Disclaimer: Like I said I don't own anything except the plot! Everything else belongs to their respective owners!
Chapter 4: The mysterious woman
Tifa felt herself sweating in panic as the three tall men looked at her in shock.
The silver haired asked:" Wait, what?", the redhead just gaped, obviously not believing Zack had a girlfriend. Was that so hard to believe? Not like he was unattractive or anything… Tifa scolded herself for her thoughts.
" Did you just say his girlfriend?", the man at the back with black hair asked bewildered.
The man with red hair rubbed his forehead and asked in exasperation:" Gods above…please tell me he hasn't gotten you pregnant and you're here to charge him or something…",
Tifa's eyes almost bulged out of her head as she felt a hot blush creeping up on her cheeks. Beside her, Zack frowned and made slapping motions to his friends for saying such crude things. Of course they didn't feel anything.
"U-Umm, n-no! No! I uh…I, no! I was away on a trip and immediately returned when I heard he suffered a accident! Is he alright?", the atmosphere turned serious and gloomy in a matter of seconds.
Zack shifted beside her uncomfortably. The black haired male said lowly:" Come inside and see for yourself Miss Lockhart.", the men stepped aside to let her enter.
Tifa almost froze when she saw Zack, the Zack in the flesh laying in the hospital bed.
His head was bandaged but his dark, long spikes managed to peak through, one of his cheeks was swollen and an angry red and blue, his lip was split open, his left eye was beaten black and blue, his muscular arms were all bandaged, small spots here and there marred with blood.
A thin white blanket covered his body from the waist down, a tube was in his mouth to assist him in breathing, the heart monitor was beeping steadily but…
"He's been in a coma for weeks already…", one of his friend's deep voice said.
Tifa sat down on a chair near his bed, she noticed the same "X" shaped scar on his cheek.
Zack had remained rooted to the spot in front of his bed, where he laid…it felt surreal to look at his body from a third's person's view…
He was really beaten up wasn't he? Zack watched as his friends stood around his bed with grim looks.
Tifa drew her hand back which was caressing his face and stood up, she said with a small smile:" I'm sorry I just…", the dark haired male said:" We know how you feel, no need to be shy about it.",
Tifa looked down at her shoes as the silence it the room settled, until he broke it.
"By the way, my name is Angeal Hewley, Zack is my best friend.", he extended a muscled hand to her which seemed even thicker than Zack's arm. She smiled and shook his gloved hand, nodding.
"I'm Sephiroth, a friend of Zack.", he shook her head as well, though his green almost serpent-like eyes made Tifa slightly wary. And then the last one, with red hair said pleasantly:" Hello dear, I'm Genesis Rhapsodos.", Tifa smiled and shook his hand.
Angeal asked with a small smile:" I'm sorry I'm being rude but Zack didn't tell us anything about having a girlfriend…", he seemed embarrassed by his lack of knowledge.
Tifa smiled tentavly as she said:" Oh, w-well you see…we didn't want to rush anything so we didn't really tell anyone about it until…we were ready.", she blushed.
Sephiroth crossed his arms with a smirk as he said:" I can't believe he actually has a girlfriend.", Zack's spirit immediately stood beside him as he tried to crush the other mans skull for his remark, damn him and not being able to touch them!
Genesis rubbed his chin in thought as he scanned Tifa from head to toe, he commented:" Yes…it's most unusual…I would have never imagined someone as beautiful as you settling for the pup…",
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!", Zack roared as he dived for Genesis, right through him and falling face first on the floor, cursing loudly.
Tifa suppressed a laugh as she said in embarrassment:" T-thank you Genesis! I um, I think I'm the lucky one for meeting Zack. He has a heart of gold and noble intentions, unlike most men I dated.", Angeal smiled warmly at her words as did Zack.
Angeal offered with a smile:" Why don't we sit down and drink some coffee? We can visit Zack later again.", he looked down at his comatose friend and ruffled his hair lightly, careful not to disturb the tube attached to his mouth.
Tifa smiled tenderly at the gesture and nodded, with a last look at Zack they all left the room.
"I'll be damned…my friends are traitors!", Zack complained comically as he was the last to leave. He paused and whispered:" A heart of gold and noble intentions huh? Thanks Tifa…", he smiled and followed his friends out of the hospital, walking in step with Tifa.
I'm sorry this is so very short! The next chapter will be longer and will be titled "His job", feel free to review and tell me what you think! ^^
