Thank you for the reviews XD

Yes, Zack is going to like Tifa so if you don't like that pairing, I wouldn't read anymore. Personally, I think the pairing works but that's just me.

School Dance

Tifa stared sadly into the reflection before her, wiping away the few tears that still poured down her cheeks. Her pale skin was stained with tear marks and her normally beautiful crimson eyes were bloodshot. She gave a soft sigh, turning the tap on and threw some cold water on her face before inspecting it once more. After a moment of fixing her hair, she decided it would just have to do and she grabbed her stuff.

The moment she opened the door, she almost collided with Zack, who had been leaning on the lockers across from the toilets and had leapt forward upon her appearance. He grinned as he watched her hold her chest in a symbol of her fright, sending a glare his way. He suddenly let his expression change to a serious one and gave a small sigh.

"Hey, listen Teef, about earlier…I didn't mean it like that. I just meant…" he began before he rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, can we go for a walk or something? I don't really want everyone around at the moment."

Tifa frowned but gave a small shrug. "Yeah, okay."

Zack nodded and led the way out into the school grounds. They walked across the car park in silence, heading for the grassy banks that surrounded the school. Zack plopped down instantly, staring up at the sky with little interest. Tifa sat beside him, her legs crossed and the palms of her hands firmly on the ground.

"So?" she said at length after a moment of silence. "Why did you want to come out here?"

"Huh? Oh, I want to say I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it like that."

Tifa sighed. "I know. I was just upset that the boy I liked wasn't going to ask me and I took it out on you. I'm the one who should apologize."

Zack was silent for a moment, shifting his gaze away from her but Tifa didn't notice as she twirled a daisy between her fingers.

"Why can't Cloud see how I feel about him?" she asked, opening up her palm and watching the flower float with the wind. She sighed again, falling to lie on her back. "It would be so much easier than chasing after Aerith."

"Well, he cant help who he loves," the raven-haired youth replied in monotone, pulling at the grass beneath him. Tifa sat up with a startled expression.

"He loves her?"

Zack mimicked her movement and gave a half-shrug. "Well, I was exaggerating a little but come on Teef; you know how much he likes her."

Tifa brought her legs up to her chest and hugged her knees as she scrunched up her face. "Yeah but…"

"And you know how you treated him when we were in Primary school don't you?" he interrupted, finally looking up at her. She scowled slightly.

"That was different! I was a kid…I didn't know any better!" she defended. Zack shifted to sit on his knees.

"Yeah, well all I'm saying is you had your chance and you blew it."

"Your sympathy is touching." Tifa stated, standing up as she heard the echo of the bell ringing. Zack quickly followed suit, grabbing her hand as she moved to walk away.

"Tifa, Cloud's moved on from his crush on you. He's forgiven you for what you did to him and let you become one of his best friends. Don't you think it's a little selfish to ask for more when you shoved it away?"

Tifa lowered her eyes and gave a slight pout. "I…guess."

Zack nodded and let go of her hand. Tifa turned to walk towards the building and Zack watched her leave, scratching his head.

"Teef?" he called, waiting until she turned to face him. "You wouldn't fancy going with me instead would ya?" he asked, giving her his trademark grin. Tifa blinked in surprise.

"What?"

Zack shrugged. "It's just…I've liked you for a while…"

Cloud blinked as Yuffie dropped a piece of paper in front of him and then stood with her arms folded, awaiting his reaction. He skimmed through it and raised an eyebrow.

"Jane Austin?" he repeated. "What about her?"

Yuffie rolled her eyes, wriggling her finger in a symbol that he should move closer. "It's Aerith's favourite author. She's over there right now!"

Cloud tilted his head to look at the fiction section before looking back at Yuffie, who raised her eyebrows in an expression of encouragement.

"Get going!" she hissed, looking at her watch. "I have to go and meet Reno."

"Don't you have classes?" he asked with a frown. Yuffie smirked.

"Yeah," she replied casually. Cloud shook his head. It was just typical of the girl to skip classes whenever Reno was around. It didn't take a genius to work out Yuffie was fond of Reno and vice versa. They may not have acted all lovey-dovey with each other but the attraction between them was clear.

He glanced at the paper again and then looked down at his essay that he had planned on writing during his study periods that he was on now. He could easily get some Jane Austin quotes in there, since the question was about portrayal of women in society. He could ask Aerith for advice on what Austin's books were about.

However, when he turned the corner and saw Aerith sitting at the table, her head buried in a book, he felt his courage leave him. What was he thinking? Aerith wasn't in any of his classes this year and she had only been in one the year before. She wouldn't even know who he was. He sighed and turned to leave but his sounds alerted her to his presence. She looked up, meeting his eyes and gave a small, greeting smile. Cloud felt his face flush and quickly lowered his head to hide the expression beneath his hair.

"It's Cloud…right?" she said suddenly, tilting her head to the side. Cloud turned his head away further, his eyes widening slightly. She remembered him?

"Yeah," he replied softly, rubbing the back of his neck. He had picked up that habit from Zack. She smiled again before returning to her book. Cloud hovered for a moment before he decided he should speak. "Uh…so you like Jane Austin then?" he asked lamely. She met his eyes again.

"Yes, she's my favourite author," she answered and then she laughed. "I've reached the page where Darcy is introduced. I'd say that was ironic considering my situation."

Cloud frowned. He had never read any of Austin's works but he was aware that Darcy was meant to be the perfect man, the one all the girls wanted. It didn't take him long to figure how she had linked it to Sephiroth.

"You don't deserve Sephiroth," he said absentmindedly as he looked around him. Aerith blinked in surprise.

"What?" she asked, frowning a little. Cloud blushed.

"I…just meant there'll be a guy somewhere who'll treat you better ."

Aerith sighed. "Well he can wait. I'm not interested in boys at the moment. Not so soon after this."

Cloud lowered his eyes. How could he have been so stupid as to think she would be interested anyway? How insensitive would it be to say, 'hey sorry about your break-up how about going to the dance with me instead?' He sighed softly. Aerith glanced at him.

"Are you alright?"

Cloud nodded and turned to leave feeling Aerith's bewildered stare following him. He made his way back to his table, a feeling of annoyance building with each step until he turned around, walked right back up to Aerith, and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I heard what you said," he sighed. "But would you like to go to the dance with me?"