Chapter 2- Blue Heart

I practically skipped home that day. I developed an amazing friendship with Jack. He was really sweet, and an amazing friend, even if that was all he would ever be. I walked inside the house, soaking wet, but mom still wasn't home. I just hoped nobody saw me on the streets and the happened to see Jack also. We were both soaked. They would think... well... what didn't happen.

I walked inside the house and put on some dry clothes. I decided I wasn't going to stay inside the house for the rest of the day, I was too excited to stay still! I walked all over town, almost hoping I could catch a glimpse of any girl. I heard that their little eyes had been checking Jack out. Then a thought hit me- What if he'd done stuff like that already with the rest of them? What if that was barely even what you call being close to a girl to him? What if-... Many what ifs ran through my head, and my energy deteriorated rapidly. Soon I was trudging around not very energetically, worried about if Jack really even cared anything about me...

I looked at the sky hoping to find an answer. Am I taking things the wrong way? Or am I taking them exactly right? Why don't I go find out? I could ask Karen...

* * *

"Karen, umm, have you met the new guy?" I asked, sitting in her room upstairs.

"Yeah, he was nice. And he is like FINE. I mean, honestly. He's adorable!" She said and looked at the wall with wide eyes, as if she were dreaming about him.

"Oh, so, um, how did you meet him?"

"He came in the vineyard one day, and my father was yelling at me and I was running away. I went to the beach, and he came over there and said a few things, he was really sweet about it." She said.

How romantic. They've already hit it off. I have no chance. None at all.

"So have you met him, Maria?"

"Yeah..."

"Ah ha! So you've meet the famous Jack also? And you must be lovestricken just like the rest of us then, eh?"

"Who else likes him?"

"Elli, Popuri, Ann, me, you, every available girl! Even May's cheeks were a little pink when he came around!"

"Oh, he came around... did he..." I said, not really a question.

"It was over by the block that you were in the library. I was waiting for you to get off of work, and I walked over there and he was walking past. He smiled and waved, but said nothing more. May practically fell off of her bike, and Elli, oh you know Elli. She flirted like crazy with him when he passed by. You know, the usual. 'Oh hello, stranger, who might you be?' Stuff like that, you know her."

"Yeah, I know Elli," I responded.

So he'd been flirted with by Elli. He's captured by everyone else. I have no chance.

"So, were you possibly there when he met Ann or Popuri?"

"Not with Ann, but with Popuri. Popuri was walking, watering her flowers. WHAT A SNOB! Sorry, I had the urge to scream that... anyway, he saw her and smiled politely, and she immediately stopped him, acting all sweet and asking him about flowers and if he was growing any. Then Ann, well, Ann I've heard about. SHE GAVE HIM A HORSE!! My gawd, if anything, she's trying to BRIBE him to go out with her! Are we all that desperate?"

He'd been captured by everyone. Except me. Karen's beauty. Elli's charm. Popuri's sweetness. Ann's animals.

"Oh yeah, and Popuri has been stopping by his farm lately," Karen said solemnly, almost sad.

Popuri. So that's who. Popuri. It would only figure. She's cute, sweet, kind, etc., etc....

I looked down at the floor. Why did I feel this way? What's wrong with me? I don't like him in that way. I like him as a friend. He could have the others, I just want to be his friend.

"Well, if you ask me, I'm not going to fight for a guy," Karen said.

I thought it over again. I just want to be his friend. Of course! Just a friend. A good friend. We'd have fun, yeah! We'd be... friends...

"Maria, you're not talking..." Karen said cautiously.

"Oh, sorry, just a bit of a zone out there! Haha!" I said cheerfully, just like everything was normal. Karen laughed.

"ZONE OUT!" she screamed in the psycho voice. I yelled it back, and we giggled when we heard Karen's mom and dad downstairs wondering what was going on.

We then hopped off of the bed and went to the bar. It was 6, and Karen had to work, so I was going to forget Jack and have fun. Get drunk, and if nobody was there, Karen and I would act crazy. Just like normal. Just like normal.

We had tons of fun, and my mother, like usual, gave me the weekly lecture on Karen. Just like normal.

* * *

A few days passed, and soon it was the Sowing Festival. Jack came everyday to the library in between, and we had nice, short conversations, and he handed me flowers everyday to replace my others. He was very nice to me, though I figured he grew special crops for Popuri, since they were, from what I heard, going together and everything. I was getting ready for the Sowing Festival that day when my mom knocked on the door to my room.

"Yes, mother?" I asked, brushing my hair.

"Someone's here to see you, Maria," my mother said uneasily.

"Oh, be out in a second," I said and groaned. It was probably Harris wanting to walk me over there or something. Good thing that it was a short walk. But wait a second. There were two more hours until the Sowing Festival. He doesn't want to go for a walk, does he? Maybe it's Karen. Yeah, It's probably Karen. Boy, I hoped so. I was ready in a flash for Karen, and opened the door.

I was right, it was Karen. Karen and I walked around the busiest part of town, and it was really strange that everyone was in their houses getting ready. It was so... empty.

"So, Maria, what's your opinion on Jack?" Karen asked, clear of anyone.

"Alright, I'll be fully honest with you, Karen. He is HOT." I said and giggled.

"ABSOLUTELY!!!" Karen shouted, and I quickly turned around to make sure nobody had heard.

"Oh, sorry. So anyway, have you, um, talked to him lately?" Karen asked.

"Yeah, I have..." I said and trailed off.

"I haven't," Karen said and looked at the ground disappointed.

"He's probably just really busy, Karen. The only reason I've talked to him lately is because he had a bunch of books overdue," I lied.

"Oh, I don't like him, or anything Maria. I was just wondering about Popuri. Why do all of the guys like her?" Karen wondered aloud.

"I don't know. Have you seen her go by?" I asked cautiously.

"Yeah, she went straight to his farm," she said.

I suddenly smiled. "Karen? I'm going to be bold," I said.

"What, are you going to wear shorts in public?" Karen asked, bored.

"No. I'm going to spy on him and Popuri next time she drops by."

* * *

Karen and I went to the Sowing Festival and yes, Jack talked to Popuri. Not much though. Actually, he acted as if he barely knew her rather than talked her ear off, much less acted as if they were a couple. That, for some strange reason, made me happy. He came over and talked to me too. He sat with me and we watched the balloon go up, with the Potion Shop Dealer and Stu, and talked. Karen came over there too, with wide eyes, staring at me and Jack talking freely. She gave me a surprised look.

"You're not being shy," she whispered in my ear. I winked at her. A very large smile spread across Karen's face.

"Oh my gosh, GO MARIA!" she whispered. I laughed and went to get my balloon. Jack followed me over and talked low.

"Umm, what was that all about?" Jack said.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Well she kept whispering and looking at me," Jack said. Oh great, now Jack was going to think Karen liked him, and was going to fall for Karen, and well, you know the rest.

"I don't know, Karen's just crazy," I said.

"Well, honestly, she's pretty and everything, but I don't like her, that way I mean. I like her as a friend and everything, but as far as liking her more goes, no way,"

My heart did a double skip.

"Yeah, I see." I said.

"So did it have to do anything with that?" Jack asked.

"No," I said and smiled. He gave me a relieved look. I decided to be bold.

"Soooo, are you and Popuri going out?" I asked bravely.

"NO! NO WAY!!!! I mean, no, of course not, I don't like her that way," he said, trying to look innocent from what he said before. I laughed.

"Don't like Popuri, huh?"

"SHE WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" He yelled, and was near rolling on the floor laughing. We laughed for a while, and then it was time to let our balloons go.

My balloon went up, swerved around, and got caught with Jack's balloon. The tails of the two balloons wrapped themselves around each other and danced up into the sky.

* * *

"Wow, Maria, you are so lucky..." Elli said enviously.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. She looked at me stupefied.

"Jack. You and Jack. I thought Jack and Popuri were going out, but I guess I was wrong,"

"Well, Popuri was only delievering seeds, and besides, there's nothing in between Jack and I," I said as a matter of factly.

"Well, it looked like there was at the Sowing Festival yesterday," she said solemnly, "Or from his side of the conversation anyway. When he finally spotted you, his expression turned sparkly. I mean, seriously, Maria."

"Naw, we're just friends," I said.

"Maria, you're surprising me," Elli said.

"How?"

"You haven't been studdering, or even acting shy. Something's overcome you, trust me," she said.

"No, there hasn't," I said, and walked out of the bakery.

* * *

A week and four days passed by. It was the nineteenth, a Sunday, and I was in good spirits. Jack had come by the library everyday. He was really sweet and nice, and our friendship was blossoming. I was extremely happy and content. That's when my father reminded me about the Flower Festival.

"Honey, I'm entering you in the ballot this year," Dad said.

"No, dad, seriously... umm...." I protested.

"No, Maria, you're of the age and everyone else your age is. How will the Goddess feel if you didn't?"

"Dad, I just... no dad, seriously..."

"No, you're running, and that is that,"

And that was that. I was on the ballot, and I didn't want to be. That's how my parents pushed me. They ALWAYS pushed me. I just sighed and went to work.

Work was fine that day, and Jack was, for some strange reason, later than usual. I didn't take it personally, he was a farmer, but I did miss his company in the hour he was late. He sat and talked to me, like usual, about everything. I was shy, of course, but not as shy as with everyone else. For some strange reason, I felt two vibes from him. I felt at extreme ease with him, but then again I felt uptight. I felt I couldn't move because I'd embarrass myself, because that was the last I wanted to do in front of him. I just shot him flirtatious smiles, but that was the bravest I'd get, and the closest I'd get, to flirting. Then a strange subject came up.

"I noticed your name was on the ballot, Maria,"

"What ballot?" I asked.

"The ballot for the, um, Flower Festival," he said.

"Oh, yeah, I didn't really, I don't know, I just..." I said.

He finished my sentence for me. "You don't want to because you don't want to be put in the spotlight. You're shy."

"Yeah," I said sadly.

"Maria, you really are a great person, and I know you're not being fully open with me, you're still a little shy around me too. You don't have to be that way, Maria. Really. We're friends, and I want to become closer," he said, with a hint of shakiness in his voice, like he was scared to say it.

"Yeah," is all I could say.

* * *

Soon was the Flower Festival. All of us were getting ready in the back room, me, Karen, Elli, Popuri, and Ann, I mean. Jack was the topic of conversation.

"Oh he's so hot!"Ann said.

"Yeah, he is!!!" Elli agreed.

"Oh, I go by his farm every single day," Popuri bragged. I closed my eyes and rolled them so nobody would see. He couldn't stand her, and that was amusing.

"Well, it looks like Maria is closest to him," Karen said quietly and proudly.

"Oh, yeah, I've heard about that," Elli said and smirked.

"Is there a day when he DOESN'T come by the library, Maria?" Ann said.

"It's just for library reasons," I said.

"Sure, whatever, Maria," Karen said.

"Honestly, Maria, why would he come see you? I mean I go by his farm, and I think he's attracted to me," Popuri said. What a snob! rang through my head.

Karen started in on her. "Ha ha.. You'll see, Popuri you big bi-"

"I HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE BALLOT!" The mayor, my father, announced and walked in. All of us, except for Ann and I, since I was shy and Ann was a bit of a tomboy, but a sweet person, waited anxiously.

"The winner is-" He was happy. His buttons were practically popping off of his outfit he was so proud. I knew who it was and oh no-

"Maria!" He announced loudly.

"Nooo..." I muttered, embarrassed. Everyone gasped, except Karen and Ann. Karen and Ann were definitely my closest friends.

I looked down at my feet. There must be some mistake--

"Well, go get ready, Maria!" Karen said happily.

"Yeah, go Maria!" Ann cheered for me.

I was in the back room getting into my goddess clothes, which I loathed completely, when I overheard a discussion between the other four.

"Ugh! Why her? I'm much prettier than her, and plus it's the FLOWER festival? Who should THAT go to???" Popuri shouted.

"Popuri, for once, shut up. You SNOB!" Karen said.

"Sounds like you're jealous, Popuri," Ann said. I could've hugged Karen and Ann happily then.

"But, you guys, how did she get it? I mean, I can't help but be a little disappointed..." Elli said. That kind of made me sad, since I liked Elli as a friend and everything. I didn't, of course, like Popuri.

"Elli, you too?" Ann said, a little ticked.

"No, I love Maria to death and everything, but she's so SHY! I wish she would speak up and talk for once..." Elli trailed off.

Elli's right. One of the more outspoken people deserved it.

* * *

Soon, we were walking out, with Karen, Ann, and Elli throwing flowers in front of me to walk, but Popuri pretty much throwing them at me. I wanted to laugh so bad at her, but figured it was rude, being the Flower Festival where we honor the Goddess and everything. I looked at Jack, and he smiled very big. I could hardly see anyone, though, without my glasses.

I walked over to the steps to step up and stand where I was suppossed to. Now this was embarrassing. I tripped over my dress, did a few tumbles, and was back on the bottom of the steps right as I was reaching the last. Ouch. I also ripped my dress. Thanks a lot, Jack. Your attractive smile grabbed my attention. I thought. Everyone was laughing, include him a little bit, but he was quickly by my side, laughing, but asking if I was okay.

"Hahahaha, are you okay? Hahaha.." He asked. He was trying so hard not to laugh. I guessed it was really funny, and I was embarrassed. I was red and near tears, when the image of me falling down the stairs popped in my head. For some strange reason, instead of crying, the image made me laugh. So there I was, in the ripped Goddess dress, lying on the floor of the square, laughing hysterically, with Jack laughing, too. He couldn't stop laughing, now that I'd started. Dad quickly ran over there.

"Get up! That's disgraceful to the Goddess! Your ripped dress..." He said quietly so only I could hear, but Jack overheard too. Jack stopped laughing and shot me a look. I got up quickly and walked up the steps as elegantly as possible, and nobody was laughing anymore, because dad was really really mad. His face was red. He was a perfectionist, and I'd messed up his perfect festival. I felt like crying.

This was the moment when people were suppossed to come up and comment if they wanted. Everyone came up and said something nice, even though Lillia had an angry little face on her. What Jack said to me mattered the most.

"I feel so stupid, Jack. I can't see, these clothes are uncomfortable, and I'm far from Goddess beauty in them." I said.

"That's not true. You look absolutely beautiful in them, I sware." he said, and his eyes glowed.

"Thanks, even though you're only saying that to make me feel better," I said, and he shook his head and opened his mouth to say something, when someone pushed him out of the way.

I was on the top step, and made sure my dress wasn't in the way, when dad announced it was time to dance. I closed my eyes. The dance? Oh gosh... the dancceeeeeee. Jack isn't going to pick me, we're just friends. Why did I want him to so badly then? Why? I fidgeted, and I heard Jack's voice.

"Umm, uhh, are you suppossed to dance with the king??" He asked.

Oh yeah. Even if he did pick me, the Goddess should dance with the King. Was he asking though?

"Yeah, I am," I said, disappointed. He nodded, disappointed himself. Why was he disappointed? Because we're friends. No, he's just acting. He knows that I'm the Goddess and he can't dance with me, and he's secretly happy. Yeah, that's it. He was just saying that so I wouldn't feel bad and he's actually happy that he can dance with someone else.

He looked around for a moment, and looked at the girls. Popuri was waving at him, and his eyes got wide and frowned. He immediately walked over to Karen and asked her. Karen gladly accepted. I, on the other hand, was stuck with... THE POTION SHOP DEALER. In my mind I played a short comedy scary movie in which I was trying to stay away from the potion shop dealer. I wanted to laugh, but I was too depressed from not dancing with Jack.

The dance began. I looked at him, and noticed he was looking at me, even when the dance started. I tried not to pay too much attention to Jack. He looked at me for a little while, and then Karen spun and her wild and beautiful hair went everywhere. Suddenly, his attention was fully on her. I blinked a few times, and looked down.

Karen. Beautiful Karen. I know she didn't mean to, but she just ruined any chance I might have had with Jack. I frowned and held the tears back. At the end of the dance, which seemed forever to finally reach to, I looked back at him, and he was smiling widely at her. She was smiling politely back, and thanked him for the dance.

I overheard.

"No problem," Jack said contentedly.

"Yeah," Karen said and walked away.

He blinked a few times, like he didn't want her to leave, but then he came over to me.

"You looked beautiful dancing," He said. I did my usual ritual of closing and rolling my eyes. Ha, I looked beautiful, did I? Is that why you stared at KAREN the whole time? I thought. I looked away.

"Thanks," I said. Night was beginning to fall, and the festival was over, so I needed to get home soon. I started towards the steps. I would gladly take the long way home that nobody else was taking, so I could shed my tears then. I was sad, but I couldn't figure out why.

"Would you, um, like me to, um, walk you home, Maria?" He said. I guess Karen blew him off so fast he decided not to ask her. I thought, thanking Karen secretly.

"No, that's fine," I said, close to tears. He looked extremely disappointed. Good put on.

"Oh, okay," He said, and he turned crimson red. Wow, really good. Or was he serious?

"You, um, really, um did look beautiful... uhh..." He said, and he was really embarrassed.

"Thanks," and I looked down. I was scared I was going to cry right then and there. He noticed.

"What's wrong?" He asked, just then realizing that I wasn't turning him down for no reason.

"Nothing, um, nothing." I said.

"It's about your dad, isn't it?" he said. Partially, I thought.

"Yeah, I guess it is," I said, half lying.

"Well, talk to me about it," Jack said. I just looked down at my feet.

"Let me walk you home, please?" Jack said with a puppydog face.

"Okay..." I said. That cute puppydog face was too much to resist.

We began walking through the trees, the long way home, and he asked me questions.

"Is your dad always pushing you?"

"Yeah," I said, and looked off. Funny, he thinks it's about my dad. All I have to do is tell him about dad, and I'll get through just fine, I thought.

"Don't worry about him," he said, "You do what you want to do, and that's all that matters, Maria. I'm sure, in the end, your dad will be happy with whatever you do..." He stopped and took my hands into his. "And whatever choices to make." He stood there, looking into my eyes, and I thought for a moment I'd faint. Fortunately and unfortunately at the same time, Ann walked up on us.

"Oh, um, hi, Maria..." Ann said, trying not to smile.

"Hi, Ann," I said and looked down at the ground.

"Hey Ann," Jack said with no enthusiasm whatsoever.

"Hi, Jack." Ann said.

"Well, um, I'll be on my way.... yeah... bye..." Ann said trying not to laugh.

"'Bye," I said.

"Bye," Ann said.

Jack and I began walking again, and darkness was falling, and I was beginning to feel happy that I was with Jack, since I don't like walking by myself in the dark. Good thing I didn't go by myself and take the long way home, there's no way I would've made it home in time, I thought. He looked at me, and we walked for a few minutes in silence. He suddenly grabbed my hand and took off to the west, where the sun was setting. The sunset was beautiful, and he sat us down beside each other.

I looked at the sunset, and all thoughts of anything sad were gone. I was sitting here. With Jack. Looking at the sunset. I glanced at Jack, and he looked truly amazed. He was smiling and looking off at the sunset, soaking it up in his memory. It seemed like he really was a serious city boy, since he acted as if the sunset was the best thing in the world. I smiled and looked back at it myself.

I, after a minute or so, decided to take another peek at Jack. He was looking at me. I blushed. I guessed he was ready to leave and I was just sitting there staring at the sunset. I felt strange, small, and embarrassed. I looked back at him, and realized that he wasn't bored. He was sitting there, staring at me, happy. Did I have something on my face? Was he amused or something?

Eventually, the sun did set, and it was dark. Jack didn't get up, instead he turned to face me. He talked to me and said some really strange things.

"Maria, you were beautiful today. Why were you so embarrassed in it?" He asked.

I didn't say anything, and I was happy that it was dark, so he couldn't see me blush.

He said a few more things, and we got up and left.

We walked through the forest in silence, listening to the crickets and the wind. The wind felt great against my face. I threw my head back and let it go through my hair. I couldn't really see Jack, I could see his figure, and he could hardly see me. I began to get scared. What if we lose each other? What if he gets lost on his way home? Just as if on cue, he grabbed my hand and turned his head towards mine to look at me. He couldn't see me, but he did it anyway. We walked that way in silence until I reached home.