled Selphie from her seat, "H-Hey!" She squeaked in surprise.Quistis locked eyes with her and replied in a solemn whisper, "Let's just leave him be.Eh?"
(It's to painful to watch................that could've been me...........)
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Zell stared aimlessly at the potted plant in the centre of the cafeteria.He couldn't concentrate on anything,couldn't eat,and sleeping......well,that brought hazy nightmares of Dollet and Squall,his lifeless body in the infirmary.........
(.......gotta snap out of this........Squall would've......)
Zell felt his stomach wrench,he was doing exactly what Squall had always feared.........referring to him in the past..........as if he was already gone.
(I'm sorry.............I.........)
*Bing Bong-Will Zell Dinct please report to the infirmary immediately-repeat-*
(SQUALL?!!?!!?)
Zell didn't need to hear the message twice,he leapt over his table with a crash and ran for the infirmary as fast as he could.
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(The Infirmary)
Zell slammed through the door and stumbled to a halt infront of Dr.Kadowaki,a look of mixed anticipation and terror on his tattooed face. "What's wrong???" HE demanded breathlessly,leaning on his knees.Dr.Kadowaki pushed her chair back and abandoned the papers she was signing. "Someone wants to see you." She beamed and Zell straightened up,his ocean blue eyes wide, "Y-You mean....?" He stammered,half unbelieving. "Take a look." She patted his shoulder and motioned to the door,it swished open quietly.
"Hi." Squall was sat up in bed,wearing a clean,black t-shirt and smiling at Zell from under his bandages.
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"I thought you were dead...." Zell began softly,drawing up a chair next to Squall's bed. "One Thundara? I don't think so....." Squall joked weakly.Zell averted his eyes,his cheeks burning scarlet, "You saved me......" His voice wavered, "I'm sorry......I should never have-" Squall pressed his finger over Zell's lips, "I had my reasons......you don't need to feel guilty.Everyone's fine,that's all that counts." Zell sniffed and gazed into Squall's eyes deeply, "I'm just so glad you're alive."
(............)
(Now I can tell you how I feel............)
Zell swallowed thickly, "I-I.......need to-"
"Come on Zell,visiting hours are over.Let Squall get some rest." Dr.Kadowaki bustled into the room and ushered Zell outside with a smile,he glanced back at Squall almost forlornly.
(................Squall,I have to tell you...........)
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(I've never seen him look this..........hollow....empty.......lonely....)
Quistis peeked at Zell discreetly from behind a copy of Timber Maniacs.He was sat at a table in the far corner,an untouched hotdog lying on his plate.His eyes downcast and he looked exhausted. "I can't stand this." Selphie's voice held an atypical sadness,she fiddled with the tie on her uniform restlessly.Quistis nodded,folding the magazine up, "I don't know what to do.Until Squall wakes up.......I guess we'll all have to wait." Selphie nodded, "For Zell's sake,I hope he's okay...." Quistis sighed and pulled Selphie from her seat, "H-Hey!" She squeaked in surprise.Quistis locked eyes with her and replied in a solemn whisper, "Let's just leave him be.Eh?"
(It's to painful to watch................that could've been me...........)
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Zell stared aimlessly at the potted plant in the centre of the cafeteria.He couldn't concentrate on anything,couldn't eat,and sleeping......well,that brought hazy nightmares of Dollet and Squall,his lifeless body in the infirmary.........
(.......gotta snap out of this........Squall would've......)
Zell felt his stomach wrench,he was doing exactly what Squall had always feared.........referring to him in the past..........as if he was already gone.
(I'm sorry.............I.........)
*Bing Bong-Will Zell Dinct please report to the infirmary immediately-repeat-*
(SQUALL?!!?!!?)
Zell didn't need to hear the message twice,he leapt over his table with a crash and ran for the infirmary as fast as he could.
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(The Infirmary)
Zell slammed through the door and stumbled to a halt infront of Dr.Kadowaki,a look of mixed anticipation and terror on his tattooed face. "What's wrong???" HE demanded breathlessly,leaning on his knees.Dr.Kadowaki pushed her chair back and abandoned the papers she was signing. "Someone wants to see you." She beamed and Zell straightened up,his ocean blue eyes wide, "Y-You mean....?" He stammered,half unbelieving. "Take a look." She patted his shoulder and motioned to the door,it swished open quietly.
"Hi." Squall was sat up in bed,wearing a clean,black t-shirt and smiling at Zell from under his bandages.
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"I thought you were dead...." Zell began softly,drawing up a chair next to Squall's bed. "One Thundara? I don't think so....." Squall joked weakly.Zell averted his eyes,his cheeks burning scarlet, "You saved me......" His voice wavered, "I'm sorry......I should never have-" Squall pressed his finger over Zell's lips, "I had my reasons......you don't need to feel guilty.Everyone's fine,that's all that counts." Zell sniffed and gazed into Squall's eyes deeply, "I'm just so glad you're alive."
(............)
(Now I can tell you how I feel............)
Zell swallowed thickly, "I-I.......need to-"
"Come on Zell,visiting hours are over.Let Squall get some rest." Dr.Kadowaki bustled into the room and ushered Zell outside with a smile,he glanced back at Squall almost forlornly.
(................Squall,I have to tell you...........)
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