Eight o'clock sharp and Zell knocked on Lina's door as promised. "Coming!" he heard from the other side. A second later, the door was pulled open, revealing a very elegant Lina Heartilly decked in a classy black gown Zell knew only Lina could pull off. Her hair was pulled back in a modest bun and although she refused to use more make up other than a little mascara and lipstick, she looked absolutely stunning.
"Wow," was all Zell could muster as he reached for her waistline and get a better look. Zell was wearing just his formal SeeD uniform, but whether or not anyone believed, he'd spent longer than necessary to prepare that too. "That is pretty damn sexy." Lina laughed heartily and gave him the kiss his remark had cryptically requested.
"You look great too," Lina responded--for her modesty could only reply as if his comment had implied something it had not. Zell took her hand in his and the two of them headed towards the Quad where the ball was held. As they approached, they knew Selphie had outdone herself again, creating the image--perfect as ever, as a ballroom in a palace, columns and marble white pillars lined up from one end of the Quad to the other, the floor padded in tile and a stage out in front for the band to play. "Deja vu." Lina whispered to Zell who laughed and nodded. It was much at a scene like this where Lina and Zell had first laid eyes on each other.
"Dance?" Zell asked, smiling childishly down at her. Lina laughed and nodded as he pulled her onto the dance floor in a traditional waltz, joining the several other pairs of couples turning and side stepping to the beat. "I'm glad we have at least one of these a year." In fact, this exact ball was being held for all the newcomers to the SeeD program from the test and field evaluation, and so, to the sides of the room, one could find new SeeDs, nervous to appear in their official uniforms, and their friends around them, beginning new chapters in their stories together.
"It's fun, that's for sure," Lina said and Zell nodded. Through the "one, two, three"s of the waltz, Zell took a quick look over his shoulder and immediately spotted the refreshments table.
"I'll have to visit the snack bar later," he licked his lips. Lina giggled as he spun her into a double twirl; Zell enjoyed eating, and the only other thing he loved more than that was Lina. She thought for a moment, then looked up at Zell.
"You know... dances back in my old world... slow dances were a lot different from here," she explained, curious of what Zell's response would be. Their dances back there was basically just hugging and rocking back and forth to the beat of song. It gave anyone an excuse to get close to a person, and as if Zell could read her mind, she chuckled.
"Well, you'll just have to teach me sometime," Zell winked and smiled down at her; Lina then had a moment where she lost herself in his hazy blue gaze, but came out of it smiling. His admiring look struck a heartstring and she felt herself swooning immediately. The song had just then ended, and the dancing stopped. Lina kissed him. Love encourages spontaneity.