Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ New Love ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

New Love

 

Chapter 7

 

“Smells good,” Cloud called from the sofa.

 

“It's not even half-ready,” Tifa replied, stirring the sauce. “You're sure she said pasta?”

 

“She said she likes pasta, she didn't ask for it,” Cloud corrected, flipping the channel.

 

“Same difference.”

 

“Whatever. Why are you so frantic, we're entertaining my secretary, not the Governor.”

 

“You just don't understand social circles Cloud,” Tifa sighed, going back to rolling up meatballs for the sauce. “Can you come out here and stir the spaghetti while I finish this?” Cloud rolled his eyes and stood up to enter the kitchen. He grabbed the spoon sticking out of the pot of water and noodles and stirred mechanically. The kitchen was silent for a few minutes as Tifa finished rolling the meatballs.

 

“Alright, there go in the oven for a few minutes,” Tifa said, slipping the tray of meat onto the oven rack as Cloud moved aside. “Thanks.”

 

“No problem, just don't see why you're making a big deal out of this, like I said she's just my secretary.”

 

“Do you really talk to people like that?” Tifa scolded. “I just want to make a good impression. Come on, what will people at your office think if your secretary tells them your girlfriend can't cook and you're socially inept?”

 

“They'll probably think Yuffie was right,” Cloud said. Tifa looked over at him.

 

“Tell me you're joking.”

 

“As far as I know,” Cloud replied. Tifa nodded as Cloud went back into the living room and sat back down.

 

“So, tell me a bit about her, so we have a conversation starter or two,” Tifa called.

 

“Um…older than us, lives on her own, no boyfriend, looking for a career…” Cloud listed.

 

“She lives alone?” Tifa frowned, checking the clock. “Any brothers or sisters? Parents?”

 

“Only child, her father is dead, she visits her mom now and then.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“What?” Cloud asked.

 

“She just sounds very lonely, is all, living alone, no family except her mother around,” Tifa explained. Cloud thought about that for a moment. Aeris always seemed so bubbly and cheerful to him, but that day Rinoa had come…was she really lonely after all?

 

“Well, she has friends,” Cloud said, trying to convince both of them otherwise. “I met one of them earlier this week, Rinoa, Aeris is going to be a bridesmaid at her wedding.”

 

“Oh god…” Tifa groaned. “A single bridesmaid at her friend's wedding…Cloud, tell me you picked up on that.”

 

“On what?”

 

“Oh god,” Tifa repeated. “Cloud, really, I love you, but you really don't know a thing about women do you?”

 

“I know I apparently don't understand a thing about them.”

 

There was a pounding on the front door, and Tifa looked over. Cloud muted the TV, stood up and headed to the front hall of the apartment, looking through the peephole.

 

“It's her,” he announced, turning around. Tifa's eyes went wide.

 

“She's here and you haven't even changed yet?” she gasped. Cloud looked down at himself. Dark blue T-shirt and black jeans, he had changed into them after coming home. He then looked back up at Tifa, black skirt with a light cream blouse. And an apron, naturally since she was busy cooking.

 

“Um….no?” he muttered. Tifa rolled her eyes. Cloud shrugged and turned back to the door, opening it.

 

“Hi…i.,” he said. Aeris smiled up at him. Okay, maybe the two women saw something in looking nice he didn't. Aeris' outfit looked very much like the outfit she had worn her first day at the office, except it was a one-piece pink dress instead of a skirt with a white blouse. The dress hung straight from her hips and her torso was covered with a dark red jacket.

 

“Hi,” Aeris replied. “Um, it's been a while since I've done something like this, so…here,” Aeris held out her hand, and Cloud looked down. A small white box with a pink ribbon. “Do people give gifts when they come over anymore?”

 

“Not sure myself,” Cloud said, taking the box. “Uh, come on in.” He stepped back to allow Aeris inside. “I don't do this much either, so if you're feeling awkward, welcome to the club.”

 

“Thanks,” Aeris laughed. “Nothing personal, I'm just not used to making new friends.” Cloud was reminded of Tifa's suspicions, and filed Aeris' claim in the back of his mind.

 

“Hi.” Cloud turned as Tifa emerged from the kitchen, sans apron. “I'm Tifa, we met before briefly,” she said, holding out her hand.

 

“I remember, Aeris,” the secretary replied, shaking Tifa's hand. “Uh, I brought a gift. I'm not sure if that's tradition anymore…”

 

“That's fine, thanks,” Tifa nodded towards the white box as Cloud held it up slightly. “Cloud, why don't you take her into the living room? You want something to drink Aeris?”

 

“Um, sure, what do you have?” Aeris asked, looking down to slip out of her shoes. Tifa returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge

 

“We have apple juice, orange juice, root beer, Pepsi and ice water.”

 

“I'll just take water for now,” Aeris said. Tifa nodded and fetched a glass from the cupboard as Cloud sat back down on the sofa. Aeris opted for an easy chair beside and turned at an angle to him.

 

“What were you watching?” Aeris asked.

 

“Uh? Oh, um, nothing,” Cloud said. Tifa had spoken to him earlier - no TV, socialize with her. He racked his brain for something to talk about. At the office conversation flowed so easily he didn't even notice most of the time. But here, he felt like he was forcing himself. Aeris cocked her head.

 

“Waiiit a minute, I know that guy, that's David Boreanaz…you're watching Angel!” she declared in triumph.

 

“You know that guy?” Cloud asked.

 

“David Boreanaz, of course I do! He's hot!” Aeris giggled. Cloud gave her an odd look.

 

“Amen to that,” Tifa chimed, bringing in Aeris' water. Aeris thanked her and took the glass, sipping it.

 

“So do you watch the show a lot?”

 

“Now and then I flip it on when there's nothing else on. I don't really follow it though so most of the time I have no clue what's going on,” Cloud shrugged, pointing at the screen. “I just know he's the good guy, she's a bitch, he's a wimp, and I don't really know anyone else on the show. Oh, and if it has horns, claws or colored skin, it's probably evil and won't survive to the credits.” Aeris giggled again. Cloud blushed.

 

“So…um…” Cloud thought and tried to pick up a topic to talk about. The problem was they talked so much at the office he already knew most he needed to about her and vice versa.

 

“I just have to let the noodles and sauce cook for a bit now,” Tifa said, coming into the room. Cloud mentally thanked his girlfriend for giving him a save. “So Aeris, tell me a bit about yourself.”

 

“Oh…um, well, I'm a college graduate, worked my way up through Shin-Ra…uh, I'm not really sure how far I want to go up though,” Aeris said, thinking.

 

“How come you decided to work for Shin-Ra?” Tifa asked.

 

“Well business administration just kinda drew me to it. I hear so much about the business world being corrupt, so I figured if I really wanted to make the world a better place, I could try and change that.”

 

“Taking down the system from the inside hm?” Tifa smirked.

 

“Something like that,” Aeris shrugged. “I just want to help people, and I decided the best way to do that was work my way up and make things better along the way.”

 

“Admirable,” Tifa nodded. Cloud silently tuned out the two women as they continued chatting, not entirely comfortable butting in. He picked up the remote for the TV - still muted - and flipped the channels a bit.

 

“Well Cloud?”

 

Cloud jerked slightly and turned between then to see both women looking at him expectantly.

 

“Huh?” he asked.

 

“You have no heard a word we said did you?” Aeris scolded.

 

“Um…no,” Cloud admitted.

 

“I said the food may be ready, come help me,” Tifa said. Cloud nodded and stood.

 

“Do you mind if I use the bathroom?” Aeris asked.

 

“Oh sure, it's just down the hall, second door left,” Tifa replied. She nodded and headed off as Tifa led Cloud into the kitchen.

 

“Interested in what you missed space man?” Tifa smirked, pulling the pasta strainer from the cupboard.

 

“Yes?” Cloud shrugged.

 

“She's nice, really, actually she mentioned a place down in the suburbs that sells pasta and stuff like this, she's going to show me sometime on the weekend.”

 

“Huh, made a new friend after all,” Cloud remarked casually.

 

“I guess. I was also thinking, maybe you could help her out with that boyfriend thing,” Tifa continued, turning off the pot of sauce.

 

“Me?”

 

“Yeah, you must know someone who'd be good for her,” Tifa said.

 

“Only co-workers, and work relationships are forbidden, company policy.”

 

“Anyone else?”

 

“Barret's married, Vincent isn't looking for a woman as far as I know, and I know you don't want me to introduce her to Cid.”

 

“Okay good point…we'll think of something, I'll talk to my girlfriends,” Tifa said, dumping the pot of spaghetti into the strainer. “Take the sauce off the burner.” Cloud picked up the pot and held it for a moment as Tifa grabbed two bowls. “Thanks.” Tifa dumped the sauce into the smaller of the bowls, and the spaghetti into the smaller. “Take these out to the table.” Cloud nodded and took the two bowls to the dining table. Aeris came back from the hall, sniffing the air.

 

“Smells good,” she offers, sitting at the table. Cloud sat down as Tifa came in with a large fork for the spaghetti and a plastic spoon. She set them down in the bowls and sat down. Cloud licked his lips and reached for the spaghetti fork.

 

“Cloud,” Tifa hissed, slapping his hand away. Cloud looked over at her, and Tifa jerked her head slightly. Cloud turned the other way to see Aeris with her head bowed, hands clasped and lips moving. Blushing, Cloud lowered his head. He focused slightly on the low words reaching Aeris' lips, barely whispers.

 

“Protect those I cherish, bring joy to those I love, and help me bring peace to those around me. Amen.”

 

“Amen,” Tifa echoed, lifting her head. “Sorry, we didn't know you were religious.”

 

“Oh I'm not, not really,” Aeris explained. “My mom…I mean, my real mom, before she died, was Christian, she took me to church every day. I stopped going once Elmyra adopted me, but I try to honor my mom however I can. The little things, you know.”

 

“Sure,” Tifa nodded. “I used to say grace before eating too, but Cloud got me out of it.” She gave the blonde an accusing look. “I can't remember the last time you prayed before a meal.”

 

“What about the prayers last Thanksgiving with Cid and Barret?” Cloud defended.

 

“You mean `Thank God she didn't burn it this year'?”

 

“No, I mean the prayers we said while you were cooking.” Tifa's face turned red as Aeris giggled.

 

“Let's just eat,” she muttered.

 

“Amen to that,” Cloud grinned, taking the fork.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“So you have a good time?” Cloud asked, pushing open the door to the lobby. Aeris nodded as Cloud walked her down the steps to the apartment complex.

 

“Yeah. I see why you're dating Tifa,” she said. “She's sweet.”

 

“I know,” Cloud smiled, stopping at the steps. “You're gonna walk home?”

 

“Yes, I'm a big girl you know,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “See ya tomorrow, TGIF!” Aeris waved and started walking down the street. Cloud smirked and shook his head for a moment before turning and heading back inside.