Chapter 20: Selphie's birthday-Part 2
The time was past 6 o'clock in the afternoon when they decided they'd swum enough for the day. They all dried themselves up from the excess water. The girls soon spread their towels and lied onto them to sunbathe. Seifer zipped his bag open and took out his Oakley-like glasses out as well as a small tobacco bag and a lighter. He wore his sunglasses and lied onto his towel, opening the bag.
- "Do any of you mind if I smoke?" he asked.
- "Nah, cool with me… But only if you roll me one." replied Irvine grinning.
- "You don't smoke!" said Selphie jolting up from her towel.
- "I don't now… I used to though, when I was back in Galbadia." said Irvine.
- "Hey, I don't want to tempt you into starting to smoke again. I just won't either…" said Seifer making a move to close the bag.
- "Don't be stupid, I'll only have one…" said Irvine.
- "Your call…" said Seifer shrugging.
He took out a piece of rolling paper, put some tobacco in it and in no time, he rolled it into a perfect cigarette.
- "Here you go." he said handing it to Irvine.
- "Hey, I want one too!" said Selphie excitedly.
- "This tobacco is much heavier than the one in usual cigarettes. It's not for rookies…" said Seifer to Selphie.
- "Aw c'mon! Tonight I'm turning eighteen and I've never tried a single cigarette in my entire life!" she said.
- "It's not like you're obliged to…" said Squall.
- "Do you want one too?" asked Seifer raising an eyebrow. Squall hesitated to answer for a few seconds.
- "Yeah, alright…" he said shrugging. Seifer snickered.
- "Hey, let's all have one!" said Rinoa excitedly.
- "It's not like Seifer'll just give away his tobacco to everyone!" said Irvine looking at her.
- "I don't mind rolling one for each of you. Just one though, 'cause then I won't have enough for myself." said Seifer.
All the rest looked at each other mischievously.
- "I'm in…" said Shizuka.
- "Me too…" said Selphie.
- "Yeah whatever…" said Squall.
- "Zell?" asked Seifer.
- "Sure…" said Zell shrugging.
- "Alright then…" said Seifer, starting to roll seven more cigarettes.
- "You didn't ask Quistis…" said Irvine raising an eyebrow.
- "Quistis already smokes…" Seifer replied shrugging.
Everyone turned and looked at Quistis with eyes wide open.
- "Why are you all so surprised?" asked Seifer "Ever tried tutoring me? It's enough to drive people to medication, much less smoking…" he said grinning. All of them laughed, while Seifer lowered his glasses and gave Quistis a wink, which she returned.
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- "Oh my Hyne, it's disgusting!" said Rinoa, coughing smoke.
- "I think I'm gonna throw up…" said Zell holding his stomach.
- "It's not that bad…" said Squall, coughing just a bit.
- "I told you guys tobacco's pretty heavy…" said Seifer chuckling.
- "Here… You can have it back…" said Shizuka with a disgusted expression on her face, handing the cigarette back to Seifer.
- "Just put it out by that stone, I'll smoke it later…" said Seifer grinning, pointing at a small stone nearby.
- "I think I like it!" giggled Selphie coughing a bit "Can I keep it?!" she asked Seifer excitedly.
- "Sure…" he replied laughing.
- "I think we've had enough smoking experience for the day…" said Squall putting out his cigarette. Rinoa, Zell and Shizuka followed his suit, while the rest finished them out.
- "Hey, are you all up for a game of volley-ball? There's a net right over there." said Zell.
- "You brought a ball?" asked Squall.
- "Yeah, I forgot to tell you guys. Well, are y'all in?" asked Zell.
- "Sounds like a good idea…" said Quistis "We're eight; we can divide into teams of four."
- "Ooh, can I pick?!" asked Selphie "I say we play guys versus girls!"
- "You can't be serious…" said Seifer lowering his glasses.
- "Why not?" asked Quistis.
- "'Cause we'll kick your sorry asses in no time!" Seifer replied chuckling.
- "Wanna bet?!" said Quistis crossing her arms. The guys all looked at each other.
- "I'm in!" said Irvine "If we win, you all get topless!" All of them shook their heads in disbelief "What?!" Irvine asked exasperated.
- "If we win…" said Seifer resting his glasses on his forehead "…you do all the chores for today and we do nothing. You'll be our slaves for the day… Anything we say, you do it…" he said smirking.
- "I like that…" said Zell grinning.
- "And if we win…" said Quistis "…you'll do exactly the same…"
- "You're on…" said Seifer extending his arm towards Quistis "And may the best man…"
- "Or woman…" she pointed out, taking his hand.
- "Or woman…" he added smirking "…win."
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The four girls bent over forming a circle and put their arms onto each other's shoulders.
- "Remind me why we agreed to play against four fully trained and worked out men?" asked Shizuka mockingly.
- "Because we know their weak point…" said Quistis grinning "Pride…"
- "I don't think I follow you…" said Rinoa.
- "Seifer and Squall were always competing against each other. And Seifer with Zell were always picking on each other. The three of them are gonna try and bust their necks trying to prove who's best. Irvine can't handle the team on his own. We've got them by the… Well, we've got them period!" said Quistis.
- "You sure about that?" asked Selphie.
- "Positive." she replied.
- "I think we should flash them… They're bound to lose concentration…" said Selphie. The rest of them gave her weird glares.
- "OK… So what will our positions be?" asked Shizuka, changing the subject.
- "Selphie's got quick reflections so she'll be playing center, to catch any fast passes. I think I should play in front, to attack. Which one of you can pass well?" asked Quistis.
- "I think I can…" said Shizuka.
- "Good. Rinoa are you any good at 'serving' the ball?" asked Quistis.
- "Yeah, sure. I can handle it." said Rinoa.
- "Good! Let's go kick some ass!" said Quistis.
Meanwhile, the guys were having a 'meeting' of their own.
- "They don't stand a chance…" chuckled Seifer "OK listen up. I'll be playing in front to attack. Irvine, you…"
- "Hey wait a sec! Who made you captain?" asked Zell.
- "I'm not playing captain, I'm just making a suggestion!" said Seifer.
- "And why do you get to play attack?" asked Squall.
- "I suppose you want to play attack?" asked Seifer raising an eyebrow.
- "Why not?" said Squall raising his eyebrow.
- "'Cause you're shorter! It's easier for me to jump over the net!" said Seifer exasperated.
- "I think he's right guys…" said Irvine.
- "Even if he is, he should ask if he can play attack!" said Zell annoyed.
- "FINE! Can I please play attack?" asked Seifer impatiently.
- "No! I want to play attack!" said Zell.
- "Zell, you couldn't reach the net even if you jumped ten feet high!" spat Squall.
- "Are you implying that I'm short?!" asked Zell narrowing his eyes.
- "Everything cool there boys?" asked Quistis raising an eyebrow, twirling the ball on one finger.
- "Fine!" said Seifer, Zell and Squall in unison.
- "Then let's get rollin'!" said Quistis, walking towards the volley-ball net.
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The girls took their places on their side of the field and waited for the guys to do the same, but to no avail. Seifer, Squall and Zell were fighting over who'd be in front.
- "OY! TAKE YOUR HYNE DAMN POSITIONS ALREADY!" yelled Selphie.
Seifer and Squall rushed to the front, while Irvine and Zell stayed in the back, much to Zell's protesting.
- "You kids want the first shot?" asked Quistis smirking.
- "Ladies first…" said Seifer mockingly.
- "OK…" said Quistis grinning.
She looked at her teammates and mouthed the words 'I told you'. She threw the ball over to Rinoa and the game began.
Rinoa threw the ball high in the air, then jumped up and hit it hard while in mid-air. The ball flew all the way to the opposite field. Irvine got the ball and passed it right over to Zell. Zell hit it and threw it over to the girls' field.
- "Damn it Zell, pass it to someone so we can attack!" yelled Seifer.
Selphie got the ball and passed it right over to Shizuka.
- "Pass it up high!" yelled Quistis.
Shizuka did so and Quistis attacked. The ball flew fiercely over to the other side, where Squall got it. He passed it over to Zell, who passed it high up towards Seifer. Seifer jumped up high and attacked forcefully. Selphie got the ball and letting out a yelp of pain passed it directly to Quistis. Quistis attacked and the ball got once again towards the boys' field. Zell got it, passed up to Squall this time, who attacked and scored. Rinoa picked up the ball and tossed it towards Irvine. Irvine threw the ball up in the air and 'served'. Quistis got it and passed up to Selphie who passed back to her. Quistis jumped up in the air and raised one arm up to attack. When she made sure that all the guys rushed to the back to save the ball, she just hit it gently to their side, just enough for the ball to pass the net. Zell rushed forward, but it was too late. Seifer and Squall stared at Quistis wide-eyed.
- "It's called a 'feint'…" said Quistis smirking, receiving high-fives from her teammates.
- "I'll show you feints…" said Seifer pissed off, cracking his knuckles.
The ball got back into Rinoa's hands. She 'served' the ball once again and the game resumed. Zell caught the ball and passed it up in front. Seifer and Squall both rushed in front and jumped up to attack, crashing onto one another. They both fell on the sand, rubbing their sore foreheads while the girls laughed out loud.
- "Dammit Leonheart, why'd you get into my section?!" said Seifer angrily.
- "You got into mine! The ball was definitely on my side!" Squall spat back.
- "Since when did your section become the one two inches to my left?!" said Seifer mockingly.
- "Whatever… Zell, next time pass up to one of us. Not in the middle!" said Squall.
- "Oh, so now it's my fault?!" said Zell crossing his arms.
- "Hey, shut up!" yelled Seifer to the girls, who were still laughing "Resume the fuckin' game…" he said getting up.
- "Now, now… No need to get upset…" said Rinoa chuckling.
- "Just 'serve' the damn ball!" yelled Zell.
- "Zelly!" said Shizuka angrily, putting her hands on her hips.
- "Sorry baby…" apologized Zell.
- "*Cough* Pussy-whipped *Cough*" said Irvine. Seifer and Squall snickered.
- "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" yelled Zell clenching his fists.
- "C'mon, don't take it personally…" said Irvine chuckling. Zell scoffed.
- "At least I'm not the one who reads porn mags secretly from his girlfriend…" said Zell crossing his arms, raising an eyebrow. Irvine's eyes shot wide open.
- "Ooh…" said Seifer and Squall in unison.
- "Irvy! You still read those disgusting things?!" shouted Selphie angrily.
- "No babe, I swear! He's making it all up!" said Irvine. Seifer and Squall were laughing hysterically.
- "What are you laughing at oh-mighty-Commander?" asked Irvine narrowing his eyes "Do you forget about the 'problem' you recently told me you had?" Squall choked on his own laughter.
- "W-w-what?" he asked faintly.
- "You heard me…" said Irvine smirking.
- "What problem?" asked Rinoa.
- "Squall went through a period when he needed my advice, 'cause he couldn't get it u…" began Irvine.
- "SHUT THE HELL UP!" yelled Squall.
- "You told me you had a cold!" yelled Rinoa. Seifer was rolling on the sand laughing his ass off.
- "Oh I suppose you find all these funny Seifer?" asked Squall "Zell… Do you remember about two years ago when we found dear Seify here at the library at night?" said Squall turning to Zell. Seifer stopped laughing at once.
- "You wouldn't DARE…" said Seifer with a murderous expression on his face.
- "Oh you bet we would…" said Zell smirking "Do you girls remember a certain cleaning lady… What was her name…?"
- "Mrs. Jackson." said Squall grinning.
- "Hold it right there!" yelled Seifer pointing a threatening finger at them.
- "Yes, yes… Mrs. Jackson. You see we found Seifer in the library with her, doing… stuff." said Squall unable to withhold his laughter. All girls looked at Seifer wide-eyed.
- "Dude, you humped the cleaning lady?!" asked Irvine with a disgusted expression on his face.
- "She came on to me! And for your information, she was a pretty good-looking woman!" yelled Seifer, trying to redeem himself.
- "Yeah, at the age of like fifty!" said Zell.
- "At least I got laid young enough to never have to buy any lube!" Seifer spat at Zell. Squall snickered "That goes for you too Puberty-boy. Or have you forgotten about that time you dropped your bag in the corridor in front of me?" Squall once again choked on his laughter.
- "Hey, hey, enough! Resume play!" yelled Quistis laughing, passing the ball over to Rinoa.
Rinoa once again 'served' the ball. This time all four of the boys rushed over to it and collided with one another…
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- "Tut, tut…" said Quistis giggling "Two sets to none… I guess we won then…"
All four of the girls cheered and whistled as they crushed the boys' team two to zero. The guys shot each other angry looks and decided to accept their defeat, by becoming the girls' slaves for the rest of the day…
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A/N: Hee, hee… I just loved writing that fight scene between the boys… Some of you might have noticed a 'Friends' cameo scene in there… I don't know if you liked these chapters and if you'll like the next one, 'cause there's no plot evolution. I just wrote them because I wanted to show that even though these guys are mercenaries, they're still teenagers who want to let it all out every once and then… And because I wanted to have a little fun with them as well ^_^ Okies, after the next chapter which will be pretty big, the day of Selphie's birthday ends and we'll be back to the plot!
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL':
It's the final part of Selphie's birthday.
Also, a secret Seifer had and only one of the others knew becomes revealed…