Hey what's up everyone? I hope you liked the last chapter! It took me FOREVER to come up with the last parts. Let's go on with the story! Finally! Not time skip this time!
The next day, Chelsea woke up bright and early to do the work she couldn't finish the other day. She was buzzing around her farm for most of the morning, feeding and grooming her animals and watering her crops. Chelsea spent a few hours clearing her field for more planting space. The New Year had just begun, and she had to be ready to plant new crops.
"Am I late or something?" Chelsea turned and saw Mark walking from the bridge that connected Ranch Island to Verdure Island.
"No, I had stuff to do that I didn't finish yesterday."
"You mean you already cleaned the barn and chicken coop?" Mark had been shoveling the animal droppings from the barn and the hen house.
"Yep!"
"You should've waited for me. It's not a job a girl should do." Mark shook his head.
Chelsea frowned. She was raised on a farm and she helped her parents with all of the jobs on the farm. Gender roles weren't something Chelsea was too keen on. "Mark, please don't say things like that. I can handle it fine."
"Sorry…" Mark scratched his neck sheepishly.
Chelsea waved her hand dismissively. "Did you buy the seeds?"
"Oh, yeah." Mark fished packets of seeds from his rucksack.
…
The farmers had finished planting and watering the seeds that would signal the beginning of a new season.
"Whew, that was tiring." Chelsea adjusted her bandanna.
"I could've planted a dozen more seeds." Mark shrugged, though his sweaty brow said otherwise.
"Sure tough guy. Let's go to the Café and get lunch!" Chelsea gently pushed him.
"Fine with me."
"Race ya!" Chelsea darted off, getting energy from the prospect of food.
…
"Vaughn! Wake up!" Julia was pounding on Vaughn's door, irritated at her cousin for some unknown reason, at least, that's what Vaughn was thinking.
Vaughn's amethyst eyes cracked open, the sudden light burning his eyes. "Wha… What time is i- oh Goddess…" It was well past ten o clock. "Dammit!" Vaughn said under his breath.
"Vaughn! You need to help with the animals!"
"I'm coming." Vaughn was dressed in two minutes and was out feeding the animals in three.
…..
"Well, I'm goin to lunch now." Vaughn called as he exited the shop.
"Okay!" Came Julia and Mirabelle's voices.
Vaughn went to the Café everyday for lunch, as did most of the islands' residents. Vaughn always sat in the left corner of the Café, away from everyone else. After his party, he realized that Sabrina would sit on the table on the other side of the room, giving her the perfect view of him. He shivered – the thought was a bit creepy, but Sabrina didn't seem like the crazy stalker type, but Vaughn knew not to judge yet. Yet.
Vaughn ordered his food and sat down at the table. The second he picked up his fork, the door of the Café burst open, and Chelsea ran in, panting.
"Beat ya!" she cried triumphantly. Seconds later, Mark came jogging in.
"You got me…" Mark gave a tired smile.
Chelsea scanned the room, looking for a place to sit. She spotted Vaughn, all by his lonesome, and her friend-senses began tingling. "Mark, can you order the food please?"
"Sure." Mark headed to the register to order.
"Hi, Vaughn!" Chelsea plopped into the seat next to the cowboy.
"Er, hi." He grunted.
"Did you like your party yesterday?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Good!" Chelsea grinned. Mark came to the table with the food and sat next to Chelsea.
"Vaughn." Mark nodded to the cowboy.
"Hmph."
"Vaughn…" Chelsea started.
"Don't waste your breath, Chelsea, he doesn't like me, and the feeling is mutual." Mark glared at Vaughn.
"Mark! That's not nice! Both of you!" Chelsea was tired of the guys' fighting. She didn't get why they seemed to loathe each other, but she didn't like it. Chelsea really got bothered when people fought.
The whole Café seemed eerily quiet. Mark and Vaughn flushed from embarrassment. Vaughn covered his eyes with his hat, and Mark flipped his cap around to do the same. Fortunately for them, the only person in the place that really knew them at the moment was Sabrina, though she had a curious look on her face. Vaughn ignored this, though it unnerved him to no end.
"I'm goin." Vaughn stood abruptly.
"Vaughn! Where are you going?" Chelsea began to stand, but Mark put a hand on her shoulder.
"Let the freak leave."
Vaughn whipped around. "What'd you call me?" he growled.
"Mark, Vaughn! Stop!" Chelsea got between them.
"She's right." A voice piped up. It was Sabrina. She looked slightly nervous about interrupting, but Chelsea clearly needed some backup. Chelsea gave Sabrina a grateful look.
"Let's all calm down…" Chelsea said, eyeing both guys warily.
Vaughn huffed and stormed out of the Café, Sabrina waited a few seconds and followed. It was Chelsea's turn to be curious, but she had no time to imagine Sabrina and Vaughn as a couple. Right now, she had to find out what was going on between Mark and Vaughn.
"Mark, what was that all about?"
"Nothing." Mark sat back in his seat.
"Tell me!"
"He just rubs me the wrong way, that's all."
Chelsea wanted to pry a little further, but Mark obviously wasn't going to say anymore.
The farmers ate their lunch in a tense silence. Afterwards, Mark went back to the Hotel, saying he was tired from the day's work – Chelsea couldn't agree more, but she had a feeling that farming was the cause of Mark's sour mood.
…
Sabrina followed Vaughn out of the Café and caught up with him. "V-Vaughn, are you alright?" Vaughn kept walking.
"Please answer me." This time, Vaughn turned and glowered at her.
"I don't have to."
"Please, I want to help you." Sabrina was almost pleading. To be honest, she was very interested in the cowboy – his eyes were purple, like hers, and his personality made Sabrina very curious.
"Leave me alone." Vaughn began to walk again. Sabrina stepped in front of him, and looked up at him, which scared her a little. He towered over her, glaring.
"You listen to Chelsea, but not me…"
"Chelsea is my friend." The word "friend" seemed foreign coming out of Vaughn's mouth.
Sabrina couldn't help but feel jealous of Chelsea. "Then I'll be your friend too!" Sabrina said it with enthusiasm – something that was out of character for the studious girl.
Vaughn gave her a strange look – maybe Chelsea was right – maybe Sabrina had some sort of infatuation with him. "Er…" he felt a bit weirded – out. Sabrina tentatively took his hand in her own. Vaughn pulled his hand out of the hold, he was uncomfortable around that girl. "I gotta go back to work now." And he walked off.
/
Chelsea kicked a rock that was in her path out of boredom. The crops were watered and the animals were tended to, but it was only about three in the afternoon. She didn't want to go to the animal shop, even though Julia was there – it would mean running into Vaughn, and Chelsea felt that he would need some time to cool down. Natalie and Elliot were busy with work, Lanna and Denny were out fishing, and Lily and Will were on Volcano Island, likely having a heated argument about ores and flowers.
"Only one other place to go…" Chelsea said to no one in particular.
/
Chelsea stepped off the boat onto the dock of Mushroom Island. She had no idea how Shea could possibly help, but it was worth a try.
"Shea!" Chelsea called – it would be wise to let Shea know she was there so that he wouldn't accidentally throw a spear in her direction. Sure enough, Shea's head poked up from the brush.
"Chelsea!" Shea came running, happy to see a friend.
"Hi, Shea!" Chelsea replied.
"Chelsea come to be warrior?" Shea asked.
"No… it's Vaughn – he's been acting strangely around another guy – Mark."
Shea took a moment to register the words. "Vaughn is strong. Vaughn will win battle." Chelsea was shocked by Shea's words – she hadn't mentioned them fighting, but Shea had caught on instantly.
"I don't know about a battle…"
Shea shook his head. "Vaughn has eyes of warrior. Vaughn fights well."
"Um, Shea? I don't think he's gonna fight." Chelsea was getting lost.
Shea sat down and assumed a thinking pose. "Shea can tell Vaughn is good warrior. Vaughn must settle this by himself." Shea said.
"But I don't want Mark and Vaughn to fight!" Chelsea finally said.
Shea jumped up. "Shea has idea! Vaughn and… Mark… will have peace ceremony!"
Chelsea liked Shea's idea very much. "That sounds good! What do you do in a peace ceremony?"
"When Shea and Wada argue, we have peace ceremony after to make things better." Shea stated proudly. "We have peace ceremony here, Shea will be leader." Shea seemed happy to show that he was becoming a good warrior.
"Okay! Thanks, Shea!" Chelsea was relieved to have found a solution. "When is it?"
"Give Shea… seven days!" Shea declared.
Chelsea was also relieved to hear that Shea would have the ceremony in a week, since Vaughn was not going to be on the islands until the next week. "Thanks, Shea!" Chelsea hugged the wild man. Shea puffed his chest out proudly.
/
Chelsea flopped onto her bed, feeling that she was helping to resolve a problem. She closed her eyes and drifted off into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Yay! Another chapter! Sorry if the end is terrible…. Anyway, what is the peace ceremony Shea was talking about? Why do Mark and Vaughn hate each other? Will Sabrina turn out to be a creepy stalker? Please review!
