 | | | |
 | | ||
 |  |  | |
 | | ||
 | | ||
 | | ||
 | | ||
 | | ||
 | | ||
At
an Arm's Length
A Final Fantasy VIII Story
by
Aligator
Chapter 20 - Push It
I don’t remember too much about my early years at Garden – big surprise there – but the fall I turned fourteen, they moved me in with Xu. She was bossy. I was bossy. But we got along surprisingly well, despite the fact we were in competition with each other in class.
“Fake it ‘til you make it.” That’s what she always used to say. It’s become my mantra since the little talk I had with Laguna on my birthday.
He hasn’t mentioned it since then, so I haven’t mentioned it. But I’ve tried to keep my promise.
Honestly, I don’t know exactly *how* to keep my promise. Maybe if I pretend, maybe…
Maybe some people just don’t know how to be happy. And never will. I don’t want to be like that.
Correction: I *desperately* don’t want to be like that.
So I work until I practically drop. (Unfortunately for the secret service agents, I also work *them* until they practically drop. It’s good for them in the long run, so it’s O.K., right?) I let Ellone drag me downtown to go shopping for a dress for tonight’s gathering and let Estella do my hair and give me “how to seduce a man” advice that I’ll probably never use. It makes them happy, and that makes me happy. I think that’s enough for right now.
I don’t even know if I make any sense. What makes even less sense are the dreams I’ve been having and the memories that have yet to surface. From a psychological perspective, it is understandable that I’d dream about Seifer, considering how close everyone says we were, but why can’t I remember my childhood with him? Why do some dreams feature an older-looking Seifer? I haven’t seen him since…
Time Compression. I don’t think that encounter was a dream.
Is he sorry? I am. I’m sorry I couldn’t hold on, be just a little stronger. For each of our sakes.
Wherever he is, I hope he’s all right.
-- Quistis
Trepe
December 31, XXXX
****
This
is the noise that keeps me awake
My head explodes and my body aches
But
don’t worry baby
We’ll be alright.
— Garbage
To
be continued. . .
Next week: Chapter 21 — Black
Back
to the Top of This Page
Next Chapter
Official Disclaimer:
AT AN ARM'S LENGTH © 2002-2004 A.L.
Roberts.
FINAL FANTASY VIII © Squaresoft. They own these characters,
I’m
just borrowing them for a little bit. Buy their games, and give them your
money! Lyrics
from from the song "Push It"
© Garbage. (Song appears on their album
Garbage 2.0 .)
PROJECT
SURLY GIRL.COM
and all contents within, unless otherwise designated,
© 2002-2004 A.L. Roberts.
The contents of this site may not be modified, published, transmitted or exploited in any way without prior written consent. Direct all inquiries here.
