Previously...
Jill hoisted herself up onto the next level of the mine successfully, exhaling in relief and turning to jump back down. She faltered in the movement and lost her footing but used a pile of rocks behind her to steady herself. Not a great idea - the pile gave way and crashed down, most of them triggering other rocks and clumps of earth and concrete to fall. Gray threw his arms up to protect his head and coughed loudly as the cave-in littered the area around him with debris, but glanced up just in time to see a rock hit Jill with such force that she fell down, collapsing out of his sight behind a new formation of stones and a cloud of dust.
"JILL?"
xxx
Gray's head began to ache as he urgently strained to catch a glimpse of the blonde. "Jill? For heaven's sake, answer me! Please!" When he didn't hear a reply, he started to really panic. He couldn't lose her now... he just couldn't. It wasn't a possibility that she was - dare he even think it – dead... the Harvest Goddess couldn't be cruel enough to snatch Jill away from him just when he finally had her, could she?
"Jill!" he shouted yet again, pounding his fist against the rough ground as if doing so would prompt her to reply.
His mind working quickly, Gray started trying to push the heavy boulder off his leg, but it simply left deep cuts where sharp pieces of rock and ore dug in. Wincing in pain, he gritted his teeth and attempted lifting instead; in normal situations the effort would have been completely in vain but the combination of his desperation, worry and the adrenaline pumping through him had a significant effect, and he actually managed to partially move the load to the side after several taxing minutes. Exhausted and feeling like he was going to throw up, Gray dragged himself a few metres closer to where he'd seen Jill fall, squinting his eyes closed in discomfort as intense pain shot through his broken leg with every centimeter he moved it.
He stopped moving altogether for a few moments when the pain grew to be too much, and in those moments, he prayed. He'd never been one for going to church or prayer but for just a few seconds he begged to the Goddess as hard as he could for Jill to be okay, and for himself; the strength to get to her and be there to comfort and hold her. Feeling more capable after his few mumbled words he continued extremely slowly, choking on unsettled dust and cutting his hands on shattered rock and glass.
He swore quietly to himself; his heart skipping a beat as he finally caught sight of Jill looking incredibly tiny and fragile as she lay unconscious, a trickle of deep red steadily leaking from a cut on her forehead. She looked... the only word that came to mind was 'broken', and Gray bit his lip hard to hold back a few tears of frustration. Why the hell hadn't he stopped her from climbing up? He knew it was unstable, he knew it was dangerous, yet he'd done nothing to stop her.
She was so small and just... not strong enough. He managed to get close enough to hesitantly reach out and pull her limp form towards him, and his own heart leaped in indescribable relief as he felt hers beating faintly. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her and supported her head to rest on his shoulder, then gently kissed her blonde hair and rested his head on top of hers.
xxx
Jack awoke early on the morning of the Fireworks Festival, yawning, then realizing that not only had he fallen asleep while sitting upright on the couch, but he was in fact not alone either. The sound of quiet breathing reached his ears and he blinked a couple of times, before realizing that a certain dark-haired librarian had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
In any other case he would have woken up whoever it was and laughed it off with her. After all, it was totally innocent - as far as he could recall they'd stayed up late into the night talking and worrying, and eventually they just... fell asleep. But Mary... everything about her seemed to go against convention.
She had been guarding herself since he'd met her. Guarding her heart, was maybe more accurate. And last night... he'd seen her let those walls down just a little, last night – but he wasn't naive enough to assume that their tentative friendship still stood this morning.
Therefore his predicament was, no matter how amusing he found their impromptu sleeping arrangements, he sincerely doubted that Mary would agree with his disposition. His mind made up, Jack carefully stood, taking extreme care not to move the librarian any more than absolutely necessary.
Standing in the kitchen, the farmer smirked in amusement once more - thinking of the potential blackmail he'd be able to hold over Mary if he dared - when he suddenly remembered why she was at his house in the first place.
"Mary, wake up!"
"Too early..."
"Mary," Jack said quickly, sprinting back to the couch and shaking the librarian's shoulder hard. "Get up!"
"I... what?" she sat up straight, mortification clear on her face as she became aware of her surroundings. But she immediately replaced the look of horror on her face with one of composure as she smoothed her hair and straightened her skirt before folding her hands in her lap. "Morning."
"I - we need to work out what to do about Jill and Gray," he said, offering her a smile. Mary's eyebrows flew up as she got to her feet.
"We shouldn't waste any time. We should get straight down to the mine, because as far as I know, that's where Jill was going to look - I mean, we should get Harris and Saibara as well - and Tim, in case she needs medical assistance. Then we'll worry about looking for Gray, wherever he's gotten to. Saibara will have all the tools needed for the mine - so you go get him, and I'll get Harris and Tim."
"Do you think your parents will let you - ah, never mind..." he interrupted himself nervously at the death-glare on Mary's face.
"Hurry up!" she instructed, already halfway out the door and re-doing her loose braid. With a tired sigh Jack closed the door behind him, half-wanting to take his time getting to the mine - in fear of what he might find when he got there.
xxx
"So we need you to come immediately, and if you have torches or anything lying around, it'd probably be a really good idea to bring them," Mary told Harris quickly, turning to race out the door before she was stopped by a chubby hand.
"Miss Mary," Mayor Thomas began with a funny half-bow, "Do you need my assistance in any way? Should I perhaps alert the townsfolk?"
"Well, uh... it's probably a good idea to tell their close friends, but I don't think that we should cause a big drama before necessary."
"Right!" Thomas said jovially, waddling out the door. "I'll tell their close friends. I think I'll start with Manna..."
Inwardly groaning, the librarian followed Mayor Thomas out the door, then headed in the opposite direction and ran into the clinic.
"Good morning, Mary," Elli called calmly. "How can I help you?"
"I need to speak with Tim."
"I think you mean Doctor Tim," the nurse reminded in a sing-song voice. Mary narrowed her eyes and Elli blanched, hurrying out of her chair. "I-I'll just get him for you." The dark-haired man came out of his office almost instantly and Mary explained the situation; his eyes widened momentarily in shock but it quickly passed and his normal look soon returned as he shot quick, business-like instructions at the nurse.
Two minutes later Elli and Tim were following Mary down towards the blacksmith's, both carrying large medical packs with them. Up a little bit ahead they could see Jack and Saibara locked in a serious looking conversation.
"So she went looking for him..." the elderly man muttered, rubbing his eyes wearily. "In those mines... I'll give her this, she's either the damn bravest girl I've ever met, or the damn stupidest."
"I think I can safely say that it's a combination of both," Jack said seriously. "Of course, she had a lot of unnecessary guilt resting on her shoulders as well. That might have pushed her to it."
"I know, I know," Saibara snapped, a remorseful tone to his voice. "I shouldn't have blamed her... entirely. And yes, you'll disagree with me because she's your sister, but I still firmly believe that my grandson was on that ferry yesterday morning, and I think that she was a big reason for it. But... I-I mostly blame myself, and the way I treat the boy."
"We should get a move-on," Tim interrupted rather tactlessly. "There's a big possibility that Jill is severely injured if she's been in the mines all night. I think -"
"What are you doing? Are we looking for Gray again?" Cliff called, coming from the direction of Yodel Farm. "Can I help?"
"It's not just Gray that we're looking for now," Jack said sadly. "My sister's missing too. Thank the Goddess we have an idea of where she could be."
"Jill?" Cliff asked incredulously, his voice as quiet as usual. "Wow... what are the odds? Gray and Jill missing within a day of each other. That's... actually pretty weird, isn't it?"
The entire group rolled their eyes, but it was Saibara who growled, "Don't be stupid, boy. It's no coincidence - she went looking for him and ended up getting herself lost."
"Oh," Cliff nodded, blushing furiously. "How long has she been missing for?"
"Since last night," Jack put in.
"But the typhoon was last night." A couple of wordless nods, then a comprehensive look of horror on Cliff's face. "B-but that means that she was... out looking for Gray... during a typhoon?"
"Are you deaf or just thick?" the old blacksmith scolded, "He's said it about three times now! You can help us search or not, but stop wasting our time!"
"O-okay..."
"Right," Mary called. "Can we hurry up?"
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and led the party in the direction of the mines. Puzzled at her determination, Jack jogged to catch up, speaking in a low voice so the rest of the group couldn't hear him.
"Why are you so concerned to find my sister? I always thought... well, that you didn't really like her all that much. I mean -"
"The sooner we find Jill, the sooner we can start looking for Gray again," Mary replied sharply. She bit her lip and rolled her eyes as Jack pouted. "Of course I want to find Jill, too. I... don't exactly get along with her... but I obviously don't want to see her hurt, either."
xxx
A tiny voice mumbled something incomprehensible, causing Gray to snap back from his dream-like state with a jolt. "Jill?" he whispered urgently, giving the blonde in his arms a gentle shake. "Did you say something?"
"My head hurts," she replied in a strained voice, half-sitting up of her own accord and holding a shaking hand to her forehead. "Where...? Oh, my voice..." she was speaking barely above the volume of a whisper, most likely due to dust and debris settling in her chest and throat after she fell.
"Thank the Goddess," the blacksmith laughed in indescribable relief, wanting to hug her as hard as he could, but settling for a gentle pat on the back in case of any broken ribs.
"I fell..." Jill remembered, "I was climbing up and I fell... then what happened? Was I uncon - uncon - oh, I can't say it. Was I out of it?"
"For about an hour," he said. "Do you think anything's broken?"
"No... I don't think so. My back hurts, but not badly... and... hey, wait a second – weren't you sitting over there earlier?"
"Yes... why? I came over when you fell."
"B-but Gray, your leg! You could have - ah - hurt it more by dragging yourself over here."
"It's fine," he lied. "No problem, see? I -" he failed to completely stifle a gasp of pain as he demonstrated moving his leg, and Jill raised both eyebrows.
"Gray!" she scolded, wincing as her attempt at raising her voice sent a sharp pain down her throat, "I would have been fine. There was no need -"
"No need?" he scoffed, "No need to help when you're lying unconscious, could have potentially been killed, obviously in -"
"Okay, okay. Thank you."
"...You're welcome."
They soon found themselves in an awkward moment, where each could almost hear the other person's brain working in an effort to find something to say. Their thoughts simultaneously turned to the same thing, but it took awhile before one got the confidence to bring it up.
"I don't think we're done talking about... that thing," Jill said quietly. Gray nodded wordlessly, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "Kai was... a really big mistake. And I can't promise that I won't make more mistakes, because frankly, I'm very accident and mistake-prone as you've no doubt noticed, and if you can't put up with that I'll understand, because I'm forever changing my mind about things, but I think that if -" she rambled on, not really knowing what she was saying but trying to fill the silence all the same. "- and I really want you to be able to know that I... well, I'll try my best, because... I want this to work, and -"
"Jill?" Gray interrupted.
"Mhm?"
"You talk way too much, even with a... broken voice box."
"Yeah. I know," she sighed, "It's uncontrollable once I get started. The words just keep coming and coming, then before I know it, I'm -"
"Jill."
"Sorry! I just... ugh. Do you see what I'm trying to get at?"
"...Kind of. I just can't see how you could possibly see Kai's... 'actions' as sincere."
"I didn't," Jill admitted. "I could see that he didn't mean it. I didn't mean it either."
"Then... why the heck did you go through with it?"
"No, I - I didn't mean it to sound like that," she rushed, trying to stop the blacksmith from flying into a temper. "I mean, yes and no - I'm an idiot, alright! I was confused... I am confused... oh, not about you," she rushed on as Gray's face fell. "You're... one of the things I'm finally... sure about."
"Oh..." Gray said roughly, before smirking. "Damn. How am I supposed to be annoyed with you after a remark like that?"
Jill gave a tiny smile, then bit her lip and stared determinedly at her hands. She did so for about twenty seconds, then suddenly looked up and blurted out; "What happened between you and Mary?"
"What?"
"Like... were you two ever a couple?"
"...Depends what you'd call a couple."
"Did you tell people she was your girlfriend?"
"No."
"Did you go to the romantic festivals together?"
"Y-yes..."
"Did you kiss her?"
"Jill, I don't see how this -"
"Did you kiss her?"
"Yes."
"Oh," Jill sighed hoarsely. "I'd call that a couple. So what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... you were a couple... you're now not a couple... so generally before that can happen, something needs to happen in-between."
"I forgot how funny you were," he said sarcastically. "It's not really something that I want to talk about."
"Did she dump you?"
"No," Gray scoffed.
"Did she cheat on you?"
"No!"
"Did she -"
"Mary didn't do anything wrong. It just... didn't work out, all right?" Jill silently nodded, crossing her arms over her chest and trying her hardest not to pout in disappointment. "Jill..."
"It's okay. I don't expect you to trust me so soon."
"I fell for you," he blurted out awkwardly. After a deep breath, he continued. "That's what happened between Mary and I."
"Oh." The blonde glanced away from him, a wry smile on her face. "That's sweet, but... ah, never mind."
"What?"
"Well... you kind of left her high and dry, didn't you?" Gray blinked at her in shock, and she blushed.
"Ahem..." he coughed. "Uh, yeah, I uh, guess. But, um... yeah."
"No, no, I'm sorry. Goddess, I sound like such a hypocrite. That's wasn't fair, or true."
"Yeah, it was. I, um... I know it was. Believe me or don't, but I felt plenty bad about it... I still do. If I'd been able to control it, I never would have hurt her. Thankfully, I think she's past it now."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"..."
Jill coughed.
"I - wait..." Gray paused, motioning for Jill to stay quiet as he strained to listen to something. "Can you hear voices?" Sure enough, the sound of arguing could be heard above them in broken sentences.
"Sounds like people are fighting... oh, it must be Jack and Mary!" Jill announced, her voice still quiet and strained. "Thank Heavens..."
xxx
"Would you - oh, look over there! I can clearly see the stairs, and I'm the one wearing the glasses! Jack, just pay attention!" Mary snapped, pointing to a space in the darkness.
"Can you blame me for being a little distracted, Mrs. Heartless? The sixteenth floor is down those stairs, and either I find my little sister... badly injured... or I don't find her at all, which would be even worse. So don't you lecture me -"
"Wah, wah, wah..."
"You are such a -"
"Grow up, children," Saibara snapped. "Jack, quit aggravating her, Mary, quit lecturing him." He paused thoughtfully. "Going by those personality traits, he'll make a good husband and she'll make a good wife," he mumbled to a smirking Tim.
Mary rolled her eyes and moved quickly over to the stairs, pausing at the top of them, then squinting her eyes closed and walking down. When she reached the bottom, she opened her eyes and gasped.
After the second collapse, a much larger amount of floor had fallen through, making the cave-in immediately noticeable. Scattered rocks covered the floor, and the blackness through the gaping hole prevented the librarian from seeing a thing below.
"Mary?" Jack called, his voice worried. "Is everything okay? Is Jill down there?" he bolted down the stairs after her and stopped in shock when he saw the same thing. Then he swore loudly, making Mary cringe.
"You should know better than to curse in the presence of a lady," Saibara scolded as he followed the two down the stairs - but when he caught sight of the collapse, he repeated Jack's profanity about three times louder.
"Gramps?" Gray's voice called hopefully, sounding strained. "Is that you?"
"Gray!" Mary cried, forgetting any sense of propriety in her relief. "Are you okay?"
"Mary?"
"Yes, yes, are you hurt?"
"Gray?" Jack interrupted. "Is my sister there?"
A short pause followed, before Gray replied, "Yeah, she is. Jack?"
"Thank the Goddess," Jack mumbled, leaning on Mary as all the energy suddenly drained from him. "Jill? Talk to me!" At this point, Saibara, Cliff and Tim had managed to set up a moderately safe contraption, and Saibara was climbing down it onto the lower floor.
"She, uh - she can't talk," Gray called back. "She -" the farmer was no longer listening, following Saibara in an absolute rush to get down to his little sister as soon as he possibly could.
"There you are, boy," the old man called roughly as he headed towards Gray. "I'm glad you're okay, but haven't you listened to a thing I've told you about mine safety?" The red-head rolled his eyes at his grandfather, his attention focused on the speed at which Jack was getting to his sister.
"Jill... Jill, thank Heavens... you're conscious... are you okay? Where does it hurt, Sis? Why can't you talk?"
"I'm okay," Jill said hoarsely. "I can talk, but my throat's all blocked, so it hurts."
"Are you sure? Did you fall? Can you -"
"Step back for a moment please, Jack," Tim instructed, appearing behind him unnoticed. "I need to see if your sister and Gray are okay to be moved." He knelt down, blocking the blonde from sight for what was probably ten seconds but felt like hours for the worried brother.
During all this, Mary had also made her way down and was standing quite far away from the crowd, not getting any closer to them as a flash of blue caught her eye. She moved off to the side to retrieve the item that had captured her attention.
Finally, Tim rocked back onto his heels. "I don't think that Jill's condition is too bad, but I'll need to have a look at Gray too, before either of them are moved. We don't want greater accidents." Before he'd finished his sentence, Jack had enveloped Jill in a tight hug.
"Are... are you crying,Jack?" Jill asked suddenly. Wiping his eyes roughly with one hand and holding Jill with the other, Jack scowled.
"No..."
"You are!" she squealed in delight, throwing her arms around his neck. "Aw, Jacky!"
"Shut up," he instructed. "I am not crying." He turned away before the blonde could embarrass him more, and out of the corner in his eye, noticed Mary. He could plainly see the teardrops streaming down her face as she watched from afar and clutched Gray's blue hat in trembling hands.
Mary caught him staring at her and hurriedly wiped away the tears, begging him through pleading eyes not to draw attention to her.
"Jack," Jill whispered, dragging his attention back, "How are Gray and I going to get back up? I don't think I can walk... and I don't want you to go away again."
"I'll carry you all the way up rather than leave you for a second," he promised solemnly.
"You may actually need to do that," Tim said seriously. "We'll probably need four people to assist Gray in this state - myself, Saibara, Cliff and Mary... which leaves you to carry your sister if you can manage it."
Jack raised an eyebrow at Jill and her tiny frame. "You could have shown a little consideration and lost some of that weight, considering I have to carry you all that way. You must weigh - what, ten pounds?"
"Don't be a sarcastic jerk," Jill pouted. "I - ah! Wow, you're tall!"
"No, you're ridiculously short," Jack pointed out as he lifted the blonde, bridal style. "Goddess, all those stairs... staying down here is starting to look like a really good option."
xxx
"There they are!" Popuri announced shrilly, jumping up and down in excitement. The group that had gathered all looked frantically towards the entrance of the mine and erupted in a cheer as sure enough, Jack stepped into the sunlight holding Jill.
"Holy..." he muttered to Jill, "Did the whole town turn up?"
"Looks like it," she laughed. "Oh look, Ann's crying! And Karen and Lillia are, too!"
"Jill!" Rick called, his face ghost white but relieved. He was pushing people out of the way to get to the siblings and when he did reach them, lifted Jill out of Jack's arms. Ann and Karen immediately descended on Jack, enveloping him with hugs, and Anna gave a muffled cry as Mary showed up, helping Gray.
The whole town was in confusion with people hugging and kissing each-other, fussing over Jill, Gray and their 'rescue team'. Most of the women - and several men - were in tears, and the atmosphere was one of town unity and togetherness... until a sharp whistle pierced the air like a knife. Silence ensued and everyone turned towards Ann who was standing on a rock, Tim gazing up at her in total astonishment.
"Guys, Doctor Tim wants to say something. There you go," she offered, stepping down from the rock. Tim did not take her place, but simply said:
"Where are Jill and Gray?"
"Here!" Elli waved, clutching Jill's arm.
"Here," Gray called from his position near Duke and Manna.
"Well, you two need to get to the clinic for treatment right away. No time for all this nonsense just now. Are there any volunteers willing to help these two get there?"
"Are you sure you aren't too cold?" Jack asked his sister for the umpteenth time. After almost all of Mineral Town had accompanied the injured to the clinic, people had gradually gone home until it was only Jack and Mary staying with Jill and Gray. And Jill, although touched, was rapidly losing patience with her brother's constant doting.
"I'm fine," she retorted in an irritated - though back to normal volume - voice. "I'm nice and warm."
"You're not too warm though, are you?"
"Jack!"
"How about you, Gray?" Mary asked shyly. "Are you all right? Can I get you anything?"
"I'm okay. Thanks."
"Gray and Jill," the doctor said as he entered the room, engrossed in his notes and nearly knocking Mary over. "Oh, sorry. How are you two feeling?"
"Smothered. Annoyed. Claustrophobic." Jill replied quickly, glaring in her brother's direction.
Jack's face whitened. "Well, why didn't you tell me that?" he replied, turning to Tim. "Is there any medicine you can give her to relieve those symptoms?"
"Get her to slowly sip water and take deep breaths," Mary advised. "By the sounds of it, she could be suffering from post-accident trauma. It's best to avoid drugs and medication if you can help it."
"Well, I can see that I'm not needed here," Tim said, half-joking, half-bitter. He walked out of the room briskly and Jack turned back to Jill.
"Do you need another blanket?"
"Oh dear Goddess," Jill muttered in total exasperation. Gray chuckled in response, but neither Jack nor Mary seemed to hear.
"Hey... the fireworks should be starting in twenty minutes or so," the librarian observed. Jill's eyes lit up as she was struck by sudden inspiration.
"Go to the fireworks," she blurted out.
"No no," Jack refused. "I'm not going to leave you when you need me here -"
"Listen, you'd better get your butt to that festival, or else."
"Or else what?" Jack asked in confusion. Jill simply shook her head.
"Trust me, it's better for you if you don't find out."
"W-well, I can't go, anyway!" Jack replied. "I was going to take you as my date, but you had to go get trapped and injured in a mine shaft. So inconvenient."
"Mary, you should go," Gray spoke up. "Maybe Jack will follow your lead."
"I can't," she replied. "I don't have a date either, for the first time in several years." An awkward moment passed in which Jill, Gray and Mary looked nervously at each-other and Jack stared blankly at the three of them.
"Wait a second," Jill observed, a smile stretching over her face as she looked first at Mary, then at Jack, then back to Mary. "I have the best idea!"
"Jill," Gray said in a patronizing voice, "I think we all had the same idea."
"And I think that no-one wants you to even go there," Jack added quickly, Mary nodding her head in adamant agreement.
"Why not?" Jill whined. "It's just a tiny, friendly festival. If you could take your sister, you can take your friend."
"My baby sister and relationship therapist, all wrapped up in one handy, blonde little package."
"Jack, shut up. Just go to the festival. If you two are too stubborn to go as friends, don't. But go anyway."
"I'm not going by myself," Jack whined. Jill sat straight up in her single bed and glared at him.
"That's it. Get out. We have a qualified doctor and nurse here already, we do not need a third and fourth. I don't really care if you two go to the fireworks, or the inn, or home, or go jump in the Goddess Waterfall, and I don't care if you go wherever you're going together or separately, but so help me, if you don't stop doting on me, I'm going to have to move out of this hospital bed to make way for you."
"But I -"
"Out."
"Don't we -"
"Out!"
Jack scampered and Mary followed quickly, shooting a long glance at Gray over her shoulder before she left.
"She's not over you," Jill stated almost immediately. Gray sighed.
"I don't know... maybe she's just overly attentive because I'm injured."
"Or, you know, maybe she's in love with you."
"I hope not."
"She's very pretty," the farmer pointed out, "And extremely smart..."
"Are you trying to make me fall for her or something?"
Jill sighed. "No... I just feel guilty."
"You have nothing to feel guilty about."
"...I guess..."
They were across the room from each-other, sitting on identical single beds in the tiny room that was used for people needing overnight stays. Gray's leg had been put in plaster and he'd received several stitches, while Jill miraculously seemed quite healthy. Under Tim's orders, she was to stay for just one or two nights in case of any late-appearing symptoms. It looked like Gray would be in the clinic for around a week.
"We were in the clinic together on the evening of the fireworks last year, too," Gray recalled with a smirk.
"Oh, we were too!" Jill laughed. "You, uh... I fell in the water or something, right? And you... you saved me." Her voice had changed - she was speaking more softly and there was something almost like sadness in her tone. "You saved me."
"Well, I mean, anyone could have pulled you out - I wasn't -"
Jill shook her head, her blue eyes searching his. "I don't just mean that one time."
xxx
"Jack!" Ann yelled, racing madly across the sandy beach and tackling the farmer to the ground. "How's the hero of the hour?"
"Get off," he laughed, scrambling to his feet and holding out a hand to help her up. She ignored it and blinked up at him, sitting cross-legged on the warm sand. He shrugged and sat back down next to her. "Oh, Mary... take a seat. I'm afraid it's not the most dignified spot on the whole beach, so we can move if you want to -"
"I'd better go home for a few minutes and speak to my parents anyway," she interrupted with a smile. "I might see the two of you later tonight."
"Hold up," Ann teased Jack as the librarian retreated up the stone stairs, "Are you guys here together?"
"Um... together, but not 'together' as such. Hate to deprive you that little piece of gossip with which to torment me."
"Ooh, torment," Ann teased. "You're getting smart, Jack. A couple more gold stars and you'll be ready to graduate from kindergarten."
"You're going the right way for a slap -"
"And we both know that you can't get mad enough at me to hit me. And if you did then I'd hit you back, then I'd feel bad for making you cry, so it's really a lose-lose situation."
Jack chuckled and glanced along the beach. "So. Plans for tonight?"
"Cliff finally got his act together and asked me," she replied, rolling her eyes, "But I think we'll still be watching in a group... me, Cliff, Karen, Rick, Kai and Popuri... and you if you want. Might as well ask Mary, too."
"Mmhm. What time are they due to begin?"
"Ten minutes or so. Not many people are going to show up this year, because they're doing damage control after the typhoon and the mine collapse. Elli and Tim are obviously taking care of Jill and Gray at the clinic, the oldies like my dad have sorta grown out of it or watch from their homes... so it could potentially be just us eight."
"Does Kai have to sit with us?"
"You are such a baby," Ann giggled as she stood, brushing sand from her shorts and her long legs. "No, you stay sitting. This may well be the only time in my life that I'm taller than you." Of course as soon as she said that, Jack shot to his feet and grinned down at her.
"You were saying?"
"Jack! Ann!" a female voice called, and both people turned to see Karen dancing over to them, dragging Rick behind her. "It's looking like a small festival this year. My parents are having a kind of get-together at the supermarket - there's a really good view of the fireworks from there, too - and everyone from little May to Barley is there. I reckon it'll end up being just the people in their twenties at the beach tonight."
"How's Jill doing?" Rick asked in concern, cutting into Karen's speech. Jack smiled and shrugged.
"She's okay. She's getting impatient over the tiniest things, though - don't cross her anytime soon."
"Kai, get away from my sister!" Rick yelled across the beach suddenly, shooting a withering glare at the traveler who was laughing heartily at something Popuri had said. Kai mouthed and signaled something obscene in reply and the chicken farmer's fists clenched. "She's such an idiot," he told the group that he was standing with quietly. "If she had an ounce of sense in her, she wouldn't even be talking to him after the way he's treated her... and treated others." An awkward silence fell over the group, everyone trying their best not to make eye contact with anyone else. As usual, it was Ann who broke the silence.
"Cliff!" she waved, beckoning the brown-haired man over. "Come on, guys, we'll go find a spot to sit, will we?"
"Ooh, I already found a spot," Karen said eagerly. "See right near the umbrella? With the towels? And the wine bottles?"
"I'll be confiscating those," Rick warned. Her eyes narrowed sharply.
"You wouldn't dare."
"I would."
"Let's go sit down, shall we?" Ann said, struggling to hold Karen back from pummeling him.
Several minutes later, the fireworks began. Rick and Karen had apparently made up, as his arm was around her. Cliff and Ann were nervously edging closer and closer together - Jack was watching in total amusement, just waiting for Cliff to yawn, lift his arms up and drop one over Ann's shoulders - Popuri and Kai were holding hands, although Popuri looked slightly uncomfortable with it, and Jack... Jack was sitting a little away from the couples, glancing towards the stairs and praying that Mary would return soon. Of course, not so that he could be part of a couple - but so that he wouldn't be the only one who wasn't part of a couple.
"Jack," Ann whispered, sliding away from Cliff and over to the farmer, "To the left. I don't want to say anything in case I embarrass her." she quickly scooted back over to Cliff and grabbed his hand; his face was shocked for a few moments but it passed and he soon looked rather pleased with himself.
Jack turned his head to where Ann had been talking about and his heart sank as he saw Mary sitting by herself, her knees drawn up to her chin as she watched the fireworks sadly. Trying not to make a disturbance he stood and crept over to her. She didn't notice until he sat down beside her, when she gave a muffled cry and slapped both hands over her mouth.
"Goddess, Jack!" she hissed. "Thank you very much for the warning."
"You look sad."
"... Do I?" Mary asked in an attempt at disinterest. Jack nodded, refusing to break eye-contact with her, and she exhaled, wrapping her arms around her legs. "I'm okay."
"I really hate liars."
"I'm not lying. I am okay... or at least, I will be. I know mine isn't the first heart ever broken."
Stunned at the information that secretive Mary had divulged to him so soon, Jack nodded encouragingly. "Gray, right?"
"Of course," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't think it could ever be anyone else."
Now he was seeing an entirely new, vulnerable side to Mary. He had no idea that her feelings for the blacksmith were so strong, and frankly, it scared him a little to realize that his own sister had been the means in taking him away from her.
"I'm... I'm happy for him. I'm being silly. Just, seeing today... how he looks at her... makes it seem... real. But," she continued with a shaky attempt at a laugh, "I'll get over it. I'll be fine."
"You're being incredibly mature about it," the farmer said in admiration. Mary frowned.
"I am twenty-one. It's not just some teenage crush that needs to be 'avenged' because it didn't work out - I mean... I can't say I'm not angry. And I can't say I'm not hurt. But I'm an adult. If he can be happy with Jill - and she can appreciate him for how totally amazing he is - then I've no problem with that." She paused. "I'm... um... sort of – testing myself, I guess. I d-don't know how strong... I can be..." she dissolved into silent tears.
"Hey, it's alright," Jack said, placing a comforting hand on her arm. He suppressed the urge to smack himself in the head. What a remark to make - 'it's alright' - when clearly, it wasn't.
"I found his hat in the mines," the librarian sniffed as she began to compose herself, "You saw that, right? But I couldn't bring myself to give it back to him. Not yet, anyway."
"Hey, Jack!" a voice that sounded like Karen's called - although it was hard to be sure in the dark night. He realized slowly that the fireworks were over and stood up, helping Mary to her feet. Then they made their way over to the group.
"Oh, Mary," Karen giggled. "I didn't realize you were here. What were you two doing all that time?"
"Grow up, Karen," Ann instructed sharply, realizing the fragility of the librarian. "Sit down, guys. We're just gonna talk for awhile."
"Can Kai leave?" Rick whined. "There's something I wanna say, and I don't want him near me."
"Bite me, chicken boy," the traveler replied rudely.
"Rick, why don't you leave?" Popuri's voice called in annoyance.
"Because I need to say something."
"Then say it!"
"I can't. Kai's here."
"Fine!" Kai exploded, jumping to his feet. "I'll go into my store until you say whatever it is – but I'm taking Popuri with me."
"OH NO YOU'RE NOT!"
"Then I guess I'll have to stick around."
"You know what, this is why I don't like you. Always with the arguing, always with the difficulty..."
"Rick? What did you need to say?" Karen asked sweetly, trying to keep her patience.
"Oh... um... I hate Kai."
"Well you could have said that to my face," Kai replied, his white grin visible in the darkness. "I take it as a compliment, considering some of the things you've said in the past."
"It that seriously it?" Karen asked, plainly extremely annoyed. "That's what you were going to say?"
"Um... yeah. What were you expecting? Karen?" The brunette was picking herself up from the sand and flouncing away to the other side of the beach angrily, leaving the bespectacled boy blinking in puzzlement as he hurried after her. "Karen, what's wrong?"
"He's in for it now," Popuri giggled. "Good. He needs a good telling-off."
"But what was Karen expecting?" Mary asked in confusion. Popuri shrugged, though no-one could tell in the darkness.
"Who cares? The point is, I hope she hurts him."
"Wonderful example of sibling love there, Popuri," Ann piped up as she clapped her hands together. "Anyway, I think -" but what she thought, no-one ever found out, because she was interrupted by a joyful, Karen-like scream.
"What the -"
"GUYS! GUYS! We're getting MARRIED!"
"You're WHAT?" Jack asked, as every single jaw around him dropped in disbelief.
"No time to talk about it now! I need to go tell my parents! I need to go tell EVERYONE!" Still half-screaming in excitement, she bolted off; leaving a very pale and shocked 'fiancé' behind her.
"Rick, what the hell happened?" Ann demanded.
"I...I don't exactly know," he whispered. "I walked over, and she was crying... and I said, 'What did you think I was going to say?' and she says... she says, 'I thought you were going to ask me to marry you!' so I nearly have a heart-attack... and I say, 'What do you mean? Do you want us to get married?' Because I had no idea... we'd never discussed it or anything... and the next thing I know, she's screaming 'yes' at me and bolting over to you guys."
"Ouch," Kai muttered, his grudge totally replaced with sympathy. "How are you gonna get out of it?"
"Well... I'm not." You could almost hear people blinking in the silence that followed. "Hey, it was going to happen sooner or later. I do like her a lot... love her, I guess. And she's gorgeous -"
"And insane -"
"Don't talk about my future wife like that."
"Whatever," Kai said as he stood up. "This is way too much excitement for me. Night, all."
"Yeah, I'd better get back too," Mary said, quickly following. Ann left shortly after, giggling to herself, and Cliff followed, until it was only Rick, Popuri and Jack left standing on the beach.
"Well, I'd better go check up on Jill," Jack said awkwardly. "Popuri, have a good night. Rick... Rick..." he slapped him on the back sympathetically. "Good luck."
xxx
