BEEP BEEP BEEP
I groaned and didn't open my eyes as I reached over to my tiny nightstand. The small table only had two things sitting on it- both which I kind of hate. My phone, which was sitting on the charger, and my alarm clock.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Which I wish to throw into the wall. I always wish to throw it into the wall, though. Gone are the days when waking up early in the morning was easy. I sighed and blinked my eyes open, seeing that it was still dark outside. It also didn't help when I only had about three hours of sleep, having gotten home late last night.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
I groaned again in anger and hit the clock. It turned off, leaving the room cloaked in complete silence. It would be so easy to just lay back and go to sleep, but I push myself up into a sitting position and rub my eyes. I took a deep breath and swung my legs over the side of my bed.
Ever since I came back home after the geostigma crisis, I decided to do some things to settle myself in. I placed some photos and art, mainly from the kids and of the kids, on my walls. I bought a tiny nightstand. I replaced my cot with an actual bed- and it was, as Barret joked, 'adult sized'. The only problem, especially at the moment, was that my bed was extremely comfortable.
And now I had to leave it.
I felt the plain brown rug I had purchased when winter began setting in underneath my bare feet. See? I was settling in. Buying things that I always thought were unnecessary, but turns out actually were very nice. I stretched my toes out, and the sensation felt so good, I stretched my arms above my head and felt my back pop in a couple of places. I let out a sigh of relief and pushed myself off of the bed.
After a quick shower, I was downstairs, quietly walking around the kitchen. I needed coffee. I needed to pack a lunch; today was a Kalm day. At least twice a week, I had to drive to Kalm and collect a medicine delivery for a customer here in Edge City. It wasn't a bad drive, but it was a long drive. I would be back home in time for dinner. Good thing the customer is a regular who pays very well.
Strife Delivery Service, the business that I run, was doing fairly well. I was willing to take on pretty much any job, as long as the price was right. A lot of times, I had local deliveries- Edge was becoming a big city, like Midgar was, and most people did not want to drive a couple of hours around town to deliver their packages. I don't blame them- I needed the work, and have garnered quite a good reputation. I also took on some long deliveries, willing to drive around the continents, though lately I was not liking it. I didn't want to be too far from home for too long.
I had made a promise to my family that I would stick around.
I opened up the refrigerator door to get the milk for my coffee and to look for something for lunch, when I saw a paper bag sitting on the shelf. It had my name on it! I smiled as I saw Tifa's handwriting, complete with a drawing of a small flower. She must have made me lunch before she turned in for the night. Next to the bag was my water bottle, full and ready for me to take.
I really love that girl.
I really should tell her that one day.
My heart skipped a beat as I thought about my one roommate. Tifa Lockhart was a fit, beautiful brunette with these warm red eyes and a heart of gold. I've loved her for my entire life. I changed my entire life, just to get her to notice me. I still find myself doing so, though, the life I currently have isn't a bad one. A couple of kids, my two best friends, all living under one roof… some might think it a madhouse- and sometimes, it was- but I loved it.
I smiled as I thought of the kids. Denzel was a young boy whom I found, fearing he was almost dead, when Geostigma was rampaging through the world. He had no family to call his own. It broke my heart to think of one so young, and so alone. I knew I had to help him. He was guided to me by a dear friend, knowing that I would care for him. I don't regret bringing him to my home, to my family. I guess I saw a little of myself in this nine year old boy.
Marlene was Barret Wallace's daughter. She still did not know that she also is an orphan, the child of Barret's best friend. Something tells me that she would not care if she found out. She loved having everyone around- she cried in excitement the day her 'Papa' called her and told her that he was going to come home, for good. Barret was another great friend to have around, even though he could be highly annoying. It had been four months since he moved back into the small house attached to Seventh Heaven, the bar that Tifa ran.
Tifa.
I felt a blush rush to my cheeks. An image of Tifa, sleepy and in her rumpled pajamas, filled my mind. She would wake herself up to come downstairs, just to see me off, giving me a kiss. I would definitely steal another one. Maybe another, holding her close to me, smelling her clean scent…
But, I can smell her clean scent.
"What are you doing up?" I asked my bleary eyed friend.
"I smelled coffee." Tifa yawned. "It woke me up."
"Sorry."
She shook her head lightly. "It's okay. I also wanted to see you; I never got the chance yesterday."
Tifa shuffled over to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. She pulled the robe she was wearing closer to her body, yawing again and shivering slightly. Sitting down, she smiled up at me and motioned to another chair.
I quickly poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down next to her.
"Got stuck in traffic, plus I had a couple of emergency deliveries." I took a sip of my hot drink. I didn't make her one- I wanted her to go to sleep after I left, and the caffeine would not help her with that. "Couldn't say no to the money."
"We are doing okay, now that Barret started working at the gas station." Tifa stretched her arms out over the table, and I could tell that it felt good. My hands twitched. I wanted to stand behind her, rub her shoulders, make her comfortable enough to go back to bed. If I could, I would have joined her. "You don't need to work so hard."
"I know. I just… didn't really think of it. I just knew I could do it, so I did."
"And the reason it took you so long to turn off your alarm clock?" Tifa teased, smiling at me.
I downed my coffee, trying to hide the blush on my cheeks. I hated it when she teased me, it made me want to grab her and never let her go. Which doesn't sound like a bad thing. But, when you are too chicken shit to tell the girl you love that you love her, it's awful. I stood up, placed my mug into the sink, and grabbed my lunch bag.
"Thanks for lunch."
"Promise you'll eat it?"
I smiled at her. "I will." God, I wanted to kiss her. "I'll be home for dinner."
I had to leave. I had to leave before I did something stupid. But as soon as I moved towards the door that led to the garage, I heard Tifa quickly get up from her chair.
"But we didn't get a chance to talk!" Tifa moved towards me.
I stiffened, willing myself to not turn around and kiss her.
Oh, I would kiss her. I would turn around, look into her beautiful eyes, and melt. My hands would grab her hips, pull her close to my body, and I would lock my lips around hers. She would wrap her arms around my shoulders, hanging on for dear life as our kiss deepened. I'd push her up against the table, pushing her robe open so I could run my hands up her front…
"We will. When I get home." I cringed at the fact that I was being so brusque. "Sorry. I have to get to Kalm."
I knew Tifa was upset with me, but I still opened the door and made my way to Fenrir. I stowed away my lunch and water bottle and kicked my leg over the bike.
As I sped off, her voice was ringing in my ears. Before I left, I heard her calmly tell me to be safe.