Disclaimer: You know the drill; these are not my characters and it all belongs to Squaresoft yadda, yadda, yadda.

A.N: This is a Quistis/ Seifer fic and will revolve around them mostly. Please, R/R.

*****

The sun had gone. In it's place sat none other than the round gleaming moon. It sat alone this night, lost from the stars that had enveloped it the evening before.

She sighed, a long breath that went from the depths of her soul through her shapely lips, and out into the cold night air. The evening was cool, with only a stray breeze present. It brushed across her cheek and lifted the stray strands of her hair from her face for a few moments, before disappearing.

Quistis rose from the bench that sat out by the entrance of Balamb Garden. Her last class had been an hour ago and she had seeked sanctuary for a few precious moments before having to head toward her room, where Selphie was, no doubt, waiting to discuss wedding plans for her and Irvine.

Quistis rarely irked her responsibilities but at times, she felt as if she were to explode without a few moment's silence. So, she had gone outside, in search of a quiet place and found the bench hidden behind a tree, almost completely shadowed. Only a moment or two. It was all she needed.

Was it surprising that she had stayed there almost an hour now?

All good things must come to an end.

With a resigned breath, Quistis went inside the doors to face the hell that was her life.

*****

Quistis found Selphie in the cafeteria the next morning. She was her usual self, full of energy even when it was no more than eight in the morning. Tired and weary due to lack of sleep the night before, Quistis was not feeling well. Was it any surprise; after all, what was the meaning of the phrase 'wasting away'?

"Quistis! Where were you last night? We were supposed to discuss your gown for the wedding. Now the tailor doesn't know you're measurements and we have only 3 months left!!" Selphie was having a panic attack. Quistis shook her head a little in amusement and laid frail hands on Selphie's shoulder.

"Selphie, we've three months. I'm sure we'll be able to get my measurements by then." She'd never seen Selphie so nervous before; it was both heart-breaking and heart-warming to see it. "I promise that the tailor will get my measurements before the wedding." Selphie smiled, but Quistis saw her hands wring the napkin she held mercilessly.

Letting go of Selphie's shoulders, Quistis made her way through the breakfast line and walked with Selphie to the table where Zell sat stuffing hotdogs into his mouth and Squall was poking his food with his fork. Rinoa and Irvine weren't any where around. Both of them had been sent on brief missions bu Cid and wasn't due back until tomorrow.

Squall looked up as Quistis came to the table and smiled slightly in acknowledgement or friendship, Quistis couldn't tell, before returning his focus to the ever interesting fork and pancakes.

Zell grinned and for a moment looked like a blowfish with his round cheeks filled to the brim with hotdogs.

Quistis took a seat across the both of them, Selphie the seat next to Quistis.

For a moment, all that was heard around the table was Zell's chewing and the slight *prick* sound of Squalls fork.

Then conversation started up when Selphie laughed at Zell's attempt at stuffing 10 hotdogs at a time.

"I'm going for it! I know I can!" Zell stuffed another hotdog in his mouth and continued his activity.

Selphie went about asking Quistis about her plans for the wedding and Quistis gave her opinion as best she could: honestly.

"If you like the color yellow, Selphie, I see no probl--" Quistis stopped mid-sentence and fell into a fit of coughing. Through her chest and out her lips, the shudders racked her body mercilessly. Covering her mouth with a napkin, and trying desperately to stop, Quistis grasped her chair with her right hand and leaned over.

Surprised and worried, Zell, Squall and Selphie offered her glasses of water and trips back to her room for rest. Quistis shook her head no and waited for the coughing to subside.

"Quistis! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Selphie rubbed a hand up and down Quistis back.

Quistis managed a weak smile and folded the napkin that was soaked with blood on her palm. Hidden from sight, hidden from mind.

"I'm fine. I just need a few hours rest. I'll see you guys around." She managed to make her way out the cafeteria and into the privacy of her own room before collapsing, with not even enough energy to close the door all the way.

Before consciousness slipped from her grasp, one thought flew across her mind.

I'm going to die.