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Zack Fair was twenty – a Kinesiology major at Midgar University, no less. The young man had quite a bit going for him: a steady part-time job, star of the foot-ball team (quarterback; how cliché, hm?), model-good-looks, a hoard of girls (and the odd guy) chasing after him, and above all else – a fast car. To most people, he appeared to have everything a normal male could want. Even he found himself to be quite fortunate in terms of popularity.
His scholarship had been granted simply due to the fact that he could throw a football. Perhaps such a statement was putting his talents lightly. Oh – the boy was gifted, that was certain. He was astonishing and impressive in every which way, and almost every student at the school knew his name. Zack Fair: star jock of Midgar University.
But his seemingly perfect life came to a sputtering halt one Sunday morning…when he crashed his car into the drama instructor's Mercedes.
He sat behind the wheel, eyes wide in shock as he was enveloped by the overwhelming sound of the car alarms. Zack's hands were wrapped so tightly around the wheel that his knuckles had turned white in the meantime. Soon enough, people swarmed the scene of the accident. Students and teachers watched on as the man was escorted from his dented car to the campus.
"A…play?" He was hardly the type of guy to involve himself in such an event. The school had an annual Preforming Arts Festival that went on for three days. Music was played, shows were put on. This year, the drama department had chosen a classic. LOVELESS, Professor Rhapsodos' personal favourite.
"Of course. We could use a charismatic young boy like you in our production this year, Mister Fair!" He dressed himself in the most pompous and pretentious of clothing. A red leather jacket with knee-high leather boots? Goddess, this guy was just bleeding flamboyance.
"Professor, I could just give you a cheque to pay for the damage—"
"Nonsense!" The man beamed. A grin danced upon his bright lips as he hungrily eyed the ebony-haired student before him. Zack shifted uncomfortably in the armchair. Everything about the office had to do with LOVELESS, or some other musical of the sort. Holy Hell this guy had to be obsessed with the play or something. "You're going to fit right in with the rest of the kids, Mister Fair. Rehearsals start tomorrow at three O'clock PM. Don't be late."
Bookworms and losers. That's all the drama department consisted of. People hoping to aspire and become some kind of film star; though nobody from Midgar made it big – ever. That was the brutal reality that nobody wanted to face. What would hanging around the theatre do to his reputation? What if one of the players on the football team saw him?
Either way, he guessed he had no choice.
With a deep sigh, he pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The place was very cold; the thick velvet curtains were closed, so the whole stage couldn't be seen; the professor sat on the apron, facing an almost empty house. Red upholstered chairs to match the grand curtain filled the area, only the front row was taken up by students, intently listening to their instructor. And everybody there looked so geeky.
What the hell was that kid wearing? Was that a sweater vest?
No cute girls. No cool cars. Nothing but dumb books and scripts. Minerva save me.
Only thirty people were evident. Zack decided to take a seat in the row behind the front so he had nobody to his left nor to his right; that way, he could drop his bag in the chair directly beside him.
Seconds before Professor Rhapsodos began to take the attendance, three young ladies pushed through the doors, giggling and chattering amongst themselves. He seemed slightly irked by their tardiness, but his expression soon softened as he noted their identities. Miss Tifa Lockhart, the head of the costume design; Yuffie Kisaragi, her cousin and assistant; and the girl who caught Zack completely off guard – Aerith.
There was something about her. Maybe it was the way that she moved, or her soft voice; perhaps it was the kindness evident in her verdant eyes. Whatever drew him to the woman, he did not know. However, he soon found himself on his feet, a crooked grin caressing his features; Zack presented himself to the brunette as he did every female student at the school: with confidence and a hint of narcissism.
"Hey there. I'm Zack. Zack Fair – and I would like to have the honour of taking you out on one date. What do you say?"
She stared at him blankly for a moment, clutching a stack of textbooks to her chest. "I'm not too sure about that –"
"And why not?" He leaned closer to her, bringing his face dangerously close to hers. Aerith merely turned her head slightly, somewhat of a blush tinting her cheeks.
"I'm…with someone already." And with that, she shrugged past him, only to take a seat between Tifa and Yuffie in the front row. Bashfully, Zack returned to his chair directly behind her and the others.