A/n: mmmm...insomnia...Yes it's 3 in the morning and it's a school night. And what am I doing? Writing Yoai of course! I'm pathetic I know. Want to hear something funny? Of course you do! I was outside today working on my tan, and I was sitting on the grass thinking about what will happen in this chapter. So I started having this conversation with myself. The one that I used in the story.

So everything you read, I have said aloud to myself...

Enjoy.

Chapter Four: From Oil to Dirt

"What are we going to do, Wedge?" Zack sighed as he ran his thick calloused fingers through his long oily black hair. Zack's pant's were stained with oil from moving the old car parts out of the auto shop previously that day. His face was slender and always free of black stubble. He slumped over and put his face in his hands.

"I-I don't know Zacky..." Wedge said as his former boss sighed into his hands again. Wedge was a fat pudgy man who had worked loyally for Zack. They had been in this same auto shop for three years. Wedge and Zack's other employees had worked for free when times were bad, but that wasn't enough. Their shop was finally being closed down "Uh...Mind if I ask, but who's on your couch." Wedge added after several minutes of glancing at her. Zack had set the semi unconscious Tifa on his soft leather couch until she woke up.

"I don't know. She wondered in here, passed out, so I laid her down." Zack shrugged. They sat in silence for a moment. Neither knowing was to really say. "I think she's on o Biggs' 'projects'..." Zack added with a scowl. He loved Biggs like a brother, but he was a convicted date rapist and all around pedofile. Zack had locked Biggs in his room after she wondered in here.

"You think Aeris will come looking for you. The auto shop is in the paper today." Wedge asked unsurely. He knew that was a taboo subject, but he wanted to ask.

"I don't think so. That part of my life is over. You going back to her?" Zack shook his head trying to remove past memories of that woman. The innocent woman he had fell in love with turned out to not be so innocent. That had gotten him and many other people in trouble.

"Me? Well probably not. I don't know about Jesse and Biggs. I think I'm just going to go back home." Wedge said sadly. He loved the home he had left, but he didn't have anyone there anymore. They were all dead now. Zack rubbed his temples furiously. He had no job, no home, and no money. He couldn't live like this.

"Say Zack, why don't you join that construction project? You could make some serious cash!" Wedge suggested happily, trying to lighten the mood. Zack cringed slightly at the thought.

"Nah, me with my seductive figure and toned muscles. I'd get passed around those guys like a jail bitch." Zack said jokingly as he began to smile and then laugh with his fat friend. Zack did need money, but that wasn't his place. He knew people in that business and people that worked at the nearby sights. Those people knew him from the past and didn't like him. Most of them were convicts, convicts that would slaughter him.

"Well How about a farm hand? I bet some of the farmers need help. Plus think of all the hot farmer's daughters..." Wedge started laughing again. Zack had always been able to lighten somber moods at a tip of a hat. It was his way of doing things. That's why people get so attached to him.

"Well I bet I could do that, but most farmer's around here are poor. I need money so I can start up my shop again." Zack stroked his smooth chin as he thought of ways to make money. His father had started this chain of auto shops 'Zack's Auto Shop' is what he called it. His father's name was Zack and that's why his name was Zack. He had to continue the family tradition and not fail his father.

"Well there's this guy, Mr. Lockhart, he's rich fucker. He's never home to work his farm. I bet he'll hire you!" Wedge suggested out of the blue. Zack shrugged, he didn't really find the idea of working there appealing. He had came into the shop once for a tune up. Several insults later Zack had him taken outside by the other mechanics.

Tifa began to stir on the soft, mushy leather couch. She didn't realized where she was, but she heard two men joking and laughing about something. Her vision was blurry, they both looked to be sitting at a desk. One was fat and round the other was thin and lanky.

"She's waking up!" Wedge exclaimed slightly surprised by the body moving slightly on the couch causing the couch to groan. Zack looked over before he got up and kneeled by the side of soft plushy couch.

"Hello!" Zack said as he sat there. Tifa sat up on the couch and looked around. Her eyes stung and her head throbbed. Zack noticed that she was wobbling and put his hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"Do you remember your name?" Zack said shaking her shoulder slightly. Tifa blankly stared at him. She thought for a second before it came to her.

"Tifa...I'm Tifa Lockhart." Tifa muttered. She saw the fat man who was sitting at a large desk fall forward. His body shook, she wasn't sure what he was doing so she looked at the oily man next to her. She became aware of the rough large hand on her shoulder.

"Ah...Well baby. Can you get up? I'll take you home." Zack said running his free hand through his hair nervously. Tifa got up and walked towards the door. She heard the man's boots clunk slowly after her. Zack turned around before he left the room and saw Wedge crying from holding in his laughter. Zack flicked him off and continued on behind Tifa.

Tifa got dizzy as she walked down the front steps of the shop. Zack grabbed her shoulders to make sure she got down the stairs ok.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get home ok." Zack said as he walked next to her. He was surprised how much taller he was than her. She wasn't that far from his age, was she?

"You...run that auto shop, right?" Tifa asked after a few minutes of silence. Zack turned to her and smiled as he nodded.

"Why is it so empty?" She said staring down at he boots witch were kicking up the dusty road dirt. Zack sighed before he answered.

"I have to close it. I'm out of money...and I guess, a job." Zack stared down at his dirty black boots now. They walked silently for a while. Tifa saw her house through the around the curb.

"You know...You could work my fathers farm..."Tifa suggested shyly as she saw the farm coming closer. "If you want, I mean it's the least I could do for...taking care of me."

"I could use a job, but your dad . . . He fucking hate's me!" Zack said laughing remembering the numerous times he and her father had met. It wasn't just in the auto shop, they didn't mesh well anywhere.

"It's ok! My father's never home! It's just me and Cloud." Tifa said turning away with a blush as she heard his deep rich youthful laugh. Zack looked at her. Why is she turned away? Is she...blushing?

"Cloud, he's your hubby-to-be, right?" Zack said trying to see what was up with this chick.

"Yes and no..." Tifa sighed as she reached the house gate. "It's what my father wants and I do love him. But...he's just not that way."

"Yeah, yeah I hear things 'bout it." Zack said looking the opposite direction down the road. He heard a lot of things. He didn't know how her father missed all of those rumors. "So I'll go get my stuff, and you'll have a room and a job for me, right?" Zack said perking up after that awkward moment.

"Uh...Yes, I shall." Tifa stuttered and bowed to Zack as she entered the gate. Zack ambled away down the road.

A/n: wow this took a long time. You kiss Rammstein's german feet. It kept me writing!