(AN)-- A darling little piece from yours truly. Unfortunately, it's a tad bit overdid. The high school preferences make this completely icky to otherwise what would be wonderful. Anyhow, characters will be coming in at different chapters. Be patient.
`p a n d o r a
s c h o o l b l u e s
i. first day
Tifa Lockheart leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen, and she couldn't suppress the laughter that was emitted from her lips when she caught the sight of her dad's face smeared with traces of flour and egg leftovers. He was surely a sight to behold.
"Dad." She addressed.
"Hm?"
He continued to beat the egg but first stopped to wipe a sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.
"I'm not eating breakfast. I woke up late and if I don't leave now, I'll be late." Tifa explained.
He stopped and stared at her blankly.
"Dad? Is that okay?"
"But-but-but I," he sputtered pathetically.
Tifa's laughter increased. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll eat it when I get home."
He sighed.
"All right."
"Bye Dad."
Tifa gave him a kiss on the cheek before picking up her schoolbag and heading out the door. She walked down the cobblestone pathway to the gate, which separated the sidewalk from their property, and opened it to let herself out. She cringed as it made a loud squeaking sound.
"Those hinges need to be fixed." She muttered to herself and shook her head before walking to the direction of her school.
"Hey babe, need a ride?"
She quickly spun around and caught the ever-gleaming Reno Talon in the driver's seat of a black convertible, looking debonair with his trademark shades resting in the mop of his crimson-blood streaks of hair and his bottle green eyes shimmering beneath the morning rays of the sun.
He released a whistle of satisfaction as he looked her up and down.
"I say, Tifa Lockheart is looking mighty fine these days. What with that short skirt shaping your legs…mm-mm, the school has done a good job this year with the uniforms."
Tifa sighed in exasperation but not without the amused smile that graced her lips.
"Reno, Reno," she chastised gently, "we really need to get you a girlfriend."
He turned off the engine and looked at her, speculating.
"I remember a time when a delicate maiden used to have a crush on me." He sat there pretending to think, then shot an accusing look in her direction.
"I was young, I didn't know anything." She stated plainly.
"That's an arrow to my heart milady."
She giggled. "Anyway, do I still get that ride?"
"Hop in."
*
Yuffie groaned.
She felt rather small in comparison to the large school that stood proudly before her. It was a peach-coloured building with ivy vines that crawled across the walls on the edges. Above the entranceway of the school was the seal of their mascot: a one-winged angel.
She looked around. There was a vast expansion of grass in the front, with the exception of the pathway that led to the door, and she knew quite well that it would be even larger in the back.
Uncomfortably, she shifted her backpack from one shoulder to the other.
"Come on, Yuffie. I know this place like it's the back of my hand. Trust me, your freshman year won't be so bad." Her sophomore friend reassured.
Yuffie stared at her friend, giving him a doubting look.
His golden-flecked brown eyes were calm and soothing, strands of his fire-red hair falling over them while the rest remained tamely short in the back. He grinned at her, those sharp canines of his glinting brightly.
She pouted.
"I wouldn't count on your faith even if I have to kill myself to prove it, mister."
"Why so? I've had the experience of being a freshman last year. It should be rather encouraging to you."
"Because you're a guy!"
A red brow shot upwards in question. "What does my sex have anything to do with your status on the grade scale?"
"You're a guy!" She repeated again but added, "You have confidence, you're likable, and you're cute to boot! I'm just a string bean who hasn't much developed yet in facial or physical features."
Her older friend sighed but smiled all the same.
"Listen to me, Yuffie. You're a very likable person and cute too. High school will be very easy for you."
Yuffie stood there in deep consideration. There was no way out of her predicament. Her stupid governor of a dad wouldn't let her out of school. It was simply out of the question.
"Fine."
"Good. Now let's go in, shall we?"
As they walked up the stairs to the entrance door, she couldn't help the devious smirk that crossed her face. He caught a glimpse of it and readied himself for the always-teasing Yuffie Kisaragi.
"A few seconds ago," she started, "that wasn't a confession of love, was it?"
He laughed.
"That was, by no means, a confession of love. Nor was it an implication of any deep affection for you. I merely admire you."
"In other words, you like me!" She accused teasingly.
His laughter grew; he couldn't help it. At least she was back to her normal self again instead of the worry wart she could so easily become when time need be.
"If you're so insistent of how I feel for you, then accuse away."
"Will do, dear sir!" She giggled. "Now, uh, where's my first class?"
*
The car tires screeched as he made a sharp turn into a vacant parking space. Then, Reno turned off the engine and stretched out his limbs. Tifa smirked.
"Reno, you're a speed demon."
"I live for speed, what can I say?" He slid out of the car and ran to the other side to open the door for his friend before she could even think about opening the door for herself.
"Reno, I can take care of myself. I'm not a useless twit, you know."
"Yeah, I know. Let's go in?"
"Yeah."
The two walked side-by-side and into the building. Anyone who had seen them even before they got out of the car would have thought they were a couple. And, some did but thought it best to keep quiet before jumping to such conclusions. However, that fact didn't much help from telling their friends, which, in turn, those friends didn't feel like keeping their mouths shut.
Thus, the word of Reno Talon and Tifa Lockheart going out was on the rumor mill of Northern Sphere High of the Mideel district.
