Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Like a Bracelet ❯ What goes through your head? ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Quistis smiled as she read her text. Bailey has been non-stop with the shows of affection and the random bursts of "big news" since his meeting with her friends. His mother was taking a cruise; the bar got a couple new menu items; a good deal at a store; he asked her about her day and job; if she was healthy for her mission. She of course replied "Yes".

Bailey: What are you doing right now?

Quistis: I'm working.

Bailey: Are you the only one who does it?

She didn't reply right away due to taking a drink from her bottle of water.

Bailey: You there?

She set down her bottle then replied.

Bailey: He should hire someone else. Maybe someone older.

Quistis: I'm perfectly suited for the job. I was previously an instructor.

Bailey: Right. Sorry. I didn't mean it like that, it's just.. Can you really trust the headmaster? I've seen some pretty grim movies.

The expression on Quistis's face looked stuck between laughter and disbelief. He had to be joking. Cid Kramer… A pervert? Nonsense. She's known the man since she was 13 and not once has he given off a predator vibe. Bumbling. A bit self-centered. But nothing suspicious besides lack of compassion. He did push all responsibility of Garden off on Squall, who was clearly in a tailspin with everything that was going on with the sorceress, arrests…

'How in the world is he still allowed to be our headmaster?' She wondered.

The ringtone on her phone startled her out of her thoughts. Answering, she said. "Why'd you call?" Bailey is on the phone.

"Well, you didn't reply. I just thought you left your phone behind."

She cocked a brow. "Are you sure you weren't calling in hopes to interrupt something nefarious?"

"Well, maybe… But mostly I wanted to hear your voice instead of a familiar 'boop'."

With a smile, she felt her heart flutter. Maybe she missed his voice, too and didn't know it until hearing him.

"Any chance of me getting a recording of you saying my name, so I can program the sound to that?"

She chuckled. "I'd be too embarrassed."

"Why? Your voice is so beautiful."

"Quistis?"

"You're embarrassing me," she touched her heated cheeks. "Would you like it if I had you saying my name?"

"I'd love it!" He teases. "You can do it now. Quistis. Quistis." He was egged on by her laughter.

"Quistis Trepe!" Cid cut through their flirtatious banter.

She put down her phone; embarrassment dropped the joy from her face and voice. "Headmaster?" The efficient secretary returned to duty. "How can I help?"

"You can start by hanging up with your boyfriend. Call him back after work hours." Cid replied sternly. "Say goodbye, young man."

"Bye, Quisty."

'Quisty?' She hung up her phone. "I'm sorry, sir. I had only meant to reply to one text."

"Yes, well, you said the same thing yesterday. These papers are piling up. We have to get the orders filled for things that need to be restocked, replaced, analyzed for grade level. You can't shirk around due to romance."

"Sorry, sir, it won't happen again." She grabbed a stack of folders from the corner of the desk then opened two to sort through together.

"Be sure that you don't." He set another folder down onto the desk for filing. "I understand the honeymoon phase, but let's not get too far with how much we allow it to distract us."

"Yes."

"Good. I'm going for lunch." He started for the door. "There's a package coming for me, be sure to sign for it. You're allowed."

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

He didn't see the nod, and continued out the door. She heard her text sound go off. She glanced at it.

Quistis: No. I'm not in trouble. But, he did tell me to get back to work. I'll text you again when I'm on break.

Bailey: Do you promise?

Quistis: Of course. Have a good afternoon.

He sent her a kiss emoji. She chose the same emoji, then thought against it. After a second of a second thought, she sent it. There. 'That was only slightly less embarrassing than I thought it would be.'

She stuck her phone inside of the thin drawer in the desk in front of her torso. That should keep her concentration honed. With distractions put away, she began to sort through the paperwork.

…

Squall spotted Quistis entering the cafeteria as he and the other were exiting. 'I should ask why she's so late. She hasn't been late before.' Things he only thought as he continued past her with little more than a nod.

Selphie waved a hello and goodbye with a smile. Zell did the same without a smile. Seifer looked as though he wanted to say something but decided, for now, against it. Getting in line, she was saddened to see that the hot dogs were sold out. She grabbed a mini plate and instead scooped pasta salad onto it then grabbed a turkey and Swiss, and lastly a bundle of grapes.

'I wonder if Bailey can take a break?' She sat at the table she usually occupies with her friends. She reached into her pocket to remove her phone to avoid sitting on it, but she came up empty. 'Shoot. I left my phone in the office.'

She sat down and ate her lunch with a bored interest. She didn't realize how much talking to her boyfriend occupied her mental free-time. He always has something interesting to say, or he's always asking about her and what she's interested in. He's probably the only person on the planet who knows that she secretly would like to be a cat owner. They're so loving and independent. She wouldn't feel neglectful when off on longer jobs.

He told her he'd like to be a redhead. She couldn't see it, but agreed that he should try. One never knows.

"This is a rare sight." Xu sat down in an empty chair. "Have we offended people or is this just a coincidence?"

"I was a little behind with work, and now I'm able to enjoy your company, my Queen."

"Carry on." She said with her nose in the air.

The two chuckled.

Shaking her apple juice; she asked. "How're things with Bailey?"

"Perfect. He's charming, funny, considerate."

"Not an only child?"

"He is an only child. Sorry."

"Well, maybe he has a multiple personality and we can share him."

Quistis laughed at that one. "Leave me the good one."

"What are you and Irvine doing tomorrow?"

"A one-off. It's simple delivery guarding." Quistis ate a bite of salad. "We should be back on Saturday."

"A full day in Irvine Kinneas's company. Good luck." She swiped a grape.

Quistis waved it off. She's actually gotten used to an abundance of flirtatious banter. It's no longer tiresome. It's actually kind of nice to know she looks good. She was starting to think she might be, what "trendy girls" call a dog. She'll not take the feelings of sycophants seriously, nor chronic flirts. But, to hear that she's pretty from regular guys like Bailey is a confidence booster.

"I've wanted to ask your friend Rinoa about that murmuring going on in Deling, do you think she'd mind if I get her number from you?"

"I don't think she'd mind." She took Xu's phone and put in Rinoa's number.

They finished their lunch then parted ways. Quistis hurried to the office and swiped her phone from the desk. Her overnight is already packed and her next class isn't until 2, so she's got free time to text if her boyfriend does.

She closed the door to her down room then sat on her bed. She smiled at the little chat bubble that appeared in the lock screen. 'Sixteen messages. Looks like somebody missed me.'

Not bothering to read the previous texts which were probably a bunch if where are you. She replied to the most current one: I'm losing my mind.

Quistis: I left my phone inside the desk by accident. Did I miss chat time? Are you busy?

Bailey: Yeah. Lunch rush is dying down though. Sorry for blowing up your phone.

Quistis: Think nothing of it. I'll be busy until Saturday. We should get all our texting done before I leave.

Bailey: ….

He took back whatever he was typing then typed again, then simply chose an emoji of a frown face.

Quistis: I'll miss you, too. But this is my life as a SeeD, even as a cadet. Please understand.

Bailey: I'll try.

Quistis: Good.

Bailey: What will you be doing?

Quistis: That is classified.

Bailey: I won't tell anyone.

Quistis: I live by a code, Baiy' even this is too much.

Bailey: Fine. Hold on.

She made herself busy by going through her small overnight to be sure she didn't forget anything.

Bailey: Until Saturday?

Quistis: Yes.

Bailey: I'll count the hours on rose petals.

Quistis: lol! OK. Bye, Bailey.

Bailey: Later.

Thursday dawned over the school. While the cadets at Balamb slowly woke up before the bell, Quistis Trepe was already on her way to Fisherman's Horizon by train. She saw Irvine out of the window, yawning into his palm. Having spent a night at Galbadia back when she was sixteen, she knows all too well how early their bell tolls.

"I've got the car ready." Irvine waited for Quistis to be at his side then he walked to where he parked.

A very inconspicuous blue car sat parked in a lot. The ever efficient top SeeD hoped that their important delivery hadn't been picked up and just left in the car for anyone to swipe it. Their faces are sort of well-known. If anyone wanted the package they could have chosen this as a perfect time to extract it.

"I hate dealing with this guy," Irvine commented as they climbed into the car. "He's got enough nerve to have a chip on his shoulder about the military but still hire us."

"He's prejudiced but not stupid."

"I think he has the misfortune of being both." He started the car. "Music?"

"If you want. I don't care what we listen to." Words she soon wished to take back.

After grabbing the package from the mayor of F.H. She was given a frontrow seat by rock artist Irvine Kinneas.

"Know any ballads?" She asked once she turned down the radio.

"Only if you're comfortable with falling in love with me."

Quistis blinked. Even Squall would have openly laughed at that. She shook her head. Pressing the button, she skipped three songs then paused on a slower song. It was pretty. Sad, but not depressing. It was the kind of sadness that hurt to help you heal. The lead singer sang about a mother on the run from an abusive guy. But she's not afraid, and she's willing to take the struggle to protect her kids. He sang about strength rather than pain.

"Wanna stop for something to eat?"

"No. The sooner we are done the sooner we will be done." She reached for her bag. "I brought power bars. Want one?"

"Sure." He took half of it that was offered. "If we're gunning-it, might wanna take a nap so you can do the night driving."

"Alright." She leaned her seat back a bit then let herself drift off.

Irvine turned down the stereo then changed discs to something more soothing. Too bad Quistis fell asleep to the previous song. Her dreams began to form…