If You Set Me Free, I Will Not Run
Chapter XXV: Spring Crop Festival

"I was so close to telling her, Denny. I really was."

"Then why didn't you?!"

"I…I don't know!"

Releasing a loud and dramatic sigh, the curly haired fisherman crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe of his best buddy's house. Popper was on top of his head, taking a nap. The bird had been asleep for hours. Mark was in the process of sweeping the wooden floorboards of his tiny abode. Denny always made a comment about how small his friend's house was, but Mark would retaliate and tell him that he just lived in a tiny shack, which was true.

Mark had just finished telling Denny the story of what happened between him and Chelsea the other day. At first, Mark was happy about telling the tale, but then he became grim. Denny had rolled his eyes when Mark mentioned that Chelsea was telling him all about her outing with Vaughn the other day.

"You can't let fear control you, Mark," Denny voiced, shaking his head at him. "Ya just can't. That was the perfect opportunity for you to confess! You should have done it!"

"But I didn't…" Mark dropped the broom to the ground and shook his head. "I just didn't. I'm such a wimp. I was too scared. What if she never wanted to speak to me again after I told her? What if I ruined our friendship by conveying to her how I felt? She really believes that she has a chance with Vaughn and I think she's even in love with him, Denny!"

The fisherman stepped into the house, closing the door behind him. Since Chelsea also lived on Ranch Island with Mark, he was a little concerned that she might be eavesdropping on their conversation. It was better to have the door closed. "M, remember what I told you about the other night?"

"Huh?" The blond raised an eyebrow, sitting down on a chair next to his bed.

"You can't worry about that stuff!" Denny threw up his hands. "Didn't I tell you to think about what I said? You can't just let those possible outcomes alter your way of making decisions, Mark! You have to take a risk. You're never going to know what's going to happen if you don't try. If you don't, you might end up regretting it for the rest of your life!"

Trembling, the rancher lowered his gaze to the floor and contemplated about his companion's words. His words had a lot of truth in it, but the way Denny said it made it seem like it was something incredibly crucial. He would end up regretting it for the rest of his life? Mark breathed out a heavy sigh and chewed on his lower lip. Could there be a possibility that Chelsea would feel the same way about him? That seemed so unlikely, but Mark wanted to hope so, even though she was crazy about a certain cowboy.

On that day, when he and Chelsea had been out in the rain, Mark was so relieved that Chelsea had come to apologize to him at his house. He was even more thrilled when she wanted to spend some time with him. Mark thought that she had just forgotten about him completely and didn't feel bad at all, but that wasn't true. They were best friends. He should have known that Chelsea would come to apologize. Unfortunately, his thrill and relief evaporated as soon as she talked about how she was going to explain to him what happened between her and Vaughn.

Mark had been so shocked when Chelsea noticed that there was something terribly wrong with him while they were on Meadow Island in the pouring rain. She had kept asking him what was wrong and she had been so nice to him, so concerned. Mark had almost told her how he felt about her. He had been so close. However, when the fear of the negative outcomes flooded his heart, he gave up and just pulled her into a hug. He knew he confused her and was just making everything worse, but he didn't know what else to do. Chelsea had returned his embrace and that made him feel just a tad bit better. His mood had become fully damaged when Chelsea started telling him about her outing with Vaughn.

Chelsea had sounded extremely jubilant about what happened between them. The way she told the story made it seem like a miracle had taken place. That was how he knew that Chelsea was completely devoted to Vaughn and no one else. How could he tell her how he felt when she was so in love with another person? All of those negative thoughts squeezed his heart painfully and Mark had lost his composure. He had been very grateful that it was raining because Chelsea would have seen his tears.

"I think…I should just give up, Denny," Mark dully clamored, tone lathered with sullenness. "I mean, what's the point? I don't think I'm ever going to stop feeling this way about her, but I don't think she's ever going to stop feeling that way about Vaughn either. It probably won't even work out between us. She…doesn't even like me in that way. Besides, I think there is a very strong possibility that she and Vaughn will end up getting married in the future."

Denny pursed his lips at him and looked a little annoyed. "Really, Mark? You're going to give up just like that?"

"Just like that," grumbled the blond.

"I never thought of you as a quitter," keened the fisherman, reaching up to stroke some of Popper's feathers. He still appeared to be annoyed. "What about Sabrina? I honestly still think that Vaughn is interested in her in some way."

Mark shrugged. "You think, you don't know."

"Well, I don't know what else to tell you," proclaimed Denny, shrugging his shoulders and getting rid of the annoyed look that was crawling around his facial features. "In the end, it's all up to you. I can't make your decisions for you. Just know that I'm still going to be encouraging you to express how you feel to Chelsea…and that I'm going to be here for you whatever the outcome may be."

"Thanks, Den." Mark gave Denny a smile, thoroughly grateful for his friend's support and loyalty. "Anyway, the Spring Crop Festival is today! Oh man, I wonder if Chelsea's already at Meadow Island! She didn't even stop by to tell me anything and…it's already past nine!"

Denny grinned. "Cucumber, right?"

"I think so…if I remember correctly." Mark tumbled out of his chair and crashed the ground. Denny instantly started laughing at him and Mark waved a hand at him as he got up from the floor. "Yeah. Laugh it up."

"What? You're such a klutz sometimes, Mark! I can't help but laugh. You're hilarious!" Denny wiped some tears from his eyes.

Mark rolled his eyes, used to Denny always laughing at him by now. "Come on, let's get to Meadow Island and see what the competition looks like. Besides, we have to be there for Chelsea!"

Denny agreed and the two men exited Mark's little hut of a home. Mark made sure to lock the door behind them and they ventured to Meadow Island. It didn't take long at all. Once there, they realized almost all of Sunshine Islands' residents were present. Lots of chatter was going around and there was even laughter. Felicia, who was the judge of the contest, was sitting at a table and filling out paperwork for those who were entering the contest.

"Denny!"

Before Denny could react to the voice, someone jumped onto his back and had their arms around his neck as if they were going to choke him out. Denny guffawed and hooked his arms underneath the legs of the person. It was none other than Lanna and she was giving him several kisses on his cheek. "Hey, Lanna! I didn't know you were coming to the Spring Crop Festival! If I did, we would have walked here together! What gives?"

"It never crossed my mind!" gossiped the former singer, keeping her arms around his neck as she got a piggyback ride from him. It didn't look like she was planning on getting down anytime soon. When she saw that Mark was with them, her whole face lit up and she grinned from ear to ear. "Mark, hey!"

"Hi, Lanna," Mark said. "What's up?"

The golden haired girl shrugged, using one hand to mess around with Denny's curly hair. "Nothing. Just decided to go to the festival and watch Chelsea win. I already know she's going to win. She won in the last seasons."

"That's true…" trailed off Mark, becoming jealous of how Denny and Lanna were together and happy. They were even getting married in the fall.

"Yup! There's no doubt about it!" chirped Denny, smirking. "Chelsea's definitely going to win. The other competitors don't stand a chance against her! Oh, and there she is now!"

Mark scanned the fray of colorful individuals until his eyes found the familiar brunette. Chelsea was standing off to the side while holding a big cucumber in her hands. There was an expression of excitement plastered upon her features and her eyes were bright with jolliness. Mark departed from Denny and Lanna and made his way over to the female. When he got there, Chelsea was beaming at him.

"Mark! Didn't know if you were coming or not," claimed Chelsea, waving the cucumber around. "See this? This is what's going to get me first place."

"I know you'll do great in the contest," Mark talked, nodding his head. "And of course I was coming to the festival. I always come to see you compete. Besides, the winner is always you. I like to see you win."

Chelsea laughed lightly. "Thanks, Mark. You're the best." She then stepped closer to him and gave him a short hug, which he eagerly returned. When they parted, Mark looked over his shoulder at Denny and Lanna and could see Denny smirking and winking at him. Mark's face flushed.

"Good luck, Chels," remarked Mark, rubbing the back of his neck. "We'll be cheering you on."

"Oh? Is Denny here?" Chelsea wondered, raising her eyebrows up high.

Mark bobbed his head in a nod. "Yep. Lanna is here too. Don't know about everyone else."

"Great!" Chelsea sent him a peace sign. "I've got more people cheering me on! Cool! Anyway, I think it's about to start. I'll see you at the end of the festival, okay?"

Mark nodded again and moved away from her, making his way back over to Denny and Lanna.

By the end of the festival, Chelsea had won the entire thing with her magnificent cucumber. All of the other participants were not upset about their loss and congratulated Chelsea on her win. Chelsea informed them that they might beat her next time, which Mark thought was a nice thing to say. Denny claimed that he and Lanna were going to have dinner together and so they left quickly. Mark knew that Denny had done that on purpose. He just wanted to leave him alone with Chelsea in hopes of him confessing to her.

Well, sorry to disappoint. Mark contemplated gloomily, crossing his arms over his chest. That's not going to happen. Not now, not ever. At least…I don't think it will.

"What's on your mind?" Chelsea wanted to know as the two of them walked back to Ranch Island together.

"You…" Mark answered without thinking. Quickly realizing what he said, the blond stopped walking and shook his head vigorously. "I-I mean…I was thinking…about…you winning. Yeah! That's it! Ha!" Mark laughed stupidly, feeling extremely foolish for sounding like a clown.

Chelsea only seemed flummoxed. "Okay?"

Mark resumed moving his legs again, making sure to stay a few paces behind the female. He felt even more foolish when Chelsea didn't talk to him again. Instead, she started humming a little tune, as happy as can be. Mark sighed and wanted to slap himself for being so stupid.