A Final Fantasy VIII Fan Fic
All rights to the characters and names of locations are owned by SquareSoft
The Highwayman Copyright Jim Webb
Rated R for language and sexual content
By Toysaurus
Chapter Three
I was a sailor
And I was born upon the tide.
And with the sea I did abide.
I sailed a schooner around the Horn of Mexico
I went aloft to furl the main sail in a blow
And when the yardarm blew off
They say that I got killed
But I am living still.
The Highwayman
The football game between Balamb and East Academy High school was almost anticlimactic following Rinoa and Brianna's cat fight. Nobody including the most ardent East Academy rooter gave their football team a ghost of a chance against the powerful Balamb High unit and it turned out that everyone was correct in their assumption.
Balamb won going away sixty-three to nothing. Again Seifer was the hands down hero of the game as he gained over five hundred combined passing and running yards. It would have been even more but the coach chose to rest the first string and played the second unit of offense and defense in the last quarter.
The coach was seeking to protect his star player from a fluke injury and also not necessarily wanting to run up the score on their hapless enemy. Seifer was quite put out because he wanted the best yardage totals he could get to ensure a top scholarship, although he recognized it for the truth as the coach assured him he was already guaranteed a top scholarship to wherever he wanted to go, outside of an Ivy League school.
As Seifer and Raijin stood soaping up lather in the showers after the game, Seifer asked, "Hey, Rage, did you see all those college scouts in the crowd?"
"Yep, sure did, ya know and you put on a hella show tonight, Seifer," Raijin praised.
"Thanks, but I could've done better if the coach would have left me in, the jerk," Seifer replied.
"Aw Seifer, you got nothing to worry about, you know you can go anywhere you want, ya know. Have you made up your mind yet where we're going?"
"Yeah, I think so, Rage. I had it narrowed down between the University of Miami and Florida State University. They both have kick ass football programs and they're both where I want to be - someplace warm!"
"Well, do you know yet which one, ya know?" Raijin naturally wanted to know because he was going too.
"Yeah, F.S.U., Miami's program is real hot right now, and Florida State has gone down some so I would have the best chance there to start right away and not be red-shirted," Seifer explained.
"They want you to wear a red shirt? What for, ya know?" Raijin asked completely confused.
"No, no, Rage, not make me wear a red shirt, be red-shirted, it means they would hold me out for a whole year so I could retain my four years of eligibility. But I wanna start as a true Freshman," Seifer answered patiently.
"Ya mean you can't tell a lie if you're a Freshman there?" Raijin asked.
"Rage, just forget about it. It's not important."
"When we are gonna sign the letter of intent?" Seifer's less than knowledgeable friend asked.
"We can't sign until after football season is over, so don't tell anyone - not even that wacky girlfriend of yours," Seifer cautioned.
"Aw, Seifer, Fujin won't tell anyone, she can't. Florida State University is three words, ya know."
"Haha! You're a laugh, Rage. Well don't tell her anyway. What are you doing later?" Seifer asked.
"Going with Fujin to hang out at 'Balamb Burger,' wanna go, ya know?"
"No, sounds boring, what do you see in that dyke anyway?" Seifer asked.
"She's not a dyke, she's bi, ya know."
"Oh yeah, big difference," Seifer retorted sarcastically.
"There is, ya know."
"Okay Rage, whatever you say," Seifer answered giving up.
"What are ya gonna do?" Raijin asked.
"Got a date."
Squall slouched across the parking lot to his Harley Davidson. As usual he was clad all in black. I don't understand why I keep coming to these things. All week I tell myself I'm not gonna waste my time, and then I come anyway. It's like I'm drawn here beyond my will. I don't know what is it, but it seems as if there are more important things to be wasting energy on then playing football.
Hopping onto his motorcycle, Squall roared off into the New Jersey night.
Quistis sat in her lonely spartan bedroom with stacks of books piled up and around her on the floor and also on her desk where she sat reading. She wasn't studying for any current assignment. Those were all finished, including a twenty page term paper due before Christmas break. Quistis was taking notes on chapters that were much further along in the curriculum.
I bet I was probably the only student in the entire school who didn't attend the game. Idiots! Will football help me obtain an academic scholarship?
As Quistis attempted to redirect her attention to the Physics textbook laying before her, her feelings of loneliness attempted to bubble up in her. Feeling vaguely disquieted for a moment, her wall of scornful intellectualism successfully caused the feelings to fall away once again to a place buried deep inside of her.
The Balamb High principal and the new counselor were sitting at a traffic light in Cid's old Buick. They had attended the game together.
"This is an antique, isn't it?" Edea asked.
Cid coughed and blushed. "No, you know what principals make, it's just old."
"I'm sorry," she offered. "I was just making a bad joke."
Cid smiled, "I forgot. You have a quirky sense of humor."
The light changed and, as Cid pulled the Buick away, Edea fell sideways into the crook of his right arm, which he had leaning straight out on the back of the front seat. Cid's mouth went dry and he swallowed hard. Edea smiled to herself in the dark.
"Cid, there's a question I've been meaning to ask you. What is the meaning of the athletic team's nickname?"
"Oh, you mean SeeDs? Haha," Cid replied. "No one knows for certain."
"That's kind of strange, isn't it?"
"Well, you need to know that Balamb High is over fifty years old and they didn't leave anything written about how they came to choose that name. The answer is lost in history, but I've always thought it had something to do with Garden University. You know, turning out student athletes to move to a higher education at the university? SeeDs at the Garden?"
Edea laughed, "I never thought of that, but what about the large D near the end of the name?"
"No one has a clue about that, it just always has been that way."
Arriving at the apartment complex where she lived, Cid walked Edea to the front door of her two story townhouse.
"I had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting me," Edea spoke in a low throaty voice. She held her right hand out to shake hands 'goodnight.'
"Well, you know…it was just a highschool football game," Cid stammered. "But I had a great time too," he quickly added, while sadly accepting her handshake with a look of pure longing.
As Cid went to pull his hand away, Edea prevented it by placing her left hand on top of their hands. "Would you like to come in for a drink?" she asked.
Cid stood completely dumbfound and his heart was racing. "Sure," he finally murmured.
Edea never let go of his hand but instead turned and unlocked the door with her left hand, and then led him inside, closing the door behind them for the night.
Seifer stepped out the back door of the locker room. He crossed the asphalt parking lot to the home bleachers. The evening had grown quite cool.
"About time you got here. I'm freezing to death," complained Brianna.
The pretty blonde was crouched on the ground and had her arms wrapped around herself in an effort to protect her underdressed condition from prying eyes as well as to stay as warm as possible. Her teeth were chattering as she spoke. Seifer noticed the chill bumps on her skin from the chilly air and there was a lot of her body present for his viewing pleasure.
"Haha!" he guffawed. "Serves you right for letting that cow Rinoa strip you. Here," Seifer said, holding out a long gray coat to her.
Brianna remained crouched on the ground too embarrassed to stand up in front of Seifer, now that they were alone.
"You could at least have the courtesy to turn your head," she snapped.
"Nope," he retorted while grinning wolfishly at her. "But you can turn your head if you want to."
"Oh, alright," Brianna sighed resignedly and stood up. Our relationship hasn't progressed enough for him to see me like this, she thought as she slipped the coat on and buttoned it quickly.
The coat draped on the ground by almost eight inches as Brianna was considerably shorter than Seifer. "Where did you get this coat?" she asked puzzled fore Brianna had never seen Seifer wear it before.
"I don't really know, but I've owned it all my life. Those markings are some sort of strange military insignia. I keep in my locker in case a sudden storm comes up while I'm in school," Seifer explained.
"Well, it looks cool," Brianna praised.
"Of course it does," Seifer smirked.
"I'm gonna get that bitch Rinoa, you mark my words," vowed Brianna.
"Whatever," he replied. Why did that phrase spring to his lips? he wondered.
He had never used that expression, but he felt strangely as though he knew someone who had said it hundreds of times. Weird, he thought, shaking his head.
"Come on," Seifer directed the teenage girl. "It's cold out here."
"What are we going to do tonight?" Brianna asked.
"We can't go anywhere in public with what you're wearing so there's really only one thing we can do," Seifer replied wearing a sly grin on his handsome face.
"No, Seifer."
"Yes," he responded stubbornly.
"No, I said!" Brianna retorted.
"Yes!" he repeated.
As the young couple argued endlessly while they crossed the parking lot to Seifer's 'ride,' Rinoa stepped out of the darkness with tears flowing endlessly down her face.
Zell waited silently down a dirty alleyway in the poorer part of Balamb. He was breathing very lightly and standing stock still. Zell was listening intently that the inevitable attack from the gang at East Academy had begun.
The gang fights were traditionally scheduled to coincide with the athletic contests between the schools. For instance, if that night's football game had been held in East Academy instead of Balamb, Zell's gang would have invaded their territory instead.
This meant the gang activity was intense during the basketball schedule because of midweek games besides the ones on Friday nights. The summer was a time of peace. This allowed the shore to be available to all the gangs.
The only way the truce could be broken was if one gang member badly insulted a member from another gang, but the rumble would never happen at the beach. It was to be scheduled at another time, another place.
His gang members were hidden and scattered in strategic locations all around the immediate area. Lookouts had been posted in all possible directions and they could be trusted to signal the earliest warning of the invasion of their territory.
For the first time in his life Zell didn't want to be here preparing for a rumble. Zell wanted to be with Kristine. He longed to be with Kristine. He had never known anyone who was so accepting of him and she touched his feelings in places that Zell didn't know existed.
Zell realized that he was trapped. He could never desert his gang in their fights to defend their turf but he wanted to be with Kristine every minute of every day.
It's funny, he thought. I feel as though I know her from another time…another place. At least I'll see her tomorrow night.
That thought brought a smile to his tense lips. When he had walked with her afterschool he had asked for her phone number. Kristine had handed him the piece of paper with it written on it so quickly it was as if she had been waiting for him to ask her.
But that can't be right, can it? he thought.
After leaving Kristine as her door Zell had traveled straight home and paced around his small bedroom for an hour attempting to screw up his courage to call her and ask her out on a date.
When Zell finally called her, his voice was quavering but he managed somehow to stammer out his request. Kristine had immediately accepted and he felt like leaping for joy.
But a date! Zell had never been on a date in his life. What if he made a fool out of himself in front of Kristine? Of course Zell had had many young women but these had only been his gang groupies and they ultimately meant nothing to him.
It's so weird, Zell thought, I've never felt like this before, so out of control.
The shrill whistle brought Zell sharply to his senses. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two rolls of dimes, clutching one in each clenched fist. Other weapons were allowed except for guns, but Zell had always relied solely on his fists. They were his energy and they had never let him down.
Stepping out from the darkness, Zell observed the first invading East Academy gang members. He sprinted up the street towards them screaming out curse laced threats. The rumble had started.
Squall slouched into his bedroom. He removed his black coat and hung it in his closet.
What's this? he thought, I've never seen this before.
Squall fingered the mysterious leather jacket in question and was suddenly jolted with a series of strange mental images.
What the hell was that? the teenage goth thought as he closed the closet door.
Selphie waited angrily by the Balamb High football field for her ride to show up. She was also extremely cold since all she wore to the game was her short yellow dress and brown boots.
I'm gonna kill that Quistis the next time I see her. I distinctly remember asking her on Thursday when we were eating lunch and she had her nose stuck in a book if she wanted to drive and go to the football game with me and she said, 'Uh huh.' Hey, there's that weird guy that always stares at everyone all the time. Maybe he can give me a ride home.
"Hey!" Selphie shouted. "Can you give me a ride home?"
Irvine had just stepped out of the fringe of woods that half circled the football field. He had been stashing a few of his firearms. Irvine had decided if he couldn't necessarily sneak them through the metal detectors in the school, he could still keep them near him.
The tall long-haired teenager had used this golden opportunity to hide them because directly after the football game was the only time the Balamb Police wouldn't harass him if they caught him behind the school.
Of course Irvine realized he would have to creep out there and clean them every day before returning them to their leather carrying cases, but that wasn't a problem. He loved cleaning them and touching and fondling them.
Irvine had a distinct feeling that if life kept insulting him the way it had been, the day of the ultimate reckoning would soon be arriving.
"Hey!" Selphie called out to him and then began to run towards him. Irvine was startled and he whirled around. He was relieved that he didn't have one of his guns with him because he might have blown her away out of surprise.
Oh, it's that hippie chick that always wears the same short yellow dress, Irvine realized.
"Can you give me a ride?" Selphie asked as she drew closer to him. She was breathing heavily and her face was flushed.
Irvine looked at her strangely for a moment and then replied, "Sure, come on."
He set off with his long lopping strides causing his long brown coat to flap behind him in the wind to where his car was parked. Selphie hurried behind him with her usual short steps.
Why does this feel so familiar to me? Do I know him?
"Hey, is your name Irvine?" Selphie called out.
Irvine stopped in his tracks and turned toward her. "Yeah, why?" he asked suspiciously.
"Have we ever met? Do you know me?" Selphie replied.
"No, I don't think so. Come on, my ride's over here." Funny she said that, I was just thinking that she seemed so familiar to me.
When they reached the roofless vehicle Irvine jumped gracefully over the driver's side door and landed behind the steering wheel.
"Well, I like that," Selphie complained. "If you couldn't open my door for me like a gentleman, you could at least unlock it."
Selphie was futilely tugging on the door handle unable to budge it.
Irvine laughed and explained, "This is a hot rod and the doors are welded shut. You have to climb in."
When Selphie awkwardly scrambled into the car, Irvine had an extra closeup view of her panties.
Hmmm, Irvine thought. "Your name is Selphie, isn't it?" Irvine asked as he started the hot rod and they screeched from the parking lot laying down a wide swath of rubber.
"Yeah, it is," she answered.
Nothing more was said, except for Selphie offering directions to where she lived. Arriving in front of her home, Irvine was intently watching as Selphie climbed out; again being offered a closeup view of what lay beneath her skirt, but this time from her backside.
"Hey, you wanna go out tomorrow night?" Irvine suddenly asked.
"Huh? Yeah, I guess," Selphie answered.
"Seven o'clock," Irvine explained and then he down shifted roaring off.
Watching as he disappeared from her sight, Selphie thought, That guy is so weird. Why ever did I say yes?
'Balamb Burger' was conveniently located across the street from Balamb High. It was no coincidence, it had been built there on purpose and did a great business after homegames. In fact, it was always full of students except during regular school hours.
If students went out in the evenings and didn't have any where in particular to go, they usually ended up there. There was even the town's most popular rock station piped in over their loud speakers.
None of Balamb's other fast food restaurants did any business after the dinner hour and would close up early. Consequently the field was left wide open for 'Balamb Burger.'
Raijin and Fujin were sitting at a table near the back on the right side of the fast food restaurant. They were eating french fries and sipping 'Balamb Colas.'
"Did you enjoy the game?" Raijin asked.
"Yes," Fujin replied and then smiled at him. "You," she said pointing at him. "Great."
"Aw, thanks, ya know."
Rinoa suddenly burst through the restaurant's front doors. Her face was flushed from weeping and the cold, her gaze was wild eyed. As her glance crazily swept the room, someone called out, "Hey Rinoa, nice show tonight."
This sally was followed by most of the students in the restaurant bursting into laughter and applause. Rinoa broke into tears and fled the eatery.
Once out in the parking lot, Rinoa thought, At least Raijin and Fujin are still dating. I still have a chance of getting to Seifer through her.
Raijin looked at Fujin and declared, "Rinoa looked upset, ya know. Are you still going to dinner tomorrow night with her?"
"Yeah," answered Fujin.
"What are you going to do?"
"Score," Fujin plainly announced.
The two of them lowered their heads slightly, and continued to eat french fries while laughing quietly.
Kristine stepped out of her clothes quickly and then slipped on her long woolen nightgown immediately. Her father always insisted turning off the heat at night to save money.
Even though it was only late September, it was already chilly. Kristine slipped into bed and turned off her bed light. She lay with a warm heart thinking of Zell.
I hope he's okay tonight. Oh what am I worried about, he can take care of himself. Look at how he scared those big football players away this afternoon. That was so romantic, oh Zell, I can hardly wait 'til tomorrow night.
Kristine reached down and pulled her nightgown up to her waist. And he's so hot, she thought, as her right hand snaked down below her waist. "Oh Zell," she moaned.
