Lightning-Dono: Another chapter. :) Hmmm...I made this in April and I don't think I updated much when I made it then. xD Well, I'm making up for that now. By the way, I have Writers Block, so don't expect much.

Answers to the Review(s)

PacificTwist – Oh no, it's fine! Don't worry about late reviews – I love them all and I appreciate you chipping into your rough schedule to read other fanfics and, of all of them, this. –tears- Thank you so much!

lil-c-girl2218 – I hate being sick period. O.o I have a horrible immune system (I'm cursed with my mom's immune system. Eep.), so I get sick every few months and it's so ANNOYING. Good luck getting revenge on Jack! xD;

Sikerra the Eternity Knight – Why, thank you. –mounts a cross on story- Then again, I'm not Christian, so forget that. xD Nuuu, no poisoning! Not now...

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Second of Summer

I'm feeling a whole lot better today, thanks to tip-top immune system and the constant (Almost) vigil of Ruby who lovingly provided me with excessive amounts of chicken soup. Which brings me to wonder where the hell she got all of those poor chickens from. Possibly from Mineral Town? That place is very lively – I love the environment it poses for visitors. Everyone is so friendly and close-knit, when you first arrive you feel left out. But before long...you're friends with everyone. It's sad that I had to leave, but I couldn't stand the ever-social neighbors and the constant knocking on the Inn door for what I wanted for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. I mean, when I want to eat, I'll come right down there and place an order! Geez...

Ruby said that I could walk around outside today, but only if I didn't overdo myself, so off I went. As usual, people noticed my absence over the past couple of days, but all they did as I passed by was stare, as though my face had all the answers. In general, I try to keep a poker face for those things – therefore, they'll never know. Apparently the only people who cared were Cody and Gustafa for the moment they saw me, they rushed up and interrogated me on my life during the past couple of days. And, to my dismay, Jack also noticed. Fairly observant for a guy who can't even realize that his field is supposed to be half the size it is now.

The meeting wasn't as disastrous as I had expected, but he just ran up to me and asked me why I was gone. Here's the conversation as I remember it. And since I have an excellent memory, it should be very accurate, save for a few words.

Jack: "So, where were you for the past couple days?"
Me: "Why would you need to know this?"
Jack: "Just curious. Besides, there's nothing to do."

At this point in time, I was thinking, "Really? How about...chopping your field down to it's correct size?" But I didn't say that.

Me: "That must be tough." (Rather sarcastically, I must add.)
Jack: "Yes. So where you been?"

I was tempted to give him a lesson in proper speech and grammar, but I decided to let it slide if he was trying out new accents.

Me: "I was sick."
Jack: "With what?"

I just about gave up on him right then and decided to tell him everything, just to get him to go away.

Me: "The cold. Probably a bug or something. Now, please go back to working on your farm." (It could use the work.)
Jack: "Why don't you ever want to talk to me?" (At last, he has reverted back to his native style of speech.)

This line struck me speechless – what was I supposed to say that didn't sound like a kid on a playground who was unwilling to share his usual space under the slides.

Me: "Will you just leave? Please? I'm trying to have some time to myself here without people bothering me."
Jack: "Then how come you let Cody and Gustafa talk to you? Seems like you just hate me."
Me: "Hate isn't quite the right word, plus Cody and Gustafa have been my friends for a very long time now."
Jack: "Then what would be the right word?" (He completely ignored the rest of my statement, I believe.)
Me: "If you can take this without crying, I'm disgusted in you."
Jack: "Why?" (He sounded so much like a little kid I actually wanted to lower the tension and just leave. However, my more violent side was urging me on to smack him in the face.)
Me: "You...just think about it. Go look at your cow, for God's Sake! Then milk it and drink it's milk! Okay? Got it? Bye."

That's when I left. I felt dreadful, telling him something like that, but he should eventually learn the truth. What he thinks is benefiting the rest of the valley is actually allowing it to deteriorate slowly. Sometimes I wonder how others going to other cities talk about where they come from.

"Oh, the valley I come from is absolutely GORGEOUS, not unlike this place. It thrives on music, mainly guitars, and we have very diverse personalities wandering about. There's a scholar and his apprentice that set up an archaeological site. He's really a nice guy, I see him often. And then there's this melancholy bar tender that often strums on his guitar that makes the most irresistible drinks available for miles around. A rich old woman who lives in a villa...oh, and a nonentity farmer who is the laziest bum I've ever met and insists on wooing this one blonde chick..."

Honestly, our reputation is slowly falling apart. But that's not of any concern to me since I'll be leaving soon, anyway. Probably at the end of this year. Despite the fact that people think I'm cold-hearted, I really do love Gustafa. If he proposes to me at the end of the year, I'll be sure to stay for as long as he'd like.

I'll end the entry here. There's not much left to say.