Selphie Kinneas

Roses

The Sniper's Rose

Chapter Nine-Winter Break

Irvine continued to comfort Selphie. Selphie sat straight finally. She wiped her remaining tears and stood.

"Thanks a lot for listening." She whispered. Irvine stroked Selphie's hair.

"No problem Sefie."

The next morning

Irvine sat wake on his bed. The wind blew in through the miniature window. He remembered the last time he went to Trabia…he was on a mission to go assassinate a Galbadian representative. Two bodyguards pulled him to have an alley fight. The two didn't stand a chance no matter how fast they dodged, but an innocent…there was a car that passed. With a lady inside. Did I kill Selphie's mom? Irvine shook his head. It could have been someone else. The guards had poor aims, maybe they hit the innocent.

"Yo Davinsen!" Zell called from outside. Irvine Slowly stood and made his way out his room. Zell was gathering his items for class.

"So where were you last night? You and your chick disappeared." Zell said slyly. Irvine squinted his eyes in disgust then laughed.

"Yeah Zell, we went and got drunk, landed in jail and made out. Is that what you want to hear?" Irvine said seriously after he stopped his chuckles.

"Dang man…I knew you were kinda outgoing but you DID ALL OF THAT!?" Zell exclaimed in awe. Irvine slapped his forehead. Part of him hoped he was joking.

Selphie waited impatiently for Instructor Elijah to start class. Irvine came two minutes before the bell and sat himself beside Selphie. Selphie slipped a sheet of paper towards Irvine. Irvine looked down at it.

Can we keep last night a secret? Between you and me?

Irvine nodded as he placed to paper away. Selphie smiled happily as she listened to the Instructor.

"Turn your books to page 432 please, we'll be studying the Sorceress War now. Well apparently most of you were children when this took place. Sorceress Adel had everyone under her power. Most everyone that is, some insisted they could stop her!"

Irvine listened to the continuous mumbling. The only he even like this class was because Selphie was in it. His real favorite was Training Skills Of Fight. Selphie looked rather…depressed though. Irvine remembered his thoughts last night.

Am I really going to try to head to Trabia? Winter Break is only two weeks away. I have to decide quickly. What if Selphie doesn't want to go? Irvine gazed at Selphie, who was listening intensively to the class. All she has to do is say no. My pay is garden is the lowest I've seen, but my pay as a mercenary for G-AERO, is very generous. All I have to do is get some tickets and ask her. Okay, I'll ask her tonight at dinner. I'll get the tickets during lunch.

"Mr. Davinsen, can you tell me what city in the Centra was destroyed during the war?" Instructor Elijah asked as he passed Irvine who was dazed within his thoughts. Irvine pulled his head up, he didn't have to pay attention to know this answer. My hometown… that's the one that was destroyed it was called…

"Cannyal" Irvine replied slowly. Selphie squinted her eyes. Irvine was paying attention? Irvine turned his head in disappointment.

The place I saw with my parents…was Cannyal. When the town was destroyed, they died too. I was sent me to another run-down town to my uncle. That's when I saw the orphanage.

"Irvine?" Selphie whispered tapping him softly. Irvine blinked several times and smiled. "You okay?"

"Of course Sef, I always am!" He said with a bright smile.

At lunch

"Hey Selphie." Rinoa smiled as she pulled out a chair for herself. Selphie waved sweetly.

"Hi Rinny." She pulled her food closer to her as she began to eat. Rinoa pulled out a small photo.

"Look! The festival picture previews came out today!" She handed Selphie the photo.

Rinoa being photogenic looked beautiful and shimmering with her head rested gracefully on Squall's chest with one arm across her waist and the other loosely hanging aside Squall's free arm. Selphie bit her lip, she never took a picture with Irvine. It was like Irvine was photophobic. The only picture was the one Squall had taken.

"You look great." Selphie said truthfully. In the distance a familiar person approached the table.

"Hey Selphie," he said as he turned his head to the other girl, "Rinoa." Rinoa raised her eyebrows.

"Hi there Irvine."

"Yeah…so like Rin can I have a sec with Selphie?" Rinoa nodded as she stood and left. Irvine sat down and smiled childishly. "Selphie I was going to tell you at dinner, but man it couldn't wait!"

"What is it Irvy?" Selphie asked a bit impatiently. Irvine slyly slipped his fingers in his pocket and pulled out two thin train tickets.

"Two tickets to go to Trabia this winter break…"

"Irvine…do you mean?" Selphie began. Irvine nodded as Selphie's excitement rose. Selphie screamed as she jumped into Irvine's arms. "THANK YOU IRVY! YOU'RE THE BEST!" She wrapped her arms around Irvine's neck. The cafeteria went quiet for a moment and stared at the duo. Selphie looked around fell embarrassed. She quietly tiptoed through the doors with Irvine following her calmly.

Once Selphie had exited the room she hugged Irvine again and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Thank you so much Irvine…you don't know how much this means to me." She whispered in a small tone she had never once spoke in before. Irvine patted the back of Selphie's head as he desired to yell his joy to be with her. But he kept his mouth closed as Selphie hopped away.

If only I was Irvine Davinsen Selphie…I could enjoy this more. I'm not who you think I am. If only you I knew my name.

Selphie skipped merrily down the empty halls whistling a happy tune.

"Good afternoon Ms. Tilmitt." The headmaster Cid greeted as he passed her.

"Oh! Afternoon Sir." She replied with a salute.

"Shouldn't you be studying right now?"

"Studying?" Selphie asked blankly not realizing classes were still in session.

"Yes, in fact I think instead of jumping up and down you should start preparing for the mid-year exams."

"Erm, sorry sir." Selphie answered giving a small bow.

Once the Headmaster had disappeared through one of the halls, Selphie continue to hop like a snow bunny and trotted to her dormitory.

Irvine quietly looked down at the train tickets. Is this really a smart thing to do? I might put Selphie in danger if I'm caught. Who's gonna get me? I have clear files as long as I use the name Irvine Davinsen. Why do I have to use it…? At least Selphie calls me by my name Irvine, I would hate myself if my name was like Will Davinsen or something.

"She left looking pretty happy Irvine." Irvine raised his head to his blonde instructor.

"Yeah, I hope she is at least." He replied. Quistis sat herself beside him quietly. "Can I help you, Instructor?"

"I was hoping for a chat, but maybe that seems out of the question." She answered.

"Am I doing bad in class or something?"

"No, but I'm not just an instructor, I'm Quistis Trepe. I'm probably only a year or so older than you."

"And?"

"Keep the title 'instructor' strictly for class. That's all." Quistis finished as she stood silently.

"Wait, you don't have to go." Irvine called. Quistis turned around to the reply. "Sorry, I'm not used to knowing an acquaintance whose taught by their girlfriend."

"(Chuckle) Seems like you're the only who believes so. I just thought we could be friends, you've coming here for some time and since you know Seifer and all… so what do you say." Irvine shrugged. Quistis grinned happily, "Friends Irvine Davinsen?" She asked as he stretched out her hand. Irvine shook it kindly.

You're not friends with me, you're friends with an imaginary person. Why does society punish me like this?

Exams Day (1 and a half weeks later)

"Okay everyone, the mid-year exams are today. And for most of you SeeDs, if you do not pass this, it'll be an extra year in garden. Now count next year, this year, and an extra year that'd three more years in Balamb. So I suggest you work your brains out." Instructor Linra lectured as she passed around thick paper packets. "And now please open the test booklet and you may begin."

Selphie opened the packet as she observed the first question. The following are all Lightningguardians but… (A) Ixion (B) Ramuh (C) Phoenix (D) Quezacotl. Selphie bit the tip of her pencil, she remembered Zell showing off his G.F. once, Doomtrain nearly ran them over scaring her half to death and causing her to have insomnia for the next few nights. The other one he had was a big bird that spat thunder and lightning, Quezacotl. Mark one down. She continued through the question till she found the answer 'c', shows how much she knew.

Squall seemed to have a harder time though, spending most of his time with Irvine Kinneas information didn't help. Though he was struggling a bit, wait a minute no A LOT, he made it through the test.

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!" Instructor Linra, who had been pacing the room the whole time, stood in front of the class. "Alright pencils down, close your test booklets and pass it down." After the tests were collected everyone emerged from the classroom restlessly. Numerous mumbles along the lines of, "Man that was hard!" or "Those tests have no mercy." Were heard numerously. The day was young, and every SeeD, and every regular student, had taken the first exam of the day. After second period, the six friends joined each other at lunch.

"Man I thought I'd never finish!" Seifer complained. He'd just finished his Monsters & Magics exam, and his History exam.

"I know what you mean, history was the most boring thing I've ever had the displeasure of reading!" Rinoa moaned as she massaged her temples. The other three gave their opinions before Quistis spoke up.

"You all do know, I work with those makers of the tests right?" She inquired. Selphie threw a dirty look of envy at her.

"You don't have to take the exams do you Quistis?!" Quistis gave a small chuckle.

"On the contrary, I do. I had to make the test and the answer key. And over that, I have to grade every single one of your tests. That's much more of a burden."

The SeeDs quieted down and thought of something to get their minds off of the exams for tomorrow.

"I say we go tot a dance club and PAH-TAY!" Zell exclaimed. There were a few murmurs of agreement,

"How about we go fishing." Rinoa shrugged trying hard not to do anything drastic. No one said a word.

"The dancing club it is!" Zell said with a childish grin.

"I say we study." Amy's voice had entered the conversation as she advanced near to the table the six were sitting at. Everyone groaned at the thought of opening a text book.

"No way! We just got out of class, we need a break." Irvine argued.

"I must say though, it is the exams. I have plenty of work to do before the winter break. Maybe we should just work and study tonight." Quistis defended.

"Lightened up Quisty. We're all going to have fun tonight. I'm gonna choose where." Seifer said with a smirk.

That night

"So where are we going Seifer?" Squall asked as the gang followed Seifer out of Balamb Garden.

"Take a chill pill hurricane." Seifer replied bitterly.

Seifer led them past the grassy hills and the entrance of Balamb town. Everyone tiredly followed. The moonlight sparkled. The air was fresh and clean as the friends stopped at the beach.

"We'll have a beach party!" He said as she rushed into the sand. Everyone exchanged glances. "C'mon! If you just stand there, we'll never be able to have a little fun!"

It wasn't long before everyone started to enjoy him or herself. Zell brought along his boom box giving everyone a chance to have a dance too. By 11:15, they had tired themselves.

"Let's head back." Selphie quietly said with a yawn. Everyone at the time as sprawled on the sand breathing heavily, too exhausted to get up.

"Yeah, c'mon. I'll never hear the end of it from the headmaster I get locked out." Quistis agreed.

"YOU!? WHAT ABOUT US?!" Zell exclaimed.

"Calm down Dintch, we're leavin." Squall muttered aggregately.

The next day, after the exams

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WINTER BREAK!"

In every hallway, every corridor, and room there was at least one person cheering of the end of the mid-year exams. Anyone who wasn't celebrating, or getting drunk, was packing up for the winter break. This includes the gang. Rinoa was going home to Deling City for Christmas. Squall was going to Esther to his parent's home as well. That was the same for Zell who was only going a miles away to Balamb. Seifer, Fujin, and Rajin lived in Deling City along with Rinoa. That left Quistis, who had her family in Winhill. Well, don't worry Irvine and Selphie are still are going to Trabia, so stop worrying!

So let's take a look at Irvine and Zell, they're in their dorm acting idle, or maybe they're packing. Let's see.

"So where you goin Irvine?" Zell questioned lazily as she laid sprawled over a chair.

"Trabia." Irvine replied quietly as he placed a warm set of clothing in a suitcase. (One out of Two, pretty good.) Zell shrugged.

"Oh, I think Amy is going der too."

"Neat…(cough) not."

"Whadya say?"

"Nothin."

Irvine snapped his suitcase closed. He sat on his bed wearily as he gazed over at Zell. You'll have it easy in life Zell…you'll get out of here, get a good job, get married, and have lots of kids. I can never be as fortunate as you. I'll never have a special someone I can live with for the rest of my life. Who'll live with a murder like me? Who can love a murder?

The next morning

Selphie met Irvine at the train station at 10. Not surprisingly, Rinoa, Squall, Amy, Seifer, and Quistis were there too. All of them had different tickets to different places. Irvine smiled as Selphie approached him.

"Our train is about to leave." Irvine whispered coolly in her ear. Selphie grinned as she hugged him tightly.

"I'm ready to go." She replied. The two waved goodbye to their friends as the advanced into their train.

Five minutes later, Irvine had found a compartment, placed their luggage away safely, and had himself and Selphie comfortable. Selphie sat across from Irvine, unintentionally, she smiled her widest grin. It wasn't that she wasn't happy, she was obviously, but her cheeks slowly began to ache. The speakers gave a small beep as the conductor came onto the air. "Everyone please secure yourselves and your luggage, we will be heading to Alanta, Trabia now." The intercom beeped again as the train gave a small jerk and started to gain speed. From the window, the rest of the SeeD gang became foggier and foggier, soon the figures had disappeared completely. The compartment door slid open as Amy crawled in.

"Heya." She greeted herself as she comfortably sat down. Selphie gave an inaudible groan as Irvine bowed his head politely.

"Hi Amy, what are you doing here?" He asked bluntly.

"Er… sitting with my friends of course." She answered nervously realizing she wasn't really wanted. "Y'know, I saw some library committee girls I'm going to sit with." With that, she exited the compartment with her pigtail bouncing back and forth.

"At least she got the picture." Selphie sighed. Irvine gazed at Selphie. Her eyes fell close as her agile body fell softly on the seat. You're beautiful Selphie… he pulled off his caramel trench coat he hadn't worn since he had arrived to Balamb off. Slowly he draped it on Selphie's sleeping bodice. Selphie shook as she gripped the coat closer to her. She breathed gently as one eye opened. "Irvy?" She asked wearily in a tone that sounded as if she had been sleeping for many hours.

"Yeah Selp?" Irvine replied.

"…I…lo…" Her eyes slowly shut again. Irvine sat down again, confused. He knew some comrades who couldn't stand awake on a train for more than a minute. He sighed, Selphie is just like that. His eyes slipped and fell on her. …? Do I love Selphie?

Hours passed quickly as the train window scenes changed from morning, to noon, to sunset, to night. The train started to slow down near 7:00 in the evening. With a loud screech, the train had fully stopped. The train jolted causing Selphie to wake suddenly.

"Whoa… we there Irvy?" Selphie asked awkwardly. Irvine nodded with a smile.

"Sure are Sefie."

Ten minutes later

Alanta was a crowded city with layers and layers of thick white blankets of snow toppled on ceilings, cars, and empty spaces on the road. The cars beeped and horned making Alanta sound very much like a bustling town. From what Selphie had said, Alanta was just a empty city where there were few shops and many neighborhoods. Alanta was Selphie's hometown.

(Oh sorry… I know in the game Trabia is just a city. I found that kinda dumb. I thought it would be cooler if it was like a country with cites and stuff like that.)

"Please don't tell me we'll be camping here." Irvine commented dumbly.

"Course' not silly! The campsite is warm all year round, it's about two hours away if we take the bus." Selphie explained.

"Erm, okay as long as we don't stay here and freeze to death." Irvine said with a small shiver.

(I'm not writing what they do for two hours on the bus, so use your imagination, well at least if you have one. We're skipping straight to the campsite.)

The campsite, as Selphie had said, was warm all year round. But that was during the day only. The nights were brisk and cool with strong winds. The site went on for miles and miles. Only a few people had their camp set near the entrance. Their was a small building which allowed you to rent land for camping, and rent camping supplies if you didn't have any. Slowly Selphie led Irvine to her favorite acre, the acre by the beach.

"It's so nice Irvine! Even though it's cold during the nights, you feel so nice on the soft sand!" Selphie pranced around nearly dropping her possessions.

"Whoa Sef, I get the picture." Irvine said as he stopped her from tipping over her legs.

"Irvine!" Selphie screamed as she pointed into the distance. "That's were I stayed with my mom and dad every winter!" She raced ahead of him and stopped abruptly. "No…" She said inaudibly.

"Hey what's wrong?" Irvine asked as he laid his arm over shoulder. Selphie crouched on her knees.

"That's… my dad over there with my step-mom and step-siblings." She began as her voice began to break, "They're all there without me."

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