Hello there, and thank you all for the lovely reviews! I'm so glad I received more this time! Oh yes, thanks to the advice of one of my new reviewers, I guess I'll continue to post my personal thank-you's! (If I get in trouble for this, it'll be your head...hahaha!)
Kandrisia-Thank you so much for the lovely review, I appreciate the compliment!
XO'MagicMoon'OX-Thank you for noticing my literary devices. I've always tried to make my writing as 'visual' as possible, and I really hope that it's working at least somewhat...
Hanae da Firefly-Yes, thanks so much for pointing out those flaws. I should definitely proof read much better, I've been slacking off lately! Pah, no excuses! I'm contradicting my own Bio over here. (I still can't get the darn thing to work right...) As for chapter interest, It's mainly for those who haven't read AcoV yet, but things should be moving on soon...probably...
Aquila Strife-Ah, good to hear from you again! Your reviews are always so...expressive! Hah! Thank you very, very much!
Alright, on with the chapter. I don't own a thing but my simple little plot!
Cloud knew it was coming, in fact he was a bit surprised that it had taken this long. Since that day when all was exposed, He had been very reluctant to resume contact with his childhood friend, and naturally, Seifer would want to know why.
Cloud just hadn't gotten around to talking with Seifer as of yet, mainly because he was still trying to establish Leon's well being. Since the moment of admittance, Cloud had dedicated himself to ensuring Leon's happiness. However, now that things were relatively stable between them, he still never found the motivation to officially break things off with Seifer. They had seen each other the in the halls and other places around campus, but Cloud still never brought himself to approach—much less talk to—the monster that had train-wrecked Leon's life.
He shifted his eyes to the side again, and Seifer was indeed still staring, as if Cloud and he were the only two in the room. He wanted his point to be known, no matter how uncomfortable it made Cloud or how peculiar it made him look. His eyes were narrowed, unblinking and punctuated with deeply arched eyebrows. His head rested in the heel of his palm, and his mouth was drawn in an indefinite—but still very expressive—frown.
Seifer was indisputably angry, Cloud thought to himself, and who wouldn't be? Realistically, Seifer had every right to be at least somewhat het-up, since Cloud had completely avoided him. In fact, Cloud couldn't remember speaking a single word to Seifer since he had Left Leon and he in the hall.
However, in Cloud's mind, Seifer could just sit and dwell in his own anger, for anyone who could commit such an appalling crime—whether he remembered it or not—didn't deserve to be spoken to. Cloud had always known Seifer to be rather difficult to control at times, but going too far was going too far. Even still, contact had to be made at some point, so that both parties would understand why the friendship had ended, and as an added bonus Cloud would be able to go to sleep at night knowing that Seifer wouldn't be able to.
He sighed in frustration as the thought crossed his mind. What if it wasn't as easy as he had hoped? Seifer was still his best friend. Would leaving him behind so quickly really be as casual as he wanted it would be? They had been inseparable ever since their younger days of ranging the black top. Seifer had been the mischievous, ornery one, while Cloud was the one who was reasonable, yet sometimes equally as delinquent. Collectively they created the pair known to the entire neighborhood as a force to be aware of. Quite an original duo actually.
Most of their childhood had been spent together. From watching movies at Cloud's house to chasing ants with a flashlight and magnifying glass in Seifer's back yard. They had always found a reason to do activities jointly. When they had first met, Cloud was a but put off by Seifer's forwardness and Seifer had never really appreciated Cloud's "golden-boy" personality, but inevitably, the two managed to reach a cadence in which perfect harmony was achieved.
As much fun as their days together had been, there came the introduction to maturity and a sudden change of pace that Cloud hadn't paid much attention to in it's progression. Now, as he was standing outside of their friendship, Cloud couldn't believe he hadn't seen it coming. The innocent, ostentatiousness typical to Seifer during their childhood had grown up into the helter-skelter delinquence of adulthood. Then came the love of alcohol and parties. Cloud had never known Seifer to be down right evil but somehow the shift of fun pranks to surprising cruelty had been made.
Even still, Cloud would never have guessed that Seifer would have thrown him a curve ball as huge as this one. Never had Seifer done anything as unforgivable as...rape. The thought of Seifer committing the crime and the thought of never speaking to him again made Cloud a little hesitant with either decision.
He gnawed on the edge of his eraser in thought. And what would Leon think if he had just resumed the friendship that had lasted so long? He peered down a few rows to look at the brunette. He was sitting reviewing his answers. Knowing how he was, Leon in all likelihood wouldn't say anything, but would probably second-guess the promise Cloud had made to him that night. He definitely wouldn't appreciate his feelings being ill-considered.
Leon's feelings weren't something Cloud could take lightly, not that he ever did, but they were far more delicate than Cloud had realized. They were complicated and fragile, but still in the same respect beautiful in a way that Cloud would never want to disrupt them. If he resumed his connection with Seifer, he risked hurting the one person he promised never to hurt, and that simply would not do.
"Man..." Cloud murmured. What was he to do? The choice should have been obvious, but it certainly was not.
The professor adjusted her glasses and peered up to check the clock that hung over her desk. She then stood and arched a brow at the still scribbling students—all but Cloud who had given up long ago—and cleared her throat.
"All right, time is up, please hand in your tests on your way out the door." There was a touch of disappointment within her voice, as if she knew exactly who would fail and who would pass. The numbers weren't pretty.
A collective groan rang through the room with the shifting of books and papers. Most were reluctant to take the test in the first place and they were now just as reluctant to hand it in.
As one of these grudging students, Cloud squeezed himself from his desk, shouldering his pack and deciding not to even think about his inevitable failure on the test, when he felt Seifer's looming presence behind him. Startled, he resisted the urge to turn around and made his way forward to hand in his test to the brown tray on the corner of the professor's desk. Seifer however was not to be ignored. He clapped a hand onto Cloud's shoulder.
"I need to see you after class."
Cloud straitened his throat hesitantly. Seeing Seifer was certainly not something he wanted to do, especially after brooding on all those thoughts during the exam."I...I can't...I have to..."
"It's important. I'll meet you in the hallway." With that he brushed past Cloud and intermixed with the wave of students filtering out the door.
The guaranteed failure on the test and the new invitation to speak to Seifer collectively sucked out all the air in the room. He would hear what Seifer had to say.
Undoubtedly nothing good... Cloud could only imagine how awful this would turn out. If the brooding he dramatized during the test held any fact to how this new confrontation would play out, then he knew he would much rather let their communication issues fester than tackle the problem head on like he was about to do now.
Straitening his shoulders, he briefly scanned the crowd of the still exiting students and immediately spotted Leon. Cloud's heart raced. His palms felt damp. If Leon caught them talking in the hall, his greatest fear might come true. Then again talking to Seifer was in some respects unavoidable the matter needed to be resolved no matter how Cloud hated having to go through with it. There had to be a way for him to handle this matter without hurting Leon in the process, preferably without Leon even finding out. "Hey...Leon." He said touching his shoulder from behind.
"Uh...hi."
"Listen, I'm gonna go...uh...grab something to eat..." He lied. "So I'll catch up with you later, alright?"
"Cloud," Leon said firmly,
"I don't have your leash. Do what you want."
"I know...I just thought I'd tell you in case...you know...you wanted me to walk you to class again or something..."
"I'll be fine, I assure you."
"Are you sure?"
"Go eat. Now."
"...Right."
He faintly caught sight of Leon shaking his head in pity before heading out the door. At least one matter was solved. Now that Leon had no reason to be suspicious, he could handle this problem without worry. He could speak with Seifer, wrap things up between them (even though he really didn't want to go through with the whole ordeal) and all would be well. A simple plan really. Still though, he felt a tad guilty about lying to Leon, like a parent telling their child his dog had run away and would soon return, when in reality it was road kill.
Seifer was leaning against a the wall, waiting with a bit of impatience Cloud observed as he approached him. In the shadows of the semi-crowded halls, his features were cool and thoughtful, but to Cloud he was quite intimidating. Just as Cloud closed the distance between them, Seifer started.
"I want to know what's going on." He said calmly.
"Not much."
"You know what I mean."
Cloud scratched the back of his head. "I'm sure I don't."
"It's been a while since we've spoken."
"I really haven't noticed."
"You're being evasive."
"What am I evading?"
Seifer acknowledged Cloud with a short sigh and folded his arms. "Me."
"...You think too much." Cloud turned to leave, hoping Seifer would let him, but Seifer caught his wrist.
"I want to know why you're avoiding me. What's the matter with you?"
"..."
There was a gap of silence that followed then Seifer folded his arms and tilted his head back in a scornful sneer. "You've...been hanging around Leon a lot lately..."
Cloud gaped, having been taken off guard for a moment. "What...what do you mean?"
"Nothing. It's just an observation." He shifted his gaze to stare at Cloud at an angle. "Why? Should it mean something?"
Somehow all the degradations he was mentally giving Seifer during class earlier weren't as easy to come up with now. He felt like a child muttering snide comments under his breath, only to notice his mother had heard every word and was ready with punishment. He certainly did not like the way this conversation was going, especially if Seifer was going to drag Leon into it.
"What are you getting at?"
"Nothing."
" Then no."
"Good. For a while there I thought you guys were getting kinda friendly..."
"Do you have a problem or something?"
Seifer narrowed his eyes a little more. "As a matter of fact I do. I don't appreciate you giving me the blow off, and I don't appreciate you spending that time with Leon!"
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not Cloud. Of course not."
"Look, if you're having some jealousy issues, then—"
"Don't confuse jealousy with anger. They're not the same thing!"
"Well whatever it is, you don't have the right to be either..." Cloud frowned."it's Leon who should be upset..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing...I'm gonna go."
"Wait," He reached for Cloud's wrist for a second time. "Don't let that guy mess with your head Cloud."
He rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean it." His eyes were fierce. "Hanging out with weirdos like that isn't good for you. You're changing."
"Seifer, I really don't have time for this," Cloud was getting a bit annoyed. Seifer clearly didn't know Leon for what he was, and his rude comments were obviously because of his lack of understanding. If he only knew what Leon was really like...then again, Cloud wasn't sure if he even wanted Seifer to know. "I've got to go." He yanked his wrist from Seifer's grip.
"Fine then." his jaw tightened in irritation. "I'll see you later." Cloud returned the scowl. "Maybe."
With that, the two stalked down the hall in opposite directions charged with anger at one another. Having had his business taken care of (meaning not dealt with at all) his communication issues with Seifer, Cloud felt he would much rather go find Leon than dwell on it any longer. With that thought having just crossed his mind, he spotted the individual in question down the hall and raced to meet up with him.
Well, there it is folks. Finally, things are beginning to come apart at the seams ne?(I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself! That's kinda sad when it's your own story... . ) It took quite a while to type this one, due to the length. It usually takes me about a week to update, but sometimes I'm a wee bit inconsistent...sorry. In any case, please read and review!
Ja-ne!
