Yosh! Update! So much has happened since the last chapter, ahaha. Has anyone heard of Anime Expo in LA? I went down there on the 2nd and 3rd of this month, and I cosplayed as Harvest Moon's own librarian, Mary. Only a few people knew who I was, but one of the guys in Artist's Alley gave me a free pin with Jack on it and the word "Turnips" because I was representing such a small fandom :3
Also, a big thing: I ordered a proof copy of a compilation of my fanfiction a few weeks back, and now I have it! Ahaha, I'm such a spaz... I'll put a link to its picture in my profile, in case anyone is curious xD
Anything else...? Hm, let me think... Oh, yes: for those readers who recognized my Brook laugh a few chapters back in the A/N, you'll appreciate this. I hugged a Sanji and an Ace cosplayer at Anime Expo! I was so happyyyy~ I have a picture! :3
Anyways, on with the story! xP
"So, Chelsea, how's the farm been? You smell like it's doing well!"
Chelsea pulled her gaze off of the ocean to study the pop star across from her. Was that an insult? Denny snickered, casting out his line once more. He'd already caught half a bucket of fish, while Chelsea hadn't even felt a tug.
"Uh, the farm's doing well… I just bought my first cow a little bit ago, and she's doing fine."
"That's great! But," Lanna paused, reeling in a puny fish. She threw it back, and continued, "You know, you have such a pretty face. You really should have considered show biz—you would have done so well!"
"Th-thanks…" Chelsea sputtered, growing uncomfortable. Talking with Lanna had always been a less than pleasant experience. It wasn't that she was a bad person; it was just that everything she said was a compliment that seemed to have a hidden insult.
"Hey, Lanna, will you watch the pole for a bit while I put down the weights? We're far enough out to stop here," Denny called, holding his fishing pole out for Lanna. The blonde stood and half-skipped over to him, smiling as she took the rod.
"Sure thing, Love."
Hm. Intreresting. Were these two going out? Chelsea rose her eyebrows to herself. If she didn't feel awkward before, she sure did now.
"Oi, Chelsea, looks like you've got a bite!"
The farmer blinked back into reality as she felt the pole in her hands tug away. Tightening her grip instinctively, Chelsea tried yanking back on the line. It pulled back harder, surprising Chelsea as she put her feet up against the side of the boat to get some more leverage. The battle continued for a few moments more, draining the poor girl of her strength. Denny came over curiously—this must have been one tough fish to put up such a fight. Out of the corner of her eye, Chelsea saw his purple bandana.
"D-Denny! This isn't—!" Chelsea shrieked as the fish pulled hard on the line, making her loose her balance. Lanna gasped from across the boat as the farmer lost her grip and tripped over the side. Denny reached out to grab her shirt, but he was a second too late—he watched in a petrified shock as her red bandana was swallowed by the gray waves.
"Chelsea!"
Ooo
Vaughn felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up suddenly. He pushed out of his chair, scanning the room urgently—something was happening, but what?
"Vaughn? What's up, man?"
The cowboy looked down at his surprised friend, who was still sitting at their table in the small restaurant. Shaking his head, Vaughn sat back down and mumbled under his breath. "Something happened."
"Hm? What happened?" Riley asked, frowning. Vaughn continued to shake his head.
"I don't have the slightest idea."
"Huh?"
"I've got this bad feeling in my gut, and I don't like it." Vaughn sighed, pulling his hat down over his face. Riley rose an eyebrow at him questionably.
"Whatever you say, man."
Ooo
Chelsea could feel herself being tossed amongst the waves, but for some reason, she couldn't find it in her to fight them. They threw her around like she was a baseball, but she didn't really mind it. It almost felt good. They rocked her and pulled her deeper down into a darkness she'd never seen before, and she felt like she might be able to welcome it—but she didn't want to. She wanted to swim back up to the surface, to go back to her farm, but she couldn't. The icy water soaked her to the bone and she could no longer feel her feet.
Her eyes shut tightly as she saw her parents, sitting at the table back at home. She could see her few almost-friends in Mineral Town, hanging out at the beach. She saw her new farm blooming with crops. She saw her new friends all joking around and laughing in the meadow.
She saw her life flash before her eyes. Wasn't that something that happened before you died? Chelsea couldn't remember. She vaguely wondered where that guy who kept saving her on her way to the island was. She could really use his help right about now. Or that other guy who'd saved her before… where was he? Where was Vaughn? Chelsea opened her eyes. The salt stung, but she didn't care. She looked up towards the far-away light, waiting for him to come. She was pathetic, always getting herself into these situations and not being able to get herself out… but he didn't need to keep saving her if he minded that much.
Suddenly, the light above her was obstructed and the waves broke apart for a moment as someone jumped in. Chelsea smiled faintly as she drifted off. He'd come for her, just like she was hoping. Vaughn would save her once again…
As she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, the darkness swallowed her.
Ooo
"Chelsea! Chelsea, are you okay? Say something!"
"C'mon, Chelsea, wake up!"
She felt a light sprinkling of rain falling on her skin as she creaked her eyes open. Her tired gaze was soon met by two incredibly relieved ones. Chelsea sat up slowly, noticing that the boat was very close to shore. Oh, and that she was actually on the boat.
"You're okay! Oh, Chelsea, you scared me so bad!" Lanna squealed, pulling Chelsea into a clumsy hug. Chelsea coughed suddenly, causing the blonde to pull away quickly.
"What… happened?" Chelsea asked, frowning as she tried to piece together her thoughts. "And where's Vaughn?"
"Vaughn?" Denny repeated, shaking his head in confusion. "It's Sunday, Chelsea."
Chelsea furrowed her brow. "But… that doesn't make any sense… What happened?"
Lanna frowned down at the puzzled farmer. "You fell overboard, and then Denny dove in to get you when you didn't resurface… You were unconscious when he brought you back up."
"Oh." Chelsea muttered, her face starting to burn slightly at her mistake. Of course Vaughn wasn't the one who saved her—he didn't care! Besides, he wasn't even on the island…
Lanna's face colored slightly as she continued. "Denny had to give you CPR—turns out you took in a lot of water, Chelsea."
Chelsea could hear the blood rush into her face as she bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry I was so much trouble! I-I never really learned how to swim, so—"
She was interrupted by Denny's laughter. "Relax, Chelsea. It wasn't your fault—in fact, I really should have had everyone wear life vests… Or, better yet, asked if you actually knew how to swim."
Chelsea looked up at him. "Thanks… for, uh, saving my life and… uh, stuff."
He laughed again, waving her off. "No problem, Chelsea."
"Can you make it back to your farm okay?" Lanna asked, her face returning to its normal color. Chelsea smiled slightly.
"I think so," she stood up, wobbling slightly, "Thanks again, guys. I… uh, had a lot of fun…"
"Yeah, sure." Denny chuckled, waving, "See you later, Chels."
Ooo
"What is wrong with me?" Chelsea muttered to herself as she collapsed onto her bed later that evening. She couldn't believe she'd actually almost died—again. And then she had to be stupid enough to think that Vaughn of all people was the one who's pulled her out of the water when he wasn't even on the boat with them, let alone within a dozen miles of the island! And she'd made Denny go into the icy water to save her, too… He even gave her mouth-to-mouth. Dear Harvest Goddess, she would never live this one down.
"I'm such an idiot…" Chelsea whined, turning onto her back and staring at her blackened ceiling. She was always getting into trouble, always getting saved. Since she got to the island, she'd had too many klutzy moments to count. That time in the forest, when the dogs started to threaten her, and she ended up underneath Vaughn was a prime example. Her face heated slightly at the memory and she frowned. Maybe that was the reason she was expecting Vaughn to be the one to save her—he was always there when she almost died, so why would that time be different? In the forest, in the jungle, in the city—
Woah, Chelsea thought, stop right there. The city?
She thought back to her experience on the ship to the city, and that guy who'd saved her from falling over the railing. He had a really strong grip, just like Vaughn's grip when he'd pulled her out of the mud in the forest. And then the guy in the city, the one who'd yanked her out of the way of the semi-truck… He'd told her to watch where she ended up, because she'd almost gotten run over, and he sounded exactly like Vaughn. Chelsea gaped into the darkness.
"Oh my Goddess."
Longer chapter. I hope you didn't think it was too dramatic... I mean, she was about to die. If there is ever going to be a time to be dramatic, it's then. Granted, she has almost dies too many times to count, but... Agh, whatever. She just has very bad luck, okay? xP
Was this chapter alright? I really hope it was okay, because things are about to get a little crazy up in here. You all better strap yourselves in—we're about to take a ride on the Super Angst Coaster! :D
Oh, darn it, I've said too much. Just... stay tuned for the next update, okay? It'll all be explained then :B