The class settled down after a few minutes, Mr Crescent beginning the class with general welcomes and a basic introduction of what is expected in his class. Cloud was surprised that after he finished talking and the class got to work, he went back to his desk, ignoring Cloud, despite him being a new student. Cloud thought nothing of it and instead continued with his work. It wasn't long before class was over, and kids began to rise from their seats. Cloud barely had time to gather his belongings to catch up with Tifa and Aerith, who were already heading towards the door.
"H-hey, wait!" Cloud called after them, trying to keep up.
"Shit, sorry!" Tifa stopped by the door and waited for cloud to catch them up.
"People are creatures of habit, so me and Tifa are used to just leaving straight away, I am very sorry" Aerith seemed genuine about her apology, and Tifa looked sorry too.
The morning passed uneventfully, Cloud took note of the actions of his fellow students. Aerith was sweet and mostly placid, but very strong willed. Tifa was, as it seemed, strong (Both physically and mentally) but sweet when she wanted to be.
It wasn't long before lunch rolled around and Cloud found himself sitting at a crowded table with a plate full of unsurprisingly unappetising food, which he was picking at slowly.
"..So, Yuffie, remind me of the plan again?" An orange haired student asked, munching on a piece of carrot.
Yuffie, a short, but energetic girl from another class, was seemingly planning celebrations for her birthday, a planning journal splayed out in front of her.
"Okay, so, you know how there's that club opening on that side of town?" she emphasised.
Everyone nodded, most the the chattering amongst the large group died down by now. Cloud didn't really know what she meant exactly by that, but he could hazard a guess.
"Well Reno here," she continued, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. "...Is going to get us in!".
Tifa looked unconvinced. "And just how is he going to get us in?" she questioned.
"It's a secret" Yuffie whispered, winking at Reno, who playfully winked back at her.
Tifa wasn't the only skeptical one; most of the group held looks of disbelief.
It was Zack who spoke next. "You can really do that?" he looked at Reno, a hint of excitement creeping up his face.
Reno smirked. "I sure can~!" he leaned over the table to get closer to Zack, a singsong voice echoing through the group.
Cloud spoke up. "I'd love to know how you'd do that, be sure to tell me Tifa"
"What do you mean Cloud? You're coming too, right?" Yuffie looked at Cloud puzzledly.
"You've only known me for one day, and you want me to come celebrate your birthday with you?" Cloud asked.
Zack interrupted. "You seem cool Cloud. Of course you're invited!"
"Yeah! I could've said that though Zack" she mumbled.
"Hmmmm?" Zackwas smiling cheekily.
"Anyways~~~ Cloud, it's this saturday,at 7pm" she turned to address the rest of the group, who'd been distracted by some dumb video on someones phone. "We'll meet at the train station near the club. You know how to get there Cloud?"
Cloud did not know how to get to the train station in question, nor did he even know which side of town it was on. But, before he could answer, another very familiar voice reverberated from behind him.
"He doesn't, but we can take him there" Sora smiled cheerfully from behind him. Cloud had not noticed Sora and Roxas' friends had been sitting at the table behind them.
"Cloud? You know them?" Aerith, who had been suspiciously quiet spoke up.
"It's a long stor-" he began.
"We're brothers-well, half brothers technically" Roxas said from his place seated behind Sora.
"Thanks for announcing that to everyone" Cloud grumbled.
"What? Are you embarrassed of us?" Sora feigned disappointment.
Cloud furrowed his brows. "Yes, of course I am, you suck."
"We take offence to that!" Roxas chimed in, standing up and walking closer towards the table, Sora in tow.
"Whatever. You know how to get to the train station?" Cloud asked.
Sora smiled smugly. "Yeah we do, and we can take you there, but" Sora's smile widened.
"You're only seventeen, and we could tell Mom and Dad." Roxas continued.
Cloud groaned. Of course there'd be a catch he thought. "How much would it cost to buy you silence?" Cloud crossed his arms.
"Hmmmm" Sora looked towards Roxas, who moved closer to Cloud's table.
"$20, and you do our laundry" the small brunette chuckled.
Cloud muttered "You gotta be shitting me, guh- alright fine!"
"Yay!" the two boys chorused in unison.
"Will you go away now?" Cloud asked, looking around at the table, who all seemed very engrossed in Cloud's conversation with his brothers.
"Nuh uh, we take payment up front" Sora grinned even wider, somehow.
Rolling his eyes, Cloud fished a 20 out of his wallet, handing it over to his persistent brothers, who ran off as soon as they pocketed the money.
Just as Cloud turned around to continue the conversation with his newly acquired friends, the lunch bell rang. He stood up and was about to join Tifa and Aerith in making their way to class, before Zack interrupted him.
"Do you want my email or phone number or something?" Zack slung his arm around Cloud's shoulder, pulling his small frame a little bit /too/ close for a casual exchange, but neither boys seemed to mind.
"Uh, sure I guess." Cloud felt awkward at the question.
"Oh, uh, it's only because you'll need someone's contact number, for Yuffie's birthday thing, ya know?" He stammered. Bullshit, but okay Cloud was very tempted to say, but kept his mouth shut.
Zack noted Cloud's silence, quickly following up with "I can give you Yuffie's number too as well if you want" Zack pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket, and scrawled his and Yuffie's contact info on it, before handing it to Cloud. It read:
ME = ZACKTHELEDGENDARY00
YUFFIE = THEIVINGNIGHTMARE .UK
Followed by their phone numbers. Cloud chucked at Zack's email address.
"What? I was 13!" he shouted, feigning upset.
"Pfft, whatever 'Zack The Legendary'" Cloud laughed, properly for the first time in a long time.
"Cloud, c'mon, class is starting!" Tifa called out to him.
"Shit, sorry, I gotta go" Cloud had forgotten her and Aerith would be waiting for him. He waved his goodbyes to Zack and ran in the girl's direction to join them.
