Hiya guys! I know that I've taken forever to update this story. But it's finally here. Enjoy and review, please!
CHAPTER FOUR: Of Lumina and Stone Oil
Jack twitched twice. His house was finally finished and he stood in front of it, flanked by Muffy, Celia, Marlin, Rock, Lumina…and Nami. Gustafa hadn't come with her because he didn't like crowds--or that's what he said anyway. Jack felt that seven could hardly be called a crowd. All the same, he was secretly glad that the hippie had stayed back at his yurt. Gustafa and Nami weren't dating…Nami was too shy to ask him and he never even hinted at anything like that.
Celia cleared her throat. "Are you going to go inside or are you going to stare all day?" Jack nodded and pulled the door open. The inside smelled like wood and new carpet; a comforting and homey smell. Rock sniffed the air and sighed.
"Man, the only smell better is my Mom's cooking! You need some more mirrors in here, Jack my friend. There's only one in the entire house!" He exclaimed, stepping in front of the wall-length mirror that was hung next to the dresser. Muffy squealed with delight and joined him in front of it, to primp, preen and bat eyelashes at the blonde boy who threw his arm around her shoulders, much to her delight.
Nami silently walked across the room and peered into the kitchen. "This is a very professional-looking kitchen. The stove looks like something from science fiction." Lumina entered it and ran a hand over the handle of the refrigerator.
"It does! Look, the ice comes out of the door!" Obviously the town was lacking slightly in technology. An ice-maker was big news. "Ruby's fridge doesn't even have that feature." She said admiringly. Nami smirked an odd sideways smile. Jack blushed and turned away. There was no telling what he would do under the influence of that smile. As they left Jack's house, Celia turned to Muffy and jerked her head towards Lumina.
"You know what I think? I think Little Miss Lumina has fallen in love with the farmer boy!" Muffy's eyes widened and she lifted her eyebrows.
"What makes you think that?" She asked quietly. Celia pointed towards the house. Jack was sweeping off the porch and Lumina was just standing beside him, blushing and grinning from ear to ear whenever he talked to her. The boy finished his job and pulled her into a brotherly hug. She returned it, her face shining and her eyes closed in the perfection of such a hug.
Muffy turned back to Celia. "I think you're right. She's never looked like that before." Celia smiled a tiny smile that was almost envious. Muffy, who was never one for details, just ran to catch up to Rock and spread the gossip. Nami, however, had been eavesdropping and walked over to the perturbed farmhand.
"What's with the face? Are you jealous of Lumina's attentions?" She snickered at the idea. "I don't think you stand much of a chance. Lumina's dress isn't caked with mud from who-knows-what-era."
Celia scowled at her. "No, I'm not jealous of Jack. I'm…oh never mind." She started to walk away. Nami followed her, curious.
"No, go ahead. Tell me. It's not like I've got something better to listen to…" She looked back to make sure that the others were still occupied. Celia swallowed and then burst out.
"I'm just…lonely, I guess! I mean, Muffy has Rock and Lumina has Jack and you even have Gustafa! What have I got? Plants! That's right! Cornstalks!" She kicked a tuft of grass with a vengeance. Nami's face had turned scarlet at the whole she-and-Gustafa bit, but her voice stayed calm.
"What about Marlin?" She asked, eyebrow cocked.
Celia snorted. "Mr. Grouchybutt? As if." She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. Nami gave a secretive smile and poked Celia's side.
"Then steal Jack from Lumina." She then hurried off. Celia watched her go and couldn't help laughing a bit at the idea.
It rained that night, big sloppy drops all over the valley. Muffy called Celia and invited her over to the Bar to spend the night. Celia suggested that they also invite Lumina and Nami…to liven things up a bit. Muffy agreed eagerly. Thirty minutes later, the three girls arrived at the Bar and ascended the steps to Muffy's loft room. Nami looked dubious, as if she doubted that spending the night with these three girls could be any fun whatsoever. Lumina plopped down on the floor immediately.
"What are we going to do?" She asked Celia, who looked to Muffy, who thought about it for a moment.
"We are going to play truth or dare." She announced. "Truth or Dare, Celia!" Celia squirmed before replying.
"Er…truth." Muffy clapped her hands.
"Who do you like best in the town?" She asked her friend.
Celia gulped before answering. "J-Jack, I guess," Lumina scowled at her reply. Celia turned to her.
"Truth or Dare, Lumina?"
"Dare!" She replied boldly. Nami smirked and Muffy giggled.
"I know just the dare for you, Lumina." Muffy squealed.
Moments later, a large glass filled with a clear liquid was plunked down in front of Lumina, who sniffed it and recoiled. "What's that?" She asked warily. Muffy just smiled.
"I dare you to drink it. All of it." She said cheerfully. Lumina scrunched her nose and picked the glass up. Nami snickered as she tipped the cup up and chugged all of the contents down, seeming to enjoy it. When it was empty, Lumina put it down and wiped her mouth. Muffy bust out laughing, joined by Nami. Celia and Lumina both inquired as to what was so funny.
"Do you know what that was?" Nami asked her quietly, her shoulders shaking with mirth. Lumina shook her head no. Muffy tried unsuccessfully to contain the giggles, but managed to choke the words out.
"It was…it…was…Stone Oil!" Celia gasped and Lumina turned pale.
"Oh, no…" Celia's eyes were huge. She glanced at the musician with a pitying look on her tanned face. "What a terrible thing to do, Muff!" She scolded her best friend. Nami continued to laugh.
The effects of the drink were obvious a little while later. You see, my beloved reader, Stone Oil happens to be the most alcoholic drink in the entire Forget-Me-Not Valley; Lumina had drank an entire glass of it. Combining the amount and the fact that her body is petite…well…you get the picture.
"And thennn I sawwws Nahmee ssssstarin' at thet Hip-pee guyyyy…wuss his nammme…yeeeuh, Gussstopherrr. Shhhhee wasss jesstt sittin' thure neeerlee droolinnng at theee sights of heem playinnng hiss getarr!" She slurred out, giggling like a maniac. Nami was blushing like fire, wishing to the Harvest Goddess that she hadn't allowed her friend to drink the Oil. Lumina continued, to the delight of Muffy. "Thattt Jackk g-guyyy is so cuttte. Haf yuu seeeen himmm? Hiz fayce's dayng adohraybull!" She turned to Celia. "Lisssen heeere, Misssssssy! Hee's MYNE, yah heeere? MYNE." She set off into another fit of giggling. "Ohh! Did I tellll yuu? Onccceee I reeaad Seeleuh's dyeuhree byy axidennnt. Did I teeell yuuu thaht hurrr nayme isss reeely Farlaht? I din't knowww thaaht unteel I reeeeadd ittt!" Everybody turned to look at the brunette.
"What did she say?" Muffy asked her. "Fairlight? Is that your name?" Celia looked horrified for a moment…then nodded. Nami asked for an explanation. Celia could hardly hear her for Lumina guffawing in the background.
"…umm…actually, she's right. I don't know where she got my diary from, though…" She tried to act unconcerned. "I sort of changed my name after my parents left me at the Inn in Mineral Town. It was my mother's name and I didn't want to think about her." Celia's eyes were dark. "Don't say anything about it, okay? My name is Celia." The girls nodded understandingly. Uncomfortable silence was broken by Muffy.
"I know what we can do! Let's prank call on Jack's house and ask him a Truth or Dare. " Nami's face sparkled with pleasure at that idea.
"You make the parties fun, Muffy." She complimented the blonde. Suddenly, loud mumblings were heard from behind her. Lumina had fallen asleep on the floor and was talking in her sleep. The girls crept out quietly, so as not to wake her.
Jack was jerked out of sleep by his door being pounded on. Not thinking, he stumbled over to the door and answered it, still wearing his boxers. He jumped when it was opened to reveal three girls, Muffy, Celia and Nami. They all turned red at the sight of his boxers--except for Nami. She merely rolled her eyes. Not noticing his lack of wardrobe, Jack frowned upon his visitors.
"What the heck are you doing here? It's one o'clock in the morning." He chastised. The girls gave Cheshire cat grins. Celia stepped forward.
"We were having a sleepover and we wanted you to join the fun! Truth or Dare?" She asked him.
Jack didn't particularly like the idea of having three caffeinated girls dare him, so he replied with a "Truth." The girls huddled for a sec, then stepped back. Celia again addressed him.
"Which one of us do you think is the prettiest?" She asked. Jack blushed and considered the situation. A long pause followed. "Well? Which one?" Celia asked again.
"Er…um…N-Nami!" He finally pushed out. The girls drew breath in one collective gasp. Muffy and Celia looked slightly ticked off, while Nami looked both angry and flattered beyond belief. Before they had time to say anything, Lumina suddenly appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"Whyyy'd yuu guysss leeve mee? Waayyt uppp, Fahrlaht!" She giggled…and then spotted Jack. With fire in her eyes, she jumped up on the porch with him, grabbed his shoulders, pulled him down…and kissed him like there was no tomorrow. The gasp from the girls was even bigger this time. Jack floundered like a fish, struggling to free himself. Lumina finally let him go and passed out into his arms, dead drunk. The bewildered boy twitched a few times before turning to the girls.
"Wh-wh-what the HECK? Wh-what's wrong with her?" He asked, still holding her. "Ewww! Ewww!" He shrieked, sounding for all the world like a little boy. "And why does she taste like Stone Oil?" Jack sighed.
Nami chuckled. "Funny you should mention that…" She scratched her head. "Give her to me." Jack was only too happy to oblige. "I'll fill you in tomorrow. Good night, Jack." She turned and walked off, followed by the girls. Jack shook his head incredulously. This town was crazy. And what did Lumina call Celia? Fairlight? And what was with the Stone Oil?
"Oh, my gosh…Fairlight…" Jack whispered later that night, memories suddenly rushing back.