For the past week now, Liz had tried desperately to contact Zell, calling every few hours or so. She was thoroughly concerned that she wasn't able to reach him for so long. The next morning, she felt, would be no different, but she wouldn't give up. She held up the phone in the air and dialed the numbers in. Again, the person who picked up on the other side was Quistis. And not Zell.
"Zell there?" Liz asked, already started to sense that he'd gone out. She played with the tips of her hair, bored, and rolled over into a more comfortable position under the sheet while she waited for Quistis's well anticipated response.
"Lina, he just went out," Quistis sighed and Liz didn't respond. It was kind of disappointing that he wasn't there again, but she tried not to show it because she knew Quistis would tease her later. "But you know what? Wait here. I'm not taking any more messages." Liz chuckled and thanked Quistis and she began her miniature quest in search of Zell. Liz heard something that sounded like a door opening, then muffled cries in the distance.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Liz heard Irvine's distinct voice arguing a point.
"Sorry! Sheesh!" came the reply, but Quistis's voice had wavered, pointing out obvious embarrassment from her mistake. Then, the question, "Where the hell is Zell?" There were shuffling noises in the back and foot steps Liz could hear, but couldn't quite make out exactly what was going on.
"I think he's at the cafeteria or something," Irvine said, then let out a long sigh. "can't a guy go to the bathroom in peace?!"
"You call that going to the bathroom? You were dancing in front of the mirror!" Quistis laughed. Liz did too as she heard the door slam shut. "Lina I'm putting the phone down for a second." Then She heard Quistis's footsteps running off into the distance, more scrambling and then silence for a while. Liz sighed happily and looked at the clock--good, she had another half hour or so before her mother's alarm went off, so she could talk to Zell for a good long time. Liz then heard more footsteps, growing stronger and stronger, some more scrambling again, and something hitting the wall maybe. The phone was finally picked up after a good pause.
"Lina?"
"Zell!" she called wistfully the second she heard his familiar tone. "Oh, Zell where in the world have you been these past few days? I've missed you so much." She heard Zell chuckle and could tell that there was a huge smile on his face that very moment.
"Lina, I've been subbing for a certain absent instructor," he said playfully. "And let me tell you, I don't know how in hell you ever put up with Seifer. It's like the second I get up by the board, the jackass called me 'Chicken-Wuss' and throws something in my direction!" Liz laughed heartily.
"Well that kid never changes," Liz sighed reminiscently. "Hey Zell, I wanted to tell you something. See tonight there's this thing here that's kind of like those balls we have at Garden, except a little bit different, and um... this guy asked me to go with him." Still no response from Zell, he just wanted to hear the result. "I think I know him, from somewhere somehow... I can just see something so familiar in his actions, but I can't put my finger on it. So I said yes to him. Is that alright with you?"
"Well what does this kid look like?" Zell asked, but then he laughed. "Yeah, yeah... it's whatever. I hope you can bring back with you memories that you lost, so just go with him. But I swear, if he tries to touch you, even the slightest, I will be over there faster than he can take another step back." Liz giggled; Zell could be so bluntly romantic sometimes.
"He's a decent guy. Which is kind of rare here apparently. I don't know... I guess we'll see, but don't worry, you know I love you," she said, then buried her flushed cheeks into the puffiness of her pillow and gazed at the photo she'd set on the table next to her of Zell and her together.
"Lina?"
"Yes?"
"I love you." Liz blushed and could feel the heat go through her. Then, in the background of her conversation, she could hear Squall calling for Zell to hurry up. His voice was agitated and annoyed, obviously becoming impatient. "Ah.... okay, my belle, I have to get going. Dollet's a client again because some idiot is attacking the wrong enemy... have you ever heard of anything so stupid? I mean, jeez, it's like they haven't got a clue what's going on out in the world!"
"It's okay, Zelly," she giggled, her voice was also unwilling as she didn't want to stop talking to him, but there was no choice. Fact was...Squall and the others had already been waiting on Zell for a while now as he conversed with Liz and he was the only thing holding them up--even the Ragnarok was outside, running, and ready to go.
They said their goodbye reluctantly and hung up. Liz rolled over and smiled with her eyes focused inward, recalling her good times with Zell. Consequentially, time passed quickly and it seemed so soon that her mother called her to the table for breakfast and to get ready for school. This whole school thing was all just another little routine she'd already gotten used to, but today was special specifically because Zell had surprised her in the blunt way that he does sometimes.
As soon as Liz reached the campus, Jen and Amber spotted her and ambushed her with their excitement. "Today's the big dance! Can you believe it!? I can't believe you're going with Ronny Calor!!!" Amber cried happily as Liz smiled goofily thinking about her phone call that morning. "Liz? Wake up, come on now!"
"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah, I'm excited," Liz said, compensating for her slow reaction time. School passed by slowly as usual until night came and prepared herself for the big event.