Cody had evidently learned how to drive a boat from his father when he was growing up. Selphie and her brother had lived by the water, so naturally they and their family were dragged into the 'sea life.' Seifer wasn't exactly thrilled about the fact that his life was at the mercy of clumsy Cody, but after a few minutes he realized that Cody knew what he was doing.
He was still on edge about Diehard being on the boat with him. Diehard seemed to be full of life and unusually pepped up for some reason, which Seifer hoped had nothing to do with him. It was also very painful for Seifer in that Diehard was usually his confidant, to whom he could tell his problems to. Now, he was basically alone with his thoughts, which Seifer detested immensely.
The sun was touching the water's surface at this point, and the water was calm. The sun reflected off the water, making a mirror effect of the sky. The water was still, making it seem like a looking glass. Selphie stood next to her brother as he navigated the small boat that was built for seven. Her hair, pulled into two messy pigtails, shone gold in the sun. She looked at Seifer, who was sitting in the front of the boat with Diehard.
"Isn't this great?" Selphie said over the wind that was blowing, "I've always loved boating."
"Slow it down, would you, Codes?" Diehard asked, "The wind's getting my eyes."
"Sure thing." Cody said, slowing down until the wind wasn't a factor. Selphie took a seat in between Seifer and Diehard. Seifer sighed out of relief, which was caught by Diehard. Diehard looked down at his lap for a few seconds before declaring he needed a drink from the cooler that Selphie had prepared before they left.
"Isn't he gorgeous?" Selphie asked, biting on her lower lip.
"Selphie," Seifer said solemnly, "There's something you should probably know about Diehard."
"What?" Selphie asked, her eyes locked on Seifer's with question. Seifer looked at Diehard warily, who was having some trouble locating the drink he wanted. Diehard was very particular with his drinks, especially his beers. He was never used to so many different varieties, so he would check the contents of each variety before choosing one. Color was normally the factor, but since they were all in cans it didn't matter so much.
"Well," Seifer said nervously, "Diehard...well, he...has a girlfriend. Yeah. She goes to another Garden. He just didn't want to seem like the kind of guy to have a long distance relationship."
"Really?" Selphie said, buying into Seifer's quick cover-up, "Why would he want to hide that?"
"Because he doesn't want to seem like a loving guy, it kind of ruins his image," Seifer stammered, "But you can't tell him or he'll be embarrassed and not talk to you or me."
"Ok." Selphie said, confused and a bit let down. She crossed her legs placing her hands at her kneecaps and looking at the water.
"The water is simply amazing," She raved as Diehard returned with a drink.
"You've got some wild drinks in there, Selphie," Diehard said, returning to his seat.
"Yeah," she responded with added peppiness to cover up her disappointment.
"Hey, I got a great idea," Diehard said suddenly, "Why don't we call Summer to see what's going on with her, maybe we can pick her up."
"Sure," Selphie said, looking up at Diehard, "But can you use your phone, mine doesn't have long distance."
Diehard looked at her in question.
"But why would that matter?" Diehard asked honestly. Seifer closed his eyes, trying to contain his rage. He was sure that Selphie would slip and all hell would break loose.
"I don't think it does very much, do you?" Selphie asked, masking her evident anger with a smile.
"I guess not." Diehard said cautiously, getting out his small cell phone and dialing a number. Seifer looked at Selphie, who shrugged and continued to look out at the water.
Summer, evidently, had slept late and not woken up until everyone in Garden was gone. She was willing to come down to go on the boat with them, but she would be at least an hour.
"I guess it's cruising until then!" Cody said happily, turning the steering wheel to make a sharp turn in the water. The ripple made its way across the entire bay. Beachfront homes lines the ends of the bay. As the sun got lower, making a magical display of colors on the waterfront, the houses' windows were illuminated by indoor lights.
"It looks like a city." Selphie said, "If it was my first time here, I actually would think this was one."
"Yeah," Diehard agreed, seemingly engrossed with the beauty of the homes. The sun seemed to be going down with every passing minute. Within twenty minutes, the sun had gone down and darkness enveloped the bay. The homes' lights gave for some light, and also the pier from which the boat had departed was illuminated. Most importantly of all was the lighthouse that was constantly surveying the ocean. Though it was further from the bay, it still lit the bay nicely.
"How about we mix things up?" Cody asked, increasing the speed. Selphie cheered loudly as many teen girls do. Seifer sat back, feeling the wind on his face. Cody continued to speed up until he reached the bay's speed limit, which was about 25 mph.
"It seems like we're going so fast, but in a car we'd be inching." Selphie said, observing, "I remember when I was a girl I always told people my dad went 100 mph on the boat because I thought it was that fast. People would think my dad was crazy."
"It was only his daughter who was crazy." Cody added snidely. Selphie frowned.
"Shove it, Cody," Selphie said with a belligerent inflection on 'Cody,' "You're lucky I even put up with you."
"Yes you is." Cody responded without looking at his sister. Suddenly, Selphie perked up in her chair. She stood up and looked out at something.
"Hey!" She exclaimed, "There's an inlet to the ocean!" Seifer looked, seeing a small passage way.
"Let's go then!" Cody exclaimed.
"Hey, can I drive?" Diehard asked, "I've had some boating experiences in my day."
"Sure, I was getting kind of bored anyways." Cody said, even though it was obvious he could have kept going for miles. Diehard got up and took the steering wheel. Cody drove the boat a lot smoother than Diehard did, but he got the job done. Seifer was relieved to have Diehard somewhere where he couldn't be forced to look at him in the eyes. His green eyes began to haunt Seifer and he didn't enjoy seeing them.
"So what's the dizzle with you, Seif?" Cody asked, placing his arms around the backs of Seifer and Selphie's seats.
"Nothing, I guess," Seifer said, looking at his friend, "Depending on what 'dizzle' means."
"You are so white." Selphie laughed to herself.
"Hey, I try hard!" Cody remarked.
"There's no speed limit out in the ocean is there?" Diehard asked out loud without looking back at the three soldiers.
"No, don't think so." Cody responded.
"Good." Diehard said, smiling his pointy grin and jamming the boat into high gear. Selphie shrieked, grabbing Cody and Seifer's hands. Cody took his back, but Seifer let her grab on to his.
"Not so fast, Diehard!" Selphie complained, "And stay in line with the buoys!"
"The whatsits?" Diehard asked.
"I thought you had driving experience." Cody said, expasperatedly.
"I did," Diehard said, "But we never dealt with no 'buzzies' or whatever you said."
"Buoys," Cody said, "And their mad important, so watch out."
"Ok, whatever," Diehard replied, "What do they do."
"They don't do anything," Cody explained, "They tell you where you should be when you're driving so you don't hit a sandbar. You do know what a sandbar is, right?"
"Yes, young fool," Diehard said, "So which one is the right one?"
"Stay to the left on green, right on red ones. Got it?" Cody said hastily.
"Yeah, I guess." Diehard said uneasily. As he drove, he practiced the rules aloud.
"Ok, now left on the green, right on the red," Diehard repeated to himself. Selphie laughed, turning to her brother.
"You're intolerable. I'm glad I learned to drive before you did. You'd be a helluva teacher." Selphie giggled
"I sure would be." Cody said proudly.
After a good hour of driving around, speeding well over the bay's speed limit out in the ocean, the four students docked their boat to meet Summer in the Balamb town square. She had called saying she had her hair cut, which took an extra hour. Selphie laughed, saying she was thankful that it was only one hour.
"My hair would have taken 1 and a half least." Selphie explained. She tugged on her messy braids "Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea."
"I agree, your hair is looking like an old barbie's." Cody remarked, holding a bag of gummi bears he had got in a local deli.
"Shut up, Cody," Selphie said, "I look good whatever my hair looks like." Selphie said, crouching down to 'get all up in' Cody's face.
"Whatever." Cody said, busy with eating his candy.
"Can I get some of those, Codes?" Seifer asked, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Ok." Cody said begrudgingly, pouring some in Seifer's open palm, "Bye bye, little guys."
"It's ok," Seifer said playfully, "I'll take great care of them." He proceeded to throw three in his mouth and bite with a satisfying chomp. Selphie giggled, asking for some from Cody, who, in turn, ignored her.
The group reached a small coffee house where Summer said she would meet them at. She appeared waiting on a bench by the entrance. Her hair was cut shorter than it was before, angled and blown out like a pop star's hair would. She got rid of the pink highlights, but was wearing a pink hat and top so the feeling was still there.
"Oh my God!" Selphie exclaimed, "Your hair looks so pretty!" They ran and gave each other a hug.
"I need the name of that place. They could do wonders for me and my hair!" Selphie said happily, hopping up and down in anticipation.
"More like miracles." Cody said, imitating Selphie's inflections. Selphie flashed him a dirty look, then turning back and admiring Summer. Seifer approached Summer, receiving a big hug from her. The act was unexpected, for Seifer didn't really know Summer that well. At the same time, though, he did expect Summer would do something like that. Her personality was a very open one and she wasn't afraid to express herself if she was happy, sad, or whatever else she was feeling.
Seifer flashed a look at Summer, who looked back. The two didn't speak, only looked at each other. Selphie and Cody were involved in another argument, so they didn't notice the awkward stare. Diehard, though, had noticed.
"Want to go get something?" Diehard asked nervously, trying to break the silence. Summer turned and looked at Diehard.
"Me?" She asked.
"No, I mean yes," Diehard stammered, "All of us I meant."
"Oh, sure." Summer said, looking back at Seifer.
The coffee shop that they went into was a very small shop, but it had a quality that made it have a warm atmosphere. It was no wonder, then, that place was jammed with customers.
"How are we supposed to sit here if there are no tables open?" Cody asked, scratching the back of his head.
"We can't, dumbo," Selphie said, flicking Cody's head, "We can get it to go."
"And then go where?" Cody asked, rubbing his head from Selphie's hit.
"The boat's still docked," Selphie suggested, "And Summer still didn't get a chance to see it."
"Sounds good to me." Seifer said, preoccupied with something written on the wall near him.
"Me too." Summer chimed in, "I haven't seen the water yet, and it can't get much darker."
"Sounds like a plan then," Selphie said, elbowing her brother, "Mocha lattes fine?"
"I've always loved the water," Summer said as the boat moved slowly about the bay, "But not fast water." Seifer and Summer had opted for a rowboat instead of the speedboat, which Cody and Diehard were navigating through the ocean. Summer voiced her concerns of being afraid of driving fast in the water once she boarded the boat, noticing it was a speedboat rather than a row boat. She then voiced how she wondered how everyone fit in the rowboat she picture.
Seifer, naturally, opted to join her in the rowboat. No one else wanted to miss out on the night waves, so they were alone. Seifer wondered why Diehard hadn't asked to go with them. It probably would have seemed discreet, but then again, Seifer know that he didn't want to be found out. Besides, he had hid his homosexuality so well before, anything he did wouldn't have triggered the thought that he might be gay at all. Cody was too clueless to get it and Selphie was convinced he had a girlfriend.
"I also kind of never really got a good chance to spend a lot of time on the water," Summer continued, twirling her hair with one finger and looking at the lit houses, "I grew up in a city place, so there's like no water at all. I've never seen a place like this before. It's like magic."
"Yeah," Seifer grunted as he rowed the boat smoothly.
"Need help with that?" Summer asked, taking an oar from Seifer, who willingly let go, "I'm not gonna let you row me around."
"Whatever you say," Seifer said, "You're the boss here."
"Am I?" Summer asked, rowing opposite Seifer, "Wait, you're going the wrong way!" The boat turned around in a circle instead of going straight.
"I am going the right way, you're going the wrong way," Seifer argued, "Now go right."
"I am." Summer said, laughing as she tried to turn. The boat continued to go in a circle until both students threw their oars in the middle of the boat and gave up.
"There's nothing but the sights here, anyways," Summer said, "We're safe in the middle."
"More like surrounded." Seifer remarked.
"Shut up," Summer said playfully, "So why have you been avoiding me?"
"Avoiding you?" Seifer asked, raising an eyebrow, "I haven't been avoiding you."
"Well, Summer said, leaning into Seifer with her arms resting on he thighs, "You didn't meet me when I gave you a note, you missed out on Selphie's party, and you were going to leave me at the Garden if Diehard didn't call."
"I've just been busy," Seifer said, "You caught me at all bad times."
"A certain Selphie said you helped her set up," Summer said, moving back, but still looking at Seifer, "So why didn't you come back?"
"I was," Seifer stammered, "Stopped. Something came up."
"Something, eh?" Summer asked, smiling a know-it-all smile, "I can't imagine what that could be."
"Take a guess," Seifer said, "If you guess I'll tell you. You get three tries."
"Was it something about Diehard?" She asked, crossing her arms. Seifer almost fell out of the boat at her remark.
"No." Seifer said plainly, but it was obvious he hadn't fooled the girl.
"It totally was! He cheated off your paper! Selphie told me all about it!" Summer exclaimed, standing up in the boat. Suddenly, the boat started to rock.
"Sit down, Summer!" Seifer exclaimed.
"Why, are you afraid that..." and with those words, Summer was sent falling into the water.
"Summer you idiot!" Seifer yelled, very much relieved that she didn't know Diehard's secret. He looked nervously to see where she was, but he couldn't see her. After a few seconds she still didn't come up for air. Seifer's mind raced with fears that she hit her head or somehow got injured. Seifer knew the water was freezing, but he grunted and jumped in. After feeling around for a few seconds, he finally opened his eyes and saw Summer's figure. He closed his eyes and grabbed her body, bringing it up to the boat.
"Ack!" Seifer grunted, rubbing his eyes furiously, "I can't see underwater!"
"It took you that long to get me?" Summer asked, "You were going to let me drown!"
"Was not," Seifer said, treading water to keep up, "Now can we go home and dry off?"
"I sort of like it," Summer said, not paying attention to her ruined hair, "Won't you swim with me?" Seifer was just about to consider it, when he realized the present he got was in his pocket. He nervously picked it out of his soaking pocket to see the small heart-shaped music box a little wet, but it didn't look ruined. He turned the crank to see if it still worked. The music that was playing on the night of the party after the sorceress was defeated played with gentle crystal sounds.
"That's really pretty," Summer said, looking at it, "Did you find that in the water?"
"No," Seifer said, lifting himself up on the boat, "I bought it."
"Oh," Summer said sadly, "I'm sorry if I got it wet."
"No problem." Seifer said listlessly. He was, though, angry it had gotten ruined. It would probably still work, but it wouldn't have that "just bought" charm that he wished it had. Summer tried to get up on the boat, but she had trouble. Seifer extended his arms to help her up, but she just grabbed him and pulled him in.
"I'm sorry!" Summer exclaimed honestly, the boat flipped over on top of their heads. The area was pitch black, which scared Seifer.
"You're angry." Summer said.
"No, it was an accident." Seifer said.
"You think I'm just a fool," Summer said, moving in the water, "You think I'm just a stupid blonde girl who's boy crazy. I know you do. Everyone does." Her tone was sad. Seifer fished around for her hand in the water until he found it.
"I don't think so," Seifer said, "You're intoxicating."
'Is that a good thing?" Summer asked, even though Seifer knew she knew what the word 'intoxicating' meant.
"I think you know." Seifer responded. He felt around for Summer's face until he reached it with one hand. He placed his other on hr damp cheek, planting a soft kiss on her lips. Summer grabbed hold of Seifer, pulling him under the water. Seifer and Summer rose, seeing the lights all around them and their boat flipped over.
"Should we flip it back over." Summer asked, looking at it. She was a bit flustered by Seifer's kiss.
"Should we?" Seifer asked, "I sort of like it." Summer realized how he was quoting her, and she swam over to him and kissed Seifer's mouth. It was a sweet kiss, much different that Seifer expected. She seemed like the raunchy make-out type to him, but he accepted the fact that he was wrong.
"I don't usually kiss guys on the first date, you know." Summer said.
"This was a date?" Seifer asked in amazement, "I'm surprised you didn't slap me."
"Well, you opted to go on a boat with me going a maximum of 2 miles per hour when you could be speeding in the ocean with a speedboat..." Summer explained, "You either are the biggest pussy ever or you like me. Which one are you?"
"I'm thinking." Seifer said playfully. Summer laughed, flipping the boat back around. She lifted herself up into it, nearly tipping it over again. Seifer lifted himself up easily.
"You make it look like I'm retarded!" Summer exclaimed. Seifer took an oar and handed one to Summer with a smile.
"Just row."
Once back in the town square, Seifer and Summer ran to a shop to buy some overpriced towels. They were the only refuge they had, unless they wanted to walk home in wet clothes. Seifer noticed that Summer was shivering, so he let her have his coat.
"It's pretty warm even though its soaking," Summer said to reassure Seifer, "How boyfriendly of you." Seifer smiled, wrapping his towel around his bare arms tightly. The night had grown cold, so their bodies shivered.
"Maybe we should head back to Garden." Summer said, "I'm freezing my ass off here."
"What about the others?" Seifer asked.
"My celly's busted," Summer said, showing Seifer her purse that was flooded with water, "Got any other ideas of how to get them?"
"No." Seifer said as he watched Summer pour a quart of water out of her purse, her cosmetics falling out. Her shirt was wet against her body, her bra showing through. Seifer reached over and closed the breast button on his jacket over her.
"Oh, thanks." Summer said, realizing how her shirt stuck to her. Luckily, her capris jeans were hardy enough to withstand the water. There was some trouble locating one of Summer's candy pink sandals out of the water, but luckily it floated and Seifer fished it out for her.
"Let's go, I'm freezing!" she complained. They were just about to leave, when a heavyset man with a mustache ran over to them.
"Where you just involved in the accident?" he asked, out of breath from running.
"Accident?" Summer asked, "Do we look like we were driving a car?"
"No," he stammered, "The boating accident. The one near the ocean."
"What?" Seifer asked in fear, "No, we were in the bay. What happened?"
"Come on, I'll show you." The man said, running to a direction. Seifer grabbed Summer's hand and ran.
Reporters had already arrived and were reporting about the accident. Seifer soon saw Selphie and Cody, along with Rachel, Seifer's old friend from Balamb Garden.
"Selphie! Cody! Rachel?" He said, looking at the three of them. Cody was soaked with water, as was Rachel. Selphie was dry, but shivering out of fear.
"What happened to you guys?" Summer asked, pulling her towel close to her.
"What happened to you guys?" Selphie asked, her voice tinged with fear.
"We fell in the water, but what happened here?" Seifer asked impatiently. Suddenly, his eyes scanned the three in fear.
"Where's Diehard?" He asked through trembling lips. Selphie erupted in tears, holding on to her brother's towel.
"Holy shit where the fuck is Diehard?" Seifer asked in fear, "Where is he?"
"He crashed into a sandbar while driving, he read the buoys wrong," Rachel said, her make up running.
"Normally that's not even a problem," Said an official-looking man with 5 o'clock shadow and a fisherman's cap, "He just picked the wrong part of the ocean to drive on. Rather fast, too." Seifer seized the man by the collar of his shirt, shaking him.
"Where is the person who was driving the boat? Tell me now." Seifer demanded.
"An ambulance took him away." The man said, struggling to fight Seifer off of him, "They took him to the 'Garden' or something." Seifer dropped the man, closing his eyes and breathing heavily. His heart raced with the thoughts that Diehard could be dead.
"There were two other kids taken with him, too," The man said, realizing that Seifer was a friend of Diehard's, "They're going to be ok." The two other kids he was referring two was obviously Jaquel and Samuel, Rachel's friends.
"How the fuck do you know?" Seifer asked angrily, walking away from the scene.
"Do you know the kids who were in the accident? Care to comment?" a reporter harassed.
"Get out." Summer said angrily, shoving the reporter woman's camera man. Seifer started into a run, followed by Summer.
He's going to be alright, Seifer reassured, He'll be alright...he'll be alright...please to God let him be alright...