Chapter 2- Clouded Eyes

Elli awoke in the morning, rubbing her stinging brown eyes. She had slept fitfully, having dreams about Grandma, and how she was very ill.

Ever since Elli was little she had loved the beach. And Elli had every intention of meeting Jay in the very same place she left him- at the docks.

Elli dressed in her favorite dressy outfit, and clicked the miniscule black clasp. She felt good, and pretty. She even tried to force a hairbrush through her tangled hair.

Elli was too anxious to wait any longer. She quickly walked to the beach, and she sat on the docks, dipping her feet in the cool water. Elli numbly wondered if she should have worn her hair in braids to help bring out Jay's memory.

But Elli didn't have time to think beyond that. The horn on the ferry blared, and Elli jumped up, dusting off her backside.

The giant ferry steered towards the docks, and the passengers onboard were cheering. For what though? They couldn't be that excited to see the Mineral Town Docks!

Ten people left the ferry, and two of the men stopped, looking lost. Elli, making herself useful, offered to help.

"Miss, my name is Jay, and I'm looking for this girl." Jay held up the picture of Elli and him as kids.

"Jay, I'm Elli, and that girl would be me." Elli said quietly.

Jay looked her up and down. "No. The girl I'm looking for likes red, and has black hair." Pushing past Elli, Jay walked up the beach and into town.

Elli's heart sank. She should have expected this. She did look different.

She gasped. Braids. Elli ran home, and in her room, she attempted to braid her knotty hair.

Elli ended up with braids similar to hers as a little girl. Desperate, Elli flung on a red dress she had that she wore on Christmas. This outfit may be her last hope.

Trudging, Elli arrived in the Square, where Jay was. He was standing with Karen, but was eying Mary's black hair.

Looking up, Jay saw Elli. Unable to recognize her, Jay walked over, seeing the similarity in her and his childhood friend.

"Who are you?" He asked politely. He stuck out his hand.

"My name is Elli. Are you by any chance Jay?" Elli asked, shaking it.

"Yes I am. I'll pay you if you lead me to this girl." He pointed at the black and white photo of them.

"That girl would be me."

"Look, Miss Elli, stop trying to deceive me! Only the person who knows where our buried hearts are!" Jay stormed off. Elli had felt like she'd been slapped.

The buried hearts! "Jay!" Elli called after him. "Jay!"

"No what?"

"I'll show you where those hearts are. I'm the girl you knew!" Elli cried.

"Fine. Lets go." Jay said reluctantly.

Elli beamed. "And one heart is beneath the big tree, and the other one's by that pup's house, Ralph, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Jay said quietly. "One more test. What did you promise me?"

Elli smiled, tears forming around her eyes. "My foot. I promised you my foot in marriage." She hugged Jay.

"Oh Goddess! It is you Elli! That Karen girl seemed so familier too! She said she dyed her hair a lot! Her eyes bring back the same memories yours do. Maybe I'm crazy. I've been under so much pressure to work this farm to perfection! I can't stand it!"

"I know how you feel, Jay, I know how you feel." Elli said, rubbing his hair gently.

Her dreams come true. Everything was perfect.

Elli didn't realize how very wrong she was.

A/N: You'll see some twists in the next chapter. I've tried to foreshadow- see if you can find it. If not, you'll find out within the next 2 chapters:) KLS