Chapter 1

Cloud Strife was one of the most popular guys at school. How could he not be? He was kind, considerate, good looking, smart, and willing to help anyone. He even had his own fan club, consisting of both boys and girls. He was always smiling, even if for no particular reason; it was comforting to some people, and others joked that it would be a cold day in hell before the blond ever got mad at someone.

Squall Leonhart was also popular. Not on the same level Cloud was, though. It was more of a 'jeez, who is that kid' popularity. Everyone knew him because no one knew him. He was the guy who sat in the back of all of his classes. He was the one who stayed after school everyday helping teachers just because they'd asked. He was the kid who got straight A's with what seemed like little work.

And he was madly in love with a blond boy named Cloud Strife, who would probably only ever know him as 'that weird guy that Yuffie sometimes talked to.'

This was what Yuffie thought about as she walked toward her first period class, for one of the few times in her life silent. Cloud was a dear friend, but God was he blind. It seemed as if everyone loved him, but Squall's love was a different love. It wasn't the 'oh my Gosh, he's so popular, I love him!' kind of love. It was the 'I'll do anything you want as long as you acknowledge me, pay attention to me, and maybe even love me too?' kind of love.

It made her sick to her stomach sometimes, knowing that Squall was so madly in love with someone who thought he was probably one of the weirdest human-beings on the planet. It had taken her a while to realize that the brunet was actually a pretty cool guy, and she wished other people would see it too. Why couldn't they see the same caring, loving guy that she did?

The only reason Squall stayed after school everyday and helped the teachers was because he had time to spare before he had to go by the middle school to pick up his little brothers. The only reason he sat in the back of all of his classes was because he felt that no one wanted anything to do with him, so it was easier. The only reason it seemed he got straight A's with what seemed like little work was because he needed to know everything he was taught, so he could help his little brothers with their homework, because his dad was always working abroad to support them. He was probably going to need a scholarship anyway, and the good grades helped.

And around all of his school and his brothers and their activities, he held a job at the local used-book store and café, the Book Bin. It helped that the old man who owned the store, Merlin, liked children; it helped even more that he especially liked Roxas and Sora, because they would always listen attentively to his stories of far away lands and ask him questions that he enjoyed answering. If Squall did have free time, it was usually spent on the couch, which was his bed, seeing as his little brother's had to share his father's queen-sized mattress on the floor.

The Leonharts had more than their share of problems. And Cloud was even friends with Sora and Roxas. Was the blond really so oblivious that he couldn't see that even Sora's smile was getting strained? The only reason he could still smile at all was because Merlin had promised both twins that they could have jobs at the Book Bin as soon as they finished eighth grade. Sure, it was a few months early, but it was probably for the best; their dad hadn't been able to send them a lot of money for a while.

Cloud worked very little; he'd only worked a few times for Cid Highwind, and even then, that was because his ever-so-loving parents had decided that for once in his life, he needed to earn his money. He had a nice house, parents who were basically rich, and what seemed like no problems whatsoever. ...Well, actually, he had no problems. At least, if he did, they were trivial in comparison to Squall Leonhart's.

But how to get the blond to see that Squall was not 'that one weird guy?' How would she get him to see the social outcast as 'that one guy that has too much on his plate and needs help?' She had to be subtle about this one; she couldn't let Cloud think she was setting him up and she couldn't let Squall feel as if his pride was in question. So how...

Passing by the psychology classroom, a light bulb lit up above Yuffie's head with a soft 'ping.' The psychology project! She wasn't taking psychology personally, but everyone was talking about how students partnered up and virtually switched lives for a week. And with a teacher like Mr. Valentine, it was most likely that he would be choosing partners.

Rushing into the classroom, the self-proclaimed 'Great Ninja' made her way to the usually scary man's desk. "Mr. Valentine! Mr. Valentine!"

The dark-haired man looked up from his lesson plans for the day and frowned. "May I help you? I don't believe I've seen you in my class before. ...And if you're here to get information on the project for a friend, please leave now. They'll find out today in class."

Yuffie laughed and shook her head. "No! That's not why I'm here at all! You see, my friend, Cloud--"

"Strife? He's failing my class." Vincent sighed in disappointment. "This is the only way he'll pass my class."

"Yeah, see, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," she stated, clasping her hands together hopefully. "I was wondering if you could partner Cloud up with Squall?"

"Squall? You mean Leon?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The small girl scowled and blew a raspberry. "Oh, please. I don't see why he goes by that stupid name. But yeah, Leon or Squall or whatever he calls himself. Could you pair him up with Cloud?"

Vincent raised his lesson plans back up for further inspection, fully intending to just say 'no,' but thought better of it. Slowly lowering the papers, he looked back down at the student looking so pleadingly at him. "Give me one good reason, and I might consider it."

"Cloud doesn't have to work at all, and Squall has to do nothing but work! He needs a break, and Cloud needs a reality check!" Yuffie answered swiftly, frowning.

"...You do realize that relaxing with Cloud in his stead may just cause Leon to have an anxiety attack?" he asked, raising an eyebrow again.

She rolled her eyes, then shook her head, leaning toward him. "Mr. Valentine, no offense, but sometimes, the student knows better than the teacher. You see, Cloud is blissfully unaware of how cruel life can be. And having Leon breathing down his neck to have everything perfect may just give him the kick in the ass he needs," she explained slowly, as if he was a child.

Vincent's eyebrow twitched, but he had to admit, the girl had a point. She should major in psychology. Smirking, he rested his arms on his desk. "I'll consider it, but only on one condition."

"What's that?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.

"You have to take my class next semester. Deal?"

Yuffie frowned, then smiled, holding her hand out for him to shake. "Teach, you got yourself a deal!"

-x-x-x-

"You'll each be assigned a partner with whom you'll switch lives. I expect an eight-page report on how you believe your-- ...let's call it a counterpart-- behaves based on their home life. You'll also be doing a five minute speech, and I expect a visual aid. And no, you will not be picking your own partners. I will be picking them for you."

Leon sighed and covered his face with his hands. 'Why me? What did I do to deserve this?'

"You'll be spending three days in each other's lives. Two will be weekdays; one will be a Saturday, as I've had too many complaints from parents and students alike that Sunday is the Sabbath," Vincent continued, not looking at the class as he wrote the criteria on the whiteboard.

"Sir? I heard that it was supposed to be a week-long project," Tidus stated, raising his hand.

The dark-haired man didn't even twitch. "Mr. Elwood, would you survive a week? I think not. Besides, I'm sure you'd all rather do your own homework and spend time with your own friends. Three days. This assignment is due a week from Thursday, so I suggest you go to each other's homes and places of work tonight to explain to your families or bosses. And I must warn you, when you're in your partner's class for him or her, the teachers will treat you exactly as they treat the original student. Which means--" he explained, finally turning toward the class. "--That even if Ms. Trepe loves you, if she dislikes your partner, she will act as if she dislikes you.

"This class will make or break you. If you have an A in this class and fail this assignment, you will fail this class. If you have an F and ace this assignment, I can guarantee you will pass my class with at least a B. And I can also guarantee that if you give me an honest effort, I will at least grace you with a C. That won't change your overall grade in this class."

"...So are you going to dish out our sentences or what?" Seifer drawled, obviously not caring whether he failed or not.

'Not with Seifer! Anyone but Seifer!' Leon begged, unconsciously tightening his grip on his pencil.

"Fine, Mr. Almasy. You're partnered with Mr. Dincht."

A loud 'thunk' was heard as Zell slammed his forehead onto his desk.

"Ms. Tilmitt, you'll be partnered with Ms. Heartilly."

Selphie and Rinoa smiled at each other from across the room.

"Mr. Strife, you're going to be with Mr. Leonhart."

Leon felt himself pale as the whole class turned to look at him. He sunk in his seat and bit his bottom lip, wishing he could just disappear as fan girls and fan boys of the adorable blond alike sent him death glares. Seifer Almasy was starting to look pretty good right now.

Realizing that he was letting the others win by shrinking under their stares, he sat up straight. If Sora and Roxas thought he was a coward, they'd just be even more protective of him. ...And a protective Sora and Roxas weren't fun as it was. He sent the other students a scathing glare of his own, grip on his pencil tightening until it snapped in his hands.

Taking this as a warning from the usually stoic male, almost every student turned their attention back to the front of the room. Leon sighed and rested his face in his hands. 'Life can't get any worse, can it?'

Cloud tilted his head slightly in thought, watching the brunet sink into what seemed like despair. Well, if Yuffie thought of him as a friend, he couldn't be all bad, could he? Sure, he was a little off-standish, but he could deal with that. After all, he was good friends with Sora and Roxas. Maybe he could find out how Leon, with little brothers as sweet and outgoing as his were, came out to be such a reclusive guy.

Besides, it's not like he'd be shocked if they came from a rich family and the brunet felt entitled. Seriously, Sora and Roxas, though frugal, always had money on them. Then again, they'd always made it a point to never allow themselves to let anyone bum money off of them, and became agitated if anyone kept pestering them about it.

Yes, he decided. This would be a wonderful learning experience. If not for psychology, just to be able to see how the oldest Leonhart came to act the way he did would be nice. Because, though he thought that Leon was strange, he also thought the brunet was strangely alluring.

In fact, if he hadn't been sure that his fan club would maul him, he would have asked Leon on a date. As it was, however, he was too afraid for the other's safety to make a move. Better to just wait it out and see if anyone ever became more popular than him.

He couldn't wait to make plans with Leon for the three days they'd spend in each other's lives.