literature

The Return of Zack Fair Ch. 34

Deviation Actions

Published: Jun 21, 2009

2K Views

Literature Text

The Return of Zack Fair
Chapter 34 Homecoming

They were there within half an hour.
There was a sound of a stopping car and about a minute later someone knocked on the door.
Mrs. Fair opened the door and just as she wanted to start the lecture Cloud came in, his shirt was ripped to shreds and most of his chest and injuries clearly visible as he carried Tifa inside.
She was unconscious, pieces of Cloud’s shirt were wrapped around her arms, all red of the blood.
‘Put her on the couch’ Cissnei said quickly.
Cloud did as she said, carefully he kneeled down gently lowering Tifa until she hit the pillows.
‘Sorry to bust in like that’ Zack said, as he walked in too.
‘Zack Fair, how-’
But before she could even finish her sentence he hugged her tightly, ‘I missed you too mom’
‘You do realize you’re grounded right?’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t call you’
‘That’s not an answer’
‘I know’
‘Sorry to interrupt, but is there a doctor in Gongaga?’ Cissnei asked.
‘It’s fine dear’ Mrs. Fair said.
‘Does Mr. Davids still live at the same spot?’ Zack asked his mother.
She nodded, ‘You go fetch him’ she ordered him.
‘Yes madam’ Zack saluted and ran out of the door.
Cissnei giggled, but then turned back at Tifa and Cloud.
‘How is she?’ she asked.
Cloud shook his head, ‘She fainted halfway, lost too much blood’ he took Tifa’s hand in his.
She looked awfully pale.
Cissnei got up again and went to Mrs. Fair, feeling the urge to explain what was going on.
‘She fell through a glass door, that’s what happened, I’m sorry to bother you with this’
‘It’s nothing, do you know how many injured friends Zack used to bring home after playing outside? It’s good that I used to be the doctor’s assistant until I retired’
‘Can you help her?’
‘Of course I can, move it boy’ she gave Cloud a slight push.
He got up, and took a step to the side, not taking his eyes off Tifa.
‘Let’s see’ she slowly took the improvised bandages off. ‘Hmm’
‘What’s wrong?’ Cloud asked immediately.
‘Much glass splinters, the doctor’ll have to remove them as my hand isn’t as steady anymore as it used to be’
‘The doc’s here’ Zack shouted as he came running in.
The doctor entered after him, still looking a bit dazzled by the fact he just got picked up by a supposed to be dead boy.
‘Glass splinters’ Zack’s mom shouted at him.
‘Alright. If everybody could please leave the room, it would be easier’ the doctor said.
‘I’m not leaving’ Cloud said.
‘Are you her boyfriend?’
For a moment Zack and Cloud looked at each other, Cissnei could only see Cloud’s look as she stood behind Zack, it was indescribable, hatred, friendship and jealousy all mixed up.
Everyone waited for Cloud’s answer.
‘Kind of’ he said.
‘Well you can stay then, if you keep your distance and don’t distract us, the others move’
‘Come on’ Cissnei said, taking Zack’s arm and almost dragging him outside.

‘Why didn’t you say you were her boyfriend?’
‘I dunno’
They were both lying on a hill, looking at the Clouds passing by.
The weather was bright, the clouds fuzzy and white.
Zack had a grass like thing in his mouth.
‘Zack, what’s wrong?’
‘I don’t think I’ll be Tifa’s boyfriend for much longer’
‘Why?’
‘I’m not sure…I don’t know if she’s the right one for me, if I’m the right one for her’
‘Why do you doubt?’
‘I don’t know’
‘Do you love her?’
‘I…think so’
‘You shouldn’t think. Love is something you have to feel’
'Did you love Reno?'
‘Not really’
‘That explains why you’re so calm’
‘I’m used to getting people I care about killed’
‘You don’t mean that’
It was a conclusion, not a question.
‘Okay I don’t, I think Reno still has to sink in a bit’
‘Why were you with him if you didn’t love him?’ Zack asked.
‘Weren’t we talking about your girlfriend issues?’
‘We were, but now we switched to your boyfriend issues, so just tell me’
‘After you… “died” I didn’t really feel too good, I stopped with the turks for a while, just to get my life back on track…Reno helped me a lot, for as far as he could in between the missions. When I got back he was always there for me and…well it just happened’
‘I didn’t know it would affect you that much’
‘Would you not have died if you knew?’
‘I would have tried harder’
She smiled faintly.
‘I’m glad you back’
‘And on top of that we’re both on the same side again!’
‘How come you’re always so…happy and positive about everything?’
‘Because being negative never gets me anywhere’
‘Neither does denying the reality’
‘Who says I’m denying reality? I’m just imagining the future a bit brighter than it most likely will turn out, what’s wrong with that?’
‘It might hurt if the future will turn out a lot less bright than you imagined it to be’
‘Then it helps just to think of the way it will get better’
‘And if it gets worse?’
‘Then you know it wasn’t that bad before and you’ve already locked away one more way how it can get worse so there are more ways it can get better’
‘You’ve completely lost me on that’
‘It’s just better to be positive on things than negative, as long as you do keep realistic’
‘I think it’s just your positive input that I’ve missed’
‘I’m back’
‘So…how’s your positive look working on your relation with Tifa?’
‘I just don’t think it’ll work out between us, I don’t know why’
‘I think I do’
‘I’m listening’
‘Cloud’
Zack sighed, ‘Maybe I have been denying reality a bit’
Cissnei waited.
‘It’s not only coming from her side if that’s what you think, she has tried, tried not to see me as a replacement for Cloud. But just the fact that she already had to try says enough. She just loves Cloud, even if she doesn’t want to see it herself’ Zack said, still looking at the sky.
‘And then what’s your side of this?’
‘It isn’t that Tifa isn’t special, I’ve never met a girl like her before, who’s so strong and kind at the same time…it’s not that I’m not over Aerith. It’s just that Tifa…doesn’t make me feel complete, I almost had that with Aerith, still not completely. It’s just a certain feeling you need to have…if it’s not there it’ll never get there, it’s not something you can force. Tifa’s a really nice girl and you really can have fun with her…but the feeling just isn’t there’
‘I see’
They both fell silent.
The wind caressed their faces.
In the sky Cloud’s passed by.
Everything was completely peaceful.
‘When will you tell her?’
‘I’ll wait for her to come to me’ Zack said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I think she’ll break up with me’
‘Are you scared to do it yourself?’
‘I think she’s better at explaining her reasons than I am at mine’
Cissnei nodded, ‘Let’s first see how it’ll go with her injuries’
‘She’ll live, I’m sure’ Zack said.
‘Do you ever worry about anything?’ Cissnei said teasingly.
Zack grinned, ‘Only when I’m in a bad mood’