Zell's Heart Part 7
Zell stared off into space. He could only feel the handkerchief in his hand. He felt no emotion at that point. His world seemed to stop. He knew someone was outside his door trying to get it, but he had locked it, even from outside access. He didn't want to face her. She was the cause of his heartbreak. Once the heart breaks, there is no feeling left inside He finally came to it as the thumping on the door became louder.
"Zell! Zell! Let me in please?" She pleased. She wanted to explain everything. All her heart felt, she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't. She would break her own heart if he rejected her, but why did her run? Why was he so sad at the sight of her and Squall playing around? Was it jealousy? "Zell! Open the-"
Zell swung open the door and revealed himself. She stood there pounding on his chest as he just stood there.
"Why? Why do you do this to me?" She cried. He sobs were muffled into his chest.
He just stood there. He didn't know what to say. He just held her.
"Oh Zell. Just hold me all right. I was just playing tickle fight with Squall up there."
Zell grinned.
"I know."
"What!? You know what?" Selphie pulled away from him.
"I know because you always used to do that at the orphanage, and you do that to everyone so I wasn't surprised." He started to laugh.
"Zell that's cruel." She grinned as he pushed him back in his room on his bed.
"Just for that I'm gonna give you severe punishment!"
"No, anything but that!" Zell pretended to be screaming in agony.
"Tickle-fight!" She yelled as they both rolled onto the floor.
Squall had not gotten any sleep. He couldn't believe all that commotion didn't even wake Rinoa, who was ironically, sleeping beside him the whole time.
"Damn I swear that girl can sleep through a nuclear war!" He ran his fingers through her hair before taking a seat by the window. He smirked as he saw Zell's face before he entered the elevator. He saw Zell wink as he pretended to be sad and dismayed. Squall knew he knew what was going on, but Zell wanted to see if Selphie would catch on. There was something he learned from the night before, and that was that Chinese food gives someone a bad case of gas. He looked over to Rinoa who had been sound asleep; he knew he needed to let it out. He tested the sound by slamming his gunblade against the window sill. She just fidgeted before letting out a grunt in reassurance that she was still asleep. He finally leaned to one side and let it out.
'Pfffffft!' He sighed in comfort as he felt the gas escape from his body. He put on his ear to ear grin before looking towards the bed and almost fainted. There on the bed was Rinoa, with her jaw to the floor, obviously dumbfounded by her boyfriends, absurd, actions.
"Squall!" She clipped her nose and laughed as Squall blushed. She then let out a big whopper which blew Squall from his seat.
He raised his gunblade and pointed it to Rinoa. "Is that a challenge woman?" He grinned and placed his sword down and prepared for the most difficult battle of his life.
Rinoa raised her hands and yelled. "It's on!"
Down in the cafeteria, Selphie had been sitting down eating lunch. Just a small lunch, it was beef soup and crackers, but she didn't seem to mind. She really wasn't planning on doing anything that day anyway. Zell was obviously asleep after losing a fight between Selphie and himself. She wasn't surprised that she won though; she of course, had won every single tickle-fight ever since they started the tradition in the orphanage.
"Is there anything else you need Selphie?" John Kinneas appeared from behind her. She always looked dismayed when he was around, but it was odd how he never looked sad or troubled, even after his older brother's untimely death.
"No, I'm fine thank you. Bill please!" She threw her hands in the air. Trying to be her happy spunky self, but it was no use, being around him always made her cheerless and depressed.
"Is everything okay Selphie?" John took a seat across from her and eyed her, waiting for her to open up to him.
"I'm fine." She stood up and proceeded to pay for her lunch. "Tips on the table John." She pointed to a hefty five dollar bill sitting below her bowl.
Xu and Nida sat lifeless on the bridge. Since Nida was the pilot and the Garden had no course he was bored out of his skull. Xu on the other hand, she was Squall's secretary, top military advisor, and Balamb's most skilled female mercenary, yet she still had nothing to do. They just decided to pass time by playing a game of cards. Before Nida got himself hauled over by her card skills, Squall called down for Xu.
"Yes Squall?" requested as the lift to the cockpit descended to Squall's office. "Holy Hell! What the hell is that smell?" She covered her nose as she focused her attention to Squall who had obviously been wearing a gasmask. She blushed when she noticed he was only in his boxers. She could hear the sound of water in the distance knowing it was just Rinoa in the shower. "Good she could use one if she produced this foul odor."
"Yeah it was her alright. She won, as usual." Squall lowered his head in shame as he stepped up to his desk and handed her a piece of paper. "I just got this in today."
"A mission request from Esthar?" She choked. "What do I need to do in Esthar?" "It's not a mission. I'm going to station you and someone else in Esthar. It's for distance reasons. Just in case Esthar or any surrounding nations have problems, we have someone to dispatch immediately. Balamb is incredibly far from Esthar, so if the need arises we send for you and your partner to do the job." Squall finished dressing at the end of his speech. Xu wasn't really paying attention because her attention was focused on Squall dressing himself while talking to her. She finally came to her senses.
"Partner?" She searched the paper for any names. She was hoping she would be with someone good. She didn't want to be stuck with some idiot for however long their deployment time is.
"Yes about your partner, you don't mind giving him his mission sheet do you?" He handed her another piece of paper to deliver to her partner.
"He? You said he right?"
"Unless I can't hear straight I could've sworn I said he." Squall raised a brow at her as she started towards the elevator staring mindlessly at the paper she had to deliver to her partner.
"What in the world, Hyne, I have this pounding headache. It's really murdering me right now." Zell sat up in his bed only to collapse back down.
"Must, have.Aspirin!" He tried to massage it out, but he wasn't the best at it. He had only taken a masseuse seminar once. All the while in bed he regretted not signing on to the next month of classes.
There was a light rapping on the door.
"Come in." He winced in pain.
"Can I come in Zell, there's something I have to tell you." Xu walked in and sat by Zell's bed and examined him.
"Xu, before you tell me anything would you be a sweetheart and fetch me some aspirin in the medicine cabinet." Zell had his arms over his eyes to block out the bright light of afternoon sunlight. "Oh, and also a cup of water if you don't mind." His voice was light and raspy.
"Zell is something the matter?" She popped the aspirin into his mouth and helped him swallow it down.
"I just have an incredibly giant pounding headache." Zell winced and looked up at Xu, flushing at the fact she had been staring right down at him, and she was incredibly beautiful. She was a brunette, just like Selphie, except her hair didn't curl outward at the very end like Selphie's. Her hair actually went straight down, almost two inches from her shoulders. Her hair was short just like Selphie's, Atleast it didn't go past her shoulders. She had the most beautiful brown eyes; it matched her hair almost perfectly. "NO, don't think about her. You're in love with Selphie, Zell get a hold of yourself." He fought with his feelings.
"Do you want me to massage it for you?" She climbed up on his bed and took his head into her lap as she started to get the spots that hurt the most.
"I completely forgot that you're the one who was giving the masseuse seminar." Zell thought back to when she was the one who recommended taking her class. "You're really good with your hands."
"Thank you." She blushed as she continued to massage his head.
Zell had fallen asleep after that, thanks to the immense amount of comfort and the state of blissfulness he was in. He didn't realize he had fallen asleep when he awoke thirty minutes later feeling like he was in heaven only to find out Xu had fallen asleep to, except with a paper in her hand.
"Esthar!" Xu had awoken startled as she stared across the room at Zell who had obviously read the letter from Squall. "Why the hell in Esthar. That city is gigantic!"
"Yes, but it is the most technologically advanced city in the world." Xu had tried to look at the bright side of things.
"Xu you're such an optimist and I mean it as a complement and not sarcasm." Zell rushed out of the room leaving a red Xu alone.
"Zelly!" Selphie threw her arms up to signal for Zell who had just entered the cafeteria. Zell rushed over to her as she handed him a hotdog she had waiting for him.
"Hiya Selphie! How you doing?" He took down the hotdog in one bite, which to Selphie wasn't surprising at all.
"Oh, I'm doing just fine. How about you?" Selphie leaned across the table to examine Zell closely.
"Selphie, there's something I have to tell you. I'm leaving for Esthar." Selphie felt like a knife had just been stabbed into her back.
"Esthar, you mean away from Balamb, are you stationed there?" She tried to keep herself straight, but news of the one she loves leaving, well she just couldn't bear it.
"Yeah, I'm going to be stationed there until Squall decides for me to return."
"That might be a long time." She clutched onto his shirt sleeve.
"I know, but don't worry about me, I won't be alone." He cupped her chin and caressed her cheeks. She didn't blush because she always wanted for Zell to do that.
"Y-you're not a-alone?" She stuttered, secretly hoping it wasn't a woman.
"Yeah, I'm being stationed with Xu." She pulled away from him as though she had just been shot through the heart.
"Xu! You mean, that sexy secretary? The beautiful one? The really pretty one?" She knew Xu looked incredibly beautiful, but for some reasons none of the guys ever seemed to notice her. It was probably because she was SeeD, and she was also an instructor, and if not that she's twenty-four.
"What's the matter? She needs to get out more, plus, I think it'll be an adventure. I mean we would be Garden's dynamic duo over there, I mean they would have to call us to do missions practically every day. Esthar is so big; I mean there has to be some kind of crime or something requesting a SeeD, even though the city is patrolled by soldiers.
"But you're going to be with Xu!" She screamed, this time letting the tears run down.
"What's wrong with that? Is Xu some kind of traitor, and you're afraid she'll kill me or something? What's the matter Selphie?"
"I don't know, and I don't care!" Selphie stormed out of the cafeteria letting her tears run dry.
"Selphie wait!" Zell called out for her, but she didn't hear him. Why had she just run off? "What's up with her?"
"Squall!" Selphie raged into his office. He had been sitting at his desk, but stood when Selphie had walked in with a tear-stained face.
"I can't believe you Squall! Out of all the damn mercenaries in this stupid school you send Zell!" Selphie had been in front of his desk.
"He was the perfect man for the job, he is the best martial-artist in the school, and his job description matches the requirements that President Laguna Loire, my father, is looking for." Squall had his hand ready on the gunblade in his sheath just in case the enraged Selphie tried anything funny. "I can't believe you Squall. I'm in love with Zell. You're taking him away from me!"
"Look! I'm not doing this on purpose. My intentions weren't to take Zell from you. He was the perfect man for the job! How else can I explain this?"
Selphie had stared down at her feet in shame. She knew Squall was right. She knew she was going to lose Zell.
Zell had trudged back to his room after a late lunch. He had gotten a good workout at the training center and just needed to shower and rest a little while before dinner.
He walked in and wasn't surprised to see Xu sitting on his bed, but she was sitting on her legs. Her legs were behind her and she was slumped over. She was sleeping.
He laughed as he took her and laid her down comfortably tucking her in neatly in his bed. "Poor girl." He brushed the hair out of her face. He tried not to be aroused by the fact that she was wearing regulation SeeD uniform, and that her black short shorts were too, short. He grabbed some clothes from his dresser and hopped into the shower. Xu had awoken from her peaceful slumber to hear the shower running from the bathroom right near her head. The bathroom had a straight line which was sort of like a window above the bed. She had probably heard wrong, but she could've sworn she could hear Zell singing. [AN: FFVIII Eyes On Me]
My last night here for you Same old songs, just once more My last night here with you? Maybe yes, maybe no I kind of liked it your way How you shyly placed your eyes on me Did you ever know? That I had mine on you? She thought of how beautiful his voice was. She sighed and blushed as she leaned closer to the bathroom window.
Darling, so share with me Your love if you have enough Your tears if you're holding back Or pain if that's what it is How can I let you know? I'm more than the dress and the voice Just reach me out then You will know that you're not dreaming She heard the shower stop and heard him dry off before walking out of the bathroom.
"Zell that was so beautiful, who were you singing about?" Xu leaned closer to him as he blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Uhh, it was nothing, just for someone special to me."
"Oh, she must be a really lucky gal." She flicked him on his chin. She walked over to his closet where she pulled out three briefcases.
"Zell do you mind if I help you pack?"
"No, I don't mind at all. Actually I could use a little help. Only pack the necessities." He walked over and helped her with the briefcases briefly brushing her hand before walking over to his closet.
"I'll do the clothes, and if you see anything I may need, ask before you pack alright?" He pulled open his dresser and started to stuff his clothes in.
"Oh, and thanks for that massage earlier. It really helped hell I don't even think I would've asked for aspirin if I knew you were that good." Zell blushed staring over at the beautiful brunette who also blushed.
"It's alright, I enjoyed it too." She packed all his different types of gloves. He already had his ergheiz glove on. She walked over and handed him a briefcase that was already full of everything he might need. She didn't really need a lot of money, because President Laguna Loire was going to provide them a place to stay during their duration in Esthar.
Selphie was still in Squall's office. She had been lying on his bed crying while Rinoa tried her best to comfort her.
"It's okay. It's okay." Rinoa thought that she was providing no help
"No! No, it's not okay. I'm about to lose the man I've fallen head over heels for. I'm going to lose him." She just let her tears flow.
"Selphie you're not going to lose him. I bet he loves you, and if he truly does than he would give the world to you, and be loyal." Rinoa raised a brow over to Squall.
The next morning was dull. Selphie felt her world as gray, for this was the day Zell was going to leave. She just wished she knew how long he would be gone.
"Only until Laguna decides he doesn't need SeeD anymore or until Squall sends replacements." She sat in her empty room. She needed to find a roommate before she was evicted, and she was desperately wishing she could move in with Zell. She found a note by her bed that read: Selphie, This is Rinoa, Meet everyone by the front gate by eight. That is Zell's departure time, I know it will be hard to say goodbye, but it's not forever. Love, Your best friend Rin.
Selphie placed down the note and looked at the clock.
"Seven fifty-five!" She ran out of the room. It would be a good ten minutes until she would get to the main gate.
"Don't think of it as goodbye man." Squall had been reassuring his friend. A bunch of people who had been friends of either Xu or Zell had gathered to say goodbye. All of Xu's friends got to meet Zell, and they all told him to take good care of Xu. All of Zell's friends got to meet Xu, and they all said the same. Zell looked dismayed though. Selphie hadn't come. He had an envelope in his hand that he planned on giving to Selphie, but they did have time, they needed to get to Esthar by two.
"Zelly! Zelly!" Selphie had been running up to him from the front gate towards the main gate of the Garden. She ran faster and faster until finally she was in his arms. "I don't want to lose you Zell." She once again let out a flood of tears.
"It's okay. You're not losing me. By the way, I have something for you." He handed her the first envelope. "This one you can open now."
She opened the envelope and pulled out a note.
Dear Selphie, my sweet Selphie, inside the first envelope is a check. This should cover five months of rent. I'm sorry to hear about this, but now you can keep you're dorm. This should give you enough time to find a good job so you can finally get back on your feet. Yours truly, Zell.
"Oh Zell! Thank you!" She handed the check to Squall who was surprised to see Selphie pay for her dorm finally, but thanks to Zell.
"It's alright Selphie. Now I don't want you to open this note until I'm gone alright?" He handed her a second envelope. The envelope was sealed with a heart sticker. "I'll never forget you, but don't worry it's not forever. Probably not even more than a year, don't forget to write okay?" He backed away leaving Selphie alone. She ran up to him again and embraced him. "I'll never let go of you."
"Selphie I have to go. I'm sorry." He started to walk away as Xu pulled up with the Garden car. Zell waved goodbye to all his friends and the new friends he met, but mostly his waves were directed to his love. As the car started to drive away Selphie had run up to the passenger window and tried running alongside the car, but it was too fast. The car left her standing at the gate. Everyone stared forlornly at Selphie who had tried to yell out the words she had been meaning to tell him all her life.
"Zell! Zell, come back. I-I-I Love you."
To Be Continued.
Zell stared off into space. He could only feel the handkerchief in his hand. He felt no emotion at that point. His world seemed to stop. He knew someone was outside his door trying to get it, but he had locked it, even from outside access. He didn't want to face her. She was the cause of his heartbreak. Once the heart breaks, there is no feeling left inside He finally came to it as the thumping on the door became louder.
"Zell! Zell! Let me in please?" She pleased. She wanted to explain everything. All her heart felt, she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't. She would break her own heart if he rejected her, but why did her run? Why was he so sad at the sight of her and Squall playing around? Was it jealousy? "Zell! Open the-"
Zell swung open the door and revealed himself. She stood there pounding on his chest as he just stood there.
"Why? Why do you do this to me?" She cried. He sobs were muffled into his chest.
He just stood there. He didn't know what to say. He just held her.
"Oh Zell. Just hold me all right. I was just playing tickle fight with Squall up there."
Zell grinned.
"I know."
"What!? You know what?" Selphie pulled away from him.
"I know because you always used to do that at the orphanage, and you do that to everyone so I wasn't surprised." He started to laugh.
"Zell that's cruel." She grinned as he pushed him back in his room on his bed.
"Just for that I'm gonna give you severe punishment!"
"No, anything but that!" Zell pretended to be screaming in agony.
"Tickle-fight!" She yelled as they both rolled onto the floor.
Squall had not gotten any sleep. He couldn't believe all that commotion didn't even wake Rinoa, who was ironically, sleeping beside him the whole time.
"Damn I swear that girl can sleep through a nuclear war!" He ran his fingers through her hair before taking a seat by the window. He smirked as he saw Zell's face before he entered the elevator. He saw Zell wink as he pretended to be sad and dismayed. Squall knew he knew what was going on, but Zell wanted to see if Selphie would catch on. There was something he learned from the night before, and that was that Chinese food gives someone a bad case of gas. He looked over to Rinoa who had been sound asleep; he knew he needed to let it out. He tested the sound by slamming his gunblade against the window sill. She just fidgeted before letting out a grunt in reassurance that she was still asleep. He finally leaned to one side and let it out.
'Pfffffft!' He sighed in comfort as he felt the gas escape from his body. He put on his ear to ear grin before looking towards the bed and almost fainted. There on the bed was Rinoa, with her jaw to the floor, obviously dumbfounded by her boyfriends, absurd, actions.
"Squall!" She clipped her nose and laughed as Squall blushed. She then let out a big whopper which blew Squall from his seat.
He raised his gunblade and pointed it to Rinoa. "Is that a challenge woman?" He grinned and placed his sword down and prepared for the most difficult battle of his life.
Rinoa raised her hands and yelled. "It's on!"
Down in the cafeteria, Selphie had been sitting down eating lunch. Just a small lunch, it was beef soup and crackers, but she didn't seem to mind. She really wasn't planning on doing anything that day anyway. Zell was obviously asleep after losing a fight between Selphie and himself. She wasn't surprised that she won though; she of course, had won every single tickle-fight ever since they started the tradition in the orphanage.
"Is there anything else you need Selphie?" John Kinneas appeared from behind her. She always looked dismayed when he was around, but it was odd how he never looked sad or troubled, even after his older brother's untimely death.
"No, I'm fine thank you. Bill please!" She threw her hands in the air. Trying to be her happy spunky self, but it was no use, being around him always made her cheerless and depressed.
"Is everything okay Selphie?" John took a seat across from her and eyed her, waiting for her to open up to him.
"I'm fine." She stood up and proceeded to pay for her lunch. "Tips on the table John." She pointed to a hefty five dollar bill sitting below her bowl.
Xu and Nida sat lifeless on the bridge. Since Nida was the pilot and the Garden had no course he was bored out of his skull. Xu on the other hand, she was Squall's secretary, top military advisor, and Balamb's most skilled female mercenary, yet she still had nothing to do. They just decided to pass time by playing a game of cards. Before Nida got himself hauled over by her card skills, Squall called down for Xu.
"Yes Squall?" requested as the lift to the cockpit descended to Squall's office. "Holy Hell! What the hell is that smell?" She covered her nose as she focused her attention to Squall who had obviously been wearing a gasmask. She blushed when she noticed he was only in his boxers. She could hear the sound of water in the distance knowing it was just Rinoa in the shower. "Good she could use one if she produced this foul odor."
"Yeah it was her alright. She won, as usual." Squall lowered his head in shame as he stepped up to his desk and handed her a piece of paper. "I just got this in today."
"A mission request from Esthar?" She choked. "What do I need to do in Esthar?" "It's not a mission. I'm going to station you and someone else in Esthar. It's for distance reasons. Just in case Esthar or any surrounding nations have problems, we have someone to dispatch immediately. Balamb is incredibly far from Esthar, so if the need arises we send for you and your partner to do the job." Squall finished dressing at the end of his speech. Xu wasn't really paying attention because her attention was focused on Squall dressing himself while talking to her. She finally came to her senses.
"Partner?" She searched the paper for any names. She was hoping she would be with someone good. She didn't want to be stuck with some idiot for however long their deployment time is.
"Yes about your partner, you don't mind giving him his mission sheet do you?" He handed her another piece of paper to deliver to her partner.
"He? You said he right?"
"Unless I can't hear straight I could've sworn I said he." Squall raised a brow at her as she started towards the elevator staring mindlessly at the paper she had to deliver to her partner.
"What in the world, Hyne, I have this pounding headache. It's really murdering me right now." Zell sat up in his bed only to collapse back down.
"Must, have.Aspirin!" He tried to massage it out, but he wasn't the best at it. He had only taken a masseuse seminar once. All the while in bed he regretted not signing on to the next month of classes.
There was a light rapping on the door.
"Come in." He winced in pain.
"Can I come in Zell, there's something I have to tell you." Xu walked in and sat by Zell's bed and examined him.
"Xu, before you tell me anything would you be a sweetheart and fetch me some aspirin in the medicine cabinet." Zell had his arms over his eyes to block out the bright light of afternoon sunlight. "Oh, and also a cup of water if you don't mind." His voice was light and raspy.
"Zell is something the matter?" She popped the aspirin into his mouth and helped him swallow it down.
"I just have an incredibly giant pounding headache." Zell winced and looked up at Xu, flushing at the fact she had been staring right down at him, and she was incredibly beautiful. She was a brunette, just like Selphie, except her hair didn't curl outward at the very end like Selphie's. Her hair actually went straight down, almost two inches from her shoulders. Her hair was short just like Selphie's, Atleast it didn't go past her shoulders. She had the most beautiful brown eyes; it matched her hair almost perfectly. "NO, don't think about her. You're in love with Selphie, Zell get a hold of yourself." He fought with his feelings.
"Do you want me to massage it for you?" She climbed up on his bed and took his head into her lap as she started to get the spots that hurt the most.
"I completely forgot that you're the one who was giving the masseuse seminar." Zell thought back to when she was the one who recommended taking her class. "You're really good with your hands."
"Thank you." She blushed as she continued to massage his head.
Zell had fallen asleep after that, thanks to the immense amount of comfort and the state of blissfulness he was in. He didn't realize he had fallen asleep when he awoke thirty minutes later feeling like he was in heaven only to find out Xu had fallen asleep to, except with a paper in her hand.
"Esthar!" Xu had awoken startled as she stared across the room at Zell who had obviously read the letter from Squall. "Why the hell in Esthar. That city is gigantic!"
"Yes, but it is the most technologically advanced city in the world." Xu had tried to look at the bright side of things.
"Xu you're such an optimist and I mean it as a complement and not sarcasm." Zell rushed out of the room leaving a red Xu alone.
"Zelly!" Selphie threw her arms up to signal for Zell who had just entered the cafeteria. Zell rushed over to her as she handed him a hotdog she had waiting for him.
"Hiya Selphie! How you doing?" He took down the hotdog in one bite, which to Selphie wasn't surprising at all.
"Oh, I'm doing just fine. How about you?" Selphie leaned across the table to examine Zell closely.
"Selphie, there's something I have to tell you. I'm leaving for Esthar." Selphie felt like a knife had just been stabbed into her back.
"Esthar, you mean away from Balamb, are you stationed there?" She tried to keep herself straight, but news of the one she loves leaving, well she just couldn't bear it.
"Yeah, I'm going to be stationed there until Squall decides for me to return."
"That might be a long time." She clutched onto his shirt sleeve.
"I know, but don't worry about me, I won't be alone." He cupped her chin and caressed her cheeks. She didn't blush because she always wanted for Zell to do that.
"Y-you're not a-alone?" She stuttered, secretly hoping it wasn't a woman.
"Yeah, I'm being stationed with Xu." She pulled away from him as though she had just been shot through the heart.
"Xu! You mean, that sexy secretary? The beautiful one? The really pretty one?" She knew Xu looked incredibly beautiful, but for some reasons none of the guys ever seemed to notice her. It was probably because she was SeeD, and she was also an instructor, and if not that she's twenty-four.
"What's the matter? She needs to get out more, plus, I think it'll be an adventure. I mean we would be Garden's dynamic duo over there, I mean they would have to call us to do missions practically every day. Esthar is so big; I mean there has to be some kind of crime or something requesting a SeeD, even though the city is patrolled by soldiers.
"But you're going to be with Xu!" She screamed, this time letting the tears run down.
"What's wrong with that? Is Xu some kind of traitor, and you're afraid she'll kill me or something? What's the matter Selphie?"
"I don't know, and I don't care!" Selphie stormed out of the cafeteria letting her tears run dry.
"Selphie wait!" Zell called out for her, but she didn't hear him. Why had she just run off? "What's up with her?"
"Squall!" Selphie raged into his office. He had been sitting at his desk, but stood when Selphie had walked in with a tear-stained face.
"I can't believe you Squall! Out of all the damn mercenaries in this stupid school you send Zell!" Selphie had been in front of his desk.
"He was the perfect man for the job, he is the best martial-artist in the school, and his job description matches the requirements that President Laguna Loire, my father, is looking for." Squall had his hand ready on the gunblade in his sheath just in case the enraged Selphie tried anything funny. "I can't believe you Squall. I'm in love with Zell. You're taking him away from me!"
"Look! I'm not doing this on purpose. My intentions weren't to take Zell from you. He was the perfect man for the job! How else can I explain this?"
Selphie had stared down at her feet in shame. She knew Squall was right. She knew she was going to lose Zell.
Zell had trudged back to his room after a late lunch. He had gotten a good workout at the training center and just needed to shower and rest a little while before dinner.
He walked in and wasn't surprised to see Xu sitting on his bed, but she was sitting on her legs. Her legs were behind her and she was slumped over. She was sleeping.
He laughed as he took her and laid her down comfortably tucking her in neatly in his bed. "Poor girl." He brushed the hair out of her face. He tried not to be aroused by the fact that she was wearing regulation SeeD uniform, and that her black short shorts were too, short. He grabbed some clothes from his dresser and hopped into the shower. Xu had awoken from her peaceful slumber to hear the shower running from the bathroom right near her head. The bathroom had a straight line which was sort of like a window above the bed. She had probably heard wrong, but she could've sworn she could hear Zell singing. [AN: FFVIII Eyes On Me]
My last night here for you Same old songs, just once more My last night here with you? Maybe yes, maybe no I kind of liked it your way How you shyly placed your eyes on me Did you ever know? That I had mine on you? She thought of how beautiful his voice was. She sighed and blushed as she leaned closer to the bathroom window.
Darling, so share with me Your love if you have enough Your tears if you're holding back Or pain if that's what it is How can I let you know? I'm more than the dress and the voice Just reach me out then You will know that you're not dreaming She heard the shower stop and heard him dry off before walking out of the bathroom.
"Zell that was so beautiful, who were you singing about?" Xu leaned closer to him as he blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Uhh, it was nothing, just for someone special to me."
"Oh, she must be a really lucky gal." She flicked him on his chin. She walked over to his closet where she pulled out three briefcases.
"Zell do you mind if I help you pack?"
"No, I don't mind at all. Actually I could use a little help. Only pack the necessities." He walked over and helped her with the briefcases briefly brushing her hand before walking over to his closet.
"I'll do the clothes, and if you see anything I may need, ask before you pack alright?" He pulled open his dresser and started to stuff his clothes in.
"Oh, and thanks for that massage earlier. It really helped hell I don't even think I would've asked for aspirin if I knew you were that good." Zell blushed staring over at the beautiful brunette who also blushed.
"It's alright, I enjoyed it too." She packed all his different types of gloves. He already had his ergheiz glove on. She walked over and handed him a briefcase that was already full of everything he might need. She didn't really need a lot of money, because President Laguna Loire was going to provide them a place to stay during their duration in Esthar.
Selphie was still in Squall's office. She had been lying on his bed crying while Rinoa tried her best to comfort her.
"It's okay. It's okay." Rinoa thought that she was providing no help
"No! No, it's not okay. I'm about to lose the man I've fallen head over heels for. I'm going to lose him." She just let her tears flow.
"Selphie you're not going to lose him. I bet he loves you, and if he truly does than he would give the world to you, and be loyal." Rinoa raised a brow over to Squall.
The next morning was dull. Selphie felt her world as gray, for this was the day Zell was going to leave. She just wished she knew how long he would be gone.
"Only until Laguna decides he doesn't need SeeD anymore or until Squall sends replacements." She sat in her empty room. She needed to find a roommate before she was evicted, and she was desperately wishing she could move in with Zell. She found a note by her bed that read: Selphie, This is Rinoa, Meet everyone by the front gate by eight. That is Zell's departure time, I know it will be hard to say goodbye, but it's not forever. Love, Your best friend Rin.
Selphie placed down the note and looked at the clock.
"Seven fifty-five!" She ran out of the room. It would be a good ten minutes until she would get to the main gate.
"Don't think of it as goodbye man." Squall had been reassuring his friend. A bunch of people who had been friends of either Xu or Zell had gathered to say goodbye. All of Xu's friends got to meet Zell, and they all told him to take good care of Xu. All of Zell's friends got to meet Xu, and they all said the same. Zell looked dismayed though. Selphie hadn't come. He had an envelope in his hand that he planned on giving to Selphie, but they did have time, they needed to get to Esthar by two.
"Zelly! Zelly!" Selphie had been running up to him from the front gate towards the main gate of the Garden. She ran faster and faster until finally she was in his arms. "I don't want to lose you Zell." She once again let out a flood of tears.
"It's okay. You're not losing me. By the way, I have something for you." He handed her the first envelope. "This one you can open now."
She opened the envelope and pulled out a note.
Dear Selphie, my sweet Selphie, inside the first envelope is a check. This should cover five months of rent. I'm sorry to hear about this, but now you can keep you're dorm. This should give you enough time to find a good job so you can finally get back on your feet. Yours truly, Zell.
"Oh Zell! Thank you!" She handed the check to Squall who was surprised to see Selphie pay for her dorm finally, but thanks to Zell.
"It's alright Selphie. Now I don't want you to open this note until I'm gone alright?" He handed her a second envelope. The envelope was sealed with a heart sticker. "I'll never forget you, but don't worry it's not forever. Probably not even more than a year, don't forget to write okay?" He backed away leaving Selphie alone. She ran up to him again and embraced him. "I'll never let go of you."
"Selphie I have to go. I'm sorry." He started to walk away as Xu pulled up with the Garden car. Zell waved goodbye to all his friends and the new friends he met, but mostly his waves were directed to his love. As the car started to drive away Selphie had run up to the passenger window and tried running alongside the car, but it was too fast. The car left her standing at the gate. Everyone stared forlornly at Selphie who had tried to yell out the words she had been meaning to tell him all her life.
"Zell! Zell, come back. I-I-I Love you."
To Be Continued.