Chapter Eleven
A Happy... Ending?
"Good morning, sweetie," I called as I entered his office.
Zell looked up from his desk--and it seemed I saw him in this position more and more the last few weeks--and grinned. "Hey, kitten." He stood and received my tight hug as well as my brief and soft kiss. "Sorry about canceling workout this morning with you and Janine."
I softly rubbed at his tattoo as I smiled up at him. "It's okay." It gave her and I a chance to fine-tune your surprise for my birthday party this weekend. "You don't do it very often. Besides." I looked down at all the papers on his desk. "I know how busy you've been lately."
Zell kissed my hair and then pushed gently back. "I know, and I've gotta finish grading these papers before I can do anything else."
I stood on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek and then stepped back. "You want me to get breakfast and come back up?"
"That would rock. You mind?"
I giggled. "Of course not, silly. I'll be right back."
I turned and headed out of his office on the second floor to make my way for the elevator. I could hardly wait until the senior candidates got approved for being teaching assistants for Zell's junior classes. It would lighten his load so much.
I stepped aboard the elevator and pushed the button for the main floor. I giggled. I could hardly wait until my party. I was going to surprise him with a present the same as him for me: a freelance position as a submission reviewer. Combat King had said that he could pick and choose which submissions to review! Which meant he could basically 'make his own hours'. All Zell had to do was sign the contract and it was set.
I hugged myself and giggled again. He'd love it.
Then my smile drooped. I lowered my arms to my sides. I just wish the city council would hurry up and decide about Winhill. Poor Zell. I could tell he was distracted by the waiting. Marshal said that they wanted some specific things dealt with in a renewable contract. Unfortunately, I didn't have the clearance to find out what those things were. And there was no way I was going to ask Seifer or Commander Squall. I figured Zell probably drove them nuts asking every day anyway.
I smiled again. Janine had heard Zell and I talking about it one day and voiced her own interest. I didn't know if she really wanted to transfer to a security office in Winhill or not, but she said that she was going to at least talk to Seifer about details.
Her and Seifer talked a lot. Especially after hours. I leaned back against the elevator. It was nice to see them getting along so great. After what had happened that first day, I thought they wouldn't like each other very much. But they spent a lot of time together talking about gunblades and people they didn't like very much. Sometimes I heard them arguing in the cafeteria about something or other, but then they'd start laughing so hard that I figured I must have misunderstood.
Anyway, it was nice to see.
I stepped off the elevator and headed toward the cafeteria. I hesitated when I saw Seifer heading toward me. Sally, relax. I took in a deep breath and forced myself to continue forward. I smiled. "Good morning, sir." Are you coming to my birthday party this weekend? I wish I could ask that.
"Regal," he greeted with a simple nod as he passed.
I released a relieved breath--and then heard a snap of fingers and the sound of him turning. Too soon.
"Oh. Regal."
I turned and swallowed as he stepped up to me. I looked up. "Yes, sir?"
"Larabie won't need a ride. She's going with me."
I blinked. "Oh. Okay." He's coming to my party? I smiled. "You're coming, sir? Really?"
Seifer's lips twitched upward in a smirk. "Regal, I still don't know why the hell you invited me. You're more damned afraid of me than, hell. I don't know."
I blinked up at him yet again. He's talking to me? "Um, well, you're very scary to someone like me." I pointed at him very cautiously. "You're very tall. And you frown a lot."
Seifer 'barked' out a laugh. "But you still come to work every damn day."
I shook my head, still wondering if I was dreaming or if Seifer Almasy was really talking to me. "Nuh-uh. I have weekends off." I smiled. "A mini-vacation."
Seifer laughed again. "Mini-vacation my ass. Regal, you spend every damn weekend with that maniac Dincht. How the hell can that be a vacation? He's a security mishap waiting to happen."
My mouth dropped open. "No he isn't." Sally! You contradicted your boss! I cleared my throat and lowered my gaze. "Sir."
Seifer chuckled and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever. See you in thirty minutes." And he turned and walked away.
I stared after him in total and complete shock. Sure, I'd noticed him changing a bit here and there over the past month, but I hadn't realized--Wow. What got into him? I absently flicked my middle fingernail with my thumb as I shook my head and turned back toward the cafeteria. I would never understand Seifer.
"Hey, Sally."
I looked up to see Janine coming out of the corridor from the dorms. Her spiked black hair, sassy attitude, and twinkling brown eyes made her the most unique person at Garden. I smiled. "Good morning again, Janine. Thanks for working out with me so early this morning."
Janine waved it aside. "Sal, it was a pleasure. Sorry I couldn't stay the entire two hours." She smirked. "Appointments, you know."
I nodded. "I wouldn't want you to miss anything important on my account. Did it go okay?"
"The appointment?" Janine asked, and it looked as if she wanted to laugh.
"Uh-huh. It was a good one, right?"
Janine slightly nodded. "Most definitely. Every time."
"Oh. Tutoring someone before class?"
Janine chuckled. "Something like that."
I smiled. "You're so nice." My smile faded to an annoyed expression. "Most Instructors just tell the candidates to go study on their own in the library, or find a study partner. It doesn't really help if your study partner doesn't know how to find the answers either." I stretched my hands out. "I mean, how would I have known the Quarterstaff was all wrong for me if Zell hadn't offered to help?"
Janine suddenly started laughing.
I blinked at her in surprise. "What?"
She shook her head, waving it aside as she tried to stem the laughter. "Nothing," she struggled out. "I just realized that you've never--" And she broke off with another fit of laughter.
"Never what?"
Janine took in a deep breath and let it out slow. "Nothing. Never mind. You're fine." She motioned down the corridor. "I better get. I'll try and show up tomorrow morning, but I don't guarantee anything."
I nodded. "It's okay. I understand about how important the tutoring can be. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had the time with Zell before my Fire Cavern exam."
Janine smirked. "I'm glad he was there for you, Sal gal. Now I better scoot. See you 'round."
And she moved past. I watched her go, smiling. I really liked Janine Larabie. She was fun and creative and so very different. I gave a happy shrug and continued toward the cafeteria to get my sweetie his breakfast.
When I pushed into the cafeteria, the door stopped part way and I heard a crash and splash on the other side. My eyes widened. Oh no. I stepped through the slight opening--I gasped and covered my mouth as I stared wide-eyed at Ahndra, who stood coffee-soaked on the other side of the door.
I stepped forward, arms and hands extended. "Oh my gosh Ahndra ma'am I'm so sorry I didn't know you were there or I would've opened the other door Oh my gosh I didn't mean to dump it all over you Is it hot Here let me grab you some napkins" came pouring out as Ahndra just stood there staring down at herself and then staring blankly at me as I attempted to pat down her SeeD uniform.
"Regal."
Tears threatened as I stopped and looked up at her. "Yes?" I squeaked.
"It's fine."
I nodded but it turned to shaking as I stared at her in misery. "I'm sorry," I choked out.
"Accepted." She shook the extra coffee drops from her hands a
nd then took another handful of napkins from the dispenser clutched in my hand. "Marshal and I will be there. This weekend." Ahndra glanced up at me from her work of drying herself off. "Thank you for inviting me."
I dumbly nodded. Sally! Say something! "Sure."
She tossed the soiled napkins into the trash and faced me again. Then she very slightly smiled before stepping past and leaving the cafeteria. I blinked and turned to stare after her. Then I gave a silly smile and giggled. Who needed a birthday party when my life had become practically perfect over the past month?
My job was great. Almost entirely stress-free--Well, mostly.
Zell and I were doing great as a couple and as best friends.
Quistis and Zack were dating on a regular basis--though they denied it--and she had freed up almost all her time at Garden to Janine so that she could be at the T.V. Station.
If anything else wonderful happened, I swear I'll float away!
Life's Lessons on Stress Page 38