Chapter 13

'Hey Jess! Go take a seat with the rest of them! Dinner will be ready soon!' Kai waved to Jessica as she entered the beach shack.

It was approaching dusk and the group, namely Cliff, Gray, Ann, Jessica, Tim, Elli, Popuri and Kai had arranged to gather for dinner. Kai was leaving the next day and this farewell dinner would be the last time all of them assembled together for a meal in the whitewashed shack until the next summer season, when he returned.

'Hi guys!' Jessica took a seat at the table in between Ann and Popuri.

'You shouldn't be sitting here. See? There's a seat next to Gray especially left for you.' laughed Ann.

'What the...er…' Jessica looked at the conspicuously empty seat, stole a glance at the owner of the seat next to it and lowered her head as she felt herself turn the shade of a ripe tomato. Reaching next to her, she gave Ann's ribs a slight poke.

'Ack!' squealed Ann as she jolted out of her seat, glaring at the girl smothering a grin next to her.

Popuri giggled and tugged at Jessica's shirt sleeve, pulling her closer to whisper into her ear. 'Jess! Could you go sit next to Gray and Elli? If not, Kai will have to sit there and its sooo farrr awwwaayyy frrromm meeee! Pleeeassseee!'

Jessica looked hesitantly into Popuri's pleading eyes, her ears still ringing from Popuri's whining. She knew she should move, since this was obviously important to Popuri. And it was Kai's last night in town. But…to move over there…in front of everyone…after Ann's teasing…

'Fine…' she replied reluctantly as she stood up and slowly made her move, trying to be as discreet as possible.

But obviously, everyone witnessed it.

'Hey.' she said as she plopped herself down next to Gray.

'Hey yourself.' smiled Gray.

Their eyes met, and Jessica found herself blushing. Again.

'Jessica! Do you feel faint or anything unusual? Your face looks awfully red. You might have spent too much time under the sun…' Tim peered concernedly at her.

The soft laughter around the table grew louder as Elli nudged her boyfriend and whispered in his ear.

'Oh-ohh! I see…' The concerned expression on Tim's face disappeared, replaced by a look of mild amusement.

Jessica looked apprehensively around the table. Are they gonna gang up and tease us all night? I wonder what Gray is thinking…

Both of them hadn't seen each other since that…fateful night and Jessica hadn't the faintest idea on what exactly was going on between them. Are we together or…what?

'Dinner's ready!' announced Kai, interrupting all ongoing conversations as everyone wowed at the large tray full of Baked corn, spaghetti and pizza he was carrying. After placing the tray on the table, he looked up.

'Jess. Why are you sitting at my place?'

'Because Popuri wants to sit with you.'

'Aww…just admit it if you wanna sit with Gray.'

'Just go and sit down!'

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Midway through dinner, the door to the shack opened.

'Hello kids!'

'Basil! Welcome.' Kai stood up and ushered the smiling botanist in. 'Oh, Mary! Come on in too.'

'Anna's not feeling very good, so both of us have to come out for dinner. We knew you were leaving tomorrow, Kai, so we came over to have our meal here and also, bring you a little something to wish you a safe journey home.' said Basil, holding out a neatly wrapped, but weirdly shaped package.

Removing the wrapper, Kai unveiled a decorative pineapple, made from faux crystals.

'Wow. Thank you so much, Basil. Mary. I'll take real good care of this.' Setting two more chairs around the table, he gestured to both father and daughter. 'Come on and join us. We've plenty of food.'

Mary settled down in her seat next to Jessica and Elli. 'Hi guys.'

'Hi!' replied Jessica and Elli in unison. Both of them looked slightly uneasily at each other. Would Mary be unhappy because she hadn't been invited to the farewell dinner?

As if reading their thoughts, Mary gave a soft laugh. 'It's okay. I don't mind. Really.'

'Well…um…okay.'

Leaning slightly forward, Mary looked past Jessica. 'Hello, Gray. Have you finished that book I recommended to you?'

'Yeah. It was really cool. I'll bring it to you tomorrow after I'm done at grandpa's, alright?

'Sure. I'll lend you another one tomorrow. I'm sure you will enjoy it too.'

'Okay.' Gray smiled.

'Do you go to the library often, Gray?' asked Jessica.

'He comes over everyday after work except Monday.' answered Mary before Gray opened his mouth.

Glancing at Gray, then at Mary, Jessica replied.

'Oh. I see.'

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'That was a good dinner, wasn't it?' asked Gray.

'Yeah. I wish Kai would stay though…I'll miss him.' replied Jessica.

'You will?'

'Yup. He's a really good friend to talk to.'

'You could talk to me.'

'Oh…I know.'

A companionable silence ensued between them as they walked side by side towards the farm. The absence of noise from vehicles and crowds that was omnipresent in the city was palpable. All around, crickets' singing(1) and the bullfrogs' rhythmic croaking attributed to the peacefulness and calmness of the surroundings. Jessica felt relaxed. With Gray, silence was more of a welcome friend than an unwanted awkwardness. It was just…comfortable.

Soon, they reached the farm.

'Well, you're home.' Gray remarked unnecessarily.

'Yeah. I'll see you around then.'

'Woof.'

Both Gray and Jessica spun around to see Benny's head sticking out from the shipping bin.

Jessica noticed Gray's bemused stare and laughed.

'Benny recently developed a habit of snuggling into the shipping bin when I'm not in. He sulked for a week when I accidentally dropped in his rubber ball and Zack took it away. So now he cuddles in to make sure that he gets to inspect every single item that Zack collects.'

Gray laughed. 'I see.'

'Come on out, Benny! You're gonna cut yourself on those ores if you are not careful!' called Jessica.

'You ship ores?' asked Gray as Benny wriggled out of the shipping bin and bounded into the house.

'Yup. I go to the mine about once a week to hammer those stones around and collect the ores. Oh, wait here a minute, alright?' Jessica ran into the house.

Gray settled down on the little porch bench, a little smile on his usually aloof face as he glanced around him. Hearing Jessica come out, he turned to face her, looking at her in surprise as she sat down next to him and held out some Orichalc.

'Here. I know you like these, so I kept some for you. I was meaning to bring it down to you and Saibara one day, but I guess it's the same if I give it to you now.'

'Thanks Jess. I really appreciate this.'

'You're welcome. I'm not exactly sure what this can become, but I'm sure you can experiment and make something nice from it.'

'You know Jess, because of my work, I'm into ores and gemstones. I want to practice making something besides what my grandpa tells me to… You know, I have much to learn…'

'Hey, you're improving every time.'

'I'm not. I have a long way to go before I surpass my grandfather. When I get better, I'll make you something. That's a promise.' At Jessica's surprised smile, he hurriedly went on.'…Don't get too excited, okay? It's not gonna be really nice or pretty or…'

'It's okay Gray, I get it. I'm just, you know, really pleased that you are gonna make me something.'

'Oh. Well. Don't get too used to it.' Gray began to redden adorably.

Jessica smiled. 'Well,' she said, getting up to her feet. 'You should be getting back to the inn now. I overhead Kai just now saying that he wanted to have some guy talk with you and Cliff tonight.'

'That's if he can tear himself away from Popuri.'

'True.'

They walked to the gate and stopped.

'Well, I'll see you around then.' said Jessica.

'Yeah. Thanks again for these.' replied Gray, holding up the Orichalc.

'No problem. Bye!' Jessica watched as Gray started up the path back to the inn.

She rubbed her eyes tiredly as she turned and made her way back to the house.

'Hey!'

Jessica jumped and spun around at the sound of a voice right behind her.

'Oh my god, Gray! You gave me a fri-' The words died on her lips as she felt his graze her cheek.

Gray flashed his gorgeous smile. 'I forgot this.'

'Oh…' Jessica bit her lip, trying to keep her little dreamy smile from blossoming into a huge grin.

'Well, night!' Gray smiled and left the farm.

'Night.' Jessica touched her cheek and allowed the grin to surface, smiling dizzily into the night.

(1) Apparently the noise made by the crickets is caused by the scratching of their hind legs, but since that's so unromantic sounding, i decided that they shall sing instead.

Sorry for the long hiatus and i realise that these few chapters have been very romance centered (this one's the modified purple heart event), i'll do my best to add in other stuff for the next few chapters, along with more 'fluffy' romance, of course.