A/N: It's the return of the psycho writer! Mwuhahahaha! *Pause* Just ignore me; I'm going through my random insanity period… Tomorrow is the global premier of Matrix: Revolutions! I'm hearing it's gonna be killer! Can't wait to see more Neo yumminess, 'beat 'em up' scenes and overall Matrix coolness! Oh, yeah… Enjoy the new chapter ^_^
Chapter 18: Spooked out
Seifer woke up the next morning from the bright rays of sun that came through his window. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Quistis who was already up. She was sitting on one side of the bed in her underwear and was about to wear her dress when she noticed that Seifer had woken up.
- "Morning…" said a Seifer with a broad grin spread across his face.
- "Morning." said Quistis coldly. She didn't turn to look at him, just went on getting dressed.
- "Where are you going?" he asked.
- "I've got to get to my room before everyone wakes up and finds me missing…" she replied just as coldly.
Seifer looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. He started looking around for his boxers. Quistis bent down on the floor and retrieved them, throwing them over to him, facing him for the first time.
- "Thanks…" he said rubbing the back of his hair.
- "Don't mention it…" said Quistis sitting on an armchair, putting her shoes on.
Seifer wore his boxers and sat on the side of the bed across Quistis.
- "Something wrong?" he asked. Quistis stopped doing anything for a second. She then resumed wearing her shoes and spoke.
- "No, why?"
- "Why?" asked Seifer exasperated "Because you're about as cold as an ice block without any apparent reason… What's wrong?" he asked getting up, putting his hands on his hips.
- "Nothing…" she said without looking at him, getting up as well "Where's my purse?" she said, looking around.
- "Quistis cut it out!" yelled Seifer. She turned and looked at him "Just tell me. What is it?" he asked.
- "*Sigh* Listen…" she said approaching him "About last might… About what I said…"
- "Go on…" he said crossing his arms, raising an eyebrow.
- "I just… I don't want you to take it seriously…" she said looking at him, with a look of sorrow in her eyes.
- "Why?"
- "Because I'm not sure if I meant it…" Seifer opened his mouth to say something "Please let me finish… This doesn't mean that anything has to change between us. We can be just like before… Just pretend I never said it…"
- "And I'll ask again: Why?"
- "Because it's a really serious thing to say and I want to truly mean it when I say it. Last night, when I almost got shot and you saved me… yet again…I was so grateful, that it just came out… Don't get me wrong, I really want to be with you right now, but if we're ever to say 'I love you' to each other, I want us to mean it whole-heartedly. And right now, I don't know if I did mean it… How'd you feel when I told you last night?"
- "I dunno… Confused I guess…"
- "See? You weren't sure of what you felt either…" she said going close to him, holding his hands "Can we please pretend I never said that and be just like we were before?" she asked.
- "Yeah sure…" he said forcing a smile.
- "Good… I'll see you later on downstairs…" she said kissing him on the cheek, leaving the room.
Seifer fell backwards onto his bed and looked up at the ceiling. Half of him felt relieved; 'I love you' is a really heavy thing to say and he wasn't sure if he was ready to say it back. The other half though, couldn't help but feel upset about this burning sensation at the pit of his stomach…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Seifer walked outside his bedroom with his suitcase packed and ready to leave. They were all supposed to meet Wallace outside before they returned to Balamb Garden. He ran a hand through his hair, which were back to their normal blond color 'Finally…' he though and turned around to lock the door. He then heard some footsteps behind him and he turned to look at who that was. He was taken by surprise when he found Xu waiting outside his door.
- "S'up? Came for some early morning bitchin'?" he asked smirking.
- "Thank you." she said calmly, totally ignoring his comment just before.
- "Excuse me?" asked Seifer confused.
- "I said: Thank you." she repeated.
- "For what?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
- "For saving my friend… once again. Thank you." she said, while a small smile appeared in her lips.
- "Oh…" said Seifer nodding "Don't mention it…" he said awkwardly, turning around to pick up his suitcase "Better get downstairs… The others will be waiting…"
- "My, my… Aren't we the shy one?" said Xu grinning.
- "Listen lady, I've got 'Smirkin' Seifer' waiting just around the corner. Don't make me take him out…" he said. Xu laughed.
- "In that case, can I ask the 'Non-smirking Seifer', which if I may add I like much better, to keep taking good care of my friend? She really needs it…" she said smiling.
- "I'll see if I can get him to clear his schedule to make room for that…" he said winking at her. Xu laughed once again.
- "You're pretty OK Almasy… When you're not trying to be an asshole…"
- "You too… When you're not trying to be a bitch…"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lucius Wallace was outside his mansion, waiting to see the seven SeeDs off. One by one, they came outside carrying their luggage. Seifer and Xu where the last ones to come out. After a really long 'Goodbye' from Wallace to Quistis everyone got into the two limos waiting and drove off to the air station. After another seven-hour-long flight, the aircraft carrying the mission team arrived at the Front Gate of Balamb Garden at exactly 3 o'clock at noon. Headmaster Cid and Squall were waiting outside by the gate.
- "Welcome everyone! And congratulations on a very successful mission!" said Cid once they were all out of the aircraft.
- "Wallace was so pleased that he even raised the fee he was originally paying us." said Squall unable to hide his satisfaction.
- "Please…" said Seifer smirking "The guy only raised the fee because he wants us to shut up about all the dirty stuff we've found out he's been involved into…" he added crossing his arms.
- "Seifer…" said Cid approaching him "Seifer, Seifer, Seifer…" he said shaking his head. Seifer got prepared to get lectured once again, but Cid surprised him "You did an excellent job. Your rank is… ten if I remember correctly?" asked Cid.
- "Yes sir…" replied Seifer, not sure where Cid was taking it.
- "Right… Well, I hereby raise your rank to fifteen."
Seifer stared at Cid wide-eyed as the rest erupted into applause. He looked around awkwardly, seeing each and every face smiling broadly at him and among them, Quistis' smile was the brightest…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Small chapter, I know… I had no choice, 'cause I could fit this scene anywhere else. I'll be making it up to you though; the next three chapters are gonna be big. Especially the last one from the three. What will they be about? Read on…
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL':
It's Selphie's birthday and the gang all decide to spend an entire day on the beach!
This will only be the first part of the day though, as it will be described in full detail.
Two more parts will be comin' up!