Authors Note

Hey everyone. So the last chapter's apology in case you didn't catch it, was at the end. There was a little spark between Vaughn and Chelsea when he gave her the chocolate bar, and so now you're probably asking, why were there like 7 chapters before the first heart scene in the game? Well….you'll have to wait for the answer in the next chapter heehee. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 9: Helping the Cowboy

Things, according to me and my mind, had fnally started to settle down. Vaughn was now working for me every single day, except of course Wednesdays and Thursdays. On those days, you'd find him at Mirabelle's feeding the animals, donig paperwork, that kind of thing. Rick kept up his end of the bargain by continueing to send animals with someone new...his wife. Karen hadn't really spoken to me since that day, but I'vealways been to busy to go out and say hi anyway, because I didn't want to get in her way. Mirabelle had showed up on my doorstep one morning bearing gifts; two cows and a sheep, as well as money to pay for a barn upgrade. I kept refusing these gifts, but she had insisted stubbornly that it was the least she could do for helping their business. Without those animals, they would've left. I decided on names there and then, Bertha and Lydia for the cows and Lily for the sheep.

I guess you could say that things were progressing smoothly. Vaughn wasn't mean to me anymore, at least, he didn't yell at me every time we met. We only talked once and awhile, normally saying "hello" and "goodbye". But things were still progressing. I had gotten a couple sun stones, one was near my windmill (i found it!) and the others were earned from animals and upgrades. I was happy to conclude that I had enough to raise link island, the first out of all those islands.

It was a Wednesday morning on Sunshine Islands. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining brighter than ever before. I pulled my bandana further down on my head, hoping that the end of Springs sun would let up fast and soon. I could feel the starting of summer as flowers finished blooming. I was on my way to a small island, used to bring up the different islands, when I heard chatter in the distance, coming from Mirabelle's farm. I reconized the voices as Vaugh and Denny, obviously bickering on something. As I got closer, the words became more clearer. "..sure?" One voice said.

I was close enough to see Vaughn crouched on teh ground, his back to me. Denny was behind him, lokoing over Vaughn's shoulder. "You sure you don't need any help?"

Vaughn growled. "No! I can do it myself..." He continued searching as Denny shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the beach.

I stood there moment as my mind fought on what to do. My eyes scnned VAughn, frustarated and angry. I felt myself moving towards him, although my nerves fought against my body. "Hi" I murmured, not making eye contact.

Vaughn turnd his head around slightly, not looking directly at me. "Hi"

I found myself getting closer. "Want help?" I looked back at him

He hesitated for a moment, almost a if he didn't know how to respond.

"It isn't any of your business" He exclaimed turning back around to look.

I felt a little upset at his reponse, and I felt my courage start to grow as my nerves died down. "You sure?"

Vaughn continued to look, his eyes never leaving the ground. His hands immediatly halted at my words. "Well" He paused a moment as if he once again didn't know what to do. "Yeah, I guess I can trust you"

I continued to frown and walked over to another part of the empty lot, looking. "What did you loose?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the ground.

He looked at me. "It's a small black box. It has all my tools in it, and I need it for work" His voice was soft, but not low or harsh like he would usually talk.

I nodded my head and continued to look. Almost after I started looking something caught my eyes. It was a black small black rectange thing, not any bigger than a tool set. I picked it up slowly, trying not to spill the contents inside. It was heavy, although very small. I could feel its force on my arms "Hey Vaughn?" I called, my voice staying low. "Is this it?" I held the box up with both hands resting it on my shoulder so it wouldn't fall.

Vaughn looked at me, almost jumping up as soon as he caught wind of my words. He approached me, eyes never leaving the box. He took it then scanned the black item. "Yup" He propped it on his shoulders. "This is it"

I continued to stare at the box for a moment before turning around, and leaving. "Hey!" I heard a voice call from behind after I had taken a few steps. I slightly turned my head, looking at Vaughn as he pulled his hat over his head. "Thanks"

I only smiled before leaving Vaughn behind, and stalking off.

Later

"Yeah the crop festival" Julia exclaimed, eyes widening. "Aren't you participating?"

I sat there on the, overworked from the magnificant amount of jobs and errands. I started to trace back to the last time I had tried to enter a festival back home. It hadn't gone so well, as I was lectured in front of everyone about crops and how to raise them properly for about an hour. I sighed at the memory, only looking over towards Julia who was had gone back to her bubbly self.

I looked around staring at the Mirabelle's shop, and I felt myself yawn. "No Julia, I can't enter" I turned my head back to face her. "I don't have anything worth entering. Besides, the less crops I ship, the less money I'm going to make..."

Julia scowled at me, her eyes turning red. "C'mon Chelsea! Money doesn't make the world go around!"

I didn't sat anything, hoping that Julia would take the silence the right way. In an effort to make her think like me I stood up and approached the door. "But it pays for my expensies"

I heard her groan behind me. "You sound like Vaughn"

"Maybe" I opened the door. "Because we think alike" And then, I was gone.

Vaughn hadn't shown up yet since this mornings incident. Now that he was on the island almost every single day, he would dissapear quite often, and no one had any idea where he was. I reflected on the past season, and all the drama that had taken place. It wasn't annoying, just tiresome, and I knew it. I lowered my head to the ground, annoyed by the sun and its violent rays.

"Hey!" I heard a voice call out from far away. I looked over, seeing a purple banadna and a funny looking parrot. I reconized him as Denny, the guy who had been trying to help Vaughn earler. We had talked once or twice, but I felt like I had known him for a long.

"Hi" I replied, looking down to the ground again. It had become quite a habbit, but found myself doing it less frequent ever since Vaughn and I had started talking a little more.

Denny smiled at me. "How's the farm?"

I looked back at his face, and felt my nerves slowly die down. "Good. I'm hoping to get another upgrade soon"

"That's good. Hey.." Dennys smile faded, his cheeks turning a bright pink. "I was wondering if...well you know" He scratched his neck with his hand "Would you like to...go fishing with me, sometime?" He looked at me, and smiled. "It'll be fun!"

I fellt my cheeks burn up, and I looked to the floor letting my nerves get the better end fo me. "Yeah, sure"

"Great!" Denny patted me on the back. "I'll meet you tomorrow at the beach around noon"

He skipped away happily whistling and I slapped myself on the head. What had I just done?

So this the beginning of a rivalry! Yeah! Anyway, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is, this is the end of chapter 9! YEAH! The bad news, well there's actually 2 pieces of bad news. #1 This is nowhere to being finished. #2 I'm going to stop writing this fanfiction and try one where Chelsea is how every else writes her (so happy, hyper, etc.) I might continue this story, but it depends on how many people want the rest. So, yeah, i'm going to try another fanfiction! So, look out for that one...