Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Be friendly ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Title: Be friendly

Author: Yorda

Rating: R

Status: Complete

Couples: Seifer/Squall

Warnings: Yaoi, AU, OOC, fluff, stupid school bullies

Disclaimer: Some of the characters belong to Squaresoft.

Summary: AU fic, takes place in a normal senior high. Squall's the bullied one, and Seifer the popular one. A story about the two of them forming
a relationship of some sort ^_^

**AN: I am sorry it's taken this long to update the fic, but my Internet was broken for a month! So this is the first chance I get to work with my story
again. I hope you're not mad. I also aplogise, for this chapter will probably have spelling and grammatical errors.**

Chapter 17:

"Come on Zell! Could you like stop for a moment!?" Squall pleaded, trying to keep up with his friend who kept on walking toward the locker-rooms.
"You can't go on ignoring me like this! You've been doing it for over a week already! ...I need to talk to you!...And apologise..."

With this, Zell finally stopped walking and stood before the locker-room door. He waited for Squall to catch up with him and turned to face the
brunette.

"Fine, I'm listening." The short blonde haired boy muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Squall sighed in relief and waited a moment to catch his breath. "Zell...I'm sorry." Came his opening line. He knew the best way to keep his friend's
attention was to start with an apology.

"Continue." Zell urged, not ready to forgive just yet. Squall gave a nod and licked his lips.

"Sorry I didn't tell you what was going on between me and Seifer...I should have done it in the first place, when I told you I was only friends with
him."

Zell narrowed his eyes, the look on his face slightly disgusted. He still couldn't quite stand the fact that his best friend was seeing the person who he'd
been hating for most of his school years. Zell had actually known Seifer longer than Squall, and had also been the target of his bullying ever since
he first met the blonde in grade school. It was hard to believe that Seifer had changed all of the sudden, and that the bully in him had just died.

"Yeah, you should have told me Squall..." Zell spoke, his eyes fixed on his friend who was looking apologetic.

"You're my best friend Zell and I don't wanna lose our friendship...But Seifer's important too, and he's not going anywhere from my life..." the
brunette explained, frowning as he saw the expression on Zell's face. The blonde was obviously not happy to hear this.

"But if our friendship really matters to you Zell, you'll accept the fact that I'm with Seifer." Squall continued, trying not to make it sound like he was
ordering Zell to comply.

Zell realized he was gonna have to swallow his anger, or else he and Squall would never be friends again.

'...Ah...maybe Almasy has truly changed...I mean Squall really seems to have faith in him.. And he did stand up for me last week in the cafeteria....So
maybe I should just give him a break... '

Squall watched as the look on his friend's face slowly began to soften. "Zell? A-Am I forgiven?"

"...Yeah Squall...You're my best friend...even if it means I'll have to be friends with Almasy too. He obviously means a lot to you..." The blonde boy
finally voiced his decision.

The look on Squall's face was genuinely happy. "Friends?" He offered Zell his hand and smiled as the blonde took it.

"Friends." Zell smiled back, but then narrowed his eyes. "...But I only promised to get along with him, not to watch you guys make out and
get all mushy!"

"Whatever..." Squall blinked his eyes, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks, then pushed the locker-room door open. "...Come on, time to spend the
usual two hours in hell..." he sighed, meaning the double gym classes, it being Friday afternoon.

"I bet for starters that damn O'Connor's gonna torture us with endless push ups, preferably with one hand! " Zell groaned as they stepped into the
locker-room.

"Followed by 100 sit ups." Squall added, sounding like he was speaking out of experience. At first, the locker-room looked empty. 'No one's here yet?
...Or maybe we're late from class again?' Squall grit his teeth.

"Wonderful! If we're late, O'Connor's really gonna make us sweat!" Zell groaned and hurried to his locker, but stopped when he heard voices from the
other side of the locker-row. '...Sounds like someone's here after all?' He turned to look at Squall, the expression on the brunette's face telling Zell he
wasn't the only one who had heard the sound.

They both stood still and listened. Cruel laughter sounded from the other side, followed by an angry-sounding groan, being muffled almost
immediately by someone's hand.

"Did you hear that?" Zell asked Squall, receiving a nod.

"Yeah...there's someone on the other side...I don't think they know we're here..." The brunette whispered, motioning for Zell to follow him. They
leaned against the lockers and took a peep to see what was going on.

"It's Mike and the gang, just as I suspected!" Zell whispered, seeing a small group of jocks, all gathered in a circle. "And someone's in the middle...
pinned against the locker...I can't see who it is...that tall ape's standing in the way!"

Squall nodded. "Yeah...they're at it again...picking up on someone who's smaller than them and unable to defend himself!" the brunette whispered,
gritting his teeth. "I bet it's Will...he spilled his milk on Mike's jeans today in the cafeteria..."

Squall realized he was wrong when he heard a voice, coming from the middle of the circle.

"Fucking let go of me! I'm gonna kick your asses so hard you won't be able to sit for a week!" Seifer growled, trashing against the lockers.

Squall's eyes widened as he realized it was Seifer who was being held in place by the group of jocks. He glanced at Zell, looking both surprised
and helpless.

"It's Seifer! They've got Seifer pinned against the locker!" he exclaimed, sounding alarmed. Zell grit his teeth, motioning for the brunette to keep
his voice down.

"Shh! You don't want them to find us here, do you!?" the blonde hissed and gripped Squall's sleeve. On the other side of the lockers Mike
was nearing Seifer, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well now I'm getting scared Almasy...oh, look at me, I'm shaking!" Mike sneered, standing only inches away from Seifer as the others
held the blonde boy still.

"Argh! What the fuck are you doing this for!!?" Seifer groaned, gritting his teeth as Mike gripped his throat, pressing his thumb against the blonde's
Adam's Apple, making Seifer cough and gasp for air.

Behind the lockers Zell was having a hard time trying to keep Squall from running to Seifer. "No! If you go there, they'll beat you up!" the blonde
hissed, pressing Squall against the lockers. The brunette blinked his eyes, realizing Zell had a point. All he could do for now was to listen.

"I'm just getting my revenge...I told you I'd get you Almasy." Mike informed, loosening his hold around Seifer's throat as the blonde began to pass
out from the lack of air.

Seifer inhaled deeply, finally allowed to breath. He eyed the group surrounding him and cursed inwardly. They had been waiting for him in the
locker-room and then surprised the blonde when he had turned around to remove his shirt.

"Too scared to face me alone Nixon? Had to bring your bodyguards with you?" Seifer sneered, raising one brow, his eyes fixed on Mike's angry face.

"Shut the fuck up!" the other boy screamed, delivering a blow on Seifer's stomach, making the blonde cough and wince with pain.

"Y-you'll be sorry Mike..." Seifer's green eyes were narrowed with anger, his body heat rising as Mike continued.

"Tell me Almasy...are the rumours true?"

"What rumours?!" Seifer spat, glaring at Mike. "I have no idea what you're babbling about..."

"Oh I think you do...so answer me this Almasy: Are you actually fucking the Wussyheart? Little birds tell me he's your *boyfriend*...dirty faggot!"
Mike sneered, a disgusted look on his face.

Seifer's insides bubbled and he was both surprised and terrified to hear that people knew about him and Squall. He narrowed his green eyes and
hissed through gritted teeth. "How the fuck is that any of your business!?"

"So you're not denying it, eh?" Mike raised his brows. "...Well this is getting interesting now...Tell me, what would you do if I'd go and do something
to your little boyfriend?...I'm sure he'd love to be fucked in th-"

With a rush of anger Seifer suddenly managed to rid himself of the hands that held him in place and gripped Mike by his shoulders, pushing
him down on the floor.

"You son of a bitch! You lay one finger on him and you'll be sorry you were ever even born!" Seifer groaned, delivering a blow on Mike's jaw.
"If anything ever happens to Squall, you can be sure the headmaster will know who really trashed his car last September...And I also think he'll find
it very interesting when I tell him about Charlie Johnson...you know, about who really hung the poor guy up in the goal pole for the weekend..." the
blonde threatened and felt somewhat relieved to see the alarmed and defeated look on Mike's face. Seifer was about to get up, but was suddenly
*jerked* up and held tightly by his shoulder.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Almasy!?" the teacher yelled and shook Seifer roughly. "Beating up your team-mates!" he pushed Seifer
against the lockers and turned to help Mike up from the floor.

"You OK Nixon? That lip needs to be fixed." He spoke as he watched the other boy's bleeding lip. "Get yourself to the nurse and join us later if you
feel you can do it." The coach patted Mike's shoulder, then turned to face Seifer.

"You Almasy, to the headmaster's office. Now!" he ordered, giving Seifer a disapproving look. "If this ever happens again, you're out of the team.
Permanently!"

Seifer blinked his eyes in disbelief. "W-what?! *Me?* But it wasn't I who-" he cried out with a hoarse voice, his throat still hurting, but was silenced
by the teacher.

"I saw you with my own eyes, so don't argue with me! Now collect your stuff and get yourself to the headmaster." He spoke with a voice not to
be argued with.

Seifer felt like screaming as he finally turned to get his shirt back on and threw his school bag over his shoulder, then stormed out of the locker-room.

"This is fucking unfair!" the blonde cursed as he marched down the empty hallway, towards the school entrance. He wasn't about to go to the
headmaster, even if he knew it would only get him in trouble.

"That son of a bitch! I got all the blame! And I was the one who they attacked! They fucking started it!" Seifer growled as he searched his pocket
for a pack of cigarettes. Even if he had stopped smoking for Squall about a month ago, his nerves needed some relief now.

'...I can't be kicked out of the team...Then I'll have nothing left...football is all I know and it's what I want to do in the future! ...I'll be damned if I ever
quit football!...Or even worse, end up working in my dad's firm! No way! Never!'

Seifer groaned and pushed the double doors open, not aware of the fact that Squall was running behind him, calling his name. Seifer was too angry
to hear anything but his own curses. He made his way out of the building and stopped to kick at the nearest wall he found.

'Argh! This isn't fair!' Seifer tried to light his cigarette, but the lighter refused to work. He kicked the wall some more and cursed the object in his
hand to Hades until it finally worked. The blonde inhaled the smoke deeply and moments later coughed his lungs out.

"Ah... fuck this shit!" Seifer growled and threw the cigarette away. He closed his eyes and turned around to lean against the stone wall. '...Well at
least I think Mike will be too scared to lay even a finger on Squall after what just happened..' The blonde took a deep breath and let his eyes flutter
open.

"Ah! S-Squall!" Seifer jumped as he saw the brunette boy standing right in front of him.

"Are you done yelling and kicking the wall?" Squall asked, eyeing the older boy cautiously.

"Y-you saw that?"

Squall gave Seifer a nod and watched as the anger on his face finally began to fade away and was replaced with the look of tiredness.

"...I just lost my temper...I've had the worst day! I-I didn't pass this test and-" Seifer began to lie, not knowing Squall had been in the locker-room and
had heard everything.

"Seifer ...I know everything. I was there when they beat you up..." the younger boy informed and watched the expression on Seifer's face alter
from surprised to defeated.

"...Oh...you were?" Seifer sighed and slumped down on the ground. "Then you also heard the threats they made?...I'm sorry Squall. I wish you hadn't
heard any of that...But don't worry, I don't think they'll ever bother us again..." the blonde sighed and rubbed his face. He felt Squall's hand touch his
arm and met the brunette's eyes.

"I'm not afraid of them...I know you won't let them do anything to me Seifer." Squall announced, sounding confident. Seifer blinked his eyes and just
stared at Squall, then gave him an affectionate smile. The younger boy's words had just made him realize how much Squall trusted him.

"Yeah well, Mike has much to lose, so I think he'll leave us alone. He'd be outta the school and the team in the blink of an eye if the teachers knew
about all the little crimes he's committed." Seifer chuckled, getting up on his feet. "So, I think protecting you from them shouldn't be that hard."
He smirked. "And if Lady Luck is on our side, Mike Nixon will graduate this spring and we'll never have to see him again."

Seifer's brows drew together in confusion as he saw the sudden frown on Squall's face. "What? Did I say something stupid?"

Squall remained silent and lowered his face, then sighed. "...So will you Seifer..." he muttered.

The blonde blinked his eyes in confusion. "So will I? ...Squall I don't-"

"You'll graduate too...after only few months...And then we won't be in the same school anymore...I'll still be here and you'll be somewhere else."
Squall spoke in a low voice. "...I get sad whenever I think about that..."

Seifer frowned as he realized what Squall was saying was true. Soon it would be June and he'd graduate. Next year they would be in different places.
He hadn't really thought about it earlier.

After a long silence Seifer met Squall's eyes and noticed the gloomy look on the younger boy's face. "Hey Squall, me being in a different school or
where ever it is I'm going, doesn't mean it's the end of us, you and me." Seifer pointed out, giving the brunette a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it's
not gonna be a problem..."

"...Yeah, you're right." Squall finally nodded.

"Can't predict the future, but I'm sure we'll be together in it." Seifer smirked, sounding very optimistic.

They began to walk towards the parking lot. "Hey, shouldn't you be in there, enjoying the two hours in hell with coach O'Connor?" the blonde
chuckled and pointed at the school building. Squall just shook his head and took Seifer's hand. The older boy glanced down at their united hands and
smiled inwardly, realizing they wouldn't have to hide their relationship anymore. Zell knew, the bullies knew and soon the whole school would know
about them, but neither of them cared.

"Well I'll be damned! Squall Leonhart skipping school! I never thought I'd see the day..." Seifer laughed, a teasing smile on his lips as he received
a glare from the younger boy.

"Whatever..." Squall mumbled and felt the grip around his hand tighten. He glanced up as Seifer made them stop. The older boy looked serious as
he met the brunette's eyes. Just when Squall was about to ask why had they stopped, a smirk rose on Seifer's lips.

"Guess what Leonhart." He raised his brows and leaned down to whisper in Squall's ear. "I love you."

:::::::::::::::::The End::::::::::::::::::::

**AN: Ok, that's it, end of story. I felt like I had to end it here, even if I liked writing it. I just couldn't think of a good way to continue the plot
anymore. The ending is quite open, so everyone can make their own conclusions of what happened to Squall and Seifer later in their lives.
Or, you could just read the sequel I've written ^_^ It'll be called 'High School reunion' and I'll post it as soon as I can**

-Yorda