Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII and I'm not making any money from
this.
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Chapter 3: Speechless (CLOUD)
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I glanced sideways at Aeris as we made our way upstairs to my apartment. She looked as though she was thinking about something, but I couldn't tell what. Every so often she'd wince in pain, I guess her ankle was giving her problems. She has the most engaging eyes, they're such a deep emerald sort of colour, and when she smiles, they sparkle in such a way that I wonder exactly how I haven't noticed her before. She told me that she's a flower seller, and she always works in the city centre. So why haven't I seen her before? I guess it's 'cause I'm always so concerned with myself.
"Cloud, you're kinda quiet." She said softly, fixing her gaze on me. "Have I done something to irritate you?"
"No, you haven't done anything, Aeris. I was just thinking." I slowed to a stop in front of the apartment door. "Well, this is it."
When we got inside, the place was empty. Guess Zack must have gone someplace. Looking around, I noticed that the phone cord had been pulled out of the socket, and couldn't help but grin. Guess that's what happens when you have one night stands, eh Zack? Not like I was one to talk, really, but I was sorta a better judge of character than him. After all, here I was with Aeris, and who did he get? Sarah. Ha.
Now, I know you're probably thinking that I shouldn't be so selfish, but you have to understand Zack. He's an awesome guy, I'll be the first one to tell you that, but the two of us are really quite competitive about a lot of things. And the fact that the girl I'm with isn't psycho, as far as I know, gives me one over on Zack, who usually has one over on me. No, not usually. All the damn time, in fact. So I hope you'll forgive me for feeling more than a little smug.
"Okay Aeris, just sit down there and I'll get something to fix your ankle with."
"Hey, spikes, are you talking to yourself again? I've told you, making up girlfriends for yourself does not bring your score any higher."
Both me and Aeris jumped, turning in the direction of the voice, and Zack stepped out of his bedroom, rubbing at his hair with a towel and smiling at me. His eyes fell on Aeris, and he flashed her a charming grin. Figures.
"Oh, hey, I didn't know anyone else was here. Not very often Cloud brings real girls back here, least of all ones as pretty as you."
I rolled my eyes and began searching around in the kitchen cupboards for a bandage as Zack sat next to Aeris on the sofa.
"Hey, I recognise you," he was saying. "You sell flowers, don't you?"
"Yes, that's right!" Aeris exclaimed brightly. "I think you've bought some from me before."
Zack smiled as I stood up, rolled up bandage in hand, pointed glare coming as standard.
"Here, Cloud, let me do that." He said, holding his hand out for the bandage. My fingers tightened around it, and I walked around the other side of the sofa, kneeling down in front of Aeris and taking her injured foot. She winced a little as I removed her boot, and I sighed sympathetically at the sight of her swelled up ankle.
"I guess that'll teach me to be staring at people instead of watching where I'm going." Aeris said with a soft giggle, and we shared a warm smile before Zack interrupted, gesturing to her foot.
"You fell?" he asked.
"Yeah, Cloud's fault." she replied, flashing a smile in my direction to let me know she was joking.
"You sure you don't want me to help?" he asked me, gesturing to the bandage again.
"It's okay, I can do it." I told him, and then proceeded to do just that, with great dexterity I might add. I'd always paid more attention in First Aid than Zack had.
Aeris raised her eyebrow, standing up to test out my bandaging skills.
"Hmm, pretty good, Cloud." she smiled. "Thank you."
"No problem." I stood up, and our eyes met. Did I mention she has the most amazing eyes?
"...Uh, I guess you'll want to be going now?" I asked, and as soon as the words left my mouth, I was mentally kicking myself. Way to make her think you want her around, moron. Aeris didn't seem too offended though, and she smiled, folding her arms.
"You want me to go?" she asked, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forwards slightly to look at me.
"No...no, that's not what I meant." I stammered, trying to tear my gaze from hers and failing miserably.
Smooth, Cloud. Real smooth.
But then again, I realised, I didn't actually want to tear my gaze from hers. I managed to glance at Zack out of the corner of my eye, and he was giving me a 'nice going, fool' look, which I promptly ignored.
"I was just...well, um..."
Think! Think, dammit!
Luckily, Zack saved me from any further stammering and uncomfortable pauses by asking; "Where do you live, Aeris?"
"Oh, it's not far from here." she answered. "In fact, I can probably get there by myself. Jessie's probably worried about me, so I really should be going."
"Jessie?"
"My roommate."
Zack nodded, glancing at me, then back at Aeris, and then stepping forward slightly.
"It's getting late. How about I come with you?"
I raised my eyebrows, mouth dropping open in disbelief.
"Zack - "
"No need to thank me, Spikes." He interrupted. "Now, shouldn't you be getting ready to get some sleep? A SOLDIER First Class can't afford to be tired on a mission."
"First Class?" Aeris asked, wide eyed. "Cloud's SOLDIER First Class?"
"Oh, yeah." Zack said breezily. "There aren't that many people who make First Class, but Cloud made it easily."
"You never said anything," Aeris said to me, clearly impressed.
"He's too modest for his own good sometimes."
I started to make a mental note to thank Zack later, but then he grinned at Aeris, offering his arm.
"Well, I'd better get you home." He told her, and I mentally scribbled the mental note out and rewrote it to 'blank Zack later'.
"Alright." Aeris nodded, then turned to me, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for your help, Cloud."
I watched as they both left, leaning back on the chair with a sigh. I just couldn't believe Zack. Bastard.
This annoyed train of thought brought me back to my morning musings. What if?
What if Zack hadn't been there today? How differently would things have gone if it were just Aeris and I alone? Would things have turned out better or worse?
Or what if Zack had been there, but he hadn't been working his Casanova routine? Would that have changed anything?
Enough what if's, though. It's done now. I guess it's my own fault. If I were more charismatic, like Zack, then maybe Aeris would have wanted me, not Zack. He'd probably got a date with her by now. I couldn't exactly blame him, Aeris is beautiful. And we had only just met. Not as if I had the monopoly on her, right? And if she wanted Zack, then that was that. I'm defeatist, I know, but, you know what? Maybe Aeris was too good for me. But if she was too good for me, then she was most definitely too good for Zack,
I guess I was being unfair, but there was something about Aeris, I really did like her. And knowing that she was walking home with Zack, and knowing Zack, I was feeling slightly annoyed to say the least.
About an hour later, when Zack finally got back, I was fuming.
As he shut the door, I stood up, about ready for violence, and opened my mouth, ready to launch into an angry verbal assault, when he held out two pizza boxes, asking, "Hey Cloud, you hungry?"
"What?"
"After I dropped Aeris off, I thought I'd get us something to eat." He explained, putting the boxes down and shrugging his jacket off. He gave me one glance and started laughing, as I stared at him with mixed feelings.
"What's with that face?" he asked, grabbing a slice of pizza.
"You and Aeris..." I began, and Zack looked as though he was suddenly remembering something, raising one finger and putting the box down.
"Oh, yeah, almost forgot." He told me though a mouthful of pizza. "You're going out with Aeris on Friday night."
I blinked, silenced.
"She asked me to tell you." Zack grinned, winking at me, and grabbed the box one more, taking it with him over to the sofa and grabbing the remote, flipping through the channels as I just stared.
Okay. Mental note. Don't blank Zack. Thank Zack. Well, thank him when you're no longer speechless.
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A/N: Finally! I'm sorry it took so long for the chapter, but hey, it's here now! So I hope you enjoyed reading, and tell me what you thought! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I'm really pleased you liked it so far! I hope this chapter isn't too much of a disappointment to you, m'dears! Big hugs to everyone! *smile*
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Chapter 3: Speechless (CLOUD)
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I glanced sideways at Aeris as we made our way upstairs to my apartment. She looked as though she was thinking about something, but I couldn't tell what. Every so often she'd wince in pain, I guess her ankle was giving her problems. She has the most engaging eyes, they're such a deep emerald sort of colour, and when she smiles, they sparkle in such a way that I wonder exactly how I haven't noticed her before. She told me that she's a flower seller, and she always works in the city centre. So why haven't I seen her before? I guess it's 'cause I'm always so concerned with myself.
"Cloud, you're kinda quiet." She said softly, fixing her gaze on me. "Have I done something to irritate you?"
"No, you haven't done anything, Aeris. I was just thinking." I slowed to a stop in front of the apartment door. "Well, this is it."
When we got inside, the place was empty. Guess Zack must have gone someplace. Looking around, I noticed that the phone cord had been pulled out of the socket, and couldn't help but grin. Guess that's what happens when you have one night stands, eh Zack? Not like I was one to talk, really, but I was sorta a better judge of character than him. After all, here I was with Aeris, and who did he get? Sarah. Ha.
Now, I know you're probably thinking that I shouldn't be so selfish, but you have to understand Zack. He's an awesome guy, I'll be the first one to tell you that, but the two of us are really quite competitive about a lot of things. And the fact that the girl I'm with isn't psycho, as far as I know, gives me one over on Zack, who usually has one over on me. No, not usually. All the damn time, in fact. So I hope you'll forgive me for feeling more than a little smug.
"Okay Aeris, just sit down there and I'll get something to fix your ankle with."
"Hey, spikes, are you talking to yourself again? I've told you, making up girlfriends for yourself does not bring your score any higher."
Both me and Aeris jumped, turning in the direction of the voice, and Zack stepped out of his bedroom, rubbing at his hair with a towel and smiling at me. His eyes fell on Aeris, and he flashed her a charming grin. Figures.
"Oh, hey, I didn't know anyone else was here. Not very often Cloud brings real girls back here, least of all ones as pretty as you."
I rolled my eyes and began searching around in the kitchen cupboards for a bandage as Zack sat next to Aeris on the sofa.
"Hey, I recognise you," he was saying. "You sell flowers, don't you?"
"Yes, that's right!" Aeris exclaimed brightly. "I think you've bought some from me before."
Zack smiled as I stood up, rolled up bandage in hand, pointed glare coming as standard.
"Here, Cloud, let me do that." He said, holding his hand out for the bandage. My fingers tightened around it, and I walked around the other side of the sofa, kneeling down in front of Aeris and taking her injured foot. She winced a little as I removed her boot, and I sighed sympathetically at the sight of her swelled up ankle.
"I guess that'll teach me to be staring at people instead of watching where I'm going." Aeris said with a soft giggle, and we shared a warm smile before Zack interrupted, gesturing to her foot.
"You fell?" he asked.
"Yeah, Cloud's fault." she replied, flashing a smile in my direction to let me know she was joking.
"You sure you don't want me to help?" he asked me, gesturing to the bandage again.
"It's okay, I can do it." I told him, and then proceeded to do just that, with great dexterity I might add. I'd always paid more attention in First Aid than Zack had.
Aeris raised her eyebrow, standing up to test out my bandaging skills.
"Hmm, pretty good, Cloud." she smiled. "Thank you."
"No problem." I stood up, and our eyes met. Did I mention she has the most amazing eyes?
"...Uh, I guess you'll want to be going now?" I asked, and as soon as the words left my mouth, I was mentally kicking myself. Way to make her think you want her around, moron. Aeris didn't seem too offended though, and she smiled, folding her arms.
"You want me to go?" she asked, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forwards slightly to look at me.
"No...no, that's not what I meant." I stammered, trying to tear my gaze from hers and failing miserably.
Smooth, Cloud. Real smooth.
But then again, I realised, I didn't actually want to tear my gaze from hers. I managed to glance at Zack out of the corner of my eye, and he was giving me a 'nice going, fool' look, which I promptly ignored.
"I was just...well, um..."
Think! Think, dammit!
Luckily, Zack saved me from any further stammering and uncomfortable pauses by asking; "Where do you live, Aeris?"
"Oh, it's not far from here." she answered. "In fact, I can probably get there by myself. Jessie's probably worried about me, so I really should be going."
"Jessie?"
"My roommate."
Zack nodded, glancing at me, then back at Aeris, and then stepping forward slightly.
"It's getting late. How about I come with you?"
I raised my eyebrows, mouth dropping open in disbelief.
"Zack - "
"No need to thank me, Spikes." He interrupted. "Now, shouldn't you be getting ready to get some sleep? A SOLDIER First Class can't afford to be tired on a mission."
"First Class?" Aeris asked, wide eyed. "Cloud's SOLDIER First Class?"
"Oh, yeah." Zack said breezily. "There aren't that many people who make First Class, but Cloud made it easily."
"You never said anything," Aeris said to me, clearly impressed.
"He's too modest for his own good sometimes."
I started to make a mental note to thank Zack later, but then he grinned at Aeris, offering his arm.
"Well, I'd better get you home." He told her, and I mentally scribbled the mental note out and rewrote it to 'blank Zack later'.
"Alright." Aeris nodded, then turned to me, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for your help, Cloud."
I watched as they both left, leaning back on the chair with a sigh. I just couldn't believe Zack. Bastard.
This annoyed train of thought brought me back to my morning musings. What if?
What if Zack hadn't been there today? How differently would things have gone if it were just Aeris and I alone? Would things have turned out better or worse?
Or what if Zack had been there, but he hadn't been working his Casanova routine? Would that have changed anything?
Enough what if's, though. It's done now. I guess it's my own fault. If I were more charismatic, like Zack, then maybe Aeris would have wanted me, not Zack. He'd probably got a date with her by now. I couldn't exactly blame him, Aeris is beautiful. And we had only just met. Not as if I had the monopoly on her, right? And if she wanted Zack, then that was that. I'm defeatist, I know, but, you know what? Maybe Aeris was too good for me. But if she was too good for me, then she was most definitely too good for Zack,
I guess I was being unfair, but there was something about Aeris, I really did like her. And knowing that she was walking home with Zack, and knowing Zack, I was feeling slightly annoyed to say the least.
About an hour later, when Zack finally got back, I was fuming.
As he shut the door, I stood up, about ready for violence, and opened my mouth, ready to launch into an angry verbal assault, when he held out two pizza boxes, asking, "Hey Cloud, you hungry?"
"What?"
"After I dropped Aeris off, I thought I'd get us something to eat." He explained, putting the boxes down and shrugging his jacket off. He gave me one glance and started laughing, as I stared at him with mixed feelings.
"What's with that face?" he asked, grabbing a slice of pizza.
"You and Aeris..." I began, and Zack looked as though he was suddenly remembering something, raising one finger and putting the box down.
"Oh, yeah, almost forgot." He told me though a mouthful of pizza. "You're going out with Aeris on Friday night."
I blinked, silenced.
"She asked me to tell you." Zack grinned, winking at me, and grabbed the box one more, taking it with him over to the sofa and grabbing the remote, flipping through the channels as I just stared.
Okay. Mental note. Don't blank Zack. Thank Zack. Well, thank him when you're no longer speechless.
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A/N: Finally! I'm sorry it took so long for the chapter, but hey, it's here now! So I hope you enjoyed reading, and tell me what you thought! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I'm really pleased you liked it so far! I hope this chapter isn't too much of a disappointment to you, m'dears! Big hugs to everyone! *smile*