Strangers

She couldn't believe how it had turned out. She hadn't meant for it to be this way at all but deep down inside of her, she knew she deserved the attitude he was giving her. His back was facing her and she knew he had a cold, hurt look written all over his face. She gazed at the ground, not daring to look up at him.

"How could you lie to me?" he asked after an eternity of silence, his voice soft and laced with betrayal. Tifa stared harder at the floor as she took a shuddering breath and tried to ignore the tears that had began to flow down her pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry," she whispered back. "I wanted to…I don't know what I wanted…I just…I'm sorry."

"We weren't childhood friends were we?" he continued, turning to face her. She looked up, blinking back her tears and slowly shook her head. His stare grew harder and when he opened his mouth, the words sent daggers through her heart.

"Why would you do that to me?" he demanded, his voice softening slightly to show his hurt and betrayal.

"I…" she stopped thinking about what to say. She thought about lying, but she knew there was no point. But if she told the truth, he would surely hate her more. She sighed as she realised she did not really have much choice. She met his eyes, trying to ignore the deadly stare directed at her.

"I was jealous," she admitted softly, just enough for him to hear. His hard look instantly melted into an expression of confusion as he blinked at her, his mind slowly registering the words.

"Jealous?" he repeated, his agitated tone appearing again. "Of what?"

"It's not what, it's who." Tifa sighed, causing Cloud even more confusion. "Aeris," she elaborated eventually. He frowned.

"Aeris?" he repeated softly and she nodded.
"I was jealous of how she got your smile, how you gazed lovingly at her when you thought no one was watching. I was jealous of how much you loved her but never looked at me. So, I thought, I could gain an advantage by pretending to be your childhood friend but you still chose her. That's why I admitted everything in the lifestream."

"You said that we were childhood friends long before Aeris came into the picture," the blonde-haired man hissed.

"Because I fell in love with you when I saw you," she replied. "And when Aeris came along, I saw her as a threat so I carried on the lie, hoping to gain the advantage. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it go this far," she cried in desperation but he just shook his head, turning his gaze away from her.

"You really are still the spoilt little brat you were back then," he chuckled darkly, giving her a dirty look. "You always had to have control."

"What? No, it's not like that!" she argued but he had started walking away. He reached the door and stopped to face her once more.

"You know, I used to think I loved you but that was before I saw you for what you really are. You are just a selfish little girl who thinks she can have any man she wants. You say you love me but you are a drama queen! If you loved me at all, you would never do this! That is why Aeris got my smile. That is why I loved her because she loved me! She didn't want to see the Cloud that you had created with your lies! She wanted to see me, the real me! You don't even know me!"

"But I'm your oldest friend!" she countered.

"No Tifa, you're a stranger to me," he hissed, pushing past her. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to tell everyone else about what is going on. I would appreciate it if you left me alone."

He slammed the door after his little speech, leaving Tifa alone in the room, her sobs her only company.

This was a little idea I had. Cloud to me wouldn't forgive Tifa straight away well I wouldn't if it was me! so I made him angry at her. He forgives her later though, when they're under the Highwind no they didn't sleep together you CloTi FOOLS! lol