Chapter 11: Little Awkward…

It's only Summer 4th, and already I'm bored. Usually, I would be in the Church, but because I'm not really -as the others put it- sulking anymore, they say I should be out at the beach or something like that. Well, I don't want to go to the beach, so what else is there to do? I snuck out of the Inn at about 5 in the morning; maybe a walk would give me some ideas.

As I walked, morning dew was just settling on the ground, almost drenching me in the misty crystals. Just being by myself, it was good to think. I was able to focus on what had happened: Eve invited her friends to stay for a week, Gray was mad because of this, Eve was dared to kiss me… she did, the next day, Kai, Gray and I went to the beach –only to find the girls already there, Eve falls in and almost drowns, I get her out at the last minute, get her to the Clinic, she has some sort of 'condition' where her temperature is over 100… Everything seems to be revolving around Eve, now doesn't it, Cliffy? … Yeah, it does…

Not that I didn't mind hanging out with her, I really love it… NO WAIT! THAT DIDN'T COME OUT RIGHT! I mean, um, she's really great to hang out with, but I… just can't seem to get her out of my mind after that…

Trapped in my thoughts (about Eve, might I add…), I didn't notice someone was up at the same time as me. Finally, I heard a tree shake slightly. It sounded like someone was kicking it. I ran around the curve in the road to see Donna, with her hands held up in fists, punching a tree. I watched her kick, punch, jab, and hit the tree with all of her strength, which actually was a lot of strength.

Donna finally stopped, gasping for breath, and bowed low to the tree. She looked up and saw me. "Good morning, Cliff! Didn't know you got up so early!"

"I don't usually, just need a walk, I guess." She smiled, and then walked over to me.

"I don't know if you saw me, but that was karate."

"Really? I didn't know you knew karate."

"Oh yeah, I've been doing it for years! We all have some talents like that; I have karate, Noelle plays the clarinet, Lynn is a math genius, Ethica swims really fast, Lannie knows every herb, flower, and grass, Sage plays the flute and piccolo, and Apple and Shawn play the violin really well. Eve plays it too, but not as good as Shawn. Eve's real talent is drawing and singing."

"Eve? Well, I could see her drawing, but singing? I never would have guessed." Donna nodded.

"She reminds us again and again that she will not sing in public."

Curiosity was about to make me ask another question, but Donna stopped it. "Do you want to learn a little karate?"

"Me? Do karate? Never really crossed my mind; can I?"

"Sure! I'll teach you as much as I can!"

Our training session began. Hours rolled by as Donna taught me some stances, punches, and kicks. Sweat was rolling down my forehead once it was 8. She told me I had a good stubbornness, the kind where I don't give up on what I'm doing. Donna was a good teacher; she gave examples, showed me what I was doing wrong and corrected me without making me feel stupid, and encouraged me. By the end of the 'lesson', I knew karate pretty well.

I wiped the sweat from my brow with my shirt. "Thanks Donna, that was really cool."

"No prob! Always needed a good sparing buddy!" Donna told me she was meeting Lynn, Noelle, and Lannie in the woods, so she was going to stay. I waved good-bye and headed to Golden Farm. When I arrived, Eve was sitting on the ground, watering some flowers, humming to herself.

Well, it wasn't singing, but it was very beautiful. Eve's humming was very smooth and light, I had to smile. After listening for a while, I decided to remind her I was there.

"Hey, Eve." She didn't hear me, but continued to hum and water. I tried again.

"Eve? Hello?" Still nothing.

"Eve!" She gasped and froze up. Eve picked up something and pressed a button; it was her Ipod. She turned and let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Cliff, you scared me…" She laughed a little. "What's up?"

"So, do you sing a lot?"

Her eyes opened wide. "Oh dear goddess, please don't tell me I was singing aloud."

I shook my head. "No only humming."

She let out her held breath. "Let me guess, one of the girls told you I can sing?" I nodded. "Well, yes, I can sing. But, I don't sing in public."

"Why not?"

"If I asked you to sing in front of everyone in Mineral Town, would you?"

"No, note taken, though."

"Well, why should I?"

"What about friends?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know, would you sing in front of your friends?" She bit her lip. Gotcha…

"I have… sung in front of my friends before… but… I don't think I can sing in front of someone… like Gray."

"Why not?"

"I… just can't. I get a little… stage fright." She began to rub her arm nervously.

"Gray is like a brother to you, and you can't even sing in front of him?"

She bit her lip again. "Well, I did sing to him before, when I was little. But, it's different now… you know…"

"No, I do not, please explain further." I told her, forcing it out.

"Cliff…" Eve continued to bite her lower lip. I raised my eyebrows, waiting for the answer. "Fine… I just can't sing in front of anyone my age… I can sing to someone younger than me, like Stu or May, but not one older or my age. It's too embarrassing…"

"How can it be embarrassing if you have such a great voice?"

"… Like I said stage fright… Are you done interrogating me now?" Eve asked in a meek voice. I nodded and smiled, which she smiled back.

"Want to go to the beach? Kai's Seaside Lodge in open now." I asked her.

"No, I'm going to the library with Ethica, Shawn, Sage, and Apple. If you want to join us, you're welcome to at any time."

"Sure, I'll meet you there later." She stood up and waved to me as she ran to her house to wash up. I headed to the Inn.

Once I came in, I sat next to Gray. He looked up from a book and mumbled a 'hi' and returned to it. Mary doesn't lend books to anyone…

"Where'd you get the book?" I asked trying to look at its open page. Gray pushed it over so I could see.

"It's Eve's picture journal, she doesn't write in a diary, but she draws pictures describing her day."

"Oh, I get it." I stared at her pictures, with disbelief coming over me. They were amazing. Each picture was shaded with her pencil. The only picture that was colored was of her surrounded by Gray, Kai, all her friends from her old town, and me. I looked at my 2-D self and then thought of it as a mirror. Did I really look like that? Each character was smiling, especially Eve. The drawing seemed so real, I thought I saw Eve's drawn eyes sparkle. Gray saw my face and nodded, agreeing with my thoughts.

"I know; she's amazing. She used to draw little pictures for me when I was little, mostly of books that I read about. She once drew me a picture, it had rolling green hills, and a castle in the distance. I asked her what book it was from, but she wouldn't tell me…" He looked up at the ceiling for a minute, thinking, and then spoke again. "What do you think of Eve?"

Whoa, not expecting that… "W-W-Why do you a-a-ask?" My stupid voice shook.

Gray just smirked. "Alright, alright, I guess, I mean, do you want to get back at her for kissing you the other night?"

A blush came over my face, but I thought over the idea. Get her back? Hmmm… never thought about it… "What do you have in mind?"

I turned to see Kai standing over us, listening to our conversation, but looking at Eve's drawings as well. Gray explained. "I was just asking Cliff if he wanted to get back at Eve for kissing him the other night."

"Sort of like revenge for humiliating him?" I rolled my eyes at Kai, but maybe one little joke wouldn't hurt…

"I know that look! I just haven't seen it on you before, Cliff!" he said, talking about the smirk that overcame my face. "So, Gray, any ideas?"

Gray smirked. "Yes, yes I do." We all leaned in to hear his whispered voice. Our eyes narrowed and smirks became smiles as Gray told us the plan.

The plan went into action as I went into the Library. Sage and Shawn were chatting with Mary about the novel, Ethica and Apple were trying to get a book on the highest shelf, and Eve sitting in an armchair, absolutely absorbed in the book she was reading. Step one…

Kai walked in and gave me a wink, I smiled back. … In progress. He went over to Ethica and whispered something in her ear. As I remembered, he told me it would be something like 'nice ass'. Ethica's eyes opened wide, then narrowed and attempted to slap him. Kai dodged it and ran out the door, Apple and Ethica running behind him. …check.

Step two… Gray strolled in and sat next to Mary. He listened to the girls talk for a little. "Oh, I remember why I came in here! Did you hear that Barley's horse just had a foul?"

…in progress. All three girls gasped, and then sprinted out, whispering names for the imaginary foul. Gray got up, with a triumphant look on his face, and began to walk out. "All yours, Cliff." … check.

Step three… I started to stride over to the armchair where Eve was reading. I thought about what I was going to say and then began. "Hey, Eve."

In progress. She looked up from her book and smiled warmly. "Hi, Cliff; glad you came."

"I wanted to ask you something recently, but it slipped my mind."

"Sure, ask away." She closed the book, letting her thumb be the bookmark.

"You know how you got dared to kiss me the other night?" A blush spread across her cheeks, but she nodded. "I just was wondering…" I put my face directly in front of hers, my hands on the arms of the chair, preventing her from moving. "What'd you think about it?"

Her face burned now, turning from a light pink, to a scarlet. Personally, I think it looks good on her, I think she should keep it… And the only way to do that is this…

I let my face get closer to hers, our noses just centimeters away from each other. Eve continued to let her face burn. "W-W-What a-a-are you t-t-talking about?"

"Oh, I think you know what I'm talking about, Eve my dear." Her eyes widened once I said 'my dear'. I almost laughed out loud, but I remembered Kai explaining how to flirt excessively with a straight face, and let my smirk become a suspicious smile.

She gripped the book, like it was the only thing helping her, but no, I was in total control. I raised one of my eyebrows. I thought of something Kai would do, and let my voice purr. "Well, darling, how was it?" Kai would be so proud!

Eve looked like she was going to faint, but somehow, she slipped through my arms and ran to the door. She turned to me. "I-I-I-I got t-t-to g-g-go! Bye!"

With that she flew out the door as fast as she could, and I just smiled. …check. Gray came in, laughing so hard he was crying.

"I-I didn't know y-you had it in you!" he laughed and then went into another fit. Kai, holding Gray's shoulder for support, was also laughing.

"Cliff…" he said straightening up. "I have never been more proud of you now than I have ever been!" He staggered over, still dizzy with laughter, and patted my shoulder.

We all walked back to the Inn, discussing how well the plan had gone over. Kai praised me for the line 'Well, darling, how was it?' and told he that he probably wouldn't have thought of that (which he added later, he probably would have…). Gray thought that I pulled it over well and, if we did it again, he would videotape it.

Next time… yeah, I'll get stared on it. (Mischievous smirk)