Chapter 15: Bubbles

This chapter is back in Jen's POV

I woke up bright and early the next morning, somewhere right before the sun rose, but to where it was warm enough to step outside. It had been a wonderful night. My best friend was getting married, me and Cliff were friends again, and except for that accidental kiss, I was no longer confused about where I stood in my relationships. I was happy with Kai, happy that I had met him, happy that he had asked me to dance that lonely night. It seemed that life here in Mineral town was defiantly looking better.

I pulled myself out of bed. I was unable able to sleep a wink last night, still bubbling with all the excitement that had occurred. I looked at myself in the mirror; I was a mess. My hair hung limply around my face, and I looked like I had gone into a dog fight, only without a dog. I pulled open the curtains that covered the window and looked outside. It was still dark, and the sun had not yet risen over the fields. I looked at the clock; it was only 4:30 a.m. The sun would not rise for another 2 hours still.

"Maybe I'll take a bath..." I thought to myself, pushing open the door to my newly built bathhouse. My shack sure had grown in the brief season since I had moved in. I reached into the tub and turned on the water, letting it spill over my fingers.

"Brrrr... the water is freezing!" I said and shut the water off again. "There must be something wrong with the pipes... I'll have Zack check that out later." And I walked back into the main room. I was really in the mood for a bath this morning, and I grumbled in disappointment as I lay back down in bed.

"Hey!!" I exclaimed out loud, "What about the hot springs? Nobody is going to be up for another 3 hours now. I could go take a quick dip, and run home without anyone knowing." I smiled and pulled myself out of bed once again. I quickly grabbed a towel and slipped my slippers onto my feet. Before running out the door I grabbed my shampoo out of the cabinet, and pulled my robe on over my bare arms; it was much to chilly still to be running around in a lacy night gown.

Quietly I shut the door behind me and started my walk toward the springs. How good it would feel to slip into that bubbling water, and for once, just be able to relax. I quietly hummed the tune to an unknown song as I walked over the bridge towards the mountains. It was so beautiful out, even though the moon still hung in the sky. I pulled my legs up the rocky stairs towards the springs, my eyes still partially closed from my tiredness. Even without my eyes open I could feel the heat from the springs. It felt wonderful. To the other side of me I could feel the mist floating off of the waterfall. It too felt wonderful.

I opened the screen door around the spring, and gracefully slipped off my robe and nightgown. I removed my slippers and dipped my toes into the water. It was steaming hot, but not too hot. The perfect temperature for a bath. I slipped my whole leg into the water, and soon enough let myself sink in. My whole body relaxed and I let go of everything. It was just me, and the sounds of the waterfall.

The words to the unknown song suddenly rushed into my mind, and I started to hum, and soon enough found myself singing. I thought, why not, nobody is here to listen to me.

"Mmmmm...

I miss you... miss you so bad....

I won't forget you, oh it's so sad

I hope you can hear me,

Cuz I remember it clearly

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Ooooh... Hmmmm"

I continued to sing to myself as I massaged Vanilla scented shampoo in my hair. The bubbles completely surrounded my body and I could not even see into the water. It was so relaxing. I dipped my head under the water and rinsed the bubbles from my hair. When I reappeared from the water's surface and laid back and closed my eyes, and began my song once again.

"Nah nah... nah nah nah... nah nah

I Miss you..."

"You know... you have a beautiful voice..." A voice suddenly broke into the midst of my song. I was shocked and let out a soft shriek, embarrassed that I was caught outside, nude, in the hot springs.

"Hey don't worry about it," the voice said, and a smiling face appeared peeking over the screen. "I do it all the time, bathe in the springs I mean... not sing," He laughed. I was happy to see him, but I wanted to die of embarrassment at the same time. I knew the bubbles covered my body up, but I still felt quite exposed.

"Hey um... do you care if I join you. I'm in need of a good bath," he laughed again, giving me a gorgeous smile. I couldn't speak. Instead I just mumbled a little and nodded my head. His head disappeared from behind the screen and I could see his shadow walking along the sides towards the door.

"What am I gonna do... he's coming in here... with me... and I'm... NAKED!!" The thoughts ran through my mind. Cliff appeared from behind the screen door. He pulled off his shirt. I was embarrassed, and I looked away, but out of the corner of my eye I was him pull of his pant, leaving his boxers on... THANK GODDESS! He slowly waded into the water and sat down a little ways down across from me.

"So do you come here often?" He asked, butting his hands through his hair, his bangs falling again in front of his eyes.

"I um... no... first time actually," I laughed, still feeling a little uneasy.

"It's nice isn't it? I come here every so often when I need to clear things from my mind," he said. By the sound of his voice, I could tell something was bothering him.

"What's wrong?" I asked kind of relaxing back into the soft side of the spring.

"Well, last night... me and Ann broke up," he said, staring down at the bubbling water. I looked at him, shocked by what he had just said.

"Oh Cliff... I'm so sorry..."

"Oh don't be, I broke up with her. It had to be done, I can't really tell you the reasons for my actions, but it doesn't really matter. I probably just made the biggest mistake of my life, but I guess we will just have to see now won't we?" He said, trying to keep a light tone in his voice. I could tell that it hurt though, and I tried to change the subject. We continued to talk, about anything that came to our minds. A little about him and Ann, some about me and Kai, and a lot about just random things. I found myself laughing more than I had in a while. It was nice having someone to talk to, although I felt a little guilty because of Kai, but I knew that Cliff and I were just friends.

"Well, I better get out, I'm getting a little hot," Cliff said. I stood up from the spring and walked out of the water. As I watched him walk over toward the river, I noticed that the sun had already risen in the sky. Knowing that I had to go take care of the animals, and jumped out of the water and grabbed my towel. Suddenly without warning, Cliff walked up.

"Hey do you have a um towel?" He said, shaking out the water from his hair. I jumped, and covered myself up with the towel. Cliff, looking up and noticing that I was not fully clothed yet, jumped back.

"Woah, I'm really sorry," He said, turning his eyes away from me. But as he turned his head and took a step back, he lost his footing a stumbled backwards. As in slow motion, I watched Cliff trip backwards, and fall down the hill. I screamed. Quickly I pulled on my robe, tied it tight, and ran down the stair to where Cliff had fallen. He was laying flat on his back, with his eyes closed. Quickly I ran up and kneeled down next to him.

"Oh my! Cliff, are you alright!?" I asked, hoping that he was not seriously hurt. He mumbled and opened up his eyes. He laughed.

"That was awesome!!" He said, laughing with the little breath he had. His eyes were gleaming, and I let out a huge sigh of relief now that I knew he was okay.

"Cliff... you scared me. Let me help you up," I said, standing up and extending my hand to help him. He grabbed my hand, and pulled him self up.

"Are you alright?" I asked, looking him over. No blood, just a clump of dirt here or there.

"Mmmm... just a little bruised up, but I'll be fine," he said rubbing his arm.

"Thank goddess. I would have felt horrible if you were hurt. Here, let me help you back to the Inn," I said to him.

"Hmm, yeah, actually I'm not staying at the Inn anymore. I think it would be a little awkward for both Ann and I," he replied, looking down at the ground.

"Oh my, I'm sorry. Then where did you stay last night?" I asked him.

"I slept out here, right by the waterfall under the tree," he said, not looking too concerned. I was shocked. How could he have slept out here all night in the cold?

"Oh Cliff! You can't stay out here! It's must to harsh, and it's going to be getting colder. We have to find you somewhere to stay," I said to him, starting to walk him down the road toward my farm.

"Eh, it's not a problem. I've spent years of my life living on my own. A couple weeks isn't going to kill me," he said.

"Hmm... where could you stay? Hey! How bout you stay with me!!" I said, not yet thinking over the consequences. "I have a pull out couch in the main room; you can stay there until you find somewhere else to stay."

"Are you sure Jen? I don't want to be a hassle. It's fine. I can stay out here until Ann calms down, and then she'll let me back into the Inn," He replied.

"It's fine... I'm positive," I said, looking at him fondly. I continued to try to persuade him to stay with me. He needed a place to stay.

"Well... fine. As long as you're sure. I can go pick up my stuff from the Inn. Thank you so much Jen. You're a true friend," he sighed, and wrapped him warm arms around me. I smiled, a little embarrassed being up against his bare chest. He let go and looked at me.

"You know... your hair smells like Vanilla," he laughed. I looked at him, almost knowing for certain that this was going to work out, and I playfully pushed him and we started to walk toward home.

Lyrics by Avril Lavigne "Slipped Away"