"Come in, Cloud," the Headmaster said to him.

The room was brightly-lit as Cloud stared upon the ceiling. There was a skylight and the sun shone down before him. Cloud sat on a chair across from the principal. He was tall with dark muscular-body. He turned around and scowled at the young student.

"I spoke with your other friends," Headmaster Barret Wallace told him.

"And?" Cloud answered. It was obvious that he wasn't willing to cooperate with him.

The headmaster reached for a folder, and quickly looked through the papers. "Hmm... not bad... but, needs improvement yes. That's right."

"You talking to yourself?" Cloud asked him in a sarcastic tone.

Headmaster Wallace smiled at Cloud, ignoring his question. "As a punishment, you will be washing all the windows."

Cloud rose to his feet. "Clean the fuckin' windows?! Is that all you wanted to tell me!?"

"You may leave now," Wallace told him. "You should start cleaning the windows and shit right now."

DAMN...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cloud slowly walked outside the building. He held a bucket of water and some soap. He dragged them along behind him. Damn you, Sephiroth... I hate you. He silently strolled off toward the wall of Balamb High School. Leaning against the wall, he dropped the bucket of water and soap.

Curse that Sephiroth for making me a slave. I shouldn't be doing this! I should be in class! That fuckin' Sephiroth is making me miss my classes.

He sighed and put his hands in his pocket. There was only one person that could make him forget about his anger with Sephiroth. That sweet sweet girl. Aeris Gainsborough.

"Hi Cloud,"

"A-Aeris?"

Aeris smiled at him as she walked up to him. "So we meet again..."

Cloud didn't say anything but he just stood there, admiring her beauty.

"So what are you doing here?"

What am I doing here? Cloud looked around and found himself in a field of flowers. What was he doing here anyway? "Well, uh, you know, I was just picking some flowers for a girl..."

"Oh," Aeris replied. "Um, you should've asked me first. This is my flower field, you know."

"Huh?" Cloud looked stunned. "Um, o-of course! I'm sorry."

Cloud took the flower that he had picked out earlier and handed it over to Aeris. "Here, you can keep it."

Aeris giggled but she accepted the flower. "Thank you, Cloud." She then turned to leave but...

"Aeris, wait!" Cloud called.

She turned around, looking at him expectantly.

Go on! Ask her out! Damn it!

Cloud stepped forward. "Um, I was just wondering if... um, you...y-you..." SHIT! I'm speechless! What the hell's matter with me?! "Aeris, I..."

"Hey Cloud? Cloud? Cloud, are you okay?"

Cloud blinked and found Tifa, looking at him in concern. He looked around and found that he was still leaning against the wall outside. Looking down, he found the bucket of water beside his feet. He was back into reality. He sighed in disappointment as he looked at Tifa, knowing that it wasn't Aeris.

"What do you want?" Cloud asked in a harsh tone.

Tifa lowered her gaze timidly. "I'm really sorry..."

Cloud looked at her. Now what? "What's the matter?" He didn't like the tone in her voice.

"You know..." Tifa replied in a quiet tone. "I'm really sorry about what happened in the cafeteria..."

Cloud studied her features. She looked sincere enough. But Cloud only shrugged, and grabbed a towel soaked with water and soap. He began wiping the windows.

"Look, if I can help, I'd be glad to..." Tifa's voice trailed off when Cloud interrupted her.

"No, I don't need any help. Just leave me alone, okay?"

Tifa opened her mouth, but she was cut off by Cloud.

"Go on, you're missing your class,"

Tifa sighed, annoyed by his behavior. "F-fine! See if I care anyway!"

She then strolled off angrily away from him. Cloud stopped and looked at the direction to where she had disappeared.

"Tifa..." he whispered.