Here's the next chapter!!! Thanks to the reviewers, ur mom, Shimmerleaf, and Okapi95. Hope you all like this chapter!!


Chapter 2

Chase yawned and looked out the window of his room at the Inn. It was morning already, and yet it was just five minutes ago that he had flopped on his bed and fallen asleep. Well, at least it felt like five minutes ago. Chase rubbed his eyes wearily and got up. He walked groggily over to his dresser and changed into his favorite black shirt and his trusty maroon apron. The cook walked downstairs and was greeted by a cheery Ann.

"Morning, Chase!" the brunette chimed. Chase yawned again.

"Morning," he said. Sunlight streamed in through the Inn's tattered blinds. "What time is it?" Ann looked up from her cleaning.

"9:00," she said. "Why?"

"Just wondering," he replied. Chase sat down at a table and rubbed his temples. It had been just yesterday when he had received a boat ticket to Waffle Island. He still couldn't believe it. Gourmet had claimed his Orange Pie to be the "best thing he's ever tasted in his entire existence as a certified Gourmet" which had made Chase very surprised. He had not expected to win and he had not expected to get a boat ticket as a prize.

"Did you want anything to eat?" Ann asked. Chase shook his head. He just didn't feel hungry.

"Can you tell Doug that I'll be back at noon?" he asked. Ann nodded.

"Sure."

Chase grinned. "Thanks, Ann. Tell him I'm going to go head over to the Church and then the Supermarket. If I still have time after that, then I'll just be wandering around."

Ann stared at him. "Alright. I'll tell him."

"Thanks," Chase said. The cook stood up from his table and walked outside. Crisp spring air met him genially. Flowers bloomed in bright colors from the window boxes of the Inn and tiny buds bloomed on the trees. Chase walked on the northern path to the Church, where Pastor Carter greeted him at the entrance.

"I figured you would come, Chase," the priest said.

"Yeah. I just have so much to think about right now," Chase said. Carter motioned for him to follow him inside, so the cook did. The two sat down in a pew.

"So, are you really going to leave Mineral Town?" the priest asked. Chase shook his head in confusion.

"I-I don't really know," he murmured. "I can't decide if I want to or not."

Carter smiled. "Well, the boat doesn't leave for another two seasons, so you have plenty of time to consider your choice."

Chase sighed. "It's not that. It's just that I don't know if I want to leave behind all that I've ever known. I mean, my parents are here to stay forever. I can't change that; I can't help that they're buried in the graveyard. I don't know if I want to leave them just yet. I mean…" Chase swallowed. "…they were the only ones who ever cared about me." The priest looked at Chase contemplatively.

"What about Ms. Claire?" he asked. Chase flushed red.

"Claire?" he asked. The cook shook his head. "Claire just seems to have a thing for me. I don't feel the same way about her."

"Do you feel like that towards anyone in Mineral Town?"

Chase bit his lip. "No. I don't. At least I don't think so." Between his job and daily chores, he hadn't really had time to fall in love with any of the girls in the village, or even become good friends with them.

Carter smiled. "Well, then I think you should go to Waffle Island." Chase looked at him curiously.

"Why?"

The priest sighed. "Love is a strange thing. Have you ever considered that the one you're looking for is not here, but somewhere else?" Chase frowned.

"Pardon? Why are you so sure I won't just join the convent?"

Carter laughed silently. "You heard me loud and clear, Chase."

"No, I haven't considered it…and I don't think I want to," Chase muttered. "I'd much rather live alone than with someone else."

"Oh? And why's that?"

Chase grinned sheepishly. "I dunno… I like living by myself… with my own rules. No one to tell me where I have to be or what I have to do."

"Ah, but you always used to complain that everyone you knew was married or getting married, am I correct?" Chase blushed.

"I-I never said that!"

"You most certainly did. You complained to me, Chase."

The cook sighed. "That was years ago. I think…I've changed since my parents' accident."

"We all do that," Carter said. "But are you really changed, or are you just using that as an excuse to cover up your true feelings?" Chase looked down. For a long time, no one said anything, but a long sigh from Chase broke the silence.

"It's just an excuse, Carter," the cook said. "Before the accident…I was different. I guess I was actually happy. I wanted to fall in love; I wanted to have a family. After the accident, I still wanted all that, but I was too overwhelmed with what happened to realize that I still could. I could have a family; I could be happy again. I just didn't realize it. I was blind to reality."

Carter grinned. "Did you just hear yourself, Chase?" The cook looked up.

"Yeah. But what does that…?" Chase trailed off. He knew now; he understood.

"So do you see what you should do?" Carter asked. Chase nodded and stood up.

"I should go to Waffle Island," he said. The cook breathed a sigh of relief. The weight on his shoulders was gone; he was no longer stressed. In two seasons' time, he would be on a boat to his new life and his new future. It was like a dream come true…

Carter smiled sadly. "It'll be lonely without you here, Chase."

The cook laughed. "Like you said earlier, I'm not leaving just yet. I have two seasons left, so don't worry about missing me, Carter. I'll come back often." The priest smiled and nodded.

"I guess you're right, Chase," he said. "But I think you should be getting back to the kitchen about now. Doug will be upset if you're not there on time." Chase looked at his watch and cursed silently. It was 11:00 and he still had to go to the supermarket.

"You're right. I'd better go," Chase said. As he was leaving, he turned to Carter and smiled. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," the priest replied. Chase waved a goodbye and then ran outside. It took him ten full minutes to get to the supermarket, and by the time he had bought all the cooking supplies and began heading back to the Inn, it was well past noon. When he got back, Doug was waiting by the door, his foot tapping impatiently.

"It's about time," Doug said. "I should hope that you got everything that I asked for."

Chase nodded. "I got everything. Sorry I'm late. I was talking with Carter."

Doug nodded understandingly. "That's what Ann said. Hurry inside now; we've got a lot to cook if we want the surprise party to be a success."

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"Let's go Chase! Under the table!"

"Ugh… I can't fit under there!"

"Geez! Stop squirming! Get down here!"

"Shhh! She's coming!"

"What's going on here?....Why are you guys under the table?"

Ann jumped up, dragging Chase along with her. "Happy birthday, Claire!" She ran over and gave her a hug. "You didn't think we forgot, did you?"

Claire flushed red, her eyes sparkling as she examined the restaurant. Streamers and balloons were tied around every chair and sparkling confetti coated the floor. "Wow! You guys did this all for me?" Even the cake was taller than she was, practically tipping over with all the icing and sugar.

"Yup! Chase and Doug did all the cooking, Karen and I organized the decorations, and everyone else provided the gifts!"

"That's the best present you could get!" Doug laughed. "A free dinner on your birthday!"

Claire smiled, biting her lip. "This is incredible, guys! Thank you so much!"

"No need to be shy," Carter smiled, patting Claire on the back. "You deserve it with all your hard work. Chase worked his butt off preparing this food!"

"Awww! Thanks Chase!" She blushed and grabbed his arm, pulling him into a hug.

Chase grimaced. "Uhh…yeah…but Kai did some of it to…I wasn't the only one…"

"Excuse me?" Kai looked over cautiously. "Oh no, not this time…I…"

"Aw, Kai!" Claire released Chase and scooped Kai into a hug. Kai looked over at Chase angrily, his face buried in Claire's long, blonde hair.

Ann smacked Chase in the stomach. "Geez, Chase! The least you could do is give her what she wants on her birthday!"

"What are you talking about?" Chase asked, rubbing his stomach tenderly. "I worked for five hours preparing this food. I even got her a gift!"

"The whole town knows she's into you. At least act like you're interested back."

Chase gulped. "The whole town…seriously? I didn't know that…"

"That's because you live under a rock. And from what I know, she has no idea you're leaving."

"What?!" Chase ran his hands through his hair. "Well, that's not my problem. We were never really together or anything…right?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Claire skipped back over, her face glowing with excitement.

"We were about to start dinner, if that's okay," Doug intervened.

"Oh boy, yes! That would be great!"

"Alright, then. Let's get started!" People sat themselves down and tables and Claire beckoned for Chase to sit next to her. The cook looked at Ann, whose look perfectly said, "If you don't sit next to her you'll be sitting in a bed at the Clinic!" Chase gulped and sat down next to Claire.

"Wow, Chase, the food looks great!" Claire exclaimed as she speared a piece of her meal with her fork. "You and Kai must've worked so hard!"

"Er…yeah, we did," Chase murmured. He looked down wearily at the food, which he was too upset to eat. Claire, on the other hand, was shoving food into her mouth greedily. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying the food too. Chase sighed and got up from the table and went outside. Claire looked at him curiously before standing up and following him. When she got to him, Chase was sitting on a bench, his empty eyes staring longingly up at the stars.

"Are you ok, Chase?" Claire asked. Chase nodded and looked at his feet. Claire sat down next to him.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Claire."

The farmer sighed. "It's a beautiful night tonight…"

Chase looked at Claire. "Yeah….pretty stars…" Chase felt uncomfortable. This conversation was the kind that you would imagine to read in romance novels, in which the characters swoon and bat their eylashess while confessing their love for each other. Chase scooted away from Claire.

Claire grinned. "I loved the party! It was a lot of fun. Thanks, Chase."

Chase managed a weak smile back. "We weren't there for very long. About a half hour or so..."

"I don't care. This is one of the birthdays I'll always remember," Claire murmured.

"Glad you liked it." Chase's blood ran cold as Claire felt around in her rucksack. She pulled something out and hid it in her pocket. Chase pretended not to notice it.

"Can I ask you something, Chase?" Claire asked softly. Chase had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Oh, Goddess, no....

"T-That depends on what it is...." The farmer pulled out a blue feather and looked at him.

"Will you marry me?"