Chapter 2: Say what, say what?
- "You're… You're not serious, are you?" Quistis asked, eyes wide open.
- "Of course I am. Dismissed." said Cid putting his glasses back on.
- "B-but… But…" mumbled Quistis.
- "Dismissed Instructor Trepe!" said Cid seriously.
- "You can't do this to me!" she said banging her hands on the desk. Cid looked at her hands calmly, then up at her and spoke.
- "Watch me…" he said.
- "Why me?! Of all people?!" yelled Quistis.
- "Could we have some privacy?" Cid asked Zell and Irvine, who were watching the scene wide-eyed.
- "Certainly sir…" said Zell, putting a hand on Irvine's back and leaving the room with him.
- "Well?" asked Quistis crossing her arms, when the pair had gone outside.
- "First of all, watch your attitude Instructor Trepe…" said Cid with a strict look. "Second… Sit down." Quistis did as she was told, but she still felt furious.
- "I don't understand this…" she said. "You said you wanted to give me another chance…"
- "What does this look like to you?" asked Cid.
- "Seifer hasn't been able to learn how to behave in a… a decade and you expect me to just do it in what? Two months' time?" she asked exasperated.
- "One and a half actually…" said Cid smiling. Quistis' jaw dropped and she threw her hands on the desk, burying her head in them.
- "'Ou 'eally 'ate me dun 'ou?" she asked in a muffled voice.
- "You know I don't hate you Quistis…" said Cid, as Quistis raised up her head again. "So stop acting like a baby! What is this? This isn't you…"
- "But really Headmaster, sir… Seifer?" she asked in an almost pleading voice.
- "I know you've both got it in you…"
- " *Sigh* Do I have a choice?"
- "Not really, no…" said Cid smiling.
- "He'd better have changed…" said Quistis with a menacing look.
- "Good girl!" said Cid getting up from his chair, approaching her. "Off you go now…" he said pushing her gently to the door, as she reluctantly dragged her feet. "One more thing… He'll be waiting for you outside, to make his new schedule…"
- "What, NOW?!" asked Quistis, finding herself out of the office, with the door banging behind her back and a box shoved onto her hands.
Quistis leaned her head onto the door and sighed deeply.
- "Just as thrilled as I am, aren't you?" a deep, familiar voice said.
Quistis lowered her head and looked at the man who had spoken to her. It was him, Seifer. Leaning onto a wall, with his arms crossed, the usual smirk on his face…
- "Seifer…" said Quistis, walking over to him.
- "Instructor Trepe…" he said, curtsying.
- "Oh boy…" said Quistis, rolling her eyes. "Come on, let's go." she said leading the way.
- "What? No 'welcome back' hug?" he asked in mock innocence.
- "Always the same…" she said, unable to hide a small smile.
- "The one and only!" he replied, putting his hands in his pockets.
- "Anyway, welcome back." she said as she tried to push the button for the first floor on the elevator. She had to push the box she was holding against the elevator wall, to free her hands.
- "Here, let me get that…" said Seifer grabbing the container.
- "The gentleman as well Seifer?" asked Quistis raising an eyebrow, as she cleared her uniform from dust.
- "No, these are just my stuff… Wouldn't want you snooping around them…" he said grinning. Quistis sighed and rolled her eyes at the same time. looking up at the ceiling. But she couldn't help laughing. "Admit it, this was a good one…" said Seifer looking at her. Quistis didn't say a word, but she was grinning. "C'mon!" he said.
- "Alright! It was…" she said letting out a small giggle.
- "He, he… I'm sooo cool…" he said smiling.
- "I guess I'm supposed to show you to your room?" asked Quistis, pushing the elevator door open.
- "Yep. The key says…" he said sticking his hand into the box, looking for the keycard. "…173"
- "Alright…" said Quistis walking down the stairs.
As they walked down, a pair of girls sitting next to the Directory chatting, turned around and looked at them. They both looked shocked and one of them whispered something into the other's ear. The same scene repeated itself as they made their way over to the Dormitories. Quistis looked around her nervously, but Seifer didn't seem to care a tiny bit.
- "Listen…" she said as they approached the Dormitory hallway "Squall will talk to everyone and explain your situation. I don't think the 'whispering' will go on after that…"
- "Does it seem like I care?" he asked, looking casual.
- "No but…" began Quistis.
- "Listen Instructor…" said Seifer, stopping and turning to look at her. "… I had no friends when I came to this Garden, so this doesn't make any difference to me…"
- "What about Fujin and Raijin?" asked Quistis.
- "That's a different story…" replied Seifer frowning.
- "Where are they anyway?" she asked.
- "I explained to them, that I didn't want them to get a bad name just because of me…" he said starting to walk again. Quistis lowered her head. She never thought that Seifer could show that kind of sensitivity. "Besides…" he added "I think they were starting to like each other, so I'd just get into their way…" he said smiling. Quistis laughed out loud at that.
- "Here we are…" she said, stopping just out of a door which read 'Room 173'. She took the keycard from the box Seifer was carrying and slid it through the card receptor. She pushed the door open and held it for Seifer to get in.
- "Ah… Home sweet home!" he said leaving the box on a table and flicking the lights on.
- "So…" said Quistis "We still have to decide on your daily program."
- "I'm listening…" said Seifer putting his elbow against the doorframe.
- "You'll train daily for six hours. Three in the morning and three in the afternoon." she said.
- "Six?!" he said raising his eyebrows.
- "Yes Seifer, six." Quistis replied firmly. "Two out of the six hours will be theory. Since you've already been through these, I don't think more than an hour per lesson is necessary. Now on the timetable…"
- "Please make it humane!" he asked adopting a pleading look.
- "You'll train at 900 hours in the morning and at 1800 hours in the afternoon."
- "Nine in the morning?!" he shouted.
- "Too late for you?" asked Quistis mockingly. "We'll be meeting at this hour every morning at the Dormitory entrance, starting tomorrow."
- " Tch, fine…" he said waving his hand in a 'whatever' manner.
- "Are we finished then?" asked Quistis.
- "Yep… Just one question though…" said Seifer "You really didn't want this position, did you?"
- "Seifer, I don't have anything against you, even though you seem to believe so. All I ask for is cooperation. Help me, help you. Understood?" said Quistis lowering her glasses, looking at him.
- "OK… I promise I won't give you too much of a hard time…" he said.
- "And mind that language. It can get you in trouble any day…" she said.
- "Hey, you were the ones kissing my ass to get back here… You'll just have to put up with me the way I am." said Seifer crossing his arms, smirking.
- "Right…" said Quistis remaining calm. "I guess we'll make it 800 hours in the morning then Seifer… If you're late, I'll make it 700. Good day." she added, turning her heel and striding down the corridor.
- "WHAT?!" yelled Seifer behind her "Instructor, get back here! INSTRUCTOR!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quistis let her underwear slip on the bathroom floor and entered the shower. The hot, steamy water soothed her skin and calmed her. She bowed her head, letting the water fall on her hair, wetting them thoroughly. She grabbed the shampoo and poured some on her palm. She started massaging her head with circular moves to relax. 'I can't believe my bad luck…' she thought. 'I'm not giving up though… This little prick will just have to see how though I can get… I'm not going down this time… I wonder how the others will take it… I'm not sure everyone will be forgiving. But it wasn't his fault anyway… Still, he hasn't changed a bit…' Her thoughts were interrupted by a firm knock on the door. She quickly washed her hair and got out. "HOLD ON!" she called. She grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her body and rushed to the door, which was still being banged loudly.
- "Geez, just a second!" she said opening up. "What?" She was surprised to see Seifer.
- "This timetable is PREPOSTEROUS!" he shouted.
- "Seifer, what the hell are you doing here?! And how did you find out where my room is?" asked Quistis.
- "One: I came to complain about my training hours. Two: I've got a pretty good memory…" he said grinning.
- "Well then, you should have watched your filthy mouth, shouldn't you have?" Quistis said crossing her arms. She tried to sound threatening, but Seifer was still about a head taller than she was, so it wasn't of much use…
- "Like you're talking any better to me!" he whined.
- "You caused this! Be nice to me and I'll be nice to you!"
- "Or what? You won't play with me anymore?" said Seifer mockingly.
- "700 hours Almasy!" said Quistis with a smirk.
- "OK, OK! I'm sorry Quistis! Eight o' clock and I'll be there, I swear!" he pleaded.
- "Fine, but don't think I'll be lenient this time Seifer." said Quistis.
- "OK."
- "And call me Instructor Trepe, if you please."
- "Alright." he said impatiently.
- "What?" she asked as she caught him giving her a strange look.
- "It's just that I've never seen you with your hair down before… Or wet… Instructor Trepe." he said rubbing his chin.
- "Is that so?" said Quistis, giving him a piercing look.
- "Hey, no need to burn a hole in my forehead! It was just an observation!" he said.
- "You know I really could burn a hole in your forehead…" she replied smirking.
- "Yeah, yeah…" he said in disbelief "So…" he added raising an eyebrow "… Can I come in?"
!BANG!
Quistis, shut the door right on Seifer's face and headed back to the shower. As soon as she removed her towel to step back in, there was a knock on the door again. 'Oh, he's dead alright…' she thought. Furious, she put it back on and went to open the door.
- "WHAT NOW SEIFER?!" she yelled.
- "Uh, hi…" said Squall looking at Quistis with wide eyes.
- "Oh, Squall…" said Quistis running her hand through her wet hair. "Sorry about that, I thought you were…"
- "Seifer? Yeah I know, I saw him leave. What did he want?" asked Squall.
- "He wasn't happy with his timetable…" she said grinning. "Come in." she said moving from the door.
- "Am I interrupting something?" he asked embarrassed. "Your shower maybe?" he asked blushing.
- "No, it's OK. Have a seat." said Quistis motioning him to her bed.
- "I won't bother you long, I just wanted to talk to you about something." said Squall sitting down.
- "What is it?" she asked sitting on a chair across him.
- "It's about Seifer." he began. "I hear he's your student again…"
- "Rumors travel fast…" she said smiling.
- "Are you OK with this?" he asked.
- "Well, I wasn't at first…" she said. "… but then I saw it as a challenge. If I can 'tame' Seifer, I can do it with anyone."
- "And if you can't?"
- "Then… I'll just go on being a SeeD." feeling a bit annoyed.
- "I know how much you like your job Quistis…"
- "So?" she asked, wondering where Squall was taking the subject.
- "So… I don't want you to lose it…"
- " *Hmph* !" groaned Quistis looking at Squall in disbelief "And since when do you care?" Squall looked at her surprised.
- "What?" he asked.
- "All these years we've been here in this Garden, you've done nothing but ignore me, while I try and get closer to you." she said angrily.
- "I'm sorry Quistis, but I'm in love with Rinoa…" he said.
- "I didn't mean 'get closer' romantically you fool! As a friend! But I guess this was just too much for you, was it?" said Quistis getting up from her chair. She had finally found a moment to vent out all of her frustration, although it might not have been the ideal one…
- "Listen, I know I've been way too distant in the past, but I'm trying to make up for it…" he said getting up as well.
- "You needn't worry Squall, really. I've made it pretty well up to here, and I can make it from now own."
- "Why are you being like this? I'm trying here!"
- "A little late aren't you?!" she yelled banging hard on the wall with her hand.
Just then, her towel unfolded and fell right on the floor. Squall's eyes shot wide open, as well as Quistis'. They both remained shocked for a few seconds, until Quistis suddenly reached down for the towel. Squall turned around, red from head to toe. Quistis quickly covered herself and turned around too.
- "Uhh… I'll just… be on my… way then…" mumbled Squall.
- "Yeah, yeah… T-t-talk to you later…" stuttered Quistis.
- "Um, bye…"
- "Squall?" she said turning around.
- "Yeah?" he said turning around too.
- "Sorry about that one before…" she said lowering her head. "You were just trying to…"
- "I understand." he interrupted.
- "I just had a stressful day… Thanks anyway…"
- "Don't mention it… Just… take the rest of the day off or something…" he suggested.
- "I probably will…Don't have anything else to do anyway…"
- "Well, bye then."
- "Bye." she said, as Squall closed the door behind him.
Quistis fell heavy onto her bed. She grabbed her forehead with both hands. 'Why does all this have to happen to me?' she thought. 'I might have liked Squall to see me naked sometime, but definitely not like this…' She laughed. Then felt incredibly miserable. She wiped a tear that ran down her cheek and walked over to the shower. Fortunately, no-one knocked the door this time…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The time was already eight in the afternoon and night had already fell upon Balamb. Squall walked over to the Quad and found Selphie and Irvine there. Selphie was running around, giving everyone orders on the upcoming Garden Festival play. It was going to be a modern version of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' . Irvine was sitting on a bench, enjoying the sight. Squall walked over to the bench and sat down next to him.
- "Hey." said Squall.
- "Hey…" said Irvine, not looking at him. He was distracted by the sight of Selphie chasing around a girl, screaming at her.
- "Is… Selphie OK?" asked Squall.
- "She's been goin' nuts this week!" said Irvine. "Everything's totally out of control. The play should have been ready by now, but half of them are still forgetting lines…"
- "I see… And why's she chasing that girl around?"
- "I think she forgot to wear her costume…"
- "Right…" said Squall looking at Selphie, who was now pulling her own hair. "Hey, d'you know what's wrong with Quistis these days?" he asked.
- "I dunno… I guess she's just being grouchy… Maybe she feels lonely." said Irvine.
- "What do you mean 'lonely'? With five friends around her all day?" asked Squall in disbelief.
- "Squall, wake up!" said Irvine looking at him. "We're all paired up! You and Rinoa, me and Selphie, Zell with the library chick…"
- "Shizuka?"
- "Yeah, whatever…"
- "You think that's it?"
- "Probably. After reading that article too…"
- "What article?"
- "That Robinson woman… She wrote an article about Quistis being beautiful and single and that 'any eager candidates' are welcome to come and meet her!"
- "You're kidding…"
- "Nope… And the worst part…"
- "There's worse?"
- "You bet… The worst is that four have already showed up today! With flowers and all! It was hilarious…" chuckled Irvine.
- "How'd I miss that?"
- "They came during noon, while we were heading to our dorms. They all just sort of… walked up on her and gave her the flowers and stuff."
- "Heh… I don't believe this…"
- "Makes me wonder though…"
- "What?"
- "How can a woman like her be single? I mean… look at her! She's so… hot!" said Irvine.
- "Who's hot?" asked a very sweaty Selphie, who had just walked over to them.
- "Uh… you!" said Irvine, surprised to see her there.
- "Irvy…" said Selphie smiling and blushing. "Hey Squall…" she added waving at him.
- "Hey yourself…" said Squall.
- "Are you done there?" asked Irvine.
- "Unh… Don't remind me… Let's just go sleep…" she whined.
- "Sleep?" asked Irvine looking at his watch. "It's only 8:05!"
- "I know, but I'm tired… And I desperately need a shower!" she said.
- "Aren't you hungry?" asked Irvine.
- "Now that you mention it…" she replied, rubbing her stomach.
- "You go ahead and go to the dorm. I'll go get something from the cafeteria and we'll eat together, OK sweetie?" said Irvine.
- "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" said Selphie hugging him and blowing him a kiss. "Bye Squall!" she said running out of the Quad.
- "Bye…" muttered Squall.
- "See what I mean?" asked Irvine. "Look at Selphie, or Rinoa, and look at Quistis."
- "Irvine… Selphie's always like that…" said Squall raising an eyebrow.
- "Yeah well… Bad example I guess… But Rinoa…" said Irvine.
- "I got your point Irvine."
- "Good. Let's hit the road then…" said Irvine getting up from the bench. As they walked over to the corridor back to the main Hall, a group of girls went past them.
- "Hi Irvine…" they all said in unison, swooning all over the tall cowboy.
- "Ladies…" said Irvine taking his hat off and performing a small bow in front of them. The girls giggled and strode off.
- "Honestly…" said Squall rolling his eyes.
- "Hey man, you know me…" said Irvine putting back his head on.
The pair of them walked over to the Cafeteria, where Squall sat on a table waiting for Irvine to get some food. After five minutes, they were both on their way to their dorms. When they reached Irvine and Selphie's, Irvine turned around to say 'Goodnight' to Squall.
- "G'night bro. Gotta go. Time to fulfill my 'boyfriend duties'." he said, whispering that last sentence.
- " 'Boyfriend duties' ? " said Squall rolling his eyes.
- "Y'know what I'm talkin' about you sly old dog!" replied Irvine pushing him slightly with his elbow.
He slid his keycard through the card receptor. He winked at Squall and walked inside his dorm, yelling "Honey, I'm hoooome!" to Selphie. Squall couldn't help but laugh and went on through the corridor. As he walked down to his dorm, he head a high pitched squeal-slash-giggle, which he was quite certain had come from Selphie. He got over to his and Rinoa's room and got out his keycard. " 'Boyfriend duties' … Really…" he thought laughing, as he unlocked the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Did you guys like that towel scene with Squall and Quistis? ;-) Don't expect this to grow into a Quall though, it was just a scene I wanted to include. Just a… moment. Now, from the next chapter we'll be starting with more Seiftis interaction and much less from the rest of the characters. And here's a little treat for ya!
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL':
It's the first day of the lessons and things don't really get a smooth start for Quistis and Seifer.
Seifer reveals a secret weapon that will prove to be defining in latter events of the story!
Also the first signs of Seifer's supposed 'change' of character…
STAY TUNED FOR MORE!