Chapter Five: Heartache
For the next one-and-a-half weeks, Dawn spent most of her time working on the farm. She planted lots of plants and harvested her goods. Pretty soon she had quite a bit of money. She had also become very good friends with Popuri and Ann. Maria and Elli were okay friends, and Dawn didn't really talk too much with Karen.
Dawn had missed the horse race because her horse was still little, and she didn't really want to go to that festival too much, even though everyone was going.
She had learned from Popuri and Ann that Karen snagged most of the guys, then broke their hearts. Well, not too many of them, just travelers that stopped in the town for awhile. (Ann was best friends with Karen, but she couldn't help enjoying the gossip.)
One day, on the 19th, Basil (Popuri's father, who had been traveling and had come back on the 15th,) came by the door and told her that people were voting for the Goddess of the Flower Festival. He told her that she was a participant!
"But I don't wanna be in it," she said stubbornly.
"Sorry, Dawn," said Basil. "Somebody entered you in it. And there's no backing out of it. You'll find out who the winners are the morning of the Flower Festival."
Dawn was about to say she didn't look good in a dress, but instead she asked, "When is the Flower Festival?"
"It's the 23rd," Basil replied, and left. Dawn watered the plants that she had outside (two Turnip plants, one potato, and one cabbage) and then went to visit Ann.
Ann was outside brushing horses. She stopped when she saw Dawn coming in.
"Hi!" she called excitedly. "Yay! I'm so happy you're a contestant in the Flower Festival!"
"But what about you?" asked Dawn, confused.
"Oh, I'm in it," Ann replied. "But I don't look good in a dress."
"Me neither," Dawn said glumly.
"Ah, cheer up!" said Ann. "It won't be surprising if Maria or Karen wins. They win most of the time. Sometimes Popuri wins, too, but neither me nor Elli has ever won yet..."
"How do we get chosen?"
"Well, people are voting from today through the 22nd, and then we all dress up on the 23rd and try to look our best. Then we dance and then the Mayor announces the new Goddess."
Dawn made a face and Ann laughed. Then Dawn left Ann to her chores and visited Popuri, who was watering the flowers outside the shop. (Jeez I always wondered why it took all day...)
"Well, I hope Maria wins this year," said Popuri as soon as Dawn got there.
"Why?" asked Dawn.
"Well, Karen's won two years in a row already," Popuri said, sighing. "This is like a battle none of us'll ever win, since we were kids..."
"Who was last years-Oh, yeah, nevermind..." Dawn remembered who last year's King was: Kai.
Dawn went home. To her surprise she found Kai there.
"Oh...Hi, Kai," Dawn said.
"Hey," Kai said, grinning at her. "Umm...I have a gift for you."
Dawn blinked. Why was Kai bringing her a gift now? She didn't have too great of feelings for him.
He pulled a small box out from behind him. He handed it to her. Dawn opened it and gasped.
Inside was a beautiful gold chain necklace, with two sapphires and a diamond on it!
"Oh, wow!" Dawn exclaimed. She could help hugging Kai around the neck. "Thank you, Kai," Dawn said, smiling.
Kai grew noticeably red. "Heh...No problem," he said, grinning.
He began to leave. Dawn's mind raced. Her feelings for him had gotten bigger. "Umm...See you at the bar tonight!"
Kai turned around and grinned. "Okay!" He left.
For the rest of the day, Dawn foraged through the woods for things to sell. She saw Cliff and talked with him a little bit. Then she sold her things.
Dawn began to chop some wood also, later that day. She went home and decided to add an extension. But which one?
"I guess I'll add some stairs to the roof," she thought, and smiled.
Immediately she went to the carpenters. She asked them to build her some stairs.
When she got back, Ann was waiting for her.
"What's up?" Dawn asked, as she walked up to her.
"I've got good news! Sort of. Well, did you know Popuri's birthday was the day before the Flower Festival?"
"No," said Dawn.
"Well, we should have a party for her. And also...I have a date with Cliff!"
"Oh wow!" Dawn exclaimed. "That's great!" Dawn smiled as she thought of Cliff herself. Well, he did seem the friendly type, but Dawn finally realized that she was not attracted to him in the love-kind of way.
Dawn grinned at her. Cliff was just a friend, after all. "Hey, look at what Kai gave me today!" Dawn pulled out the necklace that she had not worn yet.
Ann gasped. "How pretty!" she exclaimed. "He actually gave that to you?!"
"Yeah," Dawn said, grinning.
"You should wear it at the Flower Festival," said Dawn. "And wear blue and white. Blue and white flowers in your hair, white skirt, just like everybody else's (except ours are pink) and a blue top with a lei of blue and white flowers!"
"Hi you guys!" Popuri called from the entrance.
"Hey!" Ann waved. "We're deciding on Dawn's Flower Festival outfit!"
"Oooh, let me tell you about my outfit!"
"Pink everything?" asked Ann, grinning.
Popuri beamed. "Yep! Also a bit of white, too."
"So...we don't all have to dress alike?" asked Dawn.
"No," said Popuri and Ann instantly.
"I guess I'll just wear yellow and white," said Ann, sighing. "Hey, Popuri," she said, brightening, "look at the necklace Dawn got from Kai!"
"Wow!" Popuri exclaimed, examining the necklace.
They began to talk a lot about the Flower Festival when the sun set.
"Gotta go!" said Ann.
"Me too!" said Popuri. They both left.
Dawn walked alone to the bar. She saw Jack and Kai there, but not Cliff. She sat at their table.
"Hey you guys," Dawn said, grinning.
Kai and Jack said hello back. They talked a little bit about vegetables and grapes for the heck of it when Karen came sailing by.
"Can I take your orders?" she asked smugly.
Dawn noticed both boys looking at her in an odd way.
"I'll have a beer," said Dawn
"So will I," said the boys.
Karen smiled, sort of forcefully, and sailed off. She came back with their drinks.
Dawn noticed that both boys were in a trance. Dawn cleared her throat loudly and said, "So, who are you guys voting for?"
Kai and Jack both grinned. "Hey, we aren't telling," they both said.
"Aww, come on, cant'cha tell little old me?" Dawn asked playfully. "It's not like I'd tell the other girls."
Jack and Kai grinned, but they still said nothing.
When Karen went walking by, Dawn noticed that the boys didn't look at her much.
Dawn left a little while later. Kai caught up with her and walked her home.
They talked a little bit while walking home. Then, when Dawn was about to go inside, Kai said:
"So...see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Dawn said, smiling.
Kai stayed standing. So did Dawn.
They leaned forward and kissed.
After a few moments, they broke apart. Dawn was embarrassed and ran inside.
"Bye!" she called, her spirits soaring as she scrambled to get undressed. She hopped in bed and opened a book. But she was too excited to read.
***
The next morning it was sunny again. Dawn visited Kai at the vineyard and felt her spirits soar again. Her heart thudded rapidly and her hands grew slightly sweaty as she talked to him.
Her feelings increased for Kai each time she saw him. She went and talked with Ann and told her about last night.
"Ohmigod!" she exclaimed. "Ohmigod!"
Dawn couldn't concentrate on her work very much as she worked that afternoon. The next morning, she watered the plants, her head swimming with thoughts of Kai.
It was now the 21st. Ann and Dawn had arranged a party at the Florist's for Popuri's birthday tomorrow. Ann and Popuri's parents would be there, Gray would, Kai would, Cliff would, Jack would, Elli and Maria were going too, and so were the three little children of the town along with the Potion Shop dealer. And of course Dawn and Ann were. It would be a surprise for Popuri when she came back from the mountain, since she would be there all day. (Lillia had asked her to gather herbs and flowers for the day.)
Dawn saw Kai later that day. They talked a lot before Kai excused himself to go back to work. Dawn's head and heart were swimming. She did not let herself notice how Kai had dismissed her.
Since all of her chores were done for the day, Dawn decided to go ocean fishing. She got her fishing pole from her house and talked with Popuri, then discussed with Elli the party plans, and what they would get for Popuri. Then Dawn walked to the beach.
The sun was setting. Dawn was just entering when she dropped the necklace Kai had given her. She bent down to pick it up, and noticed two people snuggling together on the end of the dock. They were talking in low, romantic voices. Dawn's heart nearly stopped when she saw who it was.
The two people leaned forward, and began to kiss. They kissed, and kissed, and kissed...Dawn's mind was spinning.
They were Kai and Karen.
Dawn dropped the necklace she had in her hand and stared at the two. Then, fighting back tears, she ran home. She didn't care if either of them had seen her. They probably would notice, when they left and found the necklace at the entrance. But Dawn didn't care.
The tears spilled down Dawn's cheeks as she turned the corner out of Green Ranch. If Kai had kissed her, and made her like him, maybe even grow to love him, then why was he kissing Karen too? Why was he playing with Dawn's heart?
The tears had started to spill down Dawn's cheeks when she ran flat-out into someone. She fell backwards onto the ground. So did the person she had bumped into.
"Sorry," Dawn mumbled, as she furiously wiped away her tears. She glanced at who the person was and noticed it was Jack.
"Uhh..." Jack helped Dawn to her feet. "Sorry," he said. Then he noticed in the moonlight the tears Dawn had in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing...it's nothing..." Dawn mumbled, her head bent down as she wiped the tears again.
"Please tell me," said Jack, his face full of sympathy. Dawn noticed it in his eyes.
Dawn felt an old surge of emotion for Jack again. It had gone unnoticed since she had been swept away with Kai. "Well..."
Dawn wiped her eyes again, and told Jack her story.
"I liked Kai a lot, see? He kissed me...and I grew to like him a lot..." Dawn couldn't see Jack's face anymore, since the moon was now behind him. "But now-now-he was practically making out with Karen on the beach...It's like everyone loves Karen!"
"I don't," Jack said quietly, but Dawn didn't notice. "Um...I'm...sorry..."
Dawn sniffled. "Sorry for running into you," she said quickly, and ran home, leaving Jack behind.
She burst into her house and flung herself down on her bed. She cried. And cried. How could Kai do something like that to her? Dawn thought he liked her. Why else would he have kissed her so passionately?
It took Dawn thirty minutes to stop crying, and that was when Dawn finally remembered Jack's words of "I don't."
Why did he say that?
Dawn went to sleep, her heart full of sorrow, her mind spinning.
* * *
Author's Notes - Well? : ( : ( Sad or not enough describing words? : (
For the next one-and-a-half weeks, Dawn spent most of her time working on the farm. She planted lots of plants and harvested her goods. Pretty soon she had quite a bit of money. She had also become very good friends with Popuri and Ann. Maria and Elli were okay friends, and Dawn didn't really talk too much with Karen.
Dawn had missed the horse race because her horse was still little, and she didn't really want to go to that festival too much, even though everyone was going.
She had learned from Popuri and Ann that Karen snagged most of the guys, then broke their hearts. Well, not too many of them, just travelers that stopped in the town for awhile. (Ann was best friends with Karen, but she couldn't help enjoying the gossip.)
One day, on the 19th, Basil (Popuri's father, who had been traveling and had come back on the 15th,) came by the door and told her that people were voting for the Goddess of the Flower Festival. He told her that she was a participant!
"But I don't wanna be in it," she said stubbornly.
"Sorry, Dawn," said Basil. "Somebody entered you in it. And there's no backing out of it. You'll find out who the winners are the morning of the Flower Festival."
Dawn was about to say she didn't look good in a dress, but instead she asked, "When is the Flower Festival?"
"It's the 23rd," Basil replied, and left. Dawn watered the plants that she had outside (two Turnip plants, one potato, and one cabbage) and then went to visit Ann.
Ann was outside brushing horses. She stopped when she saw Dawn coming in.
"Hi!" she called excitedly. "Yay! I'm so happy you're a contestant in the Flower Festival!"
"But what about you?" asked Dawn, confused.
"Oh, I'm in it," Ann replied. "But I don't look good in a dress."
"Me neither," Dawn said glumly.
"Ah, cheer up!" said Ann. "It won't be surprising if Maria or Karen wins. They win most of the time. Sometimes Popuri wins, too, but neither me nor Elli has ever won yet..."
"How do we get chosen?"
"Well, people are voting from today through the 22nd, and then we all dress up on the 23rd and try to look our best. Then we dance and then the Mayor announces the new Goddess."
Dawn made a face and Ann laughed. Then Dawn left Ann to her chores and visited Popuri, who was watering the flowers outside the shop. (Jeez I always wondered why it took all day...)
"Well, I hope Maria wins this year," said Popuri as soon as Dawn got there.
"Why?" asked Dawn.
"Well, Karen's won two years in a row already," Popuri said, sighing. "This is like a battle none of us'll ever win, since we were kids..."
"Who was last years-Oh, yeah, nevermind..." Dawn remembered who last year's King was: Kai.
Dawn went home. To her surprise she found Kai there.
"Oh...Hi, Kai," Dawn said.
"Hey," Kai said, grinning at her. "Umm...I have a gift for you."
Dawn blinked. Why was Kai bringing her a gift now? She didn't have too great of feelings for him.
He pulled a small box out from behind him. He handed it to her. Dawn opened it and gasped.
Inside was a beautiful gold chain necklace, with two sapphires and a diamond on it!
"Oh, wow!" Dawn exclaimed. She could help hugging Kai around the neck. "Thank you, Kai," Dawn said, smiling.
Kai grew noticeably red. "Heh...No problem," he said, grinning.
He began to leave. Dawn's mind raced. Her feelings for him had gotten bigger. "Umm...See you at the bar tonight!"
Kai turned around and grinned. "Okay!" He left.
For the rest of the day, Dawn foraged through the woods for things to sell. She saw Cliff and talked with him a little bit. Then she sold her things.
Dawn began to chop some wood also, later that day. She went home and decided to add an extension. But which one?
"I guess I'll add some stairs to the roof," she thought, and smiled.
Immediately she went to the carpenters. She asked them to build her some stairs.
When she got back, Ann was waiting for her.
"What's up?" Dawn asked, as she walked up to her.
"I've got good news! Sort of. Well, did you know Popuri's birthday was the day before the Flower Festival?"
"No," said Dawn.
"Well, we should have a party for her. And also...I have a date with Cliff!"
"Oh wow!" Dawn exclaimed. "That's great!" Dawn smiled as she thought of Cliff herself. Well, he did seem the friendly type, but Dawn finally realized that she was not attracted to him in the love-kind of way.
Dawn grinned at her. Cliff was just a friend, after all. "Hey, look at what Kai gave me today!" Dawn pulled out the necklace that she had not worn yet.
Ann gasped. "How pretty!" she exclaimed. "He actually gave that to you?!"
"Yeah," Dawn said, grinning.
"You should wear it at the Flower Festival," said Dawn. "And wear blue and white. Blue and white flowers in your hair, white skirt, just like everybody else's (except ours are pink) and a blue top with a lei of blue and white flowers!"
"Hi you guys!" Popuri called from the entrance.
"Hey!" Ann waved. "We're deciding on Dawn's Flower Festival outfit!"
"Oooh, let me tell you about my outfit!"
"Pink everything?" asked Ann, grinning.
Popuri beamed. "Yep! Also a bit of white, too."
"So...we don't all have to dress alike?" asked Dawn.
"No," said Popuri and Ann instantly.
"I guess I'll just wear yellow and white," said Ann, sighing. "Hey, Popuri," she said, brightening, "look at the necklace Dawn got from Kai!"
"Wow!" Popuri exclaimed, examining the necklace.
They began to talk a lot about the Flower Festival when the sun set.
"Gotta go!" said Ann.
"Me too!" said Popuri. They both left.
Dawn walked alone to the bar. She saw Jack and Kai there, but not Cliff. She sat at their table.
"Hey you guys," Dawn said, grinning.
Kai and Jack said hello back. They talked a little bit about vegetables and grapes for the heck of it when Karen came sailing by.
"Can I take your orders?" she asked smugly.
Dawn noticed both boys looking at her in an odd way.
"I'll have a beer," said Dawn
"So will I," said the boys.
Karen smiled, sort of forcefully, and sailed off. She came back with their drinks.
Dawn noticed that both boys were in a trance. Dawn cleared her throat loudly and said, "So, who are you guys voting for?"
Kai and Jack both grinned. "Hey, we aren't telling," they both said.
"Aww, come on, cant'cha tell little old me?" Dawn asked playfully. "It's not like I'd tell the other girls."
Jack and Kai grinned, but they still said nothing.
When Karen went walking by, Dawn noticed that the boys didn't look at her much.
Dawn left a little while later. Kai caught up with her and walked her home.
They talked a little bit while walking home. Then, when Dawn was about to go inside, Kai said:
"So...see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Dawn said, smiling.
Kai stayed standing. So did Dawn.
They leaned forward and kissed.
After a few moments, they broke apart. Dawn was embarrassed and ran inside.
"Bye!" she called, her spirits soaring as she scrambled to get undressed. She hopped in bed and opened a book. But she was too excited to read.
***
The next morning it was sunny again. Dawn visited Kai at the vineyard and felt her spirits soar again. Her heart thudded rapidly and her hands grew slightly sweaty as she talked to him.
Her feelings increased for Kai each time she saw him. She went and talked with Ann and told her about last night.
"Ohmigod!" she exclaimed. "Ohmigod!"
Dawn couldn't concentrate on her work very much as she worked that afternoon. The next morning, she watered the plants, her head swimming with thoughts of Kai.
It was now the 21st. Ann and Dawn had arranged a party at the Florist's for Popuri's birthday tomorrow. Ann and Popuri's parents would be there, Gray would, Kai would, Cliff would, Jack would, Elli and Maria were going too, and so were the three little children of the town along with the Potion Shop dealer. And of course Dawn and Ann were. It would be a surprise for Popuri when she came back from the mountain, since she would be there all day. (Lillia had asked her to gather herbs and flowers for the day.)
Dawn saw Kai later that day. They talked a lot before Kai excused himself to go back to work. Dawn's head and heart were swimming. She did not let herself notice how Kai had dismissed her.
Since all of her chores were done for the day, Dawn decided to go ocean fishing. She got her fishing pole from her house and talked with Popuri, then discussed with Elli the party plans, and what they would get for Popuri. Then Dawn walked to the beach.
The sun was setting. Dawn was just entering when she dropped the necklace Kai had given her. She bent down to pick it up, and noticed two people snuggling together on the end of the dock. They were talking in low, romantic voices. Dawn's heart nearly stopped when she saw who it was.
The two people leaned forward, and began to kiss. They kissed, and kissed, and kissed...Dawn's mind was spinning.
They were Kai and Karen.
Dawn dropped the necklace she had in her hand and stared at the two. Then, fighting back tears, she ran home. She didn't care if either of them had seen her. They probably would notice, when they left and found the necklace at the entrance. But Dawn didn't care.
The tears spilled down Dawn's cheeks as she turned the corner out of Green Ranch. If Kai had kissed her, and made her like him, maybe even grow to love him, then why was he kissing Karen too? Why was he playing with Dawn's heart?
The tears had started to spill down Dawn's cheeks when she ran flat-out into someone. She fell backwards onto the ground. So did the person she had bumped into.
"Sorry," Dawn mumbled, as she furiously wiped away her tears. She glanced at who the person was and noticed it was Jack.
"Uhh..." Jack helped Dawn to her feet. "Sorry," he said. Then he noticed in the moonlight the tears Dawn had in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing...it's nothing..." Dawn mumbled, her head bent down as she wiped the tears again.
"Please tell me," said Jack, his face full of sympathy. Dawn noticed it in his eyes.
Dawn felt an old surge of emotion for Jack again. It had gone unnoticed since she had been swept away with Kai. "Well..."
Dawn wiped her eyes again, and told Jack her story.
"I liked Kai a lot, see? He kissed me...and I grew to like him a lot..." Dawn couldn't see Jack's face anymore, since the moon was now behind him. "But now-now-he was practically making out with Karen on the beach...It's like everyone loves Karen!"
"I don't," Jack said quietly, but Dawn didn't notice. "Um...I'm...sorry..."
Dawn sniffled. "Sorry for running into you," she said quickly, and ran home, leaving Jack behind.
She burst into her house and flung herself down on her bed. She cried. And cried. How could Kai do something like that to her? Dawn thought he liked her. Why else would he have kissed her so passionately?
It took Dawn thirty minutes to stop crying, and that was when Dawn finally remembered Jack's words of "I don't."
Why did he say that?
Dawn went to sleep, her heart full of sorrow, her mind spinning.
* * *
Author's Notes - Well? : ( : ( Sad or not enough describing words? : (