Pre story author notes: ehehe, I'm going to have some fun with this story, and I promise to update as frequently as possible. IT WILL CONSUME MY LIFE.

Disclaimer: Fictional, I only own tee plot line. Don't sue me -hides behind Zack-

Cloud winced as the blade kissed his wrist, the pain subsiding after a few seconds, and he relished in the ecstasy of the release. The boy had never imagined himself a cutter, but then, no one ever strived to become one. He hadn't ever told anyone of his secret addiction, in fear of his parents finding out, or worse.

He hadn't noticed he was crying until a short knock on the door broke him out of his trance. "Hello? Are you alright in there?" Cloud flinched at the familiar voice. He grabbed his bag, unlocking the door. "Fine," he spat, his voice icy and laced with venom. Cloud and the familiar raven haired boy stood awkwardly in front of each other for a few seconds, before Cloud shoved past him, pulling his sleeves down as he exited the bathroom.

Cloud Strife wasn't the kind of person to be so rude to someone, but Zack Fair was another story. Zack was far too tall, far too popular, far too fucking perfect. He was a god damned fucking asshole. Just thinking about him made Cloud's blood boil. There had been a time when Cloud and Zack had been best friends, but it seemed so long ago, and Cloud hated to dwell on matters of the past.

Zack despised Cloud, and Cloud was all too happy to make the feelings mutual. Zack didn't care about Cloud. When the blonde boy had opened the door he was hiding behind, Zack's bright blue eyes had been full of concern, but as soon as his eyes took in the familiar figure in front of him, the concern washed away, replaced by a look of absolute hate, a look Cloud knew well.

Cloud's shoulders were shaking violently, and he was still shedding tears, but they were hardly noticeable. He took a few sharp breaths, trying to calm himself. But he was just growing angry. "I fucking hate you!" he screamed, kicking the wall beside him. This earned him a few stares from a group of freshmen, who were a few metres away. He threw them an icy glare, causing them to rush off, pretending they had places to be.

Cloud was still seething, and was struggling to calm down. Everything about Zack made him furious. Three years ago, Cloud and Zack had been best friends. But Cloud did something stupid, and fucked it up. Zack's hated him ever since. Cloud returned the feeling. "Calm down Cloud," he muttered to himself, clenching his fists and walking towards his next class.

Zack was still standing, completely shell-shocked, in the bathroom. Cloud had been crying. Cloud's wrists had been covered in blood. What was wrong? He sighed loudly, regaining his composure, and tightening his grip on the strap that was falling down his shoulder. He pushed the bathroom door open, and walked out, looking around for Cloud. When he couldn't find the blonde, his heart sunk slightly.

He didn't feel up to going to class, so he walked in the other direction, out of the main school building and off the property, walking to the park, the place where he used to run to every time his parents fought. The place he went to when everything got too much. He would run away to his park, and cry until he couldn't breathe anymore.

The day he met Cloud was the day when things with his parents got real bad. It was his seventh birthday. He had been so anxious the night before that he hadn't slept very much. When he finally did fall asleep, shouting from his parents' room woke him up. He was scared, so he got up, and walked to his parents' bedroom, clutching his chocobo plushy in his hand. He stood by the door, and watched horrified as his dad swung his fist, connecting with his mother's nose. His eyes widened, and the little raven haired boy shrieked. His dad turned around, and he ran. He ran fast, trying to remember the way to the park.

When he got there, he plonked himself into a swing, and started to cry. He bawled his eyes out, clutching his little chocobo tightly. He hadn't cried so hard in his life. Nobody in the world had ever cried as much as he was crying now. He rubbed at his eyes, willing the tears to stop. A pair of arms wrapping around him startled him.

It wasn't his mum or dad, so he hugged back, crying into the mop of blonde hair beneath his face. When his tears subsided, he let go of the little kid that was embracing him. The blonde did the same. He couldn't be any older than six, and his eyes were ocean blue, and sparkling. "I'm Cloud," the little blonde said with a smile. Zack smiled back a little bit. "I'm Zack," Cloud smiled a bit more, showing his little white teeth. "I seen you wearing your pee-jamies, and thought it was funny so I came over here. Then I heard your tears. Are you okay?"

Cloud and Zack became best friends that day. They were completely inseparable. Whenever Zack got sad, Cloud would always be there with a smile on his face, to give Zack a hug. He was Zack's little chocobo. Cloud helped him to grow stronger. Cloud helped him the day when Zack's whole world was shattered.

Zack had dragged Cloud to his house, eager to show him all the new toys he got for his tenth birthday. When they reached Zack's driveway, they were puzzled. "Zack, why is there a police car here?" Cloud asked. Zack shrugged in confusion. Cloud reached for Zack's hand, and Zack took it, gripping hard.

They walked together into Zack's house. "Mummy, daddy?" The raven haired boy called out. He heard voices in the living room, so he walked in that direction, Cloud hot on his heels. When they walked into the living room, Zack wished he hadn't. His mum was slumped on the couch, her hand gripping a gun, and her blood splattered across the couch's fabric.

Zack collapsed, letting go of Cloud's hand. He screamed, and screamed, and screamed. He screamed until his lungs felt like they would explode. Cloud's eyes welled up with tears, and they flowed down his face. Zack stood up, and hugged his best friend. "Cloudy? Are you okay?" he asked, squeezing Cloud. "Your mummy-," was all the blonde could splutter out.

Zack flinched at the memory. "Where did it all go wrong Cloudy?"

Authors notes:

Is this a yaoi? Maybe, maybe not.

Is it a sappy emo story? No, but Cloud is a cutter, and they both have some serious problems.

Are they going to become friends again? It's a secret (:

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