First off, thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter! Alright, that being said I reeeaaalllly like this chapter so please please PLEASE review for me. I haven't been able to write the way I'd like to in a long time but I think my writing abilities are coming back to me. If you're wondering, the lyrics used in the last chapter were from the song "Dreaming of You" by the Coral, and the chapter before that was from "The Chauffer" by Duran Duran, but the inspiration came from the sneaker pimps cover, and the lyrics used below are from the song "Lolita" also by the sneaker pimps. Enjoy chapter 5!
Chapter 5: It's a Long Hard Road Out of Hell
She was soft
She was unbroken
Dressed in the pink
That she wore as a token
To the summer
To the summer
Time will make you see a sky in different light, but it's the same sky. Time will change the things around you, trees will grow and grass will die, but it's still the same tree and it's the same dirt. Time changes you as a person, it will take you and rearrange the parts and pieces until you're something new altogether…But you're still the same person aren't you? Though change inevitably dictates our life, things keep up with a certain consistency…Things change, but they stay the same…
Time can make days seem like years, and hours seem like seconds if you let it. You can't trust time because it likes to play games with you…It's an entity, it's a presence that has a rather selfish sense of humor, but in the end it always has a purpose. Fate is Times companion in a little game called life…
Something bright was hitting her eyes in the most pleasant of ways, if that makes any sense at all. It was the kind of light that is warm and reassuring, not just annoying and wakening. This was the light of a new morning, singing out to those who slept soundlessly in their comfortable beds…Dreaming their lives away with no regrets. It tickled her eyelids, teasingly asking them to open up and face another day. Another day of her routine, another day of teaching, grading papers and the occasional coffee to keep her going. It wasn't a happy prospect to say the least. For once though, Quistis didn't feel a sense of dread, something was stopping her.
It was at that moment, as she opened her eyes and fuzzily made out unfamiliar territory that she realized her body was pressed against another. She remembered what had happened the previous day with Seifer…She must have slept through the whole night there with him. A smile crept onto her lips as she drank in the feeling of being there in this situation.
She was laying on her left side with him wrapped around her almost protectively. Something told her that this was kind of a big deal for Seifer, even if he didn't realize it. A one night stand was one thing, but this was…Intimate. Quistis liked to think that he had never had something like this before, something that just felt so comforting and, well, right.
As consciousness began to set in she was able to make out an alarm clock on his nightstand. It read 7:45 AM. That was not a good thing.
"Crap!" she somehow managed to get out from Seifer's grasp and stood up quickly. He stirred and looked at her in sleepy confusion. She expected him to make some comment that went along the lines of "instructor? What the hell are you doing in my dorm?" but it never came.
"Where you going? He asked drowsily.
"It's 7:45, you and I are both late for class," she started looking herself over in the mirror, horrified to see that her normally perfect outfit was full of wrinkles and her hair was a bunny mess.
"Ugh," Seifer groaned and put his head into his pillow, obviously not too thrilled with the idea of getting up at all.
"Seifer you have to get up, you've missed five days of class already," she crossed her arms and watched as he just waved a hand at her and groaned. "Okay you asked for it Almasy."
Quistis stepped the far left side of the bed where she had just risen from. With more than a little effort required she lifted up the mattress just enough to send Seifer toppling over the other side.
"Shit! Geez woman, I'm injured remember," he actually felt fine now, just tired but hey it was worth a try.
"Up! Up! Up!" she clapped her hands as she yelled.
"I'm up, I'm up!" He stood up looking thoroughly disgruntled but the sight of him made her laugh. He had a very sour look on his face, along with sleep lines and his hair was all messed up.
"And what's so funny?" he asked, not amused.
"Nothing, nothing," she moved around the bed to wear he was and gently smoothed his hair out. "That's better," her hand lingered on his face for a moment. He was looking at her with the strangest expression on his face. "What?"
He kissed her. We're not talking a peck or a little affection, but he passionately kissed her. She knew it was wrong, she knew this whole thing was crazy and wrong and altogether bad but…When she was with him she couldn't trust herself, so she brought her hands up his bare chest and around his neck. It wasn't like her to be so…Aggressive, or agree to aggressiveness but she just couldn't help it.
Seifer brought his arms around her waist and brought her down on the bed. His hand felt its way to her thigh as he began to kiss her neck fervently. His breath was hot against her skin, making her breath a little labored.
"Wait," she breathed, barely audible, and certainly not to him. It took all her will power to push him away from her a little bit. "We can't do this…We have to get to class." He sighed and leaned against her.
"Yeah you're right," he didn't sound too convinced but he climbed off her and helped her up.
"Get dressed," it came out more of an order than she intended.
"Yes Instructor," was he mad at her now? Why was he mad at her? He should be happy she let him get as far as he had. Hell, if there wasn't class right now who knows where it would have ended…It may not have. Once again she glanced at the clock, it was nearly 8 o'clock.
"Shit! Get dressed FAST," she took her hair down from its messy clipped style and shook it out with her hands. It would have to do for now. She hooked the clip through her belt loop, where her whip would usually be, but not today apparently. "Ready."
"Dam my coat must still be in the infirmary," he was never seen without that thing. Besides that he was dressed as usual with the dark blue vest lined in silver and topped off with the silver cross in the middle along with his black pants and boots.
"No time," she grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the dorm. Luckily everyone was in classes or else it would have looked pretty bad if someone saw them coming out together.
They practically sprinted to the elevator and into the classroom where everyone was sitting and talking boredly. As soon as the two walked in all attention turned toward them. Quistis blushed as she realized they had hastily came in together, out of breath and not look particularly put together…Basically it looked like they had just been "doing it" which they almost were.
"Umm…" quick, quick think of something! She turned to Seifer, "And I don't want you to EVER try and pull an antic like that again or else I will personally see to it that you never become a SeeD DO YOU UNDERSTAND," oh he understood, and he played along.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah Instructor, save it for someone who'll listen," with that he smirked and turned away to his seat.
"Oh and Mr. Almasy?" she said with a sweetly acidic tone.
"What not?" he didn't even turn around.
"That will be two weeks of detention with me personally to make sure you learn your lesson," everyone in the class cringed, detention with Instructor Trepe was NOT something to EVER look forward to. However, this was a different kind of "personal" detention, and he knew it.
"Lookin' forward to it teach," he said sarcastically and sat down.
"Alright class, I'm sorry for being nearly an HOUR late, thank Seifer for that," she sat down. "I had planned on going over junctioning magic for defense again today considering that nearly all of you failed last weeks quiz…But due to the fact we only have an hour left today and I my patience has already been tried this morning I think I'm going to let you go for the rest of the class," whooping sounds came from nearly the entire class along with sighs from the Trepies, "However! However, I want you all to spend an hour in the training center today to make up for it, and because its Friday I want you to get at least four hours over the weekend."
"Four hours?! Ugh that's so unfair," one of the students said and the others mumbled their agreement.
"Yes, yes, yes I know I'm an awful person, too bad. So on Monday that needs to be six logged and confirmed hours got it?" there were unhappy yeses all around. "Alright then get out of here and enjoy your weekend."
Everyone quickly gathered up there things and headed towards the door, that is, except the usual hoard of Trepies.
"And Seifer," she called as they began to leave, "Please stay so I can discuss your detention."
He glowered and headed back in the classroom before sending the annoying fan club a venomous look. They all gasped and left rather panicked.
"I never knew you were such an actress Instructor," a smile played on his lips.
"And I never knew you could get dressed so fast," she stood up and cam to the front of her desk, "had a lot of practice in leaving a bed in a hurry?"
"You wound me to insinuate that I would ever hit it and quit it," he leaned against the table behind him.
"The fact that you just said the words "hit it and quit it" proves my point," she laughed as she spoke.
"Would you have preferred sail and bail? Weave and leave? Grind and leave behind? Do it and screw it? Screw it and—"
"Okay I get you're point!" she sat on her desk and crossed her legs.
"So," he pushed off against the table and took a step or two towards her.
"So." She repeated, smiling.
"Was it good for you?" he smirked arrogantly.
"What, you mean the carrying you naked through the halls to your dorm last night?" his smile vanished. "You're pretty heavy, I think you need to lose some weight."
"Me lose weight? Please, I it took YEARS to get this bo—Did you really just say what I think you said?"
"Well no," her words made him looked relieved, "you were in your boxers, hm I always figured you for a boxer-brief kind of man myself."
"Oh so you've thought about me in my underwear now?" ah ha he had the upper hand.
"And you haven't?"
"Thought about me in my underwear? All the time, you see this whole persona I have of being in love with myself is actually true, it's the perfect relationship really," he took a few more steps towards her, he was close now.
"Oh really?" she uncrossed her legs and put her hands on his hips, edging him closer to her. "That could be a problem for us."
"What 'us'? You're just a booty call," he flicked his head up indignantly. However upon seeing her rather angry expression he thought it would be best to take it back…Quick. "Hey I'm just kidding."
"Hmph, not funny," she crossed her arms, only semi mad, "besides in order to be a booty call you'd have to actually get some and we both know that's not happening."
"Riiiight," he took a step back and crossed his arms as well, "you know you want me."
"Oh please," she hopped off her desk. Who could ever imagine, Quistis Trepe, top notch instructor actually wanting a guy like Seifer Almasy.
"Just admit it you want me," he put his arms on either side of her, leaning on her desk, "you're just aching for another go."
"Did you really just say 'aching for another go?' Who do you think you are Rico Suave?" she wasn't sure if he was trying to turn her on or make her punch him in the face.
"As a matter of fact that fool has nothing on me," he ran a hand through his blond hair. Of course she wanted him, every girl wanted him. She snorted in reply. "What? I could have any girl in the entire Garden."
"Uh huh," she returned to her desk and began to sort through some papers, chuckling to herself.
"It's true!"
"I believe you…" she began to crack up. "…Really I do hahahaha" he was actually not very happy with the way this conversation was going. I if there was one thing Seifer hated it was having his manhood challenged, and this sure as hell felt like a challenge.
"Why don't you think I could get any girl? Hm?"
"Well, no offense, but you aren't exactly…the nicest person," she hadn't meant to say that, she really hadn't, after all he hadn't been that bad lately. "I mean…You are, just when you want to be, and that doesn't seem to be too often."
"Don't go trying to psycho analyze me Instructor," who the hell was she to judge him? Who the hell was she to laugh at him like that?! He suddenly remembered why he always gave her such a hard time: she was a pain in the freaking ass. Here she was being judgmental of him when she was no gem herself, yes, she was hot, but she had problems too.
"I'm not," her laughter faded when she saw the seriousness on his face. She hadn't meant to offend him, she really hadn't. Ugh why did she always do this? She always managed to push his buttons.
"Well what does that say about you then little miss perfect," and here comes the asshole, "if I'm such a bad, mean person then why are you with me?!"
"Am I with you Seifer?" She never took his crap, he knew she would fight him back. She stood up once again and made her way towards him. "As far as I know we've only kissed and that hardly makes for an 'us.'"
That was the wrong thing to say and she knew it. Usually she was calm and had the uncanny ability to handle any situation even if it meant denying her real opinions. Every once and a while she'd slip though, she'd let the flood gates open and the mean Quistis would come out; the mean and stupid Quistis.
"Oh so you just get your kicks from fooling around with the big bad wolf is that it?" he was moving around the classroom now in fast angry strides just aching to take his Hyperion and slice open a computer. "Am I your toy Instructor? Well let do a little analyzing of my own; you're a bossy mediocre teacher. You are so desperate for the approval of others that you try to make yourself purpose even if that means losing yourself in the process. You've done all you can to be the sweetheart of Balamb Garden, hell you even have your own fan club and while you act like its annoying I know that deep down you probably love the fact your worshipped because it gives you that little reassurance you need. NEWSFLASH QUISTIS, you don't need everyone to like you, or respect you, or envy you all the time. You make yourself so ideal that you're untouchable, and that is why you've been alone. And you certainly aren't Balamb's sweetheart or else you wouldn't have anything to do with me."
Quistis didn't stay anything, she too shocked to. Sure she had been witness to an Almasy rant before, but nothing with sincerity; it had always been arrogant back talk and insults. He meant this though, wanted to get under her skin and he knew exactly how to do it. The worst thing about it was that it was true…She wouldn't admit it of course. She wasn't that needy was she? Is that how people saw her? It hurt…It really did…How did the conversation turn around so quickly from flirting to…This? Well, she wasn't about to let him see how much he affected her.
"At least I'm a SeeD," she hissed with a glare.
It was his turn to say nothing, instead he just smiled shook his head and gave a little a laugh of disbelief. He continued laughing as he walked towards the automated doors and then he stopped and turned towards her.
"That was a low blow, and you're better than that," he walked out the door, leaving their loud closure in his wake.
Almost in a zombie-like trance she went back and sat at her desk. She felt numb, like someone had cast sleep on her, only this was much worse. It was worse because he was right, she had stooped to a new low just to hurt him…Hurt him like he had hurt her only she was worse. What the fuck just happened? The day started out so nicely…And it turned into, well, this. The numbness was being taken over by the pain, the dull but ever present ache in her chest and throat. It felt like she couldn't breath as the tears began to well in her eyes but she pushed them down, she pushed them down because she had to. It was only Seifer…That's what she kept telling herself: It's only Seifer…
After their little bout, Seifer promptly made his way to the infirmary to retrieve his coat, not stopping at the good doctor's request at an examination. He was too pissed to care about his own well being. All he wanted to do was go in the training center and kill things…A lot of things…Harshly. It always made him feel better to swat down a few dozen Grats, which he did only it didn't make him feel better. No matter how many monsters he encountered he was still angry, too angry. Hell, he even denied sparing with that twerp Leonheart saying:
"Listen, I'd love to spend time showing you how a real gunblade specialist works but if we were to fight right now I would kill you, I would slice you open and thensome, so just back the hell off and play with the other kiddes."
Squall looked unfazed by this little outburst, though a little confused so he of course replied with his typical "Whatever" before stalking away to a different area of the training center. In his frustration Seifer kicked a tree and decided that this was NOT helping one bit. Maybe he was hungry…It was about lunch time, and his posse was undoubtedly wondering how he was/where he was.
"SEIFER BETTER?" Fujin stood and immediately questioned as he entered the Cafeteria. Well that was one for two.
"Yeah I'm better, just tired and pissed off," he sat down and stole Rajin's soda.
"Seifer man where you been? We've been worried, ya know?" and two for two. "We wanted to visit you in the Infirmary but the doc wouldn't let us."
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"Relax guys, it's going to take more than a little poison to kill me. It wasn't a big deal and if Trepe hadn't called back up I'd be a SeeD right now…What a bitch," he leaned back in his chair. She had been a bitch, not for calling back up, but for today…The thought of his SeeD field exam made this churning feeling in his stomach. She had called for back up to make sure he was ok…She risked her own health to make sure he didn't freeze…And then she fought for him when Cid denied his acceptance into SeeD…All for him...But if she had cared for him at all then she wouldn't have said those things up there period.
"QUESTION."
"Ya, are you okay there Seifer? You kinda zoned out there, ya know?" at least he had his posse, they would never ever betray him.
"Fine, just in a bad mood…Had a rough day and its still early," he groaned and massaged the bridge of his nose where a headache was steadily forming.
"REASON?"
"Just…Stuff." Just then the over com dinged twice.
Attention, will Quistis Trepe please report to the headmaster's office, I repeat will Quistis Trepe please report to the headmaster's office. That is all
"I wonder what that's all about," Seifer thought to himself.
It had been a whole weekend and Seifer hadn't seen Quistis once. Not that he wanted to see her…Right. Neither had apologized, and knowing them neither would. He thought that maybe she was avoiding him, it seemed like something she may do. Then again they would have to see each other in class so what was the point in delaying the inevitable awkwardness. Ugh why was he even thinking about her?! She had been awful to him, not that he was a peach back but still their whole "thing" was probably just a fluke. Maybe they both had temporary lapses of insanity that made them act the way they did. Sure it had been fun…Nice even…But that was it, he shouldn't expect anything. Besides, he wasn't the relationship kind of guy and he had a feeling that she was a relationship kind of girl
Well, it was Monday morning and time to face the music. Seifer couldn't help but walk a little slower to class than usual. He didn't want to be any earlier than he possibly had to. Sit, learn and leave that was the plan. In a way he wanted to see her though…After all he had for some Hyne forsaken reason been thinking of her for two days. Of course, he planned on telling her off if she did so much as say hello to him but that was beside the point.
Much to his surprise, Quistis hadn't even arrived yet…That wasn't like her at all. Usually, besides their little sleep in the previous week, she was incredibly punctual. He took his normal seat in the back and looked around, everyone else had the same curious looks on their face. Where was the instructor? Then SHE walked in, Xu, oh how he hated Xu. What the hell was that woman doing here?
"Good morning class, I hope you're all well today," she was carrying some papers and evened them out on her desk.
"Um…Miss Xu? Where's Instructor Trepe?" one of the Trepies of course.
"Instructor Trepe was sent on a very important mission last Friday so I will be substituting until her return," she smiled at the girl although she was obviously a little annoyed.
"Well, when will she be back?" another asked.
"I'm not sure, hopefully no later than Wednesday…Enough about that though lets get started…Hmm Quistis left a plan for me saying to go over junctioning…Well we are a bit behind aren't we? Alright lets get started…"
"Whatever it was Xu talked about for the next four hours Seifer could never tell you. He wasn't paying the least bit of attention to her. So, the teacher was on a mission, an important mission. Well, that explained the announcement the other day. He let out a sigh, she was on a mission, a mission he probably would have been assigned had he passed…Bitch.
Xu had said that Quistis would be back on Wednesday…But she wasn't. She wasn't back on Thursday or Friday either. In fact, it was approaching two weeks since she had been sent on the mission and he could tell that the faculty was getting nervous. There were urgent whispers going through the halls that suddenly stopped when he was caught staring. The security was bulked up and the rules were being enforced with more severity. Something definitely wasn't right.
He couldn't help but worry a little bit about her…Not because he liked her or anything, he just didn't want her to die or something. She could be hurt or captured…Why weren't they doing more? He didn't see or hear of any other SeeD's deployed, wouldn't that help? Then again, it was Cid, and Cid is all about money, money, money, and Garden doesn't have the money to just send teams out on a wild goose chase as he would say…But this wasn't a wild goose chase…This was Quistis, THE Quistis, prodigy of the Garden System. Despite himself he wished that they were doing more for the situation.
It was Thursday now and there was still no word on the whole situation. Seifer lay in bed just in a pair of black sweatpants, hands under his head just staring at the ceiling. He was trying not to think…Or to think…He wasn't quite sure what exactly he was doing, but he was in a thoughtful mood either way. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Who would be knocking at this hour? It was already way past curfew. There were a few more knocks.
"Alright, alright! Jeez calm down!" he got up and opened the door. "Quistis?"
There she stood, something was incredibly wrong with this picture. Her clothes were torn in several places and she had cuts and a few bruises over her body. Her hair was down in a blond heap. The most startling thing was her face though…It was tired, very tired and strained. She had her arms wrapped around her body and she looked like she was fighting crying.
All of his anger melted away and he took her in his arms. She began to cry in his strong arms out of sadness, relief, pain who knew? She was safe though now, and that was what mattered. After a few moments he pulled her away just a little bit, lead her into his room and the door closed.
She was soft
She was unbroken
Dressed in the pink
That she wore as a token
To the summer…
Alrighty there you go...review please! Oh, next chapter will most likely focus on the mission.