I practically fell down the stairs that lead up to the dormitory in
my mad rush to get to the information center on time. I ran past a group of
female SeeD candidates gossiping in one of the corners and practically fell
out into the main forum.
'Whoa, what's the rush space cadet?'
I stopped in my tracks and spun around to see Seifer smiling quite smugly at me. Ugh, I did not have time for him.
'Im sorry Seifer but I can't talk, I have to go meet Zell and the others by the info center,' I said, pushing my way past him.
'Hey now, there's no need to push, I just wanted to congratulate you,' he said, crossing his arms, that almost twisted grin across his face. I stopped and turned around, lifting my eyebrow skeptically.
'What about?' I asked slowly, readjusting my bag on my shoulder.
'For being such a space cadet,' Seifer said then cocked his head back and laughed, walking away. I clenched my fists together and let out an aggravated growl.
'Your such an ass, Seifer! And your jokes stink!' I yelled at him and spun around and walked as quickly as I could down the long hall. I saw the info center just a couple meters in front of me and saw Zell, Selphie and Irvine all there. I giggled when my eyes focused on Zell's air sparring form. Selphie noticed me coming and jumped up from Irvine's lap and ran over to me happily.
'Hey Leona! You ready to go?' she asked, taking my hand. I laughed and nodded my head enthusiastically.
'Did you bring yer swimsuit?' Irvine asked, standing up from the bench he had been sitting on.
'Yup!' I said, showing him my bag that had both my bathing suite and my towel inside it. Not to mention some sunscreen and munchies.
'Good, cause Zell and I planned on taking you two lovely ladies down to the harbor for a swim,' Irvine said wiggling his eyebrows. Selphie and I both giggled then I watched Zell stop punching the air and walked over to us.
'Are we goin' yet?' he asked albeit impatiently.
'Yeah, I think we're all ready,' Selphie said. Zell nodded and walked ahead a bit leaving Selphie, Irvine and I behind. I felt as if he were angry with me or something, he seemed a little grumpy actually.
'What's up with Zell?' I asked turning to Selphie. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
'I don't know Leona. He's not usually this grumpy,' she grinned and poked my side, 'maybe he has hard feelings because you beat him at his own game so to speak,' she said and giggled.
'Selph's probably right,' Irvine said hooking hi arm around her as the three of us made our way out the front gate. I was a little surprised that we weren't taking a car but hey, I wasn't complaining! It was positively gorgeous outside today, there was a nice cool breeze and the sun was bright. I still couldn't help but feel bad that it could be my fault that Zell seemed so grumpy so I jogged up to walk with him.
'Hey,' I panted, he really had gotten pretty far ahead. Zell practically jumped at the sound of my voice nervously rubbed the back of his head.
'H-hey, Leona, 'sup?' he asked. Oh my god, was he blushing?
'Nothing, just wandering why you seem kinda grumpy,' I said, putting my hands behind my back as the two o us continued walking. Zell scoffed and then flashed me a toothy grin.
'Me? Grumpy?' he shook his head, 'not possible.' I raised my eyebrow skeptically then nodded my head slowly.
'Suuuure,' I teased. Zell turned his head toward me and stuck his tongue out.
'What? I don't get grumpy,' he said, shoving his gloved hands deep into his pockets.
'Everyone gets grumpy Zell,' I sighed and hooked my arm with his. I guess the action threw him off guard or something cause he stumbled forward a bit. I shrugged it off and continued walking with him.
'Uh, Leona? Why do you have your arm hooked with mine?' he asked slowly. I could tell he didn't mean it in the nasty way but still....
'I don't know, I thought it would be kinda fun since Selphie and Irvine do,' I said and unhooked my arm from his. I picked up my pace and walked ahead from him a bit but felt his hand catch my arm.
'Where d'ya think your goin?' he asked jokingly, hooking his arm back up with him. I pushed him away and grinned.
'Why the change of heart?' I teased, skipping ahead of him. Zell started jogging at my side.
'I dunno, it felt nice I guess,' he said, shrugging. I slowed back down to a normal walk, Zell doing the same and hooked my arm with his again.
'Oh really?' I asked, poking him in the side. Zell grimaced amiably and poked me back.
'Yeah, so what's the big deal?' he asked, laughing a little. I just shook my head, enjoying the feel of his quite muscular arm weaved together with mine. In no time we were at the front gates of the city of Balamb and I was quite grateful (and surprised) that no monsters had attacked us along the way.
'This is my hometown,' Zell explained, leading me past the gas station. I smiled as he waved to the locals, he seemed to be really well known and liked here. ~well duh, Leona, its his hometown, he just said that you frutard!~ I giggled to myself, pleased with my newest insult.
'Hehe, frutard.'
'Whuh?'
I put a hand to my mouth.
'Did I just say that out loud?' ~damn, I had a habit of doing that~
Zell nodded and laughed.
'Yeah, what's a 'frutard'?'
'Its s cross between "fruit" and "retard"' I explained. Zell shook his head bemusedly, a low whistle escaping his lips.
'Man your something else girl,' he said then tickled my sides. I giggled and pulled away.
'Hey, aren't you the cute couple?'
'Hehe, sha up Selphie,' I said good-humoredly. She and Irvine had finally caught up to Zell and I but both seemed rather intent on pointing out how 'cute' Zell and I looked together. On the outside I made it seem like I didn't think so but inside? Your damn right I wanted it to happen, of course it was a little too early. Ah well, at least he and I seemed to get along pretty well.
'Yeah Selph, Leona and I are just friends,' Zell said, sticking his tongue out at her.
'Nuh uh!' she protested back.
'Yeah huh!' Zell protested in return.
'Nuh huh!'
'Yeeeeah huh!'
'OK! We get the point!' Irvine said, standing between the bickering Zell and Selphie. I stifled a giggle; it was amazing how much they sounded like my friends back home..
'Leooonaaa! You look sad again!' Selphie complained a pout forming on her lips, ' we brought you here to be happy, happy, happy!' she said, giving me a peace sign.
I smiled and patted her shoulder.
'No I know, I'm ok don't sweat it, Kay Selph?' I said reassuringly. I wasn't about to let depressing thoughts ruin my day. Sure I missed my friends and family but I couldn't do anything about it so I figure, why bother making myself sad and becoming a stick in the mud?
'OOOOK!' Selphie said, jumping up, 'lets hit the harbor!'
'Booya!' I cried equally enthusiastic.
~*~*~*~*~
'Ok, you jump first,' Selphie said, giving me a slight nudge.
'No, no, no, YOU jump first,' I said, giving her a slight nudge back. The two of us were in our bathing suits and standing on the edge of the dock, arguing over who should be the most daring one and jump into the cold water first.
'How 'bout ya both go in!'
I turned around just to see Zell and Irvine running towards us and before either of us could protest Selphie was up in Irvine's arms while I was up in Zell's and the two of them threw us over the edge into the cold water. The two of us screamed as our bodies hit the nearly freezing water and as we rose back to the surface we let out a couple more screams to show the guys just how cold it really was. And really, it WAS cold.
'Aw, you two are wimps!' Zell said, high fiving Irvine.
'That's one for the male sex, ZERO for the female!' Irvine said, pulling down his eyelid and sticking out his tongue in our direction.
Selphie and I swam up to the dock and splashed them with the water. The two of them let out yelps and retreated like two dogs with they're tails between they're legs.
'Who's the wuss's now huh!' Selphie called, she and I now sharing a high five. Our mini party of triumph was abruptly put to an end when two shadows soared over our head and two rather large splashes erupted from behind us. Selphie and I both let out playful screams and swam away as fast as we could but Zell and Irvine got a hold of us.
'NOO! Zell let me GOOO!!' I screamed as he lifted me up over his head and put me on his shoulders. I wobbled a bit and before he and I knew it I crashed back into the water, pulling him down with me. The two of us rose back to the surface, spitting the salty water out of our mouths. I giggled at Zell; he looked so different when his hair was sticking up in its usual thick spikes.
'Nice hair!' I teased. Zell grinned and dived at me, snatching me at the waist then lifted me up and threw me. I splashed into the water again, bah! Why was I the one being picked on?
'Aww, poor Leona! Zell stop throwing her around like some rag doll!' Selphie protested but then Irvine picked her up as well and threw her in my direction. I barely had enough time to swim out of the way before she came crashing down with a petite splash. She came back up to the surface and splashed some water at Irvine.
'You big Meany! I don't think I love you anymore,' she threatened jokingly. Irvine chuckled and pulled her into his arms.
'Aw come on darlin, you know I was just playin,' he drawled, kissing her. I laughed turned around to see Zell staring at me. I blushed slightly, and giggled.
'Yes Zell?' I asked, slowly swimming towards him.
'Huh? Oh! Nothing Leona,' he said sheepishly, swimming back towards the dock. I followed him and the two of us climbed out of the water, grabbing our towels that were hanging on a post. The two of us dried ourselves off as best we could then laid our towels out and sat down on them. I hugged my knees to my chest, sighing contentedly as I watched Irvine and Selphie frolic about in the water.
'Hey Leona, you never answered me when I asked you what your world was like,' Zell said gingerly. I smiled and stretched out, supporting my body weight one my elbows as my legs crossed slightly.
'Its sorta like it is here, just. bigger I guess. We have many countries and 7 continents . just like here I guess. Although we don't have any monsters,' I explained chuckling slightly, 'where I come from monsters are just a figment of a persons imagination. And our weapons are sorta different. We mainly use guns for fighting,' I explained. Zell nodded slowly and laid down as well, his hands behind his head.
'what about your friends? Your family?' he asked.
I sighed, sitting up again.
'My families nice, we live in a decent sized town. I have the odd spats with my brother, Jason, but that's all right,' I said.
'What country do ya live in?' Zell asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
'Canada, its on the North American continent,' I told him, 'I've lived there my whole life but my family originally came from Scotland, that's in Europe.'
'Cool, I'm guessin ya miss them all,' Zell replied, sighing himself. I nodded and then stood up, stretching slightly.
'Yeah, but I try not to think about,' I sad and smiled, 'its best that I just focus on what's happening now rather than worry about what's happened in the past. I mean, I really cant do anything about so why should I stress?'
Zell nodded and stood up also.
'Well, I say we head over to my Ma's place for some lunch, I'm sure she'd love to meet ya,' he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I blushed slightly and smiled.
'Sounds great! But first we gotta get Selphie and Irvine to come out of the water,' I said, detaching myself from Zell and walked back over o the edge of the dock. Zell grabbed our bags and swung them over his shoulders, waiting for me to get Selphie and Irvine.
'Hey! Selph! Irvine! Come on, we're going to Zell's place for lunch!' I called. The cute couple turned and flashed a quick disappointed look at me but then they're faces brightened.
'Woo hoo! Mrs.Dincht cooking is amazing!' Selphie cried, swimming as fast as she could towards me. Irvine howled and followed her, the two climbing out. I handed them they're towels and the three of us walked back over to Zell.
'Lets go,' I said, hooking my arm back with his. He smiled and we all headed up towards Zell's house.
A/N: sorry it took so long everyone, just been kinda busy! I hope this chapter was ok for now! Please remember to read and review! Thanks!
-Dinchtbaby
'Whoa, what's the rush space cadet?'
I stopped in my tracks and spun around to see Seifer smiling quite smugly at me. Ugh, I did not have time for him.
'Im sorry Seifer but I can't talk, I have to go meet Zell and the others by the info center,' I said, pushing my way past him.
'Hey now, there's no need to push, I just wanted to congratulate you,' he said, crossing his arms, that almost twisted grin across his face. I stopped and turned around, lifting my eyebrow skeptically.
'What about?' I asked slowly, readjusting my bag on my shoulder.
'For being such a space cadet,' Seifer said then cocked his head back and laughed, walking away. I clenched my fists together and let out an aggravated growl.
'Your such an ass, Seifer! And your jokes stink!' I yelled at him and spun around and walked as quickly as I could down the long hall. I saw the info center just a couple meters in front of me and saw Zell, Selphie and Irvine all there. I giggled when my eyes focused on Zell's air sparring form. Selphie noticed me coming and jumped up from Irvine's lap and ran over to me happily.
'Hey Leona! You ready to go?' she asked, taking my hand. I laughed and nodded my head enthusiastically.
'Did you bring yer swimsuit?' Irvine asked, standing up from the bench he had been sitting on.
'Yup!' I said, showing him my bag that had both my bathing suite and my towel inside it. Not to mention some sunscreen and munchies.
'Good, cause Zell and I planned on taking you two lovely ladies down to the harbor for a swim,' Irvine said wiggling his eyebrows. Selphie and I both giggled then I watched Zell stop punching the air and walked over to us.
'Are we goin' yet?' he asked albeit impatiently.
'Yeah, I think we're all ready,' Selphie said. Zell nodded and walked ahead a bit leaving Selphie, Irvine and I behind. I felt as if he were angry with me or something, he seemed a little grumpy actually.
'What's up with Zell?' I asked turning to Selphie. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
'I don't know Leona. He's not usually this grumpy,' she grinned and poked my side, 'maybe he has hard feelings because you beat him at his own game so to speak,' she said and giggled.
'Selph's probably right,' Irvine said hooking hi arm around her as the three of us made our way out the front gate. I was a little surprised that we weren't taking a car but hey, I wasn't complaining! It was positively gorgeous outside today, there was a nice cool breeze and the sun was bright. I still couldn't help but feel bad that it could be my fault that Zell seemed so grumpy so I jogged up to walk with him.
'Hey,' I panted, he really had gotten pretty far ahead. Zell practically jumped at the sound of my voice nervously rubbed the back of his head.
'H-hey, Leona, 'sup?' he asked. Oh my god, was he blushing?
'Nothing, just wandering why you seem kinda grumpy,' I said, putting my hands behind my back as the two o us continued walking. Zell scoffed and then flashed me a toothy grin.
'Me? Grumpy?' he shook his head, 'not possible.' I raised my eyebrow skeptically then nodded my head slowly.
'Suuuure,' I teased. Zell turned his head toward me and stuck his tongue out.
'What? I don't get grumpy,' he said, shoving his gloved hands deep into his pockets.
'Everyone gets grumpy Zell,' I sighed and hooked my arm with his. I guess the action threw him off guard or something cause he stumbled forward a bit. I shrugged it off and continued walking with him.
'Uh, Leona? Why do you have your arm hooked with mine?' he asked slowly. I could tell he didn't mean it in the nasty way but still....
'I don't know, I thought it would be kinda fun since Selphie and Irvine do,' I said and unhooked my arm from his. I picked up my pace and walked ahead from him a bit but felt his hand catch my arm.
'Where d'ya think your goin?' he asked jokingly, hooking his arm back up with him. I pushed him away and grinned.
'Why the change of heart?' I teased, skipping ahead of him. Zell started jogging at my side.
'I dunno, it felt nice I guess,' he said, shrugging. I slowed back down to a normal walk, Zell doing the same and hooked my arm with his again.
'Oh really?' I asked, poking him in the side. Zell grimaced amiably and poked me back.
'Yeah, so what's the big deal?' he asked, laughing a little. I just shook my head, enjoying the feel of his quite muscular arm weaved together with mine. In no time we were at the front gates of the city of Balamb and I was quite grateful (and surprised) that no monsters had attacked us along the way.
'This is my hometown,' Zell explained, leading me past the gas station. I smiled as he waved to the locals, he seemed to be really well known and liked here. ~well duh, Leona, its his hometown, he just said that you frutard!~ I giggled to myself, pleased with my newest insult.
'Hehe, frutard.'
'Whuh?'
I put a hand to my mouth.
'Did I just say that out loud?' ~damn, I had a habit of doing that~
Zell nodded and laughed.
'Yeah, what's a 'frutard'?'
'Its s cross between "fruit" and "retard"' I explained. Zell shook his head bemusedly, a low whistle escaping his lips.
'Man your something else girl,' he said then tickled my sides. I giggled and pulled away.
'Hey, aren't you the cute couple?'
'Hehe, sha up Selphie,' I said good-humoredly. She and Irvine had finally caught up to Zell and I but both seemed rather intent on pointing out how 'cute' Zell and I looked together. On the outside I made it seem like I didn't think so but inside? Your damn right I wanted it to happen, of course it was a little too early. Ah well, at least he and I seemed to get along pretty well.
'Yeah Selph, Leona and I are just friends,' Zell said, sticking his tongue out at her.
'Nuh uh!' she protested back.
'Yeah huh!' Zell protested in return.
'Nuh huh!'
'Yeeeeah huh!'
'OK! We get the point!' Irvine said, standing between the bickering Zell and Selphie. I stifled a giggle; it was amazing how much they sounded like my friends back home..
'Leooonaaa! You look sad again!' Selphie complained a pout forming on her lips, ' we brought you here to be happy, happy, happy!' she said, giving me a peace sign.
I smiled and patted her shoulder.
'No I know, I'm ok don't sweat it, Kay Selph?' I said reassuringly. I wasn't about to let depressing thoughts ruin my day. Sure I missed my friends and family but I couldn't do anything about it so I figure, why bother making myself sad and becoming a stick in the mud?
'OOOOK!' Selphie said, jumping up, 'lets hit the harbor!'
'Booya!' I cried equally enthusiastic.
~*~*~*~*~
'Ok, you jump first,' Selphie said, giving me a slight nudge.
'No, no, no, YOU jump first,' I said, giving her a slight nudge back. The two of us were in our bathing suits and standing on the edge of the dock, arguing over who should be the most daring one and jump into the cold water first.
'How 'bout ya both go in!'
I turned around just to see Zell and Irvine running towards us and before either of us could protest Selphie was up in Irvine's arms while I was up in Zell's and the two of them threw us over the edge into the cold water. The two of us screamed as our bodies hit the nearly freezing water and as we rose back to the surface we let out a couple more screams to show the guys just how cold it really was. And really, it WAS cold.
'Aw, you two are wimps!' Zell said, high fiving Irvine.
'That's one for the male sex, ZERO for the female!' Irvine said, pulling down his eyelid and sticking out his tongue in our direction.
Selphie and I swam up to the dock and splashed them with the water. The two of them let out yelps and retreated like two dogs with they're tails between they're legs.
'Who's the wuss's now huh!' Selphie called, she and I now sharing a high five. Our mini party of triumph was abruptly put to an end when two shadows soared over our head and two rather large splashes erupted from behind us. Selphie and I both let out playful screams and swam away as fast as we could but Zell and Irvine got a hold of us.
'NOO! Zell let me GOOO!!' I screamed as he lifted me up over his head and put me on his shoulders. I wobbled a bit and before he and I knew it I crashed back into the water, pulling him down with me. The two of us rose back to the surface, spitting the salty water out of our mouths. I giggled at Zell; he looked so different when his hair was sticking up in its usual thick spikes.
'Nice hair!' I teased. Zell grinned and dived at me, snatching me at the waist then lifted me up and threw me. I splashed into the water again, bah! Why was I the one being picked on?
'Aww, poor Leona! Zell stop throwing her around like some rag doll!' Selphie protested but then Irvine picked her up as well and threw her in my direction. I barely had enough time to swim out of the way before she came crashing down with a petite splash. She came back up to the surface and splashed some water at Irvine.
'You big Meany! I don't think I love you anymore,' she threatened jokingly. Irvine chuckled and pulled her into his arms.
'Aw come on darlin, you know I was just playin,' he drawled, kissing her. I laughed turned around to see Zell staring at me. I blushed slightly, and giggled.
'Yes Zell?' I asked, slowly swimming towards him.
'Huh? Oh! Nothing Leona,' he said sheepishly, swimming back towards the dock. I followed him and the two of us climbed out of the water, grabbing our towels that were hanging on a post. The two of us dried ourselves off as best we could then laid our towels out and sat down on them. I hugged my knees to my chest, sighing contentedly as I watched Irvine and Selphie frolic about in the water.
'Hey Leona, you never answered me when I asked you what your world was like,' Zell said gingerly. I smiled and stretched out, supporting my body weight one my elbows as my legs crossed slightly.
'Its sorta like it is here, just. bigger I guess. We have many countries and 7 continents . just like here I guess. Although we don't have any monsters,' I explained chuckling slightly, 'where I come from monsters are just a figment of a persons imagination. And our weapons are sorta different. We mainly use guns for fighting,' I explained. Zell nodded slowly and laid down as well, his hands behind his head.
'what about your friends? Your family?' he asked.
I sighed, sitting up again.
'My families nice, we live in a decent sized town. I have the odd spats with my brother, Jason, but that's all right,' I said.
'What country do ya live in?' Zell asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
'Canada, its on the North American continent,' I told him, 'I've lived there my whole life but my family originally came from Scotland, that's in Europe.'
'Cool, I'm guessin ya miss them all,' Zell replied, sighing himself. I nodded and then stood up, stretching slightly.
'Yeah, but I try not to think about,' I sad and smiled, 'its best that I just focus on what's happening now rather than worry about what's happened in the past. I mean, I really cant do anything about so why should I stress?'
Zell nodded and stood up also.
'Well, I say we head over to my Ma's place for some lunch, I'm sure she'd love to meet ya,' he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I blushed slightly and smiled.
'Sounds great! But first we gotta get Selphie and Irvine to come out of the water,' I said, detaching myself from Zell and walked back over o the edge of the dock. Zell grabbed our bags and swung them over his shoulders, waiting for me to get Selphie and Irvine.
'Hey! Selph! Irvine! Come on, we're going to Zell's place for lunch!' I called. The cute couple turned and flashed a quick disappointed look at me but then they're faces brightened.
'Woo hoo! Mrs.Dincht cooking is amazing!' Selphie cried, swimming as fast as she could towards me. Irvine howled and followed her, the two climbing out. I handed them they're towels and the three of us walked back over to Zell.
'Lets go,' I said, hooking my arm back with his. He smiled and we all headed up towards Zell's house.
A/N: sorry it took so long everyone, just been kinda busy! I hope this chapter was ok for now! Please remember to read and review! Thanks!
-Dinchtbaby