Chapter 1

I'm waiting Quistis. Waiting for the right moment. When you're all beautiful and dressed up I'll be there to take your hand and guide you away to a place with me. Only me and you'll never want to return to your old life.

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Seifer is walking the Balbamb streets proud that for once being the one to leave her confused.

She's changed I can tell you that, but she's still a bitch to be with. Listening to her damn lectures again isn't going to be an easy task. I'm not backing down from reentering Garden this time though, even if they hate it.

The sunlight streams through the crack in her curtains. Quistis wakes up stretching her arms in front of her and walking slowly to the bathroom door.

"I have an hour until I my meeting with the Headmaster."

She sighs and looks at her reflection in the mirror dazing out into her own thoughts. 2 minutes later a knock on her door makes her some back to reality.

Who is it now?

"Hold on a minute!" Quistis combs her hair leaving it down for a little bit until she actually has time to pin it up. They knock again.

Can't they wait?

"Coming!" Quistis walks to the door and opens the door finding a smirking Seifer at the door.

"Don't you ever go away?" Quistis slams the door in his face but he catches it and walks in.

"You weren't invited in Alasmy. Get out." Quistis faces her back toward him and stands waiting for him to get out.

"Instructor I wouldn't get so rude all of a sudden due to the fact that you are going to teach your favorite student again." He says smirking still.

Quistis freezes for a millisecond and turns to him to find him smirking. "Wipe that smirk off your face Seifer Alasmy. You might think my class will be easy again but you better second guess since you can't even pass the exam."

Seifer crosses his arms over his chest and looks in her eyes. "Look who's talking."

"I have room to talk since I passed when I was 15."

"An instructor again. I'm surprised they gave your license back. What did you do, lay Cid?" Seifer says coldly.

Quistis feels a pang of pain hit her. "Get out." She says coolly. "Now."

Seifer looks at her one last time trying to see what she's thinking. He walks out keeping his cool, like nothing happened.

Quistis walks into the suddenly silent Garden and walks into the elevator. She presses the button that takes you to the 3rd floor and waits patiently for the annoying ping. It stops and she knocks on the thick doors and hears Cid's soft come in. When she walks in to find Squall and the others sitting in the chairs, facing the burgundy desk.

"What's going on, Headmaster?" she asks not looking at the others.

"Miss Trepe please take a seat with the others." She nods and sits far off in the corner crossing on leg over the other and looks at Cid impatiently.

"As most of you know you're only called here unless it's really important or an issue needs to be discussed. Well with the sorceress war over and everything, I've seen that everyone has moved on. Rinoa and Squall happily together. Selphie and Irvine making the Trabia repairs. Zell and his girlfriend taking it slowly and Quistis…" Quistis interrupts him.

"Could you make this long story short, I've got things to do." She really didn't want to here about how Cid had nothing to say about her miserable life. Cid gives her a look and continues on with another subject.

"Well anyway, Seifer and his posse are entering back in the Garden starting today. I have a meeting with him in 10 minutes. You guys are dismissed."

"Hold up. What do you want us to do, say cheers that he's back?" Squall says suddenly standing up.

"Just get along that's all I'm saying. I don't want it to be how it was before." Cid says looking straight at Squall.

Everyone leaves except Squall. Qusitis her skips meeting with Cid hoping not to run into Seifer again.

This was my sanctuary from Seifer and now he has permission to enter it.

Quistis throws her papers on her bed and grabs her coat and goes to the beach to think and be away from her stuffy dorm room.

Seifer Alasmy back in Balbamb Garden. This is gonna be his worse nightmare.

Quistis lets the wind blow past her hoping it will carry her away from here. She shivers and watches the sun go down some. The tides hit the rocks softly with its weak waves, hardly hearing the splashes as it hits the rocks. Getting lost in her thoughts she watches blank eyed with emotions taking her over.

Zell is walking around the beach trying to get the anger out of his system before he gets a run in with the great lapdog. Along the way he spots Quistis and walks in her direction to see her eyes closed and her face with a concentrated look.

"Quistis?"

Quistis's eyes shoot open and her face relaxes as she sees Zell.

"Yes? Can I help you with anything?" Quistis says business like.

Zell takes a seat by her and watches the water.

"You have a nice thinking place."

"Thanks. This is just the let the problems blow away type place."

"Oh." He watches Quistis features sadden as she watches the water again.

"Quistis, can I ask you something?" he says seriously.

"Yeah, that's why you came here in the first place isn't it?"

"You seemed sorta….uncomfortable when Cid started talking about our lives."

Quistis takes her eyes off the water and faces Zell with a serious expression. She thinks for a minute and starts drawing pictures in the sand with her finger, trying to look comfortable with the conversation with Zell.

"I just don't want my personal life talked about that's all."

"I don't think that's all because you seem the same way when everyone goes out to eat and you're the only one without a date."

Quistis looks at him one more time and stands up. She brushes the sand off her dress and backs away.

"I've gotta go Zell." Quistis starts off with a fast pace walk and then runs toward her home.

Zell watches her leave and turns his attention back to the waves.

Quistis, you're confused. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to run away from fears but face them? No matter if you're alone or not.