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A Ring is Boring.
That was the thought that ran through Uzi Doorman’s head as she walked down the street. Her boots cracked against the concrete as the sun gently set in the horizon, painting the street in gentle golden hues and marking the ending of the day. Finally, those large, laced boots stopped in front of a doorway labeled “Jeremy’s Pet Store” and she reached out, gently grasping the handle.
The girl turned the handle and stepped in.
—
N let out a loud yawn as he stirred awake. He reached his arms up, as if offering the sky a handshake, as he took a large stretch.
“Glad you woke up, doofus,” a sweet voice cause N to whip his head around with a smile to his girlfriend, Uzi.
“Uzi!” He exclaimed happily, pulling her in from the side of the bed and into a hug.
The girl tolerated the hug for a moment before prying herself free. “You’re always too excited to see me. You react the same everyday, as if I’m something spectacular,” she rolled her eyes.
“You are!” He said with a beaming smile. “It’s the weekend, and I woke up to your voice and your face! It’s an awesome day.”
Uzi ignored the way her cheeks heated up, turning to the window and clearing her throat. “Get dressed, you idiot. We’re going out for breakfast my treat.” She wheeled around and pointed a finger at him as he opened his mouth. “No! You are not paying!”
He cracked a small smile before bursting into laughter. “You know me well, Uz!”
“And why do you insist on shorterning my three letter name,” she grumbled, going to grab her bag and wait in the car.
N trotted along after her a few minutes later once he had finished dressing himself and preparing for the day.
“So,” he said, hopping in the car with a smile. “Where are we going?” He asked happily.
Uzi began driving down the road. “We’re going to Renee’s,” she said.
“The crepe place that I loved?” He asked. “I thought you didn’t like it?”
Uzi glowered at him for a second before refocusing on the road. “I thought it was okay,” she shot back.
“No, you said that it was the perfect picture of mediocrity accepting its place in the dirt and then wallowing in self-pity, never once making a move to improve,” he responded, repeating her words to her perfectly.
Uzi groaned. “Bite me! Put some music on!”
Her boyfriend nodded. “Okay! Heavy death metal I assume?”
“No,” she said. “Whatever you want to listen to.”
N shook his head. “But if you’re not happy I can’t be happy. I’m only happiest when I see you enjoying yourself!”
Uzi turned red and pulled over for a second, flipping on her hazards to grab N by the shoulders and shake him. “Why are you so… AGGHHH!”
“Good agggh?” He asked, a little confused.
“Good agggh,” she confirmed, turning off her hazards and driving as N and her jammed out to max volume death metal.
—
The two pulled into the driveway and walked out, N holding the door for Uzi as the two walked into the restraunt.
“So, I’m paying?” He half joked.
“Bite me!” Uzi said. “Go ahead and try,” she smugly grinned and crossed her arms.
N looked confused, reaching to check his wallet and find no money or credit cards there. “What? Where’d my money go?”
“In your bedside drawer,” she said. “With your glasses, which you’re SUPPOSED to be wearing by the way!” She pointed an accusing finger at him.
He groaned a little. “I don’t want to, it’s so hard to remember and I always leave them places.”
“Whatever,” she said, looking at her menu. “Figure out what you want to order.”
The curly-haired boy nodded, pouring over the menu and picking out something.
“Nutella crepes!” He announced proudly.
“Cool,” Uzi responded, picking her own item. “Banana crepes,” she determined.
“Oooh, sounds good!” He proclaimed.
“Then try some of them.” The girl offered.
“Only if you try some of mine?” He countered.
“Hmmm, fine,” Uzi said.
N smiled. “You’re so cute,” he said aloud, resting his chin on his hand.
In response, Uzi burnt up before shutting down - obscuring her face with her hands. “Shuddup!” She said. “Bite me!”
He grinned happily at that.
—
After enjoying some crepes, Uzi paid the bill.
“Where are we going now?” N asked as Uzi accepted back her card.
“Where do you wanna go?” she replied automatically.
“I love doing anything!” He announced back.
“Thought so,” Uzi said with a sigh. “Then I know the perfect place. To the Uzimobile!”
“Uzimobile!” N repeated back excitedly.
The two got back in the car, no music this time because it was a shorter drive.
“What did you watch last night?” The short driver asked.
The tall boy kicked his legs back and forth. “I watched a documentary on dogs! It was so, so good! I especially lov-“
“Golden retrievers,” she filled in for him.
“Wow! How’d you know?” He asked. “We really are soulmates!” he exclaimed.
Uzi sputtered, barely maintaining her car straight. “No, doofus! You just mention them all the time.”
“Oh, okay.” N said a little sadly.
Uzi sighed. “And also cause we’re soulmates.” She finished.
“YAY!”
—
The two arrived at a small trail, and both hopped out to the crisp fresh air. Taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh of happiness, they began walking down the trail and following its curves.
“It’s so pretty here,” the girl’s boyfriend said in awe.
“Yeah,” Uzi said. “Mom and I used to come here all the time.”
N smiled. “Now you can come back with her!”
Uzi grinned at her boyfriend. It was a reminder of how they had met: he was a intern helping detectives who were working on a missing person’s case, and even after Nori’s case went cold, N kept investigating on his own. He was only a sixteen year old intern working under his dad at the time, but he did everything he could. With Uzi’s help, the two had found Nori.
“I love you,” she muttered earnestly. “You’re my hero.”
N grew a little crimson himself, taking Uzi’s hand in his own as they walked. “I love you, too, Zi,” he said. “You’re my hero, too.”
They walked hand in hand, mostly silent except talking about bugs and birds they saw that they found interesting or recognized. But the silence was comfortable - the silence was kind.
Finally, the trail wrapped back around and they hopped back in the car and went home.
“What do you want to eat at home?” N asked.
“Something light,” Uzi responded. “I’m taking us out for dinner.”
He looked a little taken aback. “We don’t normally go out to eat twice in one day, but okay! I love-“
“Doing anything,” Uzi finished with a little smile. “Yes, yes. Now… you’re going to make me fried rice when we get home!”
“You’ve got a fried rice addiction,” N said with the shake of a head.
“Do not!” Uzi complained. “Not my fault you cook good fried rice.”
N giggled a little at that. “I do cook good fried rice.”
She smiled softly.
—
“Is this the best day ever?” N said with a squeel. “You want to eat fried rice and watch dog videos with me? YES!” He yelled happily.
Uzi rolled her eyes. “Yes. But, we are taking a cat video break every hour or so, got it?”
He nodded compliantly and put on the first “Cute dog videos 23” in his playlist of dog videos to watch.
After hours of watching and laughing or going “awwww,” it was time to go to dinner and they hopped back in the car.
A ring is boring. Uzi reminded herself hesitantly.
With a deep breath of anticipation, the two walked into the restraunt.
They sat down at a table, and the waiter arrived with two menus which he gave to both of them before departing.
Uzi felt her breath quickening, but made sure to keep calm. He would love this, she was sure.
“I’m getting the Mac and cheese, how about you?” She asked.
“Hmmm, I’m stuck between the carbonera and chicken parm,” he said with a groan.
The waiter arrived. “Would you like me to choose for you and surprise you, sir?” He asked with an Italian accent.
N nodded happily. “Yeah! That sounds like a ton of fun! Thank you!”
The waiter smiled. “And you, miss?”
“The Mac and cheese,” Uzi said hesitantly, tapping her fingers against the table.
The man nodded. “We will bring you these and a special on the house in a few,” he said with a nod.
“Thank you!” N said enthusiastically.
Uzi smiled a little at his cheerfulness as the waiter dissapeared into the back.
“I need to wash up,” she hesitantly muttered, heading back towards the kitchen.
Uzi took a deep breath and braced herself as their waiter twirled his large mustache before handing her a box. “Your ‘special,’ miss,” he said.
She smiled. “He’s incredible, so he deserves something equally amazing, too.”
She steeled her resolve, accepting the box with holes poked in the top, and walked back over to the table.
“You were fast, Uzi,” N said, turning to her. His eyes caught on the box.
Uzi took a deep breath, pushing the box forward towards him and resting her tight hand on the lid. “A ring is boring, and you make sure there’s not a single day in my life that’s boring,” she said, popping off the lid to reveal a golden retriever puppy. “Will you marry me?”
N’s eyes widened as he gently accepted the puppy in a box.
“Yes, Uzi! Yes, 100%, without a doubt! YES!” N buzzed in place, eyes wide and hands gently caressing the puppy even as they shook with nervous happiness.
Uzi smiled happily, cuddling the puppy and N.
“This really is the best day ever.”