Chapter 1: The Big Bet

"C'mon Eve! Hurry!" Popuri screamed. I ran behind, my legs slowly numbing.

"Tell me what we're going to see first!" I yelled as she continued to sprint to the beach. She spun around, flipping her cotton candy hair around as she grinned.

"One of my friends is a traveler! He's coming back this summer! Oh, I can't wait to see him!"

I managed to catch up with her. "W-Who is he?" I gasped, struggling for breath.

"A lot of people in town say he's a little bit of a player…" She said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"I-Is he?"

"…Yeah, pretty much…" She confessed. I laughed as we finally made it to the docks. A boat chugged its way to the pier, splashing water and making it foam.

There was a figure standing at the very tip, waving to us. Popuri waved back, but I shielded my eyes from the sun's glare so I could get a clearer view of him. Once the sun was out of my way, the figure had already left to get his belongings.

Popuri shrieked as the boat hit the side of the deck and the stairs slid down. The man came down and put down his bags. "Popuri!" She ran over to him and gave him a hug. He stumbled back, but laughed. "You and those death hugs…"

I walked over to the two laughing friends. I didn't dare ruin their sweet little reunion. Popuri finally turned around and laughed. "Oh, Kai! This is my new friend Eve. Eve, this is Kai!"

Popuri moved back so Kai could see me. His skin was tanned from the many years out traveling in the sun. Kai wore a bandanna of a purple color and was only slightly worn from the sea's winds ripping against it. He flashed a dazzling white smile and put out his hand. "Hey there Eve!"

I meekly put out my hand and he gripped it tight and shook it roughly. I almost fell over, he was so strong, or I was just so weak…

He looked me over and grinned again. "So, you must be the new farmer! Popuri wrote about you a lot!"

I nodded. "Y-Yeah, I l-live at the Golden Acres Farm…"

He looked confused for a moment. "You… look more like someone who reads a lot."

"I-I do like to read… I-It's like hobby of mine."

He laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm not much of a reader, but why would you want to read?"

"W-Well-" He cut me off.

"It's so boring! I mean, it's just a bunch of words on a piece of paper!" He laughed.

I got a little irked. "Well, I think it's fun."

Popuri got a look of 'uh-oh' on her face and tried to silence Kai, but he continued. "Bur seriously, it's just a bunch of papers glue together and called 'entertainment'. Entertainment my ass!" He laughed at his own joke.

My jaw fell slightly. "Well excuse me!" I poked him in the chest, which hurt but I didn't show it. "I happen to enjoy reading and if you think that you can just come up to me and start ranting about how boring and dull it is, think again."

He waved his hands. "Hey, hey, no need to get so defensive, bookworm."

I folded my arms over my chest. "Bookworm?"

"Yeah, you sound like a bookworm!" He told me honestly.

"Maybe I am a bookworm. Why say it as though it's an insult?"

"Cause it is! I would punch out the guy who called me a bookworm!"

"Maybe I enjoy being a bookworm!"

"Yeah, well maybe I think it's stupid!"

"I don't care what you think!"

"I don't care what you think!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!!"

Kai turned around swiftly as did I and I stormed away. Popuri yelled at me to come back, but I ignored her pleas. I heard a slap and Kai's yelp of pain, which made me smile, but then I went back to frowning.

I did not like the new traveler.

I woke up from my dream, err, flash-back dream actually. Yeah, that happened yesterday. And yet, I'm still irked. I moaned as I dragged myself out of bed and brushed my hair untangling the knots.

As I brushed, I noticed my strokes getting harder and fiercer. Just the thought of Kai made my blood boil. Ugh! Today was the Beach Festival, but I wasn't going to participate this year. My dog, Delilah, was back home with my parents. She would be coming later on this year, because I couldn't bring her when I did come to Mineral Town.

I out on a bathing suit, but over top I had put on a t-shirt and some Bermudas. No doubt that Kai was going to be there, but he wasn't going to ruin my day!

After a few minutes of walking I made it to the beach. I looked around until I finally found Mary sitting under an umbrella. She looked up from her book and waved at me. I waved back and ran over.

"Eve! You have to see this book; it's really one you would enjoy!" She told me as I sat next to her.

I took the book out from her outstretched hands and read the summary upon the back of its cover. I smiled at her. "This does look like a good book! Thanks! Can I borrow it?"

"Sure- H-Hello, Kai." She started to answer me, but was interrupted by the tanned man walking over and giving her a blinding smile.

"Hey there Mary!" he saw me and glared. "Eve."

"Kai." I said in the same annoyed tone. Mary looked at us back and forth as Kai and I continued to glare daggers.

Finally she stopped and asked me. "What's going on between you tw-"

"Kai! You have more customers!" Popuri shouted. Kai looked over and then shot another grin at Mary.

"Gotta go! See ya!" He stopped smiling and glowered at me. I stuck my tongue out and he left.

Mary sighed and then turned to me. "So, what was that about?"

"I met him yesterday and he called me a bookworm!"

"I thought you liked being called a bookworm…"

"I do! It's just…" I sighed. "He said it was supposed to be offensive…"

She nodded. "Don't worry; he's just not the reader type."

"Yeah he told me that." Suddenly, the mayor's voice rang out through the beach and over the other conversations.

"Excuse me! We will be starting the dog races after the swimming race this year! It will begin shortly!" He announced.

Another murmur went through the beach dwellers. I looked around curiously and then asked Mary. "What's going on?"

"Oh, we don't usually do the swimming contest often on the Beach Festival, so this is special!" She told me with a smile.

"Who races?"

"Oh, usually the guys. Well, Kai usually wins, he's really good." I rolled my eyes immediately as soon as she said 'Kai'.

"Yeah, okay, that sounds cool." I said, looking around.

"What's going on?"

"Do you get to place bets like on the Horse races?" I asked. Suddenly, a voice came out of nowhere.

"Care to place one though?" I turned to see Kai giving me an evil smirk.

"I-I don't t-think so." I replied, trying to sound strong, but my shyness made me stammer.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" he tutted me. "Don't say you wan to place a bet unless you really do."

"Y-Yeah, well, I-I was just asking."

"I bet…" he tapped his chin annoyingly and then smiled mischievously. "…that I will win the swimming race."

"What w-would happen if I so h-happen to w-win?" I asked. He scratched his cheek in thought, but I came up with the wager faster. "You must read a book of my choosing, cover to cover."

He nodded, continuing to smile. "Yeah, but I will win, so once I do…" he got closer to my face. "You have to work in my Seaside Lodge."

"H-How long?"

"As long as I need it." he said simply.

He put out his hand like the day before. I stared at it for a few moments with uncertainty. I slowly put out my hand and he grabbed it before I made contact, giving me the same firm shake like before.

He smirked evilly. "The bet's on."

Oh dear... tension! TEE-HEE!