What Puts the "Best" in Best Friends

Chapter 3

A Friend Will….

A group of First and Second class SOLDIERs sat around a long table looking closely at the man speaking. The man speaking was their boss, director Lazard, so it was very important that they all pay close attention to what he was saying.

"Since the SOLDIER department has been doing so well lately, President ShinRa has informed me that from now on, our department has been assigned the task of-"

"Sorry I'm late guys!" Zack exclaimed, bursting into the meeting room. Though he'd said he was sorry, there wasn't even a hint of the apology on his face.

He was wearing a huge grin, even wider than normal, and there was a far-off look in his eyes as if he was seeing his own personal heaven in his mind.

"Lovely day, isn't it?" He sighed as he took his seat .

He was the only one showing such positive feelings. All of the other SOLDIERs attending the meeting were looking at him with annoyance and/or exasperation on their face.

The ignoreant young SOLDIER didn't notice, just sat at his place for the remainder of the meeting. When anyone called his name, he just nodded or muttered something no one could understand. (When Lazard asked his opinion on new recruitment plans to test if he was listening, he said something that sounded like "let the banana fairies decide." That's when they pretty much gave up on trying to pull his mind from whatever strange place it had drifted off to.)

Even after the meeting was finally over and everyone had left, giving Zack a look as they passed him, he still sat at his seat, goofy grin still spread across his face. Sephiroth decided to take pity on him and tell him the meeting had finished. Zack was pulled back to reality when he felt Sephiroth's hand on his shoulder.

"Something on your mind?" Sephiroth asked, trying to hide his amusement as he looked down on the young SOLDIER.

"Well…"Zack grinned sheepishly. "I met this girl down in the slums…"

"And this girl is more important to you than your job?" Sephiroth sighed and Zack blushed slightly.

"Well I gotta figure out a way to make her like me." He flashed a smirk at the silver haired SOLDIER. "I hear you're pretty good with the ladies, got any advice?"

"As your superior, I advise you to forget about her." Sephiroth said. "A distraction like that could cost you your life in a job like this."

Zack frowned. He should have known the General would say something like that. He really needed some advice though…maybe he'd ask Genesis? Nah, he'd just start quoting that stupid book, or play, or whatever it was Genesis was obsessed with. His thoughts were interrupted when Sephiroth continued.

"Become a First Class SOLDIER," he suggested. "Girls seem to like fame and strength. I think that's why so many women like me, Genesis, and Angeal. Plus it won't affect your job since it is your job. Getting a promotion is a perfect way to balance your work life and your love life." Sephiroth explained. He turned away from Zack, who was speechless with shock. He was almost out the door when Zack finally found his voice.

"Seph!" Zack ran a few steps towards the silver haired SOLDIER. Sephiroth turned at the sound of his name.

"It's Sephiroth," he reminded him with slight annoyance. "Is there something else you needed help with Fair?"

"Nope, you've helped me more than enough," Zack said, shaking his head. "Just wanted to say thanks. Er…sir," he said, quickly adding the "sir".

"It's not a problem. Just keeping you on task," Sephiroth said, amused. He turned to leave, but Zack interrupted once more.

"Oh yeah, and one more thing." Zack added. When Sephiroth turned, he grinned at him. "Is that why you became a First Class? Got your eye on some pretty lady?" Zack asked, winking.

"I have more important things to think about than women and dating." Sephiroth responded, his face the image of stoicism. Once his back was to Zack, he rolled his eyes. Zack really was an amusing kid. "Good luck, Zack."

But a BEST friend will…

"A motorcycle?" Cloud gasped, throwing aside the wrapping paper. He'd been wondering what such a large present could have contained ever since it was hauled into his living room, but he never expected the shiny black motorcycle that now stood before him. Who could have possibly afforded that? He wasn't left wondering for too long though. His question was answered when he saw SOLDIER First Class General Genesis Rhapsodos grinning as he looked from the shocked look on Cloud's face to the other two First Class SOLDIERs, General Angeal Hewley and General Sephiroth. Angeal was grinning back at Genesis, and Sephiroth was looking directly at Cloud. Cloud's already wide eyes widened even more. The First Class Sephiroth was looking directly at him, Cloud Strife, and there was a small hint of a smile on his face!

Cloud flushed with embarrassment. He still couldn't believe all three First Class SOLDIERs had actually agreed to come to Cloud's birthday party. Zack had been the one to convince them to come. He'd told them it would be a nice surprise for the young ShinRa employee, and he was right. Cloud had nearly died of shock when the three famous SOLDIERs had showed up at his door. If Zack had been there, he'd still be laughing.

Cloud's excitement from the motorcycle and his surprise guests dissolved into disappointment. Zack may have arranged for the First Class trio to come, but he himself had never showed up. Zack promised he'd be there, but it had been over an hour and his friend still hadn't arrived. Tifa wasn't there either…What kind of party was it if his best friends weren't even there?

Cloud's depressing thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He sighed and got up to let whoever it was in. The happy grinning face on the other side of the door immediately brightened his mood.

"Zack!" he exclaimed happily.

"Hey, how come you sound so surprised? Did you think I wouldn't come? I did promise after all!" Zack grinned and stepped inside, following Cloud into the living room.

He was carrying a huge present, almost as big as his motorcycle, but it was weirdly shaped and looked much lighter.

"That's the reason I'm late," Zack explained, following Cloud's gaze. "It took longer than I thought to get the damn thing. You should open it now," he advised. He ignored Cloud's questioning look and put the present down in front of him.

Cloud was about to open the mystery gift when it made a muffled noise and moved slightly. Cloud jumped and turned to Zack in alarm. "What was that?"

Zack looked at it nervously. "Er…nothing." He kicked it gently. "Just hurry up and open it before it gets out on it's own!"

Cloud cautiously started ripping away multiple layers of thick wrapping paper. What was it? Knowing Zack, it could be anything. It could be a monster, or a chocobo, or some failed experiment from ShinRa's science department, or…

Tifa?

He watched in surprise while his childhood friend struggled to break the roped tying her hands and legs together. The muffled noise from earlier was being repeated as Tifa struggled to talk through her gag. Cloud quickly dropped to his knees and helped set Tifa free.

"Zack Fair!" Tifa shouted angrily once her gag had been removed. "You'd better hope I never get my hands on you or I'll use them to rip you to shreds!"

Cloud, still confused, looked to the other guests to see if they knew any more about what was going on. Angeal and Sephiroth looked amused while Genesis was shaking with laughter. A couple other guests were also laughing at Zack, who was now backing up slowly with his hands in the air.

"Zack, what did you do?" Cloud asked.

Zack grinned at his friend. "Well, at first I was going to give you a book of tips on how to get the girl of your dreams, but I figured it'd be easier to just kidnap her and bring her to you. You'd better be grateful, she took forever to catch! And now I gotta go," he added quickly when Tifa shot him a glare. "Later Cloud!" he shouted back as he bolted out the door, Tifa following close behind waving a meat cleaver- she'd grabbed it from Cloud's kitchen while Zack was explaining- menacingly.

The two ran out of sight, leaving Cloud standing in the living room, still confused and shocked, as well as completely embarrassed.

Finally, a single thought entered his head.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

"A friend will advise you how get a girl, but a BEST friend will kidnap one and wrap her as a birthday gift to give you"

Authoress Note: First of all, thanks to GNXmike for reminding me to put that last quote in! ^^" Silly Authoress.

Ok, now that you've read this EXTREMELY late chapter I want you to know I have an excuse! In fact, I have excuses for all occasions! *pulls out list of excuses*

Possible excuse #1: I couldn't get to my computer because I died and the internet services in Hel-er, I mean Heaven…yeah I totally was in Heaven…if you ignore the horns and the flames everywhere…- anyways the internet services there suck!

Possible excuse #2: I was on the run from the FBI. I couldn't use the internet because that would give away my location.

Possible excuse #3: Ninjas surrounded my house and I was under siege in my room for weeks. There was no food, so I had to eat my laptop.

*puts away excuse book* Yeah, teachers at my school have learned never to ask me why I was late/didn't do homework xD

Anyways, the real reason: My step dad's a jerk. He stole my internet. He changed the internet key thing. And so I've been without internet for OVER A MONTH! T.T Yes, pity me.

I am so so so sorry! It won't happen again…hopefully.

Anyways, since I'm being a suck up I wrote you guys another story, "What Would the FF7 Characters Do For A Klondike Bar"(Yeah I know, that's all for that much time? But I swear I'll be writing more. After all, what else am I supposed to do in history class? Work? HA!)

This AN is going to be longer than the chapter itself if I don't stop. So, go on and read that other story now!