Hey guys, here is Chapter 10 :D Thanks again for reading and reviewing, really appreciate it. Anyways I hope you enjoy this paragraph, Chelsea and Vaughn's bonding time :P Disclaimer – I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters.
One Last Dance – Chapter 10
Chelsea's P.O.V.
The journey to the diner didn't take that long considering it was literally right outside the animal shop. Thankfully Vaughn walked slowly so I could walk next to him and didn't get lost behind. Opening the big double doors, we were immediately hit by the smell of freshly baked bread. It was pretty empty I guess, of the five tables that sat around two of them were free. Vaughn walked straight to the one at the back which was furthest away from every other table before taking a seat. I followed him and took the seat opposite before Nick scuttled over with two menu's.
"Thanks to your farm Chels we've been able to cook decent enough food and expand the menu, I hope you enjoy" He smiled down at me before handing us both a menu. I smiled in return before looking over at Vaughn who had placed the menu flat onto the table and was now staring at me.
"You not ordering?" I asked frowning slightly. He pushed his hat out of his amethyst eyes to search mine deeply, sending my stomach into oblivion. Damn it.
"I already know what I'm getting" He then mumbled before breaking the gaze and looking down at the table. I nodded before turning my attention back to the menu, it had grown. Now they didn't just sell coffee – inside I was celebrating. Now, normal girls look towards the salad which they pick at like anorexic ants. Me, I wanted the Risotto, the Paella and the pizza all mixed into one massive dish. But then again I had to think of my wallet which was now becoming increasingly small, I could pig out when the frickin' turnips grew. I smiled at the pizza which was almost visible on the table before placing the menu down and clutching my ravenous tummy. I looked up from the table to Vaughn who's eyes were fixed on mine, his iris amethyst and sparkling in the artificial light. They clung to me, but not in a creepy way. They were full of mystery and held something behind them, something he didn't want me to see. I let my eyes roam his face, from his nose to his well-defined jaw where there was a slight trace of stubble forming. He had wide cheekbones where the end of his fringe hovered delicately. My gaze moved to his lips, they were thin and wore a pale pink colour … they looked so soft and inviting.
Nick suddenly coughed and made me shit myself, causing me to fly backwards into my chair. I blushed slightly before flicking my hair to the side and staring at him like nothing had happened.
"Are you ready to take your order now?" He asked, a little embarrassed that he'd interrupted a strange staring thing. I risked a glance at Vaughn who had pulled his hat down to cover his face.
"I'll just have some Pizza please" I replied, maybe a little too eager. He nodded and smiled before turning to Vaughn.
"The usual?" He asked. Vaughn nodded slowly, before straightening up in his seat. His silver hair fell into his eyes as Nick scribbled down the orders.
"And drinks?" He asked, switching his gaze between the both of us. I hadn't had the chance to look at the drinks properly so I just turned to Vaughn and shrugged.
"Anything" He mumbled quietly to Nick. He nodded before spinning around on his heel and walking off. "Just not coffee" He added. Nick nodded understandingly before vanishing into the kitchen.
I avoided Vaughn's gaze and turned to look at the table's surrounding us. There weren't much people in tonight. Sabrina's dad, Regis, sat at one table on his own. I'd only ever seen him out of the house once and even then it was only briefly so it came as a shock to see him sat in a public place. And the only other person around was a black haired women with some kind of chopsticks sticking out of her messy bun.
I turned my attention back to Vaughn and smiled at him, pretending that nothing happened before.
"I'm glad you finally decided to come out for food" I laughed before leaning back in my chair, avoiding another leaning in staring montage thing. He switched his gaze from the wall to me and nodded.
"I guess I was getting pretty hungry" He mumbled as his eyes searched mine again. He still held that expression, the one he had from the very first day I met him. He was trying to figure me out. There was another silent pause as we exchanged glances before mine fell back down to the table.
"What was she like?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the yellow table cloths – erg, yellow. Vaughn tensed in his chair slightly before I flicked my eyes up to see him. His expression didn't change but his posture was stiffer, shit Chelsea, sensitive subject.
Nick suddenly scuttled over holding two drinks. He placed one down in front of me and one down in front of Vaughn before flashing us a smile and returning back to the kitchen. He always seemed to come at the right time, thank you nick. Unfortunately he lacked the means in telling us what frickin' drink it was. Simultaneously, both me and Vaughn peered into the glass and stared at the strange purple liquid in front of us. I raised an eyebrow before smirking and looking up at Vaughn.
"Go ahead cowboy" I smirked at his wary face. He narrowed his eyes before prodding the drink with his forefinger.
"Ladies first" He muttered, a slight twitch of a smile curling the sides of his mouth. I rolled my eyes at him before wrapping my fingers around the cool glass.
"Same time?" I asked, eyeing him carefully. He paused for a second before nodding.
"You're on" He smirked before taking hold of the cup. I looked down at mine and closed one eye to take a better look at it, I just prayed it was grape juice.
"Three" His deep velvet voice spoke clearly.
"Two" I smirked in reply.
"One" We mumbled together and then down the hatch it went. At first a blast of sweetness hit me but then came a creamy taste which churned my stomach. I looked at Vaughn who's face had a look of pure disgust plastered on it. I spat the rest of it out in the cup and placed it back on the table before sticking out my tongue to try and air out the taste. That was the second most disgusting thing I'd ever drank, coffee still outstretched it though. I placed my hands over my eyes as I was suddenly overcome by laughter. There I was, sitting with my tongue out laughing like a demented person, smooth Chelsea – smooooth. I looked up at Vaughn who was staring at the cup in disgust before giggling even more. He looked up at me and a smirk crept onto his face.
"I'm guessing you didn't like it?" I asked smirking, my tongue now back in its rightful position. He pushed the cup away before shaking his head.
"I'd rather drink a carrot smoothie than have that again" He smirked before pushing his hat up slightly to reveal his eyes. I laughed before pushing my drink aside.
"You don't like carrots?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow at him. He shook his head just as a stray piece of hair fell into his vision.
"Worst things you could ever eat" He replied as he pushed the hair away. I gazed into his deep purple eyes before smiling at him warmly.
"It's like me with coffee" I mumbled, pulling my eyes away from his as my stomach knotted and my heart rate rose. His face was so well-defined and proportioned it was surreal, he was actually quite handsome. Whoa, whoa, whoa – stop. Do not carry those thought on any more Chelsea.
The smell of melting cheese and tomato sauce suddenly pilled the air as Nick came back with a large tray balanced on one arm and a bowl on the other. He placed the bowl in front of Vaughn before sticking a full 16" pizza smack bang on the table in front of me. My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I saw how big it was, I thought I was going to get a slice never mind a whole pizza. I looked up at Vaughn who was staring at my face, reading me.
"Hungry?" He asked, a slight smile flashing in his eyes. I rolled my eyes at him before picking up a slice.
"I was going to offer you one but now, I'm just going to eat it all" I joked as I pretended to flick my hair over my shoulder and point my noise into the air. My stomach growled as I brought the delicious slice up to my lips and took a deep bite out of it. Vaughn chuckled quietly before taking hold of the spoon and placing it into what looked like cold rice pudding. As I engulfed the whole slice in the matter of seconds I looked up at Vaughn and smiled.
"Rice pudding for super?" I asked as I pulled off another slice. He looked up at me from under his black cowboy hat which caused my stomach to knot again.
"Porridge, I love it" He said as his gaze clung to mine. Wasn't porridge breakfast food? I shrugged it off before biting into another slice of pizza.
After I'd demolished three quarters of my pizza I slouched back in my chair and stared at the rest. Meanwhile Vaughn had finished his and was watching me forcing in as much cheese, tomato and dough as possible in amusement. I had to finish it; no way was I going to leave any of it … it was just too nice. I brought up another slice to my lips before groaning and turning to look at Vaughn.
"Giving up yet?" He asked, smirking slightly. I rolled my eyes before taking a deep bite and swallowing as soon as it hit my tongue. My plan – if I didn't chew then it seemed like I didn't eat as much right?
"Nope" I narrowed my eyes as I forced another bite down my throat. I bet he was loving this, loving watching me suffer. He rolled his eyes before ripping off a slice and bringing it up to his own lips. I smirked; I knew he couldn't watch me suffer for long.
"I thought you enjoyed watching me die from pizza overload" I mumbled as I threw the crust to the side and clutching my overfilled stomach.
"I did, but it got too painful" He replied as he finished off his slice before taking another one. Looking down at the plate, I gazed at the last slice that looked up at me. Growling at it I picked it up, rolled it into a small pizza role before inhaling the whole thing. Finally I had finished! Money well spent as well, I wouldn't have to eat for a week. Closing my eyes I leant back in my chair and sighed, thank god that was over, after the sixth slice it started to get overbearing.
Nick scuttled over holding a little notepad as he wrote down the check. I lazily opened an eye and looked around, it was just me and Vaughn left in the diner now. I hope we hadn't kept him open too long, he must have been watching us, begging for us to go. I smiled at him guiltily before smirking slightly.
"There we are" He smiled as he placed it down on the table. I reached out to get it but Vaughn had it in his hands quicker than I could blink. He pulled out some money from his back pocket before handing it to Nick who took it gracefully. I frowned at him.
"Hey I can pay for myself" I grumbled as I pulled out my rucksack. Vaughn stood up out of his chair before turning to face me.
"I know" He muttered before motioning towards the door. I steadily got up out of my chair and frowned at him, why was he doing this. I was perfectly capable enough to buy and pay for my own food. And considering it was a pretty big pizza, I'm guessing it cost a bomb. He was outside before I had the chance to argue. I knitted my eyebrows together before following him. It was dark outside, like really dark. I guessed I'd spent more time in the diner than I'd actually realised.
Vaughn was hovering a few paces away for me. I rolled my eyes before joining him and prodding his arm lightly.
"You shouldn't have paid for me" I muttered as I looked into his deep amethyst eyes which still glistened despite the fact there was no light coming from the sky. He rolled his eyes before resting them back on mine.
"Call it a debt – you can repay it anytime you want" He mumbled. I narrowed my eyes before laughing at him.
"Well I guess this is goodnight cowboy and thanks for the food" I chuckled before turning around and heading towards my farm. I only took three paces before a warm hand wrapped themselves around my wrist. I paused and turned around to look at Vaughn who's eyes searched mine.
"It's dangerous for women to walk around alone at this time of night …" He let go of my arm slowly, the tips of his fingers brushing against my skin. I looked up into his eyes before nodding and swallowing. The moonlight shone down on his face, showing his silver hair feathering the top of his shoulders.
He began walking forward, staying at my side the whole time. Then we got to the bridge, that stupid fucking bridge. Vaughn stepped on it with ease while I clung to the side and paused, taking in a deep breath. He turned to face me with his eyebrows knitted together. I swallowed hard and placed a foot on the wood but my heart stood still in my chest.
"Are you alright?" He asked, taking a step closer to me. I smiled reassuringly but didn't open my eyes.
"I'm perfectly fine. It's just … I'm not a big fan of bridges" I swallowed again, opening an eye to look at his expression. He was smirking. I narrowed my eyes before taking a deep breath.
"Turn around" I ordered, staring at him. He frowned but did as I said.
"Walk off the bridge and wait there" I mumbled. Watching him get to the other side I let go and quickly crawled to the other side. Vaughn looked down at me and supressed a smirk as I stood up and dusted myself down.
"Don't say anything" I muttered before walking to the front door of my house. I fumbled around in my pocket before pulling out a key to unlock it.
"See I'm perfectly fine, I didn't get mauled by dogs or get attacked by a rapist" I rolled my eyes as I turned around. He was standing close to me … very close in fact. I could feel his cool breath on my face as I looked up into his eyes.
"It's because I was there" He said, not changing the emotion on his face. I couldn't reply, my heart beat so fast I swear he could hear it. I smiled before placing the key in the lock and turning.
"Yeah so thanks again …" I smiled before opening the door and stepping inside. He bowed the top of his hat in my direction before stepping back and turning around. I watched him disappear into the night before closing the door behind me and narrowing my eyes. Stupid cowboy, thinks he's so cool. Wait till the next time I see him.
Yeah so that's it hehe :D Chelsea and Vaughn kinda half 'date' ;) I hope you liked it and please don't forget to review :D Stay tuned x