Be Mine- Chapter 2: "Notice Me"
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: I don't own Zell or any of the other characters. Squaresoft owns them. I did make up the personality and name, etc of one of the characters because they never tell anything about her. That's about it…
Notes: Woohoo! Chapter 2! …That's about all I have to say… I could use this time for something good though…
SHOUT OUTS!
Magentafox/Yevonmage (Hi! Remember the weirdo Auron with the 'Rikku Glomper'?)
Brittany (You only like me cuz you get previews! Just kiddin'.)
Mei (I LOVE YOU!!)
All my readers (I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS!!)
z
And the reviewers column!
Jeanieh
SeiyaMatsuya
Angel Reid
Trio Wing
Another big shout-out to everyone who signed the FF.Net petition that came my way. No one should crush creativity!
Wolf Blossom
Miko Tsunami
Babybluestarangel
Shichinintai no Jakotsu
Alana-star
Katrina11
Amerie-chan
HieiandTouyaLover
Geonah
SadSaturn
SilencedEcho
Kuiya
Cyberdistroyer
Onee-sama
Trio Wing
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
Sorry… too many shout outs, ya?
"Zell, it's not the end of the world." Quistis said, turning in her seat to get a view of the blond martial artist who was slumped over in the back.
"Yes it is… what the fuck is a stupid love poem supposed to mean?" he grumbled, examining his hands in his lap.
"Quit whining." Squall ordered from the driver's seat.
Zell looked up, shot their commander a small glare and then replied, "I'm not whining."
"Yes you are…" Irvine commented in sing-song. He had tipped his hat down over his eyes, hoping for a little shut eye on the way to Balamb to pick up Rinoa, but had been very unsuccessful.
Before the blond could reply, Squall parked the car in the garage at the town entrance, stopped the engine, and pocketed the key. "Let's go." he said. All four doors flew open and they stepped out into the musty garage filled with rental cars.
"Are you sure we can park here?" Quistis asked.
"Who cares?" Irvine replied flicking his hat back out of his eyes. "We'll only be here for a few minutes. Go to the station, pick up Rinoa, pay Zell's mom a visit…" Irvine grinned at the last, enflaming Zell's temper.
"If we go to see my mom, I'm the only one going! Not you guys!"
"Then we'll leave without you." Squall said, leading the group out onto the main street.
Once again, Zell fell silent, defeated. He clasped his hands behind his head and snorted indignantly.
It had been a while since he'd been in Balamb, Zell decided. As much as he loved the Garden, Zell had missed his home town. Here he was a hero to children, an example to peers, and an adopted son to the adults. It was where he fit in. Home. He drew in the wintery, salty sea air and sighed. Home really was where the heart was.
The train station was right beyond the weapons and items shops and was buzzing with people boarding and unloading. It had always been like this because the only major thing in the little seaside town of Balamb was their train station.
Squall scanned the crowd, searching anxiously for a sign of the Forest Owl's princess. When the crowd in front thinned out, he caught sight of a girl sitting on the steps, a backpack on and a duffel bag lying at her side. Her chin was resting in her hands, the elbows supported on her knees and her legs tilted together to avoid revealing what was up her skirt. Quickly, Squall concluded that she had to be freezing seeing as how she was wearing few layers. She seemed to be looking too and as soon as her eyes locked on Squall, they lit up. Squall stepped forward, a rare smile creeping its way onto his face.
"Squall!"
Rinoa jumped up, grabbed her duffel bag, and threw her arms around Squall. "I miss you all so much!" she cried.
As he tipped his hat, Irvine grinned. "I can see you missed Squall. What about our hugs?"
The raven haired girl released the reluctant Squall and hugged Quistis. "Sorry!" She then hugged Zell. "I really did miss you all!"
"We missed you too, Rinoa." Quistis exclaimed.
"Yeah, I mean, it hasn't been that long!" Zell added.
"What about my hug?" Irvine asked as soon as Rinoa let go of Zell.
"You're just being a pervert, Irvine." Rinoa joked.
"Not true! I have only the purest thoughts of women." Irvine replied.
"Sure…" Rinoa said, embracing him as well. "So, where's Selphie?"
"She's busy planning the Valentine's Day Dance."
"Her kind of thing, huh?" Rinoa asked.
Squall nodded and took the duffel bag from her. He set it down for a second, only to remove his jacket and drape it across Rinoa's fair shoulders.
"You… don't have to, Squall." Rinoa told him, pulling the jacket closer around herself.
"I insist." was his short reply.
Rinoa grinned, leaned up, and pecked him on the cheek. "Sometimes you can be so sweet." Squall continued to ignore the jeering laughter of Irvine and Zell in the background.
"What's so funny you two?" Rinoa asked, rounding on them. "There's nothing wrong with having a girl friend."
"Never said anything was wrong with it." Irvine insisted. Zell remained quiet, enticing Rinoa's curiosity.
"Zell…? Something I said?"
"Zell has a secret admirer," Quistis explained as they headed towards the car. "Thing is, he can't figure out who it is or where her next letter is."
"Yeah, that's kind of a problem when your only clue is a stupid poem."
"Oh, what poem?" Rinoa asked.
"Glass Fairytale."
Her eyes went wide and she smiled. "I love that poem! Marie Burton, right?" When Zell nodded she continued. "Maybe I could help you!"
"Uh… I don't know…" Zell started to protest.
"Nonsense! It'll be fun! Like a scavenger hunt, right?" She looked to Squall, who cleared his throat, and then to Irvine and Quistis.
"That is," Quistis teased. "Unless you want to keep all the fun to yourself, Zell."
"Well… I…"
"It's settled then." Irvine concluded, tipping his hat. "We're going to help you find the woman of your dreams."
"Hah… remember last time you tried to help with that?" Zell grumbled. Irvine looped his arm around Zell's shoulders and led him off to the parking garage.
"But this time, my friend, you can't lose!"
"Or can he…?" Squall commented when Irvine was out of earshot, leading the blond down the street.
Rinoa elbowed the SeeD and scowled playfully. "Squall…"
"I know…" Squall replied, acting like a scolded little boy. Rinoa patted him on the shoulder before taking his hand.
"It's going to be a long Valentine's Day, huh?"
"Yep."
"A fairytale setting with elegant poise. Glass slippers upon polished floor, buried beneath party noise…" Rinoa chewed at the end of her pencil and across the table Zell groaned.
They had been sitting in the kitchen of Zell's dorm trying to figure out the poem for almost two hours. The blond felt as if his brains would liquefy and pour out of his ears.
"This is hopeless." he finally said, pushing back his chair and standing up. "There is no way I'm ever going to find the next letter let alone this girl."
"Don't say that, Zell!" Rinoa insisted, springing up from her chair. "Never give up! True love always finds a way!"
Zell snorted. 'That's easy for you to say,' he thought. 'The hero always gets this girl… I think I know where this battle scarred knight guy is coming from now…'
"Think about it, it has to be hidden somewhere in the building and each stanza points to a different place." She traced a delicate finger down the lines in the book. "It's like a puzzle. We had to use these all the time in Timber."
The blond paused, considering the possibilities. "…polished floor… probably a place where a lot of people would be…" He jerked his head up violently, so much so that Rinoa jumped back a little.
"The ball room!!" they cried in unison.
Zell quickly shut the book and headed to the door.
"W-wait Zell! It's eleven at night! How do you expect to get into the ball room let alone see to find a scrap of paper?"
With a fanged grin plastered on his face, Zell turned and produced a flashlight from his pocket. "With a little stealth, of course."
Light panned across the empty, polished floor of the ball room. Zell swept the room once more with his flashlight before stepping in. It was silent and he nearly jumped two feet in the air when he heard the echo of his high tops on the floor. Normally it would only be a hushed patter but it sounded like a clap of thunder with out any others around. Zell recovered and took two more small, cautious steps.
He had to find that note… and fast.
Over and over Zell repeated the stanza in his mind. What he was looking for in the room he didn't know but he needed to figure it out quickly.
Across the room on the wall were pictures, oil paintings that seemed they had hung there since time began. They were regularly dusted but Zell noted that they were already collecting more. He stepped closer, scanning across the images.
Painting of old sorceresses, the garden, and marvelous ball scenes were spread out across the wall. At the very end of the line hung a small, older picture, so worn that it stood out amongst the rest. Zell came closer, shining his light onto the cracking canvas.
Their he saw a beautiful ball scene, one full of fading color, grand décor, and beautiful guests. What caught his eye was a woman on the far right side of painting who stood alone, away from the masses.
"The fair maiden…" Zell whispered to the silent air.
At the corner nearest the woman, a small scrap of paper had been tucked into the ancient, gold painted frame. Zell, grinning in triumph, reached out to it.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" a voice at Zell ear asked.
Zell spun with a sharp cry that echoed loudly in the cavernous ball room. Standing there, looking even more like a demon in the darkness, was Seifer. Startled, Zell dropped the flash light and the room sank to darkness as the batteries tumbled out.
"Jesus Christ!! Are you trying to kill me!?!" Zell hissed trying to slow the quickening pace of his heart.
"Too bad I didn't." the former knight commented smugly. He jammed both hands into his pockets and shrugged.
"Yeah, well, go to hell!" The blond backed closer to the picture, ready at any moment to reach behind his head and pluck the note from the frame.
With a thud, Seifer's fist met the wall to the left of Zell's head. He grinned, reckless, wanton rage shining through a flawless grin. Zell swallowed hard, the knight's face only inches from his own, hot breath spilling onto his face.
"Ladies first." Seifer hissed.
Taking his cue to leave, Zell brought a knee up, connecting it with Seifer's exposed stomach. Knee met firm muscle, and Zell felt a shock wave run through his leg. What did the guy have, wash board abs? Seifer, however, doubled over giving Zell enough time to shove him to the side, grab the note, and make a run for it.
"Dammit Dincht! You are dead! Here me?!" Seifer howled after him, stumbling a few steps before giving up on pursuing.
Zell, meanwhile, realized that miracles were possible, there was a God, and that God loved him enough to let him live another day.
Now drenched in warm water as opposed to sweat, Zell sat down on his bed and began to rub his hair dry. After a few shakes, he allowed the blond hair to remain limp instead of the vigorous gelling Zell usually gave it. He grinned a little and reached for the letter that sat on his pillow.
It was folded into eights, the ceases unable to be forced out no matter how many times they were smoothed. Taped inside was the next candy heart that read: "Notice me" in pink letters on a sugary white background.
"I would if I knew who you were…" Zell commented offhand. He removed the heart from the letter and placed it in the open container on his nightstand. Then he moved onto the letter.
"Congratulations. You've found the first letter! Here's your clue as a reward:
I see you often, no in classes but in halls. I watch from the shadows, hoping your heart can hear how mine beats for you.
A tall, slender, young maiden
With silken, soft skin
Red like a rose
With thorns concealing pain within"
Zell sighed and sat the letter aside. Removing the towel from his head and tossing it onto his desk chair, he smirked.
"Here we go again…"
I'm so obvious it's killing me! See, I'm trying to keep you all guessing. Maybe I'll fool someone… but not likely. Why this one should never become a mystery writer! I think I'll stick with romance.
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: I don't own Zell or any of the other characters. Squaresoft owns them. I did make up the personality and name, etc of one of the characters because they never tell anything about her. That's about it…
Notes: Woohoo! Chapter 2! …That's about all I have to say… I could use this time for something good though…
SHOUT OUTS!
Magentafox/Yevonmage (Hi! Remember the weirdo Auron with the 'Rikku Glomper'?)
Brittany (You only like me cuz you get previews! Just kiddin'.)
Mei (I LOVE YOU!!)
All my readers (I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS!!)
z
And the reviewers column!
Jeanieh
SeiyaMatsuya
Angel Reid
Trio Wing
Another big shout-out to everyone who signed the FF.Net petition that came my way. No one should crush creativity!
Wolf Blossom
Miko Tsunami
Babybluestarangel
Shichinintai no Jakotsu
Alana-star
Katrina11
Amerie-chan
HieiandTouyaLover
Geonah
SadSaturn
SilencedEcho
Kuiya
Cyberdistroyer
Onee-sama
Trio Wing
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
Sorry… too many shout outs, ya?
"Zell, it's not the end of the world." Quistis said, turning in her seat to get a view of the blond martial artist who was slumped over in the back.
"Yes it is… what the fuck is a stupid love poem supposed to mean?" he grumbled, examining his hands in his lap.
"Quit whining." Squall ordered from the driver's seat.
Zell looked up, shot their commander a small glare and then replied, "I'm not whining."
"Yes you are…" Irvine commented in sing-song. He had tipped his hat down over his eyes, hoping for a little shut eye on the way to Balamb to pick up Rinoa, but had been very unsuccessful.
Before the blond could reply, Squall parked the car in the garage at the town entrance, stopped the engine, and pocketed the key. "Let's go." he said. All four doors flew open and they stepped out into the musty garage filled with rental cars.
"Are you sure we can park here?" Quistis asked.
"Who cares?" Irvine replied flicking his hat back out of his eyes. "We'll only be here for a few minutes. Go to the station, pick up Rinoa, pay Zell's mom a visit…" Irvine grinned at the last, enflaming Zell's temper.
"If we go to see my mom, I'm the only one going! Not you guys!"
"Then we'll leave without you." Squall said, leading the group out onto the main street.
Once again, Zell fell silent, defeated. He clasped his hands behind his head and snorted indignantly.
It had been a while since he'd been in Balamb, Zell decided. As much as he loved the Garden, Zell had missed his home town. Here he was a hero to children, an example to peers, and an adopted son to the adults. It was where he fit in. Home. He drew in the wintery, salty sea air and sighed. Home really was where the heart was.
The train station was right beyond the weapons and items shops and was buzzing with people boarding and unloading. It had always been like this because the only major thing in the little seaside town of Balamb was their train station.
Squall scanned the crowd, searching anxiously for a sign of the Forest Owl's princess. When the crowd in front thinned out, he caught sight of a girl sitting on the steps, a backpack on and a duffel bag lying at her side. Her chin was resting in her hands, the elbows supported on her knees and her legs tilted together to avoid revealing what was up her skirt. Quickly, Squall concluded that she had to be freezing seeing as how she was wearing few layers. She seemed to be looking too and as soon as her eyes locked on Squall, they lit up. Squall stepped forward, a rare smile creeping its way onto his face.
"Squall!"
Rinoa jumped up, grabbed her duffel bag, and threw her arms around Squall. "I miss you all so much!" she cried.
As he tipped his hat, Irvine grinned. "I can see you missed Squall. What about our hugs?"
The raven haired girl released the reluctant Squall and hugged Quistis. "Sorry!" She then hugged Zell. "I really did miss you all!"
"We missed you too, Rinoa." Quistis exclaimed.
"Yeah, I mean, it hasn't been that long!" Zell added.
"What about my hug?" Irvine asked as soon as Rinoa let go of Zell.
"You're just being a pervert, Irvine." Rinoa joked.
"Not true! I have only the purest thoughts of women." Irvine replied.
"Sure…" Rinoa said, embracing him as well. "So, where's Selphie?"
"She's busy planning the Valentine's Day Dance."
"Her kind of thing, huh?" Rinoa asked.
Squall nodded and took the duffel bag from her. He set it down for a second, only to remove his jacket and drape it across Rinoa's fair shoulders.
"You… don't have to, Squall." Rinoa told him, pulling the jacket closer around herself.
"I insist." was his short reply.
Rinoa grinned, leaned up, and pecked him on the cheek. "Sometimes you can be so sweet." Squall continued to ignore the jeering laughter of Irvine and Zell in the background.
"What's so funny you two?" Rinoa asked, rounding on them. "There's nothing wrong with having a girl friend."
"Never said anything was wrong with it." Irvine insisted. Zell remained quiet, enticing Rinoa's curiosity.
"Zell…? Something I said?"
"Zell has a secret admirer," Quistis explained as they headed towards the car. "Thing is, he can't figure out who it is or where her next letter is."
"Yeah, that's kind of a problem when your only clue is a stupid poem."
"Oh, what poem?" Rinoa asked.
"Glass Fairytale."
Her eyes went wide and she smiled. "I love that poem! Marie Burton, right?" When Zell nodded she continued. "Maybe I could help you!"
"Uh… I don't know…" Zell started to protest.
"Nonsense! It'll be fun! Like a scavenger hunt, right?" She looked to Squall, who cleared his throat, and then to Irvine and Quistis.
"That is," Quistis teased. "Unless you want to keep all the fun to yourself, Zell."
"Well… I…"
"It's settled then." Irvine concluded, tipping his hat. "We're going to help you find the woman of your dreams."
"Hah… remember last time you tried to help with that?" Zell grumbled. Irvine looped his arm around Zell's shoulders and led him off to the parking garage.
"But this time, my friend, you can't lose!"
"Or can he…?" Squall commented when Irvine was out of earshot, leading the blond down the street.
Rinoa elbowed the SeeD and scowled playfully. "Squall…"
"I know…" Squall replied, acting like a scolded little boy. Rinoa patted him on the shoulder before taking his hand.
"It's going to be a long Valentine's Day, huh?"
"Yep."
"A fairytale setting with elegant poise. Glass slippers upon polished floor, buried beneath party noise…" Rinoa chewed at the end of her pencil and across the table Zell groaned.
They had been sitting in the kitchen of Zell's dorm trying to figure out the poem for almost two hours. The blond felt as if his brains would liquefy and pour out of his ears.
"This is hopeless." he finally said, pushing back his chair and standing up. "There is no way I'm ever going to find the next letter let alone this girl."
"Don't say that, Zell!" Rinoa insisted, springing up from her chair. "Never give up! True love always finds a way!"
Zell snorted. 'That's easy for you to say,' he thought. 'The hero always gets this girl… I think I know where this battle scarred knight guy is coming from now…'
"Think about it, it has to be hidden somewhere in the building and each stanza points to a different place." She traced a delicate finger down the lines in the book. "It's like a puzzle. We had to use these all the time in Timber."
The blond paused, considering the possibilities. "…polished floor… probably a place where a lot of people would be…" He jerked his head up violently, so much so that Rinoa jumped back a little.
"The ball room!!" they cried in unison.
Zell quickly shut the book and headed to the door.
"W-wait Zell! It's eleven at night! How do you expect to get into the ball room let alone see to find a scrap of paper?"
With a fanged grin plastered on his face, Zell turned and produced a flashlight from his pocket. "With a little stealth, of course."
Light panned across the empty, polished floor of the ball room. Zell swept the room once more with his flashlight before stepping in. It was silent and he nearly jumped two feet in the air when he heard the echo of his high tops on the floor. Normally it would only be a hushed patter but it sounded like a clap of thunder with out any others around. Zell recovered and took two more small, cautious steps.
He had to find that note… and fast.
Over and over Zell repeated the stanza in his mind. What he was looking for in the room he didn't know but he needed to figure it out quickly.
Across the room on the wall were pictures, oil paintings that seemed they had hung there since time began. They were regularly dusted but Zell noted that they were already collecting more. He stepped closer, scanning across the images.
Painting of old sorceresses, the garden, and marvelous ball scenes were spread out across the wall. At the very end of the line hung a small, older picture, so worn that it stood out amongst the rest. Zell came closer, shining his light onto the cracking canvas.
Their he saw a beautiful ball scene, one full of fading color, grand décor, and beautiful guests. What caught his eye was a woman on the far right side of painting who stood alone, away from the masses.
"The fair maiden…" Zell whispered to the silent air.
At the corner nearest the woman, a small scrap of paper had been tucked into the ancient, gold painted frame. Zell, grinning in triumph, reached out to it.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" a voice at Zell ear asked.
Zell spun with a sharp cry that echoed loudly in the cavernous ball room. Standing there, looking even more like a demon in the darkness, was Seifer. Startled, Zell dropped the flash light and the room sank to darkness as the batteries tumbled out.
"Jesus Christ!! Are you trying to kill me!?!" Zell hissed trying to slow the quickening pace of his heart.
"Too bad I didn't." the former knight commented smugly. He jammed both hands into his pockets and shrugged.
"Yeah, well, go to hell!" The blond backed closer to the picture, ready at any moment to reach behind his head and pluck the note from the frame.
With a thud, Seifer's fist met the wall to the left of Zell's head. He grinned, reckless, wanton rage shining through a flawless grin. Zell swallowed hard, the knight's face only inches from his own, hot breath spilling onto his face.
"Ladies first." Seifer hissed.
Taking his cue to leave, Zell brought a knee up, connecting it with Seifer's exposed stomach. Knee met firm muscle, and Zell felt a shock wave run through his leg. What did the guy have, wash board abs? Seifer, however, doubled over giving Zell enough time to shove him to the side, grab the note, and make a run for it.
"Dammit Dincht! You are dead! Here me?!" Seifer howled after him, stumbling a few steps before giving up on pursuing.
Zell, meanwhile, realized that miracles were possible, there was a God, and that God loved him enough to let him live another day.
Now drenched in warm water as opposed to sweat, Zell sat down on his bed and began to rub his hair dry. After a few shakes, he allowed the blond hair to remain limp instead of the vigorous gelling Zell usually gave it. He grinned a little and reached for the letter that sat on his pillow.
It was folded into eights, the ceases unable to be forced out no matter how many times they were smoothed. Taped inside was the next candy heart that read: "Notice me" in pink letters on a sugary white background.
"I would if I knew who you were…" Zell commented offhand. He removed the heart from the letter and placed it in the open container on his nightstand. Then he moved onto the letter.
"Congratulations. You've found the first letter! Here's your clue as a reward:
I see you often, no in classes but in halls. I watch from the shadows, hoping your heart can hear how mine beats for you.
A tall, slender, young maiden
With silken, soft skin
Red like a rose
With thorns concealing pain within"
Zell sighed and sat the letter aside. Removing the towel from his head and tossing it onto his desk chair, he smirked.
"Here we go again…"
I'm so obvious it's killing me! See, I'm trying to keep you all guessing. Maybe I'll fool someone… but not likely. Why this one should never become a mystery writer! I think I'll stick with romance.