AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well the final play of my senior year is over. There were many wet eyes backstage. Okay, enough of my drama (Drama. Theater pun) let's continue.

Chapter 8: Walk Soft, Fragile Heart.

Summer 2

The summer heat has finally arrived beating down its sun rays upon the village and its people. I sweat quite badly in the mornings now when I travel to Mother's Hill with mother and father. Still, I'm nice and cool inside. I feel so sorry for Jack, working out in the heat like this, but he his young and is holding out quite nicely. I wish the best of luck to him.

-Mary-

Summer 12

The Tomato Festival was today in the Rose Square. What happens is several teams of three hid behind barrels and toss freshly grown tomato's at one another. I'm not sure how this event started, but I sure do love the day. I arrived with my family and Gray. Our team was going to consist of myself, Gray, and my father (though he does complain that it's a waste of perfectly good food and that he'll be cleaning tomato juice off of him for weeks). As we entered the Square, I saw Jack walking around talking to several of the villagers.

The people here are really taken with Jack, and even though he's only been among us for over a month, everyone accepts him like an old friend. I'm not surprised. He is very easy to like. How could I not feel what I feel for him?

I call out Jack's name and he turns to me and smiles. I melt a little inside. He comes jogging over and greets us.

"Hello, Jack! How goes the farm life?" Asks my father.

"Just fine, sir." He replies.

"Now how many times do I have to say it? Call me Basil!"

Dad laughs and slaps Jack hard on the back.

I speak up: "So are you watching today or have you already found a team?"

"I guess I'm just watching. All the teams are filled."

"Shame" Remarks Gray with a somewhat harsh tone.

"Why not take my place, Jack?" My father says.

Both Gray and Jack spout 'What?" at the same time, but in two completely different tones of voice.

"Sure! I never cared for this festival anyway, to messy. I insist."

"Wow. Thank you si- err- Basi1!"

And that was our team, Gray, myself, and now Jack. I guess I could go into great detail about each of the three rounds, but there is no need. That's not the point I'm making here. I want to get right to best part, we won! Well, Jack won. In the final round we faced off with Popuri, Jeff and Kai. Gray was the first out, and was a bit sore about it. Then Popuri, She slipped on and dropped tomato and split her own fruit on top of her head! Jeff went out next from my toss. (Truth be told I was aiming for Kai.) Then I was hit in the arm by the person I aimed at and missed. For several minutes both Kai and Jack were locked in a stand still. Both throwing and dodging like their lives depended on it, but finally one of Jack's hit the mark and the game was ours. There was a round of applause for my team from everyone, even Kai. He's such a good sport. A photo was taken of us all messy and red, but it was worth it for the fun. I have a copy with me. Jack is beaming with a bright smile and I'm there next to him, a bit more timid, but smiling none the less. Gray is on the far end, grinning, but it looks 'forced'. I can't believe how messy I am in that picture. I think I took the longest shower of my life afterward, but I swear that I still smell the stuff in my nose every now and then this night. I hope that fades by morning; only one way to find out. Goodnight.

-Mary-

The photo was taped onto the page over from the one he was reading. It had seen better days, but it was still intact. It was hard to imagine his parents ever being so young, but there it was; his mother and father in the photograph. Somehow that made the whole thing much realer, like this was all some work of fiction up until the visual aid. Leo didn't think the sadness could become any worse, but he was wrong. He had to turn the page. Leo couldn't look at that anymore. It was all too painful.

Summer 23

Oh dear, it seems that I'm writing less and less these days. I do only write when something interesting happens, but reading over my last few entries, they all seem to be about Jack. I suppose everything has taken a back seat to him. It's not that I'm obsessing over him, I'm just in love with the man and If I were anyone else, I would have told him by now, but I'm myself and I just can't bring my lips to say or even hint at those words. Maybe there's something wrong with me. Sometimes I really hate myself for being so shy. Why do I have to be this way? Well, I suppose crying about the matter will do nothing about it. I'll just have to find some way to tell him………somehow. I'll think I'll try to speak of other things from now on, so I don't seem so centered around him

-Mary-

Summer 24

Only one day and I'm already about to break my promise. You see the Fireworks Festival finished only a little while ago and it was the most wonderful night I can ever remember having. Let me start from the beginning:

I arrived at the beach a little later then most everyone else. I was in the middle of re-organizing the books in the library since it's needed to be done for quite awhile now, I'm embarrassed to say. So by the time I get out and get a look at the time, I'm only a few minutes away from missing the start of the light show. So I rush down to the beach and get there soon enough (I'm forever happy it was a short distance) but a little out of breath. I get to the sands and stop a moment to catch my breath and stroll toward the water like I had walked so I didn't look so odd. I arrived at the water's edge and stare out onto the endless sea. A good amount of the village has turned out for the show, but I couldn't find Jack. Then I see him, standing alone at the edge of the pear that stretches out far past the coast time. I make my through the crowds and walk quietly to him, my heart beating and my hand pressed on my chest. I do that when I become very nervous, it's a habit I can't break. I'm standing right be behind him and for a minute I can't get my voice to work, that's when Jack turns around to me suddenly. I nearly jump out of my shoes.

"Oh, Hello Mary."

"H-h-hello, Jack."

"You look sorta flushed. Are you feeling alright?"

"I-I'm fine. You just startled me is all."

"I'm sorry, Mary."

"No, it's alright. Are you here all by yourself?"

"Well, yes I suppose so, though I didn't really think about it."

"Oh."

I was a little let down by that. In my mind I was imagining Jack saddened by the emptiness about him, his heart wishing someone would join him on the pear, but I suppose things like that only happen in romance novels.

"Say, would you like to join me?"

"W-what!"

I was shocked with his forwardness.

"Sure, watch the fireworks with me. It'll be just the two of us."

"Jack, I-I mean-I don't-I-……are you sure it's alright?"

"Of course. Here."

Jack scooted over to the left side of the dock to give me room. I slowly stepped forward next to him and as I did so, the sky filled with red light.

"It's started!" Jack exclaimed.

For about twenty minutes the lights went on and the sky glowed with reds, greens, yellows, blues, and whites. When the noise and the lights finally died down I turn to Jack. To my surprise, he's looking down at me, smiling the smile of his.

"Jack….?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because, you've been holding my hand since the fireworks started."

I saw with some horror that this was true. I had his hand gripped in both of mine. I was so much more petite compared to him I let go in a snap.

"I-I'm sorry. Jack……"

"It's alright. I don't mind at all."

"Jack?" I say, managing to finally look up at him.

"Yes?"

"…nothing. Thank you, Jack, for tonight."

He doesn't say a word, but nods a 'your welcome' at me.

There's not much else to tell after that. We said our goodbyes and left to our homes with the rest of the crowd. I like to think that tonight was a date. Yes, tonight was our first date, whether Jack knows it or not.

-Mary-

TO BE CONTINUED