Today felt a little different. Lina didn't know how or why, but she knew it was different. She'd known the moment she'd awaken that morning and found herself already in a head on duel with another her kind. In the mix, Zell had jumped in, and even though they'd won the battle, he'd received an injury to his arm. Lina had him whisked into the Infirmary and since then had been sitting outside in the corridor staring blankly at the wall and contemplating how something about the air felt somehow unique from the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that even.
When Zell stumbled out of the Infirmary with a goofy smile on his face, he found Lina braiding rebel strands of hair poking out of her ponytail in her idle contemplation. He stood there and watched her for a bit until she finally noticed his shadow and smiled. "How's the floor?"
"It's great, thanks," Lina joked, then stood with his help. "How's the arm?" Zell held out his left forearm. It bore a tightly bound strip of adhesive tape, metal clips to pin the tape down, but tucked away neatly behind two strands: the distinctive handiwork of Dr. Kadowaki, the Infirmary medic.
"I'll live," he laughed kissed her forehead. Lina smiled, but couldn't help herself from worrying. Lately, his visits to the Infirmary had become more frequent, and it had every little bit to do with the meaningless squabble that stalked Lina like predator on prey. She hated that Zell had to get battered up on her behalf, but every way she looked at it, she only saw one solution. And she really didn't even want to go there.
They strolled down the hallway together and to the elevator for the second floor. "Does it hurt much?" Lina asked when she noticed Zell rubbing the outside of the bandages on the ride up the elevator. His eyes turned up, a little mischievous twinkle in them. "What? I'm concerned!" He let out a chuckle and kissed her on the lips.
"Nah, it doesn't hurt much," he laughed, and they stepped out towards class. After they reached the doorway and exchanged one last kiss, Lina headed for the front of the class as Zell sat himself somewhere near the back. The class passed as usual, the students reviewing pchapter packets from the textbook and Lina making a few witty comebacks every time the class badass Seifer had some lame comment to make.
Near the end of class, there was a knock at the door--which was odd since the door was automated. Lina took a quick look around the classroom, like is this a joke? "Um...come in," Lina said, but there was no response, just another plain knock. Lina headed for the door and put her hand over the motion sensor. The door opened and in the doorway stepped a new student, blonde and bold, and about a head shorter than Lina. "Oh, welcome. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"
"Uh...yeah," she said. She fluttered her long, mascara-smothered eyelashes. "My name is Carri." They were all expecting something more, but no, that's where it ended. Lina nodded while everyone else just kind of sat there. Carri leaned over on one foot, sticking the other in front of her and making her body curve into a seductive pose. And suddenly, she had the floor. The boys (with the exception of the obvious) leaned forward to get a closer look. Carri was physically fit, and she knew it. Now I'm not playing on any stereotypes here, but it was obvious her head was full of air.
"Quiet please," Lina said to calm the snickering. "Okay, Carri, go ahead and take a seat where you can find one." Carri nodded and carefully headed down the middle aisle to the free seat directly behind Zell. Class carried on as usual, assigning projects and discussing possibilities for topics to research.
When the bell finally rang, most of the (male) students gathered around Carri to formally introduce themselves and get a better look. Meanwhile, Lina, Zell, Dan, and Karen headed down to the cafeteria to grab some lunch. They wandered around the corridor, Dan and Karen linking arms and skipping like they were "off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz." Lina and Zell dragged behind them, fingers laced together and laughing at Dan and Karen's spectacle.
They sat down at their usual table, with trays and dug in. Karen exchanged glances with Lina every once in a while, and Lina nodded. They agreed to pull a little prank. Every time Dan turned around to look around the cafeteria, Karen would put salt in his drink. Naively, Dan hadn't even drunk any of it yet. Lina would smile, but she couldn't hold her smile together since every few moments or so she noticed Zell would reach over and wrap a hand tightly around his wounded arm in pain. Lina knew it was her fault, the trouble she brought to Garden, to her friends, to Zell. As much as she loved them, there was nothing she could do about it... this was just who she was.
Well...there was one thing, but no how could she think that? It would mean trading her happiness. Wouldn't it? But wasn't that what she's supposed to do, as her duty. Lina sighed and Zell gave her a nudge to make her smile subtly again. Soon enough, he had his hand around his wounded arm again though.
That's it, she decided as Dan took a sit from his drink and screamed. She'd leave.
She looked up at the ceiling which was still under repair from her last battle, she looked at Dan who had a malicious glare in Karen's direction, and she looked at Zell and saw how his radiant smile glowed under the mellow light seeping through the windows. Lina would take the dive. In exchange for the safety of her home, her friends, her love, she'd leave.