Sorry I didn't update yesterday! Friends + bottles inability to write... or do anything haha O well -.-; So I wanted to catch up a little
-- Chapter 9 --
The next day Zack and myself walked together to school. A few heads shot odd glances at Zack, however he just gave them his characteristically large grin and a quick wave. By the time we sat down for class I noticed a the majority of the room had their eyes darting between me and Zack. In complete and utter confusion as to why Zack was hanging out with the gay kid. I smiled at the thought of all these looks disappearing from their faces once she got here. I instinctively look to my watch, She should be here in a couple hours. But, than again, she never tends to be very punctual...
...Make that three hours... It'll be the first time I've seen her since she last visited me in Nibelheim...
I think back to the last time I saw her. She was worried about me, and for obivious reasons. I felt very detached at the time. And she knew the moment she walked through the door that something was bothering me. She always had a sort of sixth sense when it came to me... I always found it quite odd. Like with Zack I found myself to be more open with her. I was comfortable talking to her for some strange reason. All and all maybe it was because her and Zack were very much alike in a lot of ways.
Maybe thats why I couldn't brush off Zack... Among other things... I muse to myself.
--
A few hours later and I was sitting with Zack at lunch. A bit annoyed, Zack could sense my annoyance and tilted his head at me in question.
"Whats up Spike?"
I sigh heavily, "She should've been here by now..."
"Maybe she's just being fashionably late," Zack elbowed my arm softly, "Getting all dressed up for you perhaps."
I scoff at his remark and hear my named being shouted from behind me. I looked over my shoulder just as a pair of slender arms wrapped around my neck. Standing above me the girl tilted my head back and stared down at me before kissing my forehead, "Sorrrrie I was latee!!"
Zack smiled at the girl even though really he was jealous that she got to do what he had wanted to do all morning since they got to this forsaken place. The girl attracted alot of attention with her out burst, and even more people dropped their forks as they saw me turn out of my chair and lift the girl up and spin her before pulling her into a close hug.
She giggled softly, "It's really been too long Cloud!" I smile to her softly, "It really has, Yuffie."
I turn to Zack, noting the eyes across the lunch room dart to me and the very attractive girl next to me, "Yuffie, Zack. Zack, This is my girlfriend, Yuffie ."
Zack smiled and stood up to greet the girl formally. Cloud couldn't help but notice that everyone was leaning in on their seats trying to figure out just what was going on.
This might actually work...
--
Later on that day I got a few unexpected apologies. Most from guys of course, though at first they didn't really know how to approach me. Quite a few managed to open their apologies with comments on my 'girlfriend'. I didn't really have much to say to them, though rarely I ever had much to say to anyone.
Well with the exception of Zack and Yuffie...
The most unexpected apology came from Reno, well.. If you could really call it an apology. It was more of a 'Sorry I beat you up cuz' that bitch got issues yo' sort of thing. I even talked to him, well he talked, and I couldn't get him to stop... So I just had to listen... Funny for a guy who was about to kill me the week before for being 'gay' he had no problem chatting with me as if I was a long lost friend. He walked through the hall with his arm around my neck, I did however cut his speech about Yuffie in a bikini and a pair of short shorts off pretty quickly. I blushed at the thought... Not because I found it arousing... Just awkward, I really didn't think of Yuffie that way and it was to strange to think of such an image of her. Reno took my blushing in the opposite light and burst out laughing saying something about Yuffie; dress up; kinky...
It was... Just disturbing...
While I got apologies and truces, Aerith and Tifa were getting nothing but cold shoulders from everyone. Aerith and Tifa have been known to gang up on people they weren't fond of before. But the thought of spreading a rumor to this caliber was really unforgivable in the other students eyes. I sigh inwardly, I don't see why being gay is such a big deal...
The two were very bluntly being alienated from their usual adoring social groups. It really wasn't intended, but I can't say I would complain. I actually enjoyed watching Tifa squirm a little. It was a perverse pleasure to see her as an outcast, rather than miss popularity. She had always been the center of attention in Nibelheim, and apparently here as well. It was enjoyable to see her as the outcast for once, instead of the other way around. But strangely enough no matter how much I enjoyed watching the girl shrink into herself, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
My thoughts were interrupted by Yuffie's voice, "Oooh Darlinnnnng!!"
I visibly twitch, Did...she just call me... darling...
"Aw, don't look that way Cloud," the girl exclaimed as she took my arm in hers. "So, we need to catch up on quite a bit! But! First things first," she pulls her arm back and scrambles through her bag pulling out a mess of magazine clippings. "So, about this dance, which dress do you think I should wear?"
I can only blink trying to focus at the numerous cut outs being tossed infront of me. "Yuffie, do w-..."
A finger silenced my lips, " As your girlfriend, I want to go this dance. So... You gotta take me riight?? You might even have some fun! You got two weeks before the big day!"
She leans in a little closer to whisper in my ear, "You know, you got quite a few hotties in this school there Cloudie. You owe me big time..." Her smile beamed, " So.. We'll go over details later! I'll see you tomorrow, k?"
She takes off down the hallway and I can't help but smile brightly. She does so much for me... She really is an amazing girl.
--
The two weeks before the dance went by rather quickly. Everything was going well in school. Everyone was throughly convinced about my relationship with Yuffie, which quite frankly I would even be convinced if I didn't know any better. Yuffie and I always had a sort of blurry relationship, don't get me wrong there was no attraction sexually, but we were always very close. Zack would even tease me from time to time about it. The only two who weren't convinced, no surprise, was Aerith and Tifa. I'm not so much worried about them anymore. Fortunate for myself, they have done similar things to their other classmates. And once everyone thought that they were just lying for their own benefit the majority of our class had just simply given them the cold shoulder.
And as for Zack and myself, I find a blush creep along my cheeks. It was difficult having to keep our hands to ourselves at school. For instance, allow me to elaborate on the event that took place two days ago in gym class. Zack, after taking a warm shower, wrapped in only a towel... which mind you was so loose around his hips it was nearly falling off... deliberately brushed his half naked body against me while walking past me to his locker. The fresh scent of his body wash, the warm flush of his skin, the droplets of water still streaming slowly and very... teasingly down his well toned slender body... Well, you get the idea... All I could think of was slamming him into the lockers and kiss him roughly. I would've never thought of thinking about such things. I always thought I would love gentle and soothing touches and give them back as I received them. But with Zack... The boy was just too much for my body to handle... I couldn't help but lose my thoughts and purely want to act on instinct alone.
Somehow, we managed to keep our relationship under the radar. Yuffie drew attention always from our wandering eyes, she was the only one who would catch them. She teases me relentlessly on the phone about how 'adorable' we are. Going on about just chopping any smug jerk who things they can come between us. She knows it's not that simple, just like I know it won't happen anytime soon. Not in high school anyway...
Zack had spoke to me about moving back with him to Gongaga. Or perhaps finding a quiet place we could stay elsewhere. I had entertained the idea, I wouldn't mind running off with Zack and living happily ever after. But the problem would be the key word in that sentence, Running. I ran enough. Zack made that all to clear to me, even though he doesn't realize it. I've ran from everything my entire life. I don't want to keep running for the rest of it.
"Zack...," a comfortable smile softens my features and allow my eyes to slowly drift shut. He's been so patient with me. I don't tend to help either, I have to remind myself. It's just so hard to keep my hands off the beauty. I tense involuntarily when things begin to heat up and almost sensing this he always kisses my forehead and pulls me into a simple embrace. I can only bite my lip and settle my shakey breath. I know it's even harder for him, he really is to good to me.
I sigh looking myself over in the full length mirror in my room. I shake my head at the image, I was never one for any type of formal wear. I did promise Yuffie though...
A faint blush mattes itself on my cheeks at my next thought, I wonder how Zack will look in his semi-formal wear... I can just image the way his dress shirt will tug at certain muscles as he moves. I raise a brow at myself, Since when did I turn into such a pervert... Anytime I happen to think about Zack there's always one perverse thought that pops into mind. Well, The boy is to damn attractive for his own good...
"Cloud," I hear my mother calling from down the stairs, "Yuffie is here, hurry on down stairs sweetie!"
I head down stairs and find Yuffie talking to my mother. Yuffie really is adorable. She is wearing a pale green strapless dress with a number of assorted sequins draped across the chest in an ivy like pattern. The front of the dress is open a bit at the bottom as a slit rises up til just about her mid-thigh. The sequins also follow the slit up from the bottom of the dress. The fabric hugs her small frame at the top and flows softly against her skin towards the bottom of the dress. I smile at the sight of her, "Yuffie, you look beautiful." She giggles with a small blush, " Well I sure hope I do, you helped me pick out the dress. " She never was one to take compliaments gracefully... I can only chuckle.
"You ready to head over to Zack's place," I ask. Before Yuffie has a chance to answer my mother abrutly chimes into the conversation, "Wait!! I need to take a few pictures first!!"
--
After a mind numbing session of my mother taking enough pictures to fill, not one but two memory cards, in her camera she finally dismissed us to the dance. Tch, Only a few pictures she says... I feel like my eyes could melt out of their sockets from all the flashing!
Ok, The plan is to meet Zack at his house and they would make there way to the dance from there.
Zack had boasted about having a flashy ride, but frankly I pictured something more along the lines of a bettle VW, Zack did have a tendency of exaggerating. So I wasn't going to take his word so seriously. Well, that was until I saw what awaited us in the drive way of his home. Yuffie's eyes lit up the size of saucers and let out a high pitched squeal. Bolting to huge the vechicle in front of her she examined every inch in awe. I however was just amazed that she could move so quickly in her heels and dress. She was dismissed from touching the large vechicle but a very over protective Zack. I laughed softly to myself at the two aruging over their new obession. The vechicle was amazing, A stretch hummer, fully equip with shiny chrome rims and a very glossy Black paint job. After prying the two apart from the hummer I was finally able to get them to climb into the beast so we could make our way to the dance. As Zack and Yuffie went on and on over the interior of the hummer I became lost in my own thoughts.
The dance was being held at a hotel, which I thought odd because this wasn't prom. Prom was the big dance night, and that was still a few monthes away. For just a Winter ball this really seemed just to extravagant. The hotel had a large catering area we were renting out, and Hotel rooms were avaiable at discounted prices for students. Zack had a room reserved for after the dance. I forget why he said he reserved one though... Soon my questions were answered.
As the hummer came to a stop I was pulled from my thoughts, "This... isn't the hotel..."
Zack smirked, " What Cloudy, you thought I was going to go to the dance without a date." I raised my brow, Well Zack did mention he was going to bring a date... It would seem odd if one of the most popular guys in school had went without a date. The door nearly flung open as a very loud red head busted in the doorway accompanied by two girls, both wearing dresses entirely too short and too low, greeted the three.
"Time to start the party Yo!!" I look over to Reno, who I noticed has to brown paper bags in his arms. He hands one of the bags over to Zack and one to myself. When he hands one of the bags to me he winks, friendly, "So I owed ya from before so heres my payment, no hard feelings, yo." I blink and peer into the bag and close it immediately after realizing what 'presents' Reno had brought with him. "H-how did you... " Reno smirked, " I got my ways.. " Reno and the girls slid into the hummer and seat themselves down next to Zack. I grow annoyed as Zack's date is all to comfortable squeezing herself against him. Theres enough to seat 4 more for christ sake. Thankfully Zack speaks up, "Yo Reno, You me and Cloudy front and center. Girls you all sit where Cloudy was sitting. Come on Spike," Zack motions for me to come over. The girls all sit together on the opposite end of the hummer, much to my relief. But I do however feel bad for Yuffie who pretends to gag herself as I look over to her in sympathy. I move inbetween Zack and Reno and sit down cautiously. Reno grabs a couple small glasses, shot glasses, from his coat pocket. And hands them out to me and Zack, of course, keeping one for himself as well.
I stare at the shot glass biting my lip, I never drank before... And it must have been obivious because I soon saw Reno eye balling me.
"Don't worry yo! You're drinking wit the pro's," He rips a bottle from one of the bags, " Good ole' Capt'n!" He exclaims this while opening the bottle and pouring some into all of our glasses. Zack and Reno down theres almost immediately and I stare at the funny light brown liquid. It's smell makes my nose twitch slightly.
I feel the pair watching and waiting, "Can't start another round til you go, bottoms up yo!"
I take a small breath and throw the shot back quickly, the strange tastes makes my nose wrinkle and I can feel a tiny burning in the pit of my stomach. Before I can even blink Reno starts filling the glasses again. I look over to Zack who wrinkles his nose in an attempt to tease me. I scouff at his efforts and toss back my next shot before the other two start, and give Zack a cocky glance. He grins and takes his next shot, as Reno pours another round.
"Cloudy's a trooper yo! But wait til we hit the hard stuff!"
My eyebrow twitches, You mean... this stuff isn't hard...
Reno almost giddy throwing his arm over cloud and tapping the bottle of Capt'n against Zack's shot glass, "We're gonna get so Sloushed yo!!"
I hear the girls giggle and see Yuffie roll her eyes. Zack just smiles with an ear to ear grin, "Next bottle!"
This... is going to be one hell of a night...
--Chapter 9 Complete!! FINALLY!!
K finally complete sorry it took so long... complete and utter writers block... and i've been trying to catch up on proof reading since i'm getting more reviews on my laziness o.O; than the story um... so yeah will have another chapter up soon!! Sorry for the wait!! So lets re cap... dance + Cloud + drinking + Zack + angry Aerith and Tifa + Reno + Hotel the next chapter woot woot!! o.O; i'm so not weird...
