Author's note: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed last chapter! I think this is the right time to say that I am getting really close to the ending and I am excited because the next story I'm going to write will be, of course, futuristic! ^^ So after this story, don't forget to check back on the new installation of the 'M' series! Anyways, we last left off with Selphie being suspended because she was caught holding a marijuana joint? She and Zell also had another argument and Zell learns that she defended him so he could play football, but then Zell goes to the Principal and tells the whole truth! Now BOTH of them are suspended! But Selphie still doesn't know that yet…so, what's next for the childhood friends? You'll find out on this chapter! ;)
Chapter 17 – Just come to me
"I'm very disappointed in you, Selphie. I thought I saw potential in you, but I guess I was wrong." She winced at the words, unable to move from the spot where she stood. It felt like someone just stabbed her heart and threw it into the lake where it drowns from the pain and the sorrow she was feeling. Selphie glanced over her shoulder at her favorite Japanese teacher and nodded, knowing full well that she has finally lost his trust and faith on her. With that thought in mind, she opened the door and left the room quietly. That was the only thing she remembered about her conversation with Mr. Mizumoto before she left the classroom. It was short and simple, yet had a strong impact on her that stuck to her throughout the afternoon. When she came home that night, her mother hugged her, but her father didn't seem happy. He was very reluctant to look at her. That form of action told her that the school had told them about the whole 'drug problem' and was also informed of her suspension from school for four weeks.
Selphie quickly went into her room and threw herself on the bed, holding back the tears that beckoned to come out. The only thing that she found comfort in her room was her 'Hello Kitty' plushy doll which she took in her arms and choked to get all her frustrations out. She imagined the plushy doll to be Zell, in which she squeezed harder, wishing it was really him she was choking. She laid back on her bed and stared ahead of her, towards her white closet, where her clothes were neatly tucked in for school uses. Her closet was also her treasury room, where she stored all the wonderful treasures that Zell found and gave to her. However, that was at least ten years ago and they were seven years old. Every time her best friend would go to vacation, he would bring something back to her, but it wasn't in a form of a souvenir. It was usually something that could be picked up from the ground of the California beaches or the Iceland roads. Nevertheless, Selphie liked the treasures, probably because she has loved Zell all her life and has kept them ever since. The last treasure he gave her was a perfectly rounded, granite rock he picked up from Borneo when he and his family went there in the summer when he was ten. She never expected these gifts, but ever since he stopped bringing something for her, she couldn't help but wonder what changed. That's when she realized that Zell was simply in pain after his parents' death. Selphie overlooked that pain and was always too busy with her studies to realize what REAL pain was all about for Zell. If she had paid attention, she would have stopped Zell from doing these things, therefore, wouldn't have been in trouble. But it was too late. She was facing dire consequences now and she was not only losing her Japan trip for her punishment, or her academic studies, Selphie was also losing her best friend from it all. She may never know when she will see him again, or when she will be able to forgive him after this.
A knock on the door interrupted her from her thoughts. Quickly, Selphie wiped her tears away and pretended she was sleeping, her back facing the door. "Um…mom, I don't feel like eating dinner right now, I need to sleep…"
"Hey, Selph…." A familiar voice spoke.
Selphie's eyes widened. She knew perfectly well it was Zell. She could hear his heavy footsteps moving behind her. Slowly, the young girl turned around to look at him. He was just standing awkwardly, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Zell…" Selphie sat up to look at him in excitement. For some reason, she was suddenly happy to see him. Maybe it was the fact that they haven't talked properly in a long time and this was their chance to do so, but as soon as she remembered the reason why, she laid back on her bed, her face away from the door…away from him. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to tell you that-" He took a step forward towards the bed, but Selphie jerked her head around to look at him, forcing him to stop moving and his lips from finishing his sentence. He stared back at her and he could see the hatred in her eyes. It was just pure hatred, an expression he has never seen on her face for the longest time. Adding to that hatred, there were tears… a hint at least that she still didn't hate him THAT much.
"I don't care what you say! Just…just leave me alone."
"Selphie, please hear me out…"
"Why should I Zell?" she mumbled, getting up from her bed and walking over to the window. She sat on the window sill and looked out towards the sky. Selphie could see Zell's reflection from the window. He was reluctantly trying to move towards her, but every time he took a step, he would stop and look up at her, as if afraid that he was stepping into her boundaries. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me? My studies, my friends…my trip to Japan….ruined because of what you did…"
Zell looked at her in disbelief. She's blaming him for what he DIDN'T really do? He suddenly felt angry at her for saying that. He closed the door behind him so her parents couldn't hear. "I didn't ask you to do that for me…I didn't even know that you knew about it!"
Selphie turned her head to look at him. "Well it would have been much easier to understand if you told me about it…I thought we were best friends, Zell?" Tears were beginning to form now, but she bitterly choked them back, not wanting for her 'best friend' to see. She didn't want him near her right now.
"Why did you do it, Selphie? I didn't ask for it. You didn't have to do it…"
"Because…you were my best friend…" Selphie looked away. "That's what best friends do, isn't it? They're supposed to help each other out when they're in need, even trusting them with their secrets."
"Were?" Zell asked. Where was she going with this? What is she saying?
Selphie nodded. "Zell, I don't know if I can trust you anymore…I'm sorry…I don't think we should see each other…" Tears were once again forming in her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, so she let the tears flow down her cheeks. She looked away. "And to think that I…" she stopped herself from saying anything further.
The blond was shocked beyond belief. She can't be serious…can she? Zell turned to face the closed door. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her. "You don't think I'd do the same thing? Selphie…" He took a long deep breath and closed his eyes before saying, "I went to the office and told them the truth…"
Stunned, Selphie looked back at him. "What…?" she asked in a very small voice.
"I told them that it was really mine. You can go back to school now. I can take my punishment in peace, even if you're not there anymore to see me…" Zell opened the door, stopped by the doorway and once again glance back at Selphie. "I wanted to tell you the truth from the very beginning Selphie. And tonight was my chance to tell you…" He hesitated for a moment, then said, "It was my chance to tell you that I…I love you, Selphie Tilmitt. I don't want you to think that as a friendship thing, but…I have always loved you as more than that." With that said, Zell turned and left.
Selphie stood there, aghast. She felt her whole body sliding down the floor, her legs feeling shaky and tired from the drama unfolded before her. Why was this happening to her? Why must life for her be always this complicated? Was she the only one with a life that seemed to abandon her almost every day? She couldn't get Zell's statement out of her head. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? Had Zell really confessed his true feelings for her? Or was it just a dream that she can never wake up from? If it was so, then why was she blushing? Why was her heart pounding? Subconsciously, she moved towards the bed and sat down on the soft mattress. Selphie sat there for a few moments, as if expecting something sudden to burst through her door and announce better news than she had heard of since yesterday. She was frozen now. Numb from the legs, up and unaware that the doorbell had rung.
"Selphie! Could you get the door for me, please?" her mom yelled, from what seemed like the kitchen. "I'm quite busy at the moment."
As if some kind of powerful force pulled her, Selphie stood up, walked out of her room and strolled down the stairs to answer the front door. She took a quick, curious glance towards her mother, wondering what she was doing by announcing herself too 'busy' to answer the door. Her mother was indeed, cooking something and it was fogging up the whole house. Her father, Selphie guessed, was probably watching television and usually, he didn't like being bothered from his form of relaxation (which was lying on their old reclining chair situated at the front of the television). Sighing quietly, she stood in front of the door and stared at it for a moment, before opening it, her hands still shaking from the shocking revelation that came out of her best friend's mouth. When the door swung open, Selphie was struck with a full force from the chilly wind outside and before she regained her balance, long, strong arms began to wrap around her, startling her from head to toe.
"KIDDO!" the voice spoke, startling Selphie even more. She was pulled back again, giving her a chance to look at the 'stranger' who was hugging her so suddenly. She was surprised that the person hugging her was her older brother, Garrett, who wasn't supposed to be home until next week.
"Ga-Garrett?" actually, she was relieved it was her brother, instead of an odd stranger hugging her from out of nowhere. When realization hit her, Selphie wrapped her arms around her older brother and smiled, hiding the fact that she was still broken inside. After a couple more minutes, she pulled back this time to give herself and her brother some room to breathe. "You're here! I thought you weren't coming until next week?"
Garrett shrugged. "Well, they let me off early. I think they were being generous today!" He laughed whole-heartedly and stepped inside, dragging his one large suitcase behind him. Selphie closed the door and watched as her older brother reminisced the last few years he was living in their house. Before he was convicted of legal drug consumption, Garrett actually went to college, took up great courses in science and math (Garrett was smart and Selphie was jealous). However, when their parents found out he was sniffing up cocaine and marijuana in the dorm room he's been staying in for a whole semester, they immediately took him home, where he was greeted by police officers. For another six months, he was grounded away from his real home. He left a teary-eyed mother, a VERY angry father and a disappointed sister. For the first time in a year, Garrett has finally come home again. "Awwww MOM!"
Selphie looked up. She was too intent in her thoughts that she hadn't realized her mother had appeared from the kitchen and into Garrett's loving arms. "Mom, I missed your cooking!" she heard Garrett say, in which he also added (so he wouldn't get a beating from his mother), "I missed you too!" He proceeded on giving her another hug.
"Aimee? Selphie? Who is it?" Seconds later, their father appeared from the living room. He paused when he saw who it was and frowned. "What are you doing here early?" Selphie could see the disappointment in their father's eyes. It seems that he hasn't forgiven his son, even if he had already served his time in jail.
Garrett gave a firm, serious look towards his father and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Nice to see you too, dad…"
Suddenly, there was definite silence and after a while, Kate Tilmitt was the first person to break it. She wrapped an arm around her son's shoulders and dragged him to the kitchen, trying to keep Garrett as far away as possible from his father. With her other arm, she hooked it with her daughter and pulled both of them to the kitchen, followed by Selphie and Garrett's reluctant father. "You must be hungry, Garrett! I cooked dinner and it's enough for all of us!" She swiftly glanced at her husband firmly, warning him not to do anything rash.
When they were all seated down, Selphie felt even more awkward, sitting in between her father and brother on the rectangular table. They were both sitting on the opposite ends of the table, trying their very best not to make eye contact with the other. Selphie frowned, looking at both of them, while her mother sat, eating her dinner quietly.
Suddenly, unable to take the silence any longer, Selphie angrily slammed a hand down on the table and looked around at everyone. "Will you two please stop this!? This whole thing is stupid! I expected better from the both of you! Garrett, you're twenty one years old (I realized that he was suppose to be twenty one…sorry for the misunderstanding!), for goodness sakes! Dad, you're….older…and you're both adults! So handle this LIKE adults!" She was frustrated, just irritated by the behavior being shown at the table and stood up. "You're acting like WOMEN!" With that said, Selphie turned and stormed out of the kitchen and into her room. Everything was getting out of hand. She could no longer hold the frustrations inside. Her getting suspended for something she didn't do, Zell telling the Principal the truth, resulting in him getting suspended, him telling her he loved her, Garrett coming home earlier than expected, thus adding tension between him and their father and…and….Large beads of tears streamed down her face. She firmly wiped her tears with her arms and closed the door behind her. Selphie realized now, out of everyone else in her house, she needed Zell a lot more. He was always there when she needed comfort. He was always there to make her laugh by doing silly things that people would know Zell would never do, which he would only do in front of her. Selphie shook her thoughts of Zell away from her mind and walked over to her window. It had started to rain…rather heavily at that, because she could hear the 'pitter patter' of water on the roof. She wanted nothing better than to run outside, without a care in the world, towards Zell's house. She closed her eyes and remembered the time he told her that he was always going to be there if she needed to talk to him about something.
"Selphie…if you ever need to talk…just come to me…okay?" he spoke, as if he was really standing there. Selphie looked back out the window and to the house right next door to theirs.
"Just come to me…" she mumbled.
**************************
He wanted to stay. Even if he had to beg, he would do it. Did she really mean what she said? Was he really untrustworthy to be her best friend now? Has he really changed that much for her?
"Zell?" Aunt Vanessa poked her head through the door and noticed him sitting still on the bed, staring at the closed door of the closet. She stepped inside and approached him quietly. Not wanting to startle him, she made her presence known by closing the door as loud and as quietly as she could.
And it worked. Zell had looked up. "Oh…what is it, Aunt Vanessa?"
The middle aged woman opened the door again and smiled. "It's dinner time."
Zell nodded. "Thanks a lot, Auntie."
Vanessa nodded and went ahead to the kitchen. Zell followed a few seconds later and joined his aunt and uncle and his cousin, Isabelle in the dining room. They were just about to sit down on their usual spots on the table, when the doorbell suddenly rang. Zell volunteered to get it, so he stood up and walked over to the door, his stomach suddenly growling with hunger. He opened the door slowly and was stunned at the sight he was seeing. Selphie stood on his door steps, wet from head to toe, her hair disheveled from the rain, her cheeks reddening and her breathing… shallow, as if she just ran a hundred mile race. He couldn't tell whether her face was covered with her tears or the rain.
"Selphie??? What-?" He was interrupted when Selphie suddenly wrapped her arms around him, collapsing in his arms and was unable to say anything for a while, until Zell spoke again. "Selphie… What are you doing here?" He wished her to be here, but not in the condition she was in now.
Selphie sniffed and finally took the courage to look into his eyes. "I didn't mean what I said… I was too angry… too upset… Zell… I miss you."
Surprised at this, Zell just stared at her stupidly.
The brunette looked away. "I know I don't deserve to be forgiven after what I said, but… I need to talk to someone. I WANT to talk to you…" She paused, took a deep breath and clenched her fists at her sides. "I wish I could take back what I said and change the conversation we had earlier into something better, but it's impossible… I…" She felt a hand under her chin. Selphie lifted her head up and stared into Zell's emerald green eyes.
"You don't have to, Selphie…" Without resisting, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her as tightly as he could. This time…he wasn't letting go. "You don't have to…" he whispered.
Selphie closed her eyes. So this is what it felt like to be in love. His embrace was warm, comforting and…loving. "Zell…I love you too…" she whispered back.
Zell didn't react. He wasn't shocked. He wasn't scared by her words. He was just…relieved that she felt the same way. He didn't care that he was getting wet from the harsh rain blowing towards them because of the wind, or the fact that Selphie was wet.
"SELPHIE!" Both of them were startled by the sound of Aunt Vanessa's voice. "MY GOD! What on earth-!?" Suddenly, they were pulled apart. Selphie was being dragged by Zell's Aunt into the downstairs bathroom, while Zell stood there, slowly closing the door behind him and listening to his Aunt's motherly words.
After a few minutes, Selphie came out of the bathroom, warm, dry and newly clothes with Vanessa's old clothes that she used to wear when she was young. For some reason, Zell's Aunt kept all her old clothes and keeps them safely stored in the cupboard underneath the stairs. 'It's a little habit of hers,' his Uncle told him once when he asked about it. "What were you doing outside in the rain, anyway, Selphie?" He could hear his Aunt's voice as they strolled back to the kitchen where Zell was wearily waiting for Selphie to come back.
Selphie blushed and laughed. "Oh, I forgot to tell Zell something important so I thought it couldn't wait until tomorrow."
"Now, what could be so important that you would risk your health for?" Vanessa asked, looking at Selphie.
Both of the teenagers blushed. Isabelle laughed, pointing at the red marks on her cousin's and Selphie's face.
"Nessa, I don't think it's our business what these kids do," Uncle Charlie retorted, looking down at his checkbook. Looking at the checkbook was Zell's Uncle's habit, another eccentric thing his adopted parents do when they weren't working.
Zell glanced at his Uncle and met eye to eye with him, as if telling him 'thank you' for covering for them. He glanced at Selphie and smiled. Selphie smiled back, looking back down at her food. He could tell she was trying to hide the blush that was starting to creep on her cheeks. Zell loved that about her. Why hadn't he realized it before? Why hadn't he realized it sooner that he dearly loved his best friend?
Selphie suddenly stood up. "I think I should call my parents. They must be wondering where I went…" She left the kitchen and headed for the living room where the phone was.
"Isabelle!" Zell looked down. Vanessa was starting to wipe something her daughter spilled on the floor. The blond glanced up at his Uncle, who was now too busy to look at him, or the mess his daughter was making, so Zell took this opportunity to leave the dining room quietly and head for the living room where Selphie was.
When he got there, Selphie had already hung up the phone, telling him that she was finished with the phone call. She smiled when she saw him there. "So, what did they say?" he asked suddenly for no reason.
Selphie smiled, shrugging. "They weren't mad. I could hear my dad yelling in the background though…"
Zell's eyes widened. "He was mad?"
She laughed. "No, he was just worried about me. My dad never gets mad that easily towards me except…" It looked as though she was going to say something, but decided to shrug it off with another laugh. "I guess we better get back to the kitchen!" She walked pass him, but Zell grabbed her arm gently and slowly turned her around to face him.
"What does this mean?" Zell stared into her green eyes.
"What does what mean?" Selphie asked, looking at him confusingly.
He took a deep breath. "Us…"
Selphie looked away. "I…I don't know…" She looked back at him again, this time, a real genuine smile. "Maybe a date can confirm that?"
Zell smiled, nodding his head. "A date, huh? Is that what you want?"
"Well…yeah, I think so. It's important isn't it?" She grabbed his hand. "Come on, we better get back or else Vanessa and Charlie will be suspicious about what we're up to!" She pulled him back towards the kitchen, but they were suddenly interrupted when the phone rang around the house.
They stopped in their tracks and in unison, turned to look at the phone. Selphie let go of Zell's hand, letting him answer the phone. After one more ring, Zell picked up the phone and pressed it against his ear. "Hello?" Selphie watched as he listened to what the other person was saying on the other line. There was definite worry on his face. "Okay, calm down…" He looked up; pass Selphie at the kitchen, where his Aunt and Uncle were eating. Selphie knew that Zell didn't want his Aunt and Uncle to know who was on the phone. "Yeah… I'll be there." He put the phone down and looked at her.
"Who was that?"
Zell didn't answer, instead, he walked passed her and headed for the kitchen. "Aunt Vanessa? Uncle Charlie? I have to go somewhere quickly, okay?"
Vanessa looked up from cleaning the mess on the floor. "Where are you going?"
Zell didn't know how to answer, until Selphie stepped beside him. "Zell and I are going to watch movies, is that all right?" She grabbed his arm and began dragging him, until Uncle Charlie's voice boomed, stopping them on their tracks.
"Zell, you do remember that you're grounded?"
The blond nodded. He looked over his shoulder at his Uncle. "Can I go this once, Uncle? Someone needs my help?"
"Help? Who needs help? Is there an emergency?"
"No, Aunt Vanessa…" He really had to go. No longer able to hold the frustration, he turned and began walking away, despite his Aunt's disapproval. Zell and Selphie walked out of the house together and headed for Zell's car.
"Vanessa…" Charlie called to his wife. "Just let him go this once."
"Charlie! He's supposed to be grounded!" Vanessa said, firmly, planting both her fists on her hips.
Charlie looked up and nodded. "Yeah he is… but no matter what you say to them, they will always rebel against you."
Vanessa sighed and sat back down on her chair. "I guess you're right… But aren't we a bit too soft on the boy? I mean, he DID do something bad, which got him into school suspension!"
Her husband shrugged. "He probably had his reasons of doing it."
"That's just it, Charles! I WANT to know the reason and because of not telling me, THIS is what happens to him! A smoker! I just thought…did I raise him wrongly for him to do this?"
Charlie put down his check book and wrapped an arm around his wife. "No, you didn't raise him wrongly. You raised him into a good young man! Your sister would have been VERY proud to know that his little sister was taking good care of his son!"
********************
In a flash of lightning, they were there. Kent was there, being held at gunpoint by a bunch of 'suit wearing mafia wanna-bes, threatening him about something. Selphie had no idea what was going on, but she was told by Zell to stay in the car, while he himself gets out of the car to approach the men. It was dark, too dark in the alleyway for Selphie to see exactly HOW many men were there. She guessed there were about six of them altogether, but she could be wrong. But why was she bothering counting how many of them there were? She should be worried about Zell approaching them, while holding guns, while Zell had none.
"Who are YOU!?" the man holding the gun yelled at Zell as he came nearer.
Zell stopped just enough to see Kent's broken face. He stared at the man with the gun straight in the eyes. "I'm his boss," he replied, taking a glance at his friend on the ground. "If you want to get your money, you might as well put the gun down."
The man with the gun had now moved his aim towards Zell's head, yet Zell did not flinch, nor make any sound of fear. "And if I don't put the gun down?" He laughed and glanced at the man on Zell's right. "Did you hear that, Bane? He's threatening us!"
Bane let out a hoarse laugh. "I can't believe that, Romeo!"
"Then you won't get the money you're looking for. Just give him back to me and I promise you, I will have your money."
"I don't think so BOSS!" the man on Zell's right said, emphasizing the last word loudly. "With how you look, I don't think you have the balls to earn fifteen hundred dollars! Because your FRIEND here…" He grabbed Kent's shirt collar and pulled him so that he was face to face with him. "Was supposed to give us the fifteen hundred and he's a few days overdue!"
Zell glanced at Kent unbelievably. "WHAT!? You owe these guys fifteen hundred dollars!?"
Kent shrugged, smiling under his bruises. "Hey, I have to earn a living, don't I?" He received another punch in the face, adding more pain.
Zell took a step forward, but the man with the gun, Romeo, turned his gun once again towards the blond. However, something loud shot in the air. Startled, Romeo looked around, wondering where the gun had hit. "DAMMIT, YOU IDIOT!" He felt the gun being grabbed from his hand. Romeo glanced at his friend, Bane, staring at him confusingly. "What?"
"ZELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bane pointed in front of them. Romeo followed his finger, his eyes widening when he noticed the blond young man lying on the ground, blood soaking his clothes and dripping all over the ground. He noticed a young woman running to his side, but Bane just stood there, shocked beyond belief at what he had done. He never intended to shoot him. Not really. He just wanted to scare the boy.
With tears soaking her face, Selphie lifted Zell halfway in her arms and looked into his pale face. He was shot close to the heart, just above the right of his chest. Blood was still pouring from the wound and Selphie was trying to close it by putting an arm over it. "Zell! Zell, can you hear me!?" Selphie pleaded, rocking him back and forth gently. "Just hang on, okay? Please hang on!" Zell's eyes were closing now, but Selphie wouldn't let him. "Don't you dare die on me! We still have a date to go to! Your parents wouldn't want you to give up this easily!"
Zell opened his eyes again. "Maybe…maybe I'll see my parents….finally…" he spoke quietly.
"Don't say that! You can't leave me! Who am I supposed to run to when I need someone to talk to? You said you'd be there for me! Zell…please don't give up!" She buried her face in his chest and wept.
The blond looked as though he was dreaming. Was he hallucinating when he was now seeing a familiar face smiling down on him? "Mom?" A second face appeared beside his mother. "Dad?" He looked at himself. He was standing? Where was he? Everything was bright.
His mother, an angelic-faced blond floated towards him slowly. "Zell…" she spoke gently.
"Mom…" There were tears flowing down Zell's pale face. He reached out his arms towards her, but she would keep floating away from him. I'm home… "Mom? Where are you going?"
She smiled. "Zell, you still have long ways to go in your life. It's not your time yet. Don't give up, okay?"
Zell frowned, still reaching out his arms towards her, even though she was too far away. "Mom, please take me with you! I want to see you! I miss you!"
She shook her head and smiled. "Zell, I will never forgive you if you abandon Selphie…remember that…" Then, she disappeared into the bright light.
Before he had a chance to figure out where he was, Zell was being pulled back. Back? Where? Where was he going? What was happening?
He could hear voices now.
A beeping sound.
Something was beeping around him. It was just too familiar. He's heard it before. In the hospital…where his parents were being 'rescued.'
"We're losing him!" a voice yelled from nowhere.
"Hello?" he called.
There was another beeping sound.
This time…longer…
"AGAIN!" the second voice was louder and firmer.
He could hear a loud 'thump!' Zell could feel his heart pounding. He placed a hand on his heart where he was supposedly shot, but it was absent. Where was it? Wasn't he shot? Is he dead?
"Sir, we lost him…" a woman's voice croaked gently.
'Zell, I will never forgive you if you abandon Selphie…' he could hear his mother say over and over again. She was right. It wasn't his time yet. He couldn't leave Selphie behind. "SELPHIE!!!!" he yelled as loud as he could.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"We got a pulse!" the first voice said.
Zell could feel his heart pounding louder than ever before.
Then, he was pulled back again, but this time…
The blond opened his eyes slowly. He could hear murmurs all around him. One of them, he recognized as… "Selphie…"he croaked.
The recognizable one approached him slowly. "Zell?" He couldn't tell whether she was crying or not, but he was glad she could touch and feel him again. Selphie smiled and collapsed suddenly that he was startled. "ZELL!"
She cried.
Despite her weight, however, Zell held her tighter in his arms.
GoodGurl: Aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwww a happy ending!!!!!!! ^^ you like? Of course you do! You have to! LOL! Well, stay tuned for the next chapter! ;)
Chapter 17 – Just come to me
"I'm very disappointed in you, Selphie. I thought I saw potential in you, but I guess I was wrong." She winced at the words, unable to move from the spot where she stood. It felt like someone just stabbed her heart and threw it into the lake where it drowns from the pain and the sorrow she was feeling. Selphie glanced over her shoulder at her favorite Japanese teacher and nodded, knowing full well that she has finally lost his trust and faith on her. With that thought in mind, she opened the door and left the room quietly. That was the only thing she remembered about her conversation with Mr. Mizumoto before she left the classroom. It was short and simple, yet had a strong impact on her that stuck to her throughout the afternoon. When she came home that night, her mother hugged her, but her father didn't seem happy. He was very reluctant to look at her. That form of action told her that the school had told them about the whole 'drug problem' and was also informed of her suspension from school for four weeks.
Selphie quickly went into her room and threw herself on the bed, holding back the tears that beckoned to come out. The only thing that she found comfort in her room was her 'Hello Kitty' plushy doll which she took in her arms and choked to get all her frustrations out. She imagined the plushy doll to be Zell, in which she squeezed harder, wishing it was really him she was choking. She laid back on her bed and stared ahead of her, towards her white closet, where her clothes were neatly tucked in for school uses. Her closet was also her treasury room, where she stored all the wonderful treasures that Zell found and gave to her. However, that was at least ten years ago and they were seven years old. Every time her best friend would go to vacation, he would bring something back to her, but it wasn't in a form of a souvenir. It was usually something that could be picked up from the ground of the California beaches or the Iceland roads. Nevertheless, Selphie liked the treasures, probably because she has loved Zell all her life and has kept them ever since. The last treasure he gave her was a perfectly rounded, granite rock he picked up from Borneo when he and his family went there in the summer when he was ten. She never expected these gifts, but ever since he stopped bringing something for her, she couldn't help but wonder what changed. That's when she realized that Zell was simply in pain after his parents' death. Selphie overlooked that pain and was always too busy with her studies to realize what REAL pain was all about for Zell. If she had paid attention, she would have stopped Zell from doing these things, therefore, wouldn't have been in trouble. But it was too late. She was facing dire consequences now and she was not only losing her Japan trip for her punishment, or her academic studies, Selphie was also losing her best friend from it all. She may never know when she will see him again, or when she will be able to forgive him after this.
A knock on the door interrupted her from her thoughts. Quickly, Selphie wiped her tears away and pretended she was sleeping, her back facing the door. "Um…mom, I don't feel like eating dinner right now, I need to sleep…"
"Hey, Selph…." A familiar voice spoke.
Selphie's eyes widened. She knew perfectly well it was Zell. She could hear his heavy footsteps moving behind her. Slowly, the young girl turned around to look at him. He was just standing awkwardly, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Zell…" Selphie sat up to look at him in excitement. For some reason, she was suddenly happy to see him. Maybe it was the fact that they haven't talked properly in a long time and this was their chance to do so, but as soon as she remembered the reason why, she laid back on her bed, her face away from the door…away from him. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to tell you that-" He took a step forward towards the bed, but Selphie jerked her head around to look at him, forcing him to stop moving and his lips from finishing his sentence. He stared back at her and he could see the hatred in her eyes. It was just pure hatred, an expression he has never seen on her face for the longest time. Adding to that hatred, there were tears… a hint at least that she still didn't hate him THAT much.
"I don't care what you say! Just…just leave me alone."
"Selphie, please hear me out…"
"Why should I Zell?" she mumbled, getting up from her bed and walking over to the window. She sat on the window sill and looked out towards the sky. Selphie could see Zell's reflection from the window. He was reluctantly trying to move towards her, but every time he took a step, he would stop and look up at her, as if afraid that he was stepping into her boundaries. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me? My studies, my friends…my trip to Japan….ruined because of what you did…"
Zell looked at her in disbelief. She's blaming him for what he DIDN'T really do? He suddenly felt angry at her for saying that. He closed the door behind him so her parents couldn't hear. "I didn't ask you to do that for me…I didn't even know that you knew about it!"
Selphie turned her head to look at him. "Well it would have been much easier to understand if you told me about it…I thought we were best friends, Zell?" Tears were beginning to form now, but she bitterly choked them back, not wanting for her 'best friend' to see. She didn't want him near her right now.
"Why did you do it, Selphie? I didn't ask for it. You didn't have to do it…"
"Because…you were my best friend…" Selphie looked away. "That's what best friends do, isn't it? They're supposed to help each other out when they're in need, even trusting them with their secrets."
"Were?" Zell asked. Where was she going with this? What is she saying?
Selphie nodded. "Zell, I don't know if I can trust you anymore…I'm sorry…I don't think we should see each other…" Tears were once again forming in her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, so she let the tears flow down her cheeks. She looked away. "And to think that I…" she stopped herself from saying anything further.
The blond was shocked beyond belief. She can't be serious…can she? Zell turned to face the closed door. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her. "You don't think I'd do the same thing? Selphie…" He took a long deep breath and closed his eyes before saying, "I went to the office and told them the truth…"
Stunned, Selphie looked back at him. "What…?" she asked in a very small voice.
"I told them that it was really mine. You can go back to school now. I can take my punishment in peace, even if you're not there anymore to see me…" Zell opened the door, stopped by the doorway and once again glance back at Selphie. "I wanted to tell you the truth from the very beginning Selphie. And tonight was my chance to tell you…" He hesitated for a moment, then said, "It was my chance to tell you that I…I love you, Selphie Tilmitt. I don't want you to think that as a friendship thing, but…I have always loved you as more than that." With that said, Zell turned and left.
Selphie stood there, aghast. She felt her whole body sliding down the floor, her legs feeling shaky and tired from the drama unfolded before her. Why was this happening to her? Why must life for her be always this complicated? Was she the only one with a life that seemed to abandon her almost every day? She couldn't get Zell's statement out of her head. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? Had Zell really confessed his true feelings for her? Or was it just a dream that she can never wake up from? If it was so, then why was she blushing? Why was her heart pounding? Subconsciously, she moved towards the bed and sat down on the soft mattress. Selphie sat there for a few moments, as if expecting something sudden to burst through her door and announce better news than she had heard of since yesterday. She was frozen now. Numb from the legs, up and unaware that the doorbell had rung.
"Selphie! Could you get the door for me, please?" her mom yelled, from what seemed like the kitchen. "I'm quite busy at the moment."
As if some kind of powerful force pulled her, Selphie stood up, walked out of her room and strolled down the stairs to answer the front door. She took a quick, curious glance towards her mother, wondering what she was doing by announcing herself too 'busy' to answer the door. Her mother was indeed, cooking something and it was fogging up the whole house. Her father, Selphie guessed, was probably watching television and usually, he didn't like being bothered from his form of relaxation (which was lying on their old reclining chair situated at the front of the television). Sighing quietly, she stood in front of the door and stared at it for a moment, before opening it, her hands still shaking from the shocking revelation that came out of her best friend's mouth. When the door swung open, Selphie was struck with a full force from the chilly wind outside and before she regained her balance, long, strong arms began to wrap around her, startling her from head to toe.
"KIDDO!" the voice spoke, startling Selphie even more. She was pulled back again, giving her a chance to look at the 'stranger' who was hugging her so suddenly. She was surprised that the person hugging her was her older brother, Garrett, who wasn't supposed to be home until next week.
"Ga-Garrett?" actually, she was relieved it was her brother, instead of an odd stranger hugging her from out of nowhere. When realization hit her, Selphie wrapped her arms around her older brother and smiled, hiding the fact that she was still broken inside. After a couple more minutes, she pulled back this time to give herself and her brother some room to breathe. "You're here! I thought you weren't coming until next week?"
Garrett shrugged. "Well, they let me off early. I think they were being generous today!" He laughed whole-heartedly and stepped inside, dragging his one large suitcase behind him. Selphie closed the door and watched as her older brother reminisced the last few years he was living in their house. Before he was convicted of legal drug consumption, Garrett actually went to college, took up great courses in science and math (Garrett was smart and Selphie was jealous). However, when their parents found out he was sniffing up cocaine and marijuana in the dorm room he's been staying in for a whole semester, they immediately took him home, where he was greeted by police officers. For another six months, he was grounded away from his real home. He left a teary-eyed mother, a VERY angry father and a disappointed sister. For the first time in a year, Garrett has finally come home again. "Awwww MOM!"
Selphie looked up. She was too intent in her thoughts that she hadn't realized her mother had appeared from the kitchen and into Garrett's loving arms. "Mom, I missed your cooking!" she heard Garrett say, in which he also added (so he wouldn't get a beating from his mother), "I missed you too!" He proceeded on giving her another hug.
"Aimee? Selphie? Who is it?" Seconds later, their father appeared from the living room. He paused when he saw who it was and frowned. "What are you doing here early?" Selphie could see the disappointment in their father's eyes. It seems that he hasn't forgiven his son, even if he had already served his time in jail.
Garrett gave a firm, serious look towards his father and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Nice to see you too, dad…"
Suddenly, there was definite silence and after a while, Kate Tilmitt was the first person to break it. She wrapped an arm around her son's shoulders and dragged him to the kitchen, trying to keep Garrett as far away as possible from his father. With her other arm, she hooked it with her daughter and pulled both of them to the kitchen, followed by Selphie and Garrett's reluctant father. "You must be hungry, Garrett! I cooked dinner and it's enough for all of us!" She swiftly glanced at her husband firmly, warning him not to do anything rash.
When they were all seated down, Selphie felt even more awkward, sitting in between her father and brother on the rectangular table. They were both sitting on the opposite ends of the table, trying their very best not to make eye contact with the other. Selphie frowned, looking at both of them, while her mother sat, eating her dinner quietly.
Suddenly, unable to take the silence any longer, Selphie angrily slammed a hand down on the table and looked around at everyone. "Will you two please stop this!? This whole thing is stupid! I expected better from the both of you! Garrett, you're twenty one years old (I realized that he was suppose to be twenty one…sorry for the misunderstanding!), for goodness sakes! Dad, you're….older…and you're both adults! So handle this LIKE adults!" She was frustrated, just irritated by the behavior being shown at the table and stood up. "You're acting like WOMEN!" With that said, Selphie turned and stormed out of the kitchen and into her room. Everything was getting out of hand. She could no longer hold the frustrations inside. Her getting suspended for something she didn't do, Zell telling the Principal the truth, resulting in him getting suspended, him telling her he loved her, Garrett coming home earlier than expected, thus adding tension between him and their father and…and….Large beads of tears streamed down her face. She firmly wiped her tears with her arms and closed the door behind her. Selphie realized now, out of everyone else in her house, she needed Zell a lot more. He was always there when she needed comfort. He was always there to make her laugh by doing silly things that people would know Zell would never do, which he would only do in front of her. Selphie shook her thoughts of Zell away from her mind and walked over to her window. It had started to rain…rather heavily at that, because she could hear the 'pitter patter' of water on the roof. She wanted nothing better than to run outside, without a care in the world, towards Zell's house. She closed her eyes and remembered the time he told her that he was always going to be there if she needed to talk to him about something.
"Selphie…if you ever need to talk…just come to me…okay?" he spoke, as if he was really standing there. Selphie looked back out the window and to the house right next door to theirs.
"Just come to me…" she mumbled.
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He wanted to stay. Even if he had to beg, he would do it. Did she really mean what she said? Was he really untrustworthy to be her best friend now? Has he really changed that much for her?
"Zell?" Aunt Vanessa poked her head through the door and noticed him sitting still on the bed, staring at the closed door of the closet. She stepped inside and approached him quietly. Not wanting to startle him, she made her presence known by closing the door as loud and as quietly as she could.
And it worked. Zell had looked up. "Oh…what is it, Aunt Vanessa?"
The middle aged woman opened the door again and smiled. "It's dinner time."
Zell nodded. "Thanks a lot, Auntie."
Vanessa nodded and went ahead to the kitchen. Zell followed a few seconds later and joined his aunt and uncle and his cousin, Isabelle in the dining room. They were just about to sit down on their usual spots on the table, when the doorbell suddenly rang. Zell volunteered to get it, so he stood up and walked over to the door, his stomach suddenly growling with hunger. He opened the door slowly and was stunned at the sight he was seeing. Selphie stood on his door steps, wet from head to toe, her hair disheveled from the rain, her cheeks reddening and her breathing… shallow, as if she just ran a hundred mile race. He couldn't tell whether her face was covered with her tears or the rain.
"Selphie??? What-?" He was interrupted when Selphie suddenly wrapped her arms around him, collapsing in his arms and was unable to say anything for a while, until Zell spoke again. "Selphie… What are you doing here?" He wished her to be here, but not in the condition she was in now.
Selphie sniffed and finally took the courage to look into his eyes. "I didn't mean what I said… I was too angry… too upset… Zell… I miss you."
Surprised at this, Zell just stared at her stupidly.
The brunette looked away. "I know I don't deserve to be forgiven after what I said, but… I need to talk to someone. I WANT to talk to you…" She paused, took a deep breath and clenched her fists at her sides. "I wish I could take back what I said and change the conversation we had earlier into something better, but it's impossible… I…" She felt a hand under her chin. Selphie lifted her head up and stared into Zell's emerald green eyes.
"You don't have to, Selphie…" Without resisting, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her as tightly as he could. This time…he wasn't letting go. "You don't have to…" he whispered.
Selphie closed her eyes. So this is what it felt like to be in love. His embrace was warm, comforting and…loving. "Zell…I love you too…" she whispered back.
Zell didn't react. He wasn't shocked. He wasn't scared by her words. He was just…relieved that she felt the same way. He didn't care that he was getting wet from the harsh rain blowing towards them because of the wind, or the fact that Selphie was wet.
"SELPHIE!" Both of them were startled by the sound of Aunt Vanessa's voice. "MY GOD! What on earth-!?" Suddenly, they were pulled apart. Selphie was being dragged by Zell's Aunt into the downstairs bathroom, while Zell stood there, slowly closing the door behind him and listening to his Aunt's motherly words.
After a few minutes, Selphie came out of the bathroom, warm, dry and newly clothes with Vanessa's old clothes that she used to wear when she was young. For some reason, Zell's Aunt kept all her old clothes and keeps them safely stored in the cupboard underneath the stairs. 'It's a little habit of hers,' his Uncle told him once when he asked about it. "What were you doing outside in the rain, anyway, Selphie?" He could hear his Aunt's voice as they strolled back to the kitchen where Zell was wearily waiting for Selphie to come back.
Selphie blushed and laughed. "Oh, I forgot to tell Zell something important so I thought it couldn't wait until tomorrow."
"Now, what could be so important that you would risk your health for?" Vanessa asked, looking at Selphie.
Both of the teenagers blushed. Isabelle laughed, pointing at the red marks on her cousin's and Selphie's face.
"Nessa, I don't think it's our business what these kids do," Uncle Charlie retorted, looking down at his checkbook. Looking at the checkbook was Zell's Uncle's habit, another eccentric thing his adopted parents do when they weren't working.
Zell glanced at his Uncle and met eye to eye with him, as if telling him 'thank you' for covering for them. He glanced at Selphie and smiled. Selphie smiled back, looking back down at her food. He could tell she was trying to hide the blush that was starting to creep on her cheeks. Zell loved that about her. Why hadn't he realized it before? Why hadn't he realized it sooner that he dearly loved his best friend?
Selphie suddenly stood up. "I think I should call my parents. They must be wondering where I went…" She left the kitchen and headed for the living room where the phone was.
"Isabelle!" Zell looked down. Vanessa was starting to wipe something her daughter spilled on the floor. The blond glanced up at his Uncle, who was now too busy to look at him, or the mess his daughter was making, so Zell took this opportunity to leave the dining room quietly and head for the living room where Selphie was.
When he got there, Selphie had already hung up the phone, telling him that she was finished with the phone call. She smiled when she saw him there. "So, what did they say?" he asked suddenly for no reason.
Selphie smiled, shrugging. "They weren't mad. I could hear my dad yelling in the background though…"
Zell's eyes widened. "He was mad?"
She laughed. "No, he was just worried about me. My dad never gets mad that easily towards me except…" It looked as though she was going to say something, but decided to shrug it off with another laugh. "I guess we better get back to the kitchen!" She walked pass him, but Zell grabbed her arm gently and slowly turned her around to face him.
"What does this mean?" Zell stared into her green eyes.
"What does what mean?" Selphie asked, looking at him confusingly.
He took a deep breath. "Us…"
Selphie looked away. "I…I don't know…" She looked back at him again, this time, a real genuine smile. "Maybe a date can confirm that?"
Zell smiled, nodding his head. "A date, huh? Is that what you want?"
"Well…yeah, I think so. It's important isn't it?" She grabbed his hand. "Come on, we better get back or else Vanessa and Charlie will be suspicious about what we're up to!" She pulled him back towards the kitchen, but they were suddenly interrupted when the phone rang around the house.
They stopped in their tracks and in unison, turned to look at the phone. Selphie let go of Zell's hand, letting him answer the phone. After one more ring, Zell picked up the phone and pressed it against his ear. "Hello?" Selphie watched as he listened to what the other person was saying on the other line. There was definite worry on his face. "Okay, calm down…" He looked up; pass Selphie at the kitchen, where his Aunt and Uncle were eating. Selphie knew that Zell didn't want his Aunt and Uncle to know who was on the phone. "Yeah… I'll be there." He put the phone down and looked at her.
"Who was that?"
Zell didn't answer, instead, he walked passed her and headed for the kitchen. "Aunt Vanessa? Uncle Charlie? I have to go somewhere quickly, okay?"
Vanessa looked up from cleaning the mess on the floor. "Where are you going?"
Zell didn't know how to answer, until Selphie stepped beside him. "Zell and I are going to watch movies, is that all right?" She grabbed his arm and began dragging him, until Uncle Charlie's voice boomed, stopping them on their tracks.
"Zell, you do remember that you're grounded?"
The blond nodded. He looked over his shoulder at his Uncle. "Can I go this once, Uncle? Someone needs my help?"
"Help? Who needs help? Is there an emergency?"
"No, Aunt Vanessa…" He really had to go. No longer able to hold the frustration, he turned and began walking away, despite his Aunt's disapproval. Zell and Selphie walked out of the house together and headed for Zell's car.
"Vanessa…" Charlie called to his wife. "Just let him go this once."
"Charlie! He's supposed to be grounded!" Vanessa said, firmly, planting both her fists on her hips.
Charlie looked up and nodded. "Yeah he is… but no matter what you say to them, they will always rebel against you."
Vanessa sighed and sat back down on her chair. "I guess you're right… But aren't we a bit too soft on the boy? I mean, he DID do something bad, which got him into school suspension!"
Her husband shrugged. "He probably had his reasons of doing it."
"That's just it, Charles! I WANT to know the reason and because of not telling me, THIS is what happens to him! A smoker! I just thought…did I raise him wrongly for him to do this?"
Charlie put down his check book and wrapped an arm around his wife. "No, you didn't raise him wrongly. You raised him into a good young man! Your sister would have been VERY proud to know that his little sister was taking good care of his son!"
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In a flash of lightning, they were there. Kent was there, being held at gunpoint by a bunch of 'suit wearing mafia wanna-bes, threatening him about something. Selphie had no idea what was going on, but she was told by Zell to stay in the car, while he himself gets out of the car to approach the men. It was dark, too dark in the alleyway for Selphie to see exactly HOW many men were there. She guessed there were about six of them altogether, but she could be wrong. But why was she bothering counting how many of them there were? She should be worried about Zell approaching them, while holding guns, while Zell had none.
"Who are YOU!?" the man holding the gun yelled at Zell as he came nearer.
Zell stopped just enough to see Kent's broken face. He stared at the man with the gun straight in the eyes. "I'm his boss," he replied, taking a glance at his friend on the ground. "If you want to get your money, you might as well put the gun down."
The man with the gun had now moved his aim towards Zell's head, yet Zell did not flinch, nor make any sound of fear. "And if I don't put the gun down?" He laughed and glanced at the man on Zell's right. "Did you hear that, Bane? He's threatening us!"
Bane let out a hoarse laugh. "I can't believe that, Romeo!"
"Then you won't get the money you're looking for. Just give him back to me and I promise you, I will have your money."
"I don't think so BOSS!" the man on Zell's right said, emphasizing the last word loudly. "With how you look, I don't think you have the balls to earn fifteen hundred dollars! Because your FRIEND here…" He grabbed Kent's shirt collar and pulled him so that he was face to face with him. "Was supposed to give us the fifteen hundred and he's a few days overdue!"
Zell glanced at Kent unbelievably. "WHAT!? You owe these guys fifteen hundred dollars!?"
Kent shrugged, smiling under his bruises. "Hey, I have to earn a living, don't I?" He received another punch in the face, adding more pain.
Zell took a step forward, but the man with the gun, Romeo, turned his gun once again towards the blond. However, something loud shot in the air. Startled, Romeo looked around, wondering where the gun had hit. "DAMMIT, YOU IDIOT!" He felt the gun being grabbed from his hand. Romeo glanced at his friend, Bane, staring at him confusingly. "What?"
"ZELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bane pointed in front of them. Romeo followed his finger, his eyes widening when he noticed the blond young man lying on the ground, blood soaking his clothes and dripping all over the ground. He noticed a young woman running to his side, but Bane just stood there, shocked beyond belief at what he had done. He never intended to shoot him. Not really. He just wanted to scare the boy.
With tears soaking her face, Selphie lifted Zell halfway in her arms and looked into his pale face. He was shot close to the heart, just above the right of his chest. Blood was still pouring from the wound and Selphie was trying to close it by putting an arm over it. "Zell! Zell, can you hear me!?" Selphie pleaded, rocking him back and forth gently. "Just hang on, okay? Please hang on!" Zell's eyes were closing now, but Selphie wouldn't let him. "Don't you dare die on me! We still have a date to go to! Your parents wouldn't want you to give up this easily!"
Zell opened his eyes again. "Maybe…maybe I'll see my parents….finally…" he spoke quietly.
"Don't say that! You can't leave me! Who am I supposed to run to when I need someone to talk to? You said you'd be there for me! Zell…please don't give up!" She buried her face in his chest and wept.
The blond looked as though he was dreaming. Was he hallucinating when he was now seeing a familiar face smiling down on him? "Mom?" A second face appeared beside his mother. "Dad?" He looked at himself. He was standing? Where was he? Everything was bright.
His mother, an angelic-faced blond floated towards him slowly. "Zell…" she spoke gently.
"Mom…" There were tears flowing down Zell's pale face. He reached out his arms towards her, but she would keep floating away from him. I'm home… "Mom? Where are you going?"
She smiled. "Zell, you still have long ways to go in your life. It's not your time yet. Don't give up, okay?"
Zell frowned, still reaching out his arms towards her, even though she was too far away. "Mom, please take me with you! I want to see you! I miss you!"
She shook her head and smiled. "Zell, I will never forgive you if you abandon Selphie…remember that…" Then, she disappeared into the bright light.
Before he had a chance to figure out where he was, Zell was being pulled back. Back? Where? Where was he going? What was happening?
He could hear voices now.
A beeping sound.
Something was beeping around him. It was just too familiar. He's heard it before. In the hospital…where his parents were being 'rescued.'
"We're losing him!" a voice yelled from nowhere.
"Hello?" he called.
There was another beeping sound.
This time…longer…
"AGAIN!" the second voice was louder and firmer.
He could hear a loud 'thump!' Zell could feel his heart pounding. He placed a hand on his heart where he was supposedly shot, but it was absent. Where was it? Wasn't he shot? Is he dead?
"Sir, we lost him…" a woman's voice croaked gently.
'Zell, I will never forgive you if you abandon Selphie…' he could hear his mother say over and over again. She was right. It wasn't his time yet. He couldn't leave Selphie behind. "SELPHIE!!!!" he yelled as loud as he could.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"We got a pulse!" the first voice said.
Zell could feel his heart pounding louder than ever before.
Then, he was pulled back again, but this time…
The blond opened his eyes slowly. He could hear murmurs all around him. One of them, he recognized as… "Selphie…"he croaked.
The recognizable one approached him slowly. "Zell?" He couldn't tell whether she was crying or not, but he was glad she could touch and feel him again. Selphie smiled and collapsed suddenly that he was startled. "ZELL!"
She cried.
Despite her weight, however, Zell held her tighter in his arms.
GoodGurl: Aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwww a happy ending!!!!!!! ^^ you like? Of course you do! You have to! LOL! Well, stay tuned for the next chapter! ;)