Chapter 16: This is Your Conscience Speaking

When Cliff and I finally reached the house, the sun had already made its way into the sky, and by the looks of it, it was nearly 7 am. I pushed upon the door, and stumbled in holding my shampoo in my hands, and Cliff following behind me.

"Welcome home!" I cheered out gleefully. I laughed as I turned around, noticing that Cliff had not yet stepped inside. "It's okay. You can come in."

"Are you sure I can stay with you?" He asked me yet again. "I really don't want to bother you, I mean you have work to do, and after all… there is Kai and all. I mean, what is he going to think of me living with you?" I hadn't thought of that yet. How stupid of me, not to think of my boyfriend. He was going to be jealous.

"Well… Kai will just have to get over it. I mean, me and you… we're just friends… right?" I said, plopping my things down in the bed and walking toward the couch.

"Right" He said smiling at me, but then his eyes flashed away from mine, as though he wished not to look me in the face. I shrugged it off and pulled out the bed that was once my couch.

"Here, this is where you can sleep. It's pretty comfy… although… I've actually never used it… hmmm… oh well, it will do," I said. Cliff looked a little uncomfortable, but I knew that after a little while he would settle down. I mean after all, he had lived at the Inn ever since he came to Mineral Town. Suddenly just as I was about to go change into my clothes for work, there was a knock at the door. I quickly ran and opened the door. Outside was Mayor Thomas.

"Oh my, I'm sorry, I didn't realize how early it was," He said laughing. I looked at myself. I looked ridiculous. I still had on just my robe, my pink fuzzy slippers, and a pink towel was still wrapped around me head.

"It's quite alright, I'm just late to rise I guess," I laughed, "What do you need?"

"Well, I wanted to remind you that the chicken festival was tomorrow, and ask you if you were going to enter a chicken," he said. He was right; I hadn't even realized that summer had passed so quickly.

"Oh yes, I'm going to enter my prized chicken, Paris," I responded.

"Okay, well the festival starts tomorrow at 10am, so just bring yourself and Paris to Rose square and we'll start right away. See you tomorrow!" and at that, Mayor Thomas turned and walked out of the farm. I shut the door behind him and sighed. All of a sudden I realized something.

"The Chicken Festival… KAI!! I told him that I would stop by the beach house and he would help my train for the festival. I completely forgot!!" I said, and quickly ran into the bathroom and changed out of my robe. When I ran back into the main room I saw Cliff standing there staring at me.

"Oh my Cliff!! I'm so sorry I have to run out on you like this. Don't worry though, I'll be back in a couple hours. As for now, just make yourself at home. I have a lot of food in the refrigerator. I'm sorry Cliff," I said, feeling horrible for my forgetfulness.

"It's fine. I mean, after all you're letting me stay at your home, don't worry about it," He said. I quickly ran over to him and hugged him, and then quickly ran out the door toward the chicken coop. Inside the chicken softly cheeped as they sat on their nests. I gently picked up Paris, and then ran out towards the beach. I was already late!

When I reached the beach, I could feel the soft ocean mist against my face. Kai was so lucky to live right where he could see it all. As I walked down the stairs I saw Kai coming out of the beach shack, with Rick following right behind him.

"Look Kai! All I'm saying is stay away from my sister! I don't like you, and you don't like me, and I don't want you patronizing her. She's gone through enough with dad gone and all. Just lay off!" Rick shouted at Kai, Kai walking away toward the dock with a large wooden box in his hand.

"I've told you a million times Rick. I don't care what you say, and I'm not going to listen to you. You're just a weak little boy," Kai said dropping the box quite forcefully on the dock. He picked up his head and his eyes spotted mine. He looked stunned. "Rick… uh maybe you should go," he said a little quieter.

"Fine…" Rick grumbled and turned his back on Kai, walking straight toward me mumbling to himself. As he past I heard one word… Jerk. I didn't know what to think, but I just walked down toward Kai still carrying a frightened Paris in my arms.

"Hey babe," Kai said to my as he ran up. He softly patted Paris on the head and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey… what was that all about?" I asked, glancing back at the stairs to see Rick angrily kicking a crab trap as he walked off.

"Oh… Rick just thought something very stupid and he had to go down and yell at me for something that isn't even true. Don't worry about it… it's nothing important," He said to me. "Are you ready to start Paris's training?"

"Yeah, I heard this chicken festival is a big deal here in Mineral Town," I said.

"It sure is, and I think it would be great if you won. Hey, I was also wondering if after a little training you would want to go up to spring with me tonight." He said, with a little grin on his face.

"Yeah sure," I said, finding it quite ironic that I had been there once already today. Maybe then would be a good time to tell Kai that Cliff was now living with me, even though it sounded quite bad when I thought about it.

"Okay sounds great. Well then… let's get started," He said, and I gently lay Paris down on the sand. Kai taught me all the rules of the game, what to do to cheer her on, and we even had some test drills using an old stuffed potato sack as Paris's opponent. It took quite a long time, much longer than I expected, but soon enough Paris caught on.

"Paris! That's great! You are so gonna kick butt tomorrow!" I cheered. Kai looked over to me smiling at my enthusiasm. I picked Paris up in my arms and hugged her.

"So, do you wanna go up to the springs now?" Kai asked, taking my free hand as we walked along the beach.

"Yeah, just let me drop Paris back at the coop and get my swimsuit and I'll be ready," I replied. "I'll meet you there." Kai nodded and let go of my hand gently giving me a kiss upon the cheek and then walking into his beach house to retrieve his trunks. I smiled and merrily skipped back to the farm. I quickly dropped Paris back at the coop, giving her a quick snuggle of congratulations and then ran back to the house. As I walked in I was surprised to find Cliff working away in the kitchen. There was a great smell that filled the entire room and he had even set the table.

"Hey Jen! I thought you might be back around this time, so I prepared dinner for you for all that work," he said revealing a sizzling pan of shrimp scampi and fried rice. Everything looked so delicious, and so wonderful, and I felt horrible turning it all down.

"Oh my Cliff… this is so wonderful… but I… I told Kai I would go with him to the spring tonight. I'm so sorry. Every looks so delicious and I really wish I could stay…" I said, dropping my head to the ground.

"Its fine," Cliff replied, but I could hear the disappointment in his voice. "Go ahead, have some fun, but don't stay out too late young lady," he said jokingly and waved me on to go change. I smiled at him, and ran to go change into my bikini.

"How do I look?" I asked, coming out from the bathroom wearing my black bikini top with orange and pink Hawaiian flowers and a towel around my waist covering the lower portion on the bikini.

"You look cute," he said laughing.

"Thank you so much for understanding, you're the best Cliff," I said, and I quickly walked out the door. As I walked past the fields I found myself thinking about Cliff.

"Cliff is such a great guy. I mean, he cooked me dinner. I have never met a guy that would do that for me," I said to myself. Soon enough I came to the springs and as I approached I saw Kai already sitting in the bubbling springs.

"Hey! I'm glad you made it," he said, moving over to open a spot for me next to him. I slowly lowered myself into the steaming water, finally covering my whole body. I looked over to him. He was grinning.

"What is it?" I asked giggling a little.

"It's just that… you're so beautiful," he said looking straight into my eyes and slowly leaning in to kiss me. His lips laid themselves against mine, and I fell into the kiss, but still thinking to myself.

"Why can't we ever just talk?" I asked myself as we continued to kiss. "Ever since I've been going with Kai, we never really talk; he just goes straight in for the kiss. But Jen… why don't you ever just tell him you want to talk? Maybe it was because I wanted Kai to like me. I didn't want to push him away." Kai moved to my neck, and I squirmed a little as he kissed me.

"Jen… you are spineless, just tell him. I mean it's halfway through summer now and you've been with him for half a season. You should be able to make some decisions." I told myself. I felt Kai lay his hand upon my thigh. "Would Cliff ever pressure you into things? Why am I even thinking about Cliff? Kai is my boyfriend." Kai's hand started to move up my leg, and his hand moving around to the string of my bikini. "Jen… just tell him you don't want to go there yet… just tell him to STOP!"

I finally listened to myself.

"Kai… stop. Not yet. I'm fine with kissing you, but nothing more… okay?" I said to him as I gently pushed him away. He looked at me a little stunned it seemed, and soon enough laid back.

"Fine," He said, I wasn't quite sure what the meaning was, but right now I need to go.

"Kai, I have to go. I have some things to deal with back at home. Thank you for teaching me about the festival and helping me today, but right now I have to leave… see you tomorrow?" I asked, pulling myself from the springs.

"Yeah, see ya," He said. I could tell he was disappointed… or mad… but I'd just have to figure that out later. I wrapped my towel around me and started my walk home. I was dark out now, and a little chilly.

"That was the biggest fight I've ever had… with my conscience," I said laughing to myself. "Maybe I should listen to myself more often…" When I arrived back home I was completely dark inside the house. I quietly opened the door. Inside I found Cliff asleep on the couch, not even on the bed. I walked to the kitchen and found a note.

Jen

There is some left over in the refrigerator if you want some. Thank you for letting me stay here. You are the best friend I've ever had, and I hope I'm not that much of a hassle.

Cliff

I smirked to myself. Cliff was such a great guy. I quickly changed into my PJs and had a small bowl of cold rice. As I laid down in bed, I found myself more tired than I had though, and soon enough I feel asleep.