A rose. A simple symbol of love. So delicate and fragile, easy for the petals to be plucked off, so easy for the rose to wilt. It is just like love. Or, unless you nurture it, give it the things it needs, it will survive.

Love can hurt. Love can comfort. Love can break. Love can form.

Tifa Lockhart walked slowly towards her school. To her, it's the closest thing to hell on Earth, but there is some heaven in it. Her hair danced around in the cool breeze, along with her short, plaid skirt. She fixed her tie with one hand, and the other tried to control her crazy bangs.

She laughed to herself.

The sky was blanketed with gray. Snow drifted down slowly, but some attacked her face and hair due to the wind.

The sight of teenagers making snow-men made her laugh again. Everyone in her school was childish. A snow-ball whizzed past her face just by an inch. Just getting to school is so tough, Tifa thought to herself.

"Tifa! Tifa, you're here!"

Tifa giggled. She knew that voice all too well- Yuffie's hyper over-excited voice.

"Oh! Tifa."

She knew that voice too. Aerith's gentle voice that sounded like sunshine.

The two hurried and caught up with Tifa, Aerith taking one side and Yuffie taking the other. She smiled at both of them. "You knew I was sick...?"

"Yeah! But it's not a surprise that you made it here. You're strong enough for a little cold, right?" Yuffie said.

"Yes, we knew you've been sick yesterday. Are you feeling better now?" Aerith tilted her head so that Tifa could gaze into those alluring green eyes of hers. She had always been so envious of Aerith's eyes. Her eyes were brownish-red. A creepy and boring color.

"I'm feeling better." Tifa shouldered her bag. "Let's go in, shall we?"

The inside of the school was much worse as Aerith expected. All the kids were throwing snowballs, and she was ready to use her bag to shield herself away from them. According toYuffie, she looked hilarious.

Her long, braided-brown hair glistened from the snow-flakes that slightly layered over it. She shook them off while she took text-books out of her locker. What was her next subject? History? She took the extra book just in case.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Cloud Strife walk down the hall.