~ Chapter two: Special Plans ~

"Hey, Irvy... whatcha reading?" Selphie asked as she came into the dorm that both her and Irvine shared. Irvine was sitting at the small table, with his chair leaning back and his boots on the table, reading a white piece of paper from a light blue envelope. He quickly folded the paper neatly and put it back in the envelope, then folded it and put it in his trench coat pocket.

"Don't worry, Sefie! It's nuthin' really.. just a piece of trash..." Irvine said as he looked up at the sunny girl with a smile. Selphie shook it off: if he wanted to tell her something, he would... that's how it always was! She walked over to the table and sat across from Irvine with her elbows on the table and propping her head up by putting her palms on her checks. She sighed dreamily.

"Ahh... isn't it romantic?" She asked Irvine, who had no idea what she was talking about.

"Huh? What is?" He asked as if the answer was going to be something about him.

"Squall and Rinoa, of course! He proposed to her on their anniversary! It's so sweet..." Selphie said. "I need to talk to Rinoa about the plans!!"

"Heh..." Irvine laughed. "You know, Selphie... tomorrow is our anniversary..." He said and lifted his head up so his green eyes could be seen to Selphie's. "What do you have planned for that, hmm?"

"Oh... you'll see! It's going to be one fun night all by ourselves!" Selphie said and laughed. Irvine laughed shortly, and then took his feet off the table. He stood up and straightened out his hat and his trench coat before beginning to walk out of the dorm. He paused at the door and looked back at his girl with a charming smile.

"Expect something just as special as what Squall got Rinoa for our anniversary it'll be one big surprise..." he said mysteriously. "Heh... I'm going to Deling to do a little..." Irvine flashed a charming smile at the already google-eyed girl, "...shopping."

~

"Zell...? What are you doing?" Quistis asked as she found Zell in the secret area of the training center. The sweat slid down his face and neck as Quistis studied him... and his heavy breathing wasn't easily missed.

"Oh, hey Quistis! I was just letting off some steam..." He said as he looked back at her only to realize that she had made her way to right beside him! She was so close he could smell her flower perfume...

"I see that considering the steam seems to be flooding from your pores..." Quistis joked. "What's bugging you?"

".... Nuthin'...." Zell lied. Quistis looked away from Zell and down at the grass of the plans below them. Zell did the same. "Hmm... uh, Quistis? Do you know why Irvine has been hanging around? I mean... Ultimecia is gone... there's no more threat... don't you think that he should have gone home to Galbadia?!"

"Ah... I see now..." Quistis said. She knew about Zell's feelings for Selphie... apparently, everyone comes to Quistis about any relationship problems and such... '...Even though I've never been in one...' Quistis would thing. She wasn't an instructor any more... but she felt like a counselor!

"What?" Zell asked defensively and looked at Quistis.

"You're jealous of Irvine because of Selphie's feelings for him, isn't that right?" Quistis asked and Zell remained silent. "Zell... you know she cares about you... you're one of her best friends, you know! If she ever has trouble or problems... she goes to you first. Don't throw that away just because you're jealous of Irvine... your Irvine's best friend! Again, when he has problems, he goes straight to you and asks you about any and everything! And you've helped him..."

"...I guess you're right... but... why IS Irvine still around here? Why did he stay?"

"Zell... As soon as Irvine looked at Selphie... remembering her from his childhood... and seeing how close that he still felt to her... it was love at first sight. He couldn't stand to leave her again..."

"But I don't think he's every said 'I love you' to Selphie!" Zell said.

"...I know that he's very shy about 'love' and is not one to admit it... but so is Selphie! They're taking their time... they both know how each other feels... so they don't feel that they have to voice it."

"You're really good at reading people, Quisty." Zell said. Quistis looked at him and smiled. The truth was, that Irvine had told Quistis this personally!

"Now what brought this up?" Quistis asked gently.

"...I just got done talking to Selphie a little while ago and she says that Irvine said that he's gonna give her something just as cool as Rinoa's ring! And Irvine told me that he had something special planned for tomorrow and he was going into Deling city to pick up the promise ring for Selphie..." he said.

"You should be happy for them, Zell. You know how much they care about each other." Quistis said while walking back into the training center.

"Hey!" Zell yelled and turned around. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to join Irvine and go to Deling City... I need a little quiet time to myself..." Quistis said then left out of sight, leaving Zell to himself. He sighed deeply and went back to his little world of self-pity.

"Umm... Hello, Zell... nice to see you.. I haven't seen you in the library lately..." A timid voice came from behind the physically and mentally exhausted martial artist, who quickly recognized the voice and turned his head quicker then the snap of a whip.

"Uh... Audra!" He said, examining the girls cadet uniform and the pigtails the girl wore. She laughed softly and hid a blush that her rosy cheeks threatened. Audra, the head of the library committee, stood her ground right in front of the entrance to the training center. "What are you doing here? I'm kinda busy..."

"You hush and listen!" Audra said firmly and nodded to herself as if giving herself support. "Umm... I was just passing by the entrance making my way towards my dorm when I came across Quistis... she uh.. told me that you were here.... I'm glad she did... I've... been wanting to ask you something... for a long time now..." Audra said. She took a deep breath as she walked towards Zell and sat down on the floor next to Zell and leaning up against the railing. Zell crouched down and sat on his knees next to Audra against his will... but it was the right thing to do, right... ? "Umm... Zell? Re—remember... when... when you and the others where still on that mission five years ago... before you beat Ultimecia.. and I meet you in the Balamb Inn?" Audra's glowing green eyes looked at the top of her knees as she pulled them up to her chest.

"Uh huh... yeah, I remember..." Zell said.. how could he forget the first time a girl that ever told him that she was in love with him!

"Why... you avoided me for months afterwards! You.... you...." Audra looked up at Zell with hurt and angry eyes that completely surprised Zell. "You stopped reading books! And I still have 60 months worth of Combat King at my desk waiting for you! Just like I have been... everyone... told me to stop and forget about you! I've dated other guys... but none like you.... Zell... tell me why! Why every time I tried to talk to you... you would say something like "Sorry, gotta go to class!" at 6 in the morning when classes don't start till 8! Tell me why, Zell!" Audra fought the tears and the watery haze in front of her vision.

"I have to go.. I don't have—" Zell began to say, he had to get out of here! Zell stood up and began to walk out.

"Don't you say you don't have time! You've had five years! Please.... Tell me, Zell..." She said, begging him. As if it was a reflex, her right hand reached for him...

"Audra," He said and turned around to look at the now crying girl. He sighed and walked towards her... she was always nice to him... no matter what anyone ever said about him... she was always there to help him up and support him.. even in these five years, if anyone even tried to dirty Zell's name, she would defend him to the bitter end. "I'm sorry..." He said, hoping it will help. He couched down next to her again and wiped away the streams on her face. "Don't cry... please? Hey... I... uh... Audra... I know that you... love me... but.. But my heart belongs to someone else... It's so strong that I don't feel anything for you... I'm sorry, Audra..." Zell kissed Audra on her forehead, then stood up and walked away without another word to the hopeless girl.

"Zell..." Audra called and watched him move out of sight... "Come back... I'll still wait for you! I'll still be there for you! I don't care if you love me or not... I just want you to be around! Zell! Don't leave me alone..." Even though Zell heard every word she had yelled, he said nothing but continued to walk away from the one who had proclaimed her loyalty and friendship to him.

~

Irvine sat on the steps of Balamb station staring at his one-way ticket with a solemn look on his usually stunning and confident face. Of course, his head was tilted downwards so his sad eyes could not be seen... how was he going to do this? Irvine looked at his other hand... it held a white rabbit's foot that his Sefie had given him for last year's anniversary and he had carried it around ever since. It was his good luck charm not just because that rabbit's feet are supposed to be lucky, but because his Sefie had given it to him... how was he going to do this to her? If it hurts one.. it hurts them all... how was he going to go through with his mission?

"Hey, Irvine!" Quistis' voice came as a shock to him as he hid his ticket in his pocket and looked up at his 'big sis'. "Do you mind if I tag along with you in Deling city? I mean.. I won't tag around SO much so that I'll see what you're getting Selphie..." Quistis said slyly.

"Ha.." Irvine lifted his head to reveal his normal charming and dashing smile, "so Zell told you, huh? Well.. alright! But not for too long! I don't anyone to see what I'm getting my girl!"

"Come on... let's buy our tickets and board before the train comes...." Quistis said and walk to the ticket booth. But Irvine got up and put a hand on her shoulder before she could pass him. He gave her a smile.

"Ladies shouldn't have to pay... let the gentleman take care of this..." He said in his lady-killer voice. He went to the booth and bought two round trip tickets to Deling City...

The ride there was relatively quiet... Irvine put his hat over his face and slept most of the way, and Quistis found herself reading a short novel the entire way. But once there, Irvine jumped up like he had never been asleep! "We're here..." He said. Quistis studied him and he was sweating along his forehead as if he was nervous and the look on his face was so unique... never before seen to Quistis, the expression was.... Fear? But it was only there for a moment, then vanished and his confidence was shinning through his face, as usual, right?

They both stepped off the train and Quistis walked ahead of Irvine. "You don't have to worry about me... I'll be wandering around and I'll be sure to avoid all the jewelry shops... heck, I probably wont ride the same train home.. alright?" She said.

"Right! See you when you get back, alright?"

Quistis got herself as far away from where she thought Irvine was and did a little shopping. There WAS a party tonight.. so she thought that she should spoil herself with some new earrings and a new dress. It had been a couple hours... so she went to the Galbadia inn's bar to get a drink and to relax a little after walking around town.

"Ah... this is so much fun..." she said to herself as she looked at her wine glass with a smile. Her bags were on the floor next to her, leaning up against the wooden bar and the tall seat that she sat on. She sat with one elbow on the table and her head resting on top of her hand.

"Oh, hello... it's the Warden. What can I do for you, Mr.?" The barkeep said as a tall man came to take a seat beside Quistis. She, of course, didn't even take notice of him as she took a bite of the strawberries that came with the wine.

"The usual," the Warden said and the barkeep hastily brought him a tall beer. The Warden took a drink of his cold glass and set it down on the table carelessly. He looked over at Quistis... his cold, forest green eyes ran up and down Quistis' form. She, naturally, noticed and looked at him with a glare.

"Yes? Can I help you with something?" She snapped.

"Damn.. you haven't changed a bit."

~

A/N: I hate what I made Zell do... I'm going to go cry now!!!