Disclaimer: Nope..... still haven't worked out this plans for the hostile takeover.... oh well, maybe someday I'll own the people in this story...



Author's Note: Thank you for reading!




The Lonely One
(Chapter 2: Opprotunity Missed.....)



"Where do you want this Selphie...?" Quistis asked as she held up a coil of metallic beads. Selphie had started a commitee to prepare for the big celebrarion in honor of Ultemecia's defeat. Quistis, having been unable to get away, was trapped into helping with the decorations. It's not that she didn't want to help... It's that she didn't want to do it.
The green eyed girl smiled gleefully as she looked around the ballroom. There were people running to and fro, arms full of sound equipment, tablecloths....etc..
"Um......" she placed a finger to her bottom lip in thought, "..Not sure......"
Quistis sighed, "How about strung across the ceiling like this...?" she tried her best to hold the coil up to give her friend a good mental picture. In response, Selphie clapped happily and nodded.
"That's perfect Quisty!!!" She looked around for a moment then cried, "...IRVINE!!! ZELL!!! WE NEED YOU!!!"
Out of no where the two boys came screeching to a halt in front of the petite girl.
"Can you two get a ladder and put these up---" she made motions with her hands, "---like so..?"
Zell crossed his arms, "You called us for that..? Why can't you two just do it..?"
Selphie dug her toe into the floor, ".......'Cuz I'm afraid of heights..."
"..... Yet you still manage to fly an airship at 15, 000 feet..?" the spiky haired man scoffed. Selphie's face reddened and she scratched her head.
"....Uh...well--I---"
Irvine laughed and patted her shoulder, "Don't worry darlin', we'll do it."
Zell raised an eyebrow, "...We will...?"
Selphie gave the cowboy a big bear hug and handed him the coil, "You're the best Irvy!" The man just tipped his hat and motioned for the martial artist to follow.

"...I was supposed to go the training center...." Zell wined as he trailed behind Irvine. The brunette just turned around and shook his head.
"You never refuse a lady's request." he stated.
The blond furrowed his brow, "...Why..?"
Chuckling, Irvine turned away and continued walking.
"..You'll find out when you're older." he tossed over his shoulder. Zell stood there confused for a moment before he realized what the cowboy was implying.
"..Older!? You bastard! I'll kick your ass!" he cried chasing Irvine across the ballroom. Selphie and Quistis just sighed in unison as they watched the two.
"....Zell's gonna break something if he keeps that up..." Quistis shook her head as she fumbled around inside a box. Selphie just giggled and continued with what she was doing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The boy ran toward him and nodded, cheeks flush and out of breath.

"I left it at the front desk like you asked Mister."

Seifer nodded and smiled, "Thanks kid."
Digging into his pocket, he pulled out thirty gil and handed it to the boy.
"..Here you go. Now remember our promise."
"Yessir." the boy smiled thumbing through his small stack of bills, "I swear I won't tell a soul!"
The boy waved and ran off back into the Garden's gates. Seifer watched the child's form fade, then disappear. Sighing, he raked his fingers through his short blond hair.

(We all have to make a little sacrifices...)

After going over every possible plan he could think of, he finally came to the conclusion that the safest way to see Quistis, would be that if she came to him. Balamb Garden had a very good security system, and even though he was confident that he could make it in, he wasn't so confident about being able to make it out. If Quistis had decided that he was still her enemy, she could snitch and get him drug off.... but if he met her out here, and the same scenario ensued, at least he would have a better chance to get away.....
He didn't want to take any unnesecary chances, though he hoped she would recieve his company a lot better than he was afraid she would.

Crossing his arms, he leaned his back against a towering evergreen and gazed at the place he once called home.

(... All that's left to do is wait...)

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Sighing, she stretched her arms out and bent back slightly, grimacing at the teeth-clenching pops and cracks that came from her spine. She was so tired, and was almost to the point of sleeping on the ballroom floor itself. Selphie on the other hand, was as lively as ever, and was running about like the ball of energy she was.
"...You really run us ragged Selph....." Quistis mumbled. The green eyed girl just cocked her head and smiled.
"...Don't tell me you're getting to old for all this excitement Quisty?"
The woman cuckled then nodded in response, "..I think I am." Straightening up, the blonde gazed around the large room as a smile graced her pale lips.
"...I think the place is pretty much done... There's really nothing else we could do..."
The petite girl nodded, thoughtful for a moment, "I think you're right. Well, I guess we could call it a day...."
She turned to Quistis and patted her shoulder, "You go on and get some sleep Quisty." The older woman sighed in releif. As she turned and retreated the hall, she could hear Selphie relaying the news that everyone could go.

(..Maybe I am getting too old for this..... Geez, I'm not even twenty and already I think I'm ready to retire...)
Being caught up in her thoughts, she didn't even notice the figure ahead of her until colliding into them. Letting out a small cry she fell back slightly. A hand reached out and caught her own, steadying her on her feet.
"...Sorry Squall..." Quistis said straightening out her shirt. He shrugged, his face as stoic as ever.
"....What are you doing up this late..?" his monotone voice inquired. She sighed and scratched her arm.
"Selphie roped in a bunch of people to help prepare for the celebration...."
"Didn't run fast enough did you..?" the corner of his lips turning up into a faint smirk. The woman laughed and waved her hands.
"You could say that...... "she shifted uncomfortably, "...So, what are you doing wandering around at," she looked at her watch,"twelve o'clock at night..?"
Half expecting a shrug as an answer, she was a little surprise when he spoke up.
"Technically it would be morning......" he said putting a hand on his hip, "And I needed to get some air and think.."
She nodded, "...Seems all of us are doing a bit of that lately.."
"...Yeah..."
"...Feels kinda weird to think back and look at all the times we could have died....or worse.."
"....Yeah......"
She smiled and patted his arm, "..Well, I gotta let this tired body of mine get some rest... You take care okay?"
Nodding in response, he moved to get out of her path.
"...Say hi to Rinoa for me if you see her." Quistis tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.


~*~*~

Stopping in front of her door, she pulled out her key and went to put it into the lock. Hearing the satisfying 'click' she sighed and pushed her door open.

(..So tired...)

Just as she stepped in, her foot slipped slightly on somthing. Looking down, she noticed an envelope underneath her boot.
"..What the hell....?"
Bending down, she examined it. There was no return address, no stamp, only writing that said:

Ms. Quistis Trepe
Balamb Garden

After looking it over for a few more moments, she finally turned it over and began to tear at the back, all the while her mind was a buzz with questions.
Pulling out the letter inside she flicked on her nearby desk light, letting her crystalline eyes skim it over:

Dear Quistis,
You're probably wondering what the point of this is, and I hope you're willing to find out. I know this may sound strange, but... I would really like to see you.Please come to the beach at midnight.

~ Your Favourite Student

Her hands started to tremble....

It was him.....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He tapped his foot impatiently against the surf raked sand.. Sweat beaded his brow as he glanced around himself, searching for a sign of her.

(...She's not coming...)

(...Why should you be surprised Almasy... Maybe she doesn't care after all... Maybe all of that stuff was in your head...)

Glancing at his watch one more time, he sighed heavily and turned back towards Balamb.

(..You're a fool....You should know better than to think that someone like her actually would have cared....)

Looking over his shoulder one more time, he walked back towards town.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean I can't leave! I'm Quistis Trepe dammit!! The only one higher ranked than me is the Commander himself!" the woman cried cutting the air with her arm.
"Then you should know the rules better than anyone.. No one leaves the Garden between curfew and wake up call. I'm sorry ma'am but you'll have to return to your room."
"..You don't understand! I have to leave now!!!" she cried banging her fist against the wall.
The gaurd raised an eyebrow at her outbursts, but no matter how many times she yelled or hit something, he wouldn't let her leave. Quistis had been arguing with the man for fifteen minutes now, and was starting to loose her cool...... Well... she'd lost her cool about ten minutes ago..
Shaking her head, emotionally and physically drained, she threw her arms up in defeat.
"FINE!!!" she turned away in a flurry of curses and blonde hair.

Looking at her watch, she bit her lip. It was 12:30...

(..He's probably gone by now..........)

Slamming her door behind her, she whipped her keys at the wall and stamped into her bedroom. It was pitch black, except for the moonlight trying to break its way though her white curtains. Flopping onto her bed, she hugged her pillow close and stared off into the dark.
She had missed her chance at seeing him.....

(...He probably thinks I stood him up......)

Flipping onto her back, she slammed her fists into the soft matress.

(..If only I had some back here sooner!!... I could've gotten there in time!!!)
"...I might of made it if I hadn't tried to leave through the front gate... I knew I should've snuck out through the Quad......" she said aloud.
Closing her azure eyes she hugged her self..

(...I'm so sorry Seifer....)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Trudging along the road, Seifer didn't raise his eyes from the ground once. He didn't want to.....
Listening to all the crickets sing in their twilight orchestra, he shoved his hands into his pockets. It was a rare moment to see Seifer Almasy depressed.. and yet here he was, feet dragging, eyes moist with unfallen tears. His ego was bruised... and he regretted taking such a risk at exposing himself to Quistis.

(...Why does it matter now anyway...)

No one was around when the great Seifer Almasy, ex-SeeD cadet and sorceress's knight, for the first time in his life, let the tears fall.

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Author's Note: Hiya! Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and sorry for the late update.
I'm beginning to wonder if I'm writing Seifer not very 'Seifer like'. I think maybe I'm making him too sensitive... Oh well, he had to soften up some time. Hope you guys agree, and I'll be updating soon! Until the next chapter....
See YA!