The rest of the day passed in a blur, Sephiroth being unable to concentrate on anything but Clementine. No one had commented on his trancelike, contemplative state, and no one commented on how depressed he seemed.
'I'm getting no answers by thinking.' Sephiroth thought. 'I have to see her one more time.'
After school, Sephiroth made another call to Aeris.
"Yes?" she asked, picking up on the first ring.
"It's me- Sephiroth. I need one more favor-" He told her an edited version of what had happened that day. She listened quietly.
"What do you need me for?" she asked when he was done, secretly sorry for Cloud and for Sephiroth- only one lie was keeping them apart, but that one lie might have also been Cloud's only chance to have a civil conversation with Sephiroth. So much depended on the silver-haired man- if he loved Cloud regardless of gender, then the lie was keeping them apart. If Sephiroth disliked Cloud as he seemed to, then the lie was the only thing allowing Cloud any warm, intimate contact with him.
Aeris bit her lip. She had promised not to interfere or tell, but she sure as hell could try to influence things for the better.
"I would like to have use of your front page again..."
Cloud POV
Thursday and Friday passed without incident- the entire school seemed to have a hush fall over it. Everyone had heard the story of Clementine and Sephiroth by now, and everyone had also heard that Sephiroth had been rejected twice, but still wanted her.
Even Tifa and Yuffie had heard the story, but thankfully neither of them drew the connection between Cloud's costume and the sudden appearence of a blonde, blue-eyed girl.
"I just can't believe it- I heard he kissed her and she shoved him away, but he still went after her." Yuffie said.
"Really? It wouldn't surprise me-" Tifa began, but Cloud cut her off.
"Leave him alone. We can go back to insulting him when he's back to being himself again." Cloud said. "It's underhanded to kick him when he's down like this."
Tifa, Yuffie, Barret, and Cid all looked at him like he had grown another head or three.
"Uh, Cloud? This is Sephiroth we're talking about, right? Long silver hair, green eyes, you hate his guts?" Tifa ventured, frowning slightly. She personally had never really cared about or hated Sephiroth, but Cloud had hated him so she had too.
Ah, witness the power of a simple childhood crush.
Tifa had secretly liked Cloud for a while when they were younger, but had kept it to herself- only telling Yuffie, her best friend, and swearing her to secrecy. Thankfully, the crush had died out a while ago but she still disliked Sephiroth because of how he was always hurting Cloud- physically and verbally.
"I don't hate him. Just leave him alone, alright?" Cloud told them. All but Vincent and Aeris shared a shocked glance. To avoid questioning, Aeris quickly asked Cid a question about his girlfriend- Shera. Cid responded happily, in his usual cuss-every-other-word fashion.
Cloud flashed her a grateful smile. Him revealing that he didn't hate Sephiroth was all but forgotten, shoved to the back of his friend's minds as the bell rang for the end of school for another two days.
Sephiroth POV
Sephiroth found himself once again in the office of the Echo after school, a week after he had last been there.
"Thank you again for letting me use your publication." Sephiroth said to Aeris, who just forced a smile. It was half her fault in the first place that he had to, so she really didn't mind.
Besides, more people than ever had read the Echo last week, and she wanted to top those numbers.
"It's no problem. You have your article already typed out, correct?" she asked. Wordlessly, he handed her a few sheets of typed paper. "We'll probably just use the picture from last week- is that okay? Zack's busy after school and my artistic talent is nowhere near his..."
"It's fine." Sephiroth said. "Do you need assistence with anything?"
Aeris shook her head.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, then." Sephiroth said, turning and leaving. Aeris nodded absently, reading over Sephiroth's work.
When she finished, she smiled as she sat down at the laptop.
'Cloud had better answer this.' she thought as she began to type.
Cloud POV
Cloud had just started to relax again- though he was still depressed- when he arrived at school on Tuesday morning. He would have relaxed completely had he not spotted the headline of that week's Echo.
'Let's Make A Deal, Clementine.' With a sinking feeling, Cloud grabbed a paper and read through it, face going pale with shock.
'' Let's Make A Deal, Clementine, by Sephiroth.
I know that many of you know I was rejected twice by the same person. I have not completely given up yet.
Last week she told me that it wouldn't work out between us, but I refuse to believe that. I will continue to look for her and convince her that we will work out until she tells me why she thinks we are not compatible.
So, Clementine, if you're reading this, I propose this deal: Go on one date with me, and if you still don't see us as working out, then answer me why and you will never have to see me or hear from me again. But, if you have changed your mind by the end of the date, then agree to become my girlfriend and come with me to the Valentine's Day dance in three months time. If I do not see you in that time, I will assume you have not seen this article and will continue to post it every week in the Echo until you come and see me. Should I lose use of the front page, I will post this article on flyers around the school.
I was not lying when I said it could be love. I want to try- how about you?'' The article then listed Sephiroth's home phone number, his cell phone nuumber, and address.
Cloud swallowed, shocked. The Valentines Day dance was a huge deal around here- it was couples only, no singles accepted- and going to the Valentine's dance proved that two people were an item, and very serious about each other. At that particular dance, nothing but slow love songs were played, almost encouraging students to make out on the dance floor.
Sephiroth had never gone to that dance, no matter who he was with at the time. He had never been present, proving that he had never been serious about anyone else.
Cloud swallowed again.
'This wasn't supposed to happen. How could he-? How could he still want me after I rejected him twice!' Cloud clenched the paper tightly in his fist, looking down at the floor. A single tear rolled from his eye, though whether it was for joy or sadness he wasn't sure.
Scene Change
Cloud wasn't even a little surprised when Aeris sought him out at lunch.
"Hey." she said quietly, sounding quite unsure of herself.
'It seemed like a good idea at the time, but... what if he's angry?' she thought, sliding into a seat across from Cloud.
"Hey." he responded. They fell silent for a moment, awkward, until Cloud decided to come right out with it.
"Why did you let him post that?"
"Because ... it's your only chance, Cloud. Maybe your last chance. I want to see you happy- and he only wants one date. He's not asking for you to marry him, he just wants a few hours of happiness with you and then an explanation. You want to too, right?" Aeris asked. Cloud hesitated, then slowly nodded his head.
"One day will have to be enough- then I'll tell him and he can hate me as much as he wants. I can't lie to him any more, and this is when I'm not even talking to him. I'll let this charade go on for one more day." Cloud smiled at Aeris. "I guess I should thank you, for giving me this last chance."
"Sephiroth deicided to write it- I just gave him somewhere to post it." Aeris replied. "You'll be needing a new dress, though- I can help you alter something so that it fits well. It may take me a day or two, though."
"That's fine." Cloud said. "I'll go and and see him on Friday- last day of school before we have vacation for the observation of the Meteor Crisis." Cloud was referring to an event that had happened centuries ago, but was still observed around this time- students got a week off to mourn their great-ancestors and visit shrines and old family members.
"To let him cool down?" Aeris asked quietly. Cloud nodded.
"I hope he can forgive me once he finds out- or at least tolerate me." Cloud said. They ate the rest of their lunches quietly.
Scene Change
On Thursday, Cloud talked to Sephiroth again- as himself- for the first time in over a week.
"Why are you all hung up over Clementine?" he asked the silver-haired man before world history- a class that only the two of them were in from their respective circles of friends. Sephiroth seemed surprised at being asked, but even more surprised at who was asking him.
"Why do you want to know? I don't see how it is any of your concern." Sephiroth replied, though not as harshly as he could have.
"I just want to know. If you don't want to say anything, that's fine." Cloud said, turning to go back to his seat when Sephiroth's voice stopped him.
"... she's as close to absolute perfection as I can get." Cloud turned, shocked at the softness and longing in the other's words.
"'Absolute perfection'?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow in question. Sephiroth was looking into the distence, like he was imagining something wonderful.
"Yes... one person in this school is absolute perfection for me, but... It's just that she was so like-" Sephiroth suddenly cut himself off, jerking his head back up to look at Cloud.
"Who?" Cloud asked, unable to help the flash of jealousy and disappointment.
"That is none of your concern." Sephiroth said, and refused to talk to Cloud for the rest of the day.
A/N: Sorry that this took me so long, and sorry if they seemed OOC this chapter! How was it?
Anyways, sorry for the shortness of the chapter- next week we have a slightly longer chapter, with a killer cliffie.
So, see you next week with the next chapter- the big date!