Chapter 16

"One hell of a night"

The dance floor was flooded with Nomura high school's Winter Festival most enthusiastic dancers, the student body delightfully entranced by the bands hypnotic sounds. The tan ,hardwood basketball court was now the center if not; the heart of the party. instead of a court for gaming, the players all jumped up and down in ocean like waves-throwing their hands up above their heads, the girls moving their bodies elegantly while the boys-trying to act cool- waved their arms slightly and stepped from side to side with their female partners.

In certain parts of the floor there were groups of dance enthusiasts holding real dance offs. Sadly, no motor club members were a part of that circle but instead chose to be spectators. The motor club members were feeling triumphant in their choice of entertainment for the dance since "The Turks" were blowing the crowd away with their music, which was a mix of pop and rock.

Although the band was starting off the night with a bang, elsewhere a pot was simmering with small air bubbles brewing at the base. Soon steam would be rising-with a high chance of sweltering hot water spilling all over.

The metaphoric pot being Jesse Merrywhether, she was incredibly, dreadfully, extremely upset with her friend at the moment, she was upset that Nicki had not listened to her, she was angry that there was bound to be more drama in store for the night. Tonight Jesse just wanted to have fun, go to dance, avoid drama. But no, this had to happen

"I'm going to kill her!" Jesse thought to herself. Though she had wanted to scream it out, Jesse fortunately had managed to maintain a debutante's composure and calmly (though with reluctance) excused herself from her dance partner and friend Biggs.

"Somethin' wrong?" asked Biggs, he looked disappointed. He was enjoying dancing with Jesse, Jesse frowned. They were having such a good time til now. damn that Rufus Shinra! Damn Nicki! Damn! Damn! Damn!

"I have an emergency, I'm sorry Biggs-"

"Oh! No, it's okay I understand...um..." Biggs blushed "You take care of that, I'll catch ya later maybe." He walked away with a hand scratching at the back of his head nervously. it was then Jesse realized what she had said.

Emergency

Oh god! He must have thought that she was having lady problems! Now it was Jesse who turned pink, out coloring her Peachy Cute blush from earlier in the evening, so much for wearing make up tonight! Jesse was now fuming, humiliated, Jesse quickly made her way through the crowds pushing people out of the way to get to her target.

Spotting Nicki, who was sitting at a table with a group of M clubbers in the mists of yawning in boredom onto her freshly manicured nails, her hands not even covering her mouth. Jesse took the opportunity to reach for her friend's wrist and carelessly brought her to her feet- the chair squeaking loudly as it was scooted by the reluctant Nicki, and high heels clicking. Nicki gasped in surprise.

"What the hell!" snapped Nicki.

"We need to talk...now!" Jesse answered fiercely, garnering several curious stares from some of the M club members seated at the table, they gossiped as the girls made their way out of the gym. Jesse marched the girls out through the courtyard where the game booths were set up; and straight into an empty corridor. Though the music from the booths and the cheering from its participants were still somewhat loud in the background, the girls were virtually alone and it was sensible enough so that they could speak privately.

"What...the...hell Nicki?" Jesse shook as she spoke "I told you to disinvite Rufus...You said that you were going to do it!" hissing that last part out, which caught Nicki by surprise. Jesse balled a fist.

"You said you were going to do it Nicki! Why is he here?" Jesse pressed.

The jeers and cheers from the game booths covered this outburst, but added an eerie ,tense, feeling between the girls. Nicki sighed, closed her eyes, and then composed herself in an effort to remain the more confident and well-spoken of the two- she was not about to get yelled at for something so stupid and childish.

"I told you that I would try. I didn't promise you anything. Besides I told you already that Rufus is managing Reno's band, he's the one funding the recording studio, the marketing. So why shouldn't he be here?" refuted the red head, Nicki's chin pointed upwards in an effort to maintain some dignity and grace..

"Don't give me that BS Nicki! Rufus wasn't even going to show up, he only came because of what you told him about Tifa. Otherwise he wouldn't have even shown up!"

"Oh, please Jesse! Spare me!. You went along with the lie at first, your only backing out now because of what Zack and that creepy weirdo teacher said to you!. You're just afraid of getting kicked out of motor club!" Nicki raised her voice a little bit with annoyance clear in her tone, though she and Jesse were best friends; they had never argued like this- and it was about to get ugly.

"Damn it Nicki! What the hell is wrong with you!" Jesse screeched and stomped her foot onto the concrete angrily, nearly breaking her three-inch-high heeled shoe in the process. "What has gotten into you lately? You weren't like this before! You know I love the motor club and my friends, I love Cloud too but I don't want to lose the club because of this crap!"

"What has gotten into me? Are you serious? I was helping you out, and for your information I did try to stop Rufus, but he wanted to see the whore, what was I going to do to stop him?-and since when is motor club more important to you anyway? I AM your best friend!" Nicki raged.

"If you were my best friend you wouldn't be acting like this! And that is not what you just said a minute ago, you didn't say that about Rufus." Jesse was starting to get frustrated.

"Come on Jesse let it go with this Rufus thing! by the end of the night you're going to have a single guy with a broken heart. Tifa will dump Cloud and go running back to Rufus. You will have your man! the one you've been fighting for all this time!" Nicki replied almost cheerfully, if not borderline psychotic.

Still she was talking of this plan? The plan to break up Tifa and Cloud when she had so explained her distress in losing her friends and the club? Why? Why was Nicki so intent on going through with this? Why was Nicki so determined on hooking Jesse up with Cloud, even now when Jesse and Cloud had not spoken since the fight in the cafeteria.

"You can't give up on Cloud because of a stupid club, you love him!" Nicki sounded calmer now, taking on the voice of some self-help guru or pseudo counselor.

"Stop it Nicki..." Jesse was started to get a headache, her head was spinning at the same time.

"You are so close to getting him Jesse! Don't quit now." Nicki kept going.

"Stop!" Jesse was starting to lose it.

"That whore made my boyfriend break up with me and try and date her! She did that to a lot of girls, she is the only reason you and Cloud aren't together! She knew you liked Cloud and she took him from you! Don't give up on him!" Nicki raised her voice again. Only this time, her so called 'pep' talk backfired on the redhead.

Something dormant in Jesse snapped, and suddenly it all became frighteningly crystal clear. Waves of shame and betrayal flowed through her as her subconscious rapidly began to scramble up certain moments, certain conversations, and certain people.

Freshman year: Tifa Lockhart. a beautiful and brilliant student entered the orientation room for first years. Every guy in the room had looked at her, she was so damn cute, perfect pale skin and bright brown eyes. Long lovely black hair, pouty pink lips, and a killer body to boot! she was short but curvy in all the right places.

Though there was talk that Tifa's curves weren't all natural, no one is born that perfect! but that was just gossip.

Nicki Redfern had dated a guy named Stryker, not his real name, some loser who tried to look and act like a tough guy. But would have never lasted in a real fight. Jesse had known Nicki in middle school, and Stryker too. Nicki and Stryker had dated for the last year of middle school, Nicki had mentioned losing her virginity to him. Then one day, not too long into the school year, Stryker broke up with Nicki.

Nicki had tearfully called her up on the phone when it had happened, and also mentioned that she saw him flirting with another girl, and how he was now constantly following the other girl around at school. Jesse had not known who it was, the girl Stryker dumped her for that is. But now it was suddenly clear.

"Oh my goodness...this is what it is about? Isn't it!" Jesse shook her eyes down cast Nicki stood back surprised.

"What?" asked Nicki.

"Stryker! Stryker dumped you and was one of the guys that asked Tifa out last year wasn't he! god how could I have been so stupid!" Jesse took a step back, her heels clacking as she took a breather, more memories came back.

"She is such a whore!" Nicki muttered one day during motor club.

"Who?" asked Jesse, whom had been busy studying the new guy named Cloud Strife.

"Tifa, Tifa Lockhart"

"Yeah, I don't like her. I Heard she dated Rufus Shinra for his money." Replied Jesse.

"She did more than that, she's slept with a lot of guys, and she's so fake! She had breast implants you know? At her age It's so messed up!"

"Really? I knew that she was bad, but I didn't know that she was that bad, wow!" Jesse and Nicki would then trash Tifa's character after that. Almost daily.

"How could I have been such a jerk...all this time...I've been such a jerk." Jesse felt her eyes mist, guilt consumed her. But Nicki, if only Nicki had stopped talking.

"Stryker...yeah so what? He flirted with her, you saw how she made all the guys flock to her. that whore!" Nicki added bitterly "and she's never stopped, she just keeps doing it! She is-"

"SHUT UP!" Jesse screamed, reaching up with her hands and mustering every ounce of strength within her body-Jesse lunged towards Nicki and shoved her has hard as could, onto a school locker. The red head crashed loudly. It echoed into the courtyard, but the sound was not so disturbingly loud to alert anyone playing carnival games.

"Je-Jesse?" Nicki stunned and disheveled, looked up at Jesse with wide eyes. Surprised that she had pushed her "I'm your best friend..."

"You are not my damn friend! You are just a bully! You've been egging me on all this time, and I've stupidly listened to you every step of the way! And all over because of your ex-boyfriend! I'm done listening to you Nicki, got that? I'm DONE!" Jesse turned on her heal and began to march back towards the gym.

"Jesse!" Nicki called out as she got back up to her feet "Jesse!" she said it this time as if it were an order stomping her heeled foot down in the process. Jesse stopped abruptly a few feet away and balled up a fist and brought it up to her chest threateningly.

"You follow me, I swear I'm going to kick your ass!" Jesse seethed; Nicki took a step forward though slightly fearful " Don't test me-I'll do it!"

Jesse left her former best friend in the corridor; she was going to look for Zack. Nicki did nothing, standing alone in the corridor for the longest time.

C T

The Turks were now well into their ninth song, no one knew how many more they were going to play, not that the party goers seemed to mind. The DJ was mingling with the teachers chaperoning the event, and the night was still young. Only three hours had gone by, Tifa was having a good time dancing to the Turks music, Cloud was too (this surprised her) he was not much of a dancer, but after dancing for so long the expectant mother now felt how sore her feet were and patted Cloud on the shoulder. The gym was loud and it was hard to hear, so Cloud leaned in so that Tifa could speak into his ear.

"Let's sit down ok? I'm really tired." Tifa spoke softly, but Cloud could still hear her.

"Ok, this way." Instinctively Cloud reached for his girlfriend's waist, his free hand on her shoulder guiding her steadily off the floor. Cloud was not sure why, but tonight he felt a little more on edge about Tifa's wellbeing. He wasn't sure if it was the crowd that did it, or the fact that Aerith and Tifa had lied to Tifa's dad in order for her to come to the dance, admittedly he was a little nervous about her dad just popping in to check if Tifa was really avoiding Cloud (it had happened before) but Cloud felt in his gut that something was off at the dance.

Cloud only knew that he wanted to look out for Tifa on this night, after having a string of bad luck these past three months; he just wanted one thing to go right with his girl. So far the dance had been good, the games fun, and the food-fantastic! Everything was going so right, so why on earth did Cloud feel like something was about to go wrong?

After taking a free seat at their reserved table, Cloud offered Tifa something to drink. Ellie and Johnny were sitting across from them eating and drinking punch, Billy and Biggs and Wedge were there too talking and scoping out the girls in the crowd. Their friends were there so he wasn't too concerned about leaving her alone for a minute or too. Tifa would be well guarded, though there was Wedge's flirting, but Tifa could handle him.

"Just punch Tifa? You don't want anything to eat?" Cloud asked Tifa while kneeling by her seat, she was sitting quaintly in her chair back straight but comfortable. She looked so cute.

"I don't think I could have another bite, I'm so full."Tifa laughed "You should grab something though, you said you didn't eat before coming here." It's true, he and Zack had been too busy acquiring their car for the evening that the two had skipped lunch and dinner (and Cloud's stomach was rumbling a bit) perhaps he would grab a plate.

"I should...but that line is so long to just stand there only for one plate..." Cloud shrugged and looked up towards the buffet table, ugh how annoying! "You sure you don't want anything?". Tifa frowned, the first one of the evening. She knew he wouldn't go up and feed himself if she didn't say yes, so she chose her words carefully.

"If you pick something ridiculously delicious looking, maybe I'll pick off your plate" she smiled at him, Cloud hummed something and then nodded.

"Alright sounds good to me." Cloud responded in his usual stoic tone "I'll be back in a few." Tifa smiled as he got up and headed for the buffet table. She sat back in her seat and watched the stage, The Turks had been a popular group when they had attended Nomura, at least the two she remembered but she had never noticed them hang out with anyone at school last year. Tifa didn't think any more of that and looked towards her friends.

Ellie and Johnny looked cute together, and happy. Wedge was throwing her some unsexy flirty stares, but she of course ignored them; she was suppressing laughter at the same time. Poor Billy looked a little hurt, but he was putting on a brave face. Tifa sensed that, she wondered what was wrong with Billy. Then she looked at Biggs, he was also looking a little sad in the face, but she wasn't sure why, both guys were trying hard to appear as if having not a care in the world-when even she could tell that things were not ok.

Tifa wondered why she suddenly felt ill at ease, she was hoping Aerith would come by and sit and talk with her. Aerith was her "counselor" as of late as well as best friend, if only Aerith would come on by so that she could voice her concern. Tifa caught site of Aerith at the buffet line, she was heading in Cloud's direction while Zack was nowhere to be seen

Tifa felt her stomach churn, and this was not the baby moving. She hoped everything was alright.

CT

Zack and Aerith had been MIA most of the evening, having spent most of the dance making out in the computer room after winning at a few carnival games. Innocent kissing of course, Zack was bold but he was not about to go and try to claim the computer room as what he and Aerith liked to call "Special places". Zack was head of the Club and Dance committee so of course he and his lovely lady would have to return to the gym to make sure everything was up to par.

"I'm a little hungry, maybe I will check out the buffet table in the Gym, I kind of want to talk to Tifa too. I'm starting to miss her." Aerith spoke softly, Zack quirked his eyebrow and put an arm around Aerith's slightly bare shoulders.

"I do believe you enjoy hanging out with her more than you do with me, I'm kind of jealous" Zack flirted and squeezed her shoulder gently. Aerith laughed.

"I can't help it, I enjoy talking to her about certain things that I just can't talk about-even with you."

"Oh, and what's that?" Zack questioned.

"That's private." Aerith loved to play coy with Zack, he seemed to enjoy her game a lot; he would often play along with her at least until he got a cute little kiss out of the conversation, but it wasn't safe to say that their flirting was always peaceful, at times their game would lead to an argument,to a couples spat. But those were far and few.

"Private you say? So does that mean you talk about mine or Cloud's?" Zack teased roguishly, Aerith playfully slapped his chest.

"Don't be vulgar Zack!" she giggled "to answer your question though we talk about Billy."

"Say what?" Zack stopped in his tracks taken aback by her witty response, he brought a hand to his chest as if she had stabbed him in the heart. "Oh! You've betrayed me! I feel like I will melt in sadness."

"Please no kind sir! Don't melt, I will kiss you and cure you." Aerith laughed sweetly before planting a soft tender kiss on his lips, her high heels made it easier for her to reach his face Zack was eager to return her gesture but sensed someone watching him. Not that he didn't mind kissing Aerith in front of a crowd of people say it is at a store, movie theatre, or school. He just found it weird and invasive if someone were to just stare at him and his girlfriend when the two wanted privacy.

"What's wrong?" Aerith looked up at him, Zack had momentarily let go of his girl and looked over his shoulder to inspect their surroundings, to look for the intruder. Aerith clung to his arm but remained calm, as per her usual demeanor.

"Jesse?" Zack was a little taken aback to see his friend standing before them; their friendship was currently on the rocks-though he felt no hostility towards her.

"Zack" Jesse's hair was a little messed up having just confronted her former best friend and pushing her, she must have been quite the site. Zack did not know what had happened between Jesse and Nicki but he was about to find out. "I need to tell you something, it involves Cloud."

That was all Zack needed to hear, Zack looked down towards his girlfriend, Aerith glanced worriedly back up at her man, Aerith was not feeling so keen now. Knowing that Jesse had played a part in the fist fight that Tifa had with Nicki; the fight that had been about Cloud, Aerith was assuming because she knew that Jesse liked Cloud and Nicki was (though she didn't want to say it out loud) a crazy enabling bitch and was sure the fight was about him. Tifa had only told Aerith small details about that day, but the only thing Tifa mentioned was being called a whore and that it was Nicki that had said it, even though Tifa insisted it was between the two girls, Aerith knew better.

Aerith found this whole ordeal annoying. She had hoped that it would have all been swept under the rug by now. Looking at Zack and the frown on his face; Aerith could tell that he was just as aggravated as she was and was about to lose his temper. She sighed. it had started off as such a good night.

"I thought we talked about this already Jesse? I told you if any more drama went on that your membership would be revoked. You'll be banned from the club, and I was serious about that." Zack began and kept his tone calm but strong, not really sounding like his usual care free self so both Aerith and Jesse knew that he meant business.

"I know..."Jesse gulped; the expression on her face appeared tortured. She was not sure what to say next "That's why I need to tell you this, before it gets back to Tifa and Cloud. If I don't tell you then there's going to be trouble."

Now both Aerith and Zack were not only alert and listening, but extremely concerned.

"What is going to happen Jesse?" Zack walked over to Jesse as did Aerith.

Jesse hesitated, but took in a huge deep breath, she knew that no matter what she said that it was going to sound bad and could only hope that Zack and the club, Cloud and Tifa even- would forgive her and maybe even go easy on her. She began her story, starting from the day she and Nicki had gone to the recording studio to book Reno's band for the dance.

"Rufus Shinra was there." Jesse finally said, Zack's eyes dropped and Aerith paled. Aerith's reaction a little more severe due to her knowledge of what Rufus had done to sully Tifa's reputation, Zack had heard it from Aerith but had not ever thought much about it seeing that the guy had graduated already and would no longer pose as a threat to Tifa, despite the bullies at school-Tifa seemed to be ok with them, but the name Rufus Shinra was trouble.

Big trouble.

"I didn't know this...but Reno and his band are friends with Rufus, Rufus is actually 'The Turks' manager, he was there on that day and he asked us about Tifa. He talked about how he remembered us being in the motor club-Nicki and I. And he asked us if we knew her because she hung out with the motor club last year...Nicki answered yes." Jesse went on nervously "Then Nicki told him a lie."

"What kind of lie. "Asked Aerith intently, her voice still soft and caring, though suspicious.

"A huge one" answered Jesse. Zack took in a deep breath, and brought a hand to his temple as soon as Jesse said this, the motor club president was getting a headache. All this crap was just too much for him. Zack abhorred jealously and gossip.

"What did Nicki say to Rufus? What was the huge lie Jesse?" Zack remained composed but his forehead was throbbing in annoyance.

"Rufus asked if Tifa ever talked about him, and Nicki told him that she did. That Tifa still really liked him, and wanted to be with him-also that she regretted breaking up with him. That Tifa wanted Rufus still. So Rufus decided that he would show up to the dance and try and reconnect with her." Upon answering Jesse knew that she had not only baffled the motor club president and his girlfriend but had enraged them as well.

"YOU WHAT!" it was Aerith who shouted which caught both Zack and Jesse off guard, Zack-just to be on the safe side-quickly grabbed Aerith by the shoulders to keep her from attacking Jesse after her outrageous revelation involving Tifa. Aerith was not the violent type, but Zack wasn't going to risk another cat fight and made sure his hold on Aerith was good and secure.

"I knew you had the hugest crush on Cloud; but that is just low! I can't believe you two did that to my best friend that is wrong on so many levels!" Screamed Aerith, Jesse flinched-as did Zack. Aerith; calm, sweet, innocent and loving Aerith, neither of them knew that she could even scream like that and have even a shred of malice in her voice, and Zack was her boyfriend!.

"I didn't lie...Nicki did but-"

"But? But what Jesse? But What?" Aerith was gasping and yelling, on the verge of hyperventilating. Zack knew he had to do something before his angel of a girlfriend's head began to spin demonically.

"Aerith, Aerith, babe! Let me handle this, calm down okay." Zack couldn't really blame her for her outburst, he honestly felt like doing the same.

"I'm sorry Zack" Aerith accepted his interference "I'm just so sick of this!"

"I know babe, me too." Zack agreed and the two looked over at Jesse who was starting to get teary eyed. Zack sighed, damn it! He hated to see a girl cry, even if it was a girl who was getting on his nerves. Something about a girl crying just made him feel helpless, and sympathetic. He decided to approach Jesse with a different attitude, to allow her to explain herself and this mess that she and Nicki had started. "Why did you lie about Tifa like that?"

"I didn't lie..." Jesse sniffled as Aerith glared at her with angry emerald eyes, Zack studied her carefully, and he had not yet come to a decision on whether or not he should trust Jesse. "I was surprised when Nicki began talking about Tifa, but I...I just..."

"Stood by and said nothing." Aerith concluded, her eyes still fiercely studying the girl.

"Yes...I did, I could have stopped her but I didn't...when we left the studio I asked her about it, and Nicki told me that since Tifa was such a gold dig-"

"You should choose your words carefully Jesse, this is our friend you are talking about." Zack interrupted and gripped Aerith tightly, afraid that she would start tearing Jesse's hair out if the wrong thing was said about Aerith's best friend.

"Nicki thought that seeing Rufus again would make Tifa change her mind about Cloud, and that Tifa would break up with Cloud to be with Rufus again...then Cloud and I would get together after they broke up." Jesse crossed her arms over her chest and shook slightly, awaiting Zack and Aerith's response. To her surprise Aerith snorted, and Zack shook his head and cursed profanely. Aerith never acted less than lady like during the time that Jesse had known her, Zack rarely used bad language despite being a guy. So Jesse knew that she had disgusted the pair with her confession, they did not look so forgiving anymore.

Jesse knew that she had worn their patience, Zack most of all.

"What...The hell made you think that a crackpot idea like that would work?" Zack vocalized with high note of disbelief "Tifa is not that type of girl! If you hadn't been so stupidly blind with jealousy you would have known that about her! "

"And if you had known me you would know that I wouldn't hang out with someone so selfish, or cruel!" added Aerith "Tifa is the sweetest person, and she genuinely loves Cloud did you know that he was her first kiss? Did you know that she has never even had sex? But you girls, all of you just jumped to conclusions because of the way she looks!." Aerith exploded, Zack cleared his throat, and Jesse's eyes went wide.

"I didn't know..." Jesse truly felt like an ass now. Aerith kept ranting, Zack quietly tried to calm her down, also he felt slightly uncomfortable with Aerith revealing some things about Tifa's personal life. Even finding it a little ironic that Aerith mention Tifa never having sex, knowing now that she had once with Cloud and that she was carrying a three month old fetus in her belly at the moment.

"Is Rufus Shinra here right now?" Zack chose to change the topic seeing that there was something much more important at hand. "I'm assuming he is otherwise you wouldn't be talking to us right now right?"

"He is...I saw him. Before you get angrier I have to tell you, that after the fight with Tifa I'd told Nicki to tell Rufus to not come to the party. But she didn't ...and now he's here." Jesse added weakly, Zack sighed defeated. Zack had known Rufus Shinra before Shinra had graduated, the guy was used to having his way and usually traveled with an entourage of students, perhaps body guards now. He knew it wouldn't be pretty if they didn't get to Tifa before Rufus did.

Zack also knew about Cloud's reason for being so overprotective of Tifa lately, Zack was now afraid of Cloud exploding and kicking the crap out of Rufus Shinra, if not killing him. And Zack was not kidding around, he was sure Cloud would do something of extreme harm to Rufus Shinra.

"Damn it! We have to find Cloud and Tifa ASAP!" Zack stated, it was almost an order. He pulled away from Aerith, she was way ahead of him.

"Let's go back to the gym. "Aerith nodded intently, and the two quickly ran in the direction of the dance's main entrance. Jesse followed quietly, but wasn't sure of what to do.

But Jesse was intent on making things right.

Dashing towards the entrance, both Zack and Aerith groaned in defeat. Seeing how packed the gym was, the dancing, the tables, the buffet table, it was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. Zack quickly scanned the table that his group had reserved, the one that Cloud and Tifa would sit at, they were not there.

"Were going to have to split up if we are going to find them." Zack concluded.

"In this crowd? "Aerith looked around and felt dread.

"We don't really have a choice, let's just find them and get convince them to leave with us as soon as possible, if you find Cloud call me on my cell, he has his phone with him." Zack added, Aerith nodded, she had not brought her phone and neither had Tifa; thankfully both Zack and Cloud had brought theirs.

They split up in an effort to gain more ground

Upon glancing at the reserved table once more, he felt relief. Tifa was sitting down at the table resting, and watching the rest of the students dance, she was with their friends, but Cloud was not at her side. Zack began to rush over, he figured if he at least grabbed Tifa and got her out of the gym than maybe there would be a chance of avoiding Rufus Shinra.

Zack pushed and shoved a couple of people out of the way, apologizing but with haste. He staggered and then came to screeching halt and damn near hit the table before falling to his knees at the side of Tifa's chair, his knees hit the floor hard but no one noticed the sound do to it being drowned out by the music.

"What in the-...Zack?" Tifa gasped, the rest of the group looked over at Zack too, Even Ellie and Johnny, whom Zack noticed were cuddling at the table.

"Something wrong man?" asked Johnny.

"You look like you've been running for your life." Joked Wedge, Billy and Biggs were nodding in agreement, Tifa turned to Zack, her dress swishing slightly. Zack grabbed hold of the table with his right hand and propped himself onto his feet into a crouching position, he had to get Tifa to leave now but he didn't want to alarm her and raise her blood pressure, remembering that she was carrying Cloud's baby now he had to be discreet.

"Um,Tifa. Aerith wants to leave." Zack said with a sheepish smile, regaining some of his boyish style and attitude "She wants us all to head over to her house for a while and chill out." He hated to lie like that, and using Aerith too, sadly this was the best lie he could come up with, and it was a pretty lame one.

"Leave?" Tifa laughed a little bit "You two haven't even been in the gym all evening, you want to leave now?" Tifa had said this teasingly. And their group at the table laughed.

"Wow Zack, guess you and Aerith are desperate for a little more private venue." Jested Biggs all of a sudden, the table lit up with laughter, Tifa covered her mouth but she was laughing softly. Zack turned briar red and gulped, damn! Had he and Aerith really been that bad with public affection at school? He'd have to work on that later, he knew his friends were kidding around but he couldn't quip with the guys right now.

"um...No, But I was thinking your situation might make you a little tired, and Aerith wanted to get you to take it easy and tuck in early." Zack hinted strongly with certain words about the pregnancy, Tifa picked up on that right away but the rest of the table was lost. Tifa was surprised by Zack mentioning the baby, and was not too pleased by it, Tifa would talk to Zack about it later. She was wondering if it was his mirroring Cloud's overprotective attitude that was cause of this.

"Situation? Are you on your period?" Wedge added rudely, the group made disgusted sounds and tossed crumpled up napkins at him.

"That's none of your business Wedge!" shot Ellie "you're a perv." The group was laughing again, and chatting wildly, Tifa blushed but looked at Zack in the eyes and nodded, Zack was relieved she was willing to leave, they just had to grab Cloud now.

" Cloud is getting food though." Tifa nodded her head up and motioned towards the buffet table where she had just seen her boyfriend. But Cloud was nowhere in sight, Tifa raised an eyebrow "That's weird he was just there a few minutes ago..." Tifa felt her stomach churn, like it had a few minutes ago, she felt uneasy again.

"Where? At the buffet Table?" Zack stood up and tried to look for Cloud, Tifa got up too. Their group of friends stayed seated, all were too comfortable and went back to their conversations. Tifa looked around as did Zack.

"Aerith was actually heading toward him; I saw them just a few minutes ago." Tifa stated, Zack began to relax; Good! Aerith had found Cloud, and any second she would call him on his cell phone to let him know and then they would be on their way, disaster averted.

As if on cue his cell phone began to vibrate, Zack gave a sigh of relief and reached into his pocket gripped his cell phone, and answered the call button. He had expected better news.

"Aerith?" Zack covered his other ear with a free hand to try and hear what was being said on the phone; he heard a voice, several most notably a panicky female's voice. Zack froze, as Aerith frantically repeated 'Back stage! Back stage! Where the band is playing!"

Zack didn't even turn off his phone-or pocket it. Gripping his phone Zack dashed past the table, and into the dancing crowd, once again pushing and shoving, fighting to make his way to the back of the stage where the band was playing.

Tifa was left behind, shocked by what she had just witnessed. Not knowing what to do Tifa looked at her table of friends. Biggs, Billy, Johnny, Wedge, and Ellie had also taken noticed by Zack's alarming departure.

CT

Cloud had been waiting anxiously in line to grab an empty plate to pile food onto, he had to admit, and he had not been that hungry until after catching sight of the variety of dishes on the table. Cloud was glad that Tifa had talked him into getting up and grabbing a plate, he was going to pack all the food onto it and hopefully share with her. He had been maybe waiting in line for a total of six minutes when he noticed Aerith pacing about in the gym-turning her head around as if looking for someone while her hair whipped about.

'That's weird, she's not with Zack. I thought they had gone off to her locker?' thought Cloud; he stood his ground not thinking much of it; well at least until he saw that Aerith had spotted him. Aerith's eyes beamed. Cloud tilted his head up slightly in her direction 'Me?' Cloud thought and then mouthed the word while pointing at himself with his right thumb.

Aerith nodded profusely and signaled to for him to come join her. To which Cloud frowned, he was hesitant to leave his place in line-since he had already spent six minutes standing, and was only maybe three people away from selecting his dishes; Cloud did not want to head to the back of the line and wait another six to nine minutes-so he signaled for Aerith to walk over to his place. She complied.

"Cloud, I'm so glad you're here!" Aerith said after running over, boy she didn't waste any time. Cloud was perplexed.

"Where else would I be? Zack has the car keys it's not like Tifa and I would ditch you guys." Cloud responded with a shrug, not thinking it came off as rude at all. Aerith shook her head.

"Really Cloud, We don't have time to play the wit game right now. Let me see your cell phone, it's really important that we call Zack on it." Aerith was direct in her request, very serious, not playful or sweet in any way which baffled Cloud.

"What do you mean important? Something wrong with Zack?" now Cloud was concerned, and had moved out of the buffet line; the students behind him eagerly skipped forward to take his place.

"...No, But he's meeting up with Tifa right now. We all need to leave. Trust me Cloud it's really important" Aerith regretted not having come up with a good excuse for leaving the dance-and for being so frank. The green eyed girl truly felt as if she didn't have much of a choice but to be up front. "It involves Tifa, Zack is looking for her now. If we call him we can meet up with him right away."

Now Aerith had Cloud's full attention. Had Zack told Aerith about the baby? Cloud quickly dashed off that thought, if Zack had told Aerith she wouldn't have been approaching him about it-but approaching Tifa instead. He reached into his back pocket where he had his cell phone, for a short time his mental guard was down and his hearing had never been so sharp.

He was in the middle of handing over his cell to Aerith, whose outstretched hand was eagerly waiting to collect the phone to call Zack-when Cloud heard it.

"Rufus Shinra is back stage." It was someone who had come with the band, a "Turks" roadie, the roadie had been talking to a group of cute girls. "The Rufus Shinra, he's here looking for some girl name Tifa." Upon hearing this Cloud dropped the cell phone, it fell a few inches but Aerith had caught it before it reached the floor. Aerith stumbled a bit, she found her balance right away, but was horrified to see Cloud turning around and heading towards the roadie.

"Apparently she's like his old girlfriend or something. You guys know her? He's been looking for her all night" The roadie must have had specific instructions given to him by his superior, but it was clear that the roadie was taking advantage of this mission by trying to flirt with a few female students, not that the roadie was much older, maybe 19, but Cloud disliked him immediately. And not just for scouting the crowd for his girlfriend, but because the roadie also looked like a creep.

"Why is he looking for her for? Isn't she here with that grease ball of a boyfriend?" said one of the girls, another girl laughed, and a third girl chimed in.

"Who the hell is that girl anyway? And that grease ball boyfriend? Everyone in the motor club is always talking about them? Why are they so damn special?" said the third girl. Her friends laughed, and so did the roadie.

"Well, all I know is that girl is dying to get back with Rufus, he won't quit bragging about it. Talks about renting a suite in at the Shinra tower and taking this Tifa chick over there after the dance for an after party if you know what I mean?" The Roadie said perversely. The roadie felt a hand grip his shirt, and with ease he was pulled away from his three cute targets that gasped in disbelief.

"What the-" The roadie was six feet tall and weighed about 201 pounds, to be dragged by his shirt collar was not an easy thing to accomplish-so it took the guy by surprise to see that someone three inches shorter than he had been the culprit behind his failed flirting mission. Cloud's muscles were well covered by his dress shirt, but they were flexing, and he was angry.

CT

Author: hello everyone, I am so sorry, I'm 22 years old now. I have work, family, school,karate, and several other activities consuming my life at the moment. But please don't think for one second that this story is over, though I started this years ago I want to finish it. I love all of you guys, and if you have any questions or suggestion for this story, please feel free to inbox me on this website.

I really wanted to reply in this chapter like I usually do to all of you wonderful/patient/awesome readers. But someone I had e-mailed told me that they are starting to crackdown on this. Is this true? I have not written on FF. net in quite some time (sad face). Is it safe to reply in chapters still?.

I had hoped to conclude the "jealous girl" arc in this chapter, it seems the next one will be the end to that, and the beginning of the end guys. Cloud and Tifa have suffered enough at my hands lol. Also I've neglected my other story "Under the red cape" for far too long, I still want to write that Yuffie/Vincent/Shelke love triangle story. So come on guys and be sure to bully me into writing. We need to get this done! Heheh.

Also. I saw on the review board that someone posted as me. THAT is not me! (mad face) I e-mailed a reader and told them that I had written enough for three chapters, in the past, this chapter would have been three for me. That is what I said to him or her. I will try and pump out a new chapter soon though. This time you have my word guys.

I love you ff reader land!

Rina