~Chelsea~

Sometimes I think I'm too honest for my own good. Why oh why did I decide it was okay to let him know that I've got some kind of weird, troubled past?

I'm surprised though, when he doesn't mention anything about it, but instead just shrugs as we keep walking. His nonchalant attitude has me wondering whether he cares or whether he's just the kind of person who knows that someone's personal business is their business only.

If I'd said what I said to him to any of the girls here on the island, they'd jump all over me. Inwardly, I groan, remembering that tonight Natalie's asked us all to come over and socialize for a bit. It's rare that we all get a chance to talk together, but when we do it takes every ounce of my willpower to not say something terrible, like how much I hate being there.

The girls themselves are fine, but Julia understands my point of view (thus the reason she is my best friend.) There's no point in gossiping when you could just be going out and doing things to make whatever it is you want happen.

While I'm wrapped up in my thoughts, Vaughn clears his throat.

"We're here," he says in a husky voice, and I look up, noting that we're already at the foot of my farm. Quietly, I lead him to the barn where he pushes the animal in and shuts the door, looping the rope carefully and attaching it to his waist.

"Thanks," I say to be polite, and he nods and tips his hat at me like he's about to take off when I pinch him slightly. That earns me a glare, and a gruff, "What now?" from the cowboy.

I give him a smile and say, "Wanna see something cool?"

xxxXXXxxxXXXxxx

As I climb up the nearest tree, he scoffs at me.

"Get down," he frowns, but I just stick my tongue out at him and continue to climb.

"You shouldn't worry so much, I'm not as delicate as I look," I call down to him while he scowls on the jungle floor, kicking at the tree. We've gone to Mushroom Island, as its foliage is the perfect place to explore. I figured that if anything, he'll enjoy it since it's a quiet place to be and he seems to like quiet.

On the other hand, maybe bringing him here was a bad idea, since I like to climb trees and be adventurous and he seems to feel like I'll hurt myself if I keep going.

While I test the next branch on my journey upwards he crosses his arms and calls up, "I'm not going to catch you if you fall!"

Laughing down at him, I call back, "Well fine by me, cause I won't fall!"

I speak just a little too soon, as the branch I grab isn't quite strong enough, and it snaps off easily in my hand. I'm falling, and I'm about to brace myself for the impact when I feel that suddenly, I'm no longer falling.

He caught me. He actually caught me.

When I look up at him, the surprise must show on my face because he scowls and nearly drops me again as he goes to tug his hat down.

Putting me down, he mutters, "Told you."

I can't help the smirk that grows on my face.

"I thought you weren't going to catch me?" I tease, and I enjoy the sight of him betraying some emotion as he blushes just ever so slightly and pulls his hat down even more.

"What, you think I'm just going to watch you break something and gloat at you?" he demands, but I just sit down, and lean against the tree.

"Why are you talking to me anyways?" I ask, and he clams up at the question. The way he's been acting has me thinking that maybe he's not as quiet as Julia thinks he is. Then again, maybe he's just not quiet around me because he can sense that I too, have some kind of emotional hurricane going on inside.

While I deliberate all this, he answers in a surprisingly soft voice.

"You know."

Oh yay, thanks for yet ANOTHER cryptic answer. I clear my throat and look up at him.

"And just what exactly do I know?" I ask, causing him to shift back to his gruff mode as he sits down beside me.

"You know pain. And suffering. Like me."

Again, he surprises me with how descriptive one can be with such a limited amount of words. Somehow, I want to prove him wrong though; I want to show him that I'm not entirely like him.

I stand up and brush off my pants, looking into the distance.

"Maybe. But I'm not like you in the fact that I disguise it better and can still communicate with the outside world."

xxxXXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

I'm at Natalie's now. The little pink haired girl has got us all sitting down in a circle around a candle as we're in her room late at night, like we're about to call back a spirit from the dead or something. The only things missing from the picture is the fact that we're not holding hands and a skull or magical book of sorts.

Either way, I decide to enjoy it. There's nothing like mindless gossip to distract you from the more important things in life. While I sit back, Natalie shoots a look at Julia, who's lounging just like me.

"Julia," she asks, tugging at her bow. "What's up with you and my brother?"

I smother a laugh as Julia turns slightly pink and manages to say, "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

The rest of the girls in the circle know it's a lie, and as we all smirk at her she finally caves.

"Okay," she admits, "So maybe I'm slightly interested in him…" her voice trails off as three pairs of eyes glint at her knowingly.

Lanna giggles. As much as I find her annoying in some ways, she can be funny, and now's one of those times. The popstar teases Julia, saying, "Just slightly?"

We all fall back in helpless laughter as Julia turns red now as opposed to the pink shade she was before.

"Shut up you guys!" she squeals, and obligingly Lanna sobers up and turns to me.

"You interested in anyone, Chels?" she shoots at me, and I smirk inwardly, just knowing that she's only asking this question to make sure I'm not interested in Denny, the new fisherman that moved in not too long after I did.

"Romance is lame," I say, which has them all shaking their heads at me while they smile. It's like they can't tell that I'm actually being serious.

Lanna pouts. "You don't like anyone? Anyone at all?" she asks, still trying to figure out who I like. I roll my eyes.

"Nope. Not interested in anyone in the least."

Julia gives me a sly look, and I quickly poke her in the side lest she mention the name "Vaughn." Already the girls questioned me when the cowboy and I returned to the town together.

I have no idea why though; we went our separate ways right afterwards, him to Mirabelle's and me to Natalie's. I have a feeling though that Julia mentioned casually how he took longer than it usually takes to deliver an animal, although neither Lanna nor Natalie let on that they know that.

xxxXXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

Oh great. They've fallen asleep.

I'm not surprised really; these girls have no nightmares to worry about. They don't lay there in bed and pray that they'll have a peaceful sleep. They just conk out happily and probably dream of boys.

Me on the other hand, now that's a different story.

Sometimes, I fall asleep quickly too, but more often than not I take hours upon hours to sleep. And when I sleep, it's always the same; a blank, white room. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's rare I dream of something else, but when I do it's always THAT dream. The same one that I've had for the past three nights now. Luckily, I haven't screamed since that first time.

Well, maybe I have, but no one's come knocking on my door near midnight so I don't think I've been screaming.

With a sigh, I shift Julia's head off mine and stand up, cracking my back as I do so. The door opens ever so slightly, and I see Elliot peeking in nervously.

"Nat?" he whispers, and I motion for him to open the door completely.

"They passed out. Help me get them to the bed, or the couch or something. We can't just leave them on the floor," I say, and Elliot nods and goes to get his sister. I go for Lanna first, figuring she'll be the easiest to drag for me since she's only a few inches taller than me and weighs less than Julia.

Yes, I'm the kind that leaves the best friend sleeping on the floor while I drag the annoying one to the nearest couch. Nice, aren't I?

When I turn around, I see Elliot's already got Julia in his arms, completing my work. Julia would die with happiness right now…if she was awake and knew that this really happened. She'll never believe me when I tell her this tomorrow.

I lean against Natalie's dresser as I watch Elliot carefully carry my friend to the couch as well and put her down gently. He's blushing as he turns to me.

"Would you like to stay the night as well?" he asks politely, but I shake my head before heading out the door. Right before I leave, I nod at Julia.

"You should talk to her more, Elliot," I tell the pink haired boy, who shifts nervously at the thought and grabs his glasses. I grin, glad to know that thought of Julia makes him nervous; it means he clearly sees her as more than just a friend.

With a wave, I leave Elliot blushing next to my friend's prone form.


So you guys, my fluff roots...they come out regardless of how much I try to hide them, so expect some fluff coming up in the story XD

I tried, seriously I did! But it's so hard for me...cause I found out my bf cheated on me and was unrepentant about it all, and so I fell back into writing more as a result of coping with my anger and my desire to punch the living daylights out of him...and as a result there is fluff XD

I do hope you enjoy it though, either way :3 Thanks for reading!