The Thin Line Between
by : Beatriz

Chapter 11 - I Love You...I Love You Not

I thought that we would just be friends
Things will never be the same again
It's just the beginning, it's not the end
Things will never be the same again
It's not a secret anymore
Now we've open up the door
Starting tonight and from now on
We'll never, never be the same again

- Mel C

The stars shone above in the night sky, almost so brilliantly, it was blinding. Tifa Lockheart escaped the compounds of the dark bar and closed up behind her. It had been a long night, and with Cid's constant bickering on how she should mix the drinks along with the occasional drunks trying to get some of her time, a pounding headache was already brewing in the brunette's temples with no sign of resistance. The pain was so horrid, thoughts of throwing herself from Mt. Nibel became more and more tempting as the seconds passed.

Turning around slowly, Tifa tilted her chin upwards towards the star lit sky and admired the breathtaking view. The stars were where her problems had began. Never knowing that just by wishing upon a star, so much trouble could arrise into a person's life. But then again, the ruby eyed beauty never even began to consider that the stars had the power to cause a stricken hope to actually surface into reality.

"What am I going to do?"

"I'll tell you what you're going to do, you're going to tell Riley all about your indescressions!"

Startled at the angry voice behind her, Tifa spun around to face Veronica's stern expression, a chill running up her spine as her heart beated so frantically against her ribs, the constant fear of it actually escaping from her body crossed the bartender's mind.

"Veronica... what do you mean 'indescressions'?"

Descending the steps, the blue eyed woman shot Tifa a deadly look as she crossed her bony arms across her chest defiantely, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You, my dear, are quite deceitful. Parading around Kalm like you justify all that is right, but when in all actuality, you couldn't be more of a snake."

"You don't know what you're talking about," the much younger woman commented, turning her back on the raving Veronica and preparing to exit the scene.

"I know exactly what I'm talking about! Don't think you can fool me any more than you already have! I may be older, but I'm not blind to the obvious. I saw you and that blonde man, who came into town, together. Does he know you have a husband or did you fail to mention that as well," Veronica exploaded furiously as she reached out, grabbed Tifa, and slapped her harshly across the cheek, "you may be beautiful and fool everyone else around you, but I can see right through that facade of yours. You better tell Riley the truth....or I will."

She was too shocked to breathe, too shocked to move, too shocked to scream for Veronica to stop. What had just happened? Veronica and mental meltdown did not go together like a perfect jig-saw piece. The blue eyed woman was always kind and considerate towards everyone around her, no matter how terrible the individual's past was. But then again, the individuals didn't committ the ultimate indescression against a man who Veronica considered a son.

"Veronica, wait! Please hear me out," Tifa exclaimed, shaking her head quickly and luckily regaining her speech ability.

"There is nothing to listen to! You want respect from me...you want me to hear and take into consideration what you say, then you stop being the lying, manipulating snake I am preceiving you to be and tell Riley the truth! He deserves that much and honestly, I hope he finally comes to his senses and see what a skank you truely are," Veronica exclaimed harshly before taking her burning eyes away from Tifa Lockheart in a disgusted fashion and slamming the door to the cafe in the brunette's face.

"Veronica, please listen to me," the bartender explained while knocking on the door hastily. Her hands shook with nervousness as her eyes fought back the moisture which was threatening to make it's way onto her cheeks.

"Go away before I make a scene and call the police," a voice from the cafe proclaimed, not even considering to re-open the door.

"You can't do this to me! I've worked too hard to build what I accomplished here and what I did was wrong, I shouldn't have even considered it, but you don't know the history between me and Cloud. We were destined to be together! It was fate, you have to understand that," Tifa shouted lowly, standing on the other side of the door like a stray puppy begging for attention, "I am begging you Veronica, please don't tell Riley the truth, I'll.......I'll tell Cloud to leave, I'll tell him never to see me again, not even as friends. Our relationship will be not only platonic but non-existant."

There was a stretched silence before the door to the cafe swung open revealing a newly serene Veronica. Her powdered eyes searched Tifa's dark ones as suspicion quickly arose into them.

"Never again will you see this man?"

It was the only way. If the secert escaped through the town, so many lives would be ruined, including her own. This was the only way to keep the story of their lives going. She would cut the cord with Cloud, no matter how difficult it was. In order for peace to remain, Tifa would have to make the ultimate sacrafice and endure the ultimate sorrow.

"Never. Not unless this remains between me and you."

Smiling shortly after, the eldery woman firmly stated, "Deal."


@---^-----^---------------


Cloud Strife sat on the plains near the small town of Kalm, watching the stars above as a journal sat on his lap and a ciggerette hung from his lips. The stars shone so brightly in the sky, it was almost blinding. The nights were always the ex-SOLDIER's favorite time of the day as it gave him the thoughts and emotions which made him the mysteriously pensive man everybody knew him as.

Even though Cloud loved Tifa, thoughts of the benevolent flower girl, Aeris, still leaked into his head whenever he looked up at the stars. He still remembered how her hands would always make their way to her hips whenever she got mad. The way her green eyes lit up whenever she laughed. The way a small dimple used to appear whenever a smile would play her lips. The comfort she gave him when he felt her eyes upon him. And he would never forget, the expression she had before and after the sword of Sephiroth pierced her.

Cloud still blamed himself for not saving Aeris, and maybe that was why her memory still played in his mind. He never told anyone of his blame or his appritions, only because the constant fear of actually moving on always made him feel angry and insecure. Cloud didn't want to move on, in his mind, he didn't deserve to.

Tossing the ciggerette aside, the blue eyed man continued scribbing down his thoughts and emotions in the book in front of him.

'She taught me how to look at life in a newfound light. She taught me dreams weren't just a child's false hope of how the future was meant to look in the eye of the beholder. That dreams were something to explore and chase after because if we wanted something that badly, we should never just let it get away from our grasp. We should always hold onto whatever hope we have left within us as we grow older because as we evolve, time seems to take the innocence of dreaming away. If we hold onto the small ioda of hope, there's still a chance to live a life without regret. Those were Aeris's words....those are the words that kept me alive.'

Looking back up at the sky, a small smile played Cloud's lips as a glimmer of innocence shone in his sapphire orbs. Those words kept Cloud alive today. Those words gave him the appriciation to look forward to each waking moment, even when life didn't seem worth taking the risk of living through.


@---^----^-------------


Tifa continued her climb through the fire escape quietly, making sure nobody saw her escapade of the Wallace house. As if her life wasn't a scandal enough, she didn't need the identification of both adultress and thief stained on her reputation.

"Cloud, it's over. I don't love you the same way I did. The more we slept together, the more I realized you aren't half the man Riley is."

It was harsh, she knew that. But the harsher, the better because just a simple 'good-bye' and 'I want you out of my life' wouldn't do. Cloud Strife was stubborn and to get to the stubborn ones, you had to be drastically frank and asperous. She had to protect them, even if it meant hurting the man she loves' feelings. Life would continue, the world would endure it's orbit, and peace would be restored. Tifa would do this to save him from future pain, allegation, and regret.

"Cloud, I want you out of my life forever! You just aren't cutting it, I never loved you, you were just a side quest when I got bored with my husband. Now that my curiosity has been satisfied, I want nothing to do...."

"Tifa?"

Startled, the ruby eyed woman held her chest in fear of her heart leaping right out into the open as she exclaimed practically, "Barrett! What are you doing in Cloud's room?!"

"Well, this 'is' my house and I wanted to check up on our spikey headed friend. But it's lookin' like he didn't come back yet," Barrett explained logically as he eyed Tifa suspciously, "but I'm guessin' the real question at hand is, what're you doin' at Cloud's window this late at night?"

"Oh, what am I doing here? Well, I just got out of work and I had too many cups of coffee so I wanted to see if Cloud wanted to go for a walk or something to catch up. But seeing as he's not here, why am I wasting my time and breath, I'll just be on my way....."

"Hold up!"

Tifa froze as she was about to make her decent on the ladder, cursing her rotten luck under her breath before turning back around with large, innocently naive eyes, "What is it, Barrett?"

"I know, Tifa, you don't need to hide it anymore....I knew for a while now."

Her heart slammed against her ribs as her breath caught in her throat causing Tifa to choke out nervously, "You do?!"

"Of course...ya made it so obvious always sneakin' around and now comin' to Cloud's window when you coulda used to the door," Barrett responded as a matter of factly as he folded his brawny arms across his chest expectantly.

She wanted to cry. Even though Barrett was as close to a parental figure and confidant as she ever had, Tifa didn't want him to know about her affair. The last thing she wanted was Barrett thinking lowly of her, for she didn't know what she'd do without him being by her side and helping her like in the past.

"Barrett, please I can explain everything...."

"No need to explain, I mean it's obvious ya wanted to make my birthday party a surprise so ya decided to get some help from Cloud. Plus, Cid bein' in town and all, it's startin' to all come together! I can't say I'm not touched."

"A surprise birthday party......Right, yeah, I can't believe you figured it out, I was so sure you were oblivious to our plans," Tifa proclaimed guiltily while her breathing decreased slowly to a normal rymthic pattern.

"I was 'til tonight. I mean, I had my suspicions, but I didn't think anythin' of it. I can't believe you remembered my birthday though, I woulda thought for sure it slipped your mind."

Forcing a bright smile, Tifa tried to hide how terrible and guilty she felt inside. She wanted to tell him so badly, but thought against it. Soon it would all be over, and life would return to it's normal pace before Cloud arrived in Kalm. Why tell anybody else the truth when the problem of the twisted plot would come to an end before anyone could even begin to suspect any foul play?

"Of course I would remember, Barrett, we're family."


@----^----^--------------

When Cloud re-entered Kalm, it was almost 5 am and the sun was making it's appearance over the horizon. Sometimes, whenever seen entering the town, the people would question whether the mysterious man actually slept. People were so curious, they started a secrative poll on Cloud's sleeping habits.

Holding tightly onto the journal underneath his arm, Cloud discharged the smoke from his mouth and tossed the useless ciggarete butt aside. It was a beautiful morning, not as hot as the other days, with rays of light dimly shining over the small town. It looked like the beginning of a great day, unknown to him, the irony of what was to come next.

Cloud Strife continued his walk through the town, preparing to make his way into the Wallace house, where he was residing, and take a nice hot shower to help him relax. As that thought sunk into his head, the young blonde man spotted Veronica sweeping the front stoop of the cafe, a troubled look on her usually serene features. Smiling shortly, Cloud called out, "You know, you should really get rid of that frown on your face 'cause you're a lot prettier with a smile."

Veronica looked up at the source of sound and her eyes immeadiately hardened to the sight before her. He looked so happy and carefree, which caused her to give off more bitter vibes. Did he even know what kind of web he was being tangled in or was he completely aware of Tifa's marriage to Riley? It was enough to make her question Cloud's motives, placing her usual warm smile on her face.

"Aren't you the early riser," Veronica exclaimed, stopping her sweeping and focusing her concentration on the man before her.

"I could say the same to you, need any help," Cloud asked with a small smile on his rugged features. He didn't usually smile and when he did, it was barely there.

"Actually, since you asked I could use some help inside moving some crates into the back. I would've asked Barrett but I don't want to bother him this early in the morning and I have to move these out of the way before the cafe officially opens."

"Of course."

Quickly rolling the journal and placing it in his back pocket, Cloud made his way up the stairs to Veronica's cafe. He wasn't really in the mood to move objects back and forth, but this woman did a lot to help him adjust to Kalm, it was the least he could do to repay her for her hospitality.

"Come with me," Veronica motioned, placing the broom against the wall of the cafe and leading the helpful man inside, "I'm sorry for bothering you, I'm sure you have so much you need to accomplish, just moving into Kalm and all."

"It's fine. I was just about to go to Barrett's, shower, and get ready for the day but I can do that whenever. Where do you need these crates put," Cloud asked curtiously while grabbing on of the heavy set crates and picking it up without breaking a sweat.

Veronica's blue eyes widened at Cloud's strength. Not to be offensive to the man, but when she first laid eyes on him, he was just about the scrawniest man she had ever seen. He had a few muscles here and there, but the rest was just skin and bones. In all actuality, she thought Cloud would have difficulty lifting a coffee pot might as well a 250 pound crate filled with cocoa beans.

"Oh, yes, you can move the crate back into the kitchen."

Nodding, Cloud manuevered his way behind the counter and into the back with ease. Simply amazing was the only two words that could describe the lanky young man. But then again, how could she forget this was indeed the man who saved this planet from the infamous Sephiroth and meteor. He had to have had some strength in that body of his to accomplish such a arduous task.

"So how have you been," Cloud asked, making small talk once he re-entered the cafe's main quarters.

"Great, now that you're helping me out with the crates. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't help me out, I would most definately get the weird eye from some of my customers, plus with the sanitary department and their scheduled appointment today, I would have surely been in violation of some of their rules," Veronica exclaimed, a smile still glued to her face as she watched Cloud hoist another crate up off the floor and moving it to the back room.

"It's no problem, you ever need any help just hollar," Cloud shouted from the back, echoing off the walls for Veronica to hear.

"Thank you, you're just a gracious young lad.......you must have a special girl in your life. What with you being so handsome, strong, and generous, girls must be literally knocking down your door with invitations," the blue-eyed woman proclaimed, not wasting any more time with pointless chit-chat and getting right to the point.

Cloud emerged from the back again, a boyish smile on his face as he grabbed another crate and said, "There's only been one girl for me.....no matter how many offers I get from the opposite sex, no girl will ever make me feel the way she does."

It was true. She would uncover the truth and it would be from a reliable source. Veronica already knew there was an affair brewing between Kalm's own Tifa Lockheart and Cloud Strife, but she would hear it for her own ears. Excitement and pure determination pumped through her veins as she awaited her hypothesis to be proven correct.

"And who is this lucky girl?"

Stopping in his tracks, Cloud turned around, crate in hand, and shook his head, "I'd rather not say.....It's just something I like to keep to myself, hopefully not jinxing anything between us."

'Damn it...I was so close,' Veronica's mind shouted as she watched with her piercing eyes, Cloud Strife shrugg an apology and make his way to the back. It was Tifa, Cloud desires, and she knew this. She just wanted to hear it from his mouth, but then again, he was a smart man. But that was OK, his intellectual nature and witty retorts wouldn't be able to save him from the rejection he was soon to endure. Soon, Veronica wouldn't have to worry about Tifa's indecression with Cloud. Soon, she wouldn't even have to worry about the blonde ever coming between the happiness of Tifa and Riley. He would be gone just as quickly as he swept into everyone's life, and life would continue in it's normal cycle, just as it was meant to.