Chapter Ten: The Firefly Festival (and an apology)
A/N - I hope you like this chapter!!! I really really wanna put up all the chapters of this story so I can go on and finish alla mah other stories, but I need to write these chapters first!! @.@ Oy vey...N e wayz, enjoy!
Jack rode Dawn home on Dia, after Ann and Popuri reassured Dawn that they would see her later, after they all got some sleep. Jack walked her inside, watched her get in bed, then said that he was feeling wide-awake and refused to listen to her protests and took care of her crops.
Dawn could not express her great feelings of gratitude towards Jack. He's always there for you, she thought as her mind began to slip to the subconscious, lying in her bed that didn't smell like anything bad. That's what I like about Jack. He doesn't turn his back on anyone...Or give up...Other guys just aren't the same...Dawn slowly drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up later, it was ten o'clock. She had woken because someone was knocking on her door loudly.
"Who is it?" she mumbled groggily as she stood up and opened the door.
"HI DAWN!" exclaimed three small voices. Dawn looked around, and then down. The three kids of the village had come to visit her.
"HIHIHI!" exclaimed Stu.
"Tell us what happened to you!!" blurted out Kent.
"Please?" added May.
Dawn smiled. "Sure."
Dawn walked over tot he doghouse, fed Kirby, and held him in her lap. Then Dawn told them all about what had happened; how they got lost, where they went to, and everything.
When she was done, the kids all looked excited. "Cool!" they exclaimed. "We already heard Jack's part of the story, it all fits in together and it's all so cool!!" They stopped for a minute, listening, and then they said suddenly, "We have to go! See you later!!" and they sped off.
Dawn worked on her farm, planting summer flower seeds, some more tomatoes, and tending to her other crops that Jack had seen to while she was gone. During the day, people came by and visited her and said things like, "Welcome back!" and some gave her gifts of food and such. They often traveled in crowds.
Ann and Popuri came by too and they helped her out a bit with some chores, and then they talked about things and Dawn told them her story.
"Wow," Ann breathed when she had finished. Popuri let out a gasp.
"What a freakin' PERVERT!!" she screamed about Tom.
Then they left. By the time Jack came over, nearly everyone in the village had visited, and Dawn had about 10 new items, mostly food like a pear or an apple or cookies. Jack and Dawn had a little dinner together on a newly-built porch in front of her house (the carpenters had built it for her while she was gone, lucky!!!) and watched the sunset, and talked about what had happened to them. Jack told Dawn that tomorrow was the Firefly Festival, and that the Mayor would tell her more tomorrow.
As they were finishing their dinner, Karen's mother (I forgot her name, I'll just call her Rose), Karen, and (surprisingly) Kai walked in. Kai was eyeing Dawn and Jack suspiciously. Karen was surprisingly nervous-looking, and Rose looked sad as usual.
Dawn jumped to her feet and walked up to them. "Oh...Hello," she said awkwardly.
Rose began talking. "Hello..." she said dismally. Then she forced a smile and said, "We wanted to welcome you back, Dawn, with this gift." She handed her a wine bottle. Kai immediately left after that, after telling Jack that he'd see him later. Before Rose could leave, Dawn smiled at her, said Thank You, and handed her a just-harvested tomato. "Have this, as a repayment," she said as she handed it to her.
Rose smiled at her--a REAL smile--thanked her, and left. That left Karen, Jack, and Dawn staring at one another coldly and awkwardly. Karen was still acting nervous. Something must have happened, because she left suddenly too.
Jack grinned at Dawn. "I'd better get home too," he said.
"Bye!" Dawn replied, smiling, and he left as well.
Something made Dawn uneasy as he left. She wondered what it was. When the shipper came about two minutes later, he paid her for the harvested tomatoes and corn. Then she set off to find out what was making her so uneasy.
She glanced around the path outside her farm. It was empty. Then she glanced over to the mountain path--Karen was talking to Jack!
Oh no! Not you, Jack! Dawn screamed in her mind. Then she crept forward and hid behind a bush to listen to their conversation. Apparently Karen had just reached Jack.
"Hi Jack," Karen said in a seductive tone.
"Hi," said Jack, looking uneasy.
"So, what're you doing tonight?"
Dawn's blood boiled. She glared at Karen so witheringly, is Karen had seen it she would've cowered like a little dog.
"Going home," replied Jack. Good old Jack! Dawn thought, relaxing a bit.
"Want me to come with you?" Karen was twirling her finger in her hair and looked positively innocent. Dawn's blood boiled with a hateful rage again.
"Isn't Kai looking for you?"
Karen frowned, putting her hands on her hips. "I don't understand. Nobody's ever refused me before."
"Maybe...you could...try not to be a ho," Jack said awkwardly. "Maybe if you acted like a nice normal person you'd...I dunno..." Jack trailed off.
Though Dawn saw Jack was trying to just be helpful, and didn't LIKE like Karen, she still felt resentful.
Karen smiled at him--a real smile. "I could try," she said. "But Kai only likes me for my looks."
"Then make him see past that," replied Jack. "Or break up with him, if he can't. Though you've established your identity as a ho, you can try and change that. You'd probably have more friends, too. And, don't forget, always be truthful to make friends. I have to be going. Good night." Jack sauntered up to Moon Mountain and to his farm.
Karen was left standing there, watching after him. Dawn slipped quietly back into her farm. She frowned angrily of what Karen had tried to do.
The sun had now completely set. Stars were out, and the moon was full. Her farm was illuminated with the bright moonlight.
"Umm...Dawn?"
Dawn whirled around. Karen was standing by her mailbox.
"Hello," Dawn said coldly.
Karen looked uncomfortable, but surprisingly not angry or snobby. "I...er...It was Kai," she blurted out.
Dawn frowned. "What was Kai?"
Karen took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Kai set the bear on you to chase you into the forest. He didn't mean for Jack to be there. He might've been drunk and thought about you and got angry or something. Honestly, I don't know how he got the bear to chase you. And when you sprained your ankle..." Karen looked around uneasily, and Dawn understood.
"YOU sprained my ankle?!"
"Kai wanted me to!" Karen said, reddening. "And...well...I didn't really like you..."
Dawn stood and glared at Karen, half-shocked, thought she might've known.
"I...came to say sorry," Karen mumbled finally, looking at the ground.
"Okay then." Dawn still felt hateful towards Karen.
Karen turned to leave.
As Dawn watched her leave, walking slowly and sadly, she blinked and called after her, "See you tomorrow."
Karen looked surprisedly, and grinned at her. Then she left.
***
The next day was the 9^th--the Firefly Festival was tonight! (A/N: I just realized the Vegetable Festival's supposed to be then, lol...oh well) The mayor was outside and waiting to tell Dawn aaaallll about it.
"It's a surprise! You'll find out when you get there!"
When the Mayor left, Dawn worked by pulling out weeds. A little later, Rock came by. Surprised, Dawn wondered why.
"Hi," Rick said warmly. "I decided to give this to you, since I know you don't have one and I'm glad that you came back when you got lost. He handed her a blue Firefly Flower.
"What's this for?" Dawn asked, frowning (remember, she's never gone to this Festival).
Rick grinned. "You'll find out when you get there. Bye!" Rick left.
Dawn frowned, and put the flower on top of her mailbox so she wouldn't forget it. After she took care of the crops, she played with Kirby for awhile and fed him, and then brushed Dia and rode her around the farm a little bit.
Then she decided that it was finally time to buy a cow.
But she didn't want to buy it yet, so she decided not to. (Utterly, utterly pointless circles.) Then Ann and Popuri came by, and they all talked while Dawn sat in her hammock and swinged around, and then they left.
Dawn went ocean fishing that day too. She caught three HUGE fish, and Jack came over and he fished too. Then they went for another surprise dip.
Dawn squealed as Jack splashed her in the face. She splashed him, and dunked him too.
When he came back up, he dunked her also. When she came up, she cuddled up close to him, both of them breathing heavily. She smiled and gazed into his soulful brown eyes, their faces close to each other's.
Then they got out and dried off, talking and laughing. Dawn happened to glance casually around her and saw Karen's back disappearing up the path to the ranch.
Dawn frowned. Then she stood up. The sun had begun to set. She smiled at Jack and said, "Guess we'd better get ready for the Festival."
"Yeah," Jack replied, smiling. "Hey, what did the Mayor tell you about the Festival?"
"That `It's a surprise, and I'll learn more about it tonight'," Dawn said, rolling her eyes.
Jack laughed. "Well, you'll find out what it's like." By then they reached Dawn's house. Dawn went inside and changed her clothes into a dry pair, and put her fish in the fridge. When the sun set Dawn walked down to the beach. Surprisingly, her flower had started to glow. (She didn't know the properties of the Moonlight Stones; they glow at night.)
When she got there soft little music was playing in the background ("Where DOES that come from?"), and nearly everyone who was going to be there was there: Karen, Kai, Jack, Popuri, Ann, Gray, Cliff, the Mayor and his wife, Maria, Harris, the elder, the two little boys, and Elli. They were all in their usual places.
Dawn walked over to Popuri with her blue flower.
"I've always liked this Festival," Popuri said dreamily.
"Because of the flowers, right?" Dawn asked, grinning.
They talked a little bit, and then Gray came over to talk to Popuri. Dawn left and talked to Ann, and when Cliff came over Dawn walked over to Jack.
Jack grinned at her as she sat down next to him. They were by the edge of the water, where the elder and the kids usually are, but they moved for some weird reason to another spot. Dawn showed him the flower she had gotten.
Jack explained the Festival to Dawn. "Every year," he said, "people float out a Firefly Flower on the night with no moon. Its said to help guide the spirits back to the heavens, and they say the `ghosts' come down on this night. The lights help them go back when we float them out to sea."
Dawn blinked. "Do you believe it?"
"Naw," Jack said, sighing and leaning back.
"Why not?"
"It's just another one of those crazy festivals they have here," Jack said, grinning.
"I think this Festival's cute," Dawn said, smiling as she looked at everyone with a Firefly Light.
"It gets boring after you've seen it twenty times and nothing `supernatural' happens."
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Mayor said, and the people gradually quieted. "We will be floating the Firefly Lights out to sea in about five minutes."
Everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Dawn watched everyone and talked to Jack until the Mayor cleared his throat.
"Let us now set out Firefly Lights out to sea, and guide the spirits back to the heavens!" the Mayor announced, smiling cheerfully.
Everyone set their flowers in the water. The waves eventually pulled the glowing flowers out to sea.
As everyone left, Jack and Dawn stood staring after the flowers. Then Jack turned to Dawn.
"Come on, I'll walk you home," he said.
Dawn smiled at him, and they both walked home.
Dawn sat up in bed much later. Jack always made her heart skip two beats, made her spirits soar out of the ashes. He was the kindest guy she had ever known, and he was funny and smart, and pretty cute. She was so happy he liked her. But what if he stopped liking her? Dawn's heart felt suddenly stabbed by a cold, deathly feeling. What if he started to like someone else? What if he started to like KAREN?
Dawn shivered. She prayed to God that he wouldn't. She liked him so much, she couldn't bear it if he dumped her and went for somebody else. After all, so many people before her had.
Dawn turned over thoughtfully and went to sleep.
A/N: I have nothing to do but write lately @.@ Sooo, expect more chapters...
A/N - I hope you like this chapter!!! I really really wanna put up all the chapters of this story so I can go on and finish alla mah other stories, but I need to write these chapters first!! @.@ Oy vey...N e wayz, enjoy!
Jack rode Dawn home on Dia, after Ann and Popuri reassured Dawn that they would see her later, after they all got some sleep. Jack walked her inside, watched her get in bed, then said that he was feeling wide-awake and refused to listen to her protests and took care of her crops.
Dawn could not express her great feelings of gratitude towards Jack. He's always there for you, she thought as her mind began to slip to the subconscious, lying in her bed that didn't smell like anything bad. That's what I like about Jack. He doesn't turn his back on anyone...Or give up...Other guys just aren't the same...Dawn slowly drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up later, it was ten o'clock. She had woken because someone was knocking on her door loudly.
"Who is it?" she mumbled groggily as she stood up and opened the door.
"HI DAWN!" exclaimed three small voices. Dawn looked around, and then down. The three kids of the village had come to visit her.
"HIHIHI!" exclaimed Stu.
"Tell us what happened to you!!" blurted out Kent.
"Please?" added May.
Dawn smiled. "Sure."
Dawn walked over tot he doghouse, fed Kirby, and held him in her lap. Then Dawn told them all about what had happened; how they got lost, where they went to, and everything.
When she was done, the kids all looked excited. "Cool!" they exclaimed. "We already heard Jack's part of the story, it all fits in together and it's all so cool!!" They stopped for a minute, listening, and then they said suddenly, "We have to go! See you later!!" and they sped off.
Dawn worked on her farm, planting summer flower seeds, some more tomatoes, and tending to her other crops that Jack had seen to while she was gone. During the day, people came by and visited her and said things like, "Welcome back!" and some gave her gifts of food and such. They often traveled in crowds.
Ann and Popuri came by too and they helped her out a bit with some chores, and then they talked about things and Dawn told them her story.
"Wow," Ann breathed when she had finished. Popuri let out a gasp.
"What a freakin' PERVERT!!" she screamed about Tom.
Then they left. By the time Jack came over, nearly everyone in the village had visited, and Dawn had about 10 new items, mostly food like a pear or an apple or cookies. Jack and Dawn had a little dinner together on a newly-built porch in front of her house (the carpenters had built it for her while she was gone, lucky!!!) and watched the sunset, and talked about what had happened to them. Jack told Dawn that tomorrow was the Firefly Festival, and that the Mayor would tell her more tomorrow.
As they were finishing their dinner, Karen's mother (I forgot her name, I'll just call her Rose), Karen, and (surprisingly) Kai walked in. Kai was eyeing Dawn and Jack suspiciously. Karen was surprisingly nervous-looking, and Rose looked sad as usual.
Dawn jumped to her feet and walked up to them. "Oh...Hello," she said awkwardly.
Rose began talking. "Hello..." she said dismally. Then she forced a smile and said, "We wanted to welcome you back, Dawn, with this gift." She handed her a wine bottle. Kai immediately left after that, after telling Jack that he'd see him later. Before Rose could leave, Dawn smiled at her, said Thank You, and handed her a just-harvested tomato. "Have this, as a repayment," she said as she handed it to her.
Rose smiled at her--a REAL smile--thanked her, and left. That left Karen, Jack, and Dawn staring at one another coldly and awkwardly. Karen was still acting nervous. Something must have happened, because she left suddenly too.
Jack grinned at Dawn. "I'd better get home too," he said.
"Bye!" Dawn replied, smiling, and he left as well.
Something made Dawn uneasy as he left. She wondered what it was. When the shipper came about two minutes later, he paid her for the harvested tomatoes and corn. Then she set off to find out what was making her so uneasy.
She glanced around the path outside her farm. It was empty. Then she glanced over to the mountain path--Karen was talking to Jack!
Oh no! Not you, Jack! Dawn screamed in her mind. Then she crept forward and hid behind a bush to listen to their conversation. Apparently Karen had just reached Jack.
"Hi Jack," Karen said in a seductive tone.
"Hi," said Jack, looking uneasy.
"So, what're you doing tonight?"
Dawn's blood boiled. She glared at Karen so witheringly, is Karen had seen it she would've cowered like a little dog.
"Going home," replied Jack. Good old Jack! Dawn thought, relaxing a bit.
"Want me to come with you?" Karen was twirling her finger in her hair and looked positively innocent. Dawn's blood boiled with a hateful rage again.
"Isn't Kai looking for you?"
Karen frowned, putting her hands on her hips. "I don't understand. Nobody's ever refused me before."
"Maybe...you could...try not to be a ho," Jack said awkwardly. "Maybe if you acted like a nice normal person you'd...I dunno..." Jack trailed off.
Though Dawn saw Jack was trying to just be helpful, and didn't LIKE like Karen, she still felt resentful.
Karen smiled at him--a real smile. "I could try," she said. "But Kai only likes me for my looks."
"Then make him see past that," replied Jack. "Or break up with him, if he can't. Though you've established your identity as a ho, you can try and change that. You'd probably have more friends, too. And, don't forget, always be truthful to make friends. I have to be going. Good night." Jack sauntered up to Moon Mountain and to his farm.
Karen was left standing there, watching after him. Dawn slipped quietly back into her farm. She frowned angrily of what Karen had tried to do.
The sun had now completely set. Stars were out, and the moon was full. Her farm was illuminated with the bright moonlight.
"Umm...Dawn?"
Dawn whirled around. Karen was standing by her mailbox.
"Hello," Dawn said coldly.
Karen looked uncomfortable, but surprisingly not angry or snobby. "I...er...It was Kai," she blurted out.
Dawn frowned. "What was Kai?"
Karen took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Kai set the bear on you to chase you into the forest. He didn't mean for Jack to be there. He might've been drunk and thought about you and got angry or something. Honestly, I don't know how he got the bear to chase you. And when you sprained your ankle..." Karen looked around uneasily, and Dawn understood.
"YOU sprained my ankle?!"
"Kai wanted me to!" Karen said, reddening. "And...well...I didn't really like you..."
Dawn stood and glared at Karen, half-shocked, thought she might've known.
"I...came to say sorry," Karen mumbled finally, looking at the ground.
"Okay then." Dawn still felt hateful towards Karen.
Karen turned to leave.
As Dawn watched her leave, walking slowly and sadly, she blinked and called after her, "See you tomorrow."
Karen looked surprisedly, and grinned at her. Then she left.
***
The next day was the 9^th--the Firefly Festival was tonight! (A/N: I just realized the Vegetable Festival's supposed to be then, lol...oh well) The mayor was outside and waiting to tell Dawn aaaallll about it.
"It's a surprise! You'll find out when you get there!"
When the Mayor left, Dawn worked by pulling out weeds. A little later, Rock came by. Surprised, Dawn wondered why.
"Hi," Rick said warmly. "I decided to give this to you, since I know you don't have one and I'm glad that you came back when you got lost. He handed her a blue Firefly Flower.
"What's this for?" Dawn asked, frowning (remember, she's never gone to this Festival).
Rick grinned. "You'll find out when you get there. Bye!" Rick left.
Dawn frowned, and put the flower on top of her mailbox so she wouldn't forget it. After she took care of the crops, she played with Kirby for awhile and fed him, and then brushed Dia and rode her around the farm a little bit.
Then she decided that it was finally time to buy a cow.
But she didn't want to buy it yet, so she decided not to. (Utterly, utterly pointless circles.) Then Ann and Popuri came by, and they all talked while Dawn sat in her hammock and swinged around, and then they left.
Dawn went ocean fishing that day too. She caught three HUGE fish, and Jack came over and he fished too. Then they went for another surprise dip.
Dawn squealed as Jack splashed her in the face. She splashed him, and dunked him too.
When he came back up, he dunked her also. When she came up, she cuddled up close to him, both of them breathing heavily. She smiled and gazed into his soulful brown eyes, their faces close to each other's.
Then they got out and dried off, talking and laughing. Dawn happened to glance casually around her and saw Karen's back disappearing up the path to the ranch.
Dawn frowned. Then she stood up. The sun had begun to set. She smiled at Jack and said, "Guess we'd better get ready for the Festival."
"Yeah," Jack replied, smiling. "Hey, what did the Mayor tell you about the Festival?"
"That `It's a surprise, and I'll learn more about it tonight'," Dawn said, rolling her eyes.
Jack laughed. "Well, you'll find out what it's like." By then they reached Dawn's house. Dawn went inside and changed her clothes into a dry pair, and put her fish in the fridge. When the sun set Dawn walked down to the beach. Surprisingly, her flower had started to glow. (She didn't know the properties of the Moonlight Stones; they glow at night.)
When she got there soft little music was playing in the background ("Where DOES that come from?"), and nearly everyone who was going to be there was there: Karen, Kai, Jack, Popuri, Ann, Gray, Cliff, the Mayor and his wife, Maria, Harris, the elder, the two little boys, and Elli. They were all in their usual places.
Dawn walked over to Popuri with her blue flower.
"I've always liked this Festival," Popuri said dreamily.
"Because of the flowers, right?" Dawn asked, grinning.
They talked a little bit, and then Gray came over to talk to Popuri. Dawn left and talked to Ann, and when Cliff came over Dawn walked over to Jack.
Jack grinned at her as she sat down next to him. They were by the edge of the water, where the elder and the kids usually are, but they moved for some weird reason to another spot. Dawn showed him the flower she had gotten.
Jack explained the Festival to Dawn. "Every year," he said, "people float out a Firefly Flower on the night with no moon. Its said to help guide the spirits back to the heavens, and they say the `ghosts' come down on this night. The lights help them go back when we float them out to sea."
Dawn blinked. "Do you believe it?"
"Naw," Jack said, sighing and leaning back.
"Why not?"
"It's just another one of those crazy festivals they have here," Jack said, grinning.
"I think this Festival's cute," Dawn said, smiling as she looked at everyone with a Firefly Light.
"It gets boring after you've seen it twenty times and nothing `supernatural' happens."
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Mayor said, and the people gradually quieted. "We will be floating the Firefly Lights out to sea in about five minutes."
Everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Dawn watched everyone and talked to Jack until the Mayor cleared his throat.
"Let us now set out Firefly Lights out to sea, and guide the spirits back to the heavens!" the Mayor announced, smiling cheerfully.
Everyone set their flowers in the water. The waves eventually pulled the glowing flowers out to sea.
As everyone left, Jack and Dawn stood staring after the flowers. Then Jack turned to Dawn.
"Come on, I'll walk you home," he said.
Dawn smiled at him, and they both walked home.
Dawn sat up in bed much later. Jack always made her heart skip two beats, made her spirits soar out of the ashes. He was the kindest guy she had ever known, and he was funny and smart, and pretty cute. She was so happy he liked her. But what if he stopped liking her? Dawn's heart felt suddenly stabbed by a cold, deathly feeling. What if he started to like someone else? What if he started to like KAREN?
Dawn shivered. She prayed to God that he wouldn't. She liked him so much, she couldn't bear it if he dumped her and went for somebody else. After all, so many people before her had.
Dawn turned over thoughtfully and went to sleep.
A/N: I have nothing to do but write lately @.@ Sooo, expect more chapters...