'You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.'
"So . . . when's she allowed to come back to Balamb?"
"Zell, Irvine told you he didn't know. Why's he gonna know five minutes later?"
The blonde haired boy let out a whine and stared at Rinoa with narrowed blue eyes, before continuing the slight spring to his stance; a sign of his impatient nature.
As soon as Rinoa had received the message on her pager, she had gone with Quistis to prod awake a surly Squall (who would've much rather stayed wrapped in his cocoon of warm sheets) and then proceeded to rush to the front gate, where they found a fervent Zell shadow boxing and bouncing on the balls of his feet. The four had taken a SeeD boat from the harbour, quick thinking on Quistis's part, for she had taken the right set of keys from a locker in the faculty room. When they arrived at the hospital, Irvine was slouching in his chair, looking at the small, sleeping form upon the bed with weary eyes.
"So, Irvine? She's definitely awake, like, for good?"
"Yes Zell."
"And she won't not not wake up?"
"No Zell."
"She's absolutely fine?"
"Yes Zell."
"Oh and she's-,"
"Zell, just shut the hell up . . . please."
The martial artist looked like a scolded puppy at his friend's sudden outburst and felt Quistis' soft hand rest on his left arm, calming his anger ahead of it appearing, before she whispered, "He's had a rough month; he doesn't mean to snap."
A movement under the crisp, white sheets caught everyone's eye. Selphie turned over from her side onto her back, stretching a little as she went. The hand that Irvine was holding wriggled out of his grasp as she lifted it into the air and proceeded to rub her eyes. Letting out a stifled yawn and slipping her hand back into the sharpshooters, she let her eyes open unhurriedly, blinking a few times before they rested on a blonde crest of hair. Selphie barely had time to blink before Zell rushed at her and bounced onto the bed, giving her a hug as best he could with her in a laying position. After a moment or two of startled apprehension, she placed her arms around her friend and gave him a squeeze, inhaling the familiar scent of his hair products.
"I'm so glad you woke up!"
"We all are," Rinoa stepped closer to the bed, her hand slipping from Squalls as she moved toward her friend. "It's not much fun without you around." At this comment, she met a few disgruntled stares from her other friends, which she seemed oblivious to, or rather, chose to ignore. The ebony haired girl joined in the two person huddle on the bed, leaving all but the top of Selphies head showing.
"Hey, I need some air . . ."
She scowled inwardly at the way her voice sounded so feeble; didn't want her friends to hear or see her like this, she'd always been strong around them and felt somewhat disappointed in herself for winding up in a hospital bed. Selphie lightly pushed Rinoa and Zell away before letting out a tiny sigh that could've easily been mistaken for a breath, yet Irvine noticed and wondered what it was that was still weighing so heavily on her mind. Then he realised that waking up from a beaten induced coma was hardly first choice on anyone's list. Quistis placed a medium sized, black duffle bag onto the empty seat across from the one beside the bed, causing the sharpshooter to wonder stupidly what was inside.
"I brought some clothes from you're dorm for you to change into," the blonde instructor spoke, "I didn't know what to bring, but anything's better than those standard issue gowns." She made a distasteful face, hardly a fan of hospital fashion.
"How did you get into my dorm?"
"Oh, well, Cid loaned me a master key card that opens every dorm in the whole of Garden. I hope you don't mind."
"No . . ."
Selphie glanced at the bag, suddenly getting another overwhelming sense of claustrophobia blanketing her body. Abruptly, she kicked the white sheets away from her body and sat up fast; perhaps a little too fast as the sudden movement caused a rush of blood to her head, her vision doubling until she shut her eyes tight and waited for it to settle down. She felt Irvine grip her hand, somehow knowing without seeing that it was his concerned touch she felt on her skin.
"Irvine, I really do need some air. Fresh air. Can we go outside for a bit?"
"Well, I'm not sure if the Doct-,"
"Screw the bloody doctor!"
"Okay, okay, but it's pretty cold out there."
Turning away from Irvine she asked Quistis, "Would you guys wait in here for a bit? Or maybe the hospital cafeteria's open-,"
"At 3 in the morning Sef?" Zell sniggered at his friend, much to her annoyance.
"Oh shut up. I love you all but please; just go away for a bit. I need some time with Irv."
As Squall and Quistis ushered a complaining Rinoa and Zell out of the room, Selphie slipped carefully out of her bed, wincing when she placed her dainty, bare feet upon the cold tiled floor. Reaching around and placing her hands either side of her infirmary gown, she went to tug it up over her head, stopping just in time when she realised Irvine was still present and watching her with a keen interest.
"Can you . . . turn around or something?"
"Or something?" A mischievous glint filled his indigo fused eyes.
Selphie wanted to appear serious and annoyed, not wanting to encourage his flirtatious nature, yet couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. Irvine shut his eyes and clamped his hands over them, but couldn't shake off the feeling that he was peeping. She didn't want to hassle him any further, so simply turned her back to him, shrugging off the hideous robe quickly and rooting around inside the black duffle bag Quistis had placed nearby. Hastily, she wrapped her fingers around something warm and soft, pulling out a dark green mohair jumper with a draping cowl neck. Cursing silently to herself that Quistis didn't appear to have packed her a bra or any knickers, she pulled the thin material jumper on over her head, tugging slightly when the label got caught in her hair. Sitting half naked on a bed which Irvine was only a few feet away from got her nerves jangling, so she looked around at him, certain she'd see his eyes open and a big grin plastered across his face. However, his gloveless hands were still placed over his eyes (whether they were shut underneath or not) and his face seemed somewhat expressionless. Frowning to herself, Selphie dragged out a pair of black jogging trousers and white trainers that she hadn't seen for a while.
Why did she pack these? These! Of all things . . . When I stuff things at the back of my wardrobe, it means I don't WEAR them anymore, Quistis . . .
Glancing back around warily at the sharpshooter sitting opposite, she slithered onto the floor with the sheet wrapped around her unclothed waist, taking the trousers with her.
Now the beds in the way, he won't see anything.
Crouching and trying to get into a pair of jogging bottoms proved to be a challenging feat. Selphie had almost got them up when she fell backwards, having been perched on one foot, and knocked her elbow against a wooden cabinet.
"Oww!"
She heard the scraping of a chair and panicked.
"Are you okay, Sef?"
"Don't get up, don't get up! Sit down! Shut your eyes! I'm fine!"
Irvine laughed, half tempted to look over the bed and see why, exactly, she was on the floor and in what state of apparel she was in.
Huffing loudly, Selphie tugged the trousers on the rest of the way, impatient with her clumsy nature, got up and slipped the worn out trainers onto her small feet.
"You can look now."
Irvine opened his eyes, still sniggering, "Quistis didn't pack you a bra then?"
How does he . . .? Gazing down at herself, she realised that it was rather cold in the room. Quickly crossing her arms about her chest, she glared at Irvine, trying to muster up one of the most evil stares of the decade.
"Let's go outside then, butterfly."
Selphie melted inwardly at all the pet names he had made up for her, and felt rather privileged. After all, he didn't call anyone else butterfly, or sunshine, or babe. It might've sounded corny to others, but she loved the new found attention he lavished on her. She just hoped it was here to stay this time. Irvine saw the distant look in the brunettes bottle green eyes as his hand found hers in a tight embrace. They walked in silence to the front of the hospital, the reception nurse not even giving them a second glance when they went through the automated double doors and out into the open.
The night was cold and biting, yet the sky was free of rain clouds and freckled with bright, blinking stars. When Irvine stopped, Selphie continued onwards, not letting go of his hand but dragging him forwards with a slight tug.
"I want to sit by the docks."
A good ten minutes away from the vivid lights of the hospital, she found herself staring up at the dark, obsidian sky, trying to count the stars littered there in a childish, naïve way. The sharpshooter beside her could see the tiny specks of light reflected in her eyes and stood mesmerized, still coming to terms with the fact that she was awake and right beside him. Selphie leaned into Irvine, still looking up to the heavens, concentrating on the faint, tiny stars in between the brighter ones. She had always thought you found the more hidden ones that way, and it felt more secret, like you were looking at stars that hadn't been discovered and perhaps had been put there only for you. At that moment, the small brunette spoke in a quiet voice.
"Irv . . . do you remember?"
He wrapped both of his arms around her form and pulled her closer against him, resting his head in the crook of her neck.
"Hm?"
"Do you remember . . . back at the orphanage, we used to sit like this for hours in the early evening, staring up at the sky."
"We used to wait for shootin' stars. One night, we saw three in a row."
"Mm. I remember when you'd been adopted, I sat down by the beach, still looking up and wondering if you were looking at the same part of the sky."
"Funny, I used to do the same thing."
"Then there was that day, when you came back to visit. Only Squall, Seifer and I were left by then. No one wanted us; matron put it down the fact that we were stubborn in our own different ways-,"
"You're still stubborn. All of you."
Selphie dug her elbow into him slightly, hard enough to elicit a small intake of breath.
"Anyway, we stood just like this, watching the stars like we used to. Mind you, I can't remember a certain body part sticking into my lower back then."
Irvine could feel his cheeks warm by way of embarrassment, a contrast to the rest of his face which was rather cold. He huffed out a small laugh into her neck, disturbing the chesnut brown locks which were resting there. The tickling movement caused a giggle to start in the girl's throat, and then they were both in fits for reasons of their own. Selphie felt better, being out in the air, despite its icy temperature; felt better for being with the auburn haired man and felt better for laughing away her minds miserable cobwebs.
"Do you think the Doctor is still about?"
"Maybe, why?"
"Well, I was just wondering if he'd let me go back to Balamb with you in the morning."
"No harm in askin'. Don't get you're hopes up too high, though"
Selphie took one long glance at the sky before turning back to Irvine and announcing that they should probably go back in now, though he saw a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Without warning, he stepped in front of her and placed his arms securely around her hips, cuddling her up against his chest. The small form in his arms responded almost immediately in the same manor, her head nestling into him in a way of comfort.
"Everything's goin' to be fine now, Sefie, I promise."
…………………………………………………………
"So, she CAN come home?"
"Yes, that-,"
"Like, NOW?"
"Please Mr Dincht, I would appreciate it if you lowered you're voice, for the benefits of the patients in-,"
"WOO! Selphies coming back baby!"
Quistis kicked Zell in the shin with her particularly lethal high heels she had chosen to wear last night before they made their way to the hospital, leaving a highly hyperactive Zell clutching his leg and gritting his teeth in her direction.
"Thank you Doctor Lauder. As her friend and Instructor, I'll make sure personally that she doesn't overdo it."
"Yes, quite, plus no strenuous missions for a while. Her body is still getting back to terms with itself. She does need to exercise for a small amount of time each day for a week, to get her muscles used to activity again. After that, she can train as normal. I've told Miss Tilmitt all this herself, but would prefer if someone older knew as well."
"I'm only one year older, Doctor."
"That may be so, but I can see you're the responsible one." As he said this, the overweight practitioner gave a distasteful look in Zells direction, who was still concentrating on his weakened leg, much thanks to Quistis.
"Thank you very much for all your help, we'll be in contact if need be."
The collection of friends made their way out of the hospital and towards a waiting Irvine and Selphie beside the SeeD vessel still parked at the quay from the previous night. It was early morning, the sun not yet at its highest and the breeze in the air still harbouring a biting, icy quality. With the swift movement of a press of a button, the electronic entrance to the watercraft hissed open, bumping smoothly back on its hinges. Once inside, Selphie took one long glance at the modern hospital building she was leaving overseas and hoped silently to herself that she wouldn't be returning anytime soon.
…………………………………………………………..
"Did you see everyone looking?"
"Hmm?"
Selphie curled her knees up to her chest and hugged her arms around them.
"Everyone was staring at me when we walked through the dorm hallway."
"No they weren't."
"And whispering . . ."
"Nahhhhh."
"AND giggling. Even the people that I worked with on the festival committee. Why? Do I look funny?"
"Well . . ." Zell ducked the pillow that Selphie had aimed for his face, which now held a cheeky smile, distorting his tattooed cheek. The brunette sunk back into her bed and pulled her favourite toy penguin closer to her heart. It was late evening and she hadn't been alone once. Irvine and Zell had sat in her dorm ever since her arrival in the morning, laughing and joking together. Apart from now, Irvine had excused himself, flitting off out of the door rather quickly once realising the time. He hadn't so much as given Selphie a reason as to why or where he was going, just a quick peck on the cheek and a 'See you later love' was all she got. That was half an hour ago and she had tried not to let her mind runaway with stupid, suspicious questions. The green eyed girl looked down at her blonde friend, who was currently sitting on the floor of her room and playing with a Mr Potato head toy in rather child-like awe of the fiddly item. He'd brought it for her himself a couple of years ago before they barely knew each other. After that, she had suspected he might've been harbouring some innocent crush, but thought nothing of it when they became the closest of friends some time later. In an attempt to get her mind off the whereabouts of Irvine, a question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"Did you ever fancy me?"
The instant she heard her own voice, her face turned a shade of pink, lighting up her cheeks with embarrassment at herself. Meanwhile, the martial artist sitting crossed-legged on the carpet continued fiddling with the items included with the little toy.
"Fancy?"
"Well . . . oh never mind. Shall we put a video on or something?" She tried to change the subject as heat burned upon her features.
"Yeah."
Selphie bounced off her bed and sat at the edge, leaning over to pull out her video compartment that lived underneath her divan, amongst the dust and various odd hair bobbles.
"Okay, what do you want, I've got-,"
"No, I meant yeah, I did used to fancy you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The first time was way back in the orphanage, then again when I next met you here . . . but that only lasted for a little while. You were in Irvine's territory, therefore his property, everyone knew that."
The brunette frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, disliking Zells use of words.
"I was not 'Irvine's property'! I didn't even know him when I transferred!"
"Hmm."
"So, what was the deal with Mr Potato head?"
"I bought you him back then, because I liked him and thought we could play together."
Selphie began to laugh behind her hand, desperately trying to stop herself, knowing that Zell was extremely sensitive when it came to girls and dating. He noticed her stifled attempts even before she had started making little snickering noises, so got up from his position and sat on her lap, deftly crushing her.
"I won't move until you stop laughin' at me, Miss Tilmitt."
"But . . . you're heavy!" The petite girl was indeed being compressed by having a short yet rather heavy martial artist perched haphazardly on her legs, making her temporarily immobile.
Giving three little bounces, Zell finally let off, managing to ignore the fact that his friend was still having a laugh at his expense. He knew he was clueless when it came to girls and how to draw them in, he didn't need anyone rubbing it in.
It was after Selphie had calmed down that she breached the subject of why Irvine had gone rushing off in such a hurry. It was up to Zell to have to come up with excuses . . .
………………………………………………………..
Quistis' high heeled boots let off a reverberating clacking noise as she made her way down the second floor corridor and towards the elevator. She was on her way to Cid Kramers office, having dropped of the much cosseted confession tape earlier in the day, just as Selphie had been seen safely to her dorm. Currently, she had not been called via phone, pager or intercom up to see the Headmaster, so thought it best to take things into her own hands and pay him a visit herself. After all, he had been known as a rather forgetful man now that he was getting on in life and happened to brush the most important things aside without realising it. Quistis was never one to worry herself, yet she found her pulse skipping and her hands growing clammy. She was aware that Cid was a gentle soul, and had been a worthy father figure to her in the past but he was also a very fair man and would not overlook her part in the evidence letting. Smoothing her dress free of imaginary creases, she raised a hand to knock upon the double oak door to his headquarters. Before she got a chance however, it swung open and a young dark haired girl, visibly a junior student, scurried out holding some sort of pamphlet in her hands. Quistis watched her scuttle down the hallway, before stepping in through Cids door. Despite her earlier worries, she was greeted with a warm smile from the older man as she sat down opposite him on one of the plush chairs inhabiting the room.
"Hello Quistis, what is it I can do for you?"
"Well, it's about the tape I sent in earlier . . . have you-,"
"Ah yes," His mood seemed to darken somewhat as he leaned forward, "We shall have to talk about that. I've listened to it, in private you understand, and I've also read through the scripture you printed out."
"I'm aware that I was also in the wrong, but Selphies a dear friend and I couldn't just let them-,"
Cid held up a hand, signalling Quistis to calm down and be silenced. She took a deep breath and slumped back in her seat; the perfect poise she usually took on completely forgotten.
"What happened was a very serious matter-,"
"I'm really, very sorry."
"Not what you did, although that could be considered dire in itself, I'm talking about what those three girls did to poor Selphie. All this was taking place in my own Garden, right under my own nose. I feel appalled at myself for not taking more notice."
"Please don't. None of us knew until it was too late. Selphie has a habit of keeping things to herself so as to appear cheerful to the outside world."
"How is she?"
"She's not on top of the world, but she's managing."
"She'll be fine in no time if she has friends as fine as you nearby."
Quistis smiled slightly, recognising the complement in his words.
"If you don't mind me asking . . . do you have an apt punishment planned for the three? And well … I don't expect myself to get off free, I understand what I did was wrong too."
"I think it's fair to for me to add one red warning to your Instructor's card. Bear in mind that if this reaches the limit of three, you will lose your license and permission to teach at Balamb Garden."
"Yes, Sir."
"No need for formalities, Quistis! As for the others, I think I'll intercom them up now and tell them face to face. That's fair."
Quistis shuffled around rather unceremoniously on her feet, an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach upon hearing Cid speak with authority into the small microphone on his desk. She sat herself down upon one of the maroon velveteen chairs in the room, crossed one leg over the other and kept her hands busy by smoothing out her skirt across her knees. The shrill arrival noise of the elevator ping echoed down into the office shortly followed by a multiple clacking of heels and a squeaking of hinges as the oaken door was pushed open. All three girls strolled in together, Celia had a look of defiance on her face but the other two were looking a little more sheepish with signs of worries crossing their brows. Cid stood up from behind his desk and walked around to the front, his arms held behind his back with his hands clasped.
"State your names and candidate numbers."
"Celia Rosmund, SeeD 304."
"Nichi Dumont, SeeD 143."
"Amber Powell, SeeD 639."
"I trust you know why you're all here in my office?"
Celia turned her head slowly and looked with stone cold eyes at the blonde Instructor in the room. Although Quistis tried not to let it show, something about the glare made her feel unsafe being in the same place as this malicious girl. She couldn't understand how someone could act so heartless to a person and not feel any guilt over their actions.
When no one replied to the headmaster's question, he retrieved the small tape player from behind his bureau and pressed play.
"Sir, that's obviously not us! You must be a senile old fool to believe that."
Ignoring Celia's rude comment, the older man turned to Amber who he considered to be the most likely to give information going by the distraught look on her features.
"Is this tape real? Did you all admit to bullying and rendering unconscious a fellow student? Remember, lies only make the situation worse."
Amber could feel her friend's eyes burning into her, begging her not to tell him anything, but the extreme pressure she was being put under caused her to bend and break.
"It was us."
"You will be justly punished for this. You have violated several of Gardens disciplinary codes which I'm afraid will consequent in a harsh reprimand. Celia Rosmund, you are being expelled from Balamb Garden and all surrounding Gardens. A permanent mark will be put on your SeeD record, which will make it hard for you to get training and missions. You have forty-eight hours to vacate the premises. We do not tolerate incidents of this kind."
Celia let her steely gaze drop down to the floor slowly before she raised them again, full of anger.
"You can't do that! What will my parents say! My dad will sue you."
"Don't worry, your parents will be fully aware of the situation by the time you're gone. Please do not threaten me Miss Rosmund, or I will have the garden faculty escort you out."
"This is unfair!"
"I would say it's a justifiable penalty. I have also signed you into a Rehabilitation centre in the fields of Winhill for six months. You can sort out any problems you have there-"
"Problems! I don't have problems. Shouldn't you be sending that cow Tilmitt there? She's the one who tried to kill herself!"
Quistis stood up and rested her hands on her hips. "And why was that I wonder? You made her life a living hell. Don't you even have one shred of decency in you? The world would be a far better place without people like you in it!"
Celia was just about to counteract when two robed faculty members stepped in through the door. Cid motioned to them, "Please take Miss Rosmund to her dormitory and monitor her until she leaves."
"I don't believe this!" As the two authoritarians went to take hold of her wrists, she shrugged them away violently. "Don't touch me; I can take myself out of this shit hole!"
Although it was unlike her, Quistis couldn't help shooting the blonde girl a smug smile of satisfaction. Her attention was taken back to the other two girls when Cid spoke up. They were watching their friend with worry and fear written in their eyes.
"Amber Powell and Nichi Dumont, I do not believe you played as great a role in this as Celia Rosmund did. Instructor Trepe informed me of her leadership in your little . . . posse. You will both be transferred to different Gardens, separate from each other. You are also signed up for a rehabilitation program, in different centres, lasting for three months to help you overcome any problems you may have. A permanent red mark will go on your student record, which differs from your SeeD record, but is still serious none-the-less."
The two girls nodded their heads in unison, trying to make sense of all that had happened in the past half an hour.
"How long do we have before we're transferred and which Gardens are we going to?" Amber asked in a quiet voice.
"You will be transferring back to your old garden, Galbadia. Nichi, you will be going to Trabia Garden and you'll both be escorted to your destinations in forty-eight hours via SeeD vehicles. It'll be a shame to see you go; I had a lot of hope instilled into you two. Anyway, that's the past now, you are dismissed."
Nichi, looking rather lost in her own confident way, turned without a word and walked out of the room, slamming the door. Amber however gave a little smile to Cid and Quistis.
" . . . I'm sorry."
"We're sorry too; sorry that it had to come to this."
The fair haired girl pouted her lips a little in disappointed manner before she too spun on her heels and walked to the exit, shortly followed by her Instructor who was on her way to tell her brunette friend the good news. . .
…………………………………………………….
A/n: Only one more chapter left and possibly an epilogue. Thanks for reading!