The Last Traces of Childhood
Chapter 10 – The Deception and Hurt
Dear Diary,
Man, I feel sorry for Cid Sheesh, Tifa is a really mean person. I can't believe she would do that to her own (well, now former) boyfriend! And in front of all those people-! Thank goodness Shera was there to pick up the pieces and comfort Cid! By the way, at the dance, Yuffie pulled me aside and one point and told about her and Vince's first kiss. What she doesn't know, is that Cloud and I saw those two by accident, when we stepped outside for some fresh air, heh Oh, speaking of Cloud I don't really know what to do about him. I said the 'dreaded' "L word" to him, and guess what he did? He just stiffened, and didn't say anything! Good thing I had waited until the last minutes of the dance! Cloud and I left, but in the car, he was all silent and cold; he treated me like I was some kind of stranger or something What's gonna happen between us, Diary? I hope he's not gonna break up with me. Things are pretty damned awkward between us, just because of what happened at the last song
A devilish smile spread over the dark-haired teenager's lips. The leader of the Queens grasped the mike tightly in her hands and grinned at the boy standing next to her.
"Hey, what's Rude doing up there?" Cloud whispered to his girlfriend.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wha? You mean, that's Rude of the TURKs gang?"
"Yeahwonder what he's doin' up there with Tifa"
Ohhhh boy Aeris thought, while panic was creeping up her throat. Her emerald eyes darted over to where the skating gang was. Cid stood in the front of the group, his blue eyes narrowed into slits as he watched his girlfriend and Rude on stage.
"Hey people!" Tifa called out. Not waiting for a response, she barged on ahead, "I wish you all a fun summer, and peace to my Queens!" The Queens screamed for their leader.
"I'm also up here to make a public announcement," She continued, turning to Rude. "I'd like y'all to say hi to my new boyfriend, Rude!"
The people in her audience gasped in unison when she said that.
"Holy crap" Cloud murmured in shock while Vincent gave Tifa a "Man, you're so busted," look; Yuffie's mouth dropped open and Aeris winced at all the reactions.
"WHAT?!" Someone exploded from the back.
It was Cid. Aeris felt her heart go out to him as the blonde teenager stalked through the crowd, pushing people aside. He arrived at the stage and hopped onto it, face-to-face with Tifa and her new guy. The flower girl grimaced and turned her head away, suddenly noticing a girl with glasses and dark brown hair looking up at Cid with big wavering eyes that started to glisten with unshed tears.
"Cloud, who's that?" Aeris asked in a whisper as she tugged on Cloud's arm and gestured her head toward the girl's direction.
"Shera," Cloud told her. "That girl I told you about, remember? She's the one who has an immense crush on Cid"
"Oh"
She looks so sad and disappointed; poor Shera Man, I feel so guilty The flower girl thought sadly, and then slowly turned her attention back to the growing battlefield on stage.
"How long has this been goin' on, huh?!" Cid demanded to know, thrusting Rude aside from his now-ex-girlfriend and stepping up to her with an angry expression on his face.
"Long enough to know that I don't want you anymore" Tifa replied with a sly smile.
"Just what the @#$% is that supposed to mean?!" He yelled.
"Noth-ing" She answered coyly.
A hurt look broke through the anger on his face. "Didn't our relationship mean anything to you? I thought you cared about me"
"I did, Cid sweetie" Tifa told him while absentmindedly blowing her fingernails. "But not anymore. You understand, don't you?"
"Skank!" He hissed.
Cid threw her a last angry look, then jumped off the stage and darted from the dance room, heading out toward the main door. The crowd shifted uncomfortably, as if a dark cloud was hanging over their heads. Tifa held her head high and carefully got off the stage with Rude. The leader of the Queens grabbed her coat, and then she and her new boyfriend disappeared out the back door. Trying to rid the awkwardness, the DJ smiled shakily at everyone and went up to the mike.
"Um, I think it'd be the best for everyone if the shout-outs close down as of right now" She said, confirming the command by glancing at Mrs. Wallace.
Surprisingly, there were no groans or whines heard from the long line of people still waiting to get on stage. The disc jockey stepped away from the stand and went back to her records; she played a fast song and uncertainly, the teens went back to dancing.
"Shouldn't someone go after him?" Aeris asked her boyfriend, a big knot growing in her stomach.
"Someone already has" Cloud answered and pointed. She turned her head toward the direction of his finger and saw Shera run out the door.
"Hope she'll get Cid to come back" The teenage girl said quietly.
The deception and hurtpoor Cid I, I should have told him She thought, feeling guilty again.
The incident between Tifa and Cid slowly left everyone's mind as the hours passed. About fifteen minutes after the skating gang's leader had run out the door, he reappeared into the dance room with an arm around Shera's waist. The teenagers cheered loudly, blocking out the music. Cid shushed them and the new couple walked across the room and heading toward the back door. Soon after they had disappeared and everyone had calmed down, the DJ stopped the music temporarily after the previous song had ended, and the vice-principal walked up the stage, to the mike.
"Well, this prom has almost come to an end," She began. "Before the disc jockey plays the last song, I'd like to announce this year's Prom King and Queen!"
Loud cheers rang out from the crowd. Mrs. Wallace smiled faintly at the noise and glanced at a piece of paper she'd taken out from her pocket.
"So without further in due, the King and Queen of the junior class is Tseng Robinson and Elena Jenkins!"
The junior students clapped as their King and Queen got up on stage and a crown was placed on their heads by a couple of fellow representers. The two linked hands and stood there, waiting for their vice-principal to announce the lucky senior couple.
"And now, the senior title of King and Queen belongs to" Mrs. Wallace paused dramatically. "Cloud Strife and Aeris Gainsborough!"
Aeris' mouth dropped open in surprise. Her boyfriend shook her arm gently, then tugged her on stage; she followed dazedly. Upon arriving on the platform, the two girls she and Cloud had seen at the entrance of the dance set glittery crowns on their head. The flower girl smiled proudly and glanced at her boyfriend.
"Let's all give a big round of applause for our junior and senior Prom King and Queen!" Mrs. Wallace told the crowd.
The audience needed no encouragement; they automatically started clapping and cheering before the vice-principal had finished her sentence. Aeris blushed furiously at the attention and caught the eye of her best friend. Yuffie waved at her and gave her a thumbs-up. The couples stepped off the stage and burrowed into their group of friends.
"Anyway, please settle down for a moment," Mrs. Wallace said. "The DJ has an announcement of her own to make."
She walked away and the DJ replaced her. The young woman smiled at the crowd and spoke softly into the microphone, "Since there's only a few more minutes, this next song will be the last one. It will be for the two Prom Kings and Queens, so students please clear some room for them. However, this song was specially requested by a senior student here, Cloud Strife. He would like to dedicate this to his girlfriend, Aeris Gainsborough." The disc jockey paused and smiled. "Aeris, I hope you'll like the song I'm about to play. And all you juniors and seniors, enjoy your summer and have a great new school year in the fall."
She replaced the small black object as people clapped, and then went to her records and clicked on the final song. Everyone in the room immediately moved away when a slow tune started playing out of the speakers. A white spotlight shone upon Tseng & Elena, Cloud & Aeris. The flower girl smiled as she felt her boyfriend's hands rest on her waist and she locked her arms around his neck; the other two followed their example. Juniors and seniors grinned at each other while they watched the two couples, seeming not to care that they didn't get to dance.
"Thanks" She said quietly. Her boyfriend grinned at her.
"So, this is the last dance of the school yearof high school" Cloud whispered and smiled at her somewhat sadly.
"We'll still have next year, right?" She asked softly.
"Always" He replied, and brought her closer to him.
"I'll be the one" The lyrics of the song reached the ears of the couples and Aeris grinned at the sweet tone of the melody.
"I guess you were lost,
When I met you;
Still there were tears in your eyes
So out of trust and I knew
No more than mysteries and lies"
The voice grew more firm as he sang:
"There you were, wild and free!
Reaching out like you needed me
A helping hand to make it right;
I am holding you all through the night"
The flower girl smiled and tucked her face beneath her boyfriend's jaw, resting her head against his throat. Unknown to her, Cloud smiled softly and closed his eyes as he gently rested his hand on her silky brown hair.
Everyone grinned when the chorus came on; "I'll be the one"
The other members of the band in the background echoed, "(I'll be the one)"
The main singer started again:
"Who will make all your sorrows undone!
I'll be the light (I'll be the light)
When you feel like there's nowhere to run,
I'll be the one"
At that, Cloud grinned at the flower girl and dipped her upper body down, as if they were doing the tango; she giggled and straightened herself back to the original position.
The song continued,
"To hold you,
And make sure that you'll be all right
'Cause my faith is gone
And I want to
Take you from darkness to light
There you are,
Wild and free!
Reaching out like you needed me
A helping hand to make it right;
I am holding you all through the night
I'll be the one (I'll be the one)
Who will make all your sorrows undone!
I'll be the light (I'll be the light)
When you feel like there's nowhere to run,
I'll be the one
To hold you,
And make sure that you'll be all right
'Cause my faith is gone
And I want to
Take you from darkness to light
You need me like I need you
We can share our dreams comin' true!
I can show you what true love means.
Just take my hand, baby please
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run,
To make it all right!
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run
I'll be the one (I'll be the one)
Who will make all your sorrows undone!
I'll be the light (I'll be the light)
When you feel like there's nowhere to run,
I'll be the one
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run,
To make it all right!
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run,
To make it all right!
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run,
To make it all right!
I'll be the one,
I'll be the light,
Where you can run,
To make it all right!
I'll be the one,
To hold you
And make sure that you'll be all right"
Lights on the ceiling of the room started to flicker on at previous verse. On the last lyric sentence of the song, Cloud pulled back from Aeris and his cool blue eyes stared intensely into hers.
- "I'll be the one" The band finished.
As they did, the room was completely covered in brightness and the flower girl continued looking into her boyfriend's eyes.
Cloud smiled sweetly at her and he said softly into her ear, "I'll be your one"
Ohhh, how sweet Aeris thought, a warm feeling appearing in her heart. She sighed. Well, I think this is it I hope it's not too soon
"I love you," She told him quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cloud's eyes widened in shock, and his reaction to her statement surprised Aeris; he stiffened and ducked his head. The spiky-haired teenager stepped back, holding his girlfriend's elbow an arm-length away from him as if she had some contagious disease, and gave her a tiny, shaky smile. The crowd glanced at the couple in confusion.
"I think we should go," He said hoarsely, not meeting her gaze. A small sob choked up in her throat, but Aeris ignored it and replied, "Okay"
Her boyfriend nodded curtly, and then pushed his way through the crowd, rushing out of the door. The teenage girl followed, hot tears threatening to spill in her eyes. She blinked them back and darted toward the exit, ignoring the curious looks some people were giving her. A breezy wind greeted her when she got outside, and she welcomed the cool feeling brushing around her body, clearing up her stuffy-feeling throat. Aeris went to the limo, where her friends, the driver, and Cloud were waiting for her.
The ride home was quiet; Cloud's eyes never left the window as he sat back in his seat, his attention focused on the scenery outside. Yuffie had tired herself out and fell asleep, her head resting on her boyfriend's shoulder. Feeling a bit exhausted himself, Vincent closed his eyes and stayed quiet. Aeris felt slightly uncomfortable in the silence, but just leaned back into her seat and shut her eyes as well.
Dropping Yuffie and Vincent off at the train station going to Junon Harbor before heading in the back towards Kalm, Aeris waved to her friends whilst Cloud didn't budge from his position. The driver drove in the opposite direction, and after a few minutes, they arrived at Aeris' house. She stepped out and turned to her boyfriend, waiting to see if he was going to do anything. A cold look came over his facial features, and he managed a stiff smile. Feeling hurt, Aeris felt the tears spill freely from her eyes and Cloud actually seemed startled.
"Aeris-" He started to say something, but she shook her head at him and left him, running up the sidewalk and to the front door of her house.
Looking back before letting herself in, Aeris saw Cloud get out of the limo to go after her. Her face twisted up in sorrow; she felt like her heart was in pain. Not wanting to deal with him at the moment, the flower girl turned abruptly away and darted inside her house. She shut the door firmly, and leaned on it for a few seconds, more tears running down her already-moist cheeks. Aeris collected herself together after a little while, and slowly slumped up the stairs.
Note: "The One" doesn't belong to me; it's the property of the Backstreet Boys.
Preview of chapter 11:
(Note: Some contents in this chapter may not be suitable for readers under 13.)
Dear Diary,
Oooh, I can't believe what just happened Quoting from Yuffie, "Oh Gawd!" I really hope that I didn't scare Cloud off! Argh, I should waited! I feel so stupid! This is one of those times that I wish there was a fortune-teller with me right now, and she could tell me what's in me and Cloud's futureif we even have one together, that is! *Sniff* Can't believe the summer has the start like this Wish I had a time machine so I turn back to an hour ago and take back those stupid words. I don't want to lose Cloud I wish I could talk to Yuffie about my situation, but knowing her, she'll most likely say something like, "You shouldn't worry; everything will work out fine!" Maybe so, but how long is it gonna take? This time, I have doubts her prediction All I can say is, if Cloud turns to someone else, it's over between us Hey, some jerk is throwing rocks at my window! Geez, how irritating! I'm gonna look out my window and confront the jackass, so I think I ought to sign off; I'll write sometime later when I'm up to it