Owen's POV:

"Where are you taking me?" I asked Kathy as she dragged me away from Akari.

She giggled. "You'll see…"

I gulped and started feeling anxious. Why was she being like this? I had to tell her something! I hated being nice to her sometimes… We got to the Sundae Inn, and I saw Hayden look at us curiously. I gave him my "help me" look, hoping he'd hold his daughter back. But Kathy took me upstairs and led me to her room. Okay, now this is getting way off hand!

"Kathy, what in the freakin world are you-?" I said, but stopped when she slammed me against the wall, off guard. She gave a sweet smile, and kissed me! I kept trying to move, but she stepped on my foot with her boot heel, which hurt like hell! I was able to push her off when I stepped on something that made me fall back with her on top of me.

"What's going on!" I demanded, angrily. And it was no help that she kept on smiling like she won the biggest race ever.

"I really miss you…" she told me. "I miss having you around with me…"

"You and I are just friends!" I told her outraged. "I've told you before; I just don't feel the same. It was nice with you, but we both had to move on! I felt that there was something more out there, and we can find it in our separate ways!"

She smirked. "Well, I know, but I just couldn't control myself."

More angrier than ever, I was about to throw her off, when the door suddenly flew open. My mouth fell open in horror as Akari stood there, more horrified than I have ever seen her.

"Hello Akari," Kathy said, taunting her. "I think Selena told you already? So I think you don't have to worry anymore!"

Told her what? What was going? I really was just as surprised as Akari! I had no idea what to say to her and it was bad! Akari nodded, and I quickly said, "Akari! I don't know what's going on, I swear! Please let me explain! Kathy, get off me now!"

Unfortunately, Kathy pecked me on the lips and said, "You don't have to sweetie. Selena already did that!"

This was too much for Akari, and she turned around, and before I could stop her, she ran away… This was the last straw for me! I have had enough of it. Anger boiled up inside me, and I face Kathy.

"KATHY! Get off me now!" I said in a really strict way that came to my voice. She blinked a couple of times and got up. Once I got up, I folded my arms across my chest and looked at her like a father would to a child who got in trouble.

"Why did you do this?" I asked.

Kathy looked away, and said, "Because I love you! I miss you Owen!" She then started fighting back sobbing.

I sighed, frustrated, and then said, "You got to move on. There are better things out there than me. You started to 'like' me again after your mom passed away two years ago. I was just there for you to help you get through this! Look, I really, really like Akari a lot! I'm gonna fix things with her, whether you like it or not. If you can't respect my choices, then it's best if we don't stay friends if you keep it up like this."

Her eyes started getting watery, and tears started to come out. I went up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. Kathy looked at me, her green eyes with tears, and yelled out, "I'm sorry Owen! I shouldn't have done that… It was really wrong… And Selena was just up for gossip when she saw me down after Anissa's wedding… She didn't know the truth, really! I just used her to get my selfish ways… I'm sorry Owen! If there's anything I could do to make it up to you…?"

I looked at her, and then gave her small smile. "I'd really appreciate it if you'd explain to Akari and Selena this. And please, move on. I know you could do this," I said. Kathy nodded, and she went back to crying a bit. I moved my hand from her shoulder, moved to the door and made my way out.

"How'd things go?" Selena asked once I was downstairs. "Don't worry, I told that farmer everything!" She smiled at me.

"I think you should go up with Kathy," I said in the same tone as Kathy. "She's got some explaining to tell you."

Selena looked at me suspiciously, and went upstairs. Once Luke saw me, he demanded to know what happened. When I finished telling him, his eyes were probably too big for his face.

"How could she do that?" Luke asked angrily. "And I'm gonna have a talk with Selena!"

I nodded in agreement and there was silence. "Are you going to tell Akari?"

I shook my head. "Let her cool off… It was too much for her to take in… I'm leaving now…" I replied extremely depressed. Luke nodded, and let me be on my way. Once I got home, I threw myself on the bed and began to wonder if Akari would ever listen to me, and how I should tell her…

Akari's POV

Many days passed and Owen and I hadn't talked… Yes, he kept trying to call me, or come to my house but I refused to talk to him. No matter how much the little voice in my head told me to try and listen to him, I was just too stubborn to listen. I only talked to Luke, Anissa and Renee, but even they couldn't even knock some sense into me! For those many days, I was in a depressed mood and felt like running to the ocean and just let myself float there!

But one day, on a Saturday, there was a knock on my door. I looked out the window to make sure it wasn't, (or hoped it was), Owen. To my surprise, it was Kathy and Selena! I suddenly got extremely mad and flung the door open and stood there glaring at the two girls.

"Well? What do you want?" I asked angrily.

Selena looked like she was going to fight back, but held herself back and she looked down at the ground in sad way. I tried not to act surprised and look mean, till Kathy spoke up.

"Akari, we're sorry! And don't blame Selena… Blame me! None of the things that Selena told you were true. I lied to her, to lie to you and try to win…"

"I don't recall there was a competition," I said.

"I know…" she said. And her eyes began to water fast. I blinked and let myself loose for a bit. "It's no excuse, but when my mother died, I was really depressed and Owen was there for me! I mistook it, and I began to have those feelings for him again! I was being weak, and I couldn't help it… We never got on the wrong foot, but I started going there when I saw you and Owen together. I shouldn't have done that, and I hope you can one day forgive me Akari."

I blinked in surprise. Did she really say that? Was I dreaming? Just then, Selena interrupted my thoughts. "Akari, I shouldn't have said those mean things to you without actually seeing proof… I shouldn't have believed Kathy and seen past that… I was just trying to be a friend to someone, while looking for gossip. I truly am sorry, and hope you can forgive me."

Again, I was surprised. I looked at them both and saw it in their eyes… Kathy's green eyes swam in tears, while they really showed she was sorry and regretted doing this. Selena's hazel eyes said the same thing, and they looked like they were about to cry. I sighed, leaned against the doorway and gave them a tiny smile.

"I hope you two learned a lesson…" I whispered. "What blind love can do, and what can the thirst for gossip do to someone…"

They both looked away from me, ashamed of their past actions. "I hope we all learned something from this, and I hope we can start over."

Both of them looked up at me and smiled. I shook their hands and once I was about to invite them in my house, I heard the voice I longed to hear since that day…

"Akari?"

We all turned to look at Owen. The two girls glanced at me, and knew I needed time to talk with him. Both Kathy and Selena left without a word and look at Owen. He then started making his way up to me and he stopped when he was at my doorway.

"I hope that they told you?" he asked, and I nodded. I waited for him to speak, and looked at him, holding back the feeling to grab him and kiss him. "I hope you believe them both… They're telling the truth. You can ask Luke, Anissa or Hayden if you like… I'm sorry too Akari. I shouldn't have let Kathy take me away like that. I hope that you believe me too, because I am honestly telling you the truth. Kathy and I are nothing, and will be nothing forever. I hope you can forgive me…"

I stared at him for awhile. His sad, twinkling grey eyes said the truth and I knew he was sorry and wanted my forgiveness… Just when I was about to say something, Owen took something out of his rucksack, and my jaw dropped in shock. He was holding out a ruby… The real, ruby and not the fake one! My eyes widened, and I heard him chuckle at my expression. Goddess, how I missed that sound…

"I'm not trying to buy your forgiveness," he said. "Just think of it as a gift from your secret admirer."

He gave me the ruby and I stammered, "O-Owen… This is so… How-?"

He chuckled again, and said, "I work in a mine, remember?"

I laughed, looked at him and said, "I forgive you Owen… I'm the one who should be sorry… I didn't believe the person I trust the most."

Owen grinned at me, and said, "I could never be mad at you. Because…well, I just can't! And Akari, I came to ask you if you wanted to come to the Firefly Festival with me tonight."

I gasped and smiled at my Guardian Angel. "I'd love to Owen. What time is it at?"

He looked at the clock in my house and said in an hour which left me in shock. I had to get ready fast! But how will I? Thankfully, he read my thoughts and he even offered to finish up my last farm chores for me.

"I can do it!" Owen said cheerfully. "Just go and make yourself more pretty than what you already are."

I blushed at his compliment, thanked him and ran inside. I took the quickest shower of my life, pulled out my shorts, my dark blue spaghetti strap shirt, and my converse and put them on as fast I could. I got ready as best as possible then went out to find Owen on the bench where we would usually sit down at.

He grinned at me and led me to Caramel Falls. We found a spot in a grassy area and we sat down together. When the fireflies started to fly, I felt him put his arm around my shoulders and pull me much closer to him. I smiled, and snuggled into his strong chest. I never wanted to let go of him, and I just wanted to be there for the rest of my life if I could… I breathed in his scent I loved so much and sighed, happy that my Guardian Angel protected me from harm's way and we were a step closer to realizing we needed each other to be happier than ever…