Disclaimer: I repeat: I am poor…so verily poor.

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Chapter 3: The Other Guy

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"Anyone who's seen us knows what's going on between us,
It doens't take a genius to read between the lines.
And it's not just wishful thinking, or only me who's dreaming,
I know what these are symptoms of,
We could be in love..."

- We Could Be In Love (Lea Salonga & Brad Kane)

. . .

Rinoa stepped back as Jeremy took a step forward to meet Squall.

"Squall! How ya been!?" Jem asked with a grin as he shook Squall's hand and patted him on the back.

"I'm good, I'm good."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming out here?"

"To tell you the truth I only found out last week and I tried calling actually, but I dunno what happened. I meant to try again but then I just got really busy with everything," Squall replied with a shrug of the shoulders as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Wow! Who would've thought! It's great to see you again!"

"Me too. Hey come on in, have some ice cream. Me and Rin were just talking about you."

"So I heard," Jem smiled as he put his arm around a blushing Rinoa.

Squall turned and stepped back into the kitchen, behind him the couple stopped short, Rinoa swinging around to face Jem.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew him?" she whispered interrogatingly.

"I didn't know I had to, and you never asked. Why? What's the problem?" he frowned as he looked past her at Squall who'd picked up his bowl and resumed eating.

"Only that's he's my worst enemy. Don't worry, you can be friends, I guess…I just don't like him."

"Aright, but he's a real nice guy. You'll like him once you really get to know him. How do you know him, by the way?"

"Long story," she shook her head. "He used to live in this neighbourhood before he moved to Esthar…and now he's back. I'll be civil to him, just for you, okay?"

"Thanks, Rin. But can you try to be friendly?" he coaxed as he entwined his fingers with her's.

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises, he hurt me pretty deep," Rinoa replied quietly, her gaze downcast.

Jem bent slightly to catch her stare. "This doesn't change anything between us, right?"

She shook her head. "No, come on," Rin smiled as she tugged on his hand his hand and pulled him into the kitchen. "Oh hey, I can go to Irvine's. You coming?"

"Yeah," Jem started hesitantly. "I'll make an appearance."

Squall looked up and smiled. "Yeah? I'm going as well."

"You are?" Jem turned to his friend in shock. "You're invited?"

"Not exactly-"

"But in order for me to go," Rin cut it, "He has to come, so he can 'mingle'."

Jem burst out laughing. "Squall? Mingle?"

"Sounds wrong, doesn't it?" Squall agreed.

Jem grinned. "Hell yeah, but sure I'll go if Squall goes."

"So you'll go if Squall goes but you'll only 'make an appearance' if I go?" Rinoa glared at him. I can't believe him!

He closed his eyes momentarily. Shit…I have got to be more careful. I didn't know this whole issue was that sensitive. "Rin, I didn't mean it in that way and you know it. Don't take it personally." Jem bit his lip hopefully.

Rinoa turned to him, gaping. "How can you expect me to not take it personally?"

Alright…plan B. "Okay, maybe it did seem that way, but if Squall's gonna go, then I should go, 'cause if Squall goes he's not likely to know anyone else, so I'll just keep him company."

"Uhh," Squall started slowly, "You're forgetting something, dude."

"What?" Jeremy faced Squall looking pretty nervous. Uh-oh…this could be as bad as the time I…no way! I've never been in this situation with Rin. Crap!

"This is my old neighbourhood," He said slowly, hoping to delay the impact. He's in shit now…

"Ah…" Shit…how do I get myself out of this one…he offered Rinoa, who was glaring profusely at him, a nervous smile. "I was only kidding, Rin. Of course I'll be there. Irvine's a great friend." Jem lowered his head apologetically. "Are you still mad at me?"

Rinoa evaded his glance. "Hmm…give me ten minutes, I'll be over it by then," she stated as she crossed her arms.

"Wow, I didn't know your hostility had an expiry period," Squall smirked.

"You're the only exception," she said as she shot a sarcastic smile at him.

"You know you still haven't told me why you hate me," he tried once again. I honestly do not know what her problem is…I never did anything to her! Does she just really hate my face that much? I didn't think I was so unfortunate looking to warrant hate from anyone…

"I don't need to tell you 'cause you know the reason." Besides, I don't wanna take skeletons out of the closet.

"I repeat: if I did know why, I wouldn't ask." Squall rolled his eyes with a shake of the head. "Jem, I have no idea how you put up with her."

"Rather easily I'd say," Jem replied with a smile, motioning to put an arm around Rinoa's waist, but she recoiled.

"Ten minutes," she snapped.

"Right, sorry," he backed off with lifted arms. I should probably make this the last time this happens… Instead, he turned back to Squall. "So why'd you come back?"

"Dad. He got relocated, yet again, and small families must stick together," he added with a smirk.

"Don't I know it!" Jem laughed, thinking about how reluctant his parents and sister were about his exchange to Deling. "How long you gonna be here til?"

He shrugged. "Indefinitely. It's kinda hard to be sure about that sorta thing when Dad's being moved around all the time."

"Yeah I guess. 'Cause I'm only here til January, it won't be as fun back in Esthar with you being here in Deling."

Squall glanced at Rinoa whose gaze had turned somewhat placid and slightly…sad. Could she really love Jem that much? Guess its not something I should pry into…

Following Squall's stare, Jem, too, realised what Rinoa was doing – thinking about when Jem would have to leave for good. They'd discussed it so many times and no matter what, Rinoa was always saddened by the topic. Turning slightly, she brought her arms to her stomach, clutching her elbows, as if she'd just been hit by a cool wind. "Umm…I just remembered, I forgot to take in the mail this afternoon. I'll be right back."

As soon as she'd left the room, it took Jem less than a second to react. "Back in a sec."

Outside the Caraway house, Rinoa was hardly concerned about the mail and went in the opposite direction, planting herself onto the wooden bench in the corner of the yard, facing the house. Thank God mum likes to close the blinds when she's using a particular room. With her eyes downcast, she bent her knees and hugged her legs to her chest, hardly surprised to see a familiar shadow approach and sit right next to her.

"How can you just talk so freely about it," she whispered, the rest of her body remaining motionless.

"About what?" Jem started slowly, not meaning to sound like a smartass, but sure enough that's how Rinoa took it.

Her gaze snapped up at him, her eyes slightly narrow. "You know what I'm talking about. Don't think I don't know what kind of game you're playing."

"I'm not playing any games with you, Rin," he rallied softly.

"Then how can you talk about it so openly as if it doesn't hurt you, 'cause if it doesn't, you may as well tell me and we can just end this now," Rinoa answered back, not wholly clear on what she was saying.

"Whoa, just hold on a second," he said with a feeling of hurt. How could she possibly think that?! "What the hell gives you the right to assume that it doesn't hurt me?"

"Oh so you do know what I'm talking about. So much for not playing games, Jem," she scoffed, hugging her legs closer to chest and resting her chin on her knees.

"Okay, okay, one point to you. Now can we just talk about this for a while?"

She shrugged as if she were tired of the subject. "Sure, what's there to talk about?"

"The fact that in about six months I'll be gone from here," he turned slightly to face Rinoa, "And from you."

She shifted and leant her forehead against her knees, whispering, "We've talked about it so many times before."

"And yet you still get openly upset about it." Moving in closer, Jem leant his forehead against her shoulder. "Rin, I told you. There is nothing I can do about it. I'm not the richest kid around – I can't just throw down a few more hundreds here and there and stay for longer."

Rinoa turned her head to face him, sniffing. "I know."

"You've known that from the beginning," he stated as he pulled back slightly to catch her gaze.

Rinoa nodded. "Yeah."

"But at most it'll be a year that I'm away. I could always come back here and go to college on scholarship."

"I know all this, Jem. We've talked about this countless times but it just hits me hard when you start talking about it with someone else, I mean…it's real."

He closed his eyes momentarily. I know exactly how you feel…"Yeah I know. But hey, I'm still here right now, aren't I?"

She nodded with a smile and she sniffed and blinked her tears away.

"Let's just enjoy the time we have left together, okay?" he reassured her successfully.

"Okay." With that, Jem put his arm around her and pulled her close to him, wrapping his other arm around her to hug her. "I love you, Jem," she said quietly as she leant into his body.

"I love you, too." He replied as he planted a kiss on her forehead and rocked her gently. Why can't this moment last?

Squall stepped back from the front door's screen and turned away. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the image again: his best friend holding the girl he loves. A sad smile appeared on his face as he paced back into the dining room.

Looks like I'm too late…

. . .

A/N-Thanks heaps to everyone who reviewed! I realise I've been dead for so long that people ahve probably forgotten about lil ole me :) quite understandable. I blame myself completely and I apologise profusely! SCHOOL IS EVIL! raise your hands if you think school is evil whole room puts up their hands well, I rest my case. Now! please, please, please review! it would mean a helluva lot to me! thanks again to everyone who did and I'll see if I can do individual responses next chapter . Thanks again!

Don't forget to review! 3 e.t.