A/N: This is it… The final chapter… *Sniff* I'm gonna miss this cute little ficcy…
Before you go on and read it though, I just wanna clear something out. It's about Cid's reaction. OK, so it might have been a bit over the edge… But think about it… He's now got an entire garden in uproar because of Seifer and Quistis. Not that it's their fault that everyone got upset about them, but someone's gotta pay, right? And who tells him Quis wasn't involved with Seifer when he was still her student? The readers won't care of course, since the two of them are all lovey-dovey together, but try seeing it from Cid's view. If he applauded Sei and Quis for their behavior, he'd be encouraging students and instructors to get it on! Now we all know that's not the case, so don't worry. I'll be nice to my characters for once and give them their happy, sappy ending… ^_^ For the time being… (Can't keep the cruelty and meanness away for long… ^_~)
BTW, I got an e-mail from that little bitch who goes on dissing everyone. I replied to her ^_^ If you guys wanna check out what I wrote, I can e-mail it to you. Hee, hee…
Enjoy!
Chapter 37: The grand finale!
Quistis and Seifer walked outside Cid's office still arguing. Behind them, followed their friends along with Xu.
- "What the hell were you thinking, telling Cid it was your fault?!" yelled Seifer.
- "I was only trying to save your ass from being kicked out of here!" yelled Quistis.
- "Oh, so you were doing me a favor?" asked Seifer, crossing his arms "Thank you very much, but I can manage pretty well by myself!"
- "Well sorry I even bothered then!" said Quistis exasperated "And by the way, why did you tell Cid it was your fault?!"
- "Because it is!"
- "Why?!"
- "Because I'm the one who started all this!"
- "How?!"
- "I was the one who started hitting on you in the first place! I could have gotten you into trouble while I was still your student!"
- "Bullshit! As if I couldn't realize that by myself…"
- "Dammit, can't you just admit that you were the fucking victim for once?!" yelled Seifer exasperated.
- "Victim?!" shouted Quistis "I suppose you think you're smarter than me?"
- "*Sigh* I never said that, will you please listen to what I say?!"
- "Oh, so now I can't understand either?" she asked crossing her arms.
- "For fuck's sake! Stop thinking that I'm trying to make you look stupid!"
- "Too late…" said Quistis angrily and walked towards the elevator.
She pressed the button and got inside, while Seifer spat out every curse word he knew, kicking the wall.
- "Don't you fucking realize that if you leave I have no damn reason to stay?!" asked Seifer, but she was already gone.
The six people standing behind him were looking at him wide-eyed, except for Selphie who was smiling broadly.
- "WHAT?!" he yelled looking at them.
- "That was so sweet what you just said…" said Selphie dreamily.
- "I don't believe this…" said Seifer grabbing his head with both hands "We've got a situation here and she's telling me I'm sweet. And by the way, I'm NOT fucking sweet!" he yelled pointing at her.
- "Damn man, you two have got some serious issues…" said Zell.
- "Chicken-wuss, you're really not helping right now!" said Seifer angrily.
- "Seriously! Listen to yourselves!" said Rinoa "You're fighting over who will take the blame, instead of trying to figure something out!"
- "Fucking elevator!" yelled Seifer not listening to them, banging hard on the button "Why did they make then so Hyne damn slow?!"
The doors finally opened and Edea came out.
- "I just heard. What's going on here?" she asked.
- "Ask your husband…" said Seifer rushing inside.
- "Seifer wait!" said Selphie running towards the elevator, followed by Rinoa, Irvine, Zell and Xu.
Edea was left looking around puzzled.
- "Squall, what's going on?" she asked confused.
- "Let's go. The headmaster will tell you…" said Squall walking back inside Cid's office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "Just what the hell are you trying to do now?!" Irvine asked Seifer.
- "I've gotta find Quistis and sort this out…" said Seifer pacing back and forth nervously inside the elevator "If she goes, I go…"
- "Aww…" said Selphie smiling, tilting her head to one side.
- "Someone please shut her up…" said Seifer exasperated.
The elevator stopped on the 1st floor and Seifer rushed out. He came face to face with hordes of people, crowding the entire Hall. All of them eyed him poisonously, some whispered to each other, others yelled angrily at him.
- "This is going to take some time…" he said sighing, rubbing the back of his hair. (A/N: And NOT his back hair Ling-San… ^_~)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "YOU DID WHAT?!" yelled Edea, banging her fists on Cid's desk.
- "I only did what I thought was the best thing to do…" said Cid "Besides it's not settled yet…"
- "You're Hyne damn right it's not settled!" said Edea furiously "You're punishing two of my children for falling in love with each other?!"
- "Honey…" began Cid.
- "Don't you 'honey' me Cid!" yelled Edea.
- "Do you know how much this will affect Garden? Negatively I mean!" he asked indignantly.
- "Really Cid!" said Edea exasperated "You're trying to send two kids away, who by the way happen to be amongst your best SeeDs, because they were having a secret relationship!"
- "By not taking any action, I'm encouraging Instructors to date their students!" protested Cid.
- "They weren't together then you fool! You should know better! Quistis would never do that!" said Edea.
- "And how do you know?!" asked Cid raising an eyebrow.
- "Quisty told me so and I believe her! She would never lie to me!" insisted Edea. Cid scoffed "Do I need to remind you under what circumstances we got married?"
- "That was totally different!" said Cid.
- "That was exactly the same!" said Edea "We went against everyone! My parents who didn't want me marrying a soldier, your parents who didn't want you marrying a sorceress, our friends who thought we weren't right for each other… And we proved them all wrong Cid!" she yelled.
- "Edea sweetheart…" said Cid sighing.
- "I don't want to hear it Cid! You're not firing them and that's settled!" said Edea slapping her hand on the desk.
- "And what do you suggest I do then?" asked Cid crossing his arms.
Edea smiled and raised an eyebrow. She sat down and began talking…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
- "Dammit!" swore Seifer "How the hell am I gonna find Quistis in this jungle?"
He thought for a few seconds and then hopped up onto the highest ledge of the stairs.
- "EVERYONE SHUT THE HELL UP!" he screamed. Immediately, everyone stopped talking and yelling and turned around to look at him "Wow… It worked…" he mumbled "QUISTIS?!" he screamed again "QUISTIS, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
- "I'm over here." she yelled.
Seifer scouted around the huge Hall and spotted her somewhere towards the Quad.
- "What do you want?" she yelled.
- "If that's where I have to do it, so be it…" he replied "I wanted to tell you to stop acting like a fool Quistis!" he yelled "Can't you see that if you leave this Garden, I have no reason to stay here?!" he asked. Many whispers were heard at this last sentence "I TOLD YOU ALL TO SHUT UP!" he yelled and silence fell again. Quistis began walking towards him.
- "Why?" she shouted.
- "What, you want me to tell everyone here how I feel about you?!" he yelled. Quistis didn't respond, just went on walking towards the stairs, while people made way for her as passed by, creating a small path "Oh c'mon Quistis!" Seifer said exasperated. Quistis went on walking, giving him an I-dare-you sort of look. "What, you don't think I've got the guts?!" he yelled. Quistis raised an eyebrow, smirking devilishly "Fine! I don't mind shouting it from the rooftops!" went on Seifer "I LOVE you Quistis Trepe!" he shouted, while many people gasped "Everyone fucking hear that?! I LOVE her! And I don't care if every single one of you things I'm a damn bastard. I still love her!"
- "Aww…" was heard from the entire Hall, especially from the girls. Quistis was now only a few feet away from the stairs.
- "If you leave, I leave Quistis!" said Seifer, a little less loud, because she was drawing closer.
She reached the stairway and began walking up each step. All eyes inside the Hall were upon her and Seifer. She approached the top stair, while Seifer hopped down from the ledge. He walked in front of her and stopped just a couple of feet away.
- "What's it gonna be then?" he asked crossing his arms.
Quistis just smiled and looked at him. She opened her mouth and while everyone waited eagerly for her response, holding their breaths, she began singing.
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
The whole Hall went silent as her soft voice filled the atmosphere. She was no great singer, but could definitely carry a tune. And right now, that was more than enough…
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
It was the song Seifer had sang for her at Selphie's birthday… Her song… Their song… When she finished, Seifer looked at her, smiling warmly. He extended his arm towards her. She took his hand and he pulled her into the most passionate kiss anyone inside the Hall had ever seen. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Selphie, Rinoa and Xu were hugging each other, crying from joy, while Irvine and Zell were just grinning broadly.
Seifer and Quistis seemed oblivious to anyone around them. They were both 'trapped' into each others arms, embracing tightly, while their lips went into a wild 'dance' of passion. They were finally free… No more hiding, no more pretending… Like a fledgling bird that had just swung its wings for the first time, they were now ready to fly… Ready to live out in the open and not in the shadows anymore. And the kiss never seemed to end. It just escalated in an orgy of passion and cheering echoing all over the walls of Garden.
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened and out came Squall.
- "*Ahem*" he said, clearing his throat.
Seifer and Quistis stopped kissing and turned to look at him, still hugging.
- "Follow me." he said without any emotion and began walking down the stairs.
Seifer and Quistis looked at each other, shrugged and followed him, walking hand-in-hand. Every single person in the Hall tried to walk over to them and congratulate them, but a plain icy glare from Squall drove them all away. The three of them walked towards the Dormitories. Squall walked down the corridor, not saying a word, while the couple behind him just followed, exchanging puzzled glares. Squall stopped outside a dorm room and took out a keycard. He unlocked the room and turned around to Seifer and Quistis.
- "In here…" he said walking inside, flicking the lights open.
The pair walked inside and took a look at the room. It was pretty much empty, but both of them immediately noticed the double bed inside the bedroom.
- "That's a…" began Quistis, but Squall interrupted her.
- "Your new room." said Squall "And yes. It's one of the couples' rooms."
Seifer and Quistis looked around utterly surprised. Squall walked towards the door and then turned around.
- "It's yours now." he said and tossed the keycard at Seifer "Enjoy it…" said Squall and, smiling for the first time, walked outside closing the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Dum-da-da-dum! The ending folks! Just stay tuned for the Epilogue and Author notes which will be out by tomorrow. Also, a small teaser of the new sequel will be posted along with the Author's Notes.