Second Chance

Before the Event

Chap 10:

Around 6 PM, 7th Heaven bar...

The bar was closed for the night for a private party set up by the owner. The tables and chairs were moved to the wall, making the space bigger. Snacks and drinks were on the bartender's counter. Scary spider web decorations were hanging all over the walls, along with battery-powered candles scattered across the hall. The dim lighting and the eery candle lights made the ample space feel quite spooky if the Tifa could say so herself.

Although the party hadn't started, the kids, on the other hand, were extremely excited and ready for the night. Marlene came running down the stairs dressed in a Moogle-looking outfit with tiny purple wings and a bouncing red ball sticking out from her headband. Although she was hopping all around the hall, her excitement was most probably because the whole gang was getting back together for this evening.

Denzel, meanwhile, wasn't as excited as she was. Tifa could swear that he acted like a mini Cloud, minus the spiky blond hair and mako-infused eyes. The boy didn't want to dress up initially, but with Marlene's begging and all their friends were getting dressed, he decided to join in. He sported a plastic silver-colored plating resembling a knight's armor. As for his accessories, he had a toy shield and sword; some Chocobos were drawn on them, making him a Chocobo Knight.

"You two already?" Tifa called out to the two kids while carrying bowls of candy and sweets out from the kitchen, placing them on the bar counter as soon as she got to it. She dressed in a beige mini skirt, a matching beige vest jacket over a plain white undershirt, and a cowboy hat and boot to tie the outfit together.

"Tifa! Tifa! Look at me!" Marlene ran to the woman and twirled, showing off her outfit. "Do I look Moogle enough?" The pure joy she had was rubbing off on the tired women.

But Tifa smiled regardless of her fatigue, patting Marlene's head, hoping it would calm the girl down. "Yes, you do Marlene." Afterward, she turned her attention to Denzel, who was playing with his gamepad. "What about you?"

Denzel looked up from his game when he was spoken to "I'm done." He put the gamepad on the table and walked to the two girls. "Mandy and the others will be here soon," he added, fixing his helmet since it was blocking his vision.

Tifa got down to the kid's level and pulled out an old-looking cellphone from her back pocket. "Alright, I won't keep you long. But promise to call me if something urgent comes up, I'm on speed dial #1" She reminds them before handing the phone to Denzel since he was the oldest, therefore the responsible one, "ok?"

The kids replied with a nod and smile, then headed to the front door to wait for their friends. But before stepping out the door, Marlene stopped dead in her tracks, recalling something important, so she turned back and ran to Tifa again, "Tifa! Before we go, I've got something important to tell you!" She yelled, stopping just inches away from the older woman's face before she got up. "Some friends are coming over later. Can you please let them stay till we get back?" she begged with her ever so pleading eyes.

Tifa replied with a nod, "Alright, I'll keep them here till you get back from treat collecting" she poked the red ball that stuck out of Marlene's headband with a smile. "Now get going before it gets too dark" She led the little girl out to the other kids waiting for her. Tifa soon watched over the children as they left her view.

Standing at the front door still, she sighed, letting her tired form lean on the door frame. Preparing the bar for the party was one thing over and done with; waiting in the quiet bar was another. While the kids were mostly noisy and hyperactive, they gave her some activity to get her mind off the stress of party planning. Maybe she could call Shelke or Yuffie to help with big preparations next time. But, for now, it would be best to get a nap before the party.