- Silver Linings -
You see alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yea, I think I'll be all right
- Someday - The Strokes
****************************
"Here, take this."
A young teenager, no older than 15, looked to her side, a huge, goofy smile on her oddly serene face. As she brushed a single strand of chestnut brown hair away from her eyes, a loud uncertainty escaped her delicately glossed lips, "I don't think I should."
"Just trust me, Teef, it'll make you feel better."
The teenager's skeptic eyes stared down at the bleached powder in the older man's hands, the loud music of the overpopulated club, after some time, causing ripples in her already pulsating eardrums. With the multicolored flashlights painting the room every color of the rainbow, the stentorious music, and the lack of any active neurons, which had to do with the thought process, all hope of refusal had evaporated into the vast, smog infested room.
The brunette bent over into her comrade's open hands, closing her heavily glazed eyes, and placing a single finger on her left nostril while quickly snorting a small, yet inducible portion of the dust. Repeating the process, but only this time, in the once covered opening, the smile on Tifa's face expanded to new heights as her crimson eyes watered even more profusely than before.
The taller man smiled at the girl's pleasurable expression as he placed his free arm around her shoulders and whispered into her twitching ear, "Feels good, doesn't it?"
The smile remained frozen in place while the young girl wrapped her arms tightly around the redhead's neck and drowsily placing her moistened lips on his own. He ran his shivering hand up her back, slipping his tongue through the small opening of Tifa's mouth. The bitter concoction of alcohol and nicotine left a burning tingle on each of the individuals' lips, but it didn't repulse them in the least way. In all actuality, it did just the opposite; it make them want what the other was offering more.
Tifa pulled back, her hand still located on Reno's shoulder for security, as she bit her lower lip playfully.
Her self-control was far from gone as you could see from the disheveled look on her face. The glassy liquid caused crimson irises to shine so translucently, her eyes practically glowed in the darkened room as Tifa's body swayed to the music in a frazzled manner. She tried to concentrate on her admirer's face, but the more she tried, the more Tifa appeared look right through him.
"You're such a tease, you know that," Reno breathed seductively into her face as he smoothly ran his tongue down the side of her neck.
Tifa giggled, almost falling backwards, if not caught by Reno, from the unnatural amount of illegal substances located in her brittle body. She was so close to the redhead that if any more steps were taken, they would undoubtedly be fused together.
"You wanna go someplace a little more....private," the green-eyed man offered, keeping close to the excessively heated teenage girl's body while bloodshot eyes were locked on her insouciant face intently and expectantly.
Leaning closer than human possible, Tifa grabbed the lean man's backside and, with a tauntingly alluring smile, muttered in the most sultry mustered voice, "I thought you'd never ask."
Reno grinned back while repeating his soon-to-be lover's grabbing motion, then placing an arm around the shorter girl's shoulders and leading them both towards the exit of the club. Everything was going perfect as the two maneuvered around dancing twosomes and grinding triangles. They become so close to the exit, it was almost as though it could be just reached by a matter of fingertip extension. They were close, but the two never made it to the outside world.
"FREEZE! POLICE! YOU'RE ALL UNDER ARREST!"
The club's mood transformed from complete aphrodisiac to complete pandemonium. Screaming and obscenities were heard echoing over the pounding music as the ravers proceeded to make a quick escape. The police exploded into the scene with tools of protection, trying, by all means necessary, to capture as many law aggressors as possible.
"We gotta get the fuck outta here," Reno screamed, removing his arm from the intoxicated girl's shoulder and moving away from the bombarded exit to escape towards the back of the dance floor.
"Reno, wait," the brunette pleaded, feeling the room spin out of control as her vision blurred to the point of sight deficiency, "Oh shit! I can't see! Reno, wait, you gotta help me! I can't see straight!"
Tifa stumbled, unable to move without feeling the dreaded nauseous sensation of overdose. The drugs were taking a heavy toll on her and waiting for Reno's help was just a waste of precious minutes she had to make a futile escape. He was already halfway out of danger while the lethargic girl, who could barely walk, remained distinctly behind.
Because of the fact she was so inebrious, it was easy for the police to take her down, and that was exactly what they did. Continuing the useless escapade, a heavy bodied personage plundered into her frail exterior and knocked her roughly to the floor, her delicate head slamming into the floor with a BAM!
The room spun around even quicker than before, almost giving a distinct impression that a rollercoaster ride was in session.
"Stay down!"
The voice sounded so far away, so indescribably vague that if ears were not perked up enough, you would barely have paid any mind to it. To the heavily stressed, it would have been another reason to question their sanity. Feeling the room continuously spinning, Tifa's eyes closed from over-exhaustion and eventually, passed out soon afterwards.
{Focus in on the young version of Tifa Lockheart, passed out, as the scene goes white.}
Tifa Lockheart, now at 17, laid awake in her bed as the moonlight from the starlit sky danced it's way into the darkened room. She was indeed tired, but ruby eyes couldn't help but keep themselves open and aware of her surroundings. Not only was insightfulness a reason for the young girl's insomnia, but so many thoughts of both past and present haunted her to the brink of derangement.
Groaning softly to herself, the brunette swung her legs over the bedside, running exploring hands through her pin-straight hair and pursing the plump, softly pink tinted lips, which happened to be the most distinctive attribute on Tifa's lovely face. Even though drug abuse had been a constant distraction from a better future, it wouldn't be ignored that this girl was indeed beautiful, give or take the below average body mass and permanent, implanted crevice on her bottom lip.
She ran a single finger over her bottom lip where the aforementioned cut was located; barely touching it's contents. Tifa closed her eyes, allowing her mind to slip off and away from the very grasp she had held onto just a short time ago.
{Scene, yet again, turns a bright shade of white for a short minute.}
"You're grounded, Tifa! I don't want any more of your lip, understand?"
"That's insane, I am not punished!"
"If thinking that helps you get to sleep at night then keep thinking it, but just try and walk out that door and you'll face grave consequences."
"God, I can't believe you're my father. I hate you!"
Mr. Lockheart and his teenage daughter stood in the middle of the living room, eyes shooting glances of pure fury at each other without a single fear of what was to be. The tension was so powerful, it could have knocked out a pro-wrestler, who had just mistakenly walked into this very room, without a fight.
This was the very moment where you could just foreshadow any kind of bitter resentment with words of venom in spontaneous disreguardment as a defense mechanism.
"You hate me? How do you think I feel? My teenage daughter is not only ingesting every drug that's out on the black market but she's also been in more trouble with the law than Charlie Sheen and Winona Rider put together. Oh, and don't even get me started on you having a sexual relationship with a man twice you're age! God, Teef, what the hell happened to you? How did you turn from honor student to Nibelheim's Most Wanted's top ten criminals of the decade?"
"Yeah? Well, since now that we're at the point of discussion where explanations are in order, would you care to clarify how this town's father of the year suddenly ended up the premiere tramp of the Nibelheimian area?"
Mr. Lockheart recoiled, a certain shocked expression clearly engraved in his once warm eyes as his mouth moved the slightest bit, but was suddenly unable to produce any form of distinctively understood human language. The impact of what his daughter had just said was much too empowering to handle. All he could basically do was just stand completely still and voluntarily become the victim of his daughter's unimaginable rage.
"Did you want mom and I to find out or something," Tifa asked exasperated, forcing herself to discard any moisture which would eventually stigmatize her eyes with thin red lines, "I wouldn't be surprised if you did because you basically threw your un-leg closing whore right at us! When mom was sick as well, how can you do that to her? How?"
"Teef, listen, it was a mistake...."
"It was a mistake, huh? So, what? Did she accidentally trip over a stapler and fall right onto your unzipped pants? Or even better, you both were asked by the mad scientist, Hojo, to join together and procreate with the sadistic intentions of breeding some kind of superhuman army of dysfunctional monstrosities with the sole mission of taking over the world? Please, 'father,' give me a break! There are no accidents when it comes to intercourse. Intentions are always there," Tifa explained bitterly, not able to look her father right in the eye any longer than a short second.
"She's pregnant," Mr. Lockheart stated, getting right down to the point without dancing around the topic any longer than necessary, "we had intercourse once and now she's pregnant with my child. I kept seeing her for that and only that. She threatened to tell your mother if I wasn't a part of the child's life."
Tifa's will was completely shattered and the tears, which she promised not to shed, became painfully visible. It wasn't out of selfish ambition that crying was misinterpreted as an escape route, for they weren't on her own behalf. Those clear droplets of emotion were specifically for her mother and the added suffering that unfortunately will be placed on her already frail shoulders.
"Oh my God! Oh my God," she heaved, forcing her fist into an unbreakable ball, spinning around, and jamming it into the wall behind her. The fluids in Tifa's eyes were already running down her pale cheeks as her slightly injured hand felt the deep cracks implanted on the wall responsible for keeping her balance.
"Tifa, sweetie, please, you're hurting yourself."
"No, nothing or nobody could hurt me more than you already have," Tifa murmured, turning around with numb eyes, tear stained cheeks, and a throbbing fist which hasn't been unfolded just yet, "I always thought teenagers were programmed somehow to hate their parents during their growth into adulthood, just for trying to prevent them from freedom. I never thought they actually really hated their creators. In my behalf, I never did hate you, until now. I never thought I could hate anyone as much as I hate you and let it stand from now until the day I die, I will never feel one iota of love for you, ever! I'm sure you're new child will feel differently so why don't you go and be his or her father."
More tears exploded from their resting spot as Tifa moved her way forward, but unable to pass her pleading father as he grabbed onto her shoulders tightly. There was a major struggle as the much smaller girl thrashed violently around and screamed for the grasping man to let go of her. Mr. Lockheart never faltered once but instead continued to vocalize his voice in ways which could be clearly heard.
"I don't love this woman! I love your mother and I love you more than anything in this world! I would never abandon you both for a woman I spent just one night with! You and your mother are the only important women in my life, please understand that!"
After countless attempts, the brunette finally broke away from Mr. Lockheart's powerful grip and stood before him with moist, angry eyes and flaring nostrils. The two stood staring at each other for, what it seemed to be, the longest year ever before Tifa finally re-jumped back into the ring, but this time, with metallic gloves.
"You never deserved mom! She was this woman with everything to offer and everything to loose. You were a man with everything to loose yet nothing to offer! You're nothing but a selfish son of a bitch who deserves nothing but to be in my mother's place because we would be all be so much better off if you were dead," Tifa shrieked so loudly, her vocal cords in her throat vibrated so intensely, they began to go sore.
The next action would be, in no way possible, foreshadowed, for it was an action that was remotely unthinkable. Mr. Lockheart raised his hand and struck his daughter without even reconsidering it. With the rough hit as well as her unstableness from the drug intoxication, Tifa spun backwards and fell into the awaiting coffee table, face first. No sound came from her mouth as she was hit and the crash of her falling into the table below was unspeakably morbid. It seemed to happen in slow motion, which made it so much worse than it already was.
"My God, what have I done," Mr. Lockheart cried as he sprung forward and bent down to flip his daughter over and away from the broken and splintered wood underneath her. The sight below brought tears to his eyes and a harsh scream to his lips. There, Tifa laid in her father's quivering arms, her bottom lip gashed open widely and blood escaping from the sides of her head, unconscience and faintly breathing.
{Memory begins to fade slowly away as the scene goes white.}
Tifa had suffered a small concussion from that night and a permanent scar on her bottom lip as a constant reminder of the day her father turned psychotic for just a split second. From that night on, the hatred she felt for her father skyrocketed into unspeakable proportions. Not only had she just stopped talking to him, but she also treated him like vapor. He was there, just not visible.
Sighing softly, Tifa laid back down on her bed, placing her arms over her eyes and this time, actually trying to get some sleep. As her mind and body began to relax, a soft tap was heard at her window, which caused the residing girl jump up in awareness. She froze in her sitting position, hearing another soft tap echoing in the room and into her perked ears.
After a few silently passing seconds, Tifa lifted herself up from the comfortable bedside and walked towards the closed window carefully. She was very reluctant to answer the alluring call because of her last encounter with the flower girl, Aeris. That girl was so popular, in this town, that if she pleased, a town mob would be outside in a rowdy fashion, awaiting a public execution with pitchforks and a blazing bonfire.
She smiled at the ridiculous thought and proceeded to open the window for further sight privileges. The brunette's head shot out and warm wine-colored eyes swiftly swept over the premises to spot any intruders. When the vigil eyes focused on a certain male figure standing by her house, the already pounding heart began to jackhammer out of control.
"Cloud?"
The blonde smiled up at the peering inhabitant of the household, cerulean eyes twinkling with a certain light which couldn't be denied if tried. He wore the same clothing as before, when Aeris had been by his side, but the blonde hair, which was perfectly spiked before, began to droop subtly.
"Yeah, it's me, listen can you come out for a minute. I need someone to talk to," Cloud whispered audibly, crossing his arms over his chest while the same smile of assurance remained on his rugged face.
"Cloud, it's really late. What would people say if they say me parading around with the town's most beloved's boyfriend in the middle of the night? I don't exactly consider a stoning on my top five list of fun things to do so I'll talk to you when the sun actually starts to appear over the horizon," Tifa explained while proceeding to close the window.
"Tifa, wait! When did you ever start worrying what other people have to say about you," Cloud inquired, quirking an eyebrow of suspicion up to signal she's been caught.
"Ever since my conscience finally gave me the new aspiration of becoming equivalent to the town's homecoming queen," Tifa sarcastically spat back with a look of distaste on her face, "you know, because to actually be considered a human being in this place, constant smiling and parading around while campaigning the joys of being the world's most perfect creation must be on a high on the list of priorities. But then again, you would know a little something about that, now wouldn't you?"
"Wait a minute," Cloud proclaimed, stopping Tifa once again from closing the window, "where the hell is all that rage coming from? What did I ever do to you?"
"More like the opposite, what have you ever done for me? Just because you saved me from suffering major medical damage doesn't give you the right to just secretly approach me when you need advice or someone to talk to. The last time I checked, I wasn't getting paid sixty dollars an hour to listen to your insecurities and how the world's high expectations of you is finally taking a toll on your mental stability,"
Tifa said without emotion, her eyes narrowing on Cloud, "but if you're really desperate, I suggest a wall. At least it'll listen without the fear of loosing any kind of brain cells in the process."
"I tried already, it won't listen," Cloud responded back nonchalantly, not once being shaken by Tifa's intimidating nature.
"Or maybe you should go talk to Aeris, not only is she your girlfriend but it's not like she has any neurons left to spare anyway."
"I know, but brain damage might be a possibility and I don't want a deficient girlfriend."
"I don't think inflicting any more deficiency than, obviously, already there is humanly possible," Tifa finished off, her temperamental attitude showing visibly through her wit.
Cloud smiled up at Tifa and focused his gaze on her eyes once again. He couldn't figure out why the town considered her such a bad influence, well, besides the promiscuity, attitude, and drug abuse, which was always gossiped about, Tifa Lockheart was a smart and beautiful person. He knew Tifa was right on how being seen with her, in the middle of the night, would cause a big stir throughout the town, but in a way, Cloud just didn't care anymore. He wanted to know what was in this mystery's mind; how she thought and what her views were. He just wanted to get to know her and meet the interesting person everybody loved to hate.
"Please, Tifa, just give me a chance. All I wanna do is talk to you," Cloud begged seriously, his eyes pleading with her to come down from her room and speak with him.
She frowned upon the opportunity for a moment but after seeing how desperate Cloud was, Tifa couldn't help but say, "Fine. Just give me a second to change, I'll be out in a minute."
****************************
Cloud leaned against Nibelheim well, looking up at the stars in an infatuated manner. He never did take time out of his busy schedule to look up into the vast universe above. A universe, which could hold so many secrets about this world that humanity lived in. He never did take the time, but from the sight he beheld at this very moment, the blonde would try from now on.
"Great sight, isn't it? Makes you wonder if there's some kind of discreet secret out there that nobody knows about except the people who actually take the time and contemplate it," Tifa said briefly, taking a place besides the teenager with the azure eyes and looking up into the illuminated sky as well.
"I never thought about it that way before," Cloud answered, tearing his gaze away from the stars, looking upon the girl besides him, and quickly refocusing himself back to the original point of interest.
"Nobody really wants to know anything beyond what tomorrow has in store for them. They plead ignorance and just ignore the fact that there's so much more important information out there than the predictable questions of how should I do my hair or should I have coffee or just a glass of milk for breakfast? Kinda sad, but what're you gonna do about it?"
"I think people are too afraid to wonder what other possibilities are out there for them. People are so used to familiarity that they're just too afraid to imagine their life going through just a minor change," Cloud explained, crossing his arms across his chest once more and focusing even more intently on the heavens above.
"You of all people should know what that's like," Tifa pointed out, copying Cloud's motions and crossing her arms as well, but only this time, resting her eyes on her companion.
"What's that supposed to mean," the blonde asked a little taken off guard, also tearing his eyes away from the previous sight to the girl besides him.
"Oh, c'mon, Cloud, you live your life according to what other people expect of you. They expect you to be this genetically engineered human-being who's mission is to bring pride to Nibelheim because of you're unnatural ability to always choose what's right. You base your existence on pleasing other people and in return gaining their approval of you. I bet you can't live your life just one day without fulfilling people's expectations and for once doing what you wanna do," Tifa interpreted without once stuttering on a single word.
"And what makes you think I'm aiming to constantly please?"
"Because I can see you don't love Aeris. It's so painfully obviously to the disillusioned by just taking one good look at the two of you together, yet you still stay with her. Why? Because the town considers Aeris and yourself the Romeo and Juliet of our time and you go along with that misconception like this brainwashed and unmistakably whipped puppet that believes your own life depends on making this relationship work when it really doesn't," Tifa stated, lifting her leg up and placing her footing on the well's exterior wall, "Now you think about what I just said and tell me I'm wrong. If I am, we'll drop this whole discussion."
Cloud was taken aback by this girl's observation. It wasn't from the fact that she contradicted his love for the flower girl, but the absolute opposite. Tifa hit his thought process right on the nose and that realization scared him to believe he was easier to read than he thought.
"You are wrong because I do love Aeris," Cloud exclaimed, uncrossing his arms and turning completely around to face Tifa, "I really do."
Duplicating the blonde's movements, the ruby eyed girl smugly replied, "If you love Aeris so much, then why are you here with me then here with her?"
He couldn't say another word because he knew he was stuck. Cloud Strife, for once in his life, was stuck in a corner his mouth couldn't get him out of. He had finally met his match even though this individual happened to be his complete opposite and the last person he had ever expected to remotely be friends with.
Tifa uncrossed her arms, smiled securely and moved away from the well to climb the rusty old ladder, which hung on it's side, while shouting down, "Come on up, I wanna show you something."
Cloud just watched shortly as Tifa climbed up towards the top before following in suit. It had been a while since he had bothered to climb to the top of the Nibelheim Well. The last time he had even bothered was when he was ten years old and his friends and he spent all their time playing by the well. One day, they got bored just running around that an idea of adventurous proportions crept into their childish heads. That was the day each boy conquered their fear and literarily reached for the stars.
Once Cloud reached the top, he saw the crimson eyed beauty, who was responsible for this escapade, already perched at the edge of the well, clearly awaiting his arrival. Climbing up the remaining stepping poles, Cloud maneuvered his way around the edge and finally, after a while, finding a seat besides Tifa, staring up at the sky the way they had been just mere minutes ago.
"Look around you, Cloud. Look at the town," Tifa began, sweeping her eyes around the small town and finding nothing but houses, shops, and the local bar, "this is what you have right now. This is what you're afraid of loosing. But now, look beyond that. Look up at the horizon."
Blue eyes looked up from his previous location and at the horizon line to where Tifa so delicately pointed out. To where the sun usually rose and settled. To where a world, beyond Nibelheim, laid, just waiting to be discovered by a lost and wandering traveler.
"That's the life beyond Nibelheim. You have to understand Nibelheim isn't all you have, there's so much more you're ignoring and choosing not to take advantage of. That's a shame because the life across that horizon line is a life that's just waiting to be reached out for and taken. A life that's so much different from the dysfunctional one you have now. If you want it, all you have to decide is when you want to take the chance and actually reach out for it. But remember, Cloud, that if something's gonna happen, it's gotta happen now," Tifa mentioned, brushing her hand across a strand of honey hair, which fell over his searching eyes, and stood up to make an exit, "You have one shot at life. Don't make it so you regret it."
Cloud sat at the edge for a while, thinking over what was just said, before standing up and exclaiming, "Tifa, wait!"
Tifa held onto the ladder beneath her, standing completely still, and awaiting Cloud's earnest response, which had kept her from making a rapid descent to the ground.
"Thanks."
It was a one-worded statement that was hardly worth the curiosity produced, but the word made Tifa emit a small smile and head nod before re-pacing herself and making a swift decline. While the brunette made her departing escape, Cloud continued to stand on the well's edge and stared up at the horzion line, which had been another one of the world's mysterious he had never paid much mind to, with a new perspective of life and what it could possibly become.
****************************
Tifa Lockheart re-entered her darkened household, a pleasurable look on her young features. Not only had she completely changed the perspective of Cloud's view on life for the positive, but she had also reverted her own to the way it used to be. The way of life her mother had taught her when she was growing up, but absolutely crushed when she decided to go down the road which eventually led to her wild ways. The day her mother died was the day her life started loosing meaning, but the day Cloud found her in the storm was the moment the shattered pieces of her uncertain life began to refit themselves back together.
Walking through the livingroom, yet being very careful of awakening her slumbering aunt, Tifa entered the room in which she never thought she would step back into since her mother grew ill. The room in which a grand piano sat, untouched, and heavily dusty. Her mother had taught her how to play when she was just a baby and ever since then, the brunette never wanted to stop. It was ironic how her vow suddenly reverted into a sour distaste and avoided like a severe plague once the words of "I'm sick," escaped Mrs. Lockheart's lips.
Stepping over some of the scarce books located spastically on the floor, Tifa approached the large instrument with care, touching it's dust infested surface. It seemed so strange to just touch the piano, so very foreign, yet so electrically energizing. After running her fingers back and forth over the blockade, which kept the actual keys hidden, Tifa lifted it up and revealed the glorious black and white objects which were partially responsible for producing beautifully sounded music.
Tifa proceeded to sit on the small stool and run her fingers over the keys before beginning to play a song her mother had taught to her. A song which always brought comfort to the young teen whenever problems would arise.
{- AN - The song Tifa will play is a song I heard when a friend of mine played it - It's called 'Loss Of Me' - a very beautiful song from Final Fantasy IX so if any of you like piano music and would like to listen to the song you can download it on Kazza or any music trading software.}
The brunette spread her hands out and placed her fingers on the keys, softly pressing them to produce beautiful sounds. Serene music eventually began to be played as slim fingers continued to rummage around the piano, old memories and talents returning quickly.
{Cloud continued to stand outside on the well, looking up at the sky with his hands shoved in his pockets. Thoughts of varies events ran through his mind as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips involuntarily.}
She moved her fingers quickly, keeping up with the expected melody, yet unaware that an audience had appeared behind her. Mr. Lockheart and Faye stood at the doorway, watching the young prodigy play the song, which reminded them all of the dearly departed woman, everyone had loved so much. A smile formed on their mouths as the taller man placed a hopeful arm around the admiring redhead.
{Aeris laid in Zack's arms under the star illuminated sky outside of Nibelheim. They both had a peacefully content expression on their faces as Aeris' head laid on her lover's slowly moving chest.}
Tifa's hands moved more slowly over the keys, imagining her mother sitting right besides her. The illusion was so intense, she could almost feel Mrs. Lockheart's comforting arm around her shoulders and experience her warm smile. A smile which could have melted any cold heart. It seemed so real, her mother alive and well, but then came the painful realization that it was just a child's false hope. A mere delusion that would never come true no matter how many prayers Tifa said at night.
{Yuffie laid asleep in her bed, not bothering to have removed her clothes and changing into her nightgown. She had a dreamlike manifestation on her face as her body laid just a broken as before, if not even more so.}
Music poured out of the instrument intensely, almost infecting the once silent house with rambunctiously sounded, yet beautifully conducted, notes. With a clearly pensive mind, Tifa's thoughts escaped back to the night Cloud had taken her in from the rain to this very night where he had completely opened her up to new possibilities, just by allowing her to save him. This blue eyed boy, who Tifa would have never even thought of before, had opened the door which sucked her back into the positive mentality she had lost grasp of before. He gave her the strength to play the song, which had always soothed her soul, on her mother's old piano.
{Reno took another shot of alcohol in his un-lively dank apartment, feeling the guilt of giving the young girl another hit of heroine. He wanted to stop her from taking any more substances, but he had failed, just like he always had before.}
As Tifa continued to play her mother's song on the antique piano and her father and aunt happily listening to her talented abilities, five destinies began to unfold as the sun slowly made it's way into existence, revealing a brand new day as well as a new life choice to Nibelheim's inhabitants.
You see alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yea, I think I'll be all right
- Someday - The Strokes
****************************
"Here, take this."
A young teenager, no older than 15, looked to her side, a huge, goofy smile on her oddly serene face. As she brushed a single strand of chestnut brown hair away from her eyes, a loud uncertainty escaped her delicately glossed lips, "I don't think I should."
"Just trust me, Teef, it'll make you feel better."
The teenager's skeptic eyes stared down at the bleached powder in the older man's hands, the loud music of the overpopulated club, after some time, causing ripples in her already pulsating eardrums. With the multicolored flashlights painting the room every color of the rainbow, the stentorious music, and the lack of any active neurons, which had to do with the thought process, all hope of refusal had evaporated into the vast, smog infested room.
The brunette bent over into her comrade's open hands, closing her heavily glazed eyes, and placing a single finger on her left nostril while quickly snorting a small, yet inducible portion of the dust. Repeating the process, but only this time, in the once covered opening, the smile on Tifa's face expanded to new heights as her crimson eyes watered even more profusely than before.
The taller man smiled at the girl's pleasurable expression as he placed his free arm around her shoulders and whispered into her twitching ear, "Feels good, doesn't it?"
The smile remained frozen in place while the young girl wrapped her arms tightly around the redhead's neck and drowsily placing her moistened lips on his own. He ran his shivering hand up her back, slipping his tongue through the small opening of Tifa's mouth. The bitter concoction of alcohol and nicotine left a burning tingle on each of the individuals' lips, but it didn't repulse them in the least way. In all actuality, it did just the opposite; it make them want what the other was offering more.
Tifa pulled back, her hand still located on Reno's shoulder for security, as she bit her lower lip playfully.
Her self-control was far from gone as you could see from the disheveled look on her face. The glassy liquid caused crimson irises to shine so translucently, her eyes practically glowed in the darkened room as Tifa's body swayed to the music in a frazzled manner. She tried to concentrate on her admirer's face, but the more she tried, the more Tifa appeared look right through him.
"You're such a tease, you know that," Reno breathed seductively into her face as he smoothly ran his tongue down the side of her neck.
Tifa giggled, almost falling backwards, if not caught by Reno, from the unnatural amount of illegal substances located in her brittle body. She was so close to the redhead that if any more steps were taken, they would undoubtedly be fused together.
"You wanna go someplace a little more....private," the green-eyed man offered, keeping close to the excessively heated teenage girl's body while bloodshot eyes were locked on her insouciant face intently and expectantly.
Leaning closer than human possible, Tifa grabbed the lean man's backside and, with a tauntingly alluring smile, muttered in the most sultry mustered voice, "I thought you'd never ask."
Reno grinned back while repeating his soon-to-be lover's grabbing motion, then placing an arm around the shorter girl's shoulders and leading them both towards the exit of the club. Everything was going perfect as the two maneuvered around dancing twosomes and grinding triangles. They become so close to the exit, it was almost as though it could be just reached by a matter of fingertip extension. They were close, but the two never made it to the outside world.
"FREEZE! POLICE! YOU'RE ALL UNDER ARREST!"
The club's mood transformed from complete aphrodisiac to complete pandemonium. Screaming and obscenities were heard echoing over the pounding music as the ravers proceeded to make a quick escape. The police exploded into the scene with tools of protection, trying, by all means necessary, to capture as many law aggressors as possible.
"We gotta get the fuck outta here," Reno screamed, removing his arm from the intoxicated girl's shoulder and moving away from the bombarded exit to escape towards the back of the dance floor.
"Reno, wait," the brunette pleaded, feeling the room spin out of control as her vision blurred to the point of sight deficiency, "Oh shit! I can't see! Reno, wait, you gotta help me! I can't see straight!"
Tifa stumbled, unable to move without feeling the dreaded nauseous sensation of overdose. The drugs were taking a heavy toll on her and waiting for Reno's help was just a waste of precious minutes she had to make a futile escape. He was already halfway out of danger while the lethargic girl, who could barely walk, remained distinctly behind.
Because of the fact she was so inebrious, it was easy for the police to take her down, and that was exactly what they did. Continuing the useless escapade, a heavy bodied personage plundered into her frail exterior and knocked her roughly to the floor, her delicate head slamming into the floor with a BAM!
The room spun around even quicker than before, almost giving a distinct impression that a rollercoaster ride was in session.
"Stay down!"
The voice sounded so far away, so indescribably vague that if ears were not perked up enough, you would barely have paid any mind to it. To the heavily stressed, it would have been another reason to question their sanity. Feeling the room continuously spinning, Tifa's eyes closed from over-exhaustion and eventually, passed out soon afterwards.
{Focus in on the young version of Tifa Lockheart, passed out, as the scene goes white.}
Tifa Lockheart, now at 17, laid awake in her bed as the moonlight from the starlit sky danced it's way into the darkened room. She was indeed tired, but ruby eyes couldn't help but keep themselves open and aware of her surroundings. Not only was insightfulness a reason for the young girl's insomnia, but so many thoughts of both past and present haunted her to the brink of derangement.
Groaning softly to herself, the brunette swung her legs over the bedside, running exploring hands through her pin-straight hair and pursing the plump, softly pink tinted lips, which happened to be the most distinctive attribute on Tifa's lovely face. Even though drug abuse had been a constant distraction from a better future, it wouldn't be ignored that this girl was indeed beautiful, give or take the below average body mass and permanent, implanted crevice on her bottom lip.
She ran a single finger over her bottom lip where the aforementioned cut was located; barely touching it's contents. Tifa closed her eyes, allowing her mind to slip off and away from the very grasp she had held onto just a short time ago.
{Scene, yet again, turns a bright shade of white for a short minute.}
"You're grounded, Tifa! I don't want any more of your lip, understand?"
"That's insane, I am not punished!"
"If thinking that helps you get to sleep at night then keep thinking it, but just try and walk out that door and you'll face grave consequences."
"God, I can't believe you're my father. I hate you!"
Mr. Lockheart and his teenage daughter stood in the middle of the living room, eyes shooting glances of pure fury at each other without a single fear of what was to be. The tension was so powerful, it could have knocked out a pro-wrestler, who had just mistakenly walked into this very room, without a fight.
This was the very moment where you could just foreshadow any kind of bitter resentment with words of venom in spontaneous disreguardment as a defense mechanism.
"You hate me? How do you think I feel? My teenage daughter is not only ingesting every drug that's out on the black market but she's also been in more trouble with the law than Charlie Sheen and Winona Rider put together. Oh, and don't even get me started on you having a sexual relationship with a man twice you're age! God, Teef, what the hell happened to you? How did you turn from honor student to Nibelheim's Most Wanted's top ten criminals of the decade?"
"Yeah? Well, since now that we're at the point of discussion where explanations are in order, would you care to clarify how this town's father of the year suddenly ended up the premiere tramp of the Nibelheimian area?"
Mr. Lockheart recoiled, a certain shocked expression clearly engraved in his once warm eyes as his mouth moved the slightest bit, but was suddenly unable to produce any form of distinctively understood human language. The impact of what his daughter had just said was much too empowering to handle. All he could basically do was just stand completely still and voluntarily become the victim of his daughter's unimaginable rage.
"Did you want mom and I to find out or something," Tifa asked exasperated, forcing herself to discard any moisture which would eventually stigmatize her eyes with thin red lines, "I wouldn't be surprised if you did because you basically threw your un-leg closing whore right at us! When mom was sick as well, how can you do that to her? How?"
"Teef, listen, it was a mistake...."
"It was a mistake, huh? So, what? Did she accidentally trip over a stapler and fall right onto your unzipped pants? Or even better, you both were asked by the mad scientist, Hojo, to join together and procreate with the sadistic intentions of breeding some kind of superhuman army of dysfunctional monstrosities with the sole mission of taking over the world? Please, 'father,' give me a break! There are no accidents when it comes to intercourse. Intentions are always there," Tifa explained bitterly, not able to look her father right in the eye any longer than a short second.
"She's pregnant," Mr. Lockheart stated, getting right down to the point without dancing around the topic any longer than necessary, "we had intercourse once and now she's pregnant with my child. I kept seeing her for that and only that. She threatened to tell your mother if I wasn't a part of the child's life."
Tifa's will was completely shattered and the tears, which she promised not to shed, became painfully visible. It wasn't out of selfish ambition that crying was misinterpreted as an escape route, for they weren't on her own behalf. Those clear droplets of emotion were specifically for her mother and the added suffering that unfortunately will be placed on her already frail shoulders.
"Oh my God! Oh my God," she heaved, forcing her fist into an unbreakable ball, spinning around, and jamming it into the wall behind her. The fluids in Tifa's eyes were already running down her pale cheeks as her slightly injured hand felt the deep cracks implanted on the wall responsible for keeping her balance.
"Tifa, sweetie, please, you're hurting yourself."
"No, nothing or nobody could hurt me more than you already have," Tifa murmured, turning around with numb eyes, tear stained cheeks, and a throbbing fist which hasn't been unfolded just yet, "I always thought teenagers were programmed somehow to hate their parents during their growth into adulthood, just for trying to prevent them from freedom. I never thought they actually really hated their creators. In my behalf, I never did hate you, until now. I never thought I could hate anyone as much as I hate you and let it stand from now until the day I die, I will never feel one iota of love for you, ever! I'm sure you're new child will feel differently so why don't you go and be his or her father."
More tears exploded from their resting spot as Tifa moved her way forward, but unable to pass her pleading father as he grabbed onto her shoulders tightly. There was a major struggle as the much smaller girl thrashed violently around and screamed for the grasping man to let go of her. Mr. Lockheart never faltered once but instead continued to vocalize his voice in ways which could be clearly heard.
"I don't love this woman! I love your mother and I love you more than anything in this world! I would never abandon you both for a woman I spent just one night with! You and your mother are the only important women in my life, please understand that!"
After countless attempts, the brunette finally broke away from Mr. Lockheart's powerful grip and stood before him with moist, angry eyes and flaring nostrils. The two stood staring at each other for, what it seemed to be, the longest year ever before Tifa finally re-jumped back into the ring, but this time, with metallic gloves.
"You never deserved mom! She was this woman with everything to offer and everything to loose. You were a man with everything to loose yet nothing to offer! You're nothing but a selfish son of a bitch who deserves nothing but to be in my mother's place because we would be all be so much better off if you were dead," Tifa shrieked so loudly, her vocal cords in her throat vibrated so intensely, they began to go sore.
The next action would be, in no way possible, foreshadowed, for it was an action that was remotely unthinkable. Mr. Lockheart raised his hand and struck his daughter without even reconsidering it. With the rough hit as well as her unstableness from the drug intoxication, Tifa spun backwards and fell into the awaiting coffee table, face first. No sound came from her mouth as she was hit and the crash of her falling into the table below was unspeakably morbid. It seemed to happen in slow motion, which made it so much worse than it already was.
"My God, what have I done," Mr. Lockheart cried as he sprung forward and bent down to flip his daughter over and away from the broken and splintered wood underneath her. The sight below brought tears to his eyes and a harsh scream to his lips. There, Tifa laid in her father's quivering arms, her bottom lip gashed open widely and blood escaping from the sides of her head, unconscience and faintly breathing.
{Memory begins to fade slowly away as the scene goes white.}
Tifa had suffered a small concussion from that night and a permanent scar on her bottom lip as a constant reminder of the day her father turned psychotic for just a split second. From that night on, the hatred she felt for her father skyrocketed into unspeakable proportions. Not only had she just stopped talking to him, but she also treated him like vapor. He was there, just not visible.
Sighing softly, Tifa laid back down on her bed, placing her arms over her eyes and this time, actually trying to get some sleep. As her mind and body began to relax, a soft tap was heard at her window, which caused the residing girl jump up in awareness. She froze in her sitting position, hearing another soft tap echoing in the room and into her perked ears.
After a few silently passing seconds, Tifa lifted herself up from the comfortable bedside and walked towards the closed window carefully. She was very reluctant to answer the alluring call because of her last encounter with the flower girl, Aeris. That girl was so popular, in this town, that if she pleased, a town mob would be outside in a rowdy fashion, awaiting a public execution with pitchforks and a blazing bonfire.
She smiled at the ridiculous thought and proceeded to open the window for further sight privileges. The brunette's head shot out and warm wine-colored eyes swiftly swept over the premises to spot any intruders. When the vigil eyes focused on a certain male figure standing by her house, the already pounding heart began to jackhammer out of control.
"Cloud?"
The blonde smiled up at the peering inhabitant of the household, cerulean eyes twinkling with a certain light which couldn't be denied if tried. He wore the same clothing as before, when Aeris had been by his side, but the blonde hair, which was perfectly spiked before, began to droop subtly.
"Yeah, it's me, listen can you come out for a minute. I need someone to talk to," Cloud whispered audibly, crossing his arms over his chest while the same smile of assurance remained on his rugged face.
"Cloud, it's really late. What would people say if they say me parading around with the town's most beloved's boyfriend in the middle of the night? I don't exactly consider a stoning on my top five list of fun things to do so I'll talk to you when the sun actually starts to appear over the horizon," Tifa explained while proceeding to close the window.
"Tifa, wait! When did you ever start worrying what other people have to say about you," Cloud inquired, quirking an eyebrow of suspicion up to signal she's been caught.
"Ever since my conscience finally gave me the new aspiration of becoming equivalent to the town's homecoming queen," Tifa sarcastically spat back with a look of distaste on her face, "you know, because to actually be considered a human being in this place, constant smiling and parading around while campaigning the joys of being the world's most perfect creation must be on a high on the list of priorities. But then again, you would know a little something about that, now wouldn't you?"
"Wait a minute," Cloud proclaimed, stopping Tifa once again from closing the window, "where the hell is all that rage coming from? What did I ever do to you?"
"More like the opposite, what have you ever done for me? Just because you saved me from suffering major medical damage doesn't give you the right to just secretly approach me when you need advice or someone to talk to. The last time I checked, I wasn't getting paid sixty dollars an hour to listen to your insecurities and how the world's high expectations of you is finally taking a toll on your mental stability,"
Tifa said without emotion, her eyes narrowing on Cloud, "but if you're really desperate, I suggest a wall. At least it'll listen without the fear of loosing any kind of brain cells in the process."
"I tried already, it won't listen," Cloud responded back nonchalantly, not once being shaken by Tifa's intimidating nature.
"Or maybe you should go talk to Aeris, not only is she your girlfriend but it's not like she has any neurons left to spare anyway."
"I know, but brain damage might be a possibility and I don't want a deficient girlfriend."
"I don't think inflicting any more deficiency than, obviously, already there is humanly possible," Tifa finished off, her temperamental attitude showing visibly through her wit.
Cloud smiled up at Tifa and focused his gaze on her eyes once again. He couldn't figure out why the town considered her such a bad influence, well, besides the promiscuity, attitude, and drug abuse, which was always gossiped about, Tifa Lockheart was a smart and beautiful person. He knew Tifa was right on how being seen with her, in the middle of the night, would cause a big stir throughout the town, but in a way, Cloud just didn't care anymore. He wanted to know what was in this mystery's mind; how she thought and what her views were. He just wanted to get to know her and meet the interesting person everybody loved to hate.
"Please, Tifa, just give me a chance. All I wanna do is talk to you," Cloud begged seriously, his eyes pleading with her to come down from her room and speak with him.
She frowned upon the opportunity for a moment but after seeing how desperate Cloud was, Tifa couldn't help but say, "Fine. Just give me a second to change, I'll be out in a minute."
****************************
Cloud leaned against Nibelheim well, looking up at the stars in an infatuated manner. He never did take time out of his busy schedule to look up into the vast universe above. A universe, which could hold so many secrets about this world that humanity lived in. He never did take the time, but from the sight he beheld at this very moment, the blonde would try from now on.
"Great sight, isn't it? Makes you wonder if there's some kind of discreet secret out there that nobody knows about except the people who actually take the time and contemplate it," Tifa said briefly, taking a place besides the teenager with the azure eyes and looking up into the illuminated sky as well.
"I never thought about it that way before," Cloud answered, tearing his gaze away from the stars, looking upon the girl besides him, and quickly refocusing himself back to the original point of interest.
"Nobody really wants to know anything beyond what tomorrow has in store for them. They plead ignorance and just ignore the fact that there's so much more important information out there than the predictable questions of how should I do my hair or should I have coffee or just a glass of milk for breakfast? Kinda sad, but what're you gonna do about it?"
"I think people are too afraid to wonder what other possibilities are out there for them. People are so used to familiarity that they're just too afraid to imagine their life going through just a minor change," Cloud explained, crossing his arms across his chest once more and focusing even more intently on the heavens above.
"You of all people should know what that's like," Tifa pointed out, copying Cloud's motions and crossing her arms as well, but only this time, resting her eyes on her companion.
"What's that supposed to mean," the blonde asked a little taken off guard, also tearing his eyes away from the previous sight to the girl besides him.
"Oh, c'mon, Cloud, you live your life according to what other people expect of you. They expect you to be this genetically engineered human-being who's mission is to bring pride to Nibelheim because of you're unnatural ability to always choose what's right. You base your existence on pleasing other people and in return gaining their approval of you. I bet you can't live your life just one day without fulfilling people's expectations and for once doing what you wanna do," Tifa interpreted without once stuttering on a single word.
"And what makes you think I'm aiming to constantly please?"
"Because I can see you don't love Aeris. It's so painfully obviously to the disillusioned by just taking one good look at the two of you together, yet you still stay with her. Why? Because the town considers Aeris and yourself the Romeo and Juliet of our time and you go along with that misconception like this brainwashed and unmistakably whipped puppet that believes your own life depends on making this relationship work when it really doesn't," Tifa stated, lifting her leg up and placing her footing on the well's exterior wall, "Now you think about what I just said and tell me I'm wrong. If I am, we'll drop this whole discussion."
Cloud was taken aback by this girl's observation. It wasn't from the fact that she contradicted his love for the flower girl, but the absolute opposite. Tifa hit his thought process right on the nose and that realization scared him to believe he was easier to read than he thought.
"You are wrong because I do love Aeris," Cloud exclaimed, uncrossing his arms and turning completely around to face Tifa, "I really do."
Duplicating the blonde's movements, the ruby eyed girl smugly replied, "If you love Aeris so much, then why are you here with me then here with her?"
He couldn't say another word because he knew he was stuck. Cloud Strife, for once in his life, was stuck in a corner his mouth couldn't get him out of. He had finally met his match even though this individual happened to be his complete opposite and the last person he had ever expected to remotely be friends with.
Tifa uncrossed her arms, smiled securely and moved away from the well to climb the rusty old ladder, which hung on it's side, while shouting down, "Come on up, I wanna show you something."
Cloud just watched shortly as Tifa climbed up towards the top before following in suit. It had been a while since he had bothered to climb to the top of the Nibelheim Well. The last time he had even bothered was when he was ten years old and his friends and he spent all their time playing by the well. One day, they got bored just running around that an idea of adventurous proportions crept into their childish heads. That was the day each boy conquered their fear and literarily reached for the stars.
Once Cloud reached the top, he saw the crimson eyed beauty, who was responsible for this escapade, already perched at the edge of the well, clearly awaiting his arrival. Climbing up the remaining stepping poles, Cloud maneuvered his way around the edge and finally, after a while, finding a seat besides Tifa, staring up at the sky the way they had been just mere minutes ago.
"Look around you, Cloud. Look at the town," Tifa began, sweeping her eyes around the small town and finding nothing but houses, shops, and the local bar, "this is what you have right now. This is what you're afraid of loosing. But now, look beyond that. Look up at the horizon."
Blue eyes looked up from his previous location and at the horizon line to where Tifa so delicately pointed out. To where the sun usually rose and settled. To where a world, beyond Nibelheim, laid, just waiting to be discovered by a lost and wandering traveler.
"That's the life beyond Nibelheim. You have to understand Nibelheim isn't all you have, there's so much more you're ignoring and choosing not to take advantage of. That's a shame because the life across that horizon line is a life that's just waiting to be reached out for and taken. A life that's so much different from the dysfunctional one you have now. If you want it, all you have to decide is when you want to take the chance and actually reach out for it. But remember, Cloud, that if something's gonna happen, it's gotta happen now," Tifa mentioned, brushing her hand across a strand of honey hair, which fell over his searching eyes, and stood up to make an exit, "You have one shot at life. Don't make it so you regret it."
Cloud sat at the edge for a while, thinking over what was just said, before standing up and exclaiming, "Tifa, wait!"
Tifa held onto the ladder beneath her, standing completely still, and awaiting Cloud's earnest response, which had kept her from making a rapid descent to the ground.
"Thanks."
It was a one-worded statement that was hardly worth the curiosity produced, but the word made Tifa emit a small smile and head nod before re-pacing herself and making a swift decline. While the brunette made her departing escape, Cloud continued to stand on the well's edge and stared up at the horzion line, which had been another one of the world's mysterious he had never paid much mind to, with a new perspective of life and what it could possibly become.
****************************
Tifa Lockheart re-entered her darkened household, a pleasurable look on her young features. Not only had she completely changed the perspective of Cloud's view on life for the positive, but she had also reverted her own to the way it used to be. The way of life her mother had taught her when she was growing up, but absolutely crushed when she decided to go down the road which eventually led to her wild ways. The day her mother died was the day her life started loosing meaning, but the day Cloud found her in the storm was the moment the shattered pieces of her uncertain life began to refit themselves back together.
Walking through the livingroom, yet being very careful of awakening her slumbering aunt, Tifa entered the room in which she never thought she would step back into since her mother grew ill. The room in which a grand piano sat, untouched, and heavily dusty. Her mother had taught her how to play when she was just a baby and ever since then, the brunette never wanted to stop. It was ironic how her vow suddenly reverted into a sour distaste and avoided like a severe plague once the words of "I'm sick," escaped Mrs. Lockheart's lips.
Stepping over some of the scarce books located spastically on the floor, Tifa approached the large instrument with care, touching it's dust infested surface. It seemed so strange to just touch the piano, so very foreign, yet so electrically energizing. After running her fingers back and forth over the blockade, which kept the actual keys hidden, Tifa lifted it up and revealed the glorious black and white objects which were partially responsible for producing beautifully sounded music.
Tifa proceeded to sit on the small stool and run her fingers over the keys before beginning to play a song her mother had taught to her. A song which always brought comfort to the young teen whenever problems would arise.
{- AN - The song Tifa will play is a song I heard when a friend of mine played it - It's called 'Loss Of Me' - a very beautiful song from Final Fantasy IX so if any of you like piano music and would like to listen to the song you can download it on Kazza or any music trading software.}
The brunette spread her hands out and placed her fingers on the keys, softly pressing them to produce beautiful sounds. Serene music eventually began to be played as slim fingers continued to rummage around the piano, old memories and talents returning quickly.
{Cloud continued to stand outside on the well, looking up at the sky with his hands shoved in his pockets. Thoughts of varies events ran through his mind as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips involuntarily.}
She moved her fingers quickly, keeping up with the expected melody, yet unaware that an audience had appeared behind her. Mr. Lockheart and Faye stood at the doorway, watching the young prodigy play the song, which reminded them all of the dearly departed woman, everyone had loved so much. A smile formed on their mouths as the taller man placed a hopeful arm around the admiring redhead.
{Aeris laid in Zack's arms under the star illuminated sky outside of Nibelheim. They both had a peacefully content expression on their faces as Aeris' head laid on her lover's slowly moving chest.}
Tifa's hands moved more slowly over the keys, imagining her mother sitting right besides her. The illusion was so intense, she could almost feel Mrs. Lockheart's comforting arm around her shoulders and experience her warm smile. A smile which could have melted any cold heart. It seemed so real, her mother alive and well, but then came the painful realization that it was just a child's false hope. A mere delusion that would never come true no matter how many prayers Tifa said at night.
{Yuffie laid asleep in her bed, not bothering to have removed her clothes and changing into her nightgown. She had a dreamlike manifestation on her face as her body laid just a broken as before, if not even more so.}
Music poured out of the instrument intensely, almost infecting the once silent house with rambunctiously sounded, yet beautifully conducted, notes. With a clearly pensive mind, Tifa's thoughts escaped back to the night Cloud had taken her in from the rain to this very night where he had completely opened her up to new possibilities, just by allowing her to save him. This blue eyed boy, who Tifa would have never even thought of before, had opened the door which sucked her back into the positive mentality she had lost grasp of before. He gave her the strength to play the song, which had always soothed her soul, on her mother's old piano.
{Reno took another shot of alcohol in his un-lively dank apartment, feeling the guilt of giving the young girl another hit of heroine. He wanted to stop her from taking any more substances, but he had failed, just like he always had before.}
As Tifa continued to play her mother's song on the antique piano and her father and aunt happily listening to her talented abilities, five destinies began to unfold as the sun slowly made it's way into existence, revealing a brand new day as well as a new life choice to Nibelheim's inhabitants.