Disclaimer: The same, I don't own anything, I'm not making money off of this, don't sue me please, etc.

Author's Note: Yay! Chapter SEVEN! WHOO! Getting closer to the end!

Letters, Love and Lies
Thought

Ann let out a moan when Jack carefully placed her on her bed. After the fall, she didn't think she was going to hurt herself at all. Sure, the twisted ankle was a lie, but her back hurt a bit.

"Do you want me to get you something?" Jack offered. "An extra pillow or a glass of water?"

"No," Ann shook her head. "I'm fine. I just... Jack?"

"Hm?"

"Are you busy right now?"

"No, I'm with you right now. Of course not."

She burst with pride inside, but just smiled at Jack on the outside. "Well, do you mind keeping me company for awhile?"

"Sure," he took a seat on the edge of Ann's bed. "Anything you want."

"Really?" Ann blushed. "Thank you."

"No problem," he replied casually. "But I was just wondering... what were you doing in the tree in the first place?"

Ann started to panic. She couldn't tell him the truth (yet, at least), that she had climbed up so she could purposely hurt herself, which would ruin Karen's date. "I saw this really cute bird, and I just had to go take a better look. And when I got up there, it flew away, I lost my footing, and here I am," she chuckled nervously. "I'm such a klutz eh?"

"No, not at all!" Jack argued. "I've seen you climb trees before. You're like a squirrel."

"Really?" she didn't know what to feel happier about, his compliment, or the fact that Jack had been watching her when she didn't even know he was there. "Thanks! It's just that I used to race with my brother."

"Gray? Oh, you're very lucky to have him as your brother. He's a nice person," Jack commented.

"Gray? Nice?" Ann repeated. "The only time he's ever nice to people is..." her heart jumped inside. "If you're family, or a friend. So you're his friend huh?"

"Well, I guess so," Jack shrugged.

"Wow, good job! He doesn't have many friends, him being all anti-social. All he's really got is Jeff and Harris. I'm glad that you've become his friend Jack, it'll be good for him."

"Really? Thanks!" he flashed her a gorgeous smile, which made Ann blush. "I didn't know that. At first when I just met him, I thought he was ignoring me because he didn't like me or something."

"Nah," Ann waved her hand dismissively. "He's like that with everyone. Did he ever throw insults at you?"

Jack grinned and looked down. "Sometimes. But he doesn't anymore."

Ann smiled at him. "Well..." she began bravely. "Sometime... could I visit your farm?"

"Oh, you want to check up on Magic? Of course you can come."

She had forgotten the fact that she had even given him a horse. "Yeah, I'm curious to see the way that he's grown... and it'd be fun to see the animals you have."

"Of definitely!" Jack said enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling. "And you have to meet my cows-"

He stopped in mid sentence when he heard a knock at the door. "Do you want me to get that for you?"

"Yeah, thanks," Ann replied, trying not to sound mad. Who the hell was that? Finally she was making some lee-way with Jack, and this idiot had to ruin it for her!

"Oh hi Karen!" Jack greeted, opening the door wide open. "Come on in."

"Thanks Jack," she strutted into Ann's room. "Hi Ann. How are you?"

"Great, thanks," Ann answered through gritted teeth. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, I can't come over to see how a friend is going?" Karen gasped dramatically. "Ann, I care about you!"

Ann rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm fine."

"Great!" Karen started for the door in Ann's delight, but that joy was quickly replaced with dread when she watched her close the door. "The three of us can all hang out."

"Yeah sure," Jack nodded his head. "We were just talking about visiting my farm. You wanna come too?"

"Oh Jack, I'd love to!" gushed Karen, smiling. "Thank you for the offer!"

Ann couldn't take it. Karen had to leave. "Okay bye Karen," she hinted rather too obviously.

"What? Ann, what's wrong?" Karen made a pouty face. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Of course I am Karen," Ann told her with the same tone as Karen had used on her. "But don't you have some work to do? Like I dunno... getting drunk and making out with Kai?"

Karen scowled. She had told Ann that a few months ago, and Ann had swore to secrecy. It had only happened once, and it was a big mistake. Now the bigger mistake was her telling Ann, thinking she'd keep it to herself. "Why would I do that?"

"I have no idea," Ann smirked. "Why would you?"

"Well, at least I don't have that weird freak Cliff following me around like you do!"

"Weird freak?" Ann repeated. "Why would you say that about your own cousin?"

"Shaddup."

"Maybe I should go," Jack said, standing up.

"No!" Ann grabbed his shoulder and forced him down. She directed her insult back to Karen. "Well, at least I get along with my parents!"

"At least I have a mother!"

Ann bit her lip, hoping Karen couldn't see she was trembling. How dare she bring up her dead mother into their argument? "Karen, I suggest you leave."

Karen crossed her arms and planted her feet to the ground. "Make me."

"Oh I'll make you," Ann sprung from the bed and pushed Karen against the door. Her back started to spaz out, and she crouched down in pain, collapsing to the floor. The impact on her back just made the pain worse.

"Ann..." Jack gasped. "Your ankle!"

Ann's heart skipped a beat. What was her excuse this time?

"Ann!" Karen began, widening her eyes in effect. "You didn't fake a twisted ankle just so you could take advantage of Jack's humanity did you!"

Ann rotated her ankle around and laughed. "Hey, it's not twisted! I can walk! Oh thank God!"

"Well, that's a relief," Jack said, standing up again. "Well, I hope your back recovers soon."

"Ow ow..." Ann groaned, wincing in pain. Jack helped her back into bed again. "Thanks."

Karen hid another scowl, beating herself at her failed attempt to ruin Ann. "Well, I'll see you two later," she said quickly, moving swiftly through the door. She couldn't stand being there any longer, knowing she just made herself look like a selfish idiot.

"I guess I gotta be going as well," Jack said. "I'll come back tomorrow to see how you're going."

"Okay," Ann nodded. "Thanks for everything Jack."

He smiled at her. "Anytime."

"Hi Jack," Popuri and Elli addressed him at the same time when he walked into the bakery.

"Hi girls," he answered back. "Hi Jeff." Jeff replied with a nod.

"Well," Elli cleared her throat. "Jeff and I have some business to take care of at the back."

Jeff arched an eyebrow. "We do?"

"Yes hon," Elli said. "Remember? The thing with the other thing?" She winked her right eye twice at him.

"Oh..." Jeff nodded. "Yeah, the thing." Elli went over the counter and pushed him through the door before he could say anything else.

"Um, would you care to explain to me what's going on?" Jeff asked after watching Elli close the door and press her ear up against it. He figured they'd be in his room for awhile, so he took a seat on his bed to get comfortable.

"SH!" Elli shushed him. "Popuri likes Jack, and we think Jack might like Popuri too."

"Uh huh," Jeff nodded. "So you're playing little miss match maker. Well... that's understandable, trying to help a friend-"

"Jeeeeeefff! SHH!"

"So Jack," Popuri began, turning to him conversationally. "How's the farm doing?"

"Uh..." he looked at the door with a critical eye. What was up with that? "It's great, thanks."

"Anything new in the farm? Is a cow pregnant or have you hatched any new chicks?"

"Nope, not recently."

Popuri began to panic. She was already out of material to talk about.

"Hey, what was up with Elli and Jeff running to the back like that?"

Well it wasn't much to start on, but it was all Popuri had; she couldn't let this opportunity to restart another conversation slide. "Well, it's because... they're planning a party."

"A party?" Jack repeated. "For who?"

"For the whole town!" Popuri blurted, then cringed. Elli and Jeff would have a fit. "And... they asked me to invite you."

"When and where is it?"

"U-um..." Popuri decided to be more thoughtful with her answer this time, more Elli's sake at least. "It's on the seventh day of summer, so four days from now," she cringed inside again. But she realized it had to be soon, if she was going to try to get to know him better. Besides, it's a small town. "At the beach, around... we haven't decided on a time just yet. I know it's short notice, but we just thought of the idea today. And you're the first one we invited. So can you come?"

"Sure, I think I can."

Popuri smiled. "Great! We'll send you an invitation with all the details. And..." she blushed. "W-would you be my e-escort t-there?"

"Of course Popuri," Jack smiled back. "I'll escort you there."

"Really?" she beamed. "Thanks!"

"So you're gonna send the guest invites right?"

"Yup."

"Okay, I can't wait!" he walked over to the counter and slammed his fist on the wooden finish. "Jeff? Elli? Anybody there?"

Elli stumbled out just then, with Jeff right behind her. "Yes? Do you need any help?"

"Yeah, just a piece of pie to go please."

Jeff sliced the pie and continued with Jack's order as Elli walked over to Popuri. "Party?" she whispered.

"I know I know I'm sorry--"

"Oh my God this is going to be so much fun! And the beach! Perfect place! It'll be so much fun to see all the townsfolk together at one time!"

"No problem," Popuri grinned proudly. "Aren't you glad you have me as a friend?"

Gray stood frozen, if front of the bakery. He had came to get a slice of cake for Ann but he stopped at the door when he was Jack and... Popuri. He was too shy to say anything to her. But watching her exchange words with Jack made him sick to his stomach.

He had heard the whole story, from the party to Popuri asking Jack to be her escort. 'I waited too long, and now Popuri likes Jack,' he realized sadly. 'What can I do? I can't tell her that I like her, she'll laugh in my face.' Feeling rejected, he turned on his heel and preceded home. Outside, his face was dry, but inside, he was sobbing uncontrollably. Gray had mastered the art of hiding within himself since his accident when he was sixteen.

That was the year when his whole life changed. He had wanted to ask Popuri out that year even though she was a little immature, her being two years younger than him (A/N: All the age preferences in this story are made up so please don't believe them!). But after he had fallen off Cliffguard during the Horserace, his confidence was shattered, and his view of life changed dramatically. He vowed to never let anyone into his heart.

Well, I've done a good job on that, he thought dryly. Now Popuri will never want to date someone like me, when she's got Jack. Why didn't I just go for it all those years ago? Why did I wait so long? Now it's too late. His own thoughts angered him. Wiping away a tear that had escaped him, he started to run home.

"Maria? Could you help me reach that book over there?" May pointed to a thick book at the top of the middle shelve.

"Of course May," Maria answered, stepping away from the desk to do so. As she pulled it out, her eye caught the title; 'Introduction to Advanced Marketing.' An old college textbook her father had donated to the library. "May, are you sure you can read this book?"

"No, I'm not going to read it, I just wanna look at the pictures."

Maria smiled at May. "There isn't much pictures in this book sweetheart." She placed the textbook on her desk for re-filing and took May by the hand. "Why don't we find another book for you huh?"

"Okay," May agreed.

With Maria scanning the front shelve for a suitable book for May, she didn't notice Jack walk in. "Hi Maria," he greeted her.

Maria jumped out of her skin. "Oh Jack... hi," she answered back a little breathless.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He closed the door behind him.

"Oh, it's okay," Maria said to him with a hint of a smile. "I just startle easily."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind." He grinned mischievously. Maria blushed.

"So Jack," Maria began uncertainly. "What's new with you?"

"Oh not much," Jack shrugged. "Except Elli and Jeff told me to tell as many people as I could about a party they're inviting everyone to. Yes even you little May!" he gave her a pat on the head. "It's on the seventh at the beach. They're sending invitations tomorrow."

"A p-party?" Maria said again, a little unsure. "I'm not sure..."

"Oh c'mon Maria," Jack insisted. "It'll be fun. Plus, it'll give us a chance to get to know each other better."

She couldn't say no to that. "Well... okay." She nodded. "Count me in."

"Great! Well, I don't know anything else about the party, as do the organizers of it either."

"They decided to have a party today? But that means they only have four days to plan it!"

"I know, that's what I thought," Jack agreed, scratching his head. "But I guess they figured it's a small town, and we're usually not busy. I just hope they plan everything out in time."

"That's no problem for Elli; Miss Organized," Maria commented. "She's always on top of things. But it's not like her to pull it out so close."

"Oops," a quiet voice whispered behind them. Both Jack and Maria whirled around to see May and a scatter of books around her. The whole bottom shelve was empty.

"Oh..." Maria flinched. It would take probably another half an hour to re- categorize that. She picked up a small picture book from the pile and handed it to May. "Okay, why don't you check this book out and get grandma to help read it to you?" After checking the book out, May went on her way. Maria puffed up her cheeks in anticipation.

"Do you need any help?" Jack offered.

"R-really? Thanks, I could use some," They both bent down and started to stack the books into a few neat piles. "It just goes from AD one to forty-four."

"I found a CA twenty-eight here," Jack held out the book to her.

"Okay thanks, I'll re-file that later," Maria took the book and placed it on her desk.

The two of them continued to make four neat stacks of books, and in no time, they were almost finished. There was one book left in disarray on the floor, and they both reached out to take it. Maria blushed as their fingers touched momentarily. She turned away, shocked. Quickly she collected the book and placed it on her shortest pile. "Well, I can take it from here. Thanks so much for your help Jack."

"Okay, no problem," Jack nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow." He watched for a second as Maria proceeded to organize the books, then left the library hastily.

"Augh..." Cliff groaned, sitting up. "What happened?" his head was throbbing, his mouth had a funny taste and he couldn't remember a thing about last night. "Must be a hangover," he said out loud.

He stood up to his full height, aware of another pain in his neck, having slept in an odd position the night before. "Maybe I should drink less." He had always promised himself that he would stop drinking, but every night, he always found a reason to let all his problems go out through a beer bottle. He especially over-drank when he had a dilemma he couldn't find a way out off. Sometimes it was the fact he was homeless. Other times it was the thought of the person who had betrayed him years back. But the night before, it was Ann.

He turned to look at his bird, Cain, who was perched on a branch on a nearby tree. "She's in love with Jack," he said to his friend. "I know Jack didn't betray me because I didn't tell him I like Ann, but still... how could he do that?" Cain only responded with a twitch in his neck. Cliff knew Cain couldn't ever talk to him, but he was his only friend that had stuck by him all these years. "I'm lonely Cain. Don't you ever get lonely without the other birds?"

Suddenly, there was a 'wamp, wamp, wamp' in his head he was alert of. But it didn't seem to be IN his head, but above it. Up the mountain? "Let's go find out," Cliff suggested, holding his arm out for Cain to post on. He started to ascend up the mountain, following the sound.

Kai watched with a strange fascination as each of his golf balls made a large splash and ripples in the ocean below his feet as the ball made contact with the water. Hitting golf balls was one of the ways he relieved stress.

Placing a ball on the tee, he positioned himself and took another swing. It landed almost three-hundred yards before it hit the water again. Usually the more frustrated he was, the further he could hit. But his time, he wasn't really frustrated, he was more sad.

Karen had told him days ago about Jack. She adored him, and she wasn't shy about telling people. Kai had remembered the conversation in his head...

"Don't you think he's great?" Karen exclaimed, her eyes glittering in the sunlight.

"I don't know," he shrugged casually. "I've never seen him around a lot."

"Well he's such a great guy! He's handsome and masculine and strong and sensitive and-"

"He's really all those things huh?"

"Yeah! And you know what's scarier than a perfect man?"

"What?"

"I think I'm falling in love with him."

Kai went rigid. No, it couldn't be. She couldn't love Jack, because no one else could love her like Kai did. 'Then tell her that, you dumbass!' he had told himself. 'Tell her how you feel before it's too late!' Kai opened his mouth to speak, but Karen got there before Kai did.

"We're going fishing tomorrow. I think that's when I'm going to tell him how I really feel about him. In fact, I better go to the mountain now to ask Greg if I can borrow a fishing rod."

"How do you know it's love?" Kai pointed out in an attempt to change her mind. "What if it's just an infatuation? You just met him last spring!"

Karen narrowed her eyes. "Why is everyone saying that? I hate that word, 'infatuation', coz it's not something anyone ever feels. If you feel like you're in love, then that's what you are! No one can tell you that's not how you feel!"

Kai sighed. "I'm sorry Karen," he said in a tiny voice.

"Well, I gotta go, see ya later," Karen turned swiftly and started to walk away, her soft brown hair bouncing behind her.

"I love you Karen," Kai said quietly. Oh how he longed to tell her that to her face...

"Kai! Kai! Earth to Kai!" a voice broke his thoughts. He shook his head and turned to look at Cliff.

"Hi Cliff," Kai greeted monotonously.

"Where were you just a second ago?"

Kai sighed. "Well, you know your cousin Karen?"

"You mean the girl you love but are too embarrassed to admit it?" Cliff said smugly.

"Cliff! You're not helping."

"Sorry. What about her?"

"Well... she's in love with Jack."

Cliff widened his eyes in surprise. "She IS!"

"Yeah," Kai confirmed. "She told me yesterday."

"Oh..." Cliff wrinkled a brow. "But... Ann likes Jack!"

Kai's ears perked up. "She does?"

"Yeah!"

Kai looked down at his bucket of golf balls. There was still 2/3 left inside, but now was not the time. "Ann likes Jack? But so does Karen!"

Cliff put his finger on his chin. "So... they both like Jack? That's kind of a funny situation."

"But it doesn't help our situation that much."

"Oh yes it does," Cliff pointed out. "Well, it might help one of us. You see, if I know Jack, and I think I do, he's not going to date both of them. It's not his style. So one's going to have him, the other will have one of us."

"Well, congratulations," Kai said. "You've won." He grabbed another golf ball and placed it on the tee.

"I've won? What do you mean?"

"Well, Karen's in love with Jack, well at least she thinks she is. And yesterday, she told me she was going to tell him... today. So I lose, you win. Congratulations Cliff." He took another swing.

Cliff sighed and slumped himself against a tree. "Even if Jack and Karen do get married or something in that effect, Ann still is never going to like me. She hates me."

Kai stopped in mid swing. "No, she can't hate you. She doesn't even know you that well."

"That's another problem too," Cliff groaned. "She doesn't want to get to know me. I've made attempts to talk to her, but she always finds a reason to yell at me."

"Well..." Kai dropped his driver and took a seat beside Cliff. "We're just a pair of lonely guys with unrequitted love, huh?"

Cliff reached into his pockets and produced a quarter-full bottle of beer. "I could drink to that."

Poor Cliff and Kai. Don't you feel sorry for them? I do too, for the two they have to marry (Karen is witchie and Ann's an abusive wife, hah hah). You just have to stay tuned to find out what's going to happen next! And please please please, review my ficcie please please! Thank you thank you thank you!