CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Lightning Strikes
Present day…
oOo
Just as they were all about to head out, the phone rang.
The party froze mid-way out the door, and with a heavy sigh, Snow hung his head. "Oh, great…"
Lightning turned on her heel and headed toward the phone. "It might be the Lieutenant. I should take this… You guys go on the motorcycle. I'll meet you there."
"Fine by me," Snow said eagerly.
Serah linked her arm with his as they left the house, closing the door behind them.
Lightning pressed the talk button and put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Um, hi… Is Claire Farron there?"
Lightning quietly caught her breath. It wasn't the Lieutenant, but this guy's voice sounded a bit too familiar. Yet, she wouldn't allow herself to falter. "Speaking," she replied with her usual manner of authority in her voice.
There other end of the line was quiet for a few seconds. Then, finally, he spoke again. "Hi, Light."
No doubt about it. It was really him.
At last, Lightning's pretence fell away. For an instant, she thought she might even cry. "Oh my God." The words escaped her lips in a whisper. Maybe they were prompted by the intense pounding of her heart. "How did you find me?"
"Well, it wasn't easy, but at least I did," Cloud replied. "Anyway, how have you been? You know, with your sister and all?"
Lightning was stone frozen by the mere sound of his voice. It took her a minute to realize that he was asking her a question. "Huh?… Oh, fine. Everyone's fine. And you?"
"I'm great. And guess what? Tifa and Barret are getting married."
"Really? Wow…" She placed her free hand over her stomach, trying to ease her nerves. Keeping her voice level wasn't easy in this case. "How does that make you feel, though?"
"It's fine with me," he replied. "Tifa and I had a long talk. We're on good terms now."
"Oh…" Then she fell silent. And for the first time, she realized that she was quivering with every breath. Cloud sounded equally nervous, too, yet somewhat excited at the same time.
"Um, Lightning?" he asked. "Do you remember when you told me that… that lightning flashes bright, then fades away?"
"Like it was never there to begin with," she added. "I remember."
"Well, I hate to say this, but you were wrong."
It felt like her stomach had leapt up into her throat. "How so?" she asked calmly.
"Because I never forget you," he explained. "There are only a few other people who've impacted my life as greatly as you have… But you moved me in a way I never expected. I tried to move on with my life after you were gone, but you were always somewhere in the back of my mind." He chuckled. "I guess that guy on the weather channel was right."
Lightning raised an eyebrow. "What guy?"
"A guy who had survived this bad thunder storm not too long ago, but he was struck by actual lightning in the process. After he got out of the hospital, he told reporters, 'You never forget when lightning strikes you. And it's a feeling like no other.' I agree with him."
Lightning's eyes widened, and although she hadn't realized it, her jaw had dropped as well. "I know the feeling," she breathed. "And you know what else, Cloud? I didn't realize until now just how much I've missed you."
"The feeling's mutual," he said.
Her heart was pounding even harder now. Why was she saying this stuff? It was so unlike her! She had to get off this phone-now-before she ended up gushing out some teary love confession, or something! "Listen, um… I have to meet my sister somewhere. So, can we get together and catch up another time?"
One could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I'd like that."
"Great," she laughed nervously. "Can you call me tomorrow?"
"Definitely… I love you, Lightning."
She inhaled. It didn't seem appropriate to return these kinds of feelings over the phone. Besides, she needed more time to think about this. About what she was going to say. How she would to put her own feelings into words. "I know. Bye."
With that, she hung up the phone… and started crying. Lightning had realized a long time ago exactly what she felt for Cloud all along, from the first time they met to the last time they kissed. But those memories were so heart wrenching that she could never bring herself to admit it aloud.
And she still wouldn't… Not yet, anyway.
…
In my dreams,
You're right here by my side.
Each time I close my eyes,
I still see that sweet September.
In the rain,
Laughing in the rain.
I'll never be the same
Until the moment we're together…