Rinoa raced around to the Quad, hoping to reach Zell before he got there. She knew - just knew - that Jez'd be with Seifer, and she didn't want Zell to have to see that. She knew how much he already hated Seifer, but more importantly, how much he cared for Jez. When she got to the Quad and she hadn't met him, she started to worry. When she got to the last set of steps, she saw Zell's back, tense, as he stared out ot the newly-refurbished Quad.
There, looking over the edge, were Seifer, Jez at his side. They looked perfectly at ease with one another, talking. They looked for all the world like a couple - no wonder Zell looked so tense. From the distance they were at, they couldn't hear the words, but that was probably for the best. Then Seifer said something, and Jez looked up, frowning. He reached down to kiss her. Zell turned and ran out of the Quad.
"Zell, wait," yelled Rinoa, and was ready to run after him, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed movement. Jez had thrown Seifer off her, and was glaring at him. Her voice raised, Rinoa could every word.
"Goddamit, Seifer! I really liked you - as a friend. Why the hell did you have to go and spoil it!? I thought you realised - I love Zell! I can't be with you!" She shut her eyes, then ran out past Rinoa. Rinoa stared at her back, and everything clicked into place. Jez had been telling the truth. She and Seifer were just friends. No wonder, they must spend hours with each other, what with classes everyday and training. A wave of guilt swept over Rinoa. She had said all those horrible things to Jez, and now...
She jumped as a hand rested on her shoulder, and whirled around to see Squall. "Rinoa, what's going on?" He asked with a frown. All she could do was shake her head helplessly and shrug. As Squall led her away, she glanced back at Seifer, and saw him, eyes closed, resting his head on his hand.
***************
Zell had done the only thing he could think of. Ran to the training centre, and beat the crap out of some monsters, pretnding they were Seifer. First of all, the guy picked on him for the last ten years - more, even. And even though he tried not to show it, that hurt. Hurt like hell. And now... Now he'd stolen from him the only thing that mattered to him. When he'd seen the two of them together, his heart had broken. The only reason he wasn't killing Seifer right now was that he wanted Jez to be happy. And if she was with Seifer, then he'd just have to live with that. Blinking rapidly to keep the tears where they should be, he finished off the Grat. He was about to start on the next one, when he heard a female scream, and thru the foliage, he saw Jez launch herself at a T-Rexaur. He noticed the tears streaming from her eyes, the utter anger and hurt on her face. As she slipped into a limit break, he noticed with surprise how similar her moves were to his. Although he was still angry and upset, he was concerned about her. What had happened? Why was she crying? He watched as she brought the T-Rexaur down, then fell down to her knees sobbing. She punched the ground, then brought her hand up to her face.
For a moment, he just wanted to run away - away from this woman, and all the emotions she stirred up in him, away from the excess of pain he was sure talking to her would bring. Summoning all his courage, he walked over to her, and it took all his self-control to not cry himself. He crouched down at the side of her. At the sound, she looked up at him with hurt in her eyes. Her lips twisted in what was nearly a smile, and shook her head angrily. Through her sobs, she spoke. "Zell. I... You saw, didn't you?"
He paused, then nodded, a tear escaping his control, the hurt in his heart increasing.
"I didn't... I guess Rinoa was right, huh? I was leading him on. I didn't mean to. I like him. He's my best friend here. But I didn't know he felt like that, I had no idea, I-"
"What?" Zell's heart started to life, but he stopped it, wanting to make sure he understood the situation before he got his hopes up.
She siffed and rubbed at her eyes. "Rinoa - she said I was flirting with Seifer. I mean, he's my friend, my training partner, but nothing more. Or so I thought. But now I've hurt him, leading him on, and now I've hurt you, too." Her body wracked with sobs, and then she looked up at him, fear in her eyes. "I guess you don't want anything to do with me now, do you? Not with someone like me, who just uses people."
"Jez, that never even crossed my mind. Of course I want to be with you. I want you because you're amazing!" A tear fell from his own eyes. "I thought... I mean, I've been gone for ages, and I thought you'd got bored with me and gone for Seifer instead..." his voice trailed off, and the two of them stared at one another. Jez gazed at him, wiping tears from her cheeks, while another fell down Zell's. "I love, you, Jez." It was a whisper, and she stared at him. Her mouth opened, then closed. She wiped at her eyes again, then looked up at him.
"Really?"
He nodded. "I'm sorry. I-" He was cut off as Jez thrust herself into his arms. He gave a sob and he held her tightly.
"I love you, too, Zell. I'm sorry I hurt you, I-" Zell sushed her with his lips as he kissed her. The kiss was sweet, gentle, chaste. He pulled back and looked down at her. The relief was clear in her face, as was the love. He smiled at her, and in response, she reached up to kiss him. This kiss was anything but chaste. She kissed him as though she was starving, and he was the only thing in the world that could satisfy her hunger. They held each other in the realisation that this was where they belonged, where they would always be.
***************
Prolgue - The End if the Beginning is the End
Jez saw Seifer at the Quad a few weeks later, looking over the side. Although she and Zell were utterly happy together, she missed his company. He had moved to the front in their classes, away from her seat at the back, and he hadn't turned up to their training sessions. Taking a deep breath, Jez walked up to stand beside him.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," he answered, looking at her, a strange look in his eyes, at emotion she couldn't decipher.
She looked away. "I... I'm sorry I yelled at you.." She paused. "I miss you, Seifer. I miss our training sessions, I miss our classes together, I miss you." She paused again and a small smile sat on her lips. "I love Zell. I've loved him since the moment I met him. You were my best friend, and I still want you to be. If we can."
Seifer looked at her. And I've loved you since the moment I met you. I've missed you like hell, and seeing you with him burns me. These were his thoughts, but aloud, he merely said: "Sure. I'd like that. I've missed you too."
Jez smiled at him, and stood on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Seifer." Her smile made her look like an angel, and Seifer tried to ignore that fierce pain in his heart. She turned to leave, and waved. "See in class tomorrow!" He looked after her with sadness in his eyes as she left.
"Goodbye," he whispered.