"Please fasten your seatbelts and return trays to the upright position as we continue our descent. Thank you for flying with us today."
I sighed and continued to stare out the window, exhausted. I had only been in Singapore for a couple days, but I hadn't slept at all. That, and Annie had called multiple times to guilt-trip me about leaving her alone. It worked. Ray was helping with the animals, but still . . . I jumped as the flight attendant tapped me on the shoulder.
"Trash?" I shook my head absently and turned back to the window, sucking air in sharply as the plane dipped lower. I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against the cool window, my hands fisting in my shirt. I hated flying so much.
Ten minutes later I was dragging my one suitcase slowly behind myself, feeling my eyelids droop more with every step I took. All I had to do now was go catch the stupid ferry over to-
"Hey," a soft voice called. I felt a hand slide near my grip on my suitcase and gratefully let my arm drop to my side as Jamie picked the bag up with ease.
"Hey," I replied tiredly as he kissed me on the cheek. "I didn't know you were going to be here."
"Your friend told me you don't sleep on planes and you probably wouldn't know left from right. I figured I could come get you." He leaned closer until his mouth was near my ear, "and I missed you." I giggled and stopped myself, feeling slap-happy from the lack of sleep.
"I think that was a good idea," I agreed as he removed stepped back. "Hey wait, you talked to Annie?" Jamie made a disgusted noise.
"The fisher guy- Ray? -killed a chicken because he's an idiot, so she came over to beg for help." I couldn't help but laugh.
"I doubt that's what happened." He shrugged as we walked outside and headed toward a taxi.
"Okay, maybe it didn't die, exactly." We slid into the car, and I almost instantly fell asleep against the door.
My eyes shot open as cold water dripped down my face and onto the floor. Muffled giggles came from behind me, and I groaned sleepily.
"I told you it'd work," a light female voice giggled.
"Hn," Jamie grunted. His hands were suddenly on my shoulder, and I realized I was lying down. "You up?"
"Of course I'm up," I said in annoyance as I lifted myself up. I was on a wooden bench, and Jamie was next to me on another one. A peppy looking blonde girl stood to the side of us, watching Jamie intently. She gave off me a kind of creepy feeling. Feeling slightly on edge, I raised an eyebrow and looked up to see the perfectly clear blue sky. "Are we on a boat?"
"The ferry," Jamie confirmed. At my confused expression, he continued. "I couldn't wake you in the car, so I had to carry you." The ditzy blonde girl giggled for a few seconds and stopped to look at me.
"You're so lucky to have such a nice friend!" Jamie and I shared a look, and I watched him sigh. The girl batted her eyelashes at Jamie's back and sat down next to him, close enough so that her bare legs- when had her skirt gotten that high?- were touching his. A green eyed monster began to make itself known in my stomach.
"Can-" Jamie began.
"Um, who are you?" My voice came out catty as I watched her slide an arm through Jamie's. He turned slightly red and cast me a helpless look, trying vainly to free his arm without hurting her feelings. I fought the urge to rip her arm off.
"My name is Clarissa! What's your name?" She continued to snuggle closer to Jamie, who began to slide in the opposite direction as her blonde hair began to eat his face. Okay, maybe not, but she was pretty much cuddling him at this point.
Cue eyebrow raise.
"Hey-" Jamie started.
"I'm Alex," I said warily. "Why are you molesting my," I paused, catching Jamie's gaze, "friend?" Clarissa giggled cutely again, and covered her mouth daintily.
"Well, he's such a cutie! Since I'm moving to Flower Bud village too, I figured I'd better snatch myself a cute boyfriend while I can! I'm going to sell flowers and stuff!"
"Um," Jamie began, eying my annoyed expression. He started using a little more force on the arm-removing.
"Excuse me?" I hissed, fists growing white-knuckled at my side. Her eyes grew wide.
"Are you jealous?" Her eyes flickered over to Jamie, and a horrified expression crossed her face. "Are you . . . together?" Jamie yanked his arm away, and turned to her.
"Yes," he snarled, eyes narrowed. He turned and sat next to me on the opposite bench, wrapping an arm around my waist protectively. Clarissa burst into tears at his glare and ran until she was out of sight. I watched the direction she had disappeared in and Jamie shook his head, slightly relinquishing his hold on my side.
"You didn't have to glare at her like that, you know," I said, turning back to Jamie. "Or are you always like that?"
"Hn."
"Of course you are; what am I talking about!"
"She was upsetting you." We sat in silence for a few moments before I attached myself to Jamie's arm.
"Thanks," I whispered, letting my head fall on his shoulder. I took the slight movement of his head as acknowledgement and let my eyes drift close again as Jamie pulled me closer.
"Okay, I'm seriously exhausted. Give me a break," I whined to Annie as she made dinner.
"Fine, I guess the chickens will just starve then," she replied sourly, adding a few too many hot peppers to the salad.
"I thought you said Ray fed them!" Annie 'hmmph'ed and stuck her head inside the fridge to look for goddess knows what. I curled my socked feet under myself as I snuggled back into Annie's couch, turning my attention back to the television.
"Did you hear anything about a new shop opening up?" I asked casually as Annie reappeared. I hadn't told Annie about the situation on the ferry.
"I know somebody bought the land where the orange trees are," she paused, contemplating. "Oooh, if those are getting cut down. . ." she raised a clenched fist and shook it at the ceiling.
"If she cuts those trees down, I'll personally come after her," I agreed, shaking my head. My show came back on, and I was absorbed instantly. Unfortunately, Annie was now interested in who 'her' was.
"You know who's moving here?" She asked, setting down the salad dressing to lean on the counter.
"Skanky little whore," I muttered before erupting into giggles. What a silly show! I saw Annie purse her lips out of the corner of my eye as she began to toss the salad.
"Well if you want to eat, now is the time. Then I think we have some horrible girl stalking to do, hmm?"
"Come on, Alex, slow down!" I sighed dramatically and stopped walking, waiting for my crippled friend to catch up. We were on our way to the Inn to spy on a certain newcomer. Annie panted as she caught up to me.
"Gosh, what's gotten up your butt lately?" I barely caught her sideways glance as she passed me on her crutches. It was almost pitch black outside as it usually was at night time in the winter. I stood still for a moment, letting her get ahead, before I began walking again.
"I don't like blonde sluts," I snarled, watching the hot air swirl away from my mouth.
"So brunette ones are okay?" Annie attempted to joke. She giggled once and sobered quickly when I did not follow suit. "You must have a good reason, and I'm definitely dying to hear it." Annie was so far ahead that I couldn't see her anymore. I was moving at a snail's pace.
"You won't need to hear it once you meet her," I replied, my voice softer. Hating her without knowing her wouldn't make it okay. Maybe she just made a mistake? I pushed open the Inn door as Annie waited impatiently next to me, tapping her foot against the ground. The first thing I noticed was that Gwen was sitting, legs sprawled with her back to Doug's counter, eyes closed. The second thing I noticed was Doug NOT at his counter.
"Whereisshe!" Annie demanded, gliding into the building to survey Gwen's inhumanly calm expression. Gwen sighed and opened her eyes before pointing upstairs. Annie pouted. "That's no fair." Gwen caught my gaze with her own and shook her head, letting an annoyed look creep onto her face. We watched as Annie crept over to the stairs and look longingly up. I sat on the floor next to Gwen and imitated her pose.
"Are we doomed?" I asked flatly.
"SKANKY SLUT GIRL? ARE YOU UP THERE?" Annie shouted up the stairs.
"Yes," Gwen replied, just as flatly. We sat in stone silence as Annie lingered by the stairs. The quiet noise of feet pattered across the ceiling, and I sighed in unison with Gwen.
"Hi there," I heard Clarissa's bizarrely cute voice echo down the stairs. "My name's Clarissa!" I heard Annie snort softly before her voice creaked up a few octaves to imitate Clarissa.
"Like, I'm Annie!"
Gwen muffled a laugh from beside me, and I let a grin creep onto my face. Annie wasn't usually mean like that, but she had obviously picked up that same creepy vibe I had gotten on the ferry. Judging from Gwen's reaction, she had felt it too.
"That's such a cool name," Clarissa gushed, not catching Annie's sarcasm. We heard her descend the stairs quickly. I almost cracked up as I listened to the sound of Annie backpedaling awkwardly on her crutches.
"Um, yeah, so what are you doing in this village? Like totally?" Annie asked, trying to keep her fake voice up.
"Ohmigod, I just saw a flyer in the newspaper, and I totally have always wanted to sell flowers and stuff!" Gwen rolled up in a ball and stuffed the collar of her shirt in her mouth, tears of mirth streaming down her face. It seemed like Clarissa had already accepted Annie as a friend. I bit my finger hard as Annie laughed nervously.
"But, you know, those orange trees? You aren't cutting them down, right?" Clarissa laughed like that was the funniest thing she'd ever heard in her life.
"Of course I am! Who needs oranges anyway! Trees in general are a waste of space!" There was a silence, and I presumed Annie was glaring daggers.
"I hope you get bitten by a rabid squirrel," Annie remarked calmly, her real voice intact. I heard her turn and begin to make her way to the front of the Inn so I stood up to open the door for my fuming friend. As we burst out into the cold air, Annie turned to me.
"This means war."
Ahh guys I'm sorry for the wait. I had to retype this chapter three times because Word kept deleting it for whatever reason. I promise it won't happen again.