Shattered. Chapter 3
Music: Tarek - Balamb Garden (Orchestrated)
"Remember, those of you that are still commuting to school, you need to bring in your permission slips by tomorrow if you haven't done so already for the fieldtrip to the West continent. Remember to get all six slips signed or you won't be able to make the whole tour and if you can't make the WHOLE tour, then you aren't going to be able to go at all, so remember....TOMORROW!" Quistis told her students with a glare and a smile mixed into one. It was really for the benefit of two or three students in particular, but she didn't want to embarress anyone so she made it a public announcement. She was staying professional and as hard as it was for her to keep her mind off the last few days, she was managing to do so relatively well all things considerred.
After packing her briefcase, she headed towards the door where Selphie Tilmitt was leaning. She stood up, grabbed Quistis' briefcase and walked with her down the hallway. "Sooooo? What's going on?"
"Hey Seph, when did you get back into town?" Quistis asked as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Just about an hour ago just as you started your class. I got a bite to eat, unpacked and then headed here just in time to hear you unspecifically reminding Rondell to bring his permission slip. He's gonna flunk out of the academy before he reaches SeeD, you KNOW that right?"
"Whoa...cynical much? He's a good student, a little aloof, but he's actually really booksmart. It's just common sense that he's lacking. Sound like some people we know?"
"I can think of three off hand!" she said while spinning in the hallways looking towards the ceiling of the concourse. She ran over and pressed the button for the elevator and leaned against the wall. "So what's this I hear about our resident 'Whatever' losing it?"
"You've been back an hour and you already heard about it? We were trying to keep it relatively quiet." Quistis shot back with a little fear in her voice.
Selphie dropped the briefcase on the floor and held up both hands as a sign for her 'big sis' to relax. "Oh no! I had lunch with Zell before I saw you and he told me what happened to Squally and I was just really worried...he's like my big brother and I don't want anything to happen to him. I won't tell anyone or anything..."
"He's your big brother but you're older than him!" She said holding her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. She did that subconsciously a lot and Selphie racked it up to Quistis either being embarressed of her smile, or uncomfortable about showing too much emotion in front of people unless it was faked. One of the little nuances of Quisty that made her "so special" as Selphie always put it.
"I'm only older than him by like a month or two, but he acts older than all of us, except maybe you."
"Gee thanks..................What's taking this elevator so long?" Selphie ran over to the edge of the railing and hung way over the side. She started to slip but Quistis grabbed her around the waist before she tipped over the side.
"Hey Mr. Technician person!!! How long is the elevator gonna be busted?"
Quistis tried to listen to the guy but his soft voice was being cancelled out by his own echo in the lobby and she couldn't make out anything he was saying. She lowered Selphie back to the ground to hear her say that he told her another thirty minutes at the least.
"Well, let's take the stairs then!" She picked up her briefcase just before Selphie snatched it away from her again, insisting to carry it, and they both headed for the stairwell.
"You still didn't tell me...what's going on with 'Leon'?"
"You know he hates it when you call him that."
She giggled out loud and bounced in her step, "Since when have I actually STOPPED something because 'LEON' asked me to? And stop changing the subject!"
"He's doing better. I am not sure yet what happened because he hasn't quite opened up about it, but he's at least looking me in the eye again, and he's stopped crying."
Selphie's eyes became huge"You...saw him cry?"
"Yeah...please don't mention it to anyone. Squall's the strongest person I've ever met, and while he doesn't have much of an ego, I don't want things to be any more difficult on him than they already are now." She said while giving Selphie a sideways glance.
Selphie held her head down and held onto the briefcase with both hands as they walked. "I won't say anything. Is there anything I can do?"
"He'll open up when he's ready, but I am not going to force him. I'm giving him some space at the moment. For the past couple of days I have been by his side almost every waking moment, but I knew that Monday morning I was going to have to go to classes and it will give him a chance to collect his thoughts in private. I'm going to see him tonight when I am finished with my last class. Do you want to go with me?"
"Hmm...that's ok. I love him to death, but if he's going through a rough period right now I think the last thing he needs is 'annoying Selphie' on his case." She said while rolling her eyes back and looking at the ceiling.
"I don't think he thinks you--"
"He told me I was, ok? He told me before I left for Trabia. I know I'm the cutesy, happy-go-lucky, annoying bitch in the group, but..."
Quistis' eyes went large this time and she looked shockingly at Selphie, "Selphie should never say bad words...it just really doesn't sound right, and that's not who you are. If you're picking up bad habits from someone, let me know who so I can kick their ass.......butt. Oh. It's me...Seph, you can't take anything that he says to heart, especially if he's in tough defensive mode. He loves you the same way you love him. We're family, ya know? Remember that line 'We always hurt the ones we love the most.'"
"You're right, I know you're right, but everything always seems to mean so much more coming from his mouth, probably because he doesn't say too much."
"I know. Hey, I'm going to get a bite before my next class. Let's meet up later this evening, ok? You can tell me how the Trabia project is going!"
"Okie dokie!" She said handing Quistis her briefcase back. She gave Quistis a big hug and headed towards the Theater wing. "Bye Quisty!!"
Music: Michelle Branch - Goodbye To You (Radio Mix)
She stood there waving goodbye to Selphie and despite her better judgement, she headed towards the dormitory wing instead of getting something to eat. She was repeating in her head what she would say to everything that he would throw at her, thinking of all the support she could give him, and preparing herself for whatever situation would present itself when he opened the door. The big question on her mind was 'Why am I so nervous?' She dismissed the thought, and pressed the doorchime next to the hatchway into his room and waited. No answer. She then just knocked on the door rather loudly and still no one answered.
Being nervous as she was already, this made her a little paranoid so she pulled out her cardkey and swiped it in the panel and typed in her code that gave her access to any doorway in the Garden. The door opened and she stepped back when she saw what was set out before her. Squall's normally immaculate room was in shambles. Books were on the floor, trash was strewn over counters, the carpet, overflowing from his trashcan, and all over his bed. His SeeD uniform was ripped apart, his leather jacket had half a sleeve torn off and the fur lining was on the floor across the room. Quistis began to get really nervous as she stepped into the room. The word "LIAR!" was burned into one wall , and smoke was still coming from the burn marks leading her to believe that this was very recent. His gunblade was broken in the middle of the blade and the two parts were set an inch apart from each other but the chamber was nowhere to be found. He was nowhere in the room either and the window was wide open with the curtains blowing gently back into the room. She walked over to his bed and sat down with her mouth slightly open in shock at what was happening. She picked up his jacket and held it in her arms solemnly wishing that it were him instead. Then she found a letter that had been under the jacket:
Dear Quistis,
I know with all of my heart that you will be the one
to find this letter. Please don't worry about me. I know that
you will, but I beg you, please don't. The events of the past
few days have me really confused and I just need some time
alone.
I don't know who I am anymore but all I know is
that something is wrong inside me. I feel like I am fighting
someone or something in my spirit, and it's fighting to take
control of my life. I am going to the only person I know that
could help me and I don't know when I will be back.
What I do know is that whatever is wrong, I have
to discover what it is and fix it on my own. Please tell Selphie
that I am sorry for what I told her, and please let Zell know
that he's my best friend. And Quistis, please forgive me for
being such a burden to you. I never wanted it to come to
this, but I am a danger to everyone right now and I don't
want this to be your responsibility any longer.
I love you, Quistis Trepe.
Goodbye,
Squall
She was in tears when she got to the end, but when she read those three words, she inadvertantly looked on the bed where the letter had been laying and found Squall's necklace, battered and bruised, laying in it's place with the chain jumbled up and the pendant on top. She slowly took it in her hands and collapsed off the side of the bed crying on his floor in a little ball. Several emotions went through her mind. Everything from 'I wasn't there for him', to 'I hate him for this', to 'He...loves me.' After several minutes, she put the necklace on, climbed through the debris on his bed and fell asleep on his pillow. Quistis missed her last class that evening.
There was a knock at the door in the pouring rain during the middle of the night. Much too late for visitors. Whoever it was that was knocking was going to get a piece of her mind. She opened the door to find Squall standing there shaking in front of her. He was drenched from head to toe and was wearing a black trench coat over a black t-shirt and jeans. He looked like he had been through hell and through it all, this was where he came.
"...Hello, Rinoa."
End Chapter 3.
Music: Tarek - Balamb Garden (Orchestrated)
"Remember, those of you that are still commuting to school, you need to bring in your permission slips by tomorrow if you haven't done so already for the fieldtrip to the West continent. Remember to get all six slips signed or you won't be able to make the whole tour and if you can't make the WHOLE tour, then you aren't going to be able to go at all, so remember....TOMORROW!" Quistis told her students with a glare and a smile mixed into one. It was really for the benefit of two or three students in particular, but she didn't want to embarress anyone so she made it a public announcement. She was staying professional and as hard as it was for her to keep her mind off the last few days, she was managing to do so relatively well all things considerred.
After packing her briefcase, she headed towards the door where Selphie Tilmitt was leaning. She stood up, grabbed Quistis' briefcase and walked with her down the hallway. "Sooooo? What's going on?"
"Hey Seph, when did you get back into town?" Quistis asked as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Just about an hour ago just as you started your class. I got a bite to eat, unpacked and then headed here just in time to hear you unspecifically reminding Rondell to bring his permission slip. He's gonna flunk out of the academy before he reaches SeeD, you KNOW that right?"
"Whoa...cynical much? He's a good student, a little aloof, but he's actually really booksmart. It's just common sense that he's lacking. Sound like some people we know?"
"I can think of three off hand!" she said while spinning in the hallways looking towards the ceiling of the concourse. She ran over and pressed the button for the elevator and leaned against the wall. "So what's this I hear about our resident 'Whatever' losing it?"
"You've been back an hour and you already heard about it? We were trying to keep it relatively quiet." Quistis shot back with a little fear in her voice.
Selphie dropped the briefcase on the floor and held up both hands as a sign for her 'big sis' to relax. "Oh no! I had lunch with Zell before I saw you and he told me what happened to Squally and I was just really worried...he's like my big brother and I don't want anything to happen to him. I won't tell anyone or anything..."
"He's your big brother but you're older than him!" She said holding her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. She did that subconsciously a lot and Selphie racked it up to Quistis either being embarressed of her smile, or uncomfortable about showing too much emotion in front of people unless it was faked. One of the little nuances of Quisty that made her "so special" as Selphie always put it.
"I'm only older than him by like a month or two, but he acts older than all of us, except maybe you."
"Gee thanks..................What's taking this elevator so long?" Selphie ran over to the edge of the railing and hung way over the side. She started to slip but Quistis grabbed her around the waist before she tipped over the side.
"Hey Mr. Technician person!!! How long is the elevator gonna be busted?"
Quistis tried to listen to the guy but his soft voice was being cancelled out by his own echo in the lobby and she couldn't make out anything he was saying. She lowered Selphie back to the ground to hear her say that he told her another thirty minutes at the least.
"Well, let's take the stairs then!" She picked up her briefcase just before Selphie snatched it away from her again, insisting to carry it, and they both headed for the stairwell.
"You still didn't tell me...what's going on with 'Leon'?"
"You know he hates it when you call him that."
She giggled out loud and bounced in her step, "Since when have I actually STOPPED something because 'LEON' asked me to? And stop changing the subject!"
"He's doing better. I am not sure yet what happened because he hasn't quite opened up about it, but he's at least looking me in the eye again, and he's stopped crying."
Selphie's eyes became huge"You...saw him cry?"
"Yeah...please don't mention it to anyone. Squall's the strongest person I've ever met, and while he doesn't have much of an ego, I don't want things to be any more difficult on him than they already are now." She said while giving Selphie a sideways glance.
Selphie held her head down and held onto the briefcase with both hands as they walked. "I won't say anything. Is there anything I can do?"
"He'll open up when he's ready, but I am not going to force him. I'm giving him some space at the moment. For the past couple of days I have been by his side almost every waking moment, but I knew that Monday morning I was going to have to go to classes and it will give him a chance to collect his thoughts in private. I'm going to see him tonight when I am finished with my last class. Do you want to go with me?"
"Hmm...that's ok. I love him to death, but if he's going through a rough period right now I think the last thing he needs is 'annoying Selphie' on his case." She said while rolling her eyes back and looking at the ceiling.
"I don't think he thinks you--"
"He told me I was, ok? He told me before I left for Trabia. I know I'm the cutesy, happy-go-lucky, annoying bitch in the group, but..."
Quistis' eyes went large this time and she looked shockingly at Selphie, "Selphie should never say bad words...it just really doesn't sound right, and that's not who you are. If you're picking up bad habits from someone, let me know who so I can kick their ass.......butt. Oh. It's me...Seph, you can't take anything that he says to heart, especially if he's in tough defensive mode. He loves you the same way you love him. We're family, ya know? Remember that line 'We always hurt the ones we love the most.'"
"You're right, I know you're right, but everything always seems to mean so much more coming from his mouth, probably because he doesn't say too much."
"I know. Hey, I'm going to get a bite before my next class. Let's meet up later this evening, ok? You can tell me how the Trabia project is going!"
"Okie dokie!" She said handing Quistis her briefcase back. She gave Quistis a big hug and headed towards the Theater wing. "Bye Quisty!!"
Music: Michelle Branch - Goodbye To You (Radio Mix)
She stood there waving goodbye to Selphie and despite her better judgement, she headed towards the dormitory wing instead of getting something to eat. She was repeating in her head what she would say to everything that he would throw at her, thinking of all the support she could give him, and preparing herself for whatever situation would present itself when he opened the door. The big question on her mind was 'Why am I so nervous?' She dismissed the thought, and pressed the doorchime next to the hatchway into his room and waited. No answer. She then just knocked on the door rather loudly and still no one answered.
Being nervous as she was already, this made her a little paranoid so she pulled out her cardkey and swiped it in the panel and typed in her code that gave her access to any doorway in the Garden. The door opened and she stepped back when she saw what was set out before her. Squall's normally immaculate room was in shambles. Books were on the floor, trash was strewn over counters, the carpet, overflowing from his trashcan, and all over his bed. His SeeD uniform was ripped apart, his leather jacket had half a sleeve torn off and the fur lining was on the floor across the room. Quistis began to get really nervous as she stepped into the room. The word "LIAR!" was burned into one wall , and smoke was still coming from the burn marks leading her to believe that this was very recent. His gunblade was broken in the middle of the blade and the two parts were set an inch apart from each other but the chamber was nowhere to be found. He was nowhere in the room either and the window was wide open with the curtains blowing gently back into the room. She walked over to his bed and sat down with her mouth slightly open in shock at what was happening. She picked up his jacket and held it in her arms solemnly wishing that it were him instead. Then she found a letter that had been under the jacket:
Dear Quistis,
I know with all of my heart that you will be the one
to find this letter. Please don't worry about me. I know that
you will, but I beg you, please don't. The events of the past
few days have me really confused and I just need some time
alone.
I don't know who I am anymore but all I know is
that something is wrong inside me. I feel like I am fighting
someone or something in my spirit, and it's fighting to take
control of my life. I am going to the only person I know that
could help me and I don't know when I will be back.
What I do know is that whatever is wrong, I have
to discover what it is and fix it on my own. Please tell Selphie
that I am sorry for what I told her, and please let Zell know
that he's my best friend. And Quistis, please forgive me for
being such a burden to you. I never wanted it to come to
this, but I am a danger to everyone right now and I don't
want this to be your responsibility any longer.
I love you, Quistis Trepe.
Goodbye,
Squall
She was in tears when she got to the end, but when she read those three words, she inadvertantly looked on the bed where the letter had been laying and found Squall's necklace, battered and bruised, laying in it's place with the chain jumbled up and the pendant on top. She slowly took it in her hands and collapsed off the side of the bed crying on his floor in a little ball. Several emotions went through her mind. Everything from 'I wasn't there for him', to 'I hate him for this', to 'He...loves me.' After several minutes, she put the necklace on, climbed through the debris on his bed and fell asleep on his pillow. Quistis missed her last class that evening.
There was a knock at the door in the pouring rain during the middle of the night. Much too late for visitors. Whoever it was that was knocking was going to get a piece of her mind. She opened the door to find Squall standing there shaking in front of her. He was drenched from head to toe and was wearing a black trench coat over a black t-shirt and jeans. He looked like he had been through hell and through it all, this was where he came.
"...Hello, Rinoa."
End Chapter 3.