Disclaimer: Well here we are again with the meaningless disclaimer. I still don't own anything but a keychain, some cereal, and now a glass of orange juice. Squaresoft owns Final Fantasy VIII, not I. If I did, the ending would have been MUCH better with everyone paired off. (Quis with Seifer of course! ^_~)

Making It On My Own

Chapter Two: A Look Into My Life

I sat on a bench in Deling Train Station like I did often in the year and a half since I moved here. I loved watching the busy people; businessmen in their suit and ties, mothers dragging along two or three screaming children, young couples hopelessly in love and oblivious to their surroundings. Each person was different and had his or her own thoughts and feelings, a different history. But at the same time they are all the same, an entire race so very different from other creatures. Like Bite Bugs for example; they live their lives day by day. They eat when their hungry, attack when they're threatened, and sleep when they're tired. Bite Bugs never worry about five minutes from now, a year from now. They don't have hopes, dreams, or desires, they just are. And totally opposite from human beings.

Another group passed without so much as a glance my way, it was much easier to blend in with my surroundings now. When I first arrived in Deling many would stop and stare, parents would shield their children and carry them away. I was avoided at all costs; I was an oddity. I took menial jobs; some were so disgusting and dangerous that not even the hobos lining the alleys would accept them. But I needed the money to restore my reserves. Eventually things changed and people changed and over time I was able to get a decent job and live in a decent home. And now I could sit on a bench and enjoy the peace.

I haven't made many friends in Deling, as interesting as the human race is, no one individual can captivate my attention long enough. Many times I've found myself longing for all that I once had in Balamb. I regretted all I had done to those I considered friends. I upset a lot of people in many different ways.

My life was a good one, just more than a little boring. My days were monotonous; I would wake, dress, and go to work. Then come home, eat, and go to sleep. And the very next day it would start all over again, the only things that held me was the respect I had obtained and the hope that one day it would all change.

The train for Balamb hauled in and tore me from my thoughts. Balamb's trains were my favorite, in the beginning I'd always hoped and prayed I would know someone that stepped onto the platform. Somewhere deep down, I think I still do. A familiar person with a blond mop of hair stepped off the train and I blanched, sitting up quickly, had my prayers been answered? As they walked by I reached out and took a hold of their arm. The blond head whipped around and I saw the startled look and I heard the one word uttered, "Seifer . . ."

I felt a smile tug at my lips and my face ached at the unfamiliar action. "Instructor Trepe, what a pleasure to see you here. May I ask what you're doing in Deling?" I dropped her arm, and waited patiently for her response. I could tell she was flustered, she wasn't expecting me and she wasn't expecting the change in me I knew she could see.

After a moment, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and blushed a bit. "I'm here because I'm tired of being alone." I was a tad taken aback by her open statement and her honesty. But how could someone like Quistis Trepe be alone? But what about the rest of the world's saviors, what were they doing? I suddenly could see myself in the depths of her bright blue eyes. "Well Ms. Trepe, do you have a place to stay yet?" She shook her head and I proceeded to tell her about the various hotels and apartment complexes here in town. I took a bag and offered her my arm; she accepted my help and guidance. After careful consideration, she chose the main hotel until she could find a job and place of her own.

She stood with me outside the hotel after I'd helped unpack, her hair whipped around her face making her look like a pixie or faerie of some kind. Not liking the silence and awkwardness that developed, I suggested dinner at one of my favorite diners. A smile lit her graceful features causing a second smile to split my face today. I found it astonishing that I'd found someone that hadn't grown boring in the few hours we'd spent together.

The place was called The Purple Cow, I'd always thought it was a bit of an odd name, but the food was great. As I opened the doors I was assaulted by all the various smells, each different and equally intoxicating. I glanced at the woman standing beside me and I could tell her senses were bathing in the scent of home cooking.

We chose a table in the corner, almost immediately she left to use the ladies room. I sat, my mind running in circles around the mystery of Quistis Trepe. She was someone I grew up with, she was my instructor at garden, and she saw me at my lowest point in life. I hadn't imagined I'd ever allow myself to see any of them again, Fujin and Raijin included. I was there fishing on the docks with them that once, but not long after Raijin's prize catch, but after the brawl I got into later on I'd decided they didn't deserve my misery. They saw the absolute worst of me and I couldn't face my posse again knowing what I've done to them and how miserable I made their lives. Seeing Quistis made me wonder where they were now and speculate how difficult being associated with me had made their lives. Fujin's pale face surfaced in my mind and the memory was so fresh, so real that I almost reached out my hand to touch her.

When Quistis returned my mood was sullen and morose. I tried to hide it, to bury it under they layers of my personality to show her a good time, but she knew me far too well. She knew something was wrong with me and she didn't let the topic drop until I described all of the thoughts spinning round and round in my mind. And for once I had someone to talk to, to let things go, but the best part of the whole ordeal wasn't the long over due bearing my soul, but the fact that not once did her gaze leave mine and she absorbed every word with rapt attention. And when the tears threatened to fall, she placed her hand over mine and held it there, never flinching. I wanted to hug her and tell her that despite the fact that she had only been here a matter of hours she'd already managed to get under my skin and change me for the better, again.

The waitress came, interrupting the tender moment the two were sharing. Resisting the urge to slap the woman for not knowing when to stay back, I took a deep breath to qualm my anger and ordered a turkey and ham on rye with mayonnaise and horseradish. I turned to Quistis and she politely asked for same only to please hold the horseradish. The waitress nodded, gnawing on her gum more than a little annoyingly, I could tell Quistis had noticed and was getting to her. Her knuckles were turning white with the force of not hitting the girl for being so rude. Lucky for Lacey, as her highly decorated name tag read, she walked away before Quistis decked her.

We talked a while more, mostly about the rest of her gang. I found that Rinoa had married my rival, go figure, and was expecting a baby sometime soon. Messenger girl and cowboy were married as well and were also expectant parents. Chickenwuss had a girlfriend; I almost laughed aloud at what kind of girl would date him. In my mind I pictured a hyper active blond stuffing as many hotdogs as she could into her face. Quistis must have read my thoughts because she explained that not only had Zell calmed considerably, but also his girlfriend was the quiet girl from the library, Nora.

Our food arrived, and the conversation died to a comfortable silence. I'm not sure what was on her mind, but I spent some time thinking about the rest of the childhood crew.

I remembered a lot, Quistis and Squall especially. At some point in time, before Ellone left the orphanage, Squall and I had been friends and Quistis was my partner in crime. Well, not quite crime, she never made fun of anyone else like I did, but she and I were inseparable. The diner disappeared and instead I sat at the table in Matron's kitchen. To my right was Quistis and to the left was Squall, on the end seat sat Ellone and Matron sat opposite Ellone. Across from me, Quis, and Squall was Irvine, Selphie, and Zell. Zell was crying about mayonnaise or something along those lines, Selphie and Irvine were building a house with their carrot sticks, Ellone was cutting Squall's peanut butter and jelly sandwich into triangles, and Quistis asked me if I'd trade her my carrots for her grapes.

A hand to my shoulder and a melodious voice asked if I was okay and told me that it would be a good idea if I blinked once in a while. I shook my head to clear my mind of the proverbial cobwebs. I asked if she was done, she nodded and made a grab for her coat. I laid some gil on the table, more than enough for the meals and to tip the waitress. We left the diner and she told me she's had a good time. Neither one of us was sure how to saw goodbye just yet, so I stuck out my hand and another smile crossed my face. "Quistis Trepe, I had a good time tonight. Would it be too much to ask if you'd meet me here next Saturday, oh say 6 o'clock?" She smiled and nodded at me, taking my hand for a firm handshake. Our hands dropped and my fingers twitched at the sudden absence of warmth. She tucked her hair behind her ear once again and turned to make the short walk back to her hotel. I watched her walk until she turned the corner before shuffling my feet in the direction of my apartment. ~*~

HA! I bet I had you going there, I know you thought it was Quis I was talking in the first few paragraphs! Anywho . . . what did you guys think? Please review, there are the fuel for just about any story. Thanks a bunch!

Jess