Ch.11 – Getting used to it

Ah, chapter 11!

kt the emo: Yes, I realized kt stands for Katie. And that you're a girl…A high-school themed story for SI? Well, I do have Nameless. Sure, it isn't ONLY about SI, and yes, it hasn't been updated for a REALLY long time… but I'm planning on continuing it. As in, chapter 2 is halfway done. From chapter 4 to 7? Wow, you really DO need a recap!

Alright, so in chapter 4, Chelsea is all pissed off at Vaughn for upsetting Sabrina. So she goes in, they start yelling at each other (as usual…), and she slaps him, before storming out. Then, she runs into Natalie, and they and up having a nice chit chat by the Goddess spring, where they practically tell each other everything. On her way back home, Pierre asks Chelsea if she'll enter the summer cooking festival, and Chelsea replies no, since she doesn't even have a kitchen yet. Pierre decides to let her into his kitchen, and cooks up a bunch of things with her, but when she walks out of the house, she runs into Vaughn, who makes her fall over, and walks away without apologizing.

Chapter 5: Julia runs up to her to see if everything was alright, then suggest they have a sleep over. A little reluctant, Chelsea accepts. So Chelsea, Julia, Natalie, and Lanna all and up in Julia's room. They play truth or dare, and Julia asks Chelsea if she likes Vaughn. Of course, she says no. They still don't believe her, so she mentions that Vaughn probably hates her! She hears footsteps, and sees Vaughn storming into his room. He heard everything. The girls eventually get bored of truth or dare, and decide to watch a movie. But apparently, Chelsea hasn't watched any R-rated movies, and doesn't at all share Julia's taste. To escape what's playing on the TV, she decides to go outside, to get some fresh air. But on her way out, the cowboy is there in a corner, fiddling through a drawer, and she has to be quiet to get past him.

Chapter 6: I've decided I don't like recapping… Since Chelsea is quiet, she makes it all the way to the door unnoticed. She opens the door to get outside, but forgets about the little bell that rings whenever the door opens. Vaughn hears the bell ring, and starts to turn around, but Chelsea is faster, as she slips off into the darkness. Chelsea decides to go to Mushroom Island, the only place she hasn't yet visited. When she gets there, she walks around, but starts daydreaming. When she snaps back to reality, she realizes that she's lost. She suddenly hears noises in the bushes around her. It's Shea, the native. Chelsea is a little afraid of him, but he reassures her that he means no harm, and offers to help her get back to Verdure Island. Chelsea hesitates, but does eventually accept. Once Chelsea is safely back to the Main Land, Shea asks if "Chelee" will come back to visit him. Chelsea replies yes, and thanks the native, before he disappears back into the forest. But, forgetting to be noiseless, Chelsea skips back into the Animal Shop, and is stopped by Vaughn, who demands to know where she's been. She says that she's been at Mushroom Island. Vaughn starts teasing her, and Chelsea becomes over-defendant. In the end, she tells him not to talk to her anymore.

I am too lazy to write any more recaps… Plus, that's already been over 500 words! If you need a recap, I think you should just go back and read it, m'kay?

So, without further ado, here comes chapter 11!

I woke up at 6:00am, which was now my usual wakeup time. I now got up at this hour everyday. Dang, the things that I do just for community service…

I stretched and yawned. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I rose to my feet, and started undressing. Like everyone else on these islands, I wore the exact same thing every morning. The same yellow shirt, the same orange jacket, the same blue shorts, and the exact same red boots.

I checked the mirror, and realized I was missing something. For there, on my forehead, was the same red scar I had gotten less then a season ago. I huffed, and searched around the room for my scarlet colored bandana, that had once only been a torn red T-shirt.

"No one's supposed to see that God damn scar…" I muttered quietly to myself, as I picked up the bandana from under my bed. If it could even be called a bed.

I wrapped it around my head, and marched out the door.

I grabbed my watering can, and watered the little turnip sprouts that had emerged from the ground only yesterday. It was the same routine everyday. Wake up, get dressed, water plants. Over and over again… At least now I'd have chickens to take care of too, now that I had enough lumber…

I dropped my watering can, gasping, and stood up straight. That's right! Chickens! I forgot to ask Gannon yesterday to build me a chicken coop! I'd do that, as soon as I finished watering my turnips…

I watered another one of the plants, and suddenly, a bright light appeared. When the light faded out, there was another little elf creature. I mean a sprite.

"Hi!" the little sprite said. "I'm El! Thanks for saving me! I'll be useful, and give you my help!"

And, just like that, the light blue sprite disappeared with a shower of sparkles.

"Um… Alright then…" I said, a little confused to what I did to earn it.

I shrugged my shoulders, and tipped my watering can to pour onto the next little plant. I groaned when I realized nothing came out, and walked over to the watering hole to fill it back up.

A bright light blinded me.

"Oh Goddess, another one?" I shouted.

Sure enough, as the light faded, there was a small sprite standing in front of me.

"Hi!" it said. "I'm Misty! Thanks for saving me! I'll be useful, and give you my help!" With that, the light blue sprite disappeared too.

"Do all sprites say the same thing?" I wondered out loud.

"Most of them do…" I jumped, and spun around quickly. "Oh… It's just Finn…"

Finn flew up higher, so he was level to my face. "Good morning, Chelsea!" he greeted. I acknowledged him with a nod of my head.

"Are we going to see Gannon today? To order the chicken coop you wanted?" he asked, flying around wildly.

I sighed. He doesn't give up, does he? "No, I'm going to see Gannon. You are staying here, doing… well… doing whatever Finns do, alright?"

"Ok!" he said cheerfully. This thing is so happy, it hurts. "Do you want me to use my magic and help you water the crops for you?" he asked.

"No thanks. Last thing I need is… sprite manure on my crops…" I shuddered, picturing it. "I'll finish it myself, if those darn sprites'll leave me alone…" I muttered.

I marched back to the turnip sprouts to prove my point. I watered the next small sprout, when suddenly, a familiar bright light blinded me.

"Oh, COMMON!"

So here I was, now, storming over to the Carpenter's Shop, while Finn watered the rest of my turnips. Stupid sprites…

I slammed the door open.

Inside, Eliza and Charlie were playing with what seemed to be a princess Barbie doll, and a… dinosaur ninja (1)?

Both kids jumped at the noise.

"Chelsea! You shouldn't get angry! It'll increase the chance of wrinkles on your face!" Eliza fussed.

"I can live with wrinkles…" I muttered. Eliza gasped, which made me roll my eyes. "Where's your Dad?"

"HOW COULD YOU LIVE WITH WRINKLES?" Eliza asked in astonishment.

"Gannon's outside, chopping some lumber." Charlie said, smiling sympathetically.

"Thanks, Charlie." I said, with a nod. I turned to Eliza. "You too… Eliza." I added coolly.

"No problem!" Eliza beamed. "I'm always there to help!"

Stupid kid…

I went back outside, to find Gannon. Sure enough, there he was, chopping away at some wood. He looked like he was working hard, and I didn't want to bother him. Instead, I stood, and watched him.

Oh… So you hold it like that… I always had my hands close together when I chopped wood, but he made a bigger distance… Maybe that would help… His feet are pointing outwards, too. And he kind of flicks the axe before he chops the wood…

When I was finished my little observation, I realized he was done chopping the branch. I hurried over before he could start on a new piece.

"Gannon, I have enough lumber! I'm ready to build a bird shed! Well, for you to build a bird shed, but you get the point, right? I mean, building a bird shed? Me? Haha, yeah right! I mean, I can't even-"

"Are you about done, Chelsea?" Gannon interrupted my blabbering.

I blushed. "Sorry…"

Gannon smiled. "That's alright. I'll get started later today. It should be done by tomorrow."

"Thank you."

I walked around Sprout Island, trying to find something to do. My farm work was probably done by now… I could feed the wild animals later… So now what?

Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard, and I spun to see a girl with raven-colored hair walking out. "Sabrina!" I called out to her, and waved.

Sabrina looked over in surprise, but relaxed when she saw it was just me. "Oh, h-hello, Chelsea…" she said in her usual, quiet voice.

"Hi! Why are you out so early?" I asked.

She watched the sunrise. The sky was now colored in shades of pink, orange, and red. "I always come out to watch the sunrise…" she said dreamily. "I find it… inspiring."

"Inspiring?" I asked curiously. "What does it inspire you to do?"

Sabrina's face flushed a bit. "Promise you won't tell a soul?"

"Cross my heart." I assured her, tracing an X over my chest to prove my words.

Sabrina still seemed hesitant. "Well… I… I like to paint…" she finally admitted. I didn't see why she was so secretive about it.

"Cool!"

She looked up, looking rather relieved. "You think so?"

"Of course!" I nodded. "I love painting! Although I'm much better at just sketching with a pencil…"

"My dad wouldn't be too happy if he found out…" Sabrina said sadly. "He thinks any other interests might drive me away from taking over the mining company…"

I studied her face for a moment. "Is that really what you want to do?"

Sabrina sighed. "No, not really… But it's my father. I don't want to disappoint him."

We sat there in silence for a few more minutes. Sabrina had this natural aura about her that relaxed me.

"Chelsea… Could… Could I ask you something?" Sabrina asked suddenly, twirling towards me.

"Um, sure. Fire away."

"Do you like Vaughn?" The question took me so off guard, I chocked on thin air. This had to be a joke, right? But, looking in those big violet-colored eyes of hers, I realized that no, this was NOT joke.

"Goddess, no! What made you think that, Sabrina?" I exclaimed. Sabrina blushed a little.

"Sorry, Chelsea. I just… saw you with him a few times." I looked at her with an extremely confused expression. The only times I was with Vaughn was when he ran into me… when I yelled at him… and when he saved me from a wild dog.

"Don't worry, Sabrina. There's nothing going on between Vaughn and I." I reassured her. The only time we were ever romantically involved was as kids… and I'm not even sure it's him!

"Ok. If you say so Chelsea…" Sabrina looked back up to the sunrise, "then I trust you."

I smiled, and sat back to enjoy the sunset.

Eventually, Sabrina retreated back to the mansion, and I decided to go fetch my drawing pad.

Hmm… What to draw?

What I liked to draw most were people. It didn't matter what type of people, or what they were doing. I just liked drawing people in general. Often, Cody, my art consultant in Forget-Me-Not, and I would go and hide somewhere to play ninja drawing; we'd secretly be drawing the people passing by without them noticing.

No… I shook my head. Forget-Me-Not means nothing to me now. That's all in the past.

Now, coming back to the main topic: Who should I draw?

Hm… Maybe I'd draw all the people on the island! Yeah, that would be a fun little art project!

I decided to draw Lanna first. She seemed the most fun to draw (2). I sketched her outer body. It looked pretty plain, since she was only standing straight, in ¾ view. Next, I drew her long gold colored hair. The front part framed her face, and the back part went all the way to her waist. I made sure her hair was completely straight, just like hers. I also remembered to draw her teal headband, with the black lacing. I carefully detailed the bows on the sides.

Next was her face. I drew the guidelines in a plus shape over the head. I positioned her eyes a little over the center, and made her chocolate orbs wide and energetic looking. Her nose was only a small, short line, only simple. I drew her mouth as a small smile.

Last were her clothes. I drew her long teal porcelain doll dress, adding all the ruffles. I carefully drew a rose in the middle. Then, I drew her brown boots.

Once I finished, I held up my masterpiece; a paper Lanna.

I was drawing roses around the page to decorate, when a voice suddenly cut me off. "I didn't know you drew."

I huffed. "There's a lot of things you don't know about me, cowboy."

Vaughn smirked. "Hmm… apparently."

He examined my picture. "Is that Lanna?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yep." It couldn't be that bad if he guessed who it was on the first shot.

"Lanna annoys me…" he muttered. I looked up at him. "How come?"

"Trust me, she's just annoying…"

Suddenly, a voice rang out. "Oh, Vaaaaaaughnie! I found you!" Lanna came running up.

"Oh. I get it now." I said quietly, trying hard not to laugh. Vaughn rolled his eyes, and turned to glare at Lanna.

"What did I do?" Lanna cried out, a little upset.

"You lived." He snapped. I snorted. I'm not sure if he was just saying that, or if he actually meant it… However, Lanna remained unfazed.

She looked from me, to Vaughn, and back again. "Ooooh, I get it!" she said suddenly. "I'm interrupting a little 'moment', like they always have in High School Musical! Sorry!"

And with that, she ran off. Vaughn turned back to me. "NOW, do you get it?"

I laughed and nodded. Then, I realized something. "Well, you seem a lot friendlier then usual!"

Vaughn's smirk disappeared. Instead, he scowled. "Whatever." And with that, he took his leave.

I sat there wondering. What did I do? Does he have some sort of rule that he has to always be cruel? That would be a stupid rule… But what I wondered most of all was: Why did I suddenly care?

Sorry for the late update; I'm moving in a few days, so I've been packing boxes! Please don't kill me… ^-^" Anyway… I might have to skip a bit of time… It's only been two weeks…

(1) Who knows…? Maybe Harvest Moon really does play with ninja turtles! You never know!

(2) She actually is the most fun to draw! :D