[I AM SO SLOW! Sorry people! School has taken a lot of my time and before you know it my fan fiction time has lowered greatly. I know it isn't too long but… Review anyway, okay? Hopefully I'd be able to write faster next time.]

Chapter 5: Happiness and Regret

The next morning I had tried to wake up late and sleep the whole misery concept off, but no… Why do Instructors have alarm clocks in their rooms? They can wake up fine themselves.

In any case, I had not started the day jumping with joy and shouting happy quotes. I woke up at 6:00 am, not far from the time I usually wake up. I'm not really a morning person but being a SeeD and Instructor, I'm required to be.

That was the reason I had arrived at the cafeteria early and not completely conscious.

"Hey, Quistis!" Zell had spotted me in my own table reading a book, "Chicken Soup for the Instructor's Soul III".

"Zell…? What are you doing here at this time of day? It's barely time for breakfast." I told him as he sat down, carrying his platter of hotdogs. It looked like a balancing act.

"Exactly why I am here now, Quistis. I would've expected you, the living Garden Genius, to understand my concepts on cafeteria life."

"If you would enlighten me with your ways, Dincht…"

"Glad to." Zell grinned. "See here, it's only what…? 8:00? Look around how many people do you see?"

"I count around six, including you and I."

"Aha! Exactly my point. By the time 10:00 comes, this place will be full of students and the hotdogs will be wanted and gone. But if you come at the time I do…" He winked. "There is less competition for the hotdogs and I will be satisfied by the time breakfast comes… Lunch however…"
I laughed. "I guess I can understand what you mean, Zell."

"Of course… My plan is infallible as always." He bit into his food. "So why are you here, if you don't want the food?"

"I just needed a nice moping spot to read."

"Ah, yes, the tragedy of the Classes From Hell."

I was a little surprised then. "You know about Seifer?"

"But of course… No one can hide the truth from Zell Dincht…" He grinned mischievously. "Besides… Ainna told Zack who told Kimberly who told Danielle who told Jason who told Michelle who told me."

"I never knew you were a fan of gossip." I smiled faintly.

"Don't call it gossip… Call it: confidentially passed information."

"Very nicely put." I told him.

"Thank you. Now, I shall go for more nutrition."

"Hotdogs?"

"What else?"

I laughed. "Typical. Go get your food, Zell."

He left and I returned to my book. Only two seconds had passed and yet I had to stop reading once again.

"Quisty! Where have you been? I have got to tell you, I can't tell you… I ran all the way… and Irvine but…" That was Selphie. She was apparently breathless and Irvine was being tugged after her. She reached the table I was sitting at and gasped for air.

"Selphie." I shook my head. "You're not making any sense."

"Me… Irvine… Quad… I was… for garden festival… red box… Irvine… Me… quad… this morning…"

"Selphie… Please speak in complete sentences." I said as patiently as I could.

She gasped for air again and screamed. I stared.

"We're getting married!" Irvine finally burst out.

I stared at them again, this time in shock.

Selphie shrieked and put her hand in front of mine, as if for confirmation, on her finger was a diamond engagement ring.

This time, I was the one who gasped. "Wow." I knew about how Irvine and Selphie felt about each other but this was a big step.

"Oh, my… Hyne. Congratulations!" I said to Selphie. I almost squealed but then stopped myself in time. "I can't believe this! But it's a good thing, I mean, I'm so happy for you but… Oh, my… I still can't believe it! Not literally but maybe but what I mean is…" I couldn't stop blabbering. I couldn't shut my mouth. I was bursting with excitement.

"Quistis." Irvine interrupted with a grin. "You could've stopped at congratulations."

"Right…" I took a deep breath. "Right." I smiled. "But really, I am so happy for you two."

"Thanks, Quisty!" Selphie squealed. This time, I couldn't contain myself. I squealed with her.

The look on Selphie's face told me a few things, one: She was very happy and content. Second, it made me wonder if I was ever going to get close to having that look. This sudden realization best not be known to the others. It may ruin their little celebration.

I smiled again and excused myself. "Congratulations again, Selphie! You too, Irvine… I want to hear the story later okay? I have to get to class…"

"Okay… thanks, Quisty. Good luck with your class!" Selphie said to me.

"I've heard that 'good luck' thing many times already." I laughed. "Let's hope it works!

When I reached the classroom, a few feet away, waiting for me, was Seifer. Yes, Seifer. Hell, would I know why?

"Morning, Instructor." He greeted me. "Since you can't lecture me on being early, what's it going to be about today?"

"Let's hope it's not about attacking fellow students…" I suggested.

"…let's rule out: helping evil sorceresses." I added under my breath.

"So I understand that since I left Squall has really taken to you, Instructor." He began.

Why did he have to bring that up?

"What does this have to do with our lessons?"

"Absolutely nothing… and that's exactly the point."

"If you must know yes, Rinoa left after an argument, she left, I'm Squall's new girlfriend, joy for the world! That's all you want to know isn't it?" I asked sarcastically.

I turned around quickly, glad the other students didn't hear me.

The reason I turned around was for the strange look I saw on Seifer's face. It was mischief or arrogance or ignorance or anything which suited the reply I gave him.

I'm not even sure what it was… But I think it was regret.