One Minute Can Last Forever
A/N: I know, it's been so long since I've updated this fic and I was actually planning to delete it until I looked over the reviews and saw all the threats oo. Yeah, so I decided I'd just continue it and finish it off...hopefully soon XD Cause I really want to start working on other stories. Anyways, just want to thank all the lovely reviewers! You guys really forced me into continuing this...literally.
Chapter Eight: Enemies
"Bye mom, I'll see you in the afternoon!" A grown Tifa Lockheart shouted, a bagel dangling from her mouth as she grabbed her bag and ran out the door.
"Bye Tifa and don't forget to come home early! We have a dinner guest!" A beautiful and elegant aged woman shouted after her daughter.
"Yeah, yeah! I have to go mom!" She locked the door, bagel still in her mouth and ran to her small car. She hopped inside and drove out of the parking lot.
"I wonder where she is! Class starts in a few minutes!" A bewildered and frantic Aeris Gainsborough echoed as she glanced at her watch for what must have been the 100th time that day.
"She'll be here, Aeris! Have a chill pill!" An ecstatic and impatient Yuffie Kisaragi moaned at her friend.
"Well, what's a pair of fine women like yourselves doing out here by yourselves?" A familiar and masculine voice asked flirtatiously.
"Zack...How many times do we have to tell you, you're NOT a player! Get over yourself! Besides we're waiting for Tifa!" Aeris shouted, not even glancing behind her to acknowledge the handsome man behind her.
"Oh yeah! Her parents are having this weird dinner thing tonight and I have to go. Man, I have other plans! Why DO I have to go to some boring dinner party with old people?" He complained as he leaned one of his masculine arms on Aeris and took a bit of his apple.
"BECAUSE it's REALLY important! I think something bad is going to happen!" Yuffie shouted, chewing on her nails while she continued to stare into the parking lot in front of her.
"Whatever...I still have better things to do." Zack complained as Aeris smacked his arm off.
"Ow..." He whined as he glared at her while rubbing his arm.
"There she is!!! ABOUT TIME!!!" Yuffie shouted, jumping up and down.
As she said this, a small and red car reared up into the parking lot and a hyper woman who seemed to be in a rush came practically flying out.
"I'm so sorry I'm late! I guess I sort of over slept!" Tifa said, panting for air as she flicked a fudge brown strand of hair out of her face.
"Yeah, yeah! Now hurry up! We have to get to class!" Aeris shouted as she darted towards the main entrance to the University.
Tifa and Yuffie were quick to follow suit and were soon dashing across the hallways. That's when it happened. She bumped into a tall, lean and muscular man who was obviously furious at her.
"Hey! Watch where you're goin' Lockheart!" The boy said.
"I'm sorry I di- It's you!" she said as she finished picking up her text books and looked into the eyes of the man she bumped into. The same mako blue eyes she had looked into so many times before. The same messy spiked up golden blonde hair and the same mean and cold attitude. Cloud Strife was busy dusting off his brand new V-neck sweater and looked up at her curiously.
"I never knew you had the brains to get into a university." She teased as she cleaned off her top as well.
"Yeah well I never knew you did either. Your parents probably bought your way into the university." He snarled back at her.
"No, that's your parents job." Tifa glared right back at him as he glared straight into her eyes. Mako blue fiercely glaring into Ruby fired ones.
"Would you two lovebirds quit it already?! We have to get to class! COME ON TIFA!" Aeris said as she dragged Tifa away from Cloud, leading her into Science Class.
"Oi, Cloud! Wait up!" Zack, Vincent and Barret came waltzing into the boy's change room where Cloud was putting on his Blitzball uniform.
"So, after today's game, anyone up for beer?" Cloud said sheepishly as he struggled with putting on his jersey.
"Err..we can't remember? The Lockhearts invited our families over for this special dinner thing tonight and my parents are MAKING me go." Zack whined as he stared gloomily at the floor.
"Ah shit! I totally forgot about that! My dad said I HAVE to go too..." Barret moaned as he kicked a locker door.
"Same with my parents. But I don't have a problem with that, after all Yuffie's going to be there so..." Vincent blushed and looked away. Over the years, him and Yuffie had gotten very close.
"Cloud, isn't Aeris going to be there and Sephiroth?" Zack asked as he looked at his blonde friend struggle with his clothes.
"Yeah I know they will be plus some new guy is going to be there. I wonder..." Cloud thought as an evil grin smeared his face.
"Wonder what?" Barret asked, curiously looking at his devious friend.
"I wonder if it's going to be Tifa's future husband." Cloud cackled.
"WHAT?! Tifa's engaged?!" Vincent shouted.
"No you moron! It's just, her family is known for arranged marriages and maybe this is the guy her parents want to marry." Cloud laughed. Torturing Tifa and seeing her upset was always something that brightened his day. After all, she had always been a nuisance since the day he laid eyes on her.
"Will you boys get your asses out here already?! It's not time for chit chat! Let's go the game's startin'!" A bewildered and grumpy looking old coach shouted into the change room.
"Ugh, I hate Cloud...he was always set out to ruin my life! To think he's coming to my dinner party! Knowing him, he's probably going to start another food fight and this time, my parents won't enjoy it." Tifa complained to Yuffie and Aeris.
"Cloud isn't all that bad actually Tifa. Maybe if you two apologize to each other, everything will be okay again! Besides, Cloud's hot..." Aeris said dreamily as she gazed into the endless blue sky.
"I don't care if he's hot or not, he's still a JERK!" Tifa yelled, her legs dangling off the bench.
"Who knows? Maybe he'll be nice to you at the dinner party!" Yuffie said as she looked at her raven haired friend.
"Haha! Good one Yuffie! Cloud? Be nice? TO ME?! Yeah right!" Tifa laughed at the thought as she pictured Cloud smiling at her.
"I'm so hungry! I always get hungry at 5 for some reason." Aeris whined as she rocked back and forth on the bench.
"Talk about random." Yuffie joked.
"HOLY SHIT! It's 5?! DARN! I have to be at home and get ready for the dinner party! See you guys there!" Tifa shouted as she hopped off the bench and ran towards her car.
"Honey! Can you get the door?! It's probably the Gainsboroughs!" Tifa's mom shouted from upstairs.
Tifa ran towards the door and unlocked it. There, stood the last family to arrive for the night. It was Aeris and her mom and dad.
"Come in! Come in!" Tifa beckoned as she opened the door wide enough for the family to step in.
Tifa noticed Aeris was looking especially pretty tonight. She was wearing a fancy sparkly pink blouse with a ruffled black skirt. Tifa looked down at her own clothes which were a pair of bellbottoms and her Favorite Tank top. Everybody was there; Cloud, Vincent, Barret, Cid, Zack and Yuffie.
After everyone was seated, Mr. Lockheart stood up and chimed on his crystal goblet as everyone stopped talking and turned their attention immediately to him.
"Everybody, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming on such a special occasion. As you all know, we have a VERY special guest who will be arriving soon. I have known his family for quite a while now and I have a wonderful surprise for my lovely daughter, Tifa Lockheart." Mr. Lockheart smiled brightly at his beautiful daughter
She smiled brightly and turned away. Cloud was practically falling asleep beside her and wasn't listening to a word anyone was saying. He decided he'd waste his time bothering Tifa but her dad was currently looking at them.
'Can they get this over with already? I've got better things to do then to sit around and welcome some guest...' Cloud complained to himself. At the exact same moment this thought ran through Cloud's head, the doorbell rang.
"Oh my! That must be them!" Mrs. Lockheart gasped as she stood up and headed towards the door.
Aeris and Yuffie both threw Tifa a worried expression, wondering why a guest was so important that all families had to be there. But Tifa kept her eyes on the corridor to see the new guest. Seeing Mr.Lockheart was gazing at the corridor as well, Cloud took the opportunity to annoy Tifa.
He slowly grabbed her goblet of fine red wine and took a sip of it while rubbing his mouth all over the glass. He began to take gulps and spit them back into the glass after gurgling it in his mouth.
It wasn't a while longer until the new guest approached the corridor and silence fell upon the dining room. Tifa's smile quickly faded as she stared at the young man standing before her. He was tall, muscular and had fabulous blonde hair, but, unlike Cloud's, his was neatly combed out. He had sparkling blue eyes and a fancy white tux on. Near him stood a plump and elegant man, and beside the man stood an elegant aged blonde, skinny woman.
"Hello...pleased to meet you all...My name is Rufus Shinra."
Before, Cloud was busy playing with Tifa's drink but right before the man introduced himself, Cloud had taken a large gulp of the wine until he heard the name. Cloud's eyes widened in shock and he spit the wine everywhere, including Tifa which seemed to get everyone's attention to him.
"CLOUD YOU ASSHOLE!" Tifa shouted as she stood up and looked at her white yank top which now had red spits everywhere.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't Cloud Strife..."
Everyone's eyes began to dart back and forth from Cloud to this man named Rufus. Cloud gritted his teeth at him and his eyebrows furrowed as he glared at the man. Rufus only let out a devious evil smirk.
"We meet again..."
A/N: Oh yeah I bet you all hate me now! Leaving you at a cliffhanger like that! At least the mystery man is finally revealed! Well, wait till the next chapter! Things FINALLY begin to get ugly and...how does Cloud know Rufus? Find out in the next Chapter!
A/N: I know, it's been so long since I've updated this fic and I was actually planning to delete it until I looked over the reviews and saw all the threats oo. Yeah, so I decided I'd just continue it and finish it off...hopefully soon XD Cause I really want to start working on other stories. Anyways, just want to thank all the lovely reviewers! You guys really forced me into continuing this...literally.
Chapter Eight: Enemies
"Bye mom, I'll see you in the afternoon!" A grown Tifa Lockheart shouted, a bagel dangling from her mouth as she grabbed her bag and ran out the door.
"Bye Tifa and don't forget to come home early! We have a dinner guest!" A beautiful and elegant aged woman shouted after her daughter.
"Yeah, yeah! I have to go mom!" She locked the door, bagel still in her mouth and ran to her small car. She hopped inside and drove out of the parking lot.
"I wonder where she is! Class starts in a few minutes!" A bewildered and frantic Aeris Gainsborough echoed as she glanced at her watch for what must have been the 100th time that day.
"She'll be here, Aeris! Have a chill pill!" An ecstatic and impatient Yuffie Kisaragi moaned at her friend.
"Well, what's a pair of fine women like yourselves doing out here by yourselves?" A familiar and masculine voice asked flirtatiously.
"Zack...How many times do we have to tell you, you're NOT a player! Get over yourself! Besides we're waiting for Tifa!" Aeris shouted, not even glancing behind her to acknowledge the handsome man behind her.
"Oh yeah! Her parents are having this weird dinner thing tonight and I have to go. Man, I have other plans! Why DO I have to go to some boring dinner party with old people?" He complained as he leaned one of his masculine arms on Aeris and took a bit of his apple.
"BECAUSE it's REALLY important! I think something bad is going to happen!" Yuffie shouted, chewing on her nails while she continued to stare into the parking lot in front of her.
"Whatever...I still have better things to do." Zack complained as Aeris smacked his arm off.
"Ow..." He whined as he glared at her while rubbing his arm.
"There she is!!! ABOUT TIME!!!" Yuffie shouted, jumping up and down.
As she said this, a small and red car reared up into the parking lot and a hyper woman who seemed to be in a rush came practically flying out.
"I'm so sorry I'm late! I guess I sort of over slept!" Tifa said, panting for air as she flicked a fudge brown strand of hair out of her face.
"Yeah, yeah! Now hurry up! We have to get to class!" Aeris shouted as she darted towards the main entrance to the University.
Tifa and Yuffie were quick to follow suit and were soon dashing across the hallways. That's when it happened. She bumped into a tall, lean and muscular man who was obviously furious at her.
"Hey! Watch where you're goin' Lockheart!" The boy said.
"I'm sorry I di- It's you!" she said as she finished picking up her text books and looked into the eyes of the man she bumped into. The same mako blue eyes she had looked into so many times before. The same messy spiked up golden blonde hair and the same mean and cold attitude. Cloud Strife was busy dusting off his brand new V-neck sweater and looked up at her curiously.
"I never knew you had the brains to get into a university." She teased as she cleaned off her top as well.
"Yeah well I never knew you did either. Your parents probably bought your way into the university." He snarled back at her.
"No, that's your parents job." Tifa glared right back at him as he glared straight into her eyes. Mako blue fiercely glaring into Ruby fired ones.
"Would you two lovebirds quit it already?! We have to get to class! COME ON TIFA!" Aeris said as she dragged Tifa away from Cloud, leading her into Science Class.
"Oi, Cloud! Wait up!" Zack, Vincent and Barret came waltzing into the boy's change room where Cloud was putting on his Blitzball uniform.
"So, after today's game, anyone up for beer?" Cloud said sheepishly as he struggled with putting on his jersey.
"Err..we can't remember? The Lockhearts invited our families over for this special dinner thing tonight and my parents are MAKING me go." Zack whined as he stared gloomily at the floor.
"Ah shit! I totally forgot about that! My dad said I HAVE to go too..." Barret moaned as he kicked a locker door.
"Same with my parents. But I don't have a problem with that, after all Yuffie's going to be there so..." Vincent blushed and looked away. Over the years, him and Yuffie had gotten very close.
"Cloud, isn't Aeris going to be there and Sephiroth?" Zack asked as he looked at his blonde friend struggle with his clothes.
"Yeah I know they will be plus some new guy is going to be there. I wonder..." Cloud thought as an evil grin smeared his face.
"Wonder what?" Barret asked, curiously looking at his devious friend.
"I wonder if it's going to be Tifa's future husband." Cloud cackled.
"WHAT?! Tifa's engaged?!" Vincent shouted.
"No you moron! It's just, her family is known for arranged marriages and maybe this is the guy her parents want to marry." Cloud laughed. Torturing Tifa and seeing her upset was always something that brightened his day. After all, she had always been a nuisance since the day he laid eyes on her.
"Will you boys get your asses out here already?! It's not time for chit chat! Let's go the game's startin'!" A bewildered and grumpy looking old coach shouted into the change room.
"Ugh, I hate Cloud...he was always set out to ruin my life! To think he's coming to my dinner party! Knowing him, he's probably going to start another food fight and this time, my parents won't enjoy it." Tifa complained to Yuffie and Aeris.
"Cloud isn't all that bad actually Tifa. Maybe if you two apologize to each other, everything will be okay again! Besides, Cloud's hot..." Aeris said dreamily as she gazed into the endless blue sky.
"I don't care if he's hot or not, he's still a JERK!" Tifa yelled, her legs dangling off the bench.
"Who knows? Maybe he'll be nice to you at the dinner party!" Yuffie said as she looked at her raven haired friend.
"Haha! Good one Yuffie! Cloud? Be nice? TO ME?! Yeah right!" Tifa laughed at the thought as she pictured Cloud smiling at her.
"I'm so hungry! I always get hungry at 5 for some reason." Aeris whined as she rocked back and forth on the bench.
"Talk about random." Yuffie joked.
"HOLY SHIT! It's 5?! DARN! I have to be at home and get ready for the dinner party! See you guys there!" Tifa shouted as she hopped off the bench and ran towards her car.
"Honey! Can you get the door?! It's probably the Gainsboroughs!" Tifa's mom shouted from upstairs.
Tifa ran towards the door and unlocked it. There, stood the last family to arrive for the night. It was Aeris and her mom and dad.
"Come in! Come in!" Tifa beckoned as she opened the door wide enough for the family to step in.
Tifa noticed Aeris was looking especially pretty tonight. She was wearing a fancy sparkly pink blouse with a ruffled black skirt. Tifa looked down at her own clothes which were a pair of bellbottoms and her Favorite Tank top. Everybody was there; Cloud, Vincent, Barret, Cid, Zack and Yuffie.
After everyone was seated, Mr. Lockheart stood up and chimed on his crystal goblet as everyone stopped talking and turned their attention immediately to him.
"Everybody, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming on such a special occasion. As you all know, we have a VERY special guest who will be arriving soon. I have known his family for quite a while now and I have a wonderful surprise for my lovely daughter, Tifa Lockheart." Mr. Lockheart smiled brightly at his beautiful daughter
She smiled brightly and turned away. Cloud was practically falling asleep beside her and wasn't listening to a word anyone was saying. He decided he'd waste his time bothering Tifa but her dad was currently looking at them.
'Can they get this over with already? I've got better things to do then to sit around and welcome some guest...' Cloud complained to himself. At the exact same moment this thought ran through Cloud's head, the doorbell rang.
"Oh my! That must be them!" Mrs. Lockheart gasped as she stood up and headed towards the door.
Aeris and Yuffie both threw Tifa a worried expression, wondering why a guest was so important that all families had to be there. But Tifa kept her eyes on the corridor to see the new guest. Seeing Mr.Lockheart was gazing at the corridor as well, Cloud took the opportunity to annoy Tifa.
He slowly grabbed her goblet of fine red wine and took a sip of it while rubbing his mouth all over the glass. He began to take gulps and spit them back into the glass after gurgling it in his mouth.
It wasn't a while longer until the new guest approached the corridor and silence fell upon the dining room. Tifa's smile quickly faded as she stared at the young man standing before her. He was tall, muscular and had fabulous blonde hair, but, unlike Cloud's, his was neatly combed out. He had sparkling blue eyes and a fancy white tux on. Near him stood a plump and elegant man, and beside the man stood an elegant aged blonde, skinny woman.
"Hello...pleased to meet you all...My name is Rufus Shinra."
Before, Cloud was busy playing with Tifa's drink but right before the man introduced himself, Cloud had taken a large gulp of the wine until he heard the name. Cloud's eyes widened in shock and he spit the wine everywhere, including Tifa which seemed to get everyone's attention to him.
"CLOUD YOU ASSHOLE!" Tifa shouted as she stood up and looked at her white yank top which now had red spits everywhere.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't Cloud Strife..."
Everyone's eyes began to dart back and forth from Cloud to this man named Rufus. Cloud gritted his teeth at him and his eyebrows furrowed as he glared at the man. Rufus only let out a devious evil smirk.
"We meet again..."
A/N: Oh yeah I bet you all hate me now! Leaving you at a cliffhanger like that! At least the mystery man is finally revealed! Well, wait till the next chapter! Things FINALLY begin to get ugly and...how does Cloud know Rufus? Find out in the next Chapter!