Whoa. Has. It. Really. Been. SEVEN. FREAKING. MONTHS?

Ok, you guys probably do not want to hear all my pitiful excuses, but if you do, just let me know and I'll explain xP

So just a big SORRY to everyone that has been waiting this long. I've already got parts of the next chapter in my head, so hopefully that won't take too long to write! I still need to finish Mary's Quest, but that one doesn't inspire me too much :/ And there's another SURPRISE story that flashes through my head at least once a week.

It's kinda of an angsty chapter, but there are happy parts!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY REVIEWERS! Without you I would suck. And take even longer to update. :P haha.

Icefire149: hahaha! Thanks so much! I had a lot of fun writing that line :P

Lavarose: Thank youuu :)

FlyingHippos: No, I was not being a meanie author and "erking" you around xP In fact… well. You'll see. ;) Thanks for your support! :D

Tinkies: Thanks for your encouragement! :)

Green-Chrystall: Yeah, I hadn't thought of it before either… But I don't know, it just… fits! :P

shiro-chan x bed-wetter-momo: Well… neither did I xD It just kind of happened as I was writing it. My original plan for this story has taken a huge 180 spin!

Shimmerleaf: I don't blame you. At all. . I actually forgot my story myself, and had to read the last chapter again to know what the heck to write xD

Tsubasafan101 Arisato: Thanks, glad you enjoy it! :D

IHeartQuestionMarkX: Thank you! And does your name have to do with Taylor Swift's song? :P I used to always listen to it when it came out xP

jinky: haha you'll seeee! The story kind of takes a… twist

cloti 14: Thank you! And here's some more story :)

Jimy and Steph the book lovers: thanks! My username reflects my personality xP

Ok, now that I'm done replying all those… THANKS AGAIN!

DISCLAIMER: Don't own the characters or location or blahblahblah but I DO own the plot :P

Here's a longggg chapter for you! :D

Claire's POV

As our lips collided, I felt a shiver down my spine. I gladly noticed that Gray's lips were moving against mine, and his hands slipped into my hair. It was amazing.

But suddenly, I roughly pushed him away. Something inside me had broken. I didn't know whether Gray was crush or friend anymore. I had foolishly stumbled across that line, and muddled things up.

We sat there awkwardly for a few minutes. "Well… uh… I'm just gonna go fishing for a little bit," Gray glanced at the clock which read 5 p.m. "I'll be back before nine."

He half walked/ran out of the house. As soon as the former blacksmith left, I dropped my face into my hands. "Freaking IDIOT!" I swore at myself.

I stood up and rummaged around the kitchen for what to cook for supper, all the while thinking deeply. Why the HELL had I just kissed my best friend? He probably thinks I'm a slut now… a girl who just randomly goes around kissing her friends, and does who knows what else. But he kissed me back. Did that mean he liked me? Did I even like him?

I screamed in frustration and sank down to the floor, sobbing at my confusion. Why did I do this to myself? I walked to the bed and stared across at the mirror. My blond hair looked like a messy hay stack from my run through town, Gray holding it, and my tears messing it up. My nose and eyes, red.

"Goddess, I look like a mess." I said, and promptly went to the bathroom to clean myself up, all the while trying to figure myself out.

As I stepped out of the shower and towel-dried my hair I decided that I would wait and see how he reacted to me. I wondered if he had been going through the same trouble. And I had caused it all.

I quickly cooked up some rice, pork chops and corn before Gray came in.

Gray's POV

I hurried out of the house, only just remembering the fishing rod in my rush.

When I threw the bait into the water, I suddenly realized my big mistake: my failure to talk. It had been the moment I was waiting for, and it had been absolutely wonderful. And then after, there had been that awkward silence. The one I should have broken. We could be kissing again right now if I had been more of a man!

But then again, she had pushed me away. Was she testing me or something? To see how I'd react? So many stupid questions crossed my mind. Maybe she just did it by accident. She fell forwards, and uh, my lips just happened to be there.

"Idiot…" Devil Gray muttered from my left shoulder, shaking his head. He rubbed temples and looked at me like I was the stupidest being on earth.

"Leave him alone, he's just trying to figure things out!" Angel Gray reprimanded him from his right.

In a poof they were gone, leaving me wondering why they were both wearing dresses. I hadn't paid attention before. My devil and angel people were men, right?

Just then, from the forest path or the hot springs, I faintly heard my sister laughing along with a deep voice that sounded like Kai's. Or Zack's. But I sincerely hoped it was Kai's. The thought of the burly shipper and my sister dating disturbed me to no end. I shuddered at the thought.

Ann's POV

After Gray had slammed the door on me, I suddenly felt alone again. I wanted to go to the beach to clear my head.

"Dad?" I approached my father, who was cooking a steak at the time. Goddess, it smelled good. My stomach moaned in agreement. But I couldn't stay here a moment longer, even though I was starving. "Can I take a break and go to the beach for the rest of the afternoon?"

"Well…" He appeared deep in thought. "I guess I could take care of the bar. But just for this one night, okay?"

"Thanks Dad!" I hugged him, which by the look of utter confusion on his face as to what had just happened, you could tell I didn't do very often.

I walked out of the inn and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Claire tugging Gray along the street, running. I smirked, wondering where they were off to in such a rush.

As soon as I was out of sight of everyone in the inn, I made a run for it, only stopping when I had reached the shore. I sat down on the pier, and tugged the ponytail out of my hair, letting my curly red hair ripple around my face. The memories of this morning came rushing back towards me, and I cried. I looked at myself in the reflection in the water. Was I ugly or something? I sobbed harder.

"Ann?" A deep voice said from behind me. I wiped my tears as fast as I could before turning around at break-neck speed. Thank the goddess I had taken my braid out, or it would have wacked me hard in the face. Through my wet eyelashes I saw the tanned shopkeeper nearing me. He bent down beside me and brushed away a few tears I had missed. "Are you alright?" Kai frowned.

"I'm… fine. I'll live. It's just. Cliff." And with his name, I burst into tears again. Kai pulled me close and I cried into his shoulder. "He likes someone else…"

"Shhhh, it's gonna be ok…" He patted my back. I suddenly realized how awkward and unusual this was with me for one, crying, and number two, I was crying in his shoulder. Embarrassed, I gently pushed off.

"S-sorry" I muttered, brushing my tears off with my shirt.

"Hey, don't worry 'bout it. It's ok." He grinned. "By the way, you look good with your hair down."

I blushed at his random comment. "Thanks." Just then, my stomach let out a gigantic growl. We both couldn't help but laugh.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up and I'll get you some food." He laughed, helping me up. Kai showed me to the bathroom.

I dabbed at my eyes with some toilet paper, to get rid of the wetness, and blew my nose, laughing quietly at how much it sounded like an elephant.

"That's better!" Kai smiled as I came back out. He handed me a plate with a grilled cheese sandwhich. "Eat up, then we'll go for a walk in the forest, and I'm going to cheer you up."

We ate quickly and silently, not sure what to say to each other. I hadn't really gotten to know Kai that well. He had always been around Popuri, Claire, or Gray. But somehow, I felt comfortable around him. As if he was already my friend.

I helped him wash the dishes and then he led me out the door, each of us with an ice cream cone in hand, which we quickly finished.

"We're off on an adventure!" Kai proclaimed, pretending to be an explorer as we stepped into the forest. He ran ahead.

I quickly caught up with him, and we jogged a little bit longer. "Wanna toss something back and forth?" I asked. I had always been a sporty type of person, and I just loved throwing things. Destructively or non-destructively.

"Sure." He said enthusiastically before picking up a medium sized rock that wouldn't be too heavy. We continued walking as we threw it between us, me admiring his tan muscular arms flex as he tossed it back. He seemed to notice this and smirked knowingly, trying to show off. We mindlessly wandered by the hot springs. I spied Rick and Karen by the goddess pond first. They seemed to be deep in conversation, and didn't notice us.

Kai and I grinned at each other devilishly. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of humiliation? I held up three fingers, and counted down. 3…2…1… "RICK AND KAREN, SITTING IN A TREE! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" We yelled at the top of our lungs. They nearly fell into the pond in embarrassment. We dropped our rock and made a run for it, laughing insanely all the way.

"That was so much fun!" Kai breathed as we passed the Barley's farm.

We were pretty out of breath by the time we got back to the inn. "So you're leaving at the end of this summer?" I asked sadly.

"Well… I'm thinking I just might stay." He smiled, and with that he left, waving before going up the stairs to his room.

I noticed my dad out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't turn to look at him. He was probably frantically mouthing grand-children with a joyful look on his face.

Gray's POV

I swore when I reeled the fifth pair of boots that night. "Who the hell puts these things in here anyway! And who had this many boots? There are more boots in here than me in Karen's closet!" I shook my head disapprovingly. "And trust me, that's, a LOT." I added in a side-note to myself.

Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was nearly nine. I dumped the fish I had caught into the pond and sat down, thinking of what I should do about Claire.

"Well… If she doesn't mention it, neither will I." And with the most manly walk I could come up with, I walked into the house.

Claire glanced up before lowering her eyes to the stove again. "Here you go," she said curtly before placing a plate in front of me. I frowned at her formality and lack of conversation.

After a prolonged silence, the blonde finally spoke up. "How did the fishing go?"

"Fine. But someone has to stop throwing boots in there." Claire gagged on her pork chop, laughing hard. "If you ever need shoes, just ask me, I'll go fish some." I joked.

She smiled, but there was still some tension. As if there was a barrier between us.

That night when we both went to bed, I lay there for a while, thinking. Claire must have been awake too, because I didn't hear her gentle breathing that signaled she was asleep. Instead, I heard soft crying. Am I really that bad of a kisser?

Devil Gray appeared for only a second to roll his eyes at me, before disappearing.

And why the hell is he still wearing a freaking dress!

Tadaaaaaaaaa! Done! Review please! And I'll get my butt working on the next chapter! Well. Not literally. O.o My butt does not normally write my chapters. . :P

Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes/typos or parts that don't make sense. I was just too excited to get this chapter out!

Thanks for reading! :D