24: Her Song

My sense of fun was severed when Walter broke up with Oonagh. I didn't tell her exactly why he had done it but I assured her everything would work out in the end. I stayed with her in the library or our dorm most of the time. I tried enlisting the help of my friends and they did help a little bit. Rinoa fixed up Oonagh's hair and Quistis pretty much bought her a new wardrobe. It was Angel that was the most useful. She and Oonagh got to be close friends during that time. Thank Hyne for them all!

It wasn't until two weeks after that incident that I decided Oonagh was ready to be cheered up by Zell. At the end of week one she was asking about him but I waited until another week was over just to make sure she was ready. During that time I figured out that Oonagh kind of made herself believe she liked Walter so she wouldn't have to think about Zell so much. I thought I knew her really well but I never knew she had such strong feelings for Zell. I guess she buried them deep inside her heart so that no one would know; I think over time she was hoping to forget him. I guess that didn't work.

After two weeks I went to Zell and told him it was time. But of course it had to be special. There had to be a place where he could sing her the song that was special to the both of them. The only place Zell could think of that held any significance was the library. That was where they met each other for the first time. That would be a problem. Fujin, Jake, and I cleared out the library and warned people not to come in for a few hours. My next mission was to try and get Oonagh to come into the library without her suspecting anything. Luckily I'm a master of improvisation.

"Oonagh? I need you to do me a favor."

"What's that?"

"I got run out of the library again. Would you mind going in there and getting a book I left in there?" It was also lucky for me that I got kicked out of the library so frequently for being too loud.

"Miss Petite, not again! You're just like…" She paused.

"Zell?" I offered, grinning slyly.

"Yes. Zell." She blushed. "I know it's silly of me to be thinking of him. He doesn't care about me and I've had my heart broken twice. I suppose I'm just being silly."

"Things will work out," I assured her.

"I know. I'll go get that book."

"Okay!" I waited to make sure she was out of the room before I did a victory dance. Please let this work!

_____

Again, I didn't actually witness what followed but Zell told me everything later so it was almost like I was there. Zell was waiting for Oonagh in the designated spot. He was a little nervous but he was mostly excited. There was a book near where he was standing. That was the "bait" that was supposed to stall Oonagh long enough for him to make his move. She came in and went for the book just as planned. Zell waited until she picked it up before he made his presence known.

"Hey, Oonagh. How's it going?"

"Zell! You startled me!"

"Oonagh, I have to talk to you. It's really important."

"I can't stay for long," she said.

"I know. Will you just listen to me?" She nodded. "Okay, um… Well, first off, I'm sorry about what happened with you and Walter."

"Thank you."

"But there's something else I'm even more sorry for than that. Something I've been kicking myself for since I did it. It was really stupid and I hope you'll forgive me." Zell's face was scrunched and he gazed at Oonagh pleadingly.

"What are you talking about, Zell?"

"I'm sorry I neglected you."

"What?"

"I'm sorry I neglected you. You know, back when…."

"Back when I liked you," she finished for him. "That's all right. It was foolish of me to feel so strongly for you. I'm sure it made you uncomfortable."

"I felt the same way as you did, Oonagh," he whispered. She sucked in a breath.

"You what?"

"I cared about you too. I was just too scared to admit it."

"That can't be true. It can't be…"

"Oonagh, I called you my girlfriend, and I really meant it! I'm so, so sorry I never told you before. This probably isn't the best time for me to tell this to you, but I gotta say it! I just gotta let you know how I really feel." He paused and waited for her reaction. She stood there with her hands hanging limply at her side. She was on the verge of tears.

"I don't understand why you're doing this. Why are you saying these things to me?"

"Because they're true! I can't keep it in any longer."

"Stop it, Zell! You'll only hurt me more by lying to me!"

"Look at me! Do I look like I'm lying?"

"I can't Zell! I can't! I've wanted you to say this to me for so long, but how am I to know if it's true or not?" Zell closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"My gift is my song
And this one is for you
And you can tell everybody
That this is your song.

"And may be quite simple that
Now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world!

"Sat on the roof
And I kicked off the moss
Well singing these verses
Well they, they got me quite cross
But the sun's been kind
While I wrote this song
It's for people like you
That keep it turned on.

"So excuse me forgetting
But these things I do
You see I've forgotten
If they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is
That I really love you
Yours are the sweetest eyes
That I've ever seen!

"And you can tell everybody
That this is your song
And it may be quite simple
But now that it's done.

"I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world!"

There was a moment of silence that hung between them after he finished the song. Oonagh stared at Zell for along time without saying a word. Zell's heart was pounding. The song had been an expression of how he truly felt about her. If she rejected him, his heart would break.

"Zell," Oonagh whispered, "why did you wait so long? My heart was breaking because I thought you didn't care."

"I know. I'm sorry about that."

"But I guess I hurt you when I left, didn't I?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you, Zell. Thank you so much for caring about me." He put his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead.

"I don't just care about you, Oonagh. I love you."

"Oh, Zell. Do you mean it?"

"I mean it. I'll never be shy of my emotions when I'm with you ever again. I promise." He gently kissed her on the lips.

How wonderful life is

Now you're in the world…

Author's note: The songwriting scenario was my excuse for putting in this song. It really does fit Zell and Oonagh, though. It's originally from Moulin Rouge. I know it seems strange that Zell would be a good singer, but I say 'Why not'.