Disclaimer: I do not own anything that relates to FFVIII. Sueing me is pointless. I don't have much money and I'm not earning any writing this fic either. So just read the fic and if it doesn't suit your fancy, then stop.

- Angel -

- Chapter one: The Mission -

He shook his head. He wished it was over, that he could get it off his mind. That he could leave. But he knew he never would.

He turned when he heard the only one left call his name.

His time was up. Here, in this room, with it's little barred window, it would end.

- - -

Zell yawned. It was time for lunch but his instructor was still keeping them here. Suddenly the door burst open, it was Irvine. The instructor looked up.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I'm here for Zell, er mister Dincht. The Headmaster wants him. Oh and Selphie too."

Zell stood up, glad to be able to get out this stuffy classroom. Selphie, who occupied the seat next to him, gathered her notes and followed her boyfriend outside.

Zell quickly grabbed his bag but the seam tore and all his stuff fell out. The instructor was impatiently tapping his fingers on his desk. Zell bent down and gathered everything in his hands, his face beet red.

He could hear the class laugh when he stumbled out the door.

Selphie and Irvine were nowhere in sight. He sighed and walked slowly to the Headmasters office. He knew Cid hated it when people were late, but he didn't pick up his pace.

He sauntered slowly through the corridor and only halted when he saw the elevator come into sight, he didn't really want to go up there. The only reason he was ever called up to that office was when he'd gotten into trouble or when he would receive a new mission.

'But Selphie was called up too...' he thought

That probably meant a new mission. Selphie had never been called up because she had gotten into trouble. She just never got into trouble.

The elevator took him up to the third floor. He could hear some voices inside.

'Should I knock?'

But he didn't bother. He opened the door and was greeted by the faces of all his friends.

'Wow.' He thought. 'All of them...'

"Glad you decided to join us, Zell." Cid said with a hint of sarcasm. "Now, as I was saying, you will be expected to put all your training and expertise to use. You will be received by a man called Dane O'kara. He will tell you more and he will be your host."

The others nodded.

"Er...sir? I didn't hear the whole thing. What are we supposed to do...and where?" Zell asked, mentally kicking himself for his stalling downstairs.

Suddenly a clear voice sounded through the room. He turned around and saw Quistis, how could he not have noticed her? Normally a shiver went down his spine whenever he was merely in her presence.

He kicked himself again when he noticed that she had finished explaining the mission and he hadn't been paying attention. He had to think of something to say.

"...eh?" was all he could muster.

Irvine grinned. "Quit drooling and pay attention next time, Zelly-boy."

Zell's face went red but he denied it. "Stop it! I hate it when you talk like that. It's not true, alright? Not trrue!"

He could see Selhie kick Irvine in his shins, good old Selphie. She was never mean to him, Irvine always was. Oh, Zell knew Irvine didn't mean to be mean. It was just his way of doing things. It was still annoying though.

"We don't know that much either Zell." Selphie told him patiently. "All we know is that we leave tonight, that we're supposed to go to that man, Dane O'kara and that we'll hear more once we get there."

Cid cleared his throat. "Now, I'm sure you need to do some packing...Squall...if you'd stay behind please, I'll tell you the location and how to get there. Oh, Quistis, you stay too."

Squall nodded. All the others made their way outside. Selphie pecked Irvine's cheek and whispered something in his ear. She had to stand on tip-toe to do so.

"Aw, sorry Seffie. No can do. I've got some important stuff left to do before we leave."

Selphie looked disapointed, but her face brightened after a moment or two.

"Okay, see you at dinner then."

He kissed her and walked away. Selphie turned to Zell and smiled at him.

"I'll help you pack then. I know how sloppy you can be. You'd forget your head if it wasn't stuck to your torso."

He pretended to be offended. "I? Sloppy? Whatever do you think of me?"

But he smiled. He was looking forward to see her reaction the moment she opened the door to his room. And he didn't have to wait long.

"Zelly Dincht!"

He smiled at hearing the nickname only she ever used. She had made it up during one of their missions together. It had been a small mission. Guarding the twin daughters of the mayor of Fisherman's Horizon after he'd received some hatemail.

The kids had found it difficult to remember his name and Selphie had made up 'Zelly' to make it easier for them. Now he thought about it, 'Zelly' sounded really stupid. If someone else ever called him 'Zelly' he'd knock them out. But Selphie...Selphie could call him Zelly. Because it made them both laugh. And because Selphie was like his own little sister.

He focused on the here and now again. Selphie was going through his things, plowing a way through the clothes, dust and junk on the floor.

"I mean...really Zell, this is really...well, just terrible."

He grinned. "Yeah, I know."

"That's not funny, Zelly." She said, stressing the last word.

But she was smiling too. Somewhere in the depths of his closet he managed to find a suitcase. It still had some clothes in it, all neatly folded and a little bag of lavender was hidden between two of his shirts. He looked at it, puzzled. But then he realised what it was and how it had gotten there.

"I thought you didn't do that anymore." He said.

"Sorry, couldn't resist."

She looked around and grabbed his sleeping clothes. She thrust them in his arms and continued her search for other things he'd need.

She walked over to his closet and peered inside. A little piece of paper was on the back wall of it. It was a photograph.

"I thought...you didn't have that anymore. I thought you had thrown it away."

"I tried...but I couldn't."

"You know you could just tell her."

He shook his head violently. "No. She'd never look at me again."

"Oh Zell...you know Quistis isn't like that. Tell her."

He hesitated. Maybe...maybe he should. It was better to get it off his chest. But what if she would hate him for it. Or what if she could never look at him again, afraid that she would hurt him. That would be even more terrible.

He turned around to look at Selphie for advice. But all she did was stare at him blankly. He understood it was his problem and he had to solve it alone.

"Alright."

Her face brightened. "You'll do it?"

He nodded.

"Good."

He didn't move though.

"Aren't you going to tell her straight away?"

"Should I? Can't I...wait just a few days?"

"No! You'll back out of it again. You go and find her right now." She gave him a nudge in the direction of the door.

He sighed and took a deep breath. He walked outside and felt Selphie's eyes burn in his back. He could just pretend to go on a search for Quistis. Then again, he couldn't.

The sigh and the deep breath had been his promise that he'd really do it. He had never broken a promise to Selphie, so all there was left to do was look for Quistis and tell her the truth.

'Where could she be...'

Knowing Quistis she'd probably be training or reading some job literature. He thought deeply. It was a Thursday today and Quistis never trained on a Thursday. Reading then. But where? Either in the garden of in the library.

He decided to check the library first. With heavy steps Zell walked to the library. Before he entered he noticed a flowerpot. He carefully selected the prettiest violet and picked it.

Again he took a deep breath and stepped through the door. He felt stupid, walking through the library with a single flower in his hand. Why was he doing this again?

He looked around, searching for Quitis' blond head and ignored the stairs he knew he was getting. He was about to turn around and leave when he saw familiar black hair. It was Rinoa. She was sitting with her back to him. He wanted to wave and call her name, but he didn't.

Irvine was there too. Also with his back to Zell. Irvine was grinning and whispered something in Rinoa's ear, who giggled in response. Something wasn't right. Irvine leaned towards Rinoa and she kissed him. Zell's brain was slowly processing what he was seeing.

Irvine and Rinoa were kissing.

Zell dropped the flower and backed out the door, but he tripped over a stool and fell down with a loud crash.

Irvine and Rinoa looked up. Zell could hear Irvine mutter "Oh shit" but didn't give them time to get up and reach him. He just ran.

He ran and ran until he reached his room. Selphie wasn't there anymore. But she had cleaned his room, packed his bag and a little note was on his desk.

Hey Zell,
I packed the rest of your things.
I had to go, but I hope you found
Quistis. See you at dinner,
Selphie.

He sat down in his chair, his head in his hands. Selphie. How could Irvine do that to such a sweet girl? How could Rinoa do this to Squall? How could they!

And now, he knew about it too. He should tell Selphie, he knew he should. But could he? He normally didn't have secrets from Selphie. But this wasn't a normal situation. If he told her, her whole happiness would be ruined. Zell didn't want her to be sad, so he made up his mind.

First he'd talk to Irvine. He'd confront Irvine and Rinoa with this and then he'd decide what to do next.

'Poor Selphie.' He thought. 'I never thought Irvine was such an asshole.'

He slammed his fist down on the table. He sat there, not moving, not making a sound. He started when the alarm clock went off. Dinnertime.

He'd have to face Irvine and Rinoa now. But far worse was that he'd have to face Selphie. This was the first time he wouldn't be able to tell her something. The first time he'd have to lie to her. For Irvine. And he hated him for it.

Well, that was the first chapter. I hope you liked it. I'd like to thank Dark Angels for doing the beta-work on this chapter. gives cookie

Oh and yes, the little bit at the beginning is a flash forward, to the end of the fic. Hope that caught your attention a bit ;)

Well, I hope to get a lot of reviews because the next chapter is ready to be posted as well!

-raven55