Wooow it's been a long time. I'm starting University now you know ? it'll be fun but super scary. I don't wanna to end this one and my other one but I feel I have to. It's not fair to leave you guys hanging and so ending is for the best. I kind of just realized that they probably didn't have Australia or Brittany Spears in FF VII but that's okie! It make the story relevant to us. Hehe.
"You're moving away from us?" Yuffie asked with a confused tone.
"Yeah, mom thinks it will be a better life for us" Cloud nodded his head solemnly.
"How far away is it?" Tifa asked, trying to remain clam and strong for her friend.
"About day away" Cloud informed them, "I can still come and visit you guys but I won't be finishing high school with you guys"
"Oh no! That's horrible" Aerith sighed and shook her head lightly.
"You can't even stay for the grad party?" Tifa asked. It was only a week away now. Her high school years were coming to a fast end. The whole experience had just flown buy. At least she had her dress?
"No, I've know for a while now, that this was going to happen, but I've been too hesitant to tell you guys. I know it was wrong of me to keep it from you but I just couldn't bring myself to say anything" Cloud told them quietly. "I'll be leaving in a couple days"
"That's so soon" Vincent said gruffly in utter disappointment. As if to destroy all meaningful conversation and comprehension, the lunch bell rang with its usual high pitch. No one said anything; no one could really find any words. The group left quietly from lunch without saying another word to each other. Tifa walked forward to her next class. Her back was turned to Cloud, as he was heading in the other direction. She walked away from him. She was leaving him now just as he would be leaving her forever.
Tifa lay on her bed in her ShinRa apartment. She had been there for a while now. There was something lacking in her body that was making it impossible for her to move an inch. She seemed to be numb with pain. She chest felt tight, like no deep breath would help lift the heaviness that currently weighed on it. The phone rang and she rolled over and answered. It was her first movement since she had planted herself on her bed after school.
"Hello?" She answered the ringing device.
"Hi Tifa" Aerith's voice sounded on the other end.
"Hey, what's up? Tifa wasn't sure what else to say at the moment.
"Not much… You?" Aerith was very aware of how lame their conversation was sounding.
"Same" Tifa answered. She remained quiet after that. After a moment of silence both Aerith and Tifa spoke at the same time.
"How are y-"
"What do y-"
Both girls giggle slightly and Tifa stayed quiet while Aerith repeated what she was intending to say.
"What do you think about Cloud moving away?" Her question was lame but at the same time it was something that could start a discussion.
"It's sad, of course" Tifa started, "He's been around since… well, forever"
"I know, I feel like I should have treated him better" Aerith let out a sigh.
"It's not like he's dead!" Tifa shook her head and laughed slightly.
"We'll see him again, it's not that. It just, well, sucks!" Tifa couldn't find a more articulate way of expressing what she was feeling.
"I know" Aerith agreed solemnly.
"I feel like we should do something for him. Like a fun good bye party" Tifa smiled at the idea.
"Lets go out for pizza tomorrow after school, okay?" Aerith made a forced suggestion, as she usually did.
"Sounds good" Tifa nodded though Aerith couldn't see.
"I'll see you tomorrow"
"Yeah, see ya" The phone clicked and the dial tone followed. Tifa laid back on her bed and sighed. She only had a brief moment's peace before Rufus called her for dinner. Tifa rose to her feet and zombied to the dinning hall.
Tifa sat down in her usual chair and waited to be served. She had started eating dinner with Rufus more often. They had a separate dinner from his dad since they both knew that putting Tifa in the same room as him would be a bad idea.
Rufus looked over at her with concerned eyes. He could tell something was bothering her. Her eyes were slightly red from crying and Rufus didn't know why. He wasn't sure if he should pry into what was wrong or if he should just leave her alone.
"Tifa?" Rufus spoke up to break the silence between them.
"Yeah?" Tifa raised her head to meet his gaze.
"Is something wrong, my darling?" Rufus asked her in his most charming voice. The rich, caring tone of his tone sent shivering up Tifa's spine.
"Cloud is moving away" Tifa told him bluntly.
"Oh, that's too bad" Rufus frowned. Not that he had even cared for the spiky blonde child, he knew that Tifa did and he cared about Tifa's feelings.
"Yeah" Tifa gave a single nod.
"Where is he moving to?" Rufus wanted to know.
"To Niebby, it's an hour or so away" Tifa told him, using the nickname she had given her home when she was very young.
"Oh, that's not extremely far away" Rufus told her.
"I know, but it is sad for me, that he won't be graduating with us" Tifa told him in a solid but neutral voice.
"Yes, that is shame but don't worry about not seeing him. I'm taking care of you now and I can easily have you and your friends there in less then an hour" Rufus told her.
"Thank you" Tifa smiled lightly.
Vincent, Tifa, Yuffie, Cloud, Aerith and Tifa all stood outside the front doors of school. They were ready to leave and have pizza. It was the end of the day and school was over. Everyone had their books, they had all checked several times. No one had to use the washroom. Everyone was wearing comfortable running shoes. And yet everyone was frozen.
"Okay! Sooooo let's get moving" Yuffie started walking stiffly forward. The others followed after her. Tifa let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She silently thanked Yuffie for starting the movement. They had to get the pizza place eventually, it was inevitable but if you didn't start walking you would never get there, right? Tifa knew all her friends were thinking the same thing; once they got to the pizza place the goodbyes and sadness would start.
Tifa walked bravely forward trying her best to act normal in front of Cloud. She knew it would only make everything worse if she was walking in a depressed manner. Aerith and Tifa exchanged a glance; Aerith was thinking the same thing as well.
They arrived at 'Slum's Slice' and went inside. Cloud got to pick the booth they were going to sit in; he had a favorite for some odd reason. Everyone slide into their spots and instantly picked up a menu. Within five minutes the scapegoat was gone since everyone knew what they wanted. Tifa sat back and folded her arms.
"Cloud! You are not graduating with us and it sucks but you are not dead and Rufus already said he would fly all of us down to see you so no worries!" Tifa spoke up, trying to be optimistic.
"Yeah I know" Cloud gave a strong nod, "I will see you guys again but it's still sad"
"Of course" Tifa agreed. A waitress came by to take their orders. Once everything was written down she left to get them water. "I bet Rufus would lend you the ShinRA mansion" Tifa laughed and everyone laughed with her.
"That would be awesome" Cloud chuckled, "But nah, my mom's pretty happy with what she got" As Cloud was talking the waitress returned with their waters.
"You could hook up a big screen TV and everything" Vincent went off reminiscing about it.
"Silly boy" Yuffie smiled fondly at him.
"What did your mom end up buying?" Vincent asked.
"We got so lucky, we got the house that I grew up in. There was a couple for sale in the area and it happened to be one of them!" Cloud had excitement in his voice now. Tifa enjoyed hearing it. She knew how much Cloud had cherished that house when he was living in it. He was more sad to leave it then then he was leaving them now. Tifa smiled lightly at the thought.
"What's funny Tif?" Cloud asked her.
"Nothing, I'm just thinking about how much you love that house" Tifa told him.
"Yeah, I really do love it" Cloud had a very happy grin on his face as he said so.
"ZOMG! Pizza!!" Yuffie cheered when the food arrived.
"It's just pizza Yuffie…." Vincent gave her a leveling 'why-did-I-ever-go-out-with-you' look.
"But I haven't had pizza in SO long" Yuffie defended her excited actions. The minuet the pizza was set down in front of her, Yuffie started wolfing it down.
"Remember to breath" Aerith commented and just shook her head in amusement.
"What time are you leaving tomorrow, Cloud?" Vincent asked.
"Early in the morning. Around 6 am" Cloud informed him.
"I guess tonight's it then." Tifa frowned again.
"I'll be there in the morning to say good-bye" Vincent gave a small smirk, "I don't mind getting up early unlike the rest of you" He gave them disapproving glares. "What ever!" Yuffie said with a mouth full of pizza. Tifa looked at Cloud; he looked very pleased that his friend would be coming to see him off in the morning.
"Are you going to eat that?" Yuffie said, already starting on Aerith's pizza.
"Yes! Yuffie!" Aerith scolded.
"You've never been this intense about food before Yuffie" Cloud commented.
"I'm in a mood!" Yuffie explained between bites. The group just lightly smiled and ate their own food.
"See you in the morning" Vincent put his hand up as a gesture of good-bye. Yuffie tearfully hugged Cloud.
"You'll miss you buddy" Yuffie sniffled.
"Same here, kiddo" Cloud teased. Yuffie smiled through her tears. Vincent had to pry Yuffie off of Cloud so they could leave and the others could have a chance to say good-bye as well. A small black car pulled up beside the pizza place. Tifa knew it was her and Aerith's ride. To everyone's surprise Rufus stepped out of the car.
"Bye Cloud" Aerith's eyes swelded with tears.
"Bye Aerith" Cloud hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you a lot"
"Yeah, me too" Aerith had to let go and jump into the car. She was never good at Good-bye's and she did better to just avoid them. Cloud knew this and he wasn't at all upset, he wanted the same thing, just a moment.
"Bye" Tifa hugged Cloud tightly. Cloud returned her hug. "Well not good-bye, see you later, okay"
"Defiantly" Cloud managed to smile. Tifa heard foot steps approaching them. She turned to see Rufus standing there watching them.
"Take good care of her" Cloud handed down the responsibility of watching over his little sister to a man he knew would care for her.
"I will" Rufus genuinely assured him. Tifa backed away into the car. Rufus shook Cloud's hand and walked away towards the car. Tifa drove away and watched Cloud disappear into his mother's car that had just arrived as they were leaving. She looked at Aerith, who was in the seat beside her, she knew Aerith was having just as a hard time as she was.
"It's 'see you later,' Aerith, remember?" Tifa patted her friend's hand.
"Yeah, I know" Aerith nodded.
Everyone was quiet at school the next day. Vincent told them that he had seen Cloud off in the morning. Vincent also told them that Cloud would call once he arrived. Tifa was happy that she would be able to know that Cloud was safe. Now she just had to wait.
At lunch time Cloud called. Everyone took turns talking to him. Yuffie and Aerith teared-up again but Tifa didn't. She could tell by the tone of his voice that Cloud was very happy in his old house. She knew the he missed them but she also knew that he was very happy and that was a comforting feeling. Tifa was glad that he was safe and settling in. She knew that everything would be good for him and for all the others.
"Bump, bump, bump, bump, bum!" Tifa sang out into a hair brush microphone as a song started to play on the radio. She had struck up the ballad as herself, Aerith and Yuffie got ready for grad in her large room. The girls were in boxers, slippers and tank tops. Tifa had just finished her dark, eye defining make up. While she was waiting for Aerith and Yuffie she had started singing. Tifa jump up off her chair and struck a pose of pure confidence and sexiness.
"Everybody look at me, me," Tifa started the introduction to Nelly Furtado's 'maneater.' "I walk in the door you start"
"Screaming" All three girls sang together.
"Come on everybody what chu here for?" Yuffie chirped in as she finished her eyeliner. "Come on Aerith"
"Move your body around like a nympho" Aerith said the last word with a guilty smile. Tifa shook her booty as she shimmied across the floor of her room. She chimed in with the next couple lines.
"Everybody get your necks to crack around. All you crazy people, come on, jump around." Tifa grooved around Yuffie and Aerith as she sang. The girls paused to giggle. Yuffie was done her make up and so she jumped up to join Tifa in her singing.
"I want to see you all on your knees!" Yuffie belted out.
"knees, knees" Tifa and Aerith added and Aerith finished putting on her lip gloss.
"You either want to be with me, or be me!" Yuffie winked at Tifa and Tifa playfully stuck her tongue out. Aerith was done her make up and she jumped up to join her friends. Aerith and Tifa still had thick towels wrapped around their wet hair. Aerith wiggle her hips as she started the chorus.
"Maneater, make you work hard, Make you spend hard, Make you want all, of her love" Aerith dance around until her towel fell off her head. She giggled her way through the words until Tifa took over, also laughing.
"She's a maneater, make you buy cars, make you cut cards, make you fall real hard in love" Tifa added on the next part.
"Tifa's a Maneater, make Rufus work hard, Make him spend hard, make him want all, of her love!" Yuffie sang and Tifa threw a pillow at her. Before continuing she added a "Hey watch the make-up!" Yuffie spun around and continued taunting her friend. ""She's a maneater, make him buy cars, make him cut cards, Wish him never ever met her at all"
Aerith shirked as she looked over to see Rufus standing in the door way. Tifa turned bright red with embarrassment while Yuffie just started hysterically laughing. Yuffie collapsed onto the floor and continued giggling.
"So this is what girls do" Rufus raised a eyebrow, "Well, I guess the rumors are true. Keep your door shut next time"
"Rufus… I" Tifa didn't know how to redeem her dignity.
"Nice ass Tifa" Rufus winked and left, shutting the door behind him. Yuffie forced her body flat on the floor and pumped it up in a flattering pose. She shook her head so her hair fell in a sexy way over her eyes.
"And when she walks she walks with passion" Yuffie started up again and pulled one leg up the other in a seductive way.
"When she talks, she talks like she can handle it" Aerith added after her.
"When she asks for something, boy, she means it" Tifa regained her fun spirit and giggled as she sang what would be the last line for them. The girls just laughed for a while before turning their attention to their hair.
They were almost done with their makeovers and reveling in the fact that they had managed to save so much money doing it themselves.
"So tonight is the big night" Yuffie smiled.
"I know" Tifa grinned.
"So exciting" Aerith laughed playfully.
The moon was high in the sky when they arrived at the Hotel Flair. The stars were twinkling in the night sky producing luminescent lines along many fancy hair dos. Flashes from cameras reflected off of each graduate's face as their pictures were taken by friends, boy or girlfriends, parents and staff.
The girls were each wearing the gifts they had given each other. Well, more speficially, the gifts they had bought each other but given each receivers boyfriend to give to them. Each receiver had figured out that these gifts were too perfect to have been a solo effort so each got the information that Yuffie, Tifa or Aerith had told him to give it to her. A confusing yet effective ploy that left all the girls in tears and giving hugs and thank yous to each other.
Tifa took a deep breath and let the smell of the night enter her nose. It seemed to twitch a bit as the delight of fresh air consumed her senses. Tonight smelled right, if that could be accurately said since up until tonight she did not know was this night should smell like, but it did smell right. Tifa stood amongst her friends in what was to be a very large group picture. Yuffie and Vincent playfully smiled at the camera. Aerith hung on Zack's arm, beaming with pride at her tall, new, boyfriend. Rufus shyly slipped his arm around Tifa's waist and stared grimacing at the camera.
"Three, two, one!" The Reno shouted as he snapped the picture of all the couples. He had brought Elena as a joke date but he was finding his night with her very enjoyable.
The hosts were starting to herd everyone inside the building. Tifa and Rufus walked in together and presented their tickets to the usher. They were pointed in the direction of 4 very large doors that were open and welcoming them inside. They entered a the beautiful ball room with an excited bounce. There was a murmur of voices around the room as each small group of friends chatted about their plans for the evening and how wonderful everyone looked.
Tifa took her seat with her friends at their table. Aerith marveled over how they were number seven.
"See because your bar is 7th Heaven and we're at table number 7!" Aerith laughed as she provided an unnecessary explanation of what she had implied.
"I know, we get it Aerith" Yuffie lovingly rolled her eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Everyone halted their conversations and rotated in their chairs to look at the Principal standing on the central stage.
Tifa zoned out. He was talking about their exciting futures and how he had loved being a part of each of their lives. He included, as a joke, that he had seen some more than others. Rufus and Reno hollered at this comment and everyone laughed. The table had a gorgeous flower arrangement in the center which Tifa was currently playing with. Rufus took her hand and squeezed it. She turned her large brown eyes to meet his icey blue ones. She gave him and happy smile and he smirked back at her. He kissed her temple lightly and Tifa got shivers. She was enjoying her night tonight. It was something she would never forget.
The food was served table by table. It was a large buffet with a very large roast at the end of it. Aerith was very entertained by the observation of the different amounts of food each gender took. Aerith, Yuffie and Tifa kept their serving small since their dresses did not expand well, while the boys took large amount and even went back for seconds.
"Sometimes I wish I was a guy' Yuffie sighed, watching all the guys eat the delicious food.
"Same here, but just think, we'll raid the desert table! Those take up less room" Tifa patted her stomach.
"Good point!" Yuffie got an evil grin on her face and she plotted over throwing the desert table. She waited patiently and watched all the waiters take away the dinner and put out the deserts. Vincent watched her with loving eyes. He thought it was adorable the way she was intensely focused on the strawberry pie. Even a war veteran had never looked so determine to capture the enemy flag.
"Alright Graduates of 2007! Come and get your deserts! Starting with table…" Before the principle could utter the number Yuffie hollered "SEVEN!" so loud that everyone turned to their table.
"Sure! Number seven" Yuffie's tone had not been one to disagree with.
Tifa, Yuffie and Aerith marched towards the desert table with Rufus, Vincent and Zack close behind them. Yuffie bolted and grabbed all the cake, ice cream and pudding she could. Tifa and Aerith took their fair share as well. While the boys, who were full from all the fish, chicken, roast and salad they had consumed, only took a few. Yuffie darted back to their table and consumed her desert. Tifa and Aerith remained more lady like in the eating part but non the less were chewing very fast. Rufus and Zack smiled at their dates.
Tifa's theory was right. Desert did take up less room and the girls were full and still comfortable in their dresses. Plus, they weren't too full for when the dancing started.
Everyone migrated towards the dance floor as soon as the music started. Rufus took Tifa's hand and led her into a slow song. Aerith and Yuffie were up and dancing near her as well. Tifa leaned her head into Rufus' shoulder and took a deep breath. She inhaled the scent of his cologne. Rufus smelled nice. He smelled like a gentlemen, a distinguished man that was going to take very good care of her.
Aerith was thinking deeply as she swayed to the music. It was odd how music could do that to someone. It puts you in a trance. Aerith reflected on her feelings. She was happy with Zack. She thought she was pretty sure of that. It was good for now. Aerith wondered if she was too young to be thinking about the rest of her life with someone. She shook her head lightly and Zack looked down at her. She looked up into his eyes. She was too young and it was too soon to know if he was 'the one' but she was happy in this moment right now.
Yuffie was hoping they would change it a rock song soon. She didn't like public displays like this, even if everyone was doing it. She was also thinking about getting more desert somehow. She could always flirt with the waiters if she needed too. Vincent shouldn't mind too much since he knew more than anything else in the world that Yuffie loved him and only him. And also knew more than anything in the world that she loved desert more than men. It was better and it never pissed you off. And Yuffie knew that Vincent would love her not matter what she did or how vulgar she acted. Yuffie suddenly forgot about desert and started to think about how lucky she is.
The slow song ended and one with a fast tempo took over. Everyone started moving a little faster. Flashes from cameras shot throughout the crowd as the photographers and friends all took pictures of the scene. Aerith was picked up by all her friends and passed a long the crowd. When she was placed down again she came bouncing back to her friends to keep dancing. It was like a miniature rave, confided to the square of the room designated for dancing.
"My feet are getting sore" Yuffie announced and Tifa and Aerith nodded. Heels were not very pleasant for long. The boys sat down at the table while the girls went out onto the balcony to get some air. Tifa wasn't cold outside since she had accumulated quiet a bit of heat while dancing. The cold breeze felt nice on her skin.
"Tonight was a nice night for us three" Yuffie smiled at her friends.
"Definitely. While I'm happy to spend sometime with the boys I really felt tonight should be more about us" Aerith nodded her head once firmly.
"Yeah me too, you guys have meant the world to me" Tifa smiled.
"Have meant? That's a little too much past tense for me there, Tef." Yuffie gave her a serious look.
"You know what I mean" Tifa shook her head and laughed.
"To us!" Aerith raised a pretend glass in the air.
"To us" Tifa and Yuffie joined in. They made silly 'clanging' noises when they put their hands near each other and laughed. Tifa adored her friends. It was moments like these that made her life all the more special.
Tifa stood out on the balcony of her room. She felt Rufus move up behind her and snake his hands around her waist. They stood silently together for a long while. Tifa thought about the end of her high school life. Her school days were over and she missed them. It was ironic how she had spent so much time obsessing over tests and issues in her life that all seemed so trivial now; all part of the fun experience. She didn't know what would lay ahead. The path she stared down now was all covered in darkness. She took a deep breath. She knew she would be just fine.
"I love you" Rufus whispered in her ear and Tifa closed her eyes and smiled, everything would be fine.
"I love you too, Ruffus"
If anyone would like to draw Yuffie storming a desert table please do! And send me a copy! I think it could be a very funny image but that's just me. Well that's it. University keeps me so busy! Sorry if it felt rushed. Hope you guys enjoyed it anyways.