Chapter 5: Horse Racing

Jack's POV:

Oh what a strange four days, when I visit the girls, they seem flirtier. It kind of scares me, sorry but I don't like any of them in that way. At least not yet, it's not even one seasons. I wonder if they really like me, or are they just fooling around? Well looking at Jane, it is that time. We are eighteen, but I'm glad my sister isn't that flirty, although she does seem to be near that Gray, no wonder all our stuff is silver. I'm thinking of mining for mythril by the end of fall. Now, silver is fine, although I should ask her to upgrade the axe to gold, for her sake, and for the sake of our last house extension.

I closed my eyes finally, it has been a long day, and I've spent the last ten minutes reminiscing. Hopefully tomorrow, we'll have good luck, and then I won't have to worry too much on money loss…

THE NEXT DAY…

I stretched my arms, and turned off my damn alarm clock….wait when did I get an alarm clock!

"Jane!" I yelled out, man what was her problem! I don't need an alarm clock I always wake up at 6:00 anyways.

Jane came in, "What's wrong?"

"When did you get me an alarm clock?"

"What alarm clock?" she asked. Man, is she blind!

I turned to my side and showed it to her. After looking at it properly, I realized that it was a rock from yesterday. Man was I embarrassed, but hey what was that noise then?

"Then what was that?" I had to ask. She smirked and smiled widely, oh man what did she do now?

"Did it…" she picked up a red creature, oh is that Chef? "Sound like this?" I stared as Chef suddenly made that annoying noise.

"Yes," I said a stretched once more, "What were you two doing?"

Chef smiled and so did Jane, "I was practicing my opera!"

I fell down off my bed, what the hell? Why opera? What in the world? I shook my head and stepped out of bed, "Just get out, we have to get ready for horse racing."

"Horse racing!" she got excited and jumped up and down, "I love horses!"

I nodded and smiled, horses were one of her favorite things. Although she never liked those who were on top of them, they never seemed nice. They seemed to abuse the horses she always said, but on the racing track, you may have to hurt the horse slightly to make them faster. When I race next year, I'll do my best not to hurt him.

She walked out of my room and placed my blue and orange cap on. It was favorite hat, grandpa gave it to me, and I loved it and never went anywhere without it. I finished changing and met my sister outside.

"Ready?" she asked, and I nodded, of course I am, time to do some betting!

We walked quietly to the rose square after taking care of our animals. We decided to bring our horse so he can see what it's like to race when he grows up. He quietly neighed as I brushed him. We both hugged him and finally entered the rose square.

Inside looked cool, there was a huge tent where the horses were racing, and so Jane brought him there. I looked around and spotted Karen, "Where do I bet?"

She turned in surprise, "Oh hey Jack, it's over there," she pointed towards the mayor.

"Thanks," I said and smiled, she said no problem and I ran to go bet.

After betting I ran inside to meet Jane who was obviously talking to Gray. But then I saw a slightly steaming Cliff and Rick pushing each other towards Jane.

After she turned they stopped and placed on a smile and walked towards her. Gray sighed as she greeted the other boys. The other two waved and constantly spared glares at each other when Jane wasn't looking. Poor her, when she actually meets nice people, she becomes too sociable.

I had a plan as I saw Popuri, Ann, Mary, Karen and Elli come in. I walked up to Jane and interrupted their conversation, "Hey," I said and pulled her out.

"Hey brother," she said horse still in hand.

"Hey Jane, um hey look it's the girls why don't you talk to them?"

She smiled and nodded and went towards them. I sighed, and went to take care of the horse and watch the races.

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The boys weren't happy of my actions, but I shot them glares and they backed off. I can't let them fight for my sister, not just yet. Besides, I bet they only have a small crush on her. And no don't think I'm over protected, I just don't want my sister to become uncomfortable around people again. She's having fun, and I don't want those boys to ruin it for her…

Jane's POV:

Thank goodness Jack pulled me out of that conversation about chickens. Even Cliff and Gray were bored.

I looked at the girls around me, they were talking about the horses, "I know," I responded to their question about the horses.

I sighed as I looked at Gray and Jack, they were the only boys that didn't annoy me, although I haven't spoken to Cliff that much. Maybe Ann knows a little about him…

"Ann," I began, she turned to me and smiled.

"What?"

"What's up with Cliff?" I began, "He's usually comes around me but hardly speaks…"

"I know," she sighed and looked down, "He's been like that for like ever!"

The other girls nodded and I realized that he probably is.

Then suddenly all the girls glanced at my brother and blushed slightly. Karen and I saw this, even though Karen herself was blushing, but anyways we both sighed.

"Do you guys…" I gulped please may the answer be no, "Like my brother?"

There was dead silence, Ann turned to the side, Karen looked down, Elli looked up and Mary played with her fingers, and Popuri turned to the side, "So?"

They all nodded a bit and I frowned, "Really?" I didn't want my brother to have his attention pulled away by all of them. And I don't want him to have to decide from all of them either.

"Just a little," they finally responded and I smiled, at least they weren't like in love with him. I'd die if that was true.

"We just met him," Elli began. She was right; it hasn't even been a season.

"Don't worry," Karen whispered, "They have crushes pretty easily when it comes to first sight. Besides he is really nice to them," I nodded and she continued, "Don't worry, I know who each of them have liked for a while."

I nodded and smiled, Karen was really nice at times. Although when I see her drunk its strange and funny. And sometimes she gets a bit angry, but she's really nice. And what's the good part is that her cooking is as good as mine! Now I don't have to worry if my cooking is good or not!

I heard the Mayor, it's time to begin the races. We all got into our seats, and I saw Jack wave at us. I waved back and so did the other girls. Hopefully our bets were correct, then we can get more money for the rest of the year…

Jack's POV:

Great, our horse is winning….and…he….this is going good…YES! He won! I turned to see some cheer and some frown. I saw my sister with a wide smile and I winked at her. Yes, one down, three more to go!

Just before the next one, Gray came up to me away from the other boys with popcorn.

"Hey," he said softly offering me some.

"Hey," I replied taking some and thanking him. He just shrugged as the next one started.

I looked at Gray for a moment, he seemed so quiet and so serious at most times. I can't believe Jane can communicate with him. H3e just seems so unsociable, and well, he just doesn't seem like the kind of person Jane would actually speak to considering the people in the city. But I guess you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

I turned to see that the race has started, yay, our horse is winning. I brushed my horse again, he seemed really excited, can't blame him, I bet he wants to zoom down that dirt road too, but he is still too young. I, I want to run too, I want to hop on him and ride on that track and make them eat our horse's dust.

Yes, the one we thought would win won, that was really nice, yeah, one more to go.

I stepped to the side and walked towards Jane and asked her if she wanted some popcorn, She nodded and walked towards us. She smiled and waved at Gray and Gray mumbled a little hi. She frowned, sighed and walked up to us.

"Hey," I said and she nodded. She turned to our horse and pet it, she smiled and embraced it as the third one began.

"We're on a winning streak eh Jack?" she said looking at our tickets. I nodded, yeah, we are having really good luck.

"How about you Gray?" she asked him. He looked down at his papers and then at her and shrugged.

"It's pretty good," he said in a better tone than before.

She smiled again and started a conversation about horses with him. Strange, he seems more….human….more talkative now. Less serious and a bit more fun. I wonder if he likes my sister…Naw, I shouldn't go into thinking that, it's still early right?

I watched the race go on, again the horse we chose was winning. Khaos neighed, but not in a good way, I turned to the field and saw Stu and May walking where the horses were heading to. They were close to the end, and we're about to get hit.

I slightly panicked and turned to Khaos, he neighed and I nodded. He knew what we had to do, no matter what consequence we had to save them. I turned to Jane and told here to watch my back. Of course she had no idea of what I was talking about but whatever.

So I hopped onto Khaos and we went towards the end. I heard people whispering and wondering what was going on but who cares, if they did see Stu and May, I'm the only one who can save them.

"Come on Khaos!" I yelled out and Khaos ran faster, we were finally able to catch up to the other horses and Khaos, luckily jumped over them. Amazing and unbelievable right? But it did just happen.

Stu and May turned to see the horses and screamed, the others noticed this and panicked. I was so close…

BAM!

Yes…We…Saved…Them….

Jane's POV:

"Jack!" I cried out, oh my gosh tell me he's alright!

I ran towards them, Stu and May were crying slightly. Barley and Elli came over to comfort them and slightly scolded them for being there. They must have been lost…

Shrug that off though, Jack just got hit by those horses, and also Khaos. I turned to Gray and he nodded, he must know what to do.

I turned to the other guys and they followed us, Doctor and Elli had a worried look when they glanced at Jack. Stu ran to his Grandma as Elli went straight to Jack. Actually, practically everyone came to his side.

I looked at Khaos and started to cry slightly, Khaos and Jack are both injured! I pet Khaos, and he whimpered in pain. Gray, and the other guys helped Khaos up and they helped him over to the farm where I promised to tend to when I was done with jack.

I looked at Gray with concern and he told me not to worry, I nodded, I can trust those guys. I then ran towards Jack, Mayor Thomas shook his head and sighed.

"You better take him to the hospitel," he said and walked away.

The girls looked at me worriedly and Doctor and Elli said that they'd leave just for a stretcher. I nodded and we gathered around the badly bruised Jack.

"Jack," I muttered. He moved a bit and opened his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked. He then got up, "Stu, May!" he yelled and then fell back down, "Ouch…Man everything hurts…"

I looked at him with concern and so did the other girls. We all focused our stares at him and he slowly fell asleep. Elli and Doctor had the stretcher and the girls then began to fight over who should carry it.

"Me!" Popuri cried out.

"Me!" Ann cried out.

The two argued and Mary found it pointless. She looked at Jack, "I read about this happening in stories, but I never thought of it to actually happen," she shook her head and began to walk out, "I'll come visit later, I have to get back home."

She waved and I waved back, she was nice, and did a great job of watching the library. Jack thinks she's cool for taking care of the library all by herself. I remember when he told her that it was funny, she was red all over!

I got tired of Ann's and Popuri's arguing, and so did Karen. She sighed and saw me looking at her, "Let's go."

She nodded and Elli and Doctor led the way. Karen and I struggled on placing him on the stretcher without hurting him. He made a couple of noises and we finally got him on. Ann and Popuri stopped arguing and ran with us to the clinic or so called Hospitel.

At the clinic we all sat around him and Elli and Doctor began checking him. I told the girls that we should go.

"But Jack," Popuri began.

Ann nodded but then Karen spoke up, "Elli and Doctor is working on him, we'll visit later."

"But how will I be sure you guys won't make him fall in love with you?" Popuri said, but the Ann covered her mouth.

Wait a second, my eye twitched, "What did you just said?"

"N-Nothing," Karen said sighing. I tilted my head then shrugged it off. I glanced at jack again and left home. I went into the horse's shed and the boys were staring at him. I told them that they should go. Rick offered to help, but I turned him and the others down.

"I just want to be alone," I said, again they offered help. I raised my fist but then felt a hand on it.

"Calm down," Gray said with a straight face. He turned to the boys and scared them with a glare scarier than Jack's, "Leave her now!"

I just stared as he drive them out. He turned to me and his face softened and he looked at me and my horse with concern, "Take care…"

Man, is this going to be a hell of a week…

A/N: There you go. Next chapter :Recoveries