A/N: Oh. My. Gosh. I am so so so so sooooo sorry, everyone! I feel terrible it took me this long to update! I honestly feel like you totally have the right to kill me right now!

So I want to thank the people who are actually still reading this. I promise I will have the last chapter up as soon as possible to make up for such the long wait. Again, I am so sorry.

This chapter didn't quite turn out the way I originally had planned, so I hope everyone still likes it. Please tell me what you think! I need reviews. Reviews are what keep me going. So thank you to the 6 people who reviewed the last chapter. You guys rock.

Thanks again, and please forgive me!

On to the story!

Disclaimer: No, I do no own Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, thanks for asking. What do I own? Well, I finally saved up enough money for Mario Kart. And, yes, I am a dork, thanks for asking again.

The three of us worked in silence for a while. It was only a two-hour lesson, but it felt like a lot longer. Maybe that's what happens when it's completely silent. Yeah, you heard me right. Because, for the first time since I'd met him, Luke wasn't talking. Neither was Chase, but that wasn't too rare. Honestly, it was starting to creep me out. I wanted to break the silence, but it would just feel… wrong.

I checked my watch. Ten minutes left. I wondered if Luke is going to stay quiet.

"Hey, Elana?"

I jumped about a foot in the air and turned to my left to see Luke, staring at me with big puppy-dog eyes. So much for staying quiet. "Yeah, Luke?" I asked, smiling.

"If Mr. Cooking Master here doesn't mind, can I talk to you in private for a second?"

We both turned around to see Chase's response. He looked sour. "If you promise to never call me that again, go ahead, but make it fast."

"Okay, Mr. Cooking Master!" Luke beamed, obviously not hearing what Chase had said about the nicknames. Before I could say anything, he had taken my gloved hand in his own and dragged me over to the un-occupied performance stage in the other corner of the bar. He sat down on the low stage and patted the spot next to him. I giggled and sat.

"So, what's up, Mr. Carpenter Master?"

Looking pleased at the new nickname, he looked at me with big eyes again. "Why do you like that guy so much?"

Didn't see that coming. "W-what?"

"Why do you like that guy so much?" He repeated with questioning eyes.

I blushed. I had no idea Luke knew I liked Chase. Was I that obvious? "Luke, I don't know what you're talking about…"

"Yeah, you do. You like Chase. Why? I think I like you more than he likes you, but you like him more than me. Why?"

Oh, god. How did Luke know all this? He couldn't possibly pay attention that much, could he? I tried to steady my voice. "First of all, Luke, I like you, too! You're, like, awesome!"

"But not the same way you like Chase." He added. He didn't seem mad, just curious.

I blushed again and turned to see if, god forbid, Chase was listening. He didn't look like he was, but just in case I put a finger to my lip when I turned back to Luke. "Keep it down," I hissed, "I don't know how you know all this, but…"

"Elana, all I wanna know is why you like him."

I glared at him, then said, "I like you too, Luke…" and before he could jump in and say 'but not how you like Chase' or something, I said, "but I like Chase because he is nice and sweet and a good chef and…"

"But I can do all that stuff, too!" Luke put in, sounding like a complaining three-year-old. "And more! So how come you like him more, even when I like you more than he likes you?"

I was trying really hard not to get angry with him. "How do you know you like me more than he does?"

His face reddened. "I just know."

I sighed. "Ok, Luke, I'm sorry if you're, like, jealous or something, but you can't tell me who I can and can't like, m'kay?" And before he could say another word I got up and strode back to the kitchen, trying not to feel guilty. Did Luke really like me in that way?

The second I got back Chase turned to me, looking skeptical. Oh my god if he had just heard that conversation…

"No, I wasn't eavesdropping on your little romantic talk with Chatter-Box, if that's what you're thinking." He said in a drone. When he saw my surprise, he added, "I'm pretty good at reading facial expressions, especially from a 'Captain-Obvious' like you."

I was just thinking about all the nicknames from today when Chase said, "Before Chatter-Box comes back, I need to have a little chat with you myself. Come on; let's go into the back rooms. I don't trust the people here." His eyes flickered to Luke, then Hayden, then Kathy, then Owen, and then back to me. "Follow me."

I gulped, hoping he wasn't going to insult my cooking, or tell me what a cute couple Luke and I made, or something like that. I hesitantly followed him through a door next to the stage. I caught Luke's confused eyes, turned away, and walked through the door. It brought us into a small hallway with two other doors. Chase led me through the one on the left.

Inside was a small bedroom with a made bed, a carpet, and some closets. Probably Hayden's room. "Are we allowed to be in here?" I asked as I took a look around.

"Probably not." Chase replied in a bored voice.

Feeling nervous, I plopped down onto the floor, Chase doing the same. "So, what's up?"

Chase stared out into space for a second, then, not looking at me, he said, "Why do you hang out with him?"

I almost groaned out loud. This conversation sounded all-too familiar. "Luke? He's nice and sweet and funny and really knows how to make a girl laugh." I found myself smiling at these words.

Chase snorted. "So you don't find it annoying how desperate he is?"

I looked at him, surprised. "Desperate?"

He rolled his eyes. "Come on, Elana, can't you see how badly he wants you? Can't you see all the times he flirts with you? It's pathetic!" He looked disgusted at the mere thought.

For the millionth time tonight, my face was heating up. "Luke is not flirting with me! He's just a friend!"

Chase let out a 'ha' and then we were quiet. Something was bothering me… "Is that why you hate Luke? Because he's such a flirt?"

Chase finally looked me in the eyes, and I was surprised to find something new in them: a sort of far-away look that could almost be classified as wishful. They seemed sincere. "A little. But it's also because… maybe I'm a little jealous."

My first thought: great, another boy with jealousy issues.

My second thought: wait, jealous of who?

My third thought: he can't mean…

Just as my third though occurred to me, Chase suddenly leaned in close, so close I could feel his breath on my face. This isn't happening… "Jealous of Luke? W-what for?" my voice faded as I stared into his eyes. I couldn't break the gaze.

He smirked. And that was it. He didn't say anything else on the subject. He suddenly just stood up, turned, and began walking for the door. When he was about to reach for the doorknob, he turned to me and said, "Don't trust everyone who's nice to you. Especially when they're desperate. Class dismissed."

And he left me, heart beating fast, cheeks pink, sitting on the floor of a bartender's room.

A/N: Don't you just hate when that happens?

Like I said, I am so sorry for the long wait. I promise it won't happen again. I have the epilogue all ready, so I'll go ahead and post it soon.

Thanks for reading this far. It means a lot. Please review, because that also means a lot!

You guys are awesome! :D

~blue-eyed-cow