Chapter 9
Kali groaned and rolled over as a sudden patch of sunlight flitted through the curtains and landed on her face.
"Graaaaay, close the curtaiiins," Kali whined into her pillow, squeaking indignantly when no move was made by the other. Rolling over and squinting through the sun, Kali realized that Gray's bed was empty. She blinked a few times, annoyed with the sun, and swung her legs over the side of the bed; rubbing her eyes and trying to get rid of the drowsy, I-just-woke-up feeling. The clock on the bedside table red 8:36 in its bright red lights, so Kali made her bed sleepily and tossed on some clean borrowed clothes before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her. Happy chatter made its way up the stairs, and Kali adjusted her bandana as she made her way down to the first level, trying to pick out Gray's voice.
"Hey guuuuys," Kali waved, still blinking sleep out of her eyes. Ann stood at the bar next to Cliff, and Gray sat at a table close to them. Ann skipped over to Kali happily, and led her over to a seat next to Gray.
"Hellooo sleepyhead!" she exclaimed, sounding ridiculously like Kali's -now smashed to bits- alarm clock. Kali snorted and shook her head as Gray needlessly offered her some of his scrambled eggs.
"It's only 8:30, Ann. Gray, you know I hate eggs," she said, raising an eyebrow. Cliff walked over and slid into the seat next to Gray and across from Kali, as Ann continued to hover somewhere around Kali's back.
Gray grinned shyly. "I know you don't like them, but I feel generous." Cliff smiled smugly and reached across the table.
"Don't mind if I do then," he said, attempting to grab Gray's breakfast. Gray smacked his hand with his fork and pushed the plate closer to Kali.
"Don't even think about it," he murmured. Ann sat down and grinned, still incredibly cheerful.
"Men," she sighed and met Kali's eyes. Both of them shrugged at the same time, and then broke into small giggles. Cliff and Gray watched in bemusement until the giggles stopped.
"Don't you two have places to be? Such as work?" Ann asked them, taking immense enjoyment in Gray's suddenly annoyed expression.
"Grampa's going to kill me," he muttered darkly. "Thanks for the food, Ann. Come on Cliff, let's get going. See ya later, Kali." The two left the Inn with Kali and Ann waving at their backs. As soon as the door closed, an odd tired expression crossed Ann's face, and she slid off her chair backwards and landed on the floor, leaning against the bar with her eyes closed. Kali narrowed her eyes.
"Are you alright, Ann?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to the side. Ann opened her eyes and looked at Kali, seeming slightly defeated.
"I'm not really sure," she said reluctantly, before shrugging and closing her eyes again. "Maybe you can help me out."
"Alright," Kali replied hesitantly, sliding off her chair and sitting quietly next to Ann. "What's up?" Ann looked around, seemingly making sure her father was out of the room. Once she was positive that he was out of earshot, she took a deep breath in and let it out slowly before turning to Kali.
"I think . . . I think I'm in love with Cliff," she blurted out, turning bright red as soon as the words had left her mouth. She leaned back and closed her eyes again. Kali's eyebrows rose and she nodded her head once.
"Well then, go for it," she said simply, and Ann's head shot up.
"But what about your cousin? Kate? Weren't they going out and stuff?" Ann practically whimpered, running her hands along the cool tile of the floor. Kali rolled her eyes and shrugged.
"They went out once. Now Kate's gone, and you're still here. So go for it." Ann's eyes widened considerably, but she nodded and stood up.
"Can you come with me?" She asked in a small voice, almost not able to look Kali in the eyes. Kali grinned and stood up, wiping her shorts off.
"You want to tell him now? Sure I'll come," she replied with a mischievous grin. "And besides, what are friends for anyway?" Kali started toward the door and paused in front of it.
"You really think I have a chance?" Ann asked, her chipper demeanor returning quickly. Kali shrugged and grinned stupidly.
"What would the world be like if nobody took any chances?" She asked Ann rhetorically, who suddenly looked extremely freaked out. "OF COURSE I think you have a chance, silly!" she exclaimed, pushing one of the heavy wooden doors open. "Now lets get a move on before the day starts!" Ann walked reluctantly to the doors and walked through as Kali beckoned. "To the winery!" Kali half-shrieked, and began skipping in the direction of the winery. Ann sighed and shook her head, slowly following her most likely mentally unstable friend. Kali, having reached the winery before Ann, leaned up against the fence surrounding the building, watching Cliff as he wandered, unaware of her presence, through the vines. Waving quietly as Ann appeared around the corner, Kali stepped slightly farther away from Cliff and pointed toward him with both hands. A slightly panicky look wedged itself onto Ann's face as Cliff noticed her.
"Hey, Ann. What's going on? What are you doing here?" Kali smirked as Ann visibly gulped and pasted a bright smile on her slightly pale face. As Ann walked by Kali's hiding place, Kali scooted behind the house, hoping that if Ann was unable to see her, she'd be more comfortable.
"Hi Cliff. I was wondering . . . can I talk to you for . . . a minute or two?" Kali heard Ann say, and then an approving noise was heard from Cliff.
"Alright, but not for too long; I don't exactly get breaks until lunch."
A nervous giggle from Ann. "Right, okay." Kali sighed and rolled her eyes. This could take awhile.
"So what is it that you wanted?" Cliff asked, his voice seeming slightly suspicious.
"I-I don't know how to say this. . ." There was a long pause, then sound of feet hitting the grass, a slight 'oomph', and then Kali heard no more. Resisting the urge to see what was happening, she slid onto the grass and picked single blades, waiting for the voices to continue.
"Wow." Cliff's voice, slightly breathy.
"Errrmm," Ann's voice was slightly too high pitched. Kali hid her snort behind her hand and stood up, waiting to see if Ann would run away. When no red-headed girls flew out of the winery, Kali rolled her eyes and edged towards the front of the building. No sign of Ann or Cliff. Slightly annoyed that she didn't know what was going on, Kali walked swiftly out of the winery and continued walking until she reached the blacksmith shop. Opening the door, Kali stepped into the slightly dimmed lights, eyes instantly picking out Gray and Saibara.
"Welcome, Kali. Is there something you need?" Saibara asked in a slightly monotone voice.
"Nuh uh, nothing in specific. Just coming to say hi," Kali replied mock cheerfully, but only Gray caught on.
"Where's Ann?" he asked suspiciously, lowering the horseshoe he had been hammering and walking over to Kali. Kali gestured with her head toward the winery's direction.
"She's got it bad, huh," Gray said slyly, and Kali gaped at him in surprise.
"You-you knew!" she exclaimed, ignoring the annoyed noise that came from Saibara.
"I've lived here a long time, Kali," Gray said, raising one eyebrow.
"Oh," Kali paused, "right." Gray's eyebrows remained annoyingly high until Kali hightailed it out of there, coincidentally meeting up with a beaming Ann. Kali's eyebrows rose almost as high as Gray's had.
"Your shoes are untied," she deadpanned, watching Ann's reaction. Ann looked down cheerfully, a smile still stretched widely across her face, before looking up again.
"I'm wearing sandals!" she exclaimed gleefully, before beginning to skip off toward the Inn. Kali, with an utterly confused expression on her face, remained motionless until Ann turned around and beckoned to her.
"What happened!" Kali asked as soon as she had caught up to her friend. Ann grinned.
"You were right," she said in a sing-song voice, throwing her hands in the air. "Not that I'm complaining, because I'm definitely not. I need to go meet Popuri near the hot springs now; bye Kali!" With that, Ann rushed off in a burst of energy. Kali fidgeted and turned the other way, planning to take the long way back to the Inn. As she walked past the library in her borrowed clothes, she felt a heavy pang in her chest, and her throat began to tighten up. Blinking back the spontaneous tears, Kali quickened her pace and began walking toward the Lodge on autopilot. She missed Kai.
Kali's pace quickened to a jog as she reached the church and turned the corner. She was wanted Kai, and she wanted to go home. But now, of course, she had no way to get to Kai, and no way to get home. As soon as Kali's bare feet hit the sand of the beach, she stopped running and slowly made her way to the water's edge. Sitting down on the sand just so her feet barely touched the soft waves, Kali realized that Summer was almost over, and she wasn't sure what would happen when Kai returned.
"Would he just leave me here?" she whispered softly to herself. Kai was her whole family, and even if she was to marry the man of the dreams, she would still miss Kai terribly if he went back home without her. A few years before, he had told Kali something about bringing Popuri home with him and traveling the world with the two of them. But if Kali got married and stayed with Gray in Mineral Town and Popuri did leave with Kai, she wouldn't see either of them for a year.
With the soft crunch of sand, Kali leaned back until her head hit the sand, and closed her eyes as the church bell rang; signaling ten o'clock.
"You'd better not be angst-ing on my sand. If you're angst-ing on my sand, I'll have to throw you in the ocean," Kai's voice chided in her head. Kali's eyes burst open and she shot up, looking around.
"I didn't startle you, did I?" A voice asked from behind her. Kali turned to see Jack holding a fishing rod.
"No," Kali said, having honestly not seen the farmer. She didn't know how to act toward Jack, seeing as Gray hated him for having seduced Mary while they were still together. Gray would probably expect Kali to hate him because he did, but Kali couldn't see anything wrong with Jack. He was polite.
"That's good," Jack continued, fiddling with his fishing rod,. "D'you mind if I fish over on the pier?"
"Oh, go ahead, it's a free beach," Kali said and stood up, wiping sand off her back and straightening her bandana. "But the fish seem bite better when it's raining. And the larger ones only tend to come out at night or early in the morning. Just so you know," she added, shrugging. Jack's eyes lit up.
"Really? Thanks. I just got this rod last night from Greg, and I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I finished with the farm work early so I'd have all day to practice. Do you think you could show me how it works? I brought a lot of bait," He asked sheepishly. Kali considered, and decided Gray wouldn't find out unless she told him. Or if he decided to stop by on his break.
"Sure I will. Let me go find an extra rod inside and I'll join you in a moment," she said cheerfully and headed into the Lodge. Kai's old fishing rod was in the upstairs closet, she remembered, and she pulled it out carefully. When she was back on the beach, Jack was sitting on the pier, trying unsuccessfully to hook a worm. Kali giggled and sat next to him, taking a worm from the jar.
"They squirm a lot, but you'll get used to it," she explained as she slid the worm effortlessly onto her hook, grinning at him. Jack looked down at his worm and copied Kali's baiting technique. "There you go," Kali announced as he successfully hooked the worm. "Now, to cast the line . . ."
Four hours later, Kali and Jack had accumulated a small amount of seven fish altogether, which Kali had placed in a large bucket full of water. The church bell struck one, and Kali reeled in her line.
"What do you say I go in and grab us some sandwiches," Kali asked Jack as she set her rod on the ground between them before standing up.
"Sounds great," Jack replied, his concentration still on fishing. Kali grinned at the vacant expression on his face and waltzed inside, feeling rather joyful. She went back outside a few minutes later with a couple of sandwiches on a plate, just in time to see Gray punch Jack square in the face.
"GRAY!" She shrieked, dropping the sandwiches in the sand and running over to them. Jack's hand was clamped firmly over his face, and blood crept through his fingers. Gray turned in surprise at Kali's voice, and a dark expression settled on his face.
"WHAT is HE doing here?" Gray shouted, his face hideously angry. Kali ignored Gray and hurried over to Jack to peel his hands away from his face. She peeked at his bloody nose and grimaced, letting him cover his nose again. She then turned to Gray.
"What was that all about?" she yelled back, gesturing toward a pained-looking Jack. Gray's eyes widened.
"Answer me first! Why in seven hells is JACK here, alone, with YOU?"
"What, do you not trust me!" Kali screamed, anger turning into rage. "We were FISHING! I was teaching him how," she paused, throwing her hands toward the bucket full of fish and the neglected rods, "TO FISH!" She shot Gray a horrifying glare before turning to Jack. "I'll take you to the doctor now," she told him, making her voice sugary-sweet for Gray's sake. She then linked arms with him and led him off the beach. They both heard Gray's frustrated yell as they turned the corner, and Jack turned to Kali with a guilty look on his face.
"Don't worry about it," Kali said plainly as they passed the church. "I can't believe he hit you! I'm guessing your nose is broken, so I'll bring your stuff back to the farm. Do you want the fish in your pond?" Jack opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it firmly and nodded gratefully instead. The pair stopped in front of the hospital.
"'fank oo," Jack attempted, grimacing at the pathetic sound of his voice. Kali grinned and laughed.
"No problem."
As Kali reached the beach without Jack, she realized that Gray, smartly, had left. Grumbling about his stupidity, Kali placed her rod in the house before picking up Jack's and the bucket of fish and starting off toward his farm. Now in a sour mood again, Kali plotted rather sadistic ways to have Gray fall into a bottomless hole in her head, occasionally laughing out loud. Turning left onto the farm, Kali was greeted by a brown and white dog that wagged its tail enthusiastically at her.
"Why, hello," she grinned at the dog and patted it behind the ears. Finding Jack's door, she turned the knob, which was unlocked, and walked in. The toolbox was right next to the door, and not wanting to invade, she dropped the fishing pole in and walked back outside. After spotting the fishing pond under a tree, Kali walked over to it, kneeled, and dumped the bucket of fish inside. She watched for a few moments as the fish swam in circles under the clear water. Jack's dog, King, as his tag read, jumped into Kali's lap and wagged his tail. Kali stroked the dog's soft fur and looked out toward the field. Kai had originally described this place as a wreck, but what she saw now was a completely weed-free field, rows of pineapple and corn, a field full of grass with cows, sheep, and a horse grazing in it, and a small, fenced in area for the chickens. Soft footsteps walked up behind Kali and she turned to see Jack with a white bandage across his nose.
"This is really inspiring," she told him as King happily pranced toward his master.
"Thanks," Jack said, picking up the dog. "It took a lot of work and effort. But my animals keep me company."
"What about Mary?" Kali couldn't help but ask. Jack sighed, and his expression saddened.
"I . . . don't know about her." Kali took a hint from his darkened expression and dropped the subject.
"I'm really sorry about Gray . . ."
Jack shrugged and let his dog down. "I was asking for it," he sighed, "we're not exactly on the greatest terms; I'm sure you knew that though." Of course Kali knew, so she nodded and looked at the setting sun.
"Well I should be going," she said and stood up. "I'm sure Gray has an apology for me by now."
"Um, not to intrude or anything, but do you two fight . . . this often?" Jack asked cautiously, watching his dog chase his tail. Kali bit her lip and shrugged, playing with the hem of her shirt.
"It depends. I like to argue though, so I'm okay with it. I'll see you later, Jack." Kali waved goodbye before walking off the farm. The sky was tinted in sunset, dark clouds visible in the horizon. Kali glared at them shortly before walking lightly back toward the beach. Gray, unexpectedly, was not anywhere on the beach. Kali cocked her head to the side, put her hands on her hips, and surveyed the beach, and then the ocean. Black clouds bubbled up into skyscrapers; the sunset casting an eerie glow on them as it faded. Kali dropped her arms and sighed.
"Another storm. Wonderful." As she began to turn around, a red-headed blur tackled her to the ground.
"Hello Ann," she bit out, picking her head up from the ground. Ann removed her braid from Kali's mouth.
"Hi Kali! Um, there's a storm coming, so you should get back to the Inn now!" The gleeful grin still sat on Ann's face. Kali raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I see it," she said, gesturing toward the ocean. Ann nodded enthusiastically and helped Kali up.
"Yeah, I see it, I see it," she exclaimed and turned, beginning to skip back toward the Inn. Kali shook her head and began to follow her hyperactive friend.
"Oh." Ann turned around, a sympathetic look on her face. "You can, um, stay with me tonight if you'd like . . ." she trailed off uncertainly, rubbing the back of her neck. Thunder boomed far in the distance.
"Is he really mad?"
Ann continued to rub her neck. "I don't think so, but I'm not sure. I don't really know what happened though, so I can't—"
"I'll tell you on the way back," Kali said hurriedly, walking past Ann. They walked back to the Inn in silence, only broken by the occasional burst of thunder.
"The thunderstorm sets the mood," Kali muttered under her breath, and Ann broke into another grin as she pushed open the doors to the Inn. The first floor was almost empty except for Cliff and Doug, who sat at a table, talking. As the two girls walked in, they stopped talking immediately, and Doug stood up. A slight blush grew on Cliff's face.
"Well hello girls," Doug said importantly. "I need to start making dinner now. If you'll excuse me . . ." Ann grabbed his arm and glared.
"Dad, what were you talking about?" She asked in low voice. Kali stifled a laugh and quietly made her way to the stairs. She hopped them in twos, pausing to steady herself when she reached the top. Gray would be in their room, she figured, as she walked toward it. Bracing herself for the worst, she knocked twice and slowly opened the door.
Gray was lying on his bed, arms tucked behind his head, staring at the ceiling. When Kali entered, he sat up and opened his mouth to talk.
"Let's just forget it," he said quietly, "You're not Mary, and I trust you. I just don't like him is all. It's not worth fighting over." Kali sat on his bed and nodded in silent agreement.
"I do enjoy arguing with you though," she told him thoughtfully and ducked as he swung a pillow at her head.
As Kali shrieked and lunged toward her own stack of pillows, the storm raged outside the Inn, rain pelting the windows in sheets.
