Tifa's eyes widened to see a five-foot-seven Cloud standing in her doorway, an expression of great distaste planted upon his face. Taro, sensing the tension that had now come over her released his grip upon her waist and took a few steps back towards the window.
Tifa turned towards the kitchen and walked over to the sink, "Thanks for keeping me company, Taro. But I really should be getting to work on these dishes and I'm sure you wouldn't want to stick around for that."
"Y-yeah. I should be heading home anyways. It was nice seeing you again." Taro glanced uneasily towards the door, "If you need anything, I'm just around the corner."
Tifa could hear his footsteps make their way to the door, pause, and then fade away as Taro headed down the street.
It was just the three of them now.
Cloud.
Tifa.
And the bitter silence that lay between them.
The sink turned on, and Tifa began to busy herself with washing what was left of the food on her plate, but no matter how hard she tried, it just wouldn't wash off. Soon she had become too preoccupied to notice that Cloud was no longer standing in the doorway.
"Tifa,"
Tifa froze. Where had the voice come from? It sounded like it was right behind her.
As curious as she was, she refused to even look at him.
"I know…I know you're mad," he said, taking a step closer, "but at least listen to what I have to say."
"Yeah, I'm listening." Tifa closed her eyes as they began to water up. No matter how much she didn't want to forgive him, something inside of her was telling her just the opposite. She could feel herself surrendering to that gut feeling, and she hated it. Had she really become that weak?
"The reason I sent Vincent to—" At that moment, Tifa's cellphone rang.
Giving out a long sigh, she brushed her hands off on her shirt and flipped open her phone.
"Hey, it's Yuffie! Long time no talk. Cid just finished picking up everyone on his ship and we're heading on over there. We'll be at the 7th Heaven soon, kay? Bye!" Before she could even reply, there was a click on the other end and the line went dead. Soon? When was that? Tifa let out another sigh.Yuffie never bothered to go into the specifics when it came to these sorts of things.
Wait…Yuffie's coming? And whoa whoa whoa what did she mean by "'We'll' be there"?
Tifa glanced towards the clock. Six-fourty. She then remembered Barret Saying something about seven thirty…
Cloud watched as Tifa's expression went from upset to panicky. "Everything okay?" he asked.
"It's just that we have fourty minutes before…" Tifa paused and directed her attention away from the clock and towards Cloud, "I'm still mad you know. But right now, I have other things to worry about. Yuffie just called and she said everyone will be here in fourty minutes."
Cloud cocked an eyebrow at her, "So…you're saying that you're temporarily not mad at me because…" he paused and looked around the room filled with boxes, "you need my help." A grin began to form at the tips of his mouth. "Well I guess I could—" before he could finish his sentence, Tifa shoved a box into his arms.
"Yeah that sounds pretty accurate," She shot him a grin "Just make sure you don't mess anything up."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tifa collapsed on the couch. They still had ten minutes before everyone arrived, and somewhere in the process of unpacking all the boxes of alcoholic beverages, Tifa and Cloud had decided to have a drink.
Perhaps this was all part of his plan for making her forget about how angry she was with him. If it was, well, then it sure as hell worked.
Cloud was sitting on the couch across from her, looking particularly fascinated in the pillow lying next to him. It was in the shape of a cloud.
Oh crap. Tifa thought to herself as she watched him as he examined it. She had bought that pillow thinking of Cloud and ever since, she slept with it every night. It had acted as his substitute and provided her with comfort throughout her lonely days. What if he notices?
Tifa stared open-mouthed as Cloud's expression grew dubious.
"Well it's not very comfortable," he commented positioning it underneath his head. Wrong. It had to be the most comfortable thing in the world. "And I must say…it's kinda ugly," he added. No. It was perfect. "The idea of the pillow itself is just silly. And look, it's falling apart," Cloud the corner of the pillow that was falling off and began to fiddle with it in his fingers.
A tear managed to escape from Tifa's eye, rolling down her cheek, and onto her leg. It could have just been the alcohol that was starting to kick in, or the fact that she felt she was breaking away from her friend, just as the pillow lay torn in his hands.
Cloud looked up to see Tifa shaking, tear after tear running down her face. He walked over to her, pillow in hand.
"You know," he began, sitting down next to her, "if you ask me, I don't think this pillow resembles me at all," he turned towards Tifa and smiled, "but I guess I can understand why you love this sad excuse for a pillow so much."
Tifa looked at Cloud in disbelief, "Pshh now you're the one that's being silly," she laughed, taking the pillow from his grasp and giving him a nice whack on the head.
"Oh really? Are you sure you're not just lying? Tifa Lockhart, you love me," his grin was even more defined now. He could hear knocking at the door, but ignored it.
"Now that's just the beer talking," she said getting up to go answer the door. It was now Seven thirty-five. It had to be them.
"Hmm I wouldn't be so sure of that," Cloud replied, grabbing Tifa around the waist, "I really do think—" Tifa didn't let him finish his sentence. Instead she jabbed him in the face with her arm.
"You're so drunk," she giggled working her way out of Cloud's arms, "just stay there, I need to go answer the door."
"Looks like there'll be no need for that."
"What are you—" Suddenly, Barret came crashing through her door.
"Sorry, but you weren't answering," he said, glancing from Tifa, to the arms that were around her waist, and then to the man who's hands they belonged.
"Tifa! Oh hey Cloud's here too! Well what are you doing, give us something to drink!" Cid exclaimed, "we'll be in the basement."
"Hello to you too Cid," Tifa said, smiling. She then remembered why Barret was giving Cloud such an uneasy glare. "Oh!" She gasped her face a deep shade of red, "Cloud!"
