Here we go. I'm on a roll. Let's see if I can keep the momentum up!

This is a little baby chapter, but it's pretty plot-relevant. This is starting a new arc-quite possibly my favorite of the story. Welcome to the Inclement Summer Arc, everyone. ;)

CHAPTER STATS

Word Count (excluding A/N): 1174

Date Updated: 3-10-13

Current Review Count: 712

Chelsea sat in her room, on her bed. She didn't know what to do besides just… sit. Her crops were gone and there wasn't enough time left in the season to plant any new ones. She'd usually be in her barn, but—

She squeezed her eyes shut. She'd already spent the last few nights she'd been back crying. At the rate she was going, she'd die of dehydration. She took a deep, cleansing breath and sat up to move over to her window. The late springtime sun was setting over her barren field. It was already Monday. She'd been back for four days and after her initial rounds to apologize for disappearing and thanking everyone for their concern—and taking care of Daisy—she'd been in her house.

She hadn't left since Friday evening. Julia had been by every day, usually with food, which Chelsea initially declined but with Julia's insistence teamed up with her own stomach growling, she'd given in.

She didn't mean to become a recluse. She knew that everyone was worrying about her, and she didn't like making a fuss, but it was just really hard to get herself out. She was out of money entirely from the boat tickets and she didn't have anything to do anyway. Now, she was literally trapped.

At least Julia was there for her. And Vaughn.

Chelsea smiled slightly, her tears drying as she remembered what Riley had told her at Vaughn's apartment. He did like her. The cookies weren't a joke. He actually, honestly liked her. And she liked him.

But that was before she tried to run away and she underwent this personality change. She didn't feel like she was very different from usual, but she knew that she was. She didn't want to be this lonely or secluded or sad—she just couldn't help it.

Vaughn of all people should understand that.

Chelsea sighed, looking down at her scratched knees. Vaughn liked her—but did he like her even when she wasn't happy like she usually was? It was just so hard to be excited to get up when she knew there wasn't anything to do.

The only thing that actually kept her remotely held together was waiting for Wednesday to get there.

Ooo

Vaughn sat on the sand at the beach in Forget-Me-Not, just zoning out at the sunset. He really wanted to be with Chelsea. He'd almost called Mirabelle to ask how she was doing, but he'd stopped himself. Mirabelle was a busy woman and he wasn't in the habit of making calls to his boss for anything besides work-related affairs.

But damn, did he want to talk to Chelsea.

"Are you alright?"

He leapt up of the sand, startled out of his reverie by a feminine voice approaching him. He looked over at her and felt the blood rush out of his face completely.

It was Chelsea's mother, Claire.

And for some reason he felt compelled to be polite to her.

"Yes, ma'am," he nodded, averting his gaze. He hid his face under his hat because it suddenly felt very warm.

She hummed, nodding. "You seemed a bit sad."

He shrugged lamely.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head, unable to verbally reply even if he wanted to. Chelsea was so much like her, it scared him.

"Suit yourself," she shrugged. She didn't leave, though. Instead, she turned to look out at the sunset and heaved a sigh of her own.

Vaughn kicked himself for speaking before he even spoke. "Are you okay, ma'am?"

"Me?" She turned to him, surprised. She let out a small laugh. "I'm getting by."

Silence engulfed them. Vaughn knew that Claire was missing Chelsea. It had been almost a year since Chelsea had run away and she hadn't seen her since then. He almost felt bad about stopping Chelsea from going back…

"I know you don't really care," Claire said, smiling, "But can I tell you what's actually on my mind?"

Vaughn just nodded, suddenly panicking. What if they knew about him? What if she knew he knew where Chelsea was? He knew already that he couldn't tell her about the island. Chelsea would do that when she was ready—but in the meantime, how would he get out of it? His boat was barely appearing on the horizon.

Claire smiled up at him, giving him déjà vu. "My daughter ran away."

He just nodded.

"It's been almost a year and her father and I have been worried sick about her. It's been a while since we got a letter from her and we're worried. Things hadn't been going her way, but in her last letter she said everything was getting better… but I don't know what to think. I just want her home, you know?"

Vaughn just nodded again.

"Her father's been taking it especially hard. He's always so stubborn and likes to make people think he's not sensitive at all, but I know how much this is hurting him."

"What is she like?" Vaughn was just as surprised as Claire at his question.

"She's the sweetest girl you'll ever meet—maybe too sweet. She's always been too trusting and a little naïve, but she means well and she's got her father's stubbornness."

Vaughn nodded, trying to conceal the smile creeping onto his face. That was definitely Chelsea.

"You travel around a lot, don't you?" Claire asked him. "Have you seen a girl, a little taller than me, with brownish hair and blue eyes?"

"There's lots of blue-eyes brunettes in the world, ma'am," he replied.

"But none of them are quite like my daughter," she said sadly.

He silently agreed.

"I remember when she was little," Claire said, a small smile on her aging face. "She'd run around on the farm all day and she'd only come in if I made her favorite sandwiches. Peanut butter and—"

"Honey," Vaughn muttered absentmindedly.

The air around them grew thick with tension.

Shit, he'd screwed up.

"How did you—?" She asked, but her voice was cut off by the sound of the boat's horn.

He quickly tipped his hat to her and hurried to the boat.

"Wait! Wait, are you Vaughn?"

He pretended not to hear her.

"Tell Chelsea we miss her—please! Please, Vaughn!"

He still pretended not to hear her.

"Tell her we love her," she shouted once more. "Please!"

Vaughn, now on the deck of the ship, nodded once to her.

She swallowed hard and wiped at the tears that had somehow found their way to her cheeks. Before the boat was completely gone, she mustered up all of her strength and shouted, "Is she alright?"

She prayed to the goddess that he'd heard her as she watched him and waited for his response.

A moment passed and he didn't move. Another moment, and the boat started to pull out. She was about to turn away, when she saw him move.

He nodded.

She nodded back and hurried back to the inn. She had to call Gray.

Dun, dun, dun. Tbh I actually did not plan this little subplot in at all. But it was interesting, so we're going with it! Review and tell me how you think this new mixture of Vaughn and Chelsea's parents will work out, yeah? :P