Vaughn's POV

"Thanks Aunt Mirabelle," I grumbled as I walked out the door of the Animal Shop.

"Make sure she at least gets some down!" my aunt called out after me. I nodded my silent response and headed in the direction of Chelsea's house, carrying a brown paper bag. She had given me food for the sick girl to eat. I have to admit, I do want her to eat something.

The sooner she eats something the sooner I can get back to more important things.

I knocked on her door before entering.

"Chelsea?" I called out.

I heard snoring. She was passed out on the floor in front of her dresser, wearing boxers and a big band t-shirt. Where did she get a man's clothes? Were they that one kid Mark's? I knew he helped her out all the time but I didn't know it was that kind of help. Why did I care?

I set the bag on the table and walked over to her.

"Chelsea, wake up," I grunted as I nudged her with my boot.

She mumbled and opened her eyes sleepily.

"Vaughn? What are you doing here?" she grumbled.

"Mirabelle gave me some food for you."

"Aw that's nice of her...Where is it?"

"Table," I said and started making my way out the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To take of your animals." Where else could I be going?

The animals in the barn still hadn't eaten there food. Were they sick? I checked on the youngest cow, Cheese, who was just a bit older then a calf. She didn't look sick, just sad.

"Hey Vaughn!"

"Why'd you call me here?"

"Oh Macaroni just had her calf! I wanted to know if you thought she looked healthy or not."

"I'm not a vet," I grunted. Chelsea shrugged.

"You're an expert though!" she pouted. She popped her lips.

I tilted my head. That was weird. "Uh, okay."

The calf was cream colored. She was a bit small, but besides that looked healthy. Chelsea kept popping her lips behind me. I was getting tired of it.

"Cut it out, it's annoying," I growled.

"Oh -pop- s-sorry..." she stammered.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Uhm, how is she?"

I blinked. "She's fine."

"Oh cool. Well then I'll see you later," she mumbled as she shoved me out the door of the barn.

"Stop pushing me!" The barn doors slammed in my face. I heard something slide down the otherside. I could hear crying.

That was last season. I never found out why she was crying. I only asked why she kept doing that annoying lip pop.

"What's wrong?" I asked the cow. Was I talking to a cow? She just looked up at me with big sad cow eyes. I shook my head and patted her head.

"Sorry girl. Wish I could help." The cow only mooed in response. I must be going insane.

I checked on the chicken coop next and they were sluggish too, but still fine. I didn't realize I left the door open slightly...

As I came back into the house, Chelsea was still on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

"What are you doing on the floor?"

"Oh...I can't get up..." she mumbled.

"You can't get up?" I raised my right eyebrow.

"No...I'm too dizzy..."

I rolled my eyes and brought the bag to her. She reached her hand into the bag and pulled out a tubberware container of...porridge?

"Porridge? I've never had it before..." she said.

"It's great," I blurted out. She cocked her head up at me.

"You like porridge?"

"Yeah..." I tilted my hat down to hide my blush.

"I didn't know that..." she said simply. She raised the spoon to her nose and sniffed it. "It smells sweet..."

"Yeah..."

"I can't eat it..."

"What?" Why did I actually seem upset?

"I just can't eat it..." she sighed and set it on the ground, bringing her knees to her chest.

"Why can't you eat it?"

"I can't eat anything..."

"If you don't eat anything you won't get better."

"Yeah I will, I just can't keep anything down right now..."

I wiped my gloved hand across my face in frustration. "Chelsea you're being stupid. You're completely useless at the moment and will continue to be so until you try to get better."

She glared at me. "Do you think I don't know that I'm pretty much worthless right now? Do you think I like it? It's going to drive me insane! I can't walk, I can't stand, I can't even eat! My animals must be miserable because I'm not there like I have been every single day since I got them! I'd rather be dead right now than be as useless as I am right now! And you don't even care!" she stammered out in frustration, gesturing out wildly with her hands. Then she brought her hand to her head, dizzy again.

I sighed and knelt in front of her, holding a small spoonfull of porridge out for her.

"C'mon, it'll make you feel better...Please?" I whispered, looking her sincerely in the eye. She had such deep blue eyes. They seemed to study mine for a bit. I wondered what they were looking for.

She sighed and finally stuck the spoon in her mouth. She looked woozy as she swallowed.

"It is kinda good..." she murmured.

I picked up the container, closing it, and went to put it in the fridge. I looked out the window and my heart nearly stopped.

There was a dog leaving the chicken coop.

"Shit!" I shouted and ran out.

"Vaughn? What's going on?" I heard Chelsea call after me. I couldn't answer now.

I nearly tripped in the snow, but didn't let it stop me as I dashed to the chicken coop.

There were feathers and light splatters of blood sprayed across the coop. A dog was still in there, the hen in his mouth, dead. He growled at me. I clapped my hands loudly, startling it.

"Get out!" I screamed. He dropped the chicken, whimpering, and scurried past me with his tail between his legs. I sighed and knelt on one knee, picking up the poor lifeless hen.

"Lucy?..."

I turned around and saw Chelsea, still in the boxers and looking faint. "My chicks..." she sniffled and knelt down beside me. I reluctantly handed her the chicken.

"Lucy...oh no... I-it's all my fault..." she stammered, tears coming to her eyes.

"No i-it's mine..." I said guiltfully. "I left the door open on accident..."

"Yeah...but it's still my fault...If I wasn't sick you wouldn't have had to come...and the chickens wouldn't be gone..." she murmured, her lip trembling.

"You can't help getting sick...You probably just ate something bad on accident...It's not like you go out and eat rotte-"

"It's not food poisoning...Vaughn...can you just kinda go? You need to get ready for your ferry..." she interupted. I blinked and I felt really cold on the inside.

"Fine..." I grunted and stood up. I stomped towards the door. I looked back at Chelsea. She was stroking the chicken's ragged feathers, her back shaking.

I closed the door and walked back to the animal shop, feeling the guilt eating away at me.

Poor Chelsea :c Again, reviews of any kind are appreciated! I love to hear you guys talk! :D