Disclaimer: (As usual) I do not own any of the final fantasy characters, references, franchises. Except for Garrett Wickham. All rights goes to Square Enix.
Chapter 4: Confessions
Arriving back to 7th Heaven around 11pm, the duo entered the empty bar, with red wine and ice cream. Tifa got glasses, bowls and spoons from the cabinet and joined her friend at one of the booths. She looked at him, and sighed, she didn't know where to begin.
"Alright Garrett." said Tifa. "It all started when I was closing up the bar one day. It was getting really late, and I wanted to get some sleep. But when I stared at the sky while wiping down tables and I thought to myself, 'Wow, I have never seen the sky so beautiful, stars and moon was shining.' It was rare to ever see it this magnificent." She turn over to Garrett, pour some wine into their glasses, then took a sip. That sip of red wine eased some of her tension. "Anyways, I climbed up onto the roof to get a view of it. It was the most peaceful and quiet night, I felt so calm and relax... Well, until Cloud drove in, his Fenrir engine is pretty loud. I shouted down at him to join me, which he agreed."
Garrett scooped ice cream into their bowls, and took a spoonful of the delicious sea salt ice cream. Wow, one of the best flavors he ever had. Remind myself to buy some of this ice cream for the road! He looked back at Tifa. "Then what happen? Did you two get it on?" He winked.
"Haha, no. You know me. I wouldn't go that far." replied Tifa. "We sat on the roof to what seems like hours. Admiring the moon and stars, I could have stayed up there forever! I asked him, isn't this one of the most beautiful nights you have ever seen? I wish it looked like this every night, Edge's night always felt gloomy and cold. Well, I turned over and looked at him, you can notice that his mind was elsewhere. When he turn to me, his blue mako eyes stared into my own eyes, I was drawn into them. More blue than an aquamarine, it felt as if it was touching my soul. Haha, silly me."
"No, you are right. Guys with blue eyes, are really gorgeous. Take at look at Squall Leonhart. Oh my damn, sexy beast." joked Garrett. "Sorry, continue with your story, I am interested."
"Haha, alright. Well, I asked him what's wrong, but all I got was 'nothing.' Of course he wasn't going to tell me, he never does..." Tifa said softly. She looked down at her ice, haven't had a taste of it, she was just poking it with her spoon. "I wish I was more helpful, but there was nothing I could do. I feel so useless Garrett! Nothing I can do would make him smile, laugh or even talk... All I ever got was his passive expression to me..." She began to cry. Tears were rolling down her eyes, usually she would try to keep the tears from escaping her eyes, but she couldn't handle keeping them in any longer. " I wanted to tell him... that I love him... but there was never any moment."
Garrett put his arms around her, hopefully it's enough to comfort her, he put his head on her shoulder. "Hey, there will be the time, and hopefully, it's the right guy you confess to."
She smiled. "Well, I really wanted to know... How he felt about me. I tried hinting it out, yet ever time I tried to, I got nothing out of him. So I made the approach. Stupid mistake I ever made."
"Oh my god, what did he say?"
Flashback
"Hey Cloud? Can I ask you a question?" asked the nervous barmaid. She was trembling with fear and anxiety. Fearing the rejection, she desperately wanted to know his answer.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"This is embarrassing for me, and such..."
"Tell me, what's on your mind."
"Cloud... do you love me?" she murmured.
"Uh..." He turned away to hide his bright red face. How can he answer that? It was out of the blue, he wanted to say yes, but he didn't know how to tell her. She didn't know, he hesitated for a while, she took that as a rejection.
"Forget that I asked, it was really stupid and rude of me." The brunette turned away too. Shocked that he didn't answer, her world crumbled down, her heart wanted to explode, in disbelief he didn't answer her. Her hopes were crushed, and she couldn't feel anything but numbness.
"I'm sorry, I have to go..." He rushed back down to the bar and rode off with his Fenrir.
"Wait! I didn't mean to..." She watched the blond hair man drove off Edge, and pray that he would return back.
Flashback ends
"Wow Tifa, I'm sorry." said Garrett. He hugged her closer to him. Feeling the sorrow of his friend, he wiped some of her tears off. How he wishes that she would find her happiness again. It wasn't fair for someone kind and gentle like Tifa to deserve this pain. "Maybe he was just shy... you did ambush him from out of the blues."
"I don't think so Garrett. I think he's still in love with Aeris." replied Tifa. "I wouldn't blame him, she's perfect. She can bring out the best in him: happiness, emotions, feelings... something I can never do. The way he looks at me... and the way he looks at her... completely different."
"The flower vender who died years ago?" asked Garrett. He recalled a light brown hair woman in a bright pink dress and crazy long hair. What the... Cloud, that's gross. Well, maybe her personality makes up for her physical appearance.
"Mhm, he's not truly over her. When he looks at her, you can see sheer joy and happiness. Talking to her was like 'Wow, all my problems are gone.' Even when she's gone, he goes to her church almost everyday, and stays there, even for days."
"Tifa..."
"I hate myself Garrett!" Tears were rolling down into her sea salt ice cream, Tifa's face was getting pale, and her eyes are becoming puffy from crying too much. At this rate, there won't be any more tears to cry. "Why can't I be optimistic or confident like her? I'm jealous of her, even when she's dead, all these years, I'm still jealous of her." She looked down, shaking with sorrow. "I don't know anymore Garrett, I feel that my heart has been ripped out of me ever since he drove away. And I try to keep a strong face for the kids, and do this fucking routine chore everyday like nothing was wrong! At night, when the kids are asleep, I break down, like right now when no one can see me, I cry myself to sleep, and think about it. I'm not strong enough like everyone thinks I am. I should have been the one to die, at least then, he would be happy with her, and I don't ever have to feel this."
"No, don't you ever say that." Garrett was beginning to tear up. "I love you Tifa. And you don't deserve to die or be heart broken. And you don't need him, you do not come second to anyone. You are first. Someone as beautiful, smart, and independent like you, any man, shucks! Any man or woman would want you. Trust me, I think you should move on with your life."
She looked up to Garrett, "Thank you Garrett, for listening to me. I want to move on. At least for these couple of months, I tried. But today... seeing his face... I just had this rush of feelings for him come back. I thought I was strong enough to get over him but... I guess not..."
"Well, he did asked you out in a way. Maybe a cup of coffee or dinner and you can have your closure." replied Garrett. "You can tell him off about how you feel, and leave if he doesn't feel the same. This way, you got your answer and just move on."
"That sounds like a good idea, but it's easier said than done."
"Nonsense. Tifa, I know that you are a strong and independent woman. And if this one guy doesn't see anything in you, he's blind. You are the star in your eyes. You keep true to yourself. Don't ever change who you are for a man."
"Thanks Garrett, I think I'll do it, I'll call him in the morning."
"Tifa... it's like 4AM, We been talking since 11PM"
"Oh you're right! Today is Sunday, bar's closed." laughed Tifa. "Well, since we are up, it's my turn to know. Why are you here?"
"Well, I am suppose to be advertising for my new store around the world. I came to Edge first to see you. I missed one of my best friends. When I needed someone to talk about my darkest times, you were there. My parents didn't approve of me, and future, they wanted me to become a lawyer. But you made me realize that I hate that ideal of being a lawyer because my parents wanted that for me. You were the one who told me that fashion was my thing, and I should persuade in a career in that path. I did, and thank you. I haven't talk to my parents since that day I told them that I wanted to design clothes, they pretty much disown me. However, I am okay with it, I truly love designing clothes, it's something that I can be happy with. It brings me joy whenever compliments it or even wear it. Like that dress you are wearing, I couldn't see anyone else, but you in that dress. I thought about you when I made it. First dress I ever designed for my brand."
"Aw no problem Garrett." replied Tifa. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheeks.
"By the way, you can keep that dress. It can be one of a kind. Tifa Lockhart exclusively." he smiled.
"Really? I can't, this dress is too beautiful..." She looked at her dress again, she couldn't accept something so wonderful. Garrett put his hard work into this.
"Oh keep it. Just think of it as a present."
"Thank you Garrett." she said, "You know... I feel better now. You are such a good person to come and talk to."
"Haha. Thanks Hun." He looked at her again with this look in his eyes. "Tifa I want to tell you something, that I been holding it in for a while. I thought it was rude of me if I told you before."
"Really? What's up?" Tifa looked into his eyes, wondering what he would say.
"Well, compare to your fashion senses, and Aeris's, you totally own her. Seriously, I wanted to gag when I saw her wearing a red bolero jacket over a pink dress. If you were going to do something bold like that, mix it with some white clothes! Jesus! She looked like a pink highlighter walking around. Your purple dress makes you look like a 200gil Prostitute, but her pink dress... 100gil hooker."
Tifa laughed. "Oh Garrett, you and your fashion rants."
"It's what I do for a living." He chuckled.
"Well, It's 5AM. I think I'm going to bed." said Tifa. She got up and began to walk towards the stairs. "Good night."
"Sweet Dreams." He replied. Sitting at the booth alone, he began to think about his dear friend. Honestly, Tifa isn't going to move on from this guy. She's so in love with him. I doubt he still has feelings for the flower seller. I wonder if she could read from his eyes at the party. He was totally into her. Then again she was never good at reading people. Oh Tifa you silly girl, maybe I can help. Hehehehehe kekeke.
A light went off in Garrett's mind. He crept softly and quietly upstairs, and enters Tifa's room. She was sleeping in her bed like an angel. Her face was puffy and pale from crying for about five hours straight. He looked at her and smiled. She is beautiful, even when her face is shipwreck, any man would be crazy not to like her. It finally hit him, he was beginning to realized that he like may like her more than just a friend. No Garrett, Tifa is just a friend, a girl who's conflicted with another man who is interested in her. Cloud you dumb ass, if you weren't cute, I totes kick your butt for making her cry.
He turned over to her desk, took her cell phone and scrolled down her contact list to 'Cloud Strife'. He began typing on her phone.
Hey Cloud! I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me next Friday night? I'll have Garrett watch the kids.
Message was sent at 5:43AM on February 23rd.
Hehe, I am still a genius, She will thank me later. He had set a date up between Tifa and Cloud. He knew she didn't have the courage to call him in the morning, so he texted Cloud for her. Garrett went back into the guest room, and laid down on the bed, falling asleep with a silly smirk on his face.
A couple hours later...
Hey Tifa, I would be happy to join you for dinner. See you next Friday night.
Message was sent at 7:17AM on February 23rd.
A/N: I wanted to make a serious scene in this chapter. I felt that chapter 3 wasn't that great, it was rushed as I was running out of ideas, and I was kinda lazy to write it. My Bad :( Anyways, yes Garrett said Star in your eyes. A feference to a song called Star in my eyes by Gowe, (also the title of this story) and the song means to stay true to yourself, something Tifa has always been. I was listening to 'Set Fire to the Rain', 'Star in my eyes', and 'Tifa's theme' to get inspirations, and I tried to make this chapter heartwarming, touching, and sad, but still humorous. Chapter five will be a better chapter, more meddling from Garrett.
P.S. Confuse about Garrett's Sexual preferences? ;) good.
