Thoughts
Chapter 1: Breaking Smiles
I sighed. Another boring and uneventful day in Seventh Heaven. Of course, the drunken men who kept trying to hit on her was funny to watch, of course, but eventually it all felt to routine.
I looked up. Only a few more people left, then she was free to shower.
"Hey, Fifa! 'Nother one ovah here!" One of her customers said, drunk.
She fixed him a small drink, and placed it in front of him.
"Last one for tonight, Cid." I said, chastising him lightly.
"Aw, come on Teefs! I'm jut fine!" He said, attempting to sound normal.
"Cid, I don't want to have to kick you out. You're my friend, but I will if I have to." I said, placing my hands on my hips stubbornly.
This was normal, having to kick someone out because they drank their limit for the night. Sometimes I had to forcefully remove someone because they were disrupting and rude. I never liked kicking people out, but I really didn't want to kick out Cid. We've been through so much together...
I sighed. I moved back over to an empty part of the bar table-top, and started to wipe the already spotless counter clean.
I looked at the clock, 2:41 a.m. Just A little bit longer till closing time.
My thoughts wandered upstairs, to the sleeping children in their beds. I sighed quietly, remembering their conversation they exchanged before getting in bed.
***
"Marlene, what are you doing?" Denzel asked his "sister", who was sitting in the middle of her bed, arms wrapped protectively around her legs.
"I want Cloud to put me to bed." She said, sticking her bottom lip out in stubbornness.
"Marley, you know he's at work." Denzel sighed, moving over to sit by her on her bed. She scooted closer to Denzel, wrapping her arms around him. He put his arms around her, trying to comfort her.
Just then, Tifa came in, looking like she heard the what Marlene had said.
She came over and sat on the end of Marlene's bed. Marlene let go of Denzel and flew on to Tifa's lap. Tifa wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close.
"What's wrong, Marlene?" Tifa asked, stroking Marlene's hair out of her eyes.
"I want Cloudy to put me to sleep, Tifa." The little girl complained. Denzel saw how Tifa's eyes softened slightly at the mention of Cloud. Even though she wouldn't admit it to him, and he definitely knew, Tifa was head over heels for him. Cloud, of course, was either oblivious or he completely ignored her. Which wasn't like Cloud at all. Cloud and Tifa knew each other as well as themselves, but it was nothing more than friendship for him.
"Marley, you know he's at work right now." Tifa reminded her gently.
"But why isn't he ever here?" She pouted.
Tifa faked a smile. She almost looked happy, but Denzel could see that she was faking it.
"Marley, you can see him in the morning when you wake up. But, you have to get to sleep, first." She said, kissing the top of her head. Marlene yawned, then slipped under her covers. By then, Denzel had found his own bed and collapsed, too tired to get under the covers. Tifa laughed silently, getting off of Marlene's bed to tuck the already asleep Denzel in. She went to the door to their room, looked over their peaceful faces, smiled, turned off the light and went downstairs to attend to her remaining customers.
***
I snapped out of my day-dream when the door opened and the bell rang. Everyone in the bar was too drunk to notice.
I looked up, to see a blond chocobo-haired man walking towards me. My heart fluttered slightly when I noticed his blue eyes focused on me. I noticed something, different, about his demeanor. He was walking taller, a little more emotion in his eyes, and a slight smile playing at his lips. I was confused. He was never like this. So, uplifted. Obviously, I had looked somewhat curious to Cloud, because he then asked, "What's wrong, Tifa?"
I swallowed. Just him saying my name made my stomach flip. "Nothing." I lied.
He looked at me and raised his eyebrow. Obviously knowing I was lying.
"What's up with you? You seem, happier, than usual." I admitted, looking him over. Surprisingly, I thought I saw him, blush? What was up with him?
"Well, you know I was hanging out with Aeris, right?" He asked. I flinched slightly. No, I didn't know he was. He told me that he was out making deliveries. I knew he had a crush on her. It was a hopeless one, too. She loved Zack, right? But he couldn't understand. Why waste your energy on a love that was going nowhere, right?
I was shocked and maddened to realize that I was talking about the both of us.
"No, I didn't know. You said you were out making deliveries!" I hissed at him. He looked taken aback. I felt smug.
"N-no! I told you I was going to deliver some packages and then meet her in the Church!" He said raising his arms up in defense.
I sucked in a breath to calm down. It wouldn't do any good to get mad at him. "Okay. You were with Aeris. So what?" I said, trying desperately to hold onto my fast growing anger. He looked away, looking embarrassed, and blushed? Again? What was up?
"Well, I kinda, uh, asked her out on a date. And she said yes." He said, smiling his own heart-breaking smile.
