Dinner with Friends
For the rest of the day Seifer and Quistis avoided each other and the rest of the group was careful to avoid mention of the strange behavior of that morning.
By the time seven o'clock had rolled around the group, minus Quistis and Seifer, was waiting at the fountain in the center of the Garden.
"Where are they? This is Seifer's dinner for goodness sake!" Rinoa questioned.
Before anyone could say anything in response Quistis walked around the curve of the Garden and joined the group.
"Where's Seifer?"
The rest of her friends shrugged and she rolled her eyes.
"Typical."
The group grinned and laughed. At this moment the blonde in question ran around the corner and quickly slid to a halt before he crashed into his friends.
"Hey guys, what's so funny?"
His friends exchanged glances and in unison replied, "Nothing."
Seifer rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Whatever."
"Hey, that's Squall's line," Selphie giggled.
Squall's hand went to his forehead in exasperation and Seifer's grin grew wider.
"So could we maybe, go now?" Quistis interjected.
As if on cue, Zell's stomach growled and he grinned sheepishly.
The restaurant that Seifer had chosen was large but rather laid-back. The waiter who seated them immediately took their drink orders and departed.
The friends were seated around a large circular table. Squall was next to Rinoa who was next to Selphie. Irvine was beside her and Zell was next to him. This arrangement left Seifer and Quistis sitting next to one another. The seating chart had been planned in advance by Rinoa and Selphie. The two devious teenagers had threatened and cajoled the boys until they got their way. The three guys didn't really care where they sat so they had agreed to the girls' plan with little persuasion. Squall had, however, requested to be seated next to Rinoa. Selphie had agreed as long as she got to sit next to Irvine.
Their plan had, thus far, gone off without a hitch.
Their drinks arrived and they all placed their orders for dinner.
Seifer, Squall, and Irvine all ordered steaks. Zell ordered two racks of ribs. The girls each got a salad and agreed to split some wings and fries.
After the waiter had left to prepare their food Rinoa suggested a toast in honor of Seifer's accomplishment of graduating.
"Seifer, ever since I met you that summer you have always been adamant about pursuing your dreams. I'm glad to congratulate you on a job well done and a dream fulfilled."
She raised her drink and smiled at him. He smiled back and the group clinked their glasses together. Squall stood.
"Seifer, you fight well and I'm glad that you made SeeD. I look forward to working with you."
The commander quickly seated himself and the rest raised their glasses. Zell stood next.
"Seifer, even though you were a bully and a jerk when we were little, I am glad that everything has worked out for you and I wish you luck in the future."
Irvine stood up and continued the toasting.
"Seif, I may be the only one at this table who can remember what a little terror you actually were when we were small. But, even clearer than that are my memories of you helping Matron make cookies, you helping Quisty get a kitten out of tree, you building a sand castle on the beach to show to Cid. The good memories. The times you were at your best. Those were the things that had the most influence on you, I think. That was the stuff that made you want to become a knight. I'm glad you accomplished your goal and made SeeD. I hope you continue to fight for what you want." With that Irvine raised his glass, nodded across the table to Seifer and drank.
Selphie grinned and jumped from her seat as soon as Irvine was finished speaking.
"Good job Seifer. I always knew you could do it. I'm proud of you."
She did not restrain herself to merely raising her glass but instead she circled the table to where Seifer sat and hugged him from behind while he sat, shocked, in his chair.
After Selphie had returned to her seat everyone's eyes turned to the blonde seated at Seifer's side.
Quistis cleared her throat and stood up.
"Seifer and Squall were always my two best students. Since Seifer was always striving to be the center of attention and Squall was always trying to avoid notice I decided that Squall needed more attention and Seifer needed less. This decision skewed my teaching and made it so that Seifer was punished for not being like Squall. Though some of what he got into trouble over was entirely his fault, a portion came from my biased vision of what his behavior should be. Although; sometimes he was incredibly rude and disruptive in class. I just want to take this opportunity to say congratulations to Seifer for beating the odds and for proving yourself to be as good as you ever boasted you were."
The rest of the table erupted into cheers as Quistis took her seat beside Seifer.
After the food had arrived the group turned their full attention to eating and spent very little time talking. When everyone had finished eating the friends decided to go their separate ways and that they would meet for breakfast the next morning like normal.
As they left the restaurant Seifer pulled Quistis to the side and asked her to remain behind to talk. Selphie and Rinoa noticed the exchange and grinned before leaving with their boyfriends, dragging Zell behind them.
As soon as everyone had left Seifer turned to Quistis.
"Instructor, do you really think that I have proved myself?" His face was unreadable, tense, and solemn.
She paused a moment before answering him.
"Seifer, you were always a brilliant fighter, you just lacked the ability to follow orders. You have proved to me, since you've been back, that you can follow orders. You did excellently on your exam and I'm glad that you passed. Something about you is different and it is this change that is allowing you to excel. This time you are not pride bound and determined to be superior. You are willing to take suggestions and use them to your advantage. You don't have to do it all on your own. That's what is different."
"You mean I'm turning into a pussy." He shot.
"No, that's not what I said at all. I said you can accept help and that will help you in the future. The only thing that held you back before was your inability to take advice or orders."
Seifer's face was pained as he answered.
"When you serve a sorceress you learn quickly how to follow orders. If you don't obey she torments you. You have to obey."
Quistis' eyes softened and she went to his side. She went to touch his arm and he jumped away.
"Seifer, tell me what happened. Please tell me."
His haunted green eyes raised a little and stared into her blue ones.
"She would go into my mind and find my purest, happiest memories and twist them into something terrible. She wouldn't stop until I could no longer remember which was the true memory. I was afraid to sleep, to think, to do anything to try and stop her." His voice was quiet and slow as he answered.
Silence reigned over the pair as they stood on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Neither noticed that dark clouds had taken over the night sky and that a rumble of thunder was gradually getting louder as they stood together in the circle of light from a streetlight.
As it started to rain neither moved from their places. Seifer's eyes were still locked on Quistis and she was surprised to discover that she had tears welling up in her eyes. As the rain got harder Seifer moved closer to Quistis and pulled her under the protective cover of his long trench coat.
"I'm sorry. I never knew." She murmured into the dark.
His voice was quiet and close as he whispered back.
"I never told anyone."
They stood in silence for a long time before Seifer began to move them towards shelter. They ducked into the doorway of Ma Dincht's house and he released her from his coat. She hadn't taken two steps away from him before he saw the wetness on her cheeks.
"Quistis don't cry. It's okay. I'm okay. She's gone so she can't do that to anyone ever again."
Her only response as her shoulders shaking as she began to sob.
He quickly pulled her back into his arms and she clung to him as she sobbed on his chest. With his foot he knocked on the door. Ma Dincht opened it quickly and, seeing them standing there soaked, pulled them into the dry warmth of the house. She ushered them into the living room and handed Seifer two large towels.
As he spread one on the couch and wrapped the other around Quistis, Ma Dincht moved back into the kitchen and began to make them hot chocolate.
When she came back in Seifer was sitting on the couch with Quistis, wrapped in a towel, sitting in his lap while sobbing into his shoulder.
"What's the matter?" She asked Seifer as she joined them on the couch.
"She just had a rough day and I thought it would be best if we got out of the rain. I hope you don't mind that we came here."
Ma shook her head and smiled. "You are always welcome here."
She rubbed Quistis' back in a comforting manner and put their drinks on the table before she decided she should make herself scarce.
After the kindly woman had left them alone Seifer took one of the mugs and held it for Quistis.
"Here, drink this. It'll help you calm down."
She drank a few sips and hid her face back in his chest.
"Sorry about that."
He shrugged, careful not to jostle her too much.
"It's okay. Are you okay now? I didn't mean to make you cry."
Her head came up and she nodded. He held the cup again as she drank some more and she thanked him.
When she had stopped shivering he unwrapped her from the towel and she moved off his lap.
"Are you ready to go back to Garden?" he asked as he stood up and stretched.
She nodded, back in control of herself and calm.
They took their leave of Ma Dincht and walked up the road to where the Garden was parked.
When they reached the front gate Quistis stopped walking and stopped Seifer.
"I just wanted to apologize for losing control of myself earlier. I didn't mean to start crying on you."
He looked at her thoughtfully.
"I think you need to lose control more often. It's not good for you to keep it all locked up like you do."
She didn't say anything in response but they both knew that he was right.
"You can always come to me when you need to lose control."
She gave him a gentle smile and he grinned in return.
He had done it. He had broken through the ice and gotten to her. And she had let him inside.
He walked her back to her dorm and then returned to his own.
After he had left her in her room Quistis stood leaning against her door.
When had this happened? Why had he gotten past her defenses? Why didn't she care that he had?
She was the Ice Queen. No one got inside her heart. It was too risky. She wouldn't allow it. But she had let him in.
Why?
AN: I'm not sure I like how this chapter ended but... oh well
Please Review!
Next Chapter: Seifer and Quistis prepare to go on their mission in Timber.