Chapter 19: Forgotten
This Chapter is back in Jen's POV
"Why are you crying?" A voice asked me. It was the boy, the same boy with golden hair and green eyes that I had given the music box to. He sat down next to me.
"My mommy and daddy said we are moving. Somewhere far away, too far from here. They say that I can't come back next summer," I replied.
"Well then I will see you the summer after," He smiled.
"No, they say that I won't be able to come back, ever, because it will be too far away," I said to him, staring at the ground. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
He took my hand, "We will see each other again, I'm sure of it," he said.
"You're right, we will stay friends forever," I replied.
"You won't forget me, will you?" he asked.
"Of course not…"
I woke up, a cold sweat lay over my body.
"Another dream…" I said turning on the light. "What is it about this place that is causing these dreams?" I looked over to Cliff's bed, but he was not there. I looked at the clock. It was only five a.m. Maybe he had gone out to do some things, but I didn't recall him ever coming in last night. I never knew with Cliff, he still had me stumped sometimes.
"Well now that I'm awake I might as well get up," I said to myself, groggily pulling myself out of the warm bed. It was a little colder than usual, and summer was coming to an end. I looked at the calendar. Today was the annual fireworks festival. Each guy would ask a girl to watch the fireworks with him. It was tradition I guess.
I quickly got on some clothes and pulled my long auburn hair back into a ponytail. There was a lot of work to be done today, it was harvest day. All the crops would be in full bloom, and I was ready to pick them. I was surprised at how well the crops grew. Maybe it was something about Grandfather's fields. He had always been so proud of them.
I picked up my rucksack and walk towards the door. I pushed it open, but suddenly I heard a big "THUMP" and then the door crashed close again. I put my hand in front of my mouth and gasped. I slowly opened the door, and to my surprise, Cliff sat on the ground rubbing his forehead, crops scattered all around him.
"Oh my!" I quickly dropped the rucksack and helped Cliff up, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were out here. Oh my, let me help you pick those up." I knelt down on the ground and started to gather the surrounding crops. Cliff chuckled.
"Don't worry about it, a bump on the head never killed anyone," he said to me, and also knelt down and started to gather the vegetables into the basket.
"What were you doing out here so early anyways?" I asked, standing up and brushing off the dirt.
"Well, with all these crops, I figured we'd have to get started a little early," He said.
"What do you mean? We've never ran out of time before. It usually only takes us three hours to collect them all. Besides, I only planted a few bags this season," I replied, a little confused by what he had said.
"Well we might need a little extra time today. Have a look for yourself," He said, motioning towards the fields. Cliff moved to the side, and it hit me. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The six squares that I had planted at the beginning of summer had somehow spread to all parts of the field. There were green leaves everywhere, holding hundreds of ripe tomatoes. Rows and rows of corn, like a sea of gold, and large white onion tops poking out of the surface everywhere.
"Cliff… this is amazing!" I said, and ran up and wrapped my arms around him. I quickly let go, feeling a little awkward, but then ran up to one of the tomato plants. I picked a tomato from the stem. It was bright red, and plump. Perfect.
"Well, what are we doing just staring at it all, we better get picking!" I said and ran inside to get another basket. Cliff followed me in with the basket of crops.
"I picked some for the refrigerator. They sure are gonna make some great meals. I can just taste it now. Grilled onions and corn on the cob… mmmm…." He said, placing them one by one into the large frig.
"Stop you're making me hungry," I laughed. I ran outside with the basket on my arm, and quickly got to work collecting the delectable vegetables from their stems. It would be the last harvest of the season, so I was to make sure I got every last one from its plant. For hours, Cliff and I ran through the golden and green fields, filling basket after basket. Soon enough the sun had started to set and I realized that in only an hour the fireworks would be starting. I quickly ran inside and took a quick shower. I was covered in dirt. I pulled my wet hair back in two braids. Cliff walked inside.
"Where are you off to?" He asked, plopping down on the couch.
"The fireworks Festival of course, aren't you going?" I asked.
"I'm not really a person for those 'dating festivals'," he said.
"Oh, well that's too bad, I think you would have a lot of fun," I said, a little disappointed. "Well, I promised Kai I would come, and we collected almost all of the harvest. I can get the rest when I get home."
"Don't worry about it I'll get them," he said, but there was something in the tone of his voice that bothered me. Something was bothering him, but right now I didn't have time to find out what it was.
"Thanks, you're the best. I'll be back later!" I said, and ran out the door. It was almost six, and the fireworks would be starting at six thirty. I had to run. It was a little chilly, but it felt good after the long days work. I arrived at the beach just in time. Everyone had begun to gather on blankets all over the beach. I saw Kai running my way and I smiled.
"Hey, I wasn't sure if you were gonna make it," He said taking my hand. "I found a spot a little further down on the beach." He led me down, my hand in his, and I could feel the sand between my toes. He led me to a semi remote spot, with no one around us. There on the sand was a large blanket where we sat down. He laid back and I curled up against him. He was warm. I looked at my watch and the fireworks were just about to start.
"I'm really glad you came," he said, kissing my gently on the neck. I smiled and looked up at the sky. I noticed that the whole canvas of usually navy sky had been covered with clouds.
"I'm glad I came too," I replied and turned to return a kiss on the lips. Suddenly I felt something land on my nose, and then another on my hand. I looked around and noticed small spots starting to appear on the sand. Rain.
"Maybe it's just a shower and it will pass," Kai said. In the distance I heard someone call out.
"Fireworks have been cancelled tonight due to the approaching thunderstorms. There will be a party at the bar is anyone would like to come. Thank you." Then it all pored down. The rain starting to fall in large drops and quickly soaked the blanket.
"Okay, maybe not. Care to join me for a party at the bar?" Kai asked helping me up from the wet sand. I was already soaked.
"I would love to," I replied, "but first, let me run home and change, and then I will meet you there." A lightning bolt flew down from the ski and hit the ocean in the distance, the quiet crash of thunder following. Kai picked up the blanket and we ran out of the beach to rose square.
"I'll meet you at the bar then?" he asked kissing me gently on the lips.
"I'll be there." I ran off towards my house. It was coming down hard now, and the roads were slippery. I had to be careful. I soon came to the farm and quickly ran inside the house. I stood dripping wet at the entrance way, Cliff was staring at me with a curious look on his face.
"You look like a wet rat," he laughed. I gave him a playful punch on the arm and ran to the bathroom to change. "I finished collecting the harvest, every last crop."
"Wow Cliff, you are amazing," I said, reappearing from the bathroom.
"Leaving again?" He asked.
"Yeah, since the fireworks were cancelled, Doug is having a party at the bar and Kai invited me to come," I said drying off my hair with a towel.
"Oh," he said looking at the ground. There it was again. Something was bothering him.
"Cliff, what's wrong. There's something you're keeping from me just tell me what it is," I asked sitting down next to him.
"It's just that, I don't think going to the bar with Kai is the best idea," he replied. I was somewhat taken off guard.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Jen, do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do, I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself. I can handle a few drinks you know."
"That's not what I'm worried about. Kai isn't the nice guy that he acts like he is. I heard him at the bar talking with Won, and I heard him say that he's just going to have him fun with you, and at the end of the summer he's gone. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Hurt? By Kai? I'm more hurt by what you're telling me right now. I don't get you Cliff. Do you just not like Kai or something? I mean, are you that jealous of him?" I stopped. That had come out all wrong. "Cliff, I… I didn't mean it that way."
"If that's what you think… fine. I was just trying to look out for you because I care about you. Maybe you don't see it, but I care about you above anyone else, but if you want to go with that rat Kai, that's fine" He said, standing up from the couch and grabbing a bag of his thing. "Thanks for the stay, but I'm going."
"Cliff, please don't. I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. Don't go out in the rain, you'll catch pneumonia," I pleaded, grabbing a hold of Cliff's wrist. He pulled it away. I had never seen him angry like this.
"I've lived my whole life in the rain, one more night is not gonna kill me," he said and walked to the door. Outside it was poring, and the lighting flashed behind the trees. "Oh and here," he added reaching into his bag. He picked up a wooden box and threw it at me. I caught it in my hands, and ran my fingers over. It was a cedar music box.
"What's this?" I asked.
"You don't remember? Of course you don't, I figured that you had forgotten. It's the music box you gave me the last time you visited here. You said you would never forget me, but I guess things change." He walked out the door, and it slammed behind him.
"My dream… he was the boy from my dream…"