Author's Notes: Thank you everyone for reviewing this fic! I truly appreciated it. Even 'I'm feeling weird today…very weird', thank you for your comments. I understand how you feel but I don't think I will be changing the story in any way. You will find my reply to your review in the review section. It should be the review just above yours.

For everybody else though, I hope you will enjoy this chapter. =^_^= Please review after reading okay? Anyway, I'd be more than happy to read and review your fics if you want me too. =^_^=

This chapter is dedicated to:

Elvoret_Fujin

Thanks for being my faithful friend and reviewer offline and online. ^_^

-Zell's POV-

No way. No frickin way.

I walked out of the Head's office sorta numb. Squall was still talking to Headmaster Cid about something or other.

When I saw Seifer back there, anger flared in me. I didn't think he had the guts to come back. Fujin and Raijin returned to Garden a while ago and I knew that they didn't want anything to do with him anymore. Who could blame them? After all, Seifer HAD been kinda psycho. It's hard enough having to worry about Squall and everything, but I had to deal with this too?

Thinking about Squall made me groan loudly. I ran my hand through my blond hair. The kiss had been… everything I had ever looked for in a kiss. It was sensual, loving, and so much more. The very thought of it sent fire through my veins. I remembered everything. The way he ran his thumb over my tattoo, the way he slowly parted his lips… Like I said, everything.

Most people would think I'm crazy. I mean, rejecting Squall? The strong, silent, handsome, sexy –okay, STOP IT- Commander? They think it's relatively impossible. But I did it. I didn't do it because I was shocked that I was gay or anything, but for the fact that he had just broke up with Rinoa. He couldn't possibly be over her so fast. She WAS the one who made him open up after all.

My heart fell at the thought. I had been crushing on Squall ever since we went on our first real mission to Timber. I remember feeling insanely jealous after Rinoa came. Not to mention Quistis, which complicated matters for a bit. The idea that Squall had used me after his relationship with Rinoa was crazy. But I couldn't help think that it was damn unfair that he had me to turn to while I had to wait almost a lifetime for someone to comfort me when I was hurting about Squall.

Right, back to Seifer. I absent-mindedly wandered on the first floor where the classes were. I knew that there was one person who I can talk to about this. Quistis Trepe. No, make it Instructor Trepe; Headmaster Cid had let her regain her Instructor status after our mission. He had said something about her having shown her abilities well again but Selphie and I think that it was because of the Trepies pounding on his door every night demanding that Quistis came back.

Anyway, Quistis had always been the level-headed one out of all of us. I wondered if she knew about Seifer's return. I knocked on her door and walked in without waiting for an answer.

Now I am often one to act impudently. I'm prone to doing stuff without thinking. There are times where I instantly regret things that I do. This… unfortunately, was one of those times.

Quistis and some other guy that I've never seen before in my life were on top of her desk, snogging passionately. Papers and stationary were scattered around the floor. I felt a hot flush spread on my cheek as I quickly close the door again.

Aah… scratch that idea.

Okkkkaaay, second resort. Selphie Tillmitt. The rainbow after every thunderstorm caused by Quezelcotl, she could probably relate. After all, her school had been blown up by Galbadia's troops, right? I headed straight for the Quad. It wasn't long before Selphie's high-pitched voice reached my ears.

"No!!! Not there! Put it over there! I SAID NO!!!! PUT IT OVER TTTTTHHHHHEEEERRREEEEEE!!!"

Whoa. I wondered who managed to piss off the great, ever-hyper shortie this time. Selphie always gets into a hissy fit when they had to do last minute preparations for the Garden Festival. Which, I might add, is only a week away.

"Yo, Selphie. What's up?"

"The banner is. Well, it WAS supposed to be," said Selphie, glaring at one guy, Reuben, I think his name was, who had the decency to grin sheepishly, "before SOMEONE and his FRIEND decided to have a little game of tag and ran RIGHT into the banner,"

"Oh, come on, Selphie. I said I was sorry for about like a million times!"

"Well, you can say it again,"

I couldn't help snickering. It was surprising how Little Sefie had Reuben right under her thumb. Reuben sighed exasperatedly before opening his mouth.

"I, Reuben Moralez, apologizes to the one and only Selphie Tillmitt for ruining her perfect, oh-so-wonderful banner that she made by herself just last night,"

Selphie looked thoughtful, obviously wondering if she should make poor Reuben say it another time. Before her verdict, though, I cut in.

"Uh, Selph? Can we talk?"

Selphie gave Reuben another glare before looking at me. "Uh-huh. Sure!" said Selphie, bounding towards me, all anger forgotten… or at least, saved for another day, "Let me guess, it's about Seifer."

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

Behind Selphie, I saw Reuben giving me an 'I O U' sign, clearly thankful to Hyne that he didn't have to say that crazy apology all over again before rushing off to the other end.

"Oh. Head Cid told me about it earlier. Why'd you think, though, he came back? That's the thing that I'm really confused about. Was it because he had nowhere else to go or because he really wants to make up for all he's done?"

"That's easy. Probably the former. I mean, did you even SEE the posters all around Timber? The one about Seifer deserving to be beheaded was a liiiiittlle over the top,"

"No doubt that you think it's appropriate," said Selphie, shrewdly.

"Well, em, hmmm,"

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me that you're back to 'child grudge' mode?"

"NO! Well… not exactly, anyway,"

"He's lonely, you know…" she said, concern evident in her eyes.

"What?" I asked, a bit lost. Hey, just because I'm a bit slow doesn't mean I'm stupid!

"I said, he's lonely. He probably feels really detached from everyone right now. I think we should all go and cheer him up!!"

"You go then, if it matters so much…"

"Zell! Don't be a meanie!"

"Pfft, look who's talking…"

"And what was THAT supposed to mean? No, wait. I don't want to hear it. Anyway, how about we go somewhere tonight and take him with us?" Well, this was Selphie all right. A natural 'doer'. Quick and ready to do stuff. So unlike me…

"Errr, I just remembered, I had to go back to Balamb to… to… ah, yes, to visit Ma. She's been complaining that I never spend time with her lately," I said, stating the first excuse that came into my mind.

"Oh… oh well…"

Yes! Score one for Zell!

"Hey, maybe we could take Seifer to Balamb. I'm sure he'd like it!!!"

Damn. Should have known that she'd find a way to get around this.

"But I—"

"Now, Zell. You wouldn't want to worry your poor mother now, would'ja??"

"Well…"

"Pleeeeaaaaassseeee, Zell… For… for meee???"

Oh great, she's putting on the puppy dog look. This is unfair! She knows that I can't resist the puppy dog look! Okay, just say no, just say NO, just say…

"Oh, fine. Sure. But I'm leaving if he gets all rude and all,"

"Oh, thaaaannkkkkssss, Zell! You're the best!" she jumped up and hugged me tightly.

Well, so much for self-control.

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-Selphie's POV-

Hee! It's gonna be so much fun! Yaaaaayyy! Finally, something to keep my mind off the annual Garden Festival.

I couldn't wait for this evening to come. I looked back at Zell's retreating figure.

Hmmpph, I'm going to make it soooo fun that even Zell can't complain! Should we go to Zell's house first? Or we could just walk around and stuff. Or maybe we should just visit Zell's mom and hop on the tra—"

"Hey, chief. Where do these go?" asked Mabel, one of my more hardworking helpers, while pointing over to some balloons.

"Put them above the refreshments table. Not directly above the punch bowl though,"

"Sure thing!"

I rushed over near the door, watching Reuben hang up the stupid banner again.

"Are you sure you're doing alright?" I asked.

"Of course!" he yelled. I smirked. Guys and their egos. From where I stood, I could see that the banner was already upside down.

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Now, I hope that you liked this chapter. I did it when I was on holiday with my family. Please review… =^_^= Thanks.

Rei

Evanescence Maiden