Have relatives that drive you nuts?
London was a cruel place.
The air was cold, and the day expected rain. The streets and buildings were old and a miserable gray. No normal passerby would ever strain themselves to look upon an urchin on the streets. Some people who noticed scoffed at them and dubbed them trash. Then, there was the one in one hundred who was kind enough to give them money. If they had spare change in their pocket, that is.
"That stupid boy's not coming back," she muttered. "They never come back."
A young, nine-year-old Tifa sat alone in the middle of the alley steps. She buried her face in her legs and held them, refusing to let anyone see her. Nor did she want to see them. Tifa had been by herself for a long time, even when she did have a home.
Tifa clenched her teeth, trying to ignore the sorrow in her heart. Despite her efforts, tears came pouring through her eyes.
"There she is," a boy's voice spoke. "Right there. I think she needs help."
Mr. Shinra's shadow loomed over her. Tifa looked up and saw the elderly gentleman's face.
"What are you doing here by yourself?" Shinra asked. "Where are your parents?"
Tifa stared at him without answering. Her lips trembled slightly. She finally got up from the steps, jumped into Shinra's arms, and began to sob, quietly. Tifa felt herself being lifted up.
"It's alright," Shinra said. "You're coming with me."
Time had completely stopped. Tifa sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. She stared ahead but saw nothing; she was in too much shock to think at all.
Her eyes dropped down the steps, and she saw two other people. The trance stopped. At the bottom of the steps, a young woman stood staring up, watching with curiosity and bewilderment. Behind the woman, a boy peaked around her coat with a smile on his face. The boy had come back, just like he said he would.
What happened to him? I never got the chance to think him…
Tifa's eyes fluttered open and relaxed. The sun was almost down, no longer shining through the window. The room had no light, but neither was it dark.
Tifa sat up in bed and scratched her head. She looked at the digital clock on her nightstand. 8:30 p.m.
"Why did I have to dream about that?" Tifa grumbled. "That happened a long time ago."
She dragged her slightly groggy body out of the bed and headed to the bathroom. She continued to scratch her head.
"Gotta freshen up. I can't just leave the room looking like a banshee…"
Juusang was grateful that it was Friday. It meant three things:
She was able to stay up all night and sleep in the next day.
No school.
The dance lessons stopped at 8:00 p.m., just in time for pizza.
"Jeremy! I see those four slices on your plate! No hording!"
Jeremy sheepishly gave two slices away. Laylia kept her strict gaze on Jeremy from then on.
Aeris leaned against the wall at the end of the room. She smiled occasionally at her students' antics but her arms were crossed. Aeris Gainsborough was not happy.
Zack walked over and leaned against the wall beside her.
"Sorry, kid, but I told you so," Zack whispered.
Aeris groaned.
"I see hints of him treating you like a business partner," Zack continued. "He warms up to you and acts friendly, but that's how he even treats the students. I think you're more like a really good acquaintance."
"You've said that more than once," Aeris retorted.
"And the hand touching your shoulder," Zack said. "That's the universal sign of saying 'you're nice and all, but you're not my type'."
Aeris began to slightly pout.
"Yeah, but…"
"No buts," Zack interrupted. "He ain't interested now, he wasn't interested then…"
"…and he won't be interested anytime soon," Aeris replied in monotone.
Her sulking went from slightly to heavy.
"Ah, cheer up, you baby. Besides…you don't want a weirdo for a boyfriend."
"It's an annoying weirdness, but it's not so bad once you get used to it," Aeris answered.
Aeris took a deep, long breathe and began to walk away.
"I'm getting a bottle of water," she mumbled. "I can't stomach sodas."
Aeris strolled into the kitchen, still sulking. She stopped dead when she saw Tifa looking the refrigerator. Aeris said nothing but continued to stare at her. Without turning around, Tifa began to speak to her.
"Why are you just standing there?" Tifa asked.
Aeris was startled that she was even noticed.
"My brain kinda stopped on me," Aeris replied. "That ever happen to you?"
Tifa shook her head and grabbed two water bottles.
"Want one?"
Aeris reached out and grabbed the bottle with no tenderness. Tifa was taken aback for a moment but shrugged it off and leaned against the counter.
"I don't mean to be nosy," Aeris said, "but why are staying here with Cloud?"
"It's a long, unpleasant story," Tifa replied. "I really don't want to talk about it."
"Oh," Aeris cooed. She took a large swig of water.
"Anyway, why are you teaching a non-profit dance class?" Tifa questioned. "Do you do something else for a living?"
"No, I'm paid, but not for this. I'm part of Dulaine Performing Arts Association. I teach normal classes until twelve on weekdays. Then, I teach class all day on Saturday. This is just something the association does for public high schools. Cloud is still a patron to the association. Don't know why he decided to help out physically."
"I didn't know about the association," Tifa said in astonishment.
Aeris suddenly smiled slyly.
"That's odd," she replied. "But I guess it's not really your fault. After all, being a model must keep you ignorant of things in the outside world."
TIfa was stunned but nervously shook it off.
"She didn't mean anything bad by it...I think."
"What is it like in the fashion world anyhow?" Aeris asked. "Is it all glamour and outer beauty like everyone says?"
"Kinda," Tifa retorted. "Not really though…some of the models I meet are real phonies…but then there are some of the best people you'll ever meet…like my friend, Susan Ai. She's one of the women who pin the outfits on you to fit."
"Does she have to pin you up that much?"
Tifa was being to feel uncomfortable.
"No…not nowadays… but it used to be that way…I started modeling when I was a teenager, and I was tiny as can be."
"Oh," Aeris said again. "I remember seeing your pictures in Vogue. You were so skinny…I thought you were sickly or something."
Tifa was so shocked that she choked on trying to say something back.
"You almost reminded me of a palm tree with large coconuts. In fact, if you were any thinner right now, you'd look exactly like that again."
Tifa forced out a laugh.
"I hope to God that she didn't mean it in a bad way," Cloud replied. "I've always known her to be nice. Too nice."
Tifa sat down on the library couch. She crossed her arms and scowled like a child who got socks for Christmas.
"I know an insult when I hear one," Tifa said.
"Forget it," said Cloud. "You did not look like a coconut palm. You were just fine then, and you are just fine now…"
Cloud sat on the other end of the couch. He slumped slightly and rubbed his head as if a headache was coming on. Even Cloud Strife could not escape stress.
"Aeris has been acting strangely for the past few weeks," he said quietly. "I have no clue in hell on what's wrong with her."
"Marlene says that she has a crush on you," Tifa teased.
"I know."
Tifa's jaw dropped. "You know?!"
"Yup," Cloud replied. "I've known for three months now."
"And you didn't pursue her?"
Cloud shook his head. "The thought crossed my mind for a little while…I tried to conjure up some feelings for her…I tried to find it in myself to think of her as more than a friend…but…"
Cloud gave a thumbs down gesture, stuck out his tongue, and made a "raspberry".
"Can't you just say that it didn't work out in your head?" Tifa asked.
She tried to stifle laugh but failed miserably. Cloud soon followed the same fate. Tifa began to beat her fist on the couch cushion. Then, a maid came running through the library door and towards them. Her face was as grave as it gets.
She stopped for moments, in front of them, to catch her breathe.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked. "You look like you've seen the bloody ghost of Christmas past."
The maid raised her finger and took in a few more breathes.
"Your cousin, Miss Shera, has just arrived, sir."
Cloud raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"That's good news," he said. "So…why do you look so terrified?"
The maid hesitated to answer.
"Well, spit it out."
"Are you calm, sir?" the maid asked.
Cloud became even more confused.
"Um…I'm as calm as I'll ever be…why?"
"Because you must be calm when I tell you this."
Cloud grabbed his glass of Pellegrino and took light sip.
"Whatever it is," he said, "I can handle it."
The maid stared at him incredulously but finally confessed.
"Shera has just arrived…and her older sister, Scarlet…came along with her…sir."
The glass of Pellegrino flew downward to the floor and splintered into pieces, water spilling everywhere. Cloud was out of his seat in a split second.
"You let that witch set foot in my house?!"
Cloud's face had turned crimson red. The maid stepped backward in fright. Tifa simply watched in astonishment.
"I'm sorry, sir!" the maid cried.
Cloud fell limply on the couch, helpless. His hand came down over his eyes.
"I told Shera specifically to come alone," he whispered. "Even if not…why did she have to bring…that…that harpy?!"
"I'm so sorry, sir…"
"Cruela de Vil…scarlet fever…cruel punishment…horrible agony…Bloody Mary herself!"
The maid looked down at her employer with pity.
"I'm so, so sorry sir…"
Cloud sat up straight up again, massaging his forehead.
"Forget it. We can't kick the tart out now."
"You are going to go up immediately, sir?"
Cloud stopped rubbing his head and stared at the maid as if she had lost her mind. The maid let his expression answer the question.
"I'll tell them that you'll be a moment then."
The maid bowed her head and took leave.
"And make sure that Scarlet doesn't find out about this library!" Cloud shouted.
Cloud went limp across the couch once more. His breathing had become irregular. Tifa scooted closer to him in concern and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Who is this Scarlet anyhow?" she asked.
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I have a question for my readers.
Would you like Scarlet to be smart-mouthed wench or an incestious woman in the disguise of a sophisticated lady? I don't know which personality to choose from...
-Lord Divestre Croft
