To say that this chapter has been a struggle to write would be an understatement… I've rewritten it so many times in the last few months and haven't been happy with it AT ALL. I'm ok with this chapter, not entirely pleased with it, but it moves the story ahead to where I need it to be without dragging too many details out. I'm trying so hard to make this story as perfect as I can for all of you because you deserve it for putting up with me like you do, and I appreciate all of you for doing so! I never even noticed that my story has passed over 130 favorites! Guys, that's INSANE (for me)! The total views has passed 5,000 since I started rewriting this, also insane! I feel like I don't give you all the appreciation you deserve for sticking with me since 2012 when I started this adventure with Senna. 10 YEARS! Crazy! You're all the best! Ok I'm done ass kissing for now haha.
I'm actually considering making a deviant art account for this story to put character sheets, scenes, and other fun things from this story on there. Yay for me giving myself MORE projects when I have enough already. Anyways.. Onwards with the story!
Chapter 12: What You Don't Know
It felt like an eternity, but I could feel the warmth of his skin just centimeters away from mine. My heart thundered like a herd of horses galloping across the plains, the sound of it completely overtook my senses. I had just barely felt his lips touch mine, when the door to the rooftop slammed open with a loud bang. We both jumped back from each other, acting like nothing was about to happen, while a tall girl came around the door. She was dressed in a uniform with the building name, and carried a cigarette in her hand.
"Phew!" She sighed, "the night just started and I already need a smoke."
She put the cigarette to her lips, but before she could light it she caught sight of Cloud and I now awkwardly sitting in our chairs.
"Oh shit! I forgot there was a special something happening up here tonight. My bad guys." She stuck the cigarette behind her ear and pocketed her lighter, "I'm Syn, Noc's friend. You two must be Cloud and Senna."
"Hey." We mumbled.
She looked between the two of us, an amused grin spreading across her lips.
"Did I interrupt something?" She laughed.
"Uh.. no we were just leaving actually." I said quickly and stood from my seat, "Nice meeting you!"
Cloud said his quick goodbye, and before Syn could even respond to our rudeness, we slid down the ladders and ran through the alley. I stopped after a few minutes, huffing to catch my breath. Cloud came up behind me doing the same. Looking at the expression on his face, I couldn't stop the hysterical laughter that erupted from me. Tears rolled from my eyes as I wheezed, and I ended up having to brace myself against the brick wall. Everytime I so much as peeked at Cloud, his confused expression had me laughing harder and harder.
"What's so funny?" He asked when I had calmed enough to just giggle and catch my breath.
"Your face!" I wheezed, my body threatening to send me back into hysteria at the memory, "You looked like a lost kitten!"
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall next to me. Still I giggled at the memory, I couldn't stop even when I wiped the tears from my eyes.
"What's so funny about it?" He asked, starting to smile a little himself.
"I don't know!" I laughed.
Round two of hysterical laughter. Man, I haven't laughed this hard in years! Cloud started to laugh as well, most likely at me not being able to control myself, but still he laughed. Tears rolled out of my eyes again as I gasped for air. I swear we laughed for ten minutes at the least. My cheeks were sore and my chest felt like it was under tons of pressure when I had finally composed myself.
"Are you ok now?" Cloud chuckled.
"Ohh man, I haven't laughed like that in a long time. That felt great." I sniffed and wiped the last remaining tears from my eyes, "I'm hungry. Are you hungry? Let's go get some food."
We didn't go anywhere extravagant or anything. There was a food truck that made its rounds in Sector 8 around this time, so we tracked it down and ordered some greasy fast food that was created just to clog the arteries. Cloud paid, of course, no matter how much I argued with him about paying for my own food. I at least got him to agree that I'll pay him back later for his kindness. I know this is a date and all, but it's just not in my nature to let people cater to me.
It was Cloud's turn to laugh at me while I ate my grease trap of a sandwich. Cheese sauce exploded through the bread, smearing all over my face, and running down my cheeks.
The night started to wear down. The streets began to clear out of drunken citizens and general good time seekers, leaving Cloud and I to wander the streets with a select few people to pass by here and there. I could feel his fingers twitching next to mine as we walked. Glancing down at our hands, it looked like he wanted to reach over for mine, but was fighting about whether or not he should. I bit the corner of my lip and reached my pinky over to wrap around his. He looked over at me, but I turned my head away with a small smile. Slowly, he laced his fingers through mine and we walked in silence, enjoying each other's company. It was rather peaceful, until we got to my street. I looked ahead to the door to mine and Zack's apartment, seeing the light was off. Zack must be staying late. A part of me was a little relieved to be honest, for Cloud's sake. If he was home, he'd be out the door the second he heard me put my key in the lock.
"Well, this is me." I said once we reached the door.
Cloud awkwardly scratched the back of his head, looking sheepishly at his feet.
"Uh… about earlier. On the roof…" He trailed off. I knew what he was referring to obviously. The almost kiss. I wondered what it would have been like if that girl hadn't come out when she did. A light blush crept onto my cheeks as I thought about what his lips would feel like on mine.
"Don't worry about it." I said gently, "I had a good time with you tonight. We should do it again sometime."
"Yeah. We should." He smiled.
"Until next time then." I smiled back and kissed his cheek. A big part of me wanted to actually kiss him, but it didn't feel like the right time anymore. Was there even a "right time" for a kiss? Either way, I didn't have the guts to be the first to go through with it.
A blush crept onto my cheeks as he still smiled at me.
"Goodnight, Senna." He said, and started walking down the street.
"Goodnight, Cloud." I whispered, and walked in the door.
For the first time this entire night, I opened my phone to check for any messages. On normal occasions, my messages would be full of questions from Zack and Myrna. Either about my general wellbeing, or about the date in general. Not that Zack knew I had a date tonight, no, I kept that a secret from him. Not like it was too hard these days.
One message from Zack.
I'm gonna be staying late today. Don't worry about leaving the light on.
My heart sank a little at the message. Zack was always staying late anymore, like he expected Angeal to walk through the doors like nothing had changed. Zack and I are close, but Angeal was certainly his best friend. I felt like it would be selfish to say that I missed my brother being around more, even if I was just as lonely without my best friend.
I shook my head and tossed my phone on the couch. Tonight was wonderful, even if a little awkward at times. The emptiness of the apartment, or how quiet my phone was anymore would not bother me tonight. Not tonight.
When I walked into the Training Room, I was surprised to find it was completely empty. I checked my phone for confirmation of the current time, versus when Sephiroth told me to be here. I was early, but that didn't make much difference. Sephiroth was always here before me. His usual rule was "if you're not early, you're late", so I always tried to be at least half an hour early. Him being later than me left an eerie feeling in my stomach.
The door opened and a woman walked in. Her nose was buried in her phone and a piece of gum clicked beneath her tongue. She paid me no mind, her long blonde braid practically slapping me in the face as she walked by. Without looking away from her phone, she punched a code into the simulator.
I checked the message from Sephiroth again to confirm the time. Maybe I had the day wrong? No. And I was still basically on time, so who is this woman? Did she know that Sephiroth had a set time for the Training Room? Judging by her clothes, she had to. She wore the standard belt that every member of SOLDIER wore, same pants and boots. The only difference to her uniform was the lack of shoulder pads. Instead she wore a cropped black leather jacket with the sleeves pulled up to her elbows, and her vest was modified with a zipper down the front. The zipper was pulled so far down, her cleavage was very in your face visible. She had to have been a First Class.
Still she didn't even peak over my way.
"Uh," I cleared my throat, "excuse me?"
She glanced my way, still obnoxiously chewing her gum. Her stare made me feel the size of an ant just waiting to get trampled under her boots.
"I think you have the wrong time?" I knew she had the wrong time, but I couldn't stop myself from wording it like a question, "This time slot is supposed to be reserved under Sephiroth's name."
She raised her brow, her eyes moving to my feet and eyeing me up like a prized pig, observing every detail of my stance and uniform. Blowing a quick bubble of her gum, she flipped her phone shut and pocketed it before taking a couple steps towards me. I stood a little straighter as she crossed her arms and leaned on her left leg.
"I have the right time." She said flatly, like it should have been painfully obvious for me to know before I opened my mouth. "You must be Senna."
I couldn't hide the confusion on my face, which she smirked at.
"I am." I said slowly, "Who are you?"
"Sephiroth didn't tell you?" She asked, not even hesitating to decide if she wanted to answer my question or not.
"Tell me what?" I asked with a slight bit of attitude.
Her gum cracked multiple times as she stared blankly at me. I held my breath, forcing myself to stand upright with my head high. The picture of disobedience to a higher rank than me, something that could get me punished, but I didn't want to back down to her.
After a long minute or two of our staredown, she smiled and chuckled.
"I like you." She said, "You're about as tough as Sephiroth made you sound."
"That's…nice?" I paused.
The blonde held out her hand, fingerless leather gloves coating her palm with metal guards on the back.
"Petra Rogue. I'm going to be overseeing your training from now on." She said, still smiling.
Be still my beating heart. My jaw dropped as I clumsily shook her hand. The Petra Rogue! Standing right in front of me, shaking my hand, and… wait.
"Overseeing my training?" I said suddenly, "Why isn't Sephiroth mentoring me anymore?"
"He really didn't tell you anything, did he? Typical Sephiroth, making me do the tough talks. Damn him." Petra pinched the bridge of her nose, furiously chewing on her gum again, "Look, take it as a blessing in disguise. He's basically the perfect SOLDIER, living up to his standards are damn near impossible. He must have finally realized that and decided to pass you off to someone who can better see your potential."
With a shrug of her shoulders, she walked away from me and back to the computer. My brow furrowed in confusion as I processed what she had said.
"But, why wouldn't he tell me that himself?" I couldn't hide the slight bit of hurt that leaked through my voice.
Petra sighed, and turned back to me, "He's not exactly the emotional type. He probably didn't want to see the look on your face that you have right now."
"I don't have a look." I said, suddenly realizing I was slouching, so I stood up straighter.
Petra raised her eyebrow and blew another bubble, clearly not believing my lie. When the bubble popped, she turned away from me again and punched in some codes for the simulator.
"Like I said," she started, "think of this as a blessing in disguise. Unlike Sephiroth, I'm a normal human. With me as your mentor now, and with the time you spent with Mr. Super SOLDIER, you'll climb to 1st in no time at all. So we might not be spending too much time together."
The door to the simator hissed open as she finished punching in her codes.
"This is the program I used my first day as a 1st. Let's see how you match."
Reluctantly, I shoved aside my annoyance and hurt, and entered the simulation.