Chapter Eight: Fools
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: I have no finals tomorrow, I'm done with studying for the day. So I'm writing this...around nine thirtyish. I SHOULD be studying, but I'm tired and need to let out some stress. So here's a chapter! It's a little more serious than most.
* All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters.
"Hunter..." the princess whispered in a raspy voice as her tearful, squinted eyes looked up at Nida, who was playing the role of Hunter. "Where's Aiden...?"
Nida squinted his eyes slightly and shook his head. "Ileana...I don't know how to tell you this..." he trailed off. He turned his head away and Quistis' blue eyes went wide.
"No..." she whispered. She began to shake her head from side to side tiredly. "No...you're lying...he didn't really...he wouldn't have..."
Wedge, who was playing the role of another knight bit his bottom lip. He leaned down and helped Quistis sit up on the prop hospital bed that Irvine had built. "We have to leave. Before the other guards wake."
"Where is he!?" Quistis gasped weakly. She nearly tumbled over and Nida and Wedge held her up to keep her from falling over. Her eyes turned to either of them. "He didn't come, did he?"
"No, princess..." Nida whispered regretfully. "I'm sorry."
Quistis turned her head away and took a deep breath, trying to get her tears under control. "No..." she said in a shaking voice. "I'M sorry..." she held her hands up and held on to their offered arms as they helped her up on her feet and steadied her. "Take me back to Harbor...take me away from here..." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Away from him..."
Rinoa was leaning forward on her director's chair, watching with intent scrutiny. "Megaphone," she mumbled. Selphie, who was sitting in a smaller Assistant Director's chair, handed her the megaphone. Rinoa took it and lifted it to her mouth. "Excellent work people!" she announced loudly. "Let's take a five! Irvine, set up scene fifteen! Fujin! FUJIN!!"
Rinoa turned her head around, still talking into the megaphone as she did so. Selphie winced as it was blasted into her ear, momentarily deafening her. "Here!" a voice shouted to their left.
"Ah!" Rinoa put the megaphone down. "Go get Seifer! Tell him it's his turn on stage!" Fujin nodded and headed towards the main part of the garden to get Seifer from where he had been left putting on his costume in one of the bathrooms. Rinoa's brown eyes scanned the sparsely populated stage for her lead actress. "Quistis!" the brunette shouted. She grabbed the megaphone. "Quistis, can I see you for a moment!"
The tall blond turned around and walked over. "Yes, Rinoa?" she asked as she approached the seated brunette.
"Quistis-" she began, the megaphone still up to her lips.
"The megaphone, Rin..." the blond said as she winced.
Rinoa put the megaphone down and smiled. "Like I was saying," she said casually. "I just wanted to tell you that you acting has drastically improved. What's with the big change?"
"Hmm?" Quistis feigned innocence. "Nothing!" she giggled. "I just thought I should put it up a notch."
"You're more than equal to Seifer now," Rinoa said. Quistis tried to keep a smile on her face, but the director still noticed the flash of pain go through her blue eyes. *Hmm... let's test this...* "I mean, the chemistry on stage between you two was great before, but now...it'll be amazing!" Immediately, there was that flash of pain again and Rinoa made a mental note.
"Thank you, Rinoa," Quistis said in a more professional voice. "I'll try to keep up the hard work."
"Great!" Rinoa said. She lifted up the megaphone and carefully turned it away from Quistis. "All right! Everyone prepare for scene fifteen! Quistis, back on stage! Seifer! SEIFER!!"
"I'm right here," a grumbling voice said behind her. She turned around and saw Fujin nudging her head towards the tall blond male. He looked slightly worn out, the arrogant spark in his eyes gone and replaced with a dull look. "Let's get this over with."
"Seifer, are you all right?" Selphie asked, noticing the weary look on the older man. The blond nodded.
"Of course I am!" he snapped loudly. He tossed his script to Fujin and then waltzed up the stage to stand across it from Quistis.
Rinoa and Selphie exchanged looks and Rinoa reluctantly lifted the megaphone to her mouth. "Scene fifteen! Action!"
Seifer staggered in from stage right, his body tired looking. Rinoa narrowed her eyes. From years of performing arts, she could sense when something was wrong. And something was definitely wrong. Quistis ran half way across the stage and stopped in the center. She paused, an emotionally torn look on her face.
Seifer looked up as he fell to his knees less than three paces from her. "Ileana..." he began. Rinoa dropped her megaphone. "I'm sorry." His voice was tried, almost emotionless. It wasn't projected and Rinoa could barely hear it.
"Stop!" Rinoa shouted immediately. She jumped off her chair. "Stop! Stop it right now!"
"What's wrong?" Quistis asked as Rinoa climbed the steps and stood between them.
The brunette knelt down in front of Seifer and studied his face. "Bags under your eyes, taunt complexion...you haven't been sleeping!" she deduced.
Seifer growled and scrambled to get up. "I'm FINE!" he snapped loudly.
"You know we have practice today! Why didn't you get enough sleep?" Rinoa demanded. "That's not like you!"
"You don't know what's like me!" Seifer growled back at her bitterly. "You don't know me!"
Rinoa rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "All right...you want to act? Fine. But I better start seeing some real emotion soon..." she mumbled. She jumped off the edge of the stage and swiftly walked back to her chair. She grabbed her megaphone from Selphie, who had picked it up. "Start again! ACTION!"
The two actors repeated the movements and Seifer fell back on his knees. "Quistis," he pleaded loudly enough just for Rinoa to hear. "I'm sorry..."
"Rin..." Selphie mumbled nervously.
"Shh...I know..." Rinoa said. She narrowed her eyes and focused on her two stars. "Let's just see how this turns out..."
Selphie nodded reluctantly. Quistis waited for Rinoa to yell stop or cut, but the directions never came. She was forced to go on. Her blue eyes locked on to Seifer's desperate looking ones. "You betrayed me," she said, amazed at how much the emotions inside of her seemed to bubble into her acting. "I trusted you...and you betrayed me. Now you're coming back? What makes you think that I'll even take you back!?" she asked, sounding disgusted.
Seifer closed his eyes and slowly opened them to look back at her. "I didn't know what I was doing," he began nervously. "I swear it. It was like I didn't have control of my mind or my body! I should've been there for you. I should've-"
"You should've done a lot of things," Quistis cut off. "But you shouldn't have done THAT," She narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I hate you..."
"You don't mean that."
"Like hell I do!" Quistis screamed as tears began to sting at her eyes. "I looked you right in the eye and you just stood there...doing NOTHING." the words spat out of her lips as her blue eyes narrowed.
"I still love you..." he began.
"No!" Quistis shouted. She covered her ears and shook her head wildly from side to side as she stepped back. "I won't listen! I won't listen to your lies! I was a fool to ever believe that you could actually love me! You're nothing but a cold hearted, ignorant, sword wielding ass, Seifer Almasy! And I'll NEVER forgive you! I hate you, Seifer!"
"Holy..." Irvine said from the wings as he watched from the side. He turned to look at Zell who was standing right next to him. "Did you hear that?"
"What the hell's going on?" Zell mumbled.
"You don't mean that!" Seifer said as he stood up and faced Quistis.
"I do!"
"If you do, then why are you crying!?" Seifer demanded as he reached out for her. Quistis' eyes went wide with panic as she stepped back.
"Leave me alone!" Quistis screamed.
Seifer froze in his steps. A pained look crossed his handsome features as he slowly took a step back. he reached behind him, underneath the long black leather jacket he was wearing as part of his costume and pulled out a prop gun. Quistis looked up, her eyes wide with surprise.
"I'm sorry I hurt you..." Seifer mumbled. He held the gun by it's barrel, pointing it towards himself as he offered the weapon to her. "Go ahead...I deserve it after what I did to you."
"Do you think I wouldn't shoot you?" Quistis asked bitterly. She let out a scoff and grabbed the gun with ease. She pointed it at Seifer's head.
"No..." the male said as he took her wrist and adjusted it so that the gun pointed at his heart. "Here..."
"What are you doing...?" Quistis hissed.
"If there's no chance of you in my life," Seifer whispered. "What's the use of my heart?"
Quistis' hand turned white as she gripped the prop hand gun in her hand. Her hands shook as Seifer stood there passively. Tears were streaming down her face as she dropped the gun and covered her pale face with shaking hands. In tears, she tumbled to the floor.
"Cut!" Rinoa shouted through the megaphone. "That's enough for tonight everyone! Great job!! Quistis! Can I speak to you for a moment again, please!?"
Quistis' head perked up, showing an emotionless face as she casually wiped the tears from her face. She was suddenly so calm and composed, as if her little dramatic performance hadn't even occurred. She went down the stairs and smiled as she approached Rinoa. "Well? How was it?"
"Quistis, I have to say that your acting has far surpassed my expectations," Rinoa said with a smile as she slid off her chair and put the megaphone in her place. "But...I was wondering if you noticed what you said out there."
"Notice what?" Quistis asked, confused.
"You didn't say you hated Aiden Sheryden. You said you hated Seifer. Seifer Almasy." Rinoa stated.
Quistis' eyes went wide and she paled. "I'm so sorry! I...I didn't even realize...why didn't you stop us?!" Quistis gasped.
"I was drawn into the moment. It was too good acting to stop," Rinoa smiled. Her look softened and she decided to ask the blond head on. "But...since you did say that, I'm forced to ask you if there are any problems between you and Seifer at this moment."
"Rinoa," Quistis chuckled. "I'm sure you know that being an actor and being yourself are two different people. There aren't any problems between Seifer and myself," *There isn't ANYTHING between Seifer and myself.* she added mentally. Rinoa narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"All right," Rinoa said, nodding. "Just don't slip up like that again...for a second there, it made it seem as if Seifer really did betray you!" Rinoa watched Quistis' face and hid a smirk as she saw the blond give a quick flinch. *I see...*
"I'm sorry, Rinoa," Quistis said truthfully. "It won't happen again." The director nodded.
"All right then, I'll see you tomorrow," Rinoa said. Quistis nodded and headed for the hall way. "And Quistis!" The blond turned around at the sound of her name being called. "If you need to talk...I'm right here!"
Quistis gave a quick nod and scurried off. As soon as she was out of sight, Selphie made her way over to Rinoa. "So? What's the news?"
"She didn't spill," Rinoa mumbled. She turned around and saw Seifer standing there, his eyes downcast. "I'm going to check with our star. Give the clean up orders?"
Selphie nodded. "Sure thing." The petite brunette headed towards the stage as Rinoa walked across the lawn to where Seifer was standing tiredly against a tree.
"Seifer, just the man I wanted to talk to," Rinoa said as she approached him. "Do you have a minute?"
"What is it about?" the male blond grumbled.
"Your acting," Rinoa stated seriously. She leaned against the other side of the tree casually. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
Rinoa narrowed her eyes. "WHAT IS WRONG." She demanded rather than asked.
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Seifer snapped. "What are you, the 'make everything right' fairy?"
"Only when it affects my play," Rinoa said in a dead pan voice. She pushed herself off the tree and turned to look at him. "Look, I saw you up there today. You had a few minutes of lines and you...you just weren't you. First your voice is practically emotionless, then your body language doesn't seem completely on the ball, and then you start calling Quistis 'Quistis' rather than 'Ileana'."
"So I messed up a few times-"
"You NEVER mess up," Rinoa cut him off. Seifer snapped his mouth closed. She crossed her arms. "Seifer...what's wrong?" she asked, softer.
"Nothing!" Seifer grumbled. He pushed himself off the tree and headed towards the main building.
"Seifer, wait a second-"
"Listen, Rinoa," Seifer said as he turned around to face her. "I know you pay for us and all that, but now's not the time! I don't want to deal with you right now!"
The brunette's eyes flared with anger. "All right then, fine," Rinoa stated, her voice edgy as she glared at him. "Serves me right for trying to help out, doesn't it? But let me tell you something...you obviously aren't capable of helping yourself right now. So unless you can get your act together and fix whatever problem you have or let someone else try to help, you'll have bigger problems than whose going to pay your damn tuition."
Rinoa turned on her heel and headed back to the set up area. Seifer took a deep breath and let out a growl as he turned around and headed back to his room. *Who the hell does she think she is? She can't just go barging into people's lives and try to fix every damn thing!*
Selphie looked up and saw Rinoa returning from her chat with Seifer. She raised an eyebrow and offered a weak smile. "I'm taking it from the deadly Squall patented glare you're giving everyone, you got nothing."
"I got insulted, if that's something," Rinoa shrugged. She took a deep breath and fell back on her director's chair. "Find Fujin, tell her to go and investigate what's up with Seifer. Then you go and check up on Quistis."
"Gotcha!" Selphie said. She gave Rinoa a SeeD salute and then rushed off into the hall way.
Rinoa ran her hand through her head and tiredly slid off her chair. She began to gather her things when Raijin approached her. "Uh...Rinoa...can I talk to you for a minute, ya know?" the large man asked her.
The brunette nodded. "Sure. What's up, Raijin?" she asked as she folded her chair.
Raijin looked around nervously. "It's about Seifer, ya know."
Rinoa stopped and her tired eyes opened all the way wide. She slowly turned her head and looked up at the large man with predatory eyes. "I'm listening..."
"Fujin!" Selphie said as she ran down the hall after the white haired girl. The eye patch wearing posse member turned around and gave Selphie a questioning look. "We need some recon done on Seifer. Can you find out what's going on between him and Quisty?"
"Will try." Fujin said as she nodded.
"Great! Try to find out as much as you can," Selphie said as she ran down the hall. "We'll come find you after we gather some info of our own!"
"Affirmative!" Fujin said.
Selphie whirled around, as she had been running with her head turned over her shoulder to talk to Fujin. She didn't hear Fujin's shout of alarm before she slammed into someone. "Ah!"
"Sorry," a familiar voice said. A hand was offered to help her up and Selphie took it as she brushed herself off with the other one. "I take it rehearsal went well?" the voice asked as he took his hand back.
"For the most part, yes!" Selphie said. She smiled brightly at Squall. "You're not working over time?"
"I was going to come watch the end of the rehearsal," Squall admitted with a careless run of his hand through his hair. "Is Rinoa still there?"
Selphie nodded. "She's probably just making sure everyone clears the area before she leaves. You can still catch her!"
Thanks." Squall nodded and headed down the hall.
Selphie looked at her watch. "I'll give Quisty fifteen minutes for her shower before I confront her. Starting...NOW!"
"Since when?" Rinoa asked, her eyebrows furrowed in question as she looked at Raijin.
"For two days now," Raijin said. He had a worried look on his face. "He hasn't been sleeping and has hiding out in his room, ya know. It's like he's dead to the world, ya know."
"Do you know what happened before that?" Rinoa asked. "Anything that might have caused the funk?"
Raijin shook his head. "I asked, ya know. But you know Seifer, he won't tell if he doesn't want to, ya know."
Rinoa nodded. "Yes...he can be a stubborn one..."
"At first, I thought he was nervous, ya know," Raijin explained. "That he was just worried about this weekend's SeeD field exam, ya know. But I just don't understand why he's getting nervous about it all of a sudden, ya know."
Rinoa rubbed her chin thoughtfully and nodded. "I see..." she mumbled. "All right...thanks for telling me, Raijin. I'm worried, too."
"What are you going to do, ya know?" Raijin asked, hoping that Rinoa would do something.
The blue and black clad director chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this..." she mumbled.
"Rinoa!" a voice shouted behind her. She turned around and saw Squall walking towards her. She smiled brightly, the sight of him immediately brightening her day. Raijin said he would go check on Seifer and Rinoa nodded.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, obviously pleased with the unplanned visit. "I thought you had to work over time."
"Even I can get tired of work every now and then..." he sighed tiredly as he stopped in front of her and put her arms around his neck. She leaned against his body and smiled.
Rinoa raised an eyebrow. "No, seriously..." Squall rolled his eyes. "Whatever." she said at the same time he did. As he looked down at her, slightly annoyed as she giggled.
"What did Raijin want?" Squall asked. "More lines?"
Rinoa shook her head. "Actually, he's worried about Seifer," Rinoa mumbled, also worried. "He's been acting weird lately. Even I've noticed it. He was rehearing today and totally messed up his lines. His acting just wasn't up to par with what it usually is."
"Hmm..." Squall mumbled. He looked at the stage thoughtfully as he pressed his head against Rinoa's. "Come to think of it, I saw him yesterday in the training room. He was acting strange."
Rinoa tilted her head to the side and pulled away from him. "Acting strange?"
"Seifer's a damn good gun blader, I'll give him that, but he was making a lot of minor mistakes," Squall said. "He got hit several times where he shouldn't have. It's like he wasn't paying attention. Like-"
"There was something else on his mind..." Rinoa mumbled. "Hmm..."
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"I think I'll do some investigating," Rinoa mumbled. She tilted her head and looked at Squall sweetly. "Squall...can you do me a favor?"
He raised an eyebrow in question. "What?"
"Take my things back to my room, feed Angelo, and give her coat a good brush." she said, still smiling.
"I'll bring your things back and feed Angelo, but I'm not going to brush her fur." Squall stated simply.
"Fine..." she sighed and pulled away from him.
"When are you going to be back?" Squall asked.
"Late," she assured him as she headed towards the hall way. "I have work to do."
"Well?" Rinoa asked. Selphie walked out of Quistis' room, shaking her head sadly.
"Nothing."
"NOTHING?" Rinoa gasped. "Nothing at all? Not even a little clue?"
"Nope...all she said that was Seifer was the problem," Selphie reported. "And let's face it, that can mean anything."
Rinoa grumbled. "I guess all we have to ride on what they said on stage." Selphie nodded and paused. Her head perked up.
"Wait! What if Fujin got something!?" she piped up energetically. "Let's go find her!"
"It's worth a shot," Rinoa sighed. Together, the two brunettes quickly walked down the halls. They headed towards Seifer's dorm when they saw Fujin walking towards them. "Fujin!"
"Any luck?" Selphie asked. The white haired woman nodded slightly.
"YES!" Rinoa and Selphie gave each other high fives as they rushed over to Fujin. "Okay, spill!" Selphie said. "What's the report?"
"Kiss." Fujin stated.
Rinoa and Selphie froze in their places. "What?" Rinoa asked. "THAT'S the reason? They kissed each other!?"
"Negative," Fujin said, shaking her head. "Other GIRL."
"No way!" Selphie gasped. "Seifer kissed another girl!?"
"Affirmative."
"That's strange..." Rinoa mumbled. She squinted her eyes as she thought for a moment. "Seifer may be arrogant and stubborn, but he's not the type of man who'd cheat on a girl."
"Really?" Selphie asked, surprised that Rinoa said such a thing. Rinoa nodded.
"Yeah...but even if he did, how did Quistis find out?" Rinoa said, looking at Fujin. "I mean...Seifer's not stupid enough to actually TELL her."
"Was there." Fujin explained.
"No freaking way!" Selphie gasped. "Seifer KISSED the other girl in FRONT of Quistis!? He's not stupid, he's crazy!"
"Accident." Fujin added.
"Accident?" Rinoa said as she looked up at the white haired woman. "As in...he didn't mean to kiss the other girl?"
Fujin nodded. Selphie tilted her head to the side and looked at Rinoa. "What? What is it?"
Rinoa nodded her head and slammed her balled right hand into the palm of her left hand. "Okay... I think I know what's going on..."
"WHAT!?" Selphie gasped.
Rinoa looked at her co-conspirators and shook her head. "Don't worry about it, I've got it covered," she assured them. "Just leave it to me."
The brunette turned around and began to head towards the elevators. "Rin! Rin, wait! I want to know what's going on!" Selphie gasped.
"Don't worry!" Rinoa said as she reached the elevators and pressed the up arrow. "I know what I'm doing!"
"Where are you going?" Selphie gasped.
"To bed!" Rinoa said. She stepped into the elevator doors and watched them close. She smirked. *As soon as I check the rumor mill...*
Inside her room, Squall was laying on her bed, his arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. "I mean...she could've spent a little more time with me, right?" he mumbled. "Lately, I've been wondering if this is her way of teaching me a lesson. You know...telling me that she feels neglected. What do you think?"
Angelo lifted her head up from where she was sitting in the doggy bed in the corner, chewing a rubber ball. "Woof!"
"You think so?" Squall asked.
"Woof!"
"I guess you're right...she would just come out and tell me in person. I guess I'm just going a little crazy."
"Woof!"
Squall paused. "I'm talking to a dog about relationship worries..." he mumbled to himself. *I think I've crossed that 'little crazy' line.*
"Quistis!" Rinoa shouted as she spotted the uniformed blond walking out of her classroom. *Finally! I was starting to think I wouldn't catch her today! Stupid Squall...making me sleep in with him just because he has a day off...*
The brunette began to remember what had happened earlier that morning. She had originally planned to wake up early and get to Quistis before her class, but then Squall refused to let her go. It was like he hadn't seen her in years and needed to reaffirm that she was still there. Finally, she cast a sleeping spell on him and snuck out. Devious, but it worked. However, she was well aware that he wouldn't be happy later on.
"Hello, Rinoa!" Quistis said with a bright smile.
"I'm glad I caught you!" Rinoa said as she caught up with the taller woman. "I wanted to speak to you about your acting. I just can't get over how amazing you've gotten!"
"Thank you," Quistis blushed. "I guess I was really inspired by your character. Ileana is far deeper than I originally thought."
"I'm just glad you like the part," Rinoa nodded. "It's a shame that Seifer's acting isn't going as well as yours is."
"Oh really?" Quistis said, her eyes not meeting Rinoa's. The shorter woman nodded.
"I'm just concerned about him," Rinoa explained. "I'm worried that he's so nervous about his up coming SeeD field examine that he'll break."
"I see..." Quistis mumbled.
"Anyway, I was hoping that you two might have those one on one sessions again?" Rinoa asked. "I'd like you two to be more prepared for the next rehearsal."
Quistis' eyes went wide. The last thing she wanted as to be stuck in a room alone with Seifer for an evening of practicing. "Rinoa, I don't think that's such a good idea..." the blond trailed off. Rinoa shook her head.
"I'm worried that the chemistry on stage is dying and I want to make sure you two can really get together and make it happen again," Rinoa sighed. "Please, Quistis...We've all worked so hard for this play..."
Quistis looked down as they turned a corner. "Well..." She looked up and her eyes went wide. Standing there was a group of her friends was the girl that Seifer was seen kissing. Quistis stopped in her tracks and next to her Rinoa froze as well.
"What?" Rinoa asked. She turned her head and saw the girl as well. The SeeD cadet turned her head and immediately her eyes went wide with fear as she let out a yelp. She dropped her books and made a mad dash down the corridor. Rinoa took a step froward. "That's right!" she growled. "You better run! If I see you stalking Squall again, I'll hunt you down! He's MINE and you better remember that!"
"Stalking Squall...?" Quistis mumbled. Her eyes quickly turned to the annoyed looking Rinoa, who was swearing under her breath. "Rinoa, what was that all about?"
"That cadet is known as the female Irvine," Rinoa stated. "Only without the class, but all of the skank," as the brunette threateningly cracked her knuckles as they continued to walk, the other girls who were friends of the cadet parted for them to walk through. "I caught her several times stalking Squall when she first got here. I didn't think anything of it until I sent Squall to do an errand for me. He goes and on his way back from the drug store with my...uh..." Rinoa blushed.
Quistis looked over at her. "Your...?" she encouraged.
"Ahem..." Rinoa swallowed. "Feminine hygiene products," she explained. Quistis smirked and nodded as she visualized a red faced Squall walking into Garden holding a bag with some female necessities. "I went down to meet him so that I could take them on his hands and as I was walking towards him, SHE comes along and innocently asks him for directions. Then when he turns his head, she grabs him and kisses him!"
Quistis looked surprised and Rinoa began to curse the girl once more. "Then what?" Quistis asked.
"Squall drops the bag and my things are on the floor," Rinoa grumbled. "And the girl lets go."
"What did you do?" Quistis asked.
"I believe three fire spells and a silence spell..." Rinoa said, trying to remember. "But I told her that if I ever saw her near Squall again, she'd better run."
"Has she done this sort of thing before?" Quistis asked, her eyes narrowed. Rinoa nodded.
"From what I heard, yes," Rinoa said. "Several other SeeDs have complained that their boyfriends have been hit on, hugged, and even kissed by her. Her boldness makes her an idol among some girls, but she's made quite a lot of enemies with her flirting."
Quistis nodded her head. "I see..."
Rinoa watched as Quistis' face softened and she nodded her head. "Well, that's all," Rinoa said. "My job here is done!"
"Huh?" Quistis asked, not even realizing that Rinoa was walking away. "Oh...all right."
"Bye!!" Rinoa waved and casually walked away. As soon as her back was turned to Quistis, she smirked. *That was so easy...damn, I'm good.*
Quistis looked at her watch. She had a few hours until her next class. *I think I'll do...a little research...*
The blond looked at her watch as she rushed back from her office. She had gotten carried away with her 'research', that she had thus forgotten to correct papers. She had spent most of the night correcting multiple choice exams in her office. She looked out the halls and saw it was pitch dark. It was close to eleven and she was annoyed that it had taken her so long into the night to correct papers that would've normally been done at eight, but it was worth it.
After her and Rinoa's encounter with the SeeD cadet, she decided to follow up on the rumor that Rinoa informed her. She went to Selphie and asked about the SeeD Cadet.
"Wait..." Selphie mumbled, with narrowed green eyes. "How does she look like?"
Quistis described her. "Have you heard of her? Maybe seen her?" Selphie had been drinking a soda and crushed the empty can in her hand, making Quistis jump back.
"SEEN her...sadly, I HAVE," Selphie said, her voice eerily annoyed. "She kissed my Irvy."
"What!?" Quistis said. *Okay, seriously, I'm not too shocked...it's Irvine after all...*
"Irvy's not into that type of girl and I saw her practically pin him to the wall and do some sort of run by kissing," Selphie informed the blond. "Irvine looked a bit disturbed and Zell said that Irvine felt 'dirty'. He couldn't look me in the eyes for two days."
"Interesting..." Quistis said. "And have you heard anything of her?"
"Yeah," Selphie said as she tossed the soda can into the waste basket behind her with flawless ease. "She's a man hunter."
After that conversation, Quistis was almost convinced that it was entirely the girl's fault. She decided to try Zell's girlfriend after her last class that day just to double check. The pigtailed girl was putting books on the shelves when Quistis found her.
"So have you heard of her?" Quistis asked.
"Well, I haven't actually SEEN her," she admitted. "But I have heard a lot about her. Lots of girls come to gossip in the library. I've heard she's scored kisses with Irvine and Squall."
"What about Zell? Has he been victimized yet?" Quistis asked.
The girl shook her head. "Strangely enough, no," the girl looked at Quistis. "And she better keep it that way!"
*Okay, then again, I'm also not surprised that Zell wasn't exactly kiss raped either.* Quistis thought to herself as she walked down the halls. She heard footsteps up ahead, but didn't pay attention to them as she headed for the elevator. She pretended to be engrossed in reading her students' papers.
"Quistis..." a tired voice rasped in front of her.
*No...no, not him! Not him of all people!* her mind screamed. She looked up and saw Seifer standing there, looking equally surprised. "Seifer," she stated. She studied him and frowned slightly. He hadn't shaved that morning and looked tired and worn. *Hyne, he's a mess...*
"Going up?" he asked casually as he pressed the up arrow.
"Going down," Quistis lied. She closed her eyes and pretended to be intently watching the numbers light up above the elevator. *Don't look at him, Quistis...don't cave.*
"It's taking too long," Seifer mumbled. "I'm taking the stairs." Without another word, he turned around and headed down the hall way. Quistis watched him leave, her rapidly beating heart dying down as she felt pain stab at her chest. Suddenly, she began to wonder if he was leaving because of her.
*No, Quistis!...But it wasn't his fault...* She closed her eyes and the elevator doors opened. Sighing heavily, she walked into the little room and watched as it in front of her. She leaned back against the side panels. *I should go talk to him...he looked miserable! Hyne, he can't go on his SeeD field exam like that! He'll never make it!*
The entire ride up to her floor, her mind battled with itself. As the doors slid open, two voices immediately filled her ears. Her head snapped up as she stepped out and listened to the voices that were rapidly talking around the corner.
"You said so yourself that he's not paying attention!" Rinoa was exclaiming in a low voice. "If his mind is off thinking about something else, he'll get himself killed!"
"Seifer won't get himself killed," Squall insisted. "Fools don't die."
"Squall, I'm serious!"
"So am I."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Rinoa pleaded. "Postpone the date? Hold him back?"
"That sort of thing is beyond my power," Squall explained. "Rinoa, I know you don't want to see your lead actor die-"
"He's also a friend, Squall," Rinoa said. "Like Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, and Zell."
"Fine, but I'm telling you, Seifer will be fine." Squall insisted once more. Rinoa shook her head
"I'm just...worried..." Rinoa breathed.
Quistis leaned back against the wall, clutching her papers against her chest. She closed her eyes. *Seifer won't die...Squall's right. He's too foolish to die...he's just one big...fool.*
The vehicles were ready to depart with the latest group of SeeD field examinees at the front of the Garden. Squall was dressed in full SeeD attire to see them off. Group by group, they were given instructors on their mission. It would take a whole weekend and they were scheduled to return Sunday night, if not Monday morning.
Rinoa's eyes searched the groups there to see the cadets off as Selphie wished Fujin, Raijin, and Seifer good luck. *Hyne, where is she...come on...*
"Who are you looking for?" Zell asked as he and Irvine stood by their Commander and Rinoa. The brunette was much too engrossed in looking that she didn't answer.
"Team Seven! Team Seven, report for briefing!" someone shouted.
Seifer and the other two stood up and headed towards Nida for briefing. Selphie rushed over to where they were standing. "Anything?" she asked. Rinoa shook her head.
"I don't see her anywhere." she mumbled.
"I thought for sure she would come!" Selphie frowned. Rinoa nodded.
"There's still a chance," Rinoa said, clinging desperately to the hope that Quistis would show up before Seifer departed. She looked at the blond male, who seemed to be concentrating his hardest on listening to the briefing. "Squall..." she mumbled.
"It'll be fine." he assured her.
Rinoa began to chew on her bottom lip when Angelo began barking. She ran towards the crowds and Rinoa and the others turned around. As the dog jumped up and down barking energetically, a tall female instructor melted from the crowds, half heartedly adjusting her glasses.
"Quistis!" Selphie and Rinoa let out a relieved sigh.
Suddenly, the sounds of the vehicles sounded and the cadets were getting into their respective machines. Fujin was already inside and Raijin was climbing in when Quistis rushed forward. "SEIFER!!" she shouted. Rinoa let out a big smile as she and Selphie beamed each other wide smiles. "SEIFER!"
The tall blond turned around, his green eyes wide with surprise as he saw the blue eyed instructor calling his name. "Quistis..." he mumbled with a slight smile.
*Good! You have his attention...now what do you say?* Quistis thought to herself. She tried to find the right words, but none seemed to fit the moment they were in. As Nida shouted for everyone to get into the vehicles, Quistis yelled. "Hurry up and come back! We still have more lines to practice!" she screamed. "TOGETHER!"
Seifer looked back at her, the old cocky glint back in his emerald eyes. He blew her a playful kiss. "Don't miss me too much, Quisty!" he shouted back arrogantly as he jumped into the back of the vehicle. He waved his arm out the back.
Quistis smiled widely as she stood there, watching them drive away. Rinoa, whose hand was looped inside of Squall's smiled. "You're right..." Rinoa mumbled. "He's not going to die... he has so much to live for."
It had been the longest weekend of Quistis' life. Much too long. It seemed that no matter what she did, she only killed a few minutes, an hour if she was lucky. She found herself looking at her watch every few minutes, desperately wishing that time could go by faster. The sooner an second pass, the closer she was to seeing Seifer.
"You miss him?" Rinoa had asked the day before. A smirk crossed her face. "I take it everything is fixed then?"
"It was just a big misunderstanding," Quistis shrugged, suppressing her blush skillfully. Rinoa looked over at Selphie and winked. "I just want to see if he passed or not."
"Right..." Selphie said, nudging Quistis gently in the ribs.
"I do!" Quistis gasped in her defense. Selphie once again nudged Quistis in the ribs with her elbow. "Stop that!"
Giggling, Selphie announced some good news. It seemed that the girl who had been flirting with every male was being transferring to the temporary Galbadia Garden. Closer to where her parents were. "So that means, no more kissing Irvine, Squall, or Seifer!"
"Wait a second..." Quistis said, immediately realizing what Selphie meant. "How did you...?"
"Did we forget to mention that she's a shameless self promoter?" Rinoa smirked. Quistis' mouth dropped.
"So...the other day..."
"Actually, I didn't plan that," Rinoa shrugged. "As brilliant as it would've been. I give the credit to fate. Trust me, I didn't want to see her."
"It you must've planned it!" Quistis gasped. "I mean...the timing was perfect!"
"Destiny willed is!" Selphie asserted. "By the way, Quistis," The petite brunette leaned over the table where they were sitting and smiled. "Why exactly were you so upset when she kissed Seifer? I thought you didn't like him?"
Quistis immediately failed to hold back her blush as she heard the brunette's words. Rinoa was giggling, not at all helping with the situation. "I have no idea what you're talking about!" Quistis gasped.
"Right..." Selphie smirked. "We all know..."
"Know WHAT!?" Quistis insisted.
"Oh, I think you know." Rinoa nodded.
"Know WHAT!?" Quistis asked once more. Rinoa and Selphie both nodded their heads and opened their mouths. "Never mind!" Quistis sighed tiredly. "I don't WANT to know!"
Quistis smiled and looked at her clock. It was four o'five in the morning. *Strange...* she thought to herself as the strange sound echoed in her room. *I don't have my alarm set for that time.*
"Quistis!" a voice said from the door. Quistis suddenly realized that the noise that was echoing in her room was the sound of someone banging on her door. The blond sat up, dressed in satin pink pajamas. She put on her slippers and headed towards the door. "Quistis, wake up!" Selphie's frantic voice said.
Quistis had her door slid open. "What? What is it? What's wrong?" she asked nervously. Selphie was out of breath and looked worried. Quistis' heart skipped a beat as a sudden sense of foreboding reached her.
Selphie frowned. "It's Seifer, he's back!"
"Oh, thank Hyne!" Quistis said as she put her hand over her heart and let out a heavy breath. "I should go see him-"
"Quistis, wait!" Selphie said as the tall blond headed back into her room to get her robe. She barely grabbed it when Selphie dropped the bomb. "There was an accident. Seifer was caught in it."
Next Time: Did Seifer make it as a SeeD? What happened? Is he alive? Now that everything seems to be working out fine for Quistis and Seifer, will they bring their relationship closer together or agree to be just friends?