Life's Lessons
Chapter 5: Not everyone likes you
I paused at the door of the Quad. Selphie was passing out forms for the Garden Festival. Everyone, however, was walking away from her, shaking their heads.
"Squally!" She ran up to me.
(I hate it when she calls me that!)
"Join the Garden Festival!" She cheered.
"I'm already in it." I reminded her.
"Oh." Her face darkened. "Well, I'll just…go look for more recruits!" She cheerfully bounced away.
Later, in the Cafeteria, I spotted Rinoa sitting alone.
"Hey," I said, walking over to her. Her pale face was set in troubled features.
"Squall, something is wrong with Selphie. Irvine said she won't let him into her dorm room." Rinoa said as I sat down.
"Maybe she's just in a bad mood."
"Selphie doesn't get bad moods. You know that as well as I do."
"What are you suggesting?"
"That you talk to her."
"Me? What can I do?"
"I don't know. Just try, please? She's your friend too."
"Alright fine." I frowned.
(I am only doing this so Rinoa does not get stressed. That could affect the baby's health.)
"Update me then, okay?" Rinoa smiled.
"Promise." I murmured, and headed for Selphie's dormitory.
"Selphie? Are you in there?" I asked. There was no reply.
"Selphie?" I tried the door. It opened slowly, jammed on something.
"Squall? What are you doing in here?" Selphie's voice was strained and hoarse. It looked as if she had been crying.
"Rinoa sent me to check on you." I replied tonelessly, shutting the door. I could see the disappointment in her face, the frown that showed me that she wanted me to care about her, care that she was sad and depressed.
"Why?"
"Are you sick or something?"
"No."
"Well then why were you crying?"
(I hate prying into people's business. Why do I care how she feels? It is her problem, not mine. She should learn to get over it by herself, so when she grows up, she'll learn how to take care of herself.)
"Because…I was getting recruits for the Garden Festival…and everyone was ignoring me."
(I saw that part. It isn't worth getting worked up over.)
"And then, when I was talking to a group of boys, they told me to go away and that I was…too cheery and happy for them. And then I came here."
(That is not too big of a problem.)
"How come they don't like me? What did I ever do to them?" Selphie began to cry again.
"Selphie, listen to me." I started. Immediately she stopped her fussing. "Not everyone likes you, okay? Not everybody has to like you. As long as you like yourself, everyone will feel more comfortable around you. And if they still don't like you, then who cares? They aren't worth your time."
"…Squall, I never heard you speak like that to me before! Now I know how Rinny feels!"
I cringed at Selphie's pet name for Rinoa.
Selphie hugged me, and I frowned.
"Selphie, can you…get off of me, please?"
"Oh, sorry. I forgot you don't like being hugged."
"…"
(Maybe that's her problem.)
"Thanks Squall! I'm gonna go try it out!" Selphie bounced away, waving a goodbye to me as she left.
I frowned and gazed at Selphie's room. All of the bright yellow flowers and pink decorations were beginning to make me dizzy, and I felt the warning pangs of a headache, so I left.
Later, I spotted Rinoa sitting with Zell. Her eyes were glinting with happiness, and she rubbed her stomach.
(They're talking about the baby.)
I smiled at the thought and walked away.
"Squall! Squall!" Irvine ran up, his face bright red with excitement that I knew he wasn't going to contain for much longer. "You cured her! You cured Sefie!"
Once again, I cringed at the nickname.
"…" I nodded and snuck a glance at Selphie, who was happily cheering around. A few people walked away, but she didn't pay them any heed. I smiled and walked away.
Author's Notes: Okay, this chapter is cool. I am sorry; it is a little overdue, but I lost my notebook with everything in it and I only just found it two weeks ago. Yes, I know, there is no excuse, but hey, I got it up, didn't I? Yeah, and the next chapter should be coming really soon, since I am finished with that too. The seventh chapter is almost done, and the eighth is also on it's way. Hope you enjoyed this! Bye!