Disclaimer: I do not own it... sigh.
A/N: PEOPLE. I know it has been YEARS since I've updated. Mainly because I forgot all about this (please don't kill me) and because I forgot my password. :/ BUT I PROMISE YOU, I WILL NOT ABANDON THIS STORY ANY LONGER! Hope you enjoy Chapter 3 to this story, though. This chapter mainly consits of CloTi during the weekend, so yeah. :D No flames, please. Thank you!
"Tifa, it's time for dinner!" Mrs. Lockhart shouted from downstairs.
Tifa put down her pencil and took a quick stretch. "Coming, mom!" She looked at her cellphone to see if there were any text messages before she headed downstairs to the dining room.
'I wonder when Yuffie will text back...' Tifa thought, while taking a seat. On the afternoon when Yuffie came over to Tifa's house, Yuffie had mentioned that they should have a hang-out on Sunday afternoon with the gang.
"A hang-out? I'll see if I can go," Tifa said.
Yuffie smirked, "You mean, you KNOW you can go. Besides.." Yuffie leaned a bit closer to Tifa and winked, "Cloud's gonna be there."
Tifa shook her head, 'That Yuffie... She's so optimistic.'
Mr. Lockhart took a seat at the dining table, followed by their maid, Zen, who was about to serve their dinner on the table.
Tifa thought this would be the time to ask her parents about their little 'hang-out.' After a few minutes of chit-chatting and talking about school, Tifa thought it would be time to bring it up.
She put down her fork, "Mom, dad? Can I ask you something?"
"Does it have to do with school?" Mr. Lockhart asked.
Tifa shrugged, "Sort of. Kind of."
Mr. Lockhart thought for a moment before saying, "Sure, go ahead. What is it?"
Tifa looked at her parents, trying hard not to say the wrong thing as much as possible. "Well, y'know my friends from school? One of them was thinking of having a little get together this weekend, and well... I was just wondering..." She paused for a moment, "I was wondering if I could go, too?"
Mr. Lockhart stared at her for a moment, then began to eat. Tifa wasn't very sure if it was a yes or a no. She looked at her mother, who was doing a nervous smile, "Honey, you know we can't let you. Besides, don't you have piano lessons?"
"That's next Sunday. And I've already practiced what I needed to," Tifa replied.
Her mother smiled, "Well, maybe you should practice some more, then. You know what the say! Practice makes perfect!"
Tifa frowned and tried to refrain from being angry, "The reason why I can't go... is because of it, isn't it? That's why, huh?"
"That's half the reason. The other reason is because we're not there to look out for you," her father said, finally speaking.
"So?" she backfired, "I go to school, and you're not there! So what's the difference?!"
"Because, there are adults that look out for you. And Tifa, remember what the doctor said. You don't have much time, so we're going to look after you the best we can."
Tifa couldn't take it. Her heart was aching. Her fist began to clench. "Why is it so hard for you to understand how I feel?! For once, I ask for something that I want!"
Her father sighed, "Tifa, it's for your own good."
"For my own good? You mean for your own good!" Tifa's eyes swelled in tears as she got up from her seat and ran outside of the house, to the place where she found her peace. She kept running, tears in her eyes, not looking back.
After running for a few minutes, she finally stopped at her sanctuary. It was the Miracle River. It was between a beautiful field and a path that lead to the city, seperated by a bridge. A place where Tifa had found peace no matter what happened. She went here on the way to school and back.
She crossed the bridge and and sat near the river. She sighed and layed her back on the grass and looked at the sky. 'Will I ever become normal?' She asked herself. This thought played back and forth in her head until she heard someone behind her.
"Tifa?" A familiar voice called out.
She turned around and saw Cloud, holding a small box with a strawberry on it in one hand.
"Cloud? What are you doing here?" She asked, standing up with a red face.
Cloud blushed a bit also, "Well, I usually go here after working. Just to... you know... Relieve stress," he tried to remain calm as possible, "What are you doing here?"
Tifa smiled, "Well, I usually go here after getting mad... Just to... you know... relieving stress."
Cloud chuckled, "Well, I guess we're compatible. You mind if I join you?"
Tifa nodded and made room for Cloud to sit next to her. As he sat down, she could feel the blood rush to her face and small drop of sweat trickling down her back. She honestly didn't know what to say to him and wished that he would start the conversation first.
The pregnant silence was almost unbearable.
"So... Are you going to hang out with us on Sunday?" Cloud said, breaking the silence.
Tifa shrugged, "I'm not sure, really."
"You should go. We're gonna go everywhere! Plus, there's an event at the park where they have a live band, fireworks, and everything."
"That sounds... fun," Tifa said, looking at her feet.
"Well, it won't be if you're not there."
She felt herself blush and tried quickly not to make it noticable. Suddenly, her cellphone rang.
"Sorry, Cloud, hold on a minute," she said, answering the call, "hello?"
"Tifa, honey," her mother's voice said through the phone, "Please come home. We're so sorry."
"Uh, yeah, mom.. I can't really talk about this now."
"Well, please come home. It's getting late. Your father and I talked and we decided we will think about it."
"Alright. I'll be home soon. Bye, mom. Love you," she said, before hanging up.
She looked at Cloud who was looking at the river anxiously, "Hey Cloud, I'm sorry, but I gotta go."
Cloud nodded, "Oh, okay, well see you around then."
"Yeah, see you," Tifa said, a little disappointed he didn't beg her to stay. As she got up and started her way back home, Cloud called out her name.
Tifa turned, "Yes, Cloud?"
He coughed a little before standing up, "Tifa, I know I'm supposed to mind my own business and this might not help whatever you're dealing with... but... you're a really beautiful girl."
Tifa's cheeks burned. She smiled and said, "T-Thank you, C-Cloud."
Cloud took a few steps closer to her. Tifa felt her face burning even more as she tried to keep her balance, thinking that Cloud was going to kiss her any minute now. The last thing she wanted to do was fall and look stupid.
Cloud stood infront of her and placed his hand on her face.
"But you're even more beautiful when you smile."
Tifa, not being able to take it any longer, especially her cheeks, she quickly nodded and started walking her way home again.
'I am such an idiot,' Cloud thought, 'I scared her off.'
Tifa's mind screamed, 'I am such an idiot. I turned him off.'
A/N: I promise I will update as much as possible. :D So please, review! And I also promise that I will update (I will try my best to) every week or so. Not every year... -_- THANK YOU!