[Name]

Away from Home, Part 15

Ah, the weekend. You could finally relax and just lie in bed without having to worry about anyone judging you.

"[Name]!"

"Yuffie, how do you keep getting into our dorm?"

"What part of 'Great Ninja' do you not understand? Anyway, there's a certain someone waiting for you outside!"

"Who?" You asked as Namine was just waking up from Yuffie's outburst.

"Looks like you'll just have to go out and see!" The hyperactive girl sang as she pranced out of the room.

You and Namine looked and each other and shrugged. You got out of bed and went to the bathroom to start getting ready.

"There goes my plans to do nothing."

Cloud

"Hey Cloud, what's up?" He shrugged and and stood a little straighter as you walked out of the dorm building.

"I figured you deserve a nice day out after last weeks dance fiasco," he said with a small smile.

"You don't have to do this, Cloud." You felt a little guilty that he went out of the way to do this for you. You felt something else, but you couldn't put it in words.

"I'd be crazy if I didn't. Now, lunch first or second?"

"Upstairs or downstairs?" A perky waitress asked you. It turns out you and Cloud were too hungry to pass up an early lunch.  You both looked at each other.

"Upstairs sounds nice to me," you said.  Cloud nodded in affirmation.  The waitress led you upstairs to the balcony.  She set down two menus and left you and Cloud to sit and order.  After picking up the menu, you realized how this might look.

"Uh, Cloud..."  You said in a small voice.

"Yeah?"  He asked as he looked up from his menu.  You searched for the right words.

"'This looks like a date.'  'Is this right to be here with you especially after Tifa thought I-'  YOU DON'T TAKE A GIRL TO LUNCH AFTER YOU BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND!"

You continued to stay silent.  Cloud must have known what you were thinking from the slight blush that had found its way to your cheeks.  He sighed.

"[Name], what happened between me and Tifa had nothing to do with you.  This is just two people having lunch.  If you're uncomfortable with this we can leave,"  he said in a soothing voice.  You shook your head after a moment.

"No, this is fine."

After finishing your lunch, the two of you found yourselves at the entrance to the forest that occupied the middle portion of the island.  It reminded you of that time when you freaked and ran away from the school.  The two of you walked side by side along the nature trail.  The forest was simply and effortlessly beautiful.  If the tropical landscape of the island took your breath away, then you would need CPR because of the picturesque surroundings you found yourself in now.  You and Cloud stayed in a comfortable silence for most of the walk.  You were afraid that anything spoken might ruin the tranquility of the forest.  Soon, you noticed something that did not belong.  In the distance, but still surrounded by the thick trees of the forest, was a house.  Vines of ivy covered the exterior, making it seem as though the house had fuzzy green wallpaper.  Upon closer examination, you saw that the house was white.

"Does anyone live there?"  You asked Cloud.  He stopped walking to think.

"I'm pretty sure Rufus Shinra lives there."