Balamb Garden's Yuletide Vacation
Chapter Eleven
Monday, December the Eleventh
Monday morning Nicole was forced to open the library on her own because Zell had taken on a morning fighting group. Nicole was happy he was doing so well but she hated entering the gloomy, empty Library by herself. Being a Mystic Hyneist, Nicole believed she lived in a world filled with disembodied spirits and she was afraid of them. This was the real and secret reason that Nicole always had her current boyfriend with her.
As quickly as she could, Nicole flipped on every light in the library and looked around into every corner and shadow to assure herself she was alone. Nicole believed Quistis, she did believe the ex-sorceress' knight resided at Garden, but not in the flesh. Nicole was convinced they were being haunted by Seifer's restless spirit.
Nicole kept her beliefs to herself, however. Mystic Hyneism was often scoffed at so its practitioners usually kept to themselves and had created something of a secret society. Nicole didn't want to be laughed at but she knew the situation was soon to reach critical mass. Only offering him gifts of sweets and milk each night until solstice eve when a special ritual must be performed at sundown would appease Seifer's tormented soul.
Setting out books for the monthly book and magazine sale, Nicole pondered just how she was going to broach the truth of the Seifer situation with her friends. She was sure they would all be resistant to the idea but Nicole had faith they would all be swayed once their ears heard the Truth.
Nicole checked her watch, only five minutes until the library officially can open for the day, thank Hyne! Her nerves were frazzled beyond belief, she was sure she could feel Seifer's eyes on her at that very moment. Tami, Nicole's coworker, should have reported for duty fifteen minutes prior. Where could she be? Nicole couldn't wait much longer and the magazines still needed to be put out before the throng of students came to shop. Oh well, Nicole decided, I'll just be quick about it.
Grabbing her purse, Nicole scurried away to the lady's room. Moments later, a very tired appearing Tammy reported for duty. Correctly assuming Nicole to be where she was, Tami slumped down into one of the reading room's chairs to catch whatever seconds of beauty sleep she could. She only awakened ten minutes later because the impatient students were pounding loudly on the library doors.
Lazily making her way across the library Tami complained, "Okay, Okay, hold your chocobos!" I wonder where Nicole is? I don't wanna have to handle this crowd all by myself, I might break a nail on the cash register.
"Hey, where are the magazines?" asked Irvine. He periodically volunteered at the library because the staff employed mainly females.
"Right there," Tami smiled up at Irvine while pointing at several unopened boxes, "but I can't seem to find Nicole anywhere." Her voice took on a helpless, plaintive tone. "Irvine, would you please fill in for me so I can go find Nicole?" The truth was, Tami was craving a cigarette and simply didn't feel like setting out all the magazines and she knew Irvine was a pushover.
"Why certainly, Tami," he tipped his hat at her and began to unpack the magazines.
Meanwhile Nicole was in the private ladies room of the library. Thankfully it was only open to the staff and students by permission. Nicole would have been caught in this embarrassing position. She had been horrified and panicked to discover that she had been glued to the toilet seat but was able to calm herself enough to realize that sooner or later Gerri would come back for one of her numerous cigarette breaks. Nicole hated to ask the prissy Tami for anything, but she would do anything to keep the girl quiet.
Instead of crying or getting angry at the situation, Nicole saw it as further evidence of Seifer's haunting of Garden. "Oh Seifer…" she said aloud, sadly.
Although there was no direct secret entrance into the ladies room, if Seifer stood in the right place he could hear anything spoken aloud there. He'd been waiting there to listen to the shrieks and screams of the first girl that used the toilet. He'd been badly disappointed that his victim had only called for help a few times before giving up. Certain she would suffer humiliation when found, Seifer patiently waited at his listening post for that magic moment.
When Nicole said his name aloud Seifer froze. How can she know I am here? Is she psychic? She'd never expressed belief in Quistis' stories before. Why? Does she know something?
Nicole continued talking to him. "Don't you know these pranks won't get you anywhere?"
Seifer immediately recognized Nicole's voice. She was such a goody-goody Seifer was glad she had been the one to get glued. It still bothered Seifer that she seemed to have knowledge of him, rather than just believing in the rumors.
"You'll never get into heaven this way, you know," she went on to say.
Oh great Hyne, Seifer smirked to himself, she's giving me a religious lecture. Leave it to Zell to get involved with a religious nut.
"I understand the afterlife is a scary place, Seifer, but this is a learning experience for your soul. Please consider stopping this deplorable behavior and start helping people with your ghostly power!"
Seifer had his hand across his own mouth, doing his best not to make any noise. Oh yes! She thinks I'm a ghost! This is too perfect!
Nicole sighed and rested her head against the stall wall. She heard the door to the ladies room open and immediately Nicole called out. "Tami? Is that you?"
"Nicole? What are you doing back here?"
Nicole flushed red as she confessed, "Um… Tami… I'm glued to the toilet."
"What?" Tami peeked into the stall and began to laugh.
"Yeah, ha-ha," said Nicole sarcastically, "very funny."
Tami pulled out a package of Ochuls, a cheap brand of cigarettes, and lit one. She would much prefer to smoke Malboros but they were just too expensive. Tami took a long drag and leaned against the wall as a plan began to formulate in her little mind. Smoking Ochuls were an acceptable sacrifice to make for working such an easy job, and it was just about to get easier.
"You know, Nicole, I think I'd better yell for help!"
Nicole's eyes opened wide. "Oh no! Please! Don't do that!"
"Then however shall I get you unstuck?" Tami asked sweetly.
"Go get Quistis," she answered, "she'll know what to do… and hey? Who's watching the front?"
Tami shrugged. "Oh, I got Irvine to do it."
That pig, thought Nicole, but let it slide. "Please go get Quistis and don't tell anybody about this, please?" Nicole begged the lazy girl who held Nicole's pride in the palm of her hand.
Tami chuckled and savored her cigarette. "What's in it for me?"
I knew this would happen. "What do you want?"
"I want to keep this job," explained Tami, "and I know you have been complaining about my performance. I want you to only give good reports about me, no matter what I do." She smiled smugly at Nicole through the crack in the stall door.
Nicole felt she had no choice and agreed without thinking further. "Damn you, Seifer!" she cursed when Tami had gone off to find Quistis. A malevolent laugh echoed through the room. Nicole shuddered and blanched. She knew she needed to talk with her friends as soon as was humanly possible.
~*~
After having seen the damage done to poor Nicole, Quistis new she could no longer wait to solve this Seifer dilemma. Not knowing where else to turn because no one seemed to believe her, Quistis decided to pay a call to Edea at her and Cid's private apartment. Maybe Matron will have some idea of what to do, hoped Quistis.
"Who is it?" Edea called out in response to Quistis' knock.
When Quistis explained who she was, the former sorceress quickly invited her to enter. Edea offered her a hug and greeted, "How wonderful to see you. How have you been? Is everything alright?" Matron, who had known Quistis for most of her young life, observed immediately the tight lines of stress that were not usually visible on her normally beautiful features.
"No, it isn't," Quistis admitted quietly.
"It's this Seifer thing, isn't it?" the older woman asked. Seeing the shocked expression on the young woman's face, Edea explained, "Cid filled me a little on this whole thing. Come on, I need to finish unpacking." Quistis followed her only mother figure into the small bedroom.
"Feel free to sit anywhere," Edea invited as her suitcases were lying open on her side of the king size bed. The former sorceress began to lift clothing from a suitcase, smoothing each out as best as possible before hanging it.
"So what's on your mind specifically about this?" Edea asked.
Quistis examined the serious expression on Edea's face. "You believe me don't you… about Seifer I mean?"
"Well, I don't exactly disbelieve you, Quistis," Edea said evasively.
"Huh?" Quistis was thoroughly confused, though she knew instinctively that her mother figure was hiding something.
Edea sighed. "Cid and I truly want to believe that Seifer is alive. That poor boy has never really had much of a chance," she said softly.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"I'm not, Quistis," she explained, "What I mean is Seifer has never given himself much of a chance. As long as he's alive I believe he still has a chance for happiness."
"Okay…" Quistis looked dubious.
Edea continued to unpack and she explained gently, "Look Quistis, everyone forgave me and Seifer was only following MY orders. I am disgusted that Seifer is being used as a scapegoat by so many. I am likewise disgusted that the board of directors has chosen to cover up the fact that he ever existed!"
"Board of directors?"
"Yes," said Edea, "what few know is that when Norg died his half of Garden was divided up equally among the largest shareholders. Cid and I are forced to answer to a board of directors. As bad as they are, however, they are better than Norg."
"Oh…"
"Never mind that!" Edea laughed ruefully. "Let's assume that Seifer is indeed secretly among us, what did you want to ask me about?"
"Well, said Quistis. "Seifer appears to be attempting to disrupt everybody's holiday fun with cheap tricks rather than actually causing anyone physical harm," replied Quistis, carefully keeping Nicole's incident to herself. "I'm trying to imagine what exactly his 'payoff' is or what he is trying to accomplish through all his tomfoolery."
Edea looked up from her clothes handling and smiled. She placed one of the suitcases on the floor and sat in its' stead. "Do you remember anything from back then?" she asked kindly.
"No, not really," Quistis answered shaking her head. "Just bits and pieces, now and then."
"That's what I thought," Matron explained. "Well when Seifer first got there....
"Who's that, Matwon?" a very small blond-haired boy asked.
"His name is Seifer and he's going to be staying with us. You need to be nice to him and I'm sure he'll be nice to you," Edea answered.
"Seifer?" the child said too loudly as it turned out. "What kind of crazy name is that?"
"Now Zell," Matron cautioned, "everybody can't have a name as traditional as yours. And please be nice, it's Solstice Eve."
As it turned out, it was too late for Zell to be nice to the newcomer as Seifer launched himself across the uneven ground jumping onto Zell and pummeling him. As he struck him again and again with his balled up little four-year-old fists, Seifer exclaimed, "So you think my name is funny, do you? I'll show you how funny I am! It's MY birthday and I can do what I want!"
The woman jumped between the two boys, pulling each away with a different arm and then holding them separate from each other. "Please Seifer! Zell! Tonight is Solstice Eve, so no more fighting."
Seifer wrenched himself free and ran a number of feet away. "Solstice Eve! Who cares?" he screamed. "My mommy and daddy are dead! My home was burned down! I hate Solstice Eve and I hate all of you too!"
Running further away with tearing streaming down his little cheeks, Seifer cried out, "I just want things to be the way they used to be. I wanna go home!"
Quistis dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief that she pulled out of her skirt pocket after Edea had finished speaking.
"That certainly explains a lot, doesn't it?" Quistis asked rhetorically. The young woman stood up. "Thank you so much, Matron. That really helps me understand what Seifer is going through right now."
"What about you?" Edea asked.
"Me? What about me?"
"Cid said that he thought you were having a difficult time yourself with the holiday season."
"Well, I have to admit I've felt better," Quistis confessed.
Edea inquired, "Do you recall when you entered Garden?"
Quistis thought back for a moment and then just shook her head.
Edea said, "Cid told me about the first time he saw you after you were adopted by the Trepes." Edea motioned for Quistis to reseat herself and continued speaking.
An average size man, with longish brown hair who was wearing glasses was standing in a large room filled with outlandish items that no one quite understood. This was his 'office.' He looked to be his in late thirties and was beginning to develop a small paunch due to rich food and not enough exercise.
A knock suddenly came upon his door. "Come," he invited.
The door opened and a teenage girl with black hair styled in a page cut entered the room. She was rather short, had a trim little figure and was not unattractive.
"Yes, Xu," the man said. "What is it?" he asked.
The teenager, whose name was apparently Xu, answered, "A family just brought the new girl. Should I bring her up to meet you?"
Cid shook his head ruefully and murmured, "On Solstice Eve too, what is the matter with people?"
"What, sir?" the teenager asked somewhat confused.
"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking out loud. No, I'll come down and meet her. We're going to have our annual holiday meal soon anyway. What's her name?"
"Quistis, I believe, sir," replied Xu.
"Quistis, hmmm? Seems like that name is familiar to me. Oh, well, let's go meet this Quistis."
Quistis stood stunned. "Now that you mention it, I do remember that. I felt so badly to just be dumped off like that on a holiday. I wonder why I didn't recall it? The use of GFs, you think?"
"There is a mechanism called denial," explained Edea, "in which we repress memories we find too painful to deal with right then. I think that's what happened to you."
Quistis nodded and gulped back the tears that were threatening to erupt. She took a deep breath. Desiring to change the uncomfortable subject, she said, "I just wish I could figure out how he's managed to get around without being seen."
"You're a smart girl Quistis, I know you'll figure it out." Edea said pointedly to Quistis. "Just look a bit closer." The former sorceress reached out, took Quistis hand and pressed something cold and metallic into Quistis' palm.
Looking down, the beautiful young teacher was surprised to see that her Matron had given her a large brass key. "What's… this for?"
"Sometimes it's best to find things out on your own."
Completely bewildered, but not wanting to push her luck with Edea, Quistis said, "Thank you so much, you've really been a big help."
Edea smiled and replied, "That's what I'm here for and I strongly suggest you speak to Cid also. I'm sure he can help you. I'll tell him you'll be by."
"Okay, I shall," Quistis promised, the stress lines across her features having disappeared for the time being.
Edea walked her 'daughter' to the door, and as she exited, Edea said, "Just do me one small favor, Quistis?"
"What's that Matron?"
"If you do find Seifer… try to help him. For me?"
"I'll do my best," promised Quistis.
~*~
Irvine sat at a table in the corner of the coffee shop. Gone was his usually laughing and joking facade, and he sat solitary and morose. Around him the room was a hubbub of activity and happiness, as people sat together at different tables talking and laughing.
On the far side of the shop Rinoa and Andrea stood painting a holiday mural on the wall. Irvine was impressed with how well done the painting appeared and the fact that Rinoa seemed to have some real talent. From where he was sitting, she certainly appeared to be some real talent in some other areas as well, since she had worn the same outfit as on the previous day, flashing LCD light on her nose included.
Earlier Irvine had managed to over hear the young sorceress explain to her new best friend that all of her other holiday outfits were in the laundry, plus Rinoa went on to explain she was expecting a new outfit via Estharian Express momentarily. The longer Irvine watched the two young women, the more he was struck with their resemblance to his other. You know, they could be twins, he thought. How strange.
Matt sat down in the chair across the table. "Say, how ya doing? You look as though you're still having problems with Selphie."
Irvine grimaced. "Good deduction, Sherlock. What was your first clue?" he asked sarcastically.
"Actually most people don't realize that Sherlock used induction rather than deduction," Quistis' boyfriend replied.
"Whatever," Irvine retorted. He knew that Squall had that particular phrase copyrighted, but assumed he could safely use it a few times a year without having to pay royalties.
"Well, you know what they say, a stitch in time saves nine," Matt pontificated.
Irvine frowned and started to speak to Matt in protest of any further blathering on his part when suddenly a song blared forth from the intercom. The recording was of the traditional tune and arrangement, but the normal voices had been removed and replaced with three people singing live.
"Rinoa the Red nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose.""Like a lightbulb."
And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glowed."
"Like a lightbulb"Almost the entire population of the coffee shop burst into laughter as soon the new wording was recognized. The only people not laughing were Irvine, who was too miserable to laugh at anything, Rinoa, and Andrea who watched in horror as the tips of Rinoa's Angel Wings burst forth on her back. She also noted her new friend appeared to be struggling with repeating some numbers. Matt was completely red-faced from exertion and was laughing the hardest and loudest of all.
"All of the other SeeDs used to laugh and call her names"
"Like bimbo."
"They never let poor Rinoa join in any SeeDy games."
"Like pocket hockey!"Andrea suddenly took complete charge of the situation. She took Rinoa by the hand and led her into the center of the coffee shop. Andrea suggested, "Come on, lighten up! It's a joke. Go with it, let's dance!" And she began to lead the young sorceress in some slow but silly dance steps.
"Then one foggy Solstice Eve Night, Squall came to say"
"Whatever"
"Rinoa with your nose so bright, won't you come with me in the Ragnarok tonight."
"Oooh-ahh, oooh-ahh."
Rinoa threw her head back and quickly abandoned her budding anger into the silliness of dancing. Soon almost everyone in the coffee shop was up and dancing also.
"Then all the SeeDs loved her-"The singing abruptly halted. "Bah, humbug!" growled a familiar voice. Click – the intercom was turned off. The population of the coffee shop ceased dancing and burst into spontaneous applause directed at Rinoa. Some people actually slightly bowed to her. "Oh thank you so much," Rinoa whispered to her new friend. "You saved the day." Andrea beamed in happiness in return to Rinoa.
On the lowest MD level Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin stood around the computer where they had been watching the coffee shop on the computer screen that came to them through the security camera. Raijin was still holding the tiny microphone that was linked to the intercom that they had been using to transmit their singing. Fujin leaned over and stopped the CD from playing the music of the holiday song.
"That girl ruined everything," Seifer snarled. "Who is she?"
"Got no clue, ya know," replied Raijin.
"Find her," Seifer ordered. "And when you do, I'm gonna massively mess her up."
Upstairs in the coffee shop the excitement was beginning to wind down. Matt declared, "That was wonderful. I don't know when I've laughed so hard."
Irvine looked glumly back at him. Matt attempted to say something worthwhile again. "He who hesitates is lost."
"Huh," replied the lonesome cowboy. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Irvine sat straight up in his chair. Finally something Matt had uttered had actually made sense to him and it seem to coincide with Selphie entering the coffee shop with Quistis at her side. "Oh, I got'cha," Irvine exclaimed standing up from his chair and crossing the coffee shop.
As soon as she and Selphie entered the room, Quistis could faintly hear Matt's voice calling to her through the din of the crowd. She refused to turn her head and possibly make eye contact with him, because she didn't particularly wish to see him right now and later she could say she didn't hear him.
Selphie and Quistis approached an open table in the far corner. Before they could even sit down Irvine was standing in front of them. He lowered himself to one knee and took Selphie by the hand. "Selphie," he solemnly asked. "Will you marry me?"
Selphie blushed bright crimson but whether it was caused by embarrassment or anger was in question until she exclaimed, "Marry you?! Are you crazy? We've never even gone on a real date!"
"Well, then," Irvine said, ignoring the fact that it was Selphie who had always claimed to never have the time to go on a real date, "go with me on a date."
"On a date?! I will not! I wouldn't go to a dogfight with you...you...you gigolo! Come, Quistis, the air is suddenly fetid in here."
She and Quistis quickly exited the coffee shop leaving Irvine still resting on one knee completely stunned and Matt calling out "Quissy" in their wake.
After Rinoa and Andrea finished painting the mural in the coffee shop, the young sorceress invited her new friend back to her room to relax until the dinner hour. Rinoa was aghast when she entered her room with Andrea by her side to see a young man wearing a garish red jump suit of some sort hunched over one of her open bureau drawers.
"Hey there!" Rinoa called out completely startling the intruder who straightened up immediately and turned toward them. He was still clutching articles of clothing.
Stepping angrily towards him, Rinoa accused, "Who are you and what are you doing going through my underwear?" She yanked the bra from him that he had still been hanging on to, as if he still hoped he could retain at least one article.
"M-My name is Dart," he stammered.
"Dart?!" Andrea echoed. "Are you certain you heard your family correctly?"
The young man flushed. "I never knew my family much, but I was told that was my name."
"Okay, okay," Rinoa said impatiently tired of the discussion. "What are you doing in my room, besides running your grubby mitts through my drawers?"
"That's not fair, my hands are clean," he complained.
"We're not talking about your hands, you dolt!" Andrea suddenly cried out. "What are you doing here?"
"I was sent by Commander Leonhart to take down all these holiday decorations and restore the room to its previous drabness." It was true. Rinoa had taken the usually green and yellow motif, resembling spinach and summer squash, and turned her room into a veritable Holiday Land. Even Andrea was surprised. I bet Rinoa could sell tickets for tours of this place, she thought.
"Oh, you were, were you?" Rinoa said in response to the student's answer. Rinoa stepped purposely all around him as she spoke. He nervously attempted to keep his eyes locked on her at all times, besides trying to keep them in his head. The upperclassman had not seen Rinoa's latest outfit and it was quite obvious he approved.
Andrea, picking up on the student's sudden interest in Rinoa's outfit, declared, "I think he's a perv. He wasn't sent down here at all. He came on his own to steal your underwear. He probably puts it on late at night."
"No, no!" the young man protested reddening deeply. "I was sent down here by Commander Leonhart."
"To go through my drawers?" Rinoa interrupted.
"No, that not," he sheepishly admitted.
Rinoa continued, "I think you would be benefit from the doctor's sexual dysfunction group." The young man visibly blanched. Known around Garden as Perv 101, it was the kiss of death to your career to be placed in the group; plus no one outside of the group would have anything more to do with you.
"Please, not that," he pleaded. "I'll do anything, anything at all...just tell me."
"Okay," Rinoa quickly agreed, a malicious smile forming on her lips. "You are to go to the Commanders' bedroom. He never returns there until late at night. Trust me," she spoke ruefully.
"Yes ma'am," he answered.
"Here," the dark-haired woman continued while handing him a large box of holiday decorations. "Put these up in his room and then leave this note on his bed."
Rinoa bent over her desk and scribbled on a piece of paper, Happy Holidays, love Rinoa. Handing the upperclassman the note, Rinoa directed, "Come on, I'll go with you and unlock his room with my key."
As the three young people left Rinoa's room, Andrea praised, "Oh, Rinoa. You are so devious, you're a joy to know."
Rinoa giggled, joyfully leading the way with her reindeer tail bobbing behind her.
Long after the Garden had quieted for the night, Squall finally retired to his bedroom. After he turned on his light and observed what had occurred there, his screams could be heard to echo all through the Garden and some say all the way down to Balamb.