~*~ I – How It All Concluded… ~*~
"THAT JERK!" cried Selphie as she ran. Her heart was filled with despair, anger, and humiliation. Blinded by her tears, she collided with someone.
"We should really stop meeting each other this way."
"Squall?"
"Why are you crying, Selphie?"
She managed to answer him between sobs, "It's *sniff* that jerk *sob* Irvine *sniffles* that no good *boohoo* flirtatious *cries* cheating *snort!* bastard!"
Selphie had just blown her nose into Squall's lucky shirt, but fortunately he didn't notice (he would have been royally pissed off, yah know). But since she had cheered him up that whole week, he wanted to return the favor. He had also had a few glasses of wine, and it made his true self –the caring, warm, loving, compassionate part of his personality that he usually kept safely locked away- show through (damn booze).
Not knowing what to do, but figuring that the diminutive woman was in need of consoling, he walked her to his room – one of the roses in her hair fell, but neither of them noticed it. Once inside, they both sat on the side of his bed and he tentatively put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Want to talk about it?" He inquired.
"No *sniff* , it's just too *sniff* painful." She replied with eyes swollen from crying.
"All right then." He said, silently relieved. – His relief didn't last long though.
"Ho, Squall!" She cried, "Why *boohoo* does this always *cries* happen to me? *SNIFF* First Nida and now Irvine! *SOBS*" ~;_;~
"Nida?" O_O
"Yes *sniff* he joined the Garden's Festival, and was really nice to me *sniff* but I thought that he was too shy to ask me out *blows nose* so I did."
"Huh, what happened?" Inquired a puzzled Squall, for he was unable to picture Nida breaking anybody's heart.
"After six months of *boohoo* dating he broke up with me *sniff* or rather he confessed *cries* that he was never attracted *sniffles* to me but *sob* was too shy to tell me before."
'Ho sweet Hyne,' thought our friend, 'I am surrounded by weirdoes.'
"I *sniff* know it's stupid, but *boohoo* I feel that no one cares about *sob* me."
"I care, Selphie." Said Squall, putting his arms around her tiny frame, "After I talked to Rinoa, I waited for you in the Quad. I saw you coming in and then following Irvine and Fujin, and I went after you."
"You're so *sniff* nice, but what about Rinny?"
"It's over between her and me," explained our friend, still surprised that she would put another person's feelings before her own, "But don't worry, we had an honest talk and decided that it was for the best."
"I just want someone to be honest with me too," continued Selphie, "And to accept me as I am, but I guess it's too much to ask…"
"No, Selphie," said Squall, "You deserve those things, and even more."
"You really think so?"
"I know so…"
They should have said goodbye then, but the past few days had changed too many things, and he had changed a lot too. In a spontaneous gesture, born of feelings he couldn't start to understand, his lips found hers and they were joined in a gentle embrace. He wasn't as experienced as her former beau, but his caress was giving and sweet… and comforting.
She didn't pull away this time…
---------------
… tonight must last us forever,
forever we say goodnight and go home
But you know me very well,
and I know you, you can't tell me goodnight
say goodnight…
Say goodnight when we should say goodbye…
say goodbye…
(Shandy – KISS)
---------------
They did not say goodbye…
Sometime during the night, Squall awoke alone. So she had left, as had everyone who had ever mattered in his life. Why was he doomed at being abandoned? It really broke his heart that Selphie had gone, for in the past week his feelings for her had changed from friendship to something stronger. He was slowly drowning in a bottomless pit of despair, when suddenly the door of his room opened slowly and a silent form made her way to his bed.
Selphie was wearing Squall's robe, which was way too big for her, and before slipping under the covers she discarded it. Cuddling close to him, she noticed that he was awake.
"Sorry, Squall," she apologized softly, "I didn't mean to wake you."
Relief was apparent in his voice, "I am so glad you came back, I thought that you regretted and that I would never see you again."
"Don't worry, I will never abandon you…" she reassured him gently, "Hush now."
He was about to ask what she'd been up to, but her needful kiss efficiently silenced him. And then he forgot all about the incident.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~ Early morning, the next day ~*~
Rinoa's steps brought her towards Squall's dorm; she just wanted to make sure that he was all right after last evening's conversation. When she got there she recognized the yellow rose in front of his door, and she then understood who had taken her place in his heart. She felt sorrow of course, for something had just died and that always hurt. On the other hand, happiness for her spirited friend filled her heart. "You better be good to her, Squall Leonhart." She said softly.
As she walked away –from his room, and from him- she wiped a tear from her eye. At the same time she felt relieved, for he wouldn't be alone and maybe, just maybe, Selphie would be able to give him what she could not. It also meant that she was free, and that she had a lot of thinking to do. Her musings were interrupted by a booming voice.
"He, Rinoa! Where are you going?"
She nearly jumped out of her socks –'nearly' because she wasn't wearing any socks- and turned to face the tall tanned man. "Ho, Raijin, you scared me."
"Ho, sorry," He apologized, "Are you all right?"
"Huh, yes, it's just that too many things have happened."
"Well, you forgot your book yesterday." He said, handling her the volume, "And I took the liberty of writing a dedication for you in the cover."
The guy was really nice and friendly, and last evening had completely changed her opinion of him, "Thank you, and would you like to have breakfast with me?"
"Sure, I usually go to Balamb on Sundays."
"Sounds great." She replied, and –after putting her boots back on, for she had jumped out of them- accepted his gallantly offered arm.
As they were making their way to Garden's parking, she remarked, "Raijin, I don't mind you saying 'yah know' at the end of each sentence."
"You don't think it's annoying?" he said surprised.
"No, in fact I think it's cute."
"All right then, yah know."
Rinoa suddenly felt that this day would be a good one after all, and she smiled happily at her companion. She didn't care that all the others thought of Raijin as being as strong as an ox, and almost as smart – she knew better.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of Irvy
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
Can you give it all to Irvyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
(Irvine Kinneas' rendition of KISS's *I Was Made For Lovin' You*)
---------------
The cowboy awoke, and tried to remember what had exactly happened last night. First of all he should have gone easy on the Shiva Lager [cold beer for cool people], for it always clouded his mind more than other drinks. "Next time I'll stick to Ifrit Cola [the refreshing cola for hot folks]", he mouthed softly. Irvine then made to rise, but was grabbed in an iron-strong grip and thrown back onto the bed.
"STAY"
Her lips claimed his with passion. He stared at his silver-haired companion and suddenly remembered it all. 'Shit shit shit shit! It wasn't a dream!' he thought, 'No, wait! Actually it's a good thing! This woman is amazing!'
"SOMETHING WRONG?" she inquired with concern.
"Huh, no baby," he replied, "I… well, this is a surprise…"
"GOOD ONE?"
"Yes, a great and incredible one, but we have to talk."
"AGREED"
Irvine started, "I really like you, Fujin, but a man like me owns it to the women of this world…"
"RULES"
"Huh, what rules?"
"OTHER WOMEN…"
"I'm glad we agree…" – smiling ^_^\ [ \ is his ponytail]
"…OFF LIMITS"
"What?" – losing the smile o_o\
"NO FLIRTING"
"But…" – confused O_o\
"EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP"
"Wait a mi…" – scared O_O\
"COMMITMENT EXPECTED"
"Gah!" – shocked @_@\
"CONSEQUENCES"
"Consequences?" – near tears ;_;\
"AFFIRMATIVE"
"What consequences?"
Fujin whispered to his ear, "If you cheat on me… mumble… whisper… murmur… UNDERSTOOD?"
'OW!' though our friend.
"BUT IF FAITHFUL" she started then whispered to his ear some more, "I'll… mumble… mumble… and then… whisper… whisper… and even… murmur… murmur…" – [A/N: can't write that out loud or the rating will skyrocket]
"HEEEEEEEEEEW HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!" exclaimed Irvine, in pure cowboyish exaltation.
In fact, Fujin shouldn't have worried. You see, no one was stupid enough to cross her, and so Irvine was branded 'off limits' to the rest of Garden's female (and also male) population. Fortunately for him he changed his ways, and as weird as it may seem [as if anything in this crappy story makes any kind of sense so far] she really made him happy and fulfilled.
Gallantly he offered, "Say, baby, yah want some breakfast?"
"SURE"
"Well then, I'll go get sumtin', don't yah go a wander." He said and got dressed.
Fujin blew Irvine a kiss and he pretended catching and putting it to his lips, he then opened the door, stepped out of his room and…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vivo per lei da quando sai I live for her, you know, since
La prima volta l'ho incantrata. The first time I met her.
Non mi ricordo come ma I do not remember how, but
Mi e entrata dentro e c'e restata. She entered within me and stayed there.
Vivo per lei perche mi fa I live for her because she makes
Vivrare forte l'anima. My soul vibrate so strongly.
Vivo per lei e non e un peso… I live for her and it is not a burden…
(Vivo Per Lei – Andrea Bocelli)
---------------
"Good morning, beautiful…" Squall said softly.
"Good morning," she replied, "Slept well?"
He gently turned her so she would face him and smiled, "Better than I have in a very long time."
She kissed him tentatively, to which he responded with an abandon that she never suspected he was capable of. If life allowed her to get to know him better, she had no doubt that it would be an interesting journey. Her emerald-eyes locked on his steel-blue ones, and she whispered, "Squall, I have something to tell you…"
"I know," he answered, "We need to have a serious conversation, Selphie."
His next words changed everything forever.
"Sephy, what happened last night… it meant something to me."
"It meant something to me too…"
"I don't know why I never noticed before how beautiful, and wonderful you are," he continued, "And if you'll have me, I want to give it a shot."
"I want to give it a shot too." She replied.
Her striking eyes sparkled with happiness, and he felt a warm feeling in his heart just looking at her. He knew that Selphie would challenge him to change every step of the way, and make him become a better –and happier- person. It was a great thing, the best thing that could have ever happened to him.
"Say, why did you get up during the night?" he asked, "You really got me concerned."
"I just had a little score to settle." Replied the brunette with a mischievous spark in her green eyes.
"Score to settle?" Inquired Squall, but before he could pry any further, a loud scream of agony came from the corridor.
"HOLY $#*&!!! MAH LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEG!!!"
"Selphie, you didn't put that bear-trap in front of Irvine's room, did you?"
"Tee Hee!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~ THE END ~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: And there you have it, my entry for the Squallphie contest. As I recall, the following points will be considered:
1) How creative is the plot? [Guess I can kiss that one goodbye]
2) How well does the plot line flow? [That one too]
3) Believability within the FF8 storyline? [Ditto]
4) Spelling/Grammar? [Me fore suer wil skor point inn taht cat-gory]
5) OOCness within reason [Another one down the drain…]
6) Reasons for their behavior [Damn!]
7) Incorporation of various genres while sticking to a main one [Yay! I'll get a good grade here… Oops! It's 'sticking' not 'stinking', sorry]
Good luck to all the contestants! - Hyne knows that I need it :(