Heya, here is another chapter but there'll be small break after this because of upcoming exam and birthday :D
This is the longest chapter so far with almost 3000 words :3 so yeah.
Onwards and upwards.
Happy Reading xxx
About a month had passed since Chelsea started working at the palace and her relationship with Vaughn remained the same; Icy cold. By now the summer was drawing in, the temperature became warmer and the nights became lighter. It could sometimes be difficult to work in such heat especially working in the middle of a field but work was work, Chelsea could hardly complain earning 1000g a week. Sure it was only enough to buy minimal food and tax but it was better than the 600g she was scraping in by herself.
Chelsea was getting ready for her daily trip to the palace, packing her bag and dashing around the small hut to get herself set to go. Jack watched idly at his sister, biting his lip deciding whether to ask her or not. After all, his coughing became less and he was feeling ever so slightly better. He didn't know how she would react, would she let him or wouldn't she? He thought maybe asking her the next day but he said that to himself the day before.
"Chelsea?" He asked, shuffling himself up straight. His brunette bangs covered a majority of his face which he tried to blow out the way.
"Yeah?" Chelsea replied, putting her bag on the floor and sitting over by Jack.
"I think." He thought for a second whether it would be a good idea or not. "I think I wanna come with you." He said finally. Chelsea looked at him and then down, collecting her thoughts. It would be good for him to get the fresh air but on the other hand, he needed to rest.
"But you're still ill, Jack." She said, brushing the hair away from his eyes revealing dull blue eyes. Of course he was still ill but it was up to him.
"I feel a lot better. I don't have to work. I just wanna see what the work is like." Chelsea gazed down and sighed. She didn't want to put any pressure on him, it was a long journey to the palace.
"It's a two mile trek." She said.
"Please, Chels." Jack looked at her with wide eyes, pleading with her. "I'm sick of lying here day after day. It would be nice to get out." Chelsea just stared into space. "Just this once, please." Jack clasped his hands together.
"Fine." Chelsea finally said. "We'll take Charlie. Saves you from tiring yourself out." Jack gleamed and wrapped his arms around his little sister.
"Thanks, Chels." Jack said as he released Chelsea from his hug. He pushed away the blanket that was barely half the size of him. He was happy.
"No worries." She smiled as she stood up and looked down at Jack. "Although you need to change, you've been in those clothes for a few days now." She opened up a crocked cupboard and threw jack some clean clothes. "I'll go get Charlie." Chelsea said as she picked up a long rope and headed towards the stables.
-/-
Chelsea led her elderly horse by a loose rope with Jack sitting on him. They were just passing the palace forest which meant only half a mile to go before entering the palace.
Jack started to snigger as he looked at Charlie and then at Chelsea.
"Hey!" He said, still sniggering. Chelsea rolled her eyes but smiling whilst she ignored her brother. She knew he was bound to come out with something stupid. "Hey, Chels!" He said again.
"Yeah?" Chelsea answered him and braced for whatever was going to come out of his mouth.
"Sorry, I mean Joseph." Jacks sniggering turned more into laughter. Chelsea tutted and shook her head, something typical Jack would say. She thought about a comeback but decided she was just going to join in with his antics.
"Does that make Charlie a donkey and you the Virgin Mary?" Chelsea laughed fakely and rolled her eyes. "Goddess, so mature, Jack."
"And you call me sarcy?" Jack laughed and coughed a little.
"You're worse than anyone." Chelsea said, now facing forward as the palace was now clearly in sight.
"I'll take that as a compliment." He smiled smugly.
-/-
"Hi, Vaughn." Chelsea greeted the cowboy as she tied Charlie's rope to a nearby fence. Vaughn didn't raise his head but nodded as a hello. He rolled out a barrel of milk from the cow's pen and turned it upright, his eyes fixed on Charlie.
"I think we have enough horses." He said bluntly.
"Who said Charlie was for you?" Chelsea said as she dragged a crate over by Charlie so Jack could get down easily.
"Charlie?" Vaughn questioned, his gaze lifting a little to see Jack.
"That's his name." Chelsea helped Jack on to the crate and onto the ground. "Jack wanted to come and visit so we had Charlie take him because of his illness." Chelsea said as she lead him to a stool by the barn entrance.
"Illness?" Vaughn's facial expression was in shock and almost a little in disgust. Chelsea shook her head at him.
"It ain't contagious, I wouldn't bring him otherwise and he's getting better." Chelsea beckoned Vaughn over, he hesitated at first but approached Chelsea and Jack. "Jack, this is Vaughn. Vaughn, this is Jack, my brother." Surprisingly, Vaughn and Jack shook hands.
"Nice to meet you, Chelsea has spoken a lot about you." Jack said grinning as he winked at Vaughn. The other reason why she didn't want Jack to come is because of him being…him.
"Jack!" Chelsea hissed. Jack chuckled as Chelsea's face was priceless, she looked mortified.
"Oh, really?" Vaughn raised an eyebrow, looking between Jack and Chelsea. He noted how alike they were, mostly in looks with the chestnut hair and bright blue eyes.
"Yeah, she always has something say. I think she fancie-" Chelsea's eyes widened and clamped Jack's mouth with her hand. She knew he was going to show her up but didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Just shut up and stay sat down!" She growled, her eyes burning into him. Vaughn looked oddly at Chelsea who was now blushing lightly.
"Like what?" It seemed Vaughn didn't quite hear the last part of what Jack said which relieved Chelsea. Jack bit his lip, wanting to add more but only he knew the wrath of his sister so he thought best not to say anything at all.
"None of it good. Believe me." Chelsea sneered, glaring at Vaughn but every so often looking down at Jack.
"Why does that not surprise me?" Vaughn turned away and rummaged in the tool box just behind him.
"Because you're still an arse." Chelsea mumbled before walking over to stand next to him. "What do you want me to do?" She asked him. Vaughn brought out an old looking pair of sheers and handed them to Chelsea.
"I need you to sheer some sheep." He told her as he rummaged the tool box some more and brought out some sort of miracle potion.
"I've never used-"
"Just shush and go sheer." Vaughn interrupted Chelsea to which she sighed and took a deep breath.
-/-
"What?" Vaughn snapped as he looked at the half sheered sheep. "What is that?" Some of the sheep had large tuffs of wool and others had completely bald patches. Chelsea glared up at him and threw the sheers across the ground.
"I tried to tell you I've never used those sheers before. Did you listen?" She snapped back at him but he just looked at her blankly.
"There are still large patches of wool still on the sheep." He said as he inspected the sheep closer. "You're useless." He pointed his finger in Chelsea's face but she batted it away.
"You never listen. You don't want to listen." Chelsea looked over at Jack and gave him a seldom look but he sat back and observed the bickering duo.
"I will finish off, you go and wash down the horses." Vaughn ordered, his hand pointing in the direction of the horse stables. Chelsea stamped her foot in temper but then calmly walked away, seething on the inside. She swore Vaughn was acting worse than usual because Jack was there.
"Arse." She muttered to herself.
-/-
"What are you doing?" Vaughn growled as he approached Chelsea who was gently pouring a small bucket of water over the horse's back.
"Washing down the horse." She said simply.
"It is soaking, you were meant to dunk the brush into the water, not pour a whole bucket over them." He grabbed the bucket away from her and tossed it on the ground. "Why can you not do things properly." Vaughn believed Chelsea was acting ditsier than usual because Jack was there.
"Maybe 'cause you don't tell me how you want it done!" Chelsea pouted. "Do you think I'm psychic?" Vaughn shook his head but not agreeing with her.
"You are nothing but an amateur. Maybe less than an amateur." Vaughn bent over to be nose to nose with Chelsea since he towered over her so much.
"If you think you can do all this work, then fine. Do it." Chelsea pushed Vaughn away from her.
"I was fine before you started working here. You do nothing but get in the way." He shouted at her.
"I taught you to have fun at work since you have no idea what fun means."
"Yeah and look how that turned out." She grabbed her now healed wrist. "Stupid girl." He snarled as he threw it away from him.
"You're so arrogant." Chelsea clenched her fists together, the temptation to hit him was sky high, if it wasn't for Jack being there she probably would.
"You are so annoying." Vaughn flicked her on the nose and she flicked him on the chin, really because she couldn't reach as far as that.
"Stop treating me like a little kid." Chelsea shouted at him.
"Then stop acting like one." Vaughn told her off like a teacher scolding a pupil.
"I don't."
"You do."
"Guys." Jack said, trying to stop the feud.
"Shut up!" Chelsea and Vaughn said in unison to him.
"Bloody perfect for each other." He muttered under his breath. Chelsea looked at him with daggers in her eyes.
"I heard that!" She snapped.
"What did he say?" Vaughn asked, his voice raised.
"He is called Jack and never you mind." Chelsea said with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, is that how you are going to play it." Chelsea smirked and nodded.
"If you think I act like a kid then so be it, I'll act like a kid." Chelsea grabbed a tub of manure, slowly opening the lid. Now she was going to get her revenge, steamy horse manure all over him would be perfect.
"Chelsea!" Jack's voice croaked through his attempt to shout.
"Urgh, fine." Chelsea closed the lid back down and walked closer to Vaughn. "If you think I act like a kid then I'll prove you wrong."
"Aww, doing as your big brother tells you to." Vaughn ruffled her bandana but Chelsea didn't do or say anything, she just looked blankly away. "The silent treatment, how mature." Vaughn tried to say it sarcastically but it came out in his usual velvety tone.
"My mum always said if I have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." Jack smiled at her response. "You need to practice your sarcasm, not very good." She said, totally contradicting herself.
"Do I look like I care?"
"I bet you do." Chelsea smirked.
"Nope."
"I'm done with your arrogance and rudeness, I'm constantly trying to be nice to you and you're constantly shooting me down. Why?" Vaughn looked at Chelsea, he lowered his head and backed away as he done so before.
"Just get on with some work and shut up." He grunted.
"See. You won't even answer my question." Vaughn shrugged his shoulders and left Chelsea alone. "Arsehole." She mumbled.
-/-
"Do you see now, Jack? Do you see what I have to put up with day to day?" She said to Jack as they returned back to the hut.
"I sure do." He grinned as he got back on the hay stack. Chelsea dumped her rucksack by the door and sat over by Jack.
"I mean really, what's up with that guy? And you shoot your mouth off saying we'd be perfect for each other." She glared down at Jack but he had his cheeky grin on his face. "Don't think I've forgotten."
"But that's exactly it. You really are perfect for one another." He exclaimed, Chelsea gave him an odd look.
"I really don't see how. He's a horrible person."
"Why didn't he answer your question? It seems to me that he constantly shoots you down because he doesn't want to become attached. For what reason, I have no idea. I reckon he's a good guy, if he wasn't then why did he sort out your broken wrist and shout at you for working on it." It made very vague sense to Chelsea but she didn't want to admit it. She kinda wanted to get on with Vaughn.
"I still don't see it."
"You will. I don't think he can keep a front on for much longer." Chelsea raised her eyebrow at him and he held his hands up. "I swear on my life it's true."
Sooo, what did you think about what Jack said? He's a bit of a joker but he seems to talk sense.
Until next time xxx
