3. Jasmine Tea

"I don't want you to worry 'bout nothin'," the stalky red-haired man spoke from behind the wheel of his navy Suburban. "Don't worry 'bout nothin', man, I'm gonna take care-a you. You gonna do good."

"I hope so, Richie," Jax sighed, looking out the window. "I've never really worked a legit job before, you know? At least not since I was like fifteen. That was something, man. I drove my old man's taxi around when he was off. I was fifteen, you know? Man, you see some fucked up shit when you drive a cab around. 'Specially in like New York or Chicago. That's where I was. Chicago."

"Yeah?" Richie asked. "You grow up there?"

"Not really. When I was a kid, my dad was in the army and we moved around a lot. Then he retired, divorced my mom, moved to Chicago, and became a cab driver."

As he spoke of his dad, memories flooded his mind, mostly unpleasant ones, and he became pensive as his eyes scoured the streets outside, no longer feeling like chatting.

Richie seemed to catch on to the sudden tension from Jax and he cleared his throat. "Anyway, the job is easy... I mean it's fuckin' data entry, no biggie. You'll catch on quick. The computer systems are easy to navigate your way around 'cause they're older than dirt. So, don't worry about any-a that shit. Just as long as you get to work on time, there won't be any problems. That's why I wanted to show you where the building is at... I'm not gonna be in town the next two days, so I wanted to show you before I left."

'Yeah, only took three hours to get to after those stops at EVERY BAR along the way' Jax thought, sarcastically.

"Hey, is that your hotel?" Richie asked, nodding toward the Red Apple Hotel.

"Yeah," he mumbled, digging through his pocket for his hotel key as the car stopped. He stepped out and finally reached the key, a realization surfacing as his eyes settled on the small metal object.

Shit, he thought, Rinoa didn't have a key...

"Uh... g'night, Richie," Jax mumbled, closing the car door, not waiting for a response. He went inside, heading straight for the front desk.

"Can I help you?" the middle-aged man behind the desk asked, lazily, his eyes on a small television set that sat off to the side.

"Yeah, I'm in room 202... uh, and I realized that my girlfriend didn't have a key... do you know if she got another key and if she's upstairs?"

The clerk finally looked up. "202? She left a message for you... Jax McRae, right?"

"Yeah."

The man handed him a folded slip of paper, then returned his attention to the television.

Jax, he read, Didn't have a key, and Squall didn't want to leave me here alone, anyway. Going to stay at his apartment. Don't worry. You can call his phone if you want to reach me. I'll probably just be there until morning. XOXO. - R

Jax tensed for a moment, instantly becoming suspicious, but then relaxed. Squall had always been a good guy, always trustworthy. Probably would never even run a stop sign in his life, let alone mess with another man's girl,he thought, shrugging off his discomfort.

"I gave her a key," the clerk volunteered. "She went upstairs, then I saw her leave with someone."

Jax nodded, mumbling his thanks, then headed for the elevator.

Rinoa sat on Squall's gray couch, smoking a cigarette and scrutinizing the nearly bare room. "You know, a painting or two might liven this place up a bit."

He glanced at her from where he stood in the kitchen, chuckling when he saw the playful smirk on her lips, then shrugged. "I guess I never really cared that much."

He emerged from the kitchen, handing her a cup of jasmine tea, then taking a seat next to her with his own cup in hand, making a conscious effort not to sit too close.

She blew out a puff of smoke and settled into the couch, her eyes involuntarily stealing another glance at him through her glasses, as she'd been doing all night, without regard to whether or not he noticed. She couldn't quite identify what it was about him that she found so attractive. Sure, he was good-looking, but that had little to do with it, and she knew it. She'd known good-looking people all throughout her life, Jax was very good-looking, but the effect of physical attraction had begun to wear off for her. She didn't care about appearances anymore... maybe never did.

She supposed it was that she felt comfortable with Squall. She'd known him less than a day, but she'd already found herself talking with him openly about her life, unconcerned of judgment, something she rarely did with anyone. It had taken a good month with Jax before she started opening up to him. And Squall seemed almost familiar, he related to her as though he'd been living her same life, but that was absurd. There was still much she had to learn about him, so much she didn't know, that he hadn't yet told her.

Yet. That word stuck in her mind, and she had a distinct feeling that she had only tapped the surface where Squall was concerned, but knew that it would all change. She would know him better before long, and she wasn't sure if that frightened or thrilled her.

"Can I say something rather... blunt?" Rinoa slurred out as she shook herself from her reverie.

"Jesus, you mean you haven't already?" he blurted out with a gentle laugh.

She gave a half-hearted smile, then spoke again. "I just have something I want to get off my chest... if that's okay."

He realized that something was troubling her as she was suddenly acting tentative, and he felt a twinge of guilt for making the stupid remark. "Sure. Are you all right?"

"Look, I know I've come off as bold and confident and outspoken, but... it's all bullshit. I mean, I tend to overcompensate for a severe inferiority complex, but that's not even the point. Just know that I wouldn't ordinarily say this kind of thing, but I feel really comfortable with you."

She paused to take a short puff from her cigarette, and Squall waited patiently for her to continue.

"I meant it when I told you that I like you..." she continued. "And that was before I'd even spoken to you all that much, not that I've spent that much time with you since, but regardless... I feel this inexplicable desire to get to know you better, and I haven't felt that since, well, I don't know when, but... fuck, I don't know. I don't know what I'm saying."

Squall was momentarily speechless. He wasn't exactly sure what she was saying either, but he knew that the feelings were mutual. But he also knew that wasn't the point. She was obviously battling with herself and he was afraid of saying anything that might make her clam up. He watched as she looked down at her lap, at the cup in her hands, the cigarette that rested casually between her fingers that had burned almost to the filter.

"I made a dumb joke earlier about this being the longest relationship Jax has been in," she began again, her words slow and deliberate. "Well, it's the longest one I've been in, too." She swallowed and cleared her throat. "I, uh... I have this problem. Not just one, really, but... I've... I've never been faithful to anyone I've been with. Until now. And I don't know if that's because I care that much for Jax, or because I simply haven't encountered something better. I know that sounds terrible..."

She stopped again, maybe for good as far as this topic was concerned, but it didn't matter. He suddenly knew exactly what she was trying to say. She wasn't a bad person, and he knew that, despite her philandering ways, but she had problems. She'd been sticking to her convictions to make her relationship work, and now it was being challenged, and only after a day of knowing him. He'd sure as hell been there before, and knew that having a fragile will was one of the hardest things to know about oneself.

"Rinoa," Squall said, his voice raspy, "I know what you're saying. Honestly, I've been guilty of the same thing. But, there's nothing to worry about. I mean, we just met and we're friends now, right? No one said anything else has to happen. Come on... we're gonna just be good friends, all right? Not that we should even worry about it now, but whatever happens in the future happens. But we know where we stand now."

She let out a breath, seemingly relieved by his words, and smiled. "Yeah. I just wanted to get it out. Thanks..." She crushed her cigarette out in the ashtray, then turned back to him. "So, you're the... uh, same way, huh?"

"Yeah," Squall sighed, his head lowering. "I have been. So I understand what you're trying to do. Even if it has nothing to do with Jax, and this sounds like horrible advice, you've got to at least stick to it for yourself. Prove to yourself that your capable of it. It will help you, either in your current relationship or future ones. If it doesn't work... well, then maybe settling isn't for you. Who knows... I mean, we all change throughout our lives."

She smiled wider. "Thanks for that. I appreciate it. And I do care about Jax... but sometimes he's... well, whatever. Thanks again."

"Feel better now?" he asked, a smirk climbing to his own lips.

"Yeah. Now we can talk about something else."

He chuckled. "Okay... like what?"

"You. So you've worked in the same bar for a few years?"

"Yup."

"Do you like it there?"

He shrugged. "It's a job. Decent money."

"Yeah? How much do you make in a night?"

"Most nights, I'd say it averages out to about two-fifty or so, tips and wages."

Rinoa's eyebrows shot up. "A night?"

"More or less."

"What the hell are you doing in this place?" She made a circular gesture with her hand, implying the apartment.

Squall laughed. "What? My high-tower penthouse? Pft... like you wouldn't live here."

She chuckled, knowing she didn't have to explain that she meant no offense. "Well, I would, but most people that make your kind of money wouldn't."

"I like it here all right. And it saves me money."

"Saving for anything in particular?"

"Oh, you know, house on the beach, a golf course or two... maybe a really expensive status-mobile, or I guess they're called SUVs these days, or maybe a Hummer... you know, something that guzzles tons of gas, but makes me look like I'm trying to look rich..."

She chuckled heartily. "Yuck. Maybe you could just fix up your Falcon... make it nice and pretty?"

He feigned horror. "You mean you don't like the rust? I thought it was highly fashionable."

She laughed. "Come on... what are you saving for?"

"I don't really know... just in case, I guess," he said with a shrug, shifting in his seat to a more comfortable position.

"Well, maybe you could go back to school? Get into something you enjoy if you've got the money to spare."

He nodded. "I went for quite a while."

"Yeah? What'd you study?"

"A few things, mostly abnormal psychology."

"Did you get a degree?" she asked, looking at him with genuine interest.

"Maybe four courses from a PhD."

Her jaw dropped. "You're kidding."

He shook his head, lighting a cigarette.

"Why'd you stop? You could be a doctor or a professor by now."

He shrugged. "Didn't wanna be."

She stared at him for nearly a minute. Then she burst into laughter. "You are fucking weird."

He chuckled. "Maybe... so, what about you? What are you interested in?"

"I don't know really," she said, her voice rough and tired suddenly. "That sounds like a cop out, but I seem to have lost my taste in everything I used to like. I was into music for a while... I played violin, but I got bored. Same thing with art. I just can't seem to stick to anything. Story of my life, I guess."

"What did you do in the casino?" he asked with a smirk.

She gave him a sideways glance, her eyes blinking slowly. "I wasn't a dancer or anything, if that's what you're thinking. I was a blackjack dealer."

"Really? So you could probably kick my ass at blackjack?"

"More than likely," she sighed, settling into the couch once again, her eyelids heavy. "But you never know... The house always has ways to screw you, but it's really just chance... only a little skill... involved."

He watched her for several moments as her eyes began to close, then she would force them open again, the process happening repeatedly. Finally she closed them and didn't open them again, her body becoming visibly relaxed. Squall continued to look at her, at the strands of dark brown hair that had fallen to her chin, to the thick lashes of her closed eyes under her glasses, the glasses that did nothing but add to her appeal, to her slim nose, somewhat bony and maybe European, to her slightly thin lips, down to her slender neck and her slim black-clad body, to her pale legs. He could see only two points of the star below her right calf, just inches above the straps of her high-heels.

He glanced back up to her face to ensure that she was asleep, stubbed out his cigarette, then he gently reached down and unbuckled the thin straps on her shoes and carefully slipped them off, observing the dark polish on her toenails. He then reached up and slid the sticks that held her hair together out, seeing for the first time that her hair was thick and fell just past her jaw at a subtle slant, shorter at the back and gradually getting longer towards the front, down to about the middle of her neck.

He broke his gaze and stood, then slid his arms under her and very gently carried her into the dark spare bedroom. He laid her on the soft bed and covered her with a thin blanket, as it was a little warm that night and she probably wouldn't need more, then removed her glasses and placed them on a small nightstand. He gazed for a moment longer then immediately snapped out of it and left the room, closing the door behind him.

He tiredly trudged to his own bedroom across the hall, already having doubts about their friendship. He knew from good experience how hard it was to maintain a friendship with someone he was undeniably attracted to. But then again, they barely knew each other, so maybe it would wear off and work itself out. At least it helped to keep thinking that way.

But if Jax starts fucking around, he thought with startling seriousness, he doesn't stand a chance.

Rinoa opened her eyes as Squall closed the bedroom door, immediately figuring that he'd carried her in there. She smiled, appreciative of his chivalry and consideration. The nicest Jax would have done is throw a blanket over her and leave her on the couch. Don't do that, Rinoa. Don't start making comparisons.

Given her track record, she knew the odds were against her in this battle to do the right thing. And a battle it was. Squall and she had a frightening chemistry. She hadn't even needed to explain her point earlier and he nailed it for her. When was the last time that happened?

She hoped that it was a passing phase, nothing but irrational lust, but maybe something that would develop into nothing but a close friendship. Oh, God, but he liked her too... he didn't even need to tell her and that made it even worse. The promiscuity in her was screaming for her to go into his bedroom, and she was almost certain that he wouldn't turn her away. And it would be great, she was sure of it. But in the morning... she knew what would happen. Everything would be irreparably ruined.

Not that Jax was a complete angel. Among other stupid things he'd done, she had a strong suspicion that he'd slept with someone else since they'd been together, with an ex co-worker of hers. The only thing that really bothered her about it was that she didn't really care. When she'd told Squall she'd never been faithful to anyone she'd told the truth, but the fact was that no one had ever been faithful to her, either. Only once had she been the first one to cheat, but in most cases it was fueled by revenge and she hated it. She didn't want to do something for stupid reasons, especially reasons she didn't know to be true in this case. If Jax truly hadn't done anything, then she didn't want to be the villain. It may not be love, but she cared about Jax.

And she liked Squall too much to even consider using him for revenge. And God, how she already wanted him for other reasons. Stop thinking about that.

Groaning aloud, she snapped her eyes shut and sighed, just wanting to sleep.

A/N- I feel like I'm rushing this a bit much, but I'll be trying hard to keep things nice and thick with tension for a while. If anyone would care to make suggestions on what you would like to see happen, please do submit them. I have plenty of ideas for later chapters, but I have been known to use the suggestions of my reviewers, so don't be hesitant to give me yours for the next few. I'd love to read them.

D- Yeah, this story is loosely (emphasis on loosely) based on a lot of my own personal experiences and mostly just through a lot of little details and quirks (like Rinoa's tattoos, those are actually my own), but it is fairly common subject matter, so I imagine a lot of people, at least the more mature readers, will be able to relate to an aspect or two of the story. Anyway, I admit I do like seeing my review count go up, but I don't mind at all if you send them by email, as your reviews are my most valued. Anyway you can works for me. Thanks for the suggestions, by the way.

shortie630- Hope this gave you a little insight into what everyone's up to, but I have a few more things in store. I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I'm working hard on this one! (I've been editing each chapter at least five times before posting. Phew.) Thanks a bunch!

Rinoa Leonheartilly- Hey, I was wondering if you were still around. Good to hear from ya! Anyway, I just started posting within the last two weeks or so, so you aren't too far behind, no worries. I'm glad you like the plot so far, and I hope you like what's to come. Like I posted, it's a lot different from T.A., but I think this will turn out better. Who knows? Thanks for sending a review!