QU-IS-TIIIIIIS! Quistis!
"Oh no", I groaned. "Hyne give me strength, it's nature's most annoying wake up call...."
In a flurry of white and bright yellow silk from her new sundress, Selphie leaped into my
bed and promptly sunk into the feather mattress. Eyes wide, she grabbed the mahogany
headboard and pulled herself up. But even when she was sitting, what with being barely
over five feet tall, she could hardly see over the down comforter, which had to be at least
three feet thick.
"Have you ever heard of Posturpedic?" Selphie asked with a hint of exasperation. The
effort of speech made her slide down into the mattress, so she had to right herself, then
try to regain her dignity.
"An entire species of geese must have given their lives for this
bed," she mumbled to herself.
I yawned and stretched in a half-hearted attempt to waken, then promptly curled up
into a ball and buried myself under the covers in feigned sleep.
"Quistis, you gotta get up!" she shouted at the lock of blonde hair still visible. "The little
SeeD cadets are here, and we are supposed to be showing them around!" Between the two sentences,
she'd had to use her fist to beat the comforter down, as the thing was rising like bread in a
hot oven.
I let out an almost inaudible groan and snuggled further down.
Selphie gave the mattress a couple more hard licks with her fist and climbed off the bed.
Standing with one hand on her hip she looked down at her friend and then raised her
other hand to study her fingernails.
"You don't by any chance remember who takes care of the cute, little darlings while we
aren't there..?" Selphie began nonchalantly.
After a few moments of silence she tried again.
"Well let's see, Squall is at a meeting with Cid, Zell is no doubt in line for hotdogs,
Rinoa is with Matron, learning to control her powers, Xu and Nida are updating the
engine room, which would leave...." She waited innocently.
I sat up with a jolt. "Oh no, Seifer and Irvine! Those kids will be scarred for life!
Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
She merely smiled as Quistis leaped out of that devil bed and ran into her closet, quickly
slapping on her usual outfit and pinning her hair.
Selphie eyed her up and down. "Shouldn't you wear something special today? I mean,
seeing the famous Instructor Trepe decked out with a whip, might put fear in the hearts of
five- year olds."
Quistis glanced down at herself and unhooked her whip. Looking at
her in obvious impatience as if to say, Is that good enough, Your Highness?, she
motioned to the door.
You just look so imposing even I'M scared!" Selphie finished in her usual blunt manner.
Rolling my eyes skyward, I slipped out the door in front of Selphie, turned around,
and winked.
"Didn't you know? That's the whole point," I quipped dryly, making Selphie laugh.
I smiled as I listened to my friend. "Selphie laughs," I thought idly "the clear
sound of a woman at ease with her laughter. I envy that..."
We started down the sleek hallway and I looked about at the controlled chaos that was
Balamb Garden. Mildly preoccupied with whatever Selphie was chatting about at the
moment I took some time to reminisce.
The Garden always had a way of making me feel better. Of course it did, this was my home.
All of it. "So many memories here," I thought almost sadly and then wondered why....
"...and that's when I heard there was a problem in the cafeteria, so I figured I should get
you," Selphie concluded in one breath and took a moment to refill her lungs.
I knew almost immediately that I had missed the entire lecture and was sorry for it, since
if it involved Seifer and/or Irvine it was always best to know what you were up against beforehand.
Before I could ask Selphie to repeat, a breathless Rinoa, flushed and gorgeous as ever, ran out
of the Training Center.
"Hey Quisty! Hey Selphie! Wow, Selphie, that dress looks beautiful on you! Where did
you get it? And that neckl--"
I dropped pace and let them chatter. With the same odd kind of discontent that had
been ghosting my every movement, I began to lightly run my fingers over the walls as we
walked.
"What is wrong with me...?" I wondered suddenly. Shaking my head in an attempt to
clear it, I let my eyes rest on my two best friends.
"Selphie seems to always skip; carefree, bringing a smile to everyone's face," I noticed silently,
and then my eyes fell on Rinoa. "Rinoa knows how beautiful she is and has such a feminine walk that
it makes heads turn wherever she goes. I wonder what I do...How others see me...."
The two female SeeDs and fiancée of the SeeD commander walked together, talking and
laughing, oblivious to the fact that they were beginning to draw a crowd. To see one of
the three famous, divinely gorgeous women was a treat, but to see them all together? It
was a spectacle that got every male SeeD and trainee alike, to find a reason to be in that
hall at that moment. So maybe that's why it was so jammed in the cafeteria. It seemed that
anyone who didn't want to have a mid-day fantasy, was there to see some blood spilled
between Seifer and Irvine.
Selphie had obviously already explained what had happened to Rinoa, because they had
stopped outside the door and were looking at me expectantly.
I glanced inside to see how much damage control was needed. It didn't look good.
Both had veins popping out of their necks, were in a typical male chest-puffing stance,
surrounded by a group of wide-eyed children and two that looked so scared that they
were going to wet themselves, huddling in Irvine's coat.
My eyebrow twitched. "I'm not an instructor anymore, what makes you think they'll
listen to me?"
Selphie smiled optimistically. "Well, I always thought there was a part of a man that was
still a little boy, and remembered when a female was all powerful."
I just blinked at her. "That made so little sense, but, if no one else is available...?"
I then cast a pleading look at Rinoa who smiled slightly and backed up a step. "Alright,
then, I'll do it."
Ignoring the doubtful looks cast my way by most everyone else; I made a path to the
two enraged men, but was stopped by all the little kids coming to run behind me, with the
exception of the two sweating ones still clutching Irvine.
"Mth. Quithith," a piping voice chirped up "Why ith Mithter Theifer'th fathe tho red?"
Bending down to the sweet-looking blonde boy with big blue eyes, and two missing front
teeth, I gently put my hand on his thin shoulder.
"He's just hot, hun."
"You're damn RIGHT I'm hot!", came the angry reply from Seifer.
I advanced on him while the children followed behind me like ducks. Quickly asessing the
situation, I lightly put my hand on his shoulder.
"Please stop shouting and swearing.", I began calmly.
He turned startled eyes towards me and then glared at Irvine. Irvine raised his eyebrows in
challange and Seifer opened his mouth to retort, but merely growled.
I smiled a bit. Bless his cocky, black heart.
"Ok guys, tell me what is so important that you would disgrace yourselves in front of
little children and half of Garden." I demanded gently.
Seifer sneered at Irvine who still was using his body to shield the two boys, and started
looking through his pockets for something. To my surprise he handed me a few
sheets of paper.
"Read this and tell me that you would try to stop me from killing those two. That
disgusting cowboy-poser thinks it's funny!"
I turned my questioning, blue eyes to the papers and began to read.
"Squall's Nervous Breakdown"
I looked up in astonishment at the two little boys while trying to control the twitch
in my lips. Cautiously I looked down again.
It went on for pages...
...Selphie taping Squall singing in the shower and using it as her doorbell...
...Zell having an odd obsession with toilet training Squall's cat, 'Mr. Purrkins'...
...Irvine turning goth and insisting that he can raise the dead in Squall's dorm with two
black candles and a package of 'I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not Brie'
My eyes were beginning to tear as I bent double and tried not to shout with laughter in
the middle of everyone in the cafeteria.
My lips twisted ruefully.
If they hadn't added that part about Seifer ellabrotly scheming to marry Squall, he might
have found it funny, too.
Irvine smiled approvingly. "She does have a sense of humor after all."
Everyone's eyes seemed to be on me as I crumbled up the papers and tossed them to
Seifer.
"You, calm down and make sure these get (framed) ...er...uh...incinerated."
"You", I said turning towards Irvine, "take these kids home and tell their parents that
they have to wait two more years before trying to apply as a SeeD trainee. I found
something lacking in their maturity level."
And with all the grace of a born-leader I turned to the two kids snickering at Seifer's
retreating back. I was in my element.
"As for you two," I said icily, "if you don't garner a little more respect for other
people," bending down I looked straight into their eyes and softly whispered, "I'll look
up your files and tell Seifer where you live."
That seemed to do the trick because both of their faces drained of color almost
immediately.
Straightening myself, I beckoned to Rinoa, who, with the absence of one very
displeased Seifer, seemed to have gained back her courage. Quickly I stepped to the side
and all the little kids flocked to the -new- pretty lady.
I smiled at them and then lifted my gaze to rest on everyone else in the cafeteria.
"Is everyone here eating, or do none of you have better things to do?" I asked simply
with feigned innocence.
Selphie bounded over clapping as the crowd dispersed. "I KNEW you could do it! You
really are good at handling naughty children, of ALL ages," she laughingly surmised.
Rinoa laughed with her and shortly after, I joined in.
bBingBongBing/b
iThis is Headmaster Cid. I need the following people to report
immediately to my office: Quistis Trepe, Seifer Almasy, Rinoa Heartilly, Zell Dincht,
Irvine Kinneas, and Selphie Tilmitt. Mr. Leonhart and I are waiting. Thank you. /I
Soft brown eyes met my dispassionate blue ones, and then turned to Selphie's sparkling
green. The three of us looked at each other questioningly.
"Why do you think he needs us?" Rinoa asked disinterestedly with a wave of her hand.
"Garden Committee?" Selphie grinned half-serious.
"The last time he called us 'in to his office immediately' we were being attacked by
Galbadia Garden," I added ruefully.
Nida smiled and walked over, tapping Rinoa on the shoulder. "I'll take the cadets from
here," he quietly said as she turned. She smiled that trade-mark smile of hers and Nida
seemed to go weak at the knees before leading the kids off.
I knew I shouldn't pity him, since I would hate that if anyone did it to me, but I at least
understood what it was like to yearn for something you couldn't have.
The three of us walked to the elevator while Selphie and Rinoa played a cute game of
"what could Cid want?" I plastered a smile on my face and dropped pace again while
they weren't paying attention.
Am I so much like Nida? Is it so obvious with me? Whenever I'm around Squall I always
put up my barrier. I can't let him see any of my emotions. I just knew that my feelings
were a dam waiting to break, and that made me more vulnerable then I liked to admit.
All he ever had to do was look into my eyes and I would deny him nothing. Just look at
me, and ask me to leap off of Garden, and I would do it. Tell me to quit being a SeeD and
never come back. Fine. But just LOOK at me. Anything but the cold indifference I was so
used to.
Nothing I ever did, to try and make him smile, to see me as anything other than an
instructor, failed miserably. I can finish his sentences and he thinks it's annoying. Rinoa
does and he thinks it's sweet. I don't have the carefree charm she has....I'm far too afraid
of getting hurt. But it isn't Squall's fault, or Rinoa's, it's mine.
My eyes began to tear, so I flicked my hair with my hand as cover while blinking them back.
No one ever saw, or noticed, and I was half relieved and half angry. Don't ask me why,
maybe I just needed some coffee. It seemed like this might turn into a long day.
Rinoa and Selphie jumped onto the elevator giggling with each other as I was trying
desperately to control the direction my thoughts were taking.
"Hey Gu-uys! Wait up!" a running/stumbling Zell called out as the doors began to close.
Well, that's what it should have been, but with the half-eaten pack of hotdogs still in his
mouth it cam out more like: "Thwe Ghwuyth! Whvai Uthb!"
Rinoa pushed the 'door open' button and he slid in like a baseball player at home base.
Even in my present mood I couldn't help but laughing and helped him up.
"You alright?" I chuckled as he pulled on my hand into an upright position.
"Yeah! Thanks Quistis!", he replied after swallowing the whole mouthful in one gulp. I
half expected to see him cough up the plastic wrapper.
"D'ya know why Cid needs us?" Zell asked while picking the remnants of meat by-
products out of his teeth.
"Not a clue. Rinoa and I have a bet going. She thinks it'll be that he wants us to choose
fish or chicken for her wedding, and I say he's making all of you join the Garden
Committee!" They both giggled at their ideas.
Zell laughed with them. "What about you, Quistis?"
"Huh?" I blinked a few times and then blushed slightly. It felt like: 'Thinking about
Squall' was branded on my forehead.
"Please remember to pick me up something nice on your way back from that planet,
Quisty," he said mock sternly, imitating my usual sleeping-in-classroom lecture.
"Oh, uh, sorry." I shrugged and tried to make light of my thoughts. "Probably just wants
us to save the world again, why not? We need the practice."
That elicited a few chuckles and groans as we stepped off the elevator on the third floor
and opened the door to Cid's new office next to the bridge.
I suddenly noticed that I hadn't been up to this room since it had been remodeled. The
dark mahogany desks with the maroon and forest green wallpaper, gave the room a
decidedly 'testosteronic' feel. If that's a word. I kept glancing about at the furnishings
before finally admitting to myself that I would rather look at anything right now besides
Squall.
Cid silently motioned for everyone to sit, and the look on his face told me he was about to
drop a bomb. I noticed that we were the last ones coming in and that they had all been waiting
for us.
Carefully, I lifted my eyes to look at Squall. He seemed to be mesmerized by Rinoa's
mere presence. Feeling the familiar prickle of tears behind my eyes, I curled my lip in
disgust at still giving him the power to hurt me, and turned away.
Cid had his arms placed on the dusted desktop and was resting his forehead in his palms.
That didn't bode well. I tried to discern if anyone else knew what was wrong, but they
all just looked as confused and nervous as I was....even Squall.
Matron walked in quietly through a side door and nodded slowly at her husband, her face as impassive as
stone. He looked like he was going to faint. My God...what the hell was wrong!? The air was thick
with our dread and anticipation. Slowly, the headmaster breathed in, and then looked up
at all of us with glassy eyes.
"...It seems," he began in a strained voice, " that, Ellone is dying."
He paused to let that soak in. I couldn't breathe. I didn't believe it. Selphie burst into tears
and Irvine's arms were around her immediately. After graciously giving her time to let
her sobs subside, he continued.
I didn't want to hear anymore, I could feel a betraying moistness sliding down my cheeks, and I
had a sudden urge to hide them, now, before anyone saw them. But, I couldn't seem to move.
"She requests your presence at her deathbed. There is something she wishes to tell each
of you."
To my horrified surprise he looked directly at me, and when he did, so did everyone else.
Why couldn't the floor just open up and swallow me, never to be seen again? I noticed
streaks of concern lace everyone's eyes when they saw my tears. I wanted none of that, I
just wanted out of this damn room!
"Ellone, needs to give you something, Quistis. I hope you can handle it." He turned to
include everyone else. "We leave for Esthar today at noon. She...doesn't have much time
le-"
"What HAPPENED?!" Zell shouted angrily. "What happened to her!? I-"
"Sit down, Chicken-Wuss... screaming won't bring her back", Seifer added emotionlessly.
Squall placed a hand on Cid's shoulder. I could tell it was shaking. I tried peering into his
eyes to further gauge his emotions, how he would take this tragic news, but to me, they
were impenetrable. Only Rinoa seemed to be able to understand him now. I looked down
at my clasped hands and felt very, very mortal.
"We deserve to know what is wrong with her," he said softly.
Cid just shook his head sadly.
"We don't know. No one does. Not even Dr. Odine could find anything the matter. She
just keeps saying that it is her time and she has no regrets. Laguna...is beside himself for
answers but can find none. All we do know is that she gets worse everyday, and, just a
few minutes ago, Kiros called and said that they have lost hope, that she requests your
presence, and no one will deny her anything. Apparently, even Laguna could not delude
himself any longer. She has become so decimated that...."
He closed his eyes and his voice was too choked to continue.
Silently, everyone looked at each other and tried to deal with this startling news. Cid
stood up and turned. He and Matron walked out the side door together. Selphie was
buried in Irvine's coat as he rose to lead her gently away. Squall went to Rinoa and held
her tightly. Zell and Seifer left silently, trying not to show just how hurt they were. And
I...I just sat there until everyone had left.
I continued to stare at my hands trying to block out all thought. Sometime later, maybe 5
minutes, maybe an hour, I stood and left in a haze of self-delusion. I have to go to my
room and pack... I have to go to my room and pack...
I was very, very careful not to let myself remember why.
"Oh no", I groaned. "Hyne give me strength, it's nature's most annoying wake up call...."
In a flurry of white and bright yellow silk from her new sundress, Selphie leaped into my
bed and promptly sunk into the feather mattress. Eyes wide, she grabbed the mahogany
headboard and pulled herself up. But even when she was sitting, what with being barely
over five feet tall, she could hardly see over the down comforter, which had to be at least
three feet thick.
"Have you ever heard of Posturpedic?" Selphie asked with a hint of exasperation. The
effort of speech made her slide down into the mattress, so she had to right herself, then
try to regain her dignity.
"An entire species of geese must have given their lives for this
bed," she mumbled to herself.
I yawned and stretched in a half-hearted attempt to waken, then promptly curled up
into a ball and buried myself under the covers in feigned sleep.
"Quistis, you gotta get up!" she shouted at the lock of blonde hair still visible. "The little
SeeD cadets are here, and we are supposed to be showing them around!" Between the two sentences,
she'd had to use her fist to beat the comforter down, as the thing was rising like bread in a
hot oven.
I let out an almost inaudible groan and snuggled further down.
Selphie gave the mattress a couple more hard licks with her fist and climbed off the bed.
Standing with one hand on her hip she looked down at her friend and then raised her
other hand to study her fingernails.
"You don't by any chance remember who takes care of the cute, little darlings while we
aren't there..?" Selphie began nonchalantly.
After a few moments of silence she tried again.
"Well let's see, Squall is at a meeting with Cid, Zell is no doubt in line for hotdogs,
Rinoa is with Matron, learning to control her powers, Xu and Nida are updating the
engine room, which would leave...." She waited innocently.
I sat up with a jolt. "Oh no, Seifer and Irvine! Those kids will be scarred for life!
Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
She merely smiled as Quistis leaped out of that devil bed and ran into her closet, quickly
slapping on her usual outfit and pinning her hair.
Selphie eyed her up and down. "Shouldn't you wear something special today? I mean,
seeing the famous Instructor Trepe decked out with a whip, might put fear in the hearts of
five- year olds."
Quistis glanced down at herself and unhooked her whip. Looking at
her in obvious impatience as if to say, Is that good enough, Your Highness?, she
motioned to the door.
You just look so imposing even I'M scared!" Selphie finished in her usual blunt manner.
Rolling my eyes skyward, I slipped out the door in front of Selphie, turned around,
and winked.
"Didn't you know? That's the whole point," I quipped dryly, making Selphie laugh.
I smiled as I listened to my friend. "Selphie laughs," I thought idly "the clear
sound of a woman at ease with her laughter. I envy that..."
We started down the sleek hallway and I looked about at the controlled chaos that was
Balamb Garden. Mildly preoccupied with whatever Selphie was chatting about at the
moment I took some time to reminisce.
The Garden always had a way of making me feel better. Of course it did, this was my home.
All of it. "So many memories here," I thought almost sadly and then wondered why....
"...and that's when I heard there was a problem in the cafeteria, so I figured I should get
you," Selphie concluded in one breath and took a moment to refill her lungs.
I knew almost immediately that I had missed the entire lecture and was sorry for it, since
if it involved Seifer and/or Irvine it was always best to know what you were up against beforehand.
Before I could ask Selphie to repeat, a breathless Rinoa, flushed and gorgeous as ever, ran out
of the Training Center.
"Hey Quisty! Hey Selphie! Wow, Selphie, that dress looks beautiful on you! Where did
you get it? And that neckl--"
I dropped pace and let them chatter. With the same odd kind of discontent that had
been ghosting my every movement, I began to lightly run my fingers over the walls as we
walked.
"What is wrong with me...?" I wondered suddenly. Shaking my head in an attempt to
clear it, I let my eyes rest on my two best friends.
"Selphie seems to always skip; carefree, bringing a smile to everyone's face," I noticed silently,
and then my eyes fell on Rinoa. "Rinoa knows how beautiful she is and has such a feminine walk that
it makes heads turn wherever she goes. I wonder what I do...How others see me...."
The two female SeeDs and fiancée of the SeeD commander walked together, talking and
laughing, oblivious to the fact that they were beginning to draw a crowd. To see one of
the three famous, divinely gorgeous women was a treat, but to see them all together? It
was a spectacle that got every male SeeD and trainee alike, to find a reason to be in that
hall at that moment. So maybe that's why it was so jammed in the cafeteria. It seemed that
anyone who didn't want to have a mid-day fantasy, was there to see some blood spilled
between Seifer and Irvine.
Selphie had obviously already explained what had happened to Rinoa, because they had
stopped outside the door and were looking at me expectantly.
I glanced inside to see how much damage control was needed. It didn't look good.
Both had veins popping out of their necks, were in a typical male chest-puffing stance,
surrounded by a group of wide-eyed children and two that looked so scared that they
were going to wet themselves, huddling in Irvine's coat.
My eyebrow twitched. "I'm not an instructor anymore, what makes you think they'll
listen to me?"
Selphie smiled optimistically. "Well, I always thought there was a part of a man that was
still a little boy, and remembered when a female was all powerful."
I just blinked at her. "That made so little sense, but, if no one else is available...?"
I then cast a pleading look at Rinoa who smiled slightly and backed up a step. "Alright,
then, I'll do it."
Ignoring the doubtful looks cast my way by most everyone else; I made a path to the
two enraged men, but was stopped by all the little kids coming to run behind me, with the
exception of the two sweating ones still clutching Irvine.
"Mth. Quithith," a piping voice chirped up "Why ith Mithter Theifer'th fathe tho red?"
Bending down to the sweet-looking blonde boy with big blue eyes, and two missing front
teeth, I gently put my hand on his thin shoulder.
"He's just hot, hun."
"You're damn RIGHT I'm hot!", came the angry reply from Seifer.
I advanced on him while the children followed behind me like ducks. Quickly asessing the
situation, I lightly put my hand on his shoulder.
"Please stop shouting and swearing.", I began calmly.
He turned startled eyes towards me and then glared at Irvine. Irvine raised his eyebrows in
challange and Seifer opened his mouth to retort, but merely growled.
I smiled a bit. Bless his cocky, black heart.
"Ok guys, tell me what is so important that you would disgrace yourselves in front of
little children and half of Garden." I demanded gently.
Seifer sneered at Irvine who still was using his body to shield the two boys, and started
looking through his pockets for something. To my surprise he handed me a few
sheets of paper.
"Read this and tell me that you would try to stop me from killing those two. That
disgusting cowboy-poser thinks it's funny!"
I turned my questioning, blue eyes to the papers and began to read.
"Squall's Nervous Breakdown"
I looked up in astonishment at the two little boys while trying to control the twitch
in my lips. Cautiously I looked down again.
It went on for pages...
...Selphie taping Squall singing in the shower and using it as her doorbell...
...Zell having an odd obsession with toilet training Squall's cat, 'Mr. Purrkins'...
...Irvine turning goth and insisting that he can raise the dead in Squall's dorm with two
black candles and a package of 'I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not Brie'
My eyes were beginning to tear as I bent double and tried not to shout with laughter in
the middle of everyone in the cafeteria.
My lips twisted ruefully.
If they hadn't added that part about Seifer ellabrotly scheming to marry Squall, he might
have found it funny, too.
Irvine smiled approvingly. "She does have a sense of humor after all."
Everyone's eyes seemed to be on me as I crumbled up the papers and tossed them to
Seifer.
"You, calm down and make sure these get (framed) ...er...uh...incinerated."
"You", I said turning towards Irvine, "take these kids home and tell their parents that
they have to wait two more years before trying to apply as a SeeD trainee. I found
something lacking in their maturity level."
And with all the grace of a born-leader I turned to the two kids snickering at Seifer's
retreating back. I was in my element.
"As for you two," I said icily, "if you don't garner a little more respect for other
people," bending down I looked straight into their eyes and softly whispered, "I'll look
up your files and tell Seifer where you live."
That seemed to do the trick because both of their faces drained of color almost
immediately.
Straightening myself, I beckoned to Rinoa, who, with the absence of one very
displeased Seifer, seemed to have gained back her courage. Quickly I stepped to the side
and all the little kids flocked to the -new- pretty lady.
I smiled at them and then lifted my gaze to rest on everyone else in the cafeteria.
"Is everyone here eating, or do none of you have better things to do?" I asked simply
with feigned innocence.
Selphie bounded over clapping as the crowd dispersed. "I KNEW you could do it! You
really are good at handling naughty children, of ALL ages," she laughingly surmised.
Rinoa laughed with her and shortly after, I joined in.
bBingBongBing/b
iThis is Headmaster Cid. I need the following people to report
immediately to my office: Quistis Trepe, Seifer Almasy, Rinoa Heartilly, Zell Dincht,
Irvine Kinneas, and Selphie Tilmitt. Mr. Leonhart and I are waiting. Thank you. /I
Soft brown eyes met my dispassionate blue ones, and then turned to Selphie's sparkling
green. The three of us looked at each other questioningly.
"Why do you think he needs us?" Rinoa asked disinterestedly with a wave of her hand.
"Garden Committee?" Selphie grinned half-serious.
"The last time he called us 'in to his office immediately' we were being attacked by
Galbadia Garden," I added ruefully.
Nida smiled and walked over, tapping Rinoa on the shoulder. "I'll take the cadets from
here," he quietly said as she turned. She smiled that trade-mark smile of hers and Nida
seemed to go weak at the knees before leading the kids off.
I knew I shouldn't pity him, since I would hate that if anyone did it to me, but I at least
understood what it was like to yearn for something you couldn't have.
The three of us walked to the elevator while Selphie and Rinoa played a cute game of
"what could Cid want?" I plastered a smile on my face and dropped pace again while
they weren't paying attention.
Am I so much like Nida? Is it so obvious with me? Whenever I'm around Squall I always
put up my barrier. I can't let him see any of my emotions. I just knew that my feelings
were a dam waiting to break, and that made me more vulnerable then I liked to admit.
All he ever had to do was look into my eyes and I would deny him nothing. Just look at
me, and ask me to leap off of Garden, and I would do it. Tell me to quit being a SeeD and
never come back. Fine. But just LOOK at me. Anything but the cold indifference I was so
used to.
Nothing I ever did, to try and make him smile, to see me as anything other than an
instructor, failed miserably. I can finish his sentences and he thinks it's annoying. Rinoa
does and he thinks it's sweet. I don't have the carefree charm she has....I'm far too afraid
of getting hurt. But it isn't Squall's fault, or Rinoa's, it's mine.
My eyes began to tear, so I flicked my hair with my hand as cover while blinking them back.
No one ever saw, or noticed, and I was half relieved and half angry. Don't ask me why,
maybe I just needed some coffee. It seemed like this might turn into a long day.
Rinoa and Selphie jumped onto the elevator giggling with each other as I was trying
desperately to control the direction my thoughts were taking.
"Hey Gu-uys! Wait up!" a running/stumbling Zell called out as the doors began to close.
Well, that's what it should have been, but with the half-eaten pack of hotdogs still in his
mouth it cam out more like: "Thwe Ghwuyth! Whvai Uthb!"
Rinoa pushed the 'door open' button and he slid in like a baseball player at home base.
Even in my present mood I couldn't help but laughing and helped him up.
"You alright?" I chuckled as he pulled on my hand into an upright position.
"Yeah! Thanks Quistis!", he replied after swallowing the whole mouthful in one gulp. I
half expected to see him cough up the plastic wrapper.
"D'ya know why Cid needs us?" Zell asked while picking the remnants of meat by-
products out of his teeth.
"Not a clue. Rinoa and I have a bet going. She thinks it'll be that he wants us to choose
fish or chicken for her wedding, and I say he's making all of you join the Garden
Committee!" They both giggled at their ideas.
Zell laughed with them. "What about you, Quistis?"
"Huh?" I blinked a few times and then blushed slightly. It felt like: 'Thinking about
Squall' was branded on my forehead.
"Please remember to pick me up something nice on your way back from that planet,
Quisty," he said mock sternly, imitating my usual sleeping-in-classroom lecture.
"Oh, uh, sorry." I shrugged and tried to make light of my thoughts. "Probably just wants
us to save the world again, why not? We need the practice."
That elicited a few chuckles and groans as we stepped off the elevator on the third floor
and opened the door to Cid's new office next to the bridge.
I suddenly noticed that I hadn't been up to this room since it had been remodeled. The
dark mahogany desks with the maroon and forest green wallpaper, gave the room a
decidedly 'testosteronic' feel. If that's a word. I kept glancing about at the furnishings
before finally admitting to myself that I would rather look at anything right now besides
Squall.
Cid silently motioned for everyone to sit, and the look on his face told me he was about to
drop a bomb. I noticed that we were the last ones coming in and that they had all been waiting
for us.
Carefully, I lifted my eyes to look at Squall. He seemed to be mesmerized by Rinoa's
mere presence. Feeling the familiar prickle of tears behind my eyes, I curled my lip in
disgust at still giving him the power to hurt me, and turned away.
Cid had his arms placed on the dusted desktop and was resting his forehead in his palms.
That didn't bode well. I tried to discern if anyone else knew what was wrong, but they
all just looked as confused and nervous as I was....even Squall.
Matron walked in quietly through a side door and nodded slowly at her husband, her face as impassive as
stone. He looked like he was going to faint. My God...what the hell was wrong!? The air was thick
with our dread and anticipation. Slowly, the headmaster breathed in, and then looked up
at all of us with glassy eyes.
"...It seems," he began in a strained voice, " that, Ellone is dying."
He paused to let that soak in. I couldn't breathe. I didn't believe it. Selphie burst into tears
and Irvine's arms were around her immediately. After graciously giving her time to let
her sobs subside, he continued.
I didn't want to hear anymore, I could feel a betraying moistness sliding down my cheeks, and I
had a sudden urge to hide them, now, before anyone saw them. But, I couldn't seem to move.
"She requests your presence at her deathbed. There is something she wishes to tell each
of you."
To my horrified surprise he looked directly at me, and when he did, so did everyone else.
Why couldn't the floor just open up and swallow me, never to be seen again? I noticed
streaks of concern lace everyone's eyes when they saw my tears. I wanted none of that, I
just wanted out of this damn room!
"Ellone, needs to give you something, Quistis. I hope you can handle it." He turned to
include everyone else. "We leave for Esthar today at noon. She...doesn't have much time
le-"
"What HAPPENED?!" Zell shouted angrily. "What happened to her!? I-"
"Sit down, Chicken-Wuss... screaming won't bring her back", Seifer added emotionlessly.
Squall placed a hand on Cid's shoulder. I could tell it was shaking. I tried peering into his
eyes to further gauge his emotions, how he would take this tragic news, but to me, they
were impenetrable. Only Rinoa seemed to be able to understand him now. I looked down
at my clasped hands and felt very, very mortal.
"We deserve to know what is wrong with her," he said softly.
Cid just shook his head sadly.
"We don't know. No one does. Not even Dr. Odine could find anything the matter. She
just keeps saying that it is her time and she has no regrets. Laguna...is beside himself for
answers but can find none. All we do know is that she gets worse everyday, and, just a
few minutes ago, Kiros called and said that they have lost hope, that she requests your
presence, and no one will deny her anything. Apparently, even Laguna could not delude
himself any longer. She has become so decimated that...."
He closed his eyes and his voice was too choked to continue.
Silently, everyone looked at each other and tried to deal with this startling news. Cid
stood up and turned. He and Matron walked out the side door together. Selphie was
buried in Irvine's coat as he rose to lead her gently away. Squall went to Rinoa and held
her tightly. Zell and Seifer left silently, trying not to show just how hurt they were. And
I...I just sat there until everyone had left.
I continued to stare at my hands trying to block out all thought. Sometime later, maybe 5
minutes, maybe an hour, I stood and left in a haze of self-delusion. I have to go to my
room and pack... I have to go to my room and pack...
I was very, very careful not to let myself remember why.