Chapter Ten
I Guess Stupid Is My Middle Name

I rarely drink...Hell I never drink. I have no resistance to that bloody demon called alcohol. I saw what it does to my mother, so I make it a point to stay away from it unless I am really in a partying mood. Well I wasn’t really partying yesterday, and yet I had three Budweisers, and Reno’s drink! So here I am, lying in my bed, with a killer hangover! I am on the verge of death here, and of course no one is here to nurse me back to health, but ANYWAY…more importantly, I threw up five times in my bathroom. Where is that maid to clean it! Huh!

Bedtime….

Poke...

What the hell?

Poke Poke…

Am I dreaming again?

SLAP!

I feel sharp pain throughout my entire body- some bastard is trying to get himself killed I see. Since my senses are off, thanks to that wonderful drink, I do not react at first.

“Oh come on you big baby!” Ugh that beautiful voice again…

“Leave me ‘lone,” I mumble, attempting and failing a throwing the covers over my head. I open on eye to see that red head sitting on my dead, fully dressed in that hideous Shinra uniform. He probably just got back from a meeting… “Go away!”

“Aww,” Reno flashes me a sad puppy dog look, “is that anyway to treat your new boyfriend.”

“Under the circumstances, yes!” I close my eye again and attempt to fall back asleep. However, Reno was ruthless today and continued his annoying poking. He is acting like a child again…and like a child he will eventually get tired of this game and leave me alone. Right! Of course, because I know all.

But what I didn't know, he was going to stop but only to put his arms around my waist and lay on top of me. Nice come on.

"What are you doing?" I mumble.

"Well you know, if you aren't going to get up, I am going to crush you until you do! Ha!"

"Crush me? I laugh at you," though I am not laughing, "you are a stick- I can barely feel you." The truth is, I can feel him...but not on a bad way. I feel his body heat on my chest, his breath against my neck, I feel those butterflies I hate so much swell up in my stomach. I instinctively wrapped my arm around his waist, pulling him as close as he could possibly get. Just by this simple jester, I fell victim to him.

"Fine," I hiss, "what do you want to do?"

The red head perked up and said two words, "The city!"

Spend my Saturday in a crowded city, with a tourist?

"Fine you bum."

We board the x1 by my house, and take a nice comfortable seat in the back of the bus- this was going to be a long trip.

"So, why are you in your uniform?" I ask suspiciously, earning a nice, yes alien, glare from Reno.

"So suspicious are we today," he says with a hint of anger lingering in his voice, "We had a meeting doofy."

"About what?" I continue my interrogation, which isn't earning many points with my new boyfriend.

"About how sexy you are," he spats, "now can we drop this?"

I merely shrug my shoulders and pretend I didn't care. Already I can see this thing is going to be a problem for me; him dining with the enemy. Despite his implications that he dislikes Shinra, he is still a member, and they still do terrible things- thus I can't just accept it.

"Listen Cloud," Reno begins after a long silence, "You just have to do me a favor and not mention Shinra when we are together. I know you hate it, and I am not about to start a fight with you about it. I am in it, I can't get out, so just get over it already."

Despite his cold words, I can sense he was just trying to compromise, which is something I myself am not very good at. "Whatever," was all said to him. I hear him sigh dramatically, but I continued my silence. I wasn’t going to give him a silent treatment, but something close to it. Tee hee, I am so deliciously evil!

“What are we going to do in Manhattan?” he asks.

“Well have you ever been to the city?”

“No…”

“Fine, then we will go to midtown.”

Midtown was the only logical part of the city I could think of going to. I mean…unless he wants to go downtown, which he could very well do by himself- I refuse to stay more than five minute in that place…it’s boring. And to be honest, I never exactly been uptown, eheh…so…unless he wants to get horribly lost we shall stay in midtown. You know, I have lived in New York all my life and I have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. I’m a horrible New Yorker.

“What’s in midtown?” Reno asks curiously.

“OH well, we can stop by the Manhattan Mall and shop…for stuff…or we could go to the movies, I am pretty sure Time Square is around there. Whatever, we will see when we get there.” Damn seriously, I live here and I have no idea what I am doing. This is why I have to stop relying on Cid and Barrett to lead the way…but I is lazy.

“You don’t know were the hell we are going do you?” Reno snipps.

“Nope, but that’s the New Yorker way!” Well no, New Yorkers would know where the hell they were going in the city they live in…I am just an idiot. See I admit it! I am an idiot! So there!

“Why can’t we look at monuments?”

“Because, I said so.”

Hoho! So we didn’t get lost! Nope…we got rained on!

Yes folks, after a few moments of walking around aimlessly on…I think 34th Street, dark clouds covered the sky, rumbling and cursing at the silly humans below. They must have been sad about something, maybe the horrid pollution, because they cried angrily. I decided then we might as well see a movie- I wasn’t going to waste the five dollars spent on the trip just to get rained on a go home. I am not a witch! I will not melt!

…

EEP my HAIR!

“So what movie you want to see?” Reno asks, trying desperately to fix his hair.

“Well, lets see…it looks like Corpse Bride is still on here…lets see that?”

“Okay, just don’t tell anyone I am seeing a cartoon.”

I shoot Reno a questioning glare, and snicker a little at the boy, “Umm trust me Reno, half of our class saw this movie the day it came out…I doubt they will look at you any differently.”

“You never know! I mean, I have a reputation to keep up- I can’t blow it seeing a cartoon!”

“Hun, I think what would destroy your reputation is seeing this cartoon with a guy.”

He laughed despite the sad truth, that people would judge us horribly if seen together. I try not to care about it, or think about it for that matter. I made my choice already, I can’t just say “Forget it, I like you but I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” I wouldn’t put someone through that, and I hope he feels the same.

Then I remember that kiss from last night- how much regret he felt. I know you all may think it is impossibly to read someone while their tongue is down your throat, but I stand by it- he was hiding something from me…

“Are you okay,” I find myself blurting out.

“Yeah…why wouldn’t I be,” he made it sound like I was the one going crazy…hey I am not that one emitting super sonic regret filled kisses boy! Ha! Yeah…

“I was just curious…you know…uhh…HEY lets buy the ticket!”

“Nice change of subject…” he laughs- at least he isn’t psycho like Aeries, who, if it was her, wouldn’t drop it until I had a mental breakdown. And you all wonder why I am gay.

The theater was empty- it was the last night they were showing Corpse Bride so everyone, except for us losers, saw it. Not that I am complaining...

We sit all the way in the back, away from any other souls that decided to walk in- I knew I didn't want anyone giving us weird looks. People have a nasty habit of taking something out of context and blowing it up into a big thing...I really wish they would mind their own business.

"I wish our friends didn't care..." it wasn't directed to him, but he answers...

"That's the bad thing about wishes," his voice cold with a hint of malice, "they never come true."

Sometimes Reno could be the happiest guy, and other times he is so cold it even scares me. And I know cold!

You know it's bad when it freaks me out...

But then again, he watched his boyfriend die.

To be honest I didn’t really pay much attention to the movie- I mean the parts that I saw were good, but I was more preoccupied by that demon sitting next to me. A demonic angel, Reno was…he could be such an a$$ sometimes I want to harm him, then other times –like right now- he is calm, sweet, and actually nice.

We sat there in the lonely theater, with only the light from the movie shining on us. I half heartedly listened to the movie as I was still tired from last nights activities. As I was about to shut my eyes and fall into a nice nap, I felt cold, skinny hands brush against mine. I instinctively clasped my hand to his, linking our fingers together. Then something pushed me to take my free hand, cup his chin, and bring him an inch away from my face. We lingered there a bit, our eyes communicating the things we would not say. Then, I somehow got the okay from him, I pushed my lips on his, taking them over. Like a choreographed danced, our tongues moved to the speed of our quickening breath. I could feel that regret coming him his side again, not as strong as yesterday, but its aura was still around us. I wanted to pull away and ask him if he was alright with this, but my body wouldn’t let me.

He pulled away, his eyes looking down at our linked hands. “Would you leave me like he did?”

The question played over and over again in my ears- Would I ever kill myself?

“No, I’ll never leave you,” and even those words felt so alien to me, that I almost choked on them. Was I lying to him already? Would I ever kill myself? Not…if he was around- I guess he is the reason why I get up in the morning.

“Would you leave me like she did?”

His hand tighten, and I felt him tremble a little…his eyes never left our hands. “No, Strife…I won’t”

“Do you promise?”

“…Yes.”

I take it, we are lying to each other…or are we lying to ourselves?

For some reason he wanted to take the ferry home; he said he never took one and it would be interesting. Yeah, a smelly, bird bathroom, rat home, boat majigger is extremely interesting- note the sarcasm. However, he managed to convince me he was trying to be a tourist and wanted to experience all of New York. Because smelly boats are soo New York…wait it is!

“Woah, you can see the view of the city from out here,” Reno said, clearly amazed by the bright lights and tall buildings that reached the sky. I have to admit I love New York- I mean, its better that New Jersey!

I shivered from the intense cold that hung in the night air- I again wasn't wearing weather friendly clothing... I refuse to conform!

"You cold there princess?" Reno laughs.

I scoff at his new nickname for me (god knows where he got it) and ignore him.

"You want me to hold ya?" He continues to push. I shoot him a soft glare (as oppose to my normal evil death glare. grrr) and allow him to wrap his arms around my waist.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky tonight, and for once I could see more than two stars in the sky. This was a rare occasion considering I live in the city, where you can only dream of a night full of stars. I look out to the harbor, taking in the amazing night view of New York City. The entire city was lite up, creating its own see of stars that anyone could appreciate.

"Whoa..." I hear Reno whisper, "and I thought California was nice at night...this is sweet."

"The best thing is, the lights never turn off," I say softly.

"Hey Cloud..."

"Wh-"

Before I can continue, I find his lips clasp against mine, locking me into the most beautiful kiss I have ever shared with anyone. He was random, emotional, passionate- I loved that about him. And in time I will grow to love the bad side of him, I knew I would...well...

I hope I would.

"You want to play a game?"

I eye the red head suspiciously as he unlocked the door to his enormous house. And when I say enormous, I MEAN enormous- four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a finished basement, living room bigger than most houses, dining room, kitchen, in ground Olympic pool with Jacuzzi, etc etc...need I go on?

"What kind of game," I inquire coolly, earning a laugh from my boyfriend.

"Trust me for once Strife," he responds almost sadly, "I am not trying to kill you...today."

Haha very funny.

We walk into the dark, empty house- his parents were at a party flaunting the future blessing to the Sinclair family. I could sense venom leaking from his voice as he told me about his parents incisive partying.

"Nanny's," he told me, "those were the parents I knew."

The living room, like I mentioned, was bigger than most I have seen in this neighborhood, so you can imagine it had a lot of useless in it. Huge plasma screen TV, 10 CD changer stereo, selves and bookcases filled with pictures and memories. Like most pictures, they hid the truth behind the smiling faces.

"Lets go upstairs," he says, already halfway up the stairs, "I have a mini fridge were I keep my game." He winks at me, and scrambles up the stairs like a psycho.

Fridge...game...he is taking advantage of me I know it.

His room looks in better shape than mine- it was a nice light blue with white carpet, a full wood bed set with normal blue sheets and shit. He had a nice flat screen TV with PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube, as well as a nice Gateway computer...complete with a website for illegal downloading. Nice work.

"So, what are we playing?” I mumble examining the posters that hang in the room. Oooh The Used…I like that.

“Oh hold your booty! I am getting it.” he was folding though the fridge, the soft sound of glasses hitting each other echoed though out the silent room. It became clear what this boy wanted to play…

“Drinking game!” He reveals with a sloppy grin on his face, holding Corona six packs. Oh I can already tell this won’t end well. “Okay, Strife, this is what is going down; we each drink a six pack of this lovely drink over here, and whoever barfs first has to get either their tongue or penis pierced.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” I groan, remembering how nasty that hangover was this morning…and that wasn’t even a real hangover! This was going to leave me immobile for like a week; not to mention a new hole in my body.

“Come on baby, it’d be fun.”

No, no it won’t…okay it kind of would…sort of…

“Fine, but if I wake up with you naked next to me, I am going to kill you.” Reno merely chuckled at my threat and sat on the floor.

One things, if by some crazy messed up reason I lose, I have to get my tongue pierced. Reno jr already has some nice bling bling.”

Oh no he didn’t.

“Ew, you pierced your penis!” I shriek…painfully.

“Yeah I got a prince Albert, want a looky?”

“No!” I say quickly, shaking my head a little too violently, “Uhh I mean, no thank. Keep Reno jr in his house please.”

Reno snickers at my spastic behavior and hands me a sex pack, “Drink up Strify boy.”

Now I would defiantly explain what happened after the first Corona, but I don’t remember…anything. All I remember is wearing up to the bright morning light, in a strange bed, with strange bright blue paint, and ugh a very very strange smell of puke escaping the bathroom. Oh man I am going to barf.

“Look who decided to wake up.” A strangely familiar voice bangs in my head over and over again. “You really owe me babe. I spent half the night next to you by the toilet, and the rest of the night cleaning up the puke all over the bathroom.”

Oh eww.

“This light is bothering you huh?” I heard the swift footsteps of the mysterious boy travel past me to an unknown location. Then that annoying bright light ceased to exist in this place, and slowly my eye began to open. I scan the area for the source of that voice, and saw my angel crawl into the strange bed with me.

“You really owe me; I had to borrow my dads pajamas because you puked all over your clothes, then I had to brush your teeth cause your breath skank of a dead rat, and finally I had to clean up the mess we made. Seriously dude, you can’t hold your beer in for shit.”

“Stop, making…fun of me,” I slurred, a splitting headache appearing as my own words pierced my fragile head. “How long did I last?”

“Three,” He said softly, running his fingers through my apparently wet hair.

“Did you bathe me to?” I moaned. This is not my proudest moment.

“Yes, Yes I did,” he laughed, “And dare I say it, you sure are packing.”

I groaned, rolling away from my boyfriend, clutching my head in both embarrassment and pain. I don’t even remember why I said yes to that stupid game; every time Cid tried that with me I said “umm no fucktard.” But here, now, I am completely sick, half drunk, stupid stupid stupid!

What’s worse is…

Did I say anything?

“Reno,” I whisper (loud noises makes Cloudy’s head hurt), “Did reveal any deep dark secrets last night?”

There was a lengthy pause, and I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Oh shit, what could I have said…

“Nah, you just said, ‘gurgle gurgle blarg.”

“Oh don’t make me throw up!”

He laughs at my expense, that asshole, “Don’t worry I won’t…it wasn’t very pleasant.”

I turn onto my back, my eyes slowly closing- am tired sue me! Before the conscious world became a memory, I felt that boy with cherry like hair lay his head on my chest and his arm on my waist.

“What time is it?” I murmur.

“Does it really matter?”

No…it didn’t.