Chapter Three

First, they she makes me live in this dump for the rest of my summer. Next, I live with this psycho-maniac-happy-go-lucky family that thinks that happy endings are actually real. And now, I see him again! Can this summer get any worse!?

"Aunt Lumina, aunt Lumina, hurry! Hurry!" Violet squealed with her high soprano voice.

"Take it easy Vie." Rock said, smirking, "Your aunt Lumina isn't used to any physical work."

I glared at him, Well, Rock, I get that you know that but you didn't have to give the child any ideas!

Violet and Rock have been pulling me through every single store in this town. It's like they ever stop! All day, all we've done is go door after door meeting all the residents of this town. And, through everyone of them all I could think of was: Great another person who believes in happy endings!

I finally caught up to them, panting. "My goodness, Violet, give me a moment to catch my breath before you bring me to another door step."

"Oh, it's ok aunt Lumina," she looked at me with bright eyes, "You'll have plenty of time for that because our last stop is no other than…"

"THE BEACH!" Rock and Vie said together.

"T-the beach? My how exciting." UGH! THE BEACH!

"Here Lumina, you can sit on this first." Rock said as he removed his white vest and set it on the floor.

Who are you and what have you done to Rock?!

"Oh, no thank you Rock. I'm perfectly comfortable standing."

Rock shrugged, "Suit yourself" and he ran towards a small white shack.

"Where are you going?" I yelled after him.

"Don't worry Lums me and Vie are just gonna get a snack or two… hundred. We'll be back in a flash."

I spoke too soon. Same old, same old Rock. Leaves with friends without inviting.

Thirty minutes passed before Vie and Rock came out of that shack with a pizza box in their hands.

"Hey Lums!" Rock called, I looked towards him.

"Come aunt Lumina, let's eat!"

"Yeah Lums c'mon take a seat."

I shook my head, it was really tempting to eat the pizza, but it was just oil and fried cheese. Nothing healthy.

Rock saw my hesitation and worry.

"Lums, just one slice. It won't hurt. C'mon"

I shook my head once again.

"It's vegetarian style" he grinned.

That's the thing that hit me, vegetarian pizza, my absolute favorite! I love it when I bite the tomato and all the juice comes out with mushrooms, and green peppers with the melted cheese… delicious.

I finally gave in, smiled and said, "All right. I guess one slice wouldn't hurt."

I went towards them and I sat on the Rocks vest, which he set on the floor a while ago. Rock opened the box and we dug in. We formed some sort of triangle, Rock and I sat beside each other while Vie sat in front of us. At first, it felt so awkward sitting next to Rock but as the time passed, it felt quite comfortable like he's been my seatmate forever.

When I first saw the pizza slices, they looked way too big so I sliced one in half, then later it turned into one whole slice, then two whole slices I couldn't deny the fact that the pizza was too good to be true.

"Well, well, well, look at this." Rock held up the empty pizza box.

I blushed slightly and Rock winked at me. "We should tell ol' Kai that the Valley folk love the pizza," he continued.

Vie laughed, "I was hoping to bring some home for mommy and daddy but I guess not."

"Speaking of your parents." Said Rock, "We better get you back kiddo!"

"Aww… Rock! I don't wanna go back home yet!" she said, her lips pouting.

"That's face isn't gonna work on me this time kid! Maybe next time."

Vie's pouted lips suddenly turned into a frown, she crossed her arms, and she stood up like she was a little robot. "Fine. I'll go home."

"That's the spirit!"

"But!"

"But what!?"

"We still have to visit the goddess pond!"

"The goddess pond!?" Rock exclaimed, "Vie! It's too late for that. Were gonna be waking the Harvest Goddess up if we go there now!"

"No!" she said fiercely, "That's not true! Daddy says that the Harvest Goddess is awake 24/7 to watch over us!"

I heard Rock mocking her.

I laughed.

"Fine. We'll go but promise me that after the Goddess pod were going straight home."

"YAY! I promise!" she squealed and hugged Rock. "Thanks Rock"

She ran up the stairs from the beach heading to Rose Square.

"Aren't you going to go after her?" I asked.

"Nah." He said coolly, "She knows her way. C'mon."

Rock and I walked together towards the pond, Vie just a few feet away from us.

"Hey Rock?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I think I missed something back at the beach. You don't really believe that the Harvest Goddess lives there do you?"

He shrugged, "To be honest Lums I don't really know. Well, according to Claire, she does. That's why Vie always loves going there. But when we do it seems like no one's there. I always wind up looking at Vie talk to herself when she goes there."

"Talking to herself?"

"Yeah. That's all she does and I don't really understand it. Sometimes I go there with their whole family and they do the same thing. Talk to the wind, it's as if their talking to someone. But no one's there. I guess it's a Mineral Town thing."

"Maybe…" I looked at the little girl the was running in front of us. What does she do when she's there?

"C'mon you slowpokes! C'MON!" Vie said, her soprano voice anxious. She really wanted to get there. Soon.

"Alright kid! Were comin'" Rock said immediately. "C'mon Lums, don't wanna get in trouble with Claire. She might lower my pay again." He said with a cheesy grin.

I chuckled at him to him to hide my shock. He was actually working!

The sun was about to set when we got to the woods. The place was actually beautiful, the smell of pine, the scent of fresh flowers and moss mixed with that morning's dew.

"Hey Vie, slow down!" Rock shouted towards her but she already sprung like a bullet. "Vie!"

"Ugh! C'mon Lums, we gotta catch up to her."

Seeing Rock like this made me laugh. It reminded me so much of when we were younger and when Rock still…

Don't Lumina! Don't think about that! NOT NOW!

When we finally got to the waterfall, the first thing I could think of was that it was so beautiful. Crystal clear waters, the thundering of the water as it reached the pond under it.

I was left to look at it for a while, when Vie and Rock went to look for a flower to throw into the pond. According to Rock is kind of like an "offering" to her. I didn't bother to understand it.

Soon, Vie came back with a pink cat flower in her hand. Excitedly running towards the pond and the throwing the small flower into it.

"You might wanna step away," Rock whispered only for me to hear. He gripped my arm tightly in a warning gesture. I nodded and followed him.

We were just a few feet away from Vie, when she took a deep breath and closed her eyes and said out of nowhere:

"Good evening."

I was frightened, you could tell by my sharp intake of breath. I was about to pull Vie away from the pond I thought she was in danger. Until, something stopped me. Rock grasped my wrist tightly. I looked at him and all he did was shake his head.

"She's safe. Don't worry." He whispered.

"Yeah. That's her. – No, really? – I don't think so… haha!"

So that's what rock meant by talking to herself.

Vie stood there doing the same thing for about 5 more minutes. For those past minutes in amazement, it was really… something… I looked at Rock, he seemed bored. I wouldn't be surprised I bet he'd seen this a hundred times.

"Alright, good night." Vie said.

Vie opened her eyes again and yawned loudly. Rock smiled at her and went towards her. I followed.

"So how was it kiddo?" Rock asked.

"It was pretty good. She was asking about you and…" she yawned again.

"Me and who kiddo?" asked Rock.

"…You and Lumina…" she said drowsily.

My cheeks turned scarlet and I giggled a little.

Rock looked at me suddenly and I turned away, I didn't want him to see me like this.

"Well, it's a good thing that the Harvest Goddess is looking out for me and your aunt Lumina." Said Rock.

"Yeah…"

"So you ready to go home?" asked Rock.

She nodded, yawning once again. "But, I'm really tired Rock… and…"

He laughed gently and nodded, "Sure thing kiddo."

Soon, Vie was riding on Rock's back. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and her legs were coiled around his waist. It reminded so me so much about…

"Alright, ready to go Lums?" he asked me when Vie was fixed and ready on his back.

I nodded at him and followed him out of the forest.

We reached the farm in a nick of time, thanks to that shortcut that Rock showed me. The walk back was silent, once in a while I would hear Rock clear his throat so he could say something but he never did.

We were in front of the house now. And I knocked on the door. Claire wasn't in the outside anymore and the sun was setting. That meant we've been out all day.

"Coming!" a faint voice said inside. I was guessing it was Gray. And I was right."

"Oh, Rock, Lumina." Said Gray, "You're back. So where's Vie?" he looked questioningly at Rock.

"Right here Gray, fell asleep in the Goddess pond again."

"Oh that girl, always insists on going there so late." Gray chuckled.

"C'mon in you two. Rock you can set Vie over in her room."

We went inside the house to see Claire in the table with two cups of hot milk. She smiled at us and handed the other cup of milk to Gray.

I nodded at them and headed for my room while Rock was setting Vie in her room.

I waited there for a while, expecting that I wouldn't be disturbed until tomorrow morning. Until I heard a knock on my door, it was Rock.

"Hey Lums." He said quietly.

"Hello." I said, surprised that he still even here.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

He went into the room and slammed the door shut. He walked towards the bed, stopping right in front of it.

Good choice! He knew I had privacy issues.

"May I ask what your doing in my room?"

He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, "Umm… Claire and Gray gave me the day off tomorrow… and I was wondering if you…"

He was actually trying to ask me on a date was he?

"Rock."

"Yeah."

"I have a boyfriend you know."

"I know that that, that good for nothing playboy of a farmer right?"

"Rock!"

"Sorry, but I couldn't help it! You know very well that he's the reason we—"

"Next topic please Rock!"

"Right, sorry." He cleared his throat again. "I wasn't asking you on a real date. Just as friends. I wanna catch up on the news in the valley and stuff. C'mon Lums! For the sake of the good times!"

It was really tempting to go with him but I didn't know if I should.

I'm sure that project can wait for a few more days…

I shrugged and smiled, "Sure."

"Awesome! Thanks Lums!" and with that he left my room.

I giggled a little and went under the covers. Good old, good old Rock.

A/N: Yay! Chapter 3 is up! You know the rules guys! 3 new reviews by three different people before I post up another chapter! :)) rascal