Chapter 18: Enough is Enough

This chapter will be told in Cliff's POV.

I woke up early everyday to make Jen breakfast, for it was the least I could to for her letting me stay. It was so nice being able to sleep through the entire night, not being woken up by the drunken fights at the Inn, and then the early wake of Doug cooking. It was a dream come true being able to stay at Jen's, not to mention being able to see her beautiful face everyday, and talking to her just one on one.

"Belgium Waffles good for this morning? I picked some fresh strawberries too," I said to Jen as she came out from the bathroom. She had a huge fluffy towel wrapped around her head and a toothbrush stuck in her mouth. I laughed at the sight, but it seemed that neither of us was ever embarrassed by our unpleasant appearance. We had become quite comfortable around each other. She nodded her head and went back into the bathroom.

I put out two plates on the table, and set out a pitcher of orange juice to go along with the meal. This was the second week I had been living here, it was nearing the end of the summer, and I knew Jen's house from top to bottom. I set out a huge fluffy waffle on each plate and put three strawberries on top of each. Jen came out of the bathroom, this time without the towel or toothbrush, and seated herself at the table.

"You know Cliff, I would have been starving without you here. I am a horrible cook, but I can make a mean bowl of cereal," she laughed as she picked up her fork and dug into one of the ripe strawberries. I seated myself across from her and poured both of us a glass of orange juice.

"This is delicious! So fluffy… mmmmm. You know Cliff, you could be a professional chef, now all you need is a big white hat to cove up that mess of hair you have on your head," she said ruffling my golden brown hair. I smiled at her and shook her off, quietly laughing to myself.

"Well I'm glad you enjoy it! I want to help out as much I can, since you are letting me stay here for free. So this is my payment, good cuisine," I replied. "Truly Jen, thanks so much for letting me stay here. It's been so great. It's funny, it's almost like the way we act, was as if we were married" I said. Bad move. She liked Kai, and it was obvious to me, that we were just friends. "Stupid Cliff… Stupid."

"Yeah… but what are friends for right?" she said, trying to change from that awkward situation. I was relieved. "So Cliff, what shall we talk about this morning?" It had become a custom that in the morning we would have a big conversation, getting to know each other. I loved it. She was great at story telling, and I had heard many stories about her family, and her past back in the city. It was all new to me, since I had lived my whole life wandering around in the wild. Well most of it anyways.

"Well, what about the first time you came here? Wasn't it a shock to come to a place you had never been to before, with a whole bunch of people you didn't know?" I asked, gulping down a huge bite of waffle.

"It wasn't as bad as you might think. The day I came was not the first time I was here. When I was young, somewhere around the age of five, I would come to visit my grandfather every summer. And I did know people. Manna and Duke lived here with their daughter Aja, and Barley was here too with his wife before she died. So I wasn't alone when I first came."

"I remember there was a boy here too. Every year when I came, he would be waiting on the dock, and we would spend the whole summer together, playing in the fields. Oh yes, I remember. I had a dream about this not to long ago. The last time I came to the farm I gave him a music box. Something to remember me by, and he gave me this shell necklace you see. Hmmm… but sadly, I don't remember him. I can't remember what he looks like. Whenever I think about it, I feel as though I have broken that promise. I told him that one day I would come back. But now that I'm here, I don't even remember his name…" Jen looked down at the table, her hand clutched around the necklace.

I knew who she was talking about. The boy that she had spent her many summers with. The boy that had become her friend those many years. The boy… that she had forgotten about. I knew what it felt like to forget something, and feel that a promise had been broken. I too knew a girl from my past that I had forgotten about, but it seemed now that it was all coming together.

"Jen… I," I said, but there was a knock at the door. Jen stood up from the table and quickly went to the door. Of course, I already knew who it was.

"Hey Jen! There is a big swarm at the beach shack today. It seems that everyone decided to go for a swim. Do you think you would want to come down and help out, and then I can finally teach you to surf like you asked," the voice said. It was Kai. Everyday he came, and to my dismay, left with Jen.

"Yeah sure! Just let me help Cliff clean up breakfast and then let's get out of here," she said turning around and grabbing her plate. I placed my hand on the plate and looked into her eyes.

"You go have fun, I'll take care of it," I said to her. She smiled and turned to get her things. Once again I watched her walk out the door with that rat. And everyday before he left, he gave me that dirty look. I hated the boy, truly I did. I quickly picked up the table and went out to take care of the animals. Some days it would be me and Jen, and others it would just be me. But I didn't mind. As I said before, it was the least I could do.

The day went by fast, and soon enough the sun started to sink down, turning the sky crimson red and burning orange. I had spent most of the day up at the mountains. I went up to the mountains a lot, mostly just thinking. Today it was our conversation at breakfast that was on my mind.

"That boy she spoke of… he was…" I shook it out of my mind and stood up. Jen was probably coming home at this time, so I started my journey down the hill back toward the farm. When I crossed the bridge I saw Jen riding through the fields on Epona, Skop chasing behind her. I smiled as I got near and she stopped in front of me.

"I was wondering when you were going to come home. Up at the mountains again?" she asked. I nodded and raced her back to the house. She won naturally, atop of that beautiful horse. We walked into the house, and Skop made himself comfortable in his doggy bed. Jen thumped down on the couch and flipped on the television. I went into the kitchen and started to rummage through the refrigerator, trying to find something for dinner.

"So what do you feel like tonight?" I asked. There was no reply. I turned around to find Jen, asleep on the couch. I smiled and closed the refrigerator. I wasn't hungry for dinner anyways. I felt like a drink tonight. I covered Jen with a blanket and slowly opened the door. The fresh night air hit me and I sighed, closing the door behind me. As I walked down the path toward the Inn, I couldn't help but think.

"Jen Jen Jen… why are you with such a scum bag like Kai. Can't you tell that I love you? Damn it! Why can't I just tell her? Am I always going to be such a wimp? Whatever. There is nothing that I can say that is going to change her mind anyways. Well, what am I to complain about. Right now my life is looking pretty good. I have a nice house to live in right now, Ann is no longer mad at me, and I get to see Jen everyday. I'm happy… aren't I?"

I pushed open the door to the Inn. The main room was filled with laughter, everyone talking in little groups. Off in one corner Duke and Gotz were in a heated match of who could chug the most beers. In another were the soon to be wed, Karen and Rick, and off in another were the woman of gossip. As I walked in something hit me. At the counter was Kai and Popuri. Kissing. No… not just kissing. Kai was all over her, a glass of beer in his hand, and Popuri giggling as Kai kissed her neck.

"How could he do that to Jen, just what I though, a scum bag. Oh, if I had the nerve, I would go right up to him and… what am I talking about. I'm a wimp, not violent at all." I scowled at the sight, and seated myself at the bar a little further down. Duke handed me a beer and I slowly sipped it. I occasionally peeked over to see what they were doing. He obviously didn't see that I had come in. After a little while Kai and Popuri stopped kissing and Popuri stood up.

"Well, I'm going upstairs to our room. I'll meet you up there in a little right?" Popuri giggled kissing Kai again on the lips. Won had now walked in and seated himself next to Kai.

"Yeah, I'll be up in a little while," Kai said, motioning Popuri to go. He turned to Won and grinned. I couldn't help myself but listen in on their conversation.

"Well Kai, it seems like you're going to have some fun tonight. But what about the other girl, Jen?" Won asked.

"Jen, yeah she's a nice side dish, but Popuri is the main meal," Kai grinned, taking a big gulp of his drink.

"Well, what are you gonna do about Jen at the end of the summer?" Won asked.

"Nothing. I'll have had my fun, and then it will be over. After all, Popuri seems to come back to me every year, so why should it matter?" He laughed. I could feel my face heat up. How could he!

"Well, Popuri is waiting upstairs for me. I'll talk to you later." Kai took another drink. I couldn't listen anymore. I knew I hated this guy, and this proved it. I stood up from the bar and started for the door. All of a sudden Kai stood up and spun around. I crashed right into him.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, you vagrant," he said with a growl, laughing at his pathetic insult. That was the last straw. I spun around and hit Kai with full force right in the face. He flew back and crashed into the bar.

"Enough is enough."

I walked calmly to the door and pushed it open. I left the bar, Kai upon the ground with a bloody nose, a few laughs, and few yells, and I could already here the gossip starting from the ladies in the corner. That night I didn't go back to Jen's house. Not because I was afraid Kai would tell her what I had done. I knew he wouldn't, because I had black mail on him, and him on me. I couldn't go there, ashamed of what I had just done. That night was another night that I slept under the stars… just thinking.