AUTHOR'S NOTE: Man, that last chapter was a long one, wasn't it? Pretty good work for having writer's block, eh?

Well you may or may not like hearing this, but we're entering the final stretch of the story. Pretty soon it'll all be over. But hold your tears. We're not quite there yet.

Chapter 14: Shades of Gray

There were several more entries in the diary after the Starry Night Festival, but none had to do with either his father or Gray. The would mark the second time Leo would skip over what his mother wrote, but time was short and he didn't want to leave the house wondering exactly how things turned out. Well he knew the answer to that, but he didn't know how it happened and that was what really interested him. Besides, he would be able to read through this book again any time he pleased. He could go back and catch up on what he missed as soon as he got back if he wanted.

Leo stopped and wondered exactly how he would be once he came back here. What kind of mood would he be in? Just how bad were things going to be anyway? His mother and father were both good people and great parents. If he knew that this was to be their fate, he would have never left the farm. If he would have stayed, maybe his mother would still be alive. None of this may have ever happened.

The day had been a wash of sadness and guilt, one emotion just leading into another. If time did heal all wounds, he hope he would be a quick healer. He didn't know how long he could go on with so much baggage weighting down on his heart.

Scanning the pages Leo found his father's name mentioned again. The date was under the 30th. This would have been the last day of winter. They were about to enter a brand new year, and Leo would be going along for the ride.

Winter 30

Happy New Year! Well, almost. Today is the Year End Festival. This will be the day that the villagers gather at the peak of Mother's Hill and watch the sunrise. It's a beautiful sight, so it's a shame that only a handful of the townspeople come up to see, but I suppose I understand. It's dark and cold and Mother's Hill can be dangerous if the trail is slippery. I've almost hurt myself up there before, so I should know. The festival doesn't start until midnight, however, so most business are still open today. I'm really looking forward to it. And, if he shows, I'll ask Jack to watch it with me. It'll be so romantic! The sun will dawn on a new day and a new year. Don't be surprised if I don't write anything until tomorrow. Like I said, the festival do not begin until midnight, so by the time I get home I just may pass right asleep. I never was much of a night owl anyway.

-Mary-

Spring 1

It's now spring, the season of love. The snow has completely melted from the ground, but that might be because of the fact that it didn't snow since the twenty-fourth, so the snow had plenty of time to melt. The weather is becoming warm again, birds are singing, and plants are blooming. You don't know just how happy my father is with that last part. However, that's not the point. I said I'd talk about the Year End Festival and that's what I'll do.

I arrived a bit earlier then I normally do, but I wasn't the only one there. Saibara was already there and was standing at the very edge of the cliff, but that fine by me, I could never work up the urge to stand that close anyway. I would be to afraid that I would fall. I never understood why mom and dad never come with me up to the peak, thought. All they tell me is that they have a better spot and that they'll 'show me when I'm older'. How much older do I have to be?

After I was situated in my own little part of the cliff the rest of the crowd came out. I don't remember exactly everyone there but I do remember seeing Ann, Popuri, Rick, Mayor Thomas, Barley, and May (Barley is the elderly man who runs the livestock farm. May is his granddaughter). I also believe that Duke and Manna from the Aja Winery where there, but I can't be for sure. To my own luck, Jack did come. I was checking over my shoulder every time I heard someone coming up the path. Finally it was Jack who came. I waved him over to were I was.

"Are you here by yourself, Mary?" He asked me.

"Yes. I'm the only one in my family that makes the trip this far up Mother's Hill in winter, it seems." I joked.

"Then, if you don't mind, would be alright if I kept you company?"

"That sounds nice."

The moon slowly made it's way across the final stretch of the sky and the sun rose. We all cheered and prayed for another happy year. I was so tired after watching for so long that I found my self resting upon Jack's side. He didn't mind one bit. He just let me relax upon him and the sun broke the distance. The sun was beautiful and all seemed right and good in the world. Despite the cold, I was still warm pressed to his side. He even kind enough to help me home. I doubt I would have pass out in the snow, I could have made it home fine on my own, I was tired, true, but not brain dead. Still, it was the fact of the matter that was so kind. It was that he was, again, going out of his way for me when he didn't have to. Jack's the best.

Today, however is the New Year Festival. As you see our celebration of the passing year is done in too parts. The first part is more the serious, respectful part, today we celebrate. The festival starts at six and there will be music, food, dancing, and games. Now much more of the town shows up for this part for obvious reasons.

I just got a look at the clock and it's a lot latter then what I thought it was. I have to go get ready and I only have a few hours to do it. Sorry that I had to end this so quickly. I'll write later.

-Mary-

Spring 1 (cont.)

The festival is over now and I'm sitting bed writing as I have before and will probably do again. The strangest thing, and I didn't get to mention this before, is that earlier today I was passing by the road that leads to Jack's farm, I saw Karen coming up the path.

"Karen."

"Oh, hi, Mary!"

"Were you coming from Jacks?"

"What? Me? Oh no, no, no, no."

"Then what were you doing?"

She paused.

"Um……walking."

"Walking?"

"Yes, walking. I'm sorry I didn't report that into you earlier, Ms. Mary."

"Sometimes I don't understand you, Karen."

"Good. I like to be mysterious. Now if you excuse me, I must be on my merry way, see you tonight."

"So long."

I was at the New Year Festival and I was enjoying myself nicely. The music was nice and the food was great. I'm trying to remember who cooked for the festival this time, but I just can't remember. Well, I suppose that's not of the up most importance anyway. Mayor Thomas announced that there was going to be a special couples song as soon as the one that was playing finished. At that moment, I felt a tap on my shoulder and there was Jack.

"Care to dance?" He asked right out.

"R-really? Do you mean it?"

He nodded.

"That sounds wonderful, but there's a certain dance that goes along with the song they'll play. It a tradition around here and I don't think that you'll know it, not to be mean or anything , I'm sure you're a great dancer, but It's just that-"

"Mary. Calm down. Don't worry about it. Trust me."

"Al-alright."

The song started and he lead me out into an open area and to we started to dance. I was sure that he didn't know what I meant by the dance, but he did! He did every step right. I was so impressed! He was great at it! Do you know what else? I never got a good look, but out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Karen watching us and smiling.

-Mary-

Spring 5

I saw Gray in Rose Square today. I said hello to him and gave a small wave over, but that was it. He didn't even really talk to me at all. I approached him to ask if he was alright, but he just excused himself and left. I think something is wrong. Maybe I'm just taking this too hard. He may have actually been in a hurry. Yes, I'm sure that I'm just over reacting.

-Mary-

Spring 9

I haven't seen much of Gray at all lately. He used to seem to always find time to stop by the library, if even for a minute, but he hasn't been in for about a week now. I stopped by the blacksmiths and Saibara was there, but Gray wasn't. I asked him about Gray. He said that Gray wasn't acting like himself so he gave him the day off. Something is wrong and I know that one way or another, it's my fault. I just wish he would talk to me and tell me what's on his mind. Until then I don't know what to really think.

Spring 10

They say that you should be careful what you wish for or it just might come true. That is completely correct. It was late when I closed up the library today. As I was locking up I heard my voice being called. I looked over and coming down the path to me was Gray. He looked strange. I can't explain it, but looked very different. One thing I did see what that his face was red.

"Gray! Are you alright. You've been acting so differently as of late."

"Have I? I had a lot on my mind, Mary. I had to do some thinking, clear out my mind."

"Do you feel better now?"

He ignored my question, or maybe he didn't even hear it.

"How long have we know each other, Mary?"

"Well, since we were kids I guess, but I don't see-"

"Growing up, you were one of my best friends. You were the only person that I could really talk to because you were the only person who bothered to listen to me and my stupid problems."

"Gray…"

"For so many years we've spent time together hanging out and just enjoying ourselves and I liked doing that with you. I just like being around you, Mary because when I'm with you, I feel free, like there's nothing I can't do. You've always meant a lot to me, Mary, always. And as I grew older, those feelings for you only grew stronger."

"Please Gray-"

"Hear me out, Mary, please. You've been on my mind so much lately that it's come the fact that I can't think of anything else. I was scared of my feelings before, but not now. Now I know I have to say what I have to say, what's been on my mind for a long time and if I don't do this now, I'll lose my nerve and I'll never be able to speak my mind."

He looked me dead in the eye and took both my shoulders firmly in his hands and suddenly he pulled me toward him. I fell off balance and caught myself on his chest. Both of his arms wrapped firmly around my body and held me tight. I was so taken off guard that I made no attempt to move, my brain just couldn't send that signal. So I was trapped in the arms of a man at night, under the street lamps.

I would hear him breathe and felt his heart pounding away so and so hard. It was then that I realized that I was scared. I was really scared and I had no idea why, but the fear was there all the same. I knew what he was going to say then, I knew it, but I didn't stop it. Maybe I should have, but I didn't and he said what I feared.

"Mary…I……I love you."

The strength in his arms seemed to leave and found their way into my body. I slowly pushed away from him and his embrace. His eyes were looking right into mine. I could see that he meant every word. Gray was in love with me. If he would have said those words to me a year ago, even a few months ago, I would have been the happiest person on Earth, but now, after all that had happened, I had no idea what to think or do. I didn't know how I felt, what my true feelings were.

Gray's head turned suddenly and he was no longer looking right at me, that cause the knot in my heart to loosen, but it just tightened right back up as I followed his gaze down the opposite path from which he had come. There, in the darkness stood a figure, just watching. I couldn't see the person clearly, but I didn't have too. I knew who it was. I knew that outline as well as I knew the back of my own hand.

A single word escaped my lips. More like, forced it's way out. Even if I didn't want to say it, I would have. There would have been no stopping it, but I gave no fight. I was so tired of fighting. I spoke one word, the word that named the stranger in the shadows and that word was:

"Jack."

TO BE CONTINUED