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"" – Speech
Italics – Thoughts
Line breaks – Another scenario
: -- : -- - Time lapse
Bold – Emphasized words/Flashbacks
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Irvine was making his way towards the Cafeteria, slightly pleased that Cid had accepted his request and was willing to delve into the two strangers' backgrounds, providing that he kept quiet about it. And, he did.
However, some people had a lot of 'connections' and usually attempted to see past all the secrecy.
"Oh, Irvy!" He heard Selphie's voice call from behind him. He turned around and smiled to himself at the use of the nickname he had adopted at the orphanage; something which proved that he wasn't alone, regardless of what his 'lone-wolf' instincts had to say about that.
"Hey Selph," he greeted in reply.
Selphie stopped jogging towards him. "You know, I've heard some things."
"... About?"
Selphie looked both left and right and then, when she was convinced the coast was clear, she leaned slightly forward. "About the ... twins. Or siblings, whoever."
Irvine looked slightly confused but then he immediately brightened up at the thought he spoke aloud. "You've got some information about them?"
"No, not that," she shook her head, "I mean, the so-called 'plan' that you and Headmaster Cid have ... put together."
"Oh."
Irvine couldn't help but be slightly disappointed at that; here, he had hoped that someone else was investigating into the matter of those two enigmatic Centrans, save for himself. However, Selphie must have noticed his disappointment also, for she smiled at him and struck a pose, which was so ... 'Selphie' that he couldn't help but smile again.
Maybe, Selphie was getting to him more than they both thought.
"Well, don't worry," she chirped happily, "Since I have a pre-tty good idea of what you're going to do ... do you mind if I tag along?"
Irvine blinked. Wow, I wasn't expecting that at all ...
"Well ..." he began, wanting to warn her that it could be more risky, if she decided to tag along, but the look on Selphie's face stopped him from doing so. "... I don't mind; you're more than welcome to tag along."
As she jumped up and down with glee, Irvine was reassured that Selphie would be fine and that she was more than capable of taking care of herself; her magic and love for explosives usually did that for her.
She stopped jumping and tilted her head to the side; another habit of hers. "Sooooo ... you have any idea where they could be?"
Irvine shook his head. "I checked the dormitories, but didn't find them there."
A few seconds passed in silence, in which Irvine was sure that Selphie was thinking the same thing that he was:
... Where exactly could they be hiding?
However, as if a lightbulb had suddenly flashed on the top of her head, Selphie raised her right arm slightly, her excitement causing her to lightly jump from foot to foot. "Heeeeyyyy ... what if they're in one of the classrooms? I mean," she continued, "if they're working for someone, then maybe they're trying to find information on us!"
Irvine paid the last part of Selphie's idea no mind, but nodded his head regardless. "Yeah, good idea, Selph! Let's go, then!"
And the two set off for the 2nd floor elevator.
--
"You ... like me?" Quistis's mind couldn't process that information, for some reason.
"Yeah, I .." he faltered, "I do. I mean - I'm not sure if it's a crush o-or something more, but ... I feel something with you ... I do." He finished, a bit more confident than he felt right now.
"You ... Are you sure that you're in, you know, in love with me?" She asked, unsure of whether or not she wanted to hear the answer, anyway. He nodded.
The word 'love' had rolled off her tongue as if it was something foreign to her. As a matter of fact, it kinda was. She had never experienced love first-hand; her past infatuation with Squall was nothing more than 'sisterly love' (she had convinced herself many times.) However, a few weeks prior, Selphie and Rinoa had wanted Quistis to 'loosen up' and "meet a few guys, there are quite a lot of hotties around Balamb these days. Or, so I've been told."
In which the azure-eyed Instructor had retorted "So, why don't you go meet some of them, Selphie?"
This resulted in Selphie stuttering something about "I already have my eye on someone!" and a slight roll of the eyes and smile by Rinoa. Not sure of whether she was lying or not, Quistis nevertheless stopped bugging her about it and continued to mark some more papers.
However, the two had decided to be so 'kind' and hook her up with a Galbadian, who had apparently arrived in Balamb for business purposes. Quistis had never realized which fact she had hated more: the fact that Selphie and Rinoa had decided to for her to meet someone, without informing her beforehand; or the fact that he was Galbadian. Despite handling the total scumbag Martine, her attitude towards the Galbadians was still not nice.
She looked back at Zell, who was now fidgeting with the zip of his hooded top; opening and closing the zip. It was then that her eyes caught sight of the message in Zell's T-shirt and she let out a slight laugh. That must have caught his attention, for then he looked back up at her; his expression slightly expectant.
She sighed inaudibly. It was now or never, right?
"Well, you know, Zell -" She stopped as the classroom door opened; revealing a slightly tall man wearing a simply baggy sweatshirt and blue jeans. His hair was limp and covered most of his eyes and he wore glasses atop them. The expression on his face turned to confusion as he looked between Quistis and Zell.
"Um, am I interrupting anything?"
It was her date, Alex.
--
Squall was making his way to the Infirmary; according to a female SeeD, Rinoa was making her way there, as well. He had already told her that he was slightly uncomfortable with the way that their relationship was progressing and instantly opted for the 'taking-it-slow' route; the engagement ring safely hidden away in his dormitory.
The infirmary doors had automatically slid open and the person, who was planning to exit, jumped. Squall halted hastily and watched as Rinoa placed a hand on her chest.
"Gosh, Squall. You scared me!" She exclaimed, and then jokingly chided, "I do not want to be given a heart attack before I've turned 20, understand?!"
Squall dismissed her jesting. "Would you like to accompany me to the 'Blue Dragon'?"
Rinoa's smile was instantly wiped off her face; her retort lost. She wanted to avoid that place after the whole fiasco that had occurred last time and she didn't want anything like that to happen again. But, Squall had already requested that they "start anew ... you know, without the awkward complications ..."
Looking back up at him, she tried to put on her best smile. "Sure, Squall, that'd be - that'd be lovely."
His lips rose up into a small smile and he extended his arm out. "Well ... after you, then."
--
The two crept slowly towards the various classrooms, desperate to hear some sort of life behind the closed doors; the female one of the two getting tingles of excitement as they continued to survey the classrooms stealthily.
Selphie had thought it fitting to wear black - "After all, all spies wear black!" - and was pleased when Irvine had complied. She felt really excited every time they passed another classroom door; Irvine frequently muttering "This is the door ... This is the door ..."
I'm a spy, I'm a spy, I'm a - huh?
The two stopped immediately when they heard a male speak. "Really, Hekora, there's no need -"
"We will do it and we must!" Hekora's voice almost yelled. "Remember what he told us to -"
"What do you think we should do?" Selphie whispered to Irvine.
Irvine looked back at the closed door for a moment, where Hekora was still ordering the male around, and then looked back at Selphie. "... We're goin' in, Selph."
And, with that said, the two got up from their crouched positions and made their way towards the door, Irvine yanking the door open. Upon entering, the two saw Hekora and Ashibo, about to talk into a cellphone (obviously trying to inform their master ... or whoever he is, Irvine thought to himself.) However, before Irvine and Selphie could say anything, Hekora's eyes gleamed an eerie red and she shot a Meltdown spell at the two; something which would have affected Selphie, had Irvine not have called upon Carbuncle to help them. The beam of multiple colors hit the transparent barrier, causing the beam to shoot right back at Hekora, who flew back and hit her head on one of the various terminals scattered throughout the classroom.
"Kora - No!" Ashibo screamed. When she did not reply, Ashibo looked back at the two for hurting his sister and his eyes began to glow similarly; multiple shards of ice appeared to grow within his palms and he shot it at the two SeeDs, who ducked out of the way just in time, causing the spell to hit another one of the terminals. As the machine began to fizz with electricity, Irvine withdrew his gun from his pocket and faced Ashibo.
"Look, why don't you just tell us what the hell is going on," he started. "It'd save us -"
A bang from outside distracted him, causing him to look around for the source of the noise. Seizing his big chance, Ashibo fleed and, ignoring Irvine's protesting shouts and Selphie's screams, he jumped out the window.
The two stood there in silence for a moment, before someone's footsteps could be heard. However, before they had any clue as to what to do, the female poked her head inside the classroom. They watched her look around at the mess for a moment and heard her ask, "Just what ... happened here?"
Irvine and Selphie looked at each other. How exactly were they going to explain to her ... ?
--
"Seifer? Is that you?"
Seifer simply continued to stare off into the distance; his fishing rod in hand, waiting for a fish to bite. He'd never expected Jamie to come here. But, then again, anyone was welcome in Balamb.
Well, almost anyone.
Jamie sat down beside him, her legs crossed. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "... Catch anything yet?"
He simply shook his head.
Another silence. She sighed internally.
"... Well, maybe you need to refine your technique somehow."
He scoffed. "Look, Jamie, I doubt that you've had as much experience as I have in fishing. So, thanks for the advice, but no thanks."
She shrugged. "Okay ... your loss, then."
Seifer looked back at her. Jamie was simply staring at the horizon and he found that he felt a surreal sensation somewhere. To attempt to seize control of the conversation, he asked, "So, where's your kid?"
"'Kid'?" She looked back at him, a frown temporarily marring her features. Then, as if realizing something, she comprehended, "Oh, you mean Gabby."
"Yeah, your 'son'," he said, with a slight edge to his voice.
"Actually, he's my brother. And, he's with Raijin; apparently, Raijin thinks he'll make a good SeeD."
Seifer grunted. Jamie stared back at him.
"Are you ... angry at him for having found out about both you and Rinoa?"
Seifer smirked. "Me and Rinoa? We were just a one-night thing," he shrugged, trying to seem indifferent about the whole situation.
"Really ..." Jamie stared back at the horizon.
"What - don't believe me?"
Jamie looked down at her black sneakers. "No ... I guess it's just I choose not to."
He raised an eyebrow and mocked her. "Really ..."
Jamie looked back at him with a frown on her face. "Seifer, I'm serious."
He shrugged again. "I know, so am I."
They both stared off into the distance. All was quiet between them before Jamie sighed again; this time, in relief. "Well, I think this is the most we've talked ever since ... everything."
Seifer privately agreed with her.
--
Zell looked between both Alex and Quistis, daring not to speak. Just what the hell was going on?
Quistis rose up from her seat. "Alex, I-I didn't realize our date was so soon -"
What?! Zell screamed internally. What does she mean, "our date"?
"I know, but -"
So, this is it ... He looked back up at Alex. This is the guy who she's been looking for all her life; her 'Mr-Right', 'Mr.Perfect', Mr.Goddamn' -
"Zell?" She called, concerned. "Are you okay?"
No!
Nodding his head, he smiled unconvincingly. "Yeah, I'm - yeah ..." He looked back at Alex, his rival; the man who had stolen Quistis's heart ...
Alex, not liking the look Zell was giving him, turned back to Quistis. "I'm sorry, I thought that ... you weren't busy ..." he finished, somewhat weakly. But Quistis wasn't listening. She stared at Zell, afraid to see what emotions he would show.
But, Zell didn't want to make an embarassment of himself and, instead, opted to go for the next option. He walked swiftly out the classroom, budging Alex slightly as he did so, and made his way to somewhere he'd be able to get his head straight and vent out all his frustrations. The TC.
Quistis, meanwhile, continued to stare at the spot Zell had been standing, before he had rushed out. And now, for the first time, she was at a crossroads.
She didn't know what to do.
--
She watched as he started the engine again and it chugged lifelessly for a while before going back to its prone state. Rinoa leant her head back and turned to Squall.
"You know," she giggled, "you look really cute when you're flustered."
Squall looked back at her, as if he was wondering why she'd be thinking about that, of all things. "... Can you just help me?"
With a shrug, Rinoa reached her arm towards where the car key rested, she turned it clockwise and waited for the engine to start. However, only a few chugs were heard before it stopped and Rinoa looked back at Squall, grimacing uselessly.
"Heheh ... looks like we'll have to walk ...?" She suggested sheepishly. But, all she got was another glare from Squall. With a sigh, she shook her head slowly, cursing her luck. However, Squall's voice awoke her from her thoughts.
"Yeah, looks like we'll have to walk."
With a small smile at him, Rinoa exited the vehicle, seconds before Squall did, and moved to the back of the automobile. With a grunt, she heaved as she attempted to push the car; trying her best - but struggling - to move it, Squall beside her attempting to do the same.
"Well ..." She puffed, "we know we'll be in for a rough weekend ..."
Squall uttered quietly. "Hyne just has to be nice to me ..."
--
A/N: Okay, I've updated now (undeniable proof that I'm not dead, ya know ...) So, do what you guys normally do: R&R, please!
BTW, I didn't add any 'The Next Chapter' stuff, because ... I truthfully don't have any ideas (some vague ones, but that's it) Soooo ... if you could be as so kind to drop me a review with your ideas/suggestions, I'll be happy!
Ash XX