A/n: This one took a bit longer to get up, but i hope you all like it. Again, thanks for all your reviews. ♥ ♥ ♥
"Never say goodbye, if you still want to try. Never give up if you feel you can go on. Never say you don't love a person, if you can't let go."
Selphie opened the bathroom door and stepped out, wrapped in a fluffy yellow toweling robe which seemed pale and frayed with age, and much too big for her lithe frame.
Her hair was wet, but not dripping, and appeared a much darker shade of brown than usual, making her porcelain features and emerald green eyes stand out.
Behind her, Selphie shut the door, not wanting the steam from her bath to escape and set off the sensitive fire alarm in her room. Irvine lay on her bed, propped up against her pillow, cowboy hat next to his side and arms crossed behind his head.
Looking up, he gave her a smile fit to melt the heart of any sane girl.
"Y'have a nice bath?"
Nodding, Selphie went over to her bed, clutching her robe shut with both hands, in case the belt holding it shut decided to fail her.
After Zell had left, Irvine had run Selphie a deep warm bath, putting in tons of her favourite strawberry bubble bath. He'd even knocked on the door and offered to wash her hair for her, but she'd refused. She had her suspicions that he might've been trying it on, even though the mass amount of bubbles kept her whole body covered.
"Want me to leave, so you can get dressed?"
"No . . . stay here."
Selphie, although feeling a little awkward, forced herself to get onto her bed next to him and lay down. She left a small space in between her body and his, knowing that she might be giving off the wrong signals to him, but didn't care. Her body was still aching from the beating she had taken, and to put on clothes seemed too much of an effort to her at the moment.
Selphie didn't notice Irvine's left arm draped around her shoulders until he decided to pull her closer to him in one swift, gentle movement. The towel that was wrapped around her wet hair had fallen off on the bed, leaving it damp against the side of Irvine's face.
She felt him pushing up closer to her, and heard him inhale deeply.
"Mm, you smell good enough to eat, I reckon."
Selphie smiled at his southern-like Galbadian drawl, turned onto her side (careful not to make the pain in her loins flare up) and burrowed into his side, much resembling a small rodent.
She was still aware that only a few days ago, he had been with her worst enemies and still resented him just a little bit for it. But . . . things were getting better, and although she still felt depressive at times, she knew that with the chance of Irvine staying by her side, and with the help of her friends, she would soon conquer her demons one by one, whether it took a week, a month, a year or a lifetime.
Irvine was now holding Selphie in a tight embrace, making her head press up next to his broad chest, her ear in line with his heart. With the room being silent and the hall outside free of students, his steady heartbeat and the soft sound of him breathing was all she could hear. She soon felt the heavy blanket of sleep enveloping her and letting her senses and mind take a rest. What seemed to be a few minutes later, Irvine shifted next to her, pulling her back into the daylight of the world.
Selphie felt rather annoyed that he'd woken her, but when she felt him running his fingers through her damp, entangled hair, all bad-tempered thoughts seemed to dissolve with each new touch of his hands.
Irvine looked down at the girl next to his side, her forest green eyes gazing up at him with such intensity, that it seemed to wake up every nerve and emotion in his body.
With him still stroking her drying chesnut tresses, Selphie watched Irvine's eyes crinkle up slightly at the corners, in what appeared to be a slight smile. She became lost in the swirling colours of his sapphire-indigo eyes as he leaned in towards her in what appeared to be the beginnings of a kiss.
At that very moment however, just as their lips were about to touch for the first time in months, someone had chosen to knock sharply three times on the door.
Selphie could tell that Irvine was a tad annoyed, because she heard him curse under his breath when he slipped off the bed. She herself was a bit chagrined, but was also curious to see who was in need of her. Of course, they both expected none other than Zell, master of bad-timing. The knack of walking in on people in important moments came naturally to him, so much so that it should've been a skill on his personal SeeD report.
But, Irvine opened the door to a slightly concerned looking Quistis.
"Oh, hello Irvine, Selphie's there I assume?" she asked, looking somewhat amused.
Irvine opened the door further, mumbling something incoherent and probably rude as Quistis stepped inside and shut the door.
"Hello Selphie"
Selphie sat up and hugged her robe around herself, which seemed to be exposing her legs due to her change of position.
"Hey Quis. Aren't you usually teaching at this time?"
"Oh no. Well, I was supposed to be, but I think this is more important. Erm, can I sit down?"
"Oh sure . . ." Selphie patted the space next to her on her bed. Quistis unclasped her hands from in front of her and sat down next to her friend, giving a smile to Irvine, who was over in the far corner, slouched into Selphies yellow bean bag with his legs open.
"So . . . what's important?"
Quistis faced her smaller, younger friend, looking her over for signs of her earlier torment.
"Well, I heard what happened earlier on . . . with those three girls, and I wanted to see if you were okay and-,"
Selphie, not being one granted with patience, interrupted her, "Who told you? Was it Zell? I bet it was Zell . . ."
Quistis took off her glasses, which she still had perched atop the bridge of her nose, probably from earlier teaching.
"Yes, it was him, was he not suppose to tell anyone?"
Selphie sighed, "No. I mean, I didn't tell him to keep it quiet, but I guess I didn't want it spread around either."
"Oh no. It won't be. I'm not going to tell anyone . . . but . . ."
"But what?"
Quistis shuffled around uncomfortably.
"Quis? Tell!"
"Ohh, I just think that maybe someone higher should know whats going on between you and these girls. Maybe you should tell Cid."
Selphie moved position, curling her legs up underneath her.
"The Headmaster?!"
"Yes . . . but you don't have to," Quistis quickly added on. She didn't want to be around if Selphie lost her temper. She was quite the firecracker once she got started.
"I . . . don't really want to."
"I'm just worried about you. I'm not just an Instructor, you know. I'm your friend too. I care."
Selphie looked up from her duvet, to her blonde girl friend. She always acted so much older than everyone, and was always the responsible one out of the orphanage group. Selphie could remember back when they were toddlers. She had fallen and scraped her knee against one of the rough boulders near the ocean, causing a small cut. Quistis was first on the scene, dressed up in a little nurse's hat, a fake stethoscope dangled around her neck. Whilst Selphie was crying, she had patched up her knee with a plaster, and hugged her, telling her not to cry. Then they had both gone off and played with their little pink tea cups and teddy bears.
"I know you're my friend. And I know you care, but . . . this is something I have to sort out myself . . . maybe with just a little help from you guys."
Quistis smiled softly and leaned into Selphie. They both sat there cuddling tightly for a while, until Selphie noticed a dirty smirk plastered on Irvine's face.
"Stop it!"
Quistis pulled away, not at all bothered by the comment made.
"That wasn't directed at you, Quisty.Irvine's being a perv."
"Hey, no I'm not! Just . . . enjoying the touching moment."
"Perv."
"Am not."
"Are."
"Not"
The blonde instructor brought her small hand up to her mouth and sniggered behind it.
"You two are so cute."
"Yeah . . . what you up to now, Quis? Gonna 'accidentally' bump into Seifer and then 'accidentally' go into the storage closet?" Irvine quipped, a naughty glint appearing in his eye as he twirled his hat in his hands.
Quistis got up and placed her hands on her curvy hips, a frown starting to grow on her soft features.
"There is absolutely nothing going on between Seifer and me. He's my student . . . that's all. I give him a bit of extra help."
"Yeah, in the bedroom department!"
"No . . ."
"Yes."
Quistis rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well. Selphie take care, maybe we can all meet up soon and have a good time?"
"Yeah. Okay. Rinoa's the arranging one; she's probably arranging something right now."
"Yes, well, I have to get back to boring old instructor work. I'll see you two later."
She gave Selphie a goodbye hug and waved to Irvine before slinking out of the door, leaving the two alone again.
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Zell had plenty of time to think and bring all his angry thoughts to a standstill whilst looking for a certain three girls, but never being one to think about his actions, he carried on rampaging through hallways and classrooms on his search.
Just as he was turning into the Quad, he bumped straight into none other than Seifer.
"Well, well. If it ain't the chicken."
"Move out, asshole. I'm not in the mood for you."
Seifer placed a hand on his chest and smirked, making the corner of his bottle green eyes crease up.
"Oh, chicken, you break my heart."
Zell mumbled something and pushed past Seifer. He simply scoffed and walked out of the entrance shaking his head.
On the benches, down the stairs in front of him sat the three he had been filled with hatred over. The three that had caused him this massive, rampant search around Balamb Garden, his blood boiling in his veins out of compassion for his friend whom they had hurt so much.
Zell watched them flicking their long hair and flailing their arms out of excitement through gossiping as he stamped over to them.
Amber was the first to look up at his oncoming approach and also the first to spit out venomous words.
"Why the hell is that short-ass idiot coming over to us?!"
Celia looked up from polishing her Crescent Wish, which was coloured the most ghastly bright pink you could've ever seen.
She wouldn't even have to swing that; monsters would take one look at it and pass out.
Zell smirked at his thought before stopping in front of them with his toned arms crossed over his chest.
"What do you want, punk?"
Nichi giggled and mocked kindness, "Aw, didn't anyone tell you . . . That era ended years ago honey."
Zell frowned.
"The hell are you talkin' about? Haven't you ever looked at yourself? Side show freaks went out of business in the 1900's, girls."
Gasps of "He's so rude" and "Oh My God" came from the girls on the bench beside him.
Celia stood up at this and placed a hand on his chest. Despite her having about 5 inches on his height, Zell didn't feel the least bit intimidated.
"You can't say that to us. Why don't you just leave?"
"Nah, that's okay, I'll just stay right here," he replied, whilst shrugging free of Celia's hand on his body.
"Celiaaa, get rid of him, his ugliness is blinding me!"
Zell looked down at Nichi, who was laughing like a little girl with Amber.
"If I'm ugly, then damn, you must be hideous."
Nichi flicked her silky hair behind her ears and looked at him like he was an unknown kind of species.
"Speaking of ugly . . . how's our best friend Self harmer Tilmitt doing? Hasn't tried to kill herself because of us again has she? That'd be a terrible loss!"
All three girls got a weird glint in their eyes as they laughed and Celia stuck out her bottom lip, pretending to cry.
"Boo hoo, I'm sad because the shop didn't sell that little black dress I wanted. I know, I'll go and slit my wrists open with a razor."
Once again, cruel laughter ensued, along with a lot of mixed in comments about Selphie.
Catching Celia off guard, Zell brought his leg back and kicked Celia I her ankle, causing it to buckle. With a yelp, she fell to the floor with a hard thump and a clatter of heels.
She quickly pulled down her short pleated uniform skirt, which had gathered at her waist after the fall.
Amber and Nichi jumped up from their seated position and went to their friend to ask if she was okay.
"Do I look okay? That pervert short-ass, I hate him!"
Zell watched the two friends next to her glance at one of Celia's shoes, then exchange worried glances.
"Um, Cel . . . maybe you shouldn't look down . . ."
"Huh? Why, wha- AHHH!! MY SHOE He broke my heel!! Not only were they expensive, they're VINTAGE! One of a kind!"
Zell laughed, amused at how hysterical she had become over such an unimportant matter.
"You IDIOT!"
Celia still had her Crescent Wish on her, but it was slipped into a holster like black belt with fake diamond studding on it. Zell was fast to react when he saw her reaching for it. After all, he was 11 SeeD ranks above her.
Not being able to do much with her bottom sat on the floor, she pushed herself up, lacking the grace and agility any fighter should have.
I can't believe they ever let someone like her into Garden in the first place. What good would she be on a mission?!
Anger flared behind her eyes, just as she was about to swing her weapon in his direction.
However, she didn't even get the chance to do this, as Zell immediately bent his leg at the knee and shot it out into her stomach so fast that she didn't even have time to register that he was fighting back.
As Celia wheezed and clutched her abdomen, blonde hair falling over her face, her friends still sat on the floor, mouths agape in surprise at the force that the blonde male had struck their ringleader with.
"Get up bitches!" Zell spat, bouncing on his heels and shadow boxing, buzzing with adrenalin.
Amber and Nichi were in the process of getting up anyway, but they appeared to be answering his command. Zell didn't know what weapons these two were skilled in, but he figured that they couldn't be very good at it, seeing all they did included skipping lessons to go shopping, bully others and gossip.
Quick as a flash, he shot his fist out into Amber's lower stomach and hooked his foot around the bottom of Nichi's left leg, causing her to fall front ways to the hard tiled floor.
Zell moved back to Celia, who swung her horrendous pink Crescent Wish at him, hitting him on his right side with a smack.
"Who the fuck do you think you're fooling with, Dincht?"
Zell left hooked her around the shoulder and punched her again with his right fist, landing it into her already hurt stomach.
"Obviously someone with shitty reflexes."
Whilst she was huffing for air again and doubled over, Zell glanced to his left where Nichi was standing. Her lip was cut open from where she had fallen, and was dripping blood down the front of her uniform. Amber was walking towards her friend, trying to escape.
Zell decided to let them go. The real person he was angry with was right in front of him, coughing and gritting her teeth. The blonde, air headed leader. Where-ever she went, they were sure to follow, but it looked as if they had abandoned her in a time of need.
"Where are your friends now, huh?"
Zell drop kicked her whilst she was still half bent over, causing her to fall to the floor again.
"Must be becomin' a familiar place down there . . ."
Getting a little carried away, he ploughed his foot into her side twice.
"How'd you like bein' kicked shitless? Huh? Huh?"
Celia groaned.
"Not much fun is it?"
Upon hearing footsteps behind him, Zell turned around and saw the two girls return, followed by an angry looking Seifer.
Shit.
Seifer took one look at him, then one look at Celia, who had pulled herself up and now sat on the bench slumped, with blood coming out of her mouth.
"What the fuck have you done, chicken?!"
Despite feeling a bit shaky about the presence of his long time enemy, Zell stood his ground and folded his arms over his chest once again.
"I gave her a taste of her own medicine. What does it look like?"
The taller blonde came striding up to him, grey trench coat flapping out behind, followed by Amber and Nichi.
Coming face to face, Seifer bent down, patronizing Zell and leaning in close.
"Don't get smart with me, you little shit. So what if she beat up your annoying girlfriend, she had it comin'."
Zell clenched his fist, "Selphie's not my girlfriend! And she didn't deserve any of the crap that they've given her!"
"Well, they want that cowboy of yours, God knows why though . . .And she's still in the way, so looks like you ain't gonna stop them anytime soon . . ."
Seifer brought the side of his trench coat back and fingered the handle of Hyperion.
"I'd go if I was you, or I'll shove my gunblade up your ass so far, you'll have it comin' out of your mouth."
Zell was fuming inside, but dealing with Seifer was not as easy as dealing with three retarded blonde girls who thought they ruled the world.
"You'd better keep a close eye on Selphie too. Wouldn't want her to get hurt now, would we?"
The mocking undertone in Seifers words made Zell suspicious and curious. He decided not to question, but to take his advice and leave rather hastily. Without having to look behind him, he could feel Seifers eyes burning into the back of his skull with a hatred that made him shiver.