This one starts after the "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children" movie.
Still At the church, Cloud has just spotted Aerith and Zac standing at the Church doors.
"You see? Everything's alright." Zac and Aerith walked out of the Church. Outside, Aerith stopped to talk to a girl with dirty blonde hair.
"Take care of him. Okay?" She said to the girl then turned and pointed to me. The blonde girl turned, and smiled at me. I watched Aerith and Zac disappear in the distance. The blonde girl waved to me. So I got out of the water and walked up to her.
"Cloud." She said. "I know what you've all been through. I understand your pain." She stared at the floor.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I was a close friend of Aerith's. She always said you were a great guy. And... She said if something ever happened to her, she'd want me to take care of you in your time of need." I nodded my head in agreement. A tear ran down my cheek thinking Aerith would do something like this, for me.
"Oh Cloud." She said as she hugged me.
"I just… miss her. Y'know?" I asked. She began to cry too
"You two were really close. Weren't you?"
"Yeah."
"And Zac?" she asked.
"Yeah. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here with you right now." I said.She smiled.
"So. What's your name anyway?"
She stared at me for a while. She wiped her tears away. "Neela."
I nodded my head. "Sounds good" I said as I turned my head to look out a window.
"Hmm?" she asked.
"Nothing." I replied.
I felt Tifa tap me on the shoulder and I turned around. She gave Neela a good stare.
"Who's your friend?" Tifa asked.
"Tifa, this is Neela." I put my arm around Neela.
Neela shyly said, "Hi," and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Oh." Tifa replied. Marlene and Denzel came up behind Tifa.
"Are we going back home now?" Marlene asked.
"I don't know. Let's ask Cloud." Tifa replied. They all were staring at me. One of the little girls came up to Denzel and asked him to come play with her. They ran off together.
"Guess we aren't leaving without Denzel." I quickly replied.
A few hours later we all walked home. Neela, Tifa, Marlene and Denzel and I. I could tell while we were waiting for Marlene and Denzel to finish playing with the other kids that Tifa did not like Neela. But I just couldn't figure out why. Maybe, maybe Tifa still had feelings for me. But she knows because of the events that have been going on I don't have time for her. She isn't important in my life anymore.
It's a new beginning…
With Neela.
It is just before dinner when the phone rings. Tifa answers it but it is for Denzel.
"Hello?" Denzel asked, "Oh hi…" I could tell it was a girl since he was blushing. I then turned to see Neela sitting there twirling her hair. I question my heart if I love her or not. She used to live in the "nice" part of Midgar, until all the battles began. Then she lived in a shelter until she heard they found a cure for the geostigma and came to the church. I was trying to think where she would rest her head tonight… I was hoping maybe my shoulder. But that'd be asking too much.
"Cloud can I talk to you outside please?" Neela asked me, smiling. I got up and went to the backyard. I sat of one of the swings attached to Marlene and Denzel's tree house. Neela sat in the other.
"So... what did you want to… talk about?" I asked.
"Well" she said.
"Well?" I asked.
"How about we go to Zac's grave and talk there?" she asked. I nodded my head.
"We'll have to walk though." I said.
"I'm fine with that." Neela replied. It was total silence on the way there. When we were almost there I stared at Neela, I wondered what she was thinking about. Staring at her hair... wondering how it was so shiny… and how the moonlight shined on it. Neela glanced at me and I quickly looked away. Neela giggled.
O god. Her laugh is so… I LOVE IT
I had to contain myself though. Clearly even I thought I wasn't that kind of guy. Sure I've changed, but I'm still very shy.
So I moved closer to her.
As we climbed up the hill Neela almost fell a couple of times, I had to catch her one of the times. When we got to the top I sat at the edge of the cliff. Neela was more interested in Zac's sword.
"Was this Zac's?" she asked.
"Yeah. I keep it here kind of as a tomb stone y'know?" I said.
"I understand." She said. Neela then joined me on the ground.
"It's a good view." She whispered.
"Yeah." I whispered back.
"The city lights are beautiful." She whispered again. I felt her hand on top of mine. I then turned mine over so they were facing palm to palm.
"Cloud." She whispered.
"What is it Neela?" I asked.
"Tifa… are you two… you know since Marlene and Denzel-"
I let go of her hand and cut her off, "no, me and Tifa aren't together, Marlene and Denzel are orphans. They're not actually ours," I said quickly and nervously. There was a long pause. Neela turned to look at me, and I turned to look at her.
Neela started to lean in…
Until we heard a loud scream coming from Midgar. Neela jumped up.
"What was that!?" she asked. I groaned with frustration and stood up.
"You want to go check?" I asked. Neela nodded. On our way down the cliff, Neela caught her shoe in between two rocks and fell down. I rushed over to see if she was okay, trying hard not to laugh.
"My foot." She said. I looked down her leg to her ankle and then down to her foot I tried to get it out. I tugged at it.
"It's in there pretty good, I'm going to have to dig up those rocks…" It took about two minutes to dig up the rocks.
"Thanks." Neela said as I helped her up
"OW!" She screamed and fell into me, luckily I caught her or else we were both going down.
"What is it?"
"My ankle, it's broken now," Neela looked me in the eyes. "I guess you're going to have to carry me back to Midgar." She said. I put her down for a second and tried to think of how I could carry her back quickly. Ah, the classic piggy back ride. I tried my best to pick up Neela behind my back, and I did it. I then ran as fast as I could back to Midgar.
"Do you still want to see who that scream came from?" I asked.
"No let's just go home." Neela said.
When we got home there were police cars in front of the house, I went up to an officer and asked what was going on.
"Do you live in this household?" the police asked.
"Yes we do." said Neela.
"Please come with me." said the police officer. He led us to the backyard. I sat Neela down on the couch on our way. I asked one doctor to check Neela's leg out.
When I got to the backyard there was a lot on yellow tape around the tree house.
Oh no. what did Denzel do now? I thought to myself.
"Sir, Tifa has… hung herself." I stood there in Shock.
"Why would she do such a thing!?" I yelled, tears running down my cheeks.
"We… found this under her in the grass."
It was a note from Tifa;
Dear Cloud,
Since you have Neela
now, I have no reason to
keep on living. Neela gets along
with the kids, so you two will
do fine.
I'm giving you the house.
Cloud, I just want you to
know,
I love you
- Tifa.
I couldn't let Neela see this note. It would break her heart to know Tifa killed herself because I found a new love that wasn't her.
I wiped away my tears and turned to the officer.
"Where is the body?" I asked.
"We have it in the ambulance."
"Where are my kids?" I asked. It felt weird for me because I've never called Marlene and Denzel "my kids."
"They're inside." I turned to go inside. I looked around the living room and all that was there was Neela and the doctor.
Tifa's room. I thought.
I rushed upstairs to find Denzel and Marlene lying on Tifa's bed.
"Hey." I said. They didn't say anything back.
"Denzel, why aren't you crying?" I asked.
"I'm a man now Cloud, us men don't cry." He answered.
"You're still only a kid you've got some time before that." I said. I looked at Marlene whose face was soaking wet from her tears. The blanket was wet too. I sat next to Marlene and she crawled onto my lap.
"Cloud…" she whispered.
"Yes Marlene?" I said.
"Is Tifa… gone?"
"Yes Marlene."
Marlene started crying even more. Seeing Marlene in this much pain reminded me of letting go Aerith back to the life steam. Tears filled my eyes. I could hardly tell it was Marlene sitting in my lap it was so blurry.
"Mr. Strife" I heard I voice from the doorway. I put Marlene back on the bed and walked towards the officer.
"We can show you the body if you want." I nodded my head. He led me downstairs and out to the street with the rest of the cop cars and ambulances. He opened one and pulled down stairs so I could climb up. Tifa was under a white sheet.
"You can take the sheet off if you'd like." The officer said. I lifted to sheet to see Tifa's blue face with a thick, red line across her neck.
"She hung herself." The officer said. My tears ran off my face onto Tifa's I ran out of the ambulance and sat on the curb.
"Why would she do this to me?" I said aloud, "Why would she do this to me?"
"Cloud." I heard Neela's voice. I wiped my face and stood up. I looked at Neela to see her just wearing a brace.
"You're okay." I hugged Neela
"What happened anyways?"
I walked Neela back into the house and up to Tifa's room. She sat on the bed with Denzel and Marlene.
"Where's Tifa?" Neela asked. Denzel sat up.
"She hung herself." he said. Neela gasped and ran to me and hugged me. We all started crying. Except for that "man" on the bed.
"But, why?" she asked.
"Couldn't understand life I guess…" I couldn't have said Tifa's dead because of you. Like I said, it would break her heart.
Two days after Tifa's death, it was time for Marlene and Denzel to go to school.
"Bye Cloud" Denzel called as he ran out the door.
"Wait! You forgot your lunch." Neela called as she ran towards Denzel, handed him his lunch and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
Don't be jealous Cloud, I told myself as I laughed.
I looked out the window to see Denzel talking to a girl that looked about his age. Neela came to look out the window too.
"It's young love." She giggled.
"But of course." I replied.
"So Cloud, do you have any plans today?" Neela asked.
"Not that I know of." I answered. She giggled.
"Me neither. But there's a flea market open today, we could go get Marlene a doll to keep her mind off of… Tifa." Marlene was taking Tifa's death the hardest. I cry at night when I hear her in her room saying her name. "Tifa, Tifa"
I looked at the toast on the counter that Denzel didn't eat.
"I guess we could get Denzel something too." I said. Neela started washing dishes.
"Maybe one of us should stay home… you know in case the school phones and asks for us to come pick one of them up because they're too sad." Neela said.
"What time does the market open?" I asked.
"Nine." Neela informed me.
Good I need to get a new motorcycle too. I thought to myself.
"I'll leave now" I said.
"But it's only eight-thirty." She said.
"It'll take me awhile to walk there."
As I walked out the door Neela waved to me and said, "Be careful Cloud."
Once I got to Barret's workshop I saw a bike outback.
Barret has a motorcycle? I thought to myself.
I knocked on the door and walked in. Barret was just finishing his breakfast.
"Hey Cloud!" I nodded my head.
"How's Marlene doing?" he asked as he bit a piece out of his pancakes.
"Not so good." I replied.
"So what you here for?" he asked.
"I need a motorcycle… almost identical to my other one that was destroyed." I said.
"With the compartment to hold your swords and everything?" he asked.
"Yes." I replied.
"I got one out back." He got up and led me to the back part of his shop.
"I've got two of them, one is white and the other is black." He said then wiped crumbs off his chin.
"I'll take the black." I said.
"Would Neela like the white one?" He asked, smiling.
"You can ask her tomorrow. I'm busy today." I said.
"Doing what?!" he asked.
"Gotta get the kids some toys to get their minds off of you know who, and I need a new cell phone." I said.
"Ah, Vincent told me you lost your old one." We both chuckled.
"I'm going to the Market now Barret, do you need anything?" I asked as I walked towards the entrance.
"No that's okay Cloud you just get Marlene a good toy for me okay?" he shouted. I nodded my head. I had to walk down two more streets from Barret's house to get to the markets. My first stop was Kamahi's toys inc.
I got Marlene a Doll and Denzel a basket ball. I carried my bags to "Phone Shop" that's where I got my other cell phone.
"Hey Mike." I called from the entrance.
"Hey Cloud! Long time no see!" he greeted me.
"You need a new cell phone?" he asked.
"Yes Mike, I need a new cell phone." I said smiling.
"The FOMA P900iV?" he asked.
"That's the one." I said.
"I need to fill out your information on the computer, you can sit down if you'd like." He said as he walked to the back of his shop. I sat down and put my bags on the chair beside me.
"Cloud I need you to sign this." He came out of the back. I stood up and grabbed his pen off of the counter.
"Sign here." He said and pointed to a dotted line… I signed it.
"Is my number the same?" I asked.
"Yep." He said smiling. I grabbed my phone.
"See yah Mike." I called as I walked out of the store. My feet were getting tired.
"Wasn't I supposed to actually take the bike?" I said aloud.
Oh cloud your losing it. I thought to myself and ran back to Barret's shop.
"Hey you're back! Didn't you forget something?" he yelled.
"I think so!" I yelled and we both laughed.
"Thanks for the bike." I said as I got onto it. Barret opened the shop door. And I went home.
I only got home at eleven. I got off my bike and went inside
"You got a new motorcycle?" she said and she sat down at the kitchen table. She laughed at me.
"That's why you were so fast."
"I got Marlene a doll and Denzel a basketball." I said as I set them down.
"Good." She replied. The phone rang. Neela ran upstairs to get it. A few moments later she called for me to come upstairs. I walked into my bedroom, where the phone was.
"Cloud, how did Tifa die again?" she gave me a angry look.
"Who was on the phone?" I asked.
"How did, Tifa die." She asked again. I sighed.
"She hung herself Neela." Neela exhaled and put her head into her hands.
"Why?" She mumbled.
"What?" I asked. She took her head out of her hands and looked at me. She was crying.
"Why did she hang herself?" She asked. The phone rang again. This time I answered. It was the school. Denzel got into a fight. They asked for me to come pick him up. I hung up the phone.
"I have to go pick up Denzel." Neela sighed and waved as I went down the stairs. I got onto my bike and drove to the school. I had to park my bike on the road since the parking lot was full. I walked past all the little kids, with my sun glasses on, all staring at me in awe.
I walked into the school and looked for the principal's office. I opened the door and saw Denzel, the little girl he was talking to this morning. And another boy with a bloody nose sitting in a chair away from Denzel, who had a black eye. I sighed and sat in the chair between Denzel and the other boy. I sighed.
"What happened?" I whispered.
"He hit me for talking to Tori." He whispered back. I looked at the girl beside Denzel. She was crying.
"Is that Tori?" I asked.
"Yeah." He said looking down at the floor.
"I told him to step off." Denzel whispered. I looked up at the woman in an office chair typing at her computer. I got up and asked her what I had to do now.
"We suggest you take him home. Clean him up." She replied. I turned around and looked at Denzel, he was still looking down at the floor and Tori was staring at him. I smiled.
Kids these days… I thought to myself.
"Come on Denzel, we're going home." I said. Denzel got up and walked toward the door.
"Bye Denzel." Tori called. Denzel waved.
"I'm gonna get you tomorrow." The little boy mumbled. We got out of the school and I helped Denzel get onto my bike. I started the engine and we went home.
Denzel and Cloud have just arrived home. Neela is sitting on the couch waiting for them.
"You're home!" Neela called as we walked in. Neela saw Denzel's black eye.
"Oh… honey lets clean you up." She said and brought him to the bathroom. I sat down on the couch. I could hear Denzel saying "Ouch" in the bathroom when Neela dabbed a wet cloth on his face. Neela and Denzel walked down the stairs. Neela sat on the couch beside me and Denzel sat down across from us.
"So, how did this happen Denzel?" Neela said in a calm voice.
"Well. You know the girl who called the other night…Tori." Denzel said staring out the window.
"Yes." Neela and I said.
"Tommy Moon likes her… And when he heard from Nike that we were hanging out he tried to beat me up, he said to stay away from her." Denzel said.
"So who does Tori like?" Neela asked.
"I don't know." Denzel said. His eyes were watering.
"She was sitting beside you in the office so I'm guessing she likes you more than that Tommy." I said. Neela smiled at me, then at Denzel.
"I guess…" Denzel said. He was smiling now.
"How does your eye feel now?" Neela asked.
"Okay I guess." Denzel replied. Denzel yawned.
"Maybe you should go lie down." I suggested. He got up and went to his room.
"Told you it was young love." Neela whispered to me and then walked into the kitchen.
Four o'clock. The bus just dropped off Marlene.
Marlene ran through the front door of the house
"Denzel! Denzel! Where is he Cloud!? He wasn't on the bus!" Marlene yelled as she put her backpack on a hook.
"Denzel is okay Marlene. He's lying in bed right now." I said.
"I want to see him!" she said, and ran upstairs to their room.
"Marlene's home?" Neela asked from the kitchen.
"Yeah." I said. I sat down at the kitchen table to watch TV.
Tifa's death was announced on the news. Neela quickly turned off the TV.
"We shouldn't be thinking about that right now." She said and opened the fridge.
She pulled out an orange and closed the fridge.
"So… you're a close friend with Tifa. Why would she kill herself?" Neela asked.
"I don't think you should be staying in her room." I said.
"Why not?" Neela asked.
"Her death is still fresh." I said. There was a long pause. "And I don't want Denzel Marlene too feel like they should replace Tifa with you." I added. Neela was silent; she had a sad look on her face.
"Okay." She nodded her head sullenly.
"So I'll have to sleep with you?" she smiled.
"No, on the couch." She gave me a look.
"I'm kidding." She smiled, then grabbed a book and sat on the couch with her orange and read.
Then I went upstairs to polish my sword.
As I got out my polishing tools. I could hear Denzel talking on the phone with someone. So I picked up the phone in my room and listened.
"Thanks for punching Tommy in the face, I really hate him actually." She said.
"All in a days work." Denzel replied.
"But why?" she asked. There was a silence between then.
"I don't like Tommy either?" he said.
"I… don't think that's the real reason." She said. I smiled. There was a voice in the background telling Tori to get off the phone
"Okay mom!" she called, "See you tomorrow Denzel."
"Bye Tori." said Denzel. Tori hung up.
"You can stop listening to my conversations now Cloud." Denzel said
"Oh shit!" I said and hung up.
"Cloud said a bad word!!!" Yelled Marlene.
It's night time. Cloud is lying in bed. Neela is asleep beside him.
I could hear Denzel crying in his room. I got up to talk to him, but yet I didn't want to invade his privacy.
I listened a little longer.
"Denzel are you crying?" asked Marlene.
"No, men don't cry." Denzel said whipping away his tears.
"You're not a man, you still wet the bed!" Marlene shouted.
"SHUT-UP MARLENE!" Neela woke up.
"You wet the bed..." Marlene sang. Neela sat up.
"What are they fighting about now?" she asked.
"Oh… Nothing, go back to sleep." I whispered.
"Night." She said.
I got up and walked to their room.
"Could you guys stop fighting?" I asked.
"Yes Cloud." said Marlene. Denzel was silent. I walked back to me and Neela's room. I fell back to sleep.
It is morning. Cloud has just woken up.
I walked downstairs to the kitchen. Where Denzel was, eating Pancakes.
"Get your backpack ready." I said.
"Okay Cloud." He answered. He went and got his backpack off his hook. Denzel smiled at me.
"Since when are you so happy to go to school?" I asked.
"Uhm." He replied. There was silence
"Good morning Cloud." said Marlene
"Morning." I replied.
"You excited you get and see Tori today?" I asked Denzel. He was silent. He looked around the kitchen checking if Marlene or Neela were listening.
"Well… kind of." He said. The bus honked. Marlene and him walked out the door and waved to me.
"See you guys later." I yelled after them.
Denzel comes home after school.
"I'm having a friend over." Denzel said to me and Neela.
Tori walked in. I looked at her, then at Neela. Neela had a huge smile on her face. Denzel started blushing.
Denzel went upstairs with Tori following him. Marlene walked in.
"I'm going to go colour in my princess coloring book."
"No, Marlene, Denzel is busy in his room. Let's go to the park." Neela said walking towards Marlene
"Okay!" Marlene said. Neela nodded her head to me as they walked out. I smiled and nodded back. I could hear those two upstairs laughing. Then there was a big thump. I panicked, I ran upstairs and knocked on the door
"What you kids doing in there?" I asked. There was a silence.
"Denzel fell off the bed." Tori giggled. I exhaled.
"Okay well be careful will ya?"
"Okay!" they both said. I went back downstairs. Tori and Denzel came downstairs. I smiled to Tori and raised my eyebrow at Denzel. I could hear them in the entrance now.
"Bye Denzel." Tori giggled and left. I heard Denzel sigh once he closed the door. He came into the kitchen and sat on a stool. I got some water from the fridge and poured Denzel a glass.
"Thanks." Denzel said. I poured myself a cup too. I took a sip.
"So what did you guys do up there?" I asked.
"You know when I fell off the bed…?" Denzel asked.
"Yeah?" I said.
"Tori tried to kiss me. That's why I fell back." Denzel said.
"Oh." I said, and laughed.
"Yeah so, don't go and tell Neela and everyone okay Cloud?" he said. I nodded my head and took another sip from my water.
"So did you decide to become a man for… Tori?" I asked and smiled.
"Yeah, so what?" he said.
"Oh… Nothing." I walked out of the kitchen into the living room. Marlene opened the front door.
"We're home…" Neela called. Marlene ran into the living room.
"Look what I found at the park!" she screamed. She found a rock.
"Oh, very nice." I said, smiling.
"Did Tori go home?" Neela asked.
"Tori?" Marlene asked.
"She's a friend." Denzel said. Marlene laughed
"Denzel and Tori sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!" Marlene sang as she went up to her room. Denzel got off his stool and went upstairs too. Neela sat beside me on the couch. I put my arm around her.
"So what did Tori and Denzel do?" she asked.
"Tori tried to kiss Denzel." I said smiling at Neela
"Oh!" She said and started laughing.
"But I wasn't supposed to tell you about it." I whispered.
"I'll keep it a secret." She smiled.
Night time- Cloud and the rest are asleep. Cloud is having flashbacks in his dreams.
"You are going to give up and die, is that it?" Tifa said, sitting on Marlene's bed. "Don't run! Let's fight it together we can help each other, I know we can." Tifa looked at me all I could see were her eyes.
I woke up gasping and sweating. I looked around. Neela wasn't in her bed. I got up and walked down the hallway. I could see the light shining under the bathroom floor. I checked Denzel and Marlene's room to see if it was one of them in the bathroom. They were both in their beds so it must have been Neela. I went downstairs and got some water. I looked out the window and saw Mr. Dayson taking out his garbage at ten o'clock at night.
… that's odd. I thought to myself.
I heard the bathroom door open, then close. I put my cup in the sink, and went upstairs. I crawled into bed with Neela.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, what about you?" I whispered.
"Just a stomach ache." She said then rolled over to go to sleep. I stared at the ceiling for a while. I could hear Denzel snoring in the other room. I groaned and put my pillow over my head. I soon fell back asleep.
Saturday Morning. Cloud has just woken up.
I looked around the room, Neela was still asleep. I got up to go to the washroom. I opened the washroom door. I quickly looked into Denzel and Marlene's room. I could see outside there was someone with Black hair in the tree house. I quickly ran downstairs and out the back door. I looked up at the tree house. There was no one there. I stared at it a little longer. There was nothing. I went back inside.
"Cloud. Cloud." I heard Tifa's voice say on my way to the bathroom. I turned around and looked around the room frightened.
"Marlene, Cloud, Marlene." Her voice said again. I went upstairs and ran into Denzel and Marlene's room. I looked at Denzel then at Marlene. There was blood all over her blanket. I quickly ran to her bed.
"Marlene!" I said
"Cloud?" She said she looked at all the blood on the bed and screamed There was blood coming from her nose.
"It's just a nose bleed." I said in relief.
I picked up Marlene and carried her to the bathroom. As I washed the blood off her face Neela came into the bathroom.
"Is everything alright?" She asked.
"Would you go change Marlene's sheets and blanket so we can wash the ones on there now?" I asked.
Maybe Tifa was protecting Marlene. She's watching over us… I thought to myself.
My eyes started watering.
"Cloud?" Marlene asked, "Are you crying?"
"I'm just tired. That's all." I replied.
"Is it all gone?" she asked. I wiped the last bit of blood off her neck.
"Yep." I answered and helped her off the counter. Marlene ran out of the room as I threw the towel into a laundry basket. I went downstairs and saw Neela standing by the sink holding her stomach.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Ouch…" She said. I ran to her and put my hand on her back.
"What's going on?" I asked. Neela stood straight.
"It's alright. My stomach still hurts… I guess." She replied. Neela looked kind of pale.
"Do you want to see a doctor?" I asked. I took my hand off her back.
"If this doesn't go away I guess." She answered. For the whole morning Neela and Denzel sat on the couch watching cartoons. Usually Neela would be up and doing things… she is feeling sick though.
She just needed a break. I thought to myself.
Marlene was up in her room coloring. I went upstairs to brush my teeth.
"Cloud have you seen my green crayon?" Marlene asked. I then heard a crack. I looked under my foot and there was the green crayon… I quickly kicked it out of the way. I looked at Marlene; she hadn't seen me step on it.
"Uh… No." I said. I got out my tooth brush and tooth paste and turned on the water I looked it the mirror and saw a note on the floor in the reflection. I turned around and picked it up. It was Marlene's writing paper on her parents… I looked at the big A in red pen.
"Oh Tifa." I said aloud. I went and sat on the side of the bathtub. I stared at Marlene's writing and starting crying.
"Cloud?" I heard Denzel from outside. He opened the door and stood in front of me.
"You told her." Denzel said. I looked up at Denzel.
"Excuse me?" I said. Denzel shook his head.
"You told Neela Tori tried to kiss me. After you promised not to tell anyone." He said.
"It slipped out." I replied.
"You've lost my trust now Cloud." Denzel turned around and walked out of the bathroom.
"Denzel." I called.
How can I regain Denzel's trust? I asked myself.
I finally got to brush my teeth and walked out of the bathroom.
I went into the living room and sat with Neela. She and Denzel were watching Eureka. Denzel got up and pretended to fight with a sword. Neela laughed.
I could get Denzel a sword, and bribe him to trust me again! I thought to myself.
"I'll be home later." I whispered to Neela
"Where are you going?" She asked. Denzel looked at me.
"Just going to see… Barret." I said quickly as I walked out the front door. I started my motorcycle and went to Cid's house. I rang the doorbell and his house. He opened the door.
"Howdy Cloud!" he shouted, "How are things?!"
"They're alright." I said.
"What do you need from me?" Cid asked.
"I need a sword for Denzel."
"Ah, Denzel's growing up eh?" He said.
"He's a man." I smiled at Cid and he snickered.
"So what does Denzel want, a 6 piece? 8 piece?" Cid asked.
"6 piece." I replied.
"Make it smaller than mine, so he can actually hold it." I said. Cid laughed.
"I've got one out back from my cousin Lenny, he was a fighsty little fella." He opened a cupboard and pulled it out.
"It's perfect." I said. Cid handed it to me. I felt it up and down. Cid took it away from me.
"I'll wrap it up for ya." Cid said as he pulled a leather case from a shelf. He put the sword in it.
"Here you are." Cid handed me the sword.
"Thanks a lot Cid." I said as I got on my Motorcycle. I drove home. I turned off my Motorcycle and tucked Denzel's sword behind my back. I opened the front door. Neela was still on the couch.
"Where's Denzel?" I asked.
"He's at Tori's house." Neela replied. I smiled and went upstairs. Marlene was still in her room coloring. I put Denzel's sword in my closet in me and Neela's room. I went into the bathroom to find a towel to try and cover the sword so Neela wouldn't find it. Marlene's paper was still on the floor. I picked it up and grabbed a towel. I walked into Marlene and Denzel room and put the paper on the table where Marlene was coloring. I went to my closet and hid the sword the best I could.
Marlene has just left for Sunday school. Denzel is talking to Tori on the phone. Neela has been in the washroom for over an hour now.
I got off the couch and went upstairs to check up on Neela. I knocked on the door.
"You okay Neela?" She groaned.
"I don't think so." She said.
"I'm going to take you to the doctor so finish up in there okay?" I asked. She didn't answer. I went into Denzel and Marlene's room. Denzel was talking to Tori and the phone still. Denzel gave me an angry look. I whispered to him
"I'm taking Neela to the doctor do you want to come Denzel?" Denzel shook his head.
"We'll pick up Marlene on the way back." I whispered. I walked out, and then walked back in
"Don't go anywhere." I said. Neela came out of the washroom.
"Ready to go?" I asked.
"Yes." She said. Neela and I slowly went down the stairs and to my motorcycle. Once we got to the hospital they nurses saw Neela struggling to get off my motorcycle so they came out with a wheel chair and helped her get onto it. We went inside.
"What's wrong with your friend here?" a nurse asked.
"She says she has a stomach ache." I replied.
"Hmm. It seems this will take a while. You can go home and we will bring her home." The nurse said.
"Okay." I answered.I got onto my bike and went to a Church in the middle of the city to pick up Marlene from Sunday school. She ran up to me.
"Cloud!" she hugged me and climbed onto my bike.
"Hold on." I said as we drove off. Once we got home I helped Marlene get her coat and boots off. I went upstairs to see how Denzel was doing. He was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. At least he's off the phone. I thought to myself. I got out the sword, and walked into Denzel and Marlene's room, I closed the door and sat on Denzel's bed with him. He sat up.
"What's that?" he asked.
"It's yours." I smiled.
"Really? Thanks Cloud." He took it out of my hands.
"Try it out." I said. He swung it around a few times.
"I can really keep it?" Denzel asked.
"Yes." I said. Denzel looked at it. He climbed onto his bed and put it on the shelf above his bed. He sat beside me.
"Thanks again." He said. I nodded.
"Where's Neela?" Denzel asked.
"She's still at the hospital." I replied.
"How is she?" he asked.
"I think she'll be alright." I said. Denzel looked up at his sword.
"Be careful with that. Don't let Marlene get it." I laughed.
"I will." He said. I got up and opened the door.
"Tori…" Denzel whispered. I turned around.
"What about her?" I asked.
"I was talking to her on the phone before." He whispered. I sat back down on his bed.
"So… What's new with Tori?" I asked. Denzel looked up at me and smiled.
"She… We…" he stuttered.
"Yes…" I said.
"She…" he said again.
"Spit it out." I said, laughing.
"She's my girlfriend." He mumbled.
"What? I didn't hear you!?" I said even though I knew what he said. He looked up at me.
"Tori is my girlfriend." He finally said. I smiled. He started blushing.
"Okay." I said. I walked out of the room and went downstairs. Marlene was watching her princess show on TV. I sat down on the couch and watched for a bit. I saw an ambulance drive up. I got up and went to the door as I reached for the doorknob the door bell rang. I opened the door.
"Neela" I said hugging her.
"Hey…" she said smiling.
"You're better?" I asked.
"I need to talk to you, with the kids." I nodded my head and called Denzel to come downstairs to the living room. We all sat down.
"Cloud…Marlene…Denzel." She said.
"I'm Pregnant."
We all sat there in shock.
"What?!" Denzel shouted.
"Yay! A baby!" Marlene sang.
I sat there quiet.
I'm gonna be a father. I though to myself.
"I'm gonna be a father." I said out loud.
"Yes…" Neela said smiling
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her…
Though I've gone through all this pain…and sadness...
In the end. It all turned out pretty good…
And so, thus ends part 1.
I hope you kids liked it.
R & R (no flames please)
Emonumberseven