A/N: Moral of this story is, don't do drugs mmmkay. Also, don't overdose on cough medicine to hallucinate. Take shrooms. P.S: Shameless plug, I wrote two one shots (or maybe they'll be more than one shots) if any of ya'll like this pairing. Both are more "in universe" but still a little AU for spice. : Wicked Little Thing and Trampoline

As always thanks for the comments! They give me life and definitely help me along as a writer. Enjoy this Staten island mess of a party.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Consequences

It feels good to know you're mine

Now drive me far away, away, away

Far away I don't care where

Just far away I don't care where

The white car feels like a coffin.

Even with the Z100 blasting the top 40 hits. And Cid, Barret and Tifa cackling in the back. The raven haired girl with her new digital camera taking pictures of themselves in obnoxious poses. I place my head on the window, letting the cold glass alleviate the tension headache that pulses against my skull, and watch the scenery creep along. Large houses giving way to clusters of trees that silhouette against the evening sky the deeper we get into the South Shore.

I close my eyes and try to imagine myself anywhere else.

Think back to just a few hours before.

When Sephiroth got what he wanted he offered us a reprieve and left to "get ready" with instructions on when we will leave and to get the group to my house so he doesn't have to drive all over the island. And he had darted his eyes to Reno before he walked out the door and asked if he would ride with us; but the red-head, arms over his chest and bored expression just told him he's "good on that."

Reno made his own plans.

I waited on the couch for him, as he smoked outside while speaking to his cousin. And he walked in as I examined the bruises on my knuckles, red with tiny scraps from the wood, and lamented to myself how it had just healed only for old wounds to re-open. I could barely look at Reno when he re-emerged. Cross between ashamed and fearful. But he took a seat on the coffee table facing me, gently took my injured hand, and ran his thumb over the knuckles as I have done to him in the past. His eyes also pulled towards the ground.

"I'm going to go over there for dinner," he stated, "make an appearance."

I nod, "Makes sense."

"What's your plan?"

"Tif, Cid, and Barret are coming over. We'll order something and chill until Sephiroth scoops us."

"Good." He doesn't even have to say it- he doesn't want me left alone. We curbed the conversation on what happened to the bathroom door. Our words hang heavy in the air. All the things we want to express, we hold against our chest. Almost as if they were weapons.

We don't say anything else for a while. I'm not a fan of these tense silent moments, but enjoy just letting his hand grip mine. Skin against skin. A touch can hold so many meanings.

"So, Brooklyn huh?" he started "Ever think of going further?"

I pondered what he's trying to get at. Considered his question. "Maybe Massachusetts? Gay marriage is legal there now."

"Oh?" His voice playful. Our eyes met. "Planning our wedding?"

I blushed and started to falter. "N-no. Just...it's more progressive there, so...I don't-"

"I'm fuckin' with you," he whispered, "nothing wrong with plannin' ahead." His lips stretched into a soft smile. "Massachusetts doesn't sound too bad."

"A lot of good colleges," I added.

"We could go to different ones, double the parties."

"Good idea. More options."

His laugh looked painful. "They're big on hockey there."

"Didn't realize you were a hockey fan."

He slouched his shoulders with a sigh, "Yeah, my grandfather had season tickets to the Predators. Used to take me before he died. Always wanted to play, but they didn't really have any options for lessons out in Cookeville."

"Maybe you could try playing now?" I suggested, "We play street hockey a lot in the summer and Clove Lakes offers lessons."

His eyes fall back to my hand, shaking his head on the way down. "I think my hockey career is over. I'm not even sure I'll be able to play baseball again."

"Don't let Sephiroth get to you," I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand tightly.

"It's not him." His arms flinched under his shirt; and I tried to pretend I never noticed the aggravated look that would flash across his face as he tried to swing the bat when we played. "It doesn't matter anyway."

"Says who?" I snapped, "If it matters to you. It matters."

He smiled and that's exactly what I wanted.

Because I knew this entire conversation just circled around the actual issue; it was more pleasant to discuss our hopeful future than the uncertain present. But that won't make it go away.

"Do you feel like the last two months were a dream and we're going to wake up soon?" I asked, my heart clenching.

"Nah, not a dream." And the chuckle from his throat was concerning. So I bring my eyes to him and he takes a sharp breath. "Remember back in, what, October?" His eyes shimmer when they capture mine, and I took note of all his curves and edges while he spoke. "When we...were so close to getting together but just not there yet? What did I say to you? Why it was so easy for me to wait for you?"

I remembered. "You said…I was the endgame…" And I thought about how I should have kissed him a month before that, in the bathroom, when he had me up against the wall. And how much longer we could have been together.

And he might have noticed the regret in my eyes, because he ran his hand along my face to bring us closer. Lips just daring to touch under the late afternoon light. "I got you, didn't I?" And the kiss he offered tastes of blue. "You're mine and I'm yours and that's all the matters." A painful pause rushed through, like winter cold. And I closed my eyes so his voice was all I heard. And his touch all I felt. "This is the endgame, Cloud," he sighed, "Now all that's left is living happily ever after, right?"

And I laughed. Called him out of being corny.

And he responded with his mouth on mine. Our limbs tangled again.

And we enjoyed the last four hours together, without wandering eyes.

While I take solace in knowing we'll be at the same party, there's still a sense of dread that weighs heavy in my stomach. Especially when we make it to our destination, and I can see through the two bay windows, the amount of bodies that occupy the large home. Nothing good could come from that many people in one spot, on Staten Island, where I know the alcohol and drugs will flow freely like the Nile.

My uneasiness is not quenched when we enter. Apparently, Angeal's younger sister, a grade below us, also invited a bunch of Sophomores to the party. And Genesis must have invited the entire track 2 of seniors who take over the dining room where they force the younger kids to funnel Coors Light and laugh when they inevitably spit out the warm beer when it passes their lips.

A memory lurches from my stomach.

Sephiroth immediately vanishes, morphing with the rest of the people. Whispers of what he's selling quickly follow like falling dominoes. Disembodied voices speak of a bunch of girls candy flipping upstairs. Promises of Triple Cs. And tons of weed. Someone apparently has an Oxy hookup, which we are offered within the first ten minutes of immersing ourselves into the party. Barret and I exchange a look, silently agreeing to make a run for it as soon as an opening allows.

We lose Tifa somehow- apparently she ran into a few people from New Dorp and they guide her outside with the promise of smoking her up. The three of us navigate towards the kitchen where the volume increases. A white pong ball flies past my face and my eyes snap to the culprit.

Reno shakes his head, "Dammit, Yazoo, fucking learn to catch, bro."

Yazoo hisses, "Learn to fucking throw, bitch."

Rude sinks a ball, but not without first throwing Reno a side glare. And now I'm wondering if he over shot on purpose to get my attention. Cid and I approach the table. Reno nodding over to us, "Well look who decided to show up."

"We got next game," Cid announces, "we need a rematch."

"Bet," Rude agrees, "but no stripping this time."

The red head looks directly at me, and I try to hide the smile behind a sip of beer. "Let us just beat these pussys again and ya'll up."

"Fuck you, Sinclair," Loz shouts, "I'm about to fight you for reals. You've been flappin' your gums since you got here." He punches his fist for emphasis, which does nothing but amuse Reno.

"Bring it fucker," he sinks another ball, "Can't even beat us in beer pong, but thinks he can kick my ass."

Loz and Yazoo look about ready to toss the pong table aside. I shoot my eyes at Reno, like some non-verbal warning to cool his mouth, because if one of these jackasses tries to go for him, I'm going to have to get involved.

And I'm not in the mood to fight some pig-headed fucks over a game of beer pong.

And Reno rolls his eyes and huffs; signaling his understanding.

Barret, Cid and I get comfortable in the kitchen, leaning up against counters to watch the game. Cid starts getting ancy when he realizes Tifa is no longer in his eyesight. Complaining that she shouldn't have wandered away, like some entirely over protective boyfriend.

Aerith appears in the kitchen, her smile bright when she sees us and skips over.

"You guys came!" She takes a sip of- what looks like- cranberry vodka. Her cheeks already rosy from the liquor.

"How did you get here?" I ask.

"Ugh," she groans, "Rufus drove Tseng and I. He fought with Scarlet the whole time. He is such a bad driver, I thought I was going to die!" She looks around and spots Reno, still engrossed in this neverending beer pong game, and turns her attention on me. With a concerned look on her face. "Uh, how about you?"

I grit my teeth, "Uh. Seph."

"Ew-a!" She shrieks, "Why!"

"He offered the ride, drove Cid, B, and Tif." I answer with Cid and Barret grumbling in agreement.

"Really? I thought you'd be done with him by now," she snaps quietly.

I don't really have a good enough answer for her, but her face wells with disappointment just adds insult to injury. "So, where is Tseng?" I change the subject.

She waves her hand dramatically towards the living room, "I don't know. Probably with Rufus," her green eyes nearly disappear behind her lids with how harsh she rolled them. We talk with hush tones, drowned out by the shouts coming from all areas of the house, about her issues with her potential new beau. Though she never mentioned outright that he was her late night guest on NYE, I had my suspicion when I saw them at school together that following Wednesday; him propped up against her locker, holding every book she owned as she tried to look for something she lost. She explained how much she liked Tseng. He's attractive. And kind hearted underneath that stone exterior. And, I mean, he's going to be a doctor. And somehow that's suddenly important to her.

Though, considering how much of a slacker her drug dealing ex was, I guess she rose her standards. However, something holds her back. I see it in the way her eyes drift to her drink, whirling round the purple beverage until it creates a tornado in her cup, that she's hesitant to confirm their coupling.

And I wonder if it's the familiarity. The toxic best friend that looms just beyond the relationship. With their own set of issues that always seems to leak onto the couple. She crushes the rest of her drink with a sour look. Professes that she's not intending on repeating history and points her eyes at me with venom. "And neither should you." And then looks over at Reno.

"Be more obvious," I scold; luckily Cid has vanished to look for Tifa and Barret walked over to the pong table to hype up Rude.

She slaps her mouth, "Sorry! You know what happens when I drink vodka!"

"I know," I open the fridge next to me and pull out two beers, "Your loose lips better not sink this ship, deadass."

"Oh, you know I love it when you talk like a New Yorker," she laughs and takes the beer. She makes an effort to flirt with me, which I return- both of us hardly able to contain the laughter that erupts from how ridiculous we know we look. She hits my shoulder with her fist, and I mock her for her weak attempt at physical violence, grabbing her hand with my free one to show her how to actually throw a punch. And I do take note of the way her skin rises when I touch her. And my cheeks do flush when she "gives up" on learning to fight, and "hires" me as her bodyguard instead. And we look at each other and smile at how effortless we make this look.

Rude's voice shatters the act though, "Fuckin! Reno, pay attention!"

Aerith and I jump. Bring our eyes to the pong table, where the game has probably entered its third overtime judging from the amount of cups still left. The boy at the end of his cousin's rage chugs two red solo cups and slams them on the ground. "I am paying attention, fuck. You pay attention."

"You let them get two redemptions already!" Rude continues, and he snaps his brown eyes at me, and I feel the anger radiate off him.

I cringe and lean into Aerith, "I think we're making this look too good?"

She nods, but smiles over at the two boys, "Kick their asses!"

Reno shakes his head at us with a pissed look on his face- this is probably strike three if we're keeping any kind of score right now. He bounces the ball on the table to get a feel and sinks the middle cup. Glaring at Rude and mumbles something toxic towards his partner.

The game continues and I notice some shift in the energy around us. I take a quick look into the living room; Seph and his buddies (Gen, Angeal, and Kadaj), have taken over the couches with some girls I don't recognize. The boys look wired, cruel smiles stretch across their faces in unnatural ways. The girls laying across their laps strung out on whatever drug courses through their bloodstream- and I wonder if it's my mother's xanax and my stomach coils at the thought. I hear commotion coming from upstairs. Shrill screams of pleasure that I can't make out are from sex or uppers. There's a few girls that look too young to be here crying in a corner, over a boy or the alcohol that clouds their heads.

I've been to Angeal's parties, and this seems very textbook. Which means chaos will happen eventually. I look back into the kitchen, Barret on his phone bored, Cid still missing looking for Tifa. Aerith shifts closer to me as some guys lock eyes with her and think she's up for grabs. Reno doesn't even seem phased by her body against mine, and stares with intent at the remaining three cups on his opponents side. I'm guessing dedicated to ending this torture and going up against me.

And I start plotting our escape. Once he beats the two silver haired losers, we'll demolish the cousins and then gather our core group (including Aerith, Tseng, Rude, and even Reeve, wherever he is) and head to Vincent, who would be expecting us to roll in at some point. There's no reason for any of us to stay here to get run out by cops. Seph got what he wanted. Hell, bonus, is Aerith and I flirting, hopefully putting to bed any rumors. Reno made an appearance at a party with his Shinra buddy. And maybe shit can just go back to our new normal.

But I know it only takes one push to drag this sideways.

And I watch her appear in the form of Scarlet. Her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she stomps through the kitchen like she's on a mission.

And apparently her target is my boyfriend, as she wraps her arms around his neck and yanks him against her. He doesn't react at first, evidently used to this kind of action from her.

"Can I help you?" he grimaces, taking aim against his opponents.

She whispers something in his ear that's suffocated by rising conversations that swirl around us. He lets out a mocking laugh and shoves her off him. "Fuck outta here, Scarlet."

Her face curled in anger, she clenches her fist and shouts something at him that's a mess of slurred words fueled by alcohol or drugs. Reno looks unamused as he brings his focus back to the game. Eye roll towards Rude who shares in his cousin's vexed look. Scarlet starts pointing her finger in his face. Calls him something along the lines of an asshole. Reno tries to ignore the verbal assault against him, which only elevates Scarlet. Apparently, there's some history between the two from the words that tumble from her lips that make sense. Something about over the summer he was begging for it; which from the smirk on his face seems like a gross over exaggeration. Then she shoves him. He collides with Rude, who ends up missing a shot.

And whatever patience Reno disappears, and he pushes her arm away from him, "Yo," he shouts, loud enough, that the entire kitchen can hear. "please, for the love of God, go piss yourself again in a corner alone and away from me!"

Aerith cringes. The rest of the kitchen erupts into a chorus of laughter that slices through the night. And Scarlet looks positively mortified at what just came out of Reno's mouth- the red-head with his eyes still narrowed at the smaller girl as a silent threat that he has more ammo if she wants this to turn into a shoot out. And judging from the way her cheeks burn red, he's dragging up true events. I've never heard him speak with such disregard for the person. The closest was when he had me up against a wall threatening to end my life if I breathed a word about his sexuality. And his eyes, glimmering with rage, look just as murderous as they did that day. And I can't tell if this is an act, or something hiding underneath my almost blind attraction towards him.

And I also have to question why I'm slightly excited by his unchecked rage.

But Scarlet doesn't seem as enthralled by his display. She takes her arm and swipes the remaining solo cups off the table, splashing both Rude and Reno with warm, stale, beer. And then underneath the gasps, the commotion, and Rude's own expels of expletives, she flings that one word directly at Reno, like she means it. And for a second, when his fist curled, that he might actually hit a girl.

Instead he shoulder checks her as he storms off, disappearing into the mob of bodies in the living room as he yells, "Rufus, collect your cunt girlfriend before I get Elena to knock her out!" Scarlet on his tail, still yelling curses at him and dares for Elena try anything.

Rude throws his arms in the air at the bullshit that just transpired. Loz and Yazoo claiming victory, though this was clear sabotage. Barret gets involved, defending his football buddy, from the two scrawny boys who, now, want to get in their face over a beer pong game. I throw Aerith a look. One we've shared at other events that have fallen apart. We move our eyes back to the living room- the door opening and we see another match threatening to spark. Roche. Part of the Rosebank crew, and entirely too far away from his stomping grounds to be a normal occurrence. We've had small run-ins with him and his group at Kyrie's place, but not anywhere past Midland Beach. He saunters in like he's invited. Long brown hair that looks business in the front and a little too much party in the back.

He locks eyes with Sephiroth, a dangerous grin dancing across his face. Seph doesn't share in the amusement. And I see this going south real fast.

"This isn't good," I remark to Aerith who nods.

"I think I might try to find Tseng and see if he wants to leave…"

I'm about to go with her, so she doesn't have to traverse this house alone, when Reno makes it back to the kitchen. Flustered. He walks up to us, "Well I just saw Rufus' penis. And I was right, he's definitely overcompensating."

"I fucking new it was small!" I shout.

"Not small," he shifts, "It's thin."

"Ew a pencil dick!" Aerith shrieks, "Those are so gross."

Reno and I both cock an eyebrow at the brown-haired girl taking a sip of her beer and shaking her head as if traumatized. She notices our eyes bearing down on her, and just about to explain herself- which we never asked for- when Rufus comes stumbling in, still in the process of fixing his pants, shirtless, and with a poisoned laugh.

"Yo, she's going wild on that chick," he cackles towards Rude.

"What girl?" Rude asks.

"I don't know her name!"

The volume of the entire house escalates. Pounding against my head. I can't make out actual conversations, just voices swallowed by an ocean.

Aggressive words echo from the living room. It seems Seph and Gen aren't pleased with the appearance of Roche. And I see the dominoes begin to fall. Hitting into their neighbor and crashing to the floor. Scarlet comes flying from somewhere in the house, continuing her screeching yells towards Rufus this time. Accusing him of cheating on her. Again. He responds with more laughing, even as she starts hitting him on his bear chest and insulting his manhood. He calls her crazy. Psycho. Any other synonym for insane. Anything to make him out to look like a hopeless victim, while his girlfriend burns with hot tears. Guy can't even stand straight, falling into cabinets. His eyes looking like two black specks. Finally, she punches him in the jaw. Calls him a daddy's boy. Announces he has a pegging fantasy.

And Rufus Shinra crosses that line and shoves his petite girlfriend across the room, her body colliding with the wall that shakes the house. But Scarlet, apparently having been used to this retaliation, doesn't crumble or falter. She springs herself off the wall and charges for him. Jumping onto his back and punching his head with the soft side of her fists, as he struggles to get her off him And I look at Reno for some reaction. But he shakes his head with a bored expression, as if he's watching a rerun. Barret, on the other hand, decides this is a good time to vacate the area, as Rude desperately tries to get Scarlet off his friend.

Noises from the living room rise. I turn with enough time to see Roche get right into Sephiroth's smirking face. Low grumbles fueled by alcohol rumbling from the brown-haired boy's throat, but Sephiroth remains unphased.

Tseng runs past us, throwing Reno a why are you standing there look, as he tries to help the feuding couple. Reno just shrugs at the event unfolding. Tseng and Rude manage to separate the two, the former dragging a screaming, red-faced, Rufus out into the living room. Where I manage to catch Roche swing at Sephiroth. And I jerk to go help him, when Reno's arm jets in front of me. His blue eyes piercing right through me, just daring me to get involved.

"Uh-oh," Aerith's soft voice manages to break through, "it's happening."

"What?" Reno questions, still blocking my path.

Aerith snaps her green eyes to me and I groan, addressing my boyfriend. "We got a drunk couple fighting, now we got a bunch of meatheads fighting."

"Which means," Aerith continues, "one of two things are about to happen."

"Either there's a girl overdosing on drugs somewhere," I add, "Or someone's about to accuse the only black guy of stealing any Ipod."

"Even though it's probably the accuser who stole the ipod."

Reno scans between the two of us, "No way you can call that."

"Oh!" Aerith jumps, "Third option? Cat fight."

I squint at the clock, "Nah, we're way past cat fight."

And before Reno has a chance to protest our premonition, Cid walks in fron the backyard. Probably the most sober I've ever seen him at this hour of a party. Long sleeve still on over his patched vest. His eyes look like a storm cloud but crushed with concern. And I feel I already know what he's about to say before the words leave his mouth. "I found Tifa, she's buggin out."

"God dammit," I snap, "Why's it gotta be our chick overdosing! What did she take?"

"Too many triple Cs," he grumbles, his eyebrows curved in anger.

"Where is she?"

"Outside, I left her with Rude and Barret." He starts back for the door and the three of us follow. In the blistering cold, which tastes of frost, Tifa sits on the cobbled stone ground, head in her hands, shaking either from the drugs or the cold. Rude kneels next to her, hand on her back, trying to comfort her- and I can practically feel the burn from Cid when he comes upon the scene.

But I'm more concerned with Tifa's sobs which break through the dense night air. She repeats in a broken voice I don't want to be like this anymore. I don't want to be high anymore. Make it stop please. And I know different drugs hit people with different intensity. But Tifa never reacts well when in an altered state; having a panic attack once when we smoked five blunts on 4/20. And she's seen what these did to Jessie and Yuffie when they were at Johnnys. And she watched us rip the razors out of their hands, and try to stop them from scratching up their arms.

And I'm a cross between worried from the howling that exits her throat and furious that she would think this is a good idea.

I sit in front of her, gently taking her arms and removing her hands so I can look into her eyes. She's wearing her colored contacts and they look like blood red planets eclipsing the blackened moon. They dart around as if trying to find a focal point.

"Hey," I whisper, "you're good. Everything's good."

She tries staring into my eyes, "I don't feel like I exist anymore."

"Sounds about right," I sigh.

"I'm going to find Tseng," Aerith says, "I think it's time to leave." She doesn't wait for a response, before running back inside. I look over at Barret, and he understands the fear stitched along my face, and goes in after her.

"The fuck are Triple C's?" Reno questions.

"Coiricdin," Rude replies, "Cough medicine."

"Ya'll take cough medicine to get high," he judges, and I feel his eyes on me as if questioning my involvement. And like hell I'm about to tell him about my experience. "What the fuck? That's fuckin' dumb."

"Well what do you assholes take in West Bumblefuck Alabama," Cid hisses, arms over his chest with a threatening look directed towards the red-head.

"First, I'm from Tennessee, you fake Irish fuck," Reno seeths, "Second, we take shrooms like normal people if we want to hallucinate."

Cid waits a beat, "Oh word? I always wanted to try shrooms."

"Guy, they're fucking amazing. I would kill to do those again."

"Not helping!" I shout at the two budding drug buddies. Just as a fist connects with my jaw with such force, I'm startled out of any buzzed feeling I gained from the limited alcohol I consumed. Tifa gasps, looking at her fist which has left a mark on my face.

"I'm so sorry," she sobs, "You turned into a wolf and I wanted you back!"

I blink trying to get control of my brain again, "I turned into a wolf?"

"Yes! Don't do that again!"

I look at Rude, "She needs to get the fuck home right now."

"You got it, man." He stands up and Cid suddenly looks panicked.

"I'm coming with you!" The blonde frantically yells. Rude merely shrugging his shoulders and putting up no argument.

The sliding door slams and an agitated Barret storms towards us, eyes pointed at Rude. "They are fighting in the street now and the neighbors are calling the cops. We gotta go."

Rude nods, "Way ahead of you man." He looks at Tifa, "Alright, girlie, I'm going to pick you up now." He scoops up Tifa bridal style, and she latches on to him, frantic eyes looking around as if she's just been transported. And maybe in her head she has.

I pull out my phone to call Aerith when we hear the screech of a car.

A crash from the front of the house.

People yelling. Pain and fear.

And then tires screaming into the abyss.

Some people who remained in the kitchen start running towards the front of the house. Others sneaking out the back and heading for yards to make their escape.

Then a muffled silence. I know Tifa continues to sob into Rude's shoulder, now completely out of her mind. And like programmed, I start heading for the front through the side of the house. I hear Reno ask me what the fuck I was doing.

"Go with Rude," I instruct the rest of the team, "I have to go check it out."

I sense the commotion behind me, but don't respond. Reno and Cid join me as we head towards the crowd that has formed in front of Angeal's house. Yells to call an ambulance reach our ears and my chest starts to tighten. Hands sweating which freeze against the blistering wind.

Aerith emerges from the crowd, pale skin stained with something red.

And my heart completely halts.

This isn't a memory. No. This is something worse.

I run towards her. Her green eyes wide in shock. There's wet specks of blood on her face and tights. Her hands trembling.

I grab her, "Aerith what happened?"

She blinks a few times, relaxing when she realizes it's me. "Oh god, they hit him." She manages to sputter.

"Who? Who got hit?"

"We were trying to leave," she continues, her eyes glassy from tears. "a car came out of nowhere and hit him."

Reno mutters Oh shit. Right as Aerith whispers, "Sephiroth."

I look at the dispersing crowd, where Sephiroth lays on the concrete sidewalk, Tseng next to him trying to keep him from moving.

It takes me a second to make sense of the scene unfolding.

And I suddenly feel like I'm the one on too many drugs. In a dream. Everything glows underneath the street light. Tense voices like they're underwater.

I move Aerith to Cid. I must have given him a command; like take her, or go with him. But I don't feel the words in my throat. I walk like I'm floating on air to the body on the ground. I can hear Tseng trying to calmly tell a writhing Seph to stay still. I kneel next to him, his hazel eyes aflamed when they rest on me. He's covered in his blood. Red dripping down his head. His right arm completely mangled.

I finally notice Reeve, the raven haired boy already on the phone calling for an ambulance. In any other circumstance would have been akin to snitching. And I see Kadaj and his group down the block, evidently trying to chase the car.

I address Tseng, "What happened?"

Before he can answer, Seph growls, "Did I get hit by a car?"

"That's the third time he asked that," Tseng reveals, fear hidden below the blank tone of voice.

"What should we do?"

"He got clipped on his side; he could have a broken rib. He could puncture a lung or have internal bleeding we can't see."

"You know," Reno kneels next to me, "just 'cause your parents are doctors doesn't mean you're one."

"I'm going to be one. You would know if you cared about anyone else but yourself."

"Psh, I care. You're just a robot."

Sephiroth's yelp of pain breaks the two out of the debate. "Was it that pussy Roche," he clenches his teeth and I see the blood pooling on his mouth. "I'm going to fucking kill him." He tries to get up, but makes an animalistic scream that sounds like a wounded bear when he moves. Tseng and I gently push him back down.

"The best thing to do is keep him awake," Tseng continues, "try to stop him from moving too much."

"That's like trying to keep a bobcat in a bag, yo! Look at this guy."

Tseng shoots Reno a pointed glare. Telling him to shut up with just his black eyes that I'm almost impressed when the red-head staples his lips shut.

I try to take his advice, I lean closer to Seph. He looks at me with eyes beading with tears. And I hate this small sense of satisfaction in my body when I see him so helpless. "Hey, uh, how are you doing?" I ask with a cringe when I see the full blown anger that boils within my friend.

"How the fuck do you think I'm doing!" He screams in pain. "Gah! Why am I still conscious!"

"You...may have taken a drug that is upping your adrenaline. Keeping you awake," Tseng ponders. And with the amount of pills being passed around that party, that's extremely likely. And from the way his eyes are dilated, confirms he's on something.

He tries to move again, but I press him down by the shoulder. "Hey, woah, don't move. Everything is going to be okay. The ambulance is coming."

I'm not sure how he accomplishes this, but he manages to grab my short blond hair- evidently long enough that he gets a strong enough grip in the strands- and nearly yanks my head off. I wince in pain as he pulls me close enough that I can feel his breath on me. " . ."

If he could move, he would kill me. I know it. I just freeze like I always do when up against him. Cursing at myself that, even in this broken state, he still elicits fear from me. Reno, however, not even the slightest bit concerned, starts aggressively poking his forehead.

"Yo," he shouts, "let him go!"

Seph releases me, breathing heavily, "Cloud, tell your shit head boyfriend to get out of my face before I break his!"

Reno halts his assault, but there's a sadistic smile on his face where there should be a scowl. And I jump in quickly, "Cid's my shithead boyfriend, he's my bitch ass boyfriend, and you're my dick head boyfriend."

And Seph lets out another scream of pain, eyes shut, allowing for a few angry tears to fall down his cheeks. "I swear I'm going to burn you all alive!"

Reno and I exchange a look, before we feel the pensive gaze of Tseng pierce through us. We look at him in unison. His eyes examining our forms as if suddenly wondering why Reno's so close to me, why Sephiroth would refer to him as my boyfriend- even as a joke- and why we didn't immediately correct him.

But Reno looks at Tseng like he's daring him to say something. But the boy remains still across from us. Then, without moving his blue eyes from Tseng, Reno addresses me, "I'm going to check on the girls. I think you guys got it here." He stands and leaves.

I wait for Tseng to say something. But his lips remain shut and he brings his attention back to the injured boy next to him.

And despite the sense that he's now second guessing mine and Reno's friendship, I appreciate his existence during this time. Tseng takes the lead. Keeping Sephiroth alert enough, even as the blood rushes from his face and he pales like newly fallen snow. And giving me orders throughout to keep me from completely losing it at the sight of my friend. When the ambulance comes with the police, he gives them a statement. In slow, purposeful words that sound so assured I almost envy his cool demeanour. And feel weak next to him, hands shaking in the pockets of my leather jacket, as the cops ask me questions I struggle to answer.

It feels like days go by as they lift Sephiroth's broken body onto the gurney. And usher him into the ambulance. The red and blue lights casting shadows along the white houses that line the street. And I feel my soul reconnect with my body, and realize I've been outside of myself this whole time. Like a defense. But now the reality of the situation begins to take shape as the sirens disappear down the street. That things are going to be different now. There has to be consequences.

When the cops are finished with their questioning, they turn their attention towards the occupants of the house- the Hewley children who stand outside, looking like grimacing statues as they await the inevitable interrogation on what exactly happened in that house. Tseng and I use this as our opportunity to return to the group who have congregated around the corner. We walk in silence. But I know he has questions brewing on the tip of his tongue. And I fear he's going to give them life.

He opens his mouth like he's about to say something, and my own body feels like it's about to collapse.

But nothing. I can see him looking at me from my peripheral. He closes his mouth, and looks straight ahead. And I'm grateful.

The only people left are Reno and Reeve. The former approaches, his hands in his pockets.

"Yo, he good?" He asks as if he cares. Tseng gives him the abridged version of events and Reno nods along, occasionally darting his eyes towards me. Creased with uneasy interest.

"Where are the girls?" I ask.

"Rude took Cid, Aerith, Tif and Barret home." He responds, "He's on his way back for us."

Tseng huffs, "Well there goes my chance with Aerith." I shoot him an unprovoked glare and he chuckles at my attempt to look jealous. "Anyway. I'm going to try to locate Rufus. Hopefully Scarlet hasn't murdered him."

"Good luck," Reno rolls his eyes, "That's all you, man."

"Reeve," he calls for backup, "let's go." He bids us farewell as he and Reeve start their search.

It's just Reno and I. The darkened side street surrounded by trees and a single lamppost. The only sound from howling wind dancing through dead branches. And it's not exactly perfect. But we're finally alone, without the eyes that bore with judgement earlier. He has his arms around him, insisting a jacket would ruin his outfit. He brings his eyes to mine and looks at the opening of my jacket as if asking for an invitation. We both look around the empty street. Hidden by sleeping houses far in between. And I open it with my hands in pockets, and he takes a cautious step, his lean arms snaking around my waist as I try to cocoon us in the leather fabric. It's then I realize he's about a half an inch taller than me, maybe. He rests his forehead on mine and his lips just barely hitting mine.

"We shouldn't be like this," I mumble.

"I know," he acknowledges, "But I'm fucking freezing."

I smile, "Told you to wear your jacket."

"Yeah, yeah." He rubs his hands up my back and I shudder against him. Which he scolds quietly, and tells me to wait until we get home. And I love that he calls it home. As if we live together. And the thought makes me brave and I capture his lips into a warm kiss. Which he returns despite the risks.

But he's the first to pull back. He examines my face, a crooked smile tugging at his mouth. I remove my hands from my pockets and bring them to his cheeks, and they're cold to the touch. He closes his eyes when my fingers gather in his hair, warming them. A heavy sigh escapes his throat. "Is it bad I hope he dies?"

I recoil slightly, his arms keeping me pressed against him. The frost in his tone feels as brutal as a blizzard. His blue eyes are just as icy when he opens them to stare into my own. I have no response. And maybe that makes me a terrible friend; but I know why Reno feels that way. And I know some other people may share that sentiment. And I drop my eyebrows when the thought punctures my mind, and I wonder if I'm one of those people.

Reno takes advantage of my lips parted in mid thought and silences any potential objection with his mouth on mine. And I forget about the danger. And I forget to care about my friend who's coming off a serious high. Or my other friend who's in the hospital. Or any of the people in my life who would love to see the scene and use it to destroy me.

Because we are the only two people who exist in this fourteen miles of hell.

And that's all that matters.

Reno and I put on an act when Rude comes back around. His eyes gripped with restrained frustration when he sees us standing as far away as possible. As if he knew exactly what we were doing before he turned the corner, the sounds of tires on gravel pulling us apart.

The car ride in crushing silence. Not even the radio playing. Rude keeps his eyes on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel tightly. And I worry about the drop off home. What I'm supposed to say. How I'm supposed to act. If Rude was merely suspicious before, he knows the truth by now. And I'm not sure if the tension comes from his concern for his cousin's wellbeing, or his cousin's choice of partner. But I'm trying to remain calm in the backseat. Looking out the window at the ink black sky empty of stars, and thinking about Sephiroth's parents receiving the phone call about their son. What they must feel. The first grip of fear. That gives way to anger.

I also preoccupy myself with texts from Cid on Tifa's well being. They went to Aerith's dad's house- her father on a business trip, leaving the house empty. Perfect place for Tifa to come down. Cid remains behind with the girls to make sure they are safe. And ask imposing questions on my own mental health. And I almost forgot about how I should be feeling. Everything like a nightmare. Or happened so fast, my brain didn't have time to really think about what I bore witness to. My whole body numb. Like I fell through an iced lake.

But before I am able to acknowledge the events, the car comes to a harsh stop in front of my house. The entire mansion dark. My parents must be sleeping.

I look at the front. Rude glaring at Reno, who I notice isn't acknowledging his cousin.

I shift in my seat, "Well, uh, thanks for the ride." I try to play it off like I'm leaving on my own.

Rude's gruff voice cuts through the night. "I guess you're going with him, then?"

Reno now turns to look at his cousin. Takes a rough breath, "Cloud, wait for me inside. I need to talk to my cousin."

I nod silently and exit the car. "I'll leave the side door unlocked." I say before I shut the door and head into my house via the side. My heart gripped with fear over their conversation.

Too much happened tonight.

I enter the warmth of my basement, ripping my jacket off as it suddenly feels like I'm being suffocated, and head to the bathroom. My eyes catch the image of my hair. A bloodied print on blonde strands.

I look at my hands and now finally notice the specks of Sephiroth's blood drying on my hair fingers.

And now a memory flashes relentless. Of rivers of red dripping off my finger tips.

And my whole stomach lurches and I end up vomiting into the toilet.

Coughing up hot liquid that burns my throat raw.

I don't know how I kept it bottled for so long.

But now everything smacks me,

Like I'm in a collapsing building.

Being buried alive and I can't breathe.

Count to ten. Remind myself of where I am.

This is the basement bathroom, with the blue hue that now smells like bile.

I'm in my house. My room two floors up.

I'm not the one in the hospital bed. With a destroyed arm.

I'm home. And any minute my boyfriend will walk in, and see this scene. Put it up against the scene from earlier with the hole in the door and my tears staining my face. And maybe he'll start to wonder if I am even worth the risk anymore.

I scramble to clean up the mess I made this time.

I sing a song to pass the time. Something I can control. But I don't understand the words coming out of my own mouth. But I know it's a song from the CD I gave him. That repeats a single phrase to a melodic tune.

And it sums up entirely what I want to do.

I rinse my mouth out. Spitting into the sink whatever sick I have left. I dare myself to look in the mirror, And I see I'm hysterical and start laughing at how fucking pathetic I am. With red around my eyes, and tears falling down my face bruised from Tifa's fist. I take the water, warm to the touch, and try to get the blood out of my hair. Cursing myself. Cursing Sephiroth. Cursing this island and all the devils that it holds.

And when I pull my hand away.

I see an ocean of red pooled in my palm.

And I almost lose control again, when Reno's hand grabs my wrist.

And I realize it was nothing. Just water.

I snap my eyes towards him. His face hard to read through the puddles in my eyes.

He curls his lips, "You okay, pretty boy?"

I shake my head. "I threw up."

"I can tell," he gathers me in his arms, my face in his neck, arms around his body. And I forgot how warm he is with the cold coming between us all night. Like an unwanted barrier. He smells delicious and that's the only thing I can think of. He smells familiar. He's home. He rubs my back and whispers that everything is okay. Assures me he will never leave even though I never asked. But I guess he can read my mind.

"Seph's going to be fine," he says, squeezing me like he's trying to keep me together. "Is that why you're so upset?"

"It doesn't matter," I lie.

"It matters to me, which means it matters, right?" He uses my own words against me and I laugh.

"What did you and Rude talk about?" I switch the subject instead of answering his question. Because I really don't have one answer. I'm always upset. That's my default setting.

He sighs, "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me," I plead with a shaky voice. And he tenses against me. And I try to pull back so I can stare into his eyes for the answer. But he holds me tighter and keeps me in his embrace.

And then I feel his breath against my ear, and it both relaxes and terrifies me. "He said...we're moving too fast." he sighs again, and I can feel him shaking his head, "and that maybe we haven't been as subtle as we need to be."

All the time Sephiroth called him my boyfriend. And I hoped it was a joke. Something to make us uncomfortable. But I know the way our eyes gravitate towards each other, pulled in like flowers towards the sun. And maybe he isn't the only one who's noticed how close we are.

"What...does that mean?" I ask, my heart slamming against my chest the answer.

But Reno kisses the side of my head, "It means shit," he smiles, but I turn my head slightly to catch his eyes in the mirror, and they are crushed. Broken blues that shake. "I'm not going to let them ruin what we have."

His voice sounds as commanding as when we are in our most intimate moments.

But I hear the quake in his tone. Like the whole world starts to collapse. Cracking and falling apart.

And I wonder how much longer we have before it all comes crashing down.