R E A L I T Y
Vamptress RayZor

Summary: He created an alternate reality, but what happens when she shatters it? Will she achieve her goal, or will he forever be in mourning? One-shot

Inspiration: I was lying in bed listening to "Strightjacket Feeling" by The All-American Rejects and had a sudden inspiration to write. I grabbed my notebook and a pen, then the words started flowing. It's a little bit psychotic, but, please, bare with me.

"When darkness turns to light, it ends tonight... It ends tonight..."
- The All-American Rejects "It Ends Tonight"

I heard the knock and looked up at the door. Did I I really want to see anyone? I mean, my fiancee, the woman I was supposed to be in love with, had just vanished without a trace. Well... Not without a trace. She left me a note explaining her intention to marry another, cleaned out my bank account, and took my favorite car. I despised Rinoa with every fiber of my being.

"Squall? Can we talk?"

I smiled. I had been planning on calling off the wedding because of the woman at my door. Selphie Tilmitt was to whom my heart belonged. It was merely expected that Rinoa and I got married... She had told me she was with child just so I would propose. She told me of her treachery in her farewell note.

"Squall?"

I couldn't leave poor Selphie out there all night. Not afer she poured her feelings out to me during the after-party - after Ultimecia's defeat, of course. She kept her feelings to herself after that, knowing what my response was. I loved her too. But Rinoa and I... Well, I had been lonely and she was there...

"Please, Squall? Aren't you going to talk to me?"

I nodded resolutely. "It's open," I told her in a surprisingly hoarse voice.

There Miss Selphie stood in all of her yellow sundress and brown boots glory. Emerald eyes shone with worry and she seemed to be at a loss for words. She obviously wanted to say soemthing to me, but her courage was lacking for the time being.

"Squall... I'm sorry," she whispered breathlessly. I swallowed hard as my imaginary world crumbled away. Everythingt hat I had wanted was a fictional tale made up to help me cope with the pain.

Rinoa had never been pregnant and we had never been engaged. She never used and abused me, we merely grew apart. I had tried so hard to win Selphie's affection, but her emeralds were always on Kinneas. They were engaged. Selphie only loved me like a brother.

"Squall, I do love you. Irvine is my soul mate though, Squall. I love him with all my heart and soul." Tears glimmered like the glittering snow in the Trabia fields. "Please, Squall, give us your blessing. I'm begging you."

I looked at her through blinding tears. How could I ever refuse anything she ever asked of me? "Of course, Sefie. Best of luck to both of you."

She collapsed into my arms and I hugged her tightly. My Selphie was officially Irvine's Selphie.

So I'm sitting here outside the chapel. I can't go in because I'll break down. I can just picture it though. The sunlight streaming through th stain glass, those flowers in her hair 1, emeralds glimmering joyfully. If only I was in the groom's cowboy boots, holding her hands, too giddy to take my eyes off her. I would have treated her like the queen she is, I swear it.

My life is full of "what if" and "if only" anymore. That dream world collapsed with the announcement of Irvine Kinneas's proposal and Selphie Tilmitt's acceptance. My dreams are no longer bright and vibrant. Knowing that Selphie is forever the cowboy's makes me hurt.

I take a swig of my bottle and put the car into gear as the bells begin to chime. I can't stand to see her. I don't want to see my beautiful Selphie as Selphie Kinneas. I'm leaving... I hear the Esthar's new Garden is looking for a Weapons Instructor...

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