DISCLAIMER: See previous page.
Count down: 2 days left.
Quistis wandered around Esthar City looking for the right dress but not really trying very hard. Still moping about the whole Squall and Rinoa relationship thing and knowing it was all hopeless. She sat down in a courtyard and just watched people go by for a while. Slipping into a trance like state and didn't realise she was watching Zell approach until he was sitting next to her looking uncomfortable.
" Quistis! How nice to..er..see you here! Quite a surprise really, I didn't know anyone else was visiting Esthar City today…although it's perfectly normal to visit Esthar City because it's such a normal, everyday thing to do. What are you doing here?" He was glancing everywhere but her face.
Raising an eyebrow Quistis regarded Zell with a odd look. " Just wandering, looking for a dress for Selphies party. How about you? Why are YOU in Esthar City?"
Startled, Zell sprang to his feet and looked stricken "I'm not doing anything in Esthar City! Nothing at all, why would you even ask such a thing! Who do you think you are Quistis Trepe?! Just because you think I'm doing something sneaky and…and devious it doesn't make it so." Gasping a breath he then said." So…there!"
Blinking up at Zell who seemed ready to bolt at the slightest loud noise or sudden movement. Shaking her head and grabbing one of his wrists and pulling him down to sit beside her again she said
" Zell what are you up to and who's it going to hurt?"
A guilty look spread across his face as he looked at her. Running a hand through his spiky hair, Zell sighed and grinned a lopsided grin at Quistis.
" Would you believe that I'm looking for a love potion?"
"……No. What are you really doing here?" Frowning at Zell, folding her arms she waited his true reply.
" No! It's true, honest! I need a date for a party so I'm going to try a love potion. Can't hurt can it? Except a few embarrassed feelings anyway." Grinning at her blank expression. " Aww come on! You can use it on Squwallie-wallie."
Chuckling, he continued down the street towards the potions shop, whistling softly and winking at random girls that laughed at him. Shaking her blonde head Quistis wondered at people. Then she decided to join them.
Sneaking up to the shop was pretty damn hard, even by Zells books and he'd done some pretty damn hard stuff. Eating 20 hotdogs in 5 minutes takes courage, skill and a good knowledge of the situation. No one had beaten him yet, though many have tried, none will be as successful as him. First year students look at him in awe, he had become a legend of the cafeteria and now the dinner ladies always kept a few hotdogs to one side for him.
Filled with pride as he tiptoed in the shadows leading up to the potions shop, humming a little song to set the mood.
" Zell? What are you doing?"
Busted! Stay calm Zell, she can't know why your here…unless she can read minds!! Dear lord, what if she can?! No! Clam down Zell and think straight, you have two options here. You can either go and talk to her and explain why you are sneaking unseen up to the potions shop, using your skills to go undetected …Or you can keep standing there, say nothing until she walks away……Why is making decisions so damn hard? Ugh! My brain hurts…I need a hotdog…maybe Rinoa has one! I could ask her out to lunch, it's give me a perfect opportunity to look down her top, she never notices anyway.
Rinoa didn't know what Zell was doing, why he had been standing there for the past 5 minutes with a thoughtful though somewhat confused expression on his face and she didn't much care. Although it would be nice to know why Zell was sneaking up on a poor defenceless shop in broad daylight with people watching him. Tilting her head on one side Rinoa waited for a reply. I have to pick up my dress soon! Damnit Zell hurry up so I can politely decline your invitation for lunch and your chance to look down my top!
Tapping her foot lightly on the cobble stones, arms folded and eyes burning holes into Zells thick skull she heard a quiet mumble about needing to stock up on cure potions. Smiling what he thought was a charming smile he asked her to lunch and she declined. All was right with the world.
Now I can pick up my dress. Squall is going to flip-out when he sees it!
Too…many…flowers….must…not…sneeze!
Pure will stopped Irvine from sneezing the petals off the bouquet of flowers that Selphie thrust under his nose. Smiling and pushing the flowers aside he gave a kiss on the cheek.
" They're lovely Hun, now can we please go shopping? I know a great store that'll probably have a dress that will look amazing on you." Glancing at him from behind the flowers, he smiled a charming grin. " Trust me, would I lie to you?" Holding his arms wide and putting on a overly done expression of innocence she giggled like the girl she is and ran off to put the flowers away. Smirking to himself, he leaned against a wall and waited for her to return. While he was waiting Squall went by. Nodding a greeting, which was met with just a glance and a nod. Was it his imagination or did one of Squalls hands have bright pink nail varnish on? He was shrugging it off and rolling his eyes at the irony that some people could be so emotionless while others were way too open when Seifer walked by and stopped in front of him. Looking up at him from under the rim of his hat Irvine waited to see what he wanted. Then decided not to wait.
" Yes?…can I help you Seifer?"
Tilting his head back and smirking Seifer nodded. " Your girlfriend's throwing a party, I need to know when it is."
" Why? You know you won't be missed if you don't show up, why bother?" Glaring at Seifer, then glancing down the hall for Selphies return for just a second before returning his gaze back to Seifer.
" Hehe you wound me cowboy." Flicking Irvines hat out of position, earning him another fierce glare and a shotgun aimed a his groin." I just want to come by and get chummy with my old friends…..And to laugh at puberty boy squirm under all the attention, he is so whipped, and to see what poor girl Chicken-wuss is dragging along to the this party of yours."
At that moment Selphie came back out of breath from running the way back. Glancing at Irvine glaring and point a shotgun at Seifer and Seifers calm expression she decided to end this little tet-a-tet of theirs.
" Hullo Seifer! What are you up to?" Smiling cheerfully at him, which he returned, he replied that he only wanted to know when the party was.
" Oh! It's in two days time, are you going?"
" Yes, seems like it." Smiling at both of them he wandered off whistling.
Shrugging it off as just being Seifer, Selphie grabbed Irvines arm and began towing him towards the exit.
" Now…this dress, what kind of dress is it is it a yellow dress because I like yellow dresses?"
This is silly! Why should I even get one, I mean it's not like anything will change even if I do use it, which I probably won't anyway. It's messy and it'll probably go wrong, all these kind of things do.
Sighing to herself, Quistis was standing outside the potion store, debating whether or not to go inside. Yes no yes no yes no yes no yes…wait!…no. Biting her lip she stood right in front of the door.
A small old lady glared at her as she shuffled towards the door.
" For heaven sakes child just buy the damn love potion, you don't have to use it you know!" Muttering about indecisive children she entered the store and shut the door on Quistis's face. Quistis just stood there, too stunned to do anything. Glancing behind her in case someone had heard she reached for the door handle and went inside the shop. A musty small welcomed her and she walked in. Squinting in the dim light she wandered around the shelves, starting with the familiar shelves of healing and grabbing a few items before slowly sliding around to where the love potion was. There was only one left. Biting her lip and frowning she quickly grabbed in and hid it under the other items.
Shuffling to the counter she dumped all her items on the desk and then casually leaned against it looking around the shop as the shop owner totalled up the price.
" Ya know…another young man bought a love potion today…and you don't really have to hide it under all this junk." Eyeing the blushing instructor the owner grinned evilly.
"Good luck young'un, keep an eye on the potion and be careful when you use it. These kinda things tend to go wrong."
Quistis left the shop with a worried frown on her face. Deciding she'd done enough shopping for today she grabbed the first dress she found that looked all right and hurried back to the Garden.