Chapter Seven:
Tifa arrived in a sleeping town at around dawn. Thankfully, the inn was still open. The place was nothing like the edgy and elegant hotels she had come in before—it was rather dingy in this inn. The lobby had shabby second hand looking furniture, the floor was bare, the paint was peeling off, there was an ancient television and a single potted plant brought life to the dead room.
"'Welcome," somebody said.
Tifa turned and saw a nice looking old lady standing by the counter. "Hello, I'd like a room."
"Certainly. How long do you plan to stay here?"
Tifa bit her lip. "A few weeks. I'm taking a time off from work, you see."
"City life finally caught up with you, eh, miss?" the old lady chuckled.
Tifa smiled at the old lady. "Yes, it has."
The old lady gave her a slip and pen. "I need you to sign this for me, missy."
"What for?" Tifa asked curiously.
"Oh, I'm just making sure that you don't run off from me like my previous customers."
Tifa signed the paper with a fake name, Jessica Lockes, and the lady handed her a key. "Room one should do you fine. There aren't a lot of travelers here this time of year so you really will have a lot of peace and quiet. I serve breakfast at eight and the shower's just cold, sorry."
"That's alright. Thank you." Tifa grabbed her bags and headed to her room. It was a good thing that the old woman did not recognize her at all, she sighed in relief. After locking the door, she threw her bags in the corner, resolving to unpack them tomorrow and crashed in bed.
When she woke up that morning, she took in the shabby room. Just like the lobby downstairs, the floor was bare , but polished, the paint was also peeling in the room and the previous occupant had etched his name, a profanity and another name on the wall, her bed was comfortable enough. An empty bedside table stood beside her bed and the window curtains were slightly moth eaten.
Tifa got up from the warm bed and headed towards the bathroom. The bathroom was very simple. There was a sink, a toilet and a shower area. Tiny bottles of shampoo and a small bar of soap were provided, along with two old towels.
"Gaia, this place is horrible. They've got no fluffy towels!" she murmured to herself.
After undressing, she turned on the top and immediately started a short tap dance. The water was freezing!
Her teeth were still chattering when she got dressed. She then unpacked her clothes. Suddenly the old lady knocked on her door. "Hey? Are you awake?"
"Oh," Tifa mumbled. "Yes! Good morning!"
"Oh, do you want breakfast?"
"Yes please. Sorry I was unpacking."
"That's okay, missy. I'll bring your food right over."
"Oh, uh, okay, thank you!"
Breakfast was a sad bowl of oatmeal, two slices of toast with strips of bacon and black coffee. With a hungry smile, she dug right in. If she had been eating with Rufus and Lazard, they'd have been counting the calorie on everything she was going to put in her mouth.
'Are you sure you want to eat that bacon? Why not a nice, juicy slice of a Banora apple instead?' that's what Lazard would probably tell her.
'Don't drink that! Coffee stains the teeth!'
'You should work out right after eating, doll.'
Happy that they were only mental renditions, she finished her meal without a worry. Who wanted to be famous when they couldn't eat what they wanted?
Okay, so oatmeal, bread and bacon wasn't really what she wanted. She wanted waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, or just plain syrup, bacon and eggs and a tall cup of cappuccino. But this was better than a single fruit, right?
Cloud groaned as Zack entered his room. Zack looked really annoyed. "Cloud," the raven said, "get your lazy ass up. You're gonna get us both fired!" He pulled Cloud's blanket off and frowned. "Jeez, Cloud. Really? GET UP!"
Cloud groaned and faced his flat mate. "Zack, can't you go to work alone?"
"No, we both have to report today. Look, all you have to do is change your hairstyle."
Cloud moaned and threw his pillow at Zack. "My hair style is awesome, leave it alone."
Zack rolled his eyes. "Awesome? It resembles a chocobo!"
Cloud opened his mouth to refute his friend's statement, but was interrupted by a knocks on the door. The knocks sounded impatient and demanding. The two looked at each other.
"We already paid the rent, right?"
"Coming!" Zack yelled.
Who knocked like that? The raven thought… their landlady? Oh, no, their landlady was prim and proper, she wouldn't knock like that even if they leave the water on all day…
A blonde dressed in white was standing outside the door, flanked by men in black suits.
"Uhh… yes? We don't owe the mafia, I swear." Zack said.
The blonde smirked and spoke. "Is miss Lockhart here by chance?"
Zack's brows met. "Tifa Lockhart? Oh dude, what I would give to say that she is."
"I'm Rufus Shinra, her manager. Is she here?" Rufus asked impatiently.
"Nah, she isn't." Zack mumbled.
"Is your blonde friend here?" Rufus asked.
"Cloud? Yeah, he is. Want me to call him for ya?"
"Yes."
"HEY CLOUD!"
Cloud walked out of his room sluggishly, with no shirt on. He scratched the back of his neck as he did so. "What?" he asked.
"Rufus, er, Shinra is asking for you."
"Rufus Shinra?" Cloud asked. "Who's Rufus Shinra?"
"I'm Rufus Shinra," Rufus interjected. "Tifa Lockhart's manager. Do you know where she is?"
"I don't know… in her house, maybe? Sleeping in her bed?" Cloud answered. "Why are you looking for her here?"
"Tifa is not at home, sleeping, as you said. She left for an unknown location, and I thought that she might have told you," Rufus said. "She cannot go missing, Cloud. Her career will take a hard, painful blow if she disappears for a month. Nobody will remember her name!"
"Chill, blondie! This is Tifa Lockhart we're talking about here." Zack interjected.
Rufus looked sharply at Zack. "I am simply looking out for my client, and right now, if she doesn't come back, all of the projects that she has lined up—the endorsements, the clothing line—will all be withdrawn and given to others. Do you know how much money she'd lose?"
"Don't you mean how much money you'd lose?" Cloud said. "Maybe she left because of what you're doing."
"Excuse me?" Rufus looked surprised, but regained his composure quickly.
"Maybe she got tired of all the things you're making her do, that's why she went away." Cloud said. "You know, you make her work too much."
Rufus's lips formed into a thin, hard line and his eyes narrowed. "I take good care of my clients, boy. Now, tell me what you know or I'm going to get you fired from your work!"
"I told you already! I don't know so stop being a dick, Shinra!" Cloud bellowed. "She didn't call me or anything!"
"Yeah, man, the gal didn't call." Zack echoed.
"Make sure that you're not lying, kid or else." Rufus threatened.
"Or else?" Cloud dared.
"Expect retribution."
Rufus left.
"Jeez, what a way to start the day, eh, Cloud?" Zack murmured as Cloud shut the door loudly.
After returning the tray to the kitchen, Tifa made her way out of the inn. It was then that she finally recognized that she had driven to Kalm. She had visited this place before, shooting for a magazine. She tugged her trucker cap to hide her eyes. It was a very sleepy village, she noted and she noted…
Everybody looked at her as she walked. The young boys and teenagers all gawked, the girls stared. Kalm would be a good place to think about her future plans.
Tifa passed a little bookshop and saw a tabloid with her face blown on the whole front page with the caption: Tifa Lockhart is MISSING
"Oh dear Gaia." she groaned. "Stupid Rufus!" Tifa turned around and went back to the inn.
"Um, lady, do you have a pair of scissors?" she asked the innkeeper.
The innkeeper put down the newspaper she was reading. "They're behind the counter missy, why are you asking?"
"Um, I need to cut the split ends…" Tifa gave an awkward grin.
The innkeeper shrugged. "Sure."
"Thanks." Taking the scissors, Tifa ran to her room as if the devil himself were on her heels.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! And to Coli Chibi for reminding me to update this~ I was really busy with my other fic, and school. Ugh. Rufus PLEASE buy school and eradicate it, haha. Please don't forget to REVIEW! oooh... and, can you imagine Tifa without her trademark hairstyle? If you can, in what style do you see her in?
-Victoria Chrystallis