Final Fantasy VII: The Thing Least Expected
"Why do I have to go to private school, mom?" asked Aeris
"Because," said Elmyra, Aeris's mother "Public school is not a good place for you."
"I dunno about that but… whatever." Replied Aeris, wearily.
Aeris didn't mind having to go to private school, but she wondered what was all so bad about public school.
Aeris Gainsborough was a pretty, average girl. She was 15, with long wavy brown hair, emerald eyes, and a sweet disposition. She and her adoptive mother, Elmyra, had just moved to a new house and town in the world of Midgar.
Aeris flopped onto her bed. She was scared of starting highschool. She thought about her new school. She had the same worries and fears as any other student starting at a new school. "What will it be like?" "Will I make friends?" The thoughts spun in her head, and eventually, she fell asleep.
Aeris was, in short, a morning person. She had had a strange dream, shadowy figures calling her name. She shook off the feeling of impending doom, put a bright smile on her face, and tried on her new school uniform. It was pink and yellow, being that it was an all-girl school. The sailor top buttoned around her, fitting snugly. The pink skirt was a medium length, so her butt faced no peril. She pulled her long, wavy, brown hair into a long braid and tied a pink ribbon around it for effect. After examining her face, she determined that she looked alright. She had never thought she was pretty, but in the eyes of everyone else, she was beautiful. She pulled her kneesocks on, slung her backpack over her back, and marched down the stairs to see if her mother approved.
Elmyra's eyes glistened.
"Oh Aeris!" she cried. "My baby is starting highschool!"
She hugged Aeris then held her out at arms length.
"Sweetie, you're beautiful." She wiped tears from her own eyes.
"Now go on, " Elmyra urged "Gain knowledge, grow more mature…"
Elmyra walked Aeris to the door. Mother and daughter waved goodbye and Aeris Gainsborough started for school.
The road to Aeris' school was long and twisted, and it's quite the wonder that she didn't get lost. But we'll return to that later.
By the time Aeris arrived, it was five minutes until the bell rang. She went to the office to figure out what to do.
"May I help you?" asked the office receptionist.
"Yes, I'm new here and I'm not quite sure what to do." Said Aeris.
"Of course, you're Ms. Gainsborough, aren't you?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Well, I am Mrs. Johnson, and if you need anything, just ask." Mrs. Johnson replied, handing Aeris papers containing information such as her homeroom teacher, schedule, and locker.
"Thankyou so much." Aeris said, bowing in reverence, as is Japanese custom.
"Best hurry, bell's about to ring." Said Mrs. Johnson.
"Of course, thankyou." Aeris replied turning to bow again.
"Hurry!!" Mrs. Johnson urged, as Aeris rushed out the door.
Aeris ran to her locker and put away her things, but in a surprisingly neat way. The bell rang, loud and clear, and echoed through the hallway.
"Perfect. Late on the first day." She thought silently.
She picked up her books, and headed to homeroom, where she was reprimanded for being tardy, but didn't get into any serious trouble, because she was new. Aeris let out a sigh of relief and slumped down in her chair and let the day begin to unfold.
The day wore through Aeris. By the end, she was ready to crash. She was a little unnerved that she hadn't made any friends, but she had definitely talked to people. And that had to count for something, right?
She pressed through the crowd of giggling girls, and walked onto the main road. However, Aeris was in such a hurry to get home, she decided to take a different road home. Unfortunately, Aeris had no idea where on earth she was going. And after a few turns she was lost.
Aeris was a wreck. She turned one way then another, and finally found herself in a dark alley. And that was when she knew she was lost. She sat down on the black top, wondering what to do. Finally, three boys came stumbling around the corner. They were swaying. And Aeris' first impression was that they were drunk.
But Aeris, being the trusting person she was, asked for directions.
"Um, excuse me, but can you tell me where I am?" she asked politely.
One boy who, from the way he carried himself, was the leader, and he stumbled up to her. His eyes stayed reverted to everything below her neck.
"No but I can tell you how to get back to my place." He said, his breath smelled of alcohol.
Fear shot through Aeris' veins.
"Um, never mind, I think I'll just be going…" she said, beginning to turn around.
One of the boys slammed her against the brick wall of the building that made part of the alley. Aeris cried out in pain. The leader staggered up to her, making her uncomfortable. His eyes were a greenish blue, and his hair was long, straight and silver. He wore a Black Jacket which had a single patch on it that read, S.H.M. His jeans were tightish yet baggy at the same time ,he wore apair of black boots on his feet.
"What's the matter baby?" he crooned "don't wanna come home with me?" he pouted. "I was getting all excited in thinking I would have a little fun."
The other boys snickered. Aeris glared. She threw off the grip of the other boys, slapped "Leader" and ran. Unfortunately, the leader grabbed her arm as she turned, and threw her to the pavement. The boys started to beat her. Her uniform scuffed, her braid came undone, tears filled those brilliant green eyes, and she tried to get up. The leader, however, had different ideas.
"Well if you don't wanna come with me, then you might as well be dead." He grinned, the alcohol, filling the air where the breath left his mouth. He pulled something shiny from inside his S.H.M. jacket.
Aeris screamed. The leader covered her mouth. The knife was inches above her.
"I want to see the light leave those eyes… those beautiful emerald eyes…." He whispered, coming close to her face. He uncovered his hand, and leaned down to give her a gentle kiss but Aeris' vocal cords were faster.
"Why do you want to kill me? Why?"
"It's the price you pay for refusing me." He whispered. "Any other girl would kill to be in your position, just, without the part for me having to kill you. But then, I wouldn't have to if…"
The roar of a motorcycle was heard nearby.
"Help! Help me!" screamed Aeris. She threw off the leader's grip and ran toward the sound. The leader staggered after her, attempting to pull her down again, but the adrenaline spurred her on.
The motorcycle turned the corner of the alley. Aeris tripped about 6 feet in front of it. The driver took off his sunglasses to reveal the same eyes that the leader and other boys had. Aeris looked up at the driver, and not knowing whether he was friend or foe, she just stared.
"Help… me…." Aeris said in a weak, strained voice.
The driver was blond with spiked hair. He wore a black leather jacket with a patch on it, but Aeris was too far away to tell what it read. He wore tight jeans and a pair of black boots. If she hadn't been too afraid to think she would have thought him another one of the gang who had just assaulted her.
He looked at her,, expressionless. And for one long moment Aeris was afraid he was going to blaze right past her.
"Please help." She thought, hoping she could display her need on her face.
The drivers face turned into an expression filled with hatred and fury. Not at Aeris but at the gang. He got off the bike. And yelled the boys' names but Aeris was too woozy to understand them. She knew she was losing a lot of blood.
"Did he stab me? I don't remember getting cut."
The next thing Aeris knew, the boys were gone and the driver was helping her up.
"Are you okay?" he asked. His features were severe but he had kindness written in his eyes and face.
"I'm fine. That was pretty cool. Why'd they run?" she asked, hoping the question did not hurt his pride.
"Because I've beat them before." He replied. "Where do you live, I'll take you home."
"Thank you." She replied. "Except I don't know where I am."
"You're about ½ a mile away from that snobby girl's school." He eyed her school uniform. "Sorry." He said awkwardly.
"Not at all. Some of the girls hold and act that reputation to it's fullest extent."
"Cool. Well, I am Cloud Strife." Cloud said awkwardly, obviously not a good conversation starter.
"I am Aeris Gainsborough." She replied.
"Anyway, I'll take you home. Where do you live again?"
"In that sub-division next to that old-looking apartment complex." Aeris replied
Cloud looked hurt for a moment.
"Sorry." She apologized quickly.
"Nah, and it's really not that old. Just not built right." He said. "So I guess we call it even."
"Okay." Aeris smiled.
Cloud helped her over to his motorcycle and helped seat her on it in a way so that she wouldn't get dragged under the tires to her death. He got on in front of her. But turned around when he heard Aeris clench her teeth.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing just a little cut on my leg." She replied.
"You," he said "Have an extremely high pain threshold. Let me see your leg."
He gaped at the 6 inch by ¼ inch cut on her leg.
"An extremely high pain threshold." He murmured.
He turned around to face the railings on the bike.
"We are stopping by my house on the way to yours. I have a lot of medical stuff there." Cloud replied.
Cloud revved the engine for effect. Aeris grabbed his waist tightly as the rush of the motorcycle flowed around her. She gripped harder as they spun around the corner. Out of impulse he grabbed the hand on his waist, but, remembering they had just met, he moved his hands back to the handles. Aeris blushed deep red.
"What's the matter? Never ridden a motorcycle before?" he shouted over the roar of the wind.
"Yes! This is my first ride!" Aeris called out.
Cloud looked back at her bleeding leg, it was getting worse. He slowed the bike to a stop. And got off the bike to examine her leg.
"I need to cover it until I can wrap it." He replied.
He turned to his bike's space compartment and pulled out a white rag, one of two, that were kept to look at the bike, should it stop suddenly.
He wrapped the rag around Aeris's leg, turning it into a temporary bandage.
"Thankyou." She whispered softly.
Cloud shrugged. "No problem."
The two got on the motercycle again, and rode back to the main road. After a while, they passed Aeris's house.
"That's my house!" she shouted.
"Well, I'll know where to find it when we get back."
Aeris giggled.
"Cloud, you act tough, but I can tell that you're a sweetheart inside."
Cloud flushed.
"Stop talking stupid."
The two arrived in front of an apartment that was next to a restraunt called 7th Heaven.
Cloud helped the limping Aeris up the stairs to his apartment. He rummaged through his pockets for a key, then opened the door.
The apartment was neither lavished nor shabby. And the place was surprisingly neat, for a guy's apartment. A squishy, patched blue couch sat against the left wall. The wooden coffee table sat a few feet in front of it. A lamp sat on a side table to the right of the couch, while a small TV sat againstthe right wall. It sat on a table next to a lamp, that was identicle to the one by the couch. Beyond the living room, you could see a hallway with three doors, undoubtedly the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.
"Nice place, Cloud," Aeris commented.
"Thanks. It's not much but it's home." Said Cloud, although he looked pleased by the statement.
Cloud led Aeris to the couch, where she sat down without being asked. Cloud laughed under his breath then stopped, knowingshe must be in pain. She was quite a sight. Her hair was falling out of it's braid, leaving whisps of her long auburn brown hair falling around her face. Her school uniform was ripped in places, and her left sock was bloody from her cut. But, Cloud somehow thought she looked pretty. He left Aeris on the couch, and wandered into his bathroom, fumbling around for the First Aid kit. He found it stashed behind some extra toothpaste, and brought it to Aeris, who was now biting her lip so she wouldn't cry out. Cloud smiled to himself, she was tough, not like other girls.
He bent down next to her leg and took the bloody rag off. He opened the First Aid kit and took out the bandages. After dousing her leg in a blue colored fluid, he wrapped the bandage around her leg. Aeris gaped.
"It looks better already!" she exclaimed.
"It's nothing." Cloud said.
"Thanks!" Aeris said happily.
"Really, it's no problem." He replied.
"Okay, so you save my life, give me a ride home and fix my leg. And we barely even know eachother. What could I do for you in return…?" Aeris said.
"Hmmm, how about a date with a pretty girl like you?" He said, grinning. He really did like Aeris and wanted to see her again.
"Alright then, here's my phone number." She said, scribbling it down on a pad of paper which sat on the coffee table.
Cloud picked up the pad, and wrote down his number, tore the sheet off andhanded it to Aeris.
She put the phone number in her pocket and grinned."
"Shall you take me home now, Mr. Strife?" Aeris asked.
To any other girl, Cloud would have said: "Why not stick around a little while?" but he knew Aeris wasn't that kind of girl. So he replied, almost sadly:
"Your carriage awaits, Ms. Gainsborough."
"Thankyou, Mr. Strife." She said, taking his outstretched arm.
The two walked down the stairs to Cloud's motercycle. Aeris got on the back and gripped Cloud's waist as the two zoomed down the main road. Cloud screeched to a stop in front of Aeris's house.
"Come inside with me." Aeris said.
Cloud laughed at her demanding ways. Yet he followed her inside the house anyway.
A lady who Cloud recognized as Aeris's mother ran down the stairs and embraced Aeris.
"Where have you been?!" Elmyra demanded.
Aeris stared at the clock on the wall. School had let out two hours ago.
It was then that Elmyra spotted Cloud.
"You!" Elmyra said, eyeing his attire. She pointed at Cloud, imperiously. "What. Did. You. Do. To. My. DAUGHTER?!" she growled.
"Woah," Cloud said holding up his arms in retreat.
"Mo-om!" Aeris yelled. Grabbing her mother's shoulder.
"He didn't do ANYTHING. He just about saved my life so will you just cut it out?" Aeris glared.
Elmyra's hand dropped to her side and she started bowing in repentance.
"I'm very sorry, I shouldn't jump to conclusions, I—" Elmyra was interupted.
"No big, Mrs. G." Cloud replied.
Aeris then repeated her experience with the boys and how Cloud had helped her out.
Elmyra's hand flew to cover her open mouth.
"Oh my word, I… oh my word." Elmyra stuttered.
"Aeris dear, you must be exhausted, why don't you go to bed while I have a word with our Mr. Strife?"
Aeris contemplated this thought then agreed, and went upstairs.
Cloud and Elmyra waited until the door had clicked shut.
"Cloud… I don't think you should be hanging out with Aeris." Elmyra said awkwardly.
"Wait a minute, what did I—" Cloud said, his voice raising.
"No. I know your type. Motercycle gangs. I don't want Aeris to turn into one of those 'motercycle- sluts'. I forbid you to see her again." Elmyra glared.
Cloud laughed. "Mrs. G, you need to catch up with the times, no one follows a parents' forbidding, and I am NOT in a motercycle gang. I was a long time ago, but my life is different so," he said, turning around, "Have a nice day. I'm gonna take Aeris out on a date sometime, somewhere nice."
Elmyra fumed. "After all I did to keep Aeris a good girl. The day I found her was the happiest day of my life… and now, you're going to ruin all that, you—"
Now it was Cloud's turn to fume. "Listen here you, I wouldn't do anything to hurt Aeris, I think she's a really nice girl. I have no reason to ever want to hurt her. Good DAY." He said, angrily stalking out of the house. He was used to being oppressed for his appearance but, this, this was too much. How on earth could Aeris, be realated to that witch? Then he remembered,
"The day I found her…" Cloud quoted. Aeris was adopted?