Sitting at a table far from Cloud, Zack kept looking back at the blond. He felt hurt; he was sure he'd read Cloud's signals correctly, but Cloud had run away. Did Zack just have rubbish social skills? Or was there something else going on?

Zack shook his head restlessly. It was no good. He couldn't carry on like this. He'd been pretending to want to be nowhere near Cloud, but really he wanted to be at the blond's side and never leave. He didn't know why he suddenly felt so strongly; it was almost like some godlike figure had decided he was doomed to love Cloud, like his fate was written in the stars. But the reasons didn't matter. The point was, Zack was going mad. He had to sit with Cloud again. Maybe they could still be friends, even if Cloud didn't feel the same way. Zack would keep his secret burning passion to himself. The sound of Cloud's voice might send delicious agony through Zack's body, making him tremble like a spider's web in the rain, but Cloud didn't have to know that. Not if Cloud wasn't interested.

Zack stood up, intending to go over to Cloud and make amends. And then he saw that the Silver general was standing in front of the blond, giving him a plate of potatoes. Zack's eyes widened as he saw what happened next.

.

Cloud popped the gravy-covered potato into his mouth, and immediately a strange feeling came over him in hot, splashing waves. His gaze slowly slid up the Silver General, and Cloud felt powerful attraction like a magnet. He couldn't stop himself; in three seconds he'd jumped to his feet and kissed Sephiroth hard on the lips.

Sephiroth pulled Cloud closer, not caring that everyone in the canteen was staring at them. He put his tongue in Cloud's mouth and then started sucking on Cloud's tongue; Cloud dug his fingernails into Seph's back, pushing against him, desperate to be as close as possible.

Suddenly, something splattered onto Cloud's head. Cloud pulled back and looked up to see a (now empty) glass of orange juice held in a hand.

Zack's hand.

Cloud and Zack looked at each other for a few seconds. Zack was shaking with rage and pain, his knuckles white as he gripped the glass he'd just poured all over Cloud and the Silver General. Cloud felt his heart break; he didn't understand why he'd just kissed the General, but it didn't matter. He'd never have a chance with Zack now.

Cloud looked back at Sephiroth, but he no longer felt attracted to him. The potion's attraction magic had worn off; it looked like it couldn't stand up to true love for long. Sephiroth, however, still wanted Cloud.

"Recruit, come to my office tonight," said Sephiroth, eyes dancing with passionate fire. "Let me reward you for your impudence."

Cloud nodded, gulping. He didn't know how to say no. Sephiroth touched his cheek in a sensual way and then left, taking the rest of the potatoes with him so he could eat them later. The rest of the canteen stared at Cloud. Cloud kept his head down. He didn't want any more trouble.

Unfortunately, he was in more trouble than he realised. The potion's attraction magic might have worn off, but it would still kill him and his lover if he ever lost his virginity. But Cloud had no idea...

It looked like Sephiroth might get more than he bargained for.