Finding A Love

by Gamergirl87

A fanfic about Jack and his search for love....

2. The Popuri Story

Chapter 2: The Popuri Story

I woke up the next morning and got dressed. I ate a rice ball and then walked outside. I hadn't gotten a good look at the fields, but when I did, I knew I had major work to do. The field was littered with tree stumps, rocks and weeds. I figured I'd only clear enough land to plant some turnip seeds I found in a drawer in the house. I opened the toolbox and pulled out a hammer, axe, sickle, hoe and watering can. I broke up some rocks and twigs, and cut down weeds, then I plowed the ground. After planting and watering the seeds, I walked up the mountain and gathered 5 flowers. I first walked to the graveyard, and kneeled down at my grandfather's grave.
"Grandpa....I miss you so much, it's only been 2 days.." I said, crying, "I wish you could be here, to guide me. I don't know anything about running a farm, just what you showed me, but that's not enough! How will I make money, raise livestock, make the farm successful?"
"I can help......" said a familiar voice.
"Ann?" I said turning around.
"You got that right! I knew I'd find you here.." she said looking at the flowers in my hand.. "Are those for me? Aww you shouldn't have!" she said smiling.
"Well.....uh......" I said scratching my head, I couldn't break her heart by telling her they were for Popuri.... "Yeah, I uh.....picked them for you this morning."
"Wow, what a guy. Well I gotta run home now......my dad needs me! See you later Jack!" she said skipping off smelling the flowers.

I felt bad, the flowers had been for Popuri, and now I had nothing to give her. I decided to visit her anyways, and walked towards her house. When I got there, she was outside watering some flowers on their farm.
"Hi Popuri." I said.
"Oh...um.....Hi Jack." she said.
"What's the matter?" I asked calmly.
"Well....um, it's nothing." she replied.
"Please tell me, is it something I did, something I said?" I asked.
"Well, ye- no....it's just...." she said, stuttering.
"Popuri, please tell me!" I said grabbing her arm. She looked up at me with teary eyes.
"I...I saw you in the graveyard....w-with Ann." she responded, "I know it's silly, I mean you aren't my boyfriend or anything, I guess I'm just jealous you gave her flowers, I thought you liked me....um....I have to go..." she said trying to break free of my grasp.
"Y'know Popuri, that's actually a funny story. Those flowers were for you, but Ann asked if they were for her, and.....I couldn't break her heart!" I said.
"Really? They were for me? Well..... I guess it's the thought that counts!" she said, much happier.
"I'm glad your happy!" I said, giving her a hug. I could feel her hug me, and it felt right.

Later that day, I walked to my farm to find a puppy. It was frightened but I calmed it down, I decided to name it Koro, and made it a home in the old doghouse. I decided the next day I would see about getting a horse, since Grandpa always had horses on his farm. The day went by quickly after 4, and I soon was asleep in bed, but had a bad dream.
"Popuri, NO!" I said waking up with a start, than realizing it was only a dream.

I looked over at the clock to see it as already 6am anyways, so I got up and dressed. I quickly watered the turnips, then walked towards Yodel Ranch. As I walked up, I heard a neigh of a horse. I ran over.
"Hey Barley, what was that noise?" I asked, remembering Barley from my childhood.
"Just this old horse, it's a wild one I tell ya! Say, heard you're taking over the farm!" he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes sir. Just started yesterday. I was here to inquire about a horse.....see, a farm ain't a farm without a horse!" I said, trying to charm the old man.
"A horse, eh? Well, how about this young pony. It's a wild one, but I'm sure after some love and care it'll become tame as a pup! It'll be a year until it's full grown, but it'll be a mighty one when it is! Make sure you take good care of this one, keep it out of rain. If it's happy after a year, you can keep it!" he said, handing me the reigns.
"Yes sir, I'll make sure it'll be the happiest horse!" I said, leading the horse back.

When we got home, I had no idea what to call my new pony. I figured Storm was a good name, and settled on it.
"So...Storm, how are you?" I asked, expecting an answer. All I got was a happy neigh.
"Talking to horses now, hmm?" said Popuri walking up.
"Yes m'am!" I said.
"Well, Jack, I came here with a suprise!" She said. As she said that, I heard a cluck.
"A chicken? Really?" I asked, getting excited. The farm was beginning to look like it used to!
"Yes a chicken! My Mom said it'd be all right to give you one, and I brought some feed for it too, until you get enough money to buy more." she said.
"Aww, thanks Popuri!So...how about a walk on the beach?" I said.
"Yes...I'd like that" she responded.

We held hands and walked to the beach. When we got there, we walked a little, then sat down with the waves crashing and lightly soaking our feet. We sat there for a while, a few feet apart from each other, then it started getting chilly. I wrapped my arm around her, and soon we were cuddling.
"Jack...I really like you, you know." she said softly.
"Popuri, I like you too." I said, kissing her shoulder.
"And, I....Well Ann likes you too I believe. She and I are friends, and I don't want anything to come between us, so, well....." she said.
"What are you suggesting?" I asked, confused.
"Well, if you were......my boyfriend....she'd have to back off, and she'd understand." she said shyly.
"Boyfriend? Well then Popuri, will you be my girlfriend?" I asked.
"Yes, I will." she said, and we kissed.

The next morning I woke up to a knocking on my door. I stood up and quickly changed and answered it.
"JACK. I know what you and Popuri were doing, and trust me, her mother will soon know." she said, her face bright red.
"Know what? We didn't do anything!" I said.
"Oh yes you did, you kissed her!K-i-s-s-e-d KISSED her! I thought you were with me Jack! Aren't you my boyfriend?" she said, now turning a shade of purple.
"Ann, I was never your boyfriend. I'm sorry!" I replied.
"But, the flowers! I've only seen boyfriends give their girlfriends flowers!" she said.
"Ann.....I didn't give you flowers. I wasn't going to tell you, but those flowers I gave you were for Popuri, but you asked about them and I couldn't tell you they weren't for you! What was I supposed to do!" I said.
"Oh, I see what this is! Popuri's getting me back for making Kai dump her! You were mine first, this is war!!!!!!!" she said while smacking me on the head, then marching off towards the poultry farm.
"Sheesh......women." I said, rubbing my head where she hit me.

Only a few seconds later I heard a scream, and ran to the poultry farm.
"You....BACKSTABBER!" said a voice.
"You're just jealous I've had boyfriends and you havn't!" said another.
"Oh yeah, maybe if you didn't steal them all!" said the other voice.
"Oh shut up!" said the other voice again, then screaming.
"Ann, Popuri, stop! Stop this now!" I said, breaking them up from their cat fight.
"She started it!" said Ann.
"Ann, don't talk to me. First you hit me, than you attack my girlfriend! I don't like you, I never liked you! Get over it!" I said.
"Jack...." said Popuri, as we watched Ann's face turn red and she started crying.
"Ann, that's not what I meant, I'm sorry. I just meant, I don't like you like that!" I said.
"Don't talk to me, just don't! I know what you meant, sorry to bother you." said Ann running away sniffling.
"Jack," said Popuri slapping me, "That was my best friend you made cry! I can't believe you, you self-centered pig!"
"Me? Me self-centered. Do you even like me? Are you sure you aren't just trying to prove to little baby Ann that you can get a boyfriend?! Was this revenge?1 What am I, your rebound from...Kai?!" I said, screaming at her.
"Excuse me, what did you say? I would never...What? Of course I like you! Little Baby Ann is just jealous! I wasn't trying to prove anything to her!" she said, crying.
"Oh yeah, girls are always victims." I said walking away.
"Y'know Jack, I'm sorry. Some of those things are true. I was trying to prove something to Ann by being your girlfriend, that was my first intention when I first met you, but then I got to know you, and......like.....you." she said.
"You like me?" I asked.
"Yes....I like you!" she said, "That's the first time I've ever said that to a boy!"
"Well, Popuri, I ike you too." I responded.

The next day was awkward. Ann and Popuri had made up, but everytime I passed Ann and said hi, she gave me the evil eye and scowled. I guess my relationship with her was not fixable, but I didn't care, as long as I had Popuri. When I was with Popuri, I felt like I was in heaven. We had only been goin out one month, but it seemed like an eternity in heaven. I always stopped by her house to give her gifts, and we always went to the beach. She was not just my girlfriend, she was my best friend. One day I went to the Inn. I wanted to talk to Ann about how she was treating me, and to apologize.
"Hi Ann, it's me..Jack" I said softly.
"What are you doing here......jerk," she snapped.
"I wanted to apologize. You're Popuri's best friend, I want to be friends with you too..." I said.
"Well, you may want to, but you can't. Your rude and selfish. All you care about is you and Popuri, what about me?" she asked.
"Ann, I like you...maybe more than a friend, I don't know. All I know is..whenever another girl is with me, I think of Popuri, and when I fall asleep, I dream of her.. I think I love her." I said.
"Love her? HAHAHAHAHA! You fell into her trap!" She said.
"No I didn't, I talked to her, she said she used to do that, but she's changed." I said.
"Oh..I see. Well, you just keep on loving her. She never loved a man before...I reckon she doesn't know how." said Ann disappointed.
"We'll see about that." I said walking out of the Inn.

That evening, I went to the blacksmith's and ordered a set of earrings,bracelet and a necklace for Popuri. I walked to Popuri's house dressed in a black suit and tie, carrying flowers and chocolates. I rang the doorbell and a redheaded fellow opened the door.
"Hello Rick, is Popuri at home?" I asked in my most polite gentlemenly voice.
"Nope, she walked off with Kai." answered Rick.
"Uhm......you know where they were going?" I asked.
"Yeah the beach. Bye." He said as he slammed the door. Friendly people.

I felt like my heart had been cut in half. I decided to go to the beach, maybe they were just friends. I walked onto the beach and saw Kai and Popuri hugging. I ran up.
"Popuri! What are you doing?" I asked.
"Uh..Jack...what are you doing here!" she said.
"Looking for you!" I answered.
"Jack, god can't you mind my own privacy!?!?" she screamed.
"No. Guess you never were my girlfriend. Keep these." I said in tears, throwing the chocolates at her, which spilled on the sand.
"What? Jack wait. Kai, I'm sorry. He's very suspicious!" she said.
"Doesn't he have reason to be?" answered Kai, grabbing Popuri and kissing her.
"Kai!" said Popuri as she pulled away, "What are you doing?"
"Kissing you, you wanted it all night." he responded.
"No...I didn't." said Popuri running off after Jack.

I ran away to the mountain, to the waterfall where I had spent so many nights with Popuri. I started crying, I felt like such a baby. I loved Popuri, I was going to tell her that night, but she was with Kai now. I heard a crunch, and turned around to see Popuri softly walking through the dried grass.
"Jack, it's not what it looked like." she said.
"Well, you don't have to cover up. Sorry I invaded your moment with Kai." I said.
"You weren't invading anything. I was just mad you wouldn't leave me alone is all! Kai went too far and tried to kiss me, he must have thought we were on a date, he used to be my boyfriend, but when I broke up with him, he still loved me. He still thinks we're going out, but I thought we were just friends. He was my best friend in the whole world growing up." she said.
"Oh..I'm sorry. I really am." I resonded.
"Don't worry about it, what's done is done, can't take it back!" she said thoughtfully.
"Still like me?" I said, holding her waist.
"Yes of course!" she said, kissing me.

I kissed her back, and we just lay there looking at the stars and cuddling. A few minutes before we had to leave, I decided I had to tell her.
"Popuri?" I said quietly in her ear.
"Yes..Jack?" she whispered back.
"I..I have to tell you something. Just hear me out ok?" I said.
"Of course."
"Well, when I first met you, I had butterflies in my stomach. You were so beautiful and nice, I had a crush. When we started dating, and after the whole Ann episode, I liked you even more. You were forgiving, and I knew I might do things in my life that would need forgiveness. When I'm with you now, I don't feel nervous, I feel like your my best friend...my soul mate. I feel like I can tell you anything, and you'll understand. And....I always dream and think of you. What, what I'm trying to say is....I love you..." I said.

I expected to hear Popuri say something like, I love you too, or sorry I don't love you. But she didn't say anything, she just cried. I couldn't distinguish whether it was a happy cry, or a sad cry, so I asked.
"So....what do you think." I said timidly.
"I think...your the greatest guy ever." she said, kissing me on the lips. She giggled and tackled me.

We woke up in the mountain and realized people were probably looking for us. We quickly made ourselves decent in appearance and ran down the mountain. When we got down, we ran into Rick.
"POPURI! Jack, you BETTER have a good explanation for this." he said, turning red as a tomato.
"Um....Rick, I got lost and slipped in the water, Jack saved me and then It was already early morning so we decided to just, sleep outside and camp out" she said quickly.
"Oh really, wait till mom hear this!" he said, grabbing her and dragging her towards her house.

Popuri waved bye and blew me a kiss, I returned it then went to work on my farm. I worked on the crops for only a few hours, harvested them then watered them, then I fed my animals. I noticed my cow Bessy had a bulge, and realized she was pregnent!
"Fine time to be pregnent!" I said as I petted her.

I finished up and decided to stop by the blacksmiths to see if he had finished my order. He had, so I carefully inspected the jewelry. The earrings were small hoops with diamonds in them, the necklace was a silver chain with a medium sized diamond heart, and the bracelet was a series of diamonds ingraved in silver. I decided to save them for our anniversery date which was that night.

That night, I walked to Popuri's in my special suit this time with the jewelry in a small white box with a pink ribbon. I rang their doorbell instead of knocking, and Rick opened it. He let me in with a scowl, then told me Popuri was getting ready. I sat down on their couch and her mother started talking to me.
"So, you like Popuri?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am, sure do. I love her." I responded.
"Oh do you? Would you die for her?" she snapped.
"Um, if the need arrised I would, ma'am." I said.
"Good, you take care of my Popuri, I give you permission to marry her when you please." said her mom.

I was a little shocked, but nodded my head and said Thank you, then stood up and picked up the box. A few minutes later, Popuri descended the stairs. She was so beautiful, dressed in an elegant lavender gown. It was sparkly and long and flowy. There were lavender flowers in her hair, and she had makeup on. I had never seen her so dressed up. I decided to wait to give her the gift in private, so I stuck it in a coat pocket. She put on her nice coat, and took my arm. We walked out, and I told her mom Lillia we wouldn't be out long.

As Popuri and I walked, she didn't say anything.
"Popuri, you look beautiful." I said to break the silence.
"Really? This old thing? Thank you." she said blushing.
"Yes, you always look beautiful. The flowers were a nice touch." I said laughing, poking a flower in her hair.
"Thanks, Rick gave them to me." she said giggling with me.
"So, where do you want to go?" I asked.
"Well, we have a reservation at the Inn, let's go eat!" she said.
"Ok, sure!" I said, leading her towards the Inn.

We walked in, and I saw Ann run into a room with tears in her eyes. I felt bad, but didn't want it to ruin my night. Ann's father who owned the Inn seated us, and gave us menus. We ordered a nice meal, and I ordered champagne. When it came, we made a toast to our love, then drank. We kissed and then our food arrived. I looked up and saw Ann was giving it to me, and I had a bad feeling.
"Hey Ann." I said.
Nothing.
"Hello?" I repeated.
"HELLO THANK YOU FOR EATING OUR FOOD," she screamed in my ear.
"Ann? What's your problem, don't ruin our dinner, please." I said.

She ran off crying, and Ann's father came to apologize. We ate our food, and it was time for dessert.
"What do you want?" I asked Popuri.
"Well, I'm sort of full." she said, with a little worry in her voice. I looked over to see Ann spying on us from the second floor.
"Ok, well how about we get a chocolate milkshake, two straws so we can share?" I asked.
"Ok, sounds good." she said.

A few minutes later, I saw Ann walk to her father. She got the milkshake and walked over. I looked at her eyes, I knew something bad was going to happen. She looked at Popuri's dress and a fire sprang up in her eyes. She headed straight for Popuri.
"Ann, what are you doing?" I said.

She looked over and pretended to trip and spilled the milkshake all over Popuri's hair and dress.
"ANN!" said Ann's father running over.
"Ann, how could you?" asked Popuri, tears forming in her eyes.
"Whoops, I tripped, it was all Jack's fault." she said pointing at me.
"No, it wasn't Ann, it was your fault. You did it on purpose to sabotage our dinner!" said Popuri.
"Ann, go to your room." said her father.
"But Dad!" said Ann.
"You heard me!" he said.
"Fine, I hate you all!" said Ann.
"I can't believe her!" said Popuri, "Let's get out of here!"
"The dinner's on the house. I'm terribly sorry Mr.Jack, and Ms. Popuri." said Ann's dad.
"It's ok." I said.

We walked outside and decided to go to the beach. On our way out we took a towl and tried to clean up Popuri's dress. There was a large brown stain on the front.
"I don't know what got into her!" said Popuri.
"She's jealous." I said under my breath.
"What did you say, jealous?" said Popuri, I didn't say it low enough.
"Ahem, I said she's jealous." I said clearing my throat.
"Jealous of what?" she asked.
"Well, she likes me. And, she's jealous that you are going out with me." I said.
"Oh, yeah I knew that. She's not jealous, just spiteful." said Popuri.
"Oh..." I answered.

I decided it was as good a time as ever to give Popuri the gift, so I took it out and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"A gift." I replied.
"Oh you shouldn't have!" she said, opening it.

She pulled out the jewelry and sighed. She told me how much she loved them and she put them on. They looked beautiful on her, as does everything.
"Well, it definately makes up for the milkshake fiasco!" she said laughing.
"I'll say!" I said.
"So Jack, what do you think about......us??" she said suddenly.
"Well, I don't know what you mean." I replied.
"I mean, do you think of us as just another teenage romance, or true love?" she said.
"Well, I consider it....true love. I mean I love you, I'd die for you!" I said.
"Really? I thought it was more of a teenage romance." she said.
"Oh...well I guess it is then. It can't be true love unless we both agree." I said.
"Jack...I didn't mean it like that. I never said it's not true love! I'd die for you too! Just now, at this stage, we're so young. We don't know what we're doing, do we?" she said.
"I do...I mean I live by myself, my dad never cared about me much, he practically threw a party when I told him I was staying here." I said, skipping a rock on the water.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I never see my dad. He's trying to find a cure for my mother's illness." she said.
"I'm sorry. That must be hard on Rick. Growing up without a dad for a boy is hard." I said.
"Yeah..." she said.

We both stopped talking and looked at each other in the eyes. I put my arm around her and we watched the waves. She started shivering, so I gave her my coat jacket. We didn't say anything, but we felt this feeling. We kissed, then stood up.
"Well, I better get home, curfew." she said, wrapping my coat around herself tighter.
"Ok, I'll walk you." I said, I took her hand and we walked home.

When we reached the house, she took off my coat and gave it to me. I took it, and we hugged and kissed. She walked inside and I walked home. I got in my bed and fell asleep.

I woke up to a rooster crowing. I got changed and walked outside. I took care of my crops and all, and walked to Popuri's house. I saw a big truck and boxes. I ran up to where Popuri was standing.
"Hey, Popuri? What are you doing?" I asked.
"Um.." she said, her eyes watered.
"Please tell me?" I asked again.
"My mom, she's sick. We need to move to the city where.....where we are close to a hospital." she answered.
"What about the Clinic? Can't she get treated there?" I asked, becoming concerned.
"They can't treat her there, they don't have the equipment. Whatever is wrong with her, she can only be taken care of in a special facility in the city." she said.
"How long will you be there?" I asked.
"For....a long time. We may never come back." she said.
"We can still be together, can't we? I love you Popuri, don't leave me." I said, my heart was broken.
"Jack, I wish I could. It wouldn't work. We would be paying so much money for my mother, I couldn't visit." she said.
"But, that's ok. I could pay for my tickets and visit you." I said. "We can make this work."
"Jack...stop please." she said, crying. "It can't work.."

And that was the last time I saw Popuri. I am convinced she was the love of my life. I missed her for a year. I couldn't look at girls or walk past the poultry farm, it was too hard. May had taken over the Poultry farm, and I never visited, she visited me. I never talked to Popuri. I heard a rumor she had married some older man and had his child, then he died, she was an old widow, burdened with a child, and had lost all her looks. I felt bad for her, this had only happened in a year. I always look back at this part of my life with sorrow, knowing I could have moved to the city and made it work. The fact I let her leave me haunts me even now.