Irvine sat still watching the minutes tick by on a small clock that had been on the nightstand beside Seifer's bed. Now it sat on a folding tray next to his medical cot. There was also some cheesy award for being the top of his class several years back. It was sad that these things were the most sentimental items that Zell had been able to find. To make up for it, he had brought back an exorbitant amount of trinkets.

Seifer was sleeping on his own pillow, which Irvine imagined must be a comfort to him once he awoke. Until then, the cowboy was a guardian. He knew inside that him sitting there with Seifer wasn't going to make any change in his condition, but the sense of loyalty nagged him when he was away. Zell was off blowing some anxiety in the training center, which he had done the past few days since the accident. It gave the poor coma victim some peace and quiet. Irvine would just let the both of them enjoy the silence.

He stopped watching the clock, feeling that he was somehow slowing it down. Instead, he turned his attention to the sleeping blonde on the cot. How long would it take for Seifer to wake up? It had been three days now. Though he wasn't expected to wake up that quickly, Dr. Kadowaki had told them that the earlier Seifer pulled out of the coma, the faster his recovery would be. She had told them that it would be at least a week. Two weeks or more, and that was a bad sign.

Seifer's face looked so sweet in unconsciousness. Well, what he could see behind the breathing apparatus. He didn't have that mocking, amused grin. Irvine always hated that. Both of them had a lot of self-esteem, but Irvine considered Seifer's ego the bad type. He used all his confidence to strip others' of theirs. Yet, here in sleep, he was vulnerable. Handsome.

It wasn't the first time that Irvine had thought this. Not even the first time since the accident. He wasn't really into masculinity, or at least he had thought so. He preferred his women girly like Selphie. But, there was something about the strong nose and eyebrows and arms that Irvine liked. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he recognized it enough to keep silent about it. If he felt a slight attraction, or maybe even a strong attraction, he wasn't about to go telling others about it. Afterall, women didn't want men who were attracted to other men.

And Irvine definitely wasn't.

Though Irvine wasn't attracted to Seifer, his dreams brought his familiar scent and the imagined feel of his gloved hands. The heat that Irvine felt, twisted him inside with unfulfilled needs. In his imaginings, he woke repeatedly believing the blonde to be beside him. Each time he was met with the sadness of an empty bed and the memory of Seifer's condition.

Zell was up late again, attacking creatures in the training center. His hands hurt and so did his head. But it was pointless trying to sleep. He could lay in his large, cold bed and think about Seifer in love with Rinoa. The jealousy that he didn't need to try to understand would always drive him back to fight. Why would Zell sacrifice someone that meant so much to him? Was Seifer really a nice guy underneath it all? Did he pine away for her like Zell did for Seifer?

Rinoa pulled her body away from Squall. She had basically been forbidden from seeing Seifer. Yet, she wasn't getting any sleep anyway. She was worried about him. Sure, he was a jerk sometimes, but down deep, she still loved him. She rolled over away from her boyfriend, pushing her hair out of her face with a sigh. She was just such a mess about this whole thing.

Quistis snored peacefully in her cozy dorm room, oblivious to the soap opera-like occurrences in Balamb Garden.