Oh, jeez, I'm really blown away by all the reviews I've been getting! Thank you so much, I honestly can't properly convey how grateful I am. And um, please keep it up! haha ^^

Anyways, I think this chapter is a bit shorter than usual, sorry...but I think things will start picking up soon! Please hang tight. All shall be revealed sooner or later :D

Thank you for reading and reviewing! Enjoy. :)

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Chapter 6

I didn't meet up with Kai the next two nights. Partly it was because I was pissed at him on Rick's behalf. But that wasn't the only reason. I still felt a little shaken up by seeing Lillia with Zack again and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to see Rick or Popuri out of guilt, and I didn't want to see Kai out of anger. There was no more room for the daytime or nighttime worlds. I was stuck in a twilight.

After my second night of not visiting Kai, I woke up earlier than usual, before Popuri. Going out late almost every night really messed with my sleep schedule, and it was hard going to bed early. I didn't need as much sleep anymore.

I got dressed and went down the hall, noticing that Rick's door was open, too. I could hear the sounds of someone moving around on the first floor, and when I got downstairs I saw him standing in the kitchen, coffee cup in hand.

"Morning," he said, giving me a smile before yawning into his fist. "I hope I didn't wake you up."

"No, you didn't," I answered, shaking my head. Then I pointed at his cup. "Can I have some?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, of course." He set the cup down and opened a cabinet, pulling out a mug for me.

"Thanks," I said, watching as he poured the coffee for me and held out the steaming beverage. We drank in a sleepy silence, Rick leaning against the counter and me sitting at the table.

"Um, Claire?" Rick said, finishing his drink and setting it down next to him.

I looked up at him, taking another sip. Coffee always seemed puzzling to me; I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to drink it unless they wanted to pull an all-nighter, and yet I couldn't stop drinking it myself. "Yeah?"

"Is…is everything okay? Lately, you seem a little—" Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and he broke off. "Hold on a sec," he told me, frowning a little. "I'll get it."

I turned around and watched him go to the door, curious at who would come by so early. Rick opened the door, but from the angle of where I was sitting I couldn't see who was there.

"If you're looking for Popuri, she's not awake yet," I heard Rick say.

"I'm not. I'd like to talk to Claire, actually, if she's up."

It was Kai. Knocking at Chicken Lil's door at dawn, wanting to talk to me. I almost choked in mid-gulp.

There was a pause, and the entire house seemed to be waiting. Then Rick turned around, looked right at me, and said, "Claire?"

I set my mug down and got to my feet, feeling like I was about to go to an execution. Rick's eyes were boring into me, and I could only imagine what he was thinking. He didn't look very happy.

He stepped to the side when I got to the door, and when he hovered in the threshold a moment longer, Kai said, "I was hoping if I could talk to her privately, please."

"Um, I-I'll just come outside," I stammered, giving Rick a wide-eyed look. He stared back, his face vacant. I shut the door.

"Hey," Kai said, taking a deep breath like he was about to start a speech. I cut him off.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I cried, waving my arms around. "I mean, just showing up here out of the blue? Ugh! Don't you get that Rick kind of hates your guts? And that I think you're annoying? And that I don't want Rick, who hates your guts, to think that I hang out with you, a person who is very annoying?"

"Ouch," he replied, not looking to be in very much pain at all.

I rolled my eyes. "I know you think that we're best friends or whatever, but I need you to stop acting like it. If you don't, Rick will hate me, Popuri will hate me, and—"

"Why do you care so much about what people think? You should be allowed to talk to whoever you want," Kai said, raising an eyebrow. I started to say something in retort, but he held up one finger to stop me. "But I didn't come here to argue about this. Just hear me out. I wanted to apologize for the other day, at the inn."

"I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to," I said, crossing my arms.

Kai sighed and scratched his neck. "Yeah, well, do you really think he wants an apology from me? Like that's just gonna fix all of our problems?"

"It's a start," I pointed out, shrugging my shoulders.

"Oh, Claire," he said, sighing again. "I didn't think you were that naïve…"

My mouth dropped open. "I'm not naïve! I just think that you should—"

"Argh, hold on, hold on!" Kai said, grabbing one of my arms. "I'm sorry. I suck at apologizing. I'm not trying to insult you. It's just, the thing Rick and I have…it's not just a disagreement. That guy really hates me. And maybe he should. And maybe you should. But I'm not a bad guy, honestly. I would hope that you've realized that by now. Just—I'm sorry. I'll try to back off on Rick, all right?"

"Yeah, poor you," I huffed, pulling away. "Thanks so much." I turned around and put my hand on the doorknob.

"I'll still be waiting there for you," I heard him say as I stepped inside and pulled the door shut.

* * *

Avoiding Kai during the day was sort of hard.

At night, it was easy, because all I had to do was not show up to the beach. But in the daylight it got a bit trickier. For starters, I sometimes saw him randomly around town. Of course, I could always just duck my head or look the other way. The struggle came when Popuri would invite me to hang out with her and Kai. And by invite, I mean drag me halfway out the door until she finally heard me saying no.

And I could only turn her down so many times without raising suspicion. Eventually, I had to give in.

"Yay! I'm so glad you're coming today, Claire," Popuri said as we walked to the beach together, a spring in her step like always. "I feel like we haven't hung out much lately."

"Yeah, I guess we haven't," I said, and I realized I wasn't as irritated around her as I used to be. Her sugariness was easier to take in spurts, with long breaks in between. "Sorry about that."

"You've been spending a lot of time with Rick, huh?" she noted, and I looked over at her quickly. She had a look of mild curiosity, but didn't seem to be implying anything further.

I guess we have been hanging out a lot…but we're just friends…I wonder if Rick has said something? But he wouldn't say something to Popuri.

And of course, I don't care, anyway.

"Er, yeah, I suppose we have," I answered, trying to be casual about it. "Your brother's pretty nice, you know."

"I guess. I just wish he would stop freaking out about Kai." I winced a little, remembering what Kai had said about Rick not being Popuri's father. "Kai's been really great lately. Ah, you've been so busy that I didn't get to show you, but look, he gave me this bracelet."

She lifted her wrist, and I leaned over to get a closer look. A bracelet made of thick white beads woven into rope was tied around her wrist. It was a little frayed, but it was actually pretty cool-looking.

"It's a wish bracelet," she explained. "He said that you tie it around your wrist and when it falls off, your wish comes true."

I was about to ask her what her wish was, but then changed my mind. It was probably against some wish-making rules that you weren't supposed to tell your wish to anyone else—and besides, I figured her wish would probably have something to do with her and Kai.

"That was really nice of him, Popuri," I said, smiling at her. And then, deciding to throw her a bone: "He must really like you."

Her hands immediately flew to her face, covering her embarrassment. "Oh no! He can't! I mean…do you think so?"

"Who knows," I replied, still smiling while I tried to convince myself that what I was saying was true. Maybe Kai just had temporary insanity when he said he wanted to get to know me. And after all, I hadn't spoken to him in days. He probably got bored—typical of guys like him—and went back to pursuing Popuri. Maybe they'd actually end up together like they were supposed to be all along, and I'd finally be left alone by the both of them.

And yet, something about my explanation that I couldn't quite place unsettled me. It felt like a tiny hole gnawing at the side of my stomach.

"You know, Rick's nineteen, the same age as Kai…"

I blinked, wondering what her statement had to do with anything. She was giving me a meaningful look, like she'd said something very significant.

"Yeah…" I said, nodding my head and hoping she would continue.

"And you're sixteen, just like me…" She kept looking at me, like I was supposed to say something.

"Yeah?" I tried to make my agreement sound like a question, so that she might feel impelled to make her point.

"Well, then do you think there's a problem with you and Rick dating?"

I waited for her to start laughing, but she didn't. I cleared my throat, and then suddenly ended up having a coughing fit. When I finally recovered, I managed to say, "Rick and I aren't dating."

Popuri gave a sigh of impatience. "I know you're not dating him, but if you were, do you think it would be weird?"

I snorted. "Um, yeah, of course. Isn't he half-dating Karen? Or at least completely in love with her?"

She groaned, smacking a hand to her forehead. "You're missing my point!"

"Why? Has Rick said something about dating me?" I asked, before I stopped myself. Curiosity had gotten the better of me.

"No," she answered, giving me a weird look. "I thought you just said you that weren't dating. And besides, he is completely in love with Karen. And anyway, I was just trying to make a point about age differences in relationships."

"Oh, I know, I know, I was just wondering," I said lightly, looking down at the ground. I was just wondering, and yet I felt a second tiny hole forming in my stomach.

"Kai!" Popuri shouted happily, instantly distracted from our conversation as soon as the Seaside Lodge came into view. She took off ahead of me like usual while I hung back, taking my time. I noticed there were a couple customers that day—the local kids, Stu and May, as well as Pastor Cartor, who seemed to serve as their babysitter.

"Hey there," Kai greeted as I reached the counter, looking surprised to see me. I watched as he held out three snow cones—red for May, and blue for Stu and Pastor Cartor. As May held hers up to her mouth to take a bite, the shaved ice slid out of the cone and onto the sand. She stared at the pitiful melting red lump, its color seeming desperately cheerful against the bright white sand.

"Here, May, you can have mine," Stu offered quickly, holding out his snow cone for her.

"I wanted cherry," she whined, her bottom lip quivering, threatening to turn into a pout.

"Cherry it is, then," Kai said, a replacement snow cone already in hand. He held it across the counter for her. "Here you go."

"Thanks," she replied, now suddenly beaming. She took the snow cone, handling it more carefully this time.

"No problem," he said, smiling and leaning his elbows on the counter. "I'd hate to see a girl as pretty as you feeling down."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto my face. His sweet-talking didn't seem quite so obnoxious any longer. I felt my anger towards him about what he'd said to Rick at the inn slowly start to dissolve. At first I'd felt so concerned about defending Rick's honor, but I figured enough time had passed. And it wasn't my fight, after all. I might as well let it go.

Pastor Cartor thanked him and then left with Stu and May. I noticed Stu throw an angry glance over his shoulder as he left, while May was practically floating a mile high after Kai's flattering remark; poor Stu had some stiff competition.

"I see your bracelet's still on," Kai said to Popuri. He was holding her hand in his, examining the rope around her wrist. She smiled, obviously pleased.

"Yep. I can't wait for it to fall off," she told him, sneaking a peek in my direction as if to say, oh my gosh! Are you seeing this too?! I smiled back, trying to look supportive. I then snuck a peek at Kai, to see if he was giving me another one of his teasing looks like always. But strangely, I found he wasn't looking at me at all.

In fact, he was kind of ignoring me.

"So, Kai, did anyone ever pick up those flip-flops you found?" I asked, attempting to make my voice relaxed while I hinted with my eyes.

He looked over at me then, with a slightly bemused expression. "No…" he answered slowly, like he wasn't sure where I was going with this.

"Well, I just thought that…that whoever's looking for them, they haven't given up yet. And they still want them back, probably. So you should hang on to them for a little longer, in case whoever's looking for them comes by."

A look of understanding passed over his face, and I felt relieved. "Yeah," he said, nodding and hiding a grin. "You're probably right. I'm glad I've still kept them."

"Oh yeah, I remember you said someone lost their flip-flops at the swimming festival," Popuri said, her face lighting up as she recalled that day. "I wonder who it was…"

"Me too," I agreed, and for once I found her obliviousness comfortable.

* * *

Kai was waiting for me on the beach that night.

"I was worried you wouldn't realize what I meant when I brought up the flip-flops," I said as I settled down next to him. "I didn't think you'd get the message to meet me here."

"I figured it out," he said, smiling as he picked up something beside him. He showed it to me, and I saw it was my flip-flops. I reached for them, but he pulled them away, taunting me like usual.

"Not so fast," he told me, wagging a finger and setting them back down on the sand. "First, we eat." He then presented me with a pizza slice, a napkin wrapped halfway around it.

"Wow, this looks great," I exclaimed, feeling the warmth of the crust in my fingers.

"Thanks. I made it myself," he said, and then took a bite of his own slice. "Just think of it as an apology for acting like a jerk. Again."

"Hmm. I guess I'll forgive you."

"Good. Now, tell me what's on your mind."

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. I took a bite and felt my teeth sink in to gooey cheese, my attention from him temporarily diverted. Mmm.

"Oh, you know what I mean," he said, his mouth full of pizza. "I can tell something's bothering you. You seem quiet. And since you've apparently forgiven me, I know that for once it's not my fault."

I finished chewing and swallowed, wondering how exactly Kai had gotten to know me so well.

"Well…" I stalled, not sure of how much to say. Because I did know what was bothering me, underneath the drama between him and Rick, and my general annoyance with Popuri, and even further down, past the two holes in my stomach that had yet to close. "It's…it's about Lillia—you know, Rick and Popuri's mom?"

He nodded. "Go on."

"Well, um…I know it's not my business, but I…I kind of saw her…cheating on their dad. Her husband."

Kai's eyes went wide then, and he took a large gulp. "What? How? When?"

"I wasn't spying on them or anything, I was just trying to sneak out to come here. I was headed down the stairs, and I…" I trailed off, feeling almost embarrassed. It seemed wrong to share something so personal about someone, and yet I already felt better getting it off my chest. "…I saw them. In the kitchen."

"Wow," he breathed, looking genuinely shocked. His half-eaten pizza drooped a little in his hands, forgotten. "I never would have guessed…"

"But listen, you can't tell anyone, all right?" I said hastily, looking him directly in his eyes. "I haven't told Rick or Popuri, and I don't think they have any idea."

"I won't," he promised, nodding in earnest. "I wouldn't do that."

"Do you promise?" I persisted, still not feeling a hundred percent sure.

"I swear! Look, I'll even give you a flip-flop to show my sincerity," he said, holding out one of the shoes for me. I smiled slightly and took it, shaking my head.

"Thanks," I said, rubbing my thumb against the bottom of the flip-flop. For some reason, it almost seemed like an artifact from a different time period—something vaguely recognizable but didn't belong to me. A lot of things had happened since I'd last worn it.

"No problem. Now, if you'd like to get the other one back, all you have to do is tell me why exactly you came to Mineral Town," he said, giving me a sly grin.

"Oh, shut up," I groaned, taking another bite of the pizza.

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