Disclaimer: Y'know everything, I don't own anything so don't sue me!
Author's Note: Yikes! Well, I'm back and here's chapter... eight!
Letters, Love and Lies
Crash Party
As she surveyed the festive beach, Elli just couldn't seem to believe what her eyes told her. Every single person was there, and everyone had a smile plastered on their face. 'I can't believe how well this party is going!' she commented with a smile.
It was one of the biggest parties the island had ever seen, that's for sure. She had invited everyone-and we're talking everyone; even the old couple who live in the mountain. Even with the excess amount of people, the beach didn't seem to be crowded. The mothers and fathers were sitting by old picnic benches, chatting and grilling burgers over the propane barbeque. The younger ones were in the ocean, playing water badminton, a game of Marco Polo or just splashing around, just enjoying the cool waters. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
"Elli, come play with us!" Jeff said from the ocean, waving to her with a badminton racket. "I told May, Kent and Stu we could be them shorthanded!"
"Coming!" Elli called back. She jumped into the waters excitedly.
"Hi Jack," Karen said, resting her arms on the inflatable doughnut-like water seat Jack was resting on. "What do you think of the party so far?"
"It's great!" Jack answered. "I can't believe Elli, Jeff and Popuri pulled this off so well."
"Yeah..." Karen looked the other way momentarily. "Elli and Jeff are such a nice couple aren't they?"
Jack shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. They seem to make each other happy."
"So... you wouldn't feel happy if Elli and Jeff broke up suddenly for no apparent reason?" Karen would rather die than let Jack date anybody but herself, but she needed to know this, just in case Elli became a bachelorette again for any reason.
"What?" Jack was mystified. "What are you talking about? You think I want Elli?"
"Well... do you?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Elli's a nice girl. Any guy would be very lucky to have her. But she's dating someone else now. Besides, we're just friends."
That didn't really answer Karen's questions. He could be just saying that because Elli WAS taken. So did Jack like her or not? "Yeah, she is a nice person... we're friends too." Closing the topic, she rushed on quickly. "Hey, you done with this thing yet?"
"You mean the inflatable doughnut?" Jack smirked playfully. "You're going to have to fight me for it."
"You're on!" The two proceeded to push and pull the seat, splashing and laughing throughout the whole struggle.
Popuri watched with a flicker of envy as she witnessed Karen and Jack's public display. Had he forgotten he was technically her date, since he escorted her here?
"Ow!" she suddenly yelped out, rubbing her head. A moment of absentmindedness had left her vulnerable to the flying beach ball the other girls were tossing around.
"Um... head's up?" Ann's warning came a little too late. "Sorry."
"It's okay..." Popuri answered, her mind wandering. She didn't dare let her eyes off Karen.
"Do you think Jack's falling for Karen?" Maria said, breaking Popuri's spell.
"Not if I have anything to do with it," Ann mumbled.
"What?" Maria turned to look at her, surprised.
"She thinks she can make any guy love her so easily," Ann explained to them. "If we make Jack realize that she's just using him and she's a selfish, spoiled brat, maybe then Karen will lay off."
"And her bikini doesn't leave much to the imagination," Popuri added, shaking her head.
"I don't know..." Maria said nervously. "We shouldn't step in the way-"
"Ann's right," Popuri interrupted. "Besides, we're practically saving Jack from heartache and stuff, after Karen mistreats him and all of that."
"Hey speaking of heartache..." Maria turned to Ann. "How's your back?"
"It's a little sore, but I used those back patches, and it's getting better."
"So will you be helping my parent and me tonight to prepare for the Vegetable Festival tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but I'm going to be late, because I'm visiting Jack's farm tonight."
Maria and Popuri glared at her. "You are?"
"Yeah. Haven't you guys been there before?"
"Well, yeah," Popuri told her. "But it was just to look at his flowers. And he wasn't home."
"My parents gave me a delivery," Maria explained. "So I had to drop it by his farm. He was home, and he showed me around his farm. But Ann, are you sure you can help out with the festival? Because it's quite all right if your back is still hurt."
"No I'm fine," Ann waved her hand dismissively. "Just as long as I don't get hit by a car or something."
Popuri huffed. "Yeah, like that could ever happen. We don't even have roads built for cars in town. The only 'car' really, is the shipper's truck. This town is so God damn insignificant and underdeveloped, it sickens me."
"You're beginning to sound like Karen!" Maria gasped. "You're not thinking of leaving the island too are you?"
"No!" Popuri said quickly. Even with the islands old problems, she loved it here. "But let's get back to Karen. How should we stop her, if we're going to stop her?"
"Uh... right now?" Ann scratched her head. "I don't know. I don't think I should do something as drastic as I did a few days ago, because now my back hurts and I'm scared to injure another part of my body."
Popuri wanted to scream. If Ann wasn't going to help her, she was going to get nowhere with Maria, little Miss Friend to the world. "Fine, I'll just take matters to my own hands."
Her two friends watched anxiously as Popuri waded over to the unassuming Karen and Jack. Their playful splashes flung drops of water to her face, disorienting her a little bit, but she brushed them off.
"Oh, I'm almost on it," Jack squealed, climbing over.
"Not if I can stop you!" Karen pushed the doughnut up, forcing Jack to slide off the slippery plastic.
Popuri appeared out of nowhere, bouncing over them and onto the doughnut. "I won!"
"Hey, you cheated!" Jack and Karen shouted out in unison, Jack with a hint of laughter in his voice but Karen with the hint of anger in hers.
"Did not," Popuri protested. "Hey Jack, we can share this thing," she shifted to a side. "Hop on board!"
"Sure, okay," Jack agreed. Karen tightened her face, but didn't say anything. Instead, she decided to swim over to Ann and Maria to blow off some steam.
"Hi Karen," Ann tried not to say too smugly. Their pact was still in play.
"Oh, I just can't believe her," Karen muttered. "Why is everyone trying to stand in the way of my happiness?"
Maria tightened her lips. She had never gotten used to the fact that anyone could be so selfish. "Well Karen... sometimes we can't always be happy..."
Karen glared at her. "Why does everyone say that? Why does everyone say that I can't be happy?"
"No, not happy in general, just no one can always be happy. It's impossible," Ann explained.
"Whatever," Karen rolled her eyes. She was still mad at Ann for what she did a few days ago, but she knew she couldn't hold a grudge on each other. They had made a pact so things they did to each other wouldn't affect their friendship. "I was with Jack first! Doesn't that make me the outright winner?"
"Well, not if he decides he'd rather be with someone else," Ann pointed out.
"Oh you'd love that wouldn't you Ann?"
"Well duh Karen, of course I would!"
"Huh? What do you guys love?" Elli swam over to them.
"How'd your badminton game go?" Maria asked politely.
"I don't know," Elli grinned. "I think Jeff let May, Stu and Kent win. Either that, or we really suck at badminton. What were you guys talking about?"
"Jack," the three said in unison. The four girls turned to look at Popuri and Jack simultaneously. The two of them looked like they were having a good time; laughing and splashing. Just like Karen was until Miss Priss had come to spoil her fun.
"She can't get away with this!" Karen growled.
"I know, she can't," Ann agreed with the same loathing tone in her voice, to Karen's surprise.
"Ann and Karen, agreeing on something?" Elli's mouth hung open. "That's a first."
"Let's make a fool out of Popuri," Karen suggested. "I'm so tired of her always looking all perfect."
"Yeah, me too!" Ann gasped to her own surprise. "What should we do?"
"Hm... what should we do..." Karen stroked her chin. She tilted her head in thought. "Hm... what to do what to do what to-I got it!"
Ann looked at Karen, wide-eyed. "You have an idea? Spill Karen!"
"Okay, this might be kind of stupid but if we ALL work together, it should work in our favour." Karen turned to Elli and Maria for support.
"Uh uh, no way," Elli declared, shaking her head. "I'm willing to keep quiet about this, but I'm not participating. Popuri is our friend you guys! Why are you betraying her like that?"
"Because," Karen groaned. "She betrayed me first."
"Yeah," Ann added with a nod. "What about you Maria? Are you in?"
Maria shook her head quickly. "N-no. Elli's right. We shouldn't betray our friends."
Elli turned to face Maria. "C'mon, let's go grab a burger or something." The two fled the waters, leaving Karen and Ann alone.
"Well, farmer-girl, looks like it's just you and me."
Ann tried not to wince too obviously at the nickname she detested. "What did you have in mind?"
"Y'know how Popuri hates fish on and off her plate right?"
"Right..."
"So I think we can use that against her."
Ann scrunched up her face, disappointed with Karen's lack of creativity. "How? We throw fish at her?"
"Exactly!"
"How?"
Karen grinned. "So this is what I had in mind. One of us will make a distraction, like talking to Jack and Popuri, while the other dives under the water and grabs a fish, and throws it at her. She'll freak out, and Jack will see what a ditz that pink potpourri puff is!"
Ann tapped her chin. "Hm... that could work. But won't she get mad at us?"
"Yeah I thought of that. That's why we have the distraction, so she won't be able to see you throw the fish at her-"
"Wait a minute!" Ann objected. "Why am I the one who gets the fish? Why can't you do that?"
"'Cause you're a better swimmer than I am."
"But you spend more time on the beach than I do."
Karen could literally sense another argument brewing, so she decided to put an end to it before it could start. "Okay, why don't we just play rock paper scissors for it. The winner gets to talk to Ja- make the distraction."
"Okay fine," Ann agreed, holding up her closed fist. The two girls shook their fist three times then exposed their weapon of choice; two fingers spread apart to indicate a pair of scissors and a flat-open hand to show paper.
"Yay, I win!" Karen cheered boastfully. Ann grumbled something under her breath, but didn't protest.
"Okay, go over and make the distraction," Ann instructed. "I'm diving now."
"Oh hi Karen," Jack greeted when he saw her approach the two of them.
"Hi Jack, hi Popuri," Karen said back. "How's the party working for you? Have you had the shrimp? It's delicious."
"I don't like seafood," Popuri wrinkled her nose. "It's yuckie and slimey and gross."
"I don't know," Jack objected. "Fish tastes good."
Karen flinched. Them talking about fish wasn't really a good idea; it kind of gave away their plan. "Well, what about the potato salad? It's pretty good too."
"Oh, I love potato salad," said Popuri. "I think I'll get some-"
"NO!" Karen yelped uncharacteristically. "I mean, they ran out of it already. It was that good."
"Oh..." Popuri sighed. "Oh well. But I'm hungry. What else do they have there?"
Karen cringed. 'C'mon Ann where the hell are you?"
Where the hell are the freggin' fish? Ann cussed in her head. The beach always had an abundance of fish, but where were they today? They probably swam further offshore, because of how many people are in the water, she told herself. She didn't want to swim too far from the beach; it wasn't safe.
There was a crab skittering along the ocean floor, but she wasn't going to pick that up. Even I'm scared of crabs. They'll pinch ya real hard.
Just then, a small school of tiny blue water-coloured fish swam by Ann not two feet from her. They were small, but all she could get. Ann reached out and grabbed a handful. This will do, she thought to herself while stuffing them into a small canvas bag she had brought to carry her sun block and sunglasses. She began to make her way to shore again. This plan better work, and not be another scheme that Karen cooked up just to get me, or I'll make sure to get her, Ann vowed.
"Karen, are you okay?" asked Popuri. "You seem a little distracted."
Well, of course she was. She was impatiently waiting for Ann to resurface with the second part of their plan. How long did it take to catch a fish at a beach? "Well, I am..." Karen began uncertainly. "It's just that... you know... you hear stories on television about shark attacks, and it makes you kind of antsy."
"But... don't you spend a lot of time on the beach?" Jack pointed out.
"Well... yeah... but... I don't go in the water you know? I just stay at the sand, or just near the surf where the sharks can't get you."
"There's never been a single shark sighting here, let alone a shark attack, so I think you're safe." Popuri smiled at Karen. Unlike her friend, she wasn't trying to make Karen look like a fool or hurt her in any way.
"Yeah, but you never know..." Karen grinned, partially because of Popuri's naivety, but also because just then Karen had just spotted a streak of golden blonde hair making her way to the shore. But the plan wasn't over yet, she still needed a distraction until Ann finished her part of the mission. "So you guys... are you going to the Vegetable festival tomorrow? What are you guys bringing to it?"
"A potato," Jack answered.
"The same thing I bring every year, an herb," Popuri said at the same time.
"Cool, cool," Karen nodded, pretending to be interested.
Surveying the beach with a critical eye, Ann waited until everyone was looking at the other direction (or at least not looking at her) until she made her move. Karen was standing by the beach about seven feet away, talking and waving her arms.
Now's the time Ann, she told herself. Do it now!
The fish in her hand was slimy and struggling to become free of Ann's firm grasp. She had to keep it underwater so it wouldn't make as much noise. Here goes. As hurriedly as she could, Ann flung the fish at Popuri and dove under the waves again to avoid being seen.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" a single screeched brought the laughs and lively chatter of the beach party to an empty silence. Everyone stopped in the middle of what they were doing to find out what was going on. "GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!"
Popuri squirmed and let her body spaz out uncontrollably as the fish flapped around in her lap. Jack was forced off his seat to dodge the wild thrashings.
"Popuri hold still!" Jack reached out hesitantly to grab the fish which had caused all the commotion.
"GET IT OF GET IT OFF!" Popuri screamed hysterically, still throwing out empty punches in the air. Well, all but one was empty, that is.
"OWW!" Jack stumbled back and fell to the ground, clutching his nose. The fish had finally managed to wiggle out of Popuri's lap and back into the ocean. She stopped screaming, then started again when she saw Jack half sitting on the shore, the gaps between his fingers stained with red.
"Oh no, Jack!" she fled to his side. "I'm so sorry, I'm so SORRY!"
"What? What's going on?" Ann resurfaced from the water not ten feet away from Popuri, Jack and Karen, trying to come off as innocent. "Jack! Oh my- what happened here?" She crossed the water to help him.
"Are you okay? Jack? Jack?" Karen ran over to assist Jack in any way she could.
"Stay away from him!" Popuri barked. "He doesn't need a crowd!"
"You stay away from him!" Ann barked back. "Haven't you done enough already?"
"Shut up you two!" Karen cut in. "If you can't cooperate, then I'll just have to take care of him myself!"
"I'm fine, really-" came Jack's muffled response, but the girls' voices overpowered it.
"Karen, why don't you just ask him to marry you?" Ann snapped. "Your little tricks and schemes are just way too obvious! Just save your time and get the blue feather yourself!"
"Me? ME!" Karen bellowed. "I'm not the desperate loser here Ann, you are! You come crashing in on my date, you sabotage my time with Jack, you just want him for yourself!"
"Guys! Would you please be quiet? We need to help Jack," Popuri interrupted, her voice dripping with warmth and caring, aware of all the eyes looking down at the three girls (and Jack, who was kind of cuddled in a little ball at their feet).
"Just shut your yap Popuri," Ann told her harshly. "You're even worse than the two of us! You're bidding for Jack and Gray, you two-timer!"
Popuri gaped. "No I'm not! I stopped talking to Gray when I decided Jack was the man I needed!"
"Yeah, whatever Popuri!" Karen retorted. "He'd never like you, Ms. Priss. In fact, no one would like you. Props to Gray for never making any move on you after you tried so desperately to make him like you!"
"Shut up!" Popuri shouted. "At least I don't get drunk and make out with any person of the opposite sex!"
Karen gasped. "ANN! HOW COULD YOU TELL HER? What the hell is your problem Ann! Is your life so boring that you have to spread gossip about other people just to make yourself look interesting?"
"It's not gossip! You're the one who told me about your wild night out where you got drunk and--"
"No I did not!" Karen screamed. "I said I saw Popuri do that! STOP MAKING UP LIES!"
"Oh look who's talking!" shouted Popuri. "You lie about everything! All those times when you said you would always be my friend, that you never talk about me behind my back, those were all lies too! I wasn't the one who had the wild night, you were! And you told everyone that I did? You, and only you Karen, would do something as stupid as that!"
"Stupid! I'll show you stupid! I'll bash your brain in so you'll never--"
"Stop it everyone!" Elli and Maria jumped through the water and took Karen's arm before the fight turned physical.
"I can't take it! You guys are killing each other for a guy! It's been going on way too long, and I'm officially going to put an end to it right now!" Elli turned to Jack. "Who do you love?"
Dun dun dun dun! Cliffhanger! Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out which name Jack says! Will it be Ann, Elli, Karen, Maria or Popuri (the order I wrote their names is in alphabetical order so don't even try to figure out if it's in any code...). Or or! Will it be another name? Like... cough Cliff, Gray, Harris, Jeff, or Kai cough?