Note: Hi y'all! Man, thank you so much for those people who have been reviewing my story! I appreciate it! Thanks to:
Lissa
Shadow@ngel: Thank for that insight. I appreciate it!
Ashbear: I LUUUUUVVVV your stories! I found 'First Contact' the funniest! HEE! HEE!
Industrialis
grrl gamer: My number one Queifer fan! You rock!
Optical Goddess
Ava Adore
Nee
Aeris Deathscythe
tickle the dragon
Jacks: Good, keep skipping the Squinoa parts! Jest joking!
Angelprincezess29
punker*chick
Vick330
Terra Trepe
Jazzy
Rinoa Tilmitt
Selphie Ducky
Stargazer
You guys are the best! Okay... here, on this chapter, this won't be a Squinoa anymore. I've decided to put both couples together in one chapter, while Zelphie is separate. Since Squall, Rinoa and Quistis are affected by Seifer's return, I figured maybe it's best that these two couples should get together. Please don't be disappointed. It's more a better reason to take a time off and not spend too much time yapping about their emotions. So..... here are the two!
Chapter 11 - Misery Loves Company
~ "The reason why I was out there in the first place was because I wanted to see Garden for the last time."
(Seifer)
He opened his eyes. The thought of last night made him wonder. Did they really connect? He felt something soft touching his skin. Glancing to his right, he noticed long, golden hair flowing around his shoulders and half of his exposed chest. Her head was resting on his arm, which were now stiff from the weight she put on him as she sat on a chair. She was bent over, her cheeks touching the soft mattress. Her glasses, that probably fell while she tossed and turned in her sleep, were on the bed beside her. Her right arm was draped on his stomach, her hands holding the same cloth she used on him that dried over the night, while her other arm was rested on her lap. He wanted this peace now. He wasn't sure yet, whether she had completely forgiven him, but at least that night made him think there may be a chance for redemption. That thought made him smirk. Shaking his head at that though, he looked down on the sleeping figure once more. He wasn't sure what happened, but he didn't want to find out. He didn't want to stay here anymore.
Swiping his free arm across his eyes to get the sleep from his face, he shook his arm furiously and the sleeping stranger suddenly sprung up and looked around. Her eyes, baggy from sleeping so late the other night were still visible. Her hair, unclipped and disheveled, shone underneath the morning sun that peeked through the half opened window. She glanced at Seifer, who was looking at her strangely. Blushing, she removed the glasses from the bed and put it on her nose. She removed her hand that slid over his body and upon his chest and blushed an even redder crimson.
"Good, Trepe, keep it up. I'm sure red is your ideal colour." Seifer spoke, indicating the redness of Quistis' cheeks.
Quistis glared at him, standing up from her chair. She reached down to examine him. Breathing a sigh of relief, she gave Seifer a nod and a rare smile. "Well, I think you're getting better."
Seifer looked at her. He had no idea Quistis could return such a geniune smile towards Seifer Almasy. In most cases, he's never seen Quistis smile before, except maybe for Squall, the wonder boy. Yes, he knew everything about her little crush with Puberty Boy and he'll never forget that. He had to admit, Quistis was cute when she smiled.
"You know, you should smile often. Your deserve to."
Quistis looked at him, unsure whether she should take it as flattery or insult. She knew Seifer was never really good at complementing someone.
Realizing that he was saying them to her, she blushed even more, close to darker red and looked away. "Thank you," she murmured. She glanced at her watch and gasped. She had no idea she woke up late. She glanced at Seifer and smiled slightly. "Well, I'm late for my class. I think I better get going."
"Hey, Trepe?"
The blond woman froze. "Y-yes?" Why was she nervous all of a sudden? This was Seifer Almasy for goodness sakes! She turned her head towards him, meeting his eyes.
He turned away quickly, not wanting her to see him blush. Why was he acting this way? It was just a conversation, no big deal! But then again....... He shook his head of that thought. "Um... nothing, nevermind," he replied.
Quistis turned her body around, facing him this time. "If you're wondering if I forgive you, Seifer, then I guess I do." She smiled, turned and walked out of the room.
Seifer's eyes widened in shock. He never wanted her forgiveness. He scowled at himself. He never intended for this to happen. He didn't need Trepe's forgiveness. If she really did forgive him, then he would never have a chance to leave the place. He wouldn't be able to return for good without anyone's eyes scorning with fury towards him. Why? Why did he have to open his big mouth?
~~~~ Last night............
For the first time that night, they understood each other.
Quistis cleared her throat, turning her eyes away from his. She continued to damp his forehead with the wet cloth. Matron would have listened to what she said, but she was never ready to tell her. For some reason, when she began to speak honestly towards Seifer, she couldn't close her mouth. It was as if her mouth had a will on its own.
The blond man stared at her. He knew Quistis was full of knowledge, but he had no idea how full. The words she said, for some strange reason, affected him in some way. Affected him not in his mind, but in his heart. Smirking, he turned away from her and folded his arms across his chest, removing all the thoughts from his head.
"What do you know about life?" he asked, with so much venom in his voice. It was the only way for him to speak, without showing his emotion. He didn't like showing his feelings. He hated being sensitive. He hated her. For a long time, he resented her, despised everything she has done as an Instructor. She never showed any respect towards him. He knew that Trepe hated him too, with a passion.
She looked at him, removing the damped towel from his forehead and gripped it tighter in her hand. She closed her eyes. What did life mean anyway? "You're right, I don't know anything about life. All I've been doing is fall in love with someone, without any reason at all, except that I was just infatuated by his looks. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but all I've been recieving from him is a cold look. When Rinoa came into his life, I knew I could never compete with her. I became depressed and I began to trap myself in my own wall. All I could do now was watch them love each other. My life died with my emotions. It died with my feelings for him." She stood up and looked away. Tears began to form in her eyes and slowly, it streaked down her face. She wiped her tears away and looked out the window, opposite of the bed where Seifer laid.
Seifer watched her back. All the resentment he had with her disappeared before him. It walked away from his heart, replacing it with a deep sympathy towards the blond Instructor. Maybe it was the fever kicking in, who knows, but he felt something.
Quistis glanced over her shoulder, her face shadowed by the darkness of the room. "I think I better get going." She began to walk away.
"Quistis...." Seifer whispered.
The way he said her name, caught her attention and forced her to pause in her tracks. She turned her head towards him, her nose still red from crying. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, I think I better go."
Seifer's breathing became ragged. His eyes kept closing in fatigue and his body kept alternating temperatures, from cold, to warm, to cold again. He shivered. "The reason why I was out there in the first place was because I wanted to see Garden for the last time."
Quistis paused and turned around. "For the last time?"
Seifer nodded slowly, then turned his head away from her. "You wanted to know, so I told you."
The blond woman walked back towards the bed and looked down on him. Seifer looked up, their eyes meeting one another. For a brief moment, they saw each other's pain. Quistis sat down on the chair and stared at him, their eyes kept locked with each other.
Seifer's face was suddenly filled with fury, catching Quistis off guard. He furrowed his eyebrows and glared at her. "You think your life sucks, Trepe?! I was trapped. At least you have people to count on you, to pull you out of misery. You think I have that kind of trust?" He turned away from her. "You have no idea how much I suffer, so don't even bother asking me why I wanted to die." There was a gaping whole in his heart. There was something missing there. For a long time, he's been waiting for that hole in his heart to be filled, but it never came. All the guilt and shame filled his heart and darkened it forever.
Quistis looked down. She knew it then. She knew it now. Seifer was never a monster in the first place. But, what was his reason to die? He was being stupid! "Life is worth living, Seifer," she answered, after a moment of silence. "Are you saying you're just going to throw it all away because of something that happened in the past? Believe me, I've been in that situation before, where I wanted to die and wished I was never born." There was no mistaking, she still felt that way, but she knew she couldn't run away from her problems. "Life sucks, I know, but at least we still have what we want."
"Well, I don't...." Seifer retorted. "And if I do, I don't intend to find out what it is."
"Why not?"
"It's not worth it."
****************
She walked down the hall, straightening her blouse and her hair. All her thoughts were on last night. What happened between her and Seifer was a mystery, but she knew now she had someone to talk to. She couldn't help, however, thinking about his attitude on life. It was obvious to her he didn't want to live at all. He was in a state of depression. She understood now. All the scorn they had for each other was something out of respect. It's ironic, yes, she knew, but it was just the way they are. It was just their way of showing respect for each other. She sighed and continued down the hall.
She was just relieved Seifer was feeling better.
****************
He walked down the hall, hand in hand with his loved one. When they turned the corner, they were greeted by a very familiar blond, who bumped right into them. She looked up and gasped, noticing who it was she bumped into.
"Hey Rin... Hey Squall...." Quistis said, brushing imaginary dirt off of her clothes.
"Hi, Quisty!" Rinoa replied, waving at her.
Quistis smiled. That was always Rinoa. She was all smiles. She wanted to hate her for being so nice and for having him, but Quistis Trepe wasn't the type to interfere with their relationship. Her and Rinoa became close friends after the whole Ultimaecia ordeal, so there was no point anymore.
"Hey, Quistis," Squall said, his face expressionless. He shuffled his feet nervously and looked at Quistis. "Um...." He took a deep breath, then glanced at Rinoa for help. He didn't know how to start. He was never really good at apologizing.
"What Squall would like to say to you Quisty is sorry," Rinoa spoke up.
Quistis looked at Squall, angrily. "I would rather have him say that, Rin, if you don't mind." For a Commander like Squall Leonheart, he was incapable of solving problems with women.
Rinoa nodded and looked down, biting her lower lip. She knew that. She glanced at Squall and nudged him in the arm with her elbow. "What do you say, Squall?"
Squall rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked at Quistis. "I'm sorry, Quistis. What I did was uncalled for, so I hope you forgive me. Seifer can stay here until he gets better and then he is to leave, understand?" His tone of voice changed from a soft, apologetic manner to a hard, Commander-like attitude.
She had no other choice but to agree. She couldn't defy her Commander for the second time. It was also the fact that Seifer was, too, willing to leave Garden once he felt better. Reluctantly, she nodded.
Squall nodded, his face kept neutral and took Rinoa by the hand. He gave Quistis a strange glance, noticing the way she looked and shook the thought away, then left, with Rinoa dragging behind.
Rinoa looked back and waved at Quistis. "I'll see you later Quistis! BYE!!!" she yelled over her shoulder.
Quistis smiled and watched them go. Sighing, she continued to walk down the hall and back to her dorm room. She was going to be at least forty minutes late for class. Maybe she should call it sick and call a substitue teacher for today. Seriously, she couldn't keep her eyes open after sleeping for only three hours. Making her final decision, she opened the door to her room and plopped down on her bed with a loud 'thud!'
Her mind suddenly drifted back to Seifer. She couldn't help but feel remorse for the blond man. It was true he suffered more than her. She was admired by people, he was hated by them. Yet, under all the arrogant ways, Seifer Almasy was just like the rest of them. He had a soul and Quistis was the only person who caught that.
GoodGurl: Okay, that was boring. But I liked their interaction here. Don't worry, more Queifer will be coming soon. Stay tuned!
Lissa
Shadow@ngel: Thank for that insight. I appreciate it!
Ashbear: I LUUUUUVVVV your stories! I found 'First Contact' the funniest! HEE! HEE!
Industrialis
grrl gamer: My number one Queifer fan! You rock!
Optical Goddess
Ava Adore
Nee
Aeris Deathscythe
tickle the dragon
Jacks: Good, keep skipping the Squinoa parts! Jest joking!
Angelprincezess29
punker*chick
Vick330
Terra Trepe
Jazzy
Rinoa Tilmitt
Selphie Ducky
Stargazer
You guys are the best! Okay... here, on this chapter, this won't be a Squinoa anymore. I've decided to put both couples together in one chapter, while Zelphie is separate. Since Squall, Rinoa and Quistis are affected by Seifer's return, I figured maybe it's best that these two couples should get together. Please don't be disappointed. It's more a better reason to take a time off and not spend too much time yapping about their emotions. So..... here are the two!
Chapter 11 - Misery Loves Company
~ "The reason why I was out there in the first place was because I wanted to see Garden for the last time."
(Seifer)
He opened his eyes. The thought of last night made him wonder. Did they really connect? He felt something soft touching his skin. Glancing to his right, he noticed long, golden hair flowing around his shoulders and half of his exposed chest. Her head was resting on his arm, which were now stiff from the weight she put on him as she sat on a chair. She was bent over, her cheeks touching the soft mattress. Her glasses, that probably fell while she tossed and turned in her sleep, were on the bed beside her. Her right arm was draped on his stomach, her hands holding the same cloth she used on him that dried over the night, while her other arm was rested on her lap. He wanted this peace now. He wasn't sure yet, whether she had completely forgiven him, but at least that night made him think there may be a chance for redemption. That thought made him smirk. Shaking his head at that though, he looked down on the sleeping figure once more. He wasn't sure what happened, but he didn't want to find out. He didn't want to stay here anymore.
Swiping his free arm across his eyes to get the sleep from his face, he shook his arm furiously and the sleeping stranger suddenly sprung up and looked around. Her eyes, baggy from sleeping so late the other night were still visible. Her hair, unclipped and disheveled, shone underneath the morning sun that peeked through the half opened window. She glanced at Seifer, who was looking at her strangely. Blushing, she removed the glasses from the bed and put it on her nose. She removed her hand that slid over his body and upon his chest and blushed an even redder crimson.
"Good, Trepe, keep it up. I'm sure red is your ideal colour." Seifer spoke, indicating the redness of Quistis' cheeks.
Quistis glared at him, standing up from her chair. She reached down to examine him. Breathing a sigh of relief, she gave Seifer a nod and a rare smile. "Well, I think you're getting better."
Seifer looked at her. He had no idea Quistis could return such a geniune smile towards Seifer Almasy. In most cases, he's never seen Quistis smile before, except maybe for Squall, the wonder boy. Yes, he knew everything about her little crush with Puberty Boy and he'll never forget that. He had to admit, Quistis was cute when she smiled.
"You know, you should smile often. Your deserve to."
Quistis looked at him, unsure whether she should take it as flattery or insult. She knew Seifer was never really good at complementing someone.
Realizing that he was saying them to her, she blushed even more, close to darker red and looked away. "Thank you," she murmured. She glanced at her watch and gasped. She had no idea she woke up late. She glanced at Seifer and smiled slightly. "Well, I'm late for my class. I think I better get going."
"Hey, Trepe?"
The blond woman froze. "Y-yes?" Why was she nervous all of a sudden? This was Seifer Almasy for goodness sakes! She turned her head towards him, meeting his eyes.
He turned away quickly, not wanting her to see him blush. Why was he acting this way? It was just a conversation, no big deal! But then again....... He shook his head of that thought. "Um... nothing, nevermind," he replied.
Quistis turned her body around, facing him this time. "If you're wondering if I forgive you, Seifer, then I guess I do." She smiled, turned and walked out of the room.
Seifer's eyes widened in shock. He never wanted her forgiveness. He scowled at himself. He never intended for this to happen. He didn't need Trepe's forgiveness. If she really did forgive him, then he would never have a chance to leave the place. He wouldn't be able to return for good without anyone's eyes scorning with fury towards him. Why? Why did he have to open his big mouth?
~~~~ Last night............
For the first time that night, they understood each other.
Quistis cleared her throat, turning her eyes away from his. She continued to damp his forehead with the wet cloth. Matron would have listened to what she said, but she was never ready to tell her. For some reason, when she began to speak honestly towards Seifer, she couldn't close her mouth. It was as if her mouth had a will on its own.
The blond man stared at her. He knew Quistis was full of knowledge, but he had no idea how full. The words she said, for some strange reason, affected him in some way. Affected him not in his mind, but in his heart. Smirking, he turned away from her and folded his arms across his chest, removing all the thoughts from his head.
"What do you know about life?" he asked, with so much venom in his voice. It was the only way for him to speak, without showing his emotion. He didn't like showing his feelings. He hated being sensitive. He hated her. For a long time, he resented her, despised everything she has done as an Instructor. She never showed any respect towards him. He knew that Trepe hated him too, with a passion.
She looked at him, removing the damped towel from his forehead and gripped it tighter in her hand. She closed her eyes. What did life mean anyway? "You're right, I don't know anything about life. All I've been doing is fall in love with someone, without any reason at all, except that I was just infatuated by his looks. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but all I've been recieving from him is a cold look. When Rinoa came into his life, I knew I could never compete with her. I became depressed and I began to trap myself in my own wall. All I could do now was watch them love each other. My life died with my emotions. It died with my feelings for him." She stood up and looked away. Tears began to form in her eyes and slowly, it streaked down her face. She wiped her tears away and looked out the window, opposite of the bed where Seifer laid.
Seifer watched her back. All the resentment he had with her disappeared before him. It walked away from his heart, replacing it with a deep sympathy towards the blond Instructor. Maybe it was the fever kicking in, who knows, but he felt something.
Quistis glanced over her shoulder, her face shadowed by the darkness of the room. "I think I better get going." She began to walk away.
"Quistis...." Seifer whispered.
The way he said her name, caught her attention and forced her to pause in her tracks. She turned her head towards him, her nose still red from crying. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, I think I better go."
Seifer's breathing became ragged. His eyes kept closing in fatigue and his body kept alternating temperatures, from cold, to warm, to cold again. He shivered. "The reason why I was out there in the first place was because I wanted to see Garden for the last time."
Quistis paused and turned around. "For the last time?"
Seifer nodded slowly, then turned his head away from her. "You wanted to know, so I told you."
The blond woman walked back towards the bed and looked down on him. Seifer looked up, their eyes meeting one another. For a brief moment, they saw each other's pain. Quistis sat down on the chair and stared at him, their eyes kept locked with each other.
Seifer's face was suddenly filled with fury, catching Quistis off guard. He furrowed his eyebrows and glared at her. "You think your life sucks, Trepe?! I was trapped. At least you have people to count on you, to pull you out of misery. You think I have that kind of trust?" He turned away from her. "You have no idea how much I suffer, so don't even bother asking me why I wanted to die." There was a gaping whole in his heart. There was something missing there. For a long time, he's been waiting for that hole in his heart to be filled, but it never came. All the guilt and shame filled his heart and darkened it forever.
Quistis looked down. She knew it then. She knew it now. Seifer was never a monster in the first place. But, what was his reason to die? He was being stupid! "Life is worth living, Seifer," she answered, after a moment of silence. "Are you saying you're just going to throw it all away because of something that happened in the past? Believe me, I've been in that situation before, where I wanted to die and wished I was never born." There was no mistaking, she still felt that way, but she knew she couldn't run away from her problems. "Life sucks, I know, but at least we still have what we want."
"Well, I don't...." Seifer retorted. "And if I do, I don't intend to find out what it is."
"Why not?"
"It's not worth it."
****************
She walked down the hall, straightening her blouse and her hair. All her thoughts were on last night. What happened between her and Seifer was a mystery, but she knew now she had someone to talk to. She couldn't help, however, thinking about his attitude on life. It was obvious to her he didn't want to live at all. He was in a state of depression. She understood now. All the scorn they had for each other was something out of respect. It's ironic, yes, she knew, but it was just the way they are. It was just their way of showing respect for each other. She sighed and continued down the hall.
She was just relieved Seifer was feeling better.
****************
He walked down the hall, hand in hand with his loved one. When they turned the corner, they were greeted by a very familiar blond, who bumped right into them. She looked up and gasped, noticing who it was she bumped into.
"Hey Rin... Hey Squall...." Quistis said, brushing imaginary dirt off of her clothes.
"Hi, Quisty!" Rinoa replied, waving at her.
Quistis smiled. That was always Rinoa. She was all smiles. She wanted to hate her for being so nice and for having him, but Quistis Trepe wasn't the type to interfere with their relationship. Her and Rinoa became close friends after the whole Ultimaecia ordeal, so there was no point anymore.
"Hey, Quistis," Squall said, his face expressionless. He shuffled his feet nervously and looked at Quistis. "Um...." He took a deep breath, then glanced at Rinoa for help. He didn't know how to start. He was never really good at apologizing.
"What Squall would like to say to you Quisty is sorry," Rinoa spoke up.
Quistis looked at Squall, angrily. "I would rather have him say that, Rin, if you don't mind." For a Commander like Squall Leonheart, he was incapable of solving problems with women.
Rinoa nodded and looked down, biting her lower lip. She knew that. She glanced at Squall and nudged him in the arm with her elbow. "What do you say, Squall?"
Squall rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked at Quistis. "I'm sorry, Quistis. What I did was uncalled for, so I hope you forgive me. Seifer can stay here until he gets better and then he is to leave, understand?" His tone of voice changed from a soft, apologetic manner to a hard, Commander-like attitude.
She had no other choice but to agree. She couldn't defy her Commander for the second time. It was also the fact that Seifer was, too, willing to leave Garden once he felt better. Reluctantly, she nodded.
Squall nodded, his face kept neutral and took Rinoa by the hand. He gave Quistis a strange glance, noticing the way she looked and shook the thought away, then left, with Rinoa dragging behind.
Rinoa looked back and waved at Quistis. "I'll see you later Quistis! BYE!!!" she yelled over her shoulder.
Quistis smiled and watched them go. Sighing, she continued to walk down the hall and back to her dorm room. She was going to be at least forty minutes late for class. Maybe she should call it sick and call a substitue teacher for today. Seriously, she couldn't keep her eyes open after sleeping for only three hours. Making her final decision, she opened the door to her room and plopped down on her bed with a loud 'thud!'
Her mind suddenly drifted back to Seifer. She couldn't help but feel remorse for the blond man. It was true he suffered more than her. She was admired by people, he was hated by them. Yet, under all the arrogant ways, Seifer Almasy was just like the rest of them. He had a soul and Quistis was the only person who caught that.
GoodGurl: Okay, that was boring. But I liked their interaction here. Don't worry, more Queifer will be coming soon. Stay tuned!