"Good.." *huff* "God" *huff*
Chelsea slammed the hoe into the dirt one last time and let it rest there, wiping the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. She surveyed her field, taking in the long rows of plants, vegetables, and flowers, their leaves swaying in the breeze. Glancing just past the field, she saw her cow Zaki lumbering out the open door of the barn to munch on some fresh grass.
"CHELSSS!"
The trilling voice caused Chelsea to jump a bit. Looking towards the entrance to her farm, she saw the familiar blonde ponytail headed
her way.
"Hey" Chelsea called out, cupping one hand around her mouth "whats the occasion? It barley 7 and your already up and walking? Amazing"

Julia scowled, though she couldn't quite keep the small smile from her face.

"How do you not remember?" she pouted "Its exactly 1 year today that you came to this island. It also happens to be your birthday,
you big dummy" She stuck her tongue out at Chelsea as she swatted her shoulder

Chelsea laughed "H-hey hey okay okay I get it stop hitting me!"

Julia grinned, flipping her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder. She was dressed up in her usual low cut blue tank top and extremely short
jean shorts. She was lucky she had the body for that.

"So, what amazing evening do you have planned for us?"

Chelsea smirked as Julia jumped up, animatedly talking about everything she wanted them to do that night. The brunette listened to all
of Julia's chatter and finally got her to leave with the excuse of farm work and the promise that, yes, she would come to her house
later.

As Julia left, Chelsea began to look back on the past year. She remembered the night she pretty much washed up on the beach like it
was yesterday. She didn't think she had ever hit a lower time in her life than that night. But meeting these people had been a
blessing in disguise.
Still, there was nothing more awkward than meeting all the villagers for the first time. Not to mention difficult to come up with an excuse as to 'what brought her to these parts' on the spot. She had come up with a flimsy excuse of wanting nothing more than to run her own farm, and hearing this island had been found and was in need of people seemed like a great opportunity. Though she had never farmed a day in her life and barley looked the part, her story was bought with no questions, even from Denny and Julia, who helped her on that first night and knew it had to be a lie. They respected her privacy and seemed to know she had her reasons for lying.
She had also been taken in as an apprentice almost immediately by Taro. Taro was almost the grandfather of the entire island, him and his family being the first to make it to the small island. He had been a farmer back in his prime and was almost ecstatic to teach Chelsea, claiming she had the 'zest' needed for the work. Chelsea had just smiled and taken his compliment, though she knew it not to be true, instantly having a soft spot for the older man. His grandchildren, Elliot, a small shy pink haired boy, and Natalie, a strong willed girl with rose colored hair, also took to Chelsea, becoming fast friends.

Chelsea was also proud to admit that the island had even started to grow from her few short months of farming. The first few days were rough and long, with her back aching and her fingers blistered and bleeding. But she soon got the hang of farming, and came to enjoy it. There was something extremely rewarding about seeing all of your hard work pay off.

She grinned as she continued to work, pulling out fresh seeds she had bought at the general store the other day. As she worked, she thought of all she had accomplished over the past year. The island was now pretty bustling, with everybody from a small shop owner to a pop star moving in. New people were taking root here all the time, helping the island to grow and flourish.

Chelsea smiled, wiping some sweat off her brow as she watered the last of her plants. Grabbing a quick shower and a change of clothes, she decided to head down to the beach to dip her toes in the water and do a little fishing before she headed over to Julia's.

On her way into town, she said hello to Elliot and stopped for a minute to chat with Natalie as she passed there small home. Their mother Felecia , a soft spoken sweet women with the same light pink hair, poked her head out the door to give Chelsea a warm smile and a quick hello as she continued onto the beach.

Chelsea put her hand to her mouth and giggled as the small fish nibbled at her toes, her legs swung over the side of the small wooden dock. She swirled her feet around as she recast out her fishing line. She leaned back slightly, closing her eyes and sighing as she tipped her face up towards the sun. It was one of those unusually warm spring days, used for cat naps on the porch swing and long walks through the woods.

A tug on her fishing line caused her to sit back up, ready to pull in another catch. But as she opened her eyes, she saw the source of the tug. A large tanned had, resting on the top of her fishing pole. Denny just laughed and plopped down next to Chelsea as she gave him a funny look.

"I could have had a catch you know, and you shaking my pole probably scared it off" She gave him a pointed look as he just flashed her his trademark grin that she had gotten to know so well over the past few months.

"Sure, sure" Denny chuckled as he pulled off his shoes to dip his own toes in the water "Your lecturing me? Who was it exactly that taught you how to fish? As I recall, the first time you tired you only caught yourself up in your own line" Chelsea flushed, recalling the day Denny insisted on teaching her how to use the old rod Taro had given her.

"Go shove it Denny" she mumbled, looking down with a small smile.

"Such language!" He gasped, putting his hand to his heart as if wounded "what happened to that shy girl that would barley look any one in the eye when she first got here? You have so much bite now. Wow. Guess my jabbering rubbed off on you more than I thought" Chelsea snorted as Denny waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Aw, you know shes gone now Denny. You know I have you to thank for that, I mean you are the best"

"The best!" Denny shouted playfully, throwing one finger up in the air as if announcing a point

"Your a Dork"

"Yes, but it always makes you smile" Denny glanced at her, his grin turning into a small smile "No matter why, I'm glad you stumbled onto this small island. Happy Birthday"

"Thanks Denny" Chelsea reeled in her fishing pole and cast it out again, glancing out at the small ship making its way towards the dock " I'm glad someone's happy I'm here"

"Daw, not this again! Everyone's glad your here! We all love you and your free spirit." Denny's eyes soften a bit, becoming slightly farther away "It took awhile for her to show up, but it was amazing when she did" Another blush dusted over Chelsea's face at Denny compliment as the ship came closer to the dock.

"Well.." she started, watching as the ship docked, two deckhands coming out to pull a ramp onto the dock "Not everyone.."

"Hey" Denny said as a dark figure appeared at the top of the ramp, slowly starting down the ramp towards them "Don't you worry
about.."

"Vaughn" She said, glancing up as the dark figure passed behind her. He paused as he heard his name "Happy Wednesday. Its nice to see you back again" She smiled, her eyes closing as Vaughn's eyes slid sideways to look at her for a moment, before he continued down the beach, on his way into town.