Story Title: After the Rain
Rating: K
Genre: Romance and Drama
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters appearing in this fanfiction.
A/N: Finally, an update! I've been so frustrated when writing lately that it's driving me nuts. But if you enjoy reading it, then it'll be worth it! Also, reviews sure do help out when I'm in a bind.

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Chapter 8
I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow?

"How's your dad doing?" Cloud asked Tifa. It had already been quite a while since Tifa's father had his attack, but at times he appeared to be having trouble with his health. Perhaps his old age had begun kicking in.

"He's doing just fine. Thank you for asking." The wind blew through Tifa's hair softly. She removed her long hair from her face. "It's already almost time for exams… and then once that's all over…" she stopped. Cloud glanced at her and caught a glimpse of Tifa's sad eyes.

"I won't be gone forever." Cloud tried saying casually.

"Y-yes, I know that. It's just, I never thought it'd be so soon."

"I didn't think so either."

When they arrived at school, Zack and Aerith were already at the front gate. They looked like they were waiting for someone—apparently Cloud and Tifa. Zack waved at them from afar, Tifa waved back and Cloud simply stared, wondering what Zack was up to. He never waited at the front gate for anyone, excluding Aerith. Yet today he was grinning happily with Aerith at his side.

"Hey!" Zack greeted. Seeing how energetic Zack was drained all of Cloud's energy for the morning. He felt his shoulders drooping already. Zack stared at him. "Cloud, you're not looking too good, are you okay?"

"Just fine…" Cloud muttered. Tifa giggled. "He's still a little sleepy it seems. Oh, that's right." She turned to Aerith and Zack. "What are you two waiting here for?"

Aerith frowned. By her look, it must've been another one of Zack's ideas. Zack stepped in between Cloud and Tifa, putting his arms around both of their shoulders. "Okay, to be honest it hurts me to say this…"

"You don't sound hurt at all." Mumbled Cloud.

"Anyhow," Zack continued, ignoring Cloud's comment. "Aerith and I are going to play hooky today, so can you give the teacher a good excuse for us?"

"W-what?" Cloud looked from Zack to Aerith. She tilted her head a little and smiled, then said hopelessly, "It's true."

"But, why would you do that?" Tifa asked, freeing herself from Zack's arm.

"It's a secret." Zack placed a finger to his lips. "Sorry, but we're counting on you."

Tifa looked at Aerith for an explanation but received only an unsure smile. Cloud, still trapped underneath Zack's arm, pried free as Zack walked away from them with Aerith. Before turning to leave, Aerith said to them, "We'll be back soon." Cloud stared fiercely at Zack, who stared back just as fierce, his eyes solemn. "Not now, later."

Cloud and Tifa watched as the two left. Before they were out of sight, Tifa whispered, "Aerith, be strong." The bell rang soon afterwards. Silently, they both went to class.

---

Tifa and Cloud both ate lunch together since Aerith and Zack hadn't showed up yet. Cloud wasn't particularly worried about Zack, he was more worried about what Zack might say to Aerith. He wasn't a cruel person, but he can be quite honest with his feelings that he appears cold. Cloud kept poking his food with his chopstick. Tifa ate her food quietly and watched Cloud play with his food. After a moment, she asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Huh? Ah, maybe not today. My appetite seems a bit off."

"Shame, and that looks like such good food."

"Not really… my mom makes better stuff than this."

"Oh, so you made your own lunch today?"

"Yeah." Cloud stuck a bit of vegetable into his mouth. "Then again, you cook better than my mom. Uh, but don't tell her that."

Tifa laughed. "Of course I won't." Her eyes wandered away from Cloud to the window behind him. They were on the second floor, so they could see the ground below them fairly well. "They're back!" Tifa exclaimed out of the blue. But as she got up, the lid to her bento box was knocked off her desk. She reflexively reached out to grab it, but Cloud having the quicker reaction caught it first. Her hand ended up grabbing his by accident. A second of silence passed, and Cloud quickly handed Tifa back the lid. "Um, thank you."

"Y-yeah…" Cloud rubbed the back of his neck. Then he looked at her, his face blushing. "Your hands are pretty cold."

"A-are they?"

"Yeah, I thought my hand went numb for a second."

Tifa laughed.

"Ah, wait a minute, aren't we forgetting something?"

"Oh… that's right." Tifa said, snapping back. "Just before, I saw—"

"We're ba-ack!" Zack emerged from the classroom doors. Aerith appeared from behind him appearing quite content and normal. It seemed like nothing happened between the two. Or possibly they were just good at putting on faces. Zack collapsed in his seat saying, "I sure could use a rest! Especially after all that talking."

"And yet, you're still talking?" Cloud wondered. He looked over to Tifa and Aerith. Aerith's back was facing Cloud, so he couldn't see her expression, but by the look on Tifa's face, it seemed like a whole novel just happened between Zack and Aerith. Cloud glanced back to Zack. He was slumping in his chair, his head leaning against it. His arm was raised to his face, covering his eyes.

Cloud didn't even have to ask for Zack said, "Later, all right?"

When the teacher returned, he was shocked to see Zack and Aerith in class. He asked Zack, "I heard you were attacked by a swarm of bees but… you like quite fine to me. Are you sure you're all right?"

"A… what? I…" Zack was at a loss of words. He didn't understand what the heck the teacher was talking about.

"Ah, no matter. It is good that you're here." When the teacher walked away, Zack immediately glared at Cloud. "Attacked by a swarm of bees, huh?"

Cloud smirked. "I needed to have my own fun too."

"Damn you…"

---

As everyone was packing up to leave after school, Cloud and Aerith caught each other's eyes. Cloud took the opportunity to ask her, "How is everything?"

She smiled. "Everything's fine. Ah, but I have a favor to ask…"

"What is it?"

"When you talk to Zack…can you tell him… I'm sorry?"

Cloud stared at Aerith. Disappointment filled him. He swung his book bag across his shoulders saying, "I can't apologize for you. You'll have to do that on your own."

Aerith sighed. "Perhaps you're right…"

Tifa returned and she left with Aerith after bidding Cloud goodbye. Cloud had to stay in class to wait for Zack. He ran off saying he had to get something. Whatever it was, he sure was taking his own sweet time. After some time, Zack finally returned carrying an incredibly large box. He dropped it on his desk, breathing heavily.

"Don't tell me you told me to wait just so I could carry this?" Cloud said hopelessly.

"Of course!" Zack yelled. "You can't expect me to carry this by myself!"

Cloud sighed. "Whatever."

Zack moved the box over to the next desk and sat at his seat. Immediately he already looked depressed. He lay his head down on the desk, covering his face with his arms. Cloud sat in a seat not too far from Zack. He knew Zack would tell him without him having to ask. It was their way of understanding. After a moment, Zack sat up straight and rubbed his face. Finally he started, "Aerith, she… she doesn't want to take a chance with me again."

Cloud listened quietly. Somehow he knew at that moment, Aerith was telling the same story to Tifa through her point of view and experience. Zack continued, "I don't know… what I need to do to get her back. I just don't know. It's been a year since we broke up—a whole year of agony. I don't even know why I'm still trying. But I… I want to hope that she still feels something for me, even if it's just a little. If she does… that's enough."

"You may say that, but you know it's not true." Cloud said.

Zack chuckled. "True. If I knew she still had something for me, I'd chase her down to the ends of the earth." He his reflection on the window. "…I look so pathetic." He laughed at himself. "No wonder she doesn't want me." The gray clouds loomed above the school and all areas close to it. Zack looked at Cloud. "Geez, I don't even know why I'm complaining so much when you should be the one complaining."

"Why would I want to?"

"You're leaving soon. Doesn't that bother you?"

"Yeah, but it's what I decided."

"And what if you regret it?"

"…We're not talking about me right now, are we?"

"No… no, we're not." Zack sighed and looked out the window. "Looks like it's going to rain."