Owen buttoned his shirt and rushed to Kathy's side. She dodged him as he reached for her arm.
"What's going on?" Akari asked. Chase noticed her body stiffen next to him.
Kathy didn't bother to wipe away her tears. Her shoulders began to convulse with sobs. She reached for Akari's hand, but she pulled away. Her fingers curled into her palm.
"Akari, I'm so sorry."
Owen rearranged his hair and looked every which way, except at Akari. The realization of what was happening hit Chase like a sack of flour. He stared at Kathy. He hoped he was wrong.
Kathy flinched from Akari's rejection. She seemed to be at a loss for words. Before she could speak, Owen wedged himself between the two girls. He locked eyes with Chase. He smirked. That's all Chase needed to see. It was true.
"Kathy, you don't need to apologize. We're not together anymore," he said. He glanced directly at Akari now, the smug little smile still on his lips.
Kathy backed away from the group, stumbling over a chair before regaining her balance. "It was a mistake, Akari. You have to know that."
Akari clenched her fist. Chase grabbed her hand. She didn't seem like the fighting type. Plus, she was too small and scrawny to throw an effective punch. She'd break her knuckles before she hurt anyone.
"You slept with him?" Akari said.
Kathy covered her mouth. "No, it wasn't like that! We kissed. That's all."
Akari outstretched her arm toward Owen, palm spread wide. "He practically came out the door with his shirt off!"
Owen clenched his jaw. His eyes were glossy and he shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Why do you care, Akari? You broke up with me."
Akari wasn't focused on Owen. Her face burned as she glowered at Kathy. "How could you do this to me? You're supposed to be my best friend."
She hung her head. "I-"
"You liked him all along, didn't you?"
Kathy covered her face with her hands. "He came to me just now, upset about you. We talked and then it just happened. It didn't mean anything."
Chase sighed. He seemed to always get involved in spats that had nothing to do with him. It usually happened when he tried to be a good samaritan, which is why he tried to avoid being one. Still, he was surprised by Kathy. Disappointed, even. He was her co-worker for over a year, and he thought he knew her pretty well. She avoided drama and seemed to care about everyone's feelings, especially those close to her. He knew she and Owen were close, but he had no idea that she liked him. Maybe she repressed her feelings for Akari's sake, but it was dirty for her to kiss him so soon after the breakup.
Chase let go of Akari's wrist and her arm fell limp to her side. Her body slouched as her anger fell away to exhaustion. "You guys are the worst," she said. "You-" She jabbed an accusing finger at Kathy. "You waited until we broke up to make a move." She jerked her head in Owen's direction. "And you're just scum. I hope you both get what's coming to you."
She stormed off and left the trio in stunned silence. Owen attempted to put his arm around Kathy, but she pushed him away. "What are you doing?"
He pointed at Chase. "They have each other. You don't have to worry about us now."
Kathy put her hands out in front of her. "There's no us. You're crazy!"
She left in the opposite direction of Akari toward the beach. The two men stood alone. Owen arched an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. Chase wasn't the least bit intimated. In fact, he was amused by how cocky this guy actually was. Not only did he destroy his relationship with Akari but now he ruined Kathy and Akari's friendship and had the audacity to be proud of it.
Chase snickered. "I thought I was an ass, but you take the cake, man."
Owen wobbled a bit and grasped the back of a chair for support. "You and Akari snuck behind my back, and I'm the ass? Yeah, okay. Whatever. She's all yours now."
Chase opened his mouth to explain but decided against it. There was no convincing him. If Owen wanted to live his life paranoid over a non-existent relationship, Chase was more than happy to let him. Owen grunted at Chase's lack of response and took measured steps as he hobbled toward the beach in search of Kathy. The scent of liquor lingered in the air.
Chase stood there unsure of what to do next. Akari's bowl of seafood curry had toppled over during the spectacle, leaving streaks of red sauce and bits of crab and shrimp on the table. He couldn't imagine how Akari felt. A part of him resented Kathy. He knew Owen wasn't worth a damn, but he thought Kathy was the one person who had Akari's back. But he remembered that people were not always who he thought they were. That's why he kept to himself.
He only needed to face betrayal one time for him to swear off everyone. When his parents died, the police and social services contacted everyone in his extended family and no one stepped up. No one bothered to claim him. No one cared. When a friend throws you under the bus, it sucks. When a spouse cheats on you, it hurts. But when family disowns you, there's nothing like it. So he learned that if the people who are supposed to love you don't even acknowledge your existence, then why should he care about anyone else?
But he did care about Akari at least. And he was grateful that he met Colleen, Jake, and the others who eventually took him in and treated him like family. Still, that kind of pain never really goes away.
Maybe Kathy was a traitor. Or maybe she was just human. Who knows? She seemed genuinely heartbroken. He couldn't imagine her deliberately going behind Akari's back to hookup with Owen.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the brick wall, so lost in thought that he didn't notice the person standing in front of him. "Chase?"
He blinked and recoiled at the sight of Maya. He hadn't seen her in weeks. It was like waking up into a nightmare. He looked for a quick escape.
"Hi!" She said, waving ecstatically. "How's work at Akari's farm?"
There was no way he could make a run for it without making her cry. He grimaced and tried to keep the conversation brief. "Great. I'm better at farming than she is. Look, I should probably head over there…"
"I miss you!"
She rocked on her heels and clasped her hands behind her back. Chase frowned. Was she a masochist or what?
"Really?"
"Of course, silly! You just disappeared after the typhoon."
He considered his next words carefully. If he didn't want to insult her, he was going to have to lie.
Just say the words, Chase. I. Miss. You. Too.
Nah.
"Yeah, well, I'll be seeing you."
He spun around and threw his hand up to wave goodbye. He heard Maya slam the front door behind her. Some things never change.
In all the chaos, he forgot the true reason for his visit to town. He was on his way to consult with Gill after his conversation with Ramsey. But then he spotted Ramsey and Akari sitting outside the inn. He berated himself for not going to Akari first. Now there was no telling what Ramsey had said.
A few hours earlier, he took his bribe money and made a trip to the Garmon Mine district. He was afraid that his presence would attract a bit of attention since he seldom traveled there. Fortunately, he was only spotted by Simon, Phoebe, and Barbara. They greeted him with a warm smile.
He stood in front of the Blacksmith's shop with his hand poised at the door. He prayed Owen was already in the mines. Before he could knock, the door swung open and he jumped back before it collided with his face.
"Oh!"
Ramsey dropped the broom he was holding and apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry! I don't usually expect customers so early."
Chase stooped down to hand him the broom. "It's fine. I'm not a customer."
Ramsey stroked his beard. "Oh? How can I help you?"
Chase wasn't one to waste time chit-chatting. "I need information on Owen."
"Such as?"
"Where was he the evening before the typhoon last month?"
Ramsey studied Chase for a moment before hacking out a laugh. "How should I know? He's an adult. First the mayor's kid, now you? What do you want?"
Chase frowned. "What does Gill have to do with anything?"
The old man began sweeping the floorboards, turning his back to Chase as he spoke. "He came by a few days ago asking about my grandson. You would think he's under arrest or something!"
Apparently Gill was one step ahead. He wondered if Ramsey was the anonymous person who tipped off Akari and Owen's whereabouts. The man was stubborn and Gill didn't seem like the type to make people open up.
Like he had room to talk.
"So you don't know?" Chase pressed.
Ramsey narrowed his eyes. "No, I don't know. Now if you excuse me, I need to open the shop. For my customers."
Chase reached inside his pocket for the 10,000g and hesitated. It would seem rather desperate for him to bribe Ramsey into talking. If it were true that he didn't know anything, he would have been gypped out of his money. Instead, Chase gave Ramsey a bright and refreshing smile that he often used on customers when he wanted to strangle their necks.
"Thanks. Have a good day."
Ramsey muttered under his breath as he went inside the shop. "Strange young man…"
Chase told Akari that he had a lead but he had more questions now than before. When he arrived at the farm, he found her sitting by the pond, lounging on the grass holding a fishing rod. He didn't expect to find her outside. Now wasn't the time to bring up his failed investigation efforts. That was probably the last thing on her mind.
He gazed out at her field of crops. They swayed with the gentle breeze. Little pink buds were starting to blossom on each stalk. The next harvest would be ready in a few days. Although he would never admit it, he was starting to enjoy farm work. The money wasn't too shabby either. He made more from the harvest than his biweekly check at the bar.
Akari abruptly looked over her shoulder and waved him over. She must have heard his footsteps on the gravel.
He stalled as he contemplated whether or not he should go over. In order to get over his feelings for her, he figured he should probably keep his distance and limit their interactions to just business. It worked in the past. But with Owen and possibly Kathy out of her life, she needed someone there. He averted his eyes and kept the dirt path to Flute Fields. Out of sight, out of mind.
She needs someone.
He paused and looked back. She was leaning backward and tugging at the line of her fishing rod. Her toes curled into the dirt as she was yanked forward. Then…
SPLASH!
She lost grip of the pole and fell face first into the water. Chase ran over. But before he could reach her, she had already climbed out of the pond, wringing water out of her hair. She pushed the hair out of her eyes and pouted at him.
He laughed. "I'm not an expert on fishing, but I thought you were supposed to catch the fish. Not the other way around."
He outstretched his hand to help her up, but she ignored him and climbed to her feet. "I'm fine. You could have kept going."
So she did see him walk away.
He spotted a strand of seaweed in her hair and reached out to untangle it. She flinched but stood still as he got it out. His heart was pounding standing so close to her. He slipped out of his shirt jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Even though he knew next to nothing about consoling people, he could be useful at least.
"You don't have to be nice to me because of that," she continued. She gestured toward the town.
Chase plopped down on the grass and she followed suit. "You know, Akari. I can be a gentleman some days out of the week."
She laughed. "What days can I expect you to be nice?"
He considered. "It varies but most likely on the weekends."
"Noted."
The two sat in comfortable silence, watching dragonflies flit past the surface of the pond and dandelions swirl in the air. Scarlett and Bella stretched out among the row of crops. Chase glanced at Akari. She sat back on her elbows with her face turned toward the sun. The sunlight glistened off her wet skin. She looked serene for someone who was just betrayed by her best friend.
"Hey, Chase? Can I tell you something?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"I have no idea why I'm here. Farming, I mean. You're better at it than me. I'm terrible. I think I produced a good tomato once and the rest were all decent. Bella's my only cow and she barely gives me milk. I was fed up with my old life, and I came here to start over, but now it's like…"
She waved her hand in frustration. "I don't think I can make it. Now my boyfriend's gone, I lost my best friend. I don't really have anyone else. I'm just afraid I'm not good enough."
"If it means anything, and it should, considering I'm saying it," he said, raising a hand to ruffle her hair. "I think you're doing great. It's hard enough running a farm, and you do it by yourself every day. That takes guts. Plus, you won't be perfect overnight."
She rolled her eyes. "You were."
He winked. "What can I say? Some people are just born with it."
"Har har har."
"And the Owen and Kathy thing? I don't think she meant to hurt you, for what it's worth."
Akari shrugged. "Are you defending her?"
"No. But she's not that kind of person. It's not worth losing a friend over a guy like that."
She remained quiet. Chase wrapped an arm around her waist as a cool gust of wind blew through the farmland. She laid her head on his shoulder. He started to edge away when he realized he was getting too comfortable. She didn't notice.
What did this all mean?
"So what were you going to tell me earlier?" She asked.
He blinked. "What?"
She smirked like she was ready to make a joke. "The lead?"
"Oh, right. Well, I just learned that Ramsey is stubborn as hell. He won't talk. He seemed pretty defensive."
She turned her body to face him. "You talked to Ramsey?"
"Yeah, I figured he would know something. Maybe he does. I don't know. Have you talked to Gill lately?"
She shook her head. "Not for a week at least. Why?"
"Ramsey mentioned that Gill questioned him a few days ago. So I was on my way to go talk to him."
Akari's eyes sparkled as she leaped to her feet. "Let's go now."
Chase frowned. "Whoa. Slow down, Sherlock. Tomorrow."
"Why do tomorrow when you can put off for today? Or something like that."
He face-palmed. "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today," he corrected. "But it's getting late..."
She grabbed his hand and tugged it, easing him to his feet. "We could be so close to knowing the truth! Come on."
Chase sighed. What did he sign himself up for? Akari was obviously trying not to deal with her emotions. It was something he would do. They were more similar than he thought. He never wanted anyone's pity, and it was clear that Akari felt the same. She wasn't a crier. She didn't wallow in self-pity for long. She had changed a lot from the first time he met her. He didn't know what it was. Maybe focusing on the case would help her.
Or maybe she'd end up a repressed workaholic like him.
Well, there were worse things.
A/N: Are you guys surprised by what Kathy did? Obviously Owen exploited her feelings to get back at Akari. This story is getting messy!
