"Sorry ma'am." Irvine mumbled
"Yeah er sorry Rinoa" Zell coughed sheepishly.
"You boys will never grow up will you." She said with a bit of humor.
"Hell darlin what's the fun in that." Irvine offered and pulled his hat down smartly.
"To true to true." Zell nodded in agreement.
"Ugh" Rinoa grinned and dunked her spoon into the sundae.
The garden had left the frozen wastes early this morning and had arrived at Galbania just a few hours ago. Nearly everyone had gone into town for shore leave. Fujin however was quickly driving herself nuts.
She'd been back for about four months and was going stir crazy. She missed having a purpose and goals. She now spent her days training and studying and very little more.
Seifer and Rajin had left her alone and she hated it. She told herself all the while she needed no one. She'd actually convinced herself of too, that is until last night.
She realized no one had said more than two words to her since she returned except Quistis. No one trusted her and everyone hated her.
"Why should they trust me?" She thought grimly. She betrayed others and nearly helped a witch destroy the world.
She found herself outside. Standing by the main gate of the Garden. She could see lights of Galbania from here.
A breeze whistled through her. It was still chilly outside even though they had moved from the northern regions.
She thought about her jacket and her thoughts drifted once again to Quistis. She wondered where she was.
"Why do I care?" Again the question popped into her head like a neon light. Her head hurt now and she frowned.
She looked out over the horizon at the soft glow of the city and hopped up the wall to watch the passerby's.
A few boys ran to the stairs leading to the Gardens entrance. They where carrying skateboards after a session of friendly jostling they began practicing tricks off the railings.
The noise was annoying and they scuffed up the rails with paint and dings as they slid down them on the boards.
Fujin's first thought was to confiscate the boards and write them up. The thought was fleeting however. That was the old Fujin, the one that matter.
She sighed in annoyance she hated when bashed herself. She decided to just relax and watch the world drift by.
She lay down on the wall and looked up at the sky. After about a hour or so it began to get dark. Soon the exterior lights came on and not long after the curfew bell rang.
The skate-boarders moaned in protest as they gathered their things and ran back inside. She felt pretty good considering. The cool air did wonders for her she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
She was caught completely by surprise when a large hand grabbed her by the face, snatched her off the wall and into the bushes.
Quistis looked up at the sign and balked.
"I will not go in there." She emphasized each word firmly.
Selphie pulled her arms with all her might.
"Quistis you're being difficult relax and have fun." She pleaded as she ran around behind the other woman and attempted shove her through the door.
"No Selphie!"
"Quistis you're making a scene. Let's just go inside pleeeeease."
"You're the one making a scene."
"Come on be fair."
"Be fair? You're the one trying to get me into some seedy strip club. You should be ashamed. What would Irvine think."
Selphie looked up with big brown eyes pleadingly. Quistis made a face.
"You know you want to, Quisty deep down there's a girl that likes to party!
"You're deranged." Quistis said simply with arched eyebrows.
"You love me and you know it." She smiled cutely. "Now let's go get em!"
"Selphie I will make a deal with you."
"Okay now we're cooking"
"I go in here. For fifteen minutes."
"Fifteen minutes? You can hardly see anything in fifteen minutes."
"How would you know?"
"Umm.."
"Never mind." Quistis rolled her eyes as thoughts of Selphie putting money in g-strings with her teeth danced in head.
"Like I said, fifteen minutes and after which if I want to go we will. Okay? No fuss no arguments. Deal?"
Selphie pouted.
"Selphie." Quistis used her instructor tone.
"Oh fine then." Selphie said pouting still. She emphasized her displeasure with the idea by sticking her tongue out at her.
"Nice. Let's go see what hell your dragging me to."
"Don't be like that Quistis just enjoy the show."
Selphie bounded up to the front desk and handed over credit card.
"Table for two please."
"Make that three!" A voice shouted. Quistis and Selphie exchanged looks as Nicole pushed her way towards them. She was out of breath and grinning like a fool.
"Nicky!" Selphie smiled wildly and hugged the girl.
"Nicole? What are you doing here I would never thought you would come to a place like this." Quistis said in shock
"Your one to talk Miss Trepe." Nicole said laughingly as she brushed her auburn locks from her face. "I saw you while crossing the street. So I ran over here to catch you."
"Well join the gang. We're trying to get Quistis laid." Selphie said bluntly before exploding into laughter.
"Selphie!" Quistis shouted turning red with embarrassment. "What's the matter with you?"
Nicole stood slack jawed and blushing as well. Selphie shrunk back a bit and smiled meekly.
"Sorry Quistis just trying to liven everyone up." She looked at the dashing fellow in the booth who was clad only in a bow tie and loincloth. She slid her card to him.
"Three please." She said bouncily.
The man looked at her with bemused indifference.
"A little young aren't we miss." He said flatly.
"Oh you got to be kidding me." Selphie said indignantly.
"Eighteen to enter twenty one for the bar miss"
"Hey I turned nineteen just last month."
"Uh huh sure you did."
"Why you!"
Selphie angrily fished in her pockets looking for Garden I.D. Quistis quietly pleaded with the heavens that she lost it. Nicole stood grinning as she watched several choice gentlemen walking about inside.