Hey guys, a new chapter in this story.

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Chapter Fifteen

Into the Rhythm

The class with Aerith surprisingly was really nice, although I noticed a number of students looking at us and murmuring to each other, gossiping.

I guess they are probably gossiping why the school`s Flower Girl was seating with a new student. Aerith was a smart girl, probably the top of her class level. When the school had an Award Ceremony, she is always on the stage receiving a couple of those for her Academic prowess through the school.

She had gotten a lot of attentions because of that and many girls admired her while many boys had crushes on her and I can admit that I found her attractive once, but I never did but the move on her. Something about her just stopped me from doing anything against her, or messing with her feelings like a grade-A jackass.

Thought, I think it was mostly because Zack had told me that he had feelings for the girl. When we were in freshman year, that was the time Zack and I first crossed path with Aerith.

She wasn`t the Flower Girl yet then, but she had been placed on the list as a candidate. That was probably what drew Zack`s attention toward her in the first place and boy, he was love struck about Aerith ever since then.

Zack had been an outrageous flirt and he had flirted with tons of girls before, and yet whenever he met Aerith, it was like he had forgotten how to speak.

The poor boy got it bad, and since I am such a good friend to him, I will probably help Aerith take notice of him…

"You`re Cloud`s cousin eh," Aerith told me as we worked upon our class work.

I glanced at her and gave her a nod.

"Yeah."

"I never would have thought Cloud had family on Cocoon," Aerith told me giving me a sideway glance away from the plant in front of her, "You resemble him a lot you know."

I chuckled.

"Really? I don`t see it."

"So what`s its like being homeschooled?" she asked.

I turned my attention at the work.

"It`s…different," was my answer.

"Different how?"

"Well, first of all," I continued, "I am the only student. Second, I can`t slack off like any other kids would do at school and didn`t have much friends."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was…kind of a loner," I told her, "Thought when I arrived back in Nibelheim, Zack was one of the few people that I quickly became friends with."

Aerith had a light frown on her face.

"Zackary Fair right?" she said.

I nodded, curious about what she thought of my best friend.

"You know him?"

"I don`t think there is a soul in the school that doesn`t know who Zackary Fair is," Aerith answered me as she wrote down something on her notebook, "He got into a lot of troubles with Cloud in the past, which took my by surprise to tell you the truth…thought I always believed that he was a shy kid."

I blinked in confusion.

Zack Fair is a shy kid? Are we talking about the same person here?

"How did you come up with that?"

Aerith turned toward me.

"Whenever I spoke to him, he couldn`t even talk back," she said, "nor looking at me in the eyes. I always wonder why since I heard from the other girls that he is quite a sweet talker."

Oh, that`s cause the boy is halfway in love with you Aerith, I thought to myself.

"You never paused to think that he might…I don't know…like you."

Aerith laughed, showing the perfect row of white teeth that she possesses.

"He won`t be the first one Lightning," she told me.

"Call me Light," I told her.

She glanced at me with a look before nodding.

"So what about my question?"

"I don`t date Light," Aerith told me, "Everyone knows that…and I don`t wish to date anyone in this school."

Her tone had taken a harder tune, as she glanced down at the book that was in the middle of the table.

"Sorry," I said.

"Don`t worry," Aerith said, "You were just curious so I don't blame you."

I frowned to myself. Since Aerith never actually dated anyone before, I thought she just was never interested in anyone. She said that everyone knows that she doesn`t date…well, count me out of that crowd…

I should probably ask Yuna about the reason why when I see her again.

The rest of the day went without a hitch and then lunchtime rolled in. The student body made their way toward the cafeteria to grab something to eat and I was suddenly made aware of a fact that had been looming over my head ever since this morning.

Sephiroth`s invitation.

I didn`t want to go there and meet with him but the words that he had told me still causes me to feel some fear…

We will have a talk then about why you are lying to everyone, and if you don`t come, I will tell everyone in this school you are not who you appear to be

I feel a shudder go through my body.

Damn this guy knows how to be intimidating.

"Lightning," a voice yelled.

I had just stepped inside the cafeteria and I glanced up at the sound of my new name. Yuffie was waving at me, grinning widely and I caught sight of Zack seating down beside her…

Shit, it`s the guys, I thought.

It was the entire gang…thought it was missing Reeve which caused me to wonder where he was. But even so, I made my way toward them and took in the rest of the crew.

Barrett was eating a hotdog, chewing upon it heavily. Beside him was Cid Highwind, which had short blond hair and a lean body. He was leaning back against his chair, seeping upon his juice, and despite his looks, he had quite a potty mouth. Reeve usually sat between the two to act as a pacifier of some kind when Barrett and Cid get into an argument.

I reached them and Yuffie quickly approached forward, taking hold of my hand.

"Hey, there," she said, grinning, "I hope you`re enjoying the day so far. C`mon, let`s meet the rest of your cousin`s friends."

She approached the table and Zack gave me a smirk of acknowledgment which I returned by sticking my tongue out to him. That caused him to chuckle.

"So you already know Zack?" Yuffie said, noticing the exchange.

"Yeah," I told her, "We`ve met before."

"Cloud is such a meanie you know," Yuffie told me, "One would have thought he would tell us about you."

"W…Well, Cloud and I weren`t close," I told her.

Yuffie gave a nostalgic smile.

"He will surely be missed."

Yuffie, you made it sound like I died or something.

"Well anyway," she continued, as she pointed toward the two other guys, "This is Garrett and Cid."

"Fucking finally to meet you," Cid said.

Barrett simply gave me a nod in greetings before he talked.

"So where in Cocoon did you come from?"

"I…Er…I am from Bodhum," I told him.

"Wow, you are actually from there?" Yuffie said shocked, her eyes showing glee, "Does people on Cocoon actually wished on Fireworks?"

"Er…yeah," I told her, looking at her direction, "It`s a cultural tradition…"

"I have a friend that is from Palumpolum," Yuffie told me, "He said that he saw the Fireworks display when he was younger, said they were a sight to see…god, I wish I could go there."

"Then Go already," Highwind told her, well more like snapped at her, "That will save us the trouble of talking to your hyper ass. Oh, and say hi to Cloud while you`re at it."

I chanced a glance toward Zack for a clue of what is happening here but he simply shook his head in hopelessness. I turned my gaze toward him.

"Are you mad that Cloud left?"

"Of course I am mad," Highwind said, "Fuck, the bastard didn't even tell us that he was leaving. He didn`t even talk to his friends, to us about it before hauling ass toward Cocoon, so don`t blame me that I am fucking pissed about it."

"Cid," Yuffie said, indignantly.

"What?" the blond boy said, "She is the one that asked the fucking question."

"Cid, shut up," Garrett said.

"Why should I?" he growled at the boy, "You were pretty pissed about it to so don`t fucking try…"

I suddenly stood up, causing him to be cut off.

"Well, I see that my company isn`t wanted here anymore," I growled out.

"Lightning, wait…," Yuffie started.

But I didn`t wait. I simply ran out of the cafeteria. Well, fuck I didn`t ask to be turned into a girl…and I didn`t ask for any of the shit that came after….

I didn`t know how far I had ran when a hand suddenly caught hold of my arm.

"Let me go,"

"Hey, Light, chill out," a familiar drawl said.

I turned toward it. Fang was the one behind me, holding my arm. Her green eyes stared at me in concern.

"Are you crying?" she asked.

Was I crying? No, but I feel pretty close to it. Fuck, I was never like this back when I was a boy. Highwind always talk like that and even when we fought in the past…it never bothered me before so why…why did the words hurt a lot more than before?

I don't get it.

"W…What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was hanging out outside of the school with a friend when I saw you ran past us," Fang told me, "I saw your face for a split second and you looked like you were crying so…here I am."

I swallowed heavily.

"I`m fine,"

"No you`re not," Fang told me, "If it was, you wouldn`t be crying. So what exactly happen earlier?"

"I don`t want to talk about it," I answered her.

Fang stared at me for a few seconds before releasing my arm. I wasn`t even aware she was still holding on to it. I guess I am really out of it if I didn`t retaliates with force…

"Fang," a girl`s voice called.

An orange haired girl was approaching us. She had a bright sunny smile on her face, running toward us with. She was wearing many bracelets on her wrist which took me aback.

"So you`ve caught up to her eh," the new girl said, chuckling.

I couldn't help but notice that this girl is unusually…cheery. When I ran past them…they weren't…

"Fang, when you said hang out," I started, "You weren`t actually…"

"What?" the dark haired girl said, "Not with Vanille…she is like my sister. As much as I wished it was, I wasn`t making out with her. She is one of my friends."

The orange haired girl, Vanille, turned her gaze toward me.

"Why don't you hang out with us?" she asked.

I knew that I had to meet with Sephiroth considering the warning he had laid out in front of me but I am not going. Fuck it, I was already feeling like shit because of what Cid had said, I wasn't in the mood for any more freaking drama, not even if it was from the silver haired King himself.

Heck, even if the President of Shinra said he`ll give me a million gils and I still wouldn't have gone…well, I will probably take the money but, I wouldn't have gone.

"Sure, why not," I answered her.

Vanille gave me a grin and took my hand before pulling me along with Fang following after us. A good time outside of the school building might be what I needed after such a stressful morning.

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Jacques0 out.

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