Of Notebooks and Novels

Tifa wanted a book. She wasn't really sure, but she knew she liked fairy tales, with dragons and unicorns and other mythical creatures. Romance was a must. She knew herself to be quite the sap, and she loved to read of heroes and heroines where an evil tyrant had to be vanquished and a heartfelt sacrifice was required. She loved reading about love appearing in unlikely places, celebrations on unusual occasions, and starlit nights. Tifa knew the reason she lost herself in such stories was because she could identify with some part of it.

Entering the Midgar Memorial Library, Tifa waved at Kara, the librarian who checked out the books. Tifa did a double take at her pained expression. She recognized Reno the Turk leaning on the other side of the desk, speaking to her in a low voice with a flirtatious grin. Tifa couldn't help but giggle. She never thought she would see Reno in a place of intelligence.

Tifa knew the layout of the library very well, being a regular client. She often took Marlene and Denzel here, and even and Cloud came with her on several occasions. He enjoyed reading plays and nonfiction books such as Loveless and 101 Ways to Customize Your Motorcycle.

Tifa wound her way through the stacks and turned right after the reference section. She found the shelf that was swiftly becoming her favourite in the way of books. There was a particular author whose books sat on this eye-level shelf, and Tifa was reading her way through them. She grinned excitedly at the many more she had to read by her.

Not hearing someone cough from behind the shelves, Tifa had learned to block out any distracting sound as she read an excerpt from each book as she made her decision on which one to borrow next.

As she ran her finger across the spines of the books, she found a fairly new hardback and the spine was thicker than her wrist. She bit her lip as she grabbed it and pulled it out of its place.

At the same times, someone had pulled a book out from the other side.

Tifa gasped as she recognized the young man that picked out the reference book and was now flipping through it, a small frown creasing his forehead. Hearing her gasp, he looked up. A distant look crossed his face, as if trying to place her from his memory. Then he smiled.

"Hello, Miss Lockheart," he whispered, closing the book entitled The Ethics of Business in the Financial World. Tifa nodded in return.

"President Rufus. I never expected to see you here."

Rufus arched an eyebrow, clueless. Tifa closed her book.

"Well, I thought you might have your own private library."

Rufus shook his head, grinning. "I hope I'll never lose touch with the public again," he stated simply.

"Shhhh!" Tifa turned to see another librarian with a finger pressed at her mouth. Rufus peered behind her and nodded acknowledging the admonishment. Tifa raised her eyebrows as she turned back to the ShinRa president and grinned. He smiled with equal amusement. Tifa took a couple more books off the shelf and turned away, and almost bumping into Elena.

"Oh! Sorry," Elena whispered, "It takes me forever to find this section." The female Turk winked and looked at Tifa's books. "Oh! You like that author, too?" Tifa nodded.

"They're so unbelieveable, though."

Elena shook her head. "I think she said in one of her prefaces that they're based on true events." She pointed to the thick novel in Tifa's arms. "This one's her newest release. There's alot of romance and action in this one. You might even be able to recognize some of the storyline." She winked again. Tifa was confused, but decided not to pursue the matter. She might aswell find out for herself.

Leaving Elena among the fiction books, Tifa walked out and made her way to the checkout desk. A few minutes later, Rufus came up behind her. She looked back over her shoulder and took a glance at his books. He held in his arms some more finance books and one fiction book. Her mouth curved as she recognized the book. Action. Heroes. Villain turned good. Good versus evil. Even the turned-villain had a love interest, if Tifa recalled correctly.

She looked up to see him staring down at her, a smirk on his face. "Satisfied with my choices?"

Tifa rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "I didn't really take you for one who reads fiction."

Rufus sighed dramatically. "There's a lot you don't know about me."

"Next, please."

Tifa smiled knowingly and turned back to the librarian. Kara scanned and stamped the books and handed them back to Tifa. She then proceeded to drop them in her shoulder bag and then slung it over her head. She looked back at Rufus, who was staring right back. He nodded. Tifa tilted her head to the side as she smiled and gave a little wave.

Rufus turned back to Kara and took his books. Disconcerting for the Turks, he was smiling for the rest of the day.

Please review! I love to know if I'm any good.