...This is it..
Aeris smiled, as she stared at Cloud, who had seemed to be thinking very deeply. She hadn't any idea what the young man was thinking, nor did it matter much at that moment. All she knew, was that she was with him and that was all she ever asked for. Cloud's blue eyes seemed so distant, depressed almost. It had probably only surpassed hours when he had managed to fix up a car, just to drive her on that date, that he had promised.
Aeris took in a deep breath, as her eyes soon adjusted forward onto the quiet road up ahead. What are you thinking, Cloud? she thought, off into her own little World as well. Maybe, she truly knew, no matter how hard she tried to deny the fact. Cloud was in love with her, although his words didn't say so, his eyes always did. But that left her with a feel of guilt. Of perception, of betrayal. She knew Tifa wanted ever so much to be in her position right now.
All of her life, she had been waiting for all he's given to her. He had somehow opened her eyes, but she loved selfishly, and that she knew. There was a woman out there, who felt the same way she did, if not then, then now. Aeris' eyes began to hurt, as she slowly closed them, trying to erase the thoughts away. Where had the two been going? What happened between them, when she wasn't there? So many thoughts stirred in Aeris' mind, but she tried so hard to push them away. Brush them aside, without another thought in her head.
Cloud took in a deep breath, as he came to notice the young woman in a state of distress. He didn't really knew what she had been thinking about. Although, at times, it seemed much too obvious. Everything was way too sudden, Aeris finally regained cautiousness at this time....while his other side was wondering if what he had chosen was right. Did he really......?
She stared out the window of the Gondola Ride, as The Golden Saucer was at sight below. She had remembered, this was where their first date was. Which was so long ago, it seemed to be erased in lost memories. Aeris hesitated, as she sat quietly gazing out, as a child would have been startled at such scenery. But she couldn't help but notice the way Cloud's expression was. What was wrong with him, she wondered.
"Do you remember?" Aeris questioned, her emerald eyes fixed upon him, as he turned to her. Cloud paused, as he stared at the solemn look on the woman's face, as well as it said so in her eyes. Yet, she began again, "Do you remember....when we were here before?" Cloud smiled slightly, as he nodded his head, leaning over against his knees.
"Yeah...," he uttered, his blue eyes gazing out into the open, "It was our first date...I never expected you and me to get anywhere. But, all that's changed now." Aeris smiled, although her mind seemed to be trailing off somewhere so distant. She knew, although, one of the two had gotten with him, the other would have been hurting...even worse, Alone. Cloud gazed at her for what seemed forever, until her eyes fell upon his questioning expression.
Aeris smiled, nervously, "...Yeah..." He returned it, warmly, as his hands slowly reached out for hers. She didn't hold back, as she let him caress her hands gently, staring into her eyes, for what seemed eternity.
"I love you, Aeris," he uttered, his voice nearly a whisper. She felt chills run down her spine, at his sudden words. She hadn't been expecting anything like that. Even, if she dreamed of it a thousand times before. He would have her heart, but she wasn't quite sure she'd have his in return. Aeris stared at him, her eyes revealing hurt, as she felt herself begin to cry.
"Cloud," she uttered, her voice slowly trailing off, "....I can't...."
His blue mako eyes gazed at her blankly, startled, "...what?"
Aeris slowly pulled her hands away from his, as she began again, "..I can't sit here and drown in happiness and be so selfish on my own. There's a woman out there...who probably needs you more than I do...I can't sit here, knowing that I've done something that I would regret. I'm a woman, too....and I just can't bare to see that happen to a friend...." By the time, she had finished her sentence, her tears slowly ran down her cheeks. Aeris couldn't believe the words that she had said. He was all she ever wanted, but for some odd reason, she felt as though he regretted everything ten times more than she did.
Cloud was silent, as the ride came to a sudden stop. Aeris immediately stepped off, not once turning back, as she ran locked up in the distance. He stood in awkward silence, as he listened as the words repeated in his mind yet again. What could he have done to change anything? Perhaps, nothing at all....
NOTE NOTE :: Hehe...yeah o wellz. Sorry I stopped so soooon. But I had to finish my other stories...WHERE ANGELS LIE -- here I go again. Its a Vincent/Yuffie fic, if n e one is interested. Hehehe... ^-^
