Almost: Chapter Four


Selphie sighed as she glanced at her watch again. Quistis was late, for the second time this week. She thought that had told Squall that the Garden Festival meeting would be at four tonight.
She'd been in charge of the Festival for the past two years, mostly because of popular vote. Perhaps it was because she was one of the few who get everyone to do exactly what she told him or her to do. Rinoa had described as 'scary' if she didn't get her way. They had all laughed about it - they called it her dark side.
Just as she was about to pull out her cell phone, Quistis ran into the office.
"I know! I'm sorry..."

"Quisty, if this is gonna interfere with whatever you gotta do for Squall..."
Squall had asked for Quistis' help on some project, something that had to do with the way the Field Exams would be run this year. Ever since she'd been asked, Selphie had barely seen her friend. And it seemed Rinoa was avoiding her a bit, as well and she didn't understand why.
"No... No. I am really sorry, Sef. I lost track of time, and...."

Selphie just shook her head. "It's alright, I went over the specs with Nida. He remembers one of the techs from FH. He'll be calling him tonight. But, I'll need you tomorrow, so we can conference with him. After all, this one is the special one."
This year's was not only a Garden Festival, but to also mark the one year anniversary of Squall being Commander.
"I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
"All.... Alright, Selphie."

Quistis heart had dropped somewhere into the pit of her stomach. She felt really bad for being late again. But this time, she'd get Squall to fix it. It was his fault after all. She could sense that Selphie thought she and Rinoa were being withdrawn, and she didn't know why. Quistis wanted to tell her, but Squall had told them they had to keep quiet. He hadn't threatened to pull rank on them, but they knew he wouldn't go through with it if she found out.
"What time tomorrow."
"Five?"
"I'll be here." With a slight nod, Quistis left, quietly shutting the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, Selphie dropped her forehead into her hands and sighed.


"Leonhart."
"Squall."
"Yes, Quistis?" A pause, then..."I made you late, didn't I?"
"Yep. Call her up there or something, and give her some excuse as to why you made me late. I don't like letting her down, Squall."
He sighed softly, but nodded. "Alright. I'll page her right now. Tell Rinoa not to bother tomorrow, you too. You guys are gonna spend the day with her."
"We are?"
"Commander's orders." They both laughed.
"Alright." Still smiling, Squall hung up the phone. But it faded as he debated over what to tell Selphie. He'd never been a good one with excuses, having never liked the thought of lying.

"Selphie Tilmitt to the Commander's Office. I repeat, will Selphie Tilmitt please come to the Commander's Office?"
She glanced as her name rang out over the loudspeakers, and then back down at the notes she was still making.
'Gah.' She thought to herself as she put down her pen, and made her way to the lobby to take the elevator.

"C'mon in." Was the answer to her soft knock. As she stepped inside, Squall glanced up from a folder, shut it, and flung into his 'in' basket.
"Selphie. Please." He rose, waiting till she was seated before he sat back down.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, why do you ask that?"
"You don't usually page us to your office, Squall."
He grinned wryly. "I don't, do I. Sorry about that. I just wanted to see how things were coming along, see if you needed anything for the Festival."
"Oh no.... It's going well. Nida is going to call one of the techs from FH, see if he can help us out with a design we're working on."
Squall nodded. "If he's able, let me know. We'll head over there so he can work on it."
"You'd do that?"
Squall nodded. "Like I said when you asked me to join... You've been working on this since last year, or so I've heard. I don't mind going to go pick someone up, if he's able to do what you need."
Selphie chuckled slightly. "Are you trying to cheer me up Squall? Last time you started, but you hadta have Irvine finish the job."
His right eyebrow went up, and he remarked dryly. "Now, just what is that supposed to mean?"
She grinned. "I'm just kidding, but thank you. That does mean a lot to me. But... While I'm here..."

He waited, already knowing she was going to ask about Quistis. Or at least, pretty sure.
"What is Quistis doing for you? I don't want the Festival to interfere... you know?"
"Actually, I didn't mean for her to be late. That is my fault, and I'm sorry. We were just going over the monster levels on the island of Heaven, trying to figure the reason why they are all at 100, and what we might do to amp some of the monsters here."
"For the Field Exam?"
"Not that high though. Perhaps to only twenty or so.... We don't want any of the Cadets to die. The T-Rex's here are only between eight and ten, but it has to be a challenge. I want the team to really work together, and it's a good way to help with their junction and magic training."

"That's a good idea, Squall. Better then sending them on a boat to the middle of a war zone..."
She was remembering their field exam, and he nodded. "I'd much rather wait till I'm sure of what they can do, before sending them onto a possible killing field. At least here, it will be controlled and watched."

"And you told us you wouldn't make a good Commander, I think you're doing a good job."
"Really?" Squall glanced at her, and she saw it in his eyes for a moment. A slight flicker of the doubt and fear that he felt, even after being at his post for nearly a year. Selphie grinned, stood, then leaned over his desk to wrap her arms around his shoulders.
"No."
He sighed against her, and she squeezed him. "I *know* you're doing a great job."
"Hyne, you are horrible, Selphie." His breath was tickling her neck because of his laughing. "Thank you."
She pulled back, smiling. Their eyes met, color of the summer sea locked upon the color of winter sky. Selphie didn't know how Squall felt, but she was being pulled towards his eyes, wanting to remove the hurt that she could still see there sometimes.
She started to lean closer towards him, and Squall felt his heart suddenly start pounding. As their breath mingled, he tilted his head back, their eyes still on each other.

Then the door banged open, and Rinoa's voice could be heard.
"And I brought the..." She trailed off as she saw the two of them. With a muffled squeak, she tried to back out, but Selphie, calm as ever exclaimed....
"There it is!" And she brushed her fingertips gently against his cheek, just under his left eye. "Got the lash that was bothering you, Squall. I'll be going now."

She made a rather dignified exit, even saying a cheerful 'Bye!' to Rinoa as she walked out. The moment she hit the elevator, she allowed herself to fall over, torn between giggling and crying.
Rinoa patted Squall's back gently- hopefully he was all right. His forehead had hit the desk pretty hard after Selphie had walked out.

---
Notes- More Selphie. ^^ Disclaimers: I don't own anybody. Fooey.
John- Yeppers. David Bowie played Jareth, and Jennifer Connelly (Conelly, sp? Dunno) played Sarah. It's a good movie. Go rent it, if you can! =)
BikoNeko - Yes, indeedy. It will be a Squall/Selphie.
effingdoris, amyangel, Lil Angel - Thanks. ^_^
BarrettMachain - I was watching MI:2, and I saw Squall instead of Tom.. so... (it might also be I have the U2 version of the theme on on my winamp playlist... ^^ hehehe) Yep, he has to go wig shopping tomorrow. With Zell, hehe.
Raven Delanuit - Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it.