Disclaimer: Listen, I'm a sixteen year old girl. How many chances do you
think I have of owning FF8? Exactly: NONE. I don't own it so you can't sue
me, at least that's the positive side of it.
AN: weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I'm happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! okay that was pointless...never mind me, here's the seventh chapter. I'll try and post the eight as soon as possible...may have a wee problem with that because of school but don't worry, I'll find a way.
~ Chapter seven: Board meeting ~
"Attention please. This meeting is important, so please: pay attention."
Several members of the Board snapped out of their snoozing and pretended to be taking notes.
"Thank you." Selphie said sarcasticly. "Now, the members of the Boards from the Trabia en Galbadia Gardens decided to do a little exchange programme. They'd like Balamb Garden to join this programme. We'll have to decide if we want to or not. I would like to hear what you think abaout it."
She sat down and glanced around, but no one moved. She kicked Irvine, who was sitting next to her, and motioned him to say something. A little bit clumsy he stood up and stared around.
Seifer was staring at the ceiling, Zell was eyeing the clock, waiting for noon, and Quistis was fiddling with her pen.
"Wel..." he said "Err...yeah. Well, the exchange programme would certainly have some great advantages."
A boardmember, some boy in a Garden uniform, snorted. The girl next to him giggled: "Oh yeah? Like what?"
Irvine looked at him menacingly: "Things like better understanding between the Gardens. We would certainly make the bonds between the three schools stronger if we joined the project. Students from other Gardens would come here and vice versa. A consequence would be that we would understand their customs better and they ours."
The boy and girl didn't seem impressed. But another boy stood up and spoke.
"The coming and going of exchange students would also be a reason for more parties. And maybe we could exchange ideas for the Festival Comittée."
Now more people started mumbling interested. Quistis yawned. She knew this motion would pass, so she wasn't really paying attention. Now and then she would glance up at Seifer at the other end of the table. He looked bored.
She looked at the person who was now speaking. Some skinny nerd with a calculator in his hand was saying something about the costs of the project. Boring.
She felt someone's eyes staring at her. She looked straight back, straight back at Seifer. She blushed and, to her big surprise, so did he. She didn't understand.
He looked at the nerd again, feeling caught. He didn't understand himself. Why did he feel caught? He hadn't done anything wrong. He had just looked around a bit and by coincidence he had made eyecontact with Quisty. His hand touched the necklace.
'Quistis.' He corrected himself. 'Her name is Quistis.'
Another surge of pain went through his arm, from his wrist to his shoulder. As his eyes traveled over his wrist, he saw marks again. 'But I thought they were gone!' they hadn't been there that morning, he was sure of it.
'Strange...'
"Seifer?"
He snapped up.
"Yes? What?" he asked nerveously.
Selphie gave him a strange look. "Seifer, the Board meeting is over, the motion passed. We're going to hold that exchange project...are you going to join us for lunch?"
He nodded vaguely.
"Yeah...sure..."
He got up and followed her to the cafeteria. As usual, he took a seat with the gang.
"Selphie, I'm really sorry, but I didn't really pay attention at the meeting today. I was a little...pre-ocupied."
His eyes shot to Quistis at the end of the table for a moment. She didn't notice.
"I understand why Seifer, eventhough I don't aprove of not paying attention, I understand why. It must be hard for you, with Fujin leaving again yesterday and stuff."
Seifer's eyes flashed back to Selphie again.
"Fu...? Oh...yeah. Yeah that's it. It's terrible, I'm really going to miss her."
He glanced at Quistis again. She didn't look at him, but he could feel she had that same sad look in her eyes as yesterday. He didn't understand why he felt so bloody strange. He was going to marry Fujin. He was very happy. He had chosen to marry her hadn't he?
'It was my choice.' He thought. 'My choice wasn't it? Yeah.'
"Oooooh! Look!" Rinoa squeeled. "Look at that!"
Everyone immediately looked outside.
"What? What! Where? What's there to see?"
Rinoa pointed frantically. "There!"
But the others didn't see anything.
"You guys didn't see it?" she said disapointed. "There was this gorgeous butterfly on the window. Didn't you see it?"
They shook their heads.
"We thought you were pointing at something on the road. How were we supposed to know what you meant?" Irvine said.
Rinoa shrugged.
Quistis was the only one who was still staring out the window.
'I must've imagined it. It can't have been real. He hadn't been blushing or staring at me at the meeting.' She thought. 'He said that he was going to miss her terribly.'
She felt the tears burning behind her eyes. One of them slowly rolled down her cheek and hit the table top. Zell noticed.
"Quis? Are you crying?"
Hastily she covered it up. "No no, no there's just some dust flying around. I got something in my eye. No I'm fine."
Zell gave her an examining look. "Okay...if you're sure...but you've been a bit weird lately. Totally not yourself. You keep crying and feeling ill."
"I'm fine." She assured him. "I'm just a little bit stressed."
Her eyes shot towards Seifer for a second. He didn't notice. He was staring out in front of him.
'Probably thinking about Fujin.' She thought.
And she was right. He was thinking about Fujin. A feeling of loss and sadness rose inside him. He wanted to run out of Garden to follow Fujin. He missed her so much, eventhough he knew she would be back in a couple of days.
* * * * FLASHBACK: the night before * * * *
"SEIFER, LET GO." The girl giggled, trying to wrestle herself free from his arms.
But he didn't let go. If he did then she would leave.
"I won't let you leave Fujin. I love you with all my heart and you broke that the last time you left. But I want you to promise that it's only for a while, that you'll come back. Promise!"
He fought back the tears that were starting to burn behind his eyes. She made a sound halfway between sighing and laughing.
"YES SEIFER. I PROMISE." She said, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
Hesitantly he let go of her. "I'll wait for you. I will count every second until you get back."
She nodded. "SEE YOU SOON."
And she turned around and walked towards the harbour, leaving Seifer alone in the cold night.
'Yea...see you soon.' He thought.
It felt like he had just let the girl of his drems get away.
* * * * * END OF FLASHBACK * * * * *
'But she promised that she would come back. And she'll keep that promise.'
Lovingly he caressed the bracelet on his wrist. Then he noticed that all the others were looking at him.
"Seifer, we asked you a question. Didn't you hear us?" Rinoa asked.
He shrugged.
"He was probably thinking about Fujin again." Quistis said, somehow managing to cover her bitterness up with sarcasm.
Rinoa placed her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. "We thought it would be a nice idea to celebrate Squall's birthday next weekend. We could go to the beach and have a fun night out together."
"Then why are you asking me this?" Seifer said. "If you all like the idea then do it."
"But..." Rinoa started. "But we asked you because we were hoping you could...arange for us to have the Ragnarok that night, without Squall noticing. We need it to get all the stuff to the orphanage and back. The kiddies are still living in another orphanage, so we don't have to worry about them, luckily."
Seifer sighed with a huge smile on his face. Even if he wanted to say no to her, he couldn't. Rinoa had that terrible puppy-dog look in her eyes if she wanted something real bad.
"Alright alright!" he said, grinning. "I'll see what I can do."
Rinoa smiled and gave him a hug.
"Thanks Seifer." And she skipped away happily.
Seifer wanted to leave the cafeteria as well, to arange the Ragnarok, but Selphie stopped him.
"Seifer, I would like you to do some research on the financial stuff we need to know before we start the exchange project. I want to know how much we have to spend and how much these projects have cost in the past. I teamed you up with..." she checked her note. "...with Quistis. You two are probably the most serious about this and I want it done quick. Preferably before the next Board meeting. Maybe you can start today?" she added hopefully.
Seifer shrugged again. "Sure, why not. You tell Quistis to meet me in the library in 15 minutes. I'll go ask about the Ragnarok first."
"Tee hee! Thanks Seifer!" and she hugged him as well before happily skipping away.
Seifer turned around and left the cafeteria.
'I'll have to work with her. Hyne I hope this isn't going to confuse me even more.'
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
* ~ * ~ *
Yay! 6 reviews on one chapter...I feel loved ^_^
Verdanii: thanks! Hope you can endure the slowness of this fic...but it'll get there!
Anonymous: Seifer and Fujin...or Seifer and Quistis...you'll see how it ends up ;)
Sickness in Salvation: Yeah you figured it out! Congrats! You're the only one yet.
Dark Angels: yeah, sinister Fujin! Seiftis coming up soon!
Firess Ifrit Devil: Woohoo! Another chapter posted. I WILL keep them coming!
Juliet3: I'm glad you loved the chapter. Hope this one is to your liking as well. ^_ ^
~Raven55
AN: weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I'm happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! okay that was pointless...never mind me, here's the seventh chapter. I'll try and post the eight as soon as possible...may have a wee problem with that because of school but don't worry, I'll find a way.
~ Chapter seven: Board meeting ~
"Attention please. This meeting is important, so please: pay attention."
Several members of the Board snapped out of their snoozing and pretended to be taking notes.
"Thank you." Selphie said sarcasticly. "Now, the members of the Boards from the Trabia en Galbadia Gardens decided to do a little exchange programme. They'd like Balamb Garden to join this programme. We'll have to decide if we want to or not. I would like to hear what you think abaout it."
She sat down and glanced around, but no one moved. She kicked Irvine, who was sitting next to her, and motioned him to say something. A little bit clumsy he stood up and stared around.
Seifer was staring at the ceiling, Zell was eyeing the clock, waiting for noon, and Quistis was fiddling with her pen.
"Wel..." he said "Err...yeah. Well, the exchange programme would certainly have some great advantages."
A boardmember, some boy in a Garden uniform, snorted. The girl next to him giggled: "Oh yeah? Like what?"
Irvine looked at him menacingly: "Things like better understanding between the Gardens. We would certainly make the bonds between the three schools stronger if we joined the project. Students from other Gardens would come here and vice versa. A consequence would be that we would understand their customs better and they ours."
The boy and girl didn't seem impressed. But another boy stood up and spoke.
"The coming and going of exchange students would also be a reason for more parties. And maybe we could exchange ideas for the Festival Comittée."
Now more people started mumbling interested. Quistis yawned. She knew this motion would pass, so she wasn't really paying attention. Now and then she would glance up at Seifer at the other end of the table. He looked bored.
She looked at the person who was now speaking. Some skinny nerd with a calculator in his hand was saying something about the costs of the project. Boring.
She felt someone's eyes staring at her. She looked straight back, straight back at Seifer. She blushed and, to her big surprise, so did he. She didn't understand.
He looked at the nerd again, feeling caught. He didn't understand himself. Why did he feel caught? He hadn't done anything wrong. He had just looked around a bit and by coincidence he had made eyecontact with Quisty. His hand touched the necklace.
'Quistis.' He corrected himself. 'Her name is Quistis.'
Another surge of pain went through his arm, from his wrist to his shoulder. As his eyes traveled over his wrist, he saw marks again. 'But I thought they were gone!' they hadn't been there that morning, he was sure of it.
'Strange...'
"Seifer?"
He snapped up.
"Yes? What?" he asked nerveously.
Selphie gave him a strange look. "Seifer, the Board meeting is over, the motion passed. We're going to hold that exchange project...are you going to join us for lunch?"
He nodded vaguely.
"Yeah...sure..."
He got up and followed her to the cafeteria. As usual, he took a seat with the gang.
"Selphie, I'm really sorry, but I didn't really pay attention at the meeting today. I was a little...pre-ocupied."
His eyes shot to Quistis at the end of the table for a moment. She didn't notice.
"I understand why Seifer, eventhough I don't aprove of not paying attention, I understand why. It must be hard for you, with Fujin leaving again yesterday and stuff."
Seifer's eyes flashed back to Selphie again.
"Fu...? Oh...yeah. Yeah that's it. It's terrible, I'm really going to miss her."
He glanced at Quistis again. She didn't look at him, but he could feel she had that same sad look in her eyes as yesterday. He didn't understand why he felt so bloody strange. He was going to marry Fujin. He was very happy. He had chosen to marry her hadn't he?
'It was my choice.' He thought. 'My choice wasn't it? Yeah.'
"Oooooh! Look!" Rinoa squeeled. "Look at that!"
Everyone immediately looked outside.
"What? What! Where? What's there to see?"
Rinoa pointed frantically. "There!"
But the others didn't see anything.
"You guys didn't see it?" she said disapointed. "There was this gorgeous butterfly on the window. Didn't you see it?"
They shook their heads.
"We thought you were pointing at something on the road. How were we supposed to know what you meant?" Irvine said.
Rinoa shrugged.
Quistis was the only one who was still staring out the window.
'I must've imagined it. It can't have been real. He hadn't been blushing or staring at me at the meeting.' She thought. 'He said that he was going to miss her terribly.'
She felt the tears burning behind her eyes. One of them slowly rolled down her cheek and hit the table top. Zell noticed.
"Quis? Are you crying?"
Hastily she covered it up. "No no, no there's just some dust flying around. I got something in my eye. No I'm fine."
Zell gave her an examining look. "Okay...if you're sure...but you've been a bit weird lately. Totally not yourself. You keep crying and feeling ill."
"I'm fine." She assured him. "I'm just a little bit stressed."
Her eyes shot towards Seifer for a second. He didn't notice. He was staring out in front of him.
'Probably thinking about Fujin.' She thought.
And she was right. He was thinking about Fujin. A feeling of loss and sadness rose inside him. He wanted to run out of Garden to follow Fujin. He missed her so much, eventhough he knew she would be back in a couple of days.
* * * * FLASHBACK: the night before * * * *
"SEIFER, LET GO." The girl giggled, trying to wrestle herself free from his arms.
But he didn't let go. If he did then she would leave.
"I won't let you leave Fujin. I love you with all my heart and you broke that the last time you left. But I want you to promise that it's only for a while, that you'll come back. Promise!"
He fought back the tears that were starting to burn behind his eyes. She made a sound halfway between sighing and laughing.
"YES SEIFER. I PROMISE." She said, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
Hesitantly he let go of her. "I'll wait for you. I will count every second until you get back."
She nodded. "SEE YOU SOON."
And she turned around and walked towards the harbour, leaving Seifer alone in the cold night.
'Yea...see you soon.' He thought.
It felt like he had just let the girl of his drems get away.
* * * * * END OF FLASHBACK * * * * *
'But she promised that she would come back. And she'll keep that promise.'
Lovingly he caressed the bracelet on his wrist. Then he noticed that all the others were looking at him.
"Seifer, we asked you a question. Didn't you hear us?" Rinoa asked.
He shrugged.
"He was probably thinking about Fujin again." Quistis said, somehow managing to cover her bitterness up with sarcasm.
Rinoa placed her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. "We thought it would be a nice idea to celebrate Squall's birthday next weekend. We could go to the beach and have a fun night out together."
"Then why are you asking me this?" Seifer said. "If you all like the idea then do it."
"But..." Rinoa started. "But we asked you because we were hoping you could...arange for us to have the Ragnarok that night, without Squall noticing. We need it to get all the stuff to the orphanage and back. The kiddies are still living in another orphanage, so we don't have to worry about them, luckily."
Seifer sighed with a huge smile on his face. Even if he wanted to say no to her, he couldn't. Rinoa had that terrible puppy-dog look in her eyes if she wanted something real bad.
"Alright alright!" he said, grinning. "I'll see what I can do."
Rinoa smiled and gave him a hug.
"Thanks Seifer." And she skipped away happily.
Seifer wanted to leave the cafeteria as well, to arange the Ragnarok, but Selphie stopped him.
"Seifer, I would like you to do some research on the financial stuff we need to know before we start the exchange project. I want to know how much we have to spend and how much these projects have cost in the past. I teamed you up with..." she checked her note. "...with Quistis. You two are probably the most serious about this and I want it done quick. Preferably before the next Board meeting. Maybe you can start today?" she added hopefully.
Seifer shrugged again. "Sure, why not. You tell Quistis to meet me in the library in 15 minutes. I'll go ask about the Ragnarok first."
"Tee hee! Thanks Seifer!" and she hugged him as well before happily skipping away.
Seifer turned around and left the cafeteria.
'I'll have to work with her. Hyne I hope this isn't going to confuse me even more.'
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
* ~ * ~ *
Yay! 6 reviews on one chapter...I feel loved ^_^
Verdanii: thanks! Hope you can endure the slowness of this fic...but it'll get there!
Anonymous: Seifer and Fujin...or Seifer and Quistis...you'll see how it ends up ;)
Sickness in Salvation: Yeah you figured it out! Congrats! You're the only one yet.
Dark Angels: yeah, sinister Fujin! Seiftis coming up soon!
Firess Ifrit Devil: Woohoo! Another chapter posted. I WILL keep them coming!
Juliet3: I'm glad you loved the chapter. Hope this one is to your liking as well. ^_ ^
~Raven55