Disclaimer: I don't own HM, it belongs to... someone Japanese ;)

Author's Note: Sorry I took so long to update; it's coz my internet was messed up (grr...). Well, anyway, I'm back with the fourth chapter! Enjoy!

Letters, Love and Lies
Chase

It's been a long day, Jack thought to himself as he crawled into bed. Everyday was hard work, but today in particular, was more messed up. He recalled receiving letters from Maria, Karen and Ann; two of which were requests to escort them to the Vegetable Festival. I may be new here, but I'm not dumb! I'd look crazy to escort a girl to the festival. Besides, I need to participate in it too.

It wasn't like he didn't like those girls though. They were all very nice. Not bad to look at either. In fact, he liked a girl of his own. He even had a photo of them together on his nightstand.

He remembered that day. He had taken the picture on his farm. She at first was shy about taking the picture, but with a tight hug she began to smile. It was one of Jack's favourite memories. She meant everything to him. No one would understand that. But I can't tell her, he thought to himself sadly. Or anyone, in that case. I'll have to keep it to myself... for now at least.

Jack closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep.

Karen, Elli, Maria, Popuri and Ann were all gathered at the Goddess pond, sharing a cake and gossip. Well, maybe gossip wasn't the word for it?

"You're gonna ask him out?" Ann exclaimed, awestruck. "Are you serious?"

Karen nodded. "He's just shy, that's all. One of us has to make the first move, so I guess that has to be me."

Popuri hesitated. "Are you sure about this Karen? I mean, what if he doesn't want to?"

"What do you mean 'He doesn't want to'?" Karen demanded, enraged.

"I just..." Popuri bit her lip. "It's just that there's gotta be some reason that he hasn't asked you out yet."

"Like he's a homosexual," Elli added with a smirk.

"Elli!" Karen whined. "Don't say that. Why would you say that?"

"What? Why is it so hard to believe?" Elli pointed out. "It's not impossible! And besides, I've seen him around Cliff a lot. Maybe they're going out!"

The other girls erupted. "NO WAY!" the four shouted out in unison.

Elli giggled. "Okay okay, I know, I'll stop. But it's something to think about right?"

"Not even in question," Ann snapped coldly.

"Okay okay," Popuri interrupted. "He's not gay, ninety-nine percent. So then why hasn't he asked any of us out then?"

Karen wrinkled her nose. "What do you mean us? You mean me, don't you?"

"Why do you have to be so selfish?" Ann cried out suddenly. "What makes you think he's interested in you? What if he's interested in... Popuri or something?"

Karen laughed. "I don't think so. He would never go out with Little Miss Priss."

"What? Little Miss Priss?" Popuri repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

"That you're a girlie girl and high maintenance--"

"I know what a priss is!" Popuri roared. "Why would you say that about me? And what do you mean when you said he would never go out with me?"

"You are a priss," Karen told her in an unusually calm manner. "And prisses are his type. Therefore, he would never go out with you. Just face it Popuri, you don't attract much men."

"How could you say that about her?" Elli jumped in, defending her friend. "What kind of person are you to say that? Popuri's just fine in that department. It's you who needs help!"

Karen looked shot down. "Shut up Elli! You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

"Umm..." Maria mumbled shyly. "M-maybe we should--"

"If you weren't so rude, selfish and obnoxious to everyone, maybe someday, someone would actually like you Karen!" Elli shot back.

"Why don't you go fu-"

"ENOUGH!" Ann shouted before any bloodshed was to begin. "You three need to chill."

"Oh shut up Ann!" Karen raged on. "You agree with Popuri and Elli and you know it! So stop pretending like you give a crap about any of this! I'm not dumb; I know you asked him to escort you to the festival!"

Ann blushed. "Um... I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Oh that is bull, Ann!"

Popuri smiled, trying not to laugh. "Ann, you asked him to escort you to the Vegetable festival?" Maria and Elli started to giggle, and in a moment, the three were rolling around, howling.

"Shut up!" Ann screamed. "She did too!" She pointed at Karen, which just made them laugh even harder. "And it was actually her idea!"

"Exactly!" Karen indicated. "It was my idea, and you stole it from me, Ann! How could you do that to me? You just want to see me unhappy! Everything I get, you have to have better! Well guess what Ann? I'm putting a stop to this! I'll go ask him out in person right now!" Before you could blink an eye, she was gone.

Ann hesitated for a moment, deciding whether to follow her or not.

"Don't do it," Maria whispered, ceasing her laughter. "It'll just make it worse."

Ann groaned. "But I can't let her do this."

Elli arched an eyebrow. "Why not?" Ann blushed. "Oh my God, you like him too! What about you Maria?" She didn't just blush, but her whole face faded to a rich shade of crimson, as dark as the sunset. "Oh my God!"

"Hey, what about you two!" Ann said suddenly, catching Popuri off guard.

"So we all like him," Popuri commented.

"No, we make a pact," Elli said at the same time. They looked at each other, surprised.

"W...what?" whispered Elli, hurt. "You... you do?"

Popuri blushed this time. "Well... I'm sorry Elli. I can't help it."

"What about you?" Ann directed her question to Elli. "Don't you like him?"

"I... I don't know..." Elli admitted. "But... how can you all like him? You know this isn't really the ideal solution! Especially with you and Karen! You're already competing! You friendship has so many holes in it now, it's hard to watch you two do this! I can't be a part of his! I can't!"

Ann, Maria and Popuri glanced at each other. "Well then, we'll have to stop Karen ourselves," Ann stated. With a nod from Maria and Popuri, the three left in search of Karen, leaving Elli alone at the Goddess Pond.

"Hey, stop!" Elli cried out. "Don't just ditch me here!" Her eyes welled up with tears. I can't believe they just left me here! And I thought they were my friends! I knew this was going to happen; I have to stop this somehow. I can't let some guy break up our friendship; I just won't allow it. I can't believe they're letting some guy take over their lives! How could they! Wiping her moist cheek, she stood up and headed home.

Again, I apologize for the lack of updates. It's just coz my comp. was messed up. Well, here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoyed it? Hmm... I read your comments about how you guys think Ann and Karen are acting... y'know. I actually intended to do that, but if you guys really don't like it, I can change it or something...