Chapter 2
A crossed look passed over Rinoa’s face, but if Squall noticed, he didn’t show it. “I said, let’s go on a date.” She smiled sweetly at the stoic man.
No expression passed over Squall’s face, “whatever,” he muttered.
Rinoa grinned, pulling on his arm. “Yay.” The dark-haired girl let go of Squall’s arm, and took his hand, walking to his door. “We can go to Balamb and go to that little café, Mama’s Place.”
From his spot, Zell glowered. Why did that girl have to show up and ruin everything? He and Squall had been getting closer, and the man had started to open up even, when he was alone with Zell. Which was a lot, seeing as they were roommates. What does he see in her anyway? Okay, so she’s pretty, but Squall must see she was nothing but a spoiled brat.
Zell sighed, leaving the bathroom, and walking to the door, and watched the disappearing figures of Squall and the she-biatch. When they were finally out of sight, Zell slammed the door shut, and collapsed on his bed, breathing hard. He knew tears were streaming down his tattooed face, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t like anyone was here to see him in this state.
Or so he thought...
“Zell,” a quiet concerned voice spoke. Zell jumped, afraid, it was Squall, coming back for some reason. It took him second to realize that the voice belonged to a female. Zell looked up at the blonde biting his lip.
“Hmm,” he mumbled.
“Why are you,” Quistis walked further into his room, “crying?” Coming to the edge of his bed, Quistis set down, taking his hand in hers.
Zell blushed, looking away. “I...I ... how’d you get in,” He mumbled?
Quistis sighed. Zell was avoiding the question, and she knew it. “The door was unlocked.”
Zell scrubbed at his damp face, erasing the tears. “So you just came in?” Zell pulled his hand away from Quistis, and crawled out off the bed, pacing.
Quistis frowned. She hated to see a friend of hers in such a distressed state. What was bothering the young martial artist so much? Girl problems? Was he having a dispute with his ma? SeeD problems? What?
“Zell, I’m your friend, and when nobody answered when I called, I got worried.” She smiled, “are you going to turn me in, for breaking and entering?”
Zell had to smile at that, “of course not. And besides, you didn’t break in, if the door was unlocked.”
Quistis nodded, “true, true.”
Zell stopped his pacing and turned to Quistis, “you want to know what’s wrong?” He could see the burning questions on her face.
“Yes,” she whispered, afraid if she pressed too much, he’d pull away and not tell her.
Zell nodded, and went and set next to Quistis.
Zell’s voice was shaky when he started to devolve his deepest, maybe darkest secret.
“Well...” Zell paused, blushing, how should he explain this?
Quistis smiled, patting his shoulder, “take your time. I have all day.”
Zell nodded, “okay, thanks.” Zell took a deep breath and started again.
“I have this friend. And well we’ve know each other for a long time. And the thing is, I’ve,” Zell looked away from Quistis, “fallen in...I’m, well I think I love them.”
“Oh!”
“And I, well I was being childish, because this person doesn’t even notice, and is dating an Evil person.”
Quistis raised an eyebrow, “evil?”
Zell dryly laughed, “maybe not evil, but...”
Quistis nodded, “that’s okay, I understand.” Quistis felt bad for the poor fighter.
Zell stood up and walked to his window, looking toward Balamb. He wondered what they were doing now.
“Is it okay for me to ask who this person is,” Quistis whispered?
Zell paled. Could he tell her? How would she take it? She was so...well she just didn’t seem the type to accept this sort of thing. But she was his friend. If she truly cared about him, she wouldn’t push him away, and be disgusted.
“I don’t know,” Zell murmured.
Quistis nodded. She didn’t want to push him. He’d tell when he was ready. “Okay,” she whispered, “but I’m here, when you want to talk.”
Zell smiled, thankful. “Okay, Quitsy,” Zell called her by her childhood nickname, making the girl grin.
“Bye, Zelly,” She answered, using his childhood nickname, in return. Quistis stood up, and paused briefly thinking about something. Coming to a decision, she walked over to Zell and pulled him into a much needed hug.
“Thanks,” Zell said.
“No problem,” Quistis replied, understanding the sentiment.
Quistis wondered the garden lost in thoughts, her mind on the troubled blonde. She tried to think of all the possible people the boy could be crushing...no loving on.
Me...haha no way, and besides I’m not dating anyone evil. Selphie ...hmmm, could be. She is dating Irvine at the moment. But Irvine is not exactly what I’d call evil, and I don’t think Zell would say he was evil. The two were friends after all. The only other girl is Rinoa.
But we’ve only know her for a few months. And she and Zell aren’t exactly friends. It’s almost as if he hates her... oh dear Hyne! It can’t be, can it? But it all fits. He’s known Squall ever since the two were placed in Enda’s orphanage. If I remember correctly, they both entered when I was about five. Both of them were four. Selphie and Irvine had already been in the orphanage, and Seifer came later when he was about six.
Zell and Squall became friends of some sort. Even though he was always quiet, I got the impression that the two really cared for one and another. Seifer sort of broke them up. Picking fights with Squall all the time, and teasing Zell.
Quistis smiled. So that’s why he didn’t want to tell me who. He thought I’d be...what? Outraged, disgusted, hate him? As if I could, even if I wanted to.
I’ve got to drop hints that I find nothing wrong with homosexuality.
Quistis was a good actor and soon had a plan.
+Ring! Ring+ Zell groaned, who could be calling this late? He glanced over at the other bed in the room, noticing that the sound didn’t even penetrate the dark-haired teen’s head.
Getting up, Zell walked over to the phone and answered it. “Ello,” He groggily muttered. His voice was a bit sharp.
A sob reached his ears. All sleepiness left Zell’s body. It sounded like Quistis.
“Hello,” he repeated again.
“Zell,” a voice asked sounding uncertain?
“Yes,” Zell bit his bottom lip, worry animating from his body.
“Can you...+sniff+ come over, please?”
What happened to her? Zell’s eyes were wide. “Of course. I’ll be over in five minutes.”
He heard a small, ‘okay’ then the phone clicked off.
Zell hurried and pulled a shirt over his bare chest and was about to leave the room, when a sleepy voice stopped him, “going?”
Zell turned around, and had to force himself to keep his blush under control. Squall was very disheveled and his blanket had fallen down revealing his bare muscled chest.
Not sure if Quistis wanted it out that something was wrong, Zell said the only thing he could think of. “Quistis invited me over, to um watch a movie.”
Squall glanced at the clock.
“Yeah, I know it’s late, but she couldn’t sleep, and neither can I.” Zell smiled, “sleep tight, Squally,” Zell grinned, then turned and rushed out of the room, running down the dorm hallway, till he got to Quistis and Selphie’s shared dorm room.
He didn’t even knock. Quistis looked up when she heard the door bang open, and a crazed looking Zell running into the room.
Okay, Quistis, you’ve got to do this right. Okay tears do your job!
Quistis lowered her head and sniffed, her crocodile tears spilling down her pale cheeks. Zell ran to her side, and cupped her chin, lifting her head, so he could look in her sad eyes.
“What happened Quisty?” He set next to her on the couch. “Did someone hurt you? I’ll make them pay if they did. Really I will.”
Quistis smiled what looked like a sad smile, “thank you, Zell. No one hurt me personally. Just a friend. And it just... I hate to see my friends hurt...so...well I hurt.”
“What happened?”
Quistis sighed, “I don’t know if you’ll want to hear. It might not be your cup of tea.”
Zell shook his head no, “whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“Okay but I can’t use real names, because I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“Of course, that’s understandable.”
Quistis smiled, “okay, here goes. My friend, Mr. X. Well the truth is, he’s gay.” Zell raised his eyebrows. “And he... well, someone found out, and was mean to him about it.” Quistis crumbled in tears. “It’s not fair,” she cried. “He’s one of the nicest guys I know.” She looked up at Zell with wide eyes, “there’s nothing wrong with homosexuality, is there?”
Zell was frozen to the spot, a stupefied look on his face. He blinked, and looked at Quistis’s tearful face, “o...of course not. At least,” Zell looked down, “I don’t think so.”
Quistis grinned, wiping her tears, “that’s good. Me and Selphie were talking about it, and she doesn’t think anything is wrong with it either. And you’d think, Irvine, the big ladies’ man would find it wrong, but he agreed with us.”
“H...he did?”
“Yeah, and when Selphie saw how hard this hit me, she took it upon herself to post a poll on the Garden’s website.”
“Huh,” Zell walked over to Quistis’s laptop that was on her desk, “what kind of poll?”
“She said she was just curious to see how many people in Garden were gay. So she posted some polls. All anonymous though.”
“What were the polls?”
Quistis stood up and walked over to her laptop, opening it up. She pressed the on button and waited while the screen popped up. She picked her screen name (QTrepe) and put in her password.
They waited for the screen to load.
Zell took over and clicked on the Gaiascape icon. Zell clicked connect. It took about a minute, and the Garden’s home page appeared.
“Go to Selphie’s Garden festivals page,” Quistis instructed.
Zell nodded and typed. A pick page with pink bows and purple ribbons popped up. Zell clicked on the link that said polls, and read.
Hey folks, your Garden festivals queen here. Hehe, kidding. Is anyone out there, reading this? If so prove it and vote on these polls. Don’tch worry you can choose to remain anonymous, if you want. Even I the queen of this site won’t be able to tell who you are. (Pouts)
Poll # 1
A friend of mine, has a gay friend. He was insulted and it really got my friend worked up (Mad/Upset), and made me wonder. How many people here, in Garden are Gay, Lesbian, Bi or Straight?
Be honest with your answers.
A. Gay (Guy likes guys)
B. Lesbian (Girl likes girls) Or Lezzy as my boyfriend calls it. Lol.
C. Bi (likes either sex)
D. Straight (only likes the opposite sex)
E. To tell you the truth, I’ve had feelings for the same sex, but I’m still confused.
Poll # 2
What do you think about Homosexuality?
A. I approve (Nothing’s wrong with it.)
B. Disapprove (It’s wrong, sick, blah, blah.)
C. Don’t really care one way or another (It’s there business who they like.)
D. Not really sure yet.
Zell looked at Quistis, “have you taken it yet?”
“No, I was just about to though.” Not caring that Zell was looking she leaned over and voted.
Zell raised his eyebrows, when she picked, E on the first poll. And it was no surprise, when she picked A on the second poll.
Quistis smiled at Zell’s surprised face. “I had to be honest, you know. I once thought another girl looked...” she blushed.
Zell grinned, “she turned you on,” he teased.
“Hush. I was confused and emotional at the time.”
“Okay, okay,” Zell laughed. “Mind if I ask who she was?”
“None of your business...oh fine, don’t pout. It was a girl named Lulu.”
Zell frowned, he was hoping it would be someone he knew. “Oooh, was she perdy?”
“Shudup ZELL,” Quistis blared, blushing. “Do you want to vote?”
Zell blushed, and started to sputter. “I...I ...” If I vote she’ll see that I am gay! But she doesn’t mind gay people, so what’s the big deal?
“I won’t look, if you don’t want me to,” Quistis walked back over to the couch and set down.
Zell swallowed, “I don’t mind. Quitsy, I am...gay,” he whispered.
Quistis smiled. “Oh. So the person you were talking about is a guy?”
“Yeah.”
Quistis jumped up, and went to Zell, hugging him, “I’m glad you told me!”
Zell grinned, feeling better. Glad to finally get it off his chest, one of his secrets. The other one, he probably would never get off his chest, for the fear of Squall finding out.
“Now vote, mister!”
Zell put the mouse over A in the first poll and clicked. It asked for a name, and Zell bit his lips wondering, what he should do. Zell knew he wasn’t ready for the rest of Garden knowing so he clicked anonymous. Then he did the same thing for the second poll.
“Give it a couple days and most of Garden will have voted.” Zell nodded, closing Quistis’s laptop. He wondered himself how many people would vote for A, B or C in poll one, and how many people would vote A for poll number two.
“There’s a place where you can add a comment, if you want.”
Zell looked and clicked on the link.
Want to add a comment about your vote, do so here.—Selphie
Hi (Waves) I’m a girl and I’m completely straight, although, I did kiss a girl on a dare. I picked D and A. —Kissed but still straight.
I won’t say my name, (Duh), but I’m a boy. I like other guys, so I guess I’m gay, even though I’ve never been with either sex. I picked A and A. —Gay-I-Think
Girl here. I have a boyfriend. But the truth is, I’m eyeing other girls. I feel bad. I picked C and A. —Boys-not-enough
I’m a guy. I come across as a ladies man. I’m not. (I think you know what I mean) I picked A and A.—Not-really-Ladies-man
Zell pondered, should he write something? Yes, what can it hurt. Nobody but Quistis would know it was him.
Hey, I’m...you really thought I was going to say my name? Ha ha, not likely. You can call me, Q. I’m a guy. And I’ve known this other guy for, well it feels like since forever. I’m so angry at myself for letting myself fall in...well I’m pretty sure it’s love. Yes, it is. I’m angry for falling in love with him. # 1 reason being, he’s straight. # 2 reason being, he has an evil-biatch for a girlfriend. Well that’s all I have to say. Oh and I picked A and A, duh!—Sad-In-Love
Quistis frowned, hugging Zell. “He doesn’t really love her,” she whispered.
Zell spun around, looking horrified. “What?”
Quistis sighed, “I can add two and two, you know.” She brushed her long blonde hair, which was down for once, out of her face.
“Oh...don’t tell him!” Zell had a panicked look on his face. If he finds out, he’ll hate me. I can’t have that. I think I’d die, if he hated me.
“I won’t, but I meant what I said.”
“How can you know?” Zell felt tears coming on, and had to bite his tongue hard, to keep them at bay.
“Even though he doesn’t show much emotion, I can tell he’s annoyed by her presents. Don’t you think that’s a bit odd, for a guy that’s supposed to love somebody?”
Zell nodded, “yeah, I guess. That still doesn’t mean I have a chance.”
Quistis smiled, “well you never can tell. Give it time.”
“Okay...but do you think it’d be okay if I push Rinoa down...say the stairs?”
Quistis started to laugh, “I don’t think so.”
“Spoil sport.”
“Do you really hate her?”
Zell sighed, “no. But she’s not good enough for Squall. And I think she’s really fake.”
Quistis nodded, “I get that impression too.”
“We have to show Squall who she really is!”
“I’m in!”
“So are we!” Zell paled, looking behind him. Selphie and Irvine were both standing in the doorway. “Sorry, we sort of overheard.”
Irvine grinned, tipping his hat, “don’t ya worry Zell. We’ll find a way to bring the real her out, in front of Squall.”
Zell blushed, but smiled. “Thanks.”
R&R Please!