"Why were you looking at them, Irvy?" she questioned, a bit concerned. He smiled, as he slouched back in his seat, and began stirring his coffee.
"I haven't done that for a while," he replied, grinning, then looking up at Selphie, teasingly. She pouted, as she leaned over the table.
"Quit playing!" she demanded, shrilly, "And on with serious matters, geez!"
Irvine's eyebrow lifted up, "Serious matters? Now, what are you talkin' about?"
She gave him a big grin, as she leaned closer over the table, "Nothing." With that, Selphie quickly stood up, skipping out of the cafeteria. Irvine paused, as he began to think.
"Strange..," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. Zell slowly walked over, glancing towards the exit of the packed room. He carried in one hand, a tray filled with hot dogs.
"Damn, these things are goin' out fast," he muttered, taking a Selphie's previous seat. Irvine smiled, as he noticed a couple of girls waving at him from across the cafeteria.
"Maybe, you shouldn't eat so much," he remarked, scratching the back of his neck. Zell's eyes slowly fixated onto the sharpshooter, as he felt his temper begin to rise once again.
"Yo!" he called out, loudly, "No one told you to remark!" Irvine smiled, as he took a sip of his coffee. The two quickly glanced over towards the entrance, when they realized the room had somehow quiet down. Quistis walked in, seeming to have not cared much about her surroundings.
As she approached the table, everyone resumed their positions, "Hey." Irvine gave her a lecherous smile, as he slowly stood up, willingly giving up his chair. Then reaching out for another one, at a nearby table.
Quistis smiled, "Thank you."
"Yo, Quistis," Zell began, "What's up? Did Headmaster Cid tell you to come inform us on his new rules?"
She smiled, "Funny, Zell. You never seem to obey them, anyways." He nodded his head, as he continued with his hot dogs. Irvine slowly handed her his coffee, as she took it, willingly. Then taking a sip out of it, she turned to him.
"It's cold," Quistis uttered, only inches away from his face.
Irvine smiled, as he took it from her, "I'll go get you a new one." With that he quickly stood up. But Quistis' hands grabbed onto the sleeve of his coat.
With a smile, she added, "It's all right. I'm not thirsty, anyway."
Zell slowly glanced up at the two, as he shook his head. Seeming to disapprove of some particular matter, "Where's Selphie?"
Quistis' eyes adjusted onto him, "I saw her going to the Quad just a while ago. She seems happy. Not that she's never happy." Irvine smiled, as he placed an arm on the back of her chair, looking around the room.
Quistis sat in the quietness of her room, as she looked out the second story window. The stars was always so bright, each night she was there. He hadn't come by for days. She had hardly seen him, which wasn't quite odd for Seifer. But perhaps, for herself. Quistis sighed, as she continued her gaze. Her blue eyes reflecting the bright moonlight.
"Quistis!" a voice called out, from outside.
She quickly adjusted her eyes onto a tall figure, "Irvine? What the hell are you doing out there, at this hour?" You know how late it is?"
"I know, I know," he replied, smiling, "But right now, I don't need a lecture. I came to rescue a princess in distress."
"Funny, I don't see one," she replied, "And it's danzel, not princess."
"Okay....so I haven't read much fairy tales," Irvine replied, crossing his arms, as he smiled up at her, "But I did come for you."
"Well," Quistis began, as she leaned over her window sill, smiling, "Who said I needed to be rescued?"
Irvine quickly stuffed his hands into his coat pocket, as he gazed up at her. With a handsome smile, he added, "Well, it sure looks like it, from where I'm standing."
"Well, maybe you're standing in the wrong spot," she replied, reluctantly.
Irvine shook his head, sighing, "Honestly, Quistis...so like, would you just come down here? Please..."
"Why did you tell me to meet you here?" she questioned, finally approaching Irvine, who stood by a nearby tree. He turned to her, with a sly smile, as he took her hand in his very own.
"Follow me," he replied, quickly dragging her with him. Quistis came to a quick stop, as Irvine turned to her.
"Stand right there," he ordered, as she did, obediently. Irvine quickly tugged at a small pouch in his pocket. Then finally pulling it out, he signaled Quistis to come beside him.
"Look," Irvine whispered, as she slowly leaned over.
"What is---," before Quistis had a chance to finish, a small glowing bug flew from inside, as many more followed. He blue eyes slowly adjusted onto them, as a smile fell into place.
"Fire flies?" she questioned, staring up at them, "You hardly could find any around here."
Irvine smiled, as he stuffed his hands into his pocket, "I know..that's why I got it." Quistis turned to him, her arms crossing her chest.
With a mocking smile, she began, "Are you trying to impress me?"
"I already did," Irvine replied, simply. Quistis rolled her eyes, letting out a soft laugh. She quickly gazed back up, as the glowing insects surrounded her. Almost giving off a radiant light. Irvine stood in one spot, his head tilted to one side, as he watched Quistis' features.
She slowly turned to him, as her smile faded, "What is it?" He shook his head, as he came up in front of her.
"Who ever said it was anything?" he questioned, with a slight smile. Quistis returned it, as she glanced around the area she was in. The trees seemed to grow even more at night, than it looked in the day. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, as he arms circled around her body.
"It's getting cold," Quistis replied, looking up at the tall young man.
"Come on, I'll walk you to your room," Irvine replied, slowly taking off his beige coat, then handing it to her. Quistis smiled, as she took it, willingly.
The dorm rooms stayed quiet, as the two made way through the long, narrow corridor. Quistis pulled the coat tightly onto her body, as the sound of her boots tapped onto the floor. When they finally made it to her door, she turned back around to face him.
"Thanks," she replied, smiling. As Quistis slowly began to take off the coat, she was stopped.
"No, you keep it. Just give it to me tomorrow, or somethin'," Irvine stated, with his same lopsided smile. He slowly leaned forward, the sound of his gloves pressing up against the doorway.
"Good night," he uttered, nearly a whisper, as he had Quistis pushed up against her closed door. She smiled, as her hands held tightly onto the collar of the coat.
"Nite," she replied, softly. Quistis paused for a moment, as she waited for his lips to touch her very own. The kiss lasted for at least a couple of minutes, when she slowly pulled away. Afraid it might have turned into a major make-out session.
"Good night," she uttered, slowly looking for the knob. When she finally found it, she pushed open the door. Then turning back to look at Irvine with a smile.
"Irvine," Xu began, annoyed, "You are never going to get anywhere, if you keep passing up the SeeD Exam. It's been weeks. Months, even."
Irvine yawned, as he rubbed the back of his neck, "loosen up, eh? It's not killin' nobody. Plus, why do I have to become a SeeD? It's not gonna change anything."
Xu sighed, as her arms crossed, "You shouldn't have told me you wanted to take it in the first place. It's quite simple, Kinneas. You just say it, and I'll leave you alone. It's as simple as that."
Irvine smiled, as he tilted his head to one side, "Alritey, then. I don't want to take the exam. Am I finished now?" Xu shook her head, as she then noticed Rinoa and Quistis headed into their direction.
"Morning," Rinoa exclaimed, smiling, as she handed Irvine his coat.
"Good morning, Rinoa, Quistis," Xu replied, with an almost exasperated type smile. Rinoa paused, as she glanced up at Irvine, then Xu.
Quistis smiled, "Still on about that exam?"
"No, not at all," Xu replied, reluctantly, "Kinneas just told me, after a month of annoyance, that he doesn't want to participate in the field exam."
"Why not?" Rinoa questioned, a bit concerned.
"That should be answered by Mr. Kinneas here," Xu added, slowly walking into the other direction, "I'll see you, Quistis."
"Yea," she replied, turning back to Rinoa and Irvine. Who seemed to be bickering something, softly amongst themselves. Irvine's eyes slowly adjusted back onto her.
"So," he began, walking over beside Quistis, "How's the Lovely Quisty doin'?"
She smiled, as she turned her gaze upon him, "First off, the name is QUISTIS, and I don't prefer lovely as a part of my name." Irvine smiled, as he slowly followed her out of the Lobby and towards the elevator.
"Aww, so only special people could call you Quisty?" he muttered, giving her his puppy dog eyes. She smiled, as they reached the elevator, just up the stairs.
"Exactly," she replied, as the sliding doors swung open and the two of them entered. Rinoa stood still in one spot, as she listened as their voices slowly faded away.
"Quisty?" she uttered, thinking about what Irvine had just said. She shook her head with a warm smile, as she continued out the lobby.
"No, Irvine," Quistis uttered, with a broad smile. He playfully shoved her, as they continued down the corridor towards the Quad, where Selphie had told them to meet her. Something about a Festival Meeting, or at least, that's what Irvine remembered.
The two suddenly came to a stop, as they bumped into Seifer. But this time he wasn't with neither Raijinn or Fujinn.
With a smirk, he added, "Surprised seein' you here." Quistis paused, as she stared up at him, looking deeply into his blue eyes, that seemed to pierce right through her.
"I don't think much of it," she replied, reluctantly. Seifer smiled, as he glanced over at Irvine. Who's expression turn quite serious.
"I bet you don't. After all, a gorgeous girl like you, got more better and newer things to worry about," he added, with a grim smile, "Am I not right?"
Quistis smiled, "No, you're perfectly correct. I was hoping the same for you, Seifer. Perhaps, one day you'll finally find something better to do."
"You want me to leave?" Seifer questioned, sternly.
Quistis' eyes slowly turned away, "You're the one who thought of it, not me. So I suggest you don't jump to conclusions." Irvine licked his bottom lip, as he glanced around the corridor, noticing the students were all staring at the three of them.
"Quistis," he uttered, crossing his arms.
"No, I don't, Seifer," she began, "But if that's what you really want then...who's stopping you. You left once already, who's going to hurt if you leave again? Could you answer that?" Seifer stared hard at the young woman, as he felt his temper rise at the pit of his stomach.
"Why do you act so childish about those things?" he questioned, angered, but his voice laid calm. Irvine turned around, as he began to feel all eyes on them.
"Quistis," he began again.
She hadn't at all turned her gaze onto him, instead her blue eyes laid fixed upon Seifer, "Not yet, Irvine. And I do not act childish. It's you, who can't take it like a man."
"Would you just stop arguing!?!?" Irvine bursted out, suddenly. He stared at the two of them who eyed him angrily. Quistis hesitated, when she finally reached out for Irvine's hand, then quickly dragging him towards the Quad. Seifer licked his lips, as he stuffed his hands into his pocket, deep in thought.