Chapter Fourteen:
A/N: This is the token "comedic" chapter, showing just how grown up the SeeDs and SeeD candidates are, or should I say aren't? R&R!
"We will be going from the Garden to Balamb," Xu told the three students under her charge. "From there we will take the train to Timber, and when we get to Timber we will make our connection and get on the train to Galbadia City."
"When are Miss Heartilly and her escort to arrive, Madam?" Adette asked as she shouldered her traveling case.
"Any minute now," Xu said as she checked her watch. She was wearing a sky blue blouse and cerulean skirt. The three students were also wearing civilian clothes: Adette in a black sleeveless shirt and khaki shorts; Phelan in a body-hugging red muscle-shirt and jeans; and Tessa was sporting her usual combination of flannel and blue jeans.
"Can we at least load our stuff?" Tessa asked, her backpack growing heavy in her hand.
"Yes," Xu said unenthusiastically. "And do try to be more respectful of your superiors."
"Sure thing," Tessa said with a sarcastic salute. She popped open the trunk of the vehicle and threw her backpack in it. Phelan followed suit and tossed his pack, which was considerably smaller, in. Adette gently lowered her own in.
"You look different," Phelan told Tessa as he peered at her. He had brought his sword and wore it in a sheath at his side. "I can't quite put my finger on it."
"She's wearing Jayne's collar," Xu said without looking at them. "I'd recognize it anywhere. I just wonder how she got it."
"Who's Jayne?" Phelan asked.
Tessa cracked the knuckles of her left hand. She was wearing black gloves with the fingers cut off, so that her own pale fingers poking through. "Drop it."
"They're here, Madam," Adette said. Tessa turned and saw a woman in a blue dress walking toward them. On her right hand was what looked like a small black and red kite: a projectile weapon. Flanking her were two people, a man and woman.
Tessa recognized the second woman right away; it was her favourite Instructor, Quistis Trepe. The man looked familiar, with his spiked blonde hair and tattooed face.
"Hello, Xu," Quistis said. "We would've been here earlier, but Zell and I couldn't find Rinoa. Apparently she felt it proper to stop by the library before leaving."
"Sorry," Rinoa said as she waved the hand with the weapon on it. "I just wanted something to read on the train."
"It's okay, Miss Rinoa," Xu said as she lowered her hand from her forehead.
"You guys don't have to salute me, I'm not a SeeD," Rinoa said with a laugh. "Be more like the girl in plaid; be laid back."
Tessa looked around and realized she was the only one not saluting Rinoa. "Sorry, Rinoa," Tessa said with a hasty salute.
"Be more respectful!" Xu snapped. "Miss Rinoa may not be a SeeD, but she is still important to this Garden and doesn't deserve your insolence!"
Rinoa laughed and crossed her arms. "Xu, we've known each other how long? You don't have to call me 'Miss Rinoa,' and neither should these students."
"Fine," Xu said. "Antessence, Phelan, load their stuff, we're leaving."
Tessa took a bag from the man named Zell and Phelan grabbed the two Rinoa carried. Quistis didn't have a bag. She tossed the bag in the trunk and climbed into the vehicle. Xu was behind the wheel, waiting for Tessa and Phelan to get in
Adette was sitting in the back, beside Zell. Quistis was sitting in the front with Xu, which left Tessa to sit beside either Adette or Rinoa.
"Why don't you sit here?" Rinoa said as she patted the seat beside her. "There's plenty of room."
Tessa sat beside Rinoa, unable to speak. The vehicle shook as Phelan slammed the trunk shut. He climbed in after Tessa and sat beside Adette, leaving Tessa to shut the door.
"We're ready to go," Quistis told Xu, who in turn started the engine. She flipped a switch on the vehicle's dashboard and a large door began to roll up against the roof of the parking garage.
Turning away from Rinoa, Tessa said, "I didn't know you were coming, Instructor."
"I'm not coming, Miss Matleo," Quistis said. "I'm here to drive the vehicle back to Garden. That's about the extent of my duties. However, I must say it will be a dull five days without you in my class."
"Oh, is this the girl you keep talking about?" Zell said loudly. "The know-it-all who won't shut up?"
"Zell!" Rinoa and Quistis both yelled as Tessa looked at the floor in embarrassment.
"Hey, I didn't… I mean…" Zell stuttered.
"Don't worry about him," Rinoa said as she put a hand on Tessa's back. "He has cement for brains and a big mouth, so don't take him seriously."
"Actually, he's a lot like me, then," Tessa said as she looked up with a grin on her face. "Minus the cement, of course."
"Hey!" Zell yelled, making everyone in the vehicle laugh, except Xu who remained silent.
Tessa looked at the vehicle's other occupants. Adette and Phelan were conversing with Zell, who was boasting of his many exploits in his fight against Ultimecia's forces the year before. Rinoa seemed to know that Tessa wasn't interested, because she tapped her on the shoulder.
"Do you know who I am?" Rinoa asked pleasantly.
"You're Rinoa Heartilly," Tessa said. "The woman who fought against Sorceress Ultimecia."
"Yeah, I'm also a Sorceress," Rinoa said with a laugh. "I don't use my powers, though. After the fight I went to Esthar and had Dr. Odine put this on me."
"Is that an Odine brand Magic Containment Bangle?" Tessa said in awe.
"Yeah, it is," Rinoa confirmed. "I wear it everyday and every night. I take it you do the same with your collar?"
"Huh?" Tessa said. "What are you talking about?"
"This," Rinoa said with a laugh as she stuck her finger between the collar and Tessa's neck. "I've never seen anyone wear a collar before. I must say it is quite interesting, though."
"I got it from a friend, actually," Tessa said, unsure of whether or not she was lying.
"What does this mean?" Rinoa asked as she fingered the half-heart charm.
"I never thought to ask," Tessa said. "I don't really know."
Rinoa laughed and shook her head. "You're more like Zell than you know. You tried to put on a tough gal exterior, all cool and silent. Yet all it took was jewellery to get you to loosen up."
"Hah, Tessa is a girl!" Phelan said with a laugh.
"I will rip your leg off and beat you to death with it!" Tessa yelled back as she hit her left palm with her right fist.
"Dude, you're a Martial Artist, too!" Zell yelled as he showed Tessa his own gloves. "You're like a weaker version of me!"
"Weaker?" Tessa yelled. "Why, because I'm a girl? This girl is going to kick your ass if you say something like that again. I don't care if you helped beat a Sorceress from the future!"
"Shut up back there!" Xu yelled. "I will turn this car around and make you all fail your exams!"
By the time Xu finished, Rinoa was laughing her head off. Tessa turned to her an incredulous look on her face. "You planned this didn't you?"
"Hey, they didn't let me get a book, so I had to entertain myself somehow," Rinoa said with a laugh and shrug.