(A/N) This is a Cloud and Tifa fanfic. So I am telling you now, if you do not like this pairing I suggest you do not read this fanfic okay!? :D btw! This is a slight alternative universe, because in this story Cloud is sixteen and is still in Nebelheim and hasn't joined SHINRA yet. I do not own Final Fantasy VII. It is just a fanfic, yeah. Enjoy :D
FINDING A WAY.
Chapter one.
Cloud had just finished sorting out all his business papers and delivery maps. Tifa had told him to months ago. He could never find the time to do so.
Denzel and Marlene were playing their game they got for doing well in school, and Tifa was teaching one of her employee's a new recipe.
Cloud has his day off and Tifa insisted that he should spend his day relaxing. He couldn't relax knowing he was doing nothing while the stacks of paper created some leaning tower.
Now that he was finished, there was nothing to keep him occupied. Cloud gave in and decided to take a short nap. When he walked into his and Tifa's bedroom he stepped on a picture that was on the floor at the side of the bed. He sat on the bed then took it off his foot and was shocked to see what was on it.
It was Tifa and Cloud when they were in high school. One of Tifa's arms was around Cloud's neck tilting him down and towards her, winking and making the peace sign with her free hand. Cloud on the other hand looked stiff, facing glowing red and smiling shyly at Tifa.
He remembered those days and how hard and painful it was to get her.
Chapter One.
Cloud had come back to Nebelheim after living with his father for a year. Moving back to live with his mother made Cloud happy. He didn't like his father as much as he was suppose to. He was still a bit mad that he left him and his mother when Cloud was only four years old. Moving back will also mean starting and new high school and grade 10. Best of all, moving back meant seeing Tifa Lockhart again.
Tifa was a year younger which meant she would be in high school now. Cloud was excited for his first day of school (which was not like him) so that he could see her and actually make an attempt to talk to her. When he walked through the school gates he made his way to the school building. Everyone in the school yard stopped what they were doing and stared at him.
Cloud was a shy person; he didn't know how to react with all the attention. He began to walk faster until a group of jocks stopped him from going any further. Cloud wasn't surprised; he recognized some of these faces from his not so good childhood. He knew any moment now he'd get penalized on why he came back to their town and how it was better off without him and so on.
"Cloud, is that you?" a boy with red spiky hair asked.
"Eh? Um yeah." Cloud looked as shocked as they did.
"Whoa man, you really changed huh? Not so scrawny anymore. Welcome back, Tifa really missed you."
Cloud's face turned red he gave out a frustrated pout. Here it comes, they must have been teasing, Tifa barely knew him, barely recognized he was alive. Out of all the kids in town, why would Tifa miss him?
"Yeah thanks, I got to get to the office and see what classes I have."
He walked around the group and continued making his way to the office.
Later on in the afternoon, Cloud went to the cafeteria. He looked around but still could not find Tifa. He turned around to walk out of the cafeteria but just as he did, he bumped into a short blonde girl and almost made her fall. Before she could fall though, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up so she could balance on her feet. The girl smiled embarrassed of what a klutz she was then thanked him.
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Chad was watching from a far distance.
"Cloud's back huh?" he said glaring at Cloud as he left the room. Chad then had a scheming smirk on his face. "I'll make him leave for good."
The day finally came to an end. Cloud didn't see Tifa for the whole day. He was starting to think if she even came to this school. Cloud was in the parking lot heading to his motorcycle. He knew if he didn't see Tifa at school he would at least see her later on in the evening. Cloud found it funny that they lived next door to each other ever since he could remember, and they weren't even close enough to be friends. He finally reached his motorcycle, just as he was about to get on…
"STRIFE!!!"
This got everyone in the parking lot's attention. Cloud turned around and saw a tall buff green eyed brunette making his way to him.
"Can I help you?" Cloud said in a clueless voice. This got Chad madder than he already was.
"Don't play dumb! I saw you talk to Mina."
Cloud squinted an eye, he was totally confused.
"Uh, who?" Chad couldn't control his anger anymore, he threw a punch at Cloud but he caught it in his hand, pushing it away from his face. Cloud had no clue why this kid was mad at him. Whatever it was, he knew it must be a misunderstanding.
"I don't want any trouble." Clod told him kind of annoyed. Chad didn't listen, but instead tried to punch Cloud several more times. Cloud dodged every hit, but it was the last punch that got him by surprise in his stomach.
"Stop!" a girl's voice came from in the crowd. Here was Cloud's chance to hit Chad. Chad turned his head to see whose hand was gripping his shoulder. Cloud's punch missed Chad's face by inches and hit a girl's face knocking her to the ground.
"Tifa!" Chad's voice called to the girl on the ground. "You okay? That's it Strife!" Chad was about to punch Cloud in his face but was then tripped by Tifa causing him to fall on her leg.
"Ouch! You big jerk! Get off me! And leave Cloud alone!"
Chad rolled off of her leg, which she was now holding in pain.
"Why are you sticking up for a freak like him?"
"Only freak I see is You! Now get lost!"
The crowd started to walk way, and there was Cloud standing in front of Tifa, shocked.
'Great, I punched her, I am a freak.' Cloud thought.
Tifa still stroking her leg looked up at Cloud and smiled.
Cloud would always somehow lose all sense of coolness when Tifa was around. Count down 3, 2, 1 and Cloud's face was glowing red. He had a sympathetic face on and didn't know what his next move should be.
"Cloud? You okay?" Tifa said looking a bit worried. He turned his face away from her refusing to make eye contact. He knelt down in front of her and looked at her cheek that he punched accidentally. Hesitantly he reached out for her cheek and gently rubbed it with his finger tips being careful not to hurt her anymore than he already did.
His eyes met with her eyes. He noticed that her cheeks turned pink and then he looked away and put his hand down.
"Tifa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I…"
Tifa giggled. "I know you didn't mean it. My cheek doesn't even hurt that much. My leg hurts though. I don't think it's safe for people to be around Chad when he falls."
Tifa let out a laugh and Cloud smiled. He thought to himself that Tifa hasn't changed one bit.
Cloud got up but when Tifa tried, she fell back down.
"Ouch! I think it's twisted or something."
Cloud bent down and picked her up in his arms.
"I'll give you a ride home if you want…" Tifa smiled.
"I'd like that Cloud," Cloud smiled back at her.
"Guess you're not as weak as you used to be huh?" she said poking a finger denting Cloud's cheek. His face turned red. "Guess not."
He placed Tifa on his motorcycle and Tifa wrapped her arms around Cloud and they zoomed off.
To be continued…
Okay so, that's chapter one. I wrote up to chapter 6 already but I'll have to type it out a little later. Leave reviews and tell me what you think of it so far! :D No rude comments please this is my first fanfic, and it all came to me in a dream xD haha!
-Cloudwee~: p
