Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything related to FFVIII, all I own is the plot.
- Chapter two: Trapped -
"When will I see you again?"
"N-not too soon..."
"Why not?"
"...Because I don't want to, okay? Besides, you'll see me at lunch."
"But that's not the same and you know that."
"Perhaps. But you know I have other obligations too. I can't just think about you all day..." she pushed him away from her, avoiding his attempts to kiss her again.
He watched her leave and close the door.
"Damn it." He hissed.
He watched her walking around on the stage. She was muttering to herself. She seemed to be measuring up the stage.
"Sefie...what are you doing?"
She ignored him and shouted another measurement to a girl at the other end of the stage.
"Sefie..."
"Just one more minute...I'm almost done." She answered back.
She stared up into the sky and tried to guess how high up the stage lights were.
"Irvy, how high do you think this is?"
He sighed. "I don't know. Ask one of the techies, they put it up, didn't they?"
"Yeah, but the techies aren't here now, are they. And I need to get this down to the committee board today."
Irvine looked around and saw that one of the other festival members was trying not to catch his eye. "You there...how 'bout you climb up there with a measuring tape and drop one end to the floor."
The boy tried to object but Irvine gave him a light push in the direction of the stage.
"I don't know...is it safe?" Selphie wondered.
"Sure it is! Now come on. Let's go get some lunch, I'm hungry."
Selphie nodded slowly and followed him. She quickly told one of her friends to get this done by the end of the day. Irvine wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged her.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. "Come on, I thought you were hungry."
"Yeah I am. But I'm also hungry for you." He replied witha cheeky grin.
She giggled and blushed furiously. He laughed and hugged her again. She always blushed when he made jokes like that. She tried to hide her embaressement as she noticed he was only joking around.
"Well, let's go then." She said. "To the cafeteria." She added hastily as she saw a devious smile cross his face.
When they had seated themselves, they waited for their friends to join them. Rinoa was the first and Squall wasn't with her. She sat down and looked at the door expectantly.
"Where's Squall?" Selphie asked.
"I don't kow. Cid needed him to sign some papers a few hours ago and he's been up there in that office ever since. You know what he's like. He wants to do everything perfect and detailed."
"I'm sure he'll come down soon. Even Squall needs food." Irvine said joking.
Rinoa looked across the table. She didn't need jokes about Squall right now, she was already feeling confused enough.
Irvine noticed her discomfort and decided to leave her alone. "So Selphie, what's this big thing you've got planned? Is it another party?"
Selphie smiled misteriously. "No, not a party. It's a surprise. You'll see. I got the idea yesterday when Squall showed me a pretty drawing."
"What kind of drawing?" Rinoa asked.
She was interested in anything that had to do something with art now she had started drawing herself.
"Oh, I can't tell you that, it'd spill the surprise."
"Oh."
Rinoa allowed her thoughts to wander. She wanted Squall by her side. She always felt so lonely when he wasn't around. And seeing Irvine and Selphie cuddling happily didn't really make her forget Squall's absence.
She looked up when someone walked over to them. It was Quistis. She sat down with a cup of coffee in her hand. She sipped it and threw down a paper on the table.
"Listen to this! According to some journalist in Balamb there's a strange man walking around, killing girls. Says he's witnessed at least one of the killings."
She cleared her throat and read the statement.
"The suspect first sent his victims notes in which he threatened them. Next he made pictures of them and scratched out their faces. In the end he'd follow them around and attack as soon as he finds them alone."
Quistis laughed and emptied her cup. The others looked at her in shock. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, come on. This journalist was found in a puddle of drink before he made his statement. According to his neighbours he was emotionally unstable and needy of attention. And how could he have known all those details?"
"So what happened to the journalist?"
"The police arrested him for wasting police time. The put him in a cell overnight so he could sober up. Didn't know where he was the next morning. Besides, there haven't been any murders or missing people that seem to have any connection to this fairytale whatsoever. This was nothing more than his imagination run wild."
Rinoa nodded. "I'm glad they arrested him. He sounds scary to me. What if he went round scaring more people with this stuff. What if he had given some other basketcase ideas..."
"What are they gonna do with him?" Selphie asked.
"Well, his lawyer tried to plead for him by saying he was a nutter. So some team of doctors decided he suffered from MPS, multi personality syndrome, but instead of helping him, it caused the judge to put him in a mental home though he could've just spent fifty hours picking up garbage and then be off instead."
"He should sue his lawyers then." Irvine grinned.
"At least this nonsense has stopped now. There are some crazy people in this world."
"Like who?"
"Squall!" Rinoa jumped up and hugged him tightly.
He smiled and placed a kiss on her temple.
"Want to go to Balamb for some lunch?" he whispered in her ear.
She nodded vigorously. A moment alone with Squall was just what she wanted and what she longed for.
"You bet I do. But on one condition. That you shut off that pager of yours."
He grinned broadly.
"Deal." And with one hand he pulled the little thing from his pocket, switched it off and placed it in the pocket of his jacket.
She kissed him happily and clung to his arm with a content smile on her face. She loved it when he acted so sweet. She loved it when he only paid attention to her, because then she knew that he was still hers and that they still belonged together.
She needed to be reminded of that sometimes when she was on her own. But she felt contently warm with him to cling to. With one wave to their friends, they left.
Selphie yawned and leaned her head on Irvine's shoulder.
"How come we never go out to Balamb anymore?" she wondered.
"Because you're always stuck to that stage of yours in the Quad." Irvine teased.
She stuck out her tongue at him, but quickly pulled it back when he tried to kiss her.
"No not now, silly." She said quietly.
She didn't wan to be too mushy around other people, it made her feel uncomfortable.
"Sorry...I forgot." Irvine said.
He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He stared at the door through which Squall and Rinoa had just disappeared. Somehow he felt uncomfortable sitting there.
He stood up and pulled Selphie with him. "Come on, Sefie. Let's be spontanious. I think I can think up a little romantic place to have lunch."
She giggled. "Romantic? Are you ill?"
He laughed. "Perhaps. And perhaps there's only one way to cure me. But you won't give it to me."
She blushed again. He winked and kissed her forehead.
"Only joking, Sefie. Only joking. You know what I'm like."
She nodded.
She looked at him quietly as he tied his shoelaces. He was so calm. She coulnd't understand how calm he could be about this. It was hardly normal what they were doing.
He looked up and smiled at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked when he saw her serious frown.
"I- I'm not feeling too well. I feel..."
"Don't tell me you feel guilty. I never forced you into this. You chose this yourself."
"I know...it's just...It doesn't feel right, does it."
"But the way he treats you is?"
"He doesn't mean to...He doesn't have much choice" she whispered, hanging her head.
But she knew how little her words would persuade the man in front of her. She sighed and looked up when he rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Listen...he loves you and you're his girlsfriend, right? But you will always be my bluejay, my little bird. And my bluejay is trapped in this cage because of her boyfriend. Does that seem right? Trapped in a cage?"
She shook her head. "...No..."
"And when you're with me, do you feel trapped then?"
"...No..." she hesitated. "...Maybe...I- I don't know."
She shrugged off his hands and walked to the window as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to get it to smooth down a little.
"I'm confused, okay? Just let me figure this out for myself."
"I'ts a little late to start thinking things over, Rinoa."
She hissed and bit her lip. "Don't."
"What? Don't what?"
"Don't be so hateful."
He sighed. "I'm sorry...When...when will I see you again?"
"Not too soon...I shouldn't have come today. It was wrong of me. He was so sweet today, he made me feel so special. I shouldn't have come."
She turned around and he could see she had tears in her eyes. He didn't try to stop her as she ran to the door, closing it behind her with a loud bang.