Chapter 2
The meeting
I woke up to a knocking on my door. With a quick glance at my alarm clock which read six thirty, I steadily got out of bed. Its been three and a half weeks since I've first landed on the island, and so far, everything is great. The spring harvest is coming in with a matter of days, Gannon, the town carpenter, built a chicken coop free, as soon as I get enough wood. With all the crops coming in, I'll be able to start off with two chickens.
I opened the door and my heart stopped. I stepped back to see a tall silver haired man dressed like cowboy. I looked him in the eye, to see the most beautiful color of purple in this world.
"Hi" I managed to say, with my eyes glued to his hair. How old is he? His skin is flawless with no wrinkles or anything, but his hair made me think he was far past my age.
"Hello. I'm Vaughn the towns animal dealer," He said in a small, gruff voice.
"I'm Chelsea, the new rancher,"
"I know. Do you think I'm stupid? My Aunt Mirabelle sent me here to introduce myself. Mission accomplished, and now we will never have to speak again, thank goddess," He glared at me with his haunting eyes, then turned around and walked out. I slammed the door. The nerve of that guy. Thinking he can just walk in here and insult me. After a half hour, I had breakfast and showered and finally headed out. As I walked up I saw that the crops had come in over night! Now I'm gonna be able to afford those chickens!
By next week I had the money and went straight to Mirabelle's. I expected to be greeted by two cheerful 'hellos' but as soon I walked through the door,
"What are you doing here?" I recognized the harsh cold voice in an instant. Glaring at me with his beautiful eyes... Stop that Cheli! He may be handsome, but he's a jerk to you!
"What are you doing here?" I said in a mocking tone. I can play jerk too. Hey, playing jerk is fun! But not my style.
"Oh hello Chelsea!" Chirped Mirabelle as she waltzed in from the other room. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, you know how I said I was gonna buy a couple of chickens as soon as the crops come in?"
"Yes, I remember Elliot said something about that when he was delivering some supplies over this morning," She said smiling nicely the whole time. Hard to believe that Vaughn is related to her. She's so nice and happy. And Vaughn is so... distant.
"Yes, well the crops came in a few days ago and now I can finally afford those chickens," Vaughn stopped whatever he was doing and rolled his eyes at what I said. I felt like yelling at him, but I didn't want to interrupt Mirabelle
"Oh, wonderful! But I'm afraid on such short notice, they won't be able to stay with you until tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh thats alright. I'll just pick them up tomorrow an-"
"No no, I insist you let Vaughn drop them off at your ranch tomorrow. I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble!"
"Thats really not necessary, I-"
"Not another word!" I sighed, smiled and gave her the money I owed. As I stepped out the door I felt a little evil-ish.
"Bye Vaughn!" I said. A little childish but it was so much fun. He probably really hates me now. Oh well. I don't really care.
I stopped on the way home to get some seeds for the summer. Tomorrow I can start planting. As I walked into Chen's shop, I decided to get a couple extra seeds. It only means more money and I can always work harder. As I handed Chen the money, he got a serious look in his face, or some of his face looked serious, for most of it was covered by his mustache.
"What are gonna do with all these seeds Chelsea? You have well over half a fields worth."
"Well, I need the money, and I think I'm gonna push myself hard this season to make sure I can afford a barn for cows and sheep by the end of the year,"
"Alright. Just, be careful okay? I don't wanna see you hurting yourself,"
"I promise"
I walked out of the store and headed back home.
"Hey Cheli!" I turned around to see Natalie running over. She and I have gotten to be pretty good friends over these past couple weeks and now knows almost everything about my past.
"Cheli, wanna hang out?" She said finally catching up to me.
"Sure I got time."
"While were at it we might as well invite Julia. What do you say we add her to our little group?" She said. All I know about Julia, is that she and her family are pretty close. Also I happen to know that whenever I walk into Mirabelle's, and Julia's cooking, I think that whatever I came in for can wait for another time because the smell is just too horrible. But other then that I have no problems with her.
"Sure she seems nice"
"Yeah. Plus I wanna ask her what's going on with her and my brother." Woah! Did NOT see that coming.
"What's going on with those two wacky kids?" I said jokingly. She looked at me in a joking serious way with a tiny smirk on her face.
"What do you think?" She said raising her eyebrows. We approached Julia's house and knock on the door. A couple seconds pass and Julia opens the door.
"You could be a little sensitive!" She yells behind her back. "Hey guys what's up?" She says as though she wasn't screaming her head off a couple seconds ago.
"We wanted to know if you could hang out? You know, maybe go down to the beach, blast the music really loud, master the limbo. Typical stuff" I laughed when she said the thing about limbo. I have never lost a limbo competition in my life, on account of being short. One of the very few advantages of being short.
"Awesome! But nows not a good time... How bout friday morning?" Friday. Two days from now. I think I would have those seeds in by then. Natalie looks at me. I look at her. Turning back to Julia I give a little shrug.
"Friday works for me. But it's gonna have to be around noon,"
"And I can make time for the beach anytime" Julia and I give a chuckle
"Great! See you soon!" Julia smiled and quickly went back inside giving us a cheerful goodbye. Natalie and I decided to take a walk around the island instead of go to the beach.
"I wonder what's kept her from coming to the beach with us today"
"She might have to work the store," I suggested.
"Maybe, but I have a feeling it might have to do with that cowboy. Their related, like brother and sister?"
"Their cousins"
"Weird. Hey, what do you think of the guy? I think he's a jerk, and nothing more. You?"
"Well, I think he's cute, bu-" Her eyes grew wide. Her smirk turned into a gasp with the corners of her mouth turned upward.
"CHELI, YOU LOVE HIM!" She tackled me to the ground and tried to get me to admit I was in love by sitting on me.
"No I don't!" I said trying to push her off of me. She got off and grew serious.
Vaughn's POV
I couldn't believe my ears. She thinks I'm cute? She thinks I'm cute. I smirked, adjusted my hat. She's a little to... I don't know. She just isn't my type. She and I clash. We clash like night and night. Taro told me all about her during my interview for the job as animal dealer. Every time I asked a question about the island, he would say "Ask Chelsea". I figured I could just ask my aunt or Julia. But back to the matter at hand, She thinks I'm cute. She does smile pretty... and those eyes of hers. They make the ocean look like snow. What am I saying? She's doing a good job on that farm. Everything I've had from the ranch has been okay. Well, actually what I've had has been kinda good. I'm sitting behind Mirabelle's shop as I listen to Natalie beat Chelsea to the ground. Why did Natalie call her 'Cheli'? Guess it kinda make sense. Crap, I think Natalie caught me eavesdropping. I run through the backdoor into the house. I didn't help but come to my senses and I finally noticed that I've been smiling since I heard Cheli thought I was cute. Did I just called her Cheli? Thats not a good sign... For me it isn't.
"Vaughn, why are you smiling like that?" Aunt Mirabelle says walking into the kitchen.
"Uh, no reason. Can't a guy be happy for no reason around here?" I said flopping on the couch.
"Not when he has work to do. Come on, get up. We have to pick out Chelsea's new chickens" Her name struck out in that sentence the most. Chelsea. I got up and helped Aunt Mirabelle debate on whether to give her the chicken that gives better quality eggs, or the ones that give more eggs. I hate to be the one who shops with my aunt. After a whole half hour of debating, and deciding, and re-debating, I finally relised that we could just give her one of each. I told Mirabelle my idea and she slapped herself on the forehead lightly, and mumbled to herself.
"Now I want you too go to her ranch tomorrow by ten"
"Can't Julia do it? I have work to do here you know. You should know 'cause your the one who gives me the work." My aunt is the only person I'm close enough to let me tease her like this.
"A boy of seventeen, needs to do work for a poor old lady."
"Your not that old" Truth is, I have no idea how old she is. Mid fifty's I guess.
"You weren't saying that to me my last birthday. Anyways, I'm going to bed. Goodnight." I flop on the couch next to the living room window.
"Night" Guess I get to see Chelsea tomorrow. Whoppie.
Chelsea's POV
"What's up with you?" I brushed myself off. Man, she has an arm. I thought I could face anyone after wrestling with my brother all those years. Come to think of it, a cat could beat my brother at wrestling.
"I thought I saw someone behind the fence" My cheeks flushed.
"Are you sure? It could have been anything!" Great, now the whole island's gonna think that I'm insanely in love with Vaughn. It would be insane to love that boy. Wouldn't it?
"Never mind. It was most likely nothing" She and I got up off the ground. The sun was going down.
"Hey, I have a lot of work to do tomorrow. See you friday?" Man, it just occured to me how much work I have to do tomorrow. I have to till the soil, plant the seeds, water the seeds, and get the chicken coop ready for the new chickens. I'm tired already just thinking about all that work.
"See you their!" She said running off towards her place, and now here I am, on this peaceful, chilly summer night. It's dark now, and I'm double checking that all the spring crops I put in my rugsack are in the shipping bin, when I heard something behind me.
"Hey," The cold voice seemed to whisper. I know who it is now. I turned around, and I was greeted my a tall mysterious white haired person. I could barely even look him in the eyes.
"Hi,"
"Its late" He said looking at the moon
"Yeah, I was just heading home" Information he doesn't need. Why did I say this? I don't know, ask some other love-struck girl. Oh, goddess I'm not love-struck. I'm just simply... Love-pinched. Yeah, I'm love-pinched if their is such a thing.
"Its dark, let me walk you home," Why? I can walk by myself.
"You don't have to do that," Seriously. Don't. Please. I beg of you.
"Nah, if you get attacked by a wild animal it will be all my fault the island lost its rancher. Plus I need your business." It kinda hurt to hear that. I mean, I wanted him to walk me home because he wanted too. Not because he needs my money.
"Gee thanks. For a second there I thought you were having an ounce of emotion" He said nothing. Did I offend him or something? "Its hard to believe that you and Mirabelle are related" I say.
"She raised me after my parents died" Oh. Sad topics. Serious topics. Not my thing. But I'll give it a try.
"How old were you?"
"I was around... eight I think. Old enough to understand that their in a better place, young enough to get a pessimistic outlook on life. They thought they were gonna live to, I don't know, Taro's age I guess. They were really happy all the time. I can't help but think of life would be like if they were still alive. But their not, and I have to move on."
"Sounds like you miss them" I said. Was it the right thing to say? Was it sincere enough? I've only ever comforted Cliff a few times in our childhood, but never anything as big as what Vaughn was telling me. We were already half-way up my walk way to the house.
"Eh, It'll be ten years this... winter seventh?" Their was a couple moments of silence as we approached the door of my house.
"Goodnight. And thank you for walking me home. It was sweet." He shrugged.
"It was nothing. Forget it." Then, a magical wonderful thing happened. He leaned in and kissed my cheek. I couldn't help but give a smile from ear to ear.
"Goodnight Chelsea," He whispered as he returned to his normal height. I closed the door slowly. My cheek where his warm soft lips was burning. I climbed into bed and looked out my window. I was wrong. I'm gonna love it here.
Vaughn's POV
I saw her in the dark walking alone. What was I supposed to do? Leave her out their to fend for herself? Sighing, I got up. As I opened the door, I almost stopped myself. She'll be okay. But I continued out anyway. As I went up to her, I couldn't figure out what to say. The last time we had talked, I think I offended her. I'll just say 'Hey' maybe she'll not even notice and leave. Aw, goddess, Why do you hate me?
"Hey" I said. Nice and cool Vaughn. Nice and cool. Did she hear me? Did I hear me? Was I even speaking out loud?
"Hi" She replies all nice and sweet in her little voice I don't think she knows that its me. Its kind of dark out, and she isn't even looking at me.
"Its late" Duh. Why is she even out here? Why am I even out here? I shiver as a cold light breeze hits my back. My spine falls into a million little pieces. Perfect excuse to just walk back to Mirabelle's shop, go to sleep, and live a perfect life, alone. By myself, and only myself. Which is just the way I like it. But I stay out here instead.
"Yeah" Maybe she can't figure out what to say either.
"Its late. Let me walk you home." I started walking slowly up the pathway to her ranch. She was stopped.
"You don't have to do that." Ha. Yes I do. I bet she's begging that the guy she thinks is cute will walk her home. I grin to myself like a happy little fool.
"Nah, if you get attacked by a wild animal it will be all my fault the island lost its rancher. Plus I need your business." Ouch that was kinda harsh. She's all quiet now and I can't help but think of what a jerk I am. I really didn't need her business. I was doing alright before we even knew about this little island.
"Gee thanks. For a second there I thought you were having an ounce of emotion." Guess I deserved that. SHe went on without my reply. "Its hard to believe that you and Mirabelle are related"
"She raised me after my parents died." Useless information she needed not.
"How old were you?" Now here's a topic I refuse to get into everyday. lets see... Carry the one, add the nine subtract the two...
"I was around eight I guess. Old enough to understand that their in a better place, young enough to get a pessimistic outlook on life. They thought they were gonna live to, I don't know, Taro's age I guess. They were really happy all the time. I can't help but think of life would be like if they were still alive. But their not, and I have to move on." Wow I can really go on. I don't enjoy talking to people. Talking to animals is okay, but not people. People suck.
"Sounds like you miss them" Not really. But that would make me more of a jerk then I already am.
"It will be ten years this winter... seventh?" Again, more information that I give her for no reason at all. We are at her doorstep now, and she opens the door.
"Goodnight. And thank you for walking me home. It was sweet" Sweet and cute? What am I a puppy? If I ask her this she know I was eavesdropping earlier today.
"It was nothing. Forget it" I found myself growing closer to her. I had a scary thought that she was going to pepper spray my eyes out, but I pushed it aside and leaned in, and kissed her lovely little cheek. My lips felt tingly and all I could do was stair into her gorgeous eyes.
"Goodnight, Chelsea." I stood up tall and watched her close the door. I stayed out their for a few seconds before I relised how weird it was to stand outside someone's door after a date. No Vaughn! This was not a date! How is my mind so burned today? I walk back home to be greeted my aunt and cousin waiting up for me. My aunt is doing her knitting, and Julia is just sitting there.
"What were you now just doing?" Julia asks standing up. I'm a head taller then her, but she still can make me feel intimidated.
"Went for a walk? Can't a guy go for a walk now and then?" She rolled her eyes.
"With Chelsea? Back to her house?" I rolled my eyes this time.
"Julia..." Mirabelle says in her well used 'Mom' voice.
"How did you know I was with Chelsea?" I said. Wow. Stalker much?
"Natalie told me. When you both went to her place, she ran over here to tell me."
"And so what if I did? I saw out there in the dark, and I walked her home, and came right back. Didn't take more then a couple of minuets to do a favor for someone" Good case. But it was no match for Julia the captain of the mineral town public middle school debate team.
"Oh sure. And may-" She was interrupted flat when Mirabelle cleared her voice as a signal for us to stop arguing. Julia and never got along, but I love her like a sister.
"I think Vaughn is telling the truth, Julia. Chelsea is a sensible girl, and Vaughn isn't as bad of a boy as he thinks he is. Now both of you get some sleep." I went down to my room and cumped into my rarely slept in bed. The covers felt so nice and warm. Chelsea...