Author's Note: Sorry I took SO long to write this one, I suck, but it's longer though you guys will be pleased to hear, at least I hope!

Chapter 3:

The image of the blood trickling down Rinoa's leg would not leave him, but neither could the image of her body against that other guy disappear either, both equally contributing to the loss of sanity he was experiencing, slowly but surely. Now back at his apartment with no Rinoa in sight at all, he lay alone on his bed and rolled over several times subconsciously, unable to find comfort in the furniture. Lack of rest and food did not taught him the way he understood it would have Rinoa if she were in his position right now, again his thoughts linked to her and only of her yet again. Still angry and bitter but not as dismissive of pondering on the sorceress he continued this scenario, Rinoa would have jumped to her psychical needs right away, grabbed the closest chocolate bar, called up a few friends, got it all out. Right? What's what good old Rinoa would do.

What was he supposed to do when she stumbled home later on, to grab food to cope with the guilt he hoped rotted through her? Smile and wave, ask how she's doing and say 'hunni, it's ok, I'll slip the ring on your finger and we'll forget all about this awful misunderstanding, and wait at the alter of our wedding while you lick your lips and wink at a guy on the third row from the front as you pass down the aisle to me, then screw him in the toilets after we've taken our vows during the reception, it'll be JUST FINE!'

Gripping his tough hands through his mousy locks, he breathed out in frustration then rubbed his temples between his fingers in attempt to cute the pounding head that surged through him, the tension slowly rising in his shoulder and neck creating the aching pain and discomfort he felt currently. Whenever Squall thought too much he got headaches, or tension pains, and he couldn't ever stop tossing and turning, or thinking, it was just impossible for anything to just stop!

Did she want that guy more than she wanted him, was she going to leave for him now? Was he supposed to kick her out any way? Or forgive her and pretend as if everything is ok, slowly they'd get over it? Was he supposed to trust her ever again? She wasn't all his, others had touched her body, all those promises were so empty and haunting now, so hollow.

Figuring he wasn't getting any where with just lying here, and obviously he wasn't going to get any rest or peace of mind by lying here he slowly picked himself up to get a drink, nothing alcoholic, Squall wasn't like that, but something that would cut the thirsty dry flesh within his mouth. The irritating sensation had finally gotten to him and he wanted something else to concentrate on.

Was she with him now?

Cursing under his breath, he was reminded of the frustration he felt, he did not want to think about her and what she was doing. She wasn't worth the time, worth the effort, worth anything, right? Is that what everyone else would say to him? Was that right? She was still a human right, and no one deserves anything they don't want? Did she think she could just walk all over him, wrap him around her little finger. The truth was she probably could, something else he was horrendously ashamed of. The control she had over him, another thing people had bitched and asked about. How much she had over him, he wasn't a weak person. No he would stand up and protect, he could fight to the very end, but when it came to Rinoa everything changed. Maybe his reason for being strong at the moment was her, maybe she was his reason for fighting to the very end. Did she deserve that loyalty? Probably not, in fact definitely not, but that didn't change the fact that she had his loyalty…but he didn't have hers.

Leaning over the kitchen counter he whimpered for a few moments, out of hurt and jealousy a tear rolled down his cheeks. And as he opened his eyes, he saw a spot of blood on the floor. Rinoa's blood.

More tears spilled from his eyes, more whimpers escaped from his pale soft lips…why?

The door clicked a few times, and the grinning of metal alerted Squall that someone was turning the handle from the outside. Immediately he dried his dark eyes and felt his heart begin to pound wildly in his chest, almost painfully. The now fast rhythm of his heart was the only thing Squall chose to listen to while watched the handle turn. His posture returning to normal, and the stern features turned back to the normality. Creases created around his browns, and heavy bags shown more obviously, the knight geared himself consciously to endure the thrashing it would cause his confidence and heart if Rinoa was to walk through that door right now.

Trying to convince himself of instructor Trepe's words he continued to glare harshly, every second passing by feeling like an hour, cursing inside for this moment of absolute terror and tension to pass Squall breathed in slowly. The door slid open very smoothly and quietly, and the familiar but unfamiliar raven haired girl stepped through the frame into eye sight of the seeD commander. Eyes connected, not one of them moved.

Gulping audibly, Rinoa looked away for a moment, her hands shaking violently. She had taken a trip to see Selphie, to admit what she had done, and to find the reason or convince herself of the reason why. The only way she could explain it, it was…his fault. How exactly was she supposed to say that exactly? 'I blame you'. Even she knew that was unfair, but she also knew if Squall wanted her out he'd need the clarity, and it was all that she had to give him, this pathetic reason.

Slowly, she closed the door behind her with her pale hands, not looking once behind her, keeping her eye level with Squall. It was admittance time…

"Squall." Rinoa began. "I'm so sorry, it didn't mean anything and I was just angry." She paced towards him a few times, but still didn't come too close, afraid not of any abuse, but ashamed to move any further.

"I didn't even know what to think, at first I didn't believe it…" Squall replied, no emotion present, just the monotone.

This scared Rinoa more than anything, he was building up his shell again. The years she'd spent digging away at that shell, the years they'd all spent digging away at it. How hard and gentle it had been, how caution and careful she had been. It was too late to reach for the shell-less Squall now, he was encasing himself within it too quick for her to grip him hard and pull him out. He'd be unprotected, and now when she understood how brittle he was from the emotion he'd rather die than choke on, it'd be too dangerous to pull him out of it.

"I was angry with you." Rinoa continued, stepping on very uneasy ground.

"What?" He bitterly quirked, his eye brow raising in surprise and disgust.

"You…you didn't go out with me this week at all, went out with someone else." She stuttered and started, so embarrassed with her pathetic reason. "You never really show me you give a damn."

Was she twisting this on him? Part of him wanted to scream out at her then, part of him did blame himself and agreed with her, part of him didn't like to argue and told him to remain silent and just listen. Push the anger down for another day. Secretly Rinoa was begging for Squall to argue back, make her feel small and horrible and stupid and ashamed, like he should make her feel. Yet all he did was stand there and watch her, the mild emotion he had had on his face before had now melted away and he was back to just a normal expression. Why wouldn't he fight against her?

"Look, if you wanna break up with me I won't stop you, I deserve it after all." Rinoa continued, she'd always thought this was a really lousy thing to say. If you've been hurt or cheated on they should take the negativity that they feel and slam it back in the evil persons face, make them feel as low as you did. So offering the person hurting exactly what they can use to hurt them was a slack thing to do, but Rinoa was sorry and did understand if he wanted to leave her. Was she to let him make an enemy of her for a while, until he'd gotten all the anger out, and felt better about the situation.

He slowly shook his head…

"No…I don't want to do that, I need you." He replied.

Rinoa's eyes widened for a moment, this comment had scared her the most. He was accepting, wanted to stay with her? This was all wrong, wrong! He was suppose to feel angry with her, so that she didn't have to feel so bad, feel as if she was getting away with it…

"B-But…Squall…" She murmured weakly.

To Be continued…

Author's Note: Sorry this was another short chapter, the next one is gonna be really long and all, and reflects the consequences of Squall staying with her and blah-de-blah. Thanks you guys for reviewing! I love it, love it! Keep coming, it's really encouraging!