Chapter Three: A New Start

She slept well through the afternoon, through the night and finally woke up with midmorning sun shining through the window onto the bed. She groaned and covered her eyes with her arm before she realized that she wasn't in the dorm anymore. She sat up quickly, forgetting where she was momentarily. Yesterday's events slowly trickled back into her mind, as well as a sense of urgency. What if Irvine was here? If he were bold enough to ask Zell to get her to forgive him, would he be bold enough to actually show up here?

She leapt to her feet and tiptoed down the stairs when she heard muffled voices. Whoever was here, they were in the living room. She creeped into the kitchen and stopped next to the doorway to listen.

"She's not gonna forgive him. She's had to put up with so much from him, Ma… I won't let her forgive him… He's all wrong for her…" Zell muttered, running his fingertips over the metal knuckles on his gloved hand. "She deserves so much better…"

"Well, dear, if she's gonna forgive him, you can't stop her. She's been with him so long; she might love him by now. And it's difficult to just stop loving someone, no matter how badly they hurt you… She'll realize it someday… And then maybe she'll see you as more than a friend, Zelly!" Molly said, laughing softly.

Zell's face grew red. "Aw, Ma, stop it… She's my best friend…"

She climbed to her feet and winked at her son. "And my husband was once my best friend too." She laughed again and stepped through the doorway. Selphie jumped back like she had been burned, and her hands instinctively went to her hair, which she realized was a mess and sticking out everywhere.

"Oh, Selphie, dear, it's good to see you again. How are you? Well rested I hope, Hyne knows you really needed the rest. Would you like something to eat?" Ma strode past her, not even showing that she knew that Selphie had heard the conversation with Zell. She started digging in the cabinets in the kitchen.

"Just a cup of coffee, please." Selphie said, as Zell walked through the doorway. She avoided his gaze, embarrassed by the fact that she had been caught eavesdropping on them. He reached out and touched her shoulder briefly before pulling up a chair and sitting down by the window. He glanced up at her before turning to Molly.

"A cup of coffee is not a meal, dear. You need a real breakfast. Look at how tiny you are, you must eat like a bird!" She started fishing box after container after bag out of the cabinets, as well as pulling out numerous pans.

Zell tilted his head back and laughed. Selphie couldn't help but smile as he turned towards her, grinning. "You're trapped now. She's not gonna let you out of her sight until you explode from eatin' all her good cooking! Right, Ma?" The laughter was still in his voice.

"Hush, Zell." Molly snapped, in good humor. "Why don't you and Selphie go out for a walk around town? The fresh sea air will do her good after being cooped up in your room all night. I'll be done cooking in about an hour." Ma said, already bent over the stove cooking. Zell climbed to his feet and motioned for Selphie to follow him.

"Wait." She planted her feet before stepping outside. "Can I get cleaned up a little?" Zell laughed again, as he looked closer at her hair and makeup.

"Yeah, you might wanna. It might ruin your rep as a hero around here to be walking around looking like I fished you out of the harbor!" He laughed again and she couldn't help but giggle as she lightly socked him in the arm and he pretended to be hurt. She was smiling while fixing her hair and washing her face. Zell was the one thing that kept her from going insane lately, it seemed.

As she washed away the make-up, the tears, and the sleepiness from her face with the chilled water from the faucet, she made up her mind to commit to a change. One that would leave her feeling like everyday was a breath of fresh air, not like she was winded. She knew that it would be a challenge. Everyone believed her to be this happy, carefree person. Would they accept the real her?

She dried her face and set about doing something about her hair. But as she looked at her reflection in the mirror at the extremely curled ends of her hair that reminded her of a smile, she decided to take step one.

After fifteen minutes of being in the bathroom, she emerged to Zell's delight with a new edgier hair style. Her hair resembled a pixie cut with long, side sweeping bangs and face framing chunks of hair. She slipped him a sly smile before stepping out into the sunshine. Zell stumbled over himself and fell out the door onto the cobblestone street. She laughed.

"Whatsa matter, Zelly?" She said, giggling.

He stuttered before running his fingers through her newly shorn hair. "Wow, Seffie… I really like it…" He kicked at a pebble before looking up shyly at her. "You look beautiful Selphie…"

"You look beautiful Selphie…" He smiled at her and his fingers grazed the side of her face. He cupped his hand around her neck. She looked up at him, a flush coming to her cheeks. "You always did, even when we were little. Selphie, I love you…" He leaned down to her and placed one soft sweet simple kiss on her lips. He pulled away and smiled, before pulling her up to him in a tight embrace… "I love you too, Irvine…"

Selphie spun away from Zell's stare and bit her lip, tears filling her eyes. Despite cheating on her, she was still very much in love with Irvine. Even though he had torn her heart apart and left her alone to bleed, she missed his charming grin, his warm personality, and his tight embrace. She brushed away a tear that had found it's way down her cheek.

"Selphie?" Zell asked, stepping to stand beside her, concerned. Had what he said upset her? He tried to put an arm over her shoulders but pulled away when she shrugged a shoulder at him. Molly had been right; Selphie was still very much in love with Irvine.

She looked up at him, with sad eyes and a matching smile. "Thank you, Zell." He nodded sadly, before looking out in the direction of the harbor.

"Wanna go for a walk?" He asked, no smile on his face. She nodded and took the lead, her arms crossed over her small chest. Her eyes were blank and staring, as she reminisced about the past.

xxx

"Honestly, Irvine? I think you are an idiot." Quistis stated simply, waving her hand in front of her, as if blowing him away. She handed the glass of soda to Seifer, who was casually reclining on the sofa, forcing Irvine to stand. Seifer took a large gulp of soda before glaring at Irvine.

"Honestly, I think you are – " Quistis shushed Seifer quickly by planting a kiss on his lips and sitting on his knees. He groaned and moved his legs out from under her. She grabbed onto the arm of the couch to keep from falling and spilling her own glass.

Irvine watched their little escapade with impatience. He hadn't come to her to watch her flirt with her dearly beloved. He seriously wanted a way to win Selphie's heart over again. Ironic that he came to Quistis when she had been the one to break the news to Selphie but he figured that she was the romantic type-ish person. Finally he had enough of it. "Would you please stop just one minute and help me out!"

Seifer shot Irvine another glare but didn't say anything. Quistis turned away from her beau and also shot Irvine a glare. Damn, she's turning into one of him. Irvine thought, glaring back at them. They sat and glared at each other for a few more minutes before Irvine finally leaned back against the wall and slid to the floor.

"Listen, I know I treated her bad and all but I'm sorry… Now that she's finally gone, I really just how much she means to me… I just want your help. That's all. Quistis, I've never asked anything of you before.. Just please help me this once…" Quistis's jaw dropped as she listened to him beg her.

"But why do you want my help? I was the one who told Selphie about you and your new little girlfriend." She said, crossing her arms over her chest and sitting back. Irvine nodded and drooped his head.

"Yeah, yeah, I know… And I don't blame you… But I saw you and Seifer… No one thought you two would survive but they all seemed to KNOW that Selphie and I were made for each other. Everyone can't always be wrong. I think they know the truth about Selphie and I. You and Seifer made it through everything together, I believe Seffie and I could too." He tipped his hat down over his eyes and turned his face away from the too of them.

Seifer was the one who offered Irvine advice. "Then fight for her, you – " Quistis stopped him again, before he let the room know exactly what he thought about Irvine. Irvine climbed to his feet and ran out the door, his hat firmly set over his eyes once again.