Chapter 14: Everyone’s Going Home

Cloud and I were there for about an hour. We couldn’t have stayed any longer even if we wanted to. Elena was being released, so she was free to go back home. Before leaving the hospital completely though, we all thought about the possibility of going out to lunch.

“To be honest,” Reno whispered subtly to Cloud and I. “I don’t want Elena going out. I’d much rather we just head home. You guys could go if you’d like.”
Cloud, Rude, Mia, and I all exchanged glances. We immediately decided to call off the idea. It was obvious that everyone just wanted to go home and relax.
“Ah that’s okay,” I said to Reno smiling. “It wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without you around. We’ll wait until everyone’s up for going out.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Cloud winked at me as he stood beside Reno, patting his shoulder. “You guys have a safe trip home.”
“You as well,” Elena answered lightly from behind Reno. “See you at work whenever I get back Kim.”
“Yup! You just take it easy for a while!” I yelled back to her as she and Reno began to get into his car. “Drive safe!”
“Well, we’re going to head out too…” Rude finally spoke up for the first time the entire morning. “We’ll see you both later.”
“Alright,” Cloud answered shortly. “You guys drive safely as well.”
“Ah no worries, papi,” Mia laughed. “We’ll be fine. You guys drive safe. You’ve got further distance to cover!”
“Will do,” I said, waving to them as they drove off.

“Well, where to missy?” Cloud said as he bumped into my side playfully.
“We could go back home and wait for Vincent and Cid to get off work,” I pondered as I spoke.
“And..?” Cloud asked figuring there was more to the point.
“We could all go out to dinner or something,” I smiled at him. “I bet Cid wouldn’t mind seeing you, and I’m sure Vincent’s the same… Although I’m sure he’d never admit it.”
“Sure, sounds good to me,” Cloud smiled back.
“Alrighty then let’s head back home,” I said as I pointed out towards his car.
“You haven’t changed at all, Kim,” Cloud laughed as we ventured through the parking lot.
“What do you mean?” I glared at him from the corner of my eye with almost a sense of sarcastic, murderous intent.
“I meant it in a good way!” he waved his arms around like a windmill. “I was just noting on the fact that you still like to make plans and you like to make them fast.”

“Hey,” I said almost sounding upset. “Don’t try to pretend you think it’s a bad idea. I know you want to see those two…”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Cloud sounded as if he were embarrassed to admit it. “But anyways… Let’s get out of here.”
“You just hate it when I’m right,” I playfully punched him in the arm. “I know it.”
“Oh yeah,” Cloud rolled his eyes as he began to pull out of the hospital’s parking garage. “That isn’t a common thing though since you’re wrong about 99.9% of the time.”
“Hey,” I squeaked and it made us both laugh for the rest of the ride home.