FFVII | Project: SOLDIER

II

The afternoon sun shone onto the campus while the student body conglomerated outside to enjoy their lunch. The warm spring weather gently hugged their arms, just like Claire's lunch container embraced her hands with thermal kisses. She opened her tupperware, greeting the open air with delicious homemade scents from the one and only, Seventh Heaven. She lifted a pork bun to her lips, experiencing the smell of Tifa's expert cooking before eating it all at once. Holly watched with envy as she hesitantly opened her own container, revealing a pile of plain white rice with teriyaki chicken smushed to the side. "Hols, I could have gotten you something from Seventh!" Claire frowned as she watched Holly take a spoonful of rice into her mouth.

"You know I'm too picky for that, Claire! Besides, I made this myself!" Holly smiled brightly, wiping Claire's sad expression away. Holly swiped the touchscreen on her phone, revealing the date and time. "Whoa! Claire..." She hummed mockingly.

"What?" Claire perked up as she inhaled another bun.

"One week to prom! Did you fix your dress?" Holly tilted her head.

Claire held a finger up, taking a moment to chew and swallow the massive bite she'd taken. She covered her mouth, then looked up at her friend. "My mom did. It's ready to go." Just not so sure I am... She sighed, poking into her final serving.

Claire's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a finger tapping a microphone, followed by the clearing of a boy's throat. "Uh, hey guys!" Claire and Holly simultaneously turned around, revealing Claire's long time crush, Gunnar. There he stood, on the top of the stairway to the balcony. "What's up?" He paused, smiling at the crowd of seniors as they clapped. "So, you guys know prom is next Friday, right? Well, I've been thinking. I kind of... Need a date." He laughed as more girls than he could count gasped at the thought of Gunnar Horne, the heartthrob of Central Edge High under Zack and Rory, looking for a potential date. "I've thought long and hard about whether or not I really needed one, and I've been thinking... Well, there's this girl. Don't get me wrong, you're all beautiful, but... There's something special about this one..." Gunnar looked down, dramatically holding the microphone to his chest. He took a deep breath, then lifted it back towards his lips. "Claire Strife." He called, giving her a cheeky smile as she visibly gasped. Practically every other girl on the patio whipped their heads around, some with faces full of joy, and others with rage-filled jealousy. Gunnar, however, only had his eyes on her. "Claire, will you go to prom with me?"

Holly smiled so brightly, Claire was nearly blinded as she looked to her friend for help. Holly clapped quietly, then gave Claire a small nudge to her shoulder. "Go up there, dummy!" Holly laughed. "Don't look at me!"

Claire slowly stood from her seat and looked around as every single student outside had their eyes on her. She beamed as her attention connected with Gunnar's once more, her chest fluttering with excitement as she stood next to him. Without question, he took her hand and held it to his lips, kissing her knuckles as he awaited her response. Quickly, she nodded, and leaned into the microphone to publicize her decision: "Yes!"

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Claire stepped off the train, smiling from ear to ear. She paused on the platform for a moment, as she held her phone between her shoulder and her ear. "No, Dad, he's actually really cute and he's popular." She hoisted her bag over her shoulder and began jogging towards the plaza. "Well, I've liked him since we were little, we just never had the chance to be close friends or anything." She chuckled at the sound of her father's suspicion. "You're insane. I gotta go, I'm almost home. Love you, bye." She shoved her phone into her pocket and stepped towards the monument, eyeing it up and down before trotting on. She suddenly stopped in her tracks the moment she spotted his long black hair. His hands were folded behind his back as he appeared to look at the monument proudly. It was as if he was awaiting her return. "Tseng?" She called, approaching him.