9/30/2014 - Triple update for the night. This essentially replaces the original one chapter of loaded content that was hard to take in with one sitting. The content was spread out logically across three smaller chapters, and some content was added to bolster the storyline. Until next time :) R&R, drop me a line if you have some time.

Anxious

The two were soon interrupted with a knock at the door. Selphie slowly got to her feet and gave Lina a moment to compose herself before she opened the door to let the SeeDs file in. Quickly, the conversation fell right back to the trigger of the entire event—Seifer.

"Lina. You could've been hurt," Squall began, his word firm as ever as he took a couple steps into the room and crossed his arms in a clear signal of irritation. Rinoa sat down quietly by his side, letting him handle the situation. Lina sighed; she looked up and saw a meek looking Zell filter into the room behind Irvine and Quistis. Zell caught her gaze, then decidedly settled himself calmly beside her. "Stay with a SeeD tonight, understood? You are not to be without one of us from now on."

"Yes, Squall..." Lina sighed again.

"This is not a joke, Lina," he rooted her with a stern gaze and voice, then glared around the room. "You're not to be left alone until we figure this out. Not an hour, a minute, a second of the day. Don't care of it's Selphie, Xu, myself, whatever. You stay with a SeeD."

"U-understood," she said quietly. Squall took a deep breath, then prepared himself, now that this directive was out of the way, to exit the room, until Lina spoke again, "Squall… do you have any idea why…?"

Squall stopped, and with a heavy sigh, shook his head.

"I don't know his motive, or what interest he's taken particularly with you," he said and rubbed his forehead. He turned his eyes to Rinoa and his expression softened. "All I can guess is that he's after a bigger prize, and I will not stand for that."

"I understand, Squall," Lina tried to smile, but she couldn't; too much was on her mind. Squall nodded, stood up from the floor, pulled Rinoa up with him and walked out. Lina sighed and looked up at Zell and Selphie who seemed to already have their eyes on her.

"It's going to be fine, Lina," Selphie said reassuringly. "We'll take good care of you, won't we, Zell?"

"Course," he chuckled and gave Lina a warm pat on the back. She finally pressed a smile on her lips at the two of them. Selphie stood across from the two of them, her lips suddenly turned up in a sly grin at the sight. Lina gave her an inquisitive look.

"What?" Lina and Zell asked at the same time.

"Ohh, nothing at all," Selphie grinned. If you had blinked in that second, you would've missed Selphie's subtle wink in Zell's direction. Zell caught it, and immediately, his ears started to feel hot with flush.

"Welp!" Lina called, getting to her feet, clearly having missed the signal. She brushed some lingering lint off her knees. She turned to face Zell, "Tonight's the night, isn't it?"

"Y-yup!" Zell said, regaining his composure after Selphie's hint, and just as he cautiously stumbled onto his feet. She was referring to the date with Sadie, and it had slipped his mind that in just a couple hours, he'd be expected to converse cordially and get to know her; but how could he do that? His thoughts were swarming with thoughts of Lina, brash and unaware, as Seifer stalked the halls looking for her.

"Let me know how it goes?" she smiled meekly.

"Oh I'll let you know," he reassured. "I'll let you know." But his hopes weren't as high anymore.

Nervous, no. Anxious, a little. Confused, definitely.

A few days ago, Zell was excited, certain of it. Today, though, he felt differently, oddly so. He didn't even look twice in the mirror when he left his room at seven. He walked to Sadie's room without the determination in his stride he'd prided on when he'd first asked her out. His footsteps wavered when he reached her door. Zell took a deep breath, and knocked twice.

Shortly after, Sadie answered, looking slightly breathless, "Oh, hi Zell." She smiled timidly.

"Hey, you ready to rock?" he asked and she nodded, seemingly shy, closing the door lightly behind her. "There's a great restaurant I know back in Timber and since we're so close now, we could walk."

"Oh okay, let's go then," she said as they set out.

"Is...is that okay with you?" he asked, since her reply sounded shaky.

"Yes, of course! It sounds lovely," she smiled. 'Lovely.' Zell nodded, watching her face, her smile, how it was shy and curved around her cheeks. Immediately, he thought about Lina's hearty smile yesterday at Irvine's party and how her laughter dazzled the room. But these thoughts meant nothing, he told himself, and walked on.

They'd made it past the front gate in utter silence, neither of them really knowing what to say to the other. Outside the gates, the sun was already relatively low in the sky. Zell realized he probably should've thought this through a little more. When they got back, it would definitely be dark—and Zell had no problem defending himself against night crawlers common near Timber, but he didn't know how Sadie could handle it.

Either way, they made their way to the city, past the train station and to a cute little Italian restaurant on Main Street, exchanging light conversation and joking about the weather. All in all, it was pleasant, and Zell tried his best to get into it, but for some reason, he found himself shutting off every few minutes or so—and especially during those long pauses of silence.

When they sat down at the table, Sadie looked a little flushed, nervous maybe. She smiled and Zell smiled back and they proceeded to order.

"I think I'll just have a salad," Sadie said.

"Salad?" Zell asked, chuckling a little. Her wide little eyes follow his face carefully

"Wh-what's wrong with that?" she asked. Zell realized he was being brash. One word and it looked like her eyes were watering.

"Nothing," he smiled stiffly. "It's just, you're skin and bones, and you're ordering a salad?" Sadie looked horrified. She glanced down at the menu, then down at herself and couldn't decide what to say. "Sadie, it's a good thing. You look great."

Immediately, her frown turned into a smile, and she said, "Okay...but salad it is." Zell grinned, but he was terrified. He'd have to watch himself the entire night as to not say something stupid. Sadie's reactions to his words were strong and emotional, and he didn't want her to take anything the wrong way.

And so the night went on painfully, Zell watching every word he said.