Lounging in the cafeteria with Quistis leturing at him was not fun. Worse than that, they didn't have any hot dogs.
Again, thought Zell morosely.
"And what's more, I don't know what you two were thinking. I don't think you were thinking at all! What-"
Zell looked over at Irvine, who was also not-listening. He glaned up at Zell and grinned. Zell grinned back. The two of them had got into a fight - just a tiny one - and Quistis had caught them. Now they were paying for it. It hadn't really been serious - they weren't really going to kill each other. It was just that Irvine was talking about Jez in a way he seriously didn't like.
"-the trouble with you two is that you're far too alike."
Zell snorted. "As if."
Irvine, melodramatic as always, stood, the chair flying off behind him, and started yelling. "Take that back, Miss Trepe!! That is an insult of the highest order! I am nothing like this... this..." He waved at Zell in a vague manner a his vocabulary failed him. Luckily, Seifer was also in the cafeteria, and walked over with a grin.
"Chicken wuss," he offered. Zell looked up at him, and Irvine didn't exactly look to glad to see him. Zell stood slowly, and Quistis moved quickly to stand between him and Seifer.
"Seifer, go away. I don't need another ego here to add a bit more testosterone to the mix."
"What's the matter, Quistis? Afraid your little boyfriend will get hurt?"
Quistis looked at him for a minute, anger starting to gleam in her eyes. "Seifer. Go away, you fool of a boy."
That hit Seifer where it hurt - being called a boy always got to him, and unable to control himself, he brought his hand down to hit the object of his irritation. It didn't get there. Zell caught his wrist and looked seriosly, calmly into Seifer's eyes.
"You heard her. Go away." Seifer ripped his arm out of Zell's grasp and glared at him, then left, his coat swishing dramatically behind him.
"I have better things to do than beat chicken wusses up," he muttered as he left.
Quistis looked at Zell. "Thank you," she said, and he shrugged. "I realise it must be hard for him to reintegrate, but we've given him the chance to come back to Garden, and he took it. Now he must live with the consequences."
"Yeah? Way I see it, there ain't no 'consequences'. He's just Seifer. He's not changed." Zell shrugged again, and started to walk away, then Irvine skipped up to him and grinned t him.
"That was pretty classy. And to do it in front of everyone! Woo-hoo, that was cool!"
"Well, yeah, I am," Zell grinned, then sobered up. "But I didn't do nothin'. I just stopped that asshole hitting Quistis-"
"And completely embarrassed him in the process. Nice one, buddy!" Irvine slapped him on the back in a 'manly' kind of way, then walked off towards the Quad. Probably going to meet Selphie, thought Zell. What does she see in him?
As he walked around to the front, he saw Seifer standing next to the Directory. Oh, fantastic. This is just what I need. But then he noticed who Seifer was with, and stopped dead and stared. Standing next to Seifer, talking and smiling was Jez Loire, the girl he'd met and fallen for at Esthar's opening party. Being civil to Seifer, looking beautiful, smiling at him. Please God, no. No way has Jez come to see HIM!. He wandered over, then as he got nearer, started to panic. What was he going to say? Although just punching Seifer's lights out and running off with Jez in his arms might seem like a good idea, he doubted it'd work quite that way in practise. He could go ballistic at Jez, ask her what the hell she was doing - didn't she know Seifer was a complete loser? - but that was a definate no-no. He'd ran out of time. He was at the directory and had absolutly nothing to say. Jez looked at him and smiled in a way that made Zell's knee's weak.
"Zell! How are you?" She asked, still smiling.
"Um, okay." He glanced at Seifer, felt the overwhelming urge to punch him, and get that goddamn smug grin off his face, and decided he could think of better ways to do that. Without giving himself time to change his mind, Zell wrapped his arms around Jez - delighting in noticing she did the same, and kissed her soundly. He surprised himself ith how much he had missed her, and how much he wanted her. He pulled back, and grinned. Her eyes were smokey with desire, and his heart leapt. She wanted him! She gave him a beautiful smile, and he couldn't help returning it.
"I'm staying here, Zell. I've come to be a SeeD." For a few seconds, Zell just stared at her, then the significance of what she had just said sunk in. She was staying here, in his Garden. He'd be able to see her everyday, be able to be with her. He embraced her tightly.
"Jez, that's fantastic!"
"I know," she laughed, then pulled back slightly. "This is Seifer, he'll be showing me around, and he's in my class. Seifer, this is-"
"I know who it is," Zell was very tempted to laugh at Seifer's face, then, but thought better of it. "We've met, and he's a-" Whatever insult Seifer was about to come up with was interupted by the tannoy coming to life.
Will Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht and Squall Leonhart come to my office, please?
Cid's voice rang out around the Garden, and Zell was pleased to find Jez giving him a goodbye kiss. "I'll see you later, Zell," she grinned at him in a very sultry way that made Zell feel simultaneouly delighted and uncomfortable. He gave her a kiss, then ran to the elevator to see what it was that Cid wanted.
************
Jez stared after him, smiling. Seeing him had made her very glad she'd transfered. She turned to Seifer, to see him glaring after Zell. "You don't like Zell, then?" She was surprised at the level of protectiveness she felt for him.
"He's an asshole," said Seifer by way of explanation, then moved smoothly on before she could contradict him. "So, you staying in the dorms?"
She glanced at him, expressionate green eyes smiling. "Er, yeah. Room-" she glanced down at her swipe card "-314."
Seifer grinned at her. "Hey, that's right next to mine. Would you like to drop your stuff off, and I'll show you around?" Jez decided not to worry about Zell - he was obviously had stuff to do, and smiled at Seifer.
"Yeah, that'd be cool!"
***********
They were waiting for Squall. Headmaster Cid coughed politely, and Zell rested his chin on his hands. Selphie looked at her feet, and Zell was very, very bored. Since Cid had taken Garden over again, the office had been remodeled to accomodate the steering device, and looked very nice. However, it also looked very unlived in, and this added to the SeeDs discomfort. The main thing on Zell's mind, however, was still Jez. He was very glad to see her again, and delighted that she wanted him as much as he did her. He was worried about her being with Seifer. Though he wasn't sure whether he was worried about her not having fun, or having too much fun. Seifer could be a pretty charming guy when he felt like it. He-
His process of worrying was interrupted as Squall walked in, red-cheeked and grinned, embarrassed. "Sorry," he apologised, and sat next to Zell, who just grinned at him.
"I won't ask what you've been doing with-"
Headmaster Cid cleared his throat, and began. "First of all, I'd like to thank you for coming up here. As I'm sure you can guess, I have a mission for you. I have chosen you because you are the best SeeD has to offer. As you may or may not know, Galbadia is now factioning off into states - something the Galbadian government is extremely unhappy about. What's worse is that these states are lead by people who are in violent disagreement. One of the states is more violent than the others, and is resorting to terrorism. The Galbadian government has asked us to step in, and stop them, for their tirade is bloody and quite unessessary. I'm sure you can understand the delicate political nature of this mission, but all you need to do is stop this faction. Just be careful - don't tread on any Galbadian toes. The last thing Garden needs is a war with Galbadia. Do you understand the mission?" When he got positive answers from all of them, he nodded, and handed the mission breifing to Squall. "You leave tonight, so go and get yourselves ready. Dismissed!"
They filed out of the office into the lift.
"Tonight!" Moaned Selphie. "I'm supposed to be meeting Irvine tonight. We were going to go for a candlelit dinner..." Her eyes went all starry, then she remembered she wouldn't be able to go and scowled. Then she glanced up at Squall, and her leaf green eyes sparkled with mischief. "Is there a good reason you were late, Squall?"
He glanced up at Selphie and blushed. "Nothing you need to know about."
Zell had to stop himself laughing, but Selphie giggled at the look on his face.
Zell spoke up about the thing that had been bugging hm. "Squall, did you know Jez was coming to Garden?"
Squall smiled at his friend. "Rinoa told me. She told me if I told you she'd have to kill me, so..."
"So she's here because?" Zell couldn't believe that Jez had really come to see him. Could anyone really care that much about him?
"Because 'she wants to be a SeeD and can't keep away from Zell'." Squall quoted, then smiled righteouly when Zell blushed. He was so relieved and overjoyed. She really did care that much about him. He cared about her, but she was an amazing girl. How could she care that much about a loud-mouthed idiot like him?
Selphie grabbed his arm and smiled up at him. "So you've got a girlfriend, too!" Must to his embarassment, he blushed again.
"Nothin's been said, yet. We'll see how it goes..."
************* Seifer looked at Jez as she sat on the harbour, staring out to sea. She was beautiful, strong, talented and skillful - as he'd found out when she'd beat him in the training centre. She was amazing, and he'd never met a woman like her. Fujin might be strong and talented, but she was not as beautiful as Jez, or did she have the wild spirit and teasing looks. Seifer too stared out to sea. He'd never felt this way about a woman before. Not even Rinoa. Within hours, he was enhanted by Jez Loire, and everything she did was marvellous, from her fighting style to the way she sat now. He heard her sigh, and looked at her.
"What?"
"It's just... I've lived in the city all my life. I've never seen anything like this." Her sweeping hand movement took in the calm surface of the sea, the moon and stars reflcted in it, as though the sky went on forever. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah," Seifer agreed, but he wasn't looking at the veiw. "Very romantic." He saw Jez smile and look up at the stars, as if asking them a question. Then she looked at Seifer, a smile in her emerald eyes.
"Romantic, huh? Didn't figure you as the type for stuff like that."
"Well, first impressions aren't always right."
She laughed, and it sounded like music. She then stood and stretched, a long, luxourious cat-like movement. She then glanced out to sea for a second, then offered a hand down to Seifer, to help him up. He took it, relishing the contact, and stood beside her.
"So, wht do you guys do for fun?"
"Fun? What's that?" Seifer was rewarded with a grin, then he continued. "Well, not much. I usually go to the training center. There's not a lot in Balamb. There's a pub. Or there's a party on in the dorm, if you want to go to that?"
"Hey, cool!" She grinned at him, and punched his shoulder lightly. "Nice thinkin'!" She turned as if to go, looked around, then turned bck to face Seifer. "Which way?"
He took her hand, and led her up past the hotel. "Welcome back to the exciting world of Balmb," he gave a fake bow, then looked up. She had her hands on her hips, then grinned, and extended her arms, walking backwards.
"Hey, this is totally exciting, I mean-" Seifer saw him before she did, but not soon enough to shout a warning. Thus Jez backed into Zell as he came out of his house, and very nearly fell over him. He caught her.
"Jez!" Zell looked surprised, but happy to see her. "Ya okay?" She smiled up at him, and Seifer felt murder in his heart. Zell helped her to her feet, and she answered as Seifer walked over.
"I'm fine and dandy. I thought-" Zell stared at her wrist. "What?"
"Is that seriously the time?!" He glanced at his own watch. "Oh, shit! I gotta go, seriously. We're on a mission, but I'll see you soon, okay?" He kissed her quickly, then ran off, pulling his SeeD jacket on as he ran, leaving her there, pouting after him. She ran a hand through her hair.
"What a jerk." Muttered Seifer under his breath, but Jez didn't hear him.
She sighed as she watched Zell go, suddenly depressed and lonely. She needed something to perk herself up. Forcing a smile, she said: "So there's a dorm party?"
*************
Jez sat with a bottle in her hand, alone in a corner, gazing at nothing. This was definately a spolier in her plans. She'd come to see Zell, and been utterly delighted to see him. But now he'd had to go on a mission. She'd have to wait who-knows how long until she saw him again. Whoever was in charge of the missions had really bad timing. She looked up as a shadow loomed over her. Irvine stood in front of her, then flopped down beside her on the bed.
"Hey, Jez! How ya doin'!" He grinned at her, obviously drunk. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek. She couldn't help smiling. Irvine was the same as ever, of which she was glad. At least there was something recognisable here.
"Ya don't wanna know the answer," she said, smiling a little sadly.
"Aw, wassup wi' my little Jezzy?" She mock-glared at him and looked away.
"It's just... I'm pissed off. I came here to see Zell, and now he's on a mission-"
Irvine started to laugh, and Jez' eyebrow's raised. "Hey, I know exactly what ya mean. Selphie's on the mission, too. Ya ain't worrying 'bout him not likin' you. He's not shut up about - want's to know all about you, an-"
"What did you tell him, Irvine?" There were a few things in her past - several of them involving Irvine - that she'd rather not have Zell know about, at least not yet. Irvine just waved his hand vaguely.
"Y'know, jus' stuff. Like when I met ya, and tole 'im about Rin and Manji, and that time that you an' me got together-"
"Irvine! God damn it, it's a wonder he's even talking to me! How could you?" She glared at him and stalked away, but he followed her.
"'S not that bad, is it? I mean, we was tipsy, an' he can't blame you coz it is me, after all... 'Sides, I didn't tell him details, jus' that I knew you was a good kisser..." He blinked and smiled. "So it's okay, y' see?"
Jez glared at him for a moment longer, then shook her head. She shouldn't try to keep secrets from Zell anyway, not if they were going to have a relationship, which was what she wanted. She finished the last of her bottle, then wandered over to get another one, Irvine in tow.
She downed the bottle, felt dizzy for a minute as Irvine egged her on, then wandered over to Seifer after cracking open another bottle. He was standing with Raijin and Fuujin, not joining in with the party. She waved at him, and he smiled, obviously not drunk. She put the bottle in his hands, and went to get another one. When she got back, Irvine, Raijin and Fujin had gone. She looked around, but didn't notice Seifer's posse draggin Irvine off to leave Seifer alone with her. He had drank the bottle, and she gave him a tipsy thumbs up.
"Nice one," she muttered, and drank half of her bottle. "Ya gonna join th' party now?!"
Seifer's eyenrows raised, and he smiled at her. "Say's the girl who has just been sat in the corner on her own for a hour?" She hit him in the chest playfully, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Ow!!"
"Wuss. It was only a love tap!" Seifer grinned at her.
"I wouldn't like to have you hit me for real!" He grinned. She'd used the word love in relationship to him. He stood stock still. He hadn't just thought that. No way was he falling in love with a girl he'd met less than 24 hours ago. Was he? He looked at her. She was talking to a SeeD cadet next to her, smiling and using broad, drunken hand movements. He looked at her body, her face. Yep, definately beautiful, definately sexy. He glanced down at her body a bit more. She glanced at him and smiled. The mischief in her eyes reminded him of her great personality, and he smiled weakly. Oh, god... He was...
He grabbed her hand, and she looked at him in surprise. He led her to the 'dance floor', that is, the only part of floor not covered by bottles/drunken SeeDs, and started to dance with her. She giggled, waved a hand, and went to have another drink. Two guys were having a drinking competition, downing Tequila slammers. Jez pushed the loser out of the way, grinned at the winnder, and poured each of them three shots. On a count of three, they started, and she won. She laughed, grabbed another two bottles, and handed it to Seifer as they danced to Red Hot Chilli Peppers. When it finished, Jez staggered up to the stereo, rifled thru the CD's, and put one in the machine. Seifer had no idea what it was, but it was kinda rock-y. No one seemed to mind. They were either wasted or liked it.
"Woo hoo!" She yelled, and jumped up and down to the beat. "I know one hundred ways to be a good girl, one hundred ways; my willingness to please..."*
Seifer grinned at her. "I bet you do," he said, and she winked at him, swaying her hips as she danced, and his grin grew wider. As the night went on, they drank even more, and ended up sitting down, leaning heavily on each other, unable to move. Seifer glanced down at her.
"Good party."
"Yeah." From this angle, Seifer could see down her top. Luckily she had her eyes shut and didn't notice him staring. He averted him eyes quickly as she moved her head a little to look at him. "Shouldn't we, like, go to our rooms?"
"You wanna move?"
She grinned drunkenly at him. "Nah." Seifer suddenly felt the urge to kiss her, and gave in to it. She kissed him back for a moment, then pushed him away. "No, I-" She was interrupted as a cadet ran past, looking as though he was going to throw up violently. She gave up trying to talk and waved her hand vaguely, then put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Confused by her giving in to the kiss and then changing her mind, Seifer tried to think, but the haze of alcohol was impermeable, and he decided sleep was much easier. He wrapped an arm around Jez, already asleep, and rested his head on hers and slept.