Chapter 2: Suit Yourself (AERIS)
~~~~
"Buy a flower, sir?" I asked hopefully, holding out my basket of blossoms for him to take a look at.
"Oh, they look lovely." The girl at his side said with a smile. "How much?"
"Um...the roses are 5 gil, the poppies are 3 gil, and - "
"Are those snowdrops?" The man interrupted, pointing into the basket. I nodded, and he flashed me a smile.
"The only place I've seen snowdrops is on the northern continent, when we stayed in Icicle Village last Christmas. I'll take them. How much?"
"They would be two gil." I told him brightly. He fumbled in his jacket, finding the money, and handed me the crumpled bills.
"Thank you!" I called after the couple as they headed off. The clock in the square chimed to signify it was half past eleven, and I sighed, sitting down on a bench and resting my elbows on my knees. I don't know why, but I had really begun to feel miserable. A group of students came out of the Midgar University across the square, laughing and talking with each other. I felt a pang of sadness. There they all were, working on their degrees, having fun, making new friends, finding new love, and here I was, a florist worker, no qualifications, no prospects, and no love.
Not that I minded being a florist worker, in fact, I loved it, but it was the no love thing that really got me. All my life I've been searching for it, and all my life it's managed to slip out of my grasp. Seeing the smiling couples, cuddling, clinging to each other as they walk down the street pains me, because I've never experienced anything even close to what they have. They're so complacent, taking their love for granted, fighting over silly little things, while I yearn for the chance to have someone to fight over silly little things with. If they had ever felt how I do, I'm sure they'd put a lot more importance onto their relationship.
I toyed with the stem of a poppy, letting another sad sigh escape my lips, and then rose from my seat, readjusting the basket of flowers and setting off again. I could see a group of youths sitting on the pavement a little way in front of me, and lowered my gaze. I didn't want any trouble with them, but they always managed to give me trouble.
"Hey, Aeris!" one of them called. I turned my face away, quickening my pace, hoping to outrun them, but no such luck. The one who'd called my name was there in a flash, falling into step beside me.
"I said hey! Were you ignoring me, sweetie?" he drawled.
"Reno, leave me alone, please." I told him firmly. "I'm not in the mood today."
"Come on, Aeris! It's not like you've got anything better to do." He persisted, and I ignored him, willing myself not to run, to just wait until he got bored. Thankfully, the Planet was smiling on me, as Reno dropped back, running his fingers through his shock of red hair and then shrugging.
"Suit yourself."
With a sigh of relief, I continued on my way, glancing around to see if there was anyone who might be interested in my flowers. My gaze locked with a pair of beautiful azure eyes, and I froze, almost forgetting to breathe as I took in the sight in front of me. A young man was standing a few feet away, gaze unwavering, blonde spikes rustling slightly in the warm breeze. He was gorgeous, the most handsome man I'd ever seen. And he was looking straight at me.
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I averted my eyes from his. He was probably staring at someone behind me anyway, and I didn't want to humiliate myself. But he was so gorgeous...
What if he was looking at me? Could it really be possible? Had I finally found someone? Could he be what I'd been looking for all this time? Could I ever stop being such a romantic? ...And why was the ground rushing up to meet me?
My eyes widened as I put my hands out in front of my to break my fall, and my basket of flowers crashed to the ground next to me, the delicate blossoms scattering across the street. Banging my chin on the pavement, I winced in pain, a soft 'Owww' escaping from my lips. I looked up, my face immediately turning a bright crimson as passers by smirked in amusement at my predicament, or just plain laughed at me. Didn't any of them have enough decency to ask if I was okay? Jeez, you'd think there'd be someone who'd show me an ounce of compassion. But, I guess not.
"Hey, are you alright?"
I looked up, and my blush deepened, if that was at all possible. The blonde stranger from earlier was kneeling in front of me, his eyes full of concern. Great, now not only was I the weird girl who'd been too busy daydreaming to look where she was going, but I was the damsel in distress now, too.
"I - I'm fine." I told him shakily, trembling with embarrassment.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
I stood up, as though to prove my point, and my right leg promptly gave way. The stranger's arms caught me before I could fall, and for a second I just stayed there, not daring to look at him, but not wanting him to let go of me, either.
"Fine, hmm?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, and I felt my stomach flutter as he smiled at me.
"You've probably sprained your ankle." He told me. "My apartment's just over there, how about you come with me so I can fix it for you?"
"Well, I...I'm sure I'll be okay by myself."
"Stubborn, aren't we? Come on, let me help."
Giving in, (which wasn't difficult with his eyes looking into mine) I nodded, and leaned on him for support, allowing him to lead me over to the apartment block.
"So then, what's your name?" he asked.
"Aeris. Aeris Gainsborough. You?"
"Cloud Strife."
I smiled at him.
"Thanks for helping me, Cloud."
Aeris Strife. It does have a slight ring to it, wouldn't you agree?
~~~~~
A/N: Well, I know that this chapter isn't so good, but I have writer's block (again) *sigh* I also know that I've changed it from first person present, to first person past, but I find past easier to write, so I'll probably change Cloud's chapter soon. Thanks for reading, and I hope you liked it, despite the lack of detail. Please review! I wish there were more CloAer fics around. One of my favourites is Angel Reborn by Strawberry, so go read it!
What else? Oh, yeah, I now have a CloAer site! You can find the link in my profile. Go check it out and tell me what you think.
Thanks to my reviewers:
Lithium - Glad you liked it, hon! Thank you for the review!
Christelle - Don't worry, I'll not make it too dark. Most of my ficcies are light hearted affairs anyway.
Krystal Dolphin - Heya sugar! Thanks for reviewing! Love you CCS site by the way. *waits eagerly for the pic of CxA to appear in her inbox*
Joanna - Thanks! I agree about the fight thing, I'm not really a Tifa fan, but you won't see any bashing of her in this fic.
And that's all for the moment! Until next time, ja matta!
Aerith
~~~~
"Buy a flower, sir?" I asked hopefully, holding out my basket of blossoms for him to take a look at.
"Oh, they look lovely." The girl at his side said with a smile. "How much?"
"Um...the roses are 5 gil, the poppies are 3 gil, and - "
"Are those snowdrops?" The man interrupted, pointing into the basket. I nodded, and he flashed me a smile.
"The only place I've seen snowdrops is on the northern continent, when we stayed in Icicle Village last Christmas. I'll take them. How much?"
"They would be two gil." I told him brightly. He fumbled in his jacket, finding the money, and handed me the crumpled bills.
"Thank you!" I called after the couple as they headed off. The clock in the square chimed to signify it was half past eleven, and I sighed, sitting down on a bench and resting my elbows on my knees. I don't know why, but I had really begun to feel miserable. A group of students came out of the Midgar University across the square, laughing and talking with each other. I felt a pang of sadness. There they all were, working on their degrees, having fun, making new friends, finding new love, and here I was, a florist worker, no qualifications, no prospects, and no love.
Not that I minded being a florist worker, in fact, I loved it, but it was the no love thing that really got me. All my life I've been searching for it, and all my life it's managed to slip out of my grasp. Seeing the smiling couples, cuddling, clinging to each other as they walk down the street pains me, because I've never experienced anything even close to what they have. They're so complacent, taking their love for granted, fighting over silly little things, while I yearn for the chance to have someone to fight over silly little things with. If they had ever felt how I do, I'm sure they'd put a lot more importance onto their relationship.
I toyed with the stem of a poppy, letting another sad sigh escape my lips, and then rose from my seat, readjusting the basket of flowers and setting off again. I could see a group of youths sitting on the pavement a little way in front of me, and lowered my gaze. I didn't want any trouble with them, but they always managed to give me trouble.
"Hey, Aeris!" one of them called. I turned my face away, quickening my pace, hoping to outrun them, but no such luck. The one who'd called my name was there in a flash, falling into step beside me.
"I said hey! Were you ignoring me, sweetie?" he drawled.
"Reno, leave me alone, please." I told him firmly. "I'm not in the mood today."
"Come on, Aeris! It's not like you've got anything better to do." He persisted, and I ignored him, willing myself not to run, to just wait until he got bored. Thankfully, the Planet was smiling on me, as Reno dropped back, running his fingers through his shock of red hair and then shrugging.
"Suit yourself."
With a sigh of relief, I continued on my way, glancing around to see if there was anyone who might be interested in my flowers. My gaze locked with a pair of beautiful azure eyes, and I froze, almost forgetting to breathe as I took in the sight in front of me. A young man was standing a few feet away, gaze unwavering, blonde spikes rustling slightly in the warm breeze. He was gorgeous, the most handsome man I'd ever seen. And he was looking straight at me.
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I averted my eyes from his. He was probably staring at someone behind me anyway, and I didn't want to humiliate myself. But he was so gorgeous...
What if he was looking at me? Could it really be possible? Had I finally found someone? Could he be what I'd been looking for all this time? Could I ever stop being such a romantic? ...And why was the ground rushing up to meet me?
My eyes widened as I put my hands out in front of my to break my fall, and my basket of flowers crashed to the ground next to me, the delicate blossoms scattering across the street. Banging my chin on the pavement, I winced in pain, a soft 'Owww' escaping from my lips. I looked up, my face immediately turning a bright crimson as passers by smirked in amusement at my predicament, or just plain laughed at me. Didn't any of them have enough decency to ask if I was okay? Jeez, you'd think there'd be someone who'd show me an ounce of compassion. But, I guess not.
"Hey, are you alright?"
I looked up, and my blush deepened, if that was at all possible. The blonde stranger from earlier was kneeling in front of me, his eyes full of concern. Great, now not only was I the weird girl who'd been too busy daydreaming to look where she was going, but I was the damsel in distress now, too.
"I - I'm fine." I told him shakily, trembling with embarrassment.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
I stood up, as though to prove my point, and my right leg promptly gave way. The stranger's arms caught me before I could fall, and for a second I just stayed there, not daring to look at him, but not wanting him to let go of me, either.
"Fine, hmm?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, and I felt my stomach flutter as he smiled at me.
"You've probably sprained your ankle." He told me. "My apartment's just over there, how about you come with me so I can fix it for you?"
"Well, I...I'm sure I'll be okay by myself."
"Stubborn, aren't we? Come on, let me help."
Giving in, (which wasn't difficult with his eyes looking into mine) I nodded, and leaned on him for support, allowing him to lead me over to the apartment block.
"So then, what's your name?" he asked.
"Aeris. Aeris Gainsborough. You?"
"Cloud Strife."
I smiled at him.
"Thanks for helping me, Cloud."
Aeris Strife. It does have a slight ring to it, wouldn't you agree?
~~~~~
A/N: Well, I know that this chapter isn't so good, but I have writer's block (again) *sigh* I also know that I've changed it from first person present, to first person past, but I find past easier to write, so I'll probably change Cloud's chapter soon. Thanks for reading, and I hope you liked it, despite the lack of detail. Please review! I wish there were more CloAer fics around. One of my favourites is Angel Reborn by Strawberry, so go read it!
What else? Oh, yeah, I now have a CloAer site! You can find the link in my profile. Go check it out and tell me what you think.
Thanks to my reviewers:
Lithium - Glad you liked it, hon! Thank you for the review!
Christelle - Don't worry, I'll not make it too dark. Most of my ficcies are light hearted affairs anyway.
Krystal Dolphin - Heya sugar! Thanks for reviewing! Love you CCS site by the way. *waits eagerly for the pic of CxA to appear in her inbox*
Joanna - Thanks! I agree about the fight thing, I'm not really a Tifa fan, but you won't see any bashing of her in this fic.
And that's all for the moment! Until next time, ja matta!
Aerith