Chapter 11
Fist Move
It was still early morning when Selphie came busting in to Cid's office.
"Ahhhh…..Good morning Selphie, what can I help you with?" Cid amiably said as he saw Selphie's ecstatic expression on her face while coming in. He knew right then that it was something he had been longing for to hear.
"Good morning Headmaster!!!! I came here for the Talent Show we're suppose to plan." The vivacious petite said with sparking eyes to her ever-submissive Headmaster.
"Oh good, just as I expected. So what do you intend to do regarding the Talent Show this year?"
"Headmaster, I have a proposal to make."
Hearing this, the Headmaster grew in interest and drew his ears closer to the vociferous SeeD standing in front of him. "Oh really? Well then, let's hear it."
Seeing Cid's curiosity in her plan, she came closer to his ears and whispered to play along. "I've been thinking for sometime now, our little Talent Show isn't working out very well, so I thought we might have a Garden Play instead."
Cid's ears grew larger in amazement and his brows raised in flattered thought. "So what you're saying is…..?"
"We celebrate the November Annual Festival through a STAGE PLAY!!!"
"Hmmmm…….interesting…..what do you plan to make of it?" Cid curiously asked rubbing is chin, deep in thought.
"I plan on making a script for the play and direct it myself. This way everyone should cooperate and there will be no competition, no strife, just nice clean fun for the actors and crew for the play."
Noticing the words 'nice-clean-fun' Headmaster Cid complied with her words. "Not a bad thought, not a bad thought at all. Tell me when you'll be needing something, I'll be more than willing to help."
Hearing the offer, Selphie took the opportunity without doubts of thinking. "Alrighty….. I'll be needing some founds for the costumes, props, lighting and all those other stuff that needs to be paid. I'll also need full reservation of the Quad for everyday practices. Permission to stay after hours, cause you know….." Selphie paused as she saw Cid looked at her sternly when she said 'permission to stay after hours' so to distract him, she gave Cid a big beaming smile but her sweat was more noticeable than her grin, so she decided to continue instead. "Ehem….I also need full control over the Quad and the facilities. Power to use the bulletin board for announcement and auditions, and of course a little help from Balamb Garden's ever-unflappable Headmaster to help find me the perfect casts for my play."
After Selphie's daring favors to the Headmaster, silence filled the room for some vital resolutions.
"…I can't seem to find a reason to militate you plans…very well, you got what you came for. But I gave credence to you because I know you are not going to misuse the power I have granted you." Cid warned in conclusion.
"REALLY!? BOOYAKA!!! I promise, you won't regret this." The now stimulated Selphie approved in agreement.
When the 'Selphie's Contract' was signed, she excitedly bounced around. But when she was about to exit the office, her delight ceased down in exchange of a more skeptical expression. There she stood in doorway bowing down her head, and her palm was clasped into a fist. Her unusual silence got Cid worried, at the same time frightened by the diminutive SeeD. The Garden knows how Selphie can get so friendly and get along nicely with everyone, but once you do something wrong to her, she becomes hostile and intrepid that she would get so ingenuous which could usually result to a deep embarrassment and frustration to the one she's against.
As Cid was able to gather enough courage to ask Selphie if what was bothering her, she turned back at him with scintillating eyes. The stunned Headmaster of Balamb Garden looked at her with eyes wide open. Then all of the sudden, she came rushing into his table, kneeled in front of him and begged.
"Headmaster, please please please please please please please please please please please please please!!!!"
Cid was dumbstruck by Selphie's pleading.
"Selphie, I don't understand, what is wrong with you?"
"How can you do this to me!? How can you not tell me!?" She said in an astute tone causing Cid to fret.
"What are you talking about?"
"Why did you gave Zell the order to spy on Seifer and Quistis on their date!?"
Then it became clear to him. He asked Zell to spy on the couple on their first date to know if Seifer does the things that he was told to do. But another question stroked his mind, how did she know?
"How did you get to know this?" Cid curiously asked.
"Here in Balamb, nothing is a secret to me, but I had to bribe Zell with over forty hotdogs just to speak. It caused me a lot you know. But that's not what I want to talk about, I want to have the permission to go with him on his spy mission."
"No Selphie, one is enough. I know at how interested you are on the task, but I just can't allow you to go."
"Please?"
"No"
"Please?"
"No"
"pLeAsE?
"nO"
"PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"NO!!!"
"THEN WHY? WHY CAN'T I GO!?" Selphie exclaimed in extreme frustration.
"Because everyone in the Garden already knows that you're a spy. So if I set you out there, it will be too obvious not to be noticed. While Zell on the other hand is not mainly a spy on the Garden so it becomes less suspicious." Cid explained as verbose as possible for Selphie to understand.
"ARGH!!!!!! SO? I can hide in many places!" She reasoned out.
"But you'll be spying at two of the Garden's most experienced and potent fighters, you can't get unnoticed."
"BUT HEADMASTER PLEASE!!!!! I MUST I MUST I MUST!"
"No Selphie, I give you strict orders not to peruse on this mission."
"But---"
"Discussion over, now you are dismissed, you may now leave." Cid said in a demanding tone while looking at her with his sharp eyes.
"ARGH!!!! ARGH!!!! ARGH!!!!"
As her fierce anger aroused, she exited the office pouting and stomping her foot at every corner of the hall.
Meanwhile, Seifer was jittering outside of the Library thinking about how to ask Quistis out. The day after tomorrow they will be leaving for their preparation test and he still hasn't asked Quistis out as Cid told him. Cid warned him that if he couldn't fulfill his task, it would greatly affect his grades on becoming a SeeD, leaving Seifer with no other option.
Quistis was inside the library busy speaking with other SeeDs who were taking down notes and interviewing her for their assignment. Everyone was getting her attention giving Seifer a hard time to ask her the question. So Seifer took time in thinking about the situation and what could be done.
On the other hand, Zell was in his usual spot practicing his punches. He noticed Seifer's change in action causing him to wonder if what was Seifer up to. Several ideas came into the hyperactive blonde, was Seifer dumped? Is he in trouble? Did he mess up again? Zell's curiosity aroused and soon overcame his precaution of avoiding any misfits with Seifer again. He slowly approached his tormented friend and casually asked his question.
"Yo Sief, sup with ya?" Zell finally asked casually folding his arms.
But Seifer simply looked at him. And soon his gaze looked more eager until 'SNAP!' a scheme came into his distraught mind. And in a moment, replied to his supple friend. "Zell, buddy, I'm so glad you asked…you see I've been looking all over for you…" said Seifer smirking
Zell, getting the picture suddenly took a few steps back. "Well that's cool, but as you can see I'm rather busy and--"
"Hey, how's about doing you old pal a favor, huh?" Seifer said cutting off Zell's excuse.
Zell jumped off his feet pointing at Seifer saying: "I KNEW IT! You're up against something again aren't ya Seifer?"
"What? Me? Of course not! I'm only following an order, though you may not believe me." He explained.
"And what's giving me the thought of believing you!? I'll buy your answer, but I won't be a part of it, ANY PART OF IT!" Zell exclaimed being rather defensive.
"C'mon Zell, I really REALLY need your help." Seifer pleaded
"The only way to change my mind is through a duel." Zell challenged
Seifer knew that he'd win against Zell but also thought of the possibilities. Is either he plummeting Zell to the ground or he getting a scratch and would make himself look miserable on his first date with Quistis. The idea made him back out and thought of another great plan.
"A duel? Sounds okay, but I left my Hyperion at Balamb for polishing, so how about a bet instead?" Seifer proposed sounding so sure of himself.
"Alrighty, but I get to pick the challenge."
"Sure, no problem!"
Just then, Selphie came into view still upset of what happened back at the Headmaster's office. Seeing her, Zell was able to come up with the dare.
"Hey Seifer, I bet Selphie will speak more than three words to me."
"What the heck are you talking about?" Seifer questioned, not being able to get what his friend meant.
"It's simple really, I'll just go and greet Selphie, and I bet she'll greet back more than three words to me."
"So what you're saying is, if she replies to you more than three words, you win the bet?"
"Yup! And if she says only three words or less, you win."
"Now what are my chances on that!? Everyone pretty much knows how garrulous Selphie is." argued Seifer
"I KNOW! Wouldn't that be great!"
"Well damn you chicken-wuss! I think you ARE a CHICKEN!" Seifer exclaimed as his anger roused. Though he was a changed man, a part of being haughty and assuming still remained within him. That's why some still feared to play certain tricks on him because he has become more doughty and competent after the Sorceress War. But now that times have changed, he can control himself from being too prideful that he is able to relate with other students now. But still, once he's ticked off, he can still be very vicious like the Seifer that once existed.
"WHAT WAS THAT EX-KNIGHT!?" Zell argued with the same amount of anger and energy.
"You are a CHICKEN for being unfair!" Seifer simply replied as he held himself back from doing anything foolish to his friend again. Well yes, again….they always argued about anything under the sun that they always intertwined themselves into a fight. But people just leave them be, because they know about their relationship as some sort of a combative brotherhood.
"Fine! I'll tell her about our little bet to know whose side she's on!" Zell said settling their little controversy.
Seifer agreed. Zell advanced to Selphie with Seifer right behind him. When they were able to reach her, Zell right away told Selphie about their bet having no doubts of defeat.
"Hey Selphie, me and Seifer here are betting that if you speak to me at least four words, I get to win the bet!"
But instead of blabbering her anger towards Zell, she simply looked at him. In a brief moment, thought her words, then finally spoke. "YOU JUST LOST!" She screamed right in Zell's ear, then kicked him right in the shin and left the two blondes in confusion. Her anger was more of jealousy because she won't be able to monitor the most exciting date in the whole of Balamb Garden. She kept asking herself why did a not-so-good spy replaced her. And when she finally get to have her vengeance, she made sure that she wouldn't regret it in the end.
"Now what was that about?" Seifer questioned Zell who was slouching in pain.
"W-who knows…but she sure hit hard! Dammit!"
"Yeah, I think it did hurt, I heard the whack. She should've hit you harder though." Seifer then paused for a laugh and continued on his assert, "You know? She spoke only three words, does this mean I win?"
Zell looked at him for a while then finally spoke in a discouraging tone. "Yeah well she did…" But before he can finish his sentence, he spotted Irvine flirting at two library committee members. "You know Seifer, winning right away is quite unfair in my part, so how bout two out of three?" Zell proposed with puppy like eyes.
"Alright, since I'm a changed man, I won't mind having a second go."
"Really!? COOL! C'mon, time's wastin'." The now not-so-hyper SeeD said as he got up on his feet and walked towards Irvine and the two others.
As he walked towards them, he felt sure that Irvine would be on his side. When he reached the trio, he greeted the girls then exclaimed at Irvine stating that Selphie was in a bad mood and questioned why she was so upset. This made the girls feel uncomfortable hearing Selphie's name and worst, in a bad mood; the two to retreated to their posts. That action made Irvine cut up a nerve and Zell realize his stupidity.
"Uh—yo' Irvine…um…I was hoping you'd say at least three words to me, cause you see me and Seifer were bettin' that you'd say more than two words to me. Cause if you do, I get to win the bet."
This gave Irvine the chance to backfire, so he made sure to speak the right words. He sternly looked at Zell, then gave Seifer a slight grin.
"Seifer wins." Was Irvine's reply to the two. He gave Seifer a slight tap on the shoulder, while slapped Zell hard on the back before he left towards the Library.
"WHY DOES THE WORLD HAVE TO HATE ME SO MUCH!?" Zell exclaimed, his anger echoed throughout the halls of the Garden.
"Gee, and I was about to ask you the same question. But who cares about you right now, hey! I won again!" Seifer said holding himself from laughing at Zell's situation.
His gesture made Zell really angry and disappointed at himself. Seifer on the other hand, noticing Zell's frustration decided to give the guy a break.
"Don't worry Zell. Hey, there's Squall, why don't we give puberty boy try?" Seifer said trying his best to give Zell some sign of hope.
As Squall was walking along the lobby, Seifer approached him dragging Zell along. He knew that he already won the bet fair and square, and that's why he thought of the right words that could make Squall speak at least two words because he knew that if Zell won the round, he would still win over all. But he just wanted to instill a little pride on Zell from loosing twice consecutively to their friends.
"Hey Squall, wait up!" Seifer said in a high tone as to be heard by Squall.
Squall being observant and all, heard Seifer's calling and waited for them to catch up to him.
"Squall, listen, me and Zell were making a bet, that if you speak at least two words to me right now he'd win the bet. But if you'll just speak one word or none at all, I'll win. Uh, unusual as it seem, but try and speak at least two words to lighten up Zell's spirit." Seifer explained as brief and as clear as possible for Squall to understand.
But Squall's thought was on something else that he never had the chance to hear Seifer out. The only thing that made him snap back to reality was when Seifer waved high and hard in front of him. Being a bit stubborn and prideful himself, he never questioned Seifer to repeat his words but instead tried recalling what he heard a while ago.
(Speak one word?)…. That's the only thing that he could remember hearing.
He looked down at Zell who was frowning so hard at him, then at Seifer who was giving him an unusual grin. Then folded his arms and said "… whatever…" then left.
"ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!" Zell shouted stooping down his head lower than his waist.
"Okay, Fate is telling me that you were destined to help me." Seifer said exulting on his victory. But behind his mind said that he needed to help Zell out and thought of bribing Zell with hotdogs instead. "Alright Zell, let's forget about the bet and make up a whole new deal instead. Can I lure you to help me if I buy you some hotdogs?"
"H-HOTDOGS!!!???…..with CHILI?" Zell exclaimed in excitement as his frustration drifted away in a fraction of a second.
"Yup! I'll buy you all you want if you help me out."
This is just a thing that he could never resist. You could think of Zell about forgetting women, luxury and money… but hotdogs? Seifer knew he that he made the right decision, bribing Zell through the use of his weakness. He could clearly remember how Zell struggled to break in to the kitchen to save as much hotdogs as possible when a fire broke out from the cafeteria. He could also remember Zell staying in the infirmary for over three days because of food poisoning. He took for granted his health in exchange to eat all the contaminated hotdogs that reached their expiration date a few weeks back. (Oh yes) Seifer thought, (I really am a genius, though I could've thought of this earlier myself.) In fact, he really is, for he had the blank check which he got form Cid.
"TWO?…no…THREE!?…how bout FIVE?…no no, better yet TEN!" The agile blonde said back on his feet.
"Yes Zell, even twenty if by your will." Seifer assured
"ALRIGHT! You got my word for it! Now, what do I have ta' do?" Zell said as he jumped for joy.
"Oh, it's simple really. I don't know why I even have to put up with you through all this trouble just for a simple task. But anyway, here's the deal. I really need to speak with Quistis, but I can't get her attention because of all the people messing around. So I was thinking maybe you could go in there and be the center of attraction. You know, get everyone else's attention from Quistis and let them turn to you. Now, if you can do that, I will surly appreciate it." Seifer said as low but clear as possible to avoid anyone form hearing it.
"That's it!? For twenty flaming hotdogs? Heck, why the hell not!?" Zell confidently said as he turned away form Seifer and started walking towards the library.
But Seifer stopped him by grabbing onto his collar causing Zell to pull back and fall on his butt.
"Hey man! What was that for huh!?" Zell fiercely exclaimed shoving Seifer's arm off his collar.
"You can't just barge in there right now…I need practice." Seifer explained sounding tense.
"Of course I could---p-practice!? What do you need to practice for?" Zell surprisingly asked.
"I-I-I need to think about what to say to Quistis…so I was hoping if you would portray her for a little while."
"WHAT!? You mean act like a girl!? NO! no no no nonononononononono!!!!!" Zell said as he took a few steps back.
"Oh c'mon Zell, help me out! I really don't know what to say!" Pleaded Seifer as he looked at Zell with child like eyes.
"I already said NO, right?"
Zell's reply made Seifer thought for some drastic measures…hotdog….
"Then fine! Forget about you scrumptious and tantalizing flaming hot hotdogs!"
"WHOA?…..Argh! Damn! Hyne! Alright alright, what should I say?"
"All you need to do is answer me like how would Quistis react to certain things." He calmly clarified his earlier words.
"Tsk! Fine…but promise me one thing, this conversation never, and I mean NEVER happened!" warned Zell
"Done." Seifer replied in a jiffy.
"Because if I hear a soul talking about this, consider yourself dead Almasy, got that!?" Zell said making sure that the coast was clear and that none of their discussion could be heard.
"Yeah yeah, now come on, let's not waste time."
"Alright…ehem…ehem…Heelllllleeewwww???" Zell joked around sounding awfully like gay.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Zell, that was terrible! Try a different approach, cause if you keep that up my stomach will burst from laughter!" Seifer said cracking up into tears from what he just heard.
"Ha Ha, keep that one up and your stomach WILL burst." Zell sneered at Seifer with sharp eyes.
"Okay okay…uh…hey Quistis, I was wondering if you're free tomorrow?"
"Moi? You mean pretty ol meeee? Why yes, of course Seifer Almasy, why? You wanna date?" Zell wiggled his waist and winked at Seifer making him burst into flame.
(How dare he think of Quistis that way!? She never winks like some sort of a maniac!) Seifer thought to himself. As he was about to pound Zell into the meat grinder, he had second thoughts. (Now now Seifer, you have a job and Zell's doing you the favor, just be patient and get along with him tonight.) After stopping himself from torturing Zell, he finally spoke up once more. "…So, do you mind if we go out…let's say…maybe tomorrow?"
"With you? On a date?"
"Yeah."
"Neeewww!" Zell fooled around once more sounding like a girl.
This made Seifer really mad and cut up a nerve. He grabbed Zell on the collar, but didn't raise him, just grasped it tightly as a signal that he was pissed off.
"You are wasting my precious time, do you know that!? So forget the whole thing and just get in there and do your job!" Seifer angrily spoke up like a beast.
Zell shoved Seifer's arms off and looked at him sternly. Seifer was indeed not fooling around no more. His visible anger made Zell fear him. So Zell went straight into the library and stood in the center. He looked around for a while and saw everyone preoccupied. He suddenly placed both his arms around his belly and started to moan like a lunatic.
"OOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!! My stomach! Help me! I'm in so much pain! I'm in agony! People! I NEED HELP!" Zell exclaimed squeezing his stomach causing everyone to look.
As Seifer saw Zell's plan working, he immediately got in and looked around for Quistis. When he finally saw her, he whispered softly onto her ear saying. "…Can we talk?"
"Sure, but will Zell be alright? I mean look at him." Quistis questioned looking at Zell worried. As Zell was now rolling on the floor while like gasping for breath since he was squeezing his stomach too tight. At the same time screaming, like he's having a really excruciating pain and pounding his head against the ground like crazy.
"Oh him? Nah, don't worry about him…he'll be just fine." Approved Seifer giving Quistis a blink, then led their way out of the library.
"Seifer, did you set this up?" Quistis couldn't help but ask.
"What else can I do? I really needed to speak with you." Confessed the guilty blonde.
"Well here I am." Quistis then crossed her arms and raised her brows signaling Seifer to speak.
"Well actually…I was hoping if I could ask you out tomorrow." Seifer softly mumbled twitching his fingers.
"Huh? Why do you want go out with me?" She curiously asked
"Well I don't know…I guess I just do. You see, I happen to receive some gil and I thought why not spend it with you?"
"But why me?" She second her motion expecting a better answer.
"B-because you are like…uhhh…" Seifer couldn't think of anything else to answer, so the first thing that went in his mind, he spoke. "Cause you're like…skin and bones?…N-no! What I meant was, I wanted to have another eating session with you. Yeah! That's right! I really like to eat with you cause you're fun to eat w-with?" He finally said, and he never really expected how stupid he can get in front of a woman.
"WHAT!? What do you mean by skin and bones!?" Quistis complained at his accuse for calling her skinny.
"Uh-umm…right! I'm sorry, you're not just skin and bones, you got some muscle and fats too…what I just meant was I just really really wanna go out with you! I mean, don't get mad or turn down my offer, you should know how nervous a guy gets when he asks a woman out on a date!" His thought slipped through his mouth startling Quistis at the same time made her giggle.
"You're asking me out on a date?" She sweetly questioned to calm Seifer down, but still baffled by his remark.
"Well…sort of…so what do you say?" Seifer said finally calmed down, now that he said his word.
"What's the catch?" Quistis immediately asked as the question came into thought.
"Catch!? Of course there's on catch." Seifer affirmed
"Well, I guess it's okay…I have no plans for tomorrow anyway." She said as she gave Seifer a sweet smile.
A/N: Done at last! First of all, I wish to apologize for taking too long to update…..it's because it's Chapter 11 you know, a double digit number! And I'm really gonna miss those one digits :( And another is that I'm really taking my time into making this fanfic now cause I just wanna make sure it goes out right. And it went out right, right? I also want to give new readers to catch up so "HI NEW READERS!" waves hand at them and of course I won't forget to my faithful readers out there "HI!!!!" I love you all!!! kisses ….ehem…..
So anyway, since I've already reached this far….I was hoping I'd give you the chance to give me some of your comments and suggestions. You know, are my chapters too long, are they too short? I need to be more descriptive on my fanfic….or do you like it as it is? I really wanna make sure you get what you deserve, so please post in your comments …… and criticisms…..I-I can take it….
So don't forget to review cause once I'll be able to get enough suggestions, I can start and write on me next Chappie! I wanna make it hilarious at the same time romantic and adventurous. So send in a REVIEW and tell me what you think! K!? Bye-bye! ( '-' )