Story Title: After the Rain
Rating: K
Genre: Romance and Drama
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters appearing in this fanfiction.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews! They were awesome! Tifa gets more spotlight in this chapter. As for Zack and Aerith, they'll have their own moments happening behind the scenes in later chapters.

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Chapter 2
For those adolescent feelings

"Tifa, can you help me out?" Cloud couldn't believe he was doing this. After having gotten Zack to shut up about it, he tried doing everything himself and even consulted the examples he copied down. Yet to no avail did he understand. It took him twenty minutes to finally conclude that he really did need help, and so he picked up his phone and called Tifa. He just hoped Zack didn't find out or he'd be yapping about it forever.

"Sure, I can help." Answered Tifa. "Um, but what did you mean when you said I shouldn't mention this to Zack?"

"Just… please don't…" Cloud said with great difficulty.

"All right. So, when do you want to meet?"

"If it's okay, I was thinking about heading over to the library right now."

"Great. See you there." After exchanging goodbyes, they hung up. Cloud collapsed onto his bed, exhausted from using up all of his energy just reaching for the phone. Already he could see Zack's smug grin. It wasn't that Cloud never asked Tifa for help, it was just rarely he ever did.

"What did I get myself into?" Cloud muttered, pulling on a long-sleeved shirt before leaving. It was a bit chilly, but he'd be in comfort of the warm library soon anyway. With his notebooks clutched under his arms he stuffed his free hand into his pocket and headed towards the library. The sky was still gloomy and dark. Though it wasn't raining the fresh puddles of water from the morning shower were still present. Careful not to step in them, Cloud made his way across the large bodies of water and even extra cautious of standing too close to the edge of the sidewalk. You never know when a car was going to drive by and splash rainwater all over you.

When Cloud arrived at the library, he looked around just in case Tifa had got there already. He didn't see her anywhere, but the library was quite big. She could've been sitting in a seat upstairs, though it wasn't likely. He was about to head upstairs to take a look when he heard the sound of a warm voice speak suddenly from behind.

"Cloud?" said Tifa who had just barley walked in. Cloud felt his heart beating, though he wasn't sure if it was because he was taken by surprise or something else. Before he could say anything, she smiled and said, "Let's find a seat, shall we?" Cloud nodded slightly and followed her to an empty table. Right away they got to work. Tifa's explanations were much easier to understand; yet Cloud kept forgetting what she had just said. But she was patient and often laughed when he would ask her to repeat. Somehow they made it through, and they had spent two hours there. It seemed to Cloud that their time there was too brief, and he regretted that they spent more time talking about schoolwork than other things.

He dug his hands into his pocket nervously. "Um, Tifa."

She looked up at him, her eyes gentle. "Yes?"

"Are you free for the rest of the day?"

She smiled and nodded shyly. Cloud saw it as a way of her saying, "It's about time you did something." He chuckled and invited her to walk with him. It was still cold outside, and he hoped it didn't bother her. She looked perfectly warm in her maroon sweater though, which only made Cloud feel colder. "Are you okay?" Tifa asked, noticing he wasn't well dressed for the cold. He nodded, trying not to let her see him shiver. "I'm all right." She didn't look too sure. As they walked she slipped off the scarf she was wearing, then she stopped him.

"This isn't much, but here." She wrapped it around him. Cloud couldn't help but get the feeling she planned on choking him, but she placed the scarf around him gently. He instantly began to feel warm—around his neck anyway. When she was satisfied, she stepped away, smiling brightly. "Is it helping?"

"Um, yeah..." Cloud rubbed the back of his head.

Tifa laughed. "I'm sorry that I can't do much." An awkward pause followed by shy glances to the other. "Let's get something to eat." Cloud suggested, pointing to a café just across the street. "My treat." By the time they had crossed, it had begun sprinkling. Cloud bought hot chocolate for both and they sat in the comfort of the café, away from the rain. They sat at a table across from each other, sipping their chocolate and exchanging words here and there.

"Are you really leaving town?" Asked Tifa when they were on the topic about school.

Cloud took a glance of her saddened face and looked down. "I'm still not sure. But I'm likely to." He looked at her. "And you?"

"I'm going to stay here. Too much that I can't give up on."

"I see."

"But… Cloud," Tifa looked into his eyes. "If you do leave, is it all right to say… that I'll be waiting?" Her hands were clutched in her lap as she spoke. Cloud stared at her in disbelief, surprised that she would say something like that. Then he smiled and said, "Yeah." They soon left the café though it was still raining. Standing outside, they wondered how they were going to get home without getting wet. Keeping close inside the roof of the buildings, they made their around the sidewalk and spotted a quiet side street that seemed to beckon them. Cloud felt nostalgic feelings rush into him as he stood across from it. Without warning, Tifa suddenly walked out into the side street.

"I can't believe it." She said in wondrous awe. "I used to walk down this road all the time."

Cloud watched her as she stood out in the rain smiling excitedly. He used to walk down this road too. He and Tifa had both gone to the same grade school, but at the time they never talked as often as they did now. If they ever did cross paths on this road, all they said to one another was a quick greeting. And now, after so long, he was standing on this path again with her. Tifa was getting completely soaked in the rain, and she didn't care at all. Cloud walked over to her, slowly getting wet as well.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Cloud." Tifa said when she saw how wet he was getting. "You're getting yourself soaked-"

"You are too." Cloud said solemnly.

"Cloud?"

Tifa cocked her head to the side, confused, for Cloud had squatted down in front of her. He turned his head so his face was visible to Tifa and said, "C'mon. I'll give you a ride home."

She smiled shyly and allowed him to scoop her up and carry her. As Cloud carried her on his back as they walked through the side street, each corner and each house brought long lost childhood feelings to Cloud. With Tifa's arms locked around his waist, it made his heart beat faster. Not once did she ever relax her head on his back though. She never did.

"…I remember…" Tifa mumbled, blushing. "…The day you first offered to carry me on your back like this."

"Except I had an umbrella and we weren't soaking wet."

Tifa laughed. "Yes, but that didn't matter to me. It was… just nice being with you."

Cloud stepped over a puddle and turned a corner. They were getting closer to their homes. "Cloud… remember when we first met?" Tifa asked. Cloud nodded. "Yeah." In her voice, Cloud could hear longing. It was enough to melt his yearning heart. "Why do you ask?"

"…I just… wanted to know."

They continued walking through the side street that overflowed with memories of their youth. Once they drew near the busy streets, Cloud set Tifa down and walked her to her front porch. It was only then he wondered what sort of excuses they'd tell about their drenched clothes. When he asked about this to Tifa, she chuckled and said, "Good luck." They departed and Cloud walked right across the street to his house. After taking a warm shower and washing his clothes, he realized that he had forgotten to give Tifa back her scarf.