-1Disclaimer: I don't own FFVIII or the characters. But I am proud to announce that I own Jamie Kramer, and the plot for this story.
Author's note: Firstly, I would like to thank my two reviewers, Selphie Ivy and Leontwilight. Your reviews really made my day. And I will try to include some triangles, such as SeiferxJamiexIrvine.
And without further ado, on with the show!
Jamie had decided to make Irvine a cup of coffee, so that it could ease him after all that drinking. She had opened the door to his room and registered him sitting up on the bed.
Irvine was going to say something, but Jamie spoke first. "You were out for quite a while, so I thought that I should stay here with you."
Irvine smiled at her and said "Thanks" in response, after taking the coffee from Jamie's hand. He began to sip a bit from the cup, but the liquid had burned his tongue. Inhaling a sharp breath, he set the cup on his bedside table. "It's too hot", he said, in response to Jamie's questioning look.
Jamie smiled slightly and sat down at the edge of Irvine's bed. After a slight pause, she said "I was worried about you Irvine. I mean, it's not like you to drink this much".
Irvine smiled at her and replied "I guess I was drinking because I was just thinking too much, that's all", and he reclaimed the cup of coffee from the bedside table and begun to blow and sip the substance inside.
Jamie had then remembered the message in her Inbox, and the actual reason that she had come to see Irvine in the first place. "Well, you wanted to talk to me alone about something, right? And it sounded urgent." She said, her mind racing with possibilities of what he might want to say.
But the answer was not what she had expected.
"I wanted to talk to you, to tell you…..that I'm leaving."
Squall felt as if his head was going to explode with all the paperwork that was set out in front of him. Day after day, ever since he had become the Commander of Garden, he felt that everyone else was planning to pressurize him with more and more paperwork. What had previously started out as a few sheets and forms had been transformed into a mountain of papers, and he got frustrated at the fact that he had suffered the wrath of the 'paper cuts'.
Just then, a pair of arms and found their way around his waist, and Rinoa's head lay on his shoulder. With a smile, she addressed him. "Hey Squall, still crouched in here?"
Squall smiled back at her, and replied. "Well, I have to sort this out someday. And as they say 'Better sooner than later'. Besides, this is pretty important".
He thought that he saw her expression darken slightly, but it was gone. "Well, if you've got any free time, maybe you could meet me at the cafeteria?" She asked, wanting him to realise that she loved him a lot.
With a nod, Squall looked back at all the paperwork that he had to sort out, whilst he felt Rinoa's comforting arms unwrap from his waist, and his shoulder felt slightly lighter without the weight of Rinoa's head. With no more than a 'Bye, Squall', the brunette commander heard the door close, and instantly began to rub his forehead. He didn't know what was bothering him more at the moment, the amount of paperwork that he needed to sort out, or the fact that Rinoa really wanted to keep a relationship with him. Sure, he loved her, but with everything else happening, her persistent nature was slightly beginning to annoy him.
No use dwelling on that now. Squall thought to himself, and instead focussed on the papers. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to meet Rinoa at the cafeteria today.
"Irvine, you can't think about going to Galbadia Garden, not after everything that's happened!", Jamie began, shocked at what Irvine had told her. He was going to transfer back to Galbadia Garden, as Martine had sent him a letter and Irvine had accepted.
Irvine smiled sadly and replied "I know, but I just felt….like everyone else was leaving me out". After seeing the confused look on Jamie's face, he continued. "I know that Squall and Seifer don't exactly approve of me, because of my…flirtatious nature and all, and Zell and me don't talk much anyway. All I'm trying to say is…Jamie, you're the only reason why I'm still here in the first place".
Jamie's look hardened slightly, and she instantly countered "But what about everything in the orphanage? All those memories of all of us together? Doesn't the fact that we're all together now make you want to stay? Please Irvy, you can't just leave us all, just when we all got together again", she almost pleaded, and her eyes had begun to water.
He didn't know whether it was the fact that Jamie had used his nickname, or that she was literally begging him to stay but his expression softened and he said, "Alright. I'll email Martine and tell him that I forfeit that decision". He beamed when he saw a smile slide back onto Jamie's fair face and his expression was instantly turned into one of surprise, as she unmistakably pounced on him, with her arms around his neck, engulfing him in a hug.
The smile reappeared back on the sniper's face, as his comforting arms found their way onto Jamie's back, keeping himself, and her, in that embrace.
Rinoa was walking out of the classroom that Squall was currently occupied in. Upon entering the elevator, she had realised that there was another person already in there, Zell.
Rinoa smiled before addressing him. "Oh, hi Zell. Where are you heading off to?" She asked politely. Zell looked pretty troubled, and Rinoa felt quite curious to his quietness since she had entered the elevator.
Zell grinned back at her. "Hey Rin. I was gonna head off to the café, see if there are any more hotdogs left", he replied, acting more like his normal self. "So what about you? I thought that you were gonna stay with Squall, who's up in a classroom".
Rinoa frowned slightly at the mention of Squall's name, but recovered. "Oh, actually he's busy doing some paperwork", she explained darkly.
One look at Rinoa's face told Zell that she wasn't in the mood to talk about her boyfriend, and he let out an "Oh" of confirmation that the conversation had ended. They stood there in silence for a while, and they were both equally pleased that the elevator had decided to 'Ding' at that point. After all, uncomfortable silences were, well…..uncomfortable.
Zell had just taken a few steps forward after departing from the elevator, when Rinoa had stopped him with her voice. "Zell…..am I too pushy?" She had suddenly asked, and Zell's eyes went wide with surprise.
Looking back, Zell instantly replied "Uhh, no Rin, I don't think you're pushy, just….uhh, energetic". Zell had always liked Rinoa as a friend, but he had never thought that she would be Squall's 'ideal' girlfriend. But even still, after she had asked him, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for Rinoa. After all, he didn't think Squall was treating her right.
Rinoa smiled back at Zell, and asked "Do you really mean that, Zell? You're not just saying that because you feel sorry for me, are you?" If there was one thing that she hated, it was pity. Pity made her feel weak, especially after the whole Adel situation.
Zell instantaneously shook his head. "No, of course not, Rin. I seriously mean that from the heart, you know. You've always been a really good friend to me, and there is no way that I will lie to you", he said, hoping that she didn't laugh at him for being such an honest creep. Exactly the opposite of the other guys. Or so he thought.
Rinoa smiled at his sweetness, and weighed out the next words that she said. "Uhm, Zell? Would you like to come with me to the cafeteria? It's just that I wanted Squall to come with me, but since he's so busy, I thought you should come with me instead". She smiled at the look on Zell's face, which signalled that he wanted to go with her.
With Squall temporarily out of her mind, her and Zell set off for the cafeteria.
"Tada!" Selphie exclaimed, as soon as she and Seifer had added some of the finishing touches. Turning towards her partner, she asked "Well? What do you think, Seifer?"
Seifer couldn't help but smile at the result of the duo's hard work. "Yeah, it's good. You planning to throw a party or sumthin?" He asked, and saw Selphie positively shine with glee.
"Yeah! That's a great idea, Seif! This could be, like, the 'Welcoming Back of the Garden Festival' Party! It'll be great!" Selphie positively exclaimed. The Garden Festival Committee, or GFC, had recently been put on hold, and Selphie did all the best to revive the liveliness. And incidentally, she had thought of the perfect reunion party but tended to focus more on the 'Guests of Honour', Squall and Rinoa.
Seifer smiled at her. "So, you planning on hosting it today, or what?" He didn't exactly want to tell Selphie, but he wanted this party to be an opportunity for him to tell Jamie how he felt about her. They hadn't really talked after the time that Seifer and Jamie had their disagreement in the 2nd floor, and he kept frowning every time he thought about the 'real friend' who had needed Jamie so much that she walked out on him.
Selphie shook her curly head. "Nope, I don't think there's enough time now, and I want as many people as possible there. I think that we should host it tomorrow, and I'll start on the posters as soon as I reach my dorm room. Any objections?"
Seifer smirked slightly and mock-saluted her. "No, ma'am. Absolutely no objections at all", and smiled at the mock-pout he received from Selphie. "If you want, I'll help you make the posters. That way, the work will be done quicker, and more cadets will be aware of the party", he explained.
Selphie smiled up at him. "If you say so Seif. Okay then, the party will start tomorrow, and we'll head to my dorm now, where we'll work on the posters. Well then, Balamb Garden, prepare to be dazzled by the Selphie Tilmitt Rockin' Ya Socks Off Party!"
Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter was not up to your standards, Mr. or Ms. Reader, but I have been suffering from the dreaded 'Writer's Block' disease!
But do not fret, I'll be back in no time….hopefully.
Ciao, amigos!