~*~*~
“Hiya, Sally.”
I looked up from my book--I'd done all my work, so I was just reading--and sent Selphie a smile as she came to lean against the counter of the library. “Hi.”
“I heard Zell showed you off to his class today.”
I flushed and absently smoothed the pages of my book. “He just used me as an example for balance and coordination.” Zell showed me off! I nearly giggled.
“He showed you off, Sally,” Selphie insisted, outwardly giving voice to my inward giggle.
So I surrendered mine. “Yes. He showed me off.” I sighed and leaned against the counter. “It was so cool, Selphie.”
“I bet,” she acknowledged, eyes twinkling. “How'd you do? I heard from Mandy that you were awesome and didn't bobble once.” Selphie frowned before I could reply. “And what was with Cord doing that little kick thing? Sheesh. I'm going to have a talk with Seifer about that guy. He likes causing problems, and I've already had complaints about him bullying some of the junior classmen.”
My eyes widened. “Really? He seemed all show.” I blinked, flushed, and slapped my hand over my mouth.
Selphie giggled. “Hey. You gotta call it as you see it.”
I lowered my hand as I reluctantly smiled. “Did you need a book, Selphie?”
“Nope. I just want you to see something,” Selphie confessed.
“Right now?” I looked at my watch. Thirty minutes. “Hey, Val? Can I leave early today? I'll give you an extra 30 for lunch tomorrow.”
Val shouted “Sure!” from the back.
I tucked my book beside the computer for the next day and then followed Selphie from the library. “Where are we going?”
“The Quad.”
“How come?”
Selphie sent me a secretive smile. “You'll see.”
I smiled. “Selphie, you better not be doing any plotting.”
“Me? Plotting?” Selphie giggled. “I leave that up to Zelly and Seifer. They're the pranksters.”
“Do you think Zell will ever pull a prank on me?” I asked slowly, thoughtfully.
Selphie smiled. “Probably, but nothing horrible.” She giggled. “You think everything he does is funny anyway.”
I flushed. “It is,” I mumbled.
Selphie giggled again. “You guys are so cute.”
I flushed darker and adjusted my hold on my duffel. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“What's it like being Zell's girlfriend, anyway? He's never had one that I know of.”
I cleared my throat. “It's fine.”
“Fine?” Selphie laughed and gave me a scolding shove. “'Fine', she says to me.”
I timidly smiled. “So it's wonderful,” I admitted. “Everything I dreamed and more.”
“No spats?”
This time I giggled. “Selphie, we've only been dating for a few days.”
“So? I've heard horror stories of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships lasting less time than that because of a stupid argument.”
My smile vanished. “R-Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
I stared down at my feet as they moved along the corridor toward the Quad. “Oh.”
“Of course, they weren't nearly as cute as you two. And the guy wasn't as laid back as Zell at all. The girl wasn't as devoted, either. So, forget it.”
I looked over at Selphie. “What did they fight about?”
Selphie shrugged. “Don't remember, but I think it was something pretty stupid.”
“Oh.” We haven't fought about anything, have we? We had the little disagreement about the active SeeD thing after the field exam, but that hadn't been a fight. Was it?
We turned into the side-hall leading into the Quad.
“Sally.”
“Hmm?” I responded as I absently looked over at Selphie.
“Do you remember me telling you about the party we threw for Squall when he got the promotion of Commander for Balamb Garden?”
I nodded and wistfully smiled. “I wish I could have gone, but I could only watch from Garden. Candidates weren't allowed ashore.”
Selphie smiled. “Sorry you missed it. It was great. And you know what?”
I slightly shook my head, vaguely hearing the sound of a guitar as she and I descended the stairs into the Quad. “What?”
“Zell played guitar. Acoustic.”
My mouth dropped open. “He did? I didn't know that!”
Selphie nodded. “I know. He doesn't play for anyone anymore. I guess someone made a comment--I think it was Quistis--about how he was off the beat or something. She didn't mean to offend him. She just thought he'd want to know.”
My lower lip trembled. “Poor Zell.”
“I know. He's already so hard on himself about certain stuff. Anyway.” She halted at the bottom of the second flight of steps and faced me. “Anyway,” she said again, “he doesn't play except for when he's by himself. So, I thought you'd want to know.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Selphie. I'll have to see if I can get him to play for me. I sing a little.”
Selphie's eyes brightened. “Really? Cool. You guys could do duets.”
I vigorously shook my head. “No. I don't sing good in front of people.”
Selphie kept smiling. “Then I'll leave.” She motioned ahead. “Just sing for Zell.”
I blinked. “W-What?”
Selphie pointed again toward the stage on the Quad. “Over there. Zell. Guitar.” I turned and Selphie gave me a gentle push. “Go.”
And so I did what I was told, walking stiffly down the last flight of stairs as my gaze focused on Zell sitting on the edge of the stage playing the guitar and not really paying attention to anything else. I swallowed hard and--
Zell glanced my direction and stopped playing. “Oh.” He lowered the guitar to his lap and stared down at it, his ears going red. He cleared his throat and sent me a collection of glances as I continued toward him. “Hey, Sally. You're off work early.”
I pushed myself up onto the stage beside him. Then I smiled and gave him a nudge. “How come you didn't tell me you could play?”
He shrugged and adjusted the guitar on his lap to pick a couple notes and then a couple chords. He sent me a glance. “I don't know.”
I motioned to the guitar. “That's really pretty,” I offered softly. “Can you play some more?”
“Sure.”
“Do you mind if I hum along?”
Zell looked at me. “You sing?”
I giggled and flushed. “Not very often. Usually when I'm by myself with the radio on.”
Zell grinned. “I can barely carry a tune in a bucket.”
I smiled. I didn’t believe that he was less than perfect at everything. I gave him another nudge. “You play really well, Zell.”
Zell looked away, again picking a collection of chords as the red of his ears moved to his neck and face. “Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “So, what songs you know?”
I scooted a little closer, careful not to bump the guitar, and watched his profile with a soft smile. “You know 'Eyes on Me'?”
Zell smiled and started picking out the melody, giving me a perfect length of introduction before I began singing.
It was like the song had been written just for me.
And then Zell quieted the guitar and looked over at me. “Wow, Sally. That was really... like it was your song.”
I flushed and focused on my gently swinging feet as my hands gripped the edge of the stage. “I've always liked that song,” I whispered. Because I could so relate to it. “It's a classic love long, and it's been around for years. I think my mom has the original performance album.”
“Wow. Cool.” Zell watched me a bit longer before moving his gaze to the guitar and absently plucking another nameless melody.
I continued to softly smile, basking in the surreal loveliness of everything and enjoying every sappy and mushy thought and daydream that went through my head. Then I let myself do something I never thought would
happen, I rested my head on Zell's shoulder as he continued to play. Closing my eyes, I released a deep breath, hoping against hope that my alarm didn't go off until the dream was finished and I had my one last kiss.
Hey. It could happen, couldn't it?
So when the alarm didn't go off, and Zell kept playing, and the evening sun put a warm glow on my face, I started to hum along with whatever he did. I didn't care if it fit or didn't, it was fun to just do something with Zell that didn't need to mean anything. It was romantic just hanging out because I hadn't ever thought it would happen. And now it was happening and I didn't know what to think or feel about anything.
I had a better reality than all the daydreams I ever dreamed before.