Chapter 2- Tifa's night to shine
Tifa Lockheart loved her new dress. It was teal blue, strapless, and it ended just above the knee. 'It's the perfect dress for the perfect night.'Tifa thought as she walked out the door. From her doorstep, she could see her favorite spot, the Nibelheim fountain.
Today was Tifa's 16th birthday, and Cloud had not even bothered to knock on her door and wish her a happy birthday. But surely he would show up for their daily fountain meeting, right? Cloud always remembered to meet her there without fail or forgetfulness. Surely he wouldn't miss the most important meeting of the year, would he?
Tifa's nerves were calmed slightly when she noticed that all of the lights in Cloud's house were off. 'He's probably just out of town.' she thought. Still, Tifa loved to sit out under the first stars of the evening, thinking about her three great dreams: To become a famous fighter, become a well-known novelist, and get married to Cloud Strife.
The gleaming lights in the heavens beckoned to Tifa once again. She sat down at the fountain and gazed into the starry sky. For some reason, the thoughts just didn't flow on this night. Tifa's mind was just too rushed with thoughts of Cloud, and how he hadn't yet shown up. Unfortunately, she had plenty of time to stew over Cloud's absence.
Tifa waited for almost two hours before Cloud arrived. He was not dressed for the occasion, but was clad in the blue shirt and pants that he always wore. Tifa did not move. She kept her back turned to Cloud as she told him in a low, upset tone, "Do you want to know what I did yesterday, Cloud? I got my nails done. I told the lady in the salon that I was doing it for my boyfriend. I got my hair done. I told the woman there that I was doing it for my boyfriend. I bought a new dress. I told the cashier that I was doing it for my boyfriend. Do you see a pattern there, Cloud?"
Cloud responded in an unaffected tone, "I'm leaving town, and joining SOLDIER. I choose Sephiroth." After those words had left Cloud's mouth, he could see all of the vibrant hope and joy in Tifa's expression melt away into something between shock and anger. Tifa began to cry as she asked, "Cloud, if I'm ever in trouble and you come around, would you even save me?"
Cloud answered, "Yes, I would." Not fully believing him, Tifa asked again, "Cloud Strife, would you lay down your life for mine?" "It depends on the circumstances." "That's not good enough, Cloud." Cloud's forehead wrinkled slightly as if in deep thought. He then asked, "Why are you talking of such dark things?" Tifa calmly responded with a phrase that Cloud would never forget, "Because you've chosen the dark things."
In a vain attempt at cheering her up, Cloud gave Tifa the present that he had gotten for her birthday. When Tifa opened the package, her eyes gazed inside at the 'gift', a one-way ticket to Midgar. "You can come with me to MidgarTifa." Tifa wore a big frown on her face as she handed Cloud a present as well. "Cloud, I finished that story I was working on. Take a look at the title." When Cloud glanced at the book, he saw that it was labeled, 'Why I Never Want To Leave Nibelheim.'