Cloudy Tifa

-Chapter 10-

"Another day, a jealous girl"

Today it was Noa, Tifa's step-mother who climbed the stairs to wake up the sleeping honor roll student. Noa shook her step daughter gently at first, but Tifa was in a deep sleep and ended up shaking her roughly, almost to the point to where Tifa's head might of popped off, if that were physically possible. Noa apologized. When Tifa had come out of her daze, Noa explained that she had not meant to shake her so hard; and what a deep sleeper Tifa had become lately. Her stepmother was right. Her habits had changed quite a bit. Most notably the way she slept. It had gotten to the point where every day one of her family members would have to come and wake her for school or breakfast.

"I'm sorry mom-" Tifa coughed as she sat up, she felt her throat swell she knew what it was "I will be right down momma."

"Are you okay sweetheart." Noa noticed that Tifa was a little green in the face.

"I'm fine, I will be right down momma." Tifa quivered, she was trying not to fight the sickness. Noa was eyeing her carefully, and was about to say something. Luckily, Tifa heard Yuffie yelling from downstairs calling for their mother, Noa knowing her younger child well knew that Yuffie would keep yelling till she was downstairs; forcing the middle aged women to leave the room and rush to see what Yuffie wanted.

"We will talk at breakfast" Noa stated over her shoulder as she exited Tifa's room. With another bullet dodged, Tifa ran into her bathroom and vomited.

Tifa swore countless times that she would do something about this problem. But it was something that she could no longer control. Fatigue, Tifa had read that it was a common symptom during the five to eight gestational weeks and it would go on for quite some time. Morning sickness was an increasing problem as well, as Tifa had come to learn the name "morning sickness" was just a name and found herself running to a sink or stall to puke, at school Tifa would take frequent bathroom passes during some classes, a few of her teachers had expressed concern but did not question further than that. This morning she had almost thrown up in front of Noa.

"I better be careful" she said aloud. Privately, in her mind, she reprimanded herself. How was talking out loud being careful?. Tifa made a memo to only use her inner monologue from now on, it was safer that way. Her parents had heard her talk to herself before, but not when she had a major secret to keep under wraps, it was a quirk of hers and thankfully no one besides her family members knew about it.

When Tifa joined her family at the table- a grand spread lay before her. Her stomach quaked painfully. Tifa was not so eager to dig in, although the breakfast her family had prepared looked and smelled amazing. This morning's episode had made her lose her appetite. Both Tifa's father and step mother questioned her about this as they had begun breakfast, Yuffie was piling morsel after morsel onto her plate, but Tifa was just sipping on orange juice. Which led to Noa mentioning the incident in Tifa's room; Noa asked if Tifa had the flu and if she wanted to go to a doctor to get checked out. Tifa blanched as Noa expressed her concern, and could not come up with a good explanation for what had occurred in her room or her change in behavior, and all of a sudden all eyes were on her, it looked as if her parents were getting ready to interrogate her.

"Does this have anything to do with your lack of training? I've noticed that you have not been practicing your Zangan-Ryu." Tifa's father interpolated, Tifa used to get up early in the morning to practice some of her moves. She still practiced, just not in the morning, but using tame moves in her room that would not harm the baby.

"Tifa, your actions lately are curious. You are not acting like yourself, are you sure you're not getting sick?" Noa was trying to be compassionate, but Tifa was still struggling to find the right thing to say.

"I know why!, it's because of school!" Yuffie piped up gleefully "Tifa, always complains about how much work she has to me. She hates having to do all that work, but wants to get into a good college so she can make something out of herself, I bet ya anything she's having the school jitters!"

And with that, the apprehensions that the Lockhart parents had perished. Just like that.

'Oh Yuffie, What would I do without you?' Tifa thought adoringly. She forced back a smile, it would have looked suspicious. She had to remember to be cautious.

Yuffie's explanation made her parents nod in agreement. That made a lot of sense, especially to their papa. Always he had pushed Tifa to do her best, to strive for success, and graduate at the top of her class one day with honors. Hopefully as the speaker at the graduation. To be a Valedictorian was a goal of Tifa's and her papa, she was no longer sure if that would be possible now.

"Tifa, take it easy okay. I don't want you to tire yourself out you still have two years to go." her poppa said softly "Have a day or two to yourself. Your already on the honor roll, so you should go out and be a kid. Your only sixteen once" her father surprised her by saying this. He had always pushed her to do her best, to work hard and to never take short cuts, but this was the first time that her poppa had ever expressed his approval of her going out and being a kid. Tifa smiled at him, he truly loved her, he only wanted the best for her. Seeing her in the state that she was in must have made her poppa feel so guilty.

Tifa's high did not last, she remembered what she was hiding from him and the guilt overwhelmed her; Knowing well that her condition was not caused by overachieving.

"Don't worry poppa, I'll take a break, I promise" Tifa assured her dad. How she hated to lie to him, and how she feared him as well. Her father was not a violent man, in fact he was the exact opposite. Loving, but easily wounded.

Only a short while ago; the question on Tifa's mind was whether or not Cloud would accept his son or daughter. Now the question that plagued Tifa's mind was whether or not her father would accept his grandchild. He would be a young grandpa.

The way her father ate breakfast without a care in the world only fueled the pyre of guilt she felt. If she had not kept her cool, surely she would have cried in front of him.

'I'm sorry poppa...I'm so sorry.'

Tifa and Yuffie finished their meals before their parents. The girls rushed to the door to put on their school shoes. Tifa was ready to go, her leather school bag was light, and surely it would be full of home assignments by the end of the day. What a dreadful thought.

"See you later sis!" Yuffie waved goodbye. She was going the opposite way, she was going to ditch school again. Tifa sighed disapprovingly Yuffie did this quite too often.

"Yuffie! Please don't ditch today!" Tifa cried out futilely "Please go to school."

"Maybe tomorrow, I've got a few friends waiting for me!" Yuffie grinned and dashed to the end of the street, disappearing thereafter. Tifa frowned, she had to do something to stop her younger sister from skipping out on school. She did not want anything happening to her grades...or worse. Body.

Later in the day, at school. Aerith met up with her and informed her that there was going to be an emergency meeting in classroom 4-A during the lunch break. Zack had called it. Aerith stated that it was absolutely vital that every member be present. When Tifa passed the news on to Cloud, he had already gotten word of it.

"I have no clue what this is all about, but I should go." Cloud was vice president of the club, a key member. It was quietly assumed by all in the club that Cloud would take on Zack's position as club president after Zack graduated. "We probably won't be able to eat lunch, if it's that important it might take up the whole break, but come with me okay?" Tifa was cool with it, Aerith would be there, and the two could talk in the back while the gang went about MC business.

"I'll take you out to eat after school, any place you want to go too?" Asked Cloud. Tifa actually did have a place in mind, a place in Metro 7. Tifa was craving liver now, and there was a restaurant in metro 7 that sold a soup with lots of liver in it. Tifa told Cloud this, upon hearing about liver he scrunched up his nose. He hated the stuff. Cloud stated that he would definitely eat something else if they had burgers than he would eat those. Tifa laughed. Cloud even found humor in that, they split up after the break between classes. They would catch up again soon.

When the clock struck twelve, kids boomed into the halls in massive groups. Amongst the chaos, Tifa and Cloud managed to find each other. Tifa smiled at him, she was glad to see him. She felt a little faint from the masses, and was glad to be in his arms where she would be safe.

"We better hurry, I don't want you to be late" Tifa held onto his arm as tightly as she could. Their peers were practically pulling them apart. Cloud was not going to let go, instead, he gripped Tifa tightly and pushed and shoved students out of his way till they reached the door.

The two traveled across the courtyard to the freshman building. There were at least four different buildings that accommodated each year with one building being the school auditorium. The one's that boxed the courtyard in were the basic: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior buildings. Classroom 4-A was a freshman class that housed computers. Cloud as a junior was required to take computers; since he had not taken it already in his freshman and sophomore year due to overcrowding. Zack had to take computers as a senior because he had been misplaced the previous three years.

Both were well liked by the teacher. The teacher favored Zack over the rest of the students in his classroom, which in a weird way; made Cloud kind of jealous. Since Zack was friends with the instructor, the computer room was often given to the Motor Club to host their meetings. As long as the computers were not harmed though. That was an important rule, if one monitor were to receive even the slightest scratch, the room would no longer be made available to them.

It was a rule everyone in the club followed. It was cold outside, and 4-A was the warmest classroom in the school. Nobody wanted to go back to sitting in the MC parking lot again, it was too cold and uncomfortable to sit on the curbs.

Upon entering 4-A. Tifa felt a pair of eyes on her, maybe two. She looked around to see if anyone was staring at her. There were two girls starring at her: Jesse Merrywheather, the girl in the red bandanna who had batted her eyes at Cloud during his first day in the club. Tifa felt a hard lump in her throat, she and Jesse had never really gotten to know each other, nor had they ever really spoken to one another-but it was clear to Tifa that Jesse did not like her.

Jesse glared at her, a red head sitting next to her mimicked Jesse's expression only the girls green eyes pierced Tifa's very essence. Nicki was the red heads name, if her memory served her correctly. Tifa and Nicki had never been friendly in the past, it did not look like they would be in the near future. Tifa desperately wanted to get along with everyone in the club, but many of the females in her grade still disliked her for what happened with Rufus Shinra last year. Tifa breathed uneasily, she wished that she had never dated Rufus Shinra. Maybe then girls would have left her alone.

Tifa had never cared about her reputation, believing still that school was much more important. But the trash talking…it still hurt her. The stares, the nasty remarks, the giggling and gossiping behind her back. It was only a matter of time before it all broke her down. Tifa was defiant, and adamant about keeping her cool at school- she did not want to give anyone the satisfaction, she wanted to be strong.

"I know you guys are all wondering why I called you here during chow time." Zack had begun the meeting, here she was throwing herself a pity party when she had come to support Cloud. Tifa felt a bit embarrassed, and focused her attention on Zack and Cloud.

"There is something I've been meaning to tell all of you, it involves Cloud, and what we did awhile back. You remember, the chalk on the field?" Cloud's face dropped as Zack continued to speak, Tifa was confused, why did he look so upset?.

"Well...you guys are not going to be happy about this..." Zack explained why he and Cloud had done what they did. Upon announcing the punishment that they had received, the room burst out in groans, many cursing. How outraged the motor club members were, Tifa felt her cheeks burn red in shame; Cloud had written on the field for her, to get her attention, she had been the reason for this punishment and was prepared for the glares that would be thrown her way.

Surprisingly no one in the club held it against her. At least not visibly from their blank facial expressions, Instead members raised their hands to ask Dance Committee related questions.

"Do I have to do this? I can't get out of this in any way?" A tall boy in back asked, Zack shook his head,.

"Everyone in the club has to partake in decorating the gym, no one can skip out." Zack explained. A slew of questions followed until another boy asked the vital question.

"Do we get to call the shots on the way the place looks? The theme and stuff?" the answer to that was yes. The motor club members attitudes changed with that question, everyone was peaked with interest now.

"When do we have to start decorating?" the same boy asked Zack.

"Not for another four weeks." Answered Zack.

The room was a buzz, suddenly, decorating the gym for the fall festival did not sound so bad. In fact, a the club was looking forward to it!. Zack then began to accept idea's for the dances theme, everyone wanted to jazz the gym up like the Gold Saucer during racing season, so the theme was picked. With the group now discussing the dance with excitement, Zack and Cloud glanced at one another from across the room and grinned. The principal's idea had backfired, the Motor club was calling the shots now.

.

While the happy crowd planned, and joked about how pissed off the principal was going to be about this. Two very disgruntled girls exited the room unnoticed. Jesse and Nicki no longer wanted to be in the same area as Tifa Lockhart, the school slut. Neither liked her, both detested the brunette with a burning passion. The things they had heard about Tifa and Rufus were much too scandalous to be false, and there Cloud was –the honorable Crazy Wolf- dating a slut. Jesse only wished that Cloud could see through her facade, Zack too, and the rest of the Motor Club boys.

How Tifa had the crew fooled. They were just too trusting when it came to pretty girls! That's all she was, just a pretty girl. Not the sweet little lady that all the boys believed Tifa to be. Just because she was on the honor roll did not make her innocent, just because her boyfriend was the Crazy Wolf did not make her any sweeter, that girl believed that she was so high and mighty.

"I can't stand her" Nicki growled, her pearly white teeth clenched tightly as she said this. Her red hair bouncing lightly while she stomped down the hall alongside Jesse.

"She thinks she's so wonderful! Just because she's on the honor roll, and in the martial arts club" Jesse added bitterly "She's so fake too, always acting like a goody goody in front of everyone. I don't buy it! Don't see why everyone else does."

"Here here!. Just wish that someone would put her down a peg or two. To show her that she is not as great as she thinks she is" Nicki really hated Tifa. First, Tifa goes out with Rufus Shinra, shatters his heart into a million pieces. (Tifa had probably slept with him too!). She seduces all the other boys in their year. Then, without any effort at all, she snags the Crazy Wolf. Just like that! And that was not all that she had done, Tifa had hurt Nicki…and Nicki was not over it.

Tifa was a piece of work alright, going after the popular boys and using them till she got bored with them. Nicki wondered who she'd go after next?. Zack? Even though he was Aerith's (Tifa's best friend). Or maybe Johnny? Biggs, one of Cloud's friends. Wedge had a thing for Tifa, maybe Tifa would go after him next. Honestly, Nicki would not have been surprised if Tifa up and left Cloud for an actor off of the popular play "Loveless". A slut like Tifa would have run off to Costa del Sol with a rich guy too!.

"I can't believe Cloud is with her." Jesse moaned, stomping her foot down in the process. The two girls were alone in the hall, free to talk and vent out their frustrations in peace. "Why can't he see she is no good for him? She is using him! Have you seen the way he's been acting lately?".

It was hard not to notice Cloud's behavior. He was so abrasive now, at least when guys talked to Tifa. Same when they accidently bumped her in the halls, Cloud would get that nasty stare in his eyes. Like he would lay someone out if they touched that no good girlfriend of his. What was wrong with him? Why was he acting like that? He was normally such a private guy, who ignored everything around him and let such trivial things go.

"Trust me, I've noticed." Nicki muttered. "I'm not the only one."

"What do you think she did? What did she do to make Cloud go and write a message like that where everyone could see? What if he had gotten kicked out of school for that instead of being forced onto the dance committee" Questioned Jesse, she was growing redder by the seconds that passed.

"I dunno, but I want to find out." Answered Nicki.

Jesse sighed. How would they every find out what happened? Cloud would never talk about it, not with her. Jesse crossed her arms over her chest even though they were friends. The wind made a screeching sound outside, as if it was screaming for her instead, gods knew she really wanted to shriek. Jesse's lip tweaked slightly, it had been windy then too.

But it had been January, There had been music too, last year at the Snow Flake Dance.

Cloud looked so handsome in his flannel shirt and black trousers. He had broken up with Tifa before the dance, he showed up alone. He had looked nervous, uncomfortable, but when he held her... how the world seemed to melt around them. When she went on her tiptoes for a kissed, he turned his face so that she got his cheek. He looked so embarrassed. The crushing feeling Jesse felt when he rejected her advance she felt even now. Jesse noticed out of the corner of her eye back then, Billy and Johnny were hooting and laughing at him.

Cloud must have felt so awkward. If only Billy and Johnny had not been there...then she would have gotten her kiss.

"Nicki?..." Jesse's tone was softer now, Nicki's head motioned upwards, silently telling her to go ahead and ask her question.

"If I had kissed him at the festival...do you think he'd be going out with me now? Do you think he and I would be together if it had happened?" Jesse so badly wanted to hear a yes.

"I think so, like you said! Johnny and Billy were there!. They made him nervous!." Nicki said enthusiastically "If not for that, and for Tifa, you guys would be a couple" Nicki believed that Cloud would have gone out with Jesse, if it were not for Tifa and the guys meddling. Cloud had liked Jesse, Nicki saw it in his eyes that day at the Snow Flake Dance.

"You think so?" Jesse exclaimed, she really wanted to believe that Cloud liked her as much as she liked him. Tifa was just holding him back. That is what both girls believed.

"I say you should flirt with him more, He'll come around eventually girl." Nicki encouraged Jesse. Jesse shifted uneasily and twiddled her thumbs.

"But I already flirt with him" Jesse recalled what happened last Friday night.

"You have to try harder than!" Nicki urged Jesse "I'll help you out!, well talk to him more, get his attention, you'll see it will work!.".

The Bell rang seconds later, Lunch hour was over.

Jesse and Nicki had already formed their plan. At that moment that they stood in the hall, they noticed the happy couple walk past them. Hand in hand like always.

Those two would not be holding hands anymore...

bookworm0492- I'll be honest with you...I enjoy putting Zack in those situations. (laughs). In the franchise he always gets in trouble, up until his departure in the games. I just wanted to Give Zack a less morbid tribute by letting him have little more screentime even though he is comedic relief, because I honestly love his character. So I don't think your a bad person for liking Zack getting in trouble,i'm pretty sure i'm worse for putting him inthose situations in this story. Mwhahaha.

I did not realize that this was so suspenseful, just working on character development and trying to show off how everything will change for them over the next few months in Cloud and Tifa's life. But I'll let you know...i've already gotten started on the confession chapter, already at 2000 words!. In fact I took a break from this chapter to write that. So this one might have looked sloppy or in a hurry -...- Didn't want to miss the deadline.

As for the foreshadowing, - . o. you were right!. Keep an eye out for things like that, major clues to what will happen next!.

(by the way, Mojo jojo rocks!)

Lady of the Night99- Thank you for kind words! I work really hard during Cloud and Tifa's love scenes, at first it was hard. (you'll notice that in chapter 4). But it's getting easier with practice!. I hope to see you review again!.

Riku and Zack's Kitty-Awe...I didn't think there were that many OC's. Just Nicki, Noa and Ellie. Only Noa really has a steady part, the other two aren't around as much, Elli in chapter 6 as a plot device device so that Tifa could find Aerith in the office. And Nicki...I should have cast Rosso, but she would not have worked, trust me. But please, give this girls a chance, you'll love to hate Nicki (laughs).

I also enjoyed your fanfics, update them please? Pretty please?.

Ch0knaT-hahaha! I don' like logging in anymore either, that's why I clicked for the three days sign in, lol. It brings joy to me when I here how excited you were with the update, It makes me want to keep writing, you reviewers are just so nice to me (smiles). I hope this chapter was all to your liking, I'm not sure how fast i'll be able to update, i'm starting a new job soon. But here is some good news, I've already written the conffession chapter, and several others. Yay! Just have to work on them and they will postable! See you soon!.

Loaf..- Really? You think so? (starts crying) your so nice! I'm so happy!

Merry Christmas everyone! Happy Holidays, and may you all get what you wanted, may your dreams and wishes come true! Mine certainly has. I love you guys!.

Rina