You get it early today because I'll have work to do in the morning (it's 1am here). Lucky you. Not so lucky me. :(

Luckily though I now have Windows XP! Lotsa cool new stuff that works! ^__^

I am a big Eva geek. The evidence of hidden in this chapter.

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Fifty Days

Chapter 20: You Shall Go To The Ball

Selphie had been shouting at the students to stop messing around and finish decorating for a good ten minutes before she noticed someone was watching her. She turned and waved as she saw Quistis leaning against the doorway into the ballroom and watching her with a smile. She waved slightly, and Selphie waved back, much more enthusiastically than she felt. She looks fine, just really pale, why did this have to happen now of all times and why any time we had won, it's not fair it's not fair it's not it's not it's not-

"Instructor?"

Selphie looked back up at the student balancing precariously from a ladder holding a bunch of streamers. "What?" she snapped, and then slapped her forehead and apologised, smile falling back into place. "Sorry, long day."

First time for everything, the student thought. If Instructor Tilmitt was having a long day, then Hyne watch over everyone else. "Where do you want these?" he asked, holding the multi-coloured mess in one hand, his other against the wall and trying not to fall off the ladder.

Selphie made a few hand gestures in the right places, and the student went back to work. She looked back towards the doorway. Quistis was still watching, and she went over to her. "Looking good?"

"Looking great," Quistis agreed. "It looks like you've outdone yourself this time Selphie."

The younger girl smiled. "Thanks! All we need to do is send out invitations and we're set!" she said.

Quistis frowned. "Err, isn't the entire Garden invited anyway?"

"Yup! But invitations make it look more prepared, n'stuff. Yours and the others are already done," she said quickly.

Quistis smiled. "Glad to hear it."

Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore. "How's Seifer working out?" she asked.

"I can't exactly take him back to the shop if he isn't," Quistis said. Selphie tired to apologise, but she beat her to it. "Kidding. He's… him. I don't really know how to answer that question."

"Is he coming to the ball?" Selphie asked quickly, bounce returning. "You two would look soooo cute together, everyone'll be jealous, and-"

"Selphie, I don't think I'm coming this year," Quistis said quietly.

"No!" Selphie cried, so loud a few of the volunteers looked over. "You gotta! We have it all ready and everything! Its gonna be the best ever! Anyways, it's not like-"

"Selphie, I don't think I'll be able to," Quistis said quietly.

"You're not being fair!" Selphie shouted.

Quistis stared at her friend for a couple of seconds in silence before getting her voice back. "What?"

"You don't deserve this Quisty! It's not fair you… you… And you keep acting like nothing's changed! Well, so can I, and I took-"

"Oi!"

"-we took all this time making this perfect for everyone! And all this ain't gonna go to waste, so you're gonna come and you're gonna bring Seifer and have a good time, 'kay?"

Quistis looked at her friend, who was shaking. "Selphie…"

Selphie was almost whispering now. "You gotta come Quisty. I keep thinking, if something happens and we don't see you, then…"

Quistis put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Sefie, I'll go," she said.

Selphie looked back up in her. "Really? You will?" she asked.

"Yes, I promise."

Selphie jumped forward and hugged Quistis. "Yay! Now, you can't back out of this one," she said warningly. "You promised, so you and Seifer are gonna be there, got it?"

"I got it. I won't let you down," Quistis said. "Now please let go. I can't breathe."

"OhmygodI'msorry!" Selphie squealed, letting go of Quistis.

"'S… okay." Quistis said, with effort.

"Quisty, are you okay?"

"I'll… be fine," Quistis said.

"Come on, you probably need to go back to your dorm," Selphie said, not knowing much about illness except that a lot of sleep was supposed to be good (bad?) for them. She grabbed Quistis by her arm and took her, uncomplaining, back to her rooms.

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She wasn't the first one there, surprisingly (although when she came to think of it, she really shouldn't have been) enough. Seifer opened the door the exact second Selphie was reaching to do the same, and Selphie heard Seifer actually sigh in relief when he saw Quistis standing there. "Thanks Selphie," he said quietly, and then to Quistis; "I've been looking for you."

Quistis shrugged off Selphie's arm and turned to Seifer. "Just taking a look at Selphie's work," she said.

Seifer stood aside as Quistis walked back into the (now 'their', he supposed) dorm, lying down on the couch and switching off. "Don't worry so much," she said.

Seifer snorted. "As you wish," and closed the door silently behind him.

"She alright?" Selphie asked glumly.

"What do you think? Sorry. Everything's been a little hectic recently," he said.

"It's not just you. You okay?"

Seifer smiled slightly at that. Selphie had been the first to lay the past behind her and accept him, and he was grateful. He rubbed his eyes. "I just keep looking at her and counting," he admitted. Suddenly he snarled and kicked the wall, startling a couple of students who were walking past. "Damnit, I get this close only after she…" he laughed despairingly. "Guess it doesn't matter much anymore. Maybe if I had bothered to make an effort earlier, or something, we might have had more time together…"

"Forget it Seifer, sometimes things just happen," Selphie said calmly.

"But this didn't just happen! It happened because of some stupid, evil, BITCH of a sorceress!" Seifer shouted. "And I helped her do it…"

Selphie's eyes went wide. "Seifer, don't say things like-"

"I may as well have. She controlled me, and maybe if she hadn't, things wouldn't have went so far, and you wouldn't have had to-"

"Thinking like that isn't going to help anyone!" Selphie said forcefully. "If you keep living in the past, you'll forget the present. If she's in love with you, then it's the least you can do."

The two stood there for a few seconds, Selphie staring at Seifer, and Seifer looking out of the hallway into the surrounding fields. Eventually he nodded, and Selphie grinned. Yay I'm good at this! "So, are you coming to the Graduation Ball?" she asked.

"Only if I graduate, and Quistis is going, and-"

"Well, that settles it then, 'cause you are gonna graduate, and Quistis said she was!" Selphie said happily, having managed to circumvent Seifer's arguments without even hearing them. "I'll expect you there in five days time, or else I'll blow you up with a rocket launcher or something!"

"You don't have a rocket launcher."

"I could get a rocket launcher."

He believed her. "We'll be there."

"Good! Then I gotta get back to work! Seeya 'round!" And she bounced off happily, drawing on her near infinite supply of energy as she went to finish off the preparations.

Maybe she has her own personal S2 Engine or something. It would explain a hell of a lot… He walked back to the dorm and leaned over to talk to Quistis, but she was already asleep. She coughed, and Seifer's heart missed a beat as a thin trickle of red liquid ran down her mouth. He rummaged in his pockets for a handkerchief, and wiped it away carefully.

Goddamnit, none of this is right.

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"You should check on her or something."

Squall looked up to see Rinoa perched in the doorway of his office, glaring slightly at him. "Hmm?"

"I said you should check on Quisty," she clarified.

"Seifer's keeping an eye on her, isn't h-"

"That isn't what I meant Squall!" Rinoa said testily. "You've been avoiding them both ever since they got together and Quisty was… diagnosed."

Squall looked alarmed. "That's not true! I-"

"When was the last time you two talked, or even met up? You've been avoiding this whole thing, and if you keep doing that then you're going to lose your chance."

"My chance to do what?"

Rinoa sighed in exasperation. "For whatever! You three have a lot of past, I got that much from Quistis, and I know you and Seifer aren't exactly best friends."

Squall leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Rin, it's not that simple-"

"Why not? She's your friend, and he's your best friend's lover-"

"Look, it's not that I don't care about her, but-" he began in annoyance, but was interrupted again.

"Then why are you so intent on trying to ignore them?"

"Damnit Rin, I don't know what to do, alright?" he shouted at her. "It's not like this happens every day!"

Rinoa paused for a second. "Then at least try. You owe Seifer that much. And you owe Quistis a lot more."

Squall nodded reluctantly. "Just… give me some time," he said.

Rinoa watched him carefully, and then nodded. "Don't take too long, 'kay? The chance might not be around forever." She turned and walked back to her own desk, shutting the door behind her, leaving Squall wondering over what she had said.

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"Are you really going to go to the ball?" Seifer asked, much later.

Quistis nodded sleepily. "Why not? Not like there's much else to do around here after classes are finished. It all becomes so… empty."

Seifer looked worried. "I don't think that's such a good idea. What if something happens-"

"Seifer, I've said it before; stop worrying so much. I'm not a doll. I won't just break on the spot," she said good-naturedly. She could still see Seifer wasn't convinced though. "Anyway. I promised Selphie."

"So did I."

"Aha. What crowbar did she use on you?"

"Physical violence. Rocket launchers were mentioned."

Quistis laughed. "I see. That's what you get for refusing. Pray she doesn't get you to do anything else."

"Nothing else I can say to talk you out of it?" he asked.

"Just be there with me," she replied with a smile.

"Nothing," he said, "would give me greater pleasure."

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Getting closer. This fic is gonna be shorter than my usual serials I think, because a) There's only so long I can string it along, and b) I have college and university applications to consider. Yay my hectic life. 0_o