Thirty-two: Conflicted

Genesis's new song, Last Song, was playing everywhere. Tifa ground her teeth as she turned off the radio, and concentrated on sketching. The door bell's high pitched cry broke her concentration again. Annoyed, Tifa stood up and walked to the door to greet the offender. Tifa was expecting her stylist with his hand on his hip, but it wasn't her stylist. It was a delivery man. The sweet, sweet scent of roses wafted instantly.

"Miss Lockhart?" a delivery man carrying a wicker basket of white and pale pink roses asked.

"Yes." she answered, furrowing her eyebrows. The slack-jawed delivery man handed her the delivery form. She signed and he handed her the basket. "Thanks…"

The delivery man tipped his cap and was on his way. Tifa stared at the huge bunch of roses. She hurried to the kitchen and found a card. Without further ado, she opened the little card. Her eyes grew wide.

Sorry about how I acted yesterday.

She frowned and stared at the neatly written message. There was no doubt. It was from Genesis. Her stomach churned. Her subconscious shook her head and told her to throw out the roses. Tifa looked at the roses. They were so beautiful, it would be waste to throw away. Without batting an eye, Tifa grabbed her phone and dialed Genesis' number, half hoping that he was still using it.

Genesis picked up at the first ring. "Hello."

Tifa twisted her fingers, trying to conjure words. "Genesis."

"Have you received the flowers?"

"…Yes. They're beautiful, thank you."

"Listen Tifa, I'm really, really sorry for my irrational actions towards you yesterday. It's just that… I'm still not over you. No matter how hard I try to forget you, I can't. I've tried to replace you, forget you. I couldn't. Why can't I just get over you?"

Tifa sighed and bit her bottom lip. "I don't know, Genesis. But you need to. I'm happy with Cloud. I'm not ready to be friends with you either. I'm sorry."

"I understand that completely, darling." he said quietly. "Oops. Sorry." Somehow, Genesis' voice sounded totally wounded. "I wish you and Cloud all the happiness. But if he ever hurts you, I'm here."

"Hurt me the way you did, Genesis?" she snapped. "I don't know why I'm still being fucking polite to you, buster. We're long over. Why don't you get over it?"

Silence stretched on Genesis' line. He sighed and said, "I won't bother you again. I'm sorry, again. Good bye."

Tifa ended the call without a farewell. There was a bitter taste in her mouth, and a sting in her eyes. She fetched herself a glass of chilled white wine. Why was Genesis suddenly acting up like this? Wasn't he alright when they actually broke up? The sweet scent of the roses reached her nostrils again, and she felt… How did she feel, exactly? Appalled? Scared? Hurt? Angry? Confused? She was sure, however, that she wasn't thrilled.

Why couldn't the roses have been from Cloud instead?

Her phone rang. It was Lazard. "Hello Lazard?" she said.

"Rufus called me this morning," the stylist said. "he told me that you can visit the set today until tomorrow. Do you want to go?"

She smiled. "Nothing would please me more."

"I'll book us a flight then. How does the three o'clock trip sound?"

"I'll meet you in the airport at two-thirty."

"Alright doll." Beep.

Shaking her head, Tifa proceeded to take the roses out of the house. Genesis... he no longer had a place here, or with her. Without looking back, Tifa ran upstairs and packed her clothes like an excited child that was about to go to the amusement park for the first time. Should she tell Cloud about the Genesis situation when she gets there, she wondered. She couldn't really afford to distract her boyfriend from his movie, but this sort of a serious matter...

Hmm.

Tifa decided against it, feeling confident that Genesis would stay away from her completely now that she's told him off.

Author's Note: Ah. This is unbelievably short. Sorry. But I think you guys will be getting more short stuff in the future, depending on how I adapt to my new environment—a.k.a. college! I hope you liked what you just read. Don't forget to review, lovelies.

Victoria Chrystallis