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 four: Bluejay -

"Mmm...that was delicious." She said again as they reached the movie theatre in Balamb. "Really delicious."

Squall laughed. "It must've been, if you can't stop saying that."

He handn't felt so relieved in a long time. He walked up to the counter and asked for two tickets. He turned around to smile at her while the boy behind the counter printed out the tickets. Just as he was about to reach for his wallet, his pager beeped.

He cursed under his breath. 'Not now...not today.'

But Rinoa had already heard it. "It's okay, Squall. Answer it."

He sighed apologetically at her soft smile and answered the call. It was Cid.

'Who else.' He thought.

"This is Squall...yes...I understand, but-...no, no of course not. I see..Yes, I'll be there as soon as possible...yes, sir."

He pressed the call away viciously and stuffed it back in his pocket.

"I'm really sorry." He said. "I should have switched it off again."

She shook her head. "No, don't apologise. I know this is your job. Besides, I had a wonderful day already."

"It's just that I had hoped to see more of you today...I wanted to make today special. Because of your test and all...and because I want to show you just how much I love you."

She hugged him. "Sweetheart, I know you love me."

"I wanted to show you, that's all. I know I've been too busy with work lately. But the damned treaty negotiations with Esthar are going terribly slow."

He kissed her forehead. She smiled warmly and hugged him even tighter.

"I'm here for you. Always."

She pulled out of the hug and looked into his eyes. "I know. And that's why I love you so much. You know what? Make sure you're done early tonight and then you and I can think of something to do."

"Sounds good to me." He replied with a wink. "But I have to go now. You can still see the movie, if you want to."

"To watch it by myself? No, I'll walk back with you and amuse myself till you're done. I can always play with Angelo or get some drawing done."

She took his arm and they headed towards Garden again.

"That reminds me. I need to get that drawing back from Selphie."

"What drawing?" Rinoa asked.

"Oh, just something someone pasted on the wall. Nothing special. But it's evidence, apparently, and Selphie's using it as source for her inspiration for her Festival Surprise." He explained.

Rinoa giggled. "Don't worry. I'll get it for you. How does that sound?"

He placed his arm around her shoulder. "That sounds great. Thank you."

She smiled to herself. She loved walking with him like this. They reached the Garden entrance too soon for her liking but she let go of Squall's arm to allow him to go up to his meeting with Cid. He left reluctantly after placing a big kiss in her neck.

When he was out of sight, she sauntered down to the Quad, down the steps and up to the stage. Selphie was in the middle of a large wooden structure that reminded her of a prison. She waited until Selphie had seen her before she walked over to her.

"Hey...what's this supposed to be?" Rinoa asked curiously.

"I can't tell you that, it'd spoil the surprise." Selphie replied as articulate as she could with four nails clenched between her lips.

Rinoa couldn't help giggling. "Perhaps you're right."

She touched the wooden beams with her hand.

"Oh, Selphie, Squall said you had a drawing he needed. Said you used it as a source of inspiration...? But he needs it back, so..."

Selphie turned around and pouted. "Does he really need it that bad? I'm not done with it yet."

Rinoa nodded. "Sorry, yes he does."

"Hmmm...if he really needs it...I suppose..."

She reached into her bag and handed Rinoa a sheet of paper.

"I still think it's really nice. The person who drew this had talent." Selphie said.

Rinoa looked at the paper. She blinked.

"Y- yeah, it's nice." She stammered.

"What kind of bird do you think it is?" Selphie wondered. "First I thought it was a sparrow...but then again I know nothing about ornithology. Quistis though it-"

"It's a bluejay..."

"Oh..."

Rinoa stared at the paper. It was a little bluejay, sitting in a cage. You could see the fright and the sadness in its eyes, in its stance.

"But why..." she wondered quietly.

It was locked up in a cage...She felt a hand close around her heart for a moment. Why did she feel so...so lonely all of a sudden?

"My bluejay is trapped in this cage because of her boyfriend. Does that seem right? Trapped in a cage?" she heard his voice in her head.

But why would this be meant for her. It was only a drawing, it had nothing to do with her. Nothing at all. Then why did she feel so guilty all of a sudden? Guilty, cold and alone.

She knew what Irvine had meant with 'cage'. She was always waiting for Squall to come to her, only then did she feel free. But when he wans't there...she felt confined.

Only Irvine understood. He was the only person apart from Squall who could make her feel free.

'No! Don't think about him.' She thought angrily.

She wanted to be with Squall. They would do something romantic together tonight, she and Squall. But while her mind seemed to be so obviously made up, her feet had already guided her away from Selphie, out the Quad, towards the door she didn't want to visit.

She didn't want to, but she needed to. That drawing had turned her cold and only Irvine was available to warm her up now. Her hand knocked on the door. It opened. Irvine smirked.

"Come to visit me? Where's Squall? In the infirmary, recovering from your kiss-attack outside the 2F classroom no doubt."

She gave him a cold stare.

"Don't, okay?" she said harshly. "Now are you going to let me in or not."

"What time is it?"

"Nearly five p.m...Why?"

"Just wondered. That's all."

"...Oh."

"When does Selphie get back?"

"She's eating with some people from her committee tonight. They're planning something big and need to sort it out." Irvine replied lazily.

He sat up, leaning on his elbows and looked at her. She avoided looking into his eyes and looked at the ceiling. He traced her bare shoulder with a finger, hoping she'd respond. Her eyes fluttered to his for a moment. He was still looking at her. She rolled over on her side.

"Why do you always do that?" she asked.

"Do what?"

"Look. You always sit up and look at me after we've...you know..."

"Do I?" he wondered.

"Yes, you do it every time."

"Hmmm...perhaps I just like seeing you. Or perhaps I need to make sure it wasn't a dream."

"So now I'm a bird and a dream?"

He laughed. "Can't really say. You can't be both...because a dream is something you can't catch while a bird is easily cought and locked away. I can't really decide what fits you better."

He smiled and caressed her arm. She rolled on her back and stared at the ceiling again.

"...Perhaps I am both. Sometimes I feel...locked up. Other times I feel so unrealy. It's confusing. I don't know what I want and what I don't want anymore."

He sat up straight. "But you know you want me, right?"

She sighed and sat up too, casting the sheet aside and searching for her clothes on the floor. "I really don't know, okay? I started to ask myself questions about my feelings and lately everything's a blur."

He stood up and put on his shirt.

"I feel...caged up."

"That's what Squall does to you. You think you love him, but he's either smothering you or starving you. That's not good for you, Rinoa."

She buttoned up her shirt and reached for her blue vest. "...I...I suppose you're..."

"Right. Yes, I know. I know because I see you with him and you're always confused then. But when you're with me you unwind. You feel better around me, don't you?"

She nodded slowly, perhaps even reluctantly. "I suppose that's true...Look, I need to go..."

He watched her slide her gloves over her arms.

"Squall will be home soon. And I need to take a shower."

She knew he hung his head, but she didn't look at him again as she left the room.

She felt guilty. Not about what she had just done with Irvine, but for returning to her dorm without regrets. She walked slowly, trying to stretch the time.

When she reached it, she opened the door and walked inside. She wanted to throw her keys down on the table when something caught her eye. There was a little scrap of white paper on the floor. It looked like someone had shoved it under the door.

Curiously she bent down and picked it up. She dropped it with a muffled cry when she registered the message it carried.

'I know what you do. Doublecrosser.'