VII.
Cloud looked up at the full moon. What a gorgeous night, he thought. He made sure he was dressed-to-kill that night. He tried to stay away from Tifa by changing at the Sector 9 Sandwich shop so she wouldn't see his expensive threads and get curious. That would spoil everything!
Cloud make sure his white Oxford shirt and close-fitting forest green slacks were in perfect order. He tried to make his golden blonde hair somewhat better organized than usual, but it seemed like it would revert right back to the spiky mess that it usually was in at any moment. His black patent leather boots were quite a change from the scroungy brown things he usually wore. He checked to make sure they were clean and tied. Oh, yeah, and that he actually did have the ring on him.
He left the shop, carrying his bag of dumpy clothes with him, the ring in his pocket. He turned out of the shop and started on his way towards the inn. He gave himself a 70/30 chance in favor of an affirmative, he thought to himself. No, maybe a 50/50, because Tifa wasn't the type to jump right into things. Well, maybe a...
Wrapped up in his thoughts, Cloud continued along his way. He got to the door of the inn, and luckily looked up just in time before his nose came into contact with the door.
Before he opened the door to go inside, he heard a faint noise coming out of the window next to him. The windows were open to let some air inside on the hot night, so he heard pretty cleary what he recognized as Tifa's voice, as he knew that her room was on the ground floor by the entrance.
Wait a minute, he thought to himself, she should be alone. And the way she was talking sounded nothing like her. She sounded really irritated.
"Oh, jeez. No...but I know I'm not involved with anyone right now, you looker, you...Oh, it's there...go help yourself... So how about it? We'll be great together... No, I will NOT keep my voice down!..."
Cloud was stunned. His eyes wide open, he turned around and leaned his back against the wall, breathing hard. He thoughts flew by in his head... Maybe Tifa wasn't being completely honest with him all that time... She said before to him that she wasn't really sure what she felt... And she DID spend a lot of time alone... Maybe she purposely didn't want to work on the plate, since he would be there...
The more he thought, the more he hated himself, more than anyone else. He started to run toward his only solace in times like this, his motorcycle, which was parked far up the street due to lack of space. He never noticed the little black box fall from his pocket, right into a corner by the door of the inn.
He just ran. He hopped on his bike and put in the key. He could barely hold onto it to turn it, he was so messed up. He managed to turn it to "ignition". Nothing happened.
He was frazzled by now. I just checked this out with Cid yesterday! he thought. He placed his hands on either of the handlebars...and they came right off, into his hands.
Cloud heard another sound...and then CRASH! He was on the ground, the pieces of his bike around him. He gave an exasperated scream ito the night, the first time he's ever done such a thing, picked himself up, and ran...right to Sector 8, where the person he knew was responsible for his bike waitied for him. Forget not fighting...Tifa didn't care after all, so he might as well spend his time doing the only thing he's known. He didn't have to impress anyone anymore.
