What about me...? by Koudelka- CHAPTER SEVEN

Chapter Seven: You

"...What?" My jaw nearly hit the floor... And Rinoa wanted to get back together with Seifer...

"Yeah, we decided to pretend to be together until she got that job at the infirmary." I bit my lower lip. Seifer... Oh, dammit, Seifer...

"Um, I'm going to go now... continue on..." I left and ran to Seifer's dorm.

"Quistis, you get my stuff...? Whoa, you look pale." He said as I entered. I didn't say anything. I crossed my arms. "Quistis, what's wrong?"

"...What did Rinoa want?"

"You were here..."

"No, the second time she came."

"Ah, oh... that time..."

"Seifer." I said, gritting my teeth.

"She..." He started. "She wanted to know how I would feel if she broke up with Squall."

"And?"

"I told her I couldn't care less..." I smiled to myself.

"And she said?"

"She stormed outta here..."

"I see..."

"So, uh, you okay?"

"Not really..." I sit on the foot of his bed and sigh.

"What's wrong...?"

"Squall and Rinoa..."

"What about them?"

"Look, I'm really not supposed to tell you but...They broke up...three weeks ago..."

"Say wha...?"

"Yeah, it was all recordings... They decided to pretend to be together until Rinoa got her job at the infirmary... It seems like that was all in vain though..."

"I can't believe that... Where'd you find it out?"

"...I was walking down the hall and seen Rinoa, then heard noises from Squall's dorm. I went in and... erm, he was there with a tape recorder..."

"...Damn..."

"Seifer... This doesn't affect... us, right?" I ask, praying to Hyne that it would be alright.

"No, of course not, I'm just gonna get a whole lot more visits from Rinoa, thats all."

"Hehe. Well, uh, I'm going to go get your stuff, I'll be back." I say, standing up and heading towards the door.

"Hey, it can wait. Stay for a bit."

"Okay..." I walk back over towards him.

"I wonder what would have made them break up..."

"Well, what made you two break up?"

"She left me. Just one day. I never seen her again, and then they send... well, you know what happened after that." I nod slowly.

"I told you he didn't love her though." Seifer says.

"Maybe he did... What if she just didn't love him...? Did she love you, Seifer?" I ask.

"I don't think so... But I guess I'll never know..."

"Well, she seems to want to get back together though..."

"Yeah..."

"Seifer... if you want to get back together with her... I mean, I just want you to be happy..." I could hardly believe that I had made the offer. I toss my head to the side, awaiting an answer.

"Never." He says, and he kisses me. Wow, looks like I got a very good answer. I kiss him back.

"Good..."

"Mr. Almasy." Comes a voice behind the door.

"Who is it?" I ask him.

"I dunno, probably just the Garden Staff with carrots." He walks over and opens the door, and is greeted with a plate of carrots. He closes the door, and shows me the plate with carrots on it.

"What did I tell ya?" He tosses the plate in the trash, ontop of a noticable pile of paper plates, along with, of course, carrots.

"I'm gonna go get you some real food. I'll be back."

"Thanks." I leave, and come back with hot dogs and beer. A great combination... to Seifer, at least.

"Thank ya, Quistis."

"Sure it was nothing." I sip my coffee and he opens a beer. Wow, he drinks alot.. Well, I can see why!

"Hehe. To you maybe, but if it wasn't for you, I'd be eating carrots for the last three days."

"You know, when I was little, I used to do things for people all of the time. Favors that would take me all day... They'd slowly eat away at my childhood, until I just lost my childhood, and became a mature adult... Those favors, fixing things, watching the younger children at the orphanage, and constantly saving Zell from monsters... I never got one hint of graditude or appreciation. No one realized what it cost me... and it caused me to be over-mature... And, until a few days ago... I never had thought anyone had recognized me...for me. Basically, what I'm trying to say is... I really needed you, Seifer."

"Hyne, Quistis... I noticed you... I was fascinated by you. How you could do all those things, and not get anything in return. I... Quistis, I watched you cry at night." I nearly spit out the coffee in my mouth, but managed to swallow it. How could he remember...? Why did he watch me?

"Y, you did...?" I manage.

"Yeah... I used to... hate Edea and Cid for that. They had always favored Ellone, you remember that?" I nod. "Well, yeah, they'd have you do everything... it was always 'Quistis this, Quistis that.' Damn, they annoyed the hell outta me! And I'd see you cry at night... and I'd hate them even more."

"Why...? I mean, how? I cryed outside. I wouldn't sleep at all, and then... I'd go outside by the shore... and cry. It was usually around... 3am. I forget though... You watched me. I had thought everyone was sleeping..." I say, wondering why I got us on this subject at all.

"...Why did you cry, Quistis?" He asks.

"...Because I thought I'd be all alone forever... It was always Squall and Ellone, Selphie and Irvine... And you'd always be with Zell, when he wasn't kissing up to matron, heh, teasing him, or laughing at the other kids... You fascinated me too, Seifer... you had such free will. Me? I was alone. After Ellone left, Squall became distant, but Zell hung out with him... Everyone always had someone, and often, when I had to be around you... I'd feel unfortable... you seemed the oppisite of me... But now I realize, you were alone too... We are much the same."

"We are, Quistis. We are." I knew then that there really was no one else for me, or him. He leaned in to kiss me, but there was a knock at the door.

"Dammit! Who is it NOW?"

"You are very popular, Seifer."

"Tch, yeah right." Seifer walked over to the door, and opened it.

"What?" He said. It was Rinoa. Damn you, Rinoa, go away!

"...Seifer, can I come in...?"

"...Ugh, fine." I sipped my coffee.

"Hello, Rinoa."

"Hello, Quistis. I heard you lost your instructor's liscense, AGAIN."

"Yeah, well, we should always make sacrifices for love... And that doesn't always mean JUST our virginity." I said coldy. Rinoa tried to scowl, but ended up just screwing up her face to make herself look like an idiot. Seifer smirked at my last comment.

"Alright, ladies. Thats enough." He said. "What did you want Rinoa?"

"I wanted to ask you something IN PRIVATE."

"Whatever you want to say to me, you can say to Quistis."

"No, thats fine, Seifer. I need more coffee anyway. Have fun, Rinoa." I walked out the door, and headed to get more coffee.

When I arrived at the cafeteria, the lady working there inquired me about my lack of sleep.

"You shouldn't drink so much coffee, hunny."

"I...like...coffee." I mutter.

"Alright. The usual?"

"Yeah." I head back, coffee in-hand, and let myself into Seifer's dorm. He's sitting on the window sill (I've noticed thats where he always sits), drinking beer. Hyne, I hate beer.

"What'd she want?" I ask dully, sitting on his bed.

"...To get back together. I mean, damn, that girl gets bolder, and bolder by the hour."

"Mhm... what'd you say to her?"

"Very basically, 'Hell no, I'm taken.'"

"And not basically...?"

"Hell no, I'm taken." I laugh, and lay back on his bed. I remember how firm it is. I sigh contently, happy the bed is so firm, happy that it smells of Seifer, and happy to be with Seifer.

"Hey, Quistis?"

"Hmm?"

"Squall..."

"What about him?"

"How do you feel about him...? I mean... yeah."

"...I think... I think it was just attraction, Seifer..."

"How can you tell...?"

"Because, I guess, when I was... *attracted* to him... I felt different than I do now with you... And I know this is love, so there is no way that was love..."

"...You sure?"

"Positive."

"Good." He jumps down from his seat and tosses the empty can in the trash. I sit up, not really wanting to, because Seifer's bed is so comfortable.

"What do you think Rinoa will do now?" I ask.

"She'll probably keep trying to get me. And once she realizes that I'm *hopelessly addicted* to you, she'll move on. As long as she's with someone, she's happy, thats just who she is." He shrugs, and sits beside me.

"Hopelessly addicted, hm?" I say, looking at him in the eye.

"Oh, yes." He leans toward me and kisses me deeply, and after a long, passionate kiss, he finally tells me that I need sleep.

"Now, my Quistis, you look real tired, and its late. So, I'm out of here tommarow. I'll come wake ya up, don't worry." I smile, and slip the spare key to my dorm in his hand, while kissing him, then leave. I walk back to my dorm, and come across Rinoa on the way.

"Where are you going, Rinoa...?"

"To Squall's dorm."

"Why?" Oh wait, Im not supposed to know... Oops.

"To see him." Yeah, right.

"Sure."

"Hahah."

"Whatever, Rinoa." I mutter, opening the door to my dorm and entering, thinking to myself how stupid some people are. I kick off my boots, and get undressed. I pull on a pair of baggy pants, and a t-shirt, then get into bed... But, I find I cannot sleep. My bed is too soft.

End Chapter.

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