Some where I belong
Chapter 1
I want to find something I've wanted all along
Cloud sat alone in the hallway as everyone passed by him like, he wasn't even there. It's not like it was anything new. It had always been like this, he was never noticed. Occasionally, he'd look up at the people walking by, but never would try making contact with anyone of them. He wasn't good with people, he barely spoke in fact. He was always known as the loner kid with blonde hair. It was the start of his Junior year and as every year before that, he knew that nothing would ever change. He didn't have one single friend. Cloud figured that, he must be some form of people repellent. But, that didn't mean he wouldn't like some company. Cloud would like that very much.
The bell rang and everyone began walking to class. Cloud walked slowly down the crowded halls with his head down. / Another year of misery./ There was a lot of chatter going on amongst the other students about how their summers were and what they did. Others talked about their new boyfriends and girlfriends or about how so and so were still together. Cloud sighed. All their conversations were so typical. Though, it's not like, he wanted someone to ask him how his summer went, he doubted anyone would like to know anyway. Cloud's summer wasn't something to brag about anyways.
He looked down at his schedule and found his classroom. He stood in front of the door and took a deep breathe before going in. /It's ok. Everything's going to be fine. Right? Who am I kidding. I'm not going to waste my time trying to make myself feel better./Cloud walked in and found a class full of chattering, anxious, and excited people. Cloud quickly looked downward not making eye contact with anyone and took a seat at the desk closets to the window at the third to last desk in the first row. He took out his notebook and pen and began writing out his anxiety. Cloud looked up and saw some familiar faces.
He recognized a girl named Tifa, captain of the varsity cheer squad. She was always smiling and talking away with all her friends about this and that. Tifa is also very popular with all the guys. Cloud didn't see what was so great about her. Cloud also recognized Reno, he was known as the funny cool guy that everyone wanted to be around. Reno was just ok in Cloud's eyes. Cloud looked to the right and there, he was Zack Fair./ I didn't know was going to get a class with Zack! This is bad. How am I going to be able to concentrate now?/ Cloud began to stress, he had been crushing on Zack since freshmen year. Now that, he has a class with him, he honestly didn't know what to do. Zack was his ultimate heart attack. Though, Cloud wasn't the only one crushing on Zack, there are many girls that like him as well. Zack was the schools heart throb.
/ This is so bad. I can't handle being in the same class as Zack! I just can't! Oh no, I think I'm starting to hyperventilate!/ Cloud began taking deep breathes just as the late bell rang and the teacher walked in.
" Welcome to a brand new year class. I'll be your History for this entire year. You can call me, Mr. lazard."
Mr. Lazard held up his roll sheet and began to call off names.
" Tifa Lockhart?"
" I'm here, sir." Tifa said smiling.
" Ok. Zack Fair?"
" Right here." Zack said as a couple of girls swooned. Cloud might have to, but he was to busy hyperventilating.
" Reno Turk?"
" Yo!" Reno shouted which caused everyone to laugh.
Mr. Lazard just raised his eyebrow at him and continued.
" Squall Leonhart?"
" It's Leon actually." Leon said quickly.
" So, it's Leon Leonhart?"
" Uh, yeah." Leon said a little embarrassed as some people laughed.
" Ok. Vincent Valentine?"
" Here." Vincent said and began talking with Zack again.
" Cloud Strife?" Mr. Lazard asked looking around. Cloud was desperately trying to catch his breath. /Breathe, breathe. It's ok, being in the same class as Zack isn't going to kill you. I should consider this a blessing that I get to be in the same room as him./
" Cloud Strife?" Mr. Lazard asked again. Cloud realized, he was being called and caught his breath.
" Here."
" Good." Mr. Lazard said and began to continue on with the roll call.
Cloud sighed. / I hope he doesn't think I was ignoring him./
The rest of the class period went by quickly. Mr. lazard passed out some handouts about his rules, grading and things that they'd be learning about this year. Cloud was relieved when he heard the bell ring and quickly ran out the class into the hallway. / Oh my god. I'm so glad to get out of that room./ He looked down at his schedule and saw that he had English next. Cloud began walking to his class when, he saw Zack walk into the classroom, he was headed for. Cloud froze. / No way. I'm literally going to die. I have another class with Zack?!/ Cloud felt a little faint, but walked into the classroom anyway and took a seat.
He looked up and saw the teacher. She looked in her mid thirties, she had long brown hair and wore a simple blue top and skirt. " Hello class and welcome! I'm Ms. Crescent."
Vincent whispered to Zack. " Check her out." Zack oohed and they laughed.
" Now class we're going to do an introduction assignment. So, when I call on you, I want you to stand up, state your name and tell the class what you did this summer."
Cloud just put his down on the table. / It doesn't get any worse than this. I have nothing to say about my summer. I can barely speak to other people so how am I supposed to speak out loud? Especially, in front of Zack./
Ms. Crescent smiled. " Alright class now who'd like to go first?"
Reno raised his hand and stood up. " Yo! My name is Reno. This summer I hit the beach and got my tan on. Also, I met some pretty ladies." Reno winked, which made some girls giggle. " I also hung out with my friends and partied."
" It sounds like you had a good time this summer, Reno." Ms. Crescent said.
" Oh, believe me I did." Reno said and sat down.
" Alright, who would like to go next? How about Zack Fair?"
Zack stood up and had Cloud's full attention.
" Hi, I'm Zack. This summer I spent alot of my time working out and going out with my friends." Zack said and sat down.
Cloud stared at Zack. / I know he didn't say much, but I felt myself melt watching his lips move./
" That's good, Zack. Now how about Cloud Strife goes next?" Ms. Crescent said smiling.
Cloud stopped staring at Zack and looked at Ms. Crescent. / No!/
" I can't." Cloud whispered to Ms. Crescent. " Oh, sure you can Cloud come on." She pulled Cloud and made him stand.
" Now, introduce yourself to the class and tell us what you did this summer."
Cloud looked down and talked softly. " I'm C-Cloud and this summer I did nothing." He said quickly and sat down.
Ms. Crescent looked at Cloud. " You couldn't have done nothing Cloud." Cloud just continued to look down at his desk.
" Cloud if you want credit for this assignment your going to have to say something. How about you tell us about your family?"
Cloud shook his head. " You wouldn't want to know."
" Yes, we would. So how many siblings do you have?"
" I have four brothers."
" How old are they?"
" Ones eighteen and the other three are fifteen."
Ms.Crescent smiled. " What are they like?"
Cloud looked down. " I really don't know what to say anymore."
" That's ok. Leon would you like to go next?" Leon agreed and began to talk about his summer.
Cloud sat in his desk really embarrassed. He never would speak in this class again, he had to talk longer than everyone else! / At this point I really just want to go home. I don't want to go to my other classes and find out that I have to do something like this again or find out I have another class with Zack./ Cloud sunk down in his seat as the introductions continued. He couldn't wait until the day was over. The introductions continued and the class period shortly ended after. Cloud went to his third period class which was like his first except it was Science. In that class, he didn't see anyone, he recognized so he was glad.
Break had approached and everyone was in the halls talking with friends and snacking. Cloud quickly sat at his usual place in the corner of the hall and put on his earphones to zone everyone out. He let the music takeover and he felt himself beginning to relax. Music was literally the only thing he had. It was his only comfort, he knew he always had his music. Just as Cloud put his head back against the wall, he felt something hit face. Cloud opened eyes and he touched his face. He looked in his hand and saw some lettuce and mustard, he then looked down on his lap and saw the rest of the sandwich.
Cloud looked up and saw a group of guys laughing from the other side of the hallway. " Dude, I can't believe you hit him. Ha ha."
" See I told I could hit him!"
" Ha! You should've seen the look on his face."
" Yeah, what a loser."
The guy that threw the sandwich went over to Cloud and grabbed him by his hair. Cloud winced and looked up at him. " See, this is what happens to no bodies like you. We don't need people like you at this school making us look like freaks. Obviously, your not wanted here seeing you don't have a single friend. Face it Strife, it's been three years and still no one wants to talk to you. So, take a hint and leave!" He let go of Cloud and walked back to his friends.
Cloud just put his head down began wiping the mustard off his face with his hand. He heard screaming and awing down the hallway and he knew what was coming. Sephiroth was walking down the hallway with Genesis and Angeal. They were the most feared and admired seniors in the school. He heard people yelling. " Omg, hi Sephiroth!" and " Wow, their amazing."
Sephiroth smirked. He liked all the attention. " Looks like we're a hit boys." Sephiroth said waving at few people. Angeal laughed. " Looks like it." Genesis smiled and kept reading his favorite book, ' LOVELESS '. It had always been this way for the three of them. They've always been the center of attention and no one dared to cross them. Sephiroth is leader of the three, he's very headstrong, confident and at times he can be very demanding. You either want to be with him or be him. Angeal was the strong and caring one. He knew how to hold up in situations and always has his friends backs. Genesis was the cunning and sly one. Always carrying his book, he basically lived on all of it's concepts. Genesis knew how to get what he wanted.
As the three walked down the hall, Sephiorth spotted Cloud wiping mustard off his face. As the three passed Cloud, Sephirothturned to him and smirked. " Now Cloud, what did I tell you? Don't play with your food." Genesis and Angealchuckled at this comment and they all continued walking. Cloud's face became slightly red and he felt warm tears forming in his eyes. He quickly got up and ran down the hallway. /What a great way to start off a new year. I feel so embarrassed. Especially in front of Sephiroth. But, what was I expecting him to do? Did I expect him to comfort me? No, I didn't expect him to...I just wanted him to./ Cloud ran into the boys restroom and looked around to find that it was empty. He put his bag down and began washing off his face. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. / I didn't even do anything to those guys. They had no reason to throw something at me or maybe they did. Maybe, I am a freak./ Cloud picked up his things and sat inside of a stall.
Cloud made sure he locked the door and he took out his writing journal and began to write. / I feel so alone. It's such a familiar feeling. I can't remember the last time I was happy. I don't think I'm capable of feeling happiness anymore. That guy was right, I am a nobody. No one cares about me and no one ever will./ Cloud heard the bell rang to go to fourth period, but he ignored it. He wasn't going anywhere.
He heard shuffling of feet out in the hallways and knew everyone was headed to class. Cloud put his back against the stall and he cried. He cried because he was lonely, sad, scared and unwanted. / I've always wondered when that day would come. The day I've longed for so badly. The day when someone finally loved me. But, it seems like that day will never come for me. Why am I still alive? I just don't know anymore. I having nothing to live for./ Cloud stayed in the bathroom writing down his thoughts through all fourth and fifth period. He knew he'd be able to get away with it. It's not like anyone would come looking for him.
Cloud heard the bell ring for the fifth time, he had been the restroom and he knew it was lunch now. He packed his things in his bag and walked out of the stall and out of the restroom. He was immediately thrown into the crowded hallway and he began walking to the lunch area. / I am kind of hungry. I guess I could get something to eat./Cloud thought as he walked into the lunch room. He looked around and saw Zack sitting at his usual table with Reno, Leon and Vincent. They've all been best friends since freshmen year. They call themselves the 'LOCS'. Leon is known as Lady locs, Reno is Reni locs, Zack is Zacky locs and Vincent is Vincy locs. Cloud thought it was silly. He was envious of them, because they always have someone by their sides. Their never alone, because they have each other.
Cloud checked his pockets and bag in search of money, but discovered he didn't have any. / How am I supposed to get lunch now?/He looked around and saw Loz sitting at a table with his friends eating lunch. Cloud went over to Loz. " Do you have any money I can borrow? I'll pay you back as soon as I get the money." Loz checked his pockets and looked back at Cloud. " Sorry, I don't have anymore." Cloud looked down and walked. He looked around again looking for someone he could ask. He saw Sephiroth, but he knew he couldn't ask him. He turned to the right and saw Yazoo talking with some guy he didn't recognize. Cloud went over to him tapped him on the shoulder. Yazoo turned around and looked at Cloud.
" Do you have any money I can borrow? I'll pay you back as soon as I can get the money."
Yazoo was about to say something, when the guy he was talking pushed Cloud back and said " What the hell? Get your own money loser." Cloud looked at the guy and looked back down and was about to walk away when he heard Yazoo say " Don't talk to him like that you ass." Yazoo pushed the guy away and smiled as he handed Cloud the money. " I'm sorry about that, Cloud and don't worry you don't have to pay me back." Cloud nodded. " Thanks, Yazoo." He then went into the lunch line and bought a salad. Cloud then took a seat at a empty table and began eating his salad.
/It was real nice of Yazoo to let me borrow money. I wasn't expecting that./ Cloud thought as he ate his salad and stared at Zack from across the room. Cloud saw Zack smiling and laughing with his friends. / He has an amazing smile. I wish Zack would smile at me one day./ Cloud thought. He was about to take another bite of his salad, when it was knocked off the table by the same guy that threw the sandwich at him today in the hall. " Don't go crying now, Strife." He laughed and walked away.
Cloud just cleaned up the salad on the floor and threw it in the trash. He then sat back down at his table and put his head down. /It's ok. I don't deserve to eat anyway./ He heard talking coming from a table near by and recognized Sephiroth's voice. " Yeah, totally. Let's hang out after school." He heard Sephiroth say. " Don't you have to take care of your brothers?" Genesis asked. Sephiroth laughed. " They can take care and feed their selves. They don't need me." Angeal looked at him. " Do they have any money for food?" Sephiroth shrugged. " Who cares. I need the money more than they do tonight."
Genesis sighed. " Loveless, act I." Cloud felt his stomach grumble. / I guess I won't be eating tonight either./ He heard the bell and ran out of the lunch room to his last class which was P.E. Cloud sulked as he walked into the gym. / What a great way to end the day./ He took a seat on the bleachers and put his head down. " Gym! My favorite class." Zack said smiling at Vincent.
Vincent smirked. " I'm surprised we have so many classes together."
" I know man! We're so lucky." Zack said as he and Vincent took a seat on the bleachers.
Cloud tensed as, he heard Zack's voice. / I'm not even going to look up./ Cloud thought.
" Alright, everyone! I'm Cid Highwind, but y'all can just call me Cid." Cid said.
" Today isn't much of big deal. I'm just going to pass out your locker numbers and you guys can go check them out and see where their located and after that come back here and I'll tell ya, what's goin' to be going on this year." Cid said and started handing out locker numbers. " Y'all can in the locker room now and find your lockers."
Cloud got up and followed slowly behind the crowd of excited guys heading in the locker room. Cloud looked down at the paper he received with a number on it. 'Locker number 648' Cloud headed down the row of lockers and found his locker. " What number did you get Vincent?" Zack asked. Vincent looked down at his piece of paper. " Locker number 547. You?" Zack looked at his paper. " Locker number 647." Vincent smirked and they both went to their lockers.
Cloud was sitting on the bench in front of his locker thinking. / If I stay in here the whole period I don't have sit out there on the bleachers with Zack./ " Woo! I found you." Zack said as he slammed his hand on the locker. Cloud jumped and looked at Zack and froze. / No way! No, no, no Zack's locker can't be next to mine. No!/Zack looked at Cloud and put his hand on his shoulder. " Hey neighbor!" Zack said to Cloud. Cloud just sat there literally frozen. " I'm Zack. What's your name?" Cloud felt his palms begin to sweat. " I-I'm Cloud." Zack smiled. " Nice to meet you Cloud. Well, I'll be seeing ya out in the gym. Later!" Zack said and left.
Cloud sat there still frozen for a few seconds / Oh god./ He then ran into a bathroom stall and threw up.
Cloud threw up the whole class period and never came out of the locker room. He couldn't believe his locker was right next to Zack's! That means he would be looking at Zack's naked body all year! Not that Cloud minded though, but Zack would see his naked body too and what if Zack caught Cloud staring at him?! Cloud knew he would die sometime during Gym class.
Cloud finally walked out of the school after throwing up all sixth period. He still felt a little sick and knowing that he had to walk home didn't make him feel any better. He looked toward the school parking lot and saw Sephiroth in his car with Genesis and Angeal. He knew that they were going out to some party, but it would be nice if Sephiroth offered him a ride home. Though it didn't happen while Cloud walked down the sidewalk Sephiroth stuck his head out the window and said " Bye Cloud, be good!" They then drove off down the street. Cloud just hung his head down and continued to walk home.
/ Today was one of the worst day's of my life. I found out I had three classes with Zack and that my locker's right next to his, I got a sandwich thrown at my face, I ditched fourth and fifth period, I had my salad thrown on the floor by the same jerk and I spent all of sixth period throwing up./
Cloud sighed as, he reached his house and walked in side. " Loz give me the damn remote!" Kadaj yelled trying to take the remote from Loz. " Sorry Kadaj, I got it first." Loz said and started flipping through the channels. " I don't care!" Kadaj yelled and attacked Lozand they started wrestling on the couch for the remote. Cloud shook his head and shut the front door. He ignored Loz and Kadaj'sscreams from the couch and began walking up stairs. As he got to the top of the stairs, he heard loud pop music coming from one of the rooms. He walked down the hallway and saw an open door. Cloud took a look inside and realized that the music was coming from Yazoo's room. He saw Yazoo dancing in front of his mirror to Britney Spears song ' Toxic'.
Yazoo started shaking his behind and flipping his hair in front of the mirror as he danced and sung along. " I'm addicted to you, don't you know that your toxic! Intoxicate me now, with your lovin' now, I think I'm ready now!" He continued and his dancing only got more seductive. " Woo!" He yelled and started dancing faster. Cloud was completely dumbfounded and just walked away. He went into his room and shut the door.
Cloud laid on his bed and sighed. /I'm tired and hungry. But, Sephiroth left us with no money./ Cloud got off his bed and stood in front of the mirror and fluffed his hair out a little. / My hair didn't look to good today. I wonder if Zack secretly criticized it in his head./Cloud was about to go lay back down, but heard a loud crash down stairs. He quickly ran down stairs to see what had happened. He looked in the living room and saw Kadaj standing in front of a broken vase.
" Shit! Loz look what you've done! Sephiroth's going to have a bitch fit!" Kadaj yelled.
" Hey, your the one that pushed me into the shelf!" Loz yelled back in his defense.
Kadaj raised an eyebrow. " Oh yeah? Well, if your ass wasn't so big, maybe it wouldn't have crashed into the shelf!"
" What did you just say?!" Loz yelled and got in Kadaj's face.
" You heard me bubble butt!" Kadaj screamed as Loz and him engaged in battle once again and were now wrestling on the floor.
" Stop it you guys!" Cloud said.
" Shut up you pansy!" Kadaj yelled while struggling with Loz.
" Hey! Don't talk to Cloud like that, Kadaj!" Yazoo said as, he came down the stairs.
" Shut up, Yazoo! You FUGLY slut!"
Yazoo's eyes bulged out and his face turned red. " WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST CALL ME BITCH!" He screamed and lunged at Kadaj and Loz. All three of them were now in a full out brawl.
Cloud sighed and went into the kitchen. / This is just my typical night./Cloud look in the cabinet and found a pop tart./ Yes! Food./ He quickly grabbed it and ran out of the kitchen. He looked towards the living room and still saw his three brothers fighting. Cloud sighed and went back up stairs to his room. / I mean I could try to stop them, but I doubt they'd listen./
Cloud laid on his bed again and began nibbling on his pop tart. / I just hope tomorrow will be a better day./ He continued eating his pop tart as he heard loud crashing, banging, and yelling down stairs.
" Get off me!"
" No!"
" Kadaj I'm going to kill you!"
" Not if I kill you first Yazoo and Loz your double bubble ass is mine!"
" Oh hell no! You did not just call me double bubble!"
" I just did!"
Cloud sighed and shook his head. " Help me."
End of chapter 1. Please review! I want to know what you think. I won't update until I get a review. Chapter 2 in progress! Thanks for reading!
