Chapter 7: The Flower Goddess Festival!

Rose Square looked beautiful! There were flowers scattered all over the square, and lights that made the place almost look heavenly. The girls had all gathered in the corner, prepping for the big dance.

So do you think I have a chance of winning?" I asked the girls as I approached.

"I think we all have a chance... but it seems that Popuri just has better odds than all of us," Ann replied sarcastically, directing her comment mostly toward Popuri.

"I'm sorry girls, it's not my fault they all vote for me" Popuri said innocently, flipping her hair over her shoulder. I must admit, she did look the most... flowery.

As I looked around I noticed that all the guys had a piece of cake, each one inspecting it carefully, making sure not to swallow the coin. The older woman had also gathered together, quietly chatting, and the mayor stepped up to the podium.

"Is everybody ready to announce the winners of this year's flower goddess festival?" The mayor announced to the town. Everybody gave a loud cheer and gathered around the stage. The girls went up front, each one checking their makeup in a small compact mirror that Karen carried with her. I looked down and smoothed out my dress, just in case a miracle announced me as the winner.

I wasn't that concerned with winning, I mean after all I had just moved here not even a season ago. I was just happy that I had made the few friends that I had. This whole town was filled with wonderful people, and I couldn't wait to get to know them all!

I looked over to the corner of the square and spotted Cliff sitting quietly on a small barrel. His hair hung down in his face, but I could still see his green eyes that I was once so attracted to. Now that I think of it, maybe I do still have some feelings for Cliff, he was the first person I ever met in Mineral town, and it seemed at first that we connected immediately.

"But he lied to me!" I screamed in my head. "Enough! I have to stop thinking about him; I have to get on with my life. As my grandfather use to tell me, there are so many fish in the sea." He was right, there are so many other great guys in mineral town that I could get to know. I looked around and saw all the guys gathered in a circle. As I skimmed over the guy's faces, I noticed that they all already had a girl. Rick had Karen, Tim had Elli, Grey had Mary, and Cliff... Cliff had Ann.

Thankfully to get my mind off that depressing subject, the mayor started the announcing of the winners.

"Ok everybody... quiet down! We are going to start with the lucky guy who got the coin in his cake, which was so graciously made be Anna. Ok that lucky winner this year is.... Harris!" The mayor announced. Harris walked up on the stage holding the coin in his hand. He was blushing already.

"Ok I know you are all dieing to know who is the Flower Goddess for this year's flower goddess festival. Well you need wait no more. This year's Flower Goddess is.... POPURI for the 4th year in a row!" Everybody clapped insanely as Popuri gracefully floated up onto the stage. All the girls followed, and set up to do the dance. My spot was in the front side, right next to Popuri, who was in the middle.

I started to get nervous, but by the time the music started and got going, I was just as gleeful as the rest of the girls. Occasionally I looked over and saw Karen dancing away, more graceful than a butterfly, and she always seemed to have a smile on her face. I was lucky to have such a great friend.

When the dance was over I was out of breath. I kneeled over and let the cool mountain air filter into my lungs. Everything was so beautiful here. Now was the part I was dreading. Partner dancing. Everybody seemed to pair off two-by-two... It was like Noah's Ark! I saw Ann run over to Cliff, grab his hands and pull him up. She kissed him and dragged him off by one hand. Cliff glanced over at me and smiled, but I quickly turned away.

Everybody had paired up, and there I sat, all by myself on the side. I was the wallflower. The music started, and first was the traditional dance. I didn't feel like watching, so I leaned over, picked up a flower, and started to pick off the pedals.

"Well... here I am... alone... without a dance partner... like always," I said to myself as I pulled off another pedal and let it float down to the ground. "I was right when I thought no one would want to dance with me."

"You know.... You shouldn't come to conclusions like that." A voice said. I looked up. It was the same boy that I had hit on my way to the square the other day.

"I'm sorry, I was just talking to myself," I said blushing. Now that I looked at him, he was quite good-looking, and once again I noticed his deep brown eyes.

"Well just to prove you wrong about your theory... would you like to dance?" He asked me, extending his hand toward mine.

"Sure," Was all I could say as I placed my hand on his, and he pulled my up and out onto the dance floor. The traditional dance was very fast, and I couldn't really talk to this mysterious stranger. As we spun around I looked into his eyes, and he smiled back at me. I blushed, and we turned the other way. This was the most fun I had had in a long time, I thought as we spun around. Just as soon as we started, the dance ended and I collapsed once again upon the barrel.

"That was great," I said to the boy, who sat down right next to me. "Thank you very much."

"It was my pleasure," He said, breathing heavily, but still smiling. As I sat there, regaining my breath, slow music started to play in the background.

"Would you care to dance again?" He asked me. I was quite surprised that such a great guy, wanted to dance with me.

"Of course," I said grinning to myself. He reached for my hand and led me to the dance floor. He placed his hands around my waist, and I laid my hands around his neck. He was very warm, and his skin was soft. He was about half a foot taller than me, so I had to look up to see into his eyes.

"Well... may I ask what this beautiful girl's name is?" the boy asked me. I was beaming at the sound of the word "beautiful", especially when he was referring to me.

"My name is Genevieve, but most people call me Jen," I replied.

Well then Jen, my name is Kai. I live in the city during the fall, winter, and spring seasons, but I always come here just in time for the goddess festival, and I stay all through summer. What about you... I've never seen you here before."

I just moved here at the beginning of the year. My grandfather recently passed away, so I took over the farm."

I'm sorry to hear that. So are you planning on staying?" He asked.

Yeah! I've really come to love it here. The people are great, and the environment is so beautiful."

"I'm glad to hear that you'll be staying... maybe... I can get to know you a little better?" He asked.

"I'd like that," I replied. This was the best thing that had happened to me since I met Cliff, but I really hope it doesn't end that way. Kai and I continued to dance for the rest of the festival, and we talked about anything that came to our minds. By the time the festival was over, it was already midnight.

"Well I have to be going. I have to wake up bright and early tomorrow morning," I said to Kai, my hands still around his neck.

"Well... make sure to stop by the beach house sometime," He replied taking my hand in his.

"I defiantly will," I said to him. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, his hand slipping from mine as a walked towards home.