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

Chapter Ten: I

"I think I would be better suited for the job..." I say.

"Nah, Seifer's got a place in there for himself already."

"Not really... He joined SeeD so... I don't think they'd like him that much anymore."

"Hmm, you've got a point..."

"...Well..." Seifer starts. "I think Leonheart would be the one for the job!"

"Oh? How so?" He asks.

"...I dunno, just seems like your the best one to send away."

"...Seifer." Xu warns.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Anyway." Squall clears his throat. "...Xu?"

"I'll go!" She says.

"You seem eager." I say, looking at her.

"Yes, Squall snores."

"Do NOT!"

"Do too."

"ANYWAY." I say.

"I still think Leonheart." Seifer says.

"I think Seifer." Squall says, glaring at Seifer.

"I think I should go!" Xu says.

"Well..." I start. "Xu wants to go... so I say we let her."

"Alright. Xu, you leave in the morning. Good luck." Squall and Xu retreat to their room, and Seifer and I sit.

"Damn, that was close."

"... No kidding..." I mutter.

"I'm really... sorry, Quistis..."

"...Its fine."

"No, really..."

"Its fine!" Actually, I wasn't sure if I could even trust him that much anymore... Seifer, why? I didn't feel too great, I had an awful headache.

"...I'm going, to um, sleep now. 'Night."

"Good night, Quistis..." I layed back on the bed, and rested my head on the pillow. I fell asleep. When I woke up, I glanced at the clock, 3AM. I looked around for Seifer, but found he wasn't in bed. I lifted my head and glanced into the bathroom. The light was on, and Seifer was staring at himself in the mirror. He looked upset. I decided to remain quiet, and watch a bit more. He muttered something, and forked his fingers through his hair in an upset manner. What's wrong, Seifer? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and walked over towards the bathroom and peered in.

"Seifer...?"

"Oh, ...Quistis."

"Yeah, uh, what're you doing...? Its three in the morning."

"I just took a shower..."

"You don't look wet."

"I dried off..."

"...You took a shower at three in the morning...?"

"Um, yeah."

"...Um, no."

"Oh, come on, Quistis. What the hell do you want me to say?"

"...What you were doing."

"I told you! I was taking a shower..."

"You stared in the mirror an awful long time..."

"How long have you been awake?"

"Oh, about an hour." I lied.

"Yeah, right."

"Its true."

"Then why are you asking what I'm doing? You should know." He crossed his arms and looked at me in the eye.

"...Seifer."

"What? What was I doing wrong?!" ...Thats it... I'll just... guess.

"...You were staring at yourself in the mirror, wondering if you deserve to live... because you betrayed everyone AGAIN." He stared at me, with those green eyes. Dammit, I had said something wrong again. I turn away, and climbed back into bed, where I layed on my stomach, not wanting to face him. I didn't think he had moved yet, but then I felt him plop on the bed next to me.

"You're right." He muttered, laying on his side to face me. I turned my head.

"I didn't mean to be."

"Yes you did."

"...I'm sorry..."

"You shouldn't be sorry... I should be."

"But you're not." I said. I hadn't meant to say that. It just sort of... happened.

"I am..." He said. I yawned.

"Mhm... Anyway, you left them, so you have nothing to be sorry about..."

"But I lied to everyone... to you..."

"Its not the first time..." There was silence. "Look, you did leave them, now things are back to normal. You'll go back to Garden, and lead your life as an average student." I didn't even know what I was implying... but I had a feeling it wasn't any good.

"...Yeah. Okay." Seifer shut off the lamp and turned away from me. ...I didn't mean to imply that... Damn you, Quistis.

When I woke up the next morning, Seifer was still asleep. I stared at him.

"I love you..." I murmur, then kiss him. I stand up and go into the bathroom, where I pull on a pair of black pants and a black sleeveless shirt. I brush out my hair, deciding to leave it down. I hear a knock at the door.

"Hey, its Squall."

"Um, coming." I walk over to the door and open it.

"Xu is leaving."

"Alright."

"...So, we are just going to stay here for the rest of the day, and wait til she gets back. Should she find that the rumors about the missiles are true, we'll leave tommarow to go... do some negociating."

"Okay, Squall."

"Is Seifer awake?"

"No."

"He is there though... not scouting again is he?" Squall peers into the room.

"Yes, he is here..."

"Okay. Inform him when he wakes up."

"Mhm."

"See you."

"Bye." I shut the door and sigh, walking over to Seifer. I'll let him sleep. I glance out the window, its raining pretty hard out there. I wonder how Xu'll do.

"Quistis?"

"Hey." I mutter, turning to look at the awakening Seifer. He stands up and looks at me.

"...You okay?" I ask.

"I'm fine." He replies.

"Oh, um, Squall sent Xu in... so, she'll be back tonight with some news."

"...Alright..."

"Hey, Seifer...?"

"Yeah?"

"You do know that I still love you..." It wasn't really a question... More like a statement. Or maybe it was both. Whatever it was, got a smile in return.

"I love you too, Quistis." He hugged me. Maybe things would turn out okay.

~~~

Later, at around eight, Squall had come over, and the power had gone out due to severe lightening. So, we are all sitting at the table, Seifer sat across from me, and Squall next me. There was a candle burning in the center of the table. We were all just waiting for Xu.

"Heey! You guys, you gonna lemme in!?"

"Oh! Xu...!" I find my way to the door through the dark, and open the door for her, she's soaked.

"Hi, everyone." Seifer tosses her a towel without saying anything. She throws her coat somewhere, and dries her hair.

"So...?" Squall asks.

"Well, the rumors aren't true, they don't have the missiles, but..." She takes a long pause.

"So, get on with it, already." Seifer says impatiently.

"But... they do plan to make them soon... They say they will use them if they have to though..."

"Damned bastards." Seifer mutters.

"What's wrong, Seifer? You know something we don't?" Squall asks suspiciously.

"Naw, just upset at the bastards for... planning on making those missiles."

"Oh... Well, we leave tommarow at 5AM!"

"For where?" I ask.

"To the... president."

"Mhm..." They leave, and I glance at Seifer.

"They do have those fucking missiles."

"What...? How do you know...?"

"...I thought we went over this. I just wanted to see if the bastards were planning to use them, thats why I didn't say anything..."

"So are they going to use them?"

"Yes. Why else would they tell Xu that they didn't have them, eh?"

"...We have to tell Squall they have them..."

"Well, what? You want to tell him I was a spy too?!" Damn...

"...I don't know, Seifer..." I stared at the flames relecting in his green eyes. He looked like there was something bothering him.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask.

"N, no."

"... Don't lie to me."

"...I was just worried that you didn't trust me anymore... And that you think this whole thing is me causing trouble." Yes, that thought had crossed my mind several times, but I pushed it away.

"I trust you. And even if you are just getting us into trouble... I'm glad its you getting me into trouble, not anyone else." ...Can't believe I said that. Heh.

"Thanks, Quistis."

"Yeah." We sat in silence, trying to think of a way to tell Squall and Xu that they did have the missiles.

"I have an idea." I finally said.

"What is it?"

"You'll see." I stood up, and he followed. We walked toward their room, but heard voices.

"Let's listen." Seifer suggested, so we crept up as close as possible to the door, and listened.

"Look, they are hiding something!" Squall.

"Quistis wouldn't hide anything!" Xu.

"Not if Seifer had blackmailed her somehow!" Squall.

"I doubt that, they seem to be happy together!" Xu.

"Hey," I whispered to Seifer, "I don't like this... not at all..."

"Me neither." Came his reply.

"Yeah, but thats only SEEMS. You heard them yelling." Squall.

"That could've been someone else." Xu.

"I'm worried about Quistis..." Squall. Wow, Squall, you worry now.

"...I guess I am too..." Xu.

"...We should talk to her... alone." Squall. Seifer tapped me on the shoulder.

"Don't you betray me."

"I wouldn't dream of it." We stood up and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Its um, me and Seifer."

"Oh, come on in." We opened the door, and entered the dark room.

"Quistis, could I talk to you... for a moment?" Squall asked.

"Um, sure, what is it?"

"No, um, in private?" I glance at Seifer.

"Sure." I say finally.

"We'll be back." Squall says to Xu, taking me out into the hall.

"What is it?"

"How are things between you and Seifer?"

"...Fine."

"You know, you can tell me, I won't tell a soul." I'd like to.

"No. I mean, there is nothing wrong. What makes you think that?"

"...I don't know. I just don't trust Seifer." Oh really? I can see why..

"Oh, well, he is a very trustworthy person, you just need to be on his good side."

"Yeah... heh."

"Um, anyway, Seifer and I... well we have something to tell you guys, so... yeah." I open the door and peer in.

"So, what's your idea, Seifer?" Xu asks.

"Well, um, Quistis can explain it better."

"I want to hear you explain it."

"Really, ...Quistis can explain it better." Seifer protests.

"I had better go in and explain it, don't you think?"

"No." He pulls on my arm.

"What?"

"You... you and Seifer. There is something going on."

"No, there isn't." I pull away from Squall's grasp and walk into the room.

"Well," I say loud and clearly. "They do have the missiles, and they plan to use them soon too." Everyone, including Seifer just look at me.

"How do you know?" Squall asks.

"The other day, when Seifer was scouting the streets for information, he overheard two Galbadian soliders talking... and they mentioned the missiles."

"Why didn't he tell us...?" Xu asks.

"Well, he wanted to see what'd they'd say, first... Now that he has Seifer thinks..."

"That they'll use them very soon!" Seifer finished.

"On what, though?" Squall asks, pacing.

"...We dunno." Seifer said. Yes you do. I know you do.

"...Hm..."

"...We'll let you two think that over." I suggest grabbing Seifer by his sleeve and walking.

"...Fine."

We exited, and went back to our room.

"What'd he have to say to you?" Seifer asked.

"Where are they sending the missiles?" I ask. Everything is silent.

"Well!?"

"...Dammit, Quistis..."

"...Where are they sending the missiles?!"

"Balamb Garden."

End Chapter.

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