Ch 3
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Don't sue I don't even own my pajama's!
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They ended up fighting the giant spider several times as they made their way down the winding path of the cliff. They had fifteen minutes left by the time they got back into the city. They found Azurea still sitting on the fountain.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" She screamed as she stood up and started running through town she was about four meters ahead of the others and gaining distance between them. Keep in mind people she didn't run up the mountain. When she got to the shore she turned around to find Squall separated from Zell and Selphie by quite a large distance the Spider was almost right on top of him.
"SHIT!" She screamed as she looked around she looked up and Quistis who wasn't paying attention. Something caught her eye not Quistis but what she was near the machine gun. So being of the weird sort she reasoned that there was no time to go through the thing to get up there so she climbed. In skirt and all! Giving Zell whom was beneath her quite a show. She pushed Quistis out of the way and turned the thing on. It was closing in on the small boat.
"Oh no you don't" She said as she aimed at the spider and pulled the trigger. The spider jerked backwards after the first hit and after about five minutes it collapsed and as soon as the pulled away it exploded.
Azurea walked down the steps with a big grin plastered over her face. She looked around at every one they seemed beat. Totally warn out
"So.... Either you guys finally got to fight up there... or I missed one wicked orgy" She said laughing, as she sat down. No one looked at her or laughed.
"Okay... I guess no one can take a joke right now... So what happens next teach?" She said as she turned to Quistis.
"We're going back to garden to wait for all of your results, which I hope are good" Quistis said looking at the others.
"So! How do you guys think we did out there? I think I did a pretty smashing job out there! Now that I am done singing my own praises how do you guys think you did" She said grinning as she leaned forward.
"I think I did okay!" Zell said laughing.
"Yeah I think I did great for my fifth try" Seifer said studying every ones face.
"..."
"C'mon Squall I just saved your ass out there the least you can do is talk to me and answer my questions!" She said as she put her hands on her hips.
"Fine... I think we all failed" He said sitting up.
"Okay then mister negativity! So Seifer... Who are you celebrating with tonight?" She said grinning as she looked at him.
"My girlfriend"
"Man that blow's Sylvan is gonna be pissed!... Can I tell her?" She said laughing as she looked at Selphie.
"Oh who're you? I'm Azurea... I transferred here from Galbadia garden yesterday..." She said grinning as she extended her hand Selphie shook it,
"Nice to meet you Azurea... I just transferred here too... but I think they kicked me out... they found my stash..." She said giggling
"Alrighty! I say if we all make it we go swimming in the fountain... tonight!" Azurea said as she leaned back.
"I'm for it" Zell said laughing.
"Me too" Selphie said giggling.
'That child has issues' Squall though shaking his head
"I would but I got a date" Seifer said smiling.
"Whatever... oh god Squall is rubbing off on me"
"Good then maybe you'll keep your mouth shut" Squall said smiling as he looked at her.
"Maybe I'll rub off on you and you'll magically grow a brain...So are you gonna be there or not?" She said impatiently tapping her foot.
"Fine!" He said shaking his head.
"Great!" She said grinning as she leaned back and yawned.
When they got to shore as always Rajin and Fujin were waiting for Seifer. Azurea smiled as she watched them walk towards the van together. She wished she had friends like that. Friends that would stand by her regardless of anything. She had a friend like that but he was back in Galbadia with her old life. That's the price you pay for being the best.
"Damnit! That bastard!" Zell yelled, shaking his fist at Seifer as he drove off
"Awe... c'mon it's not so bad! We can rent a car!" Azurea said smiling as she started to walk through town.
"Who has the money to rent a car? 'Cause I sure as hell don't" Zell said shaking his head/
"Fine then it's on me!" She said grinning. As she dug through her pocket for her wallet. She couldn't find it
"Shit! Looks like it's gonna be a long way home... No wallet" She said turning her pockets inside out. Squall walked a head of them.
"Me thinks... Mr. Leonhart doesn't want to be associated with us" Azurea said under her breath smiling as she thought of yet another mischievous thing to do.
"Oh! Just let him be! I'm sure he has his reasons" Selphie said shaking her head.
"Bah! I guess you're right! There's always next time too right?" She said laughing as they walked through the city.
"So... does this guy have any friends? Or is he a total loner?" She said as she popped her gum loudly.
"He has friends... he's just... quiet" Zell said shaking his head.
"Ahh... the quiet guy... So does he do anything for fun like swim? Or play jokes?"
"No not that I know of he's always Mr. Serious and you never get the real deal with him"
"So what of you hon? Were you popular at your last garden?"
"Me? I guess so I had lots of friends... we'd throw parties!" Selphie said twirling around grinning as they walked along side the road.
"Cool..." Azurea said nodding.
"So what about you?" Zell said turning to her and raising his eyebrows.
"Ah! Not really... I had a couple of close friend granted I was invited to all the parties and shit but no one really knew me except this guy that used to sit next to me at lunch all the time... I never did know his name... but he used to call me Imp" she said laughing
"Imp? Why?"
"Because I tend to get in trouble a lot"
"Cool... I have never known anyone with a nickname before"
"Well... you know your self doncha? Chicken Wuss?"
"Hey! You know what your not Seifer and just because your a girl doesn't mean you can get away with it!" Zell said shaking his fist at her.
"Oh really now... Chicken Wuss?"
"Don't call me that!"
"What are you going to do about it" she said laughing as Zell made a grab for her she sprinted up ahead and shoved Squall in between Zell and her self.
"Hiya Squall" She said laughing dodging Zell's pitiful attempts at pay back.
"I'm gonna get you ya' little Imp!" Zell said as he grabbed for her she shoved Squall in the way and took off towards the Garden that was now a few hundred yards away. He tackled her in the bushes near the entrance. Selphie started laughing as she watched Zell tickle Azurea.
"Stop! I can't breath... stop!" Azurea said through her uncontrollable giggles.
"Not until you say 'Zell is not a chicken Wuss'" He said smiling as he watched her convulse with laughter. Squall smiled as he watched Azurea roll out from underneath Zell and take off into the garden.
"Wow... Look at her run" Selphie said as she watched Azurea take off down the hall.
"I guess I should go too.. And get changed outta this stinky uniform" Selphie said as she left.
"Man can you believe it! We might be SeeD's! Garden's very own Special Forces!" Zell said as he walked towards the main gate with Squall. On their way towards the dorms they over heard Xu, Quistis and Cid talking.
"I don't think they should have transferred her so late in the year... that's my only concern" Quistis said shaking her head.
"Keep your voice down! The only real problem I have with the girl is that she's a born troublemaker... Martine told me yesterday to be wary of her... she tends to get in trouble and take the best students down with her" Cid added as he looked around
"Yes... but she is one of the best very rarely does some one ever pass the SeeD field exam and start off at twelve... and with her test scores she'll probably end up being twenty before she even heads off for the party... she could be good for Balamb" Xu said shaking her head.
"Yes... but... I she's anti-social.. She doesn't get along with anybody she's too playful and has a problem with authority... I think we should make her a white SeeD and let Edea deal with her" Cid said as he shook his head. Xu narrowed her eyes and walked off.
"As an instructor I feel that all she need's is a close nit group to bond with... for her first assignment put her together with the rest of the people from squad B that made it" Quistis said as she started walking away from them.
"Man! Twelve! I'll be lucky if I ever make level twelve!" Zell said as they walked down the hallway to the dormitory.
"Whatever" Squall said as he walked off towards his dorm on the way he passed a half open door and heard faint sobs coming from within.
Squall peeked in the doorway to find either Sylvan or Azurea sitting on a bed crying he was too far away to tell which one it was. The other one was seated at the desk studying some papers.
"They hate me!... Why do they hate me?... what did I do to them?! Sylvan? Do you think they hate me?" Azurea said she stood up and walked over to the desk she dropped to her knees and put her elbows on it.
"Look! Shut up! I have to take the written part of my test again tomorrow! And you have a speech to write!... you don't have time for friends! And you don't have time to be balling your eyes out because some boy, who according to you doesn't like anybody, doesn't like you!" Sylvan said slamming her books.
"But still! Who does really like me maybe they just act that way to shut me up... I know I talk too much sometimes but... I can be quiet too!... Why doesn't he like me! I'm not a bad person" She said standing up. She looked at the door walked over to it and shut it with out seeing Squall.
'Wow... someone has issues' Squall thought shaking his head as he headed towards his dorm room. He hadn't even reached the door when they made the announcement.
"Will all participants in today's SeeD exam please report to the second floor hall way... I repeat will all students who participated in today's SeeD exam please report to the second floor hallway ... thank you" Cid said over the announcement speaker.
'Just my luck' Squall pushed all thought of a nice shower and changing his clothes out of his head as he headed towards the main hall way. He bumped into Azurea on the way that was blotting her eyes with a Kleenex.
"Hey Squall... nervous? I know I am" She said smiling as she sniffed and tossed the tissue into a trashcan.
'Why should you be... according to Cid you should know that you have this sitting in the palm of your hand' Squall thought as he watched her shake her head.
"You know what... I hate your silence and love it at the same time... see most guys would have done the whole me nervous when then know damn well they're just about to piss their pants right? But you.. You just stand there so no one really knows if you're thinking of your answer or just ignoring the question... but in all honesty are you?" She said as she stopped and looked into his eyes.
"Yeah... a little" He said nodding as they walked in the elevator.
"Jack pot! He has feelings folks!" She said giggling as she hugged him.
"Don't worry! Your secrets safe with me" She said grinning as she bounded off the elevator the door had just opened.
As soon as they got in the hallway they saw everyone who took the exam. A faculty member walked up carrying a clipboard in his hand
"The following people passed the exam and are to meet with head master Cid in his office immediately... Zell Dincht.... Azurea Lake... Squall Leonhart.... And Selphie Tilmett.. That is all..." The faculty member said before shuffling off down the hall.
"Hell Yes!" Azurea said before cart wheeling off down the hall like a fool. Selphie had a big dumb smile plastered over her face, Zell sprinted off towards the elevator and Squall just stood in the corner with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
Azurea took a deep breath as she stepped on the elevator she pressed the hold button.
"Yo! Squall! Aren't you coming?" She yelled down the hall. Squall looked at her and walked over.
"See... two more minutes and I would have left you!" She said laughing as she let the button go. It was a stretch to get all those people in the elevator.
"Where's Seifer?" Selphie asked looking around.
"He didn't make it! His name wasn't called so the punk got what he deserved" Azurea said smiling Selphie frowned.
"Look if it makes you feel any better there's a possibility he got pulled to the side and told already okay?" Selphie just nodded
"Hey where'd you get that necklace from?" Selphie said as she looked at the charm that was hanging on the small silver chain around Azurea's neck.
"It came with the gun blade... I have a ring too... It's supposed to be a dolphin to stand for intelligence and agility but I think it's all a bunch of BS... but I wear cause it matches my gun blade, which is a Poseidon Revolver... I've had it for years..." She said as she showed off her ring that matched.
"Hey Squall did yours come with one too?" Selphie said, looking at him with her wide eyes he shook his head no.
The doors opened to reveal Cid's office. Azurea wiped her hands on her jeans before walking in the door. Cid was a middle-aged man who had slumping shoulders and a dwindling physique. He was standing in front of his desk with his shoulders hunched. Seifer was in the room, he looked at everyone who entered and scowled at them before leaving the room.
"As you all know you are the few that did pass the exam today... Some of you with extremely good scores and some of you with some rather disappointing scores as well..." Cid said looking at all of the students with his hands clasped in front of him he looked at the a member of the faculty who was looking at him and making the signal to wrap it up with his hand.
"Basically in short the garden is proud of you... here are your results and... Azurea... I would like to talk to you right now" He said as he grabbed Azurea to the side.
" You did very well... Your the first student in Balamb garden's history to start off at rank twelve... usually if some one scores over seven I make them a white SeeD... so how about it?" Cid whispered smiling.
"No... I just got here... and I don't want to be away from my sister..." she said softly as she looked at Squall.
"Oh... I see.. Well...I'm glad that we have not only one but two gun blade specialists and someone who can wield a Poseidon... I'm very impressed" He said smiling.
"Sure whatever" She said as she walked off.
Squall waited for her after the speeches she never came, She didn't give her speech either they called her name five times and waited twenty minutes but she never showed. He had time before the big party so he decided to leave early and take a bath while he was on his way to the dormitory he could hear splashing in the fountain. He peered over the edge to find one of the twins swimming in the water. The girl looked up and smiled. It was Azurea wearing a white bikini she giggled.
"C'mon in! The waters fine"
"I'd rather not... it's a fountain not a pool"
"Well... you guys don't have a pool here or I'd be swimming in that... it's how I keep in shape" She said as she jumped out.
"So... what happened with Cid you left kinda in a rush?"
"He said something... that really pissed me off he wanted to send me off to be a white SeeD... I do not want to roam the world on a fuckin' boat and wear a dorky ass white uniform for the rest of my life... sorry... he had the wrong chick..." she said as she grabbed her big gray beach towel and wrapped it around her.
"So are you going to the party?" He said watching her pull her hair back.
"No" She said shaking her head.
"Hmmm... One word answers I guess I am rubbing off on you"
"No... I'm making a call to my old garden... I'd rather not get dressed up in some stuffy ass uniform or dress just for a few hours to dance when I can be swimming in my element or sitting in my room writing" She said as she turned the corner and started walking towards the Dormitory.
"I have a pin that says rank 12 on it... I'm happy with 12... in fact I'd be happier with two because then no one would be all... you know about it.... Thinking I'm something special" She said as she opened the door to her dorm.
"Hey I'll see ya' around I guess" she said leaning her head against the door.
"Yeah... see ya'" he said nodding as he walked away.
