Claire ran a brush through her hair and studied her reflection in the mirror. Cliff had gone back to the inn a while ago, and she had used the time between to harvest as many tomatoes as she could by hand. It was sweaty work, and it required a trip to the open air bath afterward to freshen up. Knowing she'd have a friend for moral support as well as access to heartier foods did bring a certain feeling of relief. However, even with energy she'd get from the more substantial diet, there were more tomatoes on the vine than she could possibly harvest before they rotted.

A different method? New tools?

I don't have that kind of money...

She looked in the mirror and noticed with a frown that the worry lines on her forehead remained even after relaxing her face.

"Not now," she mumbled under her breath, remembering the fun she had cooking with her friends that afternoon. "Let's just have fun tonight."

The floral printed dress she had purchased from Won was surprisingly comfortable, even if the neckline wasn't quite as modest as she was used to. She smoothed down the skirt, admiring the way it puffed out a bit. Tasteful and very pretty, she decided with a nod. She applied a light layer of makeup to complete the look, and she found that she was smiling again as she applied her lip gloss.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think I looked like I was getting ready for a date.

She shook her head with a soft chuckle; she knew that Karen had been kidding when she told her to look cute as a present. Kai had no shyness in telling someone he found them physically attractive, but she found that the only person she was interested in impressing was herself. It was a mindset that had been trying to implement since the Midsummer's Dance, and while it was an ongoing process, she was happy to see that it was starting to take root.

As she buckled up her new sandals, she remembered that the invitation was open to the public. Would all of Mineral Town show up at the beach shack tonight? There was the chance she'd get to speak with people she hadn't seen around lately. The idea filled her with mixed feelings. The party wasn't going to be as intimate as Ann's birthday, but she'd have her friends to stick around if she got overwhelmed. Cliff's words from earlier came to mind.

"We'd be looking after each other."

She could feel her pulse slowing down. Karen and Ann would be there as well, she remembered with a smile.

It's going to be a good night.

"Hey, Popuri, you look super cute today. Ah, here you go!" Kai looped a lei of flowers over her head, letting out a lighthearted laugh. "It suits you. Considered yourself lei'd by yours truly! Aloha and welcome!" The color immediate drained from his face when he saw an older version of Popuri standing behind her giggling daughter. Lillia's appearance at the party was an unexpected surprise, as she rarely left the house, and Kai had always been determined to leave a good impression on her.

So much for that.

"Oh, Goddess! Er, I uh... Just a stupid joke in poor taste!" he sputtered, nearly dropping his armful of colorful flowers. "I-I meant no disrespect!" His blood ran cold as he rubbed his arm, averting his gaze.

Of all the times to be say something dumb like that...

"I"m not without a sense of humor, Kai." Lillia's voice was sweet as she shook her head, her cotton candy locks bouncing. "Happy birthday. I brought some of my famous deviled eggs to share with everyone." She held up a covered dish in offering and gave him a small pout as if she were expecting something. "Are you telling me I'm too old to get lei'd by a handsome young man such as yourself?" She let out a soft chuckle. "I'm probably younger than you think." He thought he saw her give him a quick wink.

Popuri's cheeky off the collar jokes suddenly began to make a little more sense.

"Ah, let me guess... Are you twenty-nine?" A relaxed smile found its way on Kai's lips as he slipped another lei over Lillia's head. He heard an exasperated sigh behind her and knew that he should have checked for more guests. Once more, he found his mood deflating.

The words sounded as if they were being ripped out of him unwillingly. "Happy birthday." Rick's forced smile was so strained and his aura of not wanting to be there was so strong that Kai couldn't help but feel a little guilty for being born on that particular day. Rick shoved a bowl into Kai's arms so suddenly that the eggs rolled a bit, their brown shells clanking together. "They're eggs."

A pair of dark eyes looked into the bowl with a combination of confusion and amusement. "They sure are." The words slipped from Kai's lips before he could stop himself.

Does he think I don't know what these are? Is he really going to play this game in front of his mom? Ugh, tonight's gonna be a long one...

Kai forced a smile on his face. "Thank you... Uh, are they raw, or...?"

Rick pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and slapped his forehead in frustration, annoyed that Kai could be so stupid.

Is this some kind of dumb mind game? Why on earth would I serve raw eggs at a potluck? Is he trying to egg me on?

Rick inwardly cringed at his own wordplay. Popuri had been trying to incorporate more puns in her language ever since she went to Ann's birthday party. They were usually bad, and she always said them in a really thick backwoods accent.

What happened during that party, anyway?

Rick shook the thoughts from his head; he was getting distracted. His eyes curiously drifted back to Kai, who was looking down at the bowl of eggs, a genuinely puzzled look on his face. He looked up at Rick and said nothing. Rick debated whether or not to answer Kai's question; saying nothing would put Kai in a defensive state, which was something that Rick typically more than happy to leave him in. The sound of Lillia not-so-subtly clearing her throat made his decision for him. Partly out of respect for his mother, and partly for Karen and Popuri, Rick neutralized his facial expressions. "They're spa-boiled. I made them this afternoon." He manged to keep his voice level and even attempted to smile. It ended up looking more like a grimace, but it was a start, he figured.

"Oh! Well, thank you." Kai placed the plates on the buffet table, avoiding Rick's gaze. "Come on in and make yourselves at home. There's plenty of food and dancing." A record was playing over the din of voices in the room, and a few people were moving to the beat. Other guests were helping themselves to the refreshments.

Popuri stifled a giggle and cleared her throat. The excitement in the room had her heart pounding, and her thoughts were racing. She bit her lip and closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to read something that had been printed on the back of her eyelids. "Ummm... H'hau'oli la... ho... ho'omana'o! … I think!" Her garnet eyes popped open and she nodded proudly.

Kai's face lit up at her words and the obvious effort she had put into memorizing the Hawaiian phrase for happy birthday. It definitely suited the mood of the party. "Mahalo! Thank you!"

The young woman blushed fiercely, swishing her skirts about her in a giddy manner. Remembering her family was present, she shy pulled her mother by the arm to the table of food and Rick lingered behind, nervously rubbing his arm. Kai feebly held out a lei to him, his eyes silently asking for a temporary truce. "Uh, you want a...?"

His words died as Rick shot him a sharp look, causing him to nearly drop the necklace. "Don't get the wrong idea. I only came because Mom was insistent. She... needs someone on hand if she doesn't feel well."

Rick averted his gaze, allowing himself to observe the party. His girlfriend was dumping bottles of alcohol into a punch bowl. When she noticed his eyes on him, she gave him a wave and wink before continuing her pouring, implying she would get with him as soon as she was finished. Lillia turned around and gave her son a stern look, masked sloppily by a sweet smile, silently commanding him to behave himself. He snatched the lei out of his hand and threw it around his neck.

"I have some to be worn around your head if you prefer..."

Rick shook his head. "This is fine. Work hard, play hard, I guess..."

He continued to look around the room. It was his first time stepping foot inside of the building. It had a nice enough setup – it had an open kitchen and counter for taking orders. A few tables were tucked into the small space for those wishing to dine in. He observed the décor with an inward groan. It was a bit tacky for his tastes; the fishing nets hanging from the ceiling were a bit unnecessary and he couldn't think of a less original idea for the mural of ocean waves dominating the wall.

He was busy staring at a poster of a tropical penguin when he spied Gray standing in the corner with Mary. The young man's pale blue eyes were focused on Rick, flashing a silent warning. Rick gulped; Gray's close friendship with Kai wasn't a secret, and he knew that this was just another person added to the group that would be quick to defend Kai. Getting into a spat today simply wasn't worth it.

Still, it wasn't as if he and Gray were enemies; quite the contrary, they talked shop quite often. Rick considered approaching Gray to ask him how his work with his latest yarn spinning machine was going. Rick hid a smirk; Gray liked to think that just because he had worked in the city with appliance repairs, he was the only one in Mineral Town who knew how to operate and fix machines. When Rick brought his tools in to be sharpened, Gray would always ask how the mods on Rick's mayonnaise makers were doing and if any routine maintenance needed to be performed. They both knew it was something he asked out of politeness while Saibara was present. Bantering with Gray was much like sparring at times, but it was something they both walked away from with a smile. Perhaps he was just seeing things, but it seemed as if Gray's expression had softened...

"Fresh juice pops? I wonder what flavor?" Lillia was leaning over the counter with Popuri to read the menu of the daily specials.

"It's whatever Kai can get from the Valley. It's usually from Pete's stock, so you know it's good. All homemade! They're so tasty... he adds a little honey to them to make the flavors pop."

Lillia grinned. "He should be paying you commission for sales. Maybe I'll have to come over sometime to have one with you."

Popuri's face lit up. Her mother hadn't mentioned stepping out of the house for pleasure since the Cooking Festival back in spring. When she had suggested that the whole family go to the luau tonight, Popuri could hardly contain her excitement. She had even noticed that Rick's face wasn't etched with its usual stress.

Mom's been bedridden a lot lately... she deserves a night to have fun and relax. Kai does that for me, so there's no reason why tonight shouldn't be great!

As if on cue, Lillia sat down on a bench with a happy sigh, gazing around at the cool colors with a smile. "Kai, you've created a lovely, relaxing atmosphere here."

Rick felt a jolt of pain in his heart. While seeing a happy expression on his mother's face was a pleasant change, it had been ages since she had steppe foot into the chicken coops to see the hard work he had been doing on the farm. His mouth contorted into a twisted frown.

All we did was step inside and she's already showering him with praise?

"Spending all your time on the beach should do that, huh? Seeing you get a summer vacation all year round, I mean." Rick hated the strain he could detect in his own voice.

The music around them faded into blurred noise as Kai's expression neutralized and his eyebrows slowly began to furrow. Rick had always been very open how he felt about him and his lifestyle.

Just because I know how to take a break and balance life with work?

It's no wonder why Karen...

Ugh... Why couldn't he have just pretended to be sick tonight?

Kai's eyes drifted back toward Lillia and shame washed over him; Popuri had mentioned family outings were very rare. Whatever Rick was trying to start, Kai was eager to quell; he would not give him the satisfaction of making a scene at an event he was hosting. Kai shot him a stern look and got one in exchange, as if to suggest that he had started the commotion. He let out a sigh of relief when Rick turned away to watch Karen dump an entire bottle of peach schnapps in the punch bowl.

"'Bout time you made it." She twisted the cap off of another bottle and continued to pour. "Be sure to drink up. I was generous enough to bring two things tonight!"

Rick's smile faltered.

She just really likes parties. Karen's always been this way. It's not because she and Kai used to be a thing...

I-Is it?

No. I mean, that's a bottle of Manna's cheaper stuff... I need to stop being so paranoid...

He gave Cliff a small nod in greeting as he wandered over to the buffet table with Ann.

Cliff's eyes traced the table. The punch bowl towered in comparison to the offering of curry dip sitting beside it.

"That whole pot of dip from this morning fit into that small bowl?" Cliff feigned surprise as a smirk played at the corner of his mouth. He didn't have to guess that Karen and Ann played little heeding to Claire's warning to save some for later.

A nudge in the ribs confirmed his guesses. "We don't know what you're talking about!" Ann laughed. "Who fills up on dip anyway? There's lots to choose from – don't be picky!" She took a paper plate for herself and bopped the top of his head with a second one before passing it over. "It's time to chow down. I'm gonna grab my food and a bib, and the rest of you can all duck and cover!"

Cliff accepted his plate and followed Ann, trying o keep from drooling at the wide variety of food. The large bowl of Lomi Lomi Salmon that he had prepared with Claire earlier at on the table beside a slow cooker full of roasted pork, and plates of sweets and snacks covered the surface of the buffet. To say that he wasn't excited to try a bit of everything would be a blatant lie – Claire's earlier concerns about him rang in his mind.

"Cliff... you need to take care of yourself, too – more than just financially."

He could feel his cheeks burn once more with embarrassment.

I brought something to share... so it's alright if I...

"Move it or lose it!" Ann laughed as she playfully bumped him with her hip and cut in line, loading up her plate.

Cliff opened his mouth to speak, but his attention was stolen by a loud clanking – the cowbell hanging on the beach shack's doorknob clanked heralded a new arrival to the party. Claire emerged from the doorway and Kai bounded over to greet her, giving her a warm hug after she set down a large bag of tomatoes adorned with a makeshift bow. Cliff watched her as the two of them shared a chuckle. Kai carefully placed a lei crown around her head and gave her a gentle twirl, complimenting her on her appearance.

Cliff was overcome with a nagging desire to do the same.

Her skirt fanned out as she spun, and the very sight of her made his lips curl upward. The warmth in her smile was visible from the other side of the room; he felt his heart jump into his throat. He gripped the edges of his paper plate, lest he drop it, run over to her, and throw his arms around her. Her flirty attire suited her well and he felt his cheeks burn as his eyes landed onto a new feature – a bit of cleavage peeking out of the top of her dress. It was a staunch difference compared to her usual flannel and denim, but he found that he rather liked it as his eyes lingered.

Claire looks cute in her work clothes, too...

A-And her nightgown...

She's gorgeous no matter what she wears... Would telling her that be weird?

"Hey, you wanna pick your jaw off the floor before she catches you?" Ann gave him a firm nudge and he jumped, nearly knocking over his glass of punch on the table. "Seriously? How old are you now? Yes, she's cute. Get some food." She slapped a spoonful of slow-cooked pork onto his plate with a loud plop, her eyebrows stern. "Don't let your eyes do all the feasting. You better pile up your plate and tuck in; you're looking hungry today."

The one-two punch of being called out on his staring and having yet another person remind him how he wasn't eating properly left him with a sour feeling in his gut.

"I-It wasn't like that..." he weakly defended, his words barely above a whisper. "I mean, I... wasn't..."

He had already committed Claire's soft curves to his memory.

I mean, I was pretty shameless, wasn't I? We're supposed to be equals and I was looking at her like that...

"You're a horrible liar." Ann rolled her eyes at him and his cheeks flamed with embarrassment.

He was numb as Ann loaded her plate, occasionally cooing over a specific casserole or salad and adding a spoon to his dish. Perhaps his leaner diet was more obvious to others than he had realized. Within the last few days, he could swear Ann was attempting to fatten him up like an animal for slaughter. She had become very keen to the times he left in the morning, often offering him at least a day-old bun or heel of bread despite his refusals – if Cliff had learned one thing living at Doug's Inn, it was that both the proprietor and his daughter could be very persuasive. Still, the food was much appreciated. He was equally relieved and ashamed that she refused payment for these little gifts.

I can't keep taking from everyone. My welcome is going to wear out, and it's going to make things awkward at the inn...

The words were scarcely above a whisper, but Cliff felt like he was practically yelling. "I can get my own food. I'm an adult, after all."

There was a beat of silence, and Cliff's eyes widened in horror at what he had said.

What am I referring to, really? The buffet table or my need for independence?

Ann's lips curled up into a smug grin as she added a few pieces of melon bread and some pork to her plate. "Using one of Gray's favorite lines, I see. We have enough sass from him to cover all three of you."

At her giggle and familiar playful nudging of his shoulder, Cliff relaxed a bit; tonight was about celebrating with Kai. In the few short months that they lived together, they had clicked pretty easily and Kai's welcoming nature had put him at relative ease. While a lot of the time that they spent together was accompanying Gray as well, Cliff was grateful that Kai always made an effort to make him feel included.

"Hey, c'mere." Ann adopted a softer tone and expression as she tapped his arm. He turned to face her and she let out a gentle chuckle as she popped a sweet bun into his slightly-ajar mouth. She stuffed another one into her own, a familiar ritual from mornings she caught him at the inn. She'd take her own snack to lighten the mood when Cliff was hesitant to accept her offerings.

"There, now we match," she recited, her mouth full.

Their shared laughter was muffled by their melon bread as their playful eyes met.

Claire took a plate of her own and joined the line, grinning at the sight of her friends carrying food in their mouths as they acknowledged her with nods. The room was decorated with vibrant colors and relaxing ukulele music drifted through the room among the aromas of homemade delicacies made for the evening. Soft chatter, laughter, and Karen's lovely voice singing along with the music for the chorus filled the air. Claire felt the tightness in her chest begin to further loosen as she allowed herself to absorb the moment. A faint memory flitted through her mind, and she held onto it, allowing it to bloom.

The apartment stairs were steep enough on their own, but climbing them with her armloads of documents made the trek awkward.

A familiar voice rang down the hallway.

"Miss Claire, it's late. Is everything alright?"

Her neighbor stood outside his door, wringing his gnarled hands, the wrinkles in his forehead pronounced.

"Just a busy day. Thanks for asking. I hope you're doing alright, Mr. Kubo."

"Doing okay. I made some extra pancakes..."

Light returned to Claire's tired eyes. "So that was the delicious smell I noticed when I came inside."

They shared a familiar chuckle, but her smile faded.

"You really don't have to trouble yourself cooking extra for me."

The old man shook his head with a laugh, waving off her words as he scuttled off into his apartment in his slippers. He returned in a moment with a covered dish, condensation adorning the underside of the clear lid.

"I've been cooking for two so long that it's just a hard habit to break..." He thrust the food at her, beaming. "Besides, pancakes don't keep well in the fridge."

She shuffled the belongings in her arms to accept the offering with a blush. "Thank you very much. I don't know if I told you this, but pancakes are one of my favorites..."

"Why do you think I cook them so often?" He gave her a wink as he passed her the pancakes. "We should share when we can. Now, have a good evening, Miss Claire."

"Good night, Mr. Kubo. Thanks again."

It was difficult to open the apartment door with all of the things she was carrying, but Claire found that she didn't mind.

Claire looked at the array of food on the buffet table as the sound of the record player came back to her awareness.

"We should share when we can..."

An unexpected lump formed in her throat despite her happiness. There was a wide array of cooking styles and flavors, and Ann was taking full advantage of this, carrying a plate in each hand. Cliff's words earlier that day repeated in Claire's mind.

"We'd be looking after each other. It's no trouble, Claire... it would be a good thing."

She found that she was instinctively reaching over to give Cliff's hand a squeeze, but he misread the gesture, pointing at a bowl of fruit salad with a muffled questioning sound, bun still in his mouth.

The whiplash of moods left her blinking in surprise. Claire hoped the embarrassment on her face wasn't as blatant as it felt.

"Ah, yes, please..."

Ann, who had already made her way around to the other side of the table, set down her plates and reached across hold out a melon bread to Claire. Looking at her friends, she grinned before opening her mouth to match the two of them. The three of them gave each other conspiratorial looks and laughed, their mouths full.

She looked back down at the generous offerings from the people of Mineral Town. There was meat, fresh produce, much of which was from her farm, and no shortage of sweets. She quickly recognized the ceramic bowl she and Cliff had borrowed from the inn to fill with their Lomi Lomi salmon. It was a fine addition to the table, she decided with a small nod.

Everyone here really does look out for one another.

She continued to add food to her plate, her mind moving to her parents.

If I told Mum and Dad that during the next letter I sent them... would they take it as passive aggressive, or would they be happy for me?

Claire's breath hitched in her throat.

Either way, they might actually write back. I'm not crazy for liking it here and wanting a different life for myself. Why can't they see that?

I should write to them again soon...

Claire didn't remember sitting down, but she looked up to see Ann across from her, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.

"It's hard to know where to start," Cliff's voice came from her side.

"Just follow where your stomach takes you!" Ann shoveled a forkful of pork into her mouth and used her melon bread to mop up the juices from the meat. She had a methodical approach to the way she ate – always seeming to be in a hurry and consume her food as efficiently as possible.

Claire dug into her own plate, delighted in the tenderness of the pork. She followed it with a bite of the sweet bread and had to admit that Ann was onto something.

"So, I heard from Cliff that you two are starting your own little breakfast club." The expression was hard to read on Ann's face, as she quickly popped a few cubes of cheese into her mouth.

"Breakfast and dinner... maybe lunch...?" The image of a grinning Cliff and Ann sharing breakfast at the inn back in spring popped into her head and Claire felt herself sinking into her seat as her heart did the same.

She could feel Cliff's curious eyes on her and gulped. The worries about her parents were quickly replaced. "I, uh... I wasn't even thinking that I'd be taking business away from you."

Ann shook her head with a muffled chuckle as she finished chewing. "Why on earth would I complain about the person who provides all the produce that we use?"

Cliff's shoulders slouched a bit as he ducked his head, poking at his rice with his fork.

"I told Cliff it was fine." Ann cringed at the volume of her voice. "It's not like he ever orders meals from us anyway. At least I know he'll be eating something."

Cliff's head drooped lower, but he refrained from replying.

"He used to test my cooking a lot back in spring. I always had breakfast recipes to try on him. It was actually the thing that really helped us become better friends." Ann paused, taking a drink from her cup. "He's been so hard to keep track of anymore, what with his foraging, fishing, hunting..." She said the final word like it was bitter in her mouth.

Cliff's brows furrowed, his food forgotten. "Ann, we've been through this – no one is hiring. I have to make an income somehow."

"I hate when you bring rabbits by for Dad!" Ann spat her words like venom. "It's barbaric, and there are already livestock farms we get our meat from!"

"I know it bothers you to see them, so I try to bring them by when I know you're not around and I package them up. I'm sorry – I didn't know you were going to be back so early the other day." Cliff's voice was very low, but Claire could hear the strain in it.

"Even so, I still have to see the bundles in the fridge! I'm not stupid – I know what's in them!" Ann bit into her melon bread and tore off a chunk. The motion was not unlike Cain's actions to take down said rabbits. "I don't care if Duke and Basil like it roasted – there are some things even I won't eat or cook! Doesn't it make you feel bad to kill them?"

"It's never done out of anger or spite," Cliff explained, the blood draining from his face. His eyes flicked toward Claire briefly before he steeled himself. "I-I'm gathering resources. Do you feel bad eating pigs?"

Claire watched the drink in her glass wobble as Ann dropped her pork-loaded utensil onto her plate and slammed her fists on the table's surface. "How about you answer me first?"

The gentle music playing was a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere at the table. Claire kept her eyes focused on the condensation forming on the outside of her cup.

"I don't gain pleasure from killing them, but I'm grateful for what they provide. In the end, I don't feel bad for killing them, because I honor the animal by putting every part to use. The Hunting Goddess blesses us by providing us with resources in the forest. It is important that we understand that while this is given to us done so out of the Goddess's love, we are not to abuse it."

Ann was taken aback by the confidence in his voice and his surprisingly eloquent reply. She paused for a moment, gathering her words. "I don't know if I could stomach rabbit, but... you and me grew up pretty differently, huh?" She looked down at her plate.

"Yeah..."

"I shouldn't have yelled at you."

There was an uncomfortable pause.

"I'm sorry, Cliff. I know Dad likes to buy it off of you, too... it's just..." Her hands fell to her sides as she let out a small sigh. She turned toward Claire. "Make sure he's getting enough to eat, okay, Claire?" The cheery grin on Ann's face made it hard to believe she had been arguing with her friend a moment ago.

Cliff gave the blonde a look as if to remind her that their arguments were a regular occurrence and rarely lasted long.

"Don't forget that he's helping me, too," Claire pointed out with a hesitant smile, the worry lines on her face easing up. "We'll be a couple of friends sharing resources. Partners." She peered over at him shyly, hoping that her words had helped deescalate the situation without being intrusive. "Right, Cliff?"

Partners...

He gulped; the very word had a very intimate sound to him. Someone to rely on. An equal. Someone to share both burdens and victories with.

We've kinda been doing that already, haven't we?

"Y-yeah! Partners." He hoped she didn't notice his voice crack as he looked down at his plate, his cheeks blazing.

She specifically said "friends". Stop getting ahead of yourself.

His curious eyes flicked toward her, and his heart jolted when he saw Claire had been watching him all along. She took a bite of mochi, her expression warm and gentle, yet intrigued.

He could feel his pulse hammering in his throat.

She caught me staring...

Claire averted her eyes, wringing her hands in her lap.

He noticed I was watching him the whole time, didn't he?

They both quickly snapped their eyes at Ann, anxious of her reaction. She was busy finishing her first plate, eagerly eyeing up the treats she had lined her second plate with.

Claire let go of the edge of the tablecloth she was gripping, the breath she didn't realize she was holding escaping her in a silent sigh. The ice clanking in Cliff's cup caught her attention and her eyes lingered on his cheeks, taking in their flushed hue.

He's blushing... I made things awkward.

Her breath hitched as she tore her gaze away.

And I'm doing it again. What is wrong with me?

She took the opportunity to focus on the other party guests. Naturally, she picked out her best friend, Karen, sitting beside Rick and Lillia. Popuri and Kai occupied the opposite end of the table, and Claire couldn't help but notice the strained silence between the two men as the women chattered among themselves, their giggles carrying throughout the room.

Manna, Sasha, and Anna had a table of their own, and the volume of their conversation was easily the loudest with Manna's tirade about Duke slowly getting louder as she continued. A gentle elbow to her shoulder from a prudent Anna caused her friend to go silent, and Sasha swiftly changed the subject to something less emotionally charged.

Mary and Gray were chatting with Harris, who was frowning and sighing at the door as the cowbell clanked once again, revealing a swaggering Thomas carrying a bowl of macaroni salad, clad in a loud Hawaiian shirt. Strangely complementing his attire was his signature red top hat, and Claire began to wonder if he ever removed it.

Kai looked visibly relieved to get up from the table to greet his new guest.

"Ah, Mayor! I'm glad you were able to make it." Kai hoped the shock on his face was masked as he held out a lei to him.

Thomas eagerly leaned forward to receive the necklace. "Of course I wouldn't miss it! I came to bop with the cool kids!" He let out a laugh, and Kai wasn't sure if he was supposed to join in or not.

Adjusting his glasses on his nose, Thomas scanned the room, absentmindedly handing off his contribution to the pot luck to Kai. "You have a good crowd... If only we could get this kind of participation from the festivals," he muttered under his breath.

Kai removed the lid from the container and added a spoon for serving. "Sorry, I missed what you said."

The laugh that escaped Thomas's mouth was sharp and rivaled that of Manna's. Color rose to his cheeks as he shook his head with a softer chuckle. "Never you mind that, just thinking out loud. Guess it's time to tuck in, eh?"

"Uh, sure! Help yourself!" Kai gestured toward the buffet. He found himself unable to keep from staring around the room in amazement; the tables were all occupied, and he had to make extra space to fit all of the food that had come with the guests. Best of all, the laughter and enthusiastic conversation taking place reminded him why Mineral Town was his favorite.

Kai put on a fresh record and the people in the room began to sway to the relaxing beat. One thing he really loved about Mineral Town was the importance of simple pleasures – friends, good food, and having fun. Popuri grabbed her skirts and hurried over to him, her face lit up with excitement. He felt his smile faltering.

I'm going to miss this.

While the end of summer was nearing, that was a thought for another night. He gave her a graceful twirl and she laughed, clinging to him with a squeal.

Claire observed the couple with a grin as she sat comfortably at her seat. An odd combination of emotions rose within her as she watched Mary anxiously wring her hands, shyly looking up at her boyfriend. Gray's face was rather pink as he offered her his hand.

I used to make him blush... but it was out of embarrassment...

Before she had too much time to dwell on her feelings, she felt a familiar soft touch at her shoulder. An odd giddiness rose within her as she stood up to face Cliff. His soft touch was welcome as he gently lifted her hand with his, silently asking if she wanted to dance. A grin crept across her face as she remembered once again what a beautiful shade those blue eyes were. The lovely memories of them dancing together at the inn were fresh in her mind, and she didn't realize how thrilled she was at the notion of repeating them until she could feel her heart pounding in her throat.

"Ah, Claire! I've been hoping to get some time with you this evening!" Thomas huffed over and shot her a grin. His eyes apologetically moved toward Cliff when he noticed they seemed to be in wordless conversation. "But of course, I can always come back later! No biggie, as the kids say it. It's all good in the hood! It's... a'ight~..."

As he stroked his mustache attempting to think of more slang to share, Claire wondered how much of Karen's famous spiked punch he had already partaken in.

Cliff's eyes met hers and he gave her a repentant look as he silently asked her to comply with Thomas's request, letting go of her hand. While she knew he was doing it out of politeness, she felt a selfish urge to latch to him the way she had seen Popuri do to Kai.

Well, they're kind of a couple, and they don't have much of summer left...

She shook the thoughts from her head as she gave Thomas a polite, albeit stilted, smile. "You wanted to talk about something?" She couldn't help but feel like a student being called to the principal's office.

His eyes were drawn to the dancers. He was determined to be part of the action; he would show the people of his town that he knew how to have a good time. "We can talk and dance at the same time if that's alright with you."

"Uh, sure." She accepted the offered hand and he led them out to the floor, bobbing his head to the music.

Cliff bit his lip, unsure of whether to sit or stand. He couldn't help but notice that Thomas looked rather proud of himself for having such a beautiful woman on his arm.

He quickly shook the thought from his mind.

It's not as if I'm her date tonight or anything... It's a birthday party. When did I start getting so insistent to be at her side? Ann's right... I'm being so immature.

It's not like she'd want to be by my side all night anyway. The dance midsummer...? That was a lucky fluke.

Evidence of his embarrassment crept up to his cheeks.

"Ah, tough luck. Looks like she prefers a guy with more social status." Ann laughed when Cliff rolled his eyes at her comment. She checked to make sure the worry lines were only mildly etched into his forehead before giving him a playful nudge in the ribs. "Aw, c'mon, I was just teasing. You know what would make this better? More food!" She didn't wait for a response as she pulled him by the wrist back to the refreshments table. Based on her observations, Cliff seemed preoccupied with something. She fell into her default mode when he remained quiet – keeping the conversation peppy and upbeat, eager to bring that smile back. "Kai knows how to throw a good party, huh? All the snacks you could possibly want, good music, friends... Did I mention the food?" she giggled.

Cliff's lips curled upward. "Only all day." He poured himself a glass of punch, wondering how Ann could possibly still have room in her stomach after demolishing two heaping plates of food. Watching in amazement at the efficiency at which Ann could stack extra helpings on her plate, Cliff was oblivious to Thomas nearly flinging his dance partner across the room.

Claire stifled a squeal as she stumbled; her companion's overzealous dancing was the last thing she was expecting this evening.

"Ah, you'll have to forgive me!" Thomas laughed good-naturedly as he collided with Claire. "I've been a widower so long that I've lost my sense of grace and rhythm. I fear I've taken you away from a more worthy dance partner." His eyebrows rose apologetically.

She gave him a polite smile as she shook her head. It was true that she would much rather be dancing with her best friend, but she was sure that she could still have a decent time. After all, it was what he wanted to talk about that had piqued her interest. She bit back a laugh as she watched her partner dance – she was unaware that wagging a finger constituted a dance. She found a giggle escape her as she held her skirts and gently swung her hips to the music, causing them to swish about her.

"I'm really glad that you were able to attend the Cow Festival, Claire," Thomas panted, hopping from foot to foot in a strange manner that didn't look unlike Rick's rooster, Morty. "It's good morale for the community to have support from the local farms. Brings everyone closer together and whatnot." He looked around at the other dancers, unsure if their routine was up to snuff. Without warning, he grabbed Claire by the hips and she let out a surprised cry when they went into a violent spin. She held his shoulders to steady herself and he laughed heartily. Upon seeing that she was safe, Claire found herself laughing right along with him.

Why on Earth does Harris think that I would be out of my element at this party? I've already talked to half of the guests and even managed to find a very pretty dancing partner. She's actually pretty endearing when she's not mad...

He gave himself a satisfied nod as he quickly appraised her. Claire was rather shy, but it was important for her to get involved in local events, especially if there was any hope of the local economy picking up.

He cleared his throat. "So, Claire, there's something I've been needing to discuss with you..."

Her blood ran cold and she prayed he wouldn't bring up the day she moved into Mineral Town. "Y-yes...?"

Cliff watched the mayor twirl Claire with a chuckle. He had been in enough situations with overzealous dancing partners to be familiar with the feeling. Drunken behavior was unpredictable at the best of times, and in a crowded festival, the potential for chaos was only amplified. He took a sip of punch and watched as she performed a perfect spin, extending her hand gracefully. Pride swelled up within him.

I-I taught her that...

Beautiful.

Under the lights of the beach shack, her hair gleamed, adorned with the beautiful lei Kai had given her. He touched his own, realizing with a gulp that they matched one another. His eyes darted around the room and his suspicions were confirmed – no one else had the same variety of orchids in their crown leis.

Kai made us match on purpose...

Or... it could be a coincidence...

Kai had sorted through the leis thoughtfully before offering Cliff one.

He's teased me about her before...

"Everything alright, Cliff?" Popuri approached the table and leaned in toward him, letting out an innocent giggle. "You were making a bunch of strange faces just now."

He hated that he could feel his cheeks burning; hiding his facial expressions was something he felt fairly confident in, and the thought of slipping up left him uneasy.

"Ah, I... I was just d-deep in thought," he sputtered, adding a nervous laugh for good measure.

Again, those large garnet eyes were watching him intently, just like the day he first visited the poultry farm with Karen and Claire. He took the ladle to the punch bowl.

"Ah, did you come over here for some punch? I can pour you some if you want."

Popuri shook her head with a wince and filled her paper cup with pineapple juice. "After Ann's party, I don't think I ever want to touch alcohol again. The next day just isn't worth it. I swear that headache lasted for at least two days."

He didn't feel it was wise to point out that the bottle of schnapps she had hidden in the folds of her nightgown and continually drank throughout the night had helped much.

"You didn't... tell anyone I drank that much, did you?" It was Popuri's turn to look embarrassed. "I mean, anyone that wasn't at the party."

Cliff shook his head, a little confused she would ask in him that in the first place.

"If Rick found out, I'd never hear the end of it. He's always going on about how I don't care about anything but having fun. It gets so irritating being treated like a kid all the time." She took a heavy swig of her juice. "Just because he doesn't like coming to the beach anymore, he always decides to take it out on me." Another chug and a heavy sigh. "Well, either me or Kai." She watched her mother dance with Kai. He gave her a gentle spin and she laughed, her skirts and hair fanning around her.

Cliff wasn't exactly sure how to respond, but Popuri continued. "And it's not like he doesn't drink. He goes to the bar, and I've seen him come home drunk. Some people just can't hold their alcohol." She rolled her eyes.

Cliff bit his tongue, giving a nod in reply.

"I just wish Rick could understand. It's like... he doesn't care about anyone's happiness – not even his own. I don't know how Karen can put up with it." She finished her drink and crushed the cup in her hand, her rosy pink manicure a stark contrast to her white knuckles.

She looked back up at him, her own cheeks flushing. "Sorry for ranting like that. I know you probably didn't care to hear any of that, but I just thought... well... you seem like a pretty cool person, and you'd understand. I had fun at the party, and it was nice to get to know you a little better."

"Yeah, it was nice... a-a good time," he stammered.

Popuri tossed her cup in the trash with a smile, her attention focusing on where Karen was and taking a small step towards her. She gave him a friendly nod, stepping away.

Cliff found his voice. "And... it's okay... to be frustrated at your brother like that."

She stopped and turned back. "Thanks. I knew I liked you," she chuckled.

His smile was shaky as he rubbed his arm. "It's just... important to let him know how you really feel, though. Because if you bottle it all in... y'all will just feel worse."

The laughter left her face and was replaced with furrowed brows and a tired sigh. "If only I could get him to listen, though!" She offered him a final smile. "I'll keep trying. Thanks, Cliff."

As they finished their goodbyes and Popuri walked off, he spotted Gray gesturing him to come over with a cock of his head. He suddenly wished he hadn't just been drinking Karen's mixture – his stomach began to churn as he tossed the half-empty cup in the trash with shaking hands.

To say their friendship had been strained since Gray started dating Mary was an understatement. Cliff had bit his tongue and had said nothing about the way Gray handled breaking the news to Claire, much to Gray's chagrin. Gray had told him and was met with an awkward silence as Cliff tried to imagine what Claire was going through. Cliff knew that he would have preferred him to show his anger outwardly, similar to the curse-laden tirade from Karen. The two men had only really spoken to each other when it was necessary, and a heaviness hung in the air amid their silences.

"Nice flowers," Gray commented on the lei on Cliff's head. He was wearing one of his own around his shoulders, mainly consisting of greenery with the occasional orchid. He paused, giving him a crooked smile. "They suit you, y'know?"

Cliff found that his hand was hovering over his headpiece. "Oh! Thanks..." He wasn't sure what pleasantly surprised him more, the positive interaction between the two of them or the genuine tone of the compliment.

Unprompted, Gray looked at his own attire with a sigh. "I mean, I feel like I look dumb no matter what I wear, so why bother?" Gray gestured down at his plain white tee shirt and blue jeans. He was a bit dressed down from his usual coveralls; it seemed the weather was warm enough for even him.

"I think you look fine," Cliff replied.

"Huh... I guess I shouldn't complain about a compliment. Thanks… So, uh..." There was a pause as Gray leaned back against the wall with a sigh, jamming his hands into his pockets. "Saw you got your dance partner swiped."

Cliff was more grateful than ever that he was safely tucked off to the side instead of in the middle of the action. "Oh, uh... Mayor Thomas had some stuff to talk to her about." The smile on his face grew once more as he watched Claire spin once more, her skirts fluttering out as her soft laugh reached his ears.

"You're not jealous? Betcha wish you were out there shaking fingers with Claire, huh?"

Cliff cringed, his cheeks staining pink. "Ugh, when you say it like that, it sounds dirty. I... just... well, it's..."

"She's really beautiful, isn't she?"

Cliff's eyes met Gray's, and the latter was surprised to see the light of joy immediately fade from them.

"Wh-why...? Why do you keep doing this?"

Gray frowned. "Doing what?"

Cliff bit his lip. "This waffling back and forth! Didn't you already choose Mary?" he hissed. "Why are you staring at Claire now? Just leave her alone!"

"Yeesh... I just said she looked nice. Jealousy isn't a good look on you, man."

"I'm not jealous!" his whisper was low, and it died as his shoulders sank. "I mean... I wanna be over there with her, but... are you really over Claire?" He turned toward Gray, his expression solemn.

It was Gray's turn to get flustered. "H-Hey! I never was into her to begin with! You know that! Goddess, you're making me feel like I've gotta watch my back around everybody. You don't think I haven't already gotten an earful from Karen and Mary about the whole thing?"

Cliff's brows raised. "Mary?"

Gray tugged down on the bill of his cap. "Look, I don't wanna talk about it. I'm aware I caused a mess, alright? I'm not after your girl."

"She's not my girl." The reply was curt.

Gray snorted and rolled his eyes. "You are such a bad liar. The two of you are practically dating. Besides, your voice gets higher at the end of your sentences when you're lying, y'know."

"N-No it we aren't... and, and... my voice does not!" Cliff furrowed his brows in annoyance. He heard the pitch in his voice change and clenched his fists.

Have I always been so easy to read?

Gray couldn't keep himself from smirking. His eyes moved toward Mary and Elli on the other side of the room and he was grateful to his girlfriend for insisting he try to talk to Cliff to patch things up.

So far, so good...

"You realize you're lying about lying now, right? Quit being stupid and just enjoy the damn party."

He was given an icy glare in response.

"Goddess, I didn't know how hard this was going to be to get through everyone's thick skulls. Yeah, I know that I handled the whole situation like shit. Join the club that thinks so, too." He didn't bother to look at Cliff. "Hell, you're probably the damn president of it. Half the room was treating me like I was a monster at Ann's birthday party."

Cliff opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself, a sinking feeling taking over his being.

"You got something to say? Say it already!"

Cliff bit his lip, and his chest ached. "I... I just want Claire to be happy. Carter said she'll move along and heal when she's ready, but you..."

The words remained on the tip of his tongue.

Don't say it. Don't be like Ivy.

"But I what?" Gray turned toward him.

"Never mind."

"No, we're not playing that card." Gray seized Cliff's arm, squeezing hard.

The very touch brought back a rush of unpleasant memories. "And I'm not playing this game again. Let go of me." Cliff's voice was dangerously low, a spark in his eye. "Forget about it. It's fine."

Gray bit back his excitement at the anger reflecting in Cliff's eyes.

There it is!

Gray pulled him in close. "If it's just fine, then just finish your damn sentence."

"I can break your arm very easily right now," Cliff whispered.

"Is that a threat? You don't even have the guts to say what's on your mind. You really think you're going to hurt me?"

Cliff looked down at the hand gripping his arm. "No… I'm not like you." He was grateful for the loud music and laughter to hide his voice. He still forced himself into keeping his volume low. "Fine – you want to know what I was going to say so badly? Claire will heal when the time is right, but you didn't make things easy for her. You've been... selfish. You're making me I wonder why Mary agreed to be with you."

Gray let go of his arm in surprise, staggering backward almost as if the words had physically pushed him away. "Going straight for the throat, huh? Like you don't have your own selfish reasons?"

Cliff's eyes flashed with pain. "You... you really think I'm like that? That I'm just going to jump in and when she's vulnerable and…" He shook his head, his frown growing. "You know what? I've tried my best to be patient with you, but this is too much. You're always trying to get me to slip up so that you can cover your own insecurities."

Gray had never seen that vulnerable look on his face before, and it took him a moment to notice it; Cliff typically was adept at masking his unpleasant expressions.

Gray blinked in surprise as Cliff continued. "I know I'm not perfect, but I wish you'd stop deflecting everything onto me. I'm allowed to be upset that you hurt someone I care about. I… I promised myself that I wouldn't let down those I care about again when I moved here."

"Well, then, what am I?" Gray's voice rose in anger.

Cliff shook his head, looking down at his arm. "I… I don't know right now." He headed over to the refreshment table, holding up a shaking hand in greeting to Ann and Harris.

Gray cursed under his breath, knocking the back of his head against the wall.

So much for making up.

Author's Note: My hope with this section at Kai's birthday is to jump from conversation to conversation and have it bounce around a lot and feel a little chaotic, giving the feel of a crowded room with a lot of people in it. I hope it turns out to be more than "a'ight", as Thomas would say.

As always, thank you all for the reviews, reads, follows, and favorites. Your support is greatly appreciated and I am humbled by the great encouragement from everyone out there! See you in the next chapter!