Old Fashion Romance
Linkin Fantasy

Old fashion romance

Zell was sitting in instructor Trepe's class bored as usual when he notices his computer screen flashing. 'and what is this?' He wonders to himself. He takes a second to glance around the room and make sure no ones looking. Most of the other kids have their heads down or are pretending to listen to the lecture Quistis is giving on junction safety. He quickly opens the screen he reads over the message in his head.

Table for two

'Huh what's that mean?' "Mr. Dincht if you're not going to pay attention please leave." Instructor Trepe said sternly. 'would if I could' Zell thought. "Sorry Quis- I mean instructor." He quickly closed the screen when she turned away and put his chin in his elbow staring blankly at the piece of hair sticking up from Quistis' strange style. 'Hm, table for two? sounds romantic hee hee hee' He smiled to himself at the thought of Seifer and him sitting at a romantic candle lit dinner alone. 'Ha fat chance' He sighed as the image faded and decided to try and pay attention to get his mind off Seifer and the message.

Seifer had been on a mission for almost a week now when it should have only taken a few days. He did call though saying things got worse and of course blaming it on some SeeD member, no one knew personally, that was assinged to go with him.

...............................

After class Zell headed straight to the cafeteria for lunch, even though lunch was still minutes away. He had free time and figured it was the best way to use it.

When he got inside there was a small line at the counter, lucky for him not too many other people had the same ideas he did. When he made it to the counter the ladies greeted him with warm smiles and one handed him a tray. "How are you today Zell?" Ethel asked "Hungry, bored and kinda lonely." He answered as the other lunch lady piled hotdogs on his tray. "Say when hon." She said. He watched her but listened to Ethel continue. "Miss Seifer huh." He nodded "What you see in that boy I'll never know. Young love I suppose." She rambled on until she saw someone coming in the door, the person signaled for her not say anything about their arrival and she nodded but not too noticeably.

Seifer came up behind Zell and slipped a folded piece of paper onto his tray, winking at the lady that was still busy putting hot dogs on it. She covered the paper with a few and he slipped out of the room un-noticed. "When." Zell finally said "Don't worry Hon' I already stopped. Wouldn't want you getting a stomach ache." He smiled at her and took the tray, got himself a drink and went to the gangs usual table to eat, alone.

He picked up the first hotdog and put it in his mouth, holding it there while he opened his drink. He glanced down and saw the little piece of paper peeking up from beneath a bun.

"Mh," raised an eyebrow at it and pulled the hot dog from his mouth, not before taking a bite and put it down to retrieve the note. Midnight was all it said. Zell pondered about it for a moment but his thoughts were interrupted by the high pitch of Selphie coming.

"Hey Zeeeell." He quickly shoved the paper in his pocket and picked up his hot dog again like nothing was going on. She sat down in front of him with her own tray. "I saw that, what was it?" She said picking up a french-frie. "Nothing just some class notes." He said trying to sound cool but convincing. "Yeah right, what is it?" She said this time more threatening. Zell did want to tell someone else about the two mysterious notes, maybe they knew who was leaving them, but Sephie. 'Oh well.' He thought and pulled the paper from his pocket.

She immediately snatched it up and read. "Midnight?" She tossed it back to him. "Some note, what's it mean?" She went back to eating. "Got me, but its not the first one. Someone left a message on my computer in class, it said table for two. Then I find this one under my food." "Spooky, you think their threats?" He absently shook his head even though that thought had crossed his mind. "Well check the handwriting." Selphie said and like it just hit him Zell opened the paper again. "No luck it was typed." "Oh how'd we miss that?" She said disappointed. Zell shrugged and returned the note to his pocket. They continued eating in silence for awhile as the crowd of people grew around them.

"So have you seen Seifer around yet?" Zell finally asked. Selphie looked up and thought about it. "Nope, guess the missions not going so good. You should ask Squall." "Yeah, maybe later."

..................................

At the end of the day Zell walked the halls still thinking about those messages as he headed to his room. "What does it mean? Maybe I'm being stalked or something..... nah. Who'd wanna hurt me." He laughed out loud to himself as he made it to the boys dorm hall. The first thing he saw when he came into the corridor was Squall coming out of his room.

"S'up Squall." He said waving him down. 'Now there was something I was supposed to ask him about...oh right.' "Hey Squall what happened with that Deling mission you sent Seifer on?" Squall thought about it for a moment, not sure what Zell meant. "What about it?" 'He sure can be dense sometimes' "You know, was it completed yet." Zell cleared up. "........yesterday, why?" 'Yesterday, then the hells is Seifer?'

"No reason I guess, thanks." He said feeling a sudden rush of sadness and worry he walked to his room. Squall watched him go but decided not to ask what was wrong.

When Zell got inside his room he flopped down on the couch and sighed heavily. "What the hells is going on in this school." He thought out loud to himself. When he reached over to the little coffee table for the remote he felt something else with it. Another note. He immediately sat up and grabbed it reading it hoping it was from Seifer. "Cafeteria....... ketchup or mustard?" Frustrated he tossed the paper back to the table and pulled at his hair. "What the fuck does that mean, who keeps writing this stuff, no make that typing ugh." He fell back against the couch and closed his eyes to calm himself.

"Table for two, midnight, cafeteria, hmph ketchup or mustard what the fuck." Suddenly his eyes flew open as it all made sense. "Someone's trying to win my affections from Seifer by setting up a secret date! Well they'll be disappointed because that ain't happenin but I will show up for their little dinner party tonight let 'em down gently. If I may quote Irvine- Heh heh." He lied himself back down on the couch and turned the TV on getting comfortable. He felt a little better at having figured out the days tormenting mystery and thought he deserved a break until it was time to go.

Seifer shook his head smiling standing behind the partially opened room door and he let it slide shut and walked away.

.................................

When Zell woke up from his nap he found a navy blue tuxedo spread out on the top of the couch above him. He rubbed his eyes and looked at it. "How did this get here?" He sat up and pulled it from the couch standing himself he pressed it against himself. "Hm looks good." He smiled and ran to the bathroom to put it on.

He waited all night wearing his new suit for midnight to come. "This is stupid, why am I even going? right to tell this person I'm not interested." He sat on his bed with his chin in his hands. "I should go a little early try to surprise them yeah." He bounced up from the bed and left the room going at an even pace all the way to the cafeteria.

When he arrived the room was dark except for a faint glow of candle light at one of the tables closest to the service counter. Zell tugged on the door finding it open he walked inside. He could faintly hear music playing in the background, a slow love song from years ago, probably before he was even born.

Zell took a small step cautiously and felt something shift under his feet, he glanced down to see a path of red rose petals leading to the table with candles on it and around it. "Wow." Was all he could quietly manage to get out as he followed the trail to the table, he sat down and boredly admired the table setting.

"I shouldn't be here......... I wish Seifer was here, yeah he'd tell this person to back off." He slammed his fist on the table. "Gods where is he?" The rumble he caused on the table made a piece of paper fall from the vase of flowers that were in the center of the table. Zell looked at it and picked it up. "How'd I miss that, waiter." He read the note out loud and a figure appeared beside him. "You called?"

Zell immediately turned at the sound of the familiar voice and his face lit up with shock. It was Seifer standing there all 6"2 of him draped in a black tux and v-cut white silk shirt underneath. He smiled down at him and used a remote in his hand to turn up the music that was playing. He set it on the table then grabbed Zell's hand and pulled him up from his seat. "I- I don't get it." Zell said confused and still in shock. Seifer pulled the smaller boy to him and backed away from the table while swaying with the music. "Remember before I went on that mission," They twirled. "You said I'm not romantic enough then you said not at all."

Zell remembered and nodded feeling a little stupid now. "You were right so surprise." Seifer spun Zell so he was standing against his chest and looking at the table. Seifer had an arm around the front of Zell's neck and put a white rose in front of Zell's face with his free hand. It had another note attached to it. "When did you have time for this, I mean the mission and all." Zell said only turning his head to look up at the fire glowing Seifer. "I lied the first time I called you, it was over and I was upset thinking about what you said and what I said. I wanted to make it up to you. Read it." He said waving the flower note in Zell's face.

He smiled embarrassedly taking the rose he opened the folded paper attached and read to himself.

Some roses are red like the blush on your face. No one else will ever take your place. I never said it then but I'm saying it now. I'll love you forever this is my vow.

All the while Zell was reading Seifer had let go of him and moved around to the front of him.

When you finish reading this there's a surprise for you to see, but before I show you will you marry me?

Tears hit the paper and Zell looked up slowly finding a ring in his face. He swallowed back tears and smiled nodding his head not being able to get out any words at the time. Seifer laughed "I'll take that as a yes." He wiped Zell's tears away with his hand then kissed him quickly and pulled him into a hug. Then he whispered in his ear. "You'll never say I'm not romantic again." Zell laughed a little "No I won't." and they pulled back and began dancing again. as the song continued.

‘No one else comes close to you. No one makes me feel the way you do

you're so special boy to me and you'll always be eternally

Every time I hold you near you always say the words I love to hear

boy with just a touch you can do so much, no one else comes close.....…’