CHAPTER SIX
The day of the festival. This would be Kyo's second year witnessing the Goddess festival, but his first time escorting someone to it. Talking to Popuri the other day made Kyo realize how nice she seemed. Although, now he had read Ann's diary and found out how she felt about him. Would there be a future for them as more than friends?
*~* My View *~*
Something wet wiped across my face. I slowly opened my eyes and found Galahad standing over me, his nose right in front of mine. It wasn't the most pleasant way to wake up, but it worked. This was the reason Galahad usually slept in the other room.
Sitting up, I checked my watch. 5:57. Nice timing Galahad. He jumped of the bed and I got up to let him out of the house. It was foggy today, but it would most likely clear up once the sun rose. With the Goddess Festival starting in four hours, I'd have to be getting ready soon. I dragged myself into the shower, put on some decent clothes, and had my breakfast. The crops could do without watering today, so I skipped that and just fed my chicken. Once everything that needed to be done was done it was going on 8:00.
I started off toward Chicken Lil's. It was a short trip there. On the path leading to the house, I passed by Rick, who was grinning ear to ear. He nodded at me as he passed. I knocked on the door when I reached the house, and could hear footsteps coming down the stairs inside. Popuri opened the door, smiling as always. She was wearing a sleeveless pink dress and had flowers along her neck and in her hair. "Tada!" she said as she put out her arms and spun once.
"Wow, Popuri. You look amazing." I was in awe.
She giggled at this. We began walking to the Town Square, arm in arm. It was still early, and the festival wouldn't be starting just yet, so we took the long way, passing the blacksmith, winery, library, and so on. When we had reached Elli's house, Popuri turned to me.
"I'm so glad you're going with me. Normally my mother would take me, and I used to love it, but now it seems kind of odd. I mean, all the other girls have guys their age to go with. Besides, my mother can walk me there, but she can't dance with me."
What a nice girl she is. "Yeah, I'm really happy too. Last year I didn't know anyone, so I came to the festival, but I just sat back and watched.
"It's too bad I didn't notice you then. We could have dance together that year too."
When we reached the square, Popuri had to leave me for the time being. She and the other girls had to prepare for the dance. While I was waiting for the festival to start I took a seat on one of the benches. Gray walked into the square arm in arm with Mary. A wave of jealousy went through me, but I quickly pushed it away. It was about time I talked to Gray.
He saw me walking toward him, and you could see how uncomfortable he felt. He seemed almost intimidated, though he was a good foot taller than me.
"I wanted to thank you for letting Mary ask me here," I said to him calmly.
This brought a nervous smile to his face. "Well, I should thank you for being so understanding, and letting her go with me. You're a good guy, Kyo."
"Have fun, bud," I said as I clapped him on the back.
Just then the sound of Ann's voice came calling from the direction of the inn.
"Cliff, hurry it up! We're gonna be late!"
She came running into the square holding her dress so she wouldn't trip over it. Cliff was following her from a distance. I couldn't help laughing at the sight of this. Part of me was laughing at how unnatural Ann looked in a dress, but another part was laughing at the fact that she was yelling at Cliff.
Gray and I stood side by side as the girls started the dance. It was much different watching it this year, knowing who each of the girls was. My first year I saw five girls dancing. This year I saw Mary thinking over every step, afraid to mess up. Karen clearly enjoying herself, standing out with her love of dance. Ann had her mind on other matters; she couldn't stand wearing that dress. Popuri keeping up that smile, enjoying the atmosphere of the festival. Elli looked distracted, possibly worrying over how her Grandmother was doing at home with no one there.
When the dance had ended it was time for the couple dances. Mary and Popuri ran in our direction, Popuri grabbed my hand and dragged me out onto the dance floor, while Mary politely asked Gray to dance with her. The music started up and everyone began their dancing. It was a really nice, too. Everyone seemed very happy. Spring was officially alive.
"It's a beautiful day today, isn't Kyo?" Popuri commented.
I just nodded and looked around. Just then Ann and I caught each others eyes. I knew what she was thinking. As the song began to wind down I asked Popuri, "Hey that was fun, but I was wondering. You know me and Ann are real good friends. Would you mind if we had the next dance?"
She seemed surprised by the question. "Oh, sure, I guess. As long as Cliff's OK with it…" she answered, sounding fairly disappointed.
When the song came to a close, Ann and I walked to each other, leading our partners reluctantly with us. Cliff, giving me a nasty look, asked, "Hey Popuri, wanna dance?"
"Sure," and with that the two walked off.
"Shall we?" I asked, extending my arm.
"Certainly!"
It was a lot of fun dancing with Ann. We talked the entire time.
"You look really nice in that dress," I commented.
"Shut up. This is the only time you'll catch me in a dress."
"What about your wedding day?"
"If I ever have a wedding day. Can you see me getting married? I mean, what guy would marry me?"
"Well, Cliff certainly seems to like you. And you like him, right? I've always told you, you should just ask him out."
"Yeah, about that. To be honest, I'm kind of losing interest in Cliff, romantically anyway. He's a nice guy and everything, but I can't see the two of us together."
"Hmm," was my only response. I could tell it was time to switch into listening mode. Of course, inside I was singing on the mountain tops and doing a dance of joy. She doesn't like Cliff anymore! I couldn't tell why I was so happy to hear this, or I couldn't admit to myself why.
"I don't get it though. I was obsessed with him not too long ago. I dreamed of coming with him to the Goddess Festival. Now I'm here, and instead, I'm dancing with you. Yuck…" she added at the end. What a friend.
I ignored her last comment. "It was a crush. Believe me, I know all about them. You like a person and can't get them out of your mind. Then you get to know them, and you can't figure out what you saw in them. So you move onto your next crush."
"I guess so. Well I think I'll sit out this last dance. I feel kind of bad about leaving Cliff out there alone though," Ann said as the song we were dancing to ended.
"Well, I can't just have you sitting there alone. Cliff and Popuri seem to be having fun," I said, though I could clearly see Cliff was angry that I had taken his dance. "They can dance together for the next song too. I'll sit it out with you."
"Oh, but I don't want to ruin your time," she said, but you could sense she was happy I had offered.
"I would call spending time with my best friend 'ruining my time', Ann."
That made her smile. "You're so sweet."
We dropped ourselves onto a nearby bench. Seeing this, each of our dates approached. Cliff looked seriously peeved. Popuri seemed kind of annoyed, but she didn't seem to mind dancing with Cliff.
"So Ann, do I have the honors of dancing with you this time?" Cliff asked, trying to sound polite.
"I'm really sorry Cliff, but I'm not really feeling up to it. I think I'm going to sit this one out."
"Oh, are you going to be OK? Is there something I can do?" he asked, concerned.
"Don't worry about it, it's a girl problem," Ann lied.
"Oh…"
"Yeah, and I didn't want her sitting here alone. Why don't you two kids go enjoy yourselves," I got odd looks from all three others involved in the conversation for calling them kids. It's just something I say, why doesn't anyone understand that?
"Well I had kind of hoped to spend the day with you Ann, no offense Popuri. But if you'd rather spend your time with Kyo here, I think I'll just go back to the inn," Cliff said in frustration, then turned and left.
"Great, that leaves me with no one. I think I'll go home too," and with that Popuri took her leave.
"Jeez, didn't think they'd take it so harshly," Ann said. She was upset to have messed up anyone else's night just because she didn't want to dance.
We spent the next song watching the remaining couples dance. When the song had ended I walked Ann to the inn.
"I'd better head home. I still have chores to do," I explained.
"Kay. Thanks for sitting with me and listening to me whine."
"My pleasure."
Ann gave me a hug before going into the inn. I turned around to be on my way home, but didn't get a step further before I found myself face to face with an angry looking Cliff. He snarled at me for a second before speaking.
"I don't appreciate you trying to take Ann from me. Just 'cause you had Mary taken out from under your nose doesn't mean you have to take it out on me."
That got my blood boiling. The nerve this guy had to bring up Mary. "First off, she's not yours, so don't accuse anyone of 'taking her from you'. Second, we're just friends. Everyone knows that."
"I see right through you. Guys and girls can't be 'just friends' for long. You want something out of it. I don't want you using her. I don't want to see her hurt."
"You only have your best interests in mind. You don't want to see any other guys near her. Believe me, I'm not competition for you. Ann and I are just friends, always have been, always will be. You're just jealous of how close we are," I told him cooly. That hit a nerve.
He lunged at me, grabbing me by the collar and slamming me against the inn's doors. "I am not jealous of you, got it? If you know what's good for you, you'll back off of Ann. If you hurt her, I'll see to it you'll feel the worst pain of your life."
I tried desperately to keep my cool, so my arms were left at my sides. "I didn't want it to have to come to this, you know. Just listen for a second. I don't know if you noticed at the festival, but your chances of dating Ann are slipping. Believe me, being her best friend I tend to know these things. Now, you may still have a chance, but punch me, and you can kiss those chances goodbye." One side of me wanted the guy to punch me. As I said, that would definitely ruin his chances with Ann. On the other hand, I was also hoping he'd keep his cool. I had a bad feeling he'd have a hard punch.
When he heard this he gave me a curious look and slammed me into the door again for emphasis. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
"It's not really my business to say any more. I'm not going to speak on her behalf."
"Tell me what she told you!" he yelled, once again slamming me on the door. When I shrugged in response Cliff's fist was brought back and aimed at my face. I had a fight on my hands.