(AN)-- Well gee. Okay, someone brought up Reno's sick-mindedness. I like to call it hormones. When they all grow up, some of their personality will change, which I'll show when I get to the 'college season'. Yeah, I have a plan going on here. So don't nag on me for this. I have a reason for his behaviour of debauchery – what do you think happens when a guy like him gets a girlfriend? I don't know what you people are thinking, but I have a whole different story planned on that subject. ^_^
` p a n d o r a
s c h o o l b l u e s
iii. campus queen
Reno casually leaned on the bleachers of the football grounds and removed a lighter and cigarette from his pocket. Lighting up the stick, he brought it to his lips, sucked in, and blew out smoke that danced away with the air.
Yuffie cocked a brow. "I hope you know that you'll get lung cancer if you keep up that bad habit of yours."
He looked at her with all the seriousness he could muster and said, "Kid, it's the only way."
"What do you mean the only-
Tifa interrupted her by elbowing her stomach gently. Yuffie looked at the older girl in a questioning manner before looking at Reno with uncertainty. Was this a touchy subject? Yes, she considered, smoking is very controversial, which is why it should be talked about. Why are these people avoiding it? And what the heck did he mean by that anyway? Sighing, she shrugged and let her half-said question be forgotten. Instead, she climbed the bleachers with Tifa right on her trail and they stopped at the very top before sitting down.
Now, all they had to do was wait for Reno's friends to drop by.
"Tifa?"
"Yes?"
"What was that all about down there?" She said in a low voice so the redhead couldn't hear them speak. "I mean, smoking isn't exactly good for one's health."
Tifa kept silent for a good minute before saying, "Listen, Yuffie, I don't exactly have the right to tell you but smoking is his only way out."
Yuffie bit her lip nervously. "I don't mean to crawl on dangerous grounds by asking this, but it's his only way out from what?"
"I can't tell you. I was sworn to secrecy." Then, suddenly, Tifa smiled. "Don't worry about it. He'll be fine."
Yuffie remained quiet afterwards. It was a little suspicious that their conversation had started off in a gloomy, almost melancholic direction then let it being lightly addressed as nothing. It didn't much help either when the older girl had worry etched clearly in her eyes, which had started when she had seen Reno light the cigarette.
Finally, three people could be seen in the distance.
Reno grinned and flicked the cigarette away.
"The Turks have finally assembled!" He hooted with laughter.
Yuffie looked to Tifa for help.
"Being Reno's friend or hanging out with any one of his friends has you automatically assigned to our group, basically. There's two groups running around here. Last year, Nanaki – maybe you've heard of him – unknowingly set up a group of his own called Avalanche." Tifa explained. "We just run amok, do nothing, we don't fit in with much of everyone else because we live differently. We're not a threat or whatever stereotypical thing pops into your head. We just flow in a different directions than most people."
"Excuse me?"
Tifa shot the smaller girl a smile. "For now, let's just say that what people perceive us to be, well, we're not."
Yuffie said nothing more. If she were to ask more questions, they would probably lead to more confusing answers. What had she meant by their living differently from others? And wait…Nanaki?
"Tifa? I know Nanaki."
And that was all she said, knowing full well that Tifa would catch on. She wanted answers and she was going to get them. He had never told her about this group of his. If memory served her correctly, he didn't live any different from all the other students.
"Oh. Um…let's just say he's very influential. He's the wise kid of the campus, let me tell you. You're lucky to know him."
"Don't you know him? I mean, don't seniors practically know everybody?"
Yuffie immediately regretted what she said. Not that it was insulting in any way; she was being biased.
She laughed, however, and leaned against the metal benches.
"It doesn't work that way. Us seniors…we just know who people are. Us Turks, though, we're lucky if we get to know anyone else." She shook her head. "We're a tight-knit family. We barely let anyone get to know us. That also applies to Avalanche."
"I have a question. Because I'm hanging out with you guys…does this mean…?"
Tifa rubbed her neck. "Not necessarily. I mean, technically you would be but that all depends."
"Depends on what?"
"You. We don't force people to be with us. But, between you and me, Reno's taken with you."
Yuffie blushed.
"However, it's a little unfortunate that you know Nanaki."
"Why?" She blinked.
"Between the groups, it's considered betrayal if you were to interact with the other. Don't ask me who came up with these ridiculous rules, but it's just the way it goes. Of course, there are ways to get around it."
"And what's that?"
"Don't get too close." With that, she shrugged apologetically and ran down to Reno's side.
She just didn't understand. Don't get close to whom exactly? Yuffie felt her whole mind was going to explode; she had so many unanswered questions. There was always something they left out. Now, she wasn't sure if she wanted to hang out with these people. Unfortunately, if Reno liked her that was something to fancy and Tifa reminded her so much of her deceased mother. She was so nice and sweet there was nothing else but to like her. She sighed.
High school was so complicated.
"Hey, kid, get down here!" Reno waved over to her.
She scowled. She noticed that he never called her, or Tifa for that matter, by their given names. Was 'kid' stamped to her forehead or something because she certainly didn't see where that name had come up. She had left her adolescent stage long ago and here he was bringing back the memories.
Jerk.
She climbed down and stood next to Tifa.
"Kid, this is Elena, Rude, and Tseng. Say hi."
"Don't tell me what to do." Yuffie frowned. "Besides, I was going to do just that anyway."
"Why you little-
Elena jabbed him in the ribs. "Don't even think about it, Reno. You take every word to heart, thus taking it the wrong way. I like this girl."
Tseng and Rude nodded in silent agreement.
"You're in." Tifa whispered into Yuffie's ear. "But like I said, it's up to you. We're not forcing you."
"So," Elena began, "has anyone seen Monthaven yet?"
Everyone shook her heads except Yuffie, who looked as thwarted as ever. Not knowing anything was unfortunate. Oh how she wished these people would actually explain things to her, nothing barred.
"Monthaven?" Yuffie asked meekly.
"Scarlet Monthaven," Reno whistled, "campus queen and gorgeous. She's on fire, baby."
Elena groaned. "You heard it from his shallow side. All he thinks about is anything that walks on two legs and carries estrogen."
Reno offered her the offensive single-fingered salute before howling in laughter. This idiot was so full of it.
"Scarlet Monthaven is goddess around here. Everyone's wrapped around her like sick puppets. She's really nice though, which is a little odd since she likes to swindle people a lot. This year, it's rumored that she'll be voted prom queen. Nothing surprising there. No one knows who her partner will be, but it's said she has her eyes set on someone." Elena enlightened. "Then, there's her faithful friend, Aeris Gainsborough. Oh, which reminds me. People are saying that Gainsborough lost her virginity over the summer to a college guy."
Tifa's eyes widened in shock. "No way! When I spoke to her last year, she said she wouldn't be into that once she settled down. That's preposterous."
Reno shrugged. "Sounds perfect to me. People change, sweetheart."
"Well," Elena hesitated, "the guy she sacrificed herself to is far from preposterous. He's downright gorgeous!"
"And you say I'm shallow." Reno snorted.
Yuffie giggled.
While Elena swooned, Tseng decided to clarify the holes for the ever-baffled Tifa Lockheart.
"He goes by Sephiroth Delvega."
"I know him." Tifa said.
Just as quick as her reply Elena had her hands on Tifa's uniform, shaking her for answers.
"How do you know him?"
"He moved here to Mideel with loony Hojo for some unexpected reason. My dad told me to give them a tour of the place. He didn't look much of the type to be in a relationship. So maybe, just maybe, Elena, your news might be wrong."
Elena's shoulders slumped. Reno tried to suppress his erupting howls of laughter but gained a poisonous glare from the usual cheery blonde.
"My news is wrong for a reason. It is called rumors, buddy. Ever heard of it? Which leads me to a question: are you and Tifa going out? It's the big rumor of today, you know."
Reno smiled in triumph. "See, sweetheart, we do look good together."
"The idiot said." Tifa added. "Reno, I wouldn't go out with you even if you were the last man in the Lifestream. The idea in itself is just bizarre."
"You know, you have a way of destroying a man's ego."
"And that would be bad because…?"
"Because it could prove destructive to a man's survival."
"A man's survival to what?"
"Sweetheart, don't make me say it."
Tifa grunted in disgust. "Is that all you think about? Reproducing?"
"It's all down there, sweetheart."
"Yuffie, if you ever consider going out with this pig, I suggest committing suicide." Tifa warned.
"Are you trying to say that I'm not good enough, even for her?"
His tone of voice was rather unnerving, causing Tifa to look at him peculiarly. He sounded inexplicably stern. Her gaze traveled to the Yuffie, who was standing there fidgeting with her hands.
"You're right. I'm not good enough for her because I'm only for you, sweetheart." He suddenly grinned.
Tifa blinked. She looked at Tseng, Elena, and Rude in a way that asked 'he was serious about that, wasn't he?' way. She received nods from all of them in response.
Reno had been offended.
So her private accusations were true.
Reno was falling for Yuffie.
