Red Violets and Forget-Me-Nots: I'm Right Beside You

AN: I read over the original piece and I cried, mostly because I didn't like it, but also because I didn't like it (the fact that Selphie died, that is and the juvenile ischemia and stuff...). So I decided to change the storyline, so everything after the epilogue will be the second storyline, but the first two original chapters are the beginning chapters to this story save one single change which is addressed below as a change in the last part of chapter two. Confused? Don't be. Just r&r.

- Thoughts -

*Lyrics*

~

Selphie felt like scratching her stitches hidden by bandages which were themselves hidden by the long sleeves of her sweater. But Seifer had scolded her earlier. Her skin was still pale. Seifer already told her that, so she knew. Seifer told her a lot of things now. She figured it was to keep her thinking about things. She wondered if there was another reason. Gratitude for what she had done for him? Because he felt it was his fault? She didn't know. He didn't tell. Figures. She wished she could just die at times, that Seifer never found her. It was her fault that she had come to his room for answers only to leave behind questions for him.

*I should have not turned your way and become ensnared by your web. *

As Selphie rounded the corner, she felt his ever-present aura glowing. She turned to see him walking towards her. She frowned at the sight of his grin. "Aww, come on," he whispered when he came to her. "It's not going to be that bad." She did not want to know what he planned. "Come on." He gently grabbed her arm, elbow to be exact and led her towards the parking lot.

"What's in there?" her pitiful voice cracked.

"It's a surprise."

~

- Some surprise. -

It was a car... a simple two-person transport car. Selphie scowled. "You got me all worked up for a car?!" Seifer shrugged. She was angry and angry was better than being mopy and sorry for herself ... not that she couldn't be mopy and sorry for herself if she wanted to.

"You don't even know what I spent a long time planning for us to do with this car," he whined. It would have been funny to hear him whine, but his audience was not very cooperative.

"If it involves destroying it, okay, if it involves anything else, namely your libido, Hyne no!" Seifer rolled his eyes.

"I think I deserve a little more credit in that department. Just get in." He kept himself from shoving her in as she slowly pulled herself up in to the passenger seat. Being the gentleman he was ... Seifer closed her door before going to the driver's side. Selphie was pouting as he got in.

- I still don't get this guy. -

~

After five minutes of sulking, Selphie managed to ask Seifer what he was planning. "What are we doing?"

"I'm driving and you're brooding," he replied nonchalantly, being more attentive of the road than her, but could be caught glancing out of the corner of his eye to see if she would react as he hoped she would.

Selphie was boiling mad. "I can see that..." she hissed.

"Well, you asked what..."

"I know what I asked and you know what I meant!" She suddenly jumped up when a bump on the road did its job on the car as well as take her mind off of Seifer's antic. "Where are we?"

"Um... the fire cavern..." he replied meekly, not sure if he wanted to risk another angry reaction from his small company at the moment.

"Whatever..." Seifer held back a chuckle of surprise. Never had he seen Selphie's resemblance to Squall, but then again, he never really paid any attention to the seemingly happy messenger girl. They were depressed in their own ways, his came as a result of his failure of being a good friend. Her friend. Something about that fact made him realize... things were going to change for the both of them.

"We're going to beat the crap out of some monsters," he explained. "The fire cavern is also a good place to sweat out some bad toxins." He turned to look at Selphie who wore a face of complete annoyance.

"..." - Yup, definitely the next Squall. - He frowned. - That's not always a good thing... Squall is going to get a reality check. -

~

He didn't necessarily hate being the head of SeeD. It just meant that he had to talk a little more and make decisions. No one told him it was going to be so hard. No one told him he would have to show that he cared.

Turning around, Squall glanced at Seifer, before sinking into his chair. Seifer waited patiently. Finally Squall said something. "Why don't you ask the headmaster?" A grin grew on Seifer's face. More like a smirk.

"You don't believe me," he replied. Squall sat up looking a little more than a bit uncomfortable.

"I do too." The suppressed chuckle escaped Seifer's lips.

"Uh-huh. You wanna know what I think?"

"If it makes you go away, why not?"

"Can't promise that, but I think that you're afraid of the truth." Squall tried to glare but ended up sighing. - Finally, a sigh of defeat. -

"...Why tell me?"

"You're her friend, and... you're probably the only one I can trust to keep silent about this matter. She really doesn't want anyone else to know."

"Anyone else?"

"Dr. Kadowaki knows, of course, but no one else. Until now." Squall stood up.

"And you think that what you're about to do is going to help?"

"I hope so." Silence reigned again as both men engaged in a staring contest.

Finally, Squall blinked and turned away. "Fine." He searched the drawers of his desk and pulled out what looked like a date book. Flipping through he stopped on a page, glanced it over, ripped it out and held it out to Seifer

Seifer took it. "What is this?" he asked looking it over.

"That's the name and location of a guy in Balamb. He can get you everything you need." He paused. "Do you know how long this is going to take?"

"You can't rush this kind of thing."

"Very well, good luck... and do take care." Seifer got up and gave a nod of thanks and left. Squall turned back to the scenery that was the Balamb mountain range. - I failed. Forgive me. Forgive me, all...-

~

- I'm right beside you... Selphie. -

TBC