The Last Traces of Childhood
Chapter 3 - The Glory and Pain
Dear Diary,
It's been almost two weeks since I've started school at Midgar Academy. I'll have to say that this place really isn't half-bad! Cloud and I have been walking to school together every morning, and home every afternoon. Although I feel guilty, like I'm betraying Zack, I can't help also feeling glad that Cloud's around Am I just looking to him for comfort? Am I trying to replace Zack with Cloud? I hope not! By the way, Yuffie has become my best friend, and I love her dearly, but I'm glad that she's finally stopped telling me to get together with Cloud. Why the sudden change? Because she's working on her own love life! Right now, Yuffie's got a crush on Cloud's best friend, Vincent; he's cute, but kind of shy and quiet. Vincent's in our English class. I find it cute that Yuffie keeps sneaking secret glances at him in first period. Lately, he's been hanging out with Yuffie after school, so I think he's interested in her! Of course, Yuff is thrilled at the attention. Isn't love the sweetest thing?
Friday noon at Midgar Academy, Aeris ran to the lunch line after fourth period and panted lightly as she came to a stop behind another student. There was a long line today, since Fridays was pizza day at the school. She waited patiently in line, then sighed in relief when she finally reached the beginning and bought a slice of combo. She grabbed a Minute Maid and rushed over to the table that she and her friends usually ate at.
Aeris grinned when she saw Yuffie tugging Vincent Valentine down beside her. The dark-haired boy smiled shyly at the energetic teenage girl and succumbed to her request, following her to the 'reserved' seats. Yuffie sat in her chair and he sat next to her. Aeris chuckled quietly to herself and approached the table.
"Hi you all," She greeted.
"Hey Aeris!" Yuffie said and waved to her best friend.
"Hello," Vincent gave Aeris a small smile.
Cloud gestured to the chair next to him and she sat in it, gripping her pizza plate and backpack strap tightly.
"Man, that line took forever," Aeris complained with a small groan.
Yuffie giggled. "Yeah, but the pizza tastes great!" She picked up her slice and took a bite.
"It's worth it, I guess," Her friend replied with a laugh.
The group ate their food in silence, and after everyone had thrown away their plates, Aeris suddenly thought of Zack.
"I wonder how he's doing," She thought out loud.
The teenage girl hadn't been in contact with her boyfriend for about a week. She had called his house several times, but his parents just claimed that Zack was busy. Aeris felt a little bit worried, but had felt a little better after her mom promised her that she'd let her fly to Icicle Inn the coming weekend, and visit Zack.
"You wonder how who's doing?" Cloud asked her.
"Zack" She replied.
"Oh" Cloud frowned with disappointment. Yuffie and Vincent glanced reassuringly at him.
"Hey Aeris, when are ya gonna see him?" Yuffie questioned.
Aeris smiled. "Tomorrow."
"Mmmhmm"
"I'm so excited, I haven't seen Zack in a couple of weeks!" The teenager exclaimed.
"Yeah, I sure hope he's alright" Cloud commented, a slight note of bitterness seeping through his voice.
Aeris glanced at him curiously. She opened her mouth to ask him why he sounded like that, but the bell rang before she could. Cloud gathered his stuff and motioned for Yuffie and Aeris to go to class with him. Aeris shrugged and followed him out of the lunchroom.
*****
I'm here!
Aeris grinned as the Highwind, the airship that flew her to Icicle Inn, finally landed and she got up from her seat in the "Control Room". The teenager trailed behind the other passengers, out of the room and up the stairs. The group walked out into the balcony, where a thick rope ladder was hanging over the side. When it was Aeris' turn, she gripped the rope, swung her legs over, and placed her leg on the ladder rungs.
She descended to the bottom and ran to her icy hometown, Icicle Inn. A windy breeze was the first thing that greeted the young girl as she stepped into the town. Aeris headed for her boyfriend's house as soon as she arrived, even though she was tempted to just go to her favorite spot in the park, and embrace the feeling of being back at
No, home is Kalm Townright? She wondered.
Aeris shook her head quickly and walked up to Zack's house. She knocked on the cold wooden door, and it opened a minute later. A middle-aged woman stepped out into the chilly weather and glanced at Aeris. Her warm blue eyes widened in surprise when she saw who was standing on the doorstep, but she recovered from her shock quickly, and smiled.
"Aeris, sweetie! It's so nice to see you!" She enveloped Aeris in a hug.
Aeris smiled back and said, "It's nice to see you too, Mrs. Delanie."
"Now, now, I asked you to call me Clara, remember?" Clara scolded playfully. "You haven't been gone that long, right?"
"Nope, it's only been a couple of weeksClara," Aeris replied. "Um, is Zack here?"
A look of sorrow flashed briefly in his mother's eyes.
"N-no, I'm sorry, sweetie. Zack is out with his friends right now." She finally answered. "I'm sure he'll be back by sundown. Do you want to hang around the town until he gets back?"
Aeris grinned. "Sure thing, Clara. I can't wait to visit all of my favorite old places."
"Come back in a few hours, okay?" Clara told her with a smile. "Well, I hope you'll enjoy yourself today."
"Thank you, I'll be back later."
"Alright, sweetie!" She called out and slowly shut the door.
Aeris waved a good-bye and walked around for a while, trying to notice if there were any changes in the town. She soon found herself wandering onto her old school grounds, and she walked up the familiar steps. The teenage girl stopped at the top and lightly touched the cold sign that hung beside the door. She pulled her fingers away and went back down the stairs.
Indecisive of where she should go first, Aeris just instinctively went to the park. She walked to the grassy area, and immediately went to one of her old favorite spots, the beautiful flower garden that was located at the center of the park. Upon arriving there, Aeris was shocked to discover a playground sitting in place of the garden. Stunned, she stood there numbly and blinked her eyes several times, trying to see if the playground was just a figment of her imagination.
It wasn't.
"What happened?" She wondered.
Aeris shook her head and turned her back on the playground. She bit her lip and darted to her other favorite part of the park. She and Zack had often gone there to hang out and talk, and occasionally make out The teenager sighed in relief when she arrived at the area and saw the same old tree, the same old bench, the same old Zack, the same old-
Wait a minuteZack??
Her eyebrows knit together as Aeris peered at the figure sitting on the small brown bench. She took a step closer to the person and found out that it was indeed her boyfriend.
Zack The flower girl thought with a gentle smile.
Aeris slowly walked toward the bench, intending to surprise him, but she paused as a blonde girl approached Zack and sat down next to him. Zack grinned at her and wrapped an arm affectionately around the girl. Aeris' mouth dropped open as she saw him nuzzle the girl's neck and she planted a kiss on his mouth.
"Z-Zack?" She stammered out loud.
Hearing his name, her boyfriend lazily turned his head around and his eyes suddenly widened at the sight of Aeris.
"A-Aeris! What are you doing here?!" He exclaimed shrilly and shot up from the bench.
"You cheater!" Aeris shrieked.
The glory and pain of relationshipsdamn that cheating Zack! She thought angrily as her eyes filled with tears and she ran away from him, leaving Zack and his dumbfounded new girlfriend alone.
Preview of chapter 4:
Dear Diary,
I can't believe what Zack did to me What's the freakin' matter with him? Back at our old school, we were voted the best couple on campus Why is he seeing another girl behind my back?! I, I hate her, whoever she is! But then again, maybe what happened between Zack and I was a blessing in disguise. Am I confusing you? Well, our break-up has freed me, right? Oh, how I wish Yuffie or any of my other friends were here so I could talk to someone! Haha, Yuffie would probably say something like, "Now you can go out with Cloud!" Argh! Oh, Cloud What am I going to do about him? I can't believe what happened, shortly after I got home This is too much for me to handle I've heard this saying, "A good thing always follows after a bad thing." Yeah right! A good thing from who's point of view, hmmm?