Getting to know her
The next Day things were hectic. The world that was Forget-Me-Not valley came to help with festival planning. Kai who had just arrived that morning had officially moved into the Inn for the summer. He had said goodbye to all his friends in Mineral town who promised to visit him when they had time. But what had been on his mind the most during all that was the girl he'd met the day before. Jill said she would come.
But that morning as he worked with Takakura and Thomas he couldn't find her. Everyone had shown up to volunteer with the exception of the few kids in the valley. But he couldn't find her anywhere. But if you think about it between placing streamers up, blowing up balloons, unfolding and placing chairs , and setting up the buffet (which he was personally in charge of) there wasn't much time to look for her.
He did get a chance to ask about her though. And when he'd ask a person "What do you know about Jill?" he got multiple responses.
"She likes too keep to herself."
"She's a major animal lover. She'd hug bears if she could find one."
"She's crazy!"
"She's such a sweet and caring girl"
"She's a slacker"
The girls in the valley seemed to know here best. Like the time Kai was talking to Muffy.
"Oh yeah! I know Jill. She's one off my best friends. We used to hang out and talk all the time."
"Used to?"
"Heh. It's a long story don't worry about it. Why are you asking anyway? You interested?"
"No, I'm just wondering"
"Aww, too bad"
And when he asked Flora the same question.
"Oh, Jill. Yes she comes over to the excavation site at least once a day. We talk and sometimes she stays for lunch. She's a very good friend."
But with the little things he'd gotten out of his questions he was satisfied. Jill seemed like a good person. And he put getting to know her on the top of his to-do list.
Jill was tired. As she slowly wiped the sweat off her brow she looked up. Summer had set in with a vengeance and the once cool spring wind had been washed away. It was amazing what one night could do. She had to water the ground twice with her watering can before it was ready to plow and once she'd spread the seed she had to water the ground again. But she'd done it and now she had herself everything she needed to start this season off with a bang. The animals had been fed and the cow had been milked. But what she needed was to get some rest and she knew the perfect place to go.
Kai had been working all day and now that the prep was done everyone had an hour to rest and get dressed before the festival started. But now Kai had some time to go explore. Who knew maybe he'd find something he hadn't noticed before.
While walking past Galen and Nina's house he noticed something. Past the construction site was a small wall with an open walkway. Walking over to it Kai notice large amount of steam coming out over the wall. A hot spring? That's what it seemed and as he walked through the doorway he noticed the lockers and the sound of water. Definitely a hot spring. One must have been built while he was away. A head toward the rushing water and found himself stand in the center of a beautiful sweet smelling flower filled paradise. He sat down at the waters edge and pulled off his boots. Placing them next to him he dipped his toes into the hot water and leaned back. Every place he went to always had some new and…
Was that a splash?
As he sat up he noticed a dark shadow heading through the water toward him. He pulled his feet out of the water and back away. The shadow got closer and closer and Kai backed farther and farther away. But then the shadow stopped and disappeared with a splash. Kai looked around. Where'd it go? He inched his way back to the waters edge and peered over and into the water. They must have left. He sighed. 'Forget me not valley sure is weird' he thought. But just then a huge splash appeared.
"Aaahhh!" Kai screamed out in surprise.
"Pervert!" the pervert person gasped.
But when Kai opened his eyes he saw a massive flop of long wet brown hair.
"Jerk! Jerk! Jerk!" she said as she rubbed the water out of her eyes "I can't believe you. Sitting here staring. Can't a girl get some privacy, anywhere?"
"Look im sorry I…" Kai began but stopped as he found himself staring into a pair off angry purple eyes.
"You!" they both replied as they pointed toward the other
"Sorry I exploded on you like that." Jill said with a small smile.
"No, its okay I should've been watching out more carefully" Kai said
"Yeah, you should've." She replied
"Ha ha."
After the two had realized who each other were things had calmed down. Kai had helped her get out of the water and had waited outside for her to get dressed. Jill had explained that when she saw a shadow across the pool she had wondered who it was so she approached. But when she still couldn't make out the figure she dove under water and swam over for a closer look, but she still couldn't tell who it was. But all was forgiven between the two. And now they both walked outside the hot spring.
"I was surprised to see. You not many come to the hot spring will its occupied." Jill said
"I didn't know. The hot spring wasn't here last summer." Kai answered
"You were here last year?"
"Yeah I come every year."
"But this is the first time I've ever seen you and I thought I knew everyone."
"Same with me… How long have you been here?"
"About … four years. Since I was 18."
"Uh-huh, So your 22 now."
"Yeah, well almost. My birthdays on the 5th actually, then I'll be 22. How about you?"
"23"
"cool."
"... Why'd you come here anyway?"
Jill paused for a second. She looked away.
"Jill…?" Kai said
"It's complicated some other okay," Jill said as she turned back to him shy smile on her face "Anyway don't we have some festival t get to. It's about 5:53 now. Aww! There's no time now."
"No time for what?" Kai asked
"I was gonna dress up. You know since I'd been personally invited and all."
"Really," Kai said "I mean it's no big deal I personally invited everyone and…"
Jill started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
She stuck out her tongue. And with a strong smile she grabbed his hand.
"I was kidding. I'm not dressing up. It would have to be something really special to make me dress up."
Now Kai felt stupid. Jill must have noticed because she grasped his hand little tighter and as he looked up at her she smiled and said.
"Come on we'll be late if we don't hurry! Aren't you, well you know, a guest of honor at this thing or what?" She said as she let go of his hand and began to run away. Kai stood there and blinked at as the brunette ran off with out him. A smile broke out on his face.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
The festival was great. Good food, good music and lots of things to talk about. Kai and Jill spent the most time together. They talked about work and travel and cooking. They had a lot in common even though they'd just met. Everyone at the ocean festival seemed happy to see her. She seemed to be the most popular at the event. People constantly coming up to her and asking her how she's been. But even with all that attention she seemed most interested in Kai. And ever time she listen to him with her full attention or laughed at a joke he said or smiled at him he felt a slight tug. A weird a faint tug. But a tug none the less. And as the night came to a close Kai even walked her home.
The cool summer night air had set in. And as the two walked home Kai wrapped his arm around her shoulder. They talked and laughed on their way to her house. And when they got there it seemed like the walk had been much too short. The two stopped outside of the door for a moment.
Jill stretched her arms "sigh. Tonight was nice, huh?"
"Yeah." Kai replied
"I can't believe it's the first of summer already. Yesterday the flowers were still in bloom and the air smelled like honey. Now it's hot and there are fire flies everywhere."
"Yeah."
"…Hey Jill…" Kai started
"What is it?" Jill asked as she stepped closer to her door.
"Can I see you tomorrow?"
"Like as in a date?" Jill teased as she opened her door.
"You wish."
"Maybe I do."
Kai laughed. "Seriously though. You think I'll see you?"
"I'll come by your stall thing tomorrow. Okay?"
"Okay, cool."
"Good night"
"Nite"
And with that Jill's front door closed. And Kai walked back to the inn.
Jill went inside and kicked her shoes off. Kai was such a good guy and she'd had so much fun. Jill checked her watch, 9:15. She smiled and pulled some things out of the fridge one more stop before bed. The night wasn't over yet.
