Why hello there, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, if you didn't, well you have my humblest of apologies. If you did however like it, I love you... well love is a little strong... so erm... like then. So ya, anyway this is my first harvest moon fanfic, so please try not to hate me or anything. It's kinda depressing at times i guess, depends on your outlook on life... but anyway enjoy...
2.A hot, hot summer
One day out of all mineral town's festivals was better than any swimming costume fashion show...beach day. A day when the women got to watch men in their small swimming trunks all day and watch them compete against each other. It was a hot summers day, Karen was wearing her itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny purple polka-dot bikini which she enjoyed watching her mother scowl at. They headed out to the beach and Karen spotted Mary wearing a reserved navy blue swimming costume. Karen trotted up to her and flashed her a grin.
"Looking forward to seeing Gray in swim shorts?" Karen asked slyly. Mary blushed and turned very pink.
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." She said flushing. Karen nodded sarcastically and patted her on the back. When they reached the beach Karen spotted Rick wearing small red swim trunks. He looked skinny and bony, Karen felt a little embarrassed to be seen with him. She then spotted Jack who looked like a God in his black swimming shorts. She drooled at his golden tan, defined muscles and six-pack.
"Jack, hey!" Karen said walking straight past Rick, ignoring the hurt look on his pale, pasty face.
"Hey, whoa you look great!" Jack said grinning and Karen blushed happily. She spotted Popuri with Kai, cuddled against him looking joyful. She had often been jealous of Popuri since Kai was a lot better looking than Rick. He had a brown tan with big muscles and gorgeous brown eyes. But now with Jack in the picture he seemed far less god-like. "One point to Jack" Karen thought.
"Karen..." Jack said snapping her out of her daydream. Karen looked at him, his brown eyes glinted in the sunlight.
"Good luck in the race, hope you win!" She said before realizing what she had said. Shouldn't she hope that Rick would win? She watched as the men took their positions and waited for the race to start. The Mayor fired a pistol and the men thrashed in the water heading to the buoy in the sea. Rick was coming near last, as usual but she could see Jack and Kai up front battling for first place. They swam around the buoy neck and neck at the final lap heading to the shore. They both looked so graceful, streaming across the water like dolphins. Jack took on a burst of speed towards the end and touched the shore victorious. Kai came second and stood up out of breath.
"Awww, Kai only came second." Popuri said pouting. Kai shook hands with Jack grinning.
"I've finally found someone who can beat me, great job dude!" Kai exclaimed clapping Jack on the back. Jack grinned and patted Kai back.
"You did great too. A very worthy opponent, this'll be a fun summer!" Jack said and happily collected his trophy. Rick arrived dead last, with no Karen to console him that year. Karen was congratulating Jack happily and gazing dreamily at the golden trophy.
"You're my lucky charm." Jack told Karen and she blushed. Rick had never said that to her, partly because he'd never won but still... He embraced her and she shivered happily at his touch. Rick trudged up the beach dripping, he looked like something wet that the dog had dragged in while congratulated Jack bitterly.
"I lost again Karen, maybe next year huh?" He said hopefully. Karen shrugged coldly and followed Jack to get some food. She successfully avoided Rick most of the day and spent it admiring Jack and allowing him to buy her lots of pineapple juices. Rick spent the day wet and miserable keeping an eye on Popuri and Kai and every so often angrily shouting at Kai for getting too close. Karen decided that her day had been a success as it had taken her one step closer to picking between Jack and Rick. Although she felt a little bad about giving Rick the cold shoulder she forgave herself since Rick had been as bad. Whenever she needed him and Popuri needed him he'd always choose his sister over his girlfriend.
"Hey...Karen, do you want to have dinner at my farm? I hate eating dinner alone." Jack asked smiling hopefully. Karen thought for a moment then shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I'd love to but I can't. I promised mom and dad I'd be home for dinner. Maybe next time..." She said thinking up a quick excuse. She had to give Rick a chance to catch up or it wasn't a fair test. Jack nodded understandingly and went to say goodbye to everyone. Karen waited for Rick, the least she could do was to let him walk her home.
"Oh, Karen, are you finally finished ignoring me?" Rick asked glumly.
"I'm allowed to have other friends Rick." Karen said coldly. They walked into the square and Rick turned towards his house, the opposite direction from Karen's.
"Aren't you going to walk me home?" Karen asked. Rick turned and glared at her, his glasses flashed maniacally in the setting sun.
"No Karen. See, I thought we were more than just friends but since we aren't, I don't have to walk you home. I don't have to meet you every morning by your house, because I'm just a friend. You shouldn't have led me to believe I was more." He shouted angrily, tears formed in his eyes.
"Fine Rick, that's just fine. You were more than a friend before, but I got sick of being there for you when you always chose Popuri over me! Good night Rick." Karen yelled and ran home. Rick gazed sadly at the spot where Karen had been, it was over.
Karen stormed into her bedroom knocking over a picture of her and Rick when they were young. They were smiling, Rick had lost a lot of teeth and stared toothlessly, but Karen had new pearly whites emerging. Karen sighed, she had always been the better looking of the couple, the entire village said so. They were a rather unlikely couple, but they had been happy. Karen knew that Rick would be blaming himself for this "break-up" but he had no idea. She knew it was her fault mainly, but she felt she had been very forgiving over the years. She kicked her bed and screamed into her pillow. The whole village would know by the next day, news travelled so fast, besides half the village had probably overheard them. She blamed Manna for the speed of the news in the village for she was the main cog in the gossip wheel. Karen sighed and turned over in her bed, another eventful day.
When Karen woke up she looked hopefully out of her window to see if Rick was waiting for her there. "Maybe it's to early..." She thought and checked her watch. He had five minutes to get there. Karen changed quickly and waited eagerly. If he didn't turn up there would be scandal, her mother would certainly tell Manna. She waited a while then realised he wasn't coming so she hurried down to make up an excuse to her mother. When she entered the kitchen Sasha smiled eagerly awaiting the gossip like a fat bulldog waiting for its juicy steak. Her green eyes shone expectantly for Karen to tell her the gossip.
"No...um... Rick then Karen?" Sasha asked in a fake out-of-interest tone. Karen kept calm and looked boredly back at her mother.
"No, he seemed a bit off last night, I expect he's ill." Karen said lying to perfection. Sasha's eyes dulled and she looked disappointed.
"Oh right, okay then." She said and hurried off to run some errands. A few minutes later Mary and her family arrived at the store, as usual for a Monday.
"Oh Karen, you're up and out of bed. Rick told us you were sick." Mary said. Karen saw Anna's eyes glow eager for gossip. Karen stared worriedly at the ceiling then faked a cough.
"Um... yeah, I am ill but um... I felt a little better." Karen said quickly. Mary lowered her glasses and scanned Karen. She nodded and watched as Anna went to buy some bread. When Anna was gone Mary cleaned her glasses and looked at Karen expectantly.
"So you and Rick broke up." Mary said with sadness rather than gloating.
"How did you know?" Karen asked worriedly. Mary cleaned her glasses again, her typical sign of I-know-something-you-don't-know.
"Ann heard shouting, so she told me in confidence. Only Ann, You, Popuri and I know, it's up to you who else knows." Mary said once again cleaning her glasses, there was more information to be wheedled from her.
"I take it Ann overheard and Popuri heard from Rick. Manna lives right next to the inn, did she hear?" Karen asked.
"No, then my mother and yours would know. I'm not entirely sure who else knows, it's pretty much up to you and Rick." Mary said she fingered her plait, a tell-tale sign that she had advice to offer.
"Can I offer some advice?" Mary asked. Karen grinned that she had figured out this tell and nodded. Mary was terrible at playing cards, she had way too many tells.
"Enough people know that word might get round. It's better that you tell them the truth than rumours get spread." Mary said, her mother came back and looked at them expectantly. Mary nodded towards her mother and Karen winked.
"Anna, I'm not really sick. Rick just said that to hide the fact that he and I broke up, please don't tell anyone until I've asked Rick if we can." Karen said sweetly, false tears appeared in her eyes. Anna nodded sympathetically and gestured to Mary to leave, Mary smiled at Karen and she winked again. She had a job to do, she had to spread the truth around town before Anna made up some elaborate lie. By lunch time everyone knew the truth and were giving Karen and Rick their sympathies.
The chicken and cow festivals came and went with little event. Other than the great cow escape which turned into a rodeo. Karen still felt sore from riding that cow and watching the other villagers duck out of the way. Finally though, it was the eve before the fireworks festival. Karen was at her usual haunt, Doug's Inn, and was drinking her troubles away then she spotted Rick enter the bar. He took the seat furthest away from her and ordered some beer. Karen watched Rick drink more and more wine until he was drunk. She was taking it easy for once, to show him that she was doing better without him. Without thinking Karen headed over to Rick, he stared woozily at her and watched her sit down.
"Rick, I seriously think you've had enough. You need to go home." She whispered taking away his glass.
"You're not the...hick... boss of me... you're not my girlfriend anymore...hick...I can do what I...hick...like." He said and took his shirt off and swung it over his head shouting "WOO HOO".
"Rick, just because I'm not you're girlfriend it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to be your friend. As your friend I'm telling you to go home, you've had enough!" Karen said wrenching another glass out of his hands. Ann walked up to them and helped Karen steady Rick and put his shirt on.
"It's okay Karen, I'll take him home. Goodnight." Ann said smiling tiredly. She dragged Rick out of the inn by the ear and Karen watched.
"Doug, do you need any help locking up?" Karen asked picking up her glasses and putting them on the counter.
"Nah, I'll be fine. Have a safe journey home Karen, 'night." Doug said taking out a cloth. Karen wished Doug goodnight and headed home, she had to be well rested for the fireworks festival.
Finally it was the day of the fireworks festival, Karen cleaned up the shop and organised the fall seeds in the morning. She was busy separating the grass seeds from any other green seeds when she heard someone knocking at the door. She reluctantly put down the seeds and went to answer the door, it was Rick.
"We're closed Rick." Karen said irritably. Rick looked rather embarrassed and held out a bunch of flowers for her.
"Oh thank you, what are these for?" Karen asked sniffing the flowers.
"For helping me out last night... you know telling me when I'd had enough..." Rick said turning red.
"Oh, well Ann did the most she took you home." Karen said stroking the petals of a flower.
"Yeah I know, but that's her job. You didn't have to help me... so um... are we friends?" Rick asked hopefully.
"Friends." Karen said happily. She said goodbye and put the flowers in some water. She'd only just picked up the seeds again when she head another knock. Grumbling she headed over to the door.
"Rick I know we said we're friends and all but... Oh hi Jack!" She said opening the door. Jack smiled and handed Karen a box of chocolates and a huge bunch of summer flowers that put Rick's to shame.
"Were you hoping I was someone else?" Jack asked jokingly, but with a hint of hurt in his voice.
"No, Rick just visited and I was annoyed that it would be him again... I'm glad it's you." Karen said sweetly as Jack grinned.
"Is it alright if I come in?" Jack asked hopefully. Karen looked at the piles of seeds she had to organise and label.
"Well I do have a lot of work to do..." She said then saw Jacks hopeful smile. "Alright, as long as you help." She said allowing Jack to follow her in. She explained the job and watched as Jack sorted and labelled with great efficiency.
"So was there something you wanted to tell me?" Karen asked sticking a sweet potato label on some seeds.
"Yeah, I um... was wondering, would you like to watch the fireworks with me tonight?" Jack asked smiling. Karen's eyes shone, she didn't have a boyfriend so she decided it was okay.
"Sure, that'd be great!" She said making a neat pyramid of seeds. Jack smiled happily and almost knocked down her pyramid.
"Do you want me to continue helping?" He said knocking down the pyramid.
"No... Just go." Karen said angrily putting back the pyramid. Jack sheepishly edged out of the room.
When it was finally the evening Karen headed out, wearing her usual outfit. She had put on a light shade of lipstick and some eyeliner and she hoped Jack would notice. She spotted Jack, who had reserved her a place on the edge of the dock. She walked over and sat down next to him.
"Hey Karen, you look great tonight!" Jack said. "He has noticed" thought Karen grinning. In reality Jack had said that for the sake of being sweet, but Karen didn't need to know that. The coloured fireworks shot into the air and light shone onto their faces. The fireworks fizzled and banged making Karen jump each time one shot up. Jack saw her jump and sat closer putting his arm around her, she snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Rick watched the cute scene from afar, the green eyed monster growling angrily in his mind. He spotted Popuri and Kai kissing passionately beneath the moonlight and walked over to break them apart. Meanwhile Karen and Jack were looking deeply into each others eyes both wondering whether it was the right moment for a first kiss.
"Kai get off my sister!" Rick screamed. Karen jumped away from Jack and went to tell Rick it was not his business. Jack sighed and watched the last firework fizzle out, and then he stood up and went to walk Karen home.
Karen began walking home, the night was over, she sighed. Jack was the perfect gentleman that night, he walked Karen home without trying to kiss her or anything. In a way she wished he hadn't been such a gentleman. She had so desperately wanted to kiss him, then why did she go to tell Rick it was none of his business instead. It was even less of her business, but she had to go and tell Rick he was wrong. "So maybe I'm not quite over Rick, maybe I wasn't ready to kiss Jack. Maybe the moon viewing festival is the right time." She thought. She turned the corner next to the church after saying goodnight to Jack and spotted Carter watching the stars from outside the church. He looked ghostly in the moonlight, like a fallen angel watching the heavens.
"Hey, Carter!" Karen exclaimed walking over to him. She saw a warm smile approach his face, his eyes glimmered reflecting the stars.
"Hello Karen. Did you enjoy the fireworks?" He asked a cheeky expression emerged onto his face. Karen began to wonder whether Carter secretly knew everyone's thoughts and feelings.
"They were pretty. How come you never watch the fireworks from mineral beach?" She asked avoiding his question as much as possible.
"I feel that the best place you can enjoy them is from where God and the Goddess would see them." He said gesturing towards the church.
"Isn't God everywhere? So technically doesn't he watch them from the beach?" She asked cheekily. Carter chuckled and sighed happily.
"You are a clever child. Let's just say I prefer watching from God's house. Everyone likes to watch the fireworks with someone." He said as his eyes sparkled mischievously. Karen laughed and looked up at the stars.
"Goodnight Carter." Karen said and headed home.
"Goodnight my child!" Carter called after her. Karen mused to herself about what a funny priest Carter was. He was very amiable and funny, he never acted holier-than-thou. That was probably why the whole village trusted and respected him. Karen remembered when Carter had first moved into the village, he was looking for a quite place to preach. He happened upon mineral town and was offered the job since the previous priest had died exactly twenty-four hours before he arrived. The people said that Carter had fallen from heaven to take care of mineral town. They all knew it wasn't true, but everything about his arrival was an amazing coincidence. Karen had been quite young when he had arrived. He was young and filled with youthful energy so she and the other children used to visit and play with him, much like May and Stu now did. To Karen Carter was living proof that everything happened for a reason. So there was a reason why she had not kissed Jack that night, she simply had to wait to find it.
The last few days of summer the people of mineral town spent enjoying the last of the beach weather. Few were brave enough to go to the beach in autumn. Popuri was soaking up the last few days of Kai, she missed him so much over the other seasons. Karen always pitied her over the colder months when Popuri always seemed lonely and soul-less. She went to church more, trying to fill the void that Kai left, but she never would until summer came. Karen always hated how smug Rick seemed when Kai was gone, as though it was he who had chased Kai out of town. However Karen happened to like the fall, partly because it was the month of her birthday and partly because of the wine harvest. Now that Cliff worked at the winery he would often give Karen and Ann free grapes when they visited. For her birthday she always received plenty of wine as everyone seemed at a loss of what to get her. All they knew was that she liked wine to drown away her problems, so that's all they gave her. She found it sad that all she was known for was chugging wine.
It was the 30th and finally Kai prepared to leave, Popuri cried as he packed and Karen and Ann comforted her. Soon the boat arrived and Kai prepared to board.
"Goodbye Kai." Karen said and gave him a hug. Kai forced a smile and turned to Popuri.
"Goodbye Poe, I'll see you next year." He said a hint of hope in his voice. Popuri cried and kissed him goodbye, unable to say it. Kai stepped up onto the boat and it began to sail back to the mainland, Popuri cried mournfully. Soon the boat became a dot in the distance and Karen dragged Popuri away crying. She took Popuri home and set her down on the sofa, Popuri curled up and cried. Right on cue Rick walked in and smugly patted Popuri on the back.
"No use crying over spilt milk, eh." He said trying to look sad. He couldn't hide the joyfulness in his voice.
"Kai... wasn't... spilt... milk... I... love him." Popuri whined, sniffing mid-sentence. Rick simply chuckled and walked off.
"I...hate...him." Popuri cried. Karen looked grimly at the wall.
"He can be awful when it comes to Kai, but I guess he's not so bad." Karen said, wondering why she was standing up for Rick.
"You have to say that you're his... well you used to be his... girlfriend." Popuri said her brown eyes were red with crying. Karen exhaled loudly and went to grab Popuri a tissue. Popuri wiped her tears and blew her nose loudly.
"I'm glad Kai can't see me like this." She said laughing a little.
"I'm sure he'd think you were beautiful no matter what." Karen said feeling a bit jealous.
"Like Rick thought you were always beautiful. Why did you break up? Was it 'cos of Jack?" She asked. Karen sat down next to Popuri and faced her.
"There are other reasons, but, yes that is the main one." She said and watched Popuri nod.
"I knew you were entranced by him from the moment he walked onto the island. That's when you and Rick began having problems. I just wonder why you didn't feel you could tell me." She said sadly.
"I really wanted to tell you, but I thought you would be mad, being his sister." Karen said honestly, she was so glad to finally be honest with her best friend again.
"No never. I know what an ass Rick is, I live with him. I always wondered why you became a couple in the first place." Popuri said giggling.
"It's very complicated. I'm now not even sure myself." She said furrowing her brow. Popuri giggled and so did Karen. They discussed all the things they had missed out on in the summer, not realising that Rick was listening at the door.
ooooh Rick that little eavesdropper, hmphhh, i bet he's a peeping tom too. Okay i don't have that much against Rick, but let's face it, he's a nerd with an anger management problem so yeah i don't love him, but i don't exactly hate him... well not enough to kill him off... yet. So who will Karen pick...
