A/N: Thank you to everyone who left a review so far. Hope you're enjoying. Here's the second chapter which took a few drafts from me. Hope you like it!
Cloud sat in silence, watching Aerith slowly walk through the doorway, the afternoon light radiating behind her. She looked almost angelic. Cloud couldn't quite explain it, but something about her just captivated him. And now that his friends had made a comment to him, Cloud was becoming more self-conscious of it as well. Was it really that obvious? If so, did she know too?
His mind started to anxiously drift off, when he was suddenly jerked back to the present by the sound of her voice. Both Aerith and Tifa were discussing Cloud's latest installment off to the side. He couldn't help but overhear.
"The new jukebox looks great!" Aerith exclaimed with delight, clasping her hands together. She had a way of making everything sound so amazing, even if it was just another project for him.
"Cloud did such a great job," Tifa agreed.
"He did. And with that unit there, I have some ideas of what else we could do with the space. Maybe put a picture or two to complement the neon colors." Aerith spread out her hands above, waving her hands to and fro around the yet-to-be-completed space.
Tifa smiled as she followed Aerith's hands. "I can't wait to see your vision."
"You bet," Aerith chimed. "But first, that pizza smell is driving me crazy. I gotta go grab some."
The two girls shared another giggle, and then Aerith turned her back around and slowly followed her nose to where the guys were sitting.
"Mind if I grab a piece?" she asked, her body coming into full view of Cloud. He tensed up, unsure of what to do or how to react.
Luckily, Wedge was there to do the talking. "Of course! Here, grab a seat."
Aerith smiled and happily plopped herself next to Cloud, her feet dangling for a moment above the floor. The space between them felt even tighter, and his muscles seized up, making it almost impossible to move. He wanted to say something, but his mouth was failing him at the moment. He tried his best to keep it cool even though his heart was practically beating out of his chest. She reached over for the pizza box and grabbed a slice, her arm gently brushing against him. Every new movement she made was like a serpent, slowly constricting around him, making it harder for him to react.
"Thanks, Wedge," Aerith said. She took a bite, not seeming to care about the grease spread across her fingertips. "Mmm, this pizza is delicious."
She spent a few moments savoring the pizza. After a couple bites, she turned to Cloud who was trying—and failing—to play it cool.
"I love the new jukebox you put in, Cloud," she said. "It really makes the place come alive."
Upon being addressed directly, he knew he couldn't stay quiet any longer. The imaginary serpent tightened its grip even further. It took every ounce of control, but he slowly turned to face her and attempted to meet her eyes, as one should do if they were trying to appear well-adjusted. Their eyes briefly did meet, but then he immediately darted them to the wall, realizing just how impossible the task was. At least he was facing in her general direction—it would have to be good enough.
"Th-thanks," Cloud stuttered. It was the only word he could bring himself to utter. He was impressed he could even manage that much.
"Have you tested out any songs yet?" Aerith asked, her voice growing more excited and curious.
"N-not yet," Cloud muttered. This time he was able to get out two words, instead of one. Some might even consider it a success. But every word felt like torture, especially as the serpent strengthened its hold on him, reminding him of his place. It was just a normal day. Nothing to see here, Aerith.
"We got distracted with pizza," Biggs chimed in, temporarily breaking Cloud from his trance.
Aerith bounced from her seat, nearly startling him. "Well, is it ready? Let's go test out the first song. I'm in the mood to dance."
Biggs and Wedge also enthusiastically got up from their chairs, but Cloud was gripped to his seat. Did she say dance? No way. Cloud could barely even sit up straight. And he didn't dance under normal circumstances, so he certainly didn't trust himself with a pretty girl in proximity. That would be a recipe for disaster, and Cloud was already making a fool of himself enough as it was.
"That sounds like a great idea," Biggs agreed as he turned to Cloud. "C'mon, let's go dance."
Cloud sat there, frozen. He could see the support in Biggs's eyes, but he just couldn't do it. He didn't trust his feet to cooperate, and the serpent would not dare release its grip. Sitting was so much easier, and safer.
"I'm good," Cloud mumbled. It was the best he could do, given the circumstances. He watched the faces on Biggs and Wedge fall a little.
"Are you sure?" Wedge asked with maybe a little too insistent of a facial expression. It didn't matter—Cloud knew immediately it wasn't going to happen. His body would only let him stay put. He'd have to quickly think of an excuse, because trying to explain to his friends that a certain determined reptile was making it impossible for him to move wouldn't have gone over well.
"Yeah," Cloud continued, averting his eyes as he thought of the best reason he could muster. "You should go test it out and let me know if it's user-friendly for the customers."
He wasn't sure if anyone really bought it, but it was enough for Biggs and Wedge to nod and leave him be. They slowly make their way over to the jukebox, but not before they shared a subtle but confused look with one another. The group sauntered to the corner of the room, and he could feel the serpent slowly loosening its grip; his body started to relax. Crisis averted.
All of the sudden, Tifa came up behind him and sat down, breaking his trance.
"Don't wanna dance, huh?" she asked, reaching for another slice of pizza. The question was obviously directed at Cloud, but she kept her eyes on Aerith, too.
"You know I don't dance," Cloud muttered.
"I know," Tifa said with a smile. "But…"
She trailed off and gave a head nod in Aerith's direction. Cloud was trying to hide his embarrassment, but he could feel the nerves creep up once more. He turned his head toward the jukebox. A jazzy, upbeat tune filled the room and echoed off the bar walls, making it seem even roomier than before. The group snapped their fingers and moved their bodies in time to the music, with Aerith's laughter occasionally overpowering the song. Cloud wished it could be that easy for him.
Tifa and Cloud sat for a few moments in silence observing the others, when she finally spoke up again. "It's okay to have fun, Cloud. You've earned it."
"I'll try," Cloud said, a line he wasn't sure convinced anyone. Awkwardly dancing with a girl he could barely keep his cool with did not sound fun at this moment. It sounded like torture.
Tifa put her hands on the table and pushed herself up to a standing position. "Well, I gotta get back to the bar. Drinks aren't going to pour themselves. But you're a great guy, Cloud—don't forget that. And I've known you long enough that you know I'm not just saying that."
"Thanks," Cloud muttered, unsure of how to respond, even though he knew that's not what she was looking for. He appreciated the compliment, but he wished he actually believed it, instead of simply feeling like an awkward mess.
Tifa began her journey back to the front of the bar, and he heard the jazzy number fading out on the jukebox, letting the chatter of the bar patrons fill the silence. He watched as Aerith, Wedge, and Biggs all made their way back over to the table.
"The jukebox is working perfectly!" Aerith said. She sat down next to Cloud once more, and just like that, the serpent returned, slithering alongside Cloud and reminding him of its presence. He couldn't catch a break.
"The music sounds great," Wedge agreed. "And it was easy to pick a song. I think it'll definitely be a hit."
"And I'm already starting to think of ideas for that space," Aerith added as she reached for another slice of pizza. The pie in the center of the table was slowly starting to dwindle, piece by piece. "So, anyone got any fun plans?"
Both Wedge and Biggs's eyes lit up. Cloud wanted to react, but he was still too tense.
"Actually," Biggs said, "we do. Four of us are taking a road trip to Vegas next weekend."
Wedge butted in to correct him. "Well, it was four, but now it's looking like just us three." Wedge made a circle with his fingers, indicating themselves and Cloud.
"Oh." Aerith said with a pause. "I've never been to Vegas, but I've heard it's a blast. What made you pick there exactly?"
"A few reasons," Biggs responded with a chuckle. "We got a great deal on a couple rooms at the Bellagio and we're all finally old enough to gamble. I've heard the shows are amazing there. And Cloud promised he'd teach us how to play some card games."
At the mention of Cloud's name, they all turned their heads to face him. He had enjoyed being invisible for a few moments, but now all eyes were on him again, and he could feel his body tense again. Having Aerith inches away wasn't helping either.
"I didn't know you were a big gambler," Aerith cooed.
"I'm not," Cloud blurted out. "B-but I know a little about how to play."
"Cloud's being modest," Wedge piped in. "He's been to Vegas a couple times and seems to have good luck when he goes. Must be that smart computer brain of his."
Cloud let out a nervous chuckle. He was desperate to get the conversation and attention away from himself.
"I think that sounds like a fun trip," Aerith said, addressing the group. "I've always wanted to go. You'll have to let me know your tips when you get back."
There was a pause as Biggs and Wedge exchanged curious glances. Cloud was too preoccupied trying to calm himself down to think too much of it.
"Hey Aerith," Biggs began. "I know this sounds a little crazy, but you wouldn't be interested in coming along with us next weekend, would you? It's only a few days."
Cloud's face shot up in horror, putting the pieces together. So much for trying to play cool now. His heart was beating a million miles a minute.
Aerith gave the boys a puzzled look. "Really?"
"Yeah," Wedge said with agreement. "We had our fourth member drop out, so now there's room for one more in the car. And Cloud needs a roommate, too."
Cloud could hear the words, but he couldn't believe it. He could no longer look at his friends. His eyes darted to the floor and he was sure he would soon melt into a puddle of absolute embarrassment.
Aerith's face perked up. "Oh. I mean, that sure does sound fun. But isn't this a guy's trip?"
It most certainly was, and all the guys knew it. Cloud was hoping they would reconsider. He was not ready for any of this. He was barely ready to handle Aerith being within two feet of him. He had only spoken a few words to her prior to this.
"Naaa," Wedge lied. "It was, but then our fourth member dropped out. Now all bets are off."
Aerith paused for a moment and shifted her eyes to the side. "It sure would be nice to get away from work. I haven't taken a real vacation in a while. Of course, I'd have to check my work schedule and make sure it would be okay. But gosh, I do hope I can swing it." She turned to face Cloud. "And you're sure you're okay with me rooming with you?"
He was definitely not okay with it. He wasn't okay with any of this. How was he going to handle an actual girl in his room when he couldn't even handle one in close proximity for just a few minutes? But then again, how could he possibly tell her no? His eyes darted first to his friends with their eager eyes. Then, he briefly made eye contact with Aerith and saw the look of excitement on her face, too. He definitely couldn't say no to those eyes.
"It's f-fine," Cloud managed to get out. The words didn't feel like his own, but they were all he could muster.
"I can get a room of my own," Aerith blurted out. "It's not a problem, if you feel uncomfortable."
"No," Cloud said as he looked down at the floor. "I've got two beds. The rooms are too expensive now anyway. It makes sense."
It did make sense. That part wasn't a lie—but everything else was. The situation was not fine and Cloud wasn't sure if he would ever be fine. But somehow, he'd have to find the strength to calm himself and keep the sneaky serpent at bay. He couldn't be like this the whole trip.
"Okay, good," Aerith said as she started to rise. Thank goodness—Cloud didn't know how much more he could take of her being next to him. "Let me get everyone's numbers and we can keep in touch. I'm really gonna try to make this work."
Cloud couldn't believe this was happening. He knew if he pulled out his phone, it would be painfully obvious how much his hands were shaking, and he wasn't ready for all of that. Luckily, Wedge had everyone's number, so he just recited them all to Aerith. Cloud breathed a small sigh, knowing that was one less thing he had to worry about.
"Great," she said, typing the last number into her phone. "I just sent a text to everyone. So now you all have my number, too."
Cloud reached for his phone in his pocket and felt it vibrate. He knew he couldn't take it out now, but the buzz he felt in the side of his cargo pants made the situation all the more real. He had Aerith's number, despite barely saying anything to her. And in less than a couple of weeks, he was potentially sharing a room with her.
"I have to get back to the flower shop," Aerith said, turning towards the doorway. "But this was great, you guys. I'll let you know about the trip. And the jukebox is awesome!"
She waved her final goodbye to Tifa, too, and made her way out of the bar. Cloud watched the door close and the sliver of sunlight attached to it slowly fade away. When Aerith disappeared from view, Cloud's shoulders slumped and his face turned sour at his friends. Biggs and Wedge erupted into cheers and thumbs-ups.
"That was great!" Wedge yelped. "Operation Aerith is now in progress."
"This is easier than I thought it would be," Biggs added. "We got you her number and in a couple weeks we will get her in your room."
Biggs and Wedge exchanged teasing nods. They turned back to Cloud, searching his face for a response, but he clearly seemed unhappy.
"Aren't you excited?" Wedge asked, his face now a little concerned.
Cloud paused for a moment to find the right words. It was at least somewhat easier without a beautiful girl sitting right next to him or a serpent slithering around him. It was still a challenge, though. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Of course you can," Biggs said, giving him another bro-pat on the shoulder.
"I don't think you understand..." Cloud started, but he knew it was no use trying to explain.
"Look," Biggs explained when he saw the worry in Cloud's face. "It's just a better chance to get to know her. That's all. Don't stress about it."
Wedge leaned closer to Biggs and raised an eyebrow. "Of course, maybe something will happen. That would be mighty fine too."
"Just go with the flow," Biggs reassured him. "We all just want to have fun. No pressure."
But there was lots of pressure. Too much pressure. Cloud was pretty doubtful he'd be able to handle any of it, if his past experiences were any indication. He buried his face in his hands and tried to take a deep breath, the oxygen struggling to enter his lungs. He had a little over a week to chill out and not act like a total loser. There was absolutely no way he was going to pull this off.