Chapter 65: The Pop II
Zack and Yuffie spent the next day checking for any leads on Loz, Yazoo, and Kadaj, but could not find any.
Zack was visibly distressed as he sat in front of his laptop. He searched hour after hour for news of anything, but everything was simply Geostigma this and President X that.
Yuffie walked up to him from behind and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're doing everything you can," she assured him as she smothered him with kisses.
She's the perfect girlfriend, he thought. Tonight, I can't wait for her to become my fiancée.
Finally, the sun set.
Almost as soon as it did, Yuffie emerged from the bedroom.
She was wearing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a baby tee, along with a pair of white sneakers.
"Alright," she announced. "Time for our date."
Zack immediately noticed the color.
"You're wearing the olive green shirt?"
"Your favorite," Yuffie replied with a smile. "You always said I look good in it."
She took both of his hands, and lifted him to his feet, kissing him in the process.
And then, Zack remembered something.
The ring! he thought. I'm proposing to her tonight! Where did I put it?
"Just a second," Zack said sheepishly as he ran into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
He scanned the room, trying to remember where he had put the ring.
He had no idea where it was.
He had forgotten.
"What are you doing in there?" Yuffie playfully demanded. "You better not be choking your chicken!"
She'll get pissed eventually, Zack realized. I'll just look for it when we get home.
So he left the room and joined his girlfriend.
LATER...
Yuffie led Zack down to the garage and to their car.
She opened the door for Zack as well, reversing the traditional gender roles, and hopped into the driver's seat.
The drive was not long; it was away from the city, and, at first, nothing noticeable appeared.
Then, Yuffie suddenly stopped.
She parked the car in the brush.
This was unexpected.
She got out of the car, and Zack did the same.
"Are we going to get towed if we park here?" Zack asked.
"Follow me," she commanded, ignoring the question.
"Are we supposed to be here?" he asked.
"No," Yuffie replied with a grin.
She led him down a narrow dirt path, covered almost entirely by foliage.
"What's up ahead?" he asked.
"You'll know when you see it," Yuffie answered.
The top drawer! he suddenly remembered. Where she keeps her sports bras! That's where I hid the ring!
Feeling better now that he knew where the ring was, he continued to follow his girlfriend down the path.
And then, suddenly, a metal staircase with a chain blocking the bottom appeared in front of them.
"What is it?" Zack asked.
"It's a metal stairway," she answered. "Of course."
"To where?" he inquired.
"Up above," Yuffie replied as she climbed over the chain. "Where else would we be going?"
Zack climbed over the chain and followed her up the stairs.
When they reached the top, they were somewhere strange.
They were overground, and they were under a roof, but there were no walls. Zack could see travelators, though they obviously weren't working.
"Know where we are yet?" Yuffie gigged.
Zack shook his head.
"Come on!" she commanded as she led him down the dead travelator.
A few moments later, Zack noticed a golf course, a line of restaurants and shops, and the gates to a theme park in the background.
"Is this where I think it is?" he asked.
"Platinum Palace," Yuffie announced. "Have you ever been here?"
"Once or twice," Zack replied. "It's the Eastern Continent's competition for Gold Saucer."
"Do you know the exact spot we're at?" she asked.
"The Town Center," Zack answered.
"Good boy," Yuffie said.
She took his hand and walked him through the Town Center, where all the lights were still on, even though the park was closed, obviously due to Geostigma.
Zack and Yuffie strolled through the Town Center.
They then entered the park itself, home to many themed lands of rides and entertainment for all ages.
The first land had bright colors and lots of anthropomorphic animal statues. One that stood out was a stupid-looking, smiling bear.
"Thumbdy the Bear's Playground," Yuffie announced.
"That's for kids!" Zack complained.
"Then you'll fit right in!" Yuffie giggled.
She took his hand again, and led him into the land.
"Besides," Yuffie continued, "I was a kid when we met, anyway."
Zack had nearly forgotten about that. When they had met, Yuffie was only nine years old; she was a child. Now she was an adult; they had known each other for an awfully long time.
She led him past the carousels and kiddie rides. She led him past the restaurant and gift shops.
Then she stopped.
A sign read "Story Time Square."
Yuffie then sat down in the main seat in the square and picked up one of the books.
"Come on!" she announced as she signaled for him to sit down. "I'll read you a story!"
"Okay," Zack said skeptically.
He was wondering why his girlfriend suddenly wanted to read him a kiddie story.
"Thumbdy the Bear stole an unattended picnic basket," Yuffie began. "He opened it, hoping to find honey. Instead, he found it...filled with cocaine?!"
Both Zack and Yuffie burst out laughing.
"Alright," she said as she put the book down and picked up a second one. "Let's try something else. Weben the Wiesel's nose began to glow red a few days before Christmas. It helped him lead Santa through the fog, and by the next year he...died of cancer?!"
"You're terrible!" Zack exclaimed.
"Okay, okay," said Yuffie as she picked up another book. "Give me another chance, okay?"
"Fine," muttered Zack.
"It was a bright beautiful morning, and the sun was shining all over Animal Land. Thumbdy the Bear opened his eyes. He then noticed Cosmo Cat was next to him, and his butt really hurt."
"Yuffie!" Zack exclaimed.
"What?" she giggled. "You know why a female cat screams while mating, right?"
"You have a sick and twisted mind, Yuffie," Zack groaned.
"That's what you love about me," Yuffie giggled as she put the book down.
They then left Thumbdy's Playground, and found themselves in the next land.
"Pennsylvania Brown's Lost City," Zack read as he saw the sign.
Beyond it lay mysterious shops and several temples.
"I'm just relieved it's not modeled after the Forgotten Capital," Yuffie said.
They walked through the land, passing temples and fountains.
Eventually, they came to a frightening stone creature with an ugly face and several arms.
"This really scares me," Yuffie said as she squeezed his arm.
"It's just a statue," Zack assured her.
Suddenly, the statue's eyes lit up red, and began firing (obviously fake) darts at the young couple.
Zack and Yuffie ran like hell, not stopping until the temples and fountains were replaced by palm trees.
Both of them stopped and caught their breath.
"Where's this?" Zack asked.
"Dino Jungle," Yuffie replied. "Home of the notorious bike ride."
"Bike ride?!" Zack echoed.
Yuffie pointed.
A few feet ahead of them was the ride.
They went through the empty queue until they reach the bike, fastened securely to the track.
"You think it's working?" Yuffie asked with a smile as she mounted the bike.
"One way to find out!" Zack replied.
"Ride bitch," she commanded.
Zack rode bitch, placing his arms around Yuffie's midriff.
Down came the restraints.
Suddenly, the bike began to speed without warning. All sorts of frightening dinosaurs popped out from the trees at the side.
So did a giant gorilla.
Both lovers were screaming; Zack in fright, and Yuffie in delight.
Around the corner was a charging triceratops.
"Is that what I think it is?!" Zack exclaimed.
A moment before the triceratops hit the motorcycle, a trap door opened in the floor, causing the motorcycle to drop ten feet.
It then continued for a few yards before finally stopping.
They were back at the beginning of the ride, with one rather noticeable difference.
"Ummm, Zack?" Yuffie said. "You're crushing the twin peaks."
The drop had caused Zack's arms to shift up to Yuffie's breasts, and he was squeezing hard.
They got off the ride, and continued down the path.
A few yards down, there was a view across the lake of the other side of the park.
"Would you look at that?" Yuffie said.
She walked to the bars and bent forward, resting her elbows on them.
That caused her shirt to rise, exposing an inch of skin of the small of her back.
Zack couldn't resist. He placed his index finger on the skin, sliding it horizontally.
"That feels good," Yuffie purred before kissing him.
He then slid his hand under her shirt, reaching the bra strap, but she was compelled to stop him.
There was always the outside chance someone else could be there.
"Later tonight," she said before kissing him again. "I promise."
They continued walking down the path until they arrived at a building that read "Dance Your Pants Off" above the door.
Yuffie led Zack in.
Once inside, they were greeted by a large, empty floor, and a sparkling, spherical ball hanging from the ceiling.
It was a disco.
At first, it was dark and still inside. Then, Yuffie threw the switch, and the ball began to spin, with music and strobe lights following.
"Is this going to draw attention?" Zack inquired.
"It's inside," Yuffie assured him. "Nobody can hear us."
She then marched him to the dance floor as the pounding bass filled their ears.
Yuffie turned around and grinded her butt against Zack's crotch while an appropriate song from the old world was playing.
I heard the guy who wrote it went to jail.
They stayed in the disco for an hour.
Then, they continued on their way.
There was one last stop before they completely circumvented the park.
"Look at this!" Yuffie exclaimed as a familiar looking Scottish terrier appeared on top of a dog house.
"Putty's Playhouse?" Zack inquired.
"Don't let the name fool you," Yuffie laughed. "It's for adults and older teenagers."
There was a sign on the door that read: WARNING: PUTTY'S BUTT STINKS.
Yuffie led him in.
Inside, there was a small animatronic Putty, who farted every fifteen seconds.
Artificial green fog surrounded him.
"Okay," she giggled. "Never mind."
They quickly exited the dog house.
"Why'd you want to go in there?" Zack inquired.
"It reminds me of something," Yuffie honestly replied.
"What?" Zack asked curiously,
"How we all missed the premiere of that Putty special to go to Cloud and Tifa's wedding."
"I remember," he said. "I was surprised every invitee attended. Hell, I was surprised I attended. I was supposed to be on the Island Gulag."
"It was our first date," Yuffie said. "I thought it was going to be a one-shot deal. I'm glad I was wrong. I just can't believe what it grew into."
Zack smiled, kissed her, and lifted her off the ground.
"Come on," she said. "What do you say we go home and have some more intimate you-and-me time?"
"I'd like that," he replied.
He set her down, and they walked toward the exit.
Zack knew exactly what would happen when they got home.
And so, the journey to the proposal has begun.
LATER...
Zack and Yuffie held hands as the elevator took them to their penthouse apartment.
Zack had butterflies in his stomach; the time to propose was drawing near, and he suspected the moment would arrive in a matter of minutes.
The elevator stopped, and the young couple walked off and down the doorless hallway.
They soon arrived in the kitchen, where they both kicked off their shoes.
They then went into the dining-room, with the unset table and hutch decorating everything. As soon as they reached the parlor, Yuffie marched Zack to the sofa, and plucked him down.
She bent down, and lovingly kissed him on the mouth.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you more," she replied as she stepped back.
Smiling, Yuffie unzipped her jeans, and allowed them to fall to the ground, revealing her white panties.
"I really had fun tonight," she said. "Thanks for coming with me."
"Thanks for taking me," he said.
Yuffie then straddled him and pressed her lips against his.
And then, their tongues met.
Zack and Yuffie continued to make out for an hour. Nothing else came off, though Zack would occasionally slip a hand down Yuffie's panties and fondle her butt.
Finally, after that hour Yuffie stood up, and smiled at her boyfriend.
"You know," she began, "someone once said that love is a workout. I was wondering if you'd mind if I quickly changed? I'd like to continue the make out session wearing nothing but my sports bra."
"Not at all," he replied with a smile.
Yuffie giggled and kissed him again, trotting to the bedroom with her back turned to him.
Damn, her butt looks good in those panties, Zack thought to himself. Too bad she's about to take them off. It's going to be incredibly sexy when she comes back in just her sports bra and...
Something struck him.
Sports bra?
He suddenly remembered.
Oh shit.
The ring box was in the drawer where Yuffie's sports bras were kept.
And the box, he just now remembered, was still open.
She'll see it!
Zack sprang up and dashed to the bedroom, hoping he would arrive there before she had opened the drawer.
Through the den and down the hall he went, hoping he wasn't too late.
He arrived at the bedroom.
Yuffie was standing there, still in her tee and panties, with her back turned to him. He could tell she had placed the fingertips of her left hand on her heart.
In front of her was the open drawer.
And inside the drawer was the open ring box.
Out of the corner of her eye, Yuffie spotted her love.
"Oh, Zack..." she began.
Her eyes were wet.
"Yuffie..." he replied, struggling to think of what to say.
"You...you were going to propose to me?" she asked in a shaky voice.
Zack closed his eyes and nodded.
"I didn't mean for you to find that," he said. "I wanted to surprise you tonight. I was going to do everything on one knee and all."
Yuffie turned to face him.
She took both of his hands in hers.
And then, the tears began to stream down her face.
"I do love you," she sobbed, neglecting to wipe her tears away.
Say yes, he thought. Please say yes.
"But..." she then said.
Zack immediately felt tense.
That's not good.
"What's wrong?" he gently asked.
For a moment, she stood there, tears continuing to stream down her face.
Then she opened her mouth.
"I'm only eighteen," Yuffie finally said. "I want to have fun."
Zack's heart sank to the bottom. It was no mystery to him what she meant. She was saying no as softly as she could.
"Have fun," Zack echoed.
"You know, fun," Yuffie repeated. "I want to go out with friends. I want to go on adventures. I want to wake up totally hungover and not remember a thing!"
This was not only devastating, but confusing. She had said quite the reverse earlier.
"But you mentioned you wanted to have a wedding on the beach," Zack gently protested.
Yuffie dried her tears, and looked at Zack with empathy.
"I meant years from now," she clarified.
I should've known, he realized.
Maybe we can make it a long engagement.
"But with me, right?" he asked hopefully.
"Honestly," Yuffie replied, "who knows? I'm only eighteen, and I have no idea what life is going to throw at me. Maybe I'll go to college. Maybe I'll get a great opportunity somewhere. I don't know. I just don't know."
Zack lowered his head. He was unable to cover up the fact that he was badly hurt.
It didn't change the fact that she loved him, and she felt his pain.
"Why don't we sit down?" Yuffie suggested.
Zack didn't respond.
So she led him to the bed and sat him down, sitting next to him as she did so.
"Look," she said as clasped his hand in hers, "it really hurts me to do this."
"Then don't do it!" Zack pleaded.
"Zack," she began, "this is not something we can change. We're eight years apart. These are fundamental differences. I may be a lot younger than you, but I'm old enough to know this."
"Yuffie..." he began again.
"Zack," she said gently, "no."
Zack realized she was not going to budge.
Now, more tears were flowing.
Only this time, they were coming from Zack's eyes.
"Don't cry!" Yuffie pleaded.
But he continued to cry for a minute.
At the end of that minute, he suddenly sprang up off the bed, and walked down the hallway, and to the elevator.
And she let him leave.