Chapter 1
Lonely Bologna
She rounded the corner, the echo of her footsteps drowned out by the beating of her heart. She was nervous, far too nervous. She knew these halls; she should have the upper hand.
One more corner.
She turns with her machine gun at the ready.
She hesitated as she saw a Helgan soldier, the Helgan however didn't. His bullets ripped into the wall as she tried to outmaneuver as she fired back. To her chagrin and surprise the Helgan closed the gap and fired on her with his underslung shotgun.
"Awwweee Mannnn!" Yuffie sighed in exasperation as she watched her avatar die on the tv. "He got the game point on me too. Darn you! ChocoboHEad88, you are a worthy opponent as always." Yuffie said to her online rival, well she said it to herself really. There was no way to actually talk to him in the game.
They were just strangers that wordlessly shot at each other. Which to Yuffie's 14 year old brain sounded really deep and philosophical.
Yuffie rolled over on her back as she lay on the floor and stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow would be her first day of high school. Truth be told she wasn't nervous or excited about it. She just couldn't wait for it to be over. Its not that she was in a rush to grow up, its just she wanted the experience of high school to be over…or at least the weekdays. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of middle school, being labeled the nerd and loosing her one friend to another social group. She didn't care about being called a nerd, it was a true statement, but she missed Cissnei. Though she would never admit it.
8th grade had been tough without her.
"Yuffie!" Her mom called out.
"Yeah!" she called back.
"Get off the internet I need to use the phone!"
"'kay!" Yuffie got up and unplugged the lan cable from her PlayStation 2. She rolled it up and took it back to her dad's computer room. She lay it in its spot by the computer. Her dad had got a splitter for her when he found out her PS2 could also double as a Linux computer and let her run her own Lan cable to her room. Her nerd status definitely came from her dad, he was passing down his love of videogames and computers to her since before she could talk.
She also had his knowledge of tv specs, she reminded herself as she walked back into her room and saw her 24 inch Sony trinitron. It was the old living room tv until last year when her dad bought a 36 inch one. Her old 14 inch Toshiba is in the computer room now, her and her dad turned it into a second monitor.
"Wait a minute." Yuffie said to herself. "We don't have dial up anymore." She stepped into the living room and put her hands on her hips. She looked at her mom, who was sitting on the couch. "That was mean! I was so totally winning!"
Her mom waved her hand. "No, you weren't dear."
"Eh?!" Her arms dropped to her side, and she slumped her head. "W-what, mom how could you say something so untrue like that!"
"Yuffie" Her father looked up from his book "we know what it sounds like when you are winning."
"Yeah, you don't yell 'aw man' and 'I will get my revenge chocoboHEad88' when you're winning."
"w-wh-b-but." Yuffie started to stammer, regardless of if her parents were right, she wanted to win something today.
"Yuffie." Her mom said.
"Yeah." Yuffie sighed.
She patted the couch cousin next to her. "Come and sit with me."
"O.K" Yuffie made her way to the couch and sat down by her mom. She then curled up next to her and put her head on her shoulder.
"You excited for school tomorrow?" she asked sweetly as she put her arm around her daughter.
"No." Yuffie shot.
"Yuffie." Her dad started.
Her mom waved him off. "Now, now. She's not getting an attitude with me, are you Yuffie."
She answered in a normal tone. "No, ma'am. I just really don't want to go back to school."
"Why not? Highschool will be all sorts of fun."
Yuffie picked up her head. "You know why mom. I don't have any friends and I'll just get picked on like last year."
"As I recall" Her dad looked over to her "your mouth did more damage than theirs."
Yuffie scratched her head and grimaced as she though back on it. Come to think of it she was far more vicious than the people that picked on her. But they deserved it right? Well, they started it. O.K maybe calling that one girl a 'retarded inbred cock-eyed lobotomy patient that stuffs her bra and wears butt pads and is so stupid she thought the sky was blue to match her brown eyes' was a bit much…maybe…possibly…oh boy, but at least it wasn't as bad as what she called that one boy… "I'm I the bully?" She thought to herself. "No, I'm just a reactionary force of nature."
"Are you and Cissnei still not talking." Her mom asked breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Nope." She huffed.
"Well, have you tried talking to her?" Her mom asked.
"She doesn't want to talk to me mom."
"She won't if you keep telling yourself that." Her dad said to her. "You tell yourself something enough times and it'll become true. Be it positive or negative, it'll become a fact of your life."
Yuffie sighed and got up off the couch. "She doesn't want anything to do with me, if she did, she would have tried to get back up with me." She felt herself wanting to cry, but she repressed the feeling.
"Yuffie" Her mom started "Just try to have a good time, don't be miserable all four years. O.K? You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but just don't hate every day." Her mom smiled at her so sweetly.
Yuffie couldn't stand it when her mom smiled like that. It made her want to do anything and everything for her. To be fair she did love her mom and never wanted to disappoint her. BUT that smile made her want to not disappoint her even more!
"Alright mom" Yuffie relented "I'll Try. On one condition."
"What's that!" Her mother beamed.
"Can I have a cookie?" Yuffie put her hands together hopefully.
Her mom laughed "Of course, you're a big girl you don't need to ask me for one."
"Yippie!" Yuffie cheered.
"But you'll get fat if you eat to many." Her mom added.
"Aww mom." Yuffie said deflated. "You know I have image issues."
"Oh, hush now. You have an excellent body." She turned to her husband. "Isn't that right dear."
Staring blankly into his book, her dad said. "I'm not complimenting my daughters' body."
"Geez! Thanks dad, don't encourage me! Not like I enjoy hearing compliments from you or anything!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"Sorry, sorry" He hesitated "…You have a nice body…"
"Ugh! Why would you say something like that dad! That's so totally weird! I'm getting a cookie!" Yuffie marched to the kitchen and retrieved her cookie, she then proceeded to her room.
"I give up." Her dad said.
"Well, dear it was kinda weird." She said as she suppressed a laugh.
He threw his hands up. "You said she had a nice body too!?"
"Yeah, but I'm a girl too. We can say that to each other, you should have just said she was pretty." Her mom explained to her husband.
He sighed "Whatever, so long as she doesn't hate me."
"Believe me she doesn't." She patted his hand "She told you she likes it when you compliment her."
He asked quizzically "Is that what she said?"
His wife nodded her head. "Yup and she likes it when you encourage her."
He grinned and shook his head. "I'm so glad I have you for a translator."
"Yuffie, go on and get up! You don't need to be late on your first day." Yuffie heard her mom call to her from the other side of her door.
"I know, I know, I'm up." Yuffie crawled out of bed and over to her little corner vanity to brush her hair. She slid into her school uniform; she was having second thoughts about the length of her black pleated skirt. Mid-thigh seemed a little too short, but her mom was O.K with it and that's probably how most of the other girls would wear theirs. She buttoned up her white school shirt, not all the way up of course. Not because she was trying to show anything off, no she didn't leave THAT many buttons undone. She simply didn't want to feel like she was being choked by a really weak guy all day. Besides who in the world buttons a button up shirt around the neck?
She made her way to the kitchen where her mom asked "You want some toast?"
"Sure, we still have some apple butter?"
"You bet we do." She replied. "Your dad wanted to see you off, but it would set a bad example if he was late for work. So, he wishes you the best instead."
Yuffie smiled. "That's sweet. I'll tell him thank you when I get home."
"You be sure to." Her mom said as the toaster popped out the toast.
Yuffie fixed her toasted with apple butter and sat down to eat it.
"You ready for your first day?"
Yuffie shrugged her shoulders. "I guess."
Her mom looked at her. "Remember what I asked?"
Yuffie nodded. "Yeah. I'll try." Her mom smiled, which in turn made her smile.
"Good, now lets get you to school."
Yuffie waved bye to her mom as she got out of the car. She walked through the front doors of the school and made her way through the main lobby and up a set of stairs to the second floor. As soon as she stepped onto the second floor she was met with excitement and a commotion at the end of the hallway.
"A fight on the first day?" She couldn't make out everything from this far away, but she could tell it probably wasn't a fight. There was a crowd of students gathered around what appeared to be two girls standing on a crate or something. They were speaking to the crowd and taking..., money maybe, they were handing the people something as well. She couldn't tell much about the girls, just that one had black hair and the other brunette.
"Oh, well. Best get to class before I'm late." She walked to the hallway end of the hall on her right then turned left to get to her first class of the day, creative writing. It was an elective class and her only class with mixed grades in it. She was kind of excited at the thought of being in a class with upper classmen. It could be fun, maybe.
She sat down at an isolated desk toward the back but still in the middle, second row from the window. It was a small class, which from what she heard from the staff on sign up day, elective classes always were smaller. This one had 15 people in it that she counted. She looked around the classroom and noticed the other students had already grouped up by class and friend group. It looked like she was the only freshman in the class.
As she listened to everybody chatting the bell rang and the teacher began calling roll. She was about to get to the 'G' names when the door suddenly opened, and four students walked in. Yuffie couldn't believe her eyes. These four could only be described as 'too cool for school'. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by these upper classmen, she had no doubt they were upper classmen. The way they carried themselves with such confidence as they walked in late without a care in the world.
The leader of the pack was a stoically handsome boy. He was lean, with a muscular physique, he had a nice strong jaw line and spiky blonde hair that slightly obscured a couple earrings. His shirt was unbuttoned all the way revealing a gray t-shirt, styled in just the right way to show off his black and sliver studded belt. She noticed the black wrist bands on his arms and the various silver rings on his fingers. But what struck her the most were his blue eyes trimmed with green.
Behind him was a girl that could only be described as beautiful. She had long black hair and deep red eyes. She had the body of a goddess, her curves were perfect and the way her hips swayed as she walked, it was all so perfect. Her shirt was unbuttoned at just the right button, enough to tease but not reveal. Far more than Yuffie dared to do. Her skirt was the same length as Yuffies, which boosted her confidence, but then again, this girl fits it so perfectly. Unlike herself.
Third in line was a brunette girl with ringlet curls falling on the side of her incredibly cute face. The rest of her luscious hair was pulled back in a ponytail tied off with a pink ribbon. If the previous girl was the definition of beauty, then this girl was the very definition of cute. Look up cute in the dictionary and her picture would be there. Sweetness just seemed to drip from her like honey. What struck Yuffie the most though, was the length of her skirt. It was knee length. Yuffie was awed by her confidence and daring to wear a skirt that long. She once again felt better about her skirt decision! Somewhat…and back to second guessing.
Lastly bringing up the rear was a tall handsome boy with long midnight black hair that draped over his pale face. He had a studded black wrist band on one arm and a black leather one on the other. A black undershirt poked out of his partially unbuttoned white shirt. Just as lean and muscled as the leader. He had a gothic beauty about him, he would look at home reading a leather-bound book in a Victorian house while he sipped from a wine glass.
'Who are these people' Yuffie thought to herself.
The teacher partially answered her by saying. "Mister Strife. I see you're living up to your last name. Late on the first day."
The blonde boy, referred to as 'Mister Strife' held up his two fore fingers and rubbed them against his thumb. "I'm never late when I'm making money."
The teacher crossed her arms annoyed. She spoke to the raven-haired beauty. "Miss Lockhart, I was informed you would keep him better controlled this year."
"I'm so sorry." The beauty pleaded. "First day back and all that had us working overtime." She put her hands on the blonde boy's shoulders and steered him toward a seat. "Besides, you know Cloud, he's a wild one. Hard to tame." She smiled sweetly.
The brunette sat a small paper bag on the teacher's desk. "I'm so so sorry we were late. I made cookies for all my teachers this year. I heard Lemon cookies are your favorite. Pleased forgive us and accept these cookies."
"W-well I…" She started before being cut off by the tall gothic boy.
"My apologies." He said with a gruff voice that was befitting his appearance. "I couldn't just leave them to be overwhelmed."
The teacher sighed in apologetic defeat. "Alright, alright. Just this once. Now take your seats."
'I should seriously take notes' Yuffie thought to herself.
Class proceeded as she expected it would on the first day. A simple intro lesson and assignment that was due by tomorrow. A stupid, 'write about yourself' assignment to introduce everyone. She really didn't care about knowing these people. Most of them that is, she was intrigued by that cool group. But that was it, she only wanted to who they are not be their friend. That being said there was one minor exception to the normalcy, she could have sworn that the cool boy, Cloud, was looking at her from time to time. But most likely he was turning around to talk to miss Lockhart and the others.
Her next class was just another class with a simple day one lesson and assignment. After that class was lunch. She made her way downstairs to the crowded lunchroom. It was loud and crowded of course. The upside was it smelled good. She looked around and managed to find a small empty table on the right side of the room. She unpacked the bento lunch her mom made her and began to eat. As she ate she noticed that same group from her 1st class near the back left of the lunch room. The brunette girl petitely waved at someone, Cloud turned and looked at…her? No. Why would he. He turned back as the brunette said something, Yuffie couldn't make out what she was saying. Yuffie finished her lunch and left the lunchroom and explored around the school until it was time for her next class.
"How was your first day of school?" Her mom asked as she got in the car.
"Nothing special." She answered. "Just the usual stuff." She thought about mentioning those cool kids but didn't want to hear her mom go on about getting to know them. When she got home she went ahead and worked on her homework. Before she knew it dinner time had come around, as she ate with her parents they had a normal conversation. After dinner she retired the night to some video games and manga.
The rest of the week had gone the same as any other school week. The only thing of interest was she found out who the cool kids were, and she was embarrassed by the teacher. She didn't want to read that stupid introduction assignment out loud, but the teacher made her. Now the whole class knows she likes anime, games and manga. Shopping to, either for clothes or games, mostly games. They now knew she was a nerd, again it's true but it's not their business. One kid called her a dork and tried to pester her afterwards when the teacher stepped out. She didn't know what happened, but she heard him gasp and shut up. A shame really, she was about to send him to the shadow realm with her comebacks. She could have sworn she saw Cloud giving the evil eye around the time the boy shut up, is that why he shut it? Nah. Speaking of Cloud, she should have answered like his gang. They all sounded so bright and energetic and likable, well the girls did anyway. She recalled how it went down.
"Names Cloud Strife. I'm a junior and I like what I like." He then proceeded to sit down at his desk. The teacher gave him an F…on a non-graded assignment. Yuffie wasn't very envious of that part.
The dark-haired dark stood up and popped Cloud on the back of the head. "I'm Tifa Lockhart, also a junior and Clouds best friend and Aerith and Vincents friend as well. I'm much more verbose than him and I like to go shopping and I like fashion and make-up, blah blah blah. I'd love to get to know some of you, so don't be a stranger."
Next was the brunette. "Hello, I'm Aerith Gainsborough. I too am a junior, friend to Tifa and Cloud and Vincent. I like to bake sweets and go shopping with Tifa, because no one else will. Oh! And I love flowers I have a nice garden at home, you should see it!" She sounded so hopeful that people would want to come see her garden.
Finally it was time for tall and gothic to speak. "Vincent Valentine." He stated plainly. "Junior, I hang with this colorful bunch. I like to write but only about things I want to."
'What a group' she thought as she lay on her bed. She then sighed. "I really don't want to write a short story." That wasn't totally true, she didn't want to read it if front of the class. What was it with teachers and making students read out loud.
She could worry about that later, it was Friday afternoon and that meant video game time…or maybe some anime?
It was now Sunday afternoon and Yuffie handed her mother her handwritten short story. "Give this a read and an honest review please mom."
"Sure thing sweety." Her mother said.
"Thanks." Yuffie said sweetly.
"Is it for your writing class?" her mom asked.
"Yeah, that teacher is making us read them in front of the class. I so don't want to." Yuffie groaned.
Her father chimed in. "Oh, I'm sure it won't be that bad."
"It's so embarrassing though daddy. Me, the great ninja Yuffie, reading in front of everybody. Preposterous." Yuffie said as she wedged herself into the armchair her dad was sitting in. He put his arm around her shoulders. "It has to be peer reviewed to. That doesn't count towards my grade but still, I don't want some kid reading over my stuff."
"I thought you outgrew that great ninja stuff?" Her father asked.
"I can't outgrow what I am, and I'm the greatest ninja since Jubei." Yuffie asserted.
"Jubei-chan or Ninja Scroll Jubei." He dad asked.
Yuffie rubbed her chin. "Hmm. Both."
"I don't think you have to worry, this is a really good little story." Her mother said.
"You're just saying that." Yuffie said.
"No, I'm not. You'll see when everyone in your class likes it." Her mother tried to reassure her.
"Pass that thing my way when you are done." Her dad said "I'll be the real judge."
Yuffie sighed. It did make her feel good that her parents liked her story, but she was still worried about reading it in front of class.
Yuffie sat at her desk dreading what she would have to do. She liked to write, but she was very selective about who she let read her works. Besides her parents the only other person who read them was Cissnei. She sighed.
The Teacher took roll and was excited to get to hear the classes stories. "Alright everybody! I hope you are as excited as me to hear your classmates stories!"
"Not really." Cloud said mostly to himself, but just a little to loudly.
The teacher looked at him and grinned mischievously. "Oh, Mister Strife, I am so glad you decided to volunteer your row."
"I don't like you." Cloud told her.
Yuffie's eyes widened, she didn't hear any malice in his voice but still. Heck of a thing to tell a teacher dude. The rest of the class had reactions of the verbal type, gasps and awes and utter shock. Clouds gang, however, had a business as usual reaction.
Yuffie saw Tifa grab his collar and whisper in his ear. Yuffie didn't know what she said to him but it got him to stand and begin reading.
"Right. Sorry about that. Red Gold, written by me. Ten pages, printed at the library for around a gil."
To Yuffies surprise, it was a really good story about a boy and a girl that fell in love. She didn't expect that type of story from him, nobody did it would seem.
"Well, Mister Strife. I have to say I'm surprised by such a sweet story." The teacher said.
"Yeah." Tifa started "despite his mean disposition, he can be quite the sweety." She stood and read her story.
Yuffie just sat there in disbelief at the pure writing talent that was Clould's gang. Tifa's was a super funny comedy, Aerith wrote a love story that centered around gardening. Vincent wrote a thrilling crime noir story, in only ten pages! His was the best by far but still Yuffie was just so amazed that she didn't notice it was her time to read.
"Miss Kisaragi?"
"Huh!?" She shook her head. Some students snickered at her lack of attention.
"Your story? You did write one, right?"
"Yeah…I just don't want to read it." This didn't get the same reaction as Cloud's did but people were staring and whispering.
"You don't have a choice, read it in front of the class." The teacher sternly said. Clearly she thought one hardheaded student was enough.
"I'll take a zero." Yuffie said. Admittedly she was being stubborn, it wasn't the end of the world but still. She just wasn't comfortable reading it in front of the class.
"Miss Kisaragi, this is your last chance or I'll send you to the principal's office."
Yuffie didn't say anything.
"I'll read it." A rough voice said. Vincent got up and walked over to Yuffies desk. "May I?" He asked as he grabbed her story.
He didn't leave her a choice. "S-sure." She said weakly and looked down at her desktop.
She was fully ready to be embarrassed by hearing her story being read aloud. But she didn't hear anything. She looked up at the tall gothic boy, he turned a page as she did.
"Mister Valentine? What are you doing?" The teacher asked.
"Reading in front of the class." He answered. "You never said we had to read out loud, just to stand up and read."
"Well, the rest of you have to read OUT LOUD. Just sit down mister Valentine."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to peer review her story." He glanced down at Yuffie. "It's rather good."
Yuffie blushed. 'He thinks its good? No way, he's just being nice.' She thought to herself.
Before long it was time to peer review. You were suppose to swap with someone, but nobody wanted to hand their story to Yuffie and she didn't have hers anymore anyway.
"Here." It was Vincent. "Review mine, if you would."
Yuffie blinked. "Umm…ok. Sure."
He set down his story and walked away. Yuffie reread it, it was still just as good but she noticed a couple minor things. Typos mostly and one part were a character had a contradictory motive. She made her notes on his story and turned it into the teacher.
She had to walk past Vincent and them. She avoided eye contact but she thought she saw the girls wave.
"Miss Kisaragi, don't act like that again."
"Yes ma'am." Yuffie replied and made her way to her seat. This time she was sure they were waving at her. It was a small subtle wave. Yuffie ignored them, she wasn't trying to be rude but, well why would kids like them wave at her? She didn't fit in with them. She sat down and began to read a book she brought with her.
Yuffie made her way to the lunch room and sat at what had become her seat. She opened her bento and began to eat when suddenly she heard a voice.
"Hi! Can we sit with you?" A cheerful voice asked.
Yuffie looked up and saw Tifa and Aerith?
"Why?" She spoke without thinking.
"Oh." Aerith said. She seemed a little upset.
"You just seem cool is all." Tifa said with an uncertain smile.
"I'm not." Yuffie said. She wasn't trying to be so rude, but she couldn't stop herself.
"We'll be the judge of that." Tifa said and sat down across from Yuffie, Aerith did the same. "Any who, I'm Tifa and this is Aerith."
"Hi." Aerith said and waved.
"Umm…Hello, I'm Yuffie."
"Nice to meet you Yuffie." Tifa said. "whatcha eating? It looks like something from Wutai."
Yuffie looked down at her lunch. "Yeah, it is. It's called masubi. Spam masubi, my mom made it. She cooks it in her special ube sauce."
"Oooo. It looks so good." Aerith said. "I like seaweed."
"Aerith dear, there is a difference between eating just seaweed and wrapping it around something." Tifa said. "But yeah that looks awesome."
Yuffie slid her bento box to them. "Here you can each have one."
"Thank you! But we don't wont you to go hungry." Aerith said.
"I don't mind. Mom always packs to many." They did seem nice, so she really wasn't bothered if they had one. Besides she felt bad about being rude.
"If you insist." Tifa said as she grabbed one from the offered bento. "Oh this is sooooo good!"
"Yeah! Its great!" Aerith added.
"I'm glad you like it." It did make Yuffie kinda happy that they liked her mom's food.
The bell to end lunch rang out, breaking Yuffie from her thought.
"Oh, lunch is over already?" Tifa said. "Oh well. It was nice to meet you, see ya tomorrow Yufffie!"
"Yeah, it was fun! I'll see you in class, later!" Aerith said as the two got up and left.
"How was School Yuffie?" Her mom said as she got in the car.
"It was ok." She said then she noticed Tifa and friends walking in front of the car. Her and Aerith waved energetically, so did Cloud. Well, he did that cool two finger wave, she wasn't sure but she thought she saw Vincent nod.
Her mom waved at them. "Friends of yours?" She asked with an excited tone.
"Not really. They're in my creative writing class. The girls sat with me at lunch today, but I don't think we are friends."
"I don't know Yuffie. I think they like you. Why else would they sit with you."
"They're juniors, I'm sure they are just being nice." She rested her chin in her hand and put her elbow on the door.
"Well, I still think they want to be your friend. Besides, those are some handsome boys."
"Mom!" Yuffie gasped as her mother laughed at her.
"Haha. So how did the story reading go?" Her mom asked as she began to drive home.
"Oh. That." Yuffie said nervously. "Well…"
"Well what?" Her mom said a parent's tone.
"I didn't read it." She said sheepishly.
"Yuffie Kisaragi!"
Yuffie put her hands up. "Relax mom, I didn't read someone else did."
"Who?" Her mother asked, she was more curious than mad.
"The tall guy with the long black hair. His name is Vincent." Yuffie answered.
"Oh?" Her mom said "The handsome one?" Her mom sighed. "My little Yuffie already has her first love."
"Mom!" Yuffie exclaimed. "I don't even know him! Let alone like him!"
"Maybe he likes you? Why else would he read your story for you?"
'Because I was being stubborn' She thought to herself, she didn't dare tell her mom what caused Vincent to step up. "I don't know. I think they are plotting something."
Her mom gave her a quizzical look. "Sweety, you've been watching to many dramas."
"Why else would they talk to me?" Yuffie questioned.
"Because you are a sweet and goofy ninja wannabe." Her mother stated.
"I..I don't know if that's a compliment." Yuffie said in confusion.
"It is." Her mom reassured her.
"O.K." Yuffie said then continued talking to her mom for the rest of the drive home.
The next day Tifa and Aerith spoke to her before class started, it wasn't for long though. Only a couple minutes before the bell rang. It was kinda nice, she still didn't know why they did this though. Even though it was nice she felt a little sad. It reminded her of Cissnei. She had seen her from a distance, but didn't have any classes with her. Once she thought about going up to her but thought better of it when she saw her giggling with her new friends. She decided not to eat in the lunchroom this day and instead ate in the library. She wasn't supposed to, but it was big enough to hide in. The rest of the day went as uneventful as ever.
Wednesday was when things got mixed up. It started fine, she went up her normal staircase and sat down in her seat. Clouds gang hadn't arrived yet. She noticed that most days they barely made it before the bell rang. Said bell rang as soon as they walked through the door. They all took their seat, except Vincent he walked right toward her.
"Here." He handed her a piece of card stock. "Saturday, my house. Be there." He walked away.
She had noticed that he either spoke briefly or eloquently. By eloquently she meant in full sentences. She looked at the card, it was very cute. It was decorated with little chibi versions of Cloud's gang and…her? Her eyes didn't lie, there was a little chibi version of her on the card. She read the brightly colored words on the card 'Saturday cookout fun day!' the card told her to bring herself and nothing more. An address, time and phone number were on the back. She looked to see the whole gang looking at her. Tifa was smiling, Aerith waved, Cloud looked cool with an arm over the back of his chair and Vincent was brooding…happily? Was that his version of a smile? She flashed a quick smile. They seemed happy enough with that and turned around before the teacher got on to them. Was her mom right? Did Vincent like her?
She began to see Cloud and them walking through the halls more and more since Wednesday. She began to wonder if they were stalking her. Maybe the cookout was a set up. It didn't matter, she wasn't going to go. She left for her second class without speaking to Clouds gang. She wasn't avoiding them, there simply wasn't any time for them to talk to her and she left the room without walking by them.
"Yuffie." She heard a boys voice. She turned to see Cloud making his way through the throng of people in the hall. He walked up beside her "Next class is on the first floor right? Most freshmen classes are. I'll walk to the stairs with you."
"Oh, O.k." She replied.
Without skipping a beat, he said. "You coming to the cookout tomorrow. It'll just be the five of us."
"Umm…. sure." She said
"You don't sound sure."
Perceptive one isn't he. "Well, my schedule is still up in the air."
"Ah." He said. She couldn't really tell but she thought she heard disappointment in his voice. "Well, guess I'll see you at lunch."
She thought maybe she hurt his feelings, then realized they were at the stairwell. "My next class is still on the second floor." She said then smiled a small smile. "Room 255. But the rest of the day I'm on the first floor."
The corner of his mouth turned up in a grin, she could hear a single chuckle muffled by his closed mouth. "Well neighbor, I'll walk you that way. My next class is room 256."
"Alright." Yuffie said.
They didn't say anything again until Yuffie walked into her class. She was usually one of the last ones due it being on the complete opposite side of the second floor. When she was in the middle of the class she heard Cloud's voice.
"Yuffie. Lunch, my table." This garnered unwanted attention from the class, it also made Yuffie blush. She nodded quickly and sat in her desk. Cloud however was still in the doorway. Apparently the teacher had said something to him.
"I ain't doin' nothing!" He said defensively.
"I'm so sure" The teacher, Mrs. Barnes, said. "Leave my students alone!"
Cloud shook his head. "What, I can't invite a friend to lunch!?"
'Friend?' Yuffie wouldn't really consider them friends. He seemed nice but she didn't know him.
"I don't want a troublemaker like you ruining these promising young minds!" The teacher clearly didn't like Cloud. A common theme Yuffie noticed.
Cloud was about to respond when a long curtain of silver hair emerged behind him and put a hand other his mouth. He was pulled out of the doorway and the door was shut in the same motion.
'That was eventful.' Yuffie thought.
"Yuffie." Mrs. Barnes called her name.
"Ma'am."
"You stay away from him, he's no good. I don't know why those three hang out with him, they're too good for him." She vented.
Maybe she shouldn't go to the cookout…but at the same time the teacher said the others were good. She really didn't know what to do.
Class ended and Yuffie stepped out of the room and was grabbed, gently she should add, by Cloud. "Come on, I'll show you a secret."
"I don't like secrets." Yuffie pleaded, unsure of where he was going with this.
"Oh, you'll dig this one." He said. He led her to stairway that was tucked out of sight in a corner. Tifa and the others were waiting
As they drew closer Cloud said "Caught me a fish." Yuffie had heard other upper classmen call the other freshmen fish. She didn't really understand why though.
"Hi Yuffie!" Aerith said as she waved.
"Wuzz up." Tifa said.
Vincent tilted his head upward as a greeting.
"Come on, lets eat." Cloud said as they all made there way down the stairway. The dark and dirty stairway. Yuffie couldn't help but think she was about to get murdered. They probably hide bodies down here.
Luckily there weren't any bodies and she didn't get murdered. Instead there were two sets of metal doors. One had a small window that Yuffie could outside through, the other was opened by Cloud without a care in the world. Yuffie was surprised to see it led into the back of the lunchroom and it was nearly empty. Typically, when she got here it was packed.
"Cool right? Friend of mine passed this knowledge down to me when I was a fish, just like it was passed to him." Cloud pointed a thumb at the empty lunchroom as he turned to face her.
"Ignore him." Tifa said "He thinks he sounds so cool."
"Well, it's kinda cool. I mean a cool secret that gets passed down like that, it's like a school legend." Yuffie said enthusiastically.
Tifa smiled and Cloud had a look of pride on his face. Tifa then patted his chest. "A burger and fries please, mister secret keeper. Did you bring a lunch, Yuffie? I'll sit at the table with you while we wait on the others."
"Yeah. I did." She followed Tifa to the table and sat down. Yuffie had planned to sit across from but she beckoned her to sit beside her.
"You don't have to wait on the others, go on and eat." Tifa told as she unwrapped her bento box.
Yuffie smiled at how polite Tifa sounded. "It's fine. I can wait." She didn't have to wait long before the others made it to the table.
Cloud sat a tray down in front of Tifa. "Your highness." He teased as he sat across from Tifa and Yuffie, Vincent silently took a seat by Cloud's left.
"Thank you, my loyal slave." Tifa replied.
"May I sit by you?" Aerith asked Yuffie.
"Sure."
"Goodie!" Aerith said as she happily sat down and sandwiched Yuffie between the two girls of the group.
'She's a bubbly nut, isn't she.' Yuffie thought.
"So, how's school treating you?" Tifa asked.
"Oh, its fine." Yuffie said shyly.
"That's good. I remember our freshman year. It was a doozy." She pointed an accusing finger at Cloud. "Mainly because of that twit."
He held up his hands defensively. "What'd I do?"
Vincent answered him. "You told Mrs. Barnes to fornicate herself with an iron stick."
A realization came to Yuffie. "Oh, that explains it."
"Hmm. What's that Yuffie?" Tifa asked.
"Oh, nothing."
Tifa shrugged. "Don't worry, he won't mouth off to you."
"Hey, lets not take things off the table." Cloud said.
Vincent let out a small huff of a laugh and barely turned up the corner of his mouth.
Aerith giggled and was about to say something when a boy with long silver hair sat down by Cloud and put his arm around his shoulder. "Hello, Cloud." He tilted his head up at Vincent. "Big Swoll."
Vincent tilted his head up in acknowledgement.
"Superman!?" Yuffie exclaimed.
Everyone at the table began to laugh. The boy with sliver hair said. "No,no. I just sound like George Newburn." A smile crept up on his lips. "So, Cloud, tell me about your little tat with Mrs. Barnes."
Tifa glared at Cloud. "Yeah Cloud, let's hear it."
"All I did was invite Yuffie to eat with us." Cloud pleaded. "Then the fat cow just starts going off on me."
It looked like Tifa was about to let Cloud have it when Yuffie spoke up. "Its true. He didn't do anything…well he did kind of invite me by yelling from the doorway."
"And then I rescued his butt by dragging him away." Silver hair added.
"Yeah,yeah Sephiroth." Cloud said. "You gonna take your arm off me?"
"Not until I go back to my table." Sephiroth smiled and added. "Oh, my dear little sister asked me to tell you hi. So, hi from Seven."
"Oh goodie, my day has been made." Cloud said sarcastically.
"I'll be sure to tell her you said that." He smirked.
An annoyed look came on Clouds face.
"Wait." Yuffie said. "Your sister's name is Seven? Like the number?"
"And the movie." Sephiroth said then jerked his thumb at a table not to far away that had two silver haired boys at it. "My brothers, minus Loz are over there. He graduated when I was in 8th grade."
"The first or second time you were in 8th grade?" Cloud said with a teasing smirk.
"The same year you caught your pants on fire in class." Sephiroth bantered.
Yuffie looked and recognized one of the boys as Kadaj, a freshman like her. "Oh I know Kadaj…well we are in the same class anyways."
Sephiroth seemed pleased with that for some reason. "He's a good kid. Kinda stupid, but good. My sisters Seven and Sice, the twins, are in 8th grade this year."
Now that he mentioned it, Yuffie did recall seeing two girls with silver hair in middle school. Her remembrance was interrupted by the bell signaling the end of lunch.
"Uhgg!" Tifa exclaimed in exacerbation. "We hardly got to talk to Yuffie!" She turned to Yuffie. "We'll just make up at the cookout tomorrow, 'kay." She smiled sweetly as she stood up.
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" Aerith giggled "We'll tell you all about Sevens massive crush on Cloud."
Tifa began to laugh. "Yeah it's massive." She emphasized.
"Tifa's cup size massive." Aerith said.
"Aerith!" Tifa gasped.
Yuffie smiled at their exchange and her eyes caught a glance of Cloud. He was smiling, probably at the girls little exchange. Yuffie got up and began to walk away, Aerith and Tifa stopped their back and forth to tell her bye. Vincent gave her a wave and Cloud said "Later, Yuffie."
"Later." She said.
The rest of the day went as usual, except she kept thinking about lunch. She really enjoyed it, and thinking about the short exchange they had brought a smile to her face. Her mom was quick to notice her happy demeanor.
"What's got you so happy?" Her mom asked as she buckled her seatbelt. "Did a boy ask you out?"
"Mom! I'm flattered you think that. But no, I just had a good day is all." After she said that Clouds gang walked about 15 feet in front of the car. Tifa noticed and jogged up to the car and stood at Yuffie's window. Her mom rolled it down.
"Sorry! I'll be quick! Do we need to pick you up tomorrow? I never thought to ask if you had a ride or not. Oh, Hi Mrs. Kisaragi, that masubi was amazing."
A car behind them honked angerly. "Why thank you!" her mom said ignoring the other car. "What does Yuffie need a ride to?"
Tifa looked confused. "She didn't tell you? We invited her to a cookout tomorrow." The same car laid on the horn. Tifa had an annoyed expression as Cloud could be heard yelling 'Go around!' Tifa sighed. "Sorry. I need to get him before he gets killed, the deets are on the invite. Bye Yuffie! Let me know if you need a ride."
"Bye." Yuffie said
As her mom rolled up the window she said "That's that same group, isn't it."
"Yeah."
"See, I told you they like you." She gloated.
"Yeah, I still don't know why though."
"I'm sure you'll find out why. How many people are going to be at the cookout?"
"Cloud said I was the only other person invited."
Her mother beamed. "That's great Yuffie! I told you they like you!"
"Yeah, yeah…I still don't know though." She said unsurely.
"Tell you what." Her mom rubbed her shoulder, "You go to the cookout tomorrow and if you don't have fun or get along with them then you don't have to hang out with them. But I think they really like you." She gave Yuffie a quick smile.
"O.k mom. I'll go." Yuffie sighed.
"That's great!" She beamed.
Yuffie spent her Saturday killing time taking pictures on her dad's old camera and filming on her HI8 camcorder before showering and putting on clothes for the cook out.
"You gonna take those to the party?" Her dad asked
"No, I don't know them well enough to unleash my ninja photography skills."
"If its ninja skills then they wouldn't notice, would they?" He asked
Yuffie put her hands on the hips of her tan shorts and swayed back and forth. "Y-you…oh hush." She said in defeat with a playful pout.
"Yuffie, you ready to go!" Her mom excitedly asked as she walked into the living room. "Oh, cute top!" She said refeering to Yuffies black tank top with white flowers going down the side.
"Thanks and Yeah." She answered. "Well, o.k I need to put shoes on." She said before grabbing her black and white high top converse.
Yuffie was dropped off in front of Vincents house, she expected an old castle or 19th century manor, but it was just a regular brick house. Not big by any means but not small with a fair sized front yard, the drive way held four vehicles. Three of which looked to be pretty new, maybe a couple of years old, the last one was a silver 1994 Camry.
Yuffie knocked on the wooden front door and was almost immediately greeted by a woman with long dark hair just like Vincent's. She was wearing a long skirt and thin long sleeve shirt. "Hello, you must be Yuffie."
"Yes ma'am."
She smiles and told her to come in. "Vinny didn't tell me you were so cute."
Yuffie blurted out "He didn't? I'm flabbergasted!" Yuffie surprised herself, she only acted like that with people she knew well.
Vincents mother laughed. "Yeah, I can see why they like you. They're on the back porch, I'll take you to them. My name is Issabella by the way, but everybody just calls me Mrs. Izzy or Mrs. Valentine."
She led her to the sliding glass door that opened onto the back porch. She slid it open. "Here she is everybody!" She announced and stepped out of the way to reveal everyone. Everybody was at a small metal table with cushioned chairs, except Cloud, he was manning a delicious smelling grill.
Yuffie was met by a cheer of "Hey Yuffie!"
'They really do like me.' Yuffie told herself. She waved with vigor "Hi guys!"
"I'll leave all of you too it. It was nice to meet you Yuffie."
"You too." Yuffie said and was beckoned by Tifa to sit with her.
"Now where were we?" Tifa said as Yuffie sat down.
"Weren't we talking about Tifa's breast." Cloud said from the grill.
Tifa stuck her tongue out at his back, which was to them. "Y'know I remember us talking about your true love, Seven." Tifa retorted.
"Burnt sausage you say? Coming up." Cloud said.
"Don't you dare." Tifa said.
Aerith could be heard giggling. "Oh don't get so bent out of shape Cloud. I think her little crush is cute."
"Well, I don't." He said. "Last time I was at Sephiroth's house, that girl would not leave me alone."
"Yuffie" Aerith said "You should see Seven crush on Cloud."
"Yeah" Tifa added "She swoons and sways."
"And bats her eyes dreamingly as she says 'hi Cloud'. So cute." Aerith continued.
"Alright, alright." Cloud said as he sat down a big plate with burgers and sausage and hot dogs on it. "Lets stop talking about that little weirdo and eat. Yuffie you get first dibs."
"O.k" Yuffie said and made herself a hamburger. It was amazing! "This is so good!"
"Thanks." Cloud said.
"I love your sausage Cloud." Aerith said as she grabbed a link with a fork and put it on a bun.
Everybody but Yuffie and Aerith laughed, Aerith started to turn red.
"Yuffie, did you know" Tifa said in-between giggles "Aerith was a vegetarian" She burst into a giggle fit before finishing "until she had Clouds sausage."
Aerith wrapped Yuffie up in her arms "Hush! You'll ruin this sweet baby angel's mind."
"I don't get it." Yuffie said.
"And I hope you never do!" Aerith said.
"Yuffie" Vincent spoke "You said you like manga. Ever read Berserk?"
Cloud spoke up. "That's his new obsession."
Yuffie shook her head. "Nope never read it. I've seen the dvds in Movie Gallery, but I've never rented them." Wait! Did he just ask her about manga!
"Give it a watch or a read, whichever." He told her.
"Wait." Yuffie spoke up. "You like manga and anime?"
Vincent nodded his head.
"We all do." Cloud said.
"But aren't all of you the cool kids?" She asked puzzled.
"Heck yeah we are!" Cloud stated.
"Calm down boy." Tifa commanded him. "I wouldn't call us the cool kids."
"We are kinda popular I guess." Aerith said. "Well, what I mean is I don't think anybody in our grade dislikes us."
"Except Cloud" Vincent added "Teachers hate him."
"Yeah." Tifa and Aerith agreed.
"Enough about me." Cloud said "'Bout you, Yuffie. Who do you hang with?"
"Oh." Yuffie tried to hide her sad look but failed.
Tifa noticed and said "Cloud, why did ask her something like that!"
"What?" He said confused.
"Its o.k. I don't mind." She lied. "I used to hang out with my best friend Cissnei, but me and her don't talk anymore." She didn't want to talk about this, but at the same time she felt she had to.
"That's awful!" Tifa said "How long have you two not spoken?"
"Snice last year." Yuffie said as she tried to hid her sadness.
Aerith once again wrapped her up in her arms. "Awe. You were just a lonely bologna before you met us weren't you."
"Huh?" Yuffie was confused. "I…guess I was." She started to sniffle. It was true she was lonely, far lonelier than she would ever admit.
"You don't have to worry about being lonely anymore! You've got us now!" Tifa said.
"But…we don't really know each other." Yuffie said.
"Gotta start somewhere." Cloud said.
"It was Cloud" Vincent started "he first noticed you in class and when he saw you eating alone, and…well, the rest is history."
Cloud rubbed the back of his neck and blushed.
"You were right Tifa, Cloud can be a sweety." Yuffie smiled wide. "I hope you can handle the great ninja Yuffie."
Authors Note:
Hello all! Welcome to my new story! So, I don't know if you picked up on it but I imagine the old English voice cast for the FF7 characters. Nothing against the new ones, I just prefer the old cast. That's just me though, imagine them how you wish. I also took a different approach with Sephiroth. Instead of a villain, I decided to have him be a classmate. I know he is the most memerable villain of the game, but he doesn't have to be in every fanfic as well. This will be a fun one to write because I can use some of my own high school experiences for inspiration. And they could get pretty out there, remember the flashback in my story Birds of a Feather. Yeah I snuck into the teachers lounge and I knew a guy that pilfered a key to the school…and got caught sneaking into the school, yes he used the line 'I didn't break in, I have a key.' Regardless I plan to have the chapters for this story be longer, but I doubt they'll be as long as this one. Enjoy and have a good day!