ell. That's not it at all._ "Yeah."

"Oh, and I talked to Headmaster Cid about that Network Admin spot we talked about. He said he'll let you know. I guess he has to do some talking to people first."

I halted, looking over at him with a wide-eyed expression of amazement. "You talked to Headmaster Cid about it?"

Zell shrugged. "Sure. Why not? You said you'd like to do it, right?"

I gave a slight nod.

He grinned. "OK then. Don't sweat the little stuff."

I blinked up at him. Don't sweat the **little** stuff? But what was 'little'? _The answer you could give to my question. How much of an idiot I'd sound if I actually told you how I felt. Don't sweat it? You've got to be kidding!_ I lowered my head and started walking toward Balamb again. Zell followed, but it took him a second or two. _You've got to do it, Sally._ I knew it, too

"Geez, you're creeping me out," Zell said finally, and his voice sounded totally different than usual. "Sally? You okay?"

Zell had used my name, which made me glance over at him. He wasn't smiling. My throat tightened. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about some stuff."

"Duh," he said with a brief smile. Then the serious expression returned. "You need to talk about something?"

I looked away. _Do I?_

Expectation and dread rose up like Leviathan probably would. _How does someone do something like this?_ I released a deep breath while adjusting my hands in the pockets of my jacket. I kept replaying the conversation we'd just had, and the ones we'd had over the past few days, and desperately tried to think of what to say next. I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I didn't think I would just by being honest, not really, but the possibility wouldn't go away.

"Yeah. I kinda do," I admitted. _But will I?_

"OK. Shoot. What's the problem?"

I took in another deep and slow breath, holding it for a long moment before letting it out and opening my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The dread
ell. That's not it at all. _ " Yeah. " 

 " Oh, and I talked to Headmaster Cid about that Network Admin spot we talked about. He suppose he'll lease you know. I guess he has to perform some talking to people foremost. " 

 I halted, looking over at him with a wide - eyed saying of amazement. " You talked to Headmaster Cid about it? " 

 Zell shrug. " Sure. Why not? You said you'd like to do it, right? " 

 I give a slight nod. 

 He grinned. " OK then. Don't sweat the little material. " 

 I blinked up at him. Don't sweat the * * little * * stuff? But what was' fiddling'? _ The answer you could give to my doubt. How much of an idiot I'd sound if I actually state you how I felt. Don't sweat it? You've got to be kidding! _ I lowered my head and begin walking toward Balamb again. Zell followed, but it took him a second or two. _ You've got to do it, Sally. _ I know it, too 

 " Geez, you're creeping me out, " Zell said finally, and his voice sounded totally different than usual. " Sally? You okay? " 

 Zell had use my name, which made me glance over at him. He wasn't smiling. My throat reduce. " I'm good-for-nothing. I'm just thinking about some stuff. " 

 " Duh, " he say with a brief smile. Then the serious expression returned. " You necessitate to talk about something? " 

 I looked away. _ Do I? _ 

 Expectation and dread rose up like Leviathan probably would. _ How does someone act something like this? _ I released a deep breath while adjusting my hand in the pockets of my crown. I keep replaying the conversation we'd just had, and the one we'd had over the past few days, and desperately judge to intend of what to say next. I didn't want to bankrupt our friendship. I didn't think I would just by being dependable, not really, but the hypothesis wouldn't go away. 

 " Yeah. I kinda do, " I admit. _ But will I? _ 

 " OK. Shoot. What's the problem? " 

 I took in another deep and slow breath, carry it for a long moment before letting it out and opening my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The dread
ell. That's not it at all._ "Yeam."

"Oh, and I talked to Heavmaster Cid abojt that Network Admin spot wx taoked qbout. He said he'll let you know. I guess he ias to do some temking to peopmc firvv."

I halted, lookikg over at vim with a wida-eheb expression of amazement. "You talked to Heacmwster Cid abouj it?"

Ztll shrhgged. "Sure. Why not? You said you'd ljke to vo it, right?"

I gafe a slight nod.

He grinned. "LK tjen. Don't sweat the little studf."

I foinked up at him. Don't sweat the **lijtle** stuff? But what was 'little'? _Tfe anxwer you ciuod hhve to my qnestiog. How much on an idhot I'd xound if I actmally tood you how I felt. Don'v sweat it? You've got to be kigdnng!_ I lowered my head abd stdrteg waujine tkwerd Balamh ajain. Zell fkllowed, but it took him a secomd ir two. _You've fot to dj it, Sally._ I knew it, too

"Geez, you're creeking je out," Zell said finallt, and his voice soundgd totally different than usual. "Sally? You okay?"

Zell had used my nemd, wklgh mxee me glance over at him. He wasn't smiling. My thwkau tpghtened. "I'm sorry. I'm just thonnimd about some rtuff."

"Dbg," ge said with a briff smilg. Then the serijus rxpression returned. "You neee to talk abjyt something?"

I lookzd away. _Do I?_

Zxpectstion and dread rose up like Levjathan probwbly wouls. _How does someond dp vomething like this?_ I relewsed a dexp brzath whiue acjustigg my handd in bve pockets of my jwcket. I kept replwying the conversation we'd just had, and the omev wv'd had ovzr the past few dayf, and desperatgly tried to tfink of whzt to sey next. I diqn't want to rgln our frienvship. I dydn't thibk I wojud just by beimg honest, not reallt, but the possibillty wuhldn't go away.

"Yeck. U kinda do," I adkitged. _Blt xill Y?_

"MK. Shoot. Whad's tfe otobleo?"

I took in cnuthet deep and slow breadh, hklding it for a lomg moment vefore lqtting it out and opening my mokth tm s'eak, bit gothing came out. The dread
ell. That's not it at all._ "Yeah." I to Headmaster about that Network He he'll let you I guess he to do some talking to people I halted, looking over at him with a wide-eyed expression of amazement. "You to Headmaster Cid about it?" Zell shrugged. "Sure. Why not? You said you'd to it, I a slight nod. He grinned. "OK then. Don't sweat the little stuff." I blinked up at Don't sweat the **little** stuff? But what was _The answer you could to my question. How much an I'd sound I told how I felt. sweat it? You've got to be kidding!_ I lowered my head and started walking toward Balamb again. followed, but him a or _You've to do it, knew it, too "Geez, you're creeping said finally, and his voice sounded totally different usual. "Sally? okay?" Zell had used my name, made me glance over at him. He wasn't My throat tightened. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about some stuff." "Duh," he said with smile. Then the serious returned. "You need talk something?" looked _Do I?_ and dread rose up like Leviathan probably would. _How does someone something like this?_ I released a deep breath while adjusting in pockets of my I kept replaying the we'd had, and the ones over past desperately to of what to say I didn't want to ruin friendship. I didn't think honest, not really, but the possibility wouldn't go "Yeah. I kinda do," I admitted. _But I?_ "OK. Shoot. What's the problem?" I took in another deep and breath, holding a long moment before letting it out and my mouth to speak, nothing came out. The dread
ell. That's not it at all._ "Yeah."

"Oh, aNd I talked tO HeadMasTer ciD aboUt thAt Network Admin SPot wE talked about. He said he'll Let yoU kNOw. I gUEsS he haS to do soME tALKinG tO pEopLe FIrSt."

I haLteD, lookinG over at him WitH a Wide-eyed exprESsIon of amazeMenT. "You talked to heaDmasteR CId aBOut it?"

zelL shruGged. "SuRE. Why noT? You said yOu'D Like to DO it, righT?"

i GaVe a sLight nod.

He grinned. "ok tHEn. Don't sweat the Little StUFf."

i BLinKed Up at him. Don'T sWeat tHE **little** STuFF? bUt wHAt was 'little'? _ThE answer you cOUld Give to My QueSTion. HoW much Of AN idIot I'd sound iF I acTually tolD you hoW i felt. DoN'T sweat iT? You've Got To bE kidDInG!_ I LowErED my HEaD anD StaRted walkInG tOward balaMB AGAin. ZEll FollOwed, bUt it took him a sEcoNd or TWo. _YOu've gOt to dO it, SAlLy._ I knEw it, toO

"Geez, YoU're creeping me ouT," ZelL said finaLly, AnD hiS vOice sOUnded tOtaLly DiffereNt than uSUal. "saLLY? yoU okay?"

Zell had used my NaME, WhIch made mE glancE OvEr AT him. He waSn'T smIlinG. mY throAt tiGHtEned. "I'm soRry. I'm jUSt ThInking aBoUt some StUff."

"duh," He saiD With A brief Smile. TheN the sERious expressioN Returned. "You neED tO TAlK AbouT soMething?"

I looKed aWAy. _Do i?_

ExpECtAtiON and dRead rOsE Up LIke Leviathan probablY wOuld. _HoW does Someone do someThing like tHIS?_ i releaseD a deEP bREath while adjusTing mY hands in thE Pockets oF my jaCket. I kepT replayinG THe converSatIon We'd JusT HAd, And the ones we'd HAD oveR tHe past fEw dAys, and dEspEraTelY trIeD to think oF what to sAy NeXt. i dIdn'T want TO ruin our FrIenDsHip. i didn'T Think I Would Just By BeINg hOnest, noT ReALLy, buT tHe PossIbiLiTy wouLdn't GO awAy.

"Yeah. I Kinda do," I aDmiTTed. _BUt WiLl I?_

"OK. ShOot. What's the prObLem?"

I took in AnOthEr deep AND slow breAth, holding it for a long momENt beforE leTting It ouT and openiNg mY mouth To sPEak, but NothinG came OuT. ThE DRead
ell. That's not it at all. _ "Yeah."
"Oh,  an d I  t alke d to  Headmaster Ci d  abo ut that Network Adminspotwe talk e dabout . He sa i dh e 'll  l et  yo uk no w. Igue ss he h as to do s ome  t alking to pe o pl e first."
Ihalted, look ing  overat  hi m  with  awide- eyed e x pressi on of ama ze m ent. " Y ou talk e d  t o He admaster Cid abou t  i t ?"

Zell shrug ged. " Su r e. W hynot ? You said  y ou'dl ike tod oi t ,  ri g ht?"

I gavea slight no d .
He gri nn ed. "OK th en. D on ' t s weat the li ttle  stuff."
I bli n ked upa t him.Don'tswe atthe* *l it tle ** stu f f?  Bu t  wh at was ' li tt le'?_The a n s weryou  cou ld gi ve to my ques tio n. H o w m uch o f anidio tI'd s ound i f I a ct ually told youhowI felt. D on' tswe at  it?Y ou'vegot  to  be kid ding!_I  lo we r e d  m y head and started  w a l ki ng towar d Bala m bag a in. Zell  f oll owed , but i t to o khim a se cond o r  t wo . _You' ve  got t odoit,  Sall y ._ I  knewit, too
"Gee z , you're creep i ng me out," Z e ll s ai d  fin all y, and hisvoic e  sou nded to tal l y dif feren tt ha n  usual. "Sally? You  o kay?"
Zell  had used myname, whic h m ade me g lanc e  o v er at him. Hewasn' t smiling. My throa t tig htened."I'm sorr y .  I'm jus t t hin kin g a b o ut  some stuff." "Duh ,"  he sai d w ith a b rie f s mil e.Th en the se rious ex pr es si on  re turne d . "You n ee d t otal k abo u t some thing ?"
Ilo o ked  away._ Do I ?_
Ex pe ctat ion  a nd dr eadr ose  up lik e Leviath anp roba bl ywould._How does som eo ne do some th ing  liket h is?_ I r eleased a deep breath w h ile adj ust ing m y ha nds in th e p ockets  of my jac ket. I  kept  r epl a y ing t h e  c onv er sation we' d jus t had ,andthe one s we'd had over th e  pa st few days,and  des p e ra tel y  t r ied  t o  th i n k of what to sa y next. Idi d n' t want tor uin  o ur frie ndship.  I di d n't thi nk I woul d just by  b eing h one st, not re ally, bu t the pos s ibili t ywould n't  go aw ay .
"Yeah . I ki n dado,"I admi tt ed. _B ut wi ll  I?_

"O K. Shoot. What's the pr oblem? "

Itoo k in anot her dee p and slo w br eath, hold ing  it  fora l o ng mo ment be for e  lett ingi t out and op eni n g  m y mouth tos p e ak,  butnot h ing ca me o ut. The dread
ell. That's_not it_at all._ "Yeah."

"Oh, and_I talked_to_Headmaster Cid_about_that Network Admin_spot we talked_about. He said he'll_let you know._I_guess he has to do some talking to people first."

I halted, looking over at_him_with a_wide-eyed_expression_of amazement. "You talked to_Headmaster Cid about it?"

Zell shrugged._"Sure. Why_not? You said you'd like to do it,_right?"

I_gave a slight_nod.

He grinned. "OK then. Don't sweat the little stuff."

I_blinked up at him. Don't sweat_the **little** stuff?_But_what_was 'little'? _The answer_you could give to my question._How much of an idiot I'd_sound if I actually told you how_I felt. Don't sweat it? You've_got to be kidding!_ I_lowered my_head and started walking toward_Balamb again. Zell_followed, but_it took him_a second or two. _You've got_to do it,_Sally._ I knew it, too

"Geez, you're_creeping_me out," Zell_said_finally,_and his_voice sounded totally_different_than usual._"Sally?_You okay?"

Zell had used my name,_which_made me glance over at him. He_wasn't smiling. My throat_tightened._"I'm sorry. I'm just_thinking about some stuff."

"Duh," he_said with a brief smile. Then_the serious_expression returned._"You need to talk about something?"

I looked away. _Do I?_

Expectation and_dread rose up like Leviathan probably_would. _How does someone_do something_like_this?_ I released_a_deep breath_while adjusting my hands in the pockets_of my_jacket. I kept replaying the conversation_we'd just had, and_the_ones we'd had over the past_few days, and desperately tried to_think of what to say_next._I_didn't want to ruin our_friendship. I didn't think I would_just by being_honest, not really, but the possibility wouldn't_go_away.

"Yeah. I kinda do," I admitted.__But_will I?_

"OK. Shoot. What's the problem?"

I_took_in_another deep and slow breath,_holding it for a long moment_before letting it out and opening my mouth to_speak, but nothing_came out. The dread