"He does what he does for a reason,
He says what he says for he feels,
He needs what he needs cause he longs for it."



Irvine took in a deep breath, as he stared at his tall reflection. His azure eyes gazed still for a long moment, as he thought solemnly to himself. Why had a girl like that kept him thinking so? Why hadn't she just escape his mind for once in a while? The tall cowboy slowly turned to his closet, piles of clothes lunging out of the open door. So he was a mess, he didn't want to find time, nor did he needed to. It wasn't as though, anyone was going to show up. Not anyone he'd hope for, anyway.
Irvine trudged over towards the closet, as he begun to dig through it, trying to find something more comfortable and carefree to fit his smug attitude. He quickly undressed, as he pulled on a white T-shirt, revealing much of his thin slightly muscular body. Irvine stared at himself, as he let out a longing sigh, and pulled on a pair of baggy blue jeans, something that he would have never decide on wearing until now.
He let out a short humored laughter, as the jeans sagged far below his waist, revealing most of his boxers. For once, he actually liked feeling light, it wasn't as heavy and stuffy as the jacket he constantly wore. It was perfect for a night like that, and he was going to make the most of it as he pulled all of his auburn hair back into a tight ponytail, revealing what beautiful shades of blue eyes he hid often.



The young man, sat solemnly in the loud rowdy pub, as his gaze trailed only among himself. He slowly brought the glass of hard liquor to his pouty lips as he took a long sip. Irvine paused, as he slouched slightly over the table, thinking back to previous incidents. He peered around the big area, as he noticed a group of women, probably nearing the ages of 21 sitting in a small table in the corner.
His eyes quickly turned to a figure beside him, as a tall red head stepped up. Her green eyes greeting him warmly, "Hey," the woman uttered, as she took a seat beside him, "Hope this seat's not taken."
Irvine smiled, lopsidedly, as he replied, "'Course not."
The woman's hand slowly reached out to him, "Fauna." He took it willingly, as he slowly brought it to his lips, kissing her soft hand slightly.
"Irvine," he replied, sitting back. The girl smiled shyly, as she reached out for his glass, and taking a quick shot.
"Sooo," Fauna uttered, her eyes trailing his figure, "How old are you?"
Irvine let out a laugh, as his head tilted to one side, "Why would you ask a question like that? Of course I've gotta be a certain age to be in here."
She smiled, "You don't look 21, I can tell. It's in your eyes." Irvine paused, as his eyes gaze upon her, her legs slightly crossed under her short skirt.
"How's that possible?" he uttered, playing along. Fauna leaned closer, close enough so that he could smell the sent of fragrance that the woman wore.
"Oh, trust me," she whispered, "it's possible...and you know what?"
Irvine smiled, "What?"
"....I can tell that you want me," she stated, a mischievous smile upon her pale face. Irvine paused, as he sat in silence, gazing upon the young woman. She was pretty all right, probably anything a guy would want. If he were in a better mood, he would have took in that offer willingly. If it even was an offer.
"What's wrong?" the girl uttered, interrupting his thoughts. Irvine's eyes fell upon her gaze yet again, as he shook his head. Fauna smiled, as she leaned closer.
"But it doesn't come that simple," she uttered, "I'm not like other girls. I don't do those things...I just wanna get to know you a little bit that's all...." Okay, so the girl's sober, Irvine thought, smiling to himself.
He slowly gazed up, "And what does that take?"
"Tell me about yourself," she replied, simply, as though she knew what she was talking about.
"There's nothing," he uttered, taking another drink. Irvine realized well, that he was becoming quite drunk, but he could care less. Everything made him lightheaded, at that very moment.
"Nothing...," Fauna repeated after him, her eyes trailing downward.
"'Cept that I'm a student at Garden...no ranks," he replied, "Can't remember." She smiled, as she brought her hand to her face, leaning against it.
"Garden," she uttered, "Must be fun." Irvine smiled, slightly as a sudden thought came to him. Sure, it was fun. When he wanted it to be. But something seemed to bother him more than anything, and it was perfectly sawn through.



"Where have you been?" Selphie squealed, as she shut the door behind her. Irvine's eyes opened slightly, as though the sun had shone and blinded him. He was laid on his stomach, as his face buried into the white sheets.
"YUCK!" Selphie yelled out, her voice ringing like bells, "You reek of alcohol! Irvy, you know you're not old enough to drink."
Irvine took in a deep breath, as his eyes stayed shut, and he mumbled, "Save the lectures." The brunette slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, as she stared at his back, he was dressed in the same thing as the previously night, telling of perhaps his whereabouts. She sighed, as she peered over him, bringing her tiny hands to his forehead.
"Are you sick?" she questioned, with almost a disgusted look upon her round face.
"Too....much---," before Irvine had a chance to finish, his blue eyes quickly opened, as he ran towards the bathroom, and hovered above the toilet, numerous chunks of excess food and liquid exiting his throat. He slowly kneeled downward, as he felt everything escape his lips, not wanting to stop.
Selphie quickly ran over to his side, as she patted him on the back, trying to help, "See! That's what you get, hangovers. Everybody was wondering where you were, Irvy." He kept at it, as he tasted every bit of it, wanting to throw it all out once again. Selphie's eyes quickly turned to the door of the bathroom, as she noticed Quistis standing beside it, her arms crossed.
"Rinoa was looking for you, Selphie," she uttered, "thought you'd be in here."
The brunette smiled, as she quickly arose to her feet, "Good that you're here, you could watch Irvine for me." Quistis had a questionable look upon her face, as she stood, Selphie walking passed her.
She stopped, "He was at some pub late last night. I'm gonna go down to get some hot water, or something. I'll be back in a minute." Without any hesitations or last words, Selphie quickly waked away, a tone of happiness as she left, leaving Quistis behind. She did that on purpose, the ex-instructor thought. She paused, as she watched Irvine, not once slowing down, as continuous sounds escaped him.
She had a disgusted look on her face, it even made her want to throw up. Irvine slowly stumbled, as he stood up, walking over to the sink, placing his hands under running water. He washed out his mouth, as he hovered over the sink in silence.
"Damn," he uttered, grabbing onto his stomach suddenly. Quistis' blue eyes trailed the man's figure. He looked so different, that it startled her.
"Are you okay?" the young woman managed to ask, as her eyes gazed upon him. His eyes slowly met hers, as it stared back, filled with coldness. Before he had a chance to answer, the pain began to become unbearable. He mumbled something beneath his breath, as his eyes closed, as though it could surpress the pain.
She kept her distance, as she watched him, "I think you should go to the Infirmary. You don't look too good."
He opened his eyes, Quistis paused as she realized they were tearstained. Had it hurt that much? "I'm fine," he shot back, as though he were mad at her for some unknown reason.
"Irvine, would you stop being so damn hard headed for once???" the young woman scolded, revealing how worried she must've been. His azure eyes gazed upon her, as he leaned his weight against the sink counter, sweat shown around his face.



He leaned his head back against the wall, as he sat in the chair, gripping onto the place where the pain had started previously. Irvine gazed at her from the corner of his eyes, as he noticed Quistis staring out the doorway, in search of something. She paused, as her eyes suddenly met his. She had an annoyed look upon her face, as she avoided him, acting as though she turned the other direction.
Her arms crossed her chest, suddenly, as she slowly began to run out of patience. Something, that never really happened to her before. Or perhaps, it was only because she felt his eyes staring at her as though she were dumbfounded. Irvine sighed, as he slouched back, thinking back to what had happened the previous night. He could still smell the scent of the hard liquor, upon his clothes. He gazed down at himself, as the waist of his pants nearly fell towards his knees. He was much too lazy to pull it back up.
Quistis let out a deep breath, as she walked towards the doorway, when suddenly Irvine's grip tightened around her wrist. Her blue eyes met his that instant, as she gazed downward at his sudden action.
He looked up at her, his eyes saddened, "Don't go." The young woman, quickly pulled her hand away, as she paused, waiting upon his sentence.
"I need to go find Doctor Kadowaski," Quistis replied, her voice timid, considering his condition. "You're not going to get any better sitting around here."
"You care," he uttered, his voice low.
She shook her head, "I never said I cared, Irvine. No person in the right mind, would have left you in there without a doctor."
His eyes squinted slightly, "So, why would you leave me now?"
"As you can see, I'm not a doctor," Quistis replied, annoyance ringing in her voice. Irvine bit his lip slightly, as he leaned over, his head hanging above his knees. He felt it again, it felt as though someone poked a knife into him, trying to pry him open. Quistis' eyes opened in surprise, as she bent down slightly, trying to read the expression upon his face.
"Irvine," she uttered, her hand upon his back, "Are you all right?" He slowly sat up, his eyes shut once again. Her hand rested upon his shoulder, as she tried to make sure he was okay. The young man's hand slowly reached for hers, as he took it.. Her blue eyes gazed into his, in silence, as she didn't bother to move away.
"Don't leave me," he uttered, his voice fragile. He slowly pulled her to sit down on the chair beside him. Quistis paused, as she turned to him, slightly. Irvine clasped her hands with his, as he pressed it warmly onto his stomach, his head leaned back, but his eyes never left her sight. She hadn't budged, as she sat staring back at him, the sweat evident upon his forehead. Quistis didn't know what to say to the man, she was more worried than anything else she would have felt. But she felt something more than just being worried, she felt something that far surpassed that, and she knew well what it was.



NOTE: Okay, did that make sense? Did you somehow get confused? If so tell me, Kay Kay. Review please! Thanks. Honestly, did this chapter suck?