The Party

It was nearing the holidays already, and there was buzz around the school that Aerith was hosting a Christmas party. Of course everyone wanted to be invited but no one really knew for sure if there was even a party to begin with. Once the news hit Tifa's ears, she was kind of embarrassed because she had never been to a high school party. She had only seen those kind of things in the movies so a part of her wanted to go to it.

"Meh, a party? I wouldn't be surprised though." Cloud scoffed. Of course he was the one who didn't enjoy parties.

"Anti-social much?" Yuffie teased.

Cloud just glared back at her. He crossed his arms and then he looked at Tifa who was giving off a different aura than his. He got the feeling that she would want to go to a party. He sighed. Those parties that he had been to were not that great. Yes, you get the crazy teenagers going off because of the alcohol. But once you've been to enough of those parties, it just gets boring.

"We haven't been to a party in ages Cloud. C'mon just one more time at least for the occasion." Zack nudged him and he looked at Tifa with her pleading eyes. He gave in.

"If there is one, then we'll go for a bit."

"Really? But if you don't want to Cloud. We won't force you, I mean I won't." Tifa said even though she wanted to.

Just as they were talking, Aerith came up to the group of them. She smiled her smile and fluttered her eyelashes at the boys.

"So I'm having a party as you already heard. You guys are obviously invited." Cloud nodded and Zack just stared at her. Apparently they had settled things for the sake of knowing Cloud's relationship. So Zack didn't really hate Aerith anymore.

"What about our girls?" Zack said but Aerith was already walking off, swinging her hips in a very fashion model-esque way. "Hey!" Everyone stopped to look at who was talking to who. Aerith turned around and gave her smile again, this time it looked very forced. "I asked you what about them?" Zack stood firm against Aerith. She was the only one he was this serious with. Cloud wanted to push Zack back because of the way his tone sounded, meant that there was something being suppressed.

"Bring whoever you want to bring Zack. I don't mind." Her voice was flat. There was something hidden in the way she spoke. It was one of those things where a person says one thing but means the exact opposite and this is one of those incidents. Zack shrugged and turned his back on her. She scoffed and walked off.

"I thought you two settled things." Cloud said.

"We did. I'm not ignoring her am I?" He smirked.

"Whatever."

Tifa and Yuffie were shocked in silence. They had always seen Zack in a very cheerful and happy mood. But as soon as he speaks to Aerith there was a different aura surrounding him. Tifa eyed Yuffie and Yuffie just shrugged.

So the gang went to Aerith's place for the party. They weren't the first ones there. Reno and his group were chilling by the pool in the backyard. A couple of first years were actually allowed to come and they could tell they were first years by how shy they were. Then the rest of the school showed up about 30 seconds after they arrived. Zack and Cloud went to go get the girls some drinks.

Yuffie and Tifa were hanging out by the stairs to the second floor. There were people everywhere though, walking up and down the stairs, making out by the railings. There were some festive decorations though, like a Christmas tree in the living room. The house was big, and it fit a lot of people.

"What did you tell Vincent?"

"I told him I was going out with you. He's probably keeping an eye on us from afar, making sure I don't do anything un-lady like. Like how am I supposed to get with a guy nowwwww." Yuffie whined. Tifa hit her lightly.

"It's loud in here isn't it?" Tifa realized that she was almost yelling at Yuffie who was right next to her. Then there were two guys who came up to them. They had never seen them at school before so they were probably one of Aerith's random friends. The guys started to move a little closer to them during their conversation.

"Can you move? You're a little too close?" She told them sternly.

"What? You want us closer?" The guy crept up closer to her body and she pushed him back.

The guy put his hands up in defeat and respected her space. They left the girls. Yuffie was ogling Tifa for her strength.

"You're so cool." Yuffie commented.

"Let's find a place where it's not too loud." Yuffie nodded and followed after her.

Zack and Cloud found themselves outside with Reno and friends. They were smoking as usual during a party. Cloud always found it funny when Reno gets high. He thinks he's superman and does some really random things. Cloud told Zack he was going to get the girls because he knew that guys were going to try to hit on them. He left.

"Zack? You want?" Reno passed him the blunt.

"Nah. I'm good tonight."

"Really? You're gonna be pulling a Cloud? Wowwww." Reno dragged on.

"Have you seen Aerith?" Zack asked.

"She's inside somewhere. I think she was chasing some kid who tried to look up her dress." He shrugged. Zack nodded and left to find Aerith.

Tifa and Yuffie found their way to empty room. It looked like someone's workplace den. Tifa sighed.

"I guess it's not as fun as I thought it would be."

"Oh you've never been to one before right? Yeah, we could tell."

Aerith suddenly walked into the room without even noticing that they were there. She turned around to see Tifa leaning on the desk and Yuffie sitting on the chair behind her.

"Oh? Sorry you guys aren't allowed in here actually. It's kind of my mom's office."

"Sorry we'll leave." Yuffie left first and Tifa was following behind her. But then Aerith grabbed her arm.

"Can I talk to you alone for a second?" Aerith asked her.

"Uh—okay. Sure." She nodded at Yuffie and she left them alone.

Tifa went back to leaning on the desk and Aerith just leaned against the wall facing her.

"So you and Cloud are official?" Tifa nodded. She smiled. "Funny, now that Cloud has a girlfriend... I feel like I'm attracted to him." Tifa stiffened up. If this girl wanted a fight, she was more than ready to fight for her man. "No-no. Don't take it the wrong way, it's not like it's reciprocal because if it was then you would never be his girlfriend. I'd make sure of that." The way that Aerith spoke to her was completely the opposite of how she speaks in front of people. This girl in front of her right now was straight-forward and blunt. The girl that she sees at school is polite and charming.

"Okay, so is that all you wanted to say?" Tifa finally spoke.

"Cloud isn't someone to take on lightly—for fun. Treat him well because he might just be the best thing that ever happened to someone like you. Or else…" She turned and headed for the door.

"I could say the same thing about Zack. I can tell by the way he looks at you and the way you look at him. Don't hurt him anymore. He's my friend and I protect my friends."

Aerith chuckled. "How very Xena of you." She left the room. To their surprise, Cloud was already waiting by the door for Tifa. Aerith just gave her Aerith-smile and left. He nodded. Then he walked into the room and closed the door shut.

"He better clean up once they're done in there…" Aerith mumbled to herself.

Author's Note: Surprise! Lol I know I said I won't be able to update for a bit but here I am updating ... sorry I lied lol it was meaningful at that moment :P but then I thought of something then I had to write it down so I'd remember it... and then it led me to write not 1 but 2 more chaptersss woo hahaha :P ... Thanks for R&R's and btw Vincent is so OOC lol but he's loyal :P ... Enjoy (: