Chapter 6: A Whole Bunch of Surprises

Three days after the divorce and things were going well. I mean I wasn't well, I wasn't even close, but I was getting my head around it all. I didn't cry as often... by that I mean I'd managed to pull myself out of bed this morning. At nine as opposed to twelve or one.

Julia had popped over the past few days to check in on me after her work at around four, by then I'd managed to put on a mask that showed myself as more put together than what I was actually feeling. But with Julia being there I guess I didn't really need to put on a show, she did really make me feel better, took my mind off things for a while. I guess until I went to bed, my lonely double bed in the house I now owned alone.

I told myself again and again that I had done the right thing that once a cheater, always a cheater. That I'd never forgiven him and I knew I never would as long as we stayed together. I knew that even if I tried to forgive him that it would always be at the back of my mind if I'd made the right choice if he was even happy with me.

I guess it would always be at the back of my mind this way too but at least this way I had the chance to start again. The chance to find someone else and possibly have a second shot at relationships and all that crap. But suddenly I felt unhappy, who was I going to find here though? Everyone on this island was in a relationship and it's not like there was much choice, to begin with anyway. Even if Elliot or Pierre were available it didn't mean I would go for them. As for Mark he was cute and even wanted to be a farmer but I didn't feel like there was anything between us. Nothing that pulled us together as a couple.

I sighed to myself as I trudged up my field towards the barn and coop, I still had time anyway, who knows I might even fall for Mark? Or someone else might move to the island, who knew? Suddenly, Vaughn popped into my head, oh yeah, I had forgotten about him. Well he was attractive and we were friends - sort of - so I guessed it wasn't completely out of the question. I laughed to myself...

Yeah right.

With the silly thought of Vaughn and I as a couple, I put myself in a much better mood than I had been this morning and saw my animals with a smile that I hadn't had in over a week now. I did my farm work slowly, enjoying being in the presence of my animals, who in turn seemed to be happy I was hanging around a bit longer today. I petted them each with a lot of thought and care, brushing them until their coats were shiny and trimmed my sheep's wool, cutting out knots but making sure it was still long enough for the cold winter. By the time I was finished it was coming up to two in the afternoon and I was starving so I walked back down to my house for a late lunch. I was halfway through making myself a sandwich when Julia came bursting through my front door. "Chelsea! You'll never believe it!" She said, panting as she sat herself down at my table, her hand on her chest as she tried to recover.

"What?" I asked as I poured myself, and now her, a glass of water.

"Pierre just broke up with Natalie and I heard off Lanna that Mark and Sabrina broke up too!" She said with her bright blue eyes wide and gleaming, waiting for my reaction.

"Sabrina and Mark were together?" I asked, puzzled. Julia nodded but didn't say anything. So I frowned and pondered for a little bit, how odd, two in one day and three in just two weeks. I didn't think Sunny Island had ever heard of such excitement. My thoughts then passed over to Sabrina and Mark, I wondered how long they had been together for and how it could have happened without me knowing.

Julia had never mentioned it before which was odd and I hadn't ever really seen them together - ever. "Well these things happen don't they?" I said with a shrug.

"I know! But how weird that they all happened at the same time! And now there are two new guys on the market!" She winked at me with a devilish grin on her face. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I have only been single for a few days y'know?" I said, crossing my arms over my chest and giving her a judgemental look.

She sighed "I know, but there's no shame in thinking about it" She giggled. "Plus! You're young and pretty, guys will be chucking themselves at you!" I blushed at Julia's comment, I hadn't ever thought of myself as particularly pretty and hearing it from someone as gorgeous as Julia made my ego inflate. "Anyway, I came over to let you know so you don't say anything to Natalie - or even mention his name for that matter - she's really upset."

I nodded and told her that I wouldn't say a word, we talked for a little longer but it got to half past two and I told Julia that I was going to go mining for a little while. Julia told me that it was alright as she had to go anyway as she and Elliot were going out for a meal later that night and she had to go home and start getting ready. We said our goodbyes and parted ways at the crossing in the West Town.

I headed up towards the mountain that was at the back of the forest to get to the mine. As it was winter it was already getting a little dark and by the time I got to the forest and under the cover of the trees it was getting hard to see. So hard that I had to watch where I was going. I listened carefully as I walked through, staying on guard in case I came across a wild dog.

I was at the base of the mountain when I heard a soft sound. I looked around trying to find the source of the noise but it seemed to be too far away, perhaps I was imagining things? So I continued walking and up the path on the mountain that led to the mine but as I walked up and up the sound got louder and louder. I guess that ruled the potential threat of a wild dog as they mainly stayed in the forest but it was still off-putting.

I was about halfway up when I could start to make out the sound clearly, it sounded like crying. But who would be up here, in the cold, almost at dark, crying? I pressed on, keeping a watch out for anyone. Once I reached the mouth of the cave the crying was louder but it still sounded a bit muffled. I checked the mine entrance but no-one was there. I debated whether or not I should just go mining or if I should try and find the source of the crying. If it was me and I had come up here to cry it would be because I would have wanted to do it in peace without anyone finding out... but if someone found me and comforted me would I not appreciate that? But I guess that depended on who it was comforting me.

I swayed on my feet, ah fuck it, I couldn't just leave whoever it was in their sorrow, at least I could comfort whoever it was. So I spun around and listened intensely for the crying so I could track it down. I heard the sound coming from my right so I turned that way and headed further up the mountain, I followed the path upwards until I came to the hairpin bend and just about saw feet sticking out from behind a boulder at the end of the path.

I peaked around to find Natalie sitting there, her legs over the edge of the path, head in her hands and elbows on her knees so she was hunched over herself. "Natalie?" I asked quietly, trying not to frighten her. She jumped a little and looked up at me, her eyes red raw with crying. I sat down next to her and put my arm around her shoulders carefully, pulling her towards me.

Natalie sobbed and put her head on my shoulder, we sat like that for some time. I let her cry herself out until she only let out small hiccups. It was dark now, Taro and Felicia were probably wondering where Natalie was but I knew she wouldn't want to go back until she had sorted herself out. "I-I'm so sorry C-Chelsea" Natalie hiccuped.

I hushed her "don't be silly".

"N-no!" She exclaimed, pulling herself away from me and looking at me in the eye. "I'm being s-so insensitive!" She rolled her eyes "look at me. Crying over a boy, who would have thought?" I smiled sympathetically at her.

"There's nothing wrong with crying over a breakup."

"I know it just makes you feel so stupid.." She sighed, looking defeated.

I shook my head "It's not stupid, it shows how much you care for them." Natalie didn't say anything, her hiccups had stopped and she was now down to just sniffling. "Do you want me to walk you home?" I asked.

Natalie sighed "Yeah, I better head off before my folks get worried.." We both stood up and made our way down the mountain, as we walked I held her hand as it was getting dark and I thought it might comfort her a little, even if she didn't want to admit it. We reached her house and said our goodbyes and I headed off to my own, empty one.


The next morning was cold, very cold. I shuddered and curled up again under my cover, despite it being well past 9 AM. It was Wednesday I remembered and so Vaughn should be back today. I thought about the way he had stormed out the last time we had talked and how he had been right. I needed to make up with him, he was a friend after all and I telling Vaughn what had happened with me and Denny would probably be better coming from me than someone else on the island.

Unless of course, Julia had told him first, which seemed likely. I wondered how he would have reacted.

Suddenly I heard a knock at the door, I sighed to myself and got out of bed. I padded over to the door, picking up my dressing gown up on the way and wrapping it around myself. I opened it with the chain still hooked to the door and peered around. I had never used the chain before but since Denny had left I had found myself with a new-found urge to every night.

Julia and Natalie stood on the frosted grass in front of my house, so I unhooked the chain and invited them in. "Are you still in bed?" Julia gasped as she walked in, her voice loud and shrill. I shrugged and walked over to the kitchen to flick on the kettle.

"Coffee?" I asked. They both declined and sat down at my table. "Okay Julia, before you burst - spill," I said sleepily, leaning against the counter, facing them both. Julia grinned and bounced up and down on her seat, I could tell from the moment I saw her that she had news.

"Look!" She squealed holding up her left hand. My eyes widened at the at the ring on her ring finger. I ran straight over to the table to take a closer look at it. It was a beautiful gold banded ring with a large white diamond on the top. The ring sat snugly on her finger and was engraved with all sorts of swirls and floral patterns around the band. It was beautiful.

"Oh wow Julia that is gorgeous" I sighed admiringly, "Elliot picked well".

"Well, it was his grandmothers so he didn't really choose it but isn't it? I can't stop looking at it." The kettle boiled so I got up again to make myself a cup of coffee.

"So go on then, how did he propose?" I asked.

Julia explained that they had gone out on their usual weekly date to the Diner and after had gone on a walk down to the beach. While there Elliot had given her a blue feather and told her that he had a ring waiting back at his if she accepted. They had then gone back to Taro's to get it and tell his family. Apparently, though Taro had already been in on it as he was ready waiting for them to get back by the door.

Natalie chimed in saying that her mother had squealed so loud Natalie had thought something bad had happened and had come rushing down the stairs to see what was wrong. Natalie seemed a lot happier than the previous night and it made me happy to see her seem genuinely excited about her brother getting married. I sat back down at the table with my cup of coffee and we chatted happily about wedding plans until my coffee was long gone and the sun was high in the sky.

I was thinking about wrapping up the conversation to get changed and start on my chores when the topic moved to the starry night festival. "It's just over a week!" Julia had sang happily. "We need to get you both paired up!"

Natalie and I exchanged looks and smirked, as if. "Nahhh, we're okay," I said, crossing my arms across my chest. Natalie nodded in agreement.

"I think I'll pass."

Julia shook her head "No way! It's the most romantic evening of the year! I will not accept either of you being alone!".

I rolled my eyes "We know that Julia but I think you're forgetting that Natalie and I are recently - and I mean very recently - just out of relationships.".

"So?" Julia said with a shrug. "There are still other boys on the island, it's not like you need to start a relationship up with them just go out have a bit of fun! It might help with the heartbreak too." We both sighed. "Come onn~. Nothing's worse than being alone on the starry night festival. Like I said it doesn't even have to be a date ju-"

I cut her off, "Okay, Okay! Please just stop talking about it! Natalie and I will think about it" I looked to her for confirmation but she only shrugged. "And see how we feel. Just leave it for now, alright?"

Julia nodded "okay but you only have a week!" she sang.

Julia and Natalie left soon after that and I got ready for the day, it was getting on so my animals were angry at me when I got to the barns. I apologised as I fed them and ended up spending the rest of an already short winter day on my farm. When I got back home for something to eat, a shower and bed I thought about Vaughn again. I hadn't had the chance to go and see him today so I figured that I would have to tomorrow or I would have to wait another week to make it up with him.