Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters.
Note: '***' indicates a flashback from here on. ^_^
Midgar University
Chapter 3 - Questions and Answers
~*~*~*~
Cloud walked arm in arm with Aeris down the street, their stomachs filled to the brim. "That was some really good food, even if it was a little spicy," Aeris said.
"Well, I like spicy food," Cloud commented. Aeris slid her arm down and took Cloud's hand. Cloud felt the hairs on his arm stand on end. He coughed. "Eh-ehm."
"What? Oh, sorry." She let go of his hand and turned her head slightly away from him. He saw that her ears were red. He felt embarrassed himself; he hadn't meant to make her think that he didn't want her to hold his hand, it was just that he was uncomfortable. The thing was that now he didn't have the courage to take her hand back. He decided that starting up conversation would be the best course of action. He had already told her all about himself (albeit not by his choice, since she kept asking him all these questions during dinner), so he should ask her about herself.
"So umm... What brought you here to this school?" he asked.
"Well, I wanted to become a nurse, or maybe even a doctor. If I do become a doctor, I'd probably be a pediatrician. I love taking care of kids." She looked ahead of her longingly. "Well, there are other reasons I came here..."
Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Hmm... like what? If you don't mind me asking, of course."
"Oh, it's nothing, really," she blushed as she spoke, "but I figured I might... find someone for me here." She turned to Cloud with an embarrassed smile on her face. Cloud looked at her questioningly. ... No way. This is not possible.
Suddenly, she took his hand, looking down to the floor. She thought, It's now or never. "Cloud... I... Well, I don't know if I'm ready to say this yet..." Cloud's thoughts rushed at him. Oh... my... God... This can't really be happening. It can't. This isn't happening. Please tell me you're joking. I don't know the first thing about girls, what the hell do you want from me!
Aeris looked back up and into Cloud's eyes. "Cloud... I know we just met a little while ago... And I know I just broke up with Zack yesterday, but... I really like you."
Cloud's thoughts were now in a frenzy. What the fuck am I supposed to do... I don't know the first thing about girls, why does she like me... I've never had a girl like me before, much less a girl tell me she likes me... How am I supposed to handle this?!? This is a dream, no, a nightmare... God, why can't I just wake up from this?!?!?
Cloud came back to reality, only to meet Aeris's emerald eyes looking deeply into his own sapphire ones. Cloud's mind went blank as Aeris's face came inching closer to his. Before he knew it, their lips had joined. Cloud found his tongue entering through Aeris's slightly spread lips. A surge of emotion shot through him. Their tongues collided, electric currents flowing between their mouths. Their tongues danced and danced until they both pulled back, breathless.
"I... I..." Cloud was speechless. I... What just happened...? I can't believe this... That was so incredible... All that emotion, all that energy... It was amazing. Aeris... so amazing.
"Cloud..." She smiled at him and flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and digging her head in his chest. Cloud wrapped his arms around her, hugging tightly. I don't ever want to let go...
Whoa. What am I saying? I've only just met her... It was just a kiss, that's all. But... it's a start. Cloud looked down at her. "Aeris..." She turned her head up to look at Cloud. Cloud started, "I know we've just met, but... Ahh..."
Aeris's eyes lit up. "Of course I'll go out with you!" She hugged him even tighter than before, then tilted her head up, got on her tiptoes, and kissed Cloud on the lips.
"Okay, so umm... I guess that's settled..."
~~~~~
Cloud lied in his bed, staring at the ceiling, and then at a slip of paper with Aeris's room number and phone number on it. He was deep in thought. I've just gotten my first girlfriend... But... why am not happier? Why am I worried... What's wrong with me... This whole girlfriend thing can't be too hard to manage, right? If anything, I could ask Zack for help...
Just then, the thought occurred to him. Holy shit, I just stole Zack's girlfriend! Well, his ex, but still... He's probably gonna be angry at me. I saw that he still has feelings for her when he was explaining what happened yesterday... Oh man... Great, more things to worry about. What will Zack think now...? Will he wanna fight me?
Another person came into his mind. And what about Tifa? I still have feelings for her, I'm pretty sure of that. What will she think of all this? What will she think of... me?
Cloud put his hand on his forehead. All these questions... I guess the answers will come eventually.
~~~~~
Cloud looked at his watch. "9:56 AM, right on time." He stood in front of room 5M, his hand hovering in front of the door.
*Knock knock*.
Within seconds, the door unlocked and Aeris slipped out. She wore a pink sun dress that hugged her body, showing off her well-developed features. She held out a tiny red jacket at Cloud, who took it and helped her put it on.
"Hey." She gave Cloud a kiss on the lips. "So how are you today?" She gave a warm smile that made Cloud feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Wow, this is so gay. But in the happy way more than anything.
"I'm good. And you?"
Aeris took Cloud's arm and led him down the hallway towards the stairs. "I'm great, thanks to you." She blushed lightly.
They made their way down the stairs and walked into the lobby. Cloud had a feeling that he was missing something. Checking his pocket, he stopped and turned to Aeris. "I forgot my wallet. Wait for me outside, okay?" She nodded, and Cloud took off for his room.
When Cloud got there, he noticed that Vincent had finally returned about two days ago, after being gone five. Cloud got his wallet from his drawer and made his way back to the door to leave. Vincent seemed to have just entered and was reading some important-looking papers and didn't notice Cloud had entered until he was leaving. "Cloud."
Cloud, halfway out the door, turned. "Yeah?"
"This is for you." Vincent threw a note folded in some special way into a square (as many girls seem to love doing with their notes). "I found it on the floor when I entered."
Cloud nodded. "Thanks."
Walking back out into the hall, he unfolded the little square in his hand. The handwriting on the paper was kind of messy as if it were very quickly written. The note read:
"Hey Cloud,
I passed by at around 9:45 to see if you were doing anything later tonight. If you aren't busy then call me at around 7PM, 555-4685. Maybe we can go see a movie.
Tifa
xoxoxo"
Cloud folded the letter back into the square and stuffed it in his pocket. I guess I should call her later and tell her about the... umm, current circumstances. The moment of truth is approaching... She'll understand, I hope. She wouldn't have a reason to be mad at me, would she?
~~~~~
Cloud looked at the clock. 7:27... Cloud took the receiver and listened for a dial tone. He started to dialing... 5..5..5..4..6..8.. *click*.
Cloud wiped his forehead and put his head in his arms. Why can't I just tell her? Why am I scared that she'll be mad? She's not the one who's my girlfriend. She's just my friend, nothing more.
Cloud felt himself react negatively to that thought. Just a friend? She's my fucking childhood fantasy girl. Cloud shook off the thought immediately. No, dammit... I just got a girlfriend, and she is so much better than her. Just... stop thinking about Tifa. Just let me get this over with, dammit!
He quickly dialed the number and heard it ring three times.
"Hello?" Tifa's soft, breathy voice rang through. Cloud gulped. You'd think she shouldn't sound like she was trying to get people aroused...
"Hey, it's me, Cloud. You wanted me to call you?" Cloud found himself trying to make conversation to stall before he revealed his secret.
"Oh, yeah. Well... I don't know now, actually... You see... Umm... I don't know how to tell you this but..."
Cloud thoughts ran. Tell me what?!? You have a boyfriend now?!?!? Please, God... Let her not have one... Wait, what the fuck?
Tifa continued through his inner dialogue. "Well... Sephiroth asked me out, and I said yes."
Cloud froze. "Sephiroth!!!!! What the fu-- umm, sorry... But, Sephiroth? I never would have figured him to--"
"Yeah, me neither actually. It came as a shock to me too. And well... I always had a crush on him, too, so I accepted. Sorry Cloud..."
"Huh, wha... Oh, don't worry... Actually, I called you to tell you that I started going out with this girl..."
Tifa seemed almost as shocked as Cloud did just before. "Oh my God!!!!! Who?!?!?!?"
"Her name's Aeris..."
"WHAT!?!?!" Tifa was incredulous. "The girl that Zack cheated on me with??? How could you, Cloud!!!!!!!"
Oh fuck, how could I have overlooked this... "I... I... I don't know... I'm sorry Tifa, I totally didn't realize that..."
"What do you mean? You don't pay any attention to me? You don't care! That's it, isn't it. Always the same old Cloud, just not giving a fuck about anyone besides himself!!!! Goodbye, Cloud, have fun with your new girlfriend."
"Tifa, wait, lemme expl--" *CLICK*
Cloud put the receiver back on the hook and lied back in his bed. Fuck... Fuck. FUCK!!!!!! What the fuck is wrong with me!!!!!!!! God, I'm such a fucking asshole. I've never heard Tifa curse before that... Goddammit! Why did I even bother telling her... No, wait, why the fuck do I care? I have Aeris now, Tifa is in my past... But... I can't stop thinking about her...
Cloud found himself plodding for the door. I need to get out my mind out of this. Aeris... help me.
~~~~~
Aeris answered the door, dressed in a towel and still dripping wet. "Cloud, what're you doing here?" She was slightly irritated, but the feeling seemed to slip away as she looked at Cloud standing at her doorway in a tanktop, showing his defined, chiseled upper body. Her cheeks grew even rosier than they already where from the heat of the shower. "Umm, do you wanna come in?"
No sooner than she had said that had he took a step in the doorway, closing the door behind him. He looked at Aeris with lustful eyes, a hand reaching for the knot holding the towel up. He stood over her now, leaning in and kissing her deeply. He felt the towel begin to slip between his fingers.
Aeris pulled herself back and tied her towel again, and she said, "Cloud... stop..." Her mind had made her say those words, but her body told her anything but. Cloud seemed to not have heard or at least didn't care, as he just continued where he left off, catching her lips in his, penetrating her mouth with his tongue aggressively.
He scooped Aeris up and laid her down on the nearby bed. His hands undid the knot once again, and he pulled the towel aside slightly, revealing one of her breasts. He felt her nipple harden underneath the palm of his hand as he grasped her breast. He moved his hand down and squeezed the nipple, causing Aeris to moan in a way Cloud had never heard a girl moan before. He kissed her even more deeply. He was fully aroused, his manhood now throbbing, asking to be released from his pants.
He unzipped his pants with his free hand, slowly moving his other hand down, moving the towel aside as he inched toward bliss. Aeris suddenly yelled out, "Stop!!!"
Cloud, now utterly stunned and completely vulnerable, looked at her with a face that told her, 'You can't be serious!' She covered herself up with her towel and looked away, her face completely flushed from a mixture of embarrassment and arousal. "This... isn't right. We've only been going out for a week..."
Her expression changed to one of confusion. "Why are you doing this?"
Cloud's expression was blank, as though what he had just done hadn't registered yet. "I'm sorry Aeris. I shouldn't have done this. I... I can't explain it to you."
"What... But, you can talk to me! That's what I'm here for, Cloud..."
Cloud stood and headed for the door, ignoring her words. "I'm sorry. I'll... talk to you tomorrow. Bye." He opened the door and walked out.
"At least zip your pants up!" Aeris yelled after him.
Aeris sat, bewildered with Cloud's sudden outburst of lust. Cloud... What happened to you? I've never seen this side of you before... I wanted you right then, but I know that it couldn't really be you... Could it?
~~~~~
Cloud slumped in the armchair in the left corner of his room, his head down. Fuck... What the hell was I thinking? Nothing, that's what. I couldn't think... I just needed something to take my mind off of her...
He felt angered with himself. I have a girlfriend that is completely perfect, what the fuck am I doing! He punched the wall at his side as hard as he could, creating a slight crack. He winced in pain, rubbing his hand. Oww, that's solid concrete... Ugh... Tifa... You could kiss it and make it feel better...
***
"Oh my God, Cloud! Are you alright?" a ten-year-old Tifa stood over a ten-year-old Cloud. "Oh my God, your eye!" she exclaimed while she pointed at the cut over it.
Cloud sat up, dusting his shirt off, having been filled with dirt after the fight. "... I'm fine." He got up and turned away from her. "Tifa... thanks."
"Cloud!"
He faced her, and she walked towards him until they were very close. She was slightly taller than him, and he had to look up a bit to see her eye to eye.
She tilted her head up a bit and kissed him gently on the cut, then looked back down into his eyes, smiling. "There, now it'll be better in no time."
Cloud stood, rather shocked at her gesture of kindness. And, it had also been the first time he was kissed by someone besides his mom. "Th...thanks..."
"Well, umm, bye Cloud!" She winked at him before she ran off back to her friends. Cloud looked after her longingly. Tifa...
***
Dammit, I've gotta get these thoughts... these memories... out of my head. But I know that that's not gonna happen. Maybe I should just tell her how I feel and to hell with it, it's not like it'll make a difference. And I still have Aeris, so it's not like I'd be losing... am I...?
He walked over to the phone by his bed, picking it up and dialing Tifa's number. After a fair amount of rings, a drowsy voice answered the phone. "*Yawn*-ello?"
"Tifa."
"Cloud? It's 12:30 in the morning... what do you want?" She seemed rather agitated. She had definitely not forgotten their earlier phone conversation.
Cloud couldn't do it over the phone, not like this... "Umm... I'm really sorry about earlier, and I'm really sorry to bother you so late, but I really need to talk to you. Umm... tomorrow. Late in the day, after training. I'll explain everything then. You aren't gonna be... umm... 'busy', are you?" He couldn't help himself from saying 'busy' in a sarcastic tone.
"Huh *yawn*... No, I don't think so... Well, umm, okay, you can just pass by my room. It's 4H. Well, good night Cloud." She yawned again and hung up.
Well, tomorrow I gotta face Tifa and Aeris. Cloud rubbed his eyes and dived head first into the pillow, forcing himself to go to sleep before anything else came into his head.
~~~~~
"You cocksucking bastard!!!!!" Zack pushed Cloud from behind into a locker. "You know how I feel about Aeris! How the fuck can you do this!?! What the fuck kind of friend are you!?!?!" He grabbed the back of Cloud's neck and flung him back and onto the floor.
"Dammit, what the hell was I supposed to do Zack? It's not my fault that I like her too! She was the one that came onto me!!!" Cloud got up before Zack could attack him while he was on the ground and vulnerable. "Besides, don't you have that girl that I saw you with at the restaurant last week?"
Zack, still fuming, yelled, "So fucking what!?! She's just some cute girl, it's not like she means anything to me!"
"So you're just using her, huh?"
"So what! Who are you to tell me about what to do with women..." Zack had calmed down. Shit... I've just been using Yuffie and I didn't realize it. What has gone wrong with me... "Look, Cloud... I'm sorry man."
Cloud shook his head. "Don't worry, I would be just as pissed as you, if not even more, if something like this happened to me."
Zack extended his hand out to Cloud, who took it immediately. Zack said, "Alright, let's not do this anymore... We've been too good of friends to hate each other now." Cloud nodded in agreement. "We might as well talk to each other about this stuff... It's not like I'm the best with girls. I need all the advice I can get."
They both laughed and continued into the sparring arena.
"Cloud Strife and Keith Turley," Hojo said coolly. He motioned towards the mats, indicating that they were the first ones up today. Cloud had not lost a match after the first one against Sephiroth. Sephiroth had wiped the floor with everyone who faced him, nobody even able to touch him. Cloud's opponent today had lost just twice, once to Zack the session before, and the first day against one of the top fighters there named Reno.
They both stepped onto the mats, doing their routine stretching and mental preparation. Keith had two metal nuchaku, which he handled with great ease. Cloud performed a few katas with his Buster Sword, demonstrating his proficiency with it. I still have a long way to go before I master it, though...
"Begin!"
Cloud wasted no time in his attack, dashing at Keith sword-first. Keith dodged and deftly struck Cloud in the back of the head with one of his nuchaku. Cloud staggered forward a bit before quickly recovering. He spun back to face Keith with his sword out, narrowly missing Keith. Keith had shown that he had tremendous speed in his previous matches, but he surprised everyone as he got behind Cloud with lightning-fast dexterity. He flailed his nuchaku on him, sending Cloud into a world of pain. Cloud fell to his knees.
Fuck, this guy's too fast! I have to-- Before Cloud could finish his thought, Keith pounced on his back, causing Cloud's arms to buckle under him and sent him crashing to the floor. Keith, still on his back, started punching him in his sides, knocking Cloud's wind out of him. Keith grabbed his arm and twisted it behind him, sending shockwaves of pain through Cloud.
Ugh... Shit, this fucking pain... Just... "GET THE FUCK OFF ME!!!!!!" Cloud screamed, and a sudden rush of energy filled Cloud. He pushed himself and Keith, who was still on his back, up. He used his arms and legs to launch them both into the air, where Cloud grabbed onto Keith's arms so he couldn't get away. Cloud spun them both around so that Keith was now under him. They landed, and Keith cried out in pain. Cloud felt a few things crack under him.
He got off Keith and stood over him as he futilely attempted to get up. Cloud jumped in the air, holding his sword over his head, and channeled his energy into the sword.
He came down on Keith, slicing him cleanly into two hemispheres.
Some of the people hooted. "Yeah Cloud!!!" screamed Zack. Sephiroth smirked. Others were sickened, even if it wasn't the first time something like that had happened before. Cloud watched as Hojo dropped the Phoenix Down on one half of Keith. Both halves where engulfed in a bright orange-red energy, which converged into one big lump of energy. It shaped itself into Keith's body, and slowly the energy faded away. Keith lied on the ground, still unconscious. Cloud always found it amazing when it happened because it seemed so surreal.
~~~~~
"Yo Cloud, that was totally fuckin' awesome!"
"Zack, I'm trying to take a shower."
Cloud finished up, and Zack immediately starting praising him. "That was totally sweet, dude. You've got a lot of talent with that sword. What was that technique you used? There was this orange glow surrounding you, it was amazing!"
Huh? "I don't know what it was, I just felt a lot of energy within me... I felt enraged, like I was pushed over the edge." Cloud scratched his head. "Orange energy? I think I've heard stuff about that, I think it's called a--"
"Limit break," Zack cut him off. "I heard Hojo mumbling something about that after your fight, he was scribbling really fast on his clipboard. He was giggling so hard, I thought he was gonna piss his pants." He laughed heartily.
He offered his hand. "Good job on your match."
Cloud shook it. "Yeah, you did pretty good in your match too. That Rude guy is tough."
"Yeah, hehe, but it was nothing. He almost had me for a second there, but I got him in the end, no sweat." Zack waved his hand and smirked. "Yeah, 'cause I'm awesome like that." Cloud rolled his eyes. "Hey man, I was just kidding!" Zack reassured him.
Cloud shrugged. "Whatever."
They finished getting dressed and gathered their things in relative silence. Then, suddenly Zack asked, "So... how is Aeris doing?"
Cloud gave him a questioning look, as if trying to see if their was something he was trying to get at. "She's fine..." Cloud thought for a moment. "Why do you ask?" he asked outright.
Zack answered innocently, "I was just wondering. There's no harm in caring about her, right?" He walked off as if nothing strange had just happened. Well, nothing strange really did happen. He has reason... I still has feelings for her too, so it shouldn't surprise me that he would want to know what she's doing, Cloud thought.
Whatever, I've got other things to worry about. Cloud left the building, heading for the dorms.
~~~~~
Aeris snuck up behind Cloud as he exited the gymnasium and poked him in his side, where he was ticklish. He flinched and turned around to face his 'assailant' and saw that it was just his lovely girlfriend. "Oh, hey Aeris. Thanks for scaring the hell out of me," he greeted sarcastically.
She smiled at him and gave him a light tap on the lips. "Hey, love." She had taken a liking to calling him that. "So love, how was training today?"
Cloud grinned toothily. "I cut this guy in half." Aeris cringed.
"That's disgusting, you know." She smacked him on the arm. "Don't do that to people, it's mean!"
"But, if I don't, they'll do it to me!" Cloud pleaded.
He put his arm around Aeris's waist as they walked down towards the dorms. The sun was setting in the distance horizon as he had seen it so many times before. The same as back home... The same as that last sunset before I ran from Nibelheim... When I threw the letter through Tifa's window... The letter! How could I forget? She never mentioned it... She had to have read it though, I know she did! So she'll know...
"What's wrong, Cloud?" Aeris eyed him scrupulously, as though trying to read his mind. "What are you thinking about? Is it... what happened last night...?" She moved a little away from Cloud so that he has to remove his arm from around her. She stopped, and Cloud turned to her. "Cloud... about that..."
"Aeris, I'm so sorry about that. I was just... I don't know how to say this but... Umm..." Cloud had been waiting for this all day, but now he couldn't bring himself to say the truth. I'm not ready, dammit! But... I can't think of anything else to say... There's no backing out now.
Aeris looked into Cloud's eyes, her face unreadable. Cloud held his breath and said, "Aeris, I have to tell you the truth. There's this other girl that I have feelings for. I'm sorry." He saw Aeris's expression fall into a look of confusion, which slowly evolved into a look of disappointment.
"What... what do you mean?" Aeris's voice wavered as if she was about to cry. Cloud took Aeris's face in his hands, looking straight into her eyes. Aeris, in turn, looked right back into his. She saw something different in them... Before they were a beautiful shade of blue, but now they seemed to be an endless ocean of sapphire, glowing like precious stones.
"Listen to me Aeris. I don't want to lose you. I have feelings for you too. But the thing is... right now, I don't know what I really want. So... can you just bare with me for now?" He continued staring into Aeris's emerald eyes, with Aeris entranced by his own deep blue glowing pools.
She snapped out of it. "Huh? Yeah... yes... It's okay, Cloud. You need to find yourself first." There was an undertone of sadness and disappointment in her voice, but they both knew that it would be for the best. "Whatever happens, happens. But... remember that I'll be waiting for you, Cloud." She gave him a kiss, clinging to his lips for a few seconds, getting a last taste, just in case.
~~~~~
*Knock knock*.
"Who is it?" She didn't need to ask. It's Cloud, I know it. I knew he was coming, but I still don't know what he wants to talk to me about. And if it's about that, then... I don't think I'm ready...
"Tifa, it's me, Cloud," Cloud answered.
Tifa unlocked the door and paused for a moment before she opened it and allowed him in. She smiled as he walked in and greeted, "Hey Cloud, what's up?" She tried to sound as unconcerned as possible.
"Hello, Tifa. I, uhh... I really have to talk to you... about..." Cloud's resolve was irresolute after seeing her be so nonchalant. "Well, first off, I'm really sorry about not saying anything about going out with Aeris, but it was really this spur of the moment thing and--"
"Don't worry about it Cloud," she cut him off. "It's okay, I understand. I can't expect you to not like some girl on account of me. And besides, I have Sephy now." She smiled meekly and put her arms around her. I hope this is working... I can't talk to him about the letter now... I'm not even sure how I feel, she thought.
Cloud put his hand on his forehead. Dammit, I knew this would be useless... Well, whatever, I have to get this out now. "Well, I really wanted to talk to you about something else... You see, I... I..."
No, he's going to ask me... no... "Cloud, you don't have to do this now," she pleaded. She didn't care whether he knew that she knew what he wanted to know, she just needed to stall him no matter what.
"No Tifa, I have to. You read the letter I wrote to you before I left, right...?"
Tifa sighed inwardly, knowing that she couldn't lie to him now. "I... yes. I read it."
Cloud hesitated a bit, as if he expected Tifa to say something more, before he finally spoke. "Tifa... everything I said there was true. It's words still hold true to this day. You remember what it said, don't you?"
Tifa, remaining silent, walked over to the night table nearby her bed and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled out a tattered paper turned yellow from age. Cloud had a definite look of surprise on his face. "You... you kept it all this time?" Tifa's auburn eyes were on the verge of breaking into tears. Cloud looked into them, on the verge of breaking down into tears as well.
He felt himself recalling the words he wrote on the paper, and he recited them from memory.
"Dear Tifa,
Before I leave here, I want to make my feelings known. I have only caught glimpses of your beauty from afar, and I have always wanted to get to know you, but I know that now that is not possible. However, I want you to know how I've always felt about you. Tifa, for as long as I can remember, I've had a crush on you. I always watched you, admiring you.
But after a while, it wasn't just a crush anymore. I couldn't think about anything else but you. I didn't even want you to love me, I just wanted you to be my friend. I would have been happy with that.
But now, that would be impossible. I have taken enough from everyone, and now I'm leaving. I'm sorry that I never had the courage to talk to you.
I just wanted you to know that... I love you.
Good bye.
Cloud"
Tifa was full-out crying now, her face buried in her hands. Cloud walked over to her and embraced her firmly. He spoke softly into her ear, "Tifa... it's all true... I never realized it before until someone else had taken you, I thought that my feelings had died away... But... I love you, Tifa... I love you."
Tifa managed to breathe out between sobs, "I... I... I don't know... I don't know how I feel Cloud..." She pushed Cloud off softly, her crying now calming down. "I've always liked you too Cloud, but I was afraid too... I didn't know anything about you... But then, I always liked Sephiroth too, and now I know he likes me back. I... I don't know where my heart stands right now. I need more time Cloud, please give me more time..."
Cloud sat, head bowed in defeat. I've always known she liked Sephiroth... How could I think that she would pick me over him? How can I beat someone like Sephiroth...? Just... forget this. "Just... Whatever, go to Sephiroth. He's better than me anyway. Bye, Tifa..." He got up and headed for the door.
Tifa wanted to stop him, but she couldn't think of anything to say. "Cloud..."
~~~~~
Cloud walked around the campus. Bathed in moonlight, everything seemed pale. The serenity of his surroundings completely contrasted the turmoil of his emotions.
What have I done... Why did I even bother to do that? I won't be able to face her again, now that she knows the truth. That thought made something burn inside him. Why wouldn't I be able to face her again? Why am I so ashamed of my feelings? I hate this! He punched a nearby tree, causing it to shudder violently.
"Hmm...?"
Cloud turned around and stood face to face with a towering, silver-haired figure. "Sephiroth."
"What's wrong, Cloud?" he asked. "Did something happen between you and Aeris?" he mused. He had a slight smile on his face that made Cloud feel comforted for some reason. Even though it was Sephiroth who was the one in the way of Tifa's heart, he found that he had no resentment towards him.
"I guess you could say that..." Cloud couldn't tell him exactly what it was that happened for the obvious reason that he was, in reality, trying to steal his girlfriend. "Everything is so confusing. I can't even figure myself out!" Cloud felt anger rise within him.
Sephiroth turned away from him and said coolly, "Don't worry. Everything will make sense in due time..."
~*~*~*~
A/N: Well, that was a really freaking long chapter. I hope you liked it. I'm actually fairly happy with it, especially the end of it. I thought at first that Cloud suddenly having these strong feelings for Tifa while he was with Aeris was unrealistic, but then I remembered that something similar happened to me. ^_^;;
Thank you Ah-choo and Advil Relief for reviewing both of the first two chapters! ::gives you both a cookie each:: And thanks, Kiriyama90, for being overly dramatic. You know I know who you are. =P
Also, I think I'm gonna start spotlighting characters besides Cloud, possibly as soon as next chapter. I didn't really intend for Cloud to be the center of attention so freaking heavily. =\ And expect more Vincent and Yuffie next chapter! ^_^
