The Gift

Tifa heard the garage door open and a car driving off. When she looked outside to see she saw a flicker of blond in the front seat. Just from that, Tifa knew that it was Cloud. She sighed and started to get ready for school. While she was getting ready, Clara entered her room.

"Tifa? You're going to school?" She asked.

"Yeah, I feel a bit better."

"Oh, alright then I'll call the school so it doesn't seem like you're skipping." Clara left Tifa alone in her room.

In a small drawer at the bottom of her closet, there is a box big enough to fit a pair of running shoes. Tifa took the box out and opened it. Inside it, there was a scarf, long enough for a child. She brushed it against her cheek and memories started flowing back.

"When can I give this back?" She whispered to herself. Her eyes scanned the scarf. "If only he wouldn't run away." She put the scarf back into the box and into the closet. The scarf was a reminder of happier times for Tifa, she wore it every winter after Cloud gave it to her, until it was too small to fit properly around her body.

After hearing John calling for Tifa, she hurried down the stairs and through the corridor. Her driver was already waiting for her to drive her to school. Even after a couple of weeks of being driven to and from school, Tifa still was not used to a personal driver. He seemed nice, he did not really talk at all but he listened to her when she asked to be dropped off a block away from the school, so she can walk it to go by unnoticed.

Today, when she got to school, she went straight to her second period class. Thankfully Yuffie was in her class so she had someone to talk to.

"You're face looks swollen." Yuffie stared at Tifa's face.

"Really? I'm just tired that's all." She lied.

"I don't believe you. You can tell me about it at lunch." Yuffie smiled at her.

Once the class started, they were not allowed to talk because the teacher decided to give them a surprise in class assignment which was due by the end of the period. Yuffie kept looking over at Tifa to try and sneak in some answers but failed. When the class ended, Tifa and Yuffie were drained of brain power because they didn't see it coming, hence the surprise. But there was someone waiting for them outside of their classroom.

"Happy birthday Tifa." He gave her a light peck on the cheek.

"Zack cut it out. How did you know?" She was embarrassed because other students were looking at them and Yuffie's mouth stayed open in shock.

"Wa-wa-waaiit a minute. You. Your birthday is today?" Yuffie was ecstatic. "Why didn't you tell me?" Her small fist lightly punched Tifa's arm.

"I don't know." Tifa just shrugged.

"Mrs. Strife invited me to the dinner tonight and asked me to escort you."

"Why do I need you to take me?" She pushed him away.

"Cause you might run away." Both Yuffie and Zack said in unison. She glared back at them.

When lunch was over, Tifa headed straight to her next class because she has it with Cloud. He had disappeared since the morning and she wanted to know if he came to school or not. Once she got inside the classroom, his desk was empty. Disappointment was spelled across her face and then she realized that that would be something Cloud would do, just disappear without a word. As she got to her desk, she found a note laying on there with her name written on it.

"It said: Tifa, meet me by the old oak tree near the empty portables after school. It's your birthday surprise. – Cloud."

When she read it, her stomach flew with butterflies. She tried to contain her happiness though because she was in the same class as Scarlett and who knows what kind of rumors she would spread now. But Tifa realized that Scarlett skipped class too. After all the death glares and threats she had received from her, she thought it was a blessing to have her gone for atleast one period. English class went by quickly because Tifa was half paying attention, her other half was directed at Cloud and what he could be doing for her. It felt kind of stupid at the thought of her feeling like this so suddenly. She had to keep her composure; she would not turn into a fan girl for Cloud.

After class she went to her locker to pick up her gym clothes and she would probably see Cloud outside for gym too because they had it together and he was apparently here. She rushed to get her stuff on and was running to the gymnasium for a quick warm up before going outside. But she ran straight into a red head. He was a head taller than her with bright red-orange hair. He looked down at her and smiled.

"You are a beauty yo. My name is Reno." He ruffled her hair.

"I'm Tifa, and sorry about that." She was looking down because she can tell he was a senior.

"I'll see you later Tifa." He waved his hand and left but not without winking at her as he exited the gym area.

"Hey! I saw that!" Zack happened to be there too and watched it all. "You didn't even notice me at all with Reno here." He gave a hurt expression.

"Oh Zack let's just go." She walked with him to where all the other students were. Her eyes were scanning the scene but she could not find the blond anywhere. Maybe the note was mistaken and Cloud wasn't the one who wrote it. But his name was signed at the bottom. During one of the laps, Tifa decided to wander off to where the portables were. Apparently they were used back then when the classrooms were being renovated. But now they were just abandoned. She saw a bunch of people around there and they all looked like they were smoking. She peeked from the corner to see who was there and she saw a glimpse of blond. She walked straight there because she thought it was Cloud. But she soon realized that she was completely wrong.

"Tifa, you're here early." A malicious laugh escaped her lips.

"Scarlett, what are you doing here."

Tifa scanned the area and realized that the 2 guys who bullied Yuffie were here too. A total of 6 people were gathered here and then it hit her.

"You wrote the note?"

"Slow much." She snickered then her boyfriend grabbed Tifa's arms and held them behind her back. She started to panic, there were too many people here, and how would she be able to defend herself. She looked around and was trying to analyze her situation. The escape route was cut off by Scarlett's goonies. Her arms were held tightly behind her back with Scarlett's boyfriend breathing down her neck.

"Surprise Tifa, happy birthday to you." Scarlett slapped her across the face, leaving a red mark on her cheek. Tifa dropped her head.

"Ha, you couldn't take me by myself so you had to get 5 other people here with you. Coward." Tifa rose her head up and smirked at Scarlett. This only angered her more.

"Each of these guys will have a turn with you." Scarlett nodded to one of the guys and he came up in front of her. He had a pervert look on his face and it disgusted Tifa to the point where she was going to throw up. He placed his hands on her shorts and tried to pull it down but Tifa kicked him straight in the groin and she used her head to hit Scarlett's boyfriend's nose. He dropped her hands and held his hands to his nose. She used this time to run off but one of the other guys took her down. She came crashing to the floor; her knees were scrapped and bleeding. This was when Tifa screamed her loudest. Scarlett came over to her and kicked her in the gut. Tifa shriveled in pain. She felt hands trying to take her clothes off but she kept fighting. Her hands were being stepped on to keep her from pushing them away then her legs were being held down. But she kept fighting. She had to, it was never in her to give up.

"You touch her again then I will surely rip you apart, limb by limb."

It was Cloud, Zack and some other girl. She did not know who she was but was thankful that they showed up. All she saw was Cloud running to her and then everything else faded to black.