Blonde Ambition
A Cloud & Tifa Fanfiction
- Amaranthos –
Chapter 14: Just another day
We arrive late at the mall that day around 12 something. It was all thanks Yuffie. She took an extra long bath and used up all my hair conditioner and hot water. I tried to remember the little bug was my friend…
We made our way to our favourite eatery. We enjoyed quesadillas a great deal, they were healthy and pretty affordable for college students. But today we were passing our favourite muchy for Yuffie and her lavish ice-cream fancies. When we got there, the place was pack, we took a seat outside so we could see the ocean. Yuffie took the end and Shera took the opposite end. I look at both girls. Yuffie was making herself comfortable by placing her two feet on the chair and it was fine for a place like this.
"Good day ladies, what can interest you in?" the guy asks…
"Do you have the chocolate-truffle-caramel whatever the hell you call it, ice-cream?" Shera asks. The guy laughs.
"Yes we do…" he smiles…
"Urh, we'll have one of those and two normal waffle coned ice-creams, one in chocolate and one in strawberry" Shera speaks…
"Any toppings?" he asks…
"Urh none for me, what about you Tif?" she asks…
"Nah! I'm fine" I reply…
"Well, I guess that's it" and with that he left.
"What's the matter couldn't ask me if I wanted or I'm not special enough for you?" Yuffie enquires…
Shera shakes her head..
"How much is this gonna cost me looney?" she asks Yuffie…
"I dunno… but I hope really expensive" Yuffie attacks…
The girls and I bickered for a while all due to Yuffie, but she wasn't seeing it from our point of view. She was the one who messed up with Vincent. She kept saying we weren't good friends who had her back. But gosh, she was the one who wandered off. After a couple of minutes we got our ice-creams and that seem to shut our mouths a bit. Shera then suddenly nudges me gruffly.
My ice-cream smears across my face and I look at her in shock.
"Yes?" I wipe my mouth.
"Look" she points off…
I look up and saw Vincent. Oh my goodness. And as if my big blonde head wasn't enough of a traffic light, it's like it beacons him to wave at me.
Then he begins approaching us. I turn to Yuffie who ---? Was no where to be found.
I look at Shera confused, and she points at Yuffie who was standing behind some bushes.
"Hey Tifa" he speaks…
"Hi.. how are you?" I ask smiling back at him.
"Not too bad, what are you guys doing here?" he asks seeing only two of us.
"Where's your other friend with the head injury?" he asks.
Shera snickers.
For a minute both Vincent and I stare at her.
"She just went to the bathroom" Shera starts.
All the while I was shaking my head trying to hint to Shera to not bail on Yuffie. But that devious smirk she wore… emphasizes evil.
"Oh speaking of, there she is" and Shera deliberately points at Yuffie who was waving her off, but Shera does otherwise.
Vincent looks up and catches the sight Yuffie, who awkwardly smiles.
"Hello" she says in a tiny voice…
"Hi, I'm so sorry about your head" he stands and approaches her, "my name's Vincent" he extends a hand.
Yuffie looks at him and then at his hand. Yuffie shakes it.
Honestly she couldn't believe this was happening. She was shaking his hand and here he was just two feet away from her. She could die now, she did it all.
Immediately her cheeks flame.
"Are you alright, you look a bit flustered, maybe you should sit" he assists her to a close seat.
"Thank you" her voice was extra nice. Not something common coming from Yuffie.
"My friends they told me about what I did… I apologize" she was cut off by his voice
"It's quite alright, I was more concerned about someone taking advantage of you with your injury. I'm glad to see you're fine though" he softly smiles…
"Aww, aren't you a gentleman…" she softly giggles - another thing which was not common from Yuffie. If anyone knew Yuffie as good as we did, they'd know her to be the best big mouthed, hyperactive unlady-like character they knew.
He laughs and looks down.
"Oh my, you're blushing" she teases…
He blushes some more…
"Should we leave you two alone?" Shera suddenly asks in a very bored voice, "because I'm still very hungry and I really don't want ice-cream before food" she whines.
Yuffie shoots her daggers.
"Oh yeh, I guess I should get going" Vincent stands up, retracting from Yuffie…
Yuffie felt like embalming Shera into the floor.
Noticing Yuffie's definite hate to Shera, I extend the invitation to Vincent.
"Oh no, no, I couldn't intrude…" he speaks before looking at his watch, "it's late you know"
"Oh please, would you reconsider, I mean it'd be nice to have extra company" Yuffie insists.
He swallows, her pretty green eyes somehow so innocent and soft and calling at him to obey. Shaking his head, he agrees.
"Sure.."
Shera rolls her eyes.
How cute I thought.
"Whatever, let's get some food already"
Monday 8:15 AM
Tokyo University
It was already beginning to look like a strange morning. First, Yuffie calls in early insisting: she couldn't pick me up. I was a bit taken back, since the plan was to pick Shera and I up so we could go get her registered for her swimming competition. But that completely failed when she INSISTED she was doing this alone. So here I was, revving my fenrir, starting the engine after a whole week. Thankfully the fenrir has gas; mounting it I place on my helmet and jacket and exit the garage.
As usual I pass the locals, wave at some and stare at the beautiful ocean. In some sort of way it was peaceful seeing the ocean so early morning not to mention it was a refuge after a long day of school…
I made my way into the school property checking with security before I enter the grounds. Parking my fenrir in it's usual spot I eye the grounds to find that Yuffie's car was already in school. I arch a confused brow. I had to, what was the stinker up to?
I also realize 'his' car was in the car lot. I smile at the thought. I descend my fenrir and made my way up the stairs. Some of the students at my college wave at me and I was happy knowing I made friends after a couple of weeks turning blonde.
I was about to sit on an empty bench when he shows up.
"And good morning to you to" he smirks.
I look down and smil, "good morning, Sephiroth" taking a seat.
"The people at this campus are incredible" he joins me.
"How so?"
I pull out a small container with fruits. "Want one?" I ask, biting into a grape…
He raises a hand to deny the offer.
"Check it for yourself" he drops a newspapers between us.
I tilt my head to read the heading, but before I could, I saw a picture of Sephiroth and I on the cover page with his hand on my waist. And then I read the title: Tifa Lockhart, a friend, too friendly or girlfriend of Sephiroth?
I laughed at the title. Thankfully, Sephiroth and I had been through this ordeal before and these immature things couldn't hurt us.
"Honestly, it's silly how Scarlett and her gang could spread such nonsensical gossip." I pause to look at the picture, "gosh they make friendships between people impossible. Thank goodness we've been through this huh?" I smile and ate one of my fruits, "it's a good thing we're just friends" I turn to look at him and smile.
And then I saw it in his face. A sort of…disappointment? I knew I probably was giving myself a lot of liberty in saying this - but his face looks so, displeased. I knew what I had said made him reflect, even contemplate.
Sephiroth's eyes shifts from the usual bright green to an unbelievable dark tone. I could tell these were his contemplative eyes…
He then turns to me and gives a thin smile "it's a good thing"
I nod. It was all I could do…
He sorts his throat and looks off, "so, you came to school on fenrir today… I thought you would come with other friends" he speaks…
I bit my lips, "yeh I was planning to come with the other's but Yuffie bailed on us. I think maybe she has some important plans since I haven't seen her all morning" I explain…
"Your friend, Kisarugi, she's the girl with the brown hair right?" he asks turning to me…
"Uhmm, yup"
"That's strange" he mutters…
I look at him confused, "what is?" I ask…
"I swore she had head bandages all over her head. Did she get hurt?" he asks…
"No! And even if she did I'd be the first person she'd call" I was beginning to become frantic. Yuffie with head bandages, am I missing something? Honestly, something was beginning to smell fishy with that girl.
"Look" he points in the distance.
I sigh. I could see Yuffie with bandages wrap around her head, looking ever so frail with Vincent guiding her about. Her hands were clutching onto his arm and leaning dangerously close to him. And Vincent, I don't know if he found this refreshing ever since his breakup, but he was playing along if not completely innocent to the ways of evil from Yuffie.
I stare at her hoping she looks my way. Thankfully she does. She winks at me giving a goofy grin.
"Looks like she's up to no good" he confesses
I assure him, "she's absolutely up to no good…"
He laughs. "She reminds me partly of Loz"
I look at him, "your brother?"
"Hmm, the one with the short hair cut" he explains, "he's a lot like Yuffie…"
I laugh, "I can't imagine anyone being as notorious as Yuffie"
"What are you doing at lunch?" he asks, turning to avert his eyes at me.
Those eyes, they always seem to get me startled. I breathe in.
I thought, "hmm, eating lunch" I laugh.
He smirks.
"No really" he asks…
"I don't know… nothing I guess" I speak.
"Good…I'll meet you on the steps at lunch" he got up and took one of my fruits. "Gotta run" he walks away…
I laugh, 'Sephiroth, what are you up to?'
The day had gone by fast. Sephiroth had taken me to some cool restaurant at the mall. I had never noticed the place and he was such a dear paying for the whole bill. Honestly, the guy surprised me all the time. He even mentioned he'd be rehearsing every afternoon on the beach stage. I casually laughed knowing exactly what he was asking.
We spoke about all sorts of things. Like his major, his parents, his brothers, his life and how it was not cracked up to be the way it was. We spoke about friends, school, and other things to name a few. I was beginning to think that Sephiroth really enjoyed my friendship. I've never seen him with a girl on the campus, not that my eye has ever been on him as much, during my years as a nerd I still looked at him. He was the kind of dreamy guy you'd fall insatiably hard for, the kind that would never like you back, that almost seem to come with too much complication and red tape of why they couldn't even socialize. But the more I hung out with him, the more I realized he was just a regular guy.
I mean he wasn't regular as in plain. No… but he was a regular guy, well at least he wanted to be seen as regular. And that made me realize how much I've tabbed people over the years. For all I knew Aerith might as well really like Cloud, and really have a heart. As much as this is not to my liking, I've tabbed the most 'important' guy at my school, and judged him to be totally not what he is, then maybe I've judged everyone else sadly on the same level.
After lunch I had classes and they were as cliché as could be. I had more exams, practice tests, labs, research and headaches. My life seem to be filled with studies. Somewhere in my mind I was becoming tired of school.
And now here I was at home looking at my ceiling absolutely bored, finished doing my assignments, tired, probably a little confused about my sudden revelation on people. I sighed, "get over yourself Tifa!"
I picked up my phone and rang the first number. The phone dialed and I could hear an answering machine come on.
"Hi it's Yuffie. Mom if this is you I'll call you back when I'm free, love you but… if you're one of the guys I gave my number to today, yesterday or last week, wow! You actually called. Leave a message telling me when you might wanna hook up… bye"
I sighed… 'aghh'
Two weeks passed on the campus and now it was official - Yuffie and Vincent were a thing. So much drama had happened for Vincent and Yuffie to be together. First, Vincent found out that Yuffie was lying about her head injuries and he was pretty ticked that she lied. She apologized a million times and yet he still didn't want it. Then we found out Vincent's girlfriend from Kojomachi found out about Yuffie and there was a huge square-off between the two girls. Vincent in the end chose Yuffie, saying Feya (that's his ex name) was the past and he was moving on. It was then official Yuffie and Vincent were the new thing on campus. According to Yuffie they were taking it slow, but I don't know how slow is to define seeing the two of them making out in her car every morning and afternoon.
When it came to me, things had gotten… pretty good.
Sephiroth and I were regular 'buddies'. We'd hang out nearly every afternoon, since I'd watch him play and sometimes he'd even give me tutorials how to play. It was actually kind of nice since he seem to distress me after a long day of school. Sometimes he'd take me for drives to some of the most serene places. And I always wondered how lucky was I.
When it came to school however, it was another thing. The school was preparing for some huge events and classes were shoddy since a lot of preparation had to take place for the Swim a Mile competition and the Battle of the Schools. ESPN would be filming the entire swimming competition, and the Road Runner United team would be judging the entire rock concert. It was pretty big for Tokyo University, after all the university was prestigious for it's long track record for some of the best graduates in Japan. But I'm just thinking anything to publicize themselves they'd do. Hence the million events and competitions taking place.
My teacher Mrs. Koto, had selected me for some competition called the Pretty In Pink which would take place a weak after the swimming competition. Honestly I was not psyched about that. But perhaps I was more petrified when I found out it was a modeling competition. Anyone could go up, but my teacher was convinced I'd be an excellent candidate. Talk about asking permission.
So with that going down… I still had 10 projects, loads of research, 12 labs and mid-terms coming up. Talk about the perfect life…
"Tifaa!" shouts a voice…
I turn around to see it was Yuffie, "and hello to you Mrs. Valentine" I spoke calling her by her favourite name.
Ever since she became Vincent's girl, she'd taken the name to heart.
"Hello… boy I had to run pretty far to catch up with you" she breathes in hard placing both her hands on her knees.
"Are you okay?" I ask very concerned…
"Yeh…" she rose a hand, "I'll die, not now though" she stands up looking very tired.
"What's up?" I ask…
"Look in the next two days Tokyo University is going to allow three campuses to stay on it's grounds. I was to tell you guys sometime" she pauses to breathe…
"But you were too busy with Vincent…" I finish the statement…
"Aww come on Tif, don't be like that. You know I love him…" she starts…
"Yes yes I know how this goes…" I explain…
"And the campus actually is gonna allow the entire track grounds, all the buildings, all the hotels and renting apartments to be filled with the campus students. This town is gonna get a lot bigger" she explains…
"Damn… what about classes, what about the competitions, is this even permissible by the Ministry?" I ask…
"Pretty much. This competition is being held by Tokyo University, but of course other schools like Kyoto University, Nagoya University and Shibuya are all going to be taking place for both the swimming and rock competitions. It's fierce…"
"And why does this concern me?" I ask, realizing none of this makes sense.
"Because… Sephiroth might be taken by one of those girls. You see I snapped Vincent when I had the chance but you and Shera are sticking" she explains.
"Excuse me" I could hardly believe Yuffie…
"Now now, now is not the time to be bashful or even be in denial about what you feel for Sephiroth. Tifa, he's a hot guy, you need to tell him how you feel before some chick comes in and steals him"
I blink, "Yuffie, we're not like that" I explain, "we're friends and to be honest, it doesn't bother me who he dates or likes…"
She looks at me and nods, "yeh… okay Tifa, whatever you say"
With that she walks away.
I look at her as she stood in the distance. She looks down at the book in her hand and I had to smile. She was always into her academics, and always so proficient at it. I could hardly believe it was the same girl I knew two years ago. She had surely changed, from the colour of her hair to the way she dresses. But one thing about her that did not die, was who she was. Her pretty personality still flitted, and she was still the humble girl I knew her to be.
Sometimes on mornings she would wave at me and I'd wave back, and I'd wonder… about her. She'd been my good friend in high school and I couldn't quite say I knew her that well to give her a better title. But I sufficiently had heard from sources she was a very generous person and I think it or rather I know it to be true.
Some part of me, just likes to look at her…
To be continued…
Thank you's:
I think it's about time I give back by saying thank you to all the wonderful readers and reviewers. For those of you just read I appreciate. Thank you reading the story. I really appreciate it. For the reviewers I would personally thank you for taking yr time and reading.
In no particular order.
StuntmanXX2 – Thank you for being a constant reader and reviewer. I appreciate all the wonderful things you've said. Your feedback was awesome especially when it came to me writing about rock elements, i'm glad a couple ppl picked it up. Thank you so much my friend.
I-am-Ruin – From day one you too have been a constant reader and reviewer. I truly am indebted to you and several others for all feedback and constant support I've had. Thank you so much for your words and support. Thanks appreciating the small things like the rock and the character's personalities. Thank you very much my friend.
Sora's savior – Oh my when I read your review, it made me ever so happy. Yes, this story can be read in a day. I understand you're torn between Setif and Cloti. Lol. I'm really happy over your review though. It just spiked happiness in my day. Thank you. The story will take a Setif angle for a while. So we're all lucky. Thank you again for your words. They're special to me.
Felikelelep – Hello!! I should say welcome to fanfiction dot net, lol. I am absolutely honoured and flattered and love you. Lol. The reason being, you went through so much for me – you made an account, that's like so amazing and wonderful and kind. Thank you my friend. You've made me ever so so happy. Thank you for reading and saying such wonderful things. Additionally your review made me laugh. You like cloti but you want him to the side. Lol, that's what I'll do though. Lol. Thank you …
LadyTeefStrife – Hello my deary. You have been tenacious in reading my story. Thank you for that. You've provided honest feedback and I'm really happy for that. Even though you're a strong cloti fan, i appreciate you reading about setif. You got guts. Lol. Thank you for everything.
IkutoJS – Heyyy you! Lol, thank you so much from the beginning for reading the story and providing such wonderful feedback. It makes me really happy to know I have ppl who really like the story and are engrossed with the storyline. Thank you for all yr kind words and thank you. I appreciate it so much my friend.
Cookies18 – I want to say thank you to you. I'm glad you enjoy the humour in this story. To be honest this the most humourous I've ever gotten when it comes to writing stories. I try to be funny, and sometimes I get true. Lol, but I'm glad you laugh at the jokes and the humour in the characters. Thank you for reading and being sweet in yr words. I appreciate it.
Newly converted sephti fan – Wow, thank you for converting to a setif fan or as you call it Sephti fan. I don't know how to say it. Anywho, when i read your review I nearly spiked through the ceiling. My intention is to make ppl like Setif, because they're an incredible opposite connection, and it's wonderful to hear you've converted. Thank you so much my friend. Keep wonderful!!
Xoxo – Lol, I love your review it's so face-up to Cloud. You know, cloud didn't realize what he had and now he notices. I know that's shallow. But, I do plan to make Tifa and Seph be a thing. It's important that they connect, but as I've promised the end of this story will be cloti. Thank you for yr review. It was so insanely funny when I read it. Thank you…
Black Vinta – When I first read your review, I felt a bit..small. You seem to be the kind of person who truly judge a story for its content, and that was the anomalous part of me – because to be honest I love stories for excellent content, for the reader to place themselves into their work. I truly do love substantial novels and fictions, and I was glad I could have made someone like you enjoy the story. Thank you…
Toriga-Okami – Thanks for reviewing. I haven't seen you around lately and I hope you're okay, but lol I'm glad you're loving the Setif craziness. More crazy is better. Lol. I'll try to make more funny/humoured chapters. I enjoy writing them. Feels fun to. Thank you so much..
To my readers who I don't know, but know you're there… thank you. You've read my story and I appreciate it. Thank you so much.