A/N: 'Ello m'pretties! OK, this is the last chapter of Selphie's birthday. Sorry about the lack of evolution in the plot, but I've been having a terrible case of writer's block and I thought this was a good way of not letting you on the wait … Anyway, as of the next chapter, the plot is back on its route!
In this one, there will be a few songs involved. I, of course, own none of them, their record companies and themselves do… The songs in the order they appear are: 'Nirvana' – Come as you are, 'The who' – Behind blue eyes, 'Tenacious D' – Tribute. The first two ones are really great soft songs, while the second one is a pretty funny song (especially the video-clip). If you can find them, check them out. They're worth it.
Enjoy!
Chapter 21: Selphie's birthday-Part 3
- "I don't think you're doing this the right way…" said a smirking Quistis, lying down on the sand.
Seifer, who was trying to light a fire, gave her an evil glare.
- "Keep this up and no sex for a month…" he whispered at her.
- "Uh-uh-uh… This wasn't part of our deal in which, if I may kindly remind you, you made the rules…" she replied "And by the way, I mean it… You're not doing this the right way. You've got to blow a bit to start the fire. Oxygen is vital."
- "Yes Professor Trepe…" said Seifer impatiently, going back to lighting his fire "Ha! I did it!" he exclaimed excitedly once he'd made it.
- "Hey Squall, bring over the hotdogs, the fire's up and running!" Quistis called Squall.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The time was already 7:45 in the afternoon, when the eight teenagers were sitting around a fire, baking their hotdogs. The sun had just begun to set and the sky was painted in purplish-red colors.
- "Wow… Look at the sunset everyone…" said Selphie.
- "Yeah, it's really something…" said Shizuka with a dreamy expression on her face, resting her head on Zell's shoulder.
- "Hey, the sausages are almost done." said Quistis "I'll go get the mustard and stuff…" she said getting up.
- "Need any help?" asked Seifer, looking up at her.
- "Sure, you can get the beers…" she replied.
The couple got up and walked towards the fridges. Quistis got the buns, the mustard and the ketchup, while Seifer looked around for the beers.
- "Hyne this is pathetic…" he said when he found them "Only eight beers? You're all lucky I brought some of my own provisions…"
- "'Provisions'?" asked Quistis raising an eyebrow.
- "You'll see later babe…" he said winking at her. He picked up the beers and walked over to her "Later on, when everyone falls asleep, make sure you stay up…"
Seifer glanced backwards and when he made sure no-one was watching, he gave Quistis a bite on the neck and went back to the others. Quistis followed his lead.
- "Ooh yeah… It's hotdog time…" said Zell snatching the buns from Quistis' arms.
- "Zell you promised you'd lay down on the hotdogs… You're starting to gain a bit of weight…" said Shizuka patting Zell on the stomach.
- "C'mon Zukie, you know that's because I haven't trained well in quite some time…" he said with his mouth stuffed.
- "Too true… We have to keep in a strict program, otherwise the pounds keep on piling up…" said Quistis.
- "You guys are lucky… Either as Instructors or as plain SeeDs you get some action… Ever since I got the damn Commander position, I haven't raised a single finger…" said Squall gloomily.
- "Bores the hell out of you huh?" asked Seifer.
- "You don't know half of it…" said Squall sighing.
- "Let's change the topic…" said Rinoa looking at Squall.
- "Ooh, idea, idea, idea!" said Selphie cheerfully "Let's play truth or dare!"
- "I think we've heard enough truths today to last us a lifetime…" said Irvine grinning awkwardly.
- "Oh, I know!" said Quistis "How' bout you grab that guitar of yours and play us a few tunes?" she added looking at Irvine.
- "Oh yeah Irvy! Sing us something!" said Selphie excitedly.
- "My voice is a bit sore… I can play, but I'll have difficulty singing." said Irvine.
- "Why don't you sing Seifer?" asked Rinoa. Seifer raised an eyebrow, just like everyone else.
- "Me? What gave you that idea?" he asked.
- "You've got a really good voice. A bit rock for my taste, but still really good…" said Rinoa.
- "And how would you know?" Seifer asked.
- "You always hum when you're nervous. Sometimes even sing. I happened to catch that a couple of times…" replied Rinoa. Quistis realized this for the first time. He really did hum at times…
- "Forget it…" said Seifer kind of shyly.
- "Oh c'mon! Why not? I wanna hear!" said Shizuka.
- "Yeah, me too Seifer…" said Irvine.
- "Me three…" said Zell.
- "Go ahead…" said Squall.
- "Yeah! And if you're good, you can get into the choir for the next Garden Festival!" said Selphie.
- "Selphie… We're trying to persuade him…" commented Quistis.
- "Hmph!" scoffed Selphie jokingly, while everyone chuckled.
- "C'mon Seifer…" said Quistis looking deep into his eyes; it was the only thing that made him agree.
- "Alright… But if I hear one snicker, I'm stopping at once…" he said looking around as everyone nodded "And I get to choose the song…"
- "Agreed. Go ahead and pick one." said Irvine picking up his guitar.
- "OK…"said Seifer rubbing his chin while thinking "The only band I can come up with, that would suit the atmosphere and that can be played in a classic guitar, is Nirvana. You up for it?" he asked Irvine.
- "Hmm… I'm better at Latin songs and stuff…" Irvine replied rubbing the back of his head.
- "I'm not singing Latin!" said Seifer, widening his eyes "Can I borrow this?" he asked pointing at the guitar.
- "You can play?" asked Irvine surprised.
- "Yeah… I'm better with the electric, but I've also played a lot with classic and acoustics…" Seifer replied.
- "I never knew you had anything to do with music…" said Zell.
- "Well why should you? It's not like I'd go around playing to the whole Garden… I did it for myself only…" said Seifer.
- "Enough with the prologue and, hand him the guitar already!" said Selphie exasperated.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was about 8 in the afternoon when the sun disappeared completely and gave way to the stars and silvery moon. A fire at Rinaul coast of Balamb was burning, warming the four couples. Seifer took some time to tune the guitar and when he was ready, he cleared his throat.
- "You guys all know Nirvana, right?" he asked.
- "Who doesn't?" Rinoa asked rhetorically.
- "Do you all like them?" asked Seifer. Nods came from all seven people around him.
- "OK… Here goes… *ahem*" he said clearing his throat again.
He began 'scratching' the guitar and a familiar to all of them tune sounded. All the girls made themselves comfortable in their boyfriends' arms, while Quistis sat right next to Seifer looking at him closely. He seemed to be a bit awkward at first, but the looks on everyone's faces rewarded him and gave him courage; he was indeed good. And when his voice began to fill the atmosphere, the seven teenagers around him were even more surprised…
Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be…
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy.
Take your time, hurry up… The choice is yours, don't be late.
Take a rest, as a friend, as a known memory-y-y-y-yeah…
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
His singing voice was a weird mix between Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder. Soft and smooth, deep and low.
Come, dowsed in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be…
As a trend, as a friend, as a known memory-y-y-y-yeah…
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
And I swear that I don't have a gun…
No I don't have a gun; no I don't have a gun…
Seifer closed his eyes as he went on with the guitar solo and everyone couldn't help but admit that he was really something.
Mmm… yeah.
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
And I swear that I don't have a gun…
No I don't have a gun; no I don't have a gun…
No I don't have a gun; no I don't have a gun…
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
Memory-y-y-y-yeah… Memory-y-y-y-yeah…
Seifer finished the song and finally opened his eyes. No-one spoke; not even him. He bit his bottom lip, looked down and then spoke.
- "I thought of another one… Do you want me to…?" he said.
- "Go on, go on…" said Shizuka and everyone else nodded.
- "You might not know this one…It's pretty old, but I like it…" Seifer said and began playing again.
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
At the sound of 'blue eyes' Quistis looked at Seifer startled. Irvine got a weird expression on his face and eyed Quistis suspiciously. She looked at him too, trying to hide her awkwardness, but soon turned away.
No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
There was obviously a reason he played that song; it expressed how he really felt about what had happened in his life the past months.
No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
Seifer's eyes, which were closed all this time, slowly opened and looked deep inside Quistis'. All the other six were lost within their thoughts as the music played, giving them two a moment 'alone'.
When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool
Seifer smiled at that last lyric and so did Quistis.
If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm; let me wear your coat
Seifer gave Quistis a meaningful look, which she returned. She slowly placed her hand on his leg. Seifer gave one last riff through the guitar and then put his hand on Quistis' own, singing the last verse without music.
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes…
Seifer quickly pulled his hand away, as everyone woke up from their 'trance' at the end of the song. Seifer put a hand behind his neck and rubbed it.
- "I've never heard of that Nirvana song before…" said Rinoa "What's it called?"
- "That wasn't Nirvana. That was 'The who'." replied Seifer.
- "And the song's name?" asked Irvine raising an eyebrow. Seifer looked at him, hesitating to answer at first.
- "'Behind blue eyes'" he said.
- "Your eyes aren't blue…" said Zell.
- "It's just a song…" said Seifer scoffing "I don't think that I have to have blue eyes to sing it."
- "You could be singing it for someone with blue eyes…" said Irvine meaningfully.
Seifer and Quistis froze in place at the sound of that. Irvine looked at the both of them.
- "NOW I get it…" said Zell breaking the tension.
- "Y-y-you do?" asked Seifer afraid of what would come next.
- "Doesn't Angelina Schaffer have blue eyes?" said Zell grinning. Quistis' eyes shined in delight.
- "Yes! Yes she does…" she said quickly.
- "I thought you weren't dating her…" said Irvine crossing his arms.
- "No I'm not…" replied Seifer "But I'm beginning to think I should…" he added giving Irvine a smirk.
- "Whoo-hoo! Then Quisty can start dating Nida again and we'll all be paired up!" said Selphie cheerfully.
Seven pairs of eyes shot wide open, Quistis' the widest.
- "'Again'?" asked Squall breaking the silence.
- "Since when was Quistis dating Nida?!" said Irvine looking at her surprised.
All of them except for Rinoa turned and looked at her.
- "I… we… I wasn't…" began Quistis, but she couldn't find the right words.
- "Quistis wasn't dating him." said Rinoa. The pairs of eyes now turned towards her "The just had something going on. Right Quis?" Rinoa asked Quistis looking at her. The six pairs of eyes turned back towards Quistis.
- "Right…" said Quistis nodding slightly.
- "This is too much information for one day…" said Zell holding his head with both hands.
- "I think music ought to be resumed…" said Shizuka.
- "Right ho…" said Seifer and began playing at once.
This is the greatest and best song in the world…
Tribute…
All of them groaned and snickered at the sound of the song. Seifer stopped playing and looked at them.
- "What? I thought we needed something funny to lighten up the atmosphere…"
- "Seifer's right. Resume please." said Rinoa, motioning him to play again. Seifer took it up from where he'd stopped.
Long time ago, me and ma brother Kyle here…
We was hitch-hiking down a long and lonesome road…
All of a sudden, there shined a shiny demon in the middle of the road
AND HE SAID:
Laughs and snickers were heard as Seifer adopted a funny nasal voice:
Pla-a-a-a-y the best song in the world, or I'll eat your souls…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "Happy birthday to you…" all of them except for Selphie sang "Happy birthday to you…"
She was sitting down on the sand giggling and smiling, while Irvine came forth holding her lit up cake. The rest of them were sitting around the fire, singing to her.
- "Happy birthday dear Selphie, happy birthday to you!" they sang.
Irvine put down the cake in front of her. Selphie paused for a moment and thought of a wish. She then held her hair back with one hand and blew her candles excitedly. Everyone clapped and Irvine leaned in, cupping her face in both hands and kissed her.
- "Get a room you perv!" yelled Zell jokingly.
Selphie laughed and broke the kiss, as everyone came forth to give her his or her wishes.
- "Happy eighteenth girlfriend!" said Rinoa hugging her tightly.
- "May your greatest wishes come true!" said Quistis, hugging her too.
- "Happy birthday Selphie." said Squall just smiling.
- "My best wishes!" said Shizuka.
- "Come here Sefie!" said Zell pulling her into a tight embrace and raising her up into his arms, while she giggled hysterically "Happy eighteenth!"
Selphie hugged and kissed all of them as they gave her their wishes. Seifer was the last one to come forward.
- "Well…" he said rubbing the back of his hair awkwardly "I may have not been much of a friend to you… or anyone else here… ever…" he said grinning "…but I'd really like to give you my sincere wishes. Happy birthday…" he said looking at her.
- "Oh Seify that was so sweet!" said Selphie hugging him tightly from the neck "Thank you!" she said smiling warmly at him.
- "Enough with the mushy stuff and cut the cake already!" yelled Zell giving everyone a good laugh.
- "I'll go get the plates…" said Rinoa getting up.
- "Aww… We're all out of beer…" said Irvine checking the fridge.
- "What did you expect? We only brought eight…" said Quistis.
- "Well…" said Seifer mischievously "I did bring some… back-up provisions…"
- "Meaning…?" asked Shizuka.
- "Meaning…" Seifer said unzipping his back-pack and bringing out four bottles "…this."
- "Dude! Four bottles of vodka?! Where did you get these?" asked Zell excitedly.
- "Secrets of the profession…" said Seifer smirking "So… what do you say?" he asked holding them up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "You can le-e-e-eave your hat on!" yelled-slash-sang Zell in his completely dissonant voice, to a stripping Squall.
Squall was the only one standing up, while the others were lying on the sand around him cheering and whistling. Squall was now in the process of swinging his jacket around.
- "Go Puberty-boy!" yelled Seifer holding a half-empty bottle, while Quistis laughed hysterically in his arms.
- "Take 'em all off!" said Selphie, standing up, putting Irvine's hat on Squall's head.
- "Yo Quis, where's your whip? I'm feeling kinda kinky tonight…" said a drunk-out-of-his-mind Squall, snickering.
- "Aw shit! I left it at Garden. Lemme go get it!" she said trying to get up, but Seifer held her back, putting his arm around her waist.
- "Oh no you don't! You're staying here to drink with me…" he said taking a huge gulp from the bottle, then putting it on her lips. Quistis grabbed the bottle hungrily and swallowed almost half of the remainder in one gulp.
- "Sweet mother of Hyne!" said Zell impressed, looking at her.
- "*Cough* Let's go swim naked!" said Quistis throwing the bottle down on the sand.
Everyone turned to look at her wide-eyed. Even Squall stopped trying to take off his T-shirt and looked at her.
- "I'm in!" said Irvine and made a move to get up.
- "Hold it right there!" said Selphie pulling him back down "You're going nowhere…" she said kissing him fiercely.
- "Zukie I wanna make kissy-face too…" said Zell hugging Shizuka from the waist tightly.
- "Hey, isn't anybody gonna watch me strip?" asked Squall adopting a hurt expression on his face.
- "I'll watch you strip baby!" said Rinoa smiling at him, as he excitedly resumed his striptease.
- "I'm going!" said Quistis and made a run for the sea-side, stumbling on the way.
- "Hey, wait for me!" said Seifer going after her.
- "Shit, I can't take those frickin' belts off…" said Squall disappointed, trying to undo his two belts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quistis ran towards the shore, pulling her top off. When she got there, she quickly took her jeans off and stayed with her swimsuit on. She walked over to the water and dipped her feet into the warm sea. Seifer soon came after her and hugged her from behind, kissing her bare shoulder. Quistis turned around and put her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply.
- "They're gonna see us…" mumbled Seifer huskily when they broke apart.
- "I don't care…" she said kissing him again "I liked you song…"
- "Which one?" he asked grinning.
- "The second one…" Seifer stopped for a moment and thought, counting with his fingers.
- "Oh yeah…" he said when he remembered "I sang it for you…" he said smiling at her.
- "I know…" she said smiling back at him.
- "So… You wanted to swim?" he asked.
- "Yeah… naked!" she said excitedly taking off the shirt Seifer was wearing.
Seifer took it and threw it on the sand. He started taking off his T-shirt and when he did, he began kissing Quistis. She moved her hands down to the buttons of his jeans and helped him take them off. He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the water, until they were inside in waist-length. He held her from the waist, pulling her close to his body and kissed her. Quistis held his face with both hands and deepened the kiss. Suddenly, Seifer pulled back and spoke.
- "You're still wearing clothes…" he said mischievously.
- "So are you…" she replied in the same manner.
Quistis stuck her hands into the water and pulled down Seifer's swimsuit yanking it off his body. She held it up in one hand in front of his face.
- "Not anymore…" she said grinning, throwing it out, towards the sand.
- "OK, my turn…" he said.
He held her close to him and started kissing her on the neck and shoulder. He put his hands on her back and pulled the string of the top of her bikini. He stepped back, pulled it up her neck and threw it on the sand. He put one hand on her waist to pull her back close to him. With the other, he cupped one of her breasts, while kissing her deeply. His other hand moved into the water and down to the bottom part of her bikini, pulling it down. He helped her take it off and threw it out towards the sand as well.
- "And now we can swim naked…" he said looking at her, grinning.
- "Swim?" she said raising an eyebrow.
Swiftly, she jumped up in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck kissing him…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Hee, hee… Squall stripping… Now that was something I bet none of you expected to read… Alrighty, until the next update, take care and don't forget to review!
ONT THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'LOVE CONQUERS ALL':
The next morning our eight heroes return back to their daily routines in Garden.
Squall invites Seifer to a friendly practice. Will things get 'heated up' between the two?