AUHTOR'S NOTE: Wow! Its been months since my last update on this story. I hit a block and kinda lost my drive, but I reread it a few days ago and decided I want to this thing through till the end. So I'm moving this fic off hiatus and will continue it.

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So maybe getting stoned with Tifa wasn't exactly the best idea, still Cloud had to admit he had enjoyed his high that day. And as soon as he hit the books afterwards, his mind seemed to absorb all the information like a sponge. When the dreaded maths test finally arrived, he felt certain that he had at least scraped a C.

His phone beeped. Pulling it out to check, he immediately returned it to his pocket. Tifa, again. The girl had been constantly messaging him for a week. While he had not outwardly ignored her, he had pointedly vague and aloof, taking his own time before answering her and giving extremely short replies.

"Well that wasn't so bad, was it?" Aerith asked, as she and Zack caught up with the blonde man. "But I think I got question 12.1 wrong, I definitely messed up my number of significant figures!"

"Aerith, we've been through this," Zack said through clenched teeth. "We already wrote that fucking paper once, we don't wanna go over it again!"

"Yeah, I know, but I'm just-" Aerith began earnestly.

"AERITH PUT A LID ON IT!" Zack and Cloud snarled at the same time.

"Okay okay! I'll stop! Jeez!" Aerith snapped, throwing her hands up.

The three headed towards the cafeteria for a bite to eat.

"We got the rest of the day off, because of the test, so what you guys wanna do?" Cloud asked, after they sat down to eat.

"I actually think I'm gonna head home, to be honest," Aerith said with a sigh. "I'm just too worn out from studying."

"Yeah, I was thinking along those lines too," Zack said, eyeing Cloud, as if warning him not to get up to any shit in their absence.

"Well, then I guess it's just me, myself and I," Cloud said, rolling his eyes.

"Why don't you go home, Cloud?" Aerith asked, with a concerned look.

Cloud just shook his head. Neither of them realised it, but Cloud didn't have much to go home to. His mom was out working and he didn't really feel like going home to an empty house.

"Cloud, you know if there's any problems, you can talk to us you know," Aerith said.

Cloud was spared from answering as a figure approached the table.

"Hey, Cloud!" Tifa said, sliding into the seat next to him. "Zack!"

"Hey Tifa," Zack said, with a smile. Cloud knew that Zack was just acting nice and that he had little respect for Tifa. Aerith looked flabbergasted.

"Hi, Tifa. How you doing?" Cloud said. Now that she was right next to him, it was a lot harder to brush her off.

"I'm doing great!" Tifa quipped, then looked at Aerith. "Hey, I don't think we've met before, I'm Tifa!"

Aerith looked at Zack helplessly. Then at Tifa, trying to take in her skanky look, without being obvious.

"Hi, my name's Aerith," she said, shaking Tifa's hand.

"Nice to meet you," Tifa said, friendily. "What you studying?"

"Engineering and you?" Aerith replied nervously.

"Psychology," Tifa answered. "Damn, stuck with these two all the time? No wonder you look so tired, girl. I'd probably go crazy!"

Aerith relaxed at the girl's friendly manner and smiled. "They aren't that bad, it just gets to me a little when they perv over our chemistry lecturer!"

Tifa laughed. "Oh man, that sucks! Is she at least hot?"

"She's pretty, I guess. Not really my type, but you'd swear she was the hottest thing on the Planet the way these two carry on!"

"So why don't you check out the male lecturers? Just to show them what it's like," Tifa said with a wink.

"Gross! They're just a bunch of wrinkled old men!" Aerith replied, laughing along with her.

"Eww!" Tifa gasped. "That sucks! In psych, there's at least a few good looking lecturers, but they're all gay! We can look, but I suppose it's worse, cause you know you can never have it!"

"Yeah, you're right! Sorry, but it looks like you got the raw deal!" Aerith laughed.

"Uhm, have you two forgotten we're right here?" Zack said impatiently.

"Of course not Zack!" Tifa replied. "We just choose to ignore you!"

Zack sputtered at that, as Aerith guffawed.

"Yeah, man! I've been dying for some female company for so long, talk to Cloud if you're feeling neglected!" Aerith shot at him.

"That's real cheap, Aerith! Kicking a man while he's down!"

"Not really Zack, as you'd have to be a man first!" Tifa added. "I don't think you've been as starved of female company as you think, Aerith!"

They continued chatting merrily, as Zack and Cloud stared at each other in wonder. Did all girls talk that much? They seemed to be talking from anything from campus life, to each other's hair. What was even more surprising is that, for all their differences, they seemed to be getting along fantastically. The two girls were like opposite sides of a coin, yet gibbered away as if they'd known each other for years.

"Well, I really have to get going now. I told my mother I'd be home an hour ago!" Aerith said, checking her watch. "It was really nice meeting you," she said sincerely to Tifa, a warm smile on her face.

"Same here," Tifa said, standing up to give her a hug. "Hopefully I'll see you soon!"

"Yeah, definitely! Zack, you coming?" Aerith said, looking at her shade-headed friend.

"Uh, yep. I'm coming," Zack said standing up. "Later, Cloud!"

"Seeya Zack!" Cloud replied, he had hardly said two words since Tifa had joined them and was feeling rather uncomfortable.

Tifa watched as Zack and Aerith walked away. "She's nice that Aerith girl. You made a good friend there, Cloud," she said finally.

"Yeah, she's real nice," Cloud answered.

"So, are you gonna tell me what's been up with you these last few days?" Tifa asked.

Cloud was about to protest, but Tifa cut him off. "Don't even attempt to deny it Cloud! I'm no idiot. You've been avoiding me like the plague these last few days.I wanna know why!"

"Look, things have been a little tough recently, with all the studying and pressure, I don't even have time to socialise!" Cloud began.

"Not even enough time to send a friend a quick text?" Tifa cocked an eyebrow at him.

Cloud opened his mouth, then closed it. He honestly was at a loss for words.

Tifa sighed. "Is this about all the rumours that have been flying around about me? Don't answer that, the look on your face says it all," she said, as Cloud's head whipped up in alarm.

"Look, Tifa I'm really sorry."

"Don't give me that!" Tifa sighed again.

Fuck, I should have known."

Cloud just looked down.

"Look, Cloud. I know a lot of people talk shit about me. What did they say? That I'm a whore, a drug addict? I've heard it all before. I just thought that maybe you'd trust me and not believe any of that bullshit," Tifa said, she did not look angry, just disappointed. "Let me just put your mind to rest and tell you that not a word of it is true! I'm not a virgin, but I'm no slut either! And I've experimented but I don't do any of the hard core shit. Cloud, I never took you for the type that would just swallow rumours without proof just like that!"

"Tifa, I really am sorry! I guess, I just wasn't sure about you," Cloud said slowly.

Tifa just sighed and looked away. Cloud, acting on impulse, reached out and grabbed her hand. "But now, things are different! I know all those fucking rumours are just that, rumours! I won't make that mistake again! Please just give me another shot okay?"

Tifa didn't say anything at first, she glanced down at her hand, which Cloud was still desperately clutching. He hastily let it go, and looked away in shame.

"Okay, Cloud," she said finally. Then she smiled. "You're forgiven on one condition!"

Cloud smiled in relief, but was slightly confused as well. "What condition?"

Tifa smiled again. "Cissnei's parents are out of the country for a few days and she's throwing a major party. Show up and you can consider yourself forgiven."

"Alright!" Cloud said with a smile. "But, I don't know where it is," he said, his face falling slightly.

Tifa giggled. "Don't worry about it, I'll come pick you up and we'll go together, so just tell me where you live."

Cloud's face brightened again as he told her.

"Well, I have class now, so I'm gonna be on my way. See you on Friday, Cloud!" Tifa said, lifting her bag.

"Yeah, see you," Cloud replied, watching her as she turned and walked away.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Not much going down in this part of the story, the purpose of this chapter is just to set the stage for the following chain of events. It's gonna get pretty dark and hectic. Right now, everythings all sugar and rainbow, with a little weed mixed in, but it's all downhill from here, just a little warning in advance. Till next time!