I don't own any of the characters, Square-Enix does.

On the Way to a Smile – Chapter One

"Birthday Cake"

I sighed softly as I played with the meatballs on my plate. He was anxious around me. As usual. I don't know why I put up with it. I guess because of love. I glanced down at his pale hand and looked at the silver ring that he wore on his finger and then glanced back at my empty one.

Life. It was funny sometimes. I wonder when I was going to get my own ring on my finger.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

I looked directly in his eyes for the first time that afternoon. We hadn't walked in together.

'We never do.' I thought to myself.

He was still staring at me; his eyes seem to bore into my mine.

I loved it.

"I'm thinking about a lot of things." I responded quietly.

He continued to stare and so did I.

It was kind of our thing.

I picked up a meatball and placed it in my mouth. I let the flavors soak in my mouth as I chewed slowly. I swallowed and I let my mouth form into a shy smile. "I have a surprise for you."

He frowned at me and opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off by raising my hand up. Literally on cue, our waitress arrived with a small cake with a single candle on top. Our waitress was a teenager; blond, bubbly, and buoyant. She had been working here a while and realized I didn't even know her name. She wished Cloud a 'Happy Birthday' and walked to another table.

All the while he just stared. I felt separated from him. We were separated by the cake and also by something completely bigger.

It wasn't his birthday today.

He continued to stare at me intently, "What were you thinking Tifa? We agreed on no attention." He hissed quietly across the table.

I resisted my urge to yell, "I just wanted to celebrate. After all it has been a year…"

He rolled his eyes, "We have nothing to celebrate." He said, looking down at the cake in disgust. "If I had anything to celebrate I would do it with my family."

I just looked at him. "Your family." I repeated.

He shook his head; his golden locks softly moving with it, "Look Tifa, I'm sorr-."

Sorry he wasn't going to get to fuck me tonight.

"Stop Cloud." I said as I placed a 20 on the table. "This should cover my half." I got up, he stayed sitting. He wasn't going to chase after me. He never was. After all, he had his family.

I stepped out of the restaurant only to be greeted by rain. It wasn't hard; it fell lightly against my skin. Yet people walked quickly to their current destination to get out of the rain. I just stood there and watched them. I wondered where they were headed in such a hurry. I wondered if the slightly chubby man with the balding head was hurrying home to his wife because she was sick. I wondered if the thin brunette was running because she was late to lunch with her fiancé. As I stood and drew conclusions about complete strangers' lives, I also wondered when my life had turned to shit.

My new fic! I hope you guys liked it. It was inspired by a short story I read in AP lit. If you haven't read my other two stories please read them! I'll update them soon too. :D Goodnight! - HSG