In The Beginning

Chapter THREE. Sleeping beauty, no, walking beauty?

Sky entered the elevator and pushed the button of the 49th floor.

When she finally reached her room in Genesis apartment, she dropped down the heavy buckets with paint. She quickly changed her clothes to some old jeans and a white, too small, t-shirt.

"Okay, how do we start", she asked herself in a cheerful voice. Sky covered the floor with old newspapers; she had stolen from the ShinRa paper container. She then decided to start with the drawer and closet. She painted them white. Sky really wanted to make her room personal. This room was going to be her "save chamber". In here, she could allow herself to just relax, she could allow herself to miss her home, she could allow herself to let go of her anger, because her new mentor was being ridiculous and didn't accept female SOLDIERs.

Sky switched the brush.

To her, almost all men were the same and only thinking on one thing. All men just wanted to use everything with a nice butt and chest. Skylar had never in her life met a guy who didn't think that way, besides from Zack of course.

She usually didn't trust people, but Zack had just seemed so honest and gentle, when she'd first met him. He was the first person Sky had ever told about her childhood.

Of course she hadn't told him that thing. No one was ever going to know. She was too embarrassed. What wouldn't people think of her?

She was done with the closet and the drawer. Sky decided to mix the blue and the white paint, into a light blue one. Sky's favorite color was blue. She painted one wall blue, and the rest of them stayed white.

"I think we should go out tonight", Sephiroth said. Genesis and Angeal both stared at him.

Since when has that guy begun to suggest socializing?

"Why?" Angeal asked obviously also surprised. "Because we should celebrate, that you two have become mentors", he simply answered.

Genesis snorted. "Yeah, there's not much to celebrate then". Angeal shot him a glare. "Please stop being negative!" The red-head just shrugged

"Well, I guess I could really need to get drunk, it's been a hard day", he stated flatly. "That's interesting, to me, it doesn't seems like you've done anything", the general pointed. "Don't get him started, Seph", Angeal warned.

Genesis rolled his eyes. "Let's just meet in the parking lot in 20 minutes", with that he left Angeal's apartment. When he opened his own front door, he was greeted by a killing smell of paint. He slipped down the hallway towards his old guestroom – now occupied by a 19 year old girl. Through the, almost closed, door he saw Skylar paint one of the walls, in an adorable light blue color. She had headphones on, and probably hadn't heard him. The look on her face was very concentrated and focused.

She had little stains of blue and white paint in her hair.

Genesis hurried down in the opposite end of the hallway, afraid she might catch him looking at her. He changed his clothes to something more casual, and then crashed on the bed to read Loveless, before he had to meet with his friends. A soft knock made him jump in shock.

"Yes?" he said. Skylar stood in the door, looking a little insecure. "I…I didn't knew you were here, I'm sorry about the smell", she said. "I guess it's my own fault. After all, I was the one to tell you, you could paint your room". She nodded thoughtfully. Genesis just turned his attention back to Loveless, when she spoke again.

"Ehm, I wondered if it would be okay, if I maybe slept on your couch to night?" Genesis stared in disbelief at the blonde girl.

What? Isn't her own room enough? Does she have to invade all of my space?

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Because, it's not healthy to sleep in a newly painted room, and… yeah", she replied, "but it's okay if you don't like the idea, I can understand"

Genesis resisted the urge to shout into his pillow. "Well, you live here too now, do what you want"

"Thank you", she smiled a thin smile and then turned around and left. Genesis looked at the clock. He had to go now.

He told Skylar to have a good evening, and she could just take whatever she wanted, from the fridge.

The Three SOLDIERs arrived to the bar they had chosen. "I'll have a bottle of red wine, please" Genesis told the bartender. "Not smart drinking on an empty stomach, Genesis", Sephiroth pointed".

"Oh really, Mr. Holy", he just said in a not-caring voice. "Cheer up, or I'll kick your ass. We haven't come here to discuss," Angeal eyed his friend, and his expression showed that he pretty much didn't want to deal with Genesis' childish behavior at the moment. "You're right. I'm sorry… first round's on me,"

The evening went out pretty nice. Genesis wasn't as drunk as he had planned to be. But he, Angeal and Sephiroth actually had a great time together anyway. They didn't talk about their new students, as Genesis had feared. Instead they talked about missions, women, the war with Wutai… They just talked.

Angeal had always been the one to handle alcohol the best, so he drove them all home.

Why is the lights still on in the living room?

Genesis thought that Skylar was going to sleep on his couch. He entered his living room, to actually find her on his couch. Why didn't she turn off the lights? He wondered.

For a minute he stood there. Just looking at her. She looked so… troubled. Like something wasn't as it should be. Her mouth was a little open and he face a little frowned. Normal people would look peaceful and relaxed, while sleeping. But her, she didn't.

Genesis slightly tilted his head. Why do I keep thinking she's beautiful? She's nothing, but a girl with too big dreams.

He retreated to his bedroom and fell asleep.

Genesis didn't know that her dreams weren't too big; he also didn't know she only had nightmares.

Genesis was startled. How could he not be? But, he would never admit it. There were so many things he wouldn't admit.

But how could she be THAT good? That was not normal for a girl her age… It was not normal for any girl.

It was the next day, and Skylar's training had begun. As up warming, he had her run 6,21 miles on a treadmill. Then she had to do the usual push-ups and crunches. After some more exercising, he had thrown her straight out in a Combat-fight.

And she was good. He hated to accept the fact, that this girl actually had been better than any male cadet, he had ever trained with. Well, of course Skylar was a SOLDIER, but Genesis never would have expected so much from her.

She had this special look in her eyes. When she tried to get a punch in on him – she looked so focused, like she was looking at something else, and not him, like she was seeing something he couldn't. It was really frustrating.

Much to his irritation, she knew how to hold her poses, how to stand straight and hold her hands right. He knew she was good. And he hated it. He also knew he should be very proud, and very happy, but he just couldn't.

She asked him all the time, if she was doing the things right, she was. But Genesis couldn't swallow his pride and just tell her she was doing very well, and corrected on unimportant, little things.

"Bent your leg some more, not that much!"

"More space between your feet" "You have to back faster"

All these things he corrected on, she did perfectly fine.

Damn I underestimated her

After a few hours they stopped. She was sweaty and breathing quickly. It had been hard. Even for him. "We're done for today", Genesis announced. He grabbed his coat and left. As he walked towards the door, he could feel Skylar's gaze on his back.

He really was unfair.

That was the third chapter. Hope you enjoyed! :-D
Let me know what you think, please ^^

xx