Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Like a Bracelet ❯ Look what you made me do ( Chapter 9 )

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

Quistis stuffed her hairbrush back into her overnight bag; she then located her lip balm and applied it. "Irvine, do you need the bathroom?" She asked.

He shook his head when she leaned out of the doorway. She turned off the light and stepped out into the main room; sitting on the bed she tugged on her sneakers. "I had the strangest dream," she began.

"The picnic, right?" Because she had told him after allowing him back into the bed.

"No. Before that," she chuckled at how ridiculous it was. "I was going to a hotel, and I had children."

Irvine's brows rose, his expression twisted into a mischievous smirk.

Shaking her head, she asked. "And what is the reason for that look?"

Irvine shrugged. "I mean, did you see the part where you were making 'em?"

The ex-instructor clucked the back of her teeth with her tongue. "This is officially the last time I go on a solo mission with you." She stood up.

"I would ask the same from a guy." He followed her out the exit of the motel. "You're the one talking about children, that could only mean one thing."

"Anyway… Me and my children were staying in a hotel. We were on the run." She didn't know if she should tell him that the person she was running from was Bailey. It would be weird. What if he misinterpreted it?

"Did you see what you were running from?"

"Actually.." she tugged the hem of her shirt. "It was Bailey."

"Bailey? I wonder why?"

To anyone else it was simply asked. But, to the person who cares about the monster in the dream world, it sounded completely like judgement. "Listen, Bailey cares about me. I'm not subconsciously afraid of him."

"I didn't say you were." He opened the car door for her. "Honestly, I think he was there because you're together and.. Heck, I don't know. Dreams are weird." He walked around the car and climbed in to finish his comment. "I once dreamt that I broke my foot and Zell took off his hand and gave it to me to use so I could walk better."

"You win." She chuckled. "Honestly, I think I was dreaming about that song we were listening to." She just noticed they were in the wrong places. "Switch with me, I said I'd drive back."

Irvine exited and switched places with her. "Wanna play a word game, or are you a silent driver?"

"I'd rather just put on music."

"Can do." He rummaged through the discs then selected two and stuffed them into the stereo.

Quistis smiled listening to Irvine singing Que En Ritmo No Pare. She'd sing along but she's not heard the song until now. But, she's well-versed in many Trabian language songs, thanks to Selphie.

"Wanna play cards when we get back?" He asked after turning down the volume.

"You have time?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. Headmistress knows I'm gonna give my round of hellos before heading back to Garden. I'll just skip that part and play cards with you."

"Just be sure and use good ones. I don't want my deck full of lesser cards."

The sniper scoffed. "Ok. Just because Balamb dubbed you Queen doesn't mean that goes everywhere."

"Get the title right, I'm the King of Triple Triad."

"Well, I'm an allrounder."

"Uh-huh." The car slowed. "Looks like there was an accident up ahead." She craned her neck to see.

Irvine does the same. They watched as a man was pulled from his vehicle by the paramedics on the scene. The other five cars were parked before them, one just came up behind them and honked until they saw the flashing lights. It looks as though a tree fell. The pair seemed to be having a twin moment because their gaze went from the medics to the totaled car, then up along the reason it was smashed. A tree was split.

"Did it storm last night?" She wondered out loud.

"Not sure."

"Should we get out and help?" She wondered how hurt the driver was. He's not in a bodybag, so that's a good sign. However, he's not moving. "Maybe I could use White Wind?"

"Doesn't hurt to ask, the driver could pass away on the drive to the hospital."

They exited their car and started for the wreckage.

"Officer, we're Garden SeeDs. Can we assist in any way?" Quistis asked the police officer who was approaching them likely to tell them to stay in their car.

"Not unless you have a spell that can free the victim's car. No." He waved them away. "We're about to open a path, just wait in your car, ma'am, sir."

"I can use my magic to at least see that the victim makes it to the hospital." She suggested.

The cop seemed to be weighing that idea. He's heard tales about magic and pedestrians. "Naah, naah. You'd better not." He waved them away again. "The roads will be cleared for passing shortly."

"Alright." She and Irvine returned to the car and waited.

It was another 30 minutes before they could continue back to Fisherman's Horizon.

After reporting to the mayor of the fishing town, they returned to the car. Irvine was prepared to go to Balamb, but Quistis spoke before he could make the turn off towards the island.

"Can we stop by Timber first?"

"You sure?" He popped the CD from the stereo and stuffed it into his bag. He was not about to lose his precious albums to a flub of leaving them in the rental car. He then put on FM and found a decent station playing pop tunes.

"Yeah, I wanna stop in and see Bailey." She replied. Turning on her phone, she noticed the dot on her voicemail box.

She tucked her phone back into her bag; she's always got voicemails when she's on a mission because they aren't allowed to have them on. Should something important be the job they could jeopardize security by a location hack. If they had to sneak around and someone was to try to contact them, it would blow their cover.

"You should just call him."

"I would but.. I don't know, I've never been spontaneous before." She blushed admitting that.

Irvine chuckled. "Are you sure you don't just wanna check up on him to make sure he's not with some cutie while you're away?"

"I doubt he would be."

Irvine's smile turned into a grin. "I just wanted to see if you'd get jealous. You really like him?"

"I do." She hated that the thought of catching Bailey with another would bother her.

He's giving her feelings that she hasn't felt since crushing on Squall; and for once those feelings are returned. She gets to enjoy them with the person she likes. Irvine can poke fun all he likes; he's barely interested in anyone and as far as she can tell, he just likes flirting. Nobody gets in and nobody gets hurt. She can get behind that. She's not bold enough to flirt with Squall, but she would if she were anyone else.

The car was returned to the rental dealership and then the SeeDs took the train to Timber. Quistis took the opportunity to check her phone now that she's no longer behind the wheel. Putting in her earbud she listened.

Voicemail: You have 26 missed messages.

'Twenty-six?' Surely that was a mistake.

She suddenly felt her pulse hasten. It was as she could feel the thickness of her blood becoming diluted with water so it ran faster like white water rapids. Was someone hurt and they tried to contact her? Was it Bailey? Anyone from Garden was likely to use a spell to heal unless it was some sort of illness. But what could be so serious it would cause 26 missed messages?

Voicemail: Message 1

Bailey: Hey, I just wanted to call to say that I love you and that I want you to be safe on your mission. Can you call me before you go? I wanna hear your voice one last time to start my day. Guess I missed you, but when you get this please call me. Love you. Bye.

Voicemail: Message 2 Bailey, again, are you still on your mission? What? You can't pick up your phone? Is that some military rule?

He laughed. Quistis felt bad for him because he didn't know and she didn't tell him. That was her mistake.

Bailey ended the message by asking, again, for her to call him.

She figured the rest of the messages were spam and had planned to listen to them start then delete. However each message aside from 1 which actually was spam were all from her boyfriend. And they were surprisingly becoming a bit agitated.

Bailey: Quistis… it's been an entire day. Are you ghosting me? What is your problem? …Okay. You know what.. Sorry. This is dumb and I'm probably overreacting and you're in an area with bad connection or something. Just.. be sure to call.

The final message was just a swear before a couple thumps were heard. She listened to agitated grumbles then another swear before the message ended on its own. Quistis glared at the screen. She almost called Bailey to address the messages, but she saved herself the embarrassment of chewing out her boyfriend with Irvine seated right beside her; he's reading but his attention could be divided.

'How could he be so immature?' She wondered.

As the train approached Timber, she thought of the best way to approach the situation. What should she say? Sorry! My mistake! Should she explain all the reasons why she didn't call? Quistis wondered did she even owe him that?

"You alright?" He asked. "You seem tense."

"I'm just gathering myself. Do I look all right?"

"You always look great." He gave her hand a squeeze.

"Thank you." She drew in a breath; grabbed her bags then walked off the train after Irvine.

"It's this way, he works at the Heights grill and bar." She led the way.

A cold wind blew around them. Fall was really setting in today. The sun from earlier was long gone as clouds blew in overhead as if something had summoned them. She wondered if it was going to rain? It would be fitting for her mood because there's certainly a storm brewing in her heart.

How could Bailey act so irate? It was like listening to a five year old who you refused to buy a toy for. It's a wonder he didn't call her a name. At least his upset didn't get that far. Irvine held the door open for her, however he remained outside and took a seat at one of the outdoor tables.

Quistis strode through the eatery but came to a pause. Bailey was not behind the counter. She continued forward then asked. "Hello, excuse me, are you taking a shift while Bailey Eldron has lunch?"

"Eldron? Naah, he quit."

"Quit? Did he say why?"

"Uhh," he held up his finger to ask for a second. He took the pay from a customer then gave them change. "Okay. Um.. so, he was here yesterday but the boss called me this morning and asked if I could come in because he quit. So.." He shrugged.

"Do you know where he lives?" She shook her head. That was a stupid question. They're coworkers not friends, as far as she knows. "Never mind, I'll call him."

"Apartment 7B, on Metro Lane."

"Thank you."

The new cashier smiled and nodded.

"I have to detour to his apartment. He's not here." She said once outside.

"Ok."

"You don't have to come with me."

Irvine nodded. "Got it. I'll wait at the station."

"Thank you." She headed for the apartment district. Quitting. Aggressive messages. What was she about to walk into?

X x X

Commentary: Thank you for letting me know that reader, I had no idea. I mean, I'm well aware of the stupid bots, but I didn't know the place was becoming so ruined that it's glitching. I am going to move this to AO3, I'm just waiting for them to accept me to use it. So, I'll be there under the same username Resting-Madness, unless someone else has it then I'll think of something else. Probably something along the lines of Paranoid-Doll. We'll see. But I'll let you know which in the next update.

Thank you all for reading, especially with these annoying conditions. See you next chapter.