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

A/N: Yay! Another chapter the following day as promised! I hope you all like it! I had fun writing this! :D

Popularity Feud

Chapter 17

Normal P.O.V

It's Monday morning and everyone is busy either catching the bus to their work or going to school. Teenagers high fiving their friends as they walked to school together. The city was buzzing and it was alive as it had ever been as if the storm that happened weeks ago never passed. A couple seemed to argue as they walked to school together side by side.

"Okay, this has to stop Sephiroth!" The girl yelled.

"I haven't the faintest idea to what you are talking about," Sephiroth replied, his lips twitching upwards.

"You know damn well!" she spat back with annoyance. Her brow twitched when the man laughed at her. This didn't help her at all; in fact she was irked more than ever. Looking back to what happened earlier in the morning the girl sighed in defeat, wondering when it would end.

"Tifa, I made breakfast." Sephiroth knocked on the girl's door. He had been occupying her parent's room in his stay at her home. He heard a groggy voice reply from inside the room indicating that she will be there in a minute.

He walked back towards the kitchen and prepared the table. He was satisfied with his work; he cooked eggs, bacon and prepared some toast for both of them. Walking towards the cupboard he grabbed a coffee mug and a glass. He remembered that Tifa was never one to drink coffee everyday in the morning but instead relied on it when there was pressing matters such as their final exams. He chuckled at the thought of seeing the girl studying hard in order to keep her scholarship in the school. Maybe he should help her study someday.

Sephiroth poured himself some coffee and orange juice for Tifa. He placed them on the table neatly and when he was done he saw her form emerging from her room. Her hair was disheveled and her pajamas had ton of creases. She must've been rolling in her sleep, he thought. He gave her a small smile, so small it was barely even visible but Tifa saw it nonetheless, one could count it as a perk for being with him.

Red-faced, Tifa closed her eyes and shrieked.

"S-Sephiroth! Put some clothes o-on!"

"But I am wearing clothes," he said in a matter of fact tone. He walked towards her and pinched her redden cheeks. "Aren't you just the cutest thing."

"I-It's not funny Sephiroth!" She flicked his hand away and crossed her arms. Looking at him again she blushed. "Wearing nothing but an apron and your pants is not appropriate."

Sephiroth replied with a hum and grabbed his undershirt that hung on his chair. Taking off his apron, he wore his shirt and dusted it off, hoping to smoothen some of the creases.

"Better?"

"Much, thank you," Tifa nodded her head and sat down. Sephiroth followed her suit and looked at her as she ate the food he cooked with happiness. He allowed himself to day dream and wasn't paying attention to what Tifa was talking about.

"Hey Seph?" She waved her hand in front of him in hopes to bring him back to planet earth. He snapped back into his senses and apologized for spacing out. She sighed and repeated her question.

"When are you going home? It's not that I don't want you to stay here but it's how would you say it-"

"-a hassle," he interjected and looked her in the eye. She looked down and exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Y-yeah, I didn't mind at first but it's the second week already and it's causing a lot suspicions from Cloud… you know what happened last time," She trailed off. Looking down at her food, she wondered why she never told her friend. Was it because she was afraid? They told each other that there would be no secrets between them, so why was she so scared to tell him? Is it because it's…Sephiroth?

Sephiroth touched her hand and squeezed it. Tifa looked up to glance at him and saw him give her a reassuring gaze.

"Don't worry, as soon as the problems at home are fixed, I'll go home," he said softly as if he doesn't want to leave. There were no more words said and they ate their breakfast in complete silence.

After washing the dishes, Tifa waited patiently for Sephiroth to come out of the bathroom and mused to herself. Was I being too mean to him? He looked like he had a great time and I killed it… She was brought back from her thoughts with the sound of the bathroom door opening. Sephiroth, dressed in his school pants and white undershirt emerged from the bathroom while drying his hair with his towel.

"The bathroom is free now," He said coolly. She nodded and walked swiftly towards the bathroom. Closing the door shut, Tifa stripped out of all her clothing and placed them in the hamper. She hears the blow dryer being used outside and smiled; she would definitely miss this.

When they were all ready to leave and packed up for school, Sephiroth decided to attack Tifa with a flutter of kisses, leaving the teen flabbergasted. Sephiroth took this opportunity to walk ahead in order raise less suspicions from her apartment neighbor the chocobo head. Sephiroth was one to never walk to school because his driver would usually drop him off in the mornings but now that he was living temporarily with Tifa, he decided that walking together with her was best, although it did cause a battle between him and the chocobo the first day they were seen together.

Cloud was about to leave the apartment building when he saw Tifa run down the hall. He cheered up and closed his door quickly, lifting his hand up to say hello.

"Hey Teef! Wanna walk together?" He asked but was only replied with the wind as Tifa shouted her reply hurriedly from a floor from beneath him.

"Sorry Cloud! I promise I'll walk with you tomorrow!" Cloud sighed, he never thought that confessing to his friend and telling her that he reciprocated her feelings toward him would end up with sadness. He knew Tifa got mad at him when he became jealous about her new found lover who he never knew, but ignoring him like this was painful. He accepted the fact and was willing to move on, but he won't accept his friend to brush him off like nothing. She was his best friend after all, maybe visiting today won't hurt.

"Tifa! I haven't talked to you in ages girl!" Yuffie approached them, eyeing Sephiroth suspiciously. She knew about their relationship but they decided that they should be oblivious until she told them herself. "Why the flying fuck are you walking with him?"

"Y-Yuffie!" she gasped in surprise. She certainly didn't want her to be suspicious about them. She looked up to Sephiroth and asked for help, but when she looked into his eyes all she saw was disbelief. She was partly at fault for not telling her friends but it is also hard for her to approach them and fell in love with the enemy. "We weren't walking together but I saw him and decided to approach him about the project that was due for Chemistry,"

"Ah shit I forgot about that! Fuck!" the energetic girl cursed at the wind. She pulled the girl in front of her and dragged her away from the silver haired teen. "Tifa why didn't you remind me about this?"

Scratching her head, she answered sheepishly, "Well I thought Kadaj would've told you."

"Kadaj?! That bastard hates me to no end!" Yuffie exclaimed, people looked at them and Tifa whispered to her.

"Yuffie, keep it down." She said softly. Yuffie laughed and complied. She looked at the girl beside her and smiled.

"Gosh it's good to have you back Teef, it's been too long! We should totally hang out!" She said with mirth. Tifa giggled at her suggestion and raised a brow.

"Are you sure about that Yuf? The last time I asked to hang out you rejected me saying that you were busy having a video game marathon."

"What? It's true! I was doing it for Child's play man, they donate to charity!" Yuffie defended herself and Tifa laughed in response but continued the conversation nonetheless.

"Oh yeah, have you heard? The polls are this week, you're participating right?" Yuffie asked as they walked to their first period class with her hands behind her head.

"Do I even have a choice? I don't even want to enter but people still vote for me. I find it quite annoying actually." Tifa said in response and dropped her head low.

"Hey, it's for charity somewhat… I mean the money that's raised is to fund for that got scholarships, and we kind of need it."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Do you think you'll be part of the top ten this year?" Tifa asked the wannabe ninja beside her. She grinned held her head up high.

"Hell yeah! I may not be as developed as you are when it comes to the body but I'm still popular amongst the men!" She exclaimed with confidence. Tifa smiled at her friend's energetic attitude.

"It's this Friday right" Tifa asked and Yuffie nodded her head. "You know what Yuffie, I'll take you up on that offer about hanging out. It seems like we need new clothes for the auction."

"I'm not really much into shopping but since I'll be placing this year, why the heck not." The ninja grinned and walked inside the classroom.

"Hey," Yuffie nudged her partner and she was greeted by a scowl. It's time for some interrogation.

"What do you want brat?" He sneered. Yuffie had to control herself from smacking the living daylights out of him.

"Are Sephiroth and Tifa going out?" She asked innocently. What better way to confirm things but from his siblings? Kadaj laughed causing the Professor to eye him suspiciously.

"Are you stupid? I thought you would be one for rumors. But yeah, they are, got a prob with that bitch?" He replied while pouring the chemical into the flask in front of him. Yuffie fumed at the name calling and stormed out of the room.

"Where are you going Miss Kisaragi?" Professor Hojo asked as he walked outside the room.

"Off to let steam sir, unless you want your precious son to have his face acidified," Yuffie growled and turned her heels to walk down the hall, knocking off trash cans in the process. Hojo shook his head and walked back inside with a heavy sigh.

"What's going there beautiful?" Genesis asked Tifa as she helped Sephiroth with the lab work.

"Are you referring to me, Rhapsodos?" Tifa looked up at him through her protective eye wear.

"Yes I am dear Lockhart, unless you consider Sephiroth to be beautiful," he replied with a wink. Tifa blushed and continued to do her work. "Don't be afraid, we're not here to bite. We all know that our stoic man has harbored some intimate feelings for you."

Tifa looked around to see the Populars looking at them and nodded even Rufus Shinra and his lab partner Tseng nodded to the statement.

"He told us, so that we would cease the whole feud ordeal until after the auction," Genesis said as if reading her mind. Tifa felt guilty for not telling her friends as well and not trusting them as much as Sephiroth trusted his.

"Are you done yet, Genesis?" Sephiroth remarked, lifting his head up to see the smirk displayed on his face.

"My, Sephiroth, you're always such a bore. I wonder why a beautiful and caring soul even managed to love you." He teased. Sephiroth grabbed his lab collar and lifted him an inch off the ground.

"If you value your life Gen, I suggest you stop your nonsense, this isn't the right time nor the place for your attempts at flirtation." Sephiroth growled. Hojo broke the two and issued them detention for today's misconduct. When they were both dismissed to continue their lab, Angeal smacked Genesis with his gloved hand. Genesis rubbed the sore spot and received an earful about how inappropriate he was when he talked to Tifa. Sephiroth on the other hand calmed down after Tifa soothed his back.

Hojo looked at the scene before him and sighed. It was going to be a long year and they were only on the beginning of the second semester.

The polls were up three days later and just as Yuffie had predicted she managed to place on the list for being auctioned. Now this charity event that is held every year is to raise money for the funds needed to fund the scholarship program. The event takes place in the theatre where the whole student body is held and the top ten that were voted are being auctioned off to dine with the highest bidder at a fancy restaurant picked by the school. In that night, the auctioned students are obliged to answer every answer that the bidder asked and to keep them company until an hour before midnight. After the dinner, they are to proceed to a teen club that is also hosted by the school to enjoy each other's company. No monkey businesses are permitted throughout the whole event and they are to be kept an eye on but at the same time given enough privacy to converse with each other.

Tifa looked at the list and groaned. She was on the top of the list again, that means there would be bids on her that even she could not afford. So there was no way out this one, she couldn't ask Sephiroth to buy her for the night since it is against the rule for students on the list to buy each other out.

Female

Tifa Lockhart

Aerith Gainsborough

Shera

Random Female Student

Scarlet

Random Female Student

Random Female Student

Elena

Cissnei

Yuffie Kisaragi

Tifa smiled upon seeing Yuffie's name on the list. She scanned the male's section of the list and as always, Sephiroth was on top.

Male

Sephiroth Hojo

Vincent Valentine

Zack Fair

Cloud Strife

Genesis Rhapsodos

Yazoo Hojo

Angeal Hewly

Reno Sinclair

Rufus Shinra

Tseng

Someone tapped her shoulder and she looked up to see Sephiroth's gaze on her. He smiled.

"Congratulations,"

"Congratulations to you to, although I don't really like being in it." She replied truthfully.

"Me neither," Sephiroth agreed. "Your friend is looking for you."

Tifa nodded and gave him a quick hug and went off to Yuffie who was waiting patiently near the door. Yuffie waved her hand when she saw Tifa approaching her. Tifa waved back and she walked side by side with her friend to the mall. Sephiroth watched their retreating form and walked towards the room where they held their club meetings. Zack was waiting outside for him and waved when he saw Sephiroth. He gave a small wave and walked inside after Zack.

"I'm sorry about the whole Chemistry incident Sephiroth," Genesis said when he saw him walk inside. Sephiroth looked at him and nodded his head.

"I suggest that you control yourself next time Gen, or else you would end up with a few broken limbs," Sephiroth threatened. Genesis raised his hands up in defeat making it crystal clear that he would no longer tease him in front of Tifa, but a little flirting wouldn't hurt anybody he noted.

"Congratulations everyone for placing in the polls," Sephiroth said in optimism. "Only two of the Avalanche men have ranked in the polls but that is still insignificant to the numbers that we have. However in the women's section… their wannabe ninja Kisaragi has placed tenth in the polls therefore creating a lead in the women's section."

"Well we only have Aerith as the girl member so it's doesn't really matter much now does it?" Zack intervened. Sephiroth looked at him and nodded in agreement.

"Zack is right, we won't weigh it as heavily since they have two female members. I'm sorry you haven't placed Kadaj, maybe next year you'll be able to," Sephiroth turned to look at his younger brother and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Like I give a fuck," Kadaj murmured.

"That is the exact reason why a low face like Reno is able to place on the Polls you nitwit," Genesis remarked. "Your too uncouth so the student body dislikes that, you're tainting our image Kadaj."

"Oh yeah well fuck you too!" he exclaimed, tipping the table backwards and storming out of the room. Before Yazoo could go after him, Sephiroth stopped him.

"Let him be, he needs some time alone. He's too self-centered to listen to your preaching Yazoo," Sephiroth said lowly and Yazoo nodded and resumed his spot next to Genesis.

"I want you all to wear your best at tomorrow's event, bring yourself with pride but do not become haughty. There will be females and males that will be bidding on you so make them know that you are worth their time and money," Sephiroth declared, his fellow club members and Aerith nodded their heads in understanding. "Be sure to get plenty of sleep, I don't want to see zombies in the theatre tomorrow. You all are dismissed."

They all stood up and started walking out of the room, Angeal remained inside. Sephiroth raised a brow. "What are you still doing here?"

"I wanted to know if you're faring alright. Is that bad?" Angeal chuckled and patted his back. He looked at him seriously, his voice dead pan. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"What are you talking about Angeal?" Sephiroth asked, staring at him seriously.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about Sephiroth. Are you sure you're emotionally ready to see your girlfriend handed to someone else tomorrow as a prize?" He noticed Sephiroth's hands forming into fists.

"You should ask Zack that Angeal, after all Aerith is also handed as a prize tomorrow," Sephiroth replied with venom in his voice. Angeal noticed that his friend is starting to turn hostile and sighed.

"Zack has dealt with it for two years already, I'm sure he's ready. You're the one I'm concerned for, I know Zack won't attack anyone who have eyes for Aerith… but I know you would if it was Tifa. Let's admit it, Tifa is a young girl with a beautiful face and body, who wouldn't go after her?" Angeal said as he walked towards the door. "You know how hectic it was last year because of her, horny students bid on her in hopes to get in her pants but instead wasted their parent's savings."

"If I were you I would give Tifa the credit she deserves, she is part of the Judo club and is one the people that teaches the art. I wouldn't belittle her, but if a single hair is misplaced when I see her tomorrow in the club, there will be consequences to the bidder." He growled back. He doesn't like the idea of Tifa being with another man but he knows that she is able to care for herself. One thing he doesn't like is people calling her weak even though she isn't and for Angeal to even suggest that he would be immature enough to attack the bidder for having a normal dinner irked him more.

"Hey Tifa," Yuffie asked her friend while browsing through the racks of dresses to find the one that suits her best. "Is it true that you're dating Sephiroth?"

"W-Where did you hear that?" Tifa paused and looked at the waiting eyes of her friend. Yuffie took a dress and looked at it and placed it back after making a face.

"Well Kadaj told me… so I guess it's true. Although I did want to burn his face with the way he used his words." She replied with a small laugh that faded instantly.

"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner Yuffie," Tifa apologized to her. Yuffie gave her a smile and walked towards her to give her a hug.

"It's okay Tifa, I would've been happier if you told me before I heard it from that potty mouth of Kadaj's." Tifa chuckled and hugged her back. She wondered if her friends would accept her the way Yuffie did. They all probably would except for one. Except for Cloud.

"Anyways enough with the sappy stuff, we've got dresses and shoes to pick!" Yuffie said energetically before looking for dresses yet again. Tifa smiled and looked something for her to wear as well. If they were going to a teen club then that means it would have to be on the borderline of casual and formal.

After a long period of time searching for dresses, the duo finally managed to settle for dresses that suited their tastes. Not too shabby, overwhelming or open. Just the way they liked it. They went to the shoes department and searched for matching shoes to wear; once they were satisfied they ate dinner at the mall's cafeteria and headed home. Tifa flipped her phone open after neglecting it for hours and found a message from Sephiroth.

Sephiroth

7:00 P.M 03/06/XX

"Hey, I waited for you to come home but it seems like you're having fun with your friend. I hope you had a great time looking for clothes. I can't wait to see you in them tomorrow. Call me when you get home. I'm already back at my house, seems like I won't be a bother anymore.

Love,

Sephiroth"

A tear fell from her eye and she opened her door to be greeted by the darkness and the cold air. She began to take back her words because every second that she was in her apartment without Sephiroth's constant attempts at flirting or making her agitated she felt lonely. She dialed his number without knowing it and held the phone closely to her ear, waiting for him to pick up. She was about to give up until she heard his voice.

'Hello?'

There was nothing, just sobs and tears that wouldn't stop falling down her face.

'Tifa? Hey, are you okay?'

'S-Sephiroth…' She said in between sobs. She held the phone tightly.

'…Tifa… what's wrong?' he asked concerned.

'I miss you… why didn't you wait for me?' She asked, clearly hurt and saddened at the same time.

'I couldn't… because I had to. Tomorrow's the event…' he said, quickly changing the topic.

'I know… are you ready?' She asked walking towards her room and taking shoes off before lying down on her bed.

'Mmm. I was having my beauty sleep until you called,' he joked and he heard her laugh. His heart raced when he heard her laugh again, it pained him to leave her without a goodbye but he had to go home just like she requested. He couldn't abuse her kindness and hospitality.

'I wish you were here…' she said softly.

'You wished I was gone three days ago,' he chuckled in the phone but it ended quickly and all that's left was the sound of the wind moving.

'I can't wait to see you dolled up tomorrow Tifa, I bet you'll look beautiful as ever.' He said breaking the silence and he heard her sobs.

'y-yeah… you're going to be so handsome tomorrow…' she laughed lightly in hopes to lighten the mood.

I wish I was the one with you though… They both thought to themselves.

They talked for quite some time until all Sephiroth could hear from the other end is the sound of her sleeping. He smiled to himself and said goodnight before ending the call. As much as he would like to stay longer in her lovely abode, he didn't want to… because every night he could feel his hormones trying to take over and it didn't feel pleasant for Sephiroth to bear. At least she's in harm's way from him.

Before he slept all he could think about was Tifa looking radiant as ever in her newly bought outfit, sharing a meal with him and dancing the night away tomorrow. Even though he knew it couldn't happen.

A/N: So did you like it? I will posting another one in a few days so yeah! :D R & R !

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