Chapter 1

It's Complicated

"Three Is A Crowd"

"Haven't you heard? The legend of Gaia, Minerva, The Goddess. The one who creates suffering and the one who can take it all away, people speak of it as though it were a myth, a fairytale, something long forgotten and unfortold. People now are scared to mention such things, the same way that they are scared of there deepest fears, Gaia is not one to be feared, but one to be reckoned with, it all depends on your view and how you-..."

The bell rang to signal the end of the History lesson and on my case, the end of the day. My hands outstretched wide infront of me, my eyes scrunched together while i enjoyed my blissful stretch, typical Tifa style. Tucking away my books in my rucksack, i slung it over my shoulder as everyone else proceeded to do the same, people raced for the door making the blockage in the school corridors even more harder to manoeuver through. Myself being a freshman just waited until the crowd died down, i briefly heard the teacher shouting from a far:

"Don't forget the 1000 word essay on Minerva's Legend for next Monday!"

I...Tifa am your average girl, average height, average grades, the normal everyday girl, well that's what i like to think. Even though i have been attending Summerfield High for only 2 weeks i already see girls admiring me, well...according to Aerith & Yuffie, sometimes...it's a little scary. In my 2 weeks i have been asked on a date by 6 guys and i turned them all down considering what i heard about them. I only have two best friends that i can trust with my life, Aerith Gainsborough and Yuffie Kisaragi, both of which (especially Aerith) are hugely popular, but that isn't why i am friends with them, it's their personality's more than anything.

We each have different aspects about us, me being the usual self-concious one, Yuffie being the overly active and caniving one and Aerith being the perfect, popular one. Even though at times our differences clashed it is exactly that that seems to keep us close and our bond beyond any friendship i...we could ever imagine. Aerith has a very beautiful look about her. Her brown hair leading to the end of her back, emerald green eyes like the jewel itself, and an amazing smile which could melt the heart of anyone for that matter. Yuffie was just as pretty, with her shoulder length bob of black hair, her skinny figure and of course the long legs that could catch any guys attention. Me...well i am pretty normal. If i were to judge myself personally just like any other person i would say i am not even near to being as beautiful as Aerith or Yuffie, but then again they tell me otherwise, i chuckle to myself. My straight black hair leads to the mid frame of my back, i have eyes just like my mother had, the mahogany, wine colour, i guess, i like my eye colour it's been an aspect of myself i have always seemed fond of. Just then i felt a small tug on my rucksack, i turned to see who the "tugger" was to only see Yuffie's wide, toothy grin right back at me. Shaking my head i only knew that the tug meant one thing...HURRY THE HELL UP TIFA!

With Yuffie in close pursuit behind me as we pushed through the crowds we made it to the exit, fighting our way to get outside of school. With a slight tumble on Yuffie's part we made it outside, my first thoughts were...

"Where's Aeris."

"Probably with her man, as Aerith calls him, Zack has been taking to much pride in the fact that not only is he smart, good-looking and popular, but he has just got his new flashy, i-think-that-i-am-so-cool-because-i-have-sunglasses-to-match-with-my-new-snazzy-pimp-perfect, car, uhhhh, that guy drives me insane." Yuffie huffed as she fisted her hands by her side.

"Do i hint a speck of jealousy?" I eyed Yuffie, smirking.

"Tifaaaaaa, it's more like envy."

I let out a small laugh while looking up to the sky. The sky was a very pale blue, no sunshine seemed to be illuminating the school grounds, i turned slightly to spot several stormy, gray rain clouds approaching.

"I guess they did say it would rain." I said unbeknowst to me, out-loud.

"What?" Yuffie followed my gaze and looked to the sky herself, while hearing distant roars of thunder.

"Awwwww man, i swear can this day get any worse, i say we get into your car before we get soaked." Yuffie suggested as the first, small specks of drizzly rain started to fall.

"Ditto that."

With that we both ran to my car. We jumped inside just before it literally started to hammer it down, the thunder was far more louder and with the added effect of lighting it terrified me. I've never been one who liked thunder storms, in fact, i'm frightened of them, scared out of mind might be a better way to put it. People say that the safest place to be in a thunder storm is in your car, but that doesn't mean i'm not much less scared. My car only being a small, red, micra, wasn't the most flashiest thing in car-wise, but it got me from A to B and i guess, it's better than nothing. I started the engine and tried to not freak out due to the loud crashes of thunder, Yuffie was trying to get a hold of Aerith but seemed to be having no such luck. Reversing from the space that i was parked in and put the gear into 1st i drove on out of the school.

***

While we were on the main road ready to turn into a lane which lead down to Aerith's house, Yuffie finally got through to Aeriths moblile.

"Hello." Aerith said on the other line.

"Aerith, it's Yuffie, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Yuffie tried to say, oh so politely.

"I'm at my place, i should of called you and Tifa, Zack gave me a drive home, he wanted to show me his new car and wouldn't take no for an answer."

I heard a brief giggle on the other line.

Yuffie rolled her eyes self-conciously then started speaking again.

"We're just about to pull up outside of your house, would it be possible to come in?" Yuffie asked, far more calmer than before.

"Yeah sure, oh, are any of you guys going to Zack's house party in 4 days, his parent are out for the next week and he's inviting nearly everyone to go."

"Hmmmm, will there be snacks?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well i'm down, i'll quickly ask Teef."

Yuffie absently held her hand over the speaker part of the mobile and turned to face me while my eyes concentrated on the road.

"Hey Teef whatdya say to going to a house party in 4 days, there will be snacks." Yuffie waggled her eyebrows.

"I dunno, i mean, at who's place."

I saw Yuffie's face go slightly sour before she replied.

"Zack's."

"Hmmmm, the last of Zack's party's have included either, sex, sex or more sex, seriously people should do that kind of stuff behind closed doors."

"It's natural."

"What, someone getting fucked in the nearest corner."

"Uhhhh, well...that's just....how should i put it....instinct."

I took a quick look at Yuffie who was trying to contain her laughter, but then again...so was i. We both bursted out laughing, it seemed to bounce from window to window ringing in each of our ears, oh Gods, i haven't laughed like that for a while. Yuffie put the mobile back to her ear after wiping the small tears trying to escape from her eyes.

"Teef said she'll go." Yuffie said.

"Heyyyy, i didn't give you a definite answer." I complained, while pulling up outside of Aerith's house.

"That's great, i can see you guys have already arrived."

Aerith hung up, and waved outside of her bedroom window to us who were in the car. After turning off the engine we quickly ran up to her house door and knocked abruptly. I shifted from one foot to other to try and contain the fear from the thunder storm...did it work...OH HELL NO! I literally charged in as soon as Aerith opened the door to her parents house, her eyes wide with surprise then realising the reality of it all, yes Aerith and Yuffie knew i was terrified of storms.

***

After a long conversation on how Reno and Yuffie should hook up, with Yuffie going completly beet red, and the surprise that Aerith hasn't had sex with Zack yet we were about to retire for the night as we made our way downstairs towards the door to leave. But then Aerith spoke up.

"Hey Tifa." Aerith gently tapped my shoulder with one finger.

"Hmmmm." I turned and stood up from putting my shoes back on.

"Actually both of you, i want you guys to meet Zack and Cloud properly, there really nice guys and-."

"Whoa, who's this Cloud?" Yuffie asked.

"Oh, Zack's best friend and my cousin, he's seemingly quiet but is a very nice and-."

"You have a cousin and you haven't introduced us, tsch tsch tsch, Aerith you should be ashamed." Yuffie waved a finger infront of Aerith's face in a joking manner.

"Oh Yuffie, leave poor Aerith alone, you're going to be the one haunting her dreams, or should i say nightmares tonight." I shrugged.

"HEY!" Yuffie gave me a glare, her eyes narrowing.

"Well then Aerith, me and Yuffie would love to meet Zack and Cloud for real, Yuffie like's to judge a book by it's cover before anything else." I laughed slightly.

"Real way to lay on the insults, what day is it today, pick on Yuffie day?" Yuffie lowered her head.

I took the Ninja like girl in my arms, hugging her tightly, and then another set of arms encircled around all of us, the arms seemed to be occupied by Aerith.

"Heh, you guys are the best you know that?" Yuffie smiled.

Me and Aerith both nodded with smiles of our own marking our faces.

"Okay, let's go Teef, the rain and thunder has stopped." Yuffie said while punching the air.

"Okay."

I gave one last farewell glance at Aerith and she waved both of us off.

***

I had dropped Yuffie off and was now at my place, preparing for bed. My Father wished me goodnight and i clambered into bed, my last thought's were that of the mysterious stranger Cloud, who was he? What was he like?

"Well i guess tomorrow can wait."

And with that sleep took me over.

Authors Note: So guys what do you think so far? As you can tell some of the characters are a little OCC but hey it's a bit hard keeping them all in character ;D. Please review and give feedback, i like to know what people think so i can carry on updating, also, some of the chapters may be slightly short, but we'll see, it may vary.