Chapter 3
The drive back on the fenrir wasn't nearly as nice on the way back home as it had been on the way to the church. For one the text message Tifa had received didn't give her a warm fuzzy feeling. Reno was starting to get possessive with her, wanting to know where she was who she was with and why she didn't answer he r phone when he called or text messaged her. He seemed to have it in his head that they were an item; he had ever since high school. I had never really bothered while they were in high school, he was just friendly, never tried anything with her, just talked to her and drove her back and forth from school. It wasn't until recently he started acting like this.
Another reason the ride back home wasn't as fun as she had anticipated was it had begun to rain. The sun was gone and they clouds were black, with thunder rumbling in the distance, and the threat of lightning flashing not too far off. The roads were slick making Tifa feel uneasy.
"Are you okay back there?" Cloud yelled over his shoulder, he was being bear hugged from behind, generally he wouldn't mind but this bear hug was starting to constrict his breathing. "Yea, I'm fine why do you ask?" Tifa yelled over the roar of the engine. "Oh just because you are squishing me, that's all." Cloud chuckled, he knew she was nervous, anyone not used to riding a fenrir would be in this weather, so he let off the gas and went a little slower just to ease Tifa's nerves. Moments later they arrived in front of Tifa's house.
"Despite the rain I had a wonderful time today with you Cloud, thank you." She kissed him lightly on the cheek. Cloud's face turned slightly pink. "I'm glad you enjoyed your time with me today… I just hope we don't get punished to harshly if you know what I mean." Chuckling Cloud winked at Tifa, who turned a deep red at his reference of what they had done in the church earlier. "Well so long as Aerith doesn't find out I don't care." Tifa laughed. Cloud smiled and bent over to kiss Tifa full on the lips. Wrapping his arms around her waist under her opened leather jacket, her shirt was plastered to her body, her hair glued to her face. Tifa wrapped her arms around Cloud's neck, and opened her mouth slightly inviting his tongue to enter. Cloud deepened the kiss and puller her body closer to his. She could feel his need for her again. Smiling she pulled away.
"I really should be going in now Cloud, I love you and I will be seeing you later I'm sure." Cloud sighed and begrudgingly let her go. "I love you too Teef, let me know when you can get out again and I will be here to get you. Bye." He watched Tifa walk up to her door, her hips swaying with the motion and loving how tightly her jeans hugged her legs and butt. He smiled despite the fact she was now in the house. Climbing back on his fenrir he took off to his best friend's house, inwardly thinking "This has got to be a dream, no way is this really real. I am finally with the love of my life." It didn't take very long for him to arrive at Zack Fair's apartment.
Tifa walked into her home expecting to find everyone in the family room watching a movie like they normally would on a Saturday night. Tonight was different, the television was off and no light was on. Figuring everyone was out Tifa walked up the stairs and opened the door to the room her and Yuffie shared. Opening the drawers she picked out a dry blue hoodie and a pair of black sweat pants. Walking into the washroom she placed her clothes on the toilet seat and turned that water faucet on allowing the room to start to steam up as she started to strip for her shower.
"I wonder… Do I look different now?" Tifa wondered out loud. She smiled. "Maybe happier, that's about it." Stepping into the shower, she let the hot water cascade over her and let it warm her chilled body.
"Tifa? Is that you in the shower?" a very familiar voice called from the other side of the bathroom door. "What is it dad? I just got in the shower. Can this wait twenty minutes?" Tifa yelled over the noise of the shower. Mr. Lockheart scratched the back of his head and let out a sigh. "I suppose it can wait a few minutes, take your time. I will be waiting down stairs in the kitchen when you are out." "Kay!" Tifa yelled back.
Mr. Lockheart inwardly groaned as he sat down at the head of the table. "This is it." He thought. "I'm going to have to tell her, and inadvertently ruin her life in less than twenty minutes. Some father I have turned out to be." He could hear the shower turn off and Tifa softly humming as she got out of the shower. With the house so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Jane - Mr. Lockheart's wife – had taken their youngest daughter Yuffie out to a movie. Neither of them thought it a wise decision to have their loud open minded daughter in the house when he broke the news to Tifa.
"Daddy, are you ok?" Tifa inquired as she looked at her father from the hallway leading into the kitchen. Mr. Lockheart snapped his head up to stare at his daughter. "She really does look like her mother standing there like that. She looks worried but also… happy." "Yes, yes I'm fine. Come sit down, we need to talk."
Tifa sighed. "Dad if this is a 'Birds and the Bee's' talk, I think we can skip it. I paid attention in health class." She smiled brilliantly at her father, Tifa's wine colored eyes crinkled in the corners as she giggled. "Oh Tifa… I wish it were something as simple as that." Tifa's smile dropped. "Is everything okay Dad?" Mr. Lockheart looked Tifa straight in the face, he had to or he would lose his nerve. "Tifa, that blonde haired boy you went out with on the fenrir today, I know you have been seeing him for a while, and well quite simply… It needs to end."
Tifa's eyes clouded and she had a confused look on her face. "I don't understand… you haven't even met him, don't you think you are jumping the gun a little bit here?" "Tifa it's for your own good." Tifa raised her eye brow, something her and her sister did often when they became irritated. "Oh my own good? How would it be for my own good? If you haven't noticed the only people I generally talk to or hang out with are Yuffie, Aerith, Zack, Cloud and unfortunately Reno and his weird friends. The blonde guy I happen to be seeing is Cloud, and from what I understood from past experiences of him being here, you like him. So what I don't understand is why you all of a sudden don't approve of me seeing him."
"Tifa… the reason you can't see Cloud is because you were promised to someone a long time ago." Mr. Lockheart ran his hand through his dark graying hair while sighing and looking away from Tifa's confused face. "When you were born, your mother and I… we were not financially well off. I happened to be friends with the owner of Turks Industries. The company runs, owns and operates seventy five percent of the industries going on in today's world." Tifa continued to stare blankly at her father.
"Mr. Turk, being a good friend of mine offered me a job, a great one, and permanent too, one that could never be taken away from me, under one condition… You see the reason Reno is always around and Jane and I are always insisting you and Reno go out and do couple things is because… before your mother passed away, we promised you to Reno." Mr. Lockheart shook his head sadly. "I know it was wrong of me to do. But you have to understand that this job was a once in a life time opportunity for us to move up in the world. All you have to do is marry Reno."
It took moments for this to sink in for Tifa. But slowly understanding dawned on her face, and after that utter horror and rage filled her features. "Marry Reno? That's all I have to do Dad is marry Reno!" she spat out angrily. "You forfeited my freedom before I could even think and chose for myself! You tell me now? Now after I have fallen in love with some one? Now after 19 years of opportunities! Why are you telling me this now?" Tifa's voice rose with every question. Rubbing his temples Mr. Lockheart simply stated, "I am telling you this now, so you do not get hurt any more then you already have. That and Reno has decided that when he is done his studies, that you two are to wed."
Tifa's mouth dropped open. "Reno knew? All this time, Reno has known?" She brought her hands up to cover her face. "Yes. Reno has known this entire time." Mr. Lockheart simply stated. "No." Tifa said behind her hands. "No, what?" "I am saying no to you, I am saying no to this marriage I am being forced into. You cannot force me to marry a man I do not love, a man I have only tolerated over the years because you and Jane have insisted we be friends and get to know each other. And now to find out your ulterior motives… No."
"Tifa, I don't think you understand, you can't simply say no to this. You have to marry Reno weather you like it or not. It's done, there is nothing you can do about it." He said calmly. "You really think there is nothing I can do about it? Seriously? How about this." Tifa pushed away from the table and walked to her room. She grabbed her cell phone and wallet, and stuffed it in her hoody pocket. Tossing on a pair of jeans and socks she walked back down stairs.
"And what do you think you are doing?" Mr. Lockheart asked getting up from the table. Lacing up a pair of shoes and put the hood up on her sweater she stated, "I'm doing something about it." And she ran out the front door into the Thunder storm. Her father ran after her yelling her name. "Shit." He walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the portable phone off the receiver and dialed his wife's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Jane I need you and Yuffie to come home. Tifa didn't take the news as well as I had hoped she would." "We are on our way." Jane replied on the other end and hung up.
Mr. Lockheart sighed knowing he now had to call Reno to fetch his daughter. He dialed his number. "Reno here." "Reno, I told Tifa about the arrangement. She didn't take it very well and she left. I need you to find her and bring her home." Mr. Lockheart said into the phone. "Sure thing. I'll find her and bring her home soon. I'm not too far from the house."
And here is Chapter 3! I hope you enjoyed please don't forget to review this chapter! Any criticism is good criticism!