A.N. It took me quiet a long time but here it is! Chappy 2! Enjoy^^
High School Love
Chapter 2: Truth
Aerith ran out of the classroom and fled for Cloud Strife. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, as she ran to her first class. She entered the classroom just in time and sat down next to Tifa. „Where have you been?", whispered Tifa to her, while she just shrugged it off. „Rinoa said she saw you with Cloud Strife.", whispered Yuffie, who sat behind them, while Tifa looked at Aerith in shock. „Is it true?"
„Yeah, he bothered me again."
„Guess it's time to kick his ass.", said Lightning, who sat next to Yuffie and cracked her fingers. „No it's alright. I kicked him again.", whispered Aerith back, while The Red Wings members started to giggle. „Ms. Gainsborough!", interrupted the teacher. „What's so funny? The class would be pleased to know what you're laughing at."
„Well...", began Aerith. „I kicked Cloud Strifes ass, twice." Every girl in this class gasped in shock. „The front side to be exact.", added Aerith and grinned wickedly, as the girls gasped even louder. The teacher remained silent for a while, before he continued the lesson. Aerith was glad that Cloud wasn't in her class now, but two other members were there: Leon an Zack.
The both of them exchanged some glances, before they listened to the teacher. More or less. During the lesson Aeriths thoughts drifted back to Cloud Strife. She didn't want to admit it, but…truth to be told, she already fell in love with him. She fell for him since the very first day she saw him, but as Tifa and co. told her what kind of guy he is, she forced herself to hate him. She has a lot experience and knew how guys like him were like.
She knew it all too well...No one, except for her family knew about it. Not even her best and only friends knew about her past. It's not that she didn't trust them…she's just not ready to tell anyone about this, who isn't part of her family. But back to Cloud...As she entered the school for the first time, she felt so lost and asked him for the way to her class. He was so friendly. What she noticed first were his glowing, blue eyes, which looked gently into her green ones. But now...since she joined The Red Wings, on her third school day, those gentle blue eyes aren't that gentle anymore. And the friendly Cloud Strife she met wasn't as friendly either….
Was it all just a façade? No..., she thought. She saw right through him. That was just a cool mask he wore, to hide his friendly, sensitive self. She knew it! And she just had to show him this! But how...? Now that Cloud knew a tiny part of her secret, he's playing with her. Alright!, she thought. You wanna play? Then I'll play with you! Aerith tried hard not to grin wickedly, as she thought for a plan, but Tifa noticed it and smiled mentally. Looks like she's planning something...Tifa smiled a bit at Aerith, who's still lost in her thoughts, before she turned her attention back to the teacher.
A few classes were over and now it's lunch time. The Red Wings, except for Aerith had to do something else and left early, while Aerith went to the cafeteria all alone. She always looked around to not run into Cloud again and did everything to avoid him. As she entered it, she found herself surrounded by a dozen of girls, which were glaring at her. It was the Cloud fangirl-club. (They don't really call themselves Cloud fangirl club, just The Red Wings call them like this.) Aerith hid her fear behind her mask and glared back.
„Get out of my way!", she yelled and was surprised, as the girls didn't budge. The leader of this fan club approached her. „What's your problem, Gainsborough?", she yelled, but Aerith remained unimpressed. „I don't know.", said Aerith innocently. „What's YOUR problem, Cissnei?" Cissnei narrowed her eyes. „How could you dare to kick Cloud?"
„He deserved it!" The furious crowd gathered around her and took a few steps towards her and Aerith knew the end was near...
Meanwhile...
Cloud and Zack headed to the cafeteria together. „I heard the new girl beat the hell outta ya.", said Zack, while Cloud remained silent. „It's really true?", he exclaimed and started to laugh. „Shut up.", growled Cloud, as they entered the cafeteria. „Hey, guys! Look at this!", called Snow, who sat with the other AVALANCHE members. He pointed to the crowd of girls in the other end of the cafeteria. „What's going on?", asked Cloud, as he and Zack approached their friends.
„Your fangirls wanna beat up Aerith.", informed Hope, as he looked worried at the crowd. Aerith? Cloud looked at the crowd also with a worried expression. Then he looked around, searching for someone. The Red Wings aren't here..., he thought and looked back at the crowd. In the crowds core was her. She stood upright and glared at everyone. But Cloud knew better than that, he saw right through her now...Since yesterday he knew that the tough image is just because to keep everyone away from her...
They both weren't so different after all. Both of them wore a tough, cool mask to hide their feelings. He figured it out, as he followed her and her friends the day before. She actually was a cheery and always happy person. Not tough, not cool, but nice and friendly. And he wanted to see all of this! His reasons might have changed about making Aerith fall for him, but he will keep is up.
„Someone has to help her.", said Cloud to his friends. „Don't worry 'bout that.", said Leon calmly. „The Red Wings will help her soon."
„But they aren't here!", yelled the blonde and went to the crowd of girls. „Cloud where are you going?", asked Zack, while Cloud looked to them. „Helping her, of course!", he replied matter-of-factly and turned back again, not noticing the proud look Vincent and Hope gave him. „Hey!", called Cloud, as he arrived the crowd. The girls immediately turned to him and began to squeal. „Leave her alone!" The crowd went quiet and looked at Cloud in confusion. „But she kicked you!"
„I don't care. I mean..." He looked at Aerith, who's still in the crowds core. „A group against one isn't fair!" The girls raised their eyebrows at him. Normally Cloud Strife wouldn't care about fairness. „What did this bitch do to you?", asked a girl from his fan club. „Nothing. Leave her alone!" The crowd went away and left Cloud and Aerith alone. Cloud turned to Aerith, who's looking at him with wide eyes. He went to her and stopped right in front of her.
They looked into each others eyes for a moment, before Cloud leaned in and whispered something in her ear. „You're safe now. Your friends will be here soon." Aerith didn't notice that he slipped something into the pocket of her jeans, as she concentrated only on his friendly voice. As he went back to his friends, she looked after him, still looking at him wide eyed. Aeriths breath caught in her throat, as she remembered this gentle, caring and worried look he gave her a moment ago.
Soon after that The Red Wings arrived the cafeteria. „Aerith, what happened to you?", asked Serah worried, as she saw Aeriths pale face. „Nothing happened...", said Aerith and gave her friends a small smile. „Don't say it's nothing.", said Lightning sternly. „'Cause we know there is something." Aerith knew she can't lie to her friends, so she took a deep breath, before she explained everything.
„Cloud Strifes fan club threatened me."
„WHAT?", exclaimed her friends. „But Strife saved me."
„What?"
„You kiddin'?", exclaimed Yuffie shocked. „Why the hell would Strife help you?", asked Tifa, while Aerith shrugged. „I don't know either..." They all went to their usual table and ate, still wondering why Cloud helped her. Then Aerith got a text message. She took her iPhone out of ther jeans pocket and read it. It said:"Meet me after school in our classroom. -Cloud" Where the hell did he get my number?, wondered Aerith and scrolled down. "PS: I have your number, because you've lost your phone this morning, as you fled for me. Say "Thank you"."
Aerith growled quietly, now he's the damn, arrogant moron she hates so much! „What's wrong, Aerith?", asked Rinoa. „Oh...it's..my mother. I have to do something after school. I can't go home with you." The group believed her and continued to eat in silence. Aerith glanced to AVALANCHE and saw Cloud staring right back at her, before they both broke eye contact. „Hey Cloud!", called Snow and pulled him back to reality. „You're staring at the new girl!" Everyone noticed it too and began to laugh. „Shut up!", growled Cloud, but the group continued laughing, while the blonde grumbled.
After school...
Cloud and Aerith met in their classroom. „What do you want, moron?" Cloud frowned, as he heard she's still calling him "moron". „Mission number four: Say my name."
„What's that for a mission?", asked Aerith an raised an eyebrow. „Just do it." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. „Strife..." Cloud rolled his eyes. „First name."
„Cloud...", she said with a long sigh. „But! If I have to say your name, you have to say mine too!"
„You're not in the place to make demands."
„Just do it!"
„Okay, little Aerith." She began to growl loudly. „Hey! Only Cecil is allowed to call me that!"
„Okay, okay, AERITH!"
„Much better.", she said and grinned triumphantly. „And now?" Cloud looked away and scratched the back of his head. „Um..."
„If this is all, then I can go now, right?" Aerith turned around to go, but Cloud held her back. „No!" She turned back to him and glared at him. „What do you mean with "no"?"
„No, you can't go. Mission number five is...Spend more time with me. Right. NOW!"
„But I have to go home!", protested the green eyed girl. „I'm sure your fam doesn't mind. You have to go out more often." Aerith rolled her eyes in annoyance, but deep down her heart jumped out of joy to spend more time with Cloud. „Very well. Where are going to go now?" Cloud repeated the gesture from before and scratched his head sheepishly and Aerith noticed it's completely out of character and smirked mentally. She's going to find out who the real Cloud is. „Did you ever had a date before?", teased Aerith and smirked, while Cloud glared at her. „Of course! Many times!"
„Then why don't you know where to go?" She continued to tease him, while he looked away from her to hide his embarrassment. To be honest: he never was on a date before. There was just one time with Tifa, but it didn't worked out...Aerith noticed his embarrassment and began to walk around him to tease him further. „Aw, the great Cloud Strife never had a date before. How cute.", she giggled and added. „I should be honored to be your first." Cloud gave her a small smirk, while Aerith raised an eyebrow. He should be embarrassed! „You're right. I never had a date before." Aeriths eyes widened slightly. She never expected him to admit it! „It's no use of hiding it anymore, but it was worth seeing the real Aerith. I never expected you to be such a tease."
„Well...", began Aerith and leaned to him. Their faces were just a few millimeter apart. „There are a lot of things you don't know about me."
„Well...", began Cloud slowly leaned in as well. „Then I'm willing to find out everything about you." They stared into each other's eyes and before they lips met Aerith pulled away and turned her back to him, to cover her blush. „Then I'm going to find out everything about you too.", she replied and as she felt her cheeks cooled down, she looked back at him. „Want it or not."
„I'm not going to tell you anything.", he said and grinned challengingly at her, she returned his stare. „You don't have to. I can read people like an open book." Cloud just went to the door. „Let's go.", he said and went out, while Aerith followed him. „Strife.", called Aerith, as she went next to him, while he growled in annoyance. „I told you to call me Cloud, didn't I?" The girl ignored his sentence and continued on. „Let's go somewhere where we won't run into my friends."
„And where we won't run into MY friends either...", added Cloud quietly, but Aerith heard every single word. „Aw, I never expected you to be shy!", teased the girl, as they left the school and went to the parking lot. „I'm not shy!", growled Cloud annoyed. „You ARE! Where are we going?"
„Just think. And you're supposed to be one of the smartest girls?"
„How do you know?" Cloud didn't answer her and just went to his black, shining motorbike. Aeriths eyes widened, as she saw it. „You don't expect me to ride on this thing, do you?"
„Of course I do." The girl stopped abruptly, while Cloud raised an eyebrow. „What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid.", he said and grinned at her teasingly. „I-I'm not afraid of your stupid motorbike!", she yelled and went to it. But I have to admit...It looks pretty cool. „Geez, no need to shout. Climb on.", ordered Cloud, as he climbed on himself, while Aerith crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from him. „What's the problem?", sighed Cloud. „You could at least be a gentleman!" The blonde sighed again and held a hand out to her, to help her.
„Wow, miracles really happens after all.", she teased again, took his hand and climbed on Fenrir as well. „Grab on.", he said before he started the engine. Aerith held onto his shoulders, but as he suddenly sped up, she fell against his back and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and held onto him tightly. „You did this on purpose!"
„What do you mean?", asked Cloud innocently, while Aerith growled quietly. Cloud drov to the Wall Market in Sektor 6. „Hey, how 'bout cinema?", asked Cloud, as they went around. „Sounds good.", replied Aerith and went him to the cinema. „And what do you wanna watch?", asked the blonde, while Aerith looked at him suspicously. „You're asking ME what to watch?" Cloud glared at her. „Didn't you say I could at least be a gentleman?"
„Aw, little Cloudy wants to be a gentleman and also did as he was told. How cute!", she teased and pulled his cheek playfully, while he growled at her annoyingly. „Then I won't be kind to you anymore! We're going to watch this.", decided Cloud and pointed to a scary movie. „Or are you scared?", he added and smirked wickedly at her. „I'm not scared!", she yelled, while Cloud bought the tickets. Aerith didn't know why she agreed at HATED scary movies and always got nightmares. They went into the cinema hall and sat down. After a few minutes of silence the movie began.
Cloud looked a bit bored at the screen, while Aerith looked at it in fear. She trembled slightly and held tightly on the armrests. Cloud noticed it and felt kinda bad for dragging her into this movie and scare her ike this, but she said it was fine with her. He poked her arm lightly and jumped as she suddenly squealed in surprise and backed away from him. Aerith glared at the blonde, who just sighed quietly, took her hand and dragged her out of the cinema.
„What are you doing?", yelled Aerith and tried to free herself from his grip, but he held her even tighter. „Let's go somewhere else.", suggested Cloud an pulled her with him. „But the movie's not over!"
„Don't tell me you wanna watch this till the end! You were completely scared and we just watched half of the movie!"
„I wasn't scared at all!", protested Aerith, freed herself from his grip and turned her back to him, her arms were crossed over her chest. „No, of course not.", replied Cloud sarcastically. „You tremble in fear just for fun."
„Yes."
Cloud sighed at her stubborness. „Look, there's a monster!", said Cloud and pointed somewhere. „What? Oh my god!" Suddenly Aerith jumped on Cloud and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Cloud eyes widened. He expected her to run away, but he never thought that she will clinge onto him like this...! Aeriths eyes widened as well, as she noticed what she did. She backed away from him quickly and cleared her throat. „Sorry...", she mumbled, while Cloud chuckled faintly.
„What's so funny, Strife?", growled Aerith annoyed. „So, the real Aerith is scared of some movies.", he said amused, while Aerith just pouted. „I hate you!"
„We'll change that very soon., replied Cloud cheekily. „Dream on, Strife!"
„Will do." Aerith ignored him and went away, while Cloud followed her. „Where are your giong?"
„Home."
„I'll take you there."
„No thanks." Cloud sighed again. „Come on." He was about to take her hand again, but she backed away from him. „Leave me alone!"
„What's your problem?"
„My problem is that I have to spend time with a moron!" Cloud couldn't explain it, but it kinda hurt him somehow. There was just one way left to make her listen to him. He didn't want to use it, but he had no other choice. „Don't forget that I still know your secret." Aerith sighed and tried to calm herself down. „Okay, what do you want?"
„I wanna drive you home. It's a long way to your house."
„Okay..." They went back to Fenrir and climbed on. Aerith wrapped her arms around Clouds waist, bevore he drove to Sektor 5. Aerith climbed off Fenrir, as they finally arrived her house. „Thanks.", she mumbled and went inside, while Cloud stood there a bit longer, bevore he drove home himself. Cloud was really irritated as he arrived his home. He kept this plan up just ONE day and he already felt bad for blackmailing her like that. He knew this was all out of character for him, but this was the Cloud Strife everyone knew and wanted him to be.
He hated this. He hated to pretend like he was the cool and tough guy, who had lots of girlfriends in his life. He just wanted to be himself, but then everyone would say he's just a wimp and he rather wanted to be the cool one, instead of the wimp. But he can't keep this up any longer. He's sure that Aerith's going to find out who he really is and then she's going to get a reason to blackmail him too and he won't let this happen! But he always acted like the real Cloud when she's around and he wondered why. He can keep up the facade when he's around anyone else, but she just brings the real Cloud out of him. He hated this, but he kind of liked it though...
Meanwhile...
Aerith went into her house with a long sigh. „Hey, what's wrong, little Aerith?", asked her older brother Cecil. „Huh? Oh, nothing...", replied Aerith an sat next to him an Kain on the couch. „Then why do you look so depressed?"
„...Someone in my school found out how I really am. He has a picture of it and blackmails me." Cecil and Kain raised their eyebrows. „And why's that so terrible?", asked the dragoner cirously, while Aerith became irritated. „You two know exactly why this is so terrible!"
„Yeah, we know, but..."
„No buts! It IS terrible!", interrupted Aerith her brother and began to cry. „Hey, don't cry..." Cecil hugged her comfortingly, while she cried on his chest. „He's going to take advantage of my kindness, I KNOW it! I hoped that the new school would be different, but..." Cecil and Kain comforted her. They knew what happened in her past and why she wants to pretend like the tough girl, but they couldn't help her, because everytime they told her to be just herself she won't listen to them and be angry.
„What shall I do, Cecil?"
„Maybe...be yourself?"
„You KNOW I can't do that! And the worst is...I fell in love with that guy!" That's really the worst, thought Kain and Cecil. „Then I'm going to talk with this guy!", said Cecil angrily, while Aerith looked at him pleadingly. „No! Please don't! I'm doing this alone! And I shouldn't have told you this!" The silver haired man sighed. „Okay. But tell me if you need any help." Aerith nodded and changed the subject. „Where's mom?"
„She's back any minute."
„Oh, okay." Aerith leaned on her brothers shoulder and watched a movie with him and Kain.
The next day in school...
Cecil brought Aerith to school this time, to make sure she'll be okay. Kain was still asleep and they didn't want to wake him up. „Oh my god, that's him!",whispered Aerith and pointed to Cloud who's arriving with his motorbike. „Hmm..."
„Please don't do anything, okay?"
„Yeah, yeah.", replied Cecil, not really listening to what she said. „Please. Promise me!"
„Promise. Go to your friends now.", he said and pushed her to her friends, while he went to Cloud. The blonde noticed him and turned to him. Her brother?, he wondered and saw that he's glaring at him. „Hey!", he called him angrilly as he approached him. „You're the one who's blackmailing my sister?" Oh man..., thought Cloud. The silver haired man looked like he's going to kill him any second. „Yeah, but..."
„Just leave her alone, got it? She's not interessted in you!" Even though she told me she loves him..., thought Cecil. „I don't wanna hurt her.", said Cloud quickly, while Cecil went quiet for a while. „...You won't?"
„I won't." Cecil eyed him suspiciously, but Cloud was completely serious at what he said. „And how shall I trust you? You made her cry!" Cloud couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in his chest. „I'm sorry. I know how stupid I was and I'm gonna change it! I thought it might be fun, but it isn't. I know that now."
„Yeah, it's really funny to hurt someone.", said Cecil sarcastically. „I'm sorry okay?"
„Tell that to her."
„Will do. I just want her to be that cheery girl all this time. Not just around her friends and family." Cecil searched for any sign of lies in his eyes, but found nothing, but pure determination. „I want that too."
„Then let's cooperate.", said Cloud and held a hand out to him, while Cecil thought for a while, before he took his hand. „Let's do it."
A.N. So that's why Cloud and Aerith were out of character on the first chappy. Cloud just is the person everyone wants him to be and Aerith wants to keep everyone away from her. I know it's a bit too fast that Cloud feels bad about blackmailing Aerith, but I don't think a can write Cloud like this anymore. So mean, and...you know^^'
Please review! ;3