Final Fantasy VIII: What it Takes

Selphie ignored her clock, because she already knew it was telling her she was late. She grabbed up her books on her way out the door, pausing only to snag the file folder sitting on her table and ignoring the fruit she had set out for breakfast—she didn't have time now, after spending her eating time going over her notes. Quistis was going to lecture her for being late again, but at least it had been worth it. She stuffed the folder between her books so the papers wouldn't fly out as she walked down the hall.

The dorms were still mostly deserted—it was early, but she wasn't surprised when an arm draped over her shoulder. She looked up and smiled, but didn't stop walking. Irvine kept up with her and tipped his hat up. Selphie didn't know when he slept. He always seemed to be awake and wherever she was.

"Where are you off to?"

"Oh, a meeting."

Irvine laughed. "I didn't think you had to get all snazzed up for party planning meetings."

Selphie almost stopped, but remembered that she was late and couldn't afford to. This meeting had Quistis and Cid and Xu on top of everyone else. She shrugged Irvine's arm off her shoulders. "It's not about a party, it's about Trabia." Irvine took the brush off like it hadn't even been done. Selphie sometimes admired that and sometimes hated it—it made it impossible to embarrass him, even when he really deserved it.

"Oh, then it's business. Still trying to get funds to help Trabia rebuild?"

"I'm never going to stop trying," Selphie said. "I spent all last week in the library researching ways to earn money for the project. If we do it long term and in stages, there's no reason why it wouldn't work." She resisted the urge to pull out all her charts and information, because she didn't really think Irvine would care about the details. Irvine wasn't from Trabia. She knew he had lost his Garden, too, but it was different from her. His could still fly.

Irvine whistled. "Lot of work, you know."

This time, Selphie did stop. She considered Irvine for a second. "Do you think I can't handle it? Like, I'm too stupid and should just go plan a party?"

Irvine only raised an eyebrow. "That's a trick question, because I can only say one thing. Did I say I thought that?" He reached forward and smoothed out the shoulders of her uniform. "You plan a mean party, Selphie. You apply those brains to this business mess and you'll have them eating out of your hand."

Selphie smiled. "I never thought of myself doing anything like this." It was true, but it didn't feel wrong. Anyway, she could go back to doing parties and festivals any time. Right now, Trabia needed her more than the social scenes did, and she had surprised herself. She was good at numbers and regulations and everything she thought was too boring and hard. "I think I like it."

"You wear it well," Irvine said. "Now, go and take all their money."

Selphie grinned. "I plan to," she said, and left Irvine laughing in the walkway as she ran to catch the elevator.