Gill's Revenge - Part One

So... I'm sorry? Hehe... Okay, I took too long to post this chapter, but what can you expect from us lazy overachievers? We don't deliver well... :P

Anywho, here's Gill's Revenge, or at least one fourth of it. This part is a little short, but please enjoy! And laugh. Laughter is the surest sign of appreciation.

Luke lumbered into the Inn at his usual time, ordered his usual root beer and ham sandwich with extra mayo, and took his usual seat at the bar. While the boy with the flame bandana chattered mindlessly between large smacking bites, Chase busily stirred and flipped, chopped and diced, fried and garnished. They seemed to have forgotten about the previous day's mischief, and apart from the slight lift of the chef's lips when he drizzled some hot sauce over Owen's omelette, there was no apparent sign of their prank on the hapless tomato lover. Presently, it was almost one and the lunch rush ceased. After handing the spicy order to Maya, Chase put away the leftover ingredients and took up position at the counter. His first shift would be over soon and he decided he would head home until dinnertime.

Elli and Akari came in. Striding up to the counter, Akari playfully tapped to get the chef's attention.

"Hey, Chase. Elli and I will have vegetable sandwiches. Compliments of you, of course." she smiled.

"Coming up," he replied as he pushed off the counter and walked to the fridge.

Elli gave Akari a look.

"Oh, and Elli would like a strawberry milk. I'll just have water," Akari added.

Chase got to work on the orders as the girls took a seat at the bar and resumed their previous conversation. Like any good chef, Chase eavesdropped while he worked.

"It's not Sunday, so he can't be at the church. And the festival is the day after tomorrow, right? He never takes a day off for no reason, especially near a deadline. Do you think he's sick?" Akari asked wonderingly.

"He's not sick. It's strange. He came in, told me he'd be back later, and left. He's always very diligent in making sure the work gets done, so..." Elli replied, and guilt laced her voice as she continued, "He would have liked having free lunch after yesterday."

"Yeah."

"Maybe he's mad at me." Elli murmured.

"That's not it, Elli. But he might be a little nervous about those two."

Chase turned to see Akari gesture to him and Luke respectively. He gave them their drinks, and set the sandwiches in front of them with a slim devilish smirk, "I made sure to put extra hot sauce on."

Without hesitation, Akari picked up her sandwich and took a huge bite. She chewed contemplatively and swallowed, "You need to put more on, because I can't taste it."

Elli took a bite, "Mmmmm... This is delicious!"

Chase nodded in acknowledgement of her gratitude. Akari pushed the sandwich toward the chef.

"You don't like it?" he frowned.

"Didn't I just say it needs more hot sauce?"

He looked mildly relieved, "Oh, yeah."

Until now, Akari hadn't noticed the one other sitting at the bar, but now her attention transferred solely to her oddly silent friend, "Hey, Luke! Are you sleeping over there? Why are you so quiet?"

Luke looked up, his cheeks puffing out from the last of his ham sandwich, which he had just shoved in his mouth. Elli suppressed a giggle.

Searching for some kind of explanation, the chipmunk carpenter stated, "Vif iv ma secun sanwish."

"Luke." Akari said in a strangely Gill-like-know-it-all-tone, "It's bad manners to talk with your mouth full."

To illustrate her point she took a monstrous bite of her now spicy vegetable sandwich, "Dov thith sim lok gud," she swallowed, "Manners to you?"

Luke was snickering so hard at the crazy farmer's antics that no sound came out.

"Oh, you think that's funny, do you?" Akari continued in her Gill-tone.

Elli and Chase laughed. Luke choked on his spit and gulped down some of his root beer. When he recovered, the carpenter wheezed out.

"Akariii, stop that!"

"Stop what?" she said scowling and crossing her arms in the traditional Gill-like way.

"Acting like Gill! It's really..." he shuddered although he still smiled broadly.

Reverting to her normal voice, Akari switched the conversation around, "By the way, next wood chopping contest... I'm gonna win." She took a bite of her sandwich and looked intently at it.

"Not gonna happen! I am definitely the best lumberjack on the Island! You cannot defeat me!" he said, jumping up from his chair.

Akari held up a finger, swallowed, and replied, "I doubt that. I know I can."

"Ha, ha! Well, there's no way I'm losing to a girl!"

"Luke!" a young teenage boy with short sandy hair peeked in the door of the Inn, "Dale wants you, now! You left the wood shavings bucket on the-"

Luke's eyes got big, "Aah! Coming! Coming!"

"Hi, Bo!" Akari called to the boy in the door.

The sandy haired boy's eyes became slits of pleasure and he beamed happily at her, "Hi!"

"Thanks for the sandwich, Chase!" Luke said, speaking very quickly as he dug out his payment and set it on the counter, "See you, Elli... Akari," his yellow cat-like eyes flashed in challenge, and he raised his fist in the air, "I'll beat you later!"

Akari smiled and muttered, "That's what you think."

"What?"

"Nothing! Bye, Luke!"

He grinned, and as he darted out the door, he waved back at her emphatically.

The girls soon finished their lunch, and after chatting for a while, they thanked Chase for the meal and headed for the door. Finally it was time for Chase's break and the kitchen was spotless and ready for dinnertime. Thus, he followed shortly behind the girls. Akari opened the door and took a step through.

SPLOOSH!

A wave of water fell on the poor farmer. Akari had no time to avoid it. Elli jumped back with the sprinkling drops and fell into Chase, who took an elbow to the chest, but stopped her from falling. They watched as a damp Akari looked up over the door through her water sodden bangs. Elli and Chase edged forward to see the culprit. Wait, was that...?

"Gill!" Akari shouted in shock.

Tenaciously, Gill had been standing on a stool behind the door for who knows how long, waiting to perform his sloppy prank, but now, he ran around to the other side of the door, the bucket waving wildly in his hand.

"Akari! I'm so sorry! I was attempting to..." the flustered young man stopped talking when he saw Chase.

She glared at him, but soon her look softened, and she smiled. Waving her hand as though batting at a fly, she quickly dismissed his blunder, while taking the bucket away from him, "No biggie. Just don't ever do that again. It's the worst trick in the book."

Gil nodded, still completely mortified.

Chase had to say something, anything! He chuckled out, "That was excellent! But, you weren't trying to drown Akari? Who were you trying to soak then? I'll go tell them they have nothing to worry about from the Silly-Gilly-Monster." he almost smiled as Gill turned a deep shade of crimson.

Akari, always one to save a friend in distress, turned to face Chase with an ambiguous tone.

"Oh, you don't have to worry Chase. We'll take care of you later. Gill, Elli, can you help me dry off?"

Akari shoved the bucket into Chase's chest, grabbed Gill by the wrist, and linked arms with Elli. Walking back into the Inn, she winked back at chef and blew a loud, obnoxious raspberry.

Chase stood there, staring at the closed door. She wasn't going to... help Gill now, was she? He shook his head. No. No, she wouldn't do that. She didn't like practical jokes, right? She was more for intellectual sarcasm than physical humor. But... The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he grew. By the time he got home, he was dreading dinnertime. Akari would be working the night shift, as she did every night. Who knew what she would do!

After Akari was somewhat dry from furiously rubbing down with towels, the group headed for the exit. Gill was the first one out, pouting and upset. Shortly behind him was Elli, who held the door for poor Akari, but her friend lingered behind. An idea had come to the intelligent farmer's mind.

"Akari?" Elli spoke.

The bright farmer smiled and skipped over to Jake and his wife Colleen, who stood discussing a new sheet color for the Inn's beds.

"Hey, Jake! I have a favor to ask... Could I spend the night here after my shift?"

Jake's eyebrows quirked inquisitively, "Sure. But what's wrong with your own bed?"

Akari grinned mischievously, "I'll tell you later. Thanks. See ya!"

Jake watched as she left with Elli, and turned to his wife, "What do you think that's about?"

Colleen shrugged and smiled, "Women don't need to explain themselves. We always know what's best."

"Of course. I should know that by now."

"Yes. You should. Pink sheets then."

Chase shuddered as Akari waltzed past him, carrying the newly washed dishes to the cupboard. He anticipated something every time she talked to him, and he constantly looked behind him for the devious farmer. Every time he caught her eye she would wink and smile. He knew she was the only one on the Island who could be devious enough to trick him, and whatever it was would be unpleasant. He also knew he was being overly paranoid, but he couldn't convince his nerves to calm. At the end of the night, he darted home without taking his daily wage, and upon arriving, he removed his apron, double-checked the lock on the door, and flopped into bed. He was out in an instant.

At exactly twelve thirty in the middle of the night...

Gill's revenge failed miserably. Well, not too surprising, is it? But I wonder... What happens half past midnight? Wait exactly one week and find out what happens next. Mwahahahaha! I've always wanted to do a cliffhanger... :)

Finally it's over with! I feared this chapter. I will forever compare second chapters to cursed creatures contriving to kill all cool concepts. I don't believe this is as excellent as my beginning, but I believe the next prank will make up for this. Hopefully. :P

Please, any issue, little, big, mediocre or spectacular, that you notice, alert me! I gobble up constructive criticism! Even if it is all bad, I seriously don't care.

Again, I'm sorry for the long wait. Hopefully it shan't happen again... But, no promises!

(*SINGING IN THE RAIN* I doon't own anything! I doon't own anything! Not Harvest Moon, NASA, or the Thing! Oh I, doon't own anything!)