The decisions, dilemmas, and the dirt

Since it was the last year for both Cloud and Zack, it was time to start choosing which colleges or universities to apply to. Unlike Cloud, Zack had everything planned out. He was going to Midgar University for applied sciences and/or athletics. The plan was to become a physiotherapist. Well he wanted to do something related to sports but his parents refused to pay for his tuition if he was just going to be an athlete. They wanted a doctor as a son but if anyone knew what kind of person Zack was, then him being a doctor was way out of his league. Somehow they managed to agree on him being a physiotherapist.

On the other hand, Cloud's life was different from Zack's. Zack's family was rich but Cloud's was wealthy meaning an infinite amount of money disposable at the palm of his hand. He had never really had to work for or toward anything. In the end, he had nothing to amount to. No motivation or what so ever because he got it easy. All he knew was that maybe he'll follow after his dad and take over the business but really, he didn't know his family's business too well.

Cloud sat at his desk with three applications in his hand, a pencil twirling around his fingers, and eyes scanning through programs at colleges and universities. A hand slapped the front of his desk. That hand belonged to his girlfriend who was smiling cheerfully at him. He looked up and winked at her.

"Hey, so what's going on? Class is over. Aren't we gonna go home yet?" She asked.

"I needa plan out my future… I don't know what I'm going to be doing with my life. Should I take the easy route and follow the Strife way, or actually choose something for me?"

"Well what do you like to do? Or what would you rather do than be at school…?" She asked suspiciously. She had never thought about what Cloud was going to do after highschool, it never occurred to her.

"Outside, being outside racing against the wind, seeing different views of the world… I will not be able to do a desk job." He admitted.

"So then you kinda… know what you want… it's just that are you willing to …you know.."

"..give up what I have, you mean?" He looked at her not as her but as if he was talking into a mirror. "It's not that bad."

"You never lived a normal life, I mean you have maids to pick up your tissue. Seriously, I don't think you know what work means… well talk to your parents about it. They want you to be happy." She smiled at him and dragged his gloomy body to the car.

The stress of picking out a career path took its toll on Cloud. When he talked it out with his parents, to his surprise, they were disappointed that he wasn't leaning towards being the Strife successor. Even though he has never really talked about his future plans with them, they had really thought he would just follow in his father's footsteps just like how Rufus was going to take over ShinRa corp when his dad retires. So he sat on the snow covered bench in front of his car. He was looking at the snowflakes fall softly to the ground. The sky was white, the ground was white, and his car was covered in white too. He was too indulged in his own thoughts to realize that a small girl with short hair sat next to him, joining him watching the snowfall.

"So Cloud, what are you doing? You look… weird." She said flatly.

Cloud snapped his head to the voice. His eyes widened in shock then he spoke. "Oh what the heck Yuffie? When did you get here?"

"2 hours ago."

"Shut up." His voice dragged on while he flicked snow at her.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked. Her hands were gripping the snow and packing it together to make a snowball.

"Uh, well can I ask you something?" He looked at her hands and knocked the snowball off them. He already knew what she was planning.

She glared at him. "EH? My snowball… so what do you wanna know blondie?"

"When you made that decision to leave your country.. did you regret it?"

"I felt bad, because my duty as a princess was to you know be the next leader. But… I never wanted that. If I stayed in Wutai, then I'd be miserable… but I took the chance to study abroad and I love it here. In all honesty, I won't be a good leader." She said solemnly.

"So… you don't regret it."

"No. Hmm…"

"What?"

"We never had a heart to heart talk before. It's funny that you're discussing this with me." She arched one eyebrow. "I think I should tell Vincent and my dad… that I'm giving up my inheritance to the throne."

"They'll be mad though."

"Yeah but they love and respect me more… well I'd like to think so." She giggled. "I'll survive. So what does this have to do with anything?"

"I'm thinking about my future. Thanks Yuffie. It helped." He got up and went to his car. "You need a ride?"

"Wow Tifa really has softened you up!" She jumped straight into the car.

Zack had asked Tifa earlier to help him pick out a small something for a secret person that he left unnamed. She agreed to go with him because it had been a long time since they got to spend alone time with each other ever since her and Cloud got together.

"So who is it for?" She asked earnestly. They were walking in the mall passing by shops.

"Curiousity kills the cat." He said without even glancing at her.

"Hah-hah." Tifa faked laughed. "Why are you keeping it a secret anyways?"

"Because I'm not so sure about it that's why."

"Does Cloud know?"

"Nopes. He never asks about this stuff. We're dudes. Only on the need to know basis."

"THEN why did you wanna know OUR business?."

"Fine I was jealous. I love Cloud didn't you know? We have a special bond that YOU can't even break." He gloated as he walked into a department store. She punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"Stop joking around Zack. Tell me who the chick is?"

"I'm telling you. It's for Cloud and of course I would get his girlfriend to come along because she would know the perfect gift for him." He winked at her. Then he grabbed a pair of boxers and held it against his crotch and tried to model like the guy in the advertisement.

"OH GEEZE WHYYY did I agree to this." She smacked her head. Her feet led her away from the crazy guy in front of her.

"Okay okay okay…" He followed after her. "It's Aerith."

Tifa's eyes widened. "I knew it."

"It's not what you think… this is a truce gift. You know, to say that we're okay now."

"Are you sure it's not an apology gift?"

Zack just glared at her, then dropped his head. Tifa smiled brightly and walked off to the women's section to find a truce gift, if that even existed.

Flashback

Zack had called Aerith earlier to meet up at the diner. He was already waiting there impatiently for her because he just wanted to get it over with and he wanted to know Cloud's business with Tifa. He was half in shock that Cloud had kept him out of the loop about it. Finally the woman he had waited for just came through the double doors of the diner. She spotted him and waved a hand. He just nodded in response.

"So why did you call me out suddenly?" She asked him cautiously.

"We needed to talk."

"Okay about what."

"About us."

"What about us?" It was starting to irritate her. "You know I haven't been causing you any trouble. I stayed out of your way. You told me that if I ever came back then I'd have to keep my distance." She stated firmly.

"Yeah it's just that I'm battling myself here Aerith. You and I. We were… I loved you. How could you do this to me. In France, I followed you to find out that you didn't want me or Cloud."

"I was… already dating someone Zack."

"Who?."

"Tseng…the—"

"THE SUPERMODEL? YOU left me for a supermodel?" He was practically shouting at her. The whole diner was starting to quiet down. He felt even more rejected, Tseng was like a household name, internationally known supermodel.

"Yeah, I went to France because of him. I was naïve and stupid. I wanted to be famous and I thought I loved him. Zack I'm sorry…" Tears started to form. "I regretted it so much. He was only using me. It hurt so much because I was so wrong… and that I missed my chance …"

"Chance with…"

"YOU! And now, you want nothing to do with me…" She mumbled.

"I just needed to know the truth so that I won't hate you anymore. But you said you wanted to be with me. But you chose someone who you barely even knew because of his status."

"I told you I was wrong."

"I still have the right to be mad." He got up from his seat and started to leave.

Aerith ran after him. Tears were already streaming down her face.

"Zack!" She screamed. She had hoped he would turn around but he ignored her and kept walking towards his car. "Please Zack. Can't you forgive me?"

"I did long time ago." He turned around to face her. "But it's been over between us, long time ago." He got into his car and drove away. He didn't want her to see him cry so he tried his best to hold it in but once he stopped his car, the tears kept falling.

Author's Note: Sorry the flashback was long over due. HAH like maybe 6-7 chapters too late lol but eh felt like throwing it in (: Don't worry its leading somewhere :p and this is by far the longest chapters I've written. Anyways thanks for the R&R's and the wishes and all the good stuff :D Enjoy!

P.S I'm trying to update quicker cause I think I'll be wrapping up this story in a couple of chapters *hides in a corner*