AUTHOR'S NOTE: another chapter in this ongoing saga! Damn I really have enjoyed writing this so far and I hope y'all have enjoyed reading it as well. Again I'm toeing the T line quite closely, but if you guys think that I should change it to M, please lemme know, I don't wanna get banned from the site! As always don't hold back any opinions you might have as I am constantly trying to refine and perfect my writing. Hope y'all enjoy!
XXXX
A month had gone by since Cloud's mini-disaster at Cissnei's party. While Cloud often felt embarassed and guilty about his actions that night, he had to admit there were a fair share of benifits as well. His popularity had taken a definite increase. Where he could have counted the people he knew at Shinra on his fingers, he now knew so many people he had trouble remembering them all. Another new developement was that Cloud suddenly found himself with a new girlfriend: Jessie.
While he may have been casuallly indifferent to the the girl before, since that night he had found himself unable to live with himself unless he did SOMETHING. While he may not have loved her, she was a nice girl and he felt he owed her enough to warrant giving a relationship a chance. He had told his mother about her, tactfully leaving out the exact nature of their hook-up. She had been over the moon when Cloud broke the news to her over breakfast , she had been dying for her son to finally show more than a platonic interest in someone.
"Oh my Cloud! I'm so happy for you, at last you found a nice girlfriend to settle down with!" She had gushed, ecstatically.
"Uhm yeah Ma," Cloud had replied. "We're just dating, not really looking at settling down or getting married!"
"I know that! Seriously, had you told me you wanted to get married, I'd have to fuck you up personally!" She waved him off, she was in a good enough mood to even curse. She had been especially pleased when Cloud informed her that Jessie was a year or two older than himself. "So when do I get to meet her?"
Cloud nearly siezed up in shock. Unable to articulate a reply, he just stared at his mother with open wonder.
Mrs Strife merely giggled. "Oh come on Cloud! This is the first time I've ever seen you show an interest in someone! Surely, I have to meet her!"
Cloud gulped. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
"Well, why not?"
"I dunno Ma, isn't this rushing things a little? It's only been a couple of weeks," he said, clutching at straws.
"Maybe you're right," Mrs Strife conceded. "All the same, I would like to meet her!"
"I'll see what I can do?" Cloud had replied, making a mental note to do no such thing.
Mrs Strife hummed happily to herself as she walked out of the kitchen to the phone.
"Hello, Martha? He's got himself a girlfriend! He's not gay!" She chirped into the phone.
Cloud nearly spat out his mouthfull of cereal. "MOM!"
"No, of course she isn't just a cover-up, Martha. Cloud isn't sneaky enough to pull a move like that," she continued, deftly ignoring her son's sputtered protests.
Cloud, though he was loathe to admit it, kind of enjoyed having Jessie around. He was a man, and he did have needs, and having someone there to help him fulfill those needs was a definite plus. They had sex again after a while, Cloud being especially nervous to do it sober, but managed to loosen up a bit after the first few times.
"Seriously, Cloud, of all people Jessie?" Aerith stormed as they left class. She had been constantly nagging Cloud about his new girlfriend for weeks.
"Aerith, for fucks sake let it go!" Cloud replied, his patience was wearing thin. "You wouldn't happen to know any other girl that'd be better, would you?"
Aerith looked at Zack helplessly, silently begging for his assistance. The tall, black-haired student simply shrugged.
"Look, she's decent looking enough Aerith. And it's kinda Cloud's business. He doesn't really need your approval. Not that your advice doesn't matter," he added hastily as sparks flew from Aerith's nose.
Giving up, she looked at Cloud imploringly. "All I'm saying, is there's no point in being with someone you obviously feel nothing for!"
Cloud glared at her, but Zack though Aerith had a fair point on this one. It was obvious that whatever feelings Cloud had for Jessie, it sure as hell wasn't love or even affection.
"How do you know I feel nothing for her?" Cloud snapped irritably. Honestly, Aerith could be even worse than his mother. Although, had his mother known the circumstances of his relationship with Jessie, she probably would've had a similar reaction.
"Please don't insult my intelligence, Cloud," Aerith said with a sigh. "You bang the girl once and decide to ask her out because you feel guilty about it. It's been a month and you still can't hold a decent conversation with her, all you guys do is snog and other activities that are likely to make me lose my lunch!"
Cloud snapped his head away from Aerith, he didn't answer her, partly because he knew she was right. He and Jessie had absolutely nothing in common.
Aerith, for her part, did not pursue the subject any further. She had made her point, she couldn't force Cloud to realise what he was doing was unfair, both to Jessie and himself.
They passed the gardens, seeing Tifa on a bench, chatting animately with her friend Yuffie. When she saw them, she waved merrily. Aerith returned the gesture warmly. Zack did the same, with less enthusiasm. Cloud smiled at her affectionately. Since their talk, her felt a lot closer to Tifa than before and was deeply grateful to her for all she had done.
"Hey!" Aerith said, striding towards her.
"Hey," Tifa said, standing up to give her a hug. "This is my friend Yuffie," she said gesturing to the small girl beside her. "Yuffie, this is Aerith. You remember Zack and Cloud?"
"Sure do," Yuffie replied with a mischievious smile. "Spikey's the one that got wasted and ended up-"
"Yeah, we know," Cloud cut her off. His self-confidence had been given a boost as well. "How are you Tifa?"
Tifa smiled at him. "I'm good, just chilling out."
They exhanged small talk for a while after that. Cloud was sure he had never met anyone and cheerfull and up-beat as Yuffie. She was very friendly and energetic and wasted no time in insulting everyone present with an array of colourful and witty remarks.
"So Yuffie's having a celebration after mid-year exams, wanna come?" Tifa asked after a while.
Aerith looked at Tifa, her face falling. "Sorry, I got a job this mid year break, I won't make it!"
"Aww that's a shame," Yuffie said, genuinely. "What about you Zack?"
Zack shrugged and smiled. "I kinda took the same job Aerith did."
All eyes turned to Cloud. "I'll be there," he said, ignoring Aerith's glare.
Tifa looked overjoyed. "Great! You can bring Jessie as well!"
Cloud looked a little sheepish at that, much to Aerith's delight.
"Yeah, whatever," Cloud said, ignoring her again.
"Alright then," Yuffie said excitedly. "See you then!"
The two of them walked off, with Tifa giving Cloud a sly wink as she did.
"I heard she's gotten together with someone new too," Zack said, watching the two girls.
"Yuffie? I'd be surprised if just one guy could keep up with her!" Aerith remarked.
Zack shook his head. "Nope, Tifa."
Cloud's ears pricked up. "What? Nah, she would have told me," he assured Zack.
Zack gave him an apologetic glance and shook his head again. "Not this time Spike," he said. "I saw her holding hands with this guy Vincent Valentine."
Cloud's face went blank of all expression. "Oh well, that's nice."
Aerith looked from one of her friends to the other. "Am I missing something here?"
"Oh, Clooooouud!" Jessie called as she skipped into view.
"Hi, Jessie," Cloud replied turning as Jessie leapt in to his arms. He hugged her back and felt her wet lips on his cheek.
"Hey Aerith and Zack," she chirped. Turning back to her boyfriend, she smiled. "Come on Cloud, we needa get going!"
"Where to?" Cloud said, glancing nervously at his friends.
"I'll show you silly, come on!" She said tugging at his hand.
Cloud glanced back wearily. Aerith looked murderous. Zack only shrugged and smiled, while making a very rude and suggestive hand gesture. With a last resolute tug, Jessie succeeded in hauling a reluctant Cloud off to wherever it was she had in mind.
XXX
About half an hour later, Cloud leaned against the wall of the narrow alley Jessie had brought him to.
Adjacent to the car park, it stood between two different buildings with a low roof (no one knew why it was there). Cloud was panting heavily as Jessie stood up. Cloud still had trouble wrapping his head around the fact that he had just received a blow-job in public! It had started with Jessie leading him over and stating it was the perfect place to make out. Cloud had replied that he didn't really give a shit who was watching. Jessie's eyes had only twinkled as she pulled him into a tight embrace and kissed him furiously. He had responded well, until he felt her fingers fumbling with his jeans. Before he knew it, he was up against the side wall, with Jessie's head bobbing up and down rhythmically.
As Jessie straightened up and smiled at her obviously sated boyfriend, she brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Well? How was it?" She asked.
Cloud panted. "That was...amazing!" He got out at last. He had been intially quite paranoid at the thought of being caught. Of all the things he had imagined himself doing that could end up with him getting thrown into the slacker, public indecency was not one of them.
Jessie smiled. "Oh Cloud! You're so cute! Let's get out of here!"
Though he was still a little bit woozy, Cloud agreed. Jessie pulled out a joint and lit it. She took a long drag and blew the smoke seductively into Cloud's face. Cloud inhaled it willingly, he had been blazing a lot more recent. He reached out and took the joint from her and took a long puff.
Jessie shivered at how Cloud asserted his control. Though she had intially been attracted to his boyish good looks and awkwardly innocent charm. The Cloud she was now proud to be dating had proven to be a much stronger and confidant man, much to her delight.
They continued smoking the joint, all the while kissing and caressing each other, not saying a word.
In the back of his mind, Cloud still saw Aerith's disappointed face and heard her scolding voice, but the weed, buzzing in his system pushed it out of his mind before he could even dwell on it.
They soon left the car park and walked back to the main area of the campus. Cloud wasn't really taking note of her, but Jessie had possessively clung to his arm the entire time.
They found themselves back at the cafeteria and Cloud felt something click in the back of his mind.
"Say, Jessie? You wouldn't happen to know a girl named Yuffie, would you?" Cloud asked her.
Jessie nodded, though her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I know her, but not on a friendly basis, why?
Cloud shrugged indifferently. If Jessie knew anything about Yuffie, she probably knew that the girl was good friends with Tifa. Jessie's dislike for the attractive brunette had escalated once she and Cloud began dating. Cloud simply couldn't be bothered by her pathetic jealousy. "She's having a party after exams, you wanna go?"
Jessie blinked, her expression turned sad. "I can't Cloud. My folks arranged a vacation to Costa De Sol during the mid-year break."
Cloud nodded.
"You still gonna go?" Jessie asked.
"Probably, I haven't decided yet," Cloud replied impassively.
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Oh and is Tifa gonna be there?"
"I dunno. Maybe," Cloud answered.
"Oh, okay."
Cloud inwardly smirked. He knew Jessie was far too afraid of losing him that she wouldn't risk bringing her jealousy of Tifa up.
"Well, I gotta go now," Cloud said suddenly.
"What, why? Is it something I said?" Jessie asked worriedly.
Cloud shook his head. "Nope, I just have something I need to take care of."
Although she was loathe to do so, Jessie bid him good-bye and left, but not before giving him a deep possessive kiss. In truth, Cloud just wanted to get her out of his hair for a while. He knew there could be no avoiding her totally, but he wanted some time alone with Zack and Aerith.
He eventually found them a little later. What they were up to, however, was enough to shock him even in his stoned state. They were in a fierce lip-lock, with Aerith leaning in desperately, as if glued to Zack's mouth.
Cloud cleared his throat loudly and they broke apart in shock.
"Cloud!" Aerith gulped, turning a bright shade of red in embarassment.
"Watsup buddy?" Zack said, trying to nonchalantly wave it off.
"Uhm, aside from the fact that I just saw my two friends snogging in public, I'm good," Cloud answered, with a smile. "When were you planning on telling me you guys got back together."
They grinned sheepishly at each other. "Well, we kinda grew closer over the last few days," Aerith began explaining.
"And well, old feelings resurfaced and I asked her out last week," Zack said with a laugh.
Cloud couldn't help but grin back. The two of them belonged together, in his opinion.
"We were going to tell you, but Jessie always turned up before we got a chance," Aerith said hastily.
"Thought you had enough emotional baggage of your own with ours," Zack added.
"No, I'm happy for you guys!" Cloud said enthusiastically.
Cloud and Aerith looked overjoyed. They had expected a much worse reaction than the one they got.
"So where'd you disappear to?" Zack asked. "Nevermind, I think I can guess," he sniggered as Cloud flushed.
"Seriously Zack, we do more than just fuck," Cloud said through his blush.
Aerith, evidently in a good mood from her snog session didn't nitpick. "Like what? Oral?" She said with a guffaw.
Cloud just blushed.
XXX
"So I heard you got yourself a new boyfriend," Cloud said as he and Tifa walked along the woods near Midgar. They had driven out a day after Cloud's little sexcapade with Jessie in the car park for a little down time.
Tifa took a puff of her cigarette. "Yeah, it kinda just happened. Me and Vincent knew each other for a while, but we weren't that close. I was feeling kinda lonely and well, he was there for me. He asked me out a few days ago, and I figured, why not give hime a chance?" She turned to Cloud, who smiled back at her. "That okay with you?" She asked.
Cloud looked a little shocked at that. "What? Why would you ask that? You're a big girl, you don't need my approval, it's not any of my business anyways!" He said.
Tifa giggled. "Oh, Cloud. Sometimes you're maturity amazes me and yet, other times you're so naïve I'm shocked!" She replied. "I think we're more than just friends anymore. We've grown pretty close over the past few months, and I'm just asking for your opinion."
Cloud couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth for the woman beside him well up inside. He really did love her, even if they weren't as close as he wished they were, it was enough for him. "Well, I don't really know him personally so I can't say."
"He'll be at Yuffie's party, you can meet him then," Tifa smiled while taking another puff. "Oh and are you bringing Jessie?"
"She can't make make it, Cloud answered indifferently.
"How are things between you two?" Tifa asked with a look of concern.
"We're fine," Cloud answered simply.
"Is there something you need to talk about? Are you guys having problems?" Tifa asked, coming to a stop.
"No, it isn't that, it's just," Cloud said, sitting down on a rock. "She's a nice girl, but I don't really feel anything for her. We don't even talk much, we just..."
"Fuck," Tifa finished for him. "Yeah I figured."
"How?" Cloud asked in astonishment. Was it really that obvious.
Tifa giggled. "Maybe it's just because I know you as well as I do. I think only people who know who Cloud Strife really is can tell you're just in it for the sex!"
"And you don't have a problem with that?" Cloud asked her.
Tifa shook her head. "Cloud, you're young, hormonal and free. What you wanna do with you're life is your own thing, I can't force you to do something you don't want to?"
"Even if you disapprove?" Cloud asked.
"Now when did I say that? I guess I kinda understand you're situation," she replied with a shrug. "Cloud, the choices we make are only important if WE'RE the ones making them. If you wanna be with Jessie for you, and not because of society forcing you to be with her, and if you're happy to live with the circumstances, than it's fine by me."
Cloud was once more amazed at her. She spoke with such conviction and wisdom in her voice. She may be young, but Tifa had gone through her own hell, her life had been no picnic.
"Besides," she continued. "You only live once, right? YOLO- that's the motto, by Drake!"
"You like rap music?" Cloud asked in surprise.
"Well, yeah!" Tifa said turning to look at him, chucking a cigarette away. "I love it, and you?"
"I'm not really a huge fan, but it's okay I guess" Cloud replied slowly.
Tifa laughed. "Cloud when are you gonna learn that you don't have to pretend to like something just because other people like it and you don't have to impress anyone else besides yourself?"
"I'm not just saying I like it because you do!" Cloud began hotly.
"This isn't about rap music Cloud," Tifa said gently.
"Oh," he said. He had a lot of thinking to do, about himself, life and a whole lot of other stuff.
It could wait though, as Tifa pulled out a joint, which Cloud looked at hungrily. They smoked in silence for a while, each allowing the canabis to relax and mellow them out.
"So, tell me about this Vincent guy," Cloud said, after a while.
"He's tall, dark, I think he's handsome, which goes against what most people think, but hey, I'm the one dating him, so fuck everyone else! He doesn't really speak much, he did have a very public thing with Professor Cresent a while back though," Tifa said.
Cloud cocked an eyebrow, he knew of Professor Lucrecia Cresent. She was a beautiful woman, though he found it hard to imagine her getting it on with a student.
"He's also pretty intelligent, and deep too! I guess that's why she went for him," Tifa was saying. "Other than that, there's not much I can tell you without you meeting him yourself!"
Cloud nodded. "We should probably head back home," he said catching sight of the setting sun. "It's getting late."
"Yeah," Tifa agreed. "Let's go."
Together they turned and left the woods, revelling in thhe companionship they felt with each other
XXX
It was probably a little after midnight when Cloud flicked his cellphone on. He had been unable to sleep, thinking of everything Tifa had said that day. And of Zack and Aerith's news. He chuckled silently to himself, he was surprised it had taken them this long to get back together.
He had listened to the song Tifa had mentioned; The Motto (YOLO) by Drake and Lil Wayne, and found that he actually liked it. Though most people considered rap garbage, if one actually took the time to listen to the meaning behind the lyrics, the effect was amazing. He couldn't describe it, even in his private thoughts. But then, as Tifa had said, fuck most people. The only thing that mattered was the individual and as long as you loved and respected yourself, no one else mattered. Not family, not friends, not enemies, no one, just you.
XXX
AUTHOR'S NOTE : Wow! Getting pretty deep towards the end of this segment even if I do say so myself. A lot of this is stuff I personally have thought about and this is my way of showing my own opinions. Incase anyone was wondering, this is, partly, some of my own personal experiences. I think we've reached the point where I can say this isn't just a pointless piece of literary garbage and it does have some deeper meaning, underneath all the booze, drugs and drama. Anyway the next few chapters are all pretty much planned out, with a few surprises and parallels to the original story so y'all will probably be hearing some more from me soon! Till then, Cheers!
