Chapter 14: Another light shines
Squall's POV: "Well, we are finally done cleaning it all up." Tifa asked me.
"…When they are ready, they'll come out." I replied to her, annoyed. I hope those two won't find out that we eavesdropped on them. The door creaked open and the two of them came out.
"Vincent, are you okay?" Cloud asked him.
"…Everyone, thank you for worrying about me. I don't deserve your friendship." He said with his head down.
"Is this really the time to think that? How are you feeling you two?" Tifa asked them.
"I'm okay." They both replied in unison. I raised my eyebrow and shook my head.
"It's…okay Vincent, you're still welcome here. After all, we are the only ones who can help you." Cloud smiled. I looked at him in surprise and smiled. Maybe things are finally looking up for us.
"D-Do you guys really mean it?" He asked innocently. All but Ray smiled and nodded.
"I-I think I'll go prepare breakfast. Ha, morning comes by so quickly." Ray stammered and went downstairs.
"Vincent, explain what has happened." I told him. He nodded slowly.
"Ray is upset, that's all. She told me…everything so there's awkwardness between us." He explained.
"That must have been hard on you both. Ray just needs some time. Are you sure you should go to school? I know Ray is because she's so stubborn." Tifa questioned Vincent.
"I'll go to. Thank you for your concern." He replied. We all got ready for school.
Today I wore dark, brown, baggy pants and a black long sleeved shirt. School had better be better than yesterday or I'll be in a bad mood.
"V-Vincent, can you pass me a napkin?" Ray asked politely, which was hardly like her. Vincent did as she asked and that was that. Silence roamed the room for a few minutes. Suddenly, the doorbell rung and Cloud answered the door politely. I didn't hear much of the conversation, but I did hear "Vincent" and "Condition". After that, Cloud barged into the kitchen with a young woman with short black hair and light blue eyes behind him.
"A-Aunt Fan, what are you doing here?" Vincent asked hesitantly. He looked worried which worried me as well. Who is this woman? She didn't answer, but she scouted the area and stared at each of us for a few seconds.
"Where are your parents?" The woman asked coldly. Damn it, how are we going to explain to her? Ray stood up and stared hard into the woman's eyes.
"My father has gone to work already so I'm afraid you won't see him here." Ray answered politely, though there was slight aggressiveness in her voice I noticed.
"Are you all siblings or just friends?" She asked, pushing us.
"We are all related ma'am." Ray replied.
"…I see, so what are all of your names?" She demanded. This is not exactly what I would think of a good first impression.
"I'm Squall Leonhart and this is Tifa Lockheart, Cloud Strife, and Ray Li." I took over.
"Vincent, come out and talk to me." The woman commanded and barged out of the door.
"Damn it, I'm sorry guys, she's unreasonable." Vincent muttered and went out.
Ray's POV: "So, what about Vincent?" Squall asked me.
"I-I don't hate him, I just feel weird being with him. Inside, I'm sure he hates me, I can see that, but he's hiding it." I admitted.
"However, I…don't want him to leave…" I confessed. Tifa looked at me with sympathy.
"It's…a hard feeling to admit, but I think it best that you would talk to him personally. He feels weird being with you too, after all, you are his 'sworn' enemy." She said. She right, but I don't want to say anything that will make things worse. Vincent came in, looking upset.
"I'm sorry, but I can't go to school today it seems." He told us. What did his aunt do?
"Don't worry Vincent, I think it's best that you don't go today after recent events. Does your aunt know?" Tifa asked.
"…Well, she doesn't know what you guys saw. Anyway, I'm sorry." He apologized.
"What can you do about it? Don't worry, things will work out." Cloud said. He was still emotionless. We all went out the door and one by one we said goodbye to Vincent. When it came my turn, I bowed to him politely.
"Ray…I don't want this to keep going between us. Why don't you come by my place so we can talk?" He suggested. My eyes widened with surprise. He did what would take me weeks to try.
"Hmm, I'll do that." I smiled. He seemed surprised that I smiled from his expression, but it slowly turned into a satisfied smile as well.
"I'll see you later then." I said and ran to catch up with the others. The smile stuck on my face and I began to chuckle.
"Why am I so happy?" I asked myself happily.
Cloud's POV: School began normally which was fortunate and this time, not as many girls bothered us because of a certain "star player" who strolled into the room.
"Whoa, not too rough girls!" Tidus laughed. "Hmph, what a player." Squall grunted.
"Hmm? Are you jealous?" Ray asked him sarcastically.
"Shut up would you? You caused way too many problems already." He snapped. Ray seemed to have taken it seriously because she backed down and looked solemn.
"…Can we please get our heads out of the clouds? We need to focus on school." Tifa reminded us. Suddenly, Tidus walked over to us.
"So you guys are new in the neighborhood huh? The name is Tidus." The blond-haired, dark-skinned, blue-eyed boy introduced. He wore a yellow, short-sleeved jacket with a white T-shirt inside. He also wore long-baggy navy pants and yellow boots with black buckles, like a Blitzball player.
"Hi there, my name is Tifa and this is Ray, Squall, and Cloud." Tifa introduced us.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He bowed respectively.
"Well, I've got to go, so if you want to just chat, I'm usually found at the stadium." He winked, but it seemed to be more directed at Tifa. Suddenly, my blood started to boil and my veins started popping out.
"O-Oh, okay then, we'll meet again." Tifa blushed.
"W-Well, he isn't that bad now is he?" Tifa smiled. Ray stared long and hard at her.
"Are you crazy! That guy is a complete lady's man! Get your head out of the clouds woman!" Ray blurted out. With that said, I started to laugh.
Ray's POV: "Ray Li, please give this note to the coach in Stadium Three would you?" The sensei asked of me. Reluctantly, I got up, snatched the note and barged out the door with Tifa and Squall looking at me with disapproval.
"Why didn't she ask 'Aeris' the teacher's pet?" I mumbled to myself. While I walked down the hall, I met up with a girl my age with short brown hair, a nice long-sleeved white shirt with buttons and light jeans.
"Oh, I haven't seen you before, are you new to this area?" She stopped me.
"Err, yeah I am." I replied.
"Hi, my name is Yuna." She smiled.
"I'm Ray." I said.
"Well, I'll see you some other time alright?" She smiled brightly and walked off. Hmm, she's rather cute; I wonder where I saw her? She looks oddly familiar. I shook off the thought and headed to the stadium.
I looked for the coach, but couldn't find him after a few minutes. I scratched my head and stared at the sphere in the middle of the stadium.
"What a large sphere of water!" I gaped in awe. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me and I turned around.
"Ah, you're Ray right?" Tidus asked.
"…" I didn't reply to him though.
"Ha, you're not much of a talker are you?" He chuckled.
"And your point would be?" I asked.
"Oh sorry, um if you're looking for the coach, you won't find him for another few minutes." Tidus answered.
"Then I'll be on my way." I scoffed at him coldly.
"W-Wait, um could I ask you something?" He asked me.
"If it's a date, then forget it." I said sarcastically.
"Ha, you're a funny girl. Anyway, since you are a girl, then can you help me out? You seem to be the trustworthy type." He said. I looked at him in surprise.
"You would ask someone who just came into the neighborhood for advice." I asked him.
"Well, you see there is this girl…" He started.
"…I see, so what's your problem?" I asked him.
"Well, she's dating this guy, a bad egg, but she hasn't heard the rumors. The guy is merely using her because of her fame and fortune." He explained. Okay, this seems simple enough.
"And this person is?" I asked.
"H-Her name is Yuna and the guy she's with is Seymour." He answered. Yuna…Where did I hear…Aw yes, that girl…fame and fortune…Wait a minute, she's the daughter of Braska, a famous veteran from the last war with the other continent. I see how I know her now. She's rich, famous, and cute, what every guy looks in a girl.
"So, you like Yuna. Don't tell me you're only after the rich and beautiful lover boy." I scoffed.
"N-NO, it's nothing like that!" He defended and scratched his head.
"It's just that we've known each other for so long and I've been a good friend to her. Our fathers knew each other and are best friends, so I knew her for a long time." He told me.
"So this ' Seymour', what does she see in him?" I asked him and walked over to a bench to sit. He followed me and answered.
"He acts polite and nice, also he's rich and supposed to be good-looking."
"You never met him?" I questioned him.
"I saw him once, but I didn't talk to him. He's only rich because I heard that he has something to do with selling drugs, says the rumors." He sighed and sat beside me.
"I don't want her to get hurt, but if I tell her what he is, I might hurt her." He stressed and bit his thumbnail. He sounds like Cloud if you break open his head, but he's more open unlike the spiky-haired dude.
"So, you got some good advice?" He asked me.
"…I can't help you, I'm sorry. Like you said, if you tell her, it'll hurt her. You just have to let her learn her lesson and then be the first one there for her to have a shoulder to cry on. At this point, you can only continue to be her friend." I tried.
"…That…makes sense enough. Yeah, thanks Ray, I knew I could trust you." He chuckled and put out his hand for me to shake. I stared at it, a bit hesitant, but finally shook it.
"I don't want you to get the wrong idea; I'm not a player or anything like that. I only have my sights on one girl." He smiled brightly at me.
"How cute…keep dreaming little boy, keep dreaming." I smiled and went on my way.
He…made me feel better about myself. If only I could be like him and say what I want. He's not afraid of the outcome and he's honest. Well, I just have to try my best and talk to Vincent. On my way to class, I met up with Aeris.
"Oh Ray, are you going back to class?" She asked me.
"If it looks like it, then yes." I answered her.
"Ha, you're like Cloud said you were." She smiled. Don't tell me Cloud actually talked to this pinky.
"I hope that we can be good friends!" She giggled and walked off. Ugh, I don't want to see her again.
"Cloud, for your sake, I hope you're not cheating on Tifa." I said to myself and went to class.
"Ray, what took you?" The sensei raged.
"The coach wasn't there sensei, even though I waited." I answered with a polite tone. Squall looked at me suspiciously and a drop of sweat came down my face. Why must he act like he knows everything I do? He always makes me feel guilty even though I've done nothing!
Tifa's POV: "So Cloud, did you get the problem?" I asked him.
"Yeah, Aeris helped me out." He responded lazily.
"A-Aeris helped you out? Oh, well that's good. She is awfully smart." I hesitated and walked at a faster pace.
"Oh, wait, Tifa, hold up!" Cloud reached out for me.
"What a tragic love isn't it?" Ray asked Squall sarcastically.
"Yes, such drama between them. I forgot to bring a box of tissues." Squall smirked.
"Shut up would you?" Cloud snapped and chased after me. Why do I feel this way? It's not like he likes Aeris, but I can't help but feel…jealous. Ooh, I can't believe how selfish I am! I hate myself!
"Tifa, come one, don't be like this." Cloud panted when he caught up to me.
"C-Cloud, I didn't notice that you were behind me!" I blushed.
"You seem stressed out, why don't we go get a drink later? I'll pay for us both." He offered.
"I-I…I'm okay Cloud." I told him.
"Come on, you've been working so hard, we should take a break." He persuaded me and smiled that beautiful smile of his. How can I ever resist? I found myself blushing again.
"Alright Cloud, let's go for a drink later." I agreed and giggled.
Finally, the introduction of Tidus and Yuna and I know they came pretty late, but I couldn't exactly stick them in the beginning, anyway, they are here and Tidus has some issues with this Seymour. Who could blame the poor, honest, lovable kid? Cloud and Tifa are experiencing a drama of their own with their loyalties at the test. Tifa can fall for so many guys...Cloud on the other hand, might be leaning to Aeris more than he might like to think! Now the issue with Ray and Vincent, will that be resolved? Where the hell does Squall fit in all of this! Next, Chapter 15: Closer.