(Author's note: It's been forever since I have updated. So I apologize for that. And Hopefully the parenthesis will show up. But anyway when it says scene change, well.. You get it. Hope you like it.)
A week had passed since Cloud's episode, and everything was back to normal. Or at least that's how things felt for, Cloud. He was up and about and back to secretly doing his schoolwork. He thought it rather amusing that people would criticize him for the way he acted and looked, and could still out smart most people. He hadn't really seen much of Tifa in the last week, but he thought of her more than he wanted.
(scene change)
Cloud had been daydreaming his whole class and had almost missed the fact the bell had excused them. He stood up and yawned lazily, but smiled because he was free for the next week. It was a national holiday and classes were on hold until after.
"National Mako day..Pfft." Cloud scoffed as he pushed his way out of the crowd at the door. He fumbled around his pockets a moment, pulled out a cigarette and light it. Inhaling the bittersweet taste of the nicotine, he couldn't help but feel relaxed and overjoyed. His mind kept wandering, thinking of the night to come.
"Cloud!"
Cloud turned to see, Vincent, running up to him.
"Hey, Cloud. Zack told me he was going to be late to practice."
"That's fine, as long as he gets enough in so he doesn't choke up on stage like last time." Cloud chuckled a bit as he remembered Zack freezing up at their band's last gig.
"Yeah, that knuckle-head! How were we supposed to land a contract with him like that?"
They both chuckled.
"So, Cloud. You going to invite that hottie, Tifa to our show?" Vincent asked in a sly manner.
"Dude, shut up. She doesn't like me that much, and I doubt she is interested in our style. Or us for that manner." Cloud said defensively.
"Hey calm down! I'm only kidding." Vincent replied while laughing at his friend.
"Yeah yeah.. Go find that, 'knuckle-head' Zack and meet me at my dorm." Cloud said, while slowly walking away, his mind slowly drifting to thoughts of the raven haired girl, Tifa.
"Ugh.. Why does she have to be so gorgeous.." He thought to himself.
(Scene change)
"So, Tifa. I got this thing happening tonight.. Want to come?" Zack asked shyly.
"What kind of thing?"
"Oh you know.. Just my band is playing at the bar down the street."
"You are in a band?" Tifa said with a big smile.
"You already knew that, Tifa.."
He looked up at her from his book and saw her smiling.
"So do you want to?" He asked again.
"I'd love to! It'd be the first time I get to see your band! I hope you play those songs you have written for me." She said and winked at him.
Zack chuckled and said, "Well.. The music is slightly different than that."
Tifa looked confused. He had always tried to impress her by playing soft tunes from his acoustic guitar for her. But She didn't mind. She knew he had a thing for her, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel the same.
"Ok. I'll go!" She exclaimed.
"Great! This means a lot to me, Tifa!" Zack nearly shouted from excitement.
Zack's phone beeped. He pulled it out to look at it, clicking a few buttons, then returning it to its resting place in his pocket.
"Well, it looks like I've got to get to practice. So I'll see you there." Zack said still smiling like an idiot.
"Ok, I'll see you then." Tifa giggled at him as he walked away.
(Scene Change)
"Ah, the sweet feeling of ripping your skin off after you have bailed." Cloud said to, Vincent, sarcastically. He got up and grabbed his skateboard.
"Did he reply?" Rufus inquired as he rolled up on his board.
"I don't know, let me check." Cloud said pulling out his mobile phone. He flipped it open and read the message, closing it soon after.
"He's on his way finally. Lets head back to my dorm and set up." He said as he pulled a cigarette. He lit it and burst into a jog, placing the skateboard under his feet soon after, using the moment to get him rolling. Vincent and Rufus followed after him in the same manner.
Cloud bent down on his skateboard, then pushed down on the front end, and kicked up with his back foot, launching him into the air and making his skateboard flip under his feet. He landed and felt awesome, until he looked up and there she was. Tifa was walking right in front of him. He turned so he wouldn't hit her, his eyes never leaving her.
"Dude! You okay?" Vincent yelled after Cloud.
"You just fucking slammed into that rail like you didn't know it was even there!" He offered a hand to help up his friend. Cloud grabbed his arm and pulled himself up.
"Yeah, had my mind elsewhere." He looked around. Tifa was already gone.
Cloud turned his head and saw, Zack, walking up to the group.
"Hey guys." Zack greeted looking at all of them.
"You ready for this?" Cloud asked.
Everyone nodded and they proceeded into the dorm and set up.
People passing looked into the opened door of Cloud's dorm as they were doing their warm up song. Cloud on lead guitar, Zack on backing guitar, Vincent on bass, and Rufus jamming out on the drums. Clouds fingers sliding up and down the fretboard. Feeling the strings vibrating with every strum. This was one of the only things that truly made him happy.
The amps buzzed and sound faded as their warm up song ended.
"Damn, Zack. You were ripping! You have gotten way better!" Cloud congratulated his band mate.
Vincent cracked his knuckles and said, "We should play Panic Attack. I think the blood is flowing now."
Cloud nodded and looked to his band mates, who nodded back. Rufus smacked his sticks together, to start a measure count. Vincent's fingers started strumming the thick bass strings of his Ibanez SR 506, his other fingers sliding up and down the fretboard hitting the notes. After two measures of the bass track Rufus, Cloud, and Zack had come in. Cloud and Zack following Vincent on their guitars, and Rufus pounding out an awesome beat.
Cloud stepped up to the microphone, inhaled and started singing.
'All wound up. On the edge. Terrified.'
He banged his head as he playing during the lyric pause.
'Sleep disturbed. Restless mind. Petrified.'
A crowd started to grow around the dorm as they played, everyone cheering for them.
'I am paralyzed. So afraid to die.'
Tifa was walking to the crowd to see what was so intriguing. She pushed her way passed the crowd and saw the band playing. She smiled as she saw Zack. But her jaw nearly dropped as she saw Cloud vocalizing and playing. He was incredible.
'Why do I feel so numb. Is it something to do with where I come from. Should this be fight or flight. I don't know why I'm so uptight.'
Tifa had become enthralled by Cloud. Her mouth agape. She had almost written Zack off in her mind.
'Rapid heartbeat pounding through my chest. Agitated body in distress. I feel like I'm in danger. Daily life is strangled by my stress.'
Tifa's face grew red as she noticed herself lusting after Cloud. His voice, his fingers. She couldn't understand why she suddenly wanted him so much.
'Run. Try to hide. Overwhelmed by this complex delirium.'
Cloud's fingers quickly hitting the notes, his other had quickly following in this difficult solo. He noticed that his hands felt hot during this cool down part of the solo, but knew it was only about to get hotter. He played fast and accurately. His pick strumming each note powerfully, and his other hand laying it's finger down on the string precisely.
'Helpless hysteria. A false sense of urgency. Trapped in my phobia. Possessed by anxiety.
Run. Try to hide. Overwhelmed by this complex delirium.'
The song neared it's finish. Everyone feeling so accomplished to be able to execute something so difficult, almost flawlessly.
The final note strummed, and pounded by the drums, and they newfound crowd was yelling excitedly for the group. Cloud noticed the people, and smiled.
"I am so pumped for the show tonight!" Cloud said to his friends with a huge smile on his face.
He looked back to the crowd, and saw her again.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. He knew she was looking directly at him. His gaze broke as he saw Zack run out to her. He felt upset by this, but wasn't sure if he should have.
"Did you like it, Tifa?" Zack said grinning.
"I-it was amazing." She replied bringing her attention to him.
"Are you okay, Tifa? Your face is a little red."
"Yeah I am just… hungry. Yeah." She pulled a fake giggle and continued, "Why don't you buy me some food?" He agreed happily and walked off with her.
"Dude, where does he think he's going?!" Vincent asked angrily.
"Don't know. But I doubt he'll miss the show tonight." Cloud said softly.
Vincent and Rufus looked at him and were puzzled.
"How could you go from pumped to calm so quickly, Cloud?" Rufus inquired.
But Cloud shrugged and started to play again. The other two soon caught on and jumped into the jam.
