Loveless 25

"This feels and looks so awkward"

Eloise was looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was curled and tied up in a stylish bun. She wore grey and red make up that pointed her eyes out and pale lipstick. She looked really different. The dress was complimenting her body well and she was weirded out by that. She didn't want to know how Sephiroth knew her measures.

"Are you ready, date?" She looked at her brother's reflection.

He looked really good in a black suit. He actually looked decent enough to get a girlfriend. She sighed and prepared mentally one last time.

The days flew by really fast. One day they were training and almost killing Angeal and then, the ball came. No one asked Eloise to be their date. She was grateful yet disappointed. It hurt her feminine pride.

She asked Genesis if she was pretty. His response was probably what every guy was thinking. Her mate was right. Being around Sephiroth most of the time was intimidating everyone. She had to draw a line. She didn't want to be judged according to her mentor.

"You look amazing, Eloise" She didn't believe him. Not one bit. She wasn't like that; like a lady in a fancy dress.

"You are my brother. Even if I were to look hideous, you'd still say I look amazing" Zack looked taken aback. He gasped playfully and touched his chest.

"That is not true" She scoffed and gave him a pointed look. He gave up and chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. But you can't blame me. I love you" He was a sentimental blackmailer. But with how much time she spent with cold and unapproachable people, she got used to ignoring emotional things. Zack was an emotional thing; all the time.

Everyone had to meet in the lobby downstairs and leave at once. That wasn't the case of the three best SOLDIERs. They left earlier at President Shinra's insistance. Her teammates were surprised how different and feminine she looked. They knew her only as the sweaty and playful little fighter. It was certainly nice to see her like that.

"I'm scared to enter" Her heart was beating fast and her hands were trembling. She wasn't that nervous. Actually, she didn't really know why she was nervous.

Zack grabbed her hand and squeezed it. He smiled cutely at her and pulled her closer. They entered the room last. Truthfully, if they didn't look so much alike, people would have thought they were a couple. They did look very cute together.

The first to notice the Fair siblings was Angeal. He saw Zack's hair from a few feet away. He smiled when he saw Eloise.

"You look amazing. Both of you. There might be a chance for you left" Zack rolled his eyes and grabbed a glass of champagne. Angeal raised an eyebrow bemusedly. "Are you allowed to drink, Zack?" The puppy stopped midway and sighed.

"Am I?" Angeal shook his head and chuckled. Zack took that as a good sign and gulped down the entire glass. "I think I'll need a few more to survive until the speech" Eloise rolled her eyes and turned her back to him.

She scanned the room for familiar faces. Genesis and Sephiroth were each talking to different people while she couldn't find Reno's head anywhere.

It took around three more hours and five more glasses of champagne for Zack to loosen up. However, time was ticking too slowly for Eloise. She trailed after her brother for most of the time. Angeal disappeared in the crowd and she had no one to talk to.

"Can I have this dance, Miss?" Eloise glanced over her shoulder annoyed. She wasn't a good dancer and didn't want to show that to everyone.

"Can I refuse?" The guy who asked her for a dance was probably a little bit older than herself. He had an intense gaze and looked ready to kill her. She tilted her head to the side and blinked confusedly. He was checking her out but not in a perverted way. In the end, she let him lead her in the middle of the room. Everyone stopped and stared at them. She flinched. It was uncomfortable.

"Just ignore them. Look at me" She did that.

"But why are they so interested? It's not like I'm dancing with the president" The blonde chuckled and leaned close to her ear.

"I am the birthday boy" He whispered. Her eyes widened and she tried to push him away but he grasped her back and pulled her closer. "That doesn't have any meaning. I am dancing with a pretty girl. People are bound to look anyway"

"I don't like it" He chuckled and turned her in circles. "They are like hungry animals"

"I'm Rufus Shinra. I am Shinra's legitimate son" He introduced himself like there was nothing wrong. She tried to focus on his eyes more than on the people. It wasn't working entirely. She could still feel their eyes.

"I'm Eloise Fair. Zack's legitimate sister" Rufus smiled and swayed her to the side until he pulled her back.

"I heard there was a new SOLDIER that seemed so keen on training and improving. I never imagined it to be a girl" She raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. He didn't.

"So what? I am not the first girl who entered the army" Rufus nodded. That was right.

"But you are the first one to get Sephiroth as your mentor" She gulped. That was really not something she could brag about. She realized that a few months too late. "It must mean something. Maybe your place is higher than you think" He was hinting towards something.

"You don't know that. You don't know me. We just met" He leaned closer to her face and stared into her eyes.

"'We have enough time to get to know each other better" The song stopped and so did Eloise. She pushed him back slightly and stared at him coldly.

"I know enough, already" She left quickly through the crowd. Rufus chuckled and watched her get lost in the room. She was interesting. Maybe in a few years he will ask her for a second dance.

"I see you've got friendly with my boss" She was really annoyed and offended by Rufus. Hearing Reno's playful voice, she instantly felt better. "Do ya mind?" He offered his hand amd she took it gladly.

Dancing with Reno was so much better than dancing with Rufus. The redhead was friendlier and didn't have any back intentions. He was twirling her and swaying her with ease. They were friends.

"Someone's glaring at me" Eloise raised an eyebrow and glanced over his shoulder. It was Genesis on one side while on the other was Sephiroth. They were each glaring at Reno from different reasons. Sephiroth was more like watching his pupil interact and have a good time. Genesis was different. He was fuming and it was getting worse every time Reno would make her laugh or smile. Angeal knew exactly what was going on. He knew hia best friend well.

"You're jealous" Genesis' eyes snapped to his friend. Angeal looked innocent. "In case you want to know why you feel so mad and why you're gripping the glass so hard. That is jealousy you are experiencing"

"I felt jealous before. I know what that is" Angeal smirked.

"You felt jealous before, in training. You've never felt the romantic jealousy. Not until now" Genesis scoffed. He wasn't agreeing with his friend at all. He knew what he was feeling. It wasn't that.

"I'm not. I don't have any romantic interest" Angeal chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you just accept it? You changed after you met Eloise. Not much and not visible, but I can see it and so does Sephiroth. You like her. You thought she was only going to get in the way but she improved so much. You two are not that different, Genesis" Angeal didn't even know how right he was with that statement. Genesis watched her dance for a little bit longer until she walked towards them.

"Can I leave earlier? Zack will be unconscious soon enough and I don't want to take responsability. And I am tired" She asked Sephiroth yet her eyes were always ending on Genesis. The eldest SOLDIER nodded and let her leave. She glanced at Genesis once before she walked out.

After 3 minutes, he couldn't refrain his curiosity anymore. He wanted to figure out if what Angeal said was for real or not. He wanted to know and see if he really liked Eloise.