Yay for Chapter 10! And so continues the story. I wonder what will happen...?

Chapter 10

Jill/Mana's POV

I awoke with tear stains on my cheek. Great. Just an early reminder of what happened last night. How's that for a wake up call? I didn't want to get out of bed at all, because I felt like I hadn't slept in days. You would've thought that I would be used to these kinds of things by now.

Somehow I managed to drag myself to my feet, grumbling as I felt slightly dizzy. Mornings always made me feel like the world was sideways. But events like last night made the world feel upside down. Very topsy-turvy. Today was not going to be good. I just had a feeling.

Throughout the whole day I worked emotionlessly, barely thinking about anything. Maybe that was a good thing. Then again, maybe it wasn't. After finishing my farm work, I was about to go to the excavation site when I spotted Lumina standing in front of the door to my house. She glanced over to me, waving.

"Hey, Mana!" She grinned cheerfully and beckoned me over to her. "I've been looking for you."

I walked over to her, blinking at her curiously. "What is it?"

Lumina frowned, planting her hands on her hips. "So I come all the way here just for a mean-sounding 'what is it?' How rude." She smiled, a joking look in her eyes. "I haven't talked to you in a long time. Now that's not how best friends should be. So how about we go to the Goddess Pond today? You still have that jump rope, right?" She asked, holding up her own.

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked, reaching back to pat my rucksack. "It's always in here just in case you want to challenge me." I smirked a little, then started walking towards the pond. "Well, let's go."

Lumina ran to catch up with me, then linked her arm with mine and started skipping, giggling while she did so. I smiled as I looked over at my carefree friend. For a moment I forgot why I had been so depressed the whole day and started to skip with her, a smile on my tan face. We soon started to sing The Wizard of Oz, still skipping arm-in-arm, laughing in between verses.

"Shouldn't we actually be singing, 'we're off to see the goddess?' That would make more sense since we're going to Goddess Pond." Lumina murmured as we neared the pond.

"That doesn't sound as catchy." I replied. "We're off to see the goddess, the wonderful goddess of harvest!" I sang, laughing a little. "See? It isn't as good. But it does sound pretty cool."

"Because, because, because, because, because! Because of the wonderful things she does!" Lumina finished the song. We both burst out into laughter as we plopped down in the soft grass near the pond.

"Alright, ready to get beaten? Whoever keeps jumping the longest wins!" I dug into my rucksack, pulling out my green jump rope.

Lumina held up her jump rope triumphantly. We both stood, holding the handles of the ropes. "Okay, are you ready?" She asked, grinning. "Ready..."

"Set..." I held the handles tightly in my hand.

"GO!" We yelled at the same time, starting to jump at a fairly fast, but rhythmic pace.

I glanced down at my watch every once in a while as we kept on jumping. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. Thirty minutes. You would've thought we'd be tired already and would just call a tie. But we've been doing this ever since we were five years old. Trained professionals. I looked over at Lumina, her gaze distant. She had to not think of anything, or else she would accidentally not jump at the right time and trip herself.

Not thinking of anything was something I should have done too. The rope caught my foot, sending me tumbling to the ground. Lumina glanced over, stopped, then grinned. She offered a hand to me, her grin wider. I knew what was coming next. As soon as I stood on my feet she held her rope high in the air.

"Yes! I win!" She jumped up and down excitedly. I put my rope back into my bag and looked over at the gloating Lumina.

"Want to race this time?" I asked, making sure my shoes were tied so I wouldn't trip while running.

Lumina stopped cheering, glancing over at me. "The short route?" She asked. Her short brown hair seemed to frame her determined expression as she looked at me.

I nodded, getting ready to run. Our short route for racing each other was very easy; just to the bridge and back to the pond. Our longer route was much more complicated, but after our jump roping tournament, we were too tired to go the longer route. "Ready...set...go!" I yelled, Lumina yelling 'go' at the same time I did. I bolted forward, wind whipping my brown hair back. I hadn't put it in a ponytail like I usually did today. My amythest eyes concentrated on the dirt path ahead of me as I turned a corner. I felt like the wind had picked me up and was making me float. I felt so free...so alive...

I glanced over, seeing Lumina almost next to me. I ran even faster, smirking as I reached the bridge, turned, and bolted back. I always gained more distance away from Lumina when we reached the bridge. As we reached the pond, I turned around and grinned at Lumina.

"I win."

Lumina panted, a little out of breath. "You usually do, when it comes to running."

I nodded, digging into my rucksack again and pulling out two plastic water bottles, tossing one to Lumina.

"Thank you." She nodded, gulping down nearly half the bottle in only ten seconds.

I thought back to when I first met Lumina when we were four years old. She had seemed so quiet and well-mannered. She didn't really seem to act like a kid at all. But as I got to know her, I noticed the kid-like spirit she had hidden within her. I was glad that I had a friend like her. I still am glad, too.

"So... how's everything going with you and Rock?" Lumina asked. I turned to look at her and noticed a small hint of jealousy in her eyes. Then I remembered. I still hadn't told Lumina that I had stopped dating Rock. I shivered as I remembered that day.

It had been the day after Skye had came back to the valley. The day after I had told him that I loved him. I had gone to the beach and was greeted by a cheerful Rock. I just went out and told him that I was breaking up with him. He stared at me, cold and blank for a while before brushing it off like I was joking. I said that I meant it, and he finally realized I wasn't kidding around. His eyes filled with so much anger... his voice was scathing as he muttered, 'You will regret this.' I had been a little afraid for a few days, but eventually I shook it off.

"It's over between us." I commented casually.

"Really?" She sounded concerned, but I could see that she was relieved and happy. "Why?"

"Eh, he's not the right person for me."

"Then who is?"

I was almost about to answer, but I clamped my mouth shut. I couldn't tell her that I loved a thief. "Um... I haven't found anyone yet."

"Is that so...?" Lumina looked like she was in deep thought for a moment, then sighed. "What time is it?" She asked.

I looked down at my black watch. "Seven."

Lumina stood up. "I have to go. But we should talk more tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded, watching as she walked away, her short brown hair bobbing around slightly as she walked. Soon she was gone, and I was all alone at the pond. The setting sun cast a shade of purple onto the surface of the pond, beautiful and calming.

But I was alone. Reality stabbed at me like a dagger. I felt like I had been alone forever for a moment.

Suddenly, a piece of paper floated down next to me. Curiously I picked it up, reading it and gasping. Skye.

I glanced up at the darkening sky. In that moment, I could've sworn I saw a shadow of someone glide by over my head. "You're after the blue feather, huh?" I smiled. You can't take it like that. I have to give it to you. Then I frowned. He's stealing it tonight, at midnight. I thought he usually sent notes in the morning, not late afternoon. Maybe he had a hard time deciding whether to steal it or not?

But none of that mattered. All that mattered was that he was coming tonight. And it was the perfect opportunity for me to propose. The one chance I needed had come.

Hehehe, sort of cliff-hanger-ish. I wonder how this'll turn out...?