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At an Arm's Length
A Final Fantasy VIII
Story
by Aligator
Chapter 17 - A Shot in the Dark, Part I
It’s been about two and a half months since our trip to Centra and the orphanage. I wish I could write that things were different. That I had recovered my memory. That I wasn’t still seeing strange things.
But I can’t.
Instead, all I have to show for two and a half months of research (between missions) is a book of fairy tales and legends that describes a mysterious blue light like the one I keep seeing in the mirrors. My anonymous inquiries to Dr. Odine’s lab have proven to be dead ends, too. They’ve never seen or heard of anything like this.
Damn it. I’m *not* crazy. God help me. . . but I *am* still seeing these things.
Quistis gasped and threw down her pen when she felt something incredibly cold on the back of her neck. “IRVINE!”
“SHH!” He grinned as he unceremoniously plunked down in the chair next to her and handed her a cold soda. “Thought you could use this.”
“Thanks,” she replied, opening the can and taking a long-deserved sip of the caffeine-laden beverage. “I really needed this.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You know, we’re not supposed to have this in here –”
“Just be quiet and enjoy your soda,” he rolled his eyes. “Besides, Zell has the Library Girl occupied. Whatcha’ looking up?”
“One of my former students came to me with a question, and I decided to help out.” Please, believe this.
“Oh. . . Well, I’d better get going.” She’s not getting anywhere with this research of hers.
“And here I thought you came to keep me company!” Quistis half-laughed, one corner of her mouth turning up impishly.
“Sorry, babe, duty calls.”
“Yeah, BABE.”
He looked back to see a smart-alecky smile on her face and lightly tipped his hat in her direction before he started toward the library’s exit. I’m tired of seeing her practically bang her head against the wall. It’s not fair.
Before Irvine knew where his feet were taking him, he found himself en route to Matron’s office.
*****
“IIIRVYYY!”
He didn’t even have time to look in the direction of the yelp, when he was trapped in an all-encompassing bear hug. “Hey, Selphie.”
She frowned as she saw the solemn look on his face. “Where are you headed? It looks like it’s something serious.”
His mouth pressed into an even straighter line. “Yeah. It is. Y’know what we talked about? About Q?”
She nodded.
“She’s not finding any answers, and it’s tearing her up.”
“I know, Irvine. But Matron said –”
His eyes narrowed. “I know what Matron said, but . . . I don’t know. I’m going to talk to her. Maybe things have changed, and it’s O.K., now.”
Selphie smiled, a perfect complement of both empathy and affection. This is why she loved her boyfriend so much. “Let’s both go talk to Edea. You’re right. Maybe something’s changed.” I hope.
Without another word, the two took each other’s hands and continued, her skipping to keep up with his long stride, the rest of the way to Edea’s.
*****
About an hour later, having plowed through another book on elementals and more things that make other things glow, Quistis stretched, and her eyes fell across the book of children’s fairy tales.
She opened it up and looked for its card or a barcode, so she could check it out. There’s not one? She walked slowly to the circulation desk where Zell had the Library Girl in fits of laughter. Geez, he’s *finally* talking to her. I don’t want to interrupt, but –
“Hi, Quistis! Can I help you with something?”
She smiled in return to the girl’s question and shot a quick look of “sorry” over at Zell. “Umm, Tara, I’d like to check this out, but it doesn’t seem to have a card or a barcode.”
“Let me see.” Tara took the book from Quistis and proceeded to inspect it thoroughly. “You’re right. It doesn’t.” Her delicate brows furrowed, “Let me check one more thing. . .”
Quistis and Zell watched as she started typing quickly into the computer. Quistis couldn’t help but smile when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the usually hyperactive fighter staring in awe as his mutual-crush expertly navigated through the library’s multiple databases.
Without realizing he was speaking aloud, he breathlessly whispered, “Isn’t she great?”
Quistis turned to him with a warm smile, and he blushed furiously. Someone’s *totally* crushing.
“Quistis? This is the strangest thing,” Tara started, completely oblivious to the exchange that had taken place while she was working on her search. “It’s not in here.”
“You mean it’s part of the collection they don’t let us check out?”
Tara looked perplexed. “No. I mean we have no record of this book at all. It’s not from this library, and I don’t think it’s from another library either.”
“Oh.”
The crestfallen look on the former instructor’s face was too much for the younger girl. Quistis Trepe has always been so nice to me. “Wait, don’t go yet! Here’s what we’ll do: You go ahead and take it. I’ll make note of it, and in the meantime, I’ll work on tracking down its origin.”
The blonde’s wary blue eyes blinked, “Are you sure?”
Tara giggled, “Of course. It’s not like we don’t know where to find you at any given time, and besides. . . I love a good mystery.”
Zell piped up, “She does.”
“Thank you. I’ll check back in a week, then.” She gave the pair a grateful smile and ventured back to her dorm with the ancient text in hand.
To
be continued. . .
Next week: Chapter 18 – A Shot in the Dark, Part II
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AT AN ARM'S LENGTH © 2002-2004 A.L.
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