Ugh. I hate school. I miss break Dx

Anywho, so, I had started this chapter the day that the last one was released and couldn't finish it. The first chance I got to work on it again was just a couple hours ago, and I still have some homework to do. And get this: I was adding to this chapter and got up to the point that I thought it was going to end at, yeah? But then I look and it's the size of two chapters! So what did I do? I cut it in half. This is a short chapter, and the next one is a bit on the shorter side, too (but it's longer than this one).

Enjoy this update! I want to update at least once a week, so I'm not putting the next chapter up until I know that I'll be able to write another one this week. Get reading!

CHAPTER STATS

Word Count (excluding A/N): 1150

Date Updated: 1-9-11

Current Review Count: 148

About halfway down the pathway to Mirabelle's, Chelsea regretted going out. Sure, she had to feed Daisy, but running out into the middle of a snowstorm? Even she knew it was downright stupid. And to someone with her coordination and luck, it was basically a death wish. But she was already halfway there—she couldn't turn back now!

The snow continued to blow horizontally, scraping across her numbing face, knees, and hands. What she would give for a pair of pants and a scarf right then. She just had to keep going—one step, then another, then one more… She was making progress. She watched her red boots crunch into the ankle-deep snow, each foot disappearing from view until she pulled it up in another step. She started counting off in her head—one, two, three, four. One, two, thr—agh!

She gasped as she took another step, her foot being swallowed by a patch of snow that was far deeper than she expected. Her entire boot went down, soaking her leg and sending a new wave of nipping cold up her body. Shocked, she yanked at her foot, and—of course—lost her balance, falling forward into freezing white. Why did she have to be so clumsy? Was the world out to get her?

Gritting her teeth, Chelsea pushed her numb, bare hands into the snow in front of her and fought her way up. She was so close—she could feel it! Just a few more yards. One, two, three, four. One, two three, four. One, two… Was that a building she could see through the white abyss?

Smiling slightly, Chelsea quickened her pace. She tripped every few steps, but didn't make it to the ground again—she lunged towards the dark wooden structure, laying her hands on the wall, laughing in relief. She made it! Feeling her way towards the front door, she realized that she really had no feeling in her legs or hands anymore, and her clothes were soaked.

She pushed open the door, stumbling inside before turning and sealing the cold outside again. She faced the interior of the shop again, leaning against the door, breathing heavily. She opened her eyes after a moment, smiling faintly at the shocked faces of the women in charge.

"Chelsea?" Julia asked, her voice unsure. Chelsea laughed once, giddy from the cold.

"Hey, Jules," she giggled, "I need to buy some fodder."

Ooo

"Chelsea, Honey," Mirabelle said, frowning slightly in concern, "I'm not sure it'd be right for you to go back out into that storm—especially carrying those bags of fodder."

"Aw, Mirabelle," Chelsea smiled, shrugging and trying to conceal her shivering, "don't worry—I'll be fine. I made it here, right?"

"But, Chels," Julia started, her eyebrows knit together in concern. Chelsea interrupted her.

"But nothing," she smiled wider, hoping to reassure her best friends, "I need to feed Daisy—you two can totally understand that, right?"

"Well, it is important to feed your animals, but—"

"You see?" Chelsea grinned, "I'll be fine. I'll see you two tomorrow. If something happens to me on the way there, I'll… scream. Or something. But I won't have to, because nothing will happen. I swear."

Julia rolled her eyes. "Chelsea, this is you we're talking about. No offense."

Chelsea scoffed. "Have a little faith in me, won't you? I made it here in one piece, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah," Julia admitted, and then turned to her mother, obviously still unhappy with the current situation. Chelsea bounced from foot to foot, slowly regaining feeling again. She was nervous—she just wanted to get back to Daisy to feed her and then get into her pajamas and sleep. Mirabelle pursed her lips, her finger up to her chin in thought.

"I wonder if we could send…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "No, we couldn't ask that."

"What, Ma?" Julia asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. Chelsea did the same—did they have a solution to this 'dilemma' that would make everyone happy?

"Well, I was thinking we could send Vaughn with her, but—"

"Oh, no, no," Chelsea cut in, shifting the bags of fodder to her other arm, "I couldn't ask that of him. It still is pretty dangerous out there."

Mirabelle and Julia nodded slowly. Chelsea wasn't about to admit that she didn't want him to know that she was here after promising to stay inside during the storm. He would be seriously pissed off. In fact, he might not even let her go back to her farm—but, no… She did want to go back to take care of her animal. He, of all people, would understand that. Right?

…She didn't want to take the chance.

"I'll just leave now, alright? I'll see you two tomorrow!" Chelsea called as she hurried to open the door and rush out into the blizzard before they could object. She shut the door and set off in the direction of her farm, counting off in her head again. It was like a snow globe during an earthquake out there—she couldn't see a foot ahead of her. At least she could tell when she was close when the ground started to go uphill.

Suddenly, the bottom of her boot lost its traction and slid down the hill, leaving Chelsea lying horizontally on her stomach in the snow. She sighed, scrambling up and grabbing her fodder bags. This would be a long walk to the barn.

Ooo

White. That was all he could see, hear, feel, taste, smell. He closed his eyes, but even then he couldn't block out the whiteness. There was nothing. With his eyes still closed—or were they open?—he started running. It didn't matter which way he ran. He just needed to be somewhere else.

His feet flew over the hollow floor easily, like he was running on a thick expanse of smooth plastic and there were no obstacles. But he didn't like it—he needed something in his way. It was too easy—there had to be a catch. There had to be something to hold him back, something to cause him trouble. There always was.

His feet started to feel heavy and cold. His running slowed and he opened his eyes, blinking to adjust to the new sunlight. Snow was falling all around him, slowly and carefully, dancing to the frozen ground. He studied his new surroundings cautiously and completely. Where was this? It was so familiar. He knew he'd been here before, but he didn't know where "here" was. He'd see that waterfall in the distance and the bridge down the hill. He recognized that pathway and the pond at the end of it. He knew the buildings on the property he stood on. He'd seen them all before, dusted in white like they were now. It all was so familiar.

"Vaughn, you're home."

Tiny chapter. Sorry! But, hey, at least now I can guarantee an update by next Sunday! Expect Chapter Twenty-Two (Twenty-Three?) by January 16! Woo! Alright. Yeah. I hate to put you guys back into dream-mode, but hey, it's interesting. To me. This dream sequence is my favorite one yet! ...Even though I only have one other one written...

Yeah. Well. There's still a poll in my profile that I would love to see you guys' votes in! Thanks to everyone who's voted so far. The results are what I was kind of expecting, but it still helps to hear your opinions. The results have helped me finalize what goes on in the next couple chapters! Kind of. Okay, I was planning on doing my plan all along, but I'm reassured now. xDDD

See you guys next week (or sooner)! Thanks for reviewing BD