Chapter 1: First Day of Junior Year

Today is September 3rd and that means it's the first day of school once again at Nibelheim High School, but this time as a junior. My first two years there were pretty good to say the least. One of the reasons I like the school is because we don't have to wear school uniforms. I woke up at around 6 in the morning knowing that school starts at 7:15 in the morning, took a quick shower, put on a nice white t-shirt and blue jeans, put my school supplies in my backpack and walked downstairs seeing my parents eating breakfast in the kitchen. "Morning Mom and Dad!" I said happily. "Morning sweetheart ready for your first day?" said my Mom. "I think so but I don't really know who will be in my classes this year." I said. "I still can't believe that you're a junior now." said my Dad.

"Zeus don't rush it." said my Mom. "How come?" I asked. "To me and your father, we're just surprised how you have grown up this fast now. We still remember you as a little baby but now seeing you all grown up to a beautiful young woman." said my Mom. "Just with my eyes and curly hair." said my Dad. We laughed for a minute and then finished our breakfast. "This is it after this year ends my senior year will finally come!" I said. "Now don't you start rushing too." said my Mom. "Alright I won't. I'm just excited that's all." I said.

I grabbed my bag and walked out the front door ready to walk to school even though it's a five minute walk there and back. As I walked up to my mailbox I saw a boy my age with spiky blond hair getting on his bike ready to drive to school too. I saw him look up seeing me. "Hey Taylor." he said. "Hey Cloud." I said as I walked up to him. Cloud Strife is one of the most popular boys in school and is my childhood friend ever since we were babies. Ever since I was eight years old I had a crush on him. But ever since he started dating Tifa a year ago I kept feeling my heart break everytime I saw him with her but I try hard not to show it. He always saw me as his best friend but I saw him as my soulmate. "I'd thought that you were picking up Tifa right about now." I said. "She's waiting for me at school." said Cloud. "So I guess that you're picking up one of the guys then?" I said.

He chuckled a little bit from my question. "You're too funny." said Cloud. I chuckled a little bit too and smiled at him. Cloud then got off his bike, walked up to me and gave me a hug. "Hey Tay, has any guy told you that you're cute?" Cloud asked me. I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes all surprised from his question. "Well not until now." I said shyly. He smiled happily and then got back on his bike. "Hop on." said Cloud. "Are you sure?" I asked. "I'm sure. You remember when I got this for my birthday we both took a little ride through Nibelheim together, having a fun time together just like old times." said Cloud. "Yeah I remember it all very clearly and we didn't get home 'til 1 in the morning. That was a fun day." I said. We both laughed happily. I got onto the back of his bike putting my arms around him and we both rode off to school.

About two minutes later we both made it to the school parking lot and saw everyone heading inside. "Thank for the ride Cloud." I said. "You're welcome Tay. Anytime you need a ride just ask me ok?" said Cloud. "Ok I will." I said. Cloud looked and saw his group parking their cars and bikes in the parking lot. "Well I'll see you later." said Cloud. He left to be with his group. "Yeah see you later." I said sadly. I walked into the building and saw my two best friends Aerith Gainsborough and Selina Storm at our table in the cafeteria. "You're a little early today Taylor. How did you get here so quick?" Selina asked me. "I got a ride from Cloud." I said. "You got a ride from the most popular guy in school?!" said Selina. "Don't be so loud about it Selina." said Aerith.

"So… you two got your schedules yet?" I asked them. We took out our schedules seeing all of our classes for the year. "Well obviously we have choir together." I said. "Now this year we have science, math, and gym together!" said Selina happily. "But wait a minute, Tay how come you don't have history?" Aerith asked me. "History was a two year class for me and I want to be in more music classes. And as for gym class this year will be my final year of it." I said. "How did you make that happen?" Aerith asked. "My guidance counselor Mr. Rhapsodos made it happen. Once the first half of the semester ends I never have to go to gym class ever again." I said proudly. "You lucky girl." said Selina.

The three of us laughed happily and then we saw Cloud and his group walk into the cafeteria and I saw him and Tifa walking hand in hand and I clutched my right hand in jealousy. "Tay relax!" said Selina. I looked at her and Aerith and then finally calmed down. They've known about my feelings for Cloud for quite sometime (same with my parents) since they are the only ones I can trust with secrets. I got up from my seat and walked to my first class which was science. As I walked into the room I noticed that my science teacher is my hip-hop/breakdance teacher and he recognized me instantly. "Yas! My favorite dance student!" he said in his feminine voice. "Hi Mr. Carter! Is rehearsal still on for tonight?" I said. "Of course my little superstar!" said Mr. Carter. I've been in his hip-hop/breakdance classes for 12 years and I'm one of his best dancers there. I looked around the room and then saw Selina and Aerith walk in seeing me all giddy. "I love this class already." I said. "How come?" Selina asked me. I told them about Mr. Carter and they fully understood now. As we took our seats we looked and saw Cloud and two of his friends walk into the room and I realized that Cloud and I have this class together! "Hey music buddy!" said one of Cloud's friends. "Hey Reno!" I said happily as we gave each other a high five. "Since when you do music Reno?" said Cloud and Reno's best friend Zack Fair. "Music has always been a deep passion of mine ever since I was 7 years old and I want to be a music producer just like my uncle." said Reno. "Cool story bro." said Zack. "Thanks." said Reno.

I've known Zack and Reno for quite awhile now thanks to Cloud and the two of them always took care of me in school when Cloud wasn't there (years ago Cloud promised my Dad that he would take care of me in school making sure that I wouldn't get hurt). Cloud looked and saw an empty seat next to me and he decided to take it and he sat down next to me. "Hey bud." said Cloud. "Hey Spike." I said. "Alright students please take your seats." said Mr. Carter. We all sat down quietly. "My name is Mr. Carter and I'll be your science teacher for the year. As we know it's your first day of junior year so lets take today to get to know each other." said Mr. Carter. We all took the first class talking and knowing each other a little bit and then heard the bell ring and we went to our next classes.

My second class was english and my teacher was Mr. Tseng. I looked around the room and saw that Tifa was in the class with me. "You've gotta be frickin joking?" I said to myself. Tifa and I never got along since we were kids and the reason why is because she has been bullying me since I was eight years old. I still remember her beating me up in school almost everyday, coming home in bruises, bloodshed, and broken bones that made my family and friends worried for my safety in school. The teachers have known about this situation for awhile now and made sure that we stayed away from each other. "Students please take your seats." said Mr. Tseng. I took my seat and thank Gaia it was near the door while Tifa's was in the middle front of the room. "I'm Mr. Tseng, your english teacher for the year and I hope that this year will be successful for all of you." said Mr. Tseng. He looked at me and gave me a stress ball knowing of my situation.

After the hour was done the bell rang and I went to my third class which was music. My music class is kind of mix of a regular music class and band class and my teacher Mr. Cole makes it alot of fun! I walked into the room and saw Reno waiting for me with Cid Highwind, Legend Presley, Cissnei Ruby, and Yuffie Kisaragi. "Yes my crew is here!" said Reno happily. "So Taylor how was your last class?" Yuffie asked me. "I already know that english is going to be torture." I said. "Is it the teacher?" Cissnei asked. "No it's Tifa. She's in my english class." I said. The group stared at me all shocked. "That's not good." said Yuffie. "Did the teacher keep you and her separated?" Cid asked. "He did. Thank Gaia." I said. "Anybody else you know in that class too?" said Reno. I shook my head no. "That sucks." said Reno. "It does." I said. After that little talk we walked up to the drums, guitars, keyboards, and saxophones and played with them for the hour.

After hearing the bell again I walked to my next class which was math and saw Aerith and Selina as I walked in. "Hey Taylor, Reno texted us that Tifa is in your english class. Are you gonna be ok?" said Selina in concern. "As long as she's kept away from me I think I'll survive." I said. I looked at the board seeing the name of the teacher. "Mr. Wallace?" I asked Aerith and Selina. "Yep that's his name." said Aerith. After we sat down Mr. Wallace walked into the room and introduced himself. "Hello students my name is Mr. Wallace and I'll be your math teacher for the year." said Mr. Wallace. The one thing that I like about this class is that he plays alot of great music from his computer to help us concentrate.

The bell rang again and Aerith, Selina, and I went to lunch with Yuffie and Cissnei. The five of us sat down at our table and saw Zack, Reno, Cid, Tifa, and Cloud walk to their table talking and laughing. I looked around the room and saw Cloud's cousin Callie Strife walk up to with a big smile on her face. "Hey Speedy ready for training soon?" said Callie. "Yeah I am. Captain's gotta keep up before the season." I said. Callie and I play on the school's softball team and the two of us are the two popular players. After talking with her she left to be with the rest of the team after telling me to meet with them after lunch in a text message. Callie is a senior so is the whole team except for me the only junior on the team.

As we were eating Aerith and Selina saw Cloud walk up to me and ruffled my hair a little bit. I looked up at him with a little smile and he smiled back and sat next to me. "Everything ok?" Cloud asked me. "Yeah everything's ok." I said. "You like your classes so far?" said Cloud. "So far so good. How about you? You like your classes too?" I asked him. "They're ok but I'm happy that I have one class with you." said Cloud. "Yeah I'm happy about that too." I said. I watched him get up, wave bye, and wink his eye at me before he left. "I wish you knew how I feel about you." I said sadly in my thoughts. I got up and left by myself. The four girls knew that I was a little upset. Aerith looked and saw Zack and Reno looking at her as they also saw me leave.

I walked outside to the baseball field and saw Callie and the team waiting for me. "There you are Speedy." said Callie. I looked at home plate remembering Cloud's big game last year watching him hit the winning grand slam to put his team in the championship game. As that memory faded away I walked to the bench and sat down, putting my head a little low. "Tay? What's wrong?" said Callie. I looked at her as she saw little tears form in my eyes. Before she said a word she heard her phone ring and she answered it. "Hello? Hey Cloud what's up?" she said. As she talked to him I grabbed my bag and left the field and went to the choir room. "Hello again Taylor." said Mr. Cole. "Hi Mr. Cole." I said. "You know that you skipped gym class right? You had your group looking for you for the past hour." said Mr. Cole. I looked at the door and saw Callie, Aerith, and Selina looking at me and they gave me a hug. Mr. Cole is also my choir teacher.

The final bell rang and I began walking home by myself. Without even noticing, my whole group watched me go wondering if I was ok. I walked into my house and saw my parents in the living room and they noticed that I looked tired, stressed, and a little sad. "How was your first day sweetie?" my Mom asked me. "It was ok I guess." I said. "Do you like some of your classes?" said my Dad. "Yeah. Some of them." I said. "Is Cloud in any of your classes?" said my Mom. "Yeah he's in my science class." I said. "Well that's good." said my Mom. "Yeah it is. Hey I'm gonna take a nap for awhile before I go to dance rehearsal." I said. "Ok sweetheart." said my Dad.

I walked to my room and took a nap for two hours, packed my dance gear, ate dinner, and then walked to the dance studio seeing Mr. Carter and my dance crew and we begun rehearsal which lasted for two and a half hours and I walked back home. As I walked to my house I saw Cloud and his parents eating dinner in their kitchen. Cloud's mother looked up and saw me outside and she waved at me. I waved back at her and then walked inside my house. I put my gear away, took a shower, changed into my PJs which were a plain blue t-shirt and grey baggy sweatpants, and I was ready to sleep. As I nearly drifted off to sleep I heard a knock on my patio door. I got up wondering if it was Selina or Yuffie pranking me again but then I saw it was Cloud. "Cloud? What are you doing here this late?" I asked him as I let him in.

"I heard you ran off after lunch so I went looking for you. Do you have any idea how you got me scared? I almost thought that someone kidnapped you." said Cloud. I looked down from him not wanting him to see me upset. "I'm sorry." I said sadly. I looked back into his blue eyes and he put me in his arms holding me tight. "It's ok. Just promise me that you'll never run off like that again." said Cloud. "I promise." I said. As he held me I did a little yawn and he knew that I was tired. "Try to get some sleep ok?" said Cloud. "I'll try." I said. He looked into my brown eyes, smiled at me, and then he kissed me on the cheek. "Goodnight Taylor." he said. "Goodnight Cloud." I said. Cloud left my room and went back to his house and I was surprised by the little kiss he gave me. I crawled back into bed and peacefully fell asleep wondering what this school year may bring.

Thank you for reading my first Final Fantasy VII fanfic! This story is an AU of the game with most of the cast being in high school as students, teachers, and principal. I do not own any characters except for Taylor, Selina, Callie, Mr. Carter, Mr. Cole, Taylor's parents, and a couple more that will be introduced soon. So in this chapter we get to see Taylor and the group go through their first day of high school once again and see Taylor's feelings for Cloud grow. Will Taylor and Cloud get together one day? We'll see…

If you had read my Smash Bros. fanfic "Love at First Sight" when Cloud talked about his Taylor, well that was how I came up with this story.

Next time, Chapter 2: Pain. One month of school has gone by pretty quick and Taylor and Tifa finally square off possibly one last time.