Chapter 8

The elevator doors open and Seifer steps out. He was about to head to bed but he decided to check up on Quistis. He quietly opens the door and walks over to her bed. She was spread on the bed and her blanket was on the floor. Seifer picks up the blanket and covers Quistis. Before he knew it her eyes opened. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

Quistis: (groggy) What…are you…doing here?

Quistis sits up on the bed.

Seifer: (low voice) I—I was just checking up on you. I was putting the blanket back on you. You sleep wild.

Quistis: What time is it?

Seifer: It's about 6:30 p.m.

Quistis: Wow, I guess I was really tired.

Seifer looked around the room and then back at Quistis.

Seifer: I'm beat, so I guess I'll see you in the morning. Good night.

Seifer turns and walks toward the door.

Quistis: Why, Seifer?

Seifer stops and turns to face Quistis.

Seifer: Huh?

Quistis: Why make me think you're something bad when you're not?

Seifer: You look at me and see something bad, that's because I am.

Quistis shakes her head in disagreement and gets out of the bed.

Quistis: No, I've seen what you want me to see. Not who you really are.

Seifer walks to Quistis.

Seifer: You've seen all there is.

Quistis: That's a lie. I saw how happy you are around your sister. I have never seen you that happy. And what about you constantly, checking up on me?

Seifer: Don't read anything into it.

Quistis takes Seifer's arms and wraps them around her waist.

Quistis: What about this?

Siefer: …this is how I want to touch you.

He swept his hands over her hair, down her back to her hips. His fingers pressed into her flesh, stroking roughly, caressing without tenderness.

Seifer: This is all I have to give to you.