Popularity Feud

Disclaimer: I do not own any character in any shape or form. They belong to Square Enix :)

Chapter 3

On the way home, Tifa walked slowly going over the fact that during her last period class, Sephiroth and Cloud were placed in the same classroom. 'What the hell, I guess me having a normal English class would be impossible', she sighed. She looked around and saw teenagers her age hanging around the city, some going to the karaoke and a few going to the café. She looked at them in envy, she couldn't hang around with her friends today because it's going to be her first day at her first job.

Opening her apartment door, she rushed towards her room to get changed in her uniform. A knock can be heard a few rooms down. While buttoning her shirt up, she walked towards the apartment's entrance to reveal a childhood friend of hers.

"Hey Teef," the boy said.

"Hey Cloud, come on in," She opened the door wide enough for him to enter. After saying thanks, Cloud went inside and followed her towards the living room. "What brings you here?" She asked him while searching for a ribbon to tie her hair up.

Cloud helped her look for one, their elbows brushing against each other. Tifa blushed from their close proximity. Childhood friend or not, she still isn't used to being this close to Cloud, even if they only live next door from each other. "I wanted to say thanks."

"What for?" She looked up to him and found his blue eyes staring back at her.

"Well," he started, holding up the black ribbon she was looking for and tied her hair up. After being satisfied from doing such a good job on her hair, he continued, "I wanted to thank you for sacrificing your seat for me earlier during English class. You're pretty awesome, Teef." He smiled while holding a few strands of her hair, brushing his thumb on it.

Blushing, Tifa tugged on her ponytail causing Cloud to let go of it and looked down, "Well, it's not really that much of a big deal. I was just looking out for you. I d-didn't want you to get in trouble." She managed to say, stuttering in a couple words.

"I guess so," He chuckled and looked at her, noticing her outfit. "What's that for?"

Tifa looked up and followed his gaze towards her uniform, she completely forgot all about it…and her job. Panicking, Tifa gazed at the clock that was comfortably hung up near the bookshelves, and the picture frames of her family. She gasped, taking her coat and wearing her shoes, leaving Cloud confused. Running towards the door and grabbing her keys, she yelled out to Cloud. "Please lock the door when you leave! I'll explain later, right now I'm late!" The door closed with a loud BOOM. Leaving Cloud inside, staring absentmindedly at the door where her childhood friend rushed out of. Questions piling up inside his mind…

Tifa ran towards her job, panting along the way. Sometimes, just the presence of Cloud distracts her from what she's really supposed to do. As if it's just the both of them and the world surrounding them seem to fade. She mentally noted herself to overcome that annoying habit of hers.

Standing in front of the restaurant/bar, she sighed and walked inside.

Tifa's POV

I greeted my boss and he immediately told me to tend to the customers. So I did. There are a lot of customers today actually, some of them are perverted too. Sighing, I walked towards a couple of men, drinks in hand. I rolled my eyes when I saw them winking at me.

"Hey there pretty lady," One of them spoke, looking at me up and down. Ignoring them, I continued on placing their drinks away from my tray and on their table.

"Oh come one, don't be shy, why don't you have fun with us?" The other one who looked as if he was in his mid thirties, smiled creepily at me and placed his hand on my wrist pulling me closer.

"What are you doing?!" I yelled, yanking my hand away from his touch, but he wouldn't let go. The other two drank from their glasses and laughed heartily, as though this act was fine and said, "Don't worry gal, we're just playing with you."

"Well you can stop playing because I still have other customers to attend to!" I glared at them, gritting my teeth from frustration and looked around to find my boss but I didn't see him. As my anger is boiling up inside me, I slapped the fool right across the face. Everyone looked at me, their attention drawn from the loud noise.

"Why I ought to!" The man launched at me, but I blocked his punches. Gosh, am I glad that I took martial arts. Then my boss suddenly arrived and stopped the man, telling him and his friends to leave. I saw him mutter something at me, his eyes full of lust and devilish schemes.

Shuddering, my boss told me to calm down and ordered everyone else to go back to what ever they were doing.

"Tifa, what's wrong?" He asked. I shook my head and told him that I'm fine and would like to continue my job. I saw him shake his head and looked at me, "Tifa, from what you just showed everyone today, I'm sure you can handle men such as those earlier. But you've had enough for today, come back again tomorrow." He smiled at me, assuring me that I didn't lose my job on the first day.

I tugged on my coat as I walked the dim sidewalk towards my apartment, laughing at my boss' reason for not firing me. 'The customers love you, it would be mean of me for firing you on your first day'

I heard footsteps behind me, and it seems like it was three people tailing me. I decided to walk faster but a guy caught me and dragged me to a dark nearby alley. I heard them talk, and judging from their voices it was those three men at the bar earlier.

"Well girly, seems like your boss ain't gonna help you now," I heard him chuckle, the same voice from the guy who grabbed my wrist. He walked his way closer to me and backed away until my back collided against a wall. 'Shit I'm trapped.'

He grabbed my coat rather hard and ripped off a few of the buttons on top revealing the top of my restaurant uniform which is more of a maid outfit. Clenching my fists I punched him on the face, causing his nose to break and bleed. "Y-You bitch! Grab her boys!" I managed to get out of their trap but had a hard time from dodging and blocking their attacks.

One of them unfortunately landed a blow on my stomach and I stopped, clutching my stomach and feeling a bit dizzy that was until another one of them chopped my neck causing my sight to fade to pitch black.

Groaning, I woke up with my head and stomach hurting like hell. I looked at my surroundings and panicked when I knew I wasn't at home but at someone else's room. Black satin sheets draped gracefully on the bed, the pillows were wrapped in it as well. The walls were covered in a dark shade of green, a few bookcases were stationed near the edges of the wall, a desk with a laptop on it is stationed between the two. Judging from the room, it must be someone rich. Realizing what happened before I knocked out, I looked at my body, gasping from seeing myself in someone else's black and silver hemmed pyjamas. 'I didn't…'

"Glad to see you're awake, Lockhart." I snapped my head towards the sound of the voice to find the person I didn't want to see in this situation. His deep and venomous voice echoed in the room, his mako green eyes stared back at mine. He was stationed on a couch, sitting on it elegantly while reading a book. The flames from the fire place seemed to make his silver hair shine.

"Sephiroth…" I said absentmindedly.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR ABANDONING THIS STORY IN WEEKS ;^; HUHUHUHUHUHUH. I got a terrible writer's block! Anyways, did you guys like it? I uploaded a lengthy one than the one in Chap 2. Wondering why she's in Sephiroth's room? Well, find out in the next chapter! R&R please! (^O^) Thanks to those who wrote a review, I appreciate it :D