My Shining Star

Disclaimers: Don't own em, I'm just a spoony bard.
Warnings: this is yaoi, and has foul language and all that happy shit. I know, big fat fucking deal.

Dedications: This is for you Rain.



I'm nervous. I can feel my hands sweating and it's hard to breathe in this room. Why is it that Garden can spend millions of Gil on updating all their computer systems and everything, but they can't get new magazines for outside the headmaster's office? Shit. These things must have been here for four years now.


The door to Squall's office opens and I stand up, expecting to see him in some sort of weird ass uniform. But no. It's just Squall, the same as he's always been. Except now, he's got a few pins and medals attached to his coat.


"Seifer, it's time for your assessment." He sounded so damn business-like. But that's what I expected from him. He never was one to do things half assed.


The room was full of everyone else from the team that defeated the sorceress. Even Selphie and Zell were there. She sat there, brightly smiling at me, while Zell scowled his displeasure. Nice to see you too, Chicken Wuss.


"Can we drop the bull shit?" I ask. All five of them turned to me in surprise. "I know how re-assessment meetings go. I've been on the committee myself a couple of times. And unless Leonhart changed them in the past two years, I know what's gonna happen."


Quistis folded her arms across her chest. "And what would that be?"


"You'll look over my file, check my GPA and discuss what behaviors I need to change before you can consider my re-instatement. Then you will judge on weather or not you think I can change."


Irvine nodded. "And in this case, if teachers and students will be able to handle your presence in a classroom."


Squall seemed content to stand back and let his committee talk to me. Just as well anyway. I wouldn't have been able to answer him without stuttering, or throwing up, which I felt very much like doing right now.


The meeting took hours. And then, I was escorted to one of the quest wings in the dormitories for the night. I guess I really was that bug of an issue. Some students glared openly at me, others parted in fright.


But at least Selphie came to visit me that night. She came with presents of real pizza, not the shit from the cafeteria.


"Squall said you have a very good chance of getting back in. Zell of course was pisses. Quistis wanted to know if you had, or could change. And Irvine is just as optimistic as always."

"And you?" I asked teasing her. "Let me guess, you told them all that I was a horrible philandering piece of chocobo shit and I needed to be put out with last weeks garbage?"

"Of course I did." Her eyes twinkled. "I was your main support in this Seifer James Almasy and don't you forget it." She poked me in the chest.


"Thanks Selph, you have no idea how much this means to me."


"I think I might. Especially since it has to do with a certain scarred brunette ice prick. Go to bed. You'll get the results from the meeting tomorrow after lunch. Until then, don't even mention the name Chicken Wuss around Zell. Or you might not have a chance in hell. You should also remember that the committee has to be unanimous. So behave."


"Yes mommy"


"Good night Seifer"


" Night Selphie."
***


The next morning I was so scared I couldn't even tie my damn boots right. My entire future rested upon the decision of the five people that I grew up with, the five people I tried to kill.



Selphie sat with me during breakfast, and since Irvine usually sat with her, being tied on by a leash, if you get my drift, he sat with us. I wasn't expecting everyone else to come over and join us. But they did. Quistis happily chatted with Selphie about the field exams that were coming up in the spring, and Squall and Zell talked about T-boards. A hobby that he'd just recently gotten into. (Selphie told me that.)


"Ahem." Squall suddenly interrupted his conversation with Zell and looked at me. "I just thought you should know that we did reach a decision last night."


My heart stopped dead in its tracks.


"Zell, would you like the honors?" Squall asked, actually smiling for once.

I was worried. If Zell was answering, it could only mean one thing. Zell hated me. And from what I've heard, also has a little crush on my star. Ans this was my future. My last hope.