Chapter 23: Something To Sing About

Life's a show

And we all play our parts

And when the music starts

We open up our hearts

It's alright

If something's come out wrong

We'll sing a happy song

And you can sing along

Where there's life there's hope

Everyday's a gift

Wishes can come true

Whistle while you work

So hard

All day

To be like other girls

To fit in, in this glittering world

Don't give me songs

Don't give me songs

I need something to sing about

I need something to sing about

Something To Sing About – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Once More With Feeling)

Aeris arrived at music class early, so she could talk to Shera. The teacher smiled at her.

"I saw your interview on TV."

"How did it look?" Aeris asked, smiling.

"Very professional. How can I help you?"

"Well, I wanted to send a few demos off to some recording companies and I was hoping you could give me some advice."

"Alright. Well, I can't right now, but we'll certainly discuss it during the one-on-one session."

"Thanks."

"It's nothing. I have some news for the class today." Shera said, smiling. Aeris perked up.

"Really? What is it?"

"I'm going to be taking some time off at the end of the year."

"No… why?" Aeris said, sadly. Shera continued to smile.

"I'm having a baby."

It took a few seconds for this to register with Aeris. She blinked a few times, her mouth hanging open.

"Oh! Congratulations! Professor Highwind must be pleased!"

"Over the moon, of course! Anyway, I've found an EXCELLENT substitute to fill in for me."

"Who?"

"You'll find out then." Shera said mysteriously.

Once class had started, Yuffie went to talk to Shera, leaving Aeris at the piano where she was struggling to find the right melody for a new song. She had been trying to for ages and seemed to be going nowhere. She sat at the piano, a pencil clamped between her teeth as she played the latest attempt.

Sighing, she scribbled out a row of notes. Why was this so hard? She didn't usually have this much trouble writing music.

"Hi." The pencil, still between her teeth, she glanced up. James was standing behind the piano. Aeris couldn't help rolling her eyes.

"Aeris, don't say anything. I saw the interview." Aeris took the pencil out of her mouth.

"And you're STILL talking to me, so what I said clearly hasn't sunk in."

James didn't speak. Aeris continued to write notes on the page.

"You're really going out with Valentine?" He said eventually.

"Yes, I am dating Vincent." She said evenly, keeping her eyes on the page.

"Why?"

Aeris breathed heavily and put the pencil down hard

"James, what do you want?"

"I want to be with you. It's all I ever wanted, Aeris. I still love you." James said, coming to sit next to her. Aeris shifted away from him.

"James, I'm trying to work here."

"Have a coffee with me, after class." he pleaded

"No."

"Aeris, please. One coffee, and then, if you still want me to leave you alone, I will."

"You promise to leave me alone if I have a coffee with you?" Aeris said, looking at him.

"Yes. I promise." James said sincerely. Aeris looked away.

"…Fine."

They sat opposite each other in the café. Aeris leant back in her chair, watching him coldly. She could see Barret staring in their direction. Luckily the café was empty apart from them.

"OK, James, you've got ten minutes." James leant forward.

"Aeris, I wrote that article because I was desperate. Part of me knew that I was going to hurt you but I was so desperate to get published. When my father found out that I was going out with you he suggested writing an article about you. So I did. But, after you broke up with me, I went to my father and asked to write a retraction. But he said no. I tried to make this better, Aeris, I swear I did."

"James, you slandered my parents."

"I know! But Aeris, I love you so much. I've tried so hard to think of a way to make things better, I really have."

"There's nothing you can do, James." She told him. James reached into his pocket and brought out a piece of paper.

"This might help. It's an interview I set up for you, with the head of Gaia Music. They want to see you; they might help you get a song released."

Aeris read the paper. It was true. She looked up at him.

"I know it's not enough, but if you'll give me a chance I'll make it up to you." James said. He reached across and took his hands in hers. Aeris couldn't move. She felt weak and tired. James smiled.

"I mean it, you know. I do love you."

"James-"

But she couldn't speak because he was kissing her. For a moment her mind didn't register with what was happening, but when it did, she pushed herself away in a hurry. Almost too quickly, because she fell backwards off her chair.

"Aeris!" James jumped to his feet and ran to help her up. But she got up and glared at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She demanded furiously. James frowned, clasping her hand. He moved closer to her.

"Aeris, please…"

"James, get off me!" She said, pushing him away. But he was pulled away and thrown against a wall. Vincent stood there, with Barret next to him. Vincent went to James and pinned him against a wall. James' lip had split as he hit the wall and was bleeding lightly. Vincent looked at him dangerously.

"Stay away from Aeris."

"You can't make me." James said, glaring. Vincent pressed him against the wall harder and James winced.

"Try me." Vincent hissed. "You stay away from Aeris, her friends and her parents. She doesn't want you."

"And I suppose she wants you?" James sneered and then winced again.

"Aeris is my girlfriend. Not yours. So stay away." Vincent hissed at him. Barret put a hand on Vincent's shoulder.

"Let him go, man."

Slowly, Vincent let go of his grip on James. James glared at him.

"You don't deserve her." He spat. Vincent didn't take his eyes of him, but didn't speak. Barret turned to James.

"Get out of here, James. You're not welcome here anymore."

James turned and stalked to the door. He slammed it behind him, rattling the glass.

Aeris turned to Vincent. He looked at her.

"Are you alright?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah…" She felt rather strained and her eyes welled up with tears. She brushed them away angrily.

"I'm such an idiot!" She said. Vincent frowned.

"Why?"

"I believed him. One coffee and then he'd leave me alone. God, what is wrong with me?" She sank down into a chair. Vincent knelt in front of her.

"You're a trusting person… Aeris, you can't blame yourself."

"I'll get you something to drink." Barret said, leaving them alone. Aeris couldn't stop the downpour of tears falling down her face.

"I'm sorry, Vincent…"

"For what?"

"I shouldn't have met with him. I just wanted to believe that he'd leave me alone." Vincent wiped away her tears.

"You're being ridiculous, you know. Anyway, I don't think he's going to bother you again. Not after that."

Aeris couldn't help smiling through her tears.

"Do you know how cool you are?" She asked weakly. Vincent raised his eyebrows.

"Aeris…"

"Hot too. When you're angry." Aeris whispered. Vincent smiled at her and she blinked away the last few tears. She smiled.

"I can't believe you did that for me."

"I saw him kiss you through the window. After I got over the initial shock I just came charging in here. I just wanted to hit him."

Aeris frowned at the mention of the kiss. Vincent noticed and said,

"I saw what happened. It's alright." She realised that she was still holding the piece of paper in her hand.

"He was trying to bribe me with this." She said. Vincent read it and his eyes widened.

"Quite a bribe."

"I know." She took the paper from him and tore it into pieces, throwing them into a bin. Barret emerged, with two cups of coffee.

"Here you go. You OK, Aeris?"

"Yeah. Do you often ban people?" She asked, smiling slightly. Barret grinned.

"He was my first proper ban. Makes me feel good about myself, actually."

"That is both weird and funny." Aeris said. The door opened and Cloud came in with Tifa, Reeve and Yuffie.

"Hey, we just saw James at the end of the street." Cloud said.

"He was bleeding and saying a lot of unsanitary things about you, Vincent." Tifa said, sitting down. She peered at Aeris.

"You've been crying. What's wrong?"

Vincent told them. Cloud and Reeve both groaned.

"We missed you beating up James? That is SO unfair!" Cloud moaned. Vincent was looking rather embarrassed. He scratched his head.

"I didn't beat him up… I just slammed him against a wall and threatened him a little bit." He muttered, glancing at the wall. Yuffie went over to it.

"We should get this piece of wall roped off." She said, laughing.

Aeris giggled. Tifa smiled and elbowed her.

"There's my girl."

"No. There's my girl." Vincent said sincerely and he kissed her. Aeris found herself blushing. Yuffie and Tifa both went 'Awwwww', while Cloud and Reeve grinned. Barret cleared his throat.

"More coffee, I think."

A/N: OK, filler by the bucketful here. Basically I wanted to set it up for next chapter, with the Turks Concert. But I couldn't resist throwing in that scene with James. evil grin I just wanted to have Vincent hurt him SO much! Also, i just got back from France two days ago and i've already written two chapters. That either shows that i'm extremely dedicated or obsessed. Tell me what you think!